18.05.2011.

Minister of Defense holds a press conference

Defense Minister Dragan Sutanovac held today a press conference at the Great Hall of the old army HQ. On that occasion, the public, presents the most important results achieved by the Ministry of Defence in the past four years. The conference was attended by members of the Minister of Defence staff members, Rector of the Defense University and heads of the Military and the Military Medical Academy.

Defense Minister Dragan Sutanovac expressed his satisfaction with the results, and the greatest success was in his words completion of the professionalization of the Serbian Army , raising the reputation and standards of its members, the establishment of the University of Defence, the strengthening of international cooperation and participation in UN peacekeeping missions and assistance in promoting and marketing the products of the defense industry .

According to Minister Sutanovac, since 15 May 2007 the Ministry of Defense with the same staff members became part of the Government and began a serious and comprehensive reform of solving problems and implementing ideas which would develop the ministry even further.

First of all, all the necessary laws and doctrinal documents were adopted, thus rounded up the process of adopting normative strategic framework, which was necessary for further development. Furthermore, extensive organizational changes were made, which are extremely important for the functioning of the defense system - said the Minister particularly stressing the importance of introducing the institution of the Inspector General who is tasked with monitoring the work of security services in the ministry, the establishment of the University of Defence and the placing the former MoD Department for the Emergency Situations under the Serbian Interior Ministry. Such an organizational chart, he noted, enabled the efficient work and contributed to savings in terms of finances.

- Financial analysis of operations of the defense system of our country over the past four years shows that in 2007 that 2.56% of GDP, or 765 million EUR from the budget went to the MoD. This year the percentage is 2.08 percent, which amounts to 675 million EUR. The Ministry had its largest budget in 2008 in the amount of 850 million euros in the previous year, which is 150 million more – as Sutanovac stressed adding that with less money during the previous year ended professionalism and activities that were not implemented.

- The schema of spending the budget of our ministry testifies to the fact that personnel costs are very high and include salaries and pensions, and operational costs will be significantly reduced by professionalization. The money thus saved will be used for investments - said the Minister.

According to him, the system first inherited a debt of 2.8 billion RSD from the previous structure in 2007, only to enter 2008 with no inherited debt, thus making huge savings on interest rates.
The Minister also stated that the property damage, which were extremely large, reduced to being, as he said, saved 3 billion and 400 million, which is very important because the money was invested in other segments of the defense system.

- When it comes to the numbers of personnel of the defense system, in 2005 had some 75,000 employees and by 2007 the system had undergone biggest downsizing, because the 40,000 personnel in that period left the system. Since then our target is for the defense system to have 37000 members, which indicates that our mandate did not only reflected reduced in numbers, but it has showed certain increase - the minister said, stressing that the reorganization reduced the number of administrative positions in favor of the soldier's duties and thus obtained is the quality of the entire defense system. Staff pyramids, according to Minister Sutanovac, was modeledafter the standards of modern armies, characterized by stable structure and quality.

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The military personnel had the biggest increase in salary in 2007 and 2008 and this year the average salary is about 41,000 RSD - the minister said, adding that this personnel presents real opportunities of the system.

When it comes to professionalism, the Minister pointed out that there is great interest in joining the ranks of professional soldiers of the Army of Serbia. The same trend is seen when it comes to voluntary military service.

- One of the indicators that we have performed well and improved the professionalization of a military career is the great numbers of prospective candidates for the Military High School and Military Academy, because this year more than 1,300 candidates applied for 170 vacancies, which is an absolute record of the existence of these higher education institutions and 60 times higher than the number of interested applicants in 2007- said the minister.

To the housing issues, he noted, MoD has devoted great attention during the last period, which is one of the big problems that have burdened the defense system. He added that more than 3,279 housing issues in the past four years had been solved, in many ways, the plan is that during this year resolved to 2,900 housing issues, which would overcome the predicted plan.

International military cooperation is an important aspect of the Ministry of Defence, and the last four years we had recorded visits from 71 foreign countries.

The Minister said that in the past four years we have signed 23 international treaties and received donations of about 13 million and 650 thousand USD. - I stress that this is only part of the donations, because we are very close to getting very large grants from the Turkish forces, which will probably be the largest received by the Serbian Army since 1950s. Also, we expect to soon get grants from the United States in the form of armored vehicle Hummer. This year will contribute to Serbia receiving very large donations, which will enable to improve the quality of work in the Ministry and the Army.

Particular emphasis was placed by the minister on Serbia’s participation in multinational operations. Serbia is currently participating in five peacekeeping missions, as the minister recalled, and we have completed participation in Chad and have applied for a greater presence in Cyprus. Soon we expect to sign an agreement with the European Union and it is possible to do this immediately upon the arrival of Mrs. Catherine Ashton on 26 May, after which our members will be sent to Somalia and Uganda, to be educated and trained physicians in those countries. This is a way to promote our defense system and our political orientation - said Minister of defense minister.

The question regarding the total surplus of our ammunition, which were stored in warehouses, as well as outdoors, had been very worrying issue, but today the situation is much better - said the Minister. - We hope to resolve this issue this year. Of 26 thousand tons were destroyed about 16.5 thousand. It is an ordnance that has no future use nor is it fit for sale. The bad news is that we have to pay for its disposal, such as the fact that a good portion of those ordnance was imported to Serbia during the 90s without any plan or ideas and we must solve this problem. We expect to be able to solve this issue mid this year unless we encounter some unforeseeable problems, so we do not have one kilogram of ordnance out of warehouse which is not stored in a prescribed manner. We started constructing new warehouses and it is a very demanding task.
The biggest project that is done during the year was conversion airport Morava near Kraljevo. For these jobs are expected to grant the Turkish Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces of Turkey. - We expect that this will be one of extremely high quality airport, as about two million citizens of Serbia on this site and I think it will have very good economic return, the minister said.

Speaking of projects for arms and military equipment which are in the final stages, the minister presented pictures training aircraft Lasta with digitized cabin, modular truck mounted multiple rocket launcher, antitank missile system "Bumblebee" and unmanned aerial vehicles "Sparrow." - They will soon be in possession of the Army of Serbia and as you can see the cockpit "Swallows" is a very modern, like most modern aircraft in the world. The famous "Bumblebee" will, hopefully, soon to be demonstrated to reporters at Pasuljanske meadows, as well as unmanned aircraft, "Sparrow." This is something that can be our export project - the minister said, stressing that the 8500 sets a new military camouflage uniforms are in the final processing. - It is possible that sustained some cosmetic changes, but it will be a uniform you will wear the Army of Serbia in the next ten years.

The realization of main tasks of infrastructure in the past four years was completed in 236 buildings, while in 2005. and 2006. two buildings was completed and handed over to customers. - I would point out that we completed the construction of military bases "South" in Cepotina near Bujanovac, and housing unit for ordnance total area of ??7800 square meters. So we can say that we are spending money in an appropriate way - said the minister.

The realization of the "Master" plan, the Ministry of Defence entered into the contracts with 18 cities on taking military properties that are no longer functional, and through the Property Directorate, based on the assessed value of the Tax Administration. The Minister stressed that the Ministry of Defense, except that he says what he has no future, does not participate in the formation of prices, it is the job of the Tax Administration. Thanks to the implementation of the "Master" plan is accrued over a billion dollars and gained a total of 174 apartments in an area of ??approximately 12,000 square meters.

Extremely important result is the revival of the defense industry, which is still in big trouble, but that was, and as such made a remarkable result at the world level.

- A large number of foreign experts who deal in arms and military equipment to deal with what Serbia did in the past few years and it is a worldwide hit. I expect a big presence in our Fair, military equipment and armaments "partner" to be held in late June. Exports in this area the past two years has reached the figure of 250 million dollars per year. Serbia was carrying arms and military equipment exported from Malaysia to Canada and the United States. We managed to reach all continents and we hope to soon open the market so-called sub-Saharan Africa. We expect a visit to Nigeria, Angola, we got a call from Namibia, so we plan that this year be the year for investment in new markets - said the minister.

Military Intelligence Agency has expanded its work, namely the number of delegations and we are, said the Minister, very proud. It is no longer just military intelligence, or their primary job is not just to work on informing our system, but also the presentation of our state and the defense system. We have tried and succeeded in precisely those countries with the greatest ability to export weapons and military equipment to put our military representatives and with those countries we do the best possible cooperation. In all major countries in the world with whom our country works, our military has a mission. In this way it promotes a system of defense and military, as well as weapons and military equipment to be purchased from us.

Sutanovac said that the Directorate of Public Relations for the past four years has made a very big score. The largest part of the promotion of the Army led to the Administration. During the campaign for professionalization, and passed the campaign for entry into the United States Military Academy and Military Grammar School. All this contributed to the Serbian Army now occupies a very high position in relation to other state institutions and to become the institution most trusted by the citizens of Serbia, which was one of the goals of our reform and I think we are in this fully managed. Our site now has more than 5,000 daily visits on average, five times more than four years ago.

Balkan Monitor survey shows upward trend in confidence in the Army from 63 to 73 percent in the period since 2008. by 2010. year. It is very important, because without confidence in the army and increase the reputation of the profession we would not be able to reform the system.

As key events in the future Sutanovac said joint training and greater participation in peacekeeping missions, EU, UN, modernization and equipment, more active participation in the activities of the Partnership for Peace Program, the intensification of bilateral military cooperation (especially military and economic), strengthening regional cooperation, as well as education and training of the Ministry of Defense and the Army of Serbia abroad.

Responding to reporters' questions, Sutanovac said that the modernization of our armed forces and the acquisition of new assets depends on the available budget. If there is money to buy a new, otherwise it is repaired existing ones. He expressed the belief that during this year to reach an agreement regarding the arrangements that will enable the modernization and equipment are better. Over the past four years, the negative impressions are related to the decline in four planes, killing two experienced pilots and soldiers, but there was no single case that is still listed as an affair and that is not completely understood, said Sutanovac.

When it comes to the Ground Safety Zone, the Minister said that during talks on its functions, expressing the expectation that they will lead to adequate quality of agreements and contracts. The minister, in this regard, said that Serbia is able to monitor your sky.

- Next year marks the Serbian Air Force Museum in Belgrade, and I hope that we will by then be good news when it comes to modernizing our aviation - said the minister, adding that this year, after two decades, the guide introduced a new training plane, " Swallow, "which is a joint effort by several entities of the Ministry of Defence.

According to Minister Sutanovac the last two years the work of the ministry headed by the most influenced by negative economic trends and their activities in the Ministry of Defence has the full support to the Serbian government and local government.

- The idea for solving the problem of destroyed buildings in downtown Belgrade, which would be replaced for the new building of the Ministry of Defense and the Army of Serbia in the second part of the city, was created in late 2007. year. For this project there is an idea, but the last two years have seen a drastic decline in property values, so that the large investment failed to achieve.

Last year began an analysis that showed what type of aircraft best suited for our country, the minister said Sutanovac, adding that it should highlight the best product on the market and who can offer the most cost effective solution.

As for the affair, "Satellite," said the minister, it is no longer under the Ministry of Defence, because it is related to the fault of the individual, not the system, and it now manages the Ministry of Justice.

Tanja Miscevic Secretary of State has said that the Ministry of Defense among the first to send answers to the questionnaire of the European Union. As to the question on the number of members of Military Intelligence and Military Security Agency as they are in all modern societies can be found, or will soon be on the website of the Ministry of Defence.

In terms of the agreement on cooperation with Kuwait, arranged the repair and maintenance of their military equipment, and will soon be followed by a visit of their delegation, said Minister of defense minister.

Director of Military Intelligence Agency Svetko Kovac, answering a reporter's question, said he expects that the report of Serge Brammertz will be primarily objective and acknowledge the fact that the action team is doing everything that the remaining two Hague fugitives are brought to justice.

Sutanovac in this regard adding that one of the priorities of the Ministry of Defense in recent years has been to point to the fact that the Ministry and the Army does not participate in the concealment of indictees.

The focus of cooperation with Libya, according to Minister of Defense, concerned with the construction of their Military Medical Academy and the fact that our military doctors need to train Libyan counterparts, and that in our school Libyan cadet for seven years. Given the circumstances of the job, worth about $ 450 million, is not possible to implement, but, he added Sutanovac, there are interests of other countries for similar cooperation....