01.06.2011.
Interview with State Secretary Dr Zoran Vesic to ODBRANA magazine
IN THE SERVICE OF PEACE
Ever since the first United Nations peacekeeping mission in Sinai, from 1956 to 1967, the former SFRY realized the importance of participation in peacekeeping missions, not only as its contribution to the collective security system, but as significant tool of the foreign policy. The risks and threats facing the modern world have long been beyond national boundaries. Only joint participation of states in coping with these threats and risks can contribute to maintaining and promoting regional and global stability and security.
On the occasion of International Day of the UN Peace Operations – 29 May, we talked with Dr Zoran Vesic, State Secretary in the Ministry of Defence, because he is the author of the book that just came out of the press, "The Serbian Armed Forces in peacekeeping missions". He also participated in the preparation of the exhibition organised by the Ministry of Defence and UNDP in the Military Museum on the occasion of the International Day of Peace Operations.What is the concept of the exhibition that attracts great attention at the Military Museum, and what was meant to be shown to the public from our rich tradition of participation in peacekeeping missions?
- The exhibition, prepared by the Ministry of Defence, together with the UNDP, aims to present to the general public participation of the Serbian Armed Forces in peacekeeping missions in a different and attractive way.This includes not only participation in missions that are now current, but also a historical view of our participation in missions that have been completed and brought peace and prosperity to the countries on whose territories they were conducted.
The United Nations peacekeeping missions represent a very important link for the international security. Virtually, ever since the moment of establishment of the United Nations and the adoption of the UN Charter, which represents the highest international legal act, a new page in the international relations was turned?
- The UN Charter establishes the collective security system. The most important step in the development of the collective security system is the principle of resolving international disputes by peaceful means, which excludes the use of armed force and implies a prohibition of aggressive war. The UN Charter approves only two cases of using military force – individual or collective self-defence against the armed attack. However, the United Nations very quickly established an instrument of peacekeeping missions for preventive purposes so that the system of collective security would not be disturbed, and sometimes by peace enforcement and peacemaking in some territories.
Major role in peacekeeping belongs to the Security Council. Its responsibilities are governed by Title VI and Title VII of the UN Charter. While Title VI provides for the peaceful settlement of disputes, typically through negotiation and mediation, Title VII determines actions in case of threats to peace, breach of peace and acts of aggression, which may be of non-military character, such as for example interruption of economic, transport or diplomatic relations and the urgent military measures, including demonstrations, blockades and operations engaging UN armed forces composed of national contingents of UN member states.
We can say that we have a rich tradition of participation in peacekeeping missions?
- Since the first UN peacekeeping mission in the Sinai from 1956 to 1967 (UNEF I), the former Socialist Federative Republic of Yugoslavia realized the importance of participation in peacekeeping missions, not only as its contribution to the system of collective security, but also as an important tool of foreign policy.
The risks and threats facing the modern world have long been beyond national boundaries. Only joint participation of states in coping with these threats and risks can contribute to maintaining and promoting regional and global stability and security. Today, the borders of Serbia are defended not only in the territory of Serbia, but also in those countries where the members of the international community work together through their activities on establishing peace and security. Therefore, it can be said for sure that the participation in multinational operations was and in the future will continue to be, one of the most important tasks of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces.
On the occasion of marking the International Day of Peace Operations your new book on the participation of the Yugoslav People's Army and the Serbian Armed Forces in peacekeeping missions will be promoted. What was the goal that you set for yourself when writing the book, and what will be the thing that will be particularly interesting for readers?
- Yugoslav People's Army participated in six peacekeeping missions in the period from 1956 to 1993. Certainly, the most important participation of the JNA forces represented mission in the Sinai from 1956 to 1967 – UNEF I. In this mission, within 14,265 JNA members were involved in 22 rotations.
Beside this mission, the JNA members participated in UN missions in Congo (ONUC) from 1960 to 1964, in Yemen (UNYOM) from 1963 to 1964, Iran and Iraq (UNIIMOG) from 1988 to 1991, Namibia (UNTAG) from 1989 to 1990, and the UN mission in Angola (UNAVEM I, II) from January 1989 to February 1993.
After a break of almost ten years, the Serbian Armed Forces began its international involvement in UN peacekeeping missions sending two military observers in UN peacekeeping mission in East Timor (UNMISET). This was followed by engaging Serbian peacekeepers also in missions in Burundi (ONUBA), Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC), Liberia (UNMIL), Ivory Coast (UNOCI), the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT), Lebanon (UNIFIL) and in Cyprus (UNFICYP).
The aim of the book was to give readers in one place not only the facts on the establishment of each of the missions and participation of our armed forces in it, but also other facts that should introduce the readers to the importance of the mission itself and our participation in them for population of the states in which they were conducted. Namely, the role of the UN forces, regardless of the fact that it was always defined by the mandate of the mission itself, is essentially reduced to protecting the population, delivery of humanitarian assistance and creating conditions for the emergence of peace and normal life of people.
Participation of Serbian military medical teams in peacekeeping missions in Congo and Chad was noticeable? You visited our peacekeepers during the mission in Chad and what was your most memorable impression?
- Participation of the medical staff of the Serbian Armed Forces, first together with doctors and medical technicians of the Kingdom of Norway within the Norwegian-Serbian deployable hospital, and later as an independent contingent, is one of the most important missions in which our military participated over the past years; not only because of the number of the engaged members of the military, but also because of the importance and complexity of the tasks they had. In Chad, which has an area five times larger than the former Yugoslavia, there were only two civilian hospitals, French military hospital and the Norwegian-Serbian deployable hospital which took over to take care of the members of the UN forces, in collaboration with one of two civilian hospitals and care of the most affected local population.
The most striking impressions from that mission, during the visit to our peacekeepers, were exactly the meetings with patients who were lucky enough to be cared for in our hospital and whose lives our staff saved. UN representatives from 33 countries that participated in that mission pointed out how much it meant to their officers and soldiers that health care was available on site, at an extremely competent and professional level.
There has also been recently promoted a comprehensive monograph on the Serbian Armed Forces, where you are also the author?
- Serbian Armed Forces monograph is an extremely important publishing project, because for the first time it provides in a comprehensive manner an overview of the history of the Serbian Armed Forces, from its establishment in the Middle century to the beginning of organization of modern armed forces in the 19th century and its brightest moments in the liberation wars and the First World War I, on the one hand, and the representation of modern Serbian Armed Forces today, which was organized on the principles and standards of the most modern armies in the world.
I am proud to point out that it also presents the whole rounded process of reform which was conducted by the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces in the last ten years, and was particularly intensive in the last four years. The results of these reforms are evident not only in complete rounding of the legal framework in which the Serbian Armed Forces operates today, but also in the completion of development and adoption of the key strategic documents.
Special attention was paid to a successful completion of the process of the Serbian Armed Forces professionalisation, within the timeframe which has been set seven years ago. Ministry of Defence not only held the promise it gave to the citizens, but also created the preconditions for even more rapid development of the military.
This monograph is the work which provides information on the history of the armed forces and the moment in which it is today in a concise, informative and, hopefully, attractive manner, with many photographs.
The most recent event, which confirms the capacity of our military medicine, was the South East Europe Military Medical Service Conference. What was agreed at that gathering and what is its significance for the further development of military medical cooperation in the region and beyond?
- The Republic of Serbia is one of few countries in this region that has managed not only to preserve the military medical capacity but also to raise it to a higher level. In recognition of Serbian military medical service, the Ministry of Defence hosted the conference at which the representatives of military medical service from the South Eastern European countries, from 26 to 29 April this year. Apart from the countries in the region, the conference was also attended by the representatives from the United States, Norway, Sweden, Denmark ... This conference was an excellent opportunity for the participating countries to exchange experiences in organization and functioning of military medical service and I am proud to point out that medical service of the Serbian Armed Forces is the best organized service in the region and it is at the higher level than the services of much more developed and richer countries and armies.
This conference is a cornerstone of future cooperation between military medical services, not only concerning the exchange of experiences, but also in the assessment of opportunities for closer cooperation in case of their involvement in emergency situations, chemical and other accidents and natural disasters in the region and beyond. Certainly, military medical service of the Serbian Armed Forces, in accordance with its capacity, would be the backbone of such cooperation.
What is the situation now in the military medical service? What achievements from the past period would you point out?
- The situation in the military health care today is much better than in the previous period. This is corroborated by the fact that military medical service capacity is preserved and additionally strengthened by investing in personnel and purchasing of necessary equipment. Today the military medical institutions are functionally integrated into the medical system of the Republic of Serbia. Military Medical Academy is in the network of medical institutions and with 40 percent of its capacity it cures also the civilian insured persons, and not only the military insured.
Similarly, last year, the Nis Military Hospital and Novi Sad Military Medical Centre devoted part of their capacities for the treatment of the civilian insured. Further efforts were put to renovate the necessary equipment. Only in the past four years, since the new management has been at the head of the Ministry of Defence, over 1.5 billion has been invested in the acquisition of new equipment, over 4.5 million checks have been conducted, over 175,000 patients were treated in the hospital, and more than 115,000 operations were performed .
In addition to the improved health care system, under conditions of very limited resources, we managed to maintain the level of rights of military insured persons on the previous level, which is higher than the level of the health insurance rights that are available to other citizens of Serbia, such as completely free dental care, right to all drugs that are registered in Serbia ...
What are the plans?
- It is important that the military health insurance and health protection system is rapidly computerised, which will create conditions for significantly higher rationality in the work of health institutions in future and more savings. The main segment of this system are electronic health insurance cards, whose issuance is in progress. This huge task will be completed by the end of the year.
Upon completion of the IT systems, practitioners will be easily able to obtain health information on the military insured with all data protection measures, which will enable quality treatment and cost savings, since some diagnostic procedures will not need to repeat.
The military medical system will pay special attention to reduction and gradual abolishment of waiting lists for military insured, which are now in some outpatient clinics of MMA unjustified and unacceptably large. I expect that by the end of the year we will achieve significant improvements in that segment.
To mention that we saw you participating at the last Belgrade Marathon in the half marathon race?
- First, I must point out that I was very pleased to see the large number of members of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces participating in the marathon and half marathon race and to congratulate them on the exceptional results they achieved.
Half-marathon race was a great challenge for me, because this was the first marathon in which I participated. Although my primary goal was to finish the half-marathon race I am satisfied with the time of 2 hours and 12 minutes in which I ran 21 kilometres. Despite the fact that I have shown to myself that I can stand such an effort, I hope that this will an encouragement for others to prepare themselves and try to do the same next year.
Mission of the Serbian Armed Forces
- Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces perceive participation in peacekeeping missions, not only as the fulfilment of one of the three missions of SAF, but also as an indication that its members are trained and equipped in the best possible way and that they are willing not only to protect the interests of Serbia and its citizens in every place, but also to help the population of other countries in difficult moments they are faced with. In addition, through participation in peacekeeping missions, members of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces not only acquire new knowledge and experience, but they apply the skills acquired in training in real conditions.
Serbian peacekeepers are in some way the ambassadors of Serbia in the world, because, with their professional attitude towards the tasks they have been assigned they create a positive image not only of themselves, but also of our country and the military.
Examples of humanity
There are very touching and heartbreaking stories of engagement of our medical staff, especially in cases of medical care provided to the local population in Chad. Our doctors treated a 13-year-old girl who refused to marry a man according to the order of her father and was punished for that by being thrown into the fire and was transferred to our hospital in very serious condition.
In order to save her life, given that the existing civilian hospitals in Chad do not have the capacity for treating such serious injuries, nor was it possible to transport the girl thousands miles to some of the neighbouring countries, our military surgeons, according to the instructions they were given by their fellow plastic surgeons in the MMA over the telephone, have successfully transplanted the skin and saved her life.
The human and professional satisfaction that our and Norwegian peacekeepers experienced after so many lives saved, not only of the peacekeepers but also of the local population, can hardly be described.
