22.06.2011.

Minister Sutanovac and SAF CHOD visit Third Brigade units

Defense Minister Dragan Sutanovac and SAF Chief of General Staff Gen. Miloje Miletic visited the units of the third army brigade Brigade, and visited the barracks "Toplicki ustanak" in Kursumlija.

After tour of the barracks, the Minister General Miletic visited the operative points within the barracks making sure the training and readiness of units of the Third Brigade of the tasks were at a high level. Furthermore, Sutanovac and Miletic visited the newly constructed and renovated facilities within the barracks.

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he Defense Minister said that this visit to the Third Brigade of the units was important, because in this way the Ministry of Defense and the Serbian Armed Forces contribute to economic stability in this part of Serbia within regional development.

"Large part of funds are allocated to the citizens of Toplica as salaries which are received by the members of the Serbian Armed Forces. Third Brigade, which covers a large area of Zajecar to the east and the west towards Kosovo and Metohija, carries out its respectively assigned tasks professionally and efficiently raising the civil - military cooperation to a level necessary for the local population to have confidence in the Army of Serbia "said Sutanovac.

ANSWERS TO JOURNALISTS’ QUESTIONS

Asked about the recommendation of the Commander of KFOR regarding the cooperation of Serbian Armed Forces with the Kosovo Security Forces, the Minister stressed that the Serbian Army would act only in accordance with internationally recognized agreements, and that the Kumanovo agreement defines the jurisdiction of the Serbian Army in the Ground Safety Zone and the relationship Army of Serbia and KFOR forces.

-Tthe Kosovo security force are not our partner and they can contribute to the overall security from the other side, but our partner in this part of the administrative line is KFOR, said the minister.

As regards the future of the Ground Safety Zone, the Minister pointed out that the time had come to drop the burden of bad legacy, underlining that Serbia now has the capacity and has received international confirmation as a reliable partner in building security.

Commenting on the situation in the Ground Safety Zone, General Miletic said that the situation was stable, adding that for years there had been no problems in the domain of the military or any army should deal with.

The Ground Safety Zone today looks much different than in 1999. On several occasions we relaxed ground and air security zone bit by bit, so that the Ground Safety Zone is now an area where people can live safely. This does not mean that we are safe, that the army should not be present here, but rather obliges us to continue to carry out our tasks. We are constantly communicating with the members of the Army, we have the latest information about the current situation, we know that it is peaceful and safe here, which is why we came here today to see that for ourselves, said Miletic.

Answering a reporter's question about reducing the number of KFOR troops, General Miletic stressed that in Kosovo faces problems such as crime, trafficking, lack of free movement of people and that every downsizing of KFOR troops is accompanied by security analysis, as the information that SAF possess say.

-We are being repeatedly reassured that KFOR forces can provide stability and security, and that after every reduction of KFOR units are being transformed into a new organization whose mobile component is increased, said General Miletic.

Minister Sutanovac added that at all meetings with representatives from NATO, KFOR and the countries participating in the KFOR it was insisted that there should be no downsizing and that the number of troops should remain in numbers which can guarantee the security of the population Kosovo and Metohija, especially of minority ethnic groups, that is, Serbs . I promise that the capacity will be such that they can provide security for all - said the minister.

Sutanovac said that only professional soldiers are stationed in “Toplicki ustanak” barracks who receive a salary for their work in the service of the Serbian Army, and thus support their families.

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Women soldiers in the Army of Serbia have introduced a new dynamic, besides beautifying it., and have brought a more stable component to the army. Since September the women officers will be positioned as commander in SAF units and this is a big reform endeavor which will bring us closer to the armies around the world - said the minister.

VISIT TO VELIKI TRN BASE

During their visit,Minister Sutanovac and General Miletic visited the base of " Veliki trn” getting an insight into the living and working conditions. Commander of the 37th mechanized battalion Major Ljupce Vilimonovic informed the guests about the activities in the base whose members secure 17 kilometers of the administrative line with Kosovo.

Defense Minister said that the cooperation of the Serbian Army and KFOR in Kosovo and Metohija is extremely high quality, adding that international forces should retain manpower which guarantees peace and stability.

"I believe it is necessary for all who live in Kosovo and Metohija," the minister said, adding that both of our activities within the PfP guarantee stable cooperation with KFOR.

The Minister said that no one in the Serbian Army considers KFOR as some kind of threat but they are seen as international forces located there to help ensure stability in the whole region. He stressed that securing the safety zone and boundary required strong cooperation with KFOR.

The Chief of General Miletic stated that the overall security situation administrative lines does not require large-scale military engagement.

Miletic called for stronger cooperation between the army of Serbia and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Serbia in the prevention of various types of smuggling and illegal felling of trees along the administrative line with Kosovo. He explained that the Serbian Army and KFOR can only place the perpetrators in custody and then hand over to the competent authorities - Ministry of Interior, and the EULEX mission.

Sutanovac congratulated the Chief of General Staff, commander of the Army and the newly appointed commander of the 3rd Brigade Army Colonel Zlimir Glisovic on the state in the base which has always been at a high level..