Ministry of defence Republic of Serbia
 
19.08.2011.

Minister's interview to Novosti



IT'S TIME TO BE WISE
Minister of Defence Dragan Sutanovac speaks the crisis in northern Kosovo, EU membership, elections, military reform, the opposition: we have to solve problems diplomatically. There will be no elections Kosovo or Europe.


We must be aware that there is no "ad hoc solution" to the problem of Kosovo. With wisdom and vision we should seek allies in order to reach the final goal that will be acceptable to Serbia. One of the key partners in this process is the US. The climate in Washington is slowly changing, there is a better understanding of the situation in which Serbia is in, and Pristina is no longer given unreserved support, especially not for violent actions. It is our task now to be patient and show determination to solve problems diplomatically.
This is what Minister said in an interview for "Novosti" and vice president of DS, who recently returned from a several-day visit to the U.S., where one of the main topics was the last crisis in Kosovo.

- I tried to explain what really happened, how Belgrade sees the developments of the situation in the future and what we are doing to avoid a conflict of incalculable proportions.

Do you have the impression that Pristina has received "the green light" from the U.S. to take over the administrative crossings?

- There is no doubt that those countries that have recognized Kosovo, support Pristina wholeheartedly to establish its own legal system throughout the territory. However, their way of garnering support was not met with adequate response and support.. Even the Washington officials were quite surprised by the last moves of Pristina , and deny having given their approval for their acts.

What specific help can we expect from the U.S.?
- Aside from the fact that we do not agree on the issues regarding the status, we both agreed that the Serbs in Kosovo must be protected. On this issue there is a mutual understanding, and this is something America supports us for.

German Foreign Minister Westerwelle warned that violence could happen again at any moment - does that mean that the international community, however, does not keep things under control in Kosovo?
- For years, I have been warning the officials that the reduction of KFOR troops in Kosovo is unacceptable for us in terms of security and that although everything seems quiet, the situation can be extremely volatile and incidents can happen quite easily. It is obvious that they can even lead to armed conflict. It is good that the international community has recognized it now, and it has finally become obvious that the Albanians have totals control over the Pristina authorities.
Do you expect then that the international community will put additional pressure on the Kosovo authorities to "discipline" Hashim Thaci?
- It is good that international officials have finally realized that the Kosovo issue is not closed and make it clear that whoever tries to solve the problems by violence cannot expect the support of major powers. Kosovo is not the focus or the East or West, large states have their own problems and Thaci has used the political vacuum. But it is obvious he has come upon a hard nut so to speak, in an attempt to take administrative border crossings.

Can we find ourselves in a situation to face the repeating of “Oluja" campaign in the north of Kosovo? Even the government itself was not quite concordant as to how to tackle this issue if that should happen?

-The Kosovo troops have neither the capacity, nor the support of the international community to do something like that. It is unlikely that this could occur. I recall that on 29 July, eight years ago, the last Russian soldier left Kosovo. From that moment on, only the KFOR troops have been our partner. Despite all our dissatisfaction with the KFOR, which at certain times was abused by Thaci and the Kosovo authorities, it is a factor of stability in Kosovo and we believe that KFOR would not allow for such a scenario to happen again.

Do the Serbian forces have a contingency plan for such a scenario?
- Firstly, according to the Kumanovo Agreement, our army has no right of entry into Kosovo. Secondly, I think even the latest events have shown that the international community still harbored some doubts as the democratization of defense structures with the army being under the control of civilian authorities. Waiting to see if we should make a false move, to start a conflict with KFOR and the international community, which would mea compete fulfillment of the Thaci plan. The radical moves, military operations, force can lead to déjà vu. And so wherever we reacted in the past - the Serbs are gone. There is no doubt that the way it happened this time.

Is it possible to continue the dialogue in such an atmosphere?
- In September, the dialogue continues and I hope that through it we will reach some solutions that will allow the Kosovo people to lead a normal life. You need to be patient, so that citizens can have confidence in state institutions, to be united, and sooner or later things will get resolved in our favor. I believe that, regardless of the disagreement regarding the Kosovo status with a large part of the West, Serbia would soon be an important partner in dealing with major security challenges. We should use that moment and re-partner with those who are powerful and influential.

Are the events in the north of the province just a prelude to the moment when we are confronted with the formal choice between Kosovo or the EU?
- I do not think Serbia will be placed before such a hard choice. After all, for me the issue of European integration is not the candidacy, but reaching the standards. Serbia needs to build institutions, upgrading its capacity to fight corruption and crime and that the best way to pave its European values. The date when we will get full membership is irrelevant to me.

Are u actually suggesting that we should revise our foreign policy where joining the EU is our primary goal?
No, as without the EU Serbia has no future. I'm just saying that the very act of joining the EU is less important than achieving the standards applicable in Europe.

But we see a constant drop of the public’s support to EU membership from year to year, and from your party we even hear such messages that Europe is unfair, and has double standards ...
- There is no doubt that there are double standards, that the EU unanimously condemned any politicians in Serbia who would take pride in the war criminal indictees, which is not the case with Mrs. Kosor! Nevertheless, we should forget about the others, and turn to themselves. Our problem is we are more supportive of others than ourselves
We whistle and hoot the intoning of other nation’s anthem yet do not sing our own. The whole can be interesting for Serbia, not just the EU.

The majority of parties have launched their election campaigns. Based on what is DS has done so far, or not done, do you think you vote of confidence in the next elections?

- For me, the campaign began the moment I was elected to the minister of defense. In defense we have achieved good results, as I think this is the case with other ministers from among the DS. However, we were faced with problems that no one could predict, from earthquakes and floods to the economic crisis. And Serbian President Boris Tadic said that he should openly say how serious the situation is and how a belt must be tightened.

Can this be a costly price that the Democrats may pay in elections?
Of course, however, I really do not see who would take over. I do not believe able to Ilic along with Milanka Karic can fight crime and corruption, for Vulin to establish modern values or that Vucic can be a better mayor than Djilas. For most people that is quite clear, and certainly we will try to make that even more obvious in our election campaign. Behind all of us have found. I listen to most Vucic mocks the Ada bridge, and his main achievement as the director "Pinki" sports center was to introduce night swimming.

Few of your partners in the government mention the possibility of aligning with the SNS, which are often called “radicals in disguise". Would you be in such a government, and is it possible at all?
It is unfeasible. Even the Europeans who willingly welcomed Nikolic and Vucic at their receptions, were suddenly unnerved upon seeing that they were rather unpredictable partners. All were surprised by the decision to start a "hunger strike". I drew the attention of our EU partners that I was convinced that Nikolic, if able, would start a strike in front of the European Parliament in order to speed up our entry to Europe.
 
MOD
Ministry of defence Republic of Serbia, Bircaninova 5 street, Belgrade
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