07.09.2011.

Minister visits Paracin

Minister Sutanovac visited today Paracin, the reason for the visit being the signing of the Contract for Transferring Usage Rights of the Paracin Military Club between the Republic of Paracin and Property Directorate, as this institution has now become the property of the city.

On that occasion, the Minister met with President of Paracin Municipality Sasa Paunovic and Chief of the Property Directorate Pejkovic Bratislava.

- Thanks to the agility of local government and Mayor Paunovic, some time ago we initiated the activity with the local government to exchange real estate in the municipality of Paracin, based on the estimates made by the Tax Administration, which is tasked with evaluating property value. During the meeting, the Mod Property Directorate will sign an agreement on behalf of the Ministry of Defence, said Sutanovac adding that this is yet another example of the support and cooperation of MoD with local authorities and one of the many contracts were signed with local authorities throughout Serbia.

The Minister also stressed that today's event was an example of positive energy that the Ministry of Defence was investing in solving problems, because this is in a way of freeing the Ministry of a certain burden, which will at the same time bring housing and money depending on the assessment of the Tax Administration.

On the other hand, as the Minister pointed out, there are mayors who think that there are different ways to obtain military assets by making all kinds of statements in newspaper articles where they speak negatively about military property.

- I take this opportunity to invite all representatives of local governments who wish to share with the Ministry of Defence or buy property in a fair and proper manner with adequate assessment of the Tax Administration to make an offer, - the minister said at the end of exposure.

According to Mayor Paunovic, the signed value of real estate is about ten million. He also pointed out that this was a successful example of cooperation that will integrate public utility companies, and therefore make its services more accessible to Paracin citizens. Paunovic recalled the successful purchase agreement of the barracks in the city spanning the area of seven acres and several thousand square meters of buildings which will be partly paid for in apartments, and partly from public funds.

During the visit, Sutanovac visited the city Military Club, as well as the barracks "Branko Krsmanovic".

Responding to reporters' questions, Sutanovac said that among the youngest class of SAF lieutenants, which will be officially promoted on Saturday at 18:00 in the center of Belgrade, there will be the first class of female cadets who will graduate from the Military Academy.

According to him, this is a great moment in the history of Serbian Armed Forces, bearing in mind that this first generation of female officers, who were educated at the Military Academy, will soon assume their posits in the army.

- We will have to get used to addressing them as Madam Lieutenant in the future, he said, reminding that the formal promotion of the youngest lieutenants in front of the National Assembly this year will take place for the sixth time in a row.

The minister also pointed out that the ceremony will be attended by numerous guests, including Vice President of China's Military Committee, this being the higher postion than that of the Minister of Defense, as well as general commander of the Ohio National Guard, who is a woman.

Speaking of cooperation with KFOR, the Minister expressed his impression, after the meeting SAF officials had had with representatives of KFOR, that KFOR continues to have the desire to neutral in its status.

- The fact is that KFOR was at one time abused intentionally or unintentionally, which is difficult to assess - the minister as he said reminding of the EU High Commissioner for Europe Catherine Ashton’s statement that she does not in any way support the means by which Kosovo institutions want to take over the administrative crossings of Jarinje and Brnjak. The minister said that one must understand that without KFOR in Kosovo and Metohija large-scale conflicts could break out. This, he pointed out, does not lead to stabilization and destabilization, but on the on the contrary threatens not only those who live in Kosovo and Metohija, but also those in its vicinity.

When asked to comment the today's newspapers’ headlines related to the allegations made by “Wikileaks" that the minister wanted to organize an air show of NATO air crafts in Belgrade, the minister answered that the headline was the problem.

The title is bombastic and out of context and therefore bending the whole meaning of the text in which it is clear that this is a complete falsehood and absurdity. I think that these titles can only bring harm.

According to the minister, the previous air show did not only send invitations for participation to NATO countries, but Russia and China were invited as well to appear as and the main desire was for the Serbian citizens to see something they had not seen before.

- The air show was visited by about one hundred thousand people who came relieved of the past in order to see the latest aircraft and achievements in the field of aviation, and some aircraft were worth billions of dollars – as defense minister explained.

The minister said he was not worried about the allegations made by "Wikileaks", but if it persists with these misinterpretations of these letters, they will lose their meaning.

Speaking about the status of the "Paracinske utrine”, ammo dump said Mr. Sutanovac that the Ministry and that part of the warehouse, which can be cleared of unexploded ordnance, can be traded with the municipality.

"On the other hand, part of Pasuljanske meadows is owned by the municipality, and the trade off would round up the grounds that are extremely important to us," as the minister concluded.