02.12.2011.

Minister Sutanovac holds a lecture at National Defence School

Defence Minister Dragan Sutanovac held a lecture to the students of the 55th class of General Staff specialization and the 58th class of Command Staff specialization at the National Defence School today.

On that occasion, Minister Sutanovac expressed his content that there are also members of the foreign armies among the Serbian Armed Forces, which is a confirmation of good regional cooperation and international credibility of our country.

Defence Minister informed the audience about the defence system condition, namely, about reforms and changes, which have been performed in the last few years.

- We should consider present, past and the future, which is still difficult to predict both in geographical and economic terms. To be able to adequately analyse our previous performance, we have to know what the problems that we inherited were; and that is, above all, a cumbersome and non-operational system. Another problem has been an almost non-existent legislation. Joining the Serbian Government certain preconditions for the introduction of all laws and regulations have been created, said Minister Sutanovac.

Minister added that the defence system had to deal with a large amount of surplus stock, especially that of explosive ordnance. It also faced problems with the realization of the Master plan and in the area of civil and military control of the Armed Forces, due to the lack of the legislation.

- The implementation of the enacted laws is very important, as it enabled us to create the Council for Planning. Also, we have founded the University of Defence, and through participation in the peace-keeping missions, we are more competitive in the world market in this field – not only when it comes to the power and muscles, but regarding other notable issues. The introduction of the voluntary military armed service is very important, as well as the introduction of religious services among the Serbian Armed Forces – said Minister Sutanovac.

As significant novelties in the defence system, Minister Sutanovac mentioned the possibility of trade union organizing, establishment of awarding memorial military medals, military memorials and medals for participation in the peace-keeping missions, making of the long-term and mid-term development plans, as well as national action plan concerning women in defence structures.

- Novelties in the Defence Ministry’s organisation are most noticeable in the Sector for budget and finance and the Department for military healthcare. For the first time, we have Inspector General of the Military Security Agency and Military Intelligence Agency, Department for standard, tradition and veterans, Section for internal audit, Center for training and education of non-commissioned officers in Pancevo, Simulation Training Center, University of Defence and Directorate for project management – said Sutanovac, adding that, since 2002, the budget of the Defence Ministry has been reduced from 4.55 to 2.12 percent share of gross domestic product.

Minister cited data according to which there were 75,000 people in the defence system in 2005, two years later 36,000, whereas nowadays, the system employs a thousand more people.

Among important events within the defence system, which were carried out this year, Minister Sutanovac stated the organisation of the exercises “Usce 2011” and “Diplomac”, the Fair of armament “Partner 2011”, promotion of new Serbian Armed Forces officers, organisation of the Strategic Military Partner Conference, which, according to his words, was the largest international gathering after the Non-Allied Movement Summit. The campaign “Budi profesionalac” (Be a professional) is one of successful Defence Ministry’s campaigns, which will last as long as there is a need for recruiting professional staff within Serbian Armed Forces.

As Ministry of Defence and Serbian Armed Forces’ priorities in the following period, Minister Sutanovac sets, above all, further defence system modernization and furnishing, continuation of voluntary military service soldiers’ training, officers’ education and specialization in the country and abroad, strengthening of the regional cooperation, active participation in the Partnership for Peace program, further intensification of international military cooperation and building of infrastructure.

Addressing the audience, Minister also spoke about professionalization of the Armed Forces as the most significant part of the defence system reform, emphasising considerable increase in interest for studying at the Military Academy, which rose from 1.5 candidates for one study place in 2007 to almost eight candidates for one place. According to the Minister’s words, education and further specialization of officers is another priority of the modern Serbian Armed Forces.

In his lecture, Minister referred to the standard of the defence system members, international military cooperation, where he emphasised the importance of the increase in the number of participants in the United Nations peace-keeping missions in the world, as well as projects of modern military hospitals’ construction, which have been realized in cooperation with Libya and Angola.

Defence Minister Sutanovac mentioned solving the problem of surplus of explosive ordnance, which were previously stored in the open, as a very important undertaking. The problem is today completely solved – partly by destruction of the ordnance, and partly by dismantling and storage in the newly-built warehouses in Serbia.

Minister also emphasised important investments in the Military-Technical Institute, which present investments into domestic military industry and facilitate achieving significant savings. Projects such as aircrafts “Lasta” (Swallow), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) “Vrabac” (Sparrow) and “Pegaz” (Pegasus), investments into radar system, completion of “Bumbar” (Bumblebee), purchase of new “FAP” trucks and ordering of digital uniforms from JUMKO company, are only some examples of the investments into domestic military, but also in Serbian economy in general.

Speaking about infrastructure projects, as successful examples, Sutanovac mentioned construction of the Jug (South) base and conversion of the airport “Morava”, which should be economic pillar of Kraljevo region in the future. Of future plans, Minister stated the construction of the Logistics Center in Komren base.

In previous period, significant contribution to strengthening the reputation of the Serbian Armed Forces was provided by Defence Ministry Public Relations Department, especially with videos for campaign “Budi profesionalac”, which were produced by “Zastava Film” resulting in decrease in the negative reporting about Serbian Armed Forces in domestic media.
Minister also introduced the audience to the current security situation in the country.