06.12.2011.

Minister informs reserve commanders

In the Great Hall of the old HQ Minister Sutanovac briefed members of the Association of Organizations of reserve commanders on the current state of Serbia, the defense system, reforms and changes to be implemented in it the past few years. Information was also attended by members of the Minister’s staff and representatives of the Serbian Army and head of the Union of Reserve Officers Djordje Malenkovic.

-In order to analyze the situation where we are, we must first examine the situation that preceded it. We have inherited many problems - especially a system that was cumbersome and ineffective, the absence of legislation, the low standard of employees, large amounts of surplus movable and immovable property, the catastrophic situation of pension funds, lack of military weapons and equipment - said Sutanovac.

As the most important novelties of the defense system in recent years, the Minister saidare the establishment of the University of Defence, the introduction of voluntary military service, professional service and religious services.

He stated that the budget of the Ministry of Defence has since 2002 been reduced from 4.55 to 2.12 % of GDP, and that in the past three years MO has received a budget reduced by 300 million euros.

- However, the defense system in May 2007 owed about 2.7 billion RSD, and this year we end without any debts that would burden the budget for the next year - said the minister.

The Minister also read figures for 2005, when the defense system had 75,000 employees, 36,000 two years later, and today employs thousand people more.

Addressing the reserve commanders, Sutanovac mentioned the most important activities in whose implementation the Ministry of Defence was involved last year. Exercise "Usce 2011" and "Diplomac" as well as arms fair "Partner 2011", which according to the minister had been most successful judging by the number of foreign delegations, then the presentation of new officers of the Serbian Army, the organization of Strategic Military Partner Conference, are only some of many successfully completed tasks that the system of defense this year set out to do.

In informing the reserve commanders, minister singled out professionalization of the army as the most important part of defense reform, noting that it had been completed in 2010.

"This project was established in 2003. We managed to finish this task in time. We also have a good percentage of women in the military. He is around 13, and 62 percent to a standard that is accepted. We are proud that we managed to restore the trust of Serbian citizens into the Army of the Serbian, and this is seen by the number of prospective candidates who wish to enroll in the Military Academy, "said Sutanovac, adding that the training and further training of officers of another of the priorities of the modern Serbian army.

The Minister also presented a brief analysis of the defense system of standards, the framework for international military cooperation where he noted the importance of increasing the number of participants in UN peacekeeping missions, and the first engagement of our troops in a European Union mission.

As the significant achievement of the Ministry of Defence , Sutanovac reminded the present of the problem of storing the surplus ordnance that had previously been stored in the open air, which problem is now fully resolved.

The Minister also noted the importance of investment in the Military Technical Institute, which is invested in the domestic military industry and achieved significant savings. Speaking of infrastructure projects, Sutanovac listed the building of Jug military base and the conversion of Airport "Morava" which in the future should be the mainstay of the economy in the Kraljevo region. Future plans involve construction of logistics center in Komren base.

Priorities for the future, according to Sutanovac, are further modernization and equipping of the defense system, continuing professional training of soldiers on voluntary military service, education and training of officers in the country and abroad, strengthening regional cooperation, active participation in the Partnership for Peace, further intensification of international military cooperation and infrastructure development.

On behalf of the Association of Serbian Reserve Commanders the audience was addressed by President of the Association Djordje Malenkovic. On behalf of the organization he spoke about agreed activities for the coming period, especially on the program of joint training and training of reserve officers, who will be in active and passive reserves.