07.12.2011.

Minister presents a housing loan contract to 1200th military pensioner

Minister Sutanovac presented today in the House of the Army contracts for housing loans 1200th military pensioners, Dragan Trajkovic, from Vranje. It is an agreement approving the use of funds for housing of military pensioners that users who do not have a home can take an interest-free loan of up to 20,000 EUR (in CSD). Thus, buying an apartment or house, in 79 locations throughout the Republic of Serbia, a total of 1184 military pensioners were given the opportunity to solve their housing problems, and today 31 contracts were signed.

On that occasion, Sutanovac expressed his pleasure at being able to attend the ceremony where contract that will help solve housing problems of retired military personnel were presented.

- I know you all deserved to have this issue resolved long before I became minister, and the fact that you were retired after so many years in service only proves for how many years the problems remained unsolved- said the Minister adding that he is making efforts to address these issues.

According to him, although some say that 20 000 EUR is a small sum for a loan, when it is multiplied by 1,200 people, the total sum is24 million EUR, which is a very important figure the Ministry of Defense has managed to allocated.

- AS early as the beginning of next year about 300 appeals will be resolved, and I believe that in the future we will solve the housing issues of both retired, and active members of the defense system - said Sutanovac reminding that in previous five years, the different models were used to solve five thousand cases.

The minister called on all military retirees to tackle their housing problem in this way, because they have a choice of housing units, and can finally get a roof over their heads they can call their own. He also pointed out that, with such a model residential address, as well as a monthly allowances for that purpose, no one in Serbia can not be called a military homeless.

Retired Sergeant First Class from Vranje Dragan Trajkovic, to whom Sutanovac today officially handed the contract, retired in 2000 in Presevo.

I live with my family Vranje and today I am happy because after years of waiting I got the opportunity to have a roof over my head. Only those who have an apartment or house know how long these years have been. Thanks to the loan of twenty thousand, my family and I now resolve the question of our life. I am particularly happy that the Ministry of Defence has not forgotten all of us, military pensioners, although I am aware that we are not the only one in this country who still have to solve this issue, I cannot but take this opportunity to remind you of the fact that we gave our best years by doing a conscientious and responsible military service - said Dragan Trajkovic, thanking to the Ministry of Defence, the Fund for social insurance of military insured for their prompt attention and resolution of identified problems of providing housing for vulnerable pensioners.

- This model for getting housing loans I would recommend to to anyone who has met the requirements for obtaining a loan, because living in uncertainty is not the way to go - said Trajkovic.

ANSWERS TO REPORTERS QUESTIONS

Speaking of yesterday's tragic events, the minister pointed out that this event has triggered many speculations, primarily to criticize the work of the Ministry of Defence.

- This person retired in 2001, and has been in the hotel for military singles 2003, living with his family, he paid all his bills on time and he was never planned to be evicted from this facility. On the other hand, a military pensioner with a pension of 47,000 RSD plus 4000 RSD for living expenses, is receiving more than a quarter of a professional soldier or a fifth more than the average pensioner in Serbia - Sutanovac said noting that the trigger for the tragedy was not social nature, and an investigation will determine the circumstances of the tragedy.

When it comes to choosing a new Chief of Staff, the Minister said that this is something directly connected to the President of the Republic, and that he gives only an opinion.

- These days, I am waiting for President Tadic to make a decision as to General Miletic’s successor, and I can only send suggestions, which will also in the coming days be done - said the minister of defense minister.

Responding to questions about the planned four-fold increase of our members in peacekeeping missions around the world, the minister pointed out that the United Nations signed a "stand by" arrangement, meaning that in a very short time we can engage members of our armed forces in UN peacekeeping operations.

- At this point, we plan to increase our members in Lebanon, but the aforementioned contract, stipulates that we can send our soldiers wherever needed. Currently we can not say what these countries will be, respectively - said Sutanovac.

Assessing the success of professionalism, the Minister pointed out that the only problem is that we have many more applicants than positions available.
- The Army of Serbia, the formation should have 11,000 troops under the contract, a thousand places for those who wish to apply for voluntary military service - said the Minister adding that he believes that professionalism made a very fair, which was confirmed by the defense ministers of Austria and Norway recently stayed in Serbia. Our model, he added, is used in Austria and some other countries in order that they best way to professionalize its army. Sutanovac also said, refuting the rumors on the reduction of military strength, that no army in this term is increased, and that for the same money, we now have a fully professional force that is many times more operational than the one who committed recruits.