26.12.2011.
Interview of Minister Sutanovac to "Akter"
KEEPING OUR COOL WHILE FINDING A SOLUTION FOR KOSOVO
"The time has come when we must seek a sustainable solution as the Europe, Serbia and the world of 21st Century require from us "
"We have shown that it is possible to create a system that works well, but now that Serbs are still very fond of their army and like the military calling," says for "Akterr" the Defense Minister Dragan Sutanovac, which is his assessment exactly one year after the abolition of compulsory military service. He proudly adds that his team has been highly praises at home and the world for the reforms implemented in the army, adding that "we finally have a mature and army and soldiers, who care about their work, but can also provide for their families, and take care of the weapons, technology, and these are all ultimate benefits of professionalization of the Army ".
The 1st March and the decision of the European Council are fast approaching. What are your predictions for our candidacy?Ever since I assumed the post of minister of defense I have worked with my team on the implementation of European values and achieving the best standards in the field of defense. By persevering on this path t, we have shown that we can arrange the system so that today many people say that our army is better than the armies of some NATO Member States. The recommendations the EU Council has given Serbia serve to prove that Serbia has fulfilled all that they have met other countries towards European integration. That's why I say that Serbia has never been closer to European standards, but it has to solve a problem which no other EU candidate had to – a century-old problem in its territory. The moment has come when you must seek a sustainable solution requires what Europe, Serbia and the world of 21st century.
Many ministers changed their rhetoric following the decision of the Council – saying something that you say: that we try to implement reforms not for the EU, but for ourselves. Are you disappointed with the decision coming from Brussels?
Postponing the decision regarding our candidacy is an unpleasant thing, not as a disappointment. Although I am a Europtimist, I do am not EUforic and all this time I have been trying to explain that we should contribute to this journey for our own sake, rather than waiting for someone to give us something. Candidacy will not change anything dramatically, but it is an important step which will confirm that their domestic reforms are working properly. Yet politicians, analysts, even the media in Serbia, base their analyses based on the surveys of focal groups which tend to send heartfelt and flattering messages to citizens. This results in the disappointment of people with vivid imagination, but I am an engineer, a man who is always looking for solutions.
Angela Merkel reiterated the other day the conditions posed this summer. Will we accept them?
Serbia needs to see what is most important for the citizens. I have said before that I do not attribute value to acres, because life is something that is priceless and unique, and that without our people living in Kosovo and Metohija there is no Kosovo and Metohija. We need to focus on solutions that will contribute to the non-Albanian citizens in Kosovo feel particularly safe.
How so?
Seeking sustainable solutions, but keeping our cool. WE did knock on EU door at a bad historical moment knocked on the door of the EU, but it is also true that few European politicians approach the problem which does not only burden Serbia, but the entire region. This is understandable, because even the largest economies are shaken, and the message we received from Germany may sound brutal to some, but in a nutshell it states:
”People, we have to work”
Do you agree with the dissolution of, as Merkel says, “parallel institutions”, which Oliver Ivanovic says are the only legally elected institutions in the north?
If local governments are talking about the north of Kosovo, they are the only institutions and they are not parallel. But the fact is that there are parallel institutions south of the Ibar river with no function, which are de facto fictitious since 1999 and which still draw energy from Serbia. I believe that the majority of people employed in these so-called institutions, companies, do not reside in Kosovo, or care about Kosovo for that matter.
Was Angela Merkel referring to these institutions or to the north of Kosovo?
This should be discussed thoroughly and an acceptable solution needs to be found. There are institutions which cannot change, such as hospitals, kindergartens, schools. Electoral institutions are something else. WE cannot expect the citizens of Serbian nationality to go to Pristina for treatment or that the director of the hospital in Kosovska Mitrovicai s appointed Chief of the Clinical Center in Pristina, while women from Pristina come to give birth in Belgrade, that is simply unrealistic, as it is unrealistic to assume that our children will follow the Pristina based syllabus.
We often hear mentioning of possible waver of Resolution 1244?
I have not heard during numerous talks with foreign diplomats that someone wants us to reject the resolution, but one gets the impression that both Pristina and Belgrade have vested interest in keeping the resolution in force. The Resolution itself did not provide any hope ever since it was adopted as it was a capitulation presented as a great victory over the NATO. Because of this Resolution and the Kumanovo agreement army of the former Yugoslavia not only withdrew from Kosovo, but had to withdraw into the central Serbia, to create a "buffer zone" between Kosovo and central Serbia, and thus create the possibility of the outbreak of resulting terrorist, paramilitary organizations in southern Serbia in 2000.Are there any indications that there is a changed policy towards Kosovo is in store?
WE are keeping alive diplomatic activity in order to motivate our friends and partners in finding a sustainable solution that will satisfy the EU and its member states. The fact is that almost all EU member states backed Serbia, and that there are many countries that want to help. President Tadic is trying to come to a solution that will be acceptable especially for the citizens of Serbia.
When will we learn of that solution?
If this solution is acceptable it will see the light of day and will be made known, otherwise we will have to seek another solution. I do not think people should expect in that someone would go public with a concrete proposal, as this is not the practice and it is not appropriate to serious discussions.
If this solution is acceptable for the world and Europe, will it be a product of national consensus in Serbia or decision of this government?
Last year, in an interview to Akter, I said that is no accident that the emblem of Serbia with four firesteels with their backs turned on one another reading "Only united Serbs will survive." Probably because they know what can save us, they never seem to agree on anything. Kosovo issue should not be a day to be a used for day-to-day politics by one administration, a parliament, or two governments, but should be viewed in a strategic manner. I fear that even if the best solution is found, someone will find fault with it just to prove they have a different attitude.
Kosovo will again be the election issue of all parties as it seems What will be the basis of the campaign of your party?
The basis of our party's campaigns since 2003 has been life. Let me remind you of the slogan "For Better Life", "Because life can not wait", "Future Now" and so on. When I say life I am referring to the standard of living. In these four years we have had the misfortune to be burdened not only by the problem of Kosovo, but also the economic crisis, which is a crucial effect on the economic situation in Serbia. We present a new policy for the new era, where our goals are the same, and politics means constant changes.
What will this new policy bring in modern times?
Tax reform is necessary, the reduction of certain taxes, and directing money to those who are earning a living through work, on workers that is. It is shameful to pay an employee 150 euros, and that management has a hundred times the salary of the worker. The weakest cannot bear the brunt of a crisis. There are many opportunities in agriculture, and Minister Petrovic has already done so much, so here we see the results. Belgrade is a shining example of what can lead to a big city, which is why we try to make the whole of Serbia follow the example of Belgrade. Vojvodina has long been placed right back on track and it is also an example of how DS manages an entire region. The government will make a clear differentiation of who was responsible for what, so as not to pinpoint DS as the sole responsible party while others reap the fruits of what we have accomplished together.
AT the session of the General Committee of your party you and Dragan Djilas criticized Jeremic according to some speculations?
It is fascinating how the media and the public can not accept that in our society there is a party that has a lively interior democracy. This time last year we were also asked if we were shattered, if there were fractions, whether there were more policies. We are not a party of one-mindedness, but we respect differing opinions, this is why we are a democratic party, as well as the most stable party on the Serbian political space.
Do you already have a new team for the new times?
It is difficult now to predict how it will be formulated for the new times. In Serbia, there will be no such polarization where everything falls on one party. We will have to wait for completion of the election and that based on the results of completing it. The captain of that team President Tadic, and he will make a selection of players, selecting those that think they can best lead the Serbian government in the future.
You probably already have your future coalition partners in mind?
As part of a coalition in which we are now, and we are always open for cooperation with the minority parties.
Your visit to Algeria has brought some more work for the Army of Serbia, since you last year in an interview for "Akter" announced big jobs in the north of Africa?
All projects planned to be done in the North Africa are being implemented and this is the biggest job since 1990s. We have announced that this year will be the year of Africa. We expect a breakthrough not only for our defense industry, construction industry, dealing which will be engaged on with capacity building in the area of defense. There are big chances for the realization of work in Angola.
What are the plans for Angola?We talk about building, helping them with establishing their army, management and training of personnel for the running a big military hospital. Our doctors with the MMA to stay there for some time, and educated at the university to their staff, who would later work there.
Will we return to the Libyan market?
Before the conflict in Libya we had a major project in the plan approved by the supreme government of Libya. For the construction of military hospitals preliminary design has been made, and we got a space in which to be carried out geological surveys for the final start of the job. After the conflict ended, a delegation of the Libyan army and their defense ministry paid us a visit, and I believe that we will continue discussions to build a military hospital.
Military pensioners have received grants to solve housing problems?
One model for a permanent solution is to grant housing loans for military pensioners. For the amount of EUR 20,000 military retirees can purchase real estate in most cities throughout Serbia.18 months ago, when we offered this opportunity, we had1200 of them who signed the agreement. We expect that in the first four months of next year another300 will sign the contracts. During my mandate we resolved a total of 5000 housing, which is an absolute record when we think of a several decade long problem of not solving this vital problem
How many are still left with unresolved status?
There remain little more than 2,500 military pensioners who have not already resolved the issue, many members of the army, but among them are those who are in the army a year or two. The new model, building small settlements that are planning to build in Valjevo, Subotica and around Serbia, with the capacity we have, I expect that over the next four years to solve all questions of those who deserve and apartments in decades.
Are you satisfied with the reforms implemented?
We are a team which was rated the highest score of those who follow the reform in the military at home and abroad. We have completed the reform: pension fund, military education, health, military reform, we went on to Brigadier system, introduced professionalization, formed Defence University, the inspectorate for the security services ... In short, we carried out a reform to the best standard, and no extra money, which can not return to the old state.
How do you assess the results of the abolition of the regular military service?
It is interesting that there is a part of the "patriotic public," which mourns the more there is no obligation to do military service, and when asked whether they would now serve voluntarily and no desire. We have shown that it is possible to make a system that works well, but now that the Serbs and they like to go into soldiers. Today we have three times as many candidates for voluntary military service than we need.
Can existing soldiers defend the existing ground at the moment and composition, if necessary?
It's like asking whether it is better to have a professional do the work or an amateur. I think that in all lines of work, having a professional is better than amateurs. Finally we have a mature and army soldiers, who care about their work, their families, weapons, technology, and it's the ultimate benefit of professionalization of the army. With less money than we had before we hired professional soldiers, and those who wish to voluntarily provide serve in the army.
Is it true that since 1999 young men from Kosovo and Metohija have not received calls for compulsory military service and did not go into the army?
Since 1999 we have had some 8500 recruits from Kosovo and Metohija, which is a very small number of them who have served in the army. The then state leadership made in a decision that breached constitution that young men from Kosovo and Metohija are not to be sent calls to serve the army so we had an absurd situation on our hands that a minor number of young men from Kosovo in the last 12 years served the army in relation to recruiting potential.
What about young men who went into the army?
They were practically volunteers. Unfortunately, most promoters of Serbia in Kosovo did not have that kind of courage to send their own children operating military service, but they have the freedom to call other people's children to come and defend them in Kosovo.
The Army has received a new Chief of Staff, and more recently you said that it is nice to see how to sit together and discuss old and new chief. Can it be that the opposite is happening?
It was a practice that had existed for years in this ministry. Decisions were made practically overnight, and in the morning CHODs would receive information that they were dismissed. Today we have a carefully managed human resource policies which are at the official reception on the occasion of the appointment of new chief, addressed the guests and the old and the new chief.
For the new Chief of Staff you have only words of praise?
There were many outstanding candidates for the post, all experienced officers, real military leaders. These are officers who have contributed to the Serbian Army in terms of modernization and reform in the past four years. General Dikovic is first among equals, and he will only have greater responsibility in continuing the reforms. He makes an excellent collaborator and is respected by his fellow officers, which is very important for management.
