31.07.2012.

Minister of Defence visits GS

First Deputy Prime Minister responsible for defense, security and the fight against corruption and crime, and Defence Minister Aleksandar Vucic visited the SAF General Staff.

On that occasion, Minister Vucic met with the SAF CHOD Lt. Gen. Ljubisa Dikovic the first official visit of the newly appointed Minister of Defense to General Staff began with a ceremonial welcome.

Welcoming minister Vucic and on behalf of the Serbian Armed Forces, General Dikovic wished Minister every success in carrying out these functions.

We shall acquaint the minister of defence with the purpose, organization and main tasks of the Army of Serbia, as well as officers in key managerial and command positions in our Armed Forces - said General Dikovic.

According to him, the Serbian Army and all its members are working hard to preserve operational military capabilities, primarily in order to continue carrying out its constitutional duties to strengthen security to help protect the citizens of Serbia and territorial integrity of our country.

Thanking for warm welcome, Minister Vucic said he was well aware of the obligations and responsibilities that await him, based on yesterday's talks with some of the most important representatives of the defense system.

- I can promise that there will be more money in that part which relates to investments in equipment and weapons for our military. I expect that the social status of officers, noncommissioned officers and soldiers will not be worse, and we will do our best to improve it- said minister Vucic, adding that a difficult and serious task is before him, but, as he said, if members of the defense system are not satisfied with what is being done then he will not be a good minister. He also expressed his belief that the reputation of our army will not be disturbed, but that it would rather grow and the army will always be with its people.

- We will do all we can to sell around the world everything we produce in the seven factories of the Serbian defence industry and thus provide more jobs for our people to operate the factory, thus providing more money for investments – as Minister Vucic said on that occasion announcing the upcoming air show to be held on 2 September on the occasion of a century Serbian air force.
Responding to reporters' questions, Minister Vucic said that Serbia would not be a member of any military alliance, but that as a member of Partnership for Peace Programme it would continue to develop the cooperation required by the programme, respecting the Constitution and parliamentary declaration of military neutrality. As noted, Serbia will have talks with the representatives of all countries with which Serbia has a military cooperation.

Vucic said that there would be some personnel changes in SAF and MoD but that he and President Nikolic are satisfied with the work done by the Chief of General Staff Ljubisa Dikovic and a large number of officers. The Minister said that he was in no hurry to make personnel changes, because "first we want to get to know the situation and the people."

Minister Vucic announced that the state leadership would discuss the issue of Kosovo and Metohija in August in order to reach a consensus.