21.05.2013.

Minister Vucic with female members of SAF

First Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Aleksandar Vucic, today visited female members of SAF in the representative facility of Dobanovci. During the meeting, the Minister met with members of the defense system and then a demonstration of their skills in various segments was performed.

Serbian Armed Forces demonstrated skills in the field of modern weapons, training guide dogs, breeding and training to the Minister, as well as the field of signaling and medical services. The female members of Kobra battalion also demonstrated their skills, as well as the members of the special brigade.

Minister Vucic congratulated all the women who today demonstrated the capabilities of SAF in a remarkable manner, and expressed that he was proud of and satisfied with their knowledge, expertise and training while.

- The number of female members of the Serbian Army is increasing each year, especially the number of cadets at the Military Academy. I am very pleased and proud of all the ladies who have done the job brilliantly, with great love for their country, having seen that their knowledge, expertise and preparedness enables them to compete with anyone, and to protect and preserve their country, the minister said, adding that the government will do its best to improve the status of women in the defence system as well as in the Serbian society is the same as the position of men.

In his answer to reporters' question about his impressions and whether he was satisfied with the capabilities Kobra members had displayed, Vucic said that soon, the team responsible for his security will have female members of Kobras. He also expressed confidence that the Serbian Army, next year, will get its first female generals, which will mark a new era for all of us next year.

As regards the reporters question about the standard of living of the SAF members, Vucic said that the defense system shares everything affects the society and to deal with numerous problems.

- I expect that by the end of the year we have launched a new policy regarding the provision of housing of military personnel. I hope that the smart and wise policy of Serbia, will in the future enable women in the military to see the progress, prosperity and be more motivated. According to him, the Army of Serbia and the Ministry of Defence has a large, responsible and serious system that makes the fewest problems in the country, which has people who work in the best interest of the people and the country, and is therefore obliged to help them.

When asked by female members of the defense system how the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces will react at the meetings dedicated to regional cooperation towards the representatives of the provisional institutions of Kosovo, Minister Vucic said he will comply with the decision of the Government of Serbia in September last year. He noted that the Kosovo Security Forces as a term first appeared last year, and that the documents do not specify, but can be subsumed under the term provisional institutions of self-government in Pristina, which is in use.

- Everything will be done in accordance with the government's decision adopted in September last year. We are well aware under what conditions, and how to react. These forces cannot be referred to as a Kosovo army or anything like that, but rather as temporary institutions, but if they do not want to agree, then we are against such a policy and we shall abide by the decision of the government, as Vucic stressed, adding that the this was the best and most rational solution.

Lt. Col. Mirjana Milenkovic, responsible for International Military Cooperation in the Office of the Chief of the General Staff, said that a growing number of girls are choosing a military career and entering the Military Academy.

- I hope that what we have shown here today, will only at least change the prejudice that women are not destined for a military job. There is an increasing number of women in the military, it is in part because of their commitment, in part they meet the needs of the defense system, in part, the need to meet modern standards, said Lt. Col. Milenkovic. She explained that the standards envision that 10 and 15 percent should be women in uniform but at the moment there is less than 5 %.

- The most important thing is that all these women have chosen their call motivated by professionalism and love of military calling. I hope that with the improvement of the social and material standards the status of female members of the Army of Serbia and the Ministry of Defense, not only in aspects of life, but also in terms of promotions and advancements, said Lt. Col. Milenkovic.

More than 1,000 women are represented in all categories of service in the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces, all this with the aim to enforce gender equality.

A significant contribution to the reform of the defense system has been the development and implementation of the National Action Plan for the implementation of Resolution 1325 of the Security Council of the United Nations - Women, Peace and Security in the Republic of Serbia.

In order to promote gender equality in the security sector and the representation of women in the defense, a very successful cooperation with international institutions, including the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UN agency for gender equality and empowerment of women, the Mission and the Project NATO Gender Perspective: Women leaders in defense has been established.