01.12.2014.

Minister of Defence with representatives of veteran and tecnical military associations

Министар одбране са представницима ветеранских и струковних војних удружења

Minister of Defence Bratislav Gasic met at the Central Military Club with representatives of traditional veteran and technical military associations that cooperate with the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces of Serbia.

The meeting, for the first time held in such format with representatives of all associations was also attended by Head of the General Staff of Serbia General Ljubisa Dikovic, and members of the Collegium of the Minister of Defence and representatives of the Department for Tradition, Standard and Veterans.

The meeting proved that the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces of Serbia approach every issue seriously, Minister Gasic said.

- With project financing, we allocate significant funds for associations – around 4 million dinars per year. We wish to discuss all problems, including those from 2006 and 2008 about differences in pensions, about healthcare insurance of the military insured, plans for the future and people using the SAF objects where they pay for no expenses and have their own apartments in former Yugoslav republics – Minister of Defence said, adding that he was glad that he had the chance, with the Head of the General Staff and the associates, to introduce a practice of joint talks that had not existed before.

He conveyed his wish for similar traditional veteran and technical military organizations to merge and expand, so it would be known who the negotiations are lead with, and in order to be able to discuss all open issues in a more efficient way.

During the talks, where representatives of the associations talked about current issues of memberships, Minister Gasic repeatedly stated that the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces of Serbia are dedicated to achieving active cooperation, sincere and partnership relations, without ultimatums, based on understanding of circumstances the country is in today.

General Dikovic expressed hope that everybody saw today that the relation towards military-based associations has changed, and that it is up to the organizations to set goals that are socially acceptable and based on Serbia’s best interest.