31.07.2018.
Minister Vulin gives interview to the Belarusian Army Magazine
Only a strong, well-equipped army is capable of protecting the country and guaranteeing peace, Defence Minister Aleksandar Vulin said in just published interview in the Belarusian Army Magazine.
Responding to questions by journalist Larisa Kucherova, Minister Vulin first said that the world, unfortunately, is not changing for the better and becomes more and more dangerous and distrustful. “Bombing of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia has shown all the vulnerability and imperfection of the mechanisms of respecting international law. Only returning to the framework of international law can guarantee the strengthening of stability and security on the planet. Serbia has no confidence in military alliances and therefore adheres to the principle of military neutrality.
Assessing the situation in the Balkans, Minister Vulin pointed to the fact that the Balkans is at the crossroads of two civilizations: the Eastern and the Western one. “And when you build a house at the intersection of roads, various people come to you as guests; both those who wish to be good guests, and those who intend to conquer your house.” Serbia is exactly in such a place, at the crossroads, where the crashes are frequent, Vulin said, but he expressed readiness to resist every conqueror.
Vulin emphasized that Serbia is actively participating in the processes of ensuring security in the region, developing fruitful cooperation with all neighbours. In broader relations, it is the participant of the NATO Partnership for Peace Programme which represents the maximum level of interaction with the North Atlantic Alliance. “We are trying to be good friends both with the East and the West, because we have no other way”, Vulin said, emphasizing that “Serbia will always, unconditionally, strengthen friendship with its permanent partners, Belarus and Russia, that have always been with us and supported us in the most difficult moments of our history.”
When asked what the Serbian Armed Forces present today, Minister Vulin said that it is an army equipping at fast pace, constantly increasing the level of readiness of its members, the state authority in Serbia that the people respects the most. The Serbian people have confidence in their army.
Minister Vulin pointed to the fact that the Serbian Armed Forces pays great attention to strengthening its capabilities and modernizing weapons and equipment. Also, the Serbian military industry is developing at an accelerated pace, and one of the indicators is last year's export revenue of $ 586 million. The expectation is that this year's exports will be significantly enlarged, for which the Serbian military industry has good bargaining chips. Among the strongest ones there are the new multi-purpose armoured fighting vehicle “Miloš”, “Lazar-3” armoured vehicle, Nora B-52 self-propelled howitzer, unmanned aircraft and assault rifle with replaceable barrel and two calibres of ammunition - 6.5 x 39 mm and 7.62 h 39 mm.
In his interview to the Belarusian Army Magazine, Minister Vulin also talked about the significance of participation of the Serbian Armed Forces in peacekeeping missions, education of military personnel, defence sector reforms and a new normative framework for strengthening the defence potentials of the Republic of Serbia.
