15.01.2020.
New Issue of “ODBRANA”
New Issue of “ODBRANA”
In terms of its content, January issue of magazine “Odbrana” is a unique recapitulation of the work of the defence system in 2019.
We remind you of an entire array of activities and significant meetings of the President of Serbia and Supreme Commander of the Serbian Armed Forces Aleksandar Vučić and Minister of Defence Aleksandar Vulin with high representatives of partner states and armed forces.
The Focus provides a display of the new helicopters with which the Armed Forces of Serbia have been equipped: Mi-35, H-145M and Mi-17. Colonel Slaviša Vlačić PhD, Head of Department for Military Aviation of the Military Academy writes in the Leading Article about importance of that step in terms of equipping the Serbian Armed Forces. He points out that it is not just about the renewal of the aviation technical assets, or about a partial solution to the problem, but about one more comprehensive approach, which singles itself out in relation to certain processes of aviation equipping in the surroundings.
Discussion with a reason is dedicated to the adoption of two most significant documents – the Strategy of National Security and Strategy of Defence. What are the novelties that they contain? – That is the question that we posed to Milan Ranković, Acting Assistant Minister for Defence Policy. He stressed that military neutrality, which had not been encompassed by previous strategies, was now identified as a particular defence interest of the Republic of Serbia. Also, the new strategy elaborates in greater detail a strategic concept of defence based on the model of total defence.
The column Stopping Point brings a text on the reestablishment of the 72nd Special Operations Brigade and the 63rd Parachute Brigade. Former commanders of those glorious units speak about their reestablishment.The column System is opened by the topic on voluntary military service – Second Training Centre of the Training Command. The reasons for voluntary service are different, from patriotic and moral, through traditional, to greater opportunities for employment, but all soldiers of December intake, who have been faced with military skills for the first time in Valjevo, all agree about one thing – the military training is a special challenge.
We bring you a text about the budget of the Ministry of Defence for 2020. Head of Department for Budget, Colonel Milan Milunović points out that the focus is placed on living standard, equipment and construction. Efforts have been made to ensure in this year as well, the continuation of the trend aimed at creating stronger, more modern and more satisfied armed forces,
Team of “Odbrana” departed for an Emplaced facility “Ševadske Livade” near Preševo, where our tank, mechanised and infantry units from the 4th Army Brigade have been engaged. They secure the administrative line with the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija 24 hours 365 days of the year.
The column Assets we have published a text on International Defence and Security Exhibition “Expodefensa 2019” held in Bogota. Our associate Vlade Radulović stayed in Columbia in the beginning of December and with photographs and words conveyed the atmosphere that prevailed at the Exhibition, and in the capital in the course of those days of the Exhibition. “Expodefensa 2019”, according to official announcement of the organiser, recorded more than 13,000 visitors, where 251 exhibitors from 26 countries of the world presented their products, services and upcoming upgraded conceptual solutions and prototypes.
In column Global – Comment Slobodan Reljić answers the question as to where this world goes and what the possible scenario for 2020 is.
We bring you an exclusive interview with Colonel Jacque Ogar. He comes from a military family and he listened from his father about the tradition of French-Serbian friendship. That is why he said to Serbian officers with whom he negotiated the entrance of French troops in Kosovo and Metohija: “I do not come as an enemy, but as a soldier who discharges his duty”. That is what he did – and he saved many Serbian lives.
In the column Global, Aleksandar Životić PhD, Professor at the Faculty of Philosophy in Belgrade, writes about Greek armed forces. He points out that Greece differs from the majority of old NATO members, in the fact that there exists general military obligation and manning its armed forces with professional servicemen, volunteers and male population serving nine-month conscription period. It should be noted that Greece refused to participate in NATO aggression against then Federative Republic of Yugoslavia.
We bring you several interesting texts in column Culture. In this issue you can read about the exhibition “Serbia in the Great War, 1914-1918”, which was jointly organised in the Cultural Centre of Serbia in Paris by Historical Archive Požarevac, Military Archives and Military Museum of the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Serbia. The attractive exhibition setup, which has attracted considerable attention of the French public, in documentary and style and supported by facts, presented the truth on war events, suffering and glorious victory of Serbia and allies in the First World War, with special regard for the war friendship between Serbian and French armed forces.
Art Historian Dejan Đorić, author of a text on the Artistic Collection of the Central Military Club, which contains many art works with the status of the national cultural treasure, and the very collection as a whole belongs to the most valuable collections not only in Serbia but in the area of former Yugoslavia. A voluminous monograph is dedicated to that collection which has been recently published by the Media Centre “Odbrana”.
How was Christmas celebrated in the Armed Forces of Principality of Serbia, and then in the Kingdom of Serbia and Kingdom of Yugoslavia, and how is it celebrated today? You can find out about that in the column Tradition.
Special Addition of the January issue of “Odbrana” brings the most significant results of work of the Ministry of Defence and Serbian Armed Forces in 2019.
CONTENT:
LEADING ARTICLE
Procurement of new helicopters
THE MOST SIGNIFICANT STEP IN EQUIPPING THE ARMED FORCES …………..3
IN FOCUS
Dynamic activities in the international plane
DEDICATION TO COOPERATION …………………………………………………….4
The Serbian Armed Forces equipped with new helicopters
GUARDIANS OF OUR COUNTRY AND SKY …………………………………………8
DISCUSSION WITH THE REASON
On the Strategy of National Security and Strategy of Defence with Acting Assistant Minsiter for Defence Policy Milan Ranković
MILITARY NEUTRALITY AS A SPECIAL DEFENCE INTEREST ………………….10
STOPPING POINT
Re-established brigades – 63rd Parachute and 72nd Special Operations
RISING OF THE BEST ……………………………………….………………………….14
SYSTEM
Voluntary military service – Second Training Centre of the Training Command
TEST OF CAPABILITIES AND WILL …………………………………………………..20
Budget of the Ministry of Defence for 2020
FOCUS ON STANDARD OF LIVING, EQUIPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION………..25
Ground Security Zone – Emplaced facility “Ševadske Livade”
THE PEACE IS KEPT BY ARMS AND HEART …………………………………………28
ASSETS
Defence and Security Exhibition in Bogota “Expodefensa 2019”
MARKET WITH GREAT POTENTIAL ………………………………………………….. 34
GLOBAL
Comment – 2020 possible scenario
WHERE IS THIS WORLD HEADING?.................................................................................39
INTERVIEW – Colonel JACQUES OGAR
I AM A PRODUCT OF THE HISTORY OF MY LIFE ……………………………………41
Views – Greek Armed Forces
SOUTHERN PILLAR OF NATO ………..…………………………………………………48
CULTURE
Exhibition “Serbia in the Great War, 1914-1918” in Paris marked the year behind us
DEFENCE AGAINST THE REVISION OF HISTORY……………………………………52
CADETS, AT EASE ………………………………………………………………………..55
Concert of the Artistic Ensemble of the Ministry of Defence
“WINTER INTERMEZZO” …………………………………………………..…………….55
Artistic Collection of the Central Military Club
VISUAL ART OF HUMAN VALUES ..................................................................................56
TRADITION
Celebration of Christmas in the armed forces
IN THE SPIRIT OF TOGETHERNESS …….………………………………………………59
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Service information, competitions ……………….………………………………………….62
SPECIAL ADDITION – 207
Ministry of Defence and Serbian Armed Forces in 2019
A YEAR OF GREAT INVESTMENTS AND NOTABLE RESULTS
