05.04.2020.
Minister Vulin: There are no armed forces in Europe that have as many different tasks and that are so successful in performing them
- We have about 6,000 beds that we can put at the disposal of health authorities in our country. Our job is to be ready for the worst-case scenario, namely, that thousands of people have relevant symptoms and need medical care. There is no healthcare system that can admit 6,000 people with mild symptoms at this moment. We must do this. If such a need arises, we have to make more than 6,000 beds available to our healthcare system. We should not shy away from it, nor are we announcing any catastrophic scenario – said the Minister of Defence Aleksandar Vulin in the Morning Programme on RTS channel.
He stressed that the equipping of the Belgrade Arena started yesterday and that it will be completed today, adding that when it comes to deadlines, "the deadline for the military is always ‘yesterday’".
- It is our job to do the task the moment we get an order from the President of the Republic and the Supreme Commander Aleksandar Vučić and the Crisis Response Team. We are here to carry out these orders and, as you can see, we are carrying them out - said Minister Vulin.
According to him, this is not the only engagement of the Serbian Armed Forces.
- We are helping the Ministry of Internal Affairs to secure the state border, we are securing all migrant camps, major health institutions and public facilities, all gerontology centres with more than 30 users, we are sending out patrols. I claim that there are no armed forces in Europe that have as many different tasks and that perform them so successfully - said the Minister of Defence.
Talking about all the challenges posed to the Serbian Armed Forces, Minister Vulin stressed that each of these tasks was "sufficient to engage an institution such as the Serbian Armed Forces".
- We carry out the orders of Supreme Commander and the Crisis Response Team, and our Serbia. That is the reason of our existence. The armed forces are there to serve their people at the most difficult times and they shows how organized they are and that there is no state without the military. Imagine that there is no military, imagine what Serbia would look like - said Minister Vulin, adding that those who served civilian military service have been called up these days because "help is definitely needed". According to him, our military is far smaller than it used to be, and there are more tasks, and that is why we are calling up reservists who have done military service in health institutions, who have basic knowledge of how the health system works and who perform non-medical tasks within their compulsory labour obligation.
- They are already engaged in Novi Sad, Belgrade, and in military hospitals. They have done military service and it is their duty to serve where they are deployed, where they can help – the Minister of Defence pointed out.
Talking about the Karaburma Military Medical Centre, Minister Vulin pointed out that upon receiving an order from the Supreme Commander of the Serbian Armed Forces, Aleksandar Vučić, a military hospital was established within 10 days in which oxygen has been provided and respirators will be installed.
- In 10 days we have provided 106 oxygen ports, which means about 60 places for respirators, and this completely renovated hospital will be provided with personnel as of 7.30am tomorrow and will be able to admit the first patients whenever requested by civilian structures - Minister Vulin stressed.
Furthermore, as the Minister of Defence added, thanks to private donors, a modern military hospital will be built in 15 days by reconstructing the existing facility and constructing an extension on the grounds of the Karaburma Military Medical Centre.
Referring to the importance of assistance from the People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation, which arrived in Serbia in the previous days bringing medical equipment and experts, Minister Vulin emphasized that any assistance is valuable to us.
It is especially important, as he emphasized, that experts came to Serbia, who fought and defeated coronavirus in China, as well as experts from Russia who were already working on these tasks. It is very important that we are able to hear valuable experiences and tips in the fight against Covid-19, so that their mistakes are not repeated here in Serbia, adding that the experts from China and Russia have generally supported the measures already implemented, offering advice on what should be corrected or accelerated.
