23.04.2020.
Minister Vulin: The Serbian Armed Forces are doing their best in the fight against coronavirus
The Minister of Defence Aleksandar Vulin congratulated all the SAF members and citizens of the Republic of Serbia on the Serbian Armed Forces Day, and said that we can never say where the military stops and where the people start and "that is why they win."
He announced the opening of a new hospital at the “Karaburma” Military Medical Centre on the Morning program of Radio-Television Serbia, and thanked the “Termomont” company and its partners for this valuable donation.
Minister Vulin emphasized that everything within the jurisdiction of the Serbian Armed Forces was put at the disposal for the fight against Covid-19, but also for all other citizens’ needs.
- Members of the Serbian Armed Forces are engaged everywhere. Wherever it is needed - the military is there. We guard border crossings together with the Ministry of Internal Affairs, migrant and reception camps with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Commissariat for Refugees, 150 social infrastructure facilities, and significant medical facilities. We have set up temporary hospitals and we guard them, our health care workers take care of the patients, so there is no segment of life where the Serbian Armed Forces have not given their maximum - said the Minister of Defence.
According to Minister Vulin, every member of the Serbian Armed Forces is taken care of on a daily basis.
- Both I and the Chief of the General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces, and above all, the Supreme Commander of the Serbian Armed Forces receive a report on the health status of all our members. Those with mild symptoms of Covid-19 are generally treated at home. We have two members who are in a very serious condition and doctors are fighting for them. They are in the Clinical Centre of Vojvodina, and the rest have mostly been discharged for home treatment - said Minister Vulin.
Minister Vulin said that the Serbian Armed Forces have preserved their combat readiness and all their capabilities, regardless of the additional engagements of their members during the state of emergency in the Republic of Serbia.
- Serbian Armed Forces are able to protect themselves, to protect the Serbs no matter where they live, to protect their skies, their sovereignty and integrity. The Supreme Commander of the Serbian Armed Forces and the President of the Republic, Aleksandar Vučić, insists that the military must always be able to fulfil all its constitutional tasks. We strive and succeed in preserving our combat readiness and all our abilities regardless of the coronavirus - said Minister Vulin.
Asked when the Serbian Armed Forces will have exercises with the armed forces of other countries, Minister Vulin said that, given the current situation with the coronavirus, it cannot be said with certainty at this moment.
- At this point, several different military exercises should have been underway with both the countries of the East and the countries of the West. Everything has been postponed to September or October this year. Nobody can tell you at this point if or when these exercises will be held - said the Minister of Defence.
Minister Vulin also referred to the deepening of the cooperation between the armed forces of Serbia and the People's Republic of China and emphasized the importance of the assistance received from the Ministry of Defence of the People's Republic of China, the arrival of Chinese expert doctors in Serbia and the letter of support sent by General Zhang Youxia on behalf of the Central Military Commission of the People's Republic of China.
- We are not alone. There is the People's Republic of China, the Russian Federation, the European Union and Turkey that have sent aid. This feeling of not being alone and having support in Serbia’s fight is very important to us - said Minister Vulin on the Morning program of Radio-Television Serbia.
