10.05.2020.

Minister Vulin: Serbia should and can be proud of its armed forces and all their members

At today's press conference in the "Topčider" barracks, the Minister of Defence, Aleksandar Vulin, presented the engagement and results of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces during the state of emergency.

The conference was attended by the Chief of the General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces, General Milan Mojsilović, and the members of the Collegiums of the Minister of Defence and the Chief of the General Staff.

At the beginning of the conference, a moment of silence was observed to all those who died as a result of the coronavirus infection, including three members of the Serbian Armed Forces - civilian Miodrag Vulović from the Third Army Brigade in Niš, civilian Radivoj Beronja from the Army Training Centre in Požarevac and Sergeant First Class Nenad Bašić Palković from the First Training Centre in Sombor.

Minister Vulin pointed out that the fight against the coronavirus was not only the fight of the Serbian Armed Forces or the Ministry of Defence, "it was and still is the fight of the entire society, country and system."

- We have lost three comrades, two civilians and one serviceman. We have lost three people who were an important part of our system. Every human life that is lost is irreparable and no matter how small those numbers seem in relation to other countries and systems, or other parts of the system, for us, our three comrades are an irreparable loss. It is a terrible blow for us. We will miss them, their families know that the Serbian Armed Forces are there for them, that we will do everything to help, relieve the pain, just as the doctors did their best to save their lives - Minister Vulin emphasized and expressed gratitude to all the doctors who fought and who are still fighting for all the lives, and expressed his deepest condolences to the families of the deceased members of the Serbian Armed Forces. According to the Minister of Defence, 52 members of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces are currently infected, while 167 are in isolation. So far, about 300 members have been infected and none of them have severe symptoms and their condition is not life-threatening.

- One member was on a respirator at the Clinical Centre of Vojvodina, and thanks to doctors’ efforts and fight, he is now feeling much better and is no longer on a respirator, and we hope that he will be discharged from hospital on Monday - said the Minister.

As he pointed out, based on the assessment of risk and threats to the security of the Republic of Serbia and its citizens, made by the Ministry of Defence, i.e. the Military Health Department, the President of the Republic and the Supreme Commander of the Serbian Armed Forces, made the decision to declare a state of emergency on the territory of the entire country on 15th March, 2020, signed by the Prime Minister and the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia. At that time, the Ministry of Defence made an appropriate assessment that the development of the pandemic was such that it could endanger the health, lives and security of our country.

- We were given two tasks - to provide support to the civilian authorities and to preserve the operational capabilities of the Serbian Armed Forces. We immediately took on the tasks and the obligation of securing and controlling various facilities. More than 1,500 members of the Serbian Armed Forces were engaged daily, and not only the people who were engaged in providing security. Add to that number the people who took care of their logistics, health, organization and command. Add also the members of the Serbian Armed Forces who controlled the Ground Security Zone, and those who took care of the security of our skies and all those who did intelligence and counterintelligence work all the time - said Minister Vulin adding that members of the Serbian Armed Forces, together with the members of the Ministry of Internal Affairs controlled 18 border crossings.

The Serbian Armed Forces provided security to 51 health facilities in 24 cities and municipalities. The beginning of the engagement was on 16th March, and the forces were disengaged on 7th May. Their task was also to guard 20 reception and asylum centres housing about 8,000 migrants.

- From the first day, we made sure that they are safe, too, but also that they do not move anywhere. In that way we enabled their life to run smoothly, but also that the life of our citizens is not disturbed in any way. No migrant showed symptoms of coronavirus in our country, and I believe that it is because we put them in quarantine, we took care of their health and did not allow them to mix with our citizens - said Minister Vulin.

When it comes to securing and guarding reception and asylum centres, there were several serious incidents and the Serbian Armed Forces had to use firearms on three occasions without the use of deadly force, said Minister Vulin.

- No one was injured, a warning shot was fired into the air, an organized mass escape of migrants was prevented by the appropriate use of weapons, in accordance with the guard regulations and the Service Regulations. No soldiers or migrants were injured - Minister Vulin confirmed and added that each soldier had clear orders from the Chief of the General Staff and the Minister of Defence, that "no one must seize your rifle or injure you." And that didn't happen.

The Serbian Armed Forces also provided security to social welfare institutions, based on requests submitted by the Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs.

- We provided security to 153 social welfare institutions in 50 cities and municipalities. The directors or the owners of the institutions provided the members of the military with appropriate lists with the names of employees who are allowed to enter the institutions and all the people who were not on those lists could not and did not enter the institutions - said the Minister of Defence and added that, unfortunately, in Negotin, there was the case that the employees were infected, so they infected the users, and two soldiers who were securing that facility.

The Serbian Armed Forces showed that they were organized, ready and equipped even when it was necessary to establish temporary hospitals, the Minister of Defence confirmed. - Health experts agree that one of the reasons why the pandemic in our country stopped relatively quickly and why we had such a good response – is because we set up temporary hospitals. We have shown how fast and efficient we can be and work when needed. We established nine facilities in five cities and set up 5,122 beds - said Minister Vulin and added that the Serbian Armed Forces did that from their own funds and at the requests of crisis response teams.

He pointed out that the Serbian Armed Forces did not decide where the temporary hospitals would be set up, but the competent National Crisis Response Team decided where it was needed, and the Serbian Armed Forces accordingly fulfilled every order as quickly as possible.

- We received confirmation and praise for that from the Chinese experts, who called such examples "Serbian speed". A large number of our citizens spent certain time in the temporary facilities. To date, 1,092 people have been housed at the Belgrade Fair, 269 at the Novi Sad Fair, and 396 at the Čair Hall. At the moment, there are 70 people at the Belgrade Fair, and I expect that most of them, after today's testing, will be discharged from the hospital. There are 38 more patients at the Novi Sad Fair. At the Karaburma Military Medical Centre, there are currently 53 most severely ill patients, two of whom are on respirators - the Minister of Defence pointed out and added that a relentless media campaign was conducted against our hospitals, which was completely irresponsible and unfounded in reality.

- The people and the media who conducted such a campaign did not show responsibility towards the truth and the patients who were treated there. When they lied that the Belgrade Fair is a concentration camp, and that there were terrible and inhumane conditions there, they persuaded people not to report their symptoms at any cost and they gave them a message - you better stay somewhere, hide, and don’t report to the health authorities. They'll take you to a camp. Who knows how many people got sick or whose health condition worsened because of that, and who knows how many people could have been cured faster and easier if the irresponsible people had not behaved like that - said Minister Vulin.

- There were examples of some media announcing that a hunger strike was starting at the Belgrade Fair. We were there, the doctors were there and we were talking to the patients. Of course, no one knew anything about it, but an hour later, after the news leaked, people started wondering and organizing, they probably said “there must be something there”. Another example was that a 30 by 40 cm plasterboard fell from the ceiling, and in the news they said that the Fair’s roof collapsed on the patients. Nobody cared if some family would be worried and wonder what happened to someone who was at the Fair, if they were alive and well - said the Minister of Defence.

He added that there were examples of extreme irresponsibility. - You can understand a person who is at the Fair, who is ill, you can understand that they are angry and think that something unfair was done to them only. You can understand people’s behaviour, taking a photo of an empty liquid soap bottle 15 minutes before a new bottle is placed, but you cannot understand that an organized and deliberate campaign is being conducted, that false news is being deliberately released with the desire to hurt the government, disregarding the fact that you will hurt something that is more important than any government, the health and lives of the people - Minister Vulin emphasized.

- It is difficult for me to understand that, but, despite all that, all our patients are feeling well, the conditions are good, same as the food. The treatment and everything else that was necessary, was done properly. And to emphasize once again, free of charge. No one has been charged for a single medicine or meal, unlike many other richer countries around us, where all these things are paid for - said the Minister of Defence.

- A lot of our nationals were forced to leave the countries where they worked and lived because medical treatments are paid there, and I am infinitely grateful to our state and health care system for that, as well as to President Vučić for those difficult reforms in 2014, thanks to which we now have the money to pay for this - said Minister Vulin.

The Serbian Armed Forces suffered the heaviest blow in the first days when a large number of our citizens returned to Serbia.

- They had the right to return and we are proud and happy that they did and now I urge them not to leave and to stay in Serbia. You can see that we all return home when it is hardest. Then let us stay and it will be easier for all of us. At that time, tens, hundreds of thousands of our citizens had to be received. Due to that, the armed forces established 18 facilities for medical supervision of our citizens who arrived from abroad.

Our citizens were tested, received medical treatment, and were kept in these facilities until their quarantine period expired - the minister emphasized adding that there were examples of their indiscipline, citing the example of passengers who were disciplined at the Paris airport while they for a few days, and then when they arrived in Serbia, "they tore the masks off the faces of our soldiers, claiming that they were healthy and wanted to leave."

- There were also examples of disciplined people who showed sacrifice and understanding. They are all grateful to the Serbian Armed Forces for receiving and taking care of them - said Minister Vulin.

In the continuation of the conference, the Minister of Defence spoke about another important task – the disinfection of facilities and public areas and pointed out that the 246th CBRN Battalion was engaged in more than 60 locations, and about 48 hectares, 1,290 facilities, 4,150 kilometres of roads and 7,500 people were disinfected.

- Our CBRN unit has shown its value and importance and I am certain that in some future reorganization within the military, there will be talks about the CBRN component getting a more prominent role in our military, as it once had, if the Chief of General Staff and the military profession agree. Times have changed and we must respond to these changes - said Minister Vulin.

- More than 2,200 vehicles were used, which covered more than 900,000 kilometres. We transported about 43,000 people and 29,000 tons of cargo. The Serbian Armed Forces also showed how organized they are. Imagine what it would be like without the military, who would have performed all these tasks if there hadn’t been for these people and if we hadn't prepared for all this for years. No army prepares for a pandemic, there is no state or army that prepares for a virus, but the Serbian Armed Forces have been preparing, equipping and strengthening for years in order to respond to every need of their citizens, and this is one of those - the Minister of Defence emphasized.

Speaking about the military health care, Minister Vulin pointed out that, thanks to the engagement of our members, a Covid hospital was established in the Karaburma Military Medical Centre in just 10 days. This hospital, that was once in charge of recruiting soldiers and most of which has been abandoned since the 1990s, was turned into a modern, new hospital, one of the best Covid hospitals in our country.

- It now has 100 beds, oxygen supply system with 106 connections was installed, and at this moment 60 respirators can be placed there. So far, 157 of the most severely ill patients have been treated in that hospital. With great pride and gratitude to the health professionals who work at Karaburma MMC, I want to emphasize that to this day not a single one of them has been infected - said Minister Vulin and added that they work with the most seriously-ill patients who are on respirators, as well as with those who have medium to severe symptoms of the disease, and they managed to avoid getting infected thanks to discipline, organization and equipment, which is a great compliment to their commanders and to each of them.

The Minister highlighted that each of those health professionals volunteered for the job, adding that it was mostly young people who volunteered to do the hardest and riskiest job.

- In 12 days, we managed to build a completely new hospital thanks to the donation of the "Termomont" company and its partners, within the Karaburma MMC. We reconstructed 1,000 square meters and added another 300 square meters, and it is now a hospital with 60 beds, with medical gas supply system installed and completely ready to admit the most seriously-ill patients - Minister Vulin emphasized.

He especially stressed that it was important to be ready and prepared for the situation that befell us, and that the importance of military health care was recognized in time, so during the pandemic, amidst the crisis, 95 people, medical staff, professional and support staff were hired under permanent employment contracts. Before that, in recent years, more than 400 medical workers were hired, which would not have been possible if we had not prepared for that on time and made possible by the budget.

Speaking about the Military Medical Academy, Minister Vulin recalled that the Military Medical Academy was not a Covid hospital based on the opinion of the Chinese doctors, taking into consideration its central air conditioning system, but it took over the treatment of civilian patients.

- Since it got its new role, more than 12,000 citizens have been examined at the triage-reception point, 6,520 patients have been taken care of at the Emergency Centre, 1,967 patients have been admitted for inpatient treatment, and 1,095 surgical procedures have been performed. The Military Medical Academy gave its contribution and all the patients who came to the Military Medical Academy, regardless of whether they were civilians or military were taken care of and given medical attention and necessary help - Minister Vulin pointed out, adding that the same was done in the Military Hospital in Niš, which took over the treatment of civilian patients, where 283 of them have been admitted so far, and 715 patients have been examined in Covid infirmaries.

Minister Vulin added that the Military Hospital in Novi Sad also took over the treatment of civilians, where general practitioners examined 3,155 patients and 111 specialist examinations were performed. 17,195 patients have been examined at the Centre for Military Medical Institutions in Belgrade, and another 2,411 patients at the Slavija and New Belgrade Military Medical Centres.

- Military healthcare has shown that it is necessary, that it can help everyone, not only military personnel, but everyone who needs help - Minister Vulin pointed out. Speaking about the work of the Serbian Defence Industry during the state of emergency, Minister Vulin said that the Defence Industry is not intended to fight viruses, but that its task is to make weapons, but that its companies and employees showed great ability to adapt in a very short time, and put their production capacities and knowledge at the service of the fight against the coronavirus.

- "Zastava Tervo" managed to master the technology and make an ambulance in just a few days. "Prva iskra" from Barič started producing disinfectants. "Trial" from Kruševac produced different types of protective gloves and protective half-face and full-face masks. "Prva petoletka" from Trstenik started producing protective visors. "Milan Blagojević Namenska" from Lučani started producing alcohol, which was sent for further processing. "Jumko" from Vranje produced two types of protective masks. The entire Defence Industry worked, taking great care that all the recommendations of the competent crisis response teams were respected and that the health of the employees was not endangered in any way.

The Serbian Armed Forces had and still has the honour of hosting delegations from the People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation, who came to Serbia to help fight Covid-19. Minister Vulin pointed out that he was very proud of the praise that the delegation of the Chinese experts gave for the work of our military health care and temporary hospitals.

According to the Minister of Defence, the medical and NBC teams of the Russian Armed Forces in Serbia have shown great discipline and industriousness. So far, Russian NBC teams have worked at 122 locations with 190 field trips, and in 37 cities in Serbia, they have disinfected facilities with a total area of 1,650,000 square meters and 465,000 square meters of public areas. Russian medical teams worked at 140 locations with 233 field trips and examined and treated more than 800 patients.

When it comes to military education, Minister Vulin says that the cadets of the Military Academy and the students of the Military Grammar School and the Secondary Vocational Military School did not miss out on the curriculum thanks to the introduction of distance learning via 24-hour platform with 401 subjects and courses.

- Due to the specific nature of certain jobs, the Serbian Armed Forces have done something that the rest of the education system has not, and that is making a brave decision, based on the opinion of doctors, that students of the Secondary Vocational Military School’s Air Force and Air Defence Department and cadets of the Military Academy’s Air Force Module should not interrupt their schooling during the pandemic. All of them were in quarantine, where they had classes without interruption, and did practical training and none of them got infected.

Minister Vulin points out that none of the cadets of the Military Academy, students of the Military Grammar School, and members of the reserve over the age of 30, who were sent home during the state of emergency, were infected with Covid-19 and that they had all been previously examined. - Also, we called up a small number of reservists and 23 of them were retired doctors who volunteered - stated Minister Vulin.

One hundred and twenty-eight members of the reserve who had completed their military service in health centres were engaged for seven days each, and, as the Minister emphasized, "all came healthy and left healthy". In addition to all these tasks, Minister Vulin emphasizes that the Serbian Armed Forces also had an order from their supreme commander that they must maintain and partially improve their combat readiness.

- All our operational capabilities have been preserved; all planned tasks have been carried out, as well as additional tasks related to the fight against coronavirus. The Serbian Armed Forces took care of their country as if the situation was normal, as if all our members were deployed where they should be, as if they were not doing additional tasks. Our skies were guarded, as well as our borders. We paid attention to what was happening to Serbs outside Serbia, our military was ready to respond to any challenge in any second. By orders of the Supreme Commander and the Chief of the General Staff, the appropriate units were sent to the barracks, where they were on stand-by to respond if anything happened in our country - said the Minister of Defence.

- All members of the Serbian Armed Forces did their job, even more than what their job required. None of them were prepared or trained for a virus, but they all fought in the places where they were ordered to be, they carried out orders, they did their best. The percentage of personnel on sick leave, which speaks a lot, is smaller than it was in the same period last year in normal circumstances. The percentage of personnel on sick leave started to drop after the declaration of the state of emergency, it started to decrease the moment the state of emergency was declared. People returned, often neglecting their own health. I am very proud of the members of the Serbian Armed Forces who stayed in the Ground Security Zone longer than they were supposed to. It is not easy to be in the barracks or in some base, far from your family. But no one refused to fulfil the order, no one left the unit or the facility of their own free will, no one protested or showed indiscipline. That is why I am proud of every member of the Serbian Armed Forces, and Serbia should be proud of such military - said the Minister of Defence.

He emphasized that the armed forces have preserved their combat readiness. The Mi-35 helicopter crew fired missiles from that aircraft for the first time, the "Miloš" unmanned platform was tested once again, sniper training and shooting practice of sniper units was carried out unhindered, soldiers who are voluntary military service did more than what was required from them, no one left the barracks or went home, everyone understood why they were so needed.

- All of them did their best and without them, neither the setting up of temporary hospitals and the Karaburma MMC, nor anything else would have been possible. Those young people did their best and made us proud, as we are proud of their commanding officers who taught them to be such soldiers. But they did not become such people thanks to us, but thanks to their parents and their country. That is why I am infinitely proud that more than 80 percent of the soldiers who volunteered for military service in the March class expressed their intention to stay in the military and become professional soldiers. We couldn't get a bigger compliment than that and a bigger reinforcement. Therefore, at the suggestion of the Chief of General Staff, and by order of the Supreme Commander, all soldiers in the March class were promoted to a higher rank based on merit and that is our way of thanking them and showing them how much we value their work - said Minister Vulin.

As he pointed out, the development of new assets continued. - For the first time since 1991, the Serbian Armed Forces fired a 40 kilometer-range missile from "Nora". We did the same with the modular "Oganj" system. I cannot remember when something like that happened in this country, but it did happen in these most difficult moments, and I thank everyone who made it possible for us - said Minister Vulin.

Speaking about the Serbian Armed Forces after the lifting of the state of emergency, the Minister said that most of the forces have already been disengaged and in accordance with the order of the Supreme Commander, the military is returning to its regular tasks.

- We are returning to the barracks, to the training grounds, to the places where the military should be, but we are always completely ready to be at the service of our country and people. The Serbian Armed Forces have shown how precious they are to their country; they have shown what kind of people they have. The battle against the coronavirus was not fought with weapons or equipment. It was led by people through their organization, training, and dedication to their vocation and above all to their country. I am infinitely proud of all members of the Serbian Armed Forces, but more than anything, the state of Serbia should and can be proud of its military and all members of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces - concluded the Minister of Defence Aleksandar Vulin at today's press conference.

You can download the presentation on the engagement and results of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed forces here