09.01.2021.
Sputnik's interview with Minister Stefanović: We will be conducting exercises with other countries as of March or April
VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=421nWHiQtwI
The Government’s decision to suspend military exercises is in force until 8 March, and after that I expect them to be held in compliance with preventive measures against Covid-19 because we do not want to jeopardize soldiers’ health. However, I think that conditions will be met for us to start conducting military exercises with other armed forces by March or April, Minister of Defence Nebojša Stefanović told Sputnik exclusively.
He adds that it will also depend on other countries’ plans because many of them cancelled military exercises in 2020, whether we wanted to participate in them or not. That is why he expects this year to be more favourable for conducting military exercises.
Less than three months ago you took over the defence department – could you try to assess the equipment and readiness of the Serbian Armed Forces?
— Despite the great work done by my predecessors, it can still be felt that until 2012 there was very little or no investment in the military. It is horrible when you get into a situation where you need absolutely everything and realize that the military is not prepared to perform tasks, and that the citizens have complete confidence in the military and expect it do everything. Since 2012, we have had continuous investment and today we have incomparably stronger aviation than we had before and anti-aircraft systems, but we are also upgrading our own products. When we started with Lazar, Miloš, Little Miloš, Pasars, when we discarded Nora and digitalized Oganj, we showed that our military is quite capable and that these people are our treasure to whom we can entrust modern technology. I have a huge job to do and it is not an easy job, but it is my task to make this equipping process even more efficient, to provide protection for every soldier, to provide a sufficient number of armoured personnel carriers and ballistic equipment for everyone, to provide modern infantry weapons, to invest in domestic industry and use the know-how of domestic experts.
We are being reprimanded by our neighbours for arming ourselves too much. Is it jealousy or is it just their cry for help and an attempt to get more funds for their armament?
— When the Serbian Armed Forces were weaker and not so well equipped, they were liked by everyone in the region. However, our armed forces have improved their capacities and we want to be capable of performing all tasks without endangering anyone. We are fighting for our country’s stability and we wish the same to our neighbours. We do not mind their decisions, but we want to be a country that makes all decisions on its own, and we also want to invest in our armed forces, which is not a threat to anyone. These are just the abilities of the armed forces to deter anyone who thinks of attacking Serbia. The stronger our armed forces, the more malicious comments, but the fewer threats to our country. And that is the essence of this whole policy.
After Macedonia’s NATO accession, the question is whether Serbia is threatened by the members or is this additional security?
— We want to be a neutral country, we do not want to be part of any military alliance, and we also respect the decisions of neighbouring countries to make decisions about their security. We want to build good, primarily economic relations with North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia, Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania. These are our closest neighbours. NATO is also present on the territory of our southern province as KFOR, with which we have good cooperation. The Chief of the General Staff, General Milan Mojsilović, maintains communication with the KFOR commanders, and in some tense situations, they managed to find means to at least partially ease that tension. Has KFOR always been able to completely fulfil all our expectations? Certainly not, but we are also fully aware that they must protect the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija, because their security is in danger.
Does that exclude cooperation with other superpowers?
— Of course not. Being neutral is a complex issue, but on the other hand it gives us more leeway to cooperate with everyone. I don't understand why anyone would resent us for learning from others how to be more efficient, for exploring the possibility of sharing knowledge with others and ultimately, as soldiers say, military interoperability is increasing. The cooperation of our armed forces with others has improved. This is evident in peacekeeping missions around the world now.
Is there a plan to increase military cooperation with the Russian Armed Forces?
— In 2020, our military cooperation with everyone was somewhat reduced due to Covid, and this is not unique to Serbia. I hope that the Ministry of Defence’s ambitious plans for cooperation with not only the Russian Federation will be implemented in 2021, and I expect perhaps a record number of activities. I think that this cooperation has so far contributed to the strengthening of our armed forces and our capabilities, of course bearing in mind that most of the equipment we have is either Soviet or Russian made, or produced in Yugoslavia based on Russian production.
Our state’s strategy is to rely on our military industry. Serbian experts are working on the development of new weapons and equipment that will become part of our armament. What is the situation with manpower, do we have enough experts?
— Could there be more? There can always be more. I would like a lot of people to work in the defence and security systems, but unlike some previous times when having a job in some government body was a kind of refuge, today there is a competition for knowledge, for young people and we fight for officers, engineers, mechanics, cooks, drivers, for everyone, because the labour market offers well-paid jobs in the private sector as well. That is why we need to strive to be better, to offer more. My job is to put all my strength into trying to keep young people and hire new ones. But it is a challenge.
Will the announced 5 and 10 percent salary increases motivate young people to apply for professional military service?
— Starting the project to build housing for security personnel, including the military, was also an important move. They must not worry about whether their families have a roof over their heads when they go on assignments. Another important thing besides equipment, technical means and uniforms are of course salaries. We are grateful to the president for recognizing that, so we will be able to bring about this additional 17-18% salary increase for soldiers and ten percent for officers. We believe that it is great honour to work for our country, but we also strive to follow market realities.
The reform of the Serbian Armed Forces has been talked about for a long time. Are there any plans to reinstate conscription and when could this happen?
— We have been considering this seriously for quite some time. I just wanted to start a process where all the elements that influence this decision would be clearly seen - from the length of the military service, to the financial aspect to what the armed forces gain from this. As I hear, you can't train a young man well in a month or two, nor does the military benefit from this, because as soon as they learn something they have to go home. So we need more time and that’s why we listen to experts. Our goal is to have a reserve. I believe that we will make a decision by the end of the year, but it is not realistic for this process to start this year, because we really have a lot of work ahead of us.
The military has provided a wholehearted assistance to citizens since the outbreak of the pandemic. How does military health care work? Do you have enough professional staff and what is missing for you to be fully satisfied?
— There is always room for improvement. I am grateful to the people in the defence system for working day and night. We can always try to increase the number of staff. Together with the Ministry of Energy, we have launched a project to completely renovate the Military Medical Academy. I hope we will be able to build a new heating plant this year that would provide heating to the Military Medical Academy. This would be a precondition for the beginning of works on the reconstruction of that building, which is the largest hospital of its kind in this part of Europe.
