23.11.2009.

Opening of Jug military base

The military base “Jug” in Cepotina, near Bujanovac was opened today in the presence of the President of the Republic Boris Tadic , Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic, Minister of Defense Dragan Sutanovac, SAF CHOD LTG Miloje Miletic and numerous guests from the Government, MoD, SAFm, military diplomatic corps, the Police and local self-government.

President Tadic, in his opening address, pointed out that the existence of this base near Bujanovac was the key guarantee of peace and stability in that region. “All the citizens of Serbia who want peace and stability and the best international relations should be content at seeing the opening of the base.

The President congratulated Minister Sutanovac for finishing the base during his mandate, underlining that this base had several benefits for Serbia and its army, as well as for the whole region in terms of security. He said that the base had a remarkable development potential as it would employ 1000 SAF members, which raises the employment rate in this region.

The President reminded that the continuation of the construction of Corridor 10 route was under way done jointly with our Greek partners. He stressed that both projects would enable the south of Serbia as well as of the region to develop thus encouraging the locals to continue to live in these areas, and to find work in their birthplaces.

The army, as President Tadic mentioned, was not only a guarantor of sovereignty but is also a key element in the state’s attempt to counter terrorism and organized crime. “ I expect the “Jug” base to be one of the key factors in preparing our armed forces to participate in peacekeeping missions, as assuming responsibility is Serbia’s precondition for its credibility in the world, as Tadic said.

He said that Serbia’s two main interests were EU membership, and preserving territorial integrity in Kosovo. Tadic added that Serbia would never desist from these two goals.

Only a country respected in the world could defend the interests of its citizens.

- A Serbia respected in the world will thus always be consulted when it comes to the future of SEE. Such Serbia will have its place in EU and will be a good neighbour to all the regional countries. It would act as a guarantor of prosperity, and the future of its every citizen, of every child and pensioner. That is the Serbia we should all believe in. I expect this from the society, and I ask this from all the SAF members-said the President, greeting the aligned units, with a shout: “Long live Serbia!”

Minister Sutanovac reminded that Jug base was the most important infrastructural facility to have been built in the last few decades by MoD, specifying that `1 bn 700 mn RSD had been invested in its construction.

Sutanovac announced the possibility of enlarging the base by additional 60 ha, in order to make it a training center for the participants of peacekeeping operations.

“It is our wish to make this base a model for other bases to be built in Serbia”, as Sutanovac said.

Stressing the importance of a civil-military cooperation, and the contribution of this base to a speedy economic development of the region, Sutanovac explained that, apart from making this base a place of work for many local people, it would also make available its medical capacities to the locals population.

The base is located 5 km from Bujanovac, on the left side of Beograd-Nis-Vranje-Bujanovac highway which leads to Serbian-Macedonian border. This compound covers 35 ha of land with 44 high-construction buildings covering the area of 22000 square meters. The military compound near Bujanovac will accommodate 1000 SAF members and has all the necessary equipment, weapons, non-combat vehicles, quartermaster equipment and other resources needed for daily functioning of the modern professional military unit. The base also has training capacities, as well as the capacities for logistics support, vacation and sports activities for the personnel. The base should soon also get 96 ha of land in its vicinity which will be used for training.

This is a modern facility f barracks type. It is different from other barracks in its concept and equipment and has the largest accommodation capacity. Each room has four separate beds, and is not a dormitory and has a separate sanitary facility. There is a complex of sports fields, a restaurant for 2000 people, an ambulance, a boiler room, a gas station, and a modern mechanics workshop. Furthermore, there is a number of storage facilities, of garages.

Jug provides optimal living and working conditions for 1000 army men and policemen, for the storing special equipment and technical equipment. The construction started in 2003, while the acquisition of land faced a number of stumbling blocks, impediments ending in 2005. After the Police desisted from the project, the compound was re-urbanized based on the tactical-technical requests posed by SAF GS. The new urban plan envisioned adapting the base to the military needs, and the construction was planned to take place in three stages in the period from 2008 to 2010.

The total value of the construction works and the infrastructure was estimated at 1.740.000 RSD. The third stage is to take place next year when the canteen, military club and a sports venue will be built.