21.01.2022.
Minister Stefanović about Orchestrated Attacks and Slighting of the Guard
Statement of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Nebojša Stefanović PhD:
“The orchestrated attacks and slighting by various supporters of Đilas, who reveal themselves, will not stop our efforts and resolved intention to continue, in accordance with economic capabilities of the country, enhancing the standard of living of all members of the defence system and their families. Their obvious nervousness caused by the strengthening of the Serbian Armed Forces only confirms that we are doing the right thing.
While some of them about allegedly irrefutable facts and their fight for the soldiers’ rights, I will remind you today as well of some facts. If you find that disarmament and driving away 30,000 people from the armed forces at the time when this country was led by Đilas, Tadić, Jeremić and other, were an excellent thing, and that the salary of 368 euros from that time was much better than today’s 645 euros, whose rights are actually fighting for? If it is better to have 20,000 servicemen without the roof over their heads, which was the “result” bequeathed by your political comrades, than the fact that 1500 people have resolved their housing issue in the last year alone, how exactly are you fighting for the servicemen?
Unlike such “fighters”, I am proud of the fact that along with previous two salary increases of 17 per cent, they have received yet another 8 per cent salary increase. I am proud of Serbia headed by Aleksandar Vučić, which, at the time of COVID pandemic, managed to increase the salaries of our servicemen and repay them their dedicated work. Also, I am not bothered when the above mentioned “fighters” say that it is not an increase whatsoever. According to them, 70 per cent lower salary from the time of Đilas, Tadić, Jeremić was great for a soldier. I find noting great of excellent in their systematic and thorough destruction of the Serbian Armed Forces carried out at the time when they governed Serbia. On the contrary, I am saddened by the fact how difficult it is to right all far-reaching consequences of their “golden age” for the armed forces. However, we will persist in doing it.
Their today’s continuation of slighting members of the Serbian Armed Forces Guard show perfectly well how much they fight for the servicemen and their rights. That is an elite unit of the Serbian Armed Forces with almost two centuries long tradition, whose members make immense effort every day to execute their tasks, which are multiple. At that, they are stationed in Belgrade where the costs of living are considerably higher than anywhere else in Serbia. Apart from paying military honours, members of the Guard perform numerous other tasks and it is a shame when someone who presents himself as their colleague calls them a protocol unit. My position is unwavering that they deserve additional 10 per cent increase, which they will receive, while the swindler’s question “Where did you, Nebojša, find the money for that?” is disgusting.
In terms of lawful, responsible and economical approach to resources allocated from the budget, according to the evaluation of responsible bodies, the Ministry of Defence is an example of good practice in the public sector. The disposition and allocation of resources in line with the Law on Budget and Budget System Law is no financial alchemy. However, the true alchemy is the manner in which the accounts of private companies owned by Dragan Đilas, with whom for instance the union “Sloga” is in political alliance, multiply by hundreds of million euros at the time when he was in power in this country. The fact that members of the Guard will receive higher salaries is deserved by hard work, but belittling them can only be called the shame and disgrace of someone who poses as their colleague.
The fact that this is pure misguidance and malice is best supported by the proposal to use the said money to introduce stimulating rewards for the hardest workers regardless of the unit they belong to. We have already been paying an additional payment for members of all units for the work which significantly surpasses the regular level and quality of work engagement. If those were the true protectors of the interests of the employees, they would already know that.”
