12.05.2022.
Minister Stefanović on various “experts” and their interpretation of compulsory military service
Statement by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Nebojša Stefanović, PhD:
"Like all responsible countries in the world, Serbia is arming and building strong Armed Forces, so that we can live in peace and stability. We are not threatening anyone, we are not causing danger to anyone, we are protecting our people and our country. At the same time, we are building the most concrete and visible bridges of cooperation ever with our neighbours in the region, in order to create better living conditions for all the people living in this area.
Serbia is not rattling sabres, nor is it comparing its military power with its neighbours, except in the minds of various quasi-experts. They turn a blind eye to the Open Balkan initiative, to the support we provide to all the countries in the Balkans on their European path, to all the vaccines and food we have been donating. For them, our southern province Kosovo and Metohija has existed as Kosovo for some time, and they view our idea of reintroducing compulsory military service as compensating for our complexes and showing the spirit of militarism. Meanwhile, these "experts" are trying to guess which military alliance Serbia will join. According to them, this is more important than compulsory military service, whose reintroduction our “backward” country, whom no one threatens, is considering. According to them, we are doing this to improve Aleksandar Vučić’s political rating.To begin with, our people gave Aleksandar Vučić historic support in recent election for the second time in a row, and they also place great trust in our armed forces. So, I would say that they need a better rating. Vučić and our armed forces certainly do not.
According to these "experts", Switzerland, Austria and the Scandinavian countries, which have compulsory military service, are backward countries threatened by everyone, so Serbia should not imitate them. Attempts to form the so-called Kosovo Armed Forces, contrary to international law, are an example of advocating peace, same as all the purchases of military equipment and weapons in the region. They must also think that the increase in military budgets of the most powerful EU countries, which are also NATO members, is also compensating for complexes.
I must also remind them that Serbia is a neutral country and it wants to stay neutral. In addition to that, Serbia is a sovereign and independent country that makes decisions exclusively in the interest of its people. As such, it will make a decision on the reintroduction of compulsory military service independently, as well as all other important decisions concerning defence.
The citizens’ opinion about the possibility of making such a decision is not crucial, but it is encouraging, because it shows a responsible attitude of the people towards important issues such as the country's defence. In order to make such a decision, we are doing thorough analyses based solely on the interests of our country, including its security and stability. The final decision on this issue will be made by the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia.
It is absolutely clear that there are many who would like to see a weak and powerless Serbia, with armed forces in ruins, as it once was. Such a Serbia would be a desirable partner for them to affirm their own interests. But today’s Serbia, led by Aleksandar Vučić, knows how to protect its interests and its future."
