18.11.2010.
Minister's interview to Narodne novine
"Professionalization of the Army is the most important part of the defense reform and perhaps the biggest reform ever implemented in our society. It is not just a reform of the army, but a much wider process, thanks to which several thousand people will be able to get a job, 'said the Official Gazette Minister Dragan Sutanovac.
"The ratio of candidates to the number of vacancies in the army shows that the army has restored the once lost trust of people in it and that young people recognize it as their own also from the standpoint of patriotism and as an opportunity for advancement in life," said the minister.The armed forces of Serbia and the Ministry of Defence have in recent years undergone a very complex period of reforms, in addition to the professionalism also included radical changes in the systems of military health care and education as well as preparations for peacekeeping missions and participation in them, where the rejuvenation and rehabilitation of the defense industry should also be noted.
Much of the processes started have come close to finalization, and Serbia became a factor of security in the Southeast Europe, where Serbia’s opinions and positions are listen with care and great world power. Many visits of top military officials of the United States, China and Russia bespeak of this, as they have all spoken highly of the speed of transforming the SAF into a modern, professional European army. Another signal that the reforms are being assessed can be seen in a sudden rise of young people to enter the ranks of professional soldiers, from candidates applying for the Military Academy and the Military Medical Academy, who will all be educated at the University of Defence soon.
The guest of Narodne Novine on Tuesday was the Minister of Defence Dragan Sutanovac, with whom we talked about these comprehensive and fundamental changes, the Serbian defense system is undergoing.
You have just returned from a visit to the United States, and before that you participated in an important security event in Canada. Bilateral meetings with senior representatives of the ministries of defense from many countries are almost a daily occurrence. The Ministry of Defence has intensive diplomatic activity?
- The Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces of Serbia have intensive cooperation with more than 50 countries, with 30 of them we have signed agreements on cooperation in defense. It is a very important part of overall cooperation with many. Strongest links in the defense have been established with the United States, Norway, Denmark, North African countries, with China ... For me it was a pleasure to participate in the security forum in the Canadian city of Halifax, where thirty ministers of defense participated. In addition to participation in the forum, I had meetings with many ministers and secretaries in the ministries of defense. Participation in such an important security forums is very important for our country. Following the security forum in Halifax, in Washington, I met with people from the Pentagon, State Department and Congress. The main topic of discussion was the defense, but we talked about other issues, such as dialogue with Pristina and helping people who live in Kosovo and Metohija. We think it is very important to agree on real life issues with Pristina as soon as possible.
You have announced increased participation of the Serbian Armed Forces in the UN peacekeeping missions as well as joining EU missions. How important is the participation of SAF in international peace keeping missions?
-It is important now to keep pace with the world, and in some respects we are even ahead of our partners’ expectations. Dispatching our medical tams with the Norwegian contingent to Chad was expected, but our participation in Cyprus and Lebanon were our initiative, thus making a huge step forward in UN. We now have the intention to participate in the "Atlanta" mission, on the coast of Somalia, with our naval officers on EU countries’ warships, which will enable us to enter the EU missions. Each army should have preparation and practice in real situations and preparing SAF members is actually preparation for the first mission of the army, and that is the defense of the country. The other thing is political, and that is to show that we are a part of the world we live in expressing our wish to participate in the preservation of global peace. The experience of our medical team has already been internationally recognized. Here I must commend the military hospital in Nis, which participates in a very complex and efficient manner. There are our infantry troops in Cyprus and Lebanon and we are now able to send the NBC protection units, engineers and military police units. First we want to create necessary political conditions and to assess the needs of the United Nations and the European Union, and only then to send our troops in these missions. We have declared units and officers with war experience, but we still have not achieved full interoperability with foreign armies and it is our task in the future.
Professionalization of the military is nears to finalization. What is the objective of this process?
- This is the most important part of the defense reform and perhaps the biggest reform carried out in our society. It is not just a reform of the army, but a much wider process, thanks to whom several thousand people from central and eastern Serbia will be able to get a job. The ratio of the number of candidates and the number of jobs available is five to one. This means that the army has regained the confidence of the people and that young people recognize the army as their own both as a form of patriotism and as an opportunity for advancement in life. The Serbian Armed Forces today in our society, together with the church, enjoys the trust of the citizens of Serbia. This is the case everywhere in the world, no matter how a liberal society.
Our defense industry in the last two years has seen major success. What is the role of the Ministry of Defence in it and what do you expect in the future, given that the capacity of these factories have became too small to meet the demands of foreign countries for our weapons?
- Market demands are such that we would have to hire some factories from Republika Srpska and some parts will have to buy from Russia and France. Today, we are building a large military hospital, and if we win a tender, in addition to construction, our country will also train members of the medical corps of the country we are building the hospital for. This will also generate substantial income, because it will be the largest export project of our defense system. The military hospital in Nis will also participate in this project.
The Ministry of Defence, through the Directorate for Property of Serbia, is selling the surplus of military property thus meeting other needs, mainly providing solution to the housing problems of our members. In Nis, we have recently completed such an exchange. Will this process of exchanging military property continue and at what speed?
- In addition to meeting our housing needs, I think that if there are private owners who want to buy real estate declared as
South is important to us
South Serbia has always been traditionally linked with the military, but the military pays great attention to this part of our country as well?
- South is very important in the defense system. Therefore, we have stationed the army command in Nis. We also entrusted the Jumko company with designing new uniforms with a modern digital design. This is why we have invested substantial resources in the Jug base near Bujanovac. We do not want declarative decentralization, we want to keep money in our country, especially in the south.
We want to help local communities, including Nis, to develop, however we do not want anyone hindering the development of the defense system. Such regions as Nis, which had a plan for collaboration, have succeeded in that. There were, however, certain local governments that did not have an idea how to do an exchange, or expected the military to just give away their property. It do not have the right to work.
Mandatory uniforms
You announced recently that the officers and noncommissioned officers will have to wear uniforms outside of their 'jobs'. What is the purpose of such a decision?
-Wearing uniforms upon coming to and leaving work, I think, should be regarded as honor, not an obligation. In the early nineties officers and noncommissioned officers of the former JNA were attacked on several occasions, and the army has decided to ban the wearing of uniforms beyond working hours. That time is long behind us and I think that Serbian citizens will soon be able to see members SAF with their wives or girlfriends walking in uniform. It is part of our tradition and I think it should be restored. I know there will be those who will be against this, but any reform causes adverse reactions.
Elections in the Democratic Party
What, as Vice President of the Democratic Party do you expect from the upcoming elections in your party?
- I expect the DS to elect new leadership in a democratic procedure that will lead to DS to winning th4e next elections in Serbia. I'm glad there are more candidates than vacancies for vice-presidents. Elections in the Democratic Party have always stirred more attention than any other party. Probably because our society is still not used to the democratic process, since when you have one candidate you are criticized and when there are more, they ask you if you have more factions within the party. The fact is that the Democratic Party after each election always emerges stronger and that after them, our society, sees something positive happen. We expect to garner support from a number of municipal committees for the selection of a vice president in the party. I believe that is what I did in the past four years is in accordance with the principles of DS and in the best interest of the citizens of Serbia.
