03.08.2017.
Minister Vulin with the Representatives of Chaplains Service
Minister of Defence Aleksandar Vulin met today the representatives of chaplain service of the Serbian Armed Forces led by Head of Division for Religion Colonel Saša Milutinović, and later he visited with his associates the premices for religious services in barracks „Banjica“ and „Banjica 2“. The meeting was also attended by Head of Department for Intelligence-Reconnaissance Activity General Ilija Todorov and Head of Human Resources Department Colonel Savo Iriškić.
Colonel Milutinović informed the minister of defence about the importance and tasks of the chaplain service in our military, stressing that the development plan envisaged refurbishment of 50 facilities for religious service for the believers of Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Islamic religion, and until that moment 35 of them had been completed.
Minister Vulin emphasised that the chaplain service in Serbian Armed Forces was an important segment of everyday duties and activities of our members, but more than that, it represented the need of each member to try to be a better man.
-Chaplain Service in Serbian Armed Forces is clearly defined by adequate documents, but there are things that documents cannot regulate. There are things which are within each of us, our need to be better people, our need to love the people around us, our need to love the country of our birth, to love it, work for it and defend it wherever and whenever it is required – Minister Vulin underlined.
Speaking about the importance of military chaplains, the minister of defence stressed that all military chaplains in our armed forces are first and foremost good and honourable people, adding that their role was to do everything that is necessary for a man as a spiritual being to feel well, fulfilled and to be able to satisfy every need.
-In Serbian Armed Forces all religions are equally represented and all representatives of Serbian Armed Forces, regardless of their religious orientation, have the right and opportunity to practice their religion, to live in line with its teaching, to be in any sense safeguarded and it will be ensured that their religious needs are in any way met. Minister Vulin underscored adding that the chaplain service would continue developing in line with the requirements of our members and it would continue being and important part of everyday life in Serbian Armed Forces, and that all our military chaplains would continue first and foremost loving their country and their Armed Forces and each member of our military.
The Chief priest in Serbian Armed Forces, Major Slađan Vlajić pointed out that the chaplain service had been functioning for four years in the Serbian Armed Forces and the Ministry of Defence and that it aspired to constantly increasing its capacities to the benefit of Serbian Armed Forces and all its members.
-The representatives of chaplain service, military priests and military employees are ready to contribute through their work and effort to development of operational capabilities of Serbian Armed Forces in the field of developing moral and spiritual values and honouring religious rights and freedom of all members of Serbian Armed Forces –Major Vlajić stated.
During today’s visit, Minister Vulin, with his associates also visited the Chapel of Holy Martyr Georgius in barracks “Banjica 2” as well as the chapel of God’s Mercy and mesdzid in barracks “Banjica 1” which were presented to him by Major Vlajić, Assistant Chief Military Chaplain SgMaj Goran Jokanović and Chief Military Imam Major Mustafa Jusufspahić.
