23.11.2021.
Discussion forum on introduction of compulsory military service at Faculty of Law
Today, the Faculty of Law Student Parliament held a forum on the introduction of compulsory military service. Assistant Minister of Defence for Human Resources Katarina Tomašević spoke at the forum.
Head of the Defence Obligations Department at the MoD Human Resources Sector, Colonel Dragan Kotarlić, Head of Military, Labour and Material Obligations Section, Colonel Saša Petrović and the Faculty of Law lecturers, Bojan Milisavljević, PhD and Associate Professor Miloš Jovanović, talked to the students attending this renowned institution of higher education.
Presenting the new, improved measures that the Ministry of Defence has been working on over the past period in order to provide better conditions for the potential reintroduction of compulsory military service, Katarina Tomašević pointed out that this huge and demanding task that the Ministry of Defence has taken upon itself is very important for the state.- The Ministry of Defence has no doubt whether regular military service should be reintroduced. We will continue working in that direction, and we will do everything we can to prepare for when the state makes the decision. We have to make sure that the Serbian Armed Forces are staffed, primarily for the sake of a secure environment, but also for all other purposes that the armed forces serve - said Assistant Minister for Human Resources Katarina Tomašević, noting that the Serbian Armed Forces are there to help address the impact of natural disasters, build roads and provide the citizens of this country with all kinds of support.
After referring to 11 years of voluntary military service, Head of the Defence Obligations Department, Colonel Dragan Kotarlić, presented to the audience the considerations that the defence system has taken into account while deciding on the reintroduction of military service, and showed them a Gantt chart of activities, prepared by the Ministry of Defence, with the aim of creating optimal conditions for the implementation of such a decision.- The Ministry of Defence is preparing as if the state leadership will make a decision to reintroduce compulsory military service. A working group headed by the Minister of Defence has been formed, and monthly reports are submitted on everything that has been done and all the problems and alternatives that are being considered. Creating conditions for the reintroduction of compulsory military service is one of the main tasks of the Ministry of Defence in 2021, and, without any doubt, next year as well - said Colonel Kotarlić.
He confirmed that preparations for logistical support and the analysis of all aspects and costs are underway. He also said that the armed forces are making thorough preparations, but that the final decision on the modalities of reintroducing compulsory military service has not been made yet.
