03.12.2022.
Minister of Defence Miloš Vučević, interview in December issue of “Odbrana” magazine
SERBIAN ARMED FORCES – GUARANTOR OF FREEDOM AND NEUTRALITY
Clear and powerful messages in these complex times have marked the beginning of Miloš Vučević's new appointment as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence. In the new issue of Odbrana magazine, Minister Vučević discusses important points that define the profile of the Serbian Armed Forces and determine their essence. Underlining the key steps that he will take to improve the state of affairs in the Serbian Armed Forces, Minister Vučević says:
– The rule I have followed in my career so far is that something that functions well should not be changed, but only improved. If there are any problems, they should be addressed resolutely, making sure that the Serbian Armed Forces perform all three missions impeccably – that they are equipped with the best means, well-trained and motivated. That their members are more and more satisfied and proud every day as part of a whole, an unbreakable link in the “chain of defence”. The defence minister’s responsibility is to enable and support that.The Minister of Defence says that Serbia is always ready for a dialogue and compromises, but that it is no longer a punching bag. He also says:
– It shows that we are not joking. We are not threatening anyone, we are not rattling sabres – but we are determined to protect Serbia, its independence and freedom. We want to be appreciated for everything we do to maintain good neighbourly relations, for easing the tensions in the Balkans, for respecting international law and the rights of others. We also have our rights, and we expect them to be respected and protected if they are infringed. That is why one of my first messages was that the Serbian Armed Forces should be capable of executing every order issued by the President of the Republic. That is the SAF’s main role – to protect the country.
Speaking about his first impressions about the state of affairs in the Serbian Armed Forces, formed after attending Joint Exercise “Manoeuvres” along with President Vučić and General Mojsilović and after visiting both services of the Serbian Armed Forces, Minister Vučević claims that the Republic of Serbia has every reason to rely on its military.
- The Serbian Armed Forces are one of the pillars and elements of the statehood of the Republic of Serbia. They are a solid support for our people and all the citizens of this country, who place great trust in them. The Serbian Armed Forces are much stronger now than they have ever been.
They are our guarantor of freedom and neutrality.
Minister Vučević’s strategic goal during his term at the Ministry of Defence is clear.
– The process of revitalizing the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces began in 2012, during the term of the then minister, and now the President of the Republic and Supreme Commander of the Serbian Armed Forces, Aleksandar Vučić. The public, and the service members in particular, are aware of the desperate state in which the entire defence system was ten years ago. The strategic goal of the Ministry of Defence was established then and has not changed since. Although the Serbian Armed Forces are incomparably stronger, much better equipped and more capable today than they were a decade ago, my strategic goal as the minister of defence remains the same - to make them even stronger, more numerous and more modern, and to make sure that the service members are better trained and have a much better social status.
Speaking about the equipping of the Serbian Armed Forces, the acquisition of modern combat equipment and what we can expect in this regard in the future, Minister Vučević notes that the process of modernizing the Serbian Armed Forces has been going on for several years now and that significant technological advances have been made in this regard.- Assets like Pantsir or the FK-3 air defence missile system were not introduced in our armament for decades, we have not had this many fighters and in such good condition since the end of the nineties. A lot of new Army assets have entered service. The fact that our military is being equipped to a considerable extent with the products of our defence industry, with domestically developed assets, including very complex and technologically advanced ones, is particularly pleasing. Our Nora self-propelled howitzers and Lazar and Miloš armoured vehicles can compete with their rivals in both the West and the East. And most importantly, all these assets, and many others that I have not mentioned, are constantly being refined and improved in accordance with the experiences gained in the field.
Minister Vučević also emphasizes the close relationship between the Serbian Armed Forces as the end user that defines tactical and technical requirements, the Military Technical Institute that is responsible for the development of combat equipment and the defence industry that manufactures it. He stresses that, in light of the current global crisis, reliance on our own powers and resources is the only right way.
- In the coming period, we want to boost our potential for the development and production of modern weapons and military equipment. As before, we will procure the things we need and under the most favourable conditions.
Explaining why the weapons we have paid for have not been delivered yet, Minister Vučević says:
– Certain assets that we ordered from the Russian Federation and paid for before the conflict in Ukraine started cannot be delivered to us due to the sanctions imposed on Russia. This does not affect Russia in any way, but it does affect Serbia, and we are aware of that, as well as the countries that do not allow the delivery of those assets. On the other hand, some assets produced in the West have not been delivered, even though they have been duly paid for, for reasons that we do not quite understand. I believe that the talks between President Vučić and the leaders of Western countries will bear fruit and that the problems of those deliveries will be addressed soon.
Referring to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and whether it poses a security threat to our region, Minister Vučević believes that this conflict poses a security threat to the entire world.- The greatest world powers are involved in what is happening in the east of Europe, and there is a serious danger that the conflict could escalate into a global war. Serbia, as a neutral country that has decided to pursue a balanced foreign policy in accordance with its own interests, is under intense pressure and some political players in the region are trying to take advantage of this situation. An example of this is the behaviour of the provisional institutions of self-government in Kosovo and Metohija. Also, there are some who would like to revise the Dayton constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the detriment of Republika Srpska. We live in a time when we must be extremely strong as a country, but also extremely wise. The preservation of peace and stability is of the utmost importance for Serbia, which seeks to continue its economic growth and create a better life for its citizens. I believe that it is in the best interest of all nations in this part of Europe to avoid conflicts and overcome differences through political dialogue.
According to Minister Vučević, the strength of our armed forces acts as a deterrent against those who might be tempted to use force and harm Serbia and the Serbian people.
- We have never, nor will we attack anyone. We are strong, we are capable of defending ourselves, but we do not threaten anyone. Unfortunately, we belong to a small group of countries that still adhere firmly to the principles of public international law and respect the principles of territorial integrity and inviolability of the borders of sovereign states. Serbia respects and supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries in the world, including the countries in our region, and asks that the same principles be respected when it comes to our southern province.
One of the most frequently asked questions regarding the Serbian Armed Forces is whether we are close to a decision on the reintroduction of mandatory military service. Answering that question, Minister Vučević says that the reintroduction of mandatory military service is a political decision, which will be based on the assessment made by the most responsible and expert people at the Ministry of Defence and the General Staff.
- I am ready to take responsibility and, once the final analyses are carried out, propose an effective solution to the President and Supreme Commander, the Government and the National Assembly. This is not a question of whether this topic is popular with the public and whether people express positive or negative opinions about it on social media. It is a question of whether it is in the interest of the defence of the Republic of Serbia or not.
Speaking about the most significant security challenges at the moment, Minister Vučević singles out the situation in Kosovo and Metohija and the increasing pressure on Serbia.- While the war is raging in Ukraine, sabres are being rattled in Kosovo and Metohija... This is certainly not good. The Brussels Agreement, which was signed in 2013, clearly states what needs to be done. Its implementation is guaranteed by the European Union’s signature. Belgrade has fulfilled all its obligations under the agreement, and now it is up to Pristina to fulfil its part, and it is up to the European Union to make it possible. Otherwise, any such agreement would be questionable for anyone.
Minister of Defence Miloš Vučević has started intensive international cooperation by meeting with ambassadors of numerous countries, including the United States, France, the European Union, the Russian Federation, the Czech Republic, China, etc. Regarding the common denominators in those meetings and how important they are to preserving our military neutrality in the future, Minister Vučević says the following:
– It is crucial for Serbia to maintain a clear and principled stance: Serbia fully respects all the rules of the United Nations and does not interfere in any conflicts that do not concern it, neither economically, nor informatively, nor militarily. This basically means that Serbia is completely open to cooperation with all countries. Meetings with ambassadors accredited to our country are an integral part of the protocol, but also an opportunity to reiterate our positions and, of course, find the best possible ways to develop cooperation. Military neutrality enables us to do that.
In mid-November, the Peacekeeping Operations Centre marked the twentieth anniversary of Serbia’s re-established participation in UN peacekeeping forces. Speaking about the importance of our participation in UN and EU peacekeeping operations for the Serbian Armed Forces, but also for the Republic of Serbia, the Minister of Defence quotes Gandhi: "There is no way to peace - peace is the way".
- Our armed forces have been pursuing the path of peace since the establishment of the UN peacekeeping forces. Our service members in peacekeeping missions are brave people who have decided to give of themselves, and sometimes, unfortunately, even give their lives to keep the peace. To save the lives of people in remote areas who deserve to live peacefully, too. Unfortunately, we have seen and experienced the importance of peacekeeping missions in these parts as well, even in today’s circumstances. Even now we watch with anxiety what is happening in our southern province and in the region, believing that those who are deployed there as representatives of the international community, are aware of their responsibility and that they have the capability to achieve their specific goal. For that reason, the Serbian Armed Forces, the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian state have a specific approach to this matter. For the Serbian soldier, it is not just a formal execution of tasks, but there are other things at play, such as emotions, compassion, concern and care. But Serbian soldiers have always been like that, wherever they were deployed. They have covered themselves with glory throughout the history.
The fact that our military has always been on the right side of history, on the side of good, is evidenced by its tradition, which Minister Vučević describes as one of the values cherished by the Serbian Armed Forces. – Nobody has the right to take away from us the fact that we have always been on the right side of history, that we have protected peace and respected the freedom of others. That is why we expect others to respect our right to freedom and peace. What does it mean to be on the right side of history? It means to fight for freedom in the First World War, to win great victories, to fight against fascism and Nazism in the Second World War, to make great sacrifices... We cannot make sacrifices again for the sake of rewriting history, changing roles... We are fully aware of the fact that only those who know and respect their past can determine where they stand in the present and plan for the future. That is natural for every human being, particularly for members of the Serbian Armed Forces. All our brigades and units celebrate their anniversaries in memory of their glorious predecessors and their heroic deeds. Those dates go hundreds of years back. That is our set of values. That is our history. It is a part of each of us.
