Q:
A:
Cepotina base in function before end-September
Belgrade,
4 May 2008
Serbian Minister of Defence Dragan Sutanovac announced today that by end-September the military base Cepotina near Bujanovac will be put into operation, which will ensure much better accommodation for troops in the Ground Safety Zone.
At a press conference in the government building, Sutanovac said that safety will thus be improved in the area and added that the completion of this facility was carried out with funds from the National Investment Plan (NIP).
He voiced pleasure at the results achieved by his Ministry, particularly with the improved image of the Serbian Army in public, which is showed by concrete indicators, such as increased interest among the young to enrol in military schools.
He stressed the importance of procuring new equipment and specified that investments in the last year alone equal total investments in the previous three and a half years.
Sutanovac said that salaries in the entire defence system have increased significantly, adding that last year ended without debts.
He noted that this year also began without debts, which helped the Ministry save around RSD 500 million on interest on arrears.
He stressed that the upgrade of equipment in the Serbian Army and the procurement of modern weapons and equipment is a priority and recalled that there is an ongoing procurement of a modern telecommunication system.
Sutanovac noted that the Ministry is contemplating the procurement of modern combat vehicles, a school plane for pilot training, equipment for air space control and special equipment for special police units.
He said that RSD 7.5 billion will be set aside from the budget for these purposes, as well as other funds from the NIP. The Ministry will also set aside some funds from its own budget, he added.
The Minister voiced displeasure with the failure by representatives of Russia’s Mig company to complete the overhaul of three MIG 29 planes on time, as they should have been finished in late 2007.
Speaking about cooperation with NATO’s Partnership for Peace programme, the Minister reiterated that it is unfortunate that the agreement with NATO has not been signed, as all states in the northern hemisphere have done so, including Russia and Belarus.
He recalled that the Military Medical Academy, which in September 2007 became the regional centre of military and medical cooperation, was included in Serbia’s health care system, which enabled Serbian citizens to get medical treatment in that prestigious hospital.
Sutanovac said that the military school curriculum has been harmonised with the civilian one and that since 2007, students who graduate at the Military Academy also get the degree of individual civilian faculties.
He voiced pleasure at the results achieved by his Ministry, particularly with the improved image of the Serbian Army in public, which is showed by concrete indicators, such as increased interest among the young to enrol in military schools.
He stressed the importance of procuring new equipment and specified that investments in the last year alone equal total investments in the previous three and a half years.
Sutanovac said that salaries in the entire defence system have increased significantly, adding that last year ended without debts.
He noted that this year also began without debts, which helped the Ministry save around RSD 500 million on interest on arrears.
He stressed that the upgrade of equipment in the Serbian Army and the procurement of modern weapons and equipment is a priority and recalled that there is an ongoing procurement of a modern telecommunication system.
Sutanovac noted that the Ministry is contemplating the procurement of modern combat vehicles, a school plane for pilot training, equipment for air space control and special equipment for special police units.
He said that RSD 7.5 billion will be set aside from the budget for these purposes, as well as other funds from the NIP. The Ministry will also set aside some funds from its own budget, he added.
The Minister voiced displeasure with the failure by representatives of Russia’s Mig company to complete the overhaul of three MIG 29 planes on time, as they should have been finished in late 2007.
Speaking about cooperation with NATO’s Partnership for Peace programme, the Minister reiterated that it is unfortunate that the agreement with NATO has not been signed, as all states in the northern hemisphere have done so, including Russia and Belarus.
He recalled that the Military Medical Academy, which in September 2007 became the regional centre of military and medical cooperation, was included in Serbia’s health care system, which enabled Serbian citizens to get medical treatment in that prestigious hospital.
Sutanovac said that the military school curriculum has been harmonised with the civilian one and that since 2007, students who graduate at the Military Academy also get the degree of individual civilian faculties.
-
Belgrade, 22 January 2025Egypt one of Serbia’s closest partners on international stage
-
Belgrade, 9 July 2024Support for 104 associations in diaspora that preserve Serbian language, culture
-
Belgrade, 15 April 2024Competition for StarTech grants open until 31 May
-
Belgrade, 2 October 2023Serbia respects Resolution 1244 and will do everything to preserve peace
-
Belgrade, 13 September 2023Day of Serbian Unity to be celebrated outside borders of Serbia, Republika Srpska for the first time
-
Belgrade, 8 August 2023RSD 24.2m in state aid paid out to citizens affected by storm
-
Belgrade, 17 June 2023Belgrade is doing everything to preserve peace in Kosovo and Metohija
-
Belgrade, 15 June 2023Slovenia will continue to support Serbia on its way to EU
-
Belgrade, 5 May 2023Emergency measures, tightening of conditions for possessing weapons
-
Belgrade, 3 May 2023Three days of mourning in Serbia over tragedy at Vladislav Ribnikar primary school