"Army property worth EUR 2bn"

The Serbian Army (VS) property surplus is worth more than EUR 2bn, according to CoS Lt. Gen. Zdravko Ponoš.

Izvor: Ekonomist

Monday, 23.06.2008.

13:53

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The Serbian Army (VS) property surplus is worth more than EUR 2bn, according to CoS Lt. Gen. Zdravko Ponos. Ponos told Belgrade's Ekonomist Magazine that 20 structures worth EUR 300mn could be sold "rather quickly". "Army property worth EUR 2bn" He pointed out that the money could be used to solve the many problems the army's facing, without further burdening the state budget. Ponos said that the VS annually spends approximately EUR 2mn "only to guard these structures", reminding that around 16,000 people that the army employs do not have proper housing, and that equipment and weaponry in some parts of the military are several decades behind the modern standard. “The army receives around RSD 65bn, from Serbia’s budget,” Ponos said, and estimated that “it is not realistic to expect that the army will soften the effects of no investments for more than a decade by taking the tax payer money.” Ponos said that army would spend the money it gains from selling its property on telecommunications and personnel equipment, as well as ballistic and optoelectronic tools. “We need to replace the trucks that have been in use for more than 25 years. The ground forces need new armored vehicles with wheels; they are used by modern armies,” Ponos said, and added that the air force also needs investment, but said that thanks to the money from the National Investment Fund, four MiG29 jets have been repaired and modernized. “Unfortunately, we won’t be able to have a modern fighter jet squadron, and we need that. But that would cost us around EUR 700mn. The regional countries have already started these acquisitions." "Unless we make some changes by 2012, we will be left well behind. We also need training aircrafts, but also the new helicopters, that can be use for transport and firefighting,” the army chief told the magazine. Zdravko Ponos (photo courtesy of VS)

"Army property worth EUR 2bn"

He pointed out that the money could be used to solve the many problems the army's facing, without further burdening the state budget.

Ponoš said that the VS annually spends approximately EUR 2mn "only to guard these structures", reminding that around 16,000 people that the army employs do not have proper housing, and that equipment and weaponry in some parts of the military are several decades behind the modern standard.

“The army receives around RSD 65bn, from Serbia’s budget,” Ponoš said, and estimated that “it is not realistic to expect that the army will soften the effects of no investments for more than a decade by taking the tax payer money.”

Ponoš said that army would spend the money it gains from selling its property on telecommunications and personnel equipment, as well as ballistic and optoelectronic tools.

“We need to replace the trucks that have been in use for more than 25 years. The ground forces need new armored vehicles with wheels; they are used by modern armies,” Ponoš said, and added that the air force also needs investment, but said that thanks to the money from the National Investment Fund, four MiG29 jets have been repaired and modernized.

“Unfortunately, we won’t be able to have a modern fighter jet squadron, and we need that. But that would cost us around EUR 700mn. The regional countries have already started these acquisitions."

"Unless we make some changes by 2012, we will be left well behind. We also need training aircrafts, but also the new helicopters, that can be use for transport and firefighting,” the army chief told the magazine.

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