Šutanovac: Crisis is no excuse

Defense Minister Dragan Sutanovac said today that the economic crisis cannot be an excuse for the postponement of reforms. “The year ahead of us is a lot harder than the one behind, but that cannot be an excuse for reforms to stop, to allow the system to collapse again,” Sutanovac said at the inauguration of the March class of the Serbian Army (VS) soldiers at the Tsar Lazar barracks in Krusevac. Sutanovac: Crisis is no excuse The Defense Minister told the new recruits and their officers that said "every commader is an equally important part of the system and must give their best effort". “If you wish to continue to solve the difficult, inherited problems this year, then you must give your all in your work, and care about every soldier,” he said. The minister continued to say that "everyone agrees that Serbia should be a modern, democratic and economically developed country with strong institutions and economic prosperity, a country where human rights are respected". “In order for Serbia to be like this, we must have a military that is contemporary and modern, which can answer the challenges of the 21st century, and which can guarantee stability, in the country and in the region,” Sutanovac said. According to him, last year very challenging security-wise, the year of harmonization and developing of the defense system, while "in all sectors of the Defense Ministry and Serbian military progress was made, in improving social standing, solving housing questions and supplying new military equipment". Sutanovac said that regaining trust in the military profession and the entire defense system "was one of the biggest problems". “Today we can say that there is a record number of soldiers in the March class, many times greater number of candidates for getting into the Military High School and the Military Academy confirms that we were able to return honor to the image of the military, which is a very large part of the entire defense system,” Sutanovac said. VS Chief-of-the-General- Staff Lt. Gen. Miloje Miletic, addressing the new class of soldiers, said that more and more young people are deciding to serve their military obligations within the ranks of the army. He said that "this means that the changes are being implemented in the right direction". “In accordance with the capabilities and the priorities tasked by the state organs of authority, we will gradually increase the number of professional soldiers, and competitions for entrance into the Serbian Army units are open until they are filled,” Miletic said. Some 650 new soldiers were sworn in at the ceremony in Krusevac this Saturday. Sutanovac in Krusevac today (Tanjug)

Šutanovac: Crisis is no excuse

The Defense Minister told the new recruits and their officers that said "every commader is an equally important part of the system and must give their best effort".

“If you wish to continue to solve the difficult, inherited problems this year, then you must give your all in your work, and care about every soldier,” he said.

The minister continued to say that "everyone agrees that Serbia should be a modern, democratic and economically developed country with strong institutions and economic prosperity, a country where human rights are respected".

“In order for Serbia to be like this, we must have a military that is contemporary and modern, which can answer the challenges of the 21st century, and which can guarantee stability, in the country and in the region,” Šutanovac said.

According to him, last year very challenging security-wise, the year of harmonization and developing of the defense system, while "in all sectors of the Defense Ministry and Serbian military progress was made, in improving social standing, solving housing questions and supplying new military equipment".

Šutanovac said that regaining trust in the military profession and the entire defense system "was one of the biggest problems".

“Today we can say that there is a record number of soldiers in the March class, many times greater number of candidates for getting into the Military High School and the Military Academy confirms that we were able to return honor to the image of the military, which is a very large part of the entire defense system,” Šutanovac said.

VS Chief-of-the-General- Staff Lt. Gen. Miloje Miletić, addressing the new class of soldiers, said that more and more young people are deciding to serve their military obligations within the ranks of the army.

He said that "this means that the changes are being implemented in the right direction".

“In accordance with the capabilities and the priorities tasked by the state organs of authority, we will gradually increase the number of professional soldiers, and competitions for entrance into the Serbian Army units are open until they are filled,” Miletić said.

Some 650 new soldiers were sworn in at the ceremony in Kruševac this Saturday.