| MPs considering defense strategies |
| 6 October 2009 | 10:39 -> 13:18
| Source:
B92, Tanjug |
BELGRADE --
Parliament has begun its autumn session today by considering a series of laws and strategies in the fields of defense and the army.
 | Parliament (FoNet, archive)
|
Other documents up for debate include a National Security Strategy, a Defense Strategy, changes to the Laws on Defense and the Serbian Army, together with draft laws on military, working and material commitments.
Fleshing out the National Security and Defense Strategies in parliament, Defense Minister Dragan Šutanovac said that Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence was the main threat to security that Serbia faced.
Šutanovac stressed that membership of European and other structures was an affirmation of Serbia's political and civilizational maturity, stressing that active involvement in the work of international organizations was a national interest.
The minister emphasized that the strategies were key strategic instruments in the field of defense and security reform, explaining that their primary goal was protecting vital national interests in these spheres.
The National Security Strategy’s basic tenets are sovereignty and territorial integrity, economic prosperity, social stability, development of democracy and the rule of law, upholding human and minority rights, a European foreign policy orientation and improving cooperation with leading members of the international community and states in the region.
Serbia’s vital defense interests are preserving its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity and safeguarding citizens’ security, the strategy states.
According to the document, they also include “confidence building, enhancing security and stability in the region, and cooperation and partnership with international security organizations and institutions of democratic states.“
It adds that “foreign policy orientation and reform processes in Serbia positively impact on enhancing political good neighborliness and cooperation, both within European and other security structures, and on bolstering their international positions.“
One of the amendments MPs will consider regards the military security services, who will receive a general inspector answerable to the Defense Ministry in order to improve control of their work.
Parliament will also consider draft laws on civil service, decorations, and the use of the Serbian Army and other defense forces in multinational operations outside Serbia.
MPs will also discuss a list of candidates for members of the National Broadcasting Agency submitted by the Culture and Information Committee, as well as draft bills on termination of judicial duties, submitted by the Judiciary and Administration Committee.
The session should also see the appointment of the remaining members of the new Judicial High Council and National Prosecutors’ Chamber.
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