"Ponoš dismissal—no surprise"

As the first reactions come in to the dismissal of Lt.-Gen. Zdravko Ponoš, party representatives and military experts alike say the outcome was no surprise.

Izvor: B92

Tuesday, 30.12.2008.

16:16

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As the first reactions come in to the dismissal of Lt.-Gen. Zdravko Ponos, party representatives and military experts alike say the outcome was no surprise. Military analyst Zoran Dragisic said that President Boris Tadic’s decision to show the now former Serbian Army (VS) chief-of-staff the door had been expected and was the only choice Tadic had available. "Ponos dismissal—no surprise" Milan Miljalkovski, meanwhile, said that the dismissal would not impact on the defense system. “Since the very start of the feud between Ponos and Defense Minister Dragan Sutanovac it was clear that Ponos, as a soldier, was at a disadvantage, and was likely to draw the short straw,“ said Dragisic. According to him, it would have been much better to settle that feud without anyone losing their job, but that this had clearly been impossible. “So General Ponos is on his way out, which I think is a loss for the VS considering everything he’s done, his age and qualities. He still had a lot to offer the Serbian defense system,“ said Dragisic. He stressed that the defense system had not been under threat at any time, nor would it be in future, and that the public could continue to feel secure. The analyst said that he presumed that Ponos would retire now, as any other post would constitute a step down, and that Ponos, as a very proud man, would not be able to see himself in any other position. Miljalkovski said that there would be no changes to the overall defense system. He said that Ponos had broken the basic rule that applies to every professional soldier: “The army does not interfere in politics.“ “Military personnel are forbidden from participating in political activities. Ponos came out in public and gave a completely political statement that surprised me,“ said Miljalkovski. He reiterated that civil and democratic control of the army, defense system and security sector had existed in Serbia for nearly 10 years, so there was no confusion as to “who can make political statements about that.“ Miljalkovski said that Ponos’s replacement would not drastically affect the security system, as the VS had generals who “had greater and stronger military and expert knowledge than Ponos himself.“ Zdravko Ponos (Beta, archive)

"Ponoš dismissal—no surprise"

Milan Miljalkovski, meanwhile, said that the dismissal would not impact on the defense system.

“Since the very start of the feud between Ponoš and Defense Minister Dragan Šutanovac it was clear that Ponoš, as a soldier, was at a disadvantage, and was likely to draw the short straw,“ said Dragišić.

According to him, it would have been much better to settle that feud without anyone losing their job, but that this had clearly been impossible.

“So General Ponoš is on his way out, which I think is a loss for the VS considering everything he’s done, his age and qualities. He still had a lot to offer the Serbian defense system,“ said Dragišić.

He stressed that the defense system had not been under threat at any time, nor would it be in future, and that the public could continue to feel secure.

The analyst said that he presumed that Ponoš would retire now, as any other post would constitute a step down, and that Ponoš, as a very proud man, would not be able to see himself in any other position.

Miljalkovski said that there would be no changes to the overall defense system.

He said that Ponoš had broken the basic rule that applies to every professional soldier: “The army does not interfere in politics.“

“Military personnel are forbidden from participating in political activities. Ponoš came out in public and gave a completely political statement that surprised me,“ said Miljalkovski.

He reiterated that civil and democratic control of the army, defense system and security sector had existed in Serbia for nearly 10 years, so there was no confusion as to “who can make political statements about that.“

Miljalkovski said that Ponoš’s replacement would not drastically affect the security system, as the VS had generals who “had greater and stronger military and expert knowledge than Ponoš himself.“

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