Army is part of society, says president

Serbian President Boris Tadic stated in Belgrade Thursday that the Serbian armed forces were not an isolated and closed system. He added that the armed forces were building factor of Serbia's development. Army is part of society, says president At an international conference on protection of human rights of armed forces members, he said that the Serbian Army had been isolated from the society up until the reforms which began in 2003, adding that this was no longer the case. "The armed forces are a part of the democratic society, and one of the consequences that follows is that they are facing the same problems as ordinary people, which is indicated by the complaints submitted to the ombudsman. It is good that the number of complaints is small, because it shows that the Serbian Army takes care of the rights of its members," the president pointed out. The Serbian president pointed out that the Serbian Army had made several important steps forward since 2003, the most significant of which were the reform of the Defense Ministry and General Staff, abolishment of military legislation and military professionalization. Pointing out that reforms in the military are being carried out in a delicate security environment, Tadic said that good neighborly relations and cooperation were important for suppressing events that threaten security. He also stressed the significance of spreading the concept of gender equality in the military and elimination of prejudice at all levels, adding that the participation of women in the army was extremely important, and that it showed that there was no excuse for having prejudice. "Free citizens and the social community that they consider a secure environment for the respect of their rights are the very foundation of the society's security. The issue of protection of human and national minorities' rights is not only a matter of meeting the goals and international obligations in this area, but also represents a functional issue regarding the society's security," he underscored. The Serbian president said that the honoring of the rights of Serbian soldiers who took part in international operations was of crucial importance. Speaking about the protection of human rights of armed forces members, Tadic reiterated that the Serbian Constitution allowed the armed forces members to form unions, but that they still had not enforced this right. Expressing his hope that such practice will come to life, he said that all these activities "must not cast doubt on the readiness of the members of armed forces to fulfill their obligations." Dragan Sutanovac and Boris Tadic (Tanjug, file) Defense minister announces military unions The Defense Ministry has proposed that the government allow trade unions within the armed forces, Defense Minister Dragan Sutanovac said Thursday. According to him, the Armed Forces Law allows for such a practice, but bans strike. Sutanovac has expressed his satisfaction with high level confidence that Serbian citizens have in the armed forces.

Army is part of society, says president

At an international conference on protection of human rights of armed forces members, he said that the Serbian Army had been isolated from the society up until the reforms which began in 2003, adding that this was no longer the case.

"The armed forces are a part of the democratic society, and one of the consequences that follows is that they are facing the same problems as ordinary people, which is indicated by the complaints submitted to the ombudsman. It is good that the number of complaints is small, because it shows that the Serbian Army takes care of the rights of its members," the president pointed out.

The Serbian president pointed out that the Serbian Army had made several important steps forward since 2003, the most significant of which were the reform of the Defense Ministry and General Staff, abolishment of military legislation and military professionalization.

Pointing out that reforms in the military are being carried out in a delicate security environment, Tadić said that good neighborly relations and cooperation were important for suppressing events that threaten security.

He also stressed the significance of spreading the concept of gender equality in the military and elimination of prejudice at all levels, adding that the participation of women in the army was extremely important, and that it showed that there was no excuse for having prejudice.

"Free citizens and the social community that they consider a secure environment for the respect of their rights are the very foundation of the society's security. The issue of protection of human and national minorities' rights is not only a matter of meeting the goals and international obligations in this area, but also represents a functional issue regarding the society's security," he underscored.

The Serbian president said that the honoring of the rights of Serbian soldiers who took part in international operations was of crucial importance.

Speaking about the protection of human rights of armed forces members, Tadić reiterated that the Serbian Constitution allowed the armed forces members to form unions, but that they still had not enforced this right.

Expressing his hope that such practice will come to life, he said that all these activities "must not cast doubt on the readiness of the members of armed forces to fulfill their obligations."

Defense minister announces military unions

The Defense Ministry has proposed that the government allow trade unions within the armed forces, Defense Minister Dragan Šutanovac said Thursday.

According to him, the Armed Forces Law allows for such a practice, but bans strike.

Šutanovac has expressed his satisfaction with high level confidence that Serbian citizens have in the armed forces.