DM: Serbia could soon have first woman with rank of general

BELGRADE Members of all branches of the Serbian Army (VS) held a demonstration exercise on Monday in the presence of Defense Minister Aleksandar Vucic. Servicewomen demonstrated their skills in the areas of weapon handling, dog training and liaison, and members of Kobra special unit and the special brigade also presented their skills. DM: Serbia could soon have first woman with rank of general At the end of the exercise, the only female helicopter pilot, Anja Krneta, landed the aircraft at the Dobanovci base, near Belgrade. In the Dobanovci army facility, Vucic conferred with female members of the army. Lt. Col. Snezana Vasic said that the VS has 104 female officers, of whom one holds the rank of colonel, as well as 140 women who serve as NCOs, along with 1,000 professional soldiers. Vasic said that there were "few duties in the army which are not performed by women," who are equal in promotion and career but "the conditions have not yet been met" for women to attend the Military HIgh School. According to her, it should be possible every unit to have one female member who would be in charge of gender equality issues. Vucic - Serbia's first deputy PM who also serves as defense minister - said that there are currently 1,138 women serving in the military, "which is rather good compared to 2008, when the figure totalled as few as 100." Vucic expressed the hope that a female general would soon be appointed, "which will be the pride of the Serbian Army." Over 1,000 women are engaged in all categories in the Defense Ministry and the army as professional military and civilian personnel, with a view to integrating gender equality in reform processes in the security sector. In order to promote gender equality in the security sector and presence of women in the defence system, successful cooperation has been recorded with international institutions, including the UN Development Program, UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, OSCE Mission and NATO Project of Gender Perspective: Female Leaders in Security and Defense. (Tanjug) Tanjug

DM: Serbia could soon have first woman with rank of general

At the end of the exercise, the only female helicopter pilot, Anja Krneta, landed the aircraft at the Dobanovci base, near Belgrade.

In the Dobanovci army facility, Vučić conferred with female members of the army.

Lt. Col. Snežana Vasić said that the VS has 104 female officers, of whom one holds the rank of colonel, as well as 140 women who serve as NCOs, along with 1,000 professional soldiers.

Vasić said that there were "few duties in the army which are not performed by women," who are equal in promotion and career but "the conditions have not yet been met" for women to attend the Military HIgh School.

According to her, it should be possible every unit to have one female member who would be in charge of gender equality issues.

Vučić - Serbia's first deputy PM who also serves as defense minister - said that there are currently 1,138 women serving in the military, "which is rather good compared to 2008, when the figure totalled as few as 100."

Vučić expressed the hope that a female general would soon be appointed, "which will be the pride of the Serbian Army."

Over 1,000 women are engaged in all categories in the Defense Ministry and the army as professional military and civilian personnel, with a view to integrating gender equality in reform processes in the security sector.

In order to promote gender equality in the security sector and presence of women in the defence system, successful cooperation has been recorded with international institutions, including the UN Development Program, UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, OSCE Mission and NATO Project of Gender Perspective: Female Leaders in Security and Defense.