Serbia to get professional army

Defense Minister Dragan Sutanovac said that under the new personnel plan, the Serbian Armed Forces would have 36,000 members. Another 2,000 men would be enlisted to the voluntary military service. Serbia to get professional army The minister said that by abolishing military conscription, Serbia would get a modern defense with professional soldiers. He added that this decision brought to life a promise made by Democratic Opposition of Serbia ten years ago, that Serbia would get a fully professional defense system. The defense minister pointed out that right now Serbia is "in line with the highest international standards, a country with a modern, strong and fast military." "I would like to congratulate everyone who participated in the process, from the previous ministers of defense to the present ministry, which was involved in it for the past two years," he said. He stressed the decision had been made "bearing in mind the fact that the Army had a turnout of over 98 percent in September, a number unthinkable just a few years ago." "We deeply believe that in the coming years we would have a very high number of young people willing to volunteer for the military service and thus gain certain knowledge and skills they would not be able to otherwise," the Minister of Defense said. The Serbian government passed a decision yesterday to suspend conscripted military service, which stipulates that starting January 1 2011, military service would be based on a voluntary participation only. Serbian soldiers (FoNet)

Serbia to get professional army

The minister said that by abolishing military conscription, Serbia would get a modern defense with professional soldiers.

He added that this decision brought to life a promise made by Democratic Opposition of Serbia ten years ago, that Serbia would get a fully professional defense system.

The defense minister pointed out that right now Serbia is "in line with the highest international standards, a country with a modern, strong and fast military."

"I would like to congratulate everyone who participated in the process, from the previous ministers of defense to the present ministry, which was involved in it for the past two years," he said.

He stressed the decision had been made "bearing in mind the fact that the Army had a turnout of over 98 percent in September, a number unthinkable just a few years ago."

"We deeply believe that in the coming years we would have a very high number of young people willing to volunteer for the military service and thus gain certain knowledge and skills they would not be able to otherwise," the Minister of Defense said.

The Serbian government passed a decision yesterday to suspend conscripted military service, which stipulates that starting January 1 2011, military service would be based on a voluntary participation only.