General Mojsilović: "The Serbian Armed Forces are ready"

He stated in an interview for Novosti that the Serbian Armed Forces (VS) are fully capable of carrying out assigned missions and tasks, primarily to protect Serbia and its citizens from armed external threats.Mojsilović emphasized that the Serbian Armed Forces this year mark their holiday&mdash;April 23, in memory of the day in 1815 when the Second Serbian Uprising began&mdash;with better equipment and training for conducting both offensive and defensive operations, a more efficient organization, new capabilities, new units, new modern combat systems, and new weaponry. TANJUG/ MINISTARSTVO ODBRANE&ldquo;We will very soon, in terms of capabilities and doctrinal approach to warfare, surpass the frameworks of our region. This would not have been possible without the strong support and vision of our Supreme Commander, the President of the Republic, who understands the needs of the Serbian Armed Forces, as well as the dedicated work of the Minister of Defense and the Government as a whole,&rdquo; Mojsilović said in an interview for Novosti.He stated that, after the recently thwarted sabotage attempt on a section of the gas pipeline near Kanjiža, the security situation in Serbia is stable, but that certain challenges and risks still exist, primarily in the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija.&ldquo;Following global developments and taking into account the frequency of security incidents targeting energy infrastructure in different parts of the world, a decision was made to engage the Serbian Armed Forces in enhanced protection of certain critical infrastructure facilities, primarily as a precaution, in order to prevent surprises and damage,&rdquo; Mojsilović said for Novosti.He added that, in this way, members of the Serbian Armed Forces are actively contributing to the improvement of energy security, which is of great importance for economic development and overall prosperity, as one of the national interests defined by Serbia&rsquo;s National Security Strategy.The situation in Kosovo and Metohija is being monitoredEPA/ANDREJ CUKICSpeaking about the situation in the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija, Mojsilović stated that unilateral actions by the provisional institutions of self-government in Pristina, the imposition of laws, and intimidation of the Serbian population cannot be characterized as democratic or constructive behavior, assessing that they are in direct opposition to the aspirations of all countries in the region to build a peaceful and prosperous environment.He pointed out that, in this regard, the attempts to transform the so-called Kosovo Security Force into an army and to join military alliances, contrary to UN Security Council Resolution 1244, the Military-Technical Agreement, and other signed agreements, are problematic.Mojsilović emphasized that this formation cannot match the Serbian Armed Forces in terms of organization, strength, and operational capability, but that there is concern over its potential use against Serbs in the province, which is why, as he stated, the security situation is being closely monitored.&ldquo;In order to prevent escalation of the crisis and to maintain vigilance and readiness to protect Serbs in the province, I am in constant contact with the KFOR Commander and the Commander of NATO&rsquo;s Joint Forces Command in Naples, who are responsible for the international security forces in Kosovo and Metohija,&rdquo; Mojsilović said.Assessing the cooperation between the Serbian Armed Forces and international military forces in the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija, Mojsilović stated that cooperation with KFOR is professional, correct, direct, and aimed at maintaining a stable and secure environment.&ldquo;We see KFOR as the only legitimate armed formation in Kosovo and Metohija, which, in accordance with the mandate given by the UN Security Council, is obliged to ensure security and freedom of movement and is the only force capable of protecting Serbs in our southern province,&rdquo; he added.A military alliance of Zagreb, Pristina, and Tirana represents a real threat EPA/ANDREJ CUKICResponding to the question of how much the formation of a military alliance between Zagreb, Pristina, and Tirana represents a real threat to Serbia, Mojsilović expressed the belief that the military alliance of Zagreb, Tirana, and Pristina is directed against Serbia and Serbs in the region and represents a factor of pressure on the country and a serious security challenge, as well as an attempt to establish the so-called Kosovo Security Force as a real army.He added that this alliance is in contradiction with UN Security Council Resolution 1244, the Dayton Agreement, the Subregional Arms Control Agreement, and the Military-Technical Agreement.&ldquo;The Serbian Armed Forces, in defining the necessary capabilities, have taken into account the existence of this trilateral alliance and are already capable of independently confronting it, and I can tell you that they will be even stronger,&rdquo; Mojsilović said.Army ready for the return of compulsory military serviceSpeaking about the reintroduction of compulsory military service, Mojsilović said that the Serbian Armed Forces are ready and that all necessary regulatory documents, training plans, methodological manuals have been prepared, as well as facilities for accommodation and training, and new equipment has been acquired that will be ready for the first generation of conscripts.He emphasized that capacities for receiving conscript contingents are being further strengthened, along with improvements in conditions for future soldiers, which, he said, will be significantly better than those in which their fathers completed their military service.Marijana Jankovic/Ministarstvo odbrane/ATAImages&ldquo;Work is being accelerated on preparing the Ministry of Defence centers that will carry out registration and recruitment, as well as on increasing the capacities for medical care of soldiers. Draft legislative solutions have been prepared and, once they are adopted, we will very soon be in a position to receive the first generation of conscripts for military service. We have indications that this will be in the spring of next year,&rdquo; Mojsilović said.Speaking about the recruitment competition for military schools, he stated that there is currently a solid response from candidates and that a greater number of highly trained, quality personnel is needed because, as he said, the Serbian Armed Forces have been modernized, are technologically more complex, and are equipped with modern combat systems that require highly skilled people.He added that enrollment quotas for certain branches have been increased and that a second competition for the admission of future Serbian Air Force pilots will be announced in May.When asked whether, 27 years after the NATO aggression against the FRY, he can compare the readiness and equipment of the army then and now, Mojsilović pointed out that the Yugoslav Army entered the 1999 aggression weakened by sanctions and the lack of investment in equipment maintenance and procurement of modern weapons and military equipment, but with an experienced officer corps, highly motivated and determined to defend the homeland.&ldquo;The country was economically exhausted, with limited supplies of fuel, spare parts, modern electronics... Despite that, the Army bravely stood against the most powerful alliance in human history and, thanks to the high level of training, resourcefulness, and adaptability of soldiers and officers, offered stubborn resistance that few could have expected,&rdquo; Mojsilović said.He emphasized that, unlike that period, today&rsquo;s Serbian Armed Forces represent a significantly stronger, technologically more advanced, modernly equipped, and professionally trained military force, with greater mobility, operational efficiency, and capabilities it did not possess at the time, and that it represents a credible deterrent factor for any potential aggressor.The Day of the Serbian Armed Forces is marked on April 23, in memory of the day in 1815 when the Second Serbian Uprising began, which was a turning point in the creation of the modern Serbian state and army.

General Mojsilović: "The Serbian Armed Forces are ready"

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