Gasic: Compulsory military service due to begin in September

BELGRADE - Serbian Defence Minister Bratislav Gasic says the first army recruits are due to go to compulsory military service in September and that the parliament is first due to adopt a law on compulsory military service by the spring.

Speaking to Tanjug, Gasic said the idea of reinstating compulsory military service had come from President and Commander-in-Chief Aleksandar Vucic and the Serbian Armed Forces Chief of Staff as a necessity when it comes to keeping up with all current security developments, not only in the nearer or wider neighbourhood, but around the world.

"Military service in Serbia was abolished in 2011. That is 13 or 14 generations of young guys who have had no attitude to the army or to any kind of training. And, of course, so many years without military service have led to our reserve becoming increasingly old and, slowly, unsustainable," he said.

He explained that professional troops were the backbone of the Serbian Armed Forces and would remain so.

"However, if needed, professional troops are filled with reserve troops, which must be trained to respond to tasks if such a need arises," Gasic said.