Vucevic: Investments in Serbian Armed Forces have never been greater

BELGRADE - Serbian Defence Minister Milos Vucevic said on Friday investments in the Serbian Armed Forces had never been greater and that, thanks to President Aleksandar Vucic, 600 mln euros had been secured outside of the state budget for investments in the army and the defence industry.

"Everyone is preparing for war and we should not be under an illusion that there is peace and unity in the world. Everyone is looking after their own interests and bolstering their military capacities and their economies, including investments in the military industry, which is especially the case in countries that have enormous budgets," Vucevic told Prva TV.

He said Serbia was concerned by developments in the region, above all, by "a transformation of Kosovo security forces into Kosovo armed forces by a part of NATO member states."

"By arming and preparing them, they are creating a direct threat not only to Serbs in Kosovo-Metohija but to all Serbs and the Republic of Serbia, and we must keep assessing that," Vucevic said.

"We will continue to strengthen all Serbian Armed Forces capacities, as well as to open defence industry production plants that will benefit the Serbian Armed Forces above all but will also be commercially competitive to give us an economic plus from all that. Strengthening the Serbian Armed Forces in terms of personnel and numbers is a great challenge for us," Vucevic said.