Vucic: Serbian Armed Forces not same as they were ten years ago

NIS - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Friday in Nis the Serbian Armed Forces were not the same as they were ten years ago, especially when it comes to arms and equipment.

"Only the emblems are the same, and the rest is not comparable, either when it comes to personnel or equipment. At that time, we also had many good people, but we have more today, we have wonderful people. Do not forget that the ranks of our units were well filled, and when they were preparing for a potential defence of our people in Kosovo-Metohija, we had a call-up response rate of over 90 pct in special forces and 100 pct in the Cobras," Vucic told reporters during a visit to the Mija Stanimirovic army barracks in Nis.

Responding to questions about progress on reinstatement of compulsory military service, he said all technical requirements had been met and that barracks were "the least of our problems."

"We have already done all the technical things and everything that you buy with money."

He said "a race for modern arms and a race for personnel" was the problem.

"That is why all countries are introducing military service - from Sweden, Germany, Croatia and everyone else. We are late, but it is always a big philosophical question in our country. How is someone going to spend 70 days (in compulsory military service)? You always have experts who are campaigning against that, and when you do not have that, they wonder why you do not," Vucic said.