Serbia is considering introducing compulsory military service: Would you support this proposal?

Photo: mod.gov.rs

Public speculation that there is an idea to lay off thousands of professional (contracted) members of the Serbian Army, in light of another, regarding introduction of compulsory military service, is an absolute lie, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Nebojsa Stefanovic said today.

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He stressed that not only are there no plans to lay off professional soldiers, but there are plans to hire more of them, as well as a significant increase in their wages.

"Employees in the Serbian Army will this year receive, in addition to an increase of five percent that everyone is receiving, also an additional 10 percent, which will go mostly to the soldiers with the lowest wages," said Stefanovic.

"I have said many times and I will repeat it - the strength of the Army are its people," the deputy prime minister and minister of defense pointed out and added that there would be investments not only in higher salaries of soldiers, but also in their equipment and working conditions.

He also stated that in parallel, thorough work will continue om consideration of the idea of ​​introducing compulsory military service, which does not represent any reason for dismissing existing soldiers.

Photo: Tanjug/Dragan Kujundzic

"We want a strong, equipped and well-paid Army, because only such an army is a guarantor of stability and security of Serbia, and we will fight for that," concluded Stefanovic.

The minister stated earlier that returning to compulsory military service in Serbia was being seriously considered but he pointed out that a decision will not be made hastily, because it is important to hear all arguments.

"We want to make a decision through a broad public debate, in conversation with citizens and experts, which will guarantee that the Serbian Army has a proper level of membership, that it has reserves... We listen carefully to all arguments," Stefanovic told TV Prva.

(Telegraf.rs)