Civilians Must Control the Army

Federal Minister of Defence, Dr. Slobodan Krapovic got hold of that office straight from an operation room of the hospital in Meljine, as member of the Socialist National Party, MP in the Parliament of Montenegro, MP of the Chamber of Citizens in the Federal Parliament (all that until the elections of September 24th last year). He is now MP in the Chamber of Republics, ever since the constitution of the new Federal Government. Dr. Slobodan Krapovic (1948) is from Cetinje and he is the third civilian at the post of Defence Minister of the FRY.

The transformation of the Yugoslav Army and confidence that its joining the international community, as well as its integration into the important European processes, indicates Yugoslavia’s access in the Partnership for Peace – are sufficient motives for an interview with the new Minister of Defence. However, the interview began with the issue of shortening the duration of military service. Our interviewee says: ‘I support complete and systematic solutions to all problems; the question of shortening the duration of the military service will be solved by means of implementation of new legal concepts. The first step to be made is to present the draft of the country’s defence doctrine. The FRY has not yet had a full version of such a draft. From that draft further regulations will develop, such as those which define the complete law on the army, defence and property… Then, we can talk about the shortening of the military service term’.

VREME: So, the decision on the duration of the military service will not be brought separately?

DR. SLOBODAN KRAPOVIC: The duration of the military service is conditioned by the existing contingent. On the other side, that contingent can be reduced if we modernise the army, provide it with better equipment and turn it into an efficient mobile system. Only that would enable the reduction of the duration of the military service. According to the program of the Federal Government, the mentioned law should be brought by the end of June; that is the shortest possible period in which the ministry and the army can come up with an adequate decision, which would, of course, be in compliance with the world standards.

VREME: What sort of expert teams are you talking about, military or civilian?

DR. SLOBODAN KRAPOVIC: We are going to work as a team in preparation of the legal regulation; that will include representatives of the Ministry of Defence and experts of the Yugoslav Army (VJ) HQ. We are open to all suggestions of the citizens, of specialised institutions, of non-governmental organisations, as well as some institutions of young people. Talking about the shortening of the military service term, we must have understanding for the interests of young people. I am of the opinion that we can satisfy everyone’s interests at the same time – that of the people, the army and the defence.

VREME: There is a public opinion that the reduction of the military capacities and the shortening of military service duration represent some kind of economising measures. Experts, on the other hand, claim that it will bring about the increase of costs due to the necessity of a more intensive training of a number of professionals…

DR. SLOBODAN KRAPOVIC: Yes. That calculation only seems to be an economising measure. On the contrary, by reducing the existing contingent, we have to think about a technologically better, more sophisticated and contemporary equipment of the army, which is, as you probably know, extremely expensive.

VREME: As one of the rare civilian ministers of defence in the past century, what are your first experiences in co-operation with the Yugoslav Army?

DR. SLOBODAN KRAPOVIC:  I have to admit that I had some prejudices and fears prior to accepting this office, I was worried in which way a civilian, which has nothing to do with the issues of state defence, would cope with it. Meanwhile, those fears mostly disappeared, thanks to a successful collaboration with my colleagues from the ministry and the VJ.

VREME: The second anniversary of NATO bombardment of Yugoslavia is approaching, and we are already talking about joining the Partnership for Peace?

DR. SLOBODAN KRAPOVIC: Along with the democratic changes in the country and the return to a number of international organisations, our country has an obligation to adjust to the system of collective security. We have already revealed to many international representatives that we care about fulfilling those obligations as objectively as possible. They showed considerable understanding after a relatively long period of our exclusion from all those processes. Hence, we are beginning to consider those integrations in the military sense, and the Partnership for Peace is just one of those inevitable questions. There are many comments in the public on that subject, which sometimes go from one extremity to another – from the opinion that by joining the Partnership for Peace we would solve all our defence problems, including the Kosovo crisis, to a completely opposite belief that we would lose our sovereignty by joining NATO, the alliance with which we had un unforgettable experience. I think that we should not be so extreme when we ponder over this question. We should consider it from the viewpoint of our strategic interests in the fields of defence and safety, from the viewpoint of a pro-European and pro-Balkan policy and a general tendency towards stability in the region and in the whole of Europe. Therefore, it is necessary to consider that question publicly and make an officially recognised state decision. We are not making any abrupt moves, since there are priorities in the state policy  - the stabilisation of political conditions, the relations between the two republics, social and other issues. However, the question of joining the Partnership for Peace will surely come to the agenda. We formed an expert group within the Ministry of Defence, which is supposed to oversee that problem and give us a relevant final opinion. The aim is to gather all possible information and estimates in order to reach a valid decision. Simultaneously, we have certain offers from our traditionally friendly countries concerning the sponsorship or mentorship in the process of integration with the Partnership for Peace. We believe that we will eventually come up with a right and profitable decision.

VREME: Where did such offers come from?

DR. SLOBODAN KRAPOVIC: From Romania and Greece.

VREME: Is there any kind of pressure towards certain steps in the military integration?

DR. SLOBODAN KRAPOVIC: So far, nothing can be interpreted as pressure, not from any side. If we turn towards the West and the integration with Europe it does not mean that we are going to cease co-operation with our old friends in the East. In fact, we are only looking for increasing a number of allies.

VREME: It seems that the sharpest objections about joining the Partnership for Peace are coming from VJ, while the civilian and non-governmental circles are supporting the integration. What will be an ‘in-between’ solution?

DR. SLOBODAN KRAPOVIC: It seems to me that there are many modern approaches towards the reality of our present situation. Still, the fact is that there are a number of positive things in the military integration, but there are also those that are likely to cause reservations. The process of integration strengthens the stability of the country. On the other side, it is essential to count on the local publicity, which has so far been in confrontation with NATO as an aggressive force. Finally, the joining of the Partnership for Peace also assumes certain expenses. It is only a question whether we will be able to bear all that economically.

On the one hand, we cannot be indifferent towards that process – it might be understood as our ambiguous behaviour in that matter, while, on the other hand, we cannot behave irresponsibly and accept such a decision ad hoc. A mid-solution to that problem simply has to be found, and it will be the expression of this country’s potentials and circumstances.

VREME: At the end, one personal question: was it your own interest towards military matters that brought you to this post?

DR. SLOBODAN KRAPOVIC: I haven’t got any special affinity with regards to military matters. I was appointed Minister of Defence as a result of someone else’s reasoning, not because it was my personal wish. I have a good intention to give my best during my term of office as a minister, although there are certain guidelines: I have always worked professionally on the protection of human health and lives. In some strange way, I may also contribute to this sector thanks to my previous experience. Secondly, I have a conviction that the army and the system of defence should be subject to a full civil control. This sector belongs to the Federal Government, so its minister should be the mediator in bringing decisions, between the government and what we call the armed defence of our country. That is one of the forms of civil control of the army and it is where I find a great deal of motives for my personal engagement.