The National Defence Council on Monday approved a 60-day deadline to consider possibilities of revamping MIG 21 fighter jets, supported the construction of patrol boats and discussed reducing the number of command personnel in relation to the number of soldiers in line with NATO standards and the national defence strategy.
The investigation into the recent crash of two MIG fighter jets is proceeding well and we will probably have the first report in a few days, President Ivo Josipovic, who is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, told reporters in his office where the Defence Council held its session.
Josipovic added that the Council also discussed the implementation of strategic documents and the Defence Ministry's budget in 2010, 2011 and 2012, concluding that savings must be made and the budget designed in such a way as to avoid increasing spending.
Also discussed was the possibility of securing funds for the operation of the Armed Forces by selling some real estate owned by the Defence Ministry.
As regards the open information-communication system, it was decided that 120 combat vehicles would be equipped with the minimum configuration (in cooperation with the Tales company) and that other possibilities of cooperation should be considered.
"We discussed the personnel policy in the defence system and concluded ... that the number of officers, noncommissioned officers and soldiers should be adjusted to the actual needs and that the number of officers should be reduced in line with NATO standards and actual needs. We also discussed the need to define the career path of the most senior military positions which we believe should be at the end of one's military career," said Josipovic.
Defence Minister Branko Vukelic reported that the investigation into the crash of two MIG jets was proceeding well, and that the team investigating the accident was entirely independent in its work, said Josipovic, adding that the 30-day deadline for the submission of a report on the accident was only a few days away.
We were informed that investigations of that kind are complex and that the ongoing investigation is proceeding well. The investigating team has my, the Prime Minister's and the Armed Forces Chief-of-Staff's full support in establishing what happened, said Josipovic.
Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor, who also attended the session, said the Defence Council discussed strategic documents on national security and defence and that it was agreed that a strategy of national security and defence be adopted by the end of the year.
She confirmed that the session also discussed the budget of the Defence Ministry and the Armed Forces for 2011, adding that she and Finance Minister Ivan Suker additionally clarified the main characteristics of the 2011 budget as well as the parliament's decisions not to increase budget spending.
The budget of the Defence Ministry will have to fit into that framework, the PM said, adding that the session also discussed selling unpromising real estate owned by the Defence Ministry and that decisions to that effect would be made in the coming days.
She said the session also discussed the equipment and modernisation of the Armed Forces, including the project of a combat vehicle. She added that this would provide work for domestic companies, primarily Djuro Djakovic, for the next few years.
Dismissing claims that no investments were being made in the Air Force, Kosor said that in the last 15 years around US $500 million had been invested in the Air Force.
