One Year of the Engagement of Joint Military and Police Force

The Minister of Defence, Aleksandar Vulin together with the Chief of General Staff of Serbian Armed Forces, General Ljubiša Diković, State Secretary Aleksandar Živković, Army Commander, Lieutenant General Milosav Simović, and Police General Milenko Božović, Head of Border Police Department visited the members of the Joint Military and Police Force at the border towards Bulgaria. 

Visiting the border crossing Vrška Čuka, Minister Vulin said:

- A year ago, the President of the Government, Aleksandar Vučić ordered establishing the Joint Military and Police Force in order to control the movement of migrants, attempts of illegal crossing into our territory. The members of the military and police put tremendous efforts in discharging the assigned tasks. After a year of joint work 20,167 migrants were prevented in their attempts to enter our territory, among whom the greatest number, 10,220 of them came from Macedonia, 9,801 from Bulgaria and 146 illegal migrants came from Montenegro. The members of the Armed Forces and Police fought against smugglers and owing to their work 147 persons were arrested and processed for attempted smuggling of 1.993 persons, while 1330 persons were discovered in the depth of our territory. After having been checked, the majority of them, around 1300 were sent in our reception camp in Preševo. Thanks to their work, today in the territory of the Republic of Serbia there are 5,071 persons, while 20,167 did not cross our border. Imagine that there was no work of the members of Armed Forces and Police. Each time when we thing that investing in Armed Forces and Police is too much and when we think that having our own Armed Forces is too expensive, and that having well equipped and trained Police is too costly, just think how much it would cost if now we had in the territory of Serbia 20,167 illegal migrants. Owing to their work we have 5071, and owing to their work the Republic of Serbia, unlike any other country on the migrant route, fully controls the process of movement. More than 90 per cent of migrants are in our reception centres and thanks to the work of the members of Armed Forces and Police, we can say that we control the situation on our terrain. Owing to their immense enthusiasm from the highest superior officers to every soldier and policeman, more has been done than what is required by law and service rules. They all worked for their Serbia, they all worked more than we can pay. That is why they have to feel the betterment of standard; their families have to feel that we appreciate their work. If it had not been for their work, enthusiasm and self-sacrifice, we could not say now that the situation in Serbia is peaceful and stable and that we fully control the migrant crisis like no other country. The Government of the Republic of Serbia, the Supreme Commander, Aleksandar Vučić, Armed Forces and Police have done all and will do all so that our everyday life does not change in any way, that every citizen of Serbia is protected and safe, and our country peaceful and stable. Without the members of Armed Forces and Police that would simply not be possible – Minister of Defence, Aleksandar Vulin stated.

Thanking the Minister of Defence on the words describing the work of the Joint Military and Police Force on the border, Chief of General Staff of Serbian Armed Forces, General Ljubiša Diković said that the members of Serbian Armed Forces and Ministry of Interior execute one task extremely significant for the state in a disciplined, responsible and conscientious fashion, and that task is to protect the border of the Republic of Serbia against illegal migrants which directly contributes to the protection of the citizens of Serbia.

-Like many times before, the members of both Ministries have demonstrated that they are capable and fit to execute all the tasks relating to the security of the citizens of the Republic of Serbia. It is pleasure to see such capable members of the military and police, the living and working conditions are adequate and suitable for the assigned task of safeguarding the state border – General Diković said.

Police General Milenko Božović, Head of Border Police Department pointed out that for almost a year, the members of the military and police are displaying unity of state bodies in the completion of the task of securing the state border in the interest of all citizens of Serbia.