Serbian president reiterates military neutrality to protect airspace, citizens

By Talha Ozturk

BELGRADE, Serbia (AA) - President Aleksandar Vucic reiterated on Wednesday Serbia’s military neutrality to protect its airspace and citizens.

"Serbia will always protect its neutrality, its airspace, and its citizens," Vucic said at an army equipment exhibition in Nis as part of Serbian Statehood Day celebrations to be held Thursday.

Vucic said Serbia will always have enough capacity, modern weapons, and brave-hearted citizens to accomplish those goals.

"We have a lot to learn from our past, but it seems to me that the most important thing is to look at how to move the country forward, how to move forward economically. The highest value of Serbia, of all its citizens, and also of the Serbian people as a whole, is freedom,'' said Vucic.

The Repellent anti-drone system, a Russian electronic warfare system that can neutralize drone systems at a distance of 30 to 35 kilometers (19 to 22 miles), was introduced to the public at the exhibition.

Serbia, a candidate for EU membership, is often criticized for developing ties with China and Russia.

At the beginning of January, Serbia announced a plan to reinstate mandatory military service.

The government decided in 2011 to suspend mandatory military service for young men.