Glas javnosti - Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia

66 serbia 2009 : ii the mechanisms of state repression
the network of Serbian health institutions, “thereby attaining a status
of equality with the clinical centres.” 76 Second, the institution acquired a
large quantity of modern medical equipment including a magnetic resonance
imaging scanner, a “miracle of medical technology”. 77 The Military
Medical Academy opened the College at which doctors would be trained to
meet the needs of the defence system. 78 Both Minister Šutanovac and President
Tadić ranked the Military Academy and the Military Medical Academy
among the institutions with which they can step onto the stage of collective
and global security.
The year 2009 will also be remembered, as far as military education
is concerned, for the fact that that year’s graduates were the fi rst generation
of offi cers to take communion and the fi rst to attend a prayer. The
event took place on 13 September in the Temple of St Sava in the central
Belgrade district of Vračar, and the service was conducted by Metropolitan
Amfi lohije. 79 By this act the Army of Serbia and the Serbian Orthodox
Church confi rmed their great spiritual closeness. That this rapport indicates
that the Serbian army is acquiring a new identity was confi rmed by
one of the second lieutenants present, Mladen Mastilović: “The Serbian
army has always been honourable, Christ-loving. Aft er many years, we are
resuming this tradition in the best way possible. I’m sure that this is what
all my comrades think...” 80
Democratic control of
the secret military services
The secret military services were renamed, the fi rst as the Military Security
Agency (VBA) and the second as the Military Intelligence Agency (VOA).
In informal communication, they are referred to as the secret military
76 V.P.–A.P: “Najzad uspešna godina”, Odbrana, No. 79, pp. 8-9, 1 January 2009.
77 Dragana Marković: “U korak sa svetom”, Odbrana, No. 90, pp. 16-17, 15 June 2009.
78 Ibid.
79 Branko Kopunović: “Čast u snazi vere”, Odbrana, No. 96, pp. 32-33, 15 September 2009.
80 Ibid.