Union Mocks Call to Display Serbian President's Portrait

Serbia's Defence Minister, Aleksandar Vulin, has encountered opposition after he said that displaying President Aleksandar Vucic's portrait in ministry and army's offices would be a mark of respect for the country's "supreme commander".

Novica Antic, from the Army Union, has advised the minister to try to improve the position of soldiers instead.

"It would not be 'strengthening the cult of the state', but strengthening the cult of personality, which resembles the period of communism or monarchy," Antic told BIRN.

The daily Kurir on August 18 published the Defence Ministry's proposal for installing Vucic's portrait in the offices of the Ministry and Army.

Vulin told Insajder on August 22 that this was right as Vucic was Serbia's "supreme commander.

"Don't look at this through which president you like or don't like. This should be viewed exclusively as strengthening of the cult of the state of Serbia," Vulin said.

But, Antic from the Army Union, said Vulin's proposal would also imply amending internal Army rules.

"And this [proposal] has already caused a revolt among soldiers. Instead of celebrating famous military commanders from Serbian history, they are imposing on us a president's portrait ... So what, we need to change it each time there is a change of power?" Antic asked.

Prime Minister Ana Brnabic on Wednesday said she saw no problem in Vulin's proposal since she believes in strengthening of the cult of national symbols.

However, Antic again demurred. "According to the constitution, the Serbian national symbols are the coat of arms, flag, and anthem," he underlined.

He added that the union was considering supporting Vulin's proposal by launching a competition in which...