Serbia’s retired top brass decorate defence minister

According to the Army of Serbia web site, the Generals and Admirals Club, which brings together retired generals and admirals, was formed in 2005 as an NGO to preserve traditions and contribute to Serbia’s defence capabilities.

Vulin, who has been serving as the defence minister for a year, said “the recognition comes from the people who made the Army’s image reputable in the worst possible times.”

“Every recognition is worth as they who honour you with it,” Vulin said.

He used to be a member of the League of Communists-Movement for Yugoslavia party in the 1990s. Later, he was a founding member of the Yugoslav Left party, led by Mirjana Markovic, the wife of late Serbia’s and Yugoslav strongman Slobodan Milosevic, but left it and joined Milosevic’s Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS).

Vulin then changed two more parties – Democratic Left and Movement of Socialists – to join Aleksandar Vucic’s Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) in a coalition which won general elections in 2012.

Vucic, who became the Prime Minister, named Vulin, the director of the newly formed Office for Kosovo.

He later became a Minister without Portfolio in charge of Kosovo. Before becoming the defence minister in June 2017, he headed the Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Policy of Serbia.