Serbia urges young people to join army

By Talha Ozturk

BELGRADE, Serbia (AA) - Serbia's Defense Ministry on Saturday urged young people to apply for voluntary military service.

"All interested young men and women who want to apply for voluntary military service under arms can submit their applications at the centers of the Ministry of Defense and already in September of this year they will have the opportunity to join the Serbian Armed Forces," said the ministry in a statement.

All able-bodied citizens of our country who turn 19 to 30 years old in 2023 and who have not previously served military service with a weapon have the right to apply.

"All registered candidates will have the opportunity to test their abilities, undergo dynamic military training and at the same time demonstrate patriotism and civic responsibility toward their country. Voluntary military service is also the shortest path to becoming a professional member of the Serbian Armed Forces," said the ministry.

Following April elections in northern Kosovo, the EU said the low turnout among Serbs did not provide municipalities with long-term political solutions.

Ethnic Serbs in the region have been protesting the election of Albanian mayors since late May.

Kosovo and Serbia need to resolve disputes and reach an agreement to move forward with their integration into the EU.

When the government in Pristina declared its independence from Serbia 15 years ago, most UN member states including the US, UK, France, Germany and Türkiye recognized it as a separate country, but Belgrade continues to regard it as its territory.