Country Listing Yugoslavia Table of Contents Yugoslavia Government Organization for Defense A major issue in the government's organization for defense concerned the position of supreme commander of the armed forces. From 1941 until his death in 1980, Tito was supreme commander. He achieved legendary stature as a military leader because of his role in directing the wartime Partisans. After Tito's death, no political leader carried the same respect and authority with military commanders. Since 1980, the powers of the supreme commander have been dispersed within the State Presidency. Article 283 of the Constitution gave the Federal Assembly ( Skupstina ) power to declare war and peace and to ratify military agreements and treaties. However, the State Presidency had direct command of the armed forces. The Presidency was authorized to make general plans and preparations for defense, to declare that an imminent danger of war exists, to order mobilization, and to declare war in the event that the Federal Assembly could not meet. The Presidency appointed, promoted, and relieved general officers. Despite these formal powers, however, in 1990 the State Presidency was not deemed likely to exercise immediate control over the armed forces. Because of its lack of military experience and expertise, the Presidency likely would approve responses to crises and decisions on strategic issues that were proposed at lower levels. Because of its collective nature and annual rotation, the State Presidency could not replicate Tito's role as an actual supreme commander (see | |
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