Killing of the gendarme has actualized the introduction of a sensor control system in the south of Serbia. The project “Presek” (Intersect) developed by domestic experts, enables real time registration of movements, even of a branch that fells from a tree.

Prevention of an overflow of criminal activities from Kosovo, smuggling of arms and drugs, and human trafficking, along with the reduction of presence of the armed forces in the Ground Safety Zone (GSZ), was the goal of the project “Presek”, which never came to life in the south of central Serbia. The multisensory system of control and protection of the administrative line with Kosovo and Metohija, a comprehensive project of the Serbian intelligence, was not implemented due to a lack of funding - officially.

Last week killing of the gendarme Stevan Sindjelic in the GSZ has actualized again the system of protection of the administrative line, which could, amongst the other things, protect lives of Serbian security forces. The cost of the project amounting to 350.000 is also not that big for the realization of the project “Presek”, when one knows the effects which the “Vigilant Eye” could have in terms of the real time information from the ground.

Initiative for modernization of the system of control in the GSZ was launched back in 2002 by the Coordination Body for Preševo, Bujanovac and Medveđa. It was planned for the system of control to fully cover and protect the administrative line with Kosovo in length of 478 kilometers and to be regionally connected with the control center located at Mt. Kopaonik and the national control system, which would be set in Belgrade.

Developing of the system has taken a considerable time and presents the intelligent system of defense which registers the real time situation on the ground. “Tests have shown that it works unmistakably in all weather conditions,” explains Dr. Vlastimir Pavlović, professor at the Electronics Faculty in Nis, who took part in the project. The “Vigilant Eye” was meant to have radar and thermo-vision control and it would guarantee security to all inhabitants in the GSZ. It was also planned to be compatible with the KFOR’s system in Kosovo.