23.09.2010.

Marking 200 years of the Battle on Varvarin Feld

On occasion of marking 200 years of the Battle on the Varvarin Field, Minister of Defense Dragan Sutamnovac and the President of Varvarin Muncipality Zoran Milenkovic revealed today a memorial stone dedicated to Serbian heroes who perished side by side the Russian allies on 23 September 1810 againts the Turkish Army.

As an appointed representative of the Serbian Government, Minister Sutanovac laid a wreath on the memorial, the wreaths were also laid by the SAF CHOD LTG Miloje Miletic, and Ambassador of Russia Alexander Konuzin as well as the representatives of the Rasina district and of Varvarin Municipality, with Archbishop of Sumadija Jovan and numerous other guests attending the ceremony.

Minister expressed his pleasure at being the appointed representative of the government to reveal this monument, next to the existing one, which was revealed to mark 100th anniversary of the battle.

- In order to understand ourselves, it is necessary to know our history and our past. This is why we should preserve the memory of such events not only for the sake of our past but for our future as well. This was another way to honor our Russian allies as well the soldiers of the opposing side.

- Once again from this place we send a message to the peace-loving world how important honor and freedom are for the Serbs, Serbian soldiers and our country. Varvarin has become a place of historical importance, as Sutanovac pointed out.

This is a place marked by such figures as Karadjordje, Russian general Count Orurk, Stanoje Glavas, Jovan Kursula and many other Serbian known and unknown heroes, who have made themselves known by their courage in winning this battle.

However, modern times require new ways to preserve a country, quite different from the way our ancestors did.

Minister mentioned that Serbia should have a strong army, but should not achieve its goals through war. Respecting the souvereignity and integrity of a country as well as international cooperation, while protecting and respecting the rights of citizens, as well as their religious and culutural rights, are the main principles on which we build the modern Serbia hoping to approximate t to EU.

Our collective memory and history are futile if we do not learn from them, as he emphasized, adding that the price the Serbian people had paid in the past had been too high for its right to live freely and in peace.

A time has come when we must preserve our country through different means, by budiling a democratic Serbia as a country of free and equal citizens, as Minister stated.