20.04.2013.

Serbian Armed Forces Day Marked in Krusevac

Sounds of military step and melodies of military music echoed in Krusevac Square of Kosovo Heroes, where the main ceremony was held today to mark the 23rd April – The Day of the Serbian Armed Forces.

The ceremony was attended by the President of the Republic of Serbia, Tomislav Nikolic, the First Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Aleksandar Vucic, the Serbian Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Ljubisa Dikovic, top state and military officials, diplomats, and many guests.

On this occasion, the Chief of General Staff General Ljubisa Dikovic, with salute "Eternal glory to the insurgents and creators of our great nation!", said that the Serbian Armed Forces today is the backbone of the defence system of the Republic of Serbia.

- Its members are characterized by loyalty to the country, their profession and the spirit of freedom. The citizens of Serbia trust us, and the world holds much respect for our soldiers, non-commissioned officers and officers. Our military is building peace together with its partners across the world and strengthens the reputation of Serbia, General Dikovic said.

He added that we need modern combat systems, in order to successfully respond to all the security challenges. Investing in the Armed Forces is investing in the future of Serbia and safety of all its citizens.

-Mr President, citizens of Serbia, you have an army that is worthy of you. Long live the Serbian army! – the Chief of the SAF said.

Addressing the crowd of citizens and guests, the President of the Republic of Serbia, Tomislav Nikolic said that the development of the Serbian Armed Forces through history has significantly determined its future.

-Building on its tradition and values acquired throughout the history, the Serbian Armed Forces now has a clear vision for development and accomplishment of the main goal to defend the country. We remain committed to the tradition and centuries of military experience, we are brought up on it, but at the same time we follow the evolution of military thought and contemporary trends in security and defence, Nikolic said.

The President stressed that the Serbian Armed Forces is obliged to provide assistance to the population in case of a threat of any kind.

- No order is required; the connections between citizens and the military are based on the trust of citizens in their sons. Our military is one of the most influential institutions among the citizens according to the reputation, respect and status. On its reform path, the biggest improvement is in the area of creating a modern doctrinal framework, a new system of training, development of the concept of operational capabilities for participation in multinational operations, the President said, adding that the Serbian Armed Forces is ready to respond to security challenges, and that it is a mainstay of regional stability and security of the state.

- Establishing the chaplains' service, the members of the Serbian Armed Forces have been provided to fully exercise their right to religious freedom and the opportunity to express their religious feelings, which made a positive impact on the operational capabilities of the Serbian Armed Forces. The Republic of Serbia, as a member of the United Nations and an European country participates in the multinational UN operations and the EU crisis management operations, which is of great importance for foreign policy, national security and the development of the defence system, Nikolic said pointing out that by employing its forces Serbia contributes to security, solving problems, and maintaining peace, providing support for the achievement of other strategic goals and increasing its reputation in the international community.

Nikolic said that, in the future, the priorities of the state will be equipping of units with new and modernized weapons and equipment, especially in the Air Force and Air Defence as well as participation in the international peacekeeping operations.

- Everything passes, people come and go. Serbia remains forever and the Serbian soldier looking at the Serbian sky, the Serbian river, the Serbian country and children's eyes whose happiness he defends until his end, President Nikolic said.

In front of the thousands of gathered citizens of Krusevac, demonstration of capabilities of the Serbian Armed Forces started with salvo and salute to the state flag, followed by the exhibition drill by the Serbian Armed forces Guard, a unique skill in handling weapons, which has garnered numerous applauses from the audience and guests.

The sky above the city was then filled with the flags of the Republic of Serbia, the Serbian Armed Forces and Special Brigade, carried by the

members of the 63rd Parachute Battalion, Special Brigade, one of the most elite units of the Serbian Armed Forces, performing a demo jump from helicopters Mi-8, from a height of 1,500 meters, landing in the Tzar Lazar barracks.

On the Square of Kosovo Heroes, then, in the parade of the units of the Serbian Armed Forces, under the command of Major General Vojin C. Jondic, Chief of Operations Department of the General Staff, infantry, aviation and motorized echelons took turns. They were followed by cadets of the Military Academy wearing replicas of regiment flags of the Serbian Army from the First World War.

Particular attention was drawn to the demonstration of aviation echelons from the composition of the Serbian Armed Forces Air Force and Air Defence units, led by the "Eagle" Assault Aircraft squad, as well as military police echelon of cars, off-road vehicles, and special and combat police vehicles.

Air Lieutenant Colonel Dejan Vasiljevic, pilot of the Eagle Assault Aircraft, conveyed best wishes on the occasion of the Serbian Armed Forces to all.

Then followed the Special Brigade Echelon made up of teams for reconnaissance, participation in intelligence and counter-intelligence operations, resolving hostage situations, disarmament of terrorism, rogue and criminal armed groups and rescue from impenetrable and difficult terrains, that marched through the central streets of Krusevac.

Echelon of the units declared for participation in multinational operations under the auspices of the United Nations, that includes special high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicles HMMWV, then chemical-biological-radiological-nuclear service echelon, echelon of FAP 1118 trucks from domestic production, air defence missile units of the Fourth Army Brigade, which consists of Strela-1M self-propelled missile systems and ZIL transport motor vehicles, intended for the transport and handling of anti-aircraft missiles, for the missile systems "CUB" and "NEVA".

Artillery sub-echelon presented the artillery battery gun-howitzer 152 mm "Nora", with the maximum range of 28 km, missile battery of self-propelled multiple rocket launchers, rocket 128 mm "Oganj", with the maximum range of 21 km, and rocket battery of "Hurricane" 262 mm self-propelled four-barrel launchers with a maximum range of 50 kilometers.

For visitors to the central celebration marking the holiday of the Serbian Armed Forces, a static display of arms and equipment of the of the Armed Forces was organized at the town square, as well as the common lunch near the Europe hotel.

Many citiyens of Krusevac, but also people from other parts of Serbia who came to that city to enjoy in the programme prepared on the occasion of the Armed Forces Day, are united in their assessment that with the army which they saw today they feel safe and that this was not just holiday for the members of the Armed Forces, but also for Krusevac and Serbia.

A retired member of the Serbian Armed Forces from Krusevac, Vojislav Jovanovic, did not want to miss the opportunity to remind himself of the days in uniform.

- What we saw today is a source of pride and honour for us all. The programme was excellent, and most importantly, it attracted a large number of young people. As someone who has spent his whole life in the army, it is normal that I feel love and affection for uniforms, but even more I'm happy to see that our Armed Forces excites such feelings in generations yet to become mature enough for military boots – Vojislav says.

Anica and Novica Simic came today with their parents to watch the ceremony, which was organized in their hometown.

- I liked it all, and most of all planes and tanks – brother and sister responded almost in unison, and the little Novica adds – I wish to be a soldier when I grow up. Novica's words were confirmed by his mother Verica, who pointed out that today every mother should have taken her children to Krusevac.

The family Milovanovic also came to celebration. Mateja and Stasa with their father came among the first to take up the best places so that they would not have missed a fraction of the program. What they liked the most, just like the majority of the youngest ones who were present at the Krusevac square, were planes and tanks, and little Mateja, unlike his sister, said that he would like to put on the military uniform already tomorrow.

Everything is great – enthusiastically says a fifty-year old Goca Gorcic from Krusevac who came to the ceremony with her friends, and adds – The most important thing is that the army is with us, the citizens of Krusevac, and that the city has not been so alive for a long time. There are a lot of people who came from our city, but there are also those from other places. We are grateful to the Armed Forces for this – says Goca.

- I came from Kosovo just to watch this! – Milutin Nikolic says, who saw the announcement for this event on television.

Vasilija Markonic and Predrag Pavlovic are eighth-grade students of "Dragomir Marković" primary school in Krusevac. They came to the ceremony with their friends from school and what they liked the most is flying of the planes of the Serbian Armed Forces and the parade of soldiers.

The friends Marija Jovanovic, Magdalena Milivojevic and Teodora Mihajlovic sixth grade students also did not hide their excitement. They came to the celebration because they have one common desire – we would like to serve in the military! All three of them – say with a smile that they enjoyed every segment of today's show.

The Serbian Armed Forces celebrates its holiday on 23 April to commemorate the day when in 1815 the Second Serbian Uprising was started, which was a milestone in the creation of the modern Serbian state and the military.

On the occasion of the Day of the Serbian Armed Forces, the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces prepared a number of different activities, which include fostering military and libertarian traditions and a range of cultural, artistic, scientific and sporting events.