21.09.2018.

Minister Vulin: Strong Armed Forces for Stable Peace

The ceremonies on the occasion of taking oath of service by September 2018 generation of short-term volunteers, cadets, military secondary vocational school and students of the Reserve Officers Course of the Military Academy and the Military Medical Academy have been held today at the barracks in Sombor, Leskovac and Valjevo.

Defence Minister Aleksandar Vulin and Major General Petar Cvetković, Deputy Chief of General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces, attended the oath-taking ceremony at the Sombor Airport where 138 soldiers and 86 cadets of the 143th class of the Military Academy uttered the words of the oath.

Lieutenant General Milan Mojsilović, Chief of General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces, attended the military oath-taking ceremony at the Field Marshal Petar Bojovic barracks in Leskovac, while Lieutenant General Đokica Petrović, Commander of the Training Command, attended the ceremony at the Field Marshal Zivojin Misic barracks in Valjevo.

Congratulating on taking the oath of service, Minister Vulin emphasized that the Serbian Armed Forces is proud of every member of its team – just as it was proud of each of its officers and soldiers in the past, so it is proud of this new generation of young people, men and women who will protect and defend their country.

- The Serbian Armed Forces is a guarantor of our stability, guarantor of our freedom and the stronger, more equipped and more trained we are, the safer our peace will be and this will make us a stronger deterring factor for anyone who thinks that they should talk to Serbia using the language of power, Minister Vulin emphasized.

The minister of defence pointed out that Serbia did not provoke wars, Serbia did not seek wars, just as it is not guilty or responsible for either the First or Second World War, it was not guilty or responsible for the NATO aggression.

- We must know that only those who have a strong and powerful army can decide for themselves. The Serbian Armed Forces, like all Serbian citizens, will firmly and consistently pursue the policy of the Supreme Commander of the Serbian Armed Forces, Aleksandar Vučić regarding military neutrality. We are not an army that will do evil to others, which others did to us. We exist to safeguard our country and our people, Minister Vulin said.

Speaking to the commanding officers, Minister Vulin said that these are not only the best tanks and most modern aircraft that were given to them to manage, but above all there are children and youth to look after them and to raise them, to return them better, and the Minister of Defence thanked the gathered parents for this day and all the years in which they created and brought up these young heroes and brought them to serve their own country.

- Just as a hundred years ago, gathered under our flag and around our state and army, we know that there is no greater value than freedom, and with this children, this youth, we can be sure and certain that no one will take away that freedom from us or threaten us. The stronger we are, the more respected we will be, the more we are able to protect our freedom, the freer we will be, the minister of defence concluded.

The words of the oath of service in Sombor today were also uttered by Valentina Radonjić, a cadet of the 143th class of the Military Academy, who pointed out that she was very proud and that the feeling of taking the oath of service left a very strong impression on her. Her mother shared today's nice moments with her, not hiding the pride that she is standing today beside her daughter dressed in the uniform of the Serbian Armed Forces.

Among the soldiers of the September class, there is also Nikola Topličanin, a soldier, who has taken oath on the runway at the Sombor-based Airport barracks today. He said that he would recommend every young man to serve the military term because it is for the pride of our country and the oath-taking cannot be described by words, it must be experienced, he emphasized.

At the Field Marshal Petar Bojovic barracks in Leskovac, in the 3rd Training Centre commanded by Colonel Slađan Cvetković, 154 short-term volunteers in the September 2018 generation took oath, including 33 girls.

The ceremony was attended by Lieutenant General Milan Mojsilović, the Serbian Armed Forces Chief of General Staff, Brigadier General Dejan Janković, Chief of Staff of the Training Command, representatives of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces, the municipalities of Jablanica District, the Serbian Orthodox Church, the Ministry of Interior, parents, relatives and numerous friends of the youngest soldiers who are to spend the next six months in training centres and units of the Serbian Armed Forces in which they will perform the basic duties of professional soldiers.

Congratulating soldiers on the taken oath of service and on behalf of the Defence Minister Aleksandar Vulin, the Chief of General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces said, among other things, that the defence of the homeland for our people has always been a reflection of honour and more than an obligation, which is confirmed by the presence of numerous citizens at the ceremony.

- The one who chooses to become a soldier deserves special respect. Being a soldier means being ready for efforts, renunciation in order to defend the fatherland and for achieving the noblest values of the society. There is an increasing number of young people who are tying their future to the defence system and today we are witnessing another proof of the reputation of the Serbian Armed Forces, among our citizens. These young men and women have decided to vow by their honour to guard and defend their homeland. Your determination to join short-term volunteers is an honour and shows courage and readiness to serve the high goal - security and reputation of Serbia. By taking the oath of service, you became part of the defence system, General Mojsilović said, and stressed that the Serbian Armed Forces will always be a reliable mainstay for our Serbia, through thick and thin.

- Today, the Serbian Armed Forces contributes significantly to the preservation of security not only in the region, but also in the world, especially through the development of cooperation and partnership with other armies. Our participation in multinational operations beyond the borders of Serbia enhances the reputation of not only the military, but also the state in the world, strengthening its diplomatic potential for the benefit of our citizens, Lieutenant General Mojsilović said.

Today, in Valjevo-based barracks, 197 short-term volunteers in the September 2018 generation, cadets, students of the secondary vocational military school and students of the reserve officer class of the Military Academy and the Military Medical Academy of the September 2018 generation, took the oath of service.

Lieutenant General Đokica Petrović, Commander of the Training Command, Brigadier General Željko Ninković, Chief of the Logistics Department of the Serbian Armed Forces, representatives of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces, the City of Valjevo, Kolubara Administrative District, the Serbian Orthodox Church and the MoI, have attended today's ceremony in Valjevo.