10.09.2020.

High Russian decoration for Minister of Defence Aleksandar Vulin

On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of victory over fascism, the Ambassador of the Russian Federation Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko presented the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Serbia, Aleksandar Vulin, with a Memorial Medal of the Director of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation at today’s award ceremony for representatives of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces held at the Great War Hall of the Old General Staff.

- Strengthening our armed forces is also strengthening our freedom, the state of Serbia, our readiness and ability to protect ourselves, but also Serbs, no matter where they live – emphasized Minister Vulin.

- This decoration is not only for me, it is for all members of the Ministry of Defence who worked patiently, carefully and persistently to implement all the provisions of the Military Technical Agreement, as well as for all those who did not spare their strength to make sure that everything that had been agreed on, arrived on time, and always a bit before the agreed time. This decoration goes to all those who were able to say, thanks to the implementation of the Military Technical Agreement, that our Air Force was saved from disappearance and decay, and that the capabilities of the Serbian Armed Forces are developing and improving – the Minister of Defence emphasized.

According to him, the military-technical cooperation between the two countries is always a proof of mutual trust, proof of their relations, proof of how much we trust each other, proof of how much we believe in our common future.

- The Supreme Commander of the Serbian Armed Forces, President Vučić, often says that „we are not tied to Russia because we love the same books, but because we share the same future“. That is something that determines us. Relations between the Ministries of Defence of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Serbia have never been at a higher level, they have never been richer or more sincere. Thank you for this high decoration, on behalf of all the awarded, and on behalf of all those who truly deserved this decoration and those who contributed to the implementation of every provision. Thank you for caring and noticing how much we care about our relations being at the highest possible level, and for making us proud in this way, and I am looking forward to the future ahead of us - said Minister Vulin.

Ambassador Botshan-Kharchenko said that he was very honoured and pleased to have the opportunity to present today the awards which are, as he pointed out, very important in Russia and even more important because they are being awarded in the year when 75th anniversary of the joint victory over fascism is celebrated.

- We celebrate our joint victory, and we do not only discuss, but also work to strengthen our tradition and our mutual values. This event is very important because the presidents of our countries had a telephone conversation this morning and the satisfaction with the development of bilateral cooperation was emphasized and highlighted once again. As far as Kosovo is concerned, it is now at the top of international agenda. Russia's position was confirmed and the personal contribution of President Vučić, who seeks a lasting, right and fair solution that would suit the interests of the Republic of Serbia and the Serbian people, was emphasized, - said Ambassador Botsan-Kharchenko and added that Serbia can rely on Russia's support when it comes to resolving the Kosovo issue and other international and bilateral issues.

- As for the military-technical cooperation, the contribution of the Minister of Defence and all those who were awarded today is great, significant and remarkable, because I cannot recall that the development of bilateral cooperation in the military-technical field has ever been at such a high level or so intensive as it is today. It is also important that bilateral cooperation in the military-technical field entails a high level of trust, which is inalienable from our relations of brotherly friendship between Russia and Serbia - said Ambassador Botsan-Kharchenko, emphasizing that Russia will continue to provide military-technical assistance to Serbia based on the fact that strengthening the Serbian Armed Forces and Serbia's defence capabilities fit into the sovereignty and independent decision-making, strengthening the independence and territorial integrity of the country. Serbia can rely on Russia's help, support and understanding in the field of military-technical cooperation, but also in other spheres of bilateral cooperation.

At today’s ceremony, Ambassador Botsan Kharchenko presented the Order of the Director of the Federal Service “For contribution in the field of defence and military-technical cooperation” to the Assistant Minister for Material Resources, Nenad Miloradović, and the Medal of the Director of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation to the Commander of the Air Force and Air Defence, Major General Duško Žarković.

The Russian Defence Attaché to Belgrade, Major General Alexander Zinchenko presented the CEO of “Jugoimport-SDPR” Jugoslav Petković with the Plaque of the Director of the Federal Service for Military Technical Cooperation.

The representative of the “Rostek” company in the Republic of Serbia, Alexander Vosmirko presented the Medal of the Director of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation to Miroslav Mijatović, Head of Division for Europe and Americas of the “Jugoimport-SDPR” company.

On the same occasion, the Defence Attaché of the Republic of Serbia to the Russian Federation, Colonel Budimir Gajić was awarded the Medal of the Director of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation at the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Moscow. The Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to the Russian Federation Miroslav Lazanski attended the award ceremony.