14.10.2020.

Minister Vulin: 63rd Parachute, always brigade, never battalion

The Minister of Defence Aleksandar Vulin and the Chief of the General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces, General Milan Mojsilović attended today the celebration of the Day of the 63rd Parachute Brigade, Military Paratroopers Day and Patron Saint's Day of the 63rd Parachute Brigade, at the military airport “Sergeant Pilot Mihajlo Petrović“ in Niš.

On behalf of the President of the Republic and Supreme Commander of the Serbian Armed Forces Aleksandar Vučić, Minister Vulin congratulated all members on the Day of the 63rd Parachute Brigade and Patron Saint’s Day of the unit.

Veterans of the 63rd Parachute Brigade presented Minister Vulin with an honorary Plaque as a token of appreciation for everything he has done for the 63rd Parachute Brigade and its members.

To mark the Day of the 63rd Parachute Brigade, Minister Vulin, General Mojsilović and Commander of the 63rd Parachute Brigade Nenad Zonić laid a wreath at the Memorial Wall to the fallen members of the 63rd Parachute Brigade, and a wreath was also laid by the delegation of veterans of the 63rd Parachute Brigade.

Minister Vulin pointed out that by order of the Supreme Commander of the Serbian Armed Forces Aleksandar Vučić, the 63rd Parachute Brigade was returned to the place where it has always belonged.

- This has never been a battalion, this has always been and it always had to be a brigade. They are not only equipped with the most modern equipment. In the past few years, they have been provided with the most modern parachutes, with the best equipment, with as many aircraft as they wanted, so that they can do what paratroopers know best and love the most - perform parachute jumps - said Minister Vulin.

According to him, that unit is proof “that the Serbian Armed Forces have irreversibly changed, that they have returned to themselves”.

- No one from the outside will ever again be able to order these armed forces what to do, what to celebrate, what to forget, and what to remember. Members of the 63rd Parachute Brigade are the heroes from Košare, the heroes from numerous wars, the heroes who went wherever it was difficult and whenever it was necessary to defend the Serbian people. On this day we pay tribute to the victims, but we also look to the future happy and proud that this brigade has found its place again, that it is again in the place where it belongs - among the best and that this brigade and its members are the pride of our armed forces and people - said the Minister of Defence.

As he pointed out, the Serbian Armed Forces will “never again be ashamed of Lazarević and Pavković, or any of those who defended this country”.

- These armed forces will never again be ashamed of those who gave their lives for the freedom of our people, and these armed forces will always protect their people and all Serbs, no matter where they live. The President and Supreme Commander of the Serbian Armed Forces, Aleksandar Vučić, did everything that a state could do to make this unit and these armed forces what they should be, to be equipped, armed and safe, and the members of the 63rd Parachute Brigade justify that trust every day and prove that their will and perseverance and honour is something that all citizens of Serbia and all Serbs, wherever they live, can be proud of - concluded Minister Vulin.

According to the Deputy Commander of the 63rd Parachute Brigade, Colonel Nenad Bulatović, the 63rd Parachute Brigade was restored after 13 years, thanks to the military and state leadership, and the members were given a task - to carry on the "honourable tradition of the heroic 63rd Parachute Brigade".

- It is a difficult task, but future generations will not be ashamed of us. In the past period, paratroopers have performed all assigned tasks. During the fight against the pandemic, we showed that we had the knowledge, ability and will. We showed the same at the exercise "Joint Action 2020" and we will continue to perform such tasks in the future - said Colonel Bulatović.

A veteran of the 63rd Parachute Brigade, retired Colonel Slavoljub Anđelković, former commander and chief of staff of the 63rd Parachute Brigade, pointed out that he is very proud, like all veterans, that the Day of the 63rd Parachute Brigade is celebrated today, just as it was celebrated until 13 years ago.

He expressed regret that due to the coronavirus pandemic, veterans from the country and abroad were not able to attend the celebration of the unit's day.

- As representatives of the Association of Veterans, we have come to pay tribute primarily to the fallen members of our unit, who gave their lives for the homeland, but also to show respect to the current unit and encourage it to continue on the path of the legendary, heroic 63rd Parachute Brigade - Anđelković emphasized.

As part of the ceremony, members of the 63rd Parachute Brigade performed demo jumps at the Niš military airport, and Minister Vulin and General Mojsilović also visited the unit’s Memorial Room.

At today’s celebration, Colonel Zonić presented a plaque of the 63rd Parachute Brigade to the wartime commander of that unit, Major General Ilija Todorov, on the occasion of his retirement, emphasizing that under General Todorov's command in the war, the 63rd Parachute Brigade was decorated with the Order of the People's Hero, and in peacetime, in 2001 – it was proclaimed the best unit of the then armed forces.

The celebration of the Day of 63rd Parachute Brigade was also attended by the Commander of the Air Force and Air Defence, Major General Duško Žarković, the Commander of the Guard, Major General Milomir Todorović, the Deputy Commander of the Training Command, Brigadier General Jelesije Radivojević, the Head of the Human Resources Department, Brigadier General Savo Iriškić, the Head of Intelligence and Reconnaissance Department, Brigadier General Miroljub Čupić, the Head of the Logistics Department, Brigadier General Srđan Petković, the Commander of the 72nd Special Operations Brigade, Brigadier General Miroslav Talijan, as well as veterans of the 63rd Parachute Brigade.