02.12.2021.

Minister Stefanović opens 3rd Bilateral Athletics Meeting

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Nebojša Stefanović, PhD, has officially opened the 3rd Bilateral Indoor Athletics Meeting today, which has gathered cadets, members of the Serbian and Russian military academy teams. At the opening ceremony, Minister Stefanović said that young Serbian and Russian athletes are taking part in a friendly competition today, but they are also strengthening the relations between the two countries and their armed forces.

- It is a great pleasure to greet you on behalf of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces, especially our dear guests from the Russian Federation. As always, I wish them a warm welcome to our country. This is the third athletics meeting between the national cadet teams of the Serbian and Russian military academies. It is held alternately in Belgrade and Moscow, and this year our capital is the host again. I am glad that our Military Academy is ready, I can see that both the rector and the dean take this competition seriously and I am convinced that our athletes will do their best to achieve the best possible results - said Minister Stefanović.

He added that 25 Serbian and 13 Russian cadets will compete in seven athletic events: shot-put, long jump, 60, 400, 800 and 1,500 meter races and 4x200 metres relay race.

- I want this to be a sports festival for the cadets, I want you to show how fit and prepared you are. In addition to competing, I think this is a great opportunity for you to make some new friends. The friendship between Russia and Serbia has a long tradition, it has been confirmed throughout history and in hard times when true friends are always revealed, and that is something that should always be remembered and emphasized. This friendship is still cultivated today by our presidents, which is reflected in President Vučić’s recent visit to Russia and President Putin, but also in the results of that visit - said Minister Stefanović.

He said that all participants in today’s competition contribute to that friendship and strong relations between our two countries.

- And all of you who are in this sports hall today. Today, Serbian and Russian youths are competing in a friendly fashion and they continue to strengthen the relations between our two countries and armed forces. Dear cadets, in the coming years, you will have the opportunity to work together in a different, military way in the uniforms of your armed forces, but today, dedicate yourselves to sports. I wish you all a lot of success in the competition - said Minister Stefanović.

The Russian Assistant Defence Attaché Evgeny Anpilov said that it is his honour to attend today’s competition.

- Good physical preparation is the key to success in the competition and that is why I want the best athlete to win this competition – said Colonel Anpilov.

The Rector of the Defence University, Lieutenant General Goran Radovanović, PhD, presented a certificate of appreciation to the Athletics Federation of Serbia for the contribution to the competition, which was received by the director of the Federation Slobodan Branković. He also presented a certificate of appreciation to the Russian delegation, which was received by Colonel Evgeny Anpilov.

The Commandant of the Military Academy, Colonel Srđan Blagojević, PhD, Deputy Head of Delegation of the Republic of Serbia to the International Military Sports Council (CISM), Colonel Milivoje Pajović, and Head of the Russian delegation, Lieutenant Colonel Elena Donkina also attended the opening ceremony for the competition, which is being held in Belgrade’s Athletic Hall.

The MoD’s "Stanislav Binički" Artistic Ensemble and the Representative Guard Orchestra performed music at the opening ceremony.