10.08.2022.
Minister Stefanović: Serbian Armed Forces always at the service of our people
Today, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Nebojša Stefanović, PhD, thanked members of the Serbian Armed Forces for working tirelessly to protect Serbia and for always being at the service of our people. Over the last 15 or so days, he said, our soldiers have provided assistance to the local self-governments and residents of Blace, Ljubovija, Prokuplje, Prijepolje, Sjenica and Kuršumlija in a number of situations, responding whenever needed.
"I would like to thank them once again for being the living image of a hard-working and decent Serbia that we are building, for their readiness to perform all their tasks, for not complaining about high temperatures, inaccessible terrain, or the complexity of any task. For them, there is only Serbia, which they protect and our people, whom they are always ready to help. That is why I am strongly convinced that every investment in their equipment, training and higher incomes is a profitable investment in the peace and prosperity of Serbia," said Minister Stefanović.
At this moment, a Third Army Brigade engineer work group is finishing up the works which began early this month. They have been cleaning the Jošanica riverbed in the municipality of Blace in order to increase the permeability of the riverbed and protect the coastal area from flash flooding. With the use of modern engineering machinery, members of the Serbian Armed Forces have been removing dense vegetation, soil deposits and other deposited material from the river bed.
The Third Army Brigade engineers were previously tasked with cleaning the beds of the Toplica and Kosanica rivers in Kuršumlija, taking preventive steps against flooding.
Recently, a bridge was installed over an archaeological site at the top of the Hisar Hill in Prokuplje, which allowed for the restoration works to continue on this site. It is a heavy, 20-metre-long mechanized bridge with a load-carrying capacity of 40 tonnes that will be used by heavy construction machinery engaged in asphalting the roads leading up to this hill, where the remains of a medieval fortress are located. Activities like this were also an opportunity for our engineers to improve their capabilities.
Also, over the last few weeks, members of the Serbian Armed Forces have provided drought-stricken villages near Ljubovija, Prijepolje and the Pešter Plateau with drinking water for households and livestock, whereas in Pešter, an engineer work group dug new and cleaned the existing livestock watering points. 
"Like many times before, our boys and girls have shown over the last 15 or so days that they are ready to provide assistance whenever needed, and confirmed once again that the enormous trust our people have in their military has been deserved by hard work and dedication," said Minister Stefanović.
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