21.12.2022.
Minister of Defence and Chief of General Staff host Christmas and New Year’s reception
Tonight, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Miloš Vučević and Chief of the Serbian Armed Forces General Staff, General Milan Mojsilović, hosted a Christmas and New Year’s reception at the Guard Club in Topčider.
The reception was attended by the delegate of the President of the Republic of Serbia and Supreme Commander of the Serbian Armed Forces, Milorad Veljović, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Vladimir Orlić, Government ministers, members of parliament, representatives of the Ministry of Defence, the Serbian Armed Forces, the local self-government, state institutions, religious communities, diplomatic and military-diplomatic corps, veterans, and numerous public figures.Extending holiday greetings on behalf of General Mojsilović and himself, Minister Vučević thanked the guests and all associates of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces for their cooperation.
- Thank you for that. Besides my gratitude, I would also like to express hope that next year our cooperation will be even better, more extensive, that we will work together protecting and helping each other, respecting the scope and competence of everyone in that system, being focused on a common goal, to ensure that this country continues its development in peace, to preserve political stability, stability in the region, to increase the number of citizens, to bring back our people living in the diaspora, to have more children, to make sure that people are happy and satisfied to be living in our beautiful homeland, our Serbia - said Minister Vučević.
The Minister of Defence said that he was proud of all members of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces and the work they had done over the past period.- We are proud of the work you have done over the past period and proud of the fact that, following the guidelines of the President of the Republic as Supreme Commander, both the previous and current Governments have achieved significant progress in strengthening the Serbian Armed Forces and increasing their defence capability and, I would say, in restoring their former reputation. We do not want the Serbian Armed Forces to be on the margins of our society. Instead, we want them to acquire the status they have earned thanks to their tradition, glorious past, and thanks, above all, to the activities they perform daily, their commitment and the effort they make - emphasized the Minister of Defence.
He also reminded that even today many members of our military were in the field, protecting our homeland and our people, carrying out tasks in bad weather, regardless of the environment surrounding them.
- We are immensely proud of them and we do not want them to be forgotten, we do not want to remember them only in times of trouble. Instead, we want to say thank you to them at all times. And I would like it to become a custom in Serbia, as it is in many countries which pride themselves on their democratic potential and institutions, that people wearing the uniform should have the respect and appreciation they deserve. We do not ask for any special privileges, but those who protect all of us, who have vowed to give their lives in the most difficult and dangerous times, deserve a special place. They deserve appreciation and deep respect. I believe that we will all work on it together - Minister Vučević said.He also thanked the media representatives for objective reporting and informing the public in our country and beyond, about everything that our military and the Ministry of Defence had been doing and would do in the future.
- A key message for everyone, following the orders and guidelines of the President of the Republic, the Serbian Armed Forces and the Ministry of Defence will continue to purchase and equip the Serbian Armed Forces with state-of-the-art weapons and military equipment, exclusively for defence purposes, since they are the most powerful and effective deterrent against those who have bad intentions towards our country. If other countries have the right to equip themselves better, to arm themselves, I think that Serbia, which is committed to military neutrality as a political axiom, can do the same. And no one should object to that. And even if they do, we will continue doing it, because it is not directed against anyone, it is being done in order to defend and protect our country and all citizens of Serbia, regardless of their nationality and religious affiliation. This is a task above all tasks and I believe that it will be successfully carried out - Minister Vučević said.
The Minister of Defence is particularly proud that, by order of the President of the Republic, the previous and the current Governments have managed to bring about the biggest, 25% salary increase for members of the Serbian Armed Forces.
- Some might say that it is not enough, I would personally like those salaries to be even higher, but a 25 percent salary increase after two years of Covid crisis and a year of global crisis is a great success for the state. And I believe that this is a clear signal to all members of the Serbian Armed Forces, officers, non-commissioned officers, professional soldiers, but also to young men and women who are doing voluntary military service, that the country is proud of them, that it is counting on them and that it will continue to improve their economic and financial status. We continue to build momentum in building good-quality apartments at below-the-market price, thus offering a solution to what is perhaps the most difficult issue in our lives, the housing issue. This has not happened for decades, and now the state is building thousands of apartments in different cities, not only for the members of the Serbian Armed Forces and the Ministry of Defence, but also for the Ministry of the Interior and the Security Information Agency - stressed Minister Vučević.At the end of his speech, Minister Vučević once again thanked all members of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces, the General Staff and General Mojsilović for their cooperation.
- I believe that you will continue to successfully perform all the tasks the state gives you. Thank you to other organizational units of the Ministry of Defence, thank you, dear guests. As I extend my holiday greetings, I wish for peace for our suffering people in Kosovo and Metohija, and I believe in the common sense of all actors, I tell all decision-makers, people who have the authority and ability to influence decision-making or make decisions themselves - respect Serbia, Serbia is a good partner, Serbia wants to preserve peace, Serbia wants to preserve stability, Serbia wants to cooperate, but Serbia has its red lines. Long live Serbia, long live the Serbian Armed Forces! - Minister Vučević said.
At the reception, a film produced by the MoD Public Relations Department was shown. The film presents the most significant results achieved by the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces over the past year.The Mixed Choir of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces and the Artistic Ensemble "Stanislav Binički" performed at the reception.
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