30.06.2023.

Celebration of Completion of Courses of 12th Class of ASDS and Officers of 66th Class of GSC

Envoy of the President of the Republic of Serbia and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Miloš Vučević and Chief of General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces General Milan Mojsilović attended today’s ceremony held in the House of the National Assembly to mark the completion of education of 12th Class of the Advanced Security and Defence Studies and officers of 66th Class of the General Staff Course of the National Defence School “Vojvoda Radomir Putnik”.

Minister Vučević conferred replicas of Serbian mediaeval swords to the attenders of 12th ASDS Class, and officer sabres to three top ranking attenders of 66th GSC Class - Colonel Zoran Karavidić, Lieutenant Colonel Slobodan Sekulić and Lieutenant Colonel Dalibor Milinković. Other officers of 66th GSC Class received the sabres from Chief of General Staff General Mojsilović.

Congratulating all attenders on successful completion of the education, Minister Vučević pointed out that it was a great honour for him, as well as a responsibility, to address them on behalf of the President of the Republic.

- This ceremony is an opportunity to give recognition to the officers and other experts who have dedicated their work to military science, security and defence. I would particularly greet the officers from foreign armed forces who have reconfirmed the tradition of good relations and friendship between our countries with their coming in Serbia to attend the professional advancement. Your presence is the confirmation that Serbia pursues a peaceful foreign policy together with your states, and that its armed forces enjoy good reputation abroad. We are aware that, in the contemporary world, such as it is, it is only through joint efforts that we can confront the occurrences that threaten or can threaten the security of all citizens of this region - the minister of defence said.

According to him, we are all aware that our people has highly valued freedom and peace throughout its entire history, and that, sadly, it had to suffer foreign rule for a long time, and that it was often compelled to wage wars.

- It is precisely those historic circumstances that made the Serbs love freedom and peace so much, and logically, the outcome of such feelings is our orientation to be militarily neutral. In previous years, Serbia persistently insisted on its status of military neutrality, striving to provide a significant contribution, as much as it is in its power, to world peace, regional stability and cooperation in the field of defence and security. Without any dilemma and ulterior motives, Serbia expresses readiness to cooperate with other states and alliances, whenever it is in the interest of peace and stability. As a people which has built its house in the middle of a road, as superbly formulated by our Jovan Cvijić, we are ready to cooperate and deepen cooperation with other states, from all continents, respecting the interests of others, but fighting for the achievement of our own interests, always ready to jointly observe and do what is in the interest of preserving the most valuable heritage of our ancestors, that being our freedom - Minister Vučević emphasised.

As he pointed out, the activities of the Ministry of Defence and Serbian Armed Forces unequivocally show that - from joint exercises, through education and professional advancement abroad and receiving foreign citizens here, to the participation in peacekeeping contingents of the United Nations and European Union.

- We are witnesses that the modern world is a dangerous place, and that the world peace is still a dream - valuable one, but still a dream. Challenges, risks and threats to security go from classical military conflicts where traditional and hybrid warfare are applied, with significant role being played by the state-of-the-art materiel, and by the morale of soldiers and morale of peoples. Our state has not been spared from that as well. The disrespect for international-public law norms and United Nations Charter is precisely what has caused that. Where law is not observed, there is no justice. Injustice rests on the disruption of legal system and acknowledged legal norms. However, injustice cannot be suffered forever. It requires reaction and self-defence. That is how one enters a spiral of events with tremendous consequences - the minister of defence pointed out. He added that the latest violent actions of the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government in Priština in the north of Kosovo and Metohija, and the behaviour of the international actors during those events, required from our system of security and defence to be really ready to perform its social role, even in the most complex geopolitical situations with the view of defending our national interest and the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija.

- The violence is currently so intense that the Serbs literally fear for their lives. It is incomprehensible and devastating to know that there is a territory on the globe today, where one people does not have the right to call itself by its name, let alone some other rights. In that respect, the investment in the Serbian Armed Forces is the investment in the overall development and preservation of external and internal security of Serbia, and protection of our people. Gaining knowledge, both theoretical and practical, realistic one, which is now the ownership of the attenders of the Advanced Security and Defence Studies and General Staff Course, is yet another form of investment in the Serbian Armed Forces and security and defensive power of the Republic of Serbia. Therefore, esteemed attenders of 12th and 66th classes, apply the knowledge acquired as skilfully as you can each at your own level and position, aware that you are all working on the same task - to make Serbia everlasting and free. Share the knowledge that you gained with your associates and subordinates, because knowledge is a resource that cannot be lost, it grows even when shared - said Minister Vučević.

Speaking about the National Defence School, the minister of defence noted that it had been recently but rightfully and proudly named after Field Marshal Radomir Putnik. He explained that it was precisely the oldest among Serbian Field Marshals from the wars between 1912 and 1918, the person from Serbian history whose entire officer career and personal example showed that the knowledge and skills required for the defence of country are acquired by merging diligent studying, experience and work, with steadfast character and noble morality.

- I am glad that the National Defence School cherishes the very virtues of the glorious Serbian Field Marshal and transfers them to new generations of Serbian officers and civil servants, preparing them for the hardest security and military challenges. I will take this opportunity to mention another great man of Serbian military, a general and academician Jovan Mišković whose name is borne by the barracks in Banjica, where you attended your courses. Writing a military-historical treatise on the Battle of Kosovo, on the occasion of 500th anniversary of that battle, General Mišković wrote that the most significant consequence of the Battle of Kosovo would be if the Serbian state, military and people would have been worthy of heroism of Kosovo heroes and if they proved in practice that they were worthy of them. On that day, at the Field of Kosovo, Serbia won the battle both morally and militarily. The commemoration of Vidovdan and the Battle of Kosovo is not a lament for the defeat, but the most magnificent epic on victory, chivalry, military readiness and skill, the glory and power of our state, military and people. That consciousness and that moral, the code of honour from the Field of Kosovo that has characterised us throughout the history, are unique in world history, and no one can take that from us - Minister Vučević stated.

Addressing the officers of the Serbian Armed Forces who completed their education, the minister of defence instructed “When you assume responsible duties in commands and units of our armed forces, take care of your colleagues and take care of our soldiers, and always and everywhere have in mind the words of our general as a guide to our freedom.

- On behalf of the President of Serbia and Supreme Commander of the Serbian Armed Forces, I congratulate successful completion of professional advancement to the attenders of 12th Class of the Advanced Security and Defence Studies and 66th Class of General Staff Course. Long live the Serbian Armed Forces. Long live Serbia - Minister Vučević exclaimed.

In the House of the National Assembly, Lieutenant Colonel Zoran Karavidić, the most successful in the 66th Class of the General Staff Course addressed the present on behalf of the attenders.

- Over 10 past months, through various teaching activities we have acquired knowledge necessary for future duties in the system of defence. We have learned to keep track of accelerated technological progress in military sphere, and to understand geopolitical and security challenges that our fatherland faces, and the Ministry of Defence and Serbian Armed Forces together with it. I am confident that this class of General Staff officers will make its contribution to overcoming major challenges in our surroundings, especially in Kosovo and Metohija - Lieutenant Colonel Karavidić said.

Head of the National Defence School “Vojvoda Radomir Putnik” Colonel Mićo Suvajac underlined the special significance of that institution for the system of defence, which represents a key establishment for the preparation of those who are to manage the system of national security and system of defence.

- Field Marshal Radomir Putnik used to say - “Like officers, like the Army”. Which then leads to “Like the Army, like the state”. That is why we perceive you, attenders, as the future of the armed forces and state. Be worthy descendants of your ancestors - said Colonel Suvajac wishing all attenders a lot of success in their further work.

The ceremony was attended by President of the National Assembly Vladimir Orlić, ministers of the Government of Serbia, representatives of the Ministry of Defence and Serbian Armed Forces, religious communities, military diplomatic corps, and families and relatives of the attenders.

This year 15 members have completed the Advanced Security and Defence Studies - eight from state institutions, five from the Ministry of Defence and Serbian Armed Forces, one attender from the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and one from the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Serbia.

The General Staff Course was completed by 43 officers from the country and abroad - 38 from the Ministry of Defence and Serbian Armed Forces, four officers from the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and one from the Armed Forces of the Republic of Angola.