24.12.2023.
Message from President of Republic Aleksandar Vučić to mark Air Force and Air Defence Day celebrations
The President of the Republic and Supreme Commander of the Serbian Armed Forces, Aleksandar Vučić, sent a message today to mark December 24 - the Air Force and Air Defence Day celebrations. The message reads as follows:
"On the occasion of December 24, the Air Force and Air Defence Day, I would like to convey my congratulations to all members of the service.
For more than a century, December 24 has carried a special meaning. We associate this date with the beginning of the aviation history in our country and the establishment of this service in the Serbian Armed Forces, whose members represent the military elite, but also one of the riskiest professions that an individual can choose to do.
By upholding the decades-long tradition, as guardians of the sky above this sacred patch of the hilly Balkans during the tumultuous Serbian history, the members of the Air Force and Air Defence units wrote the pages of national history.
For many, they were and remain an example of how to cherish the flag, love the motherland, and even die for it if necessary, in order to provide security to one's country and peace and safety to one's people.
Serbia pursues a policy of peace, stability and good diplomatic relations. However, every strong country must have strong and capable armed forces whose members must at all times be professional and well-trained for the execution of tasks striving to fulfil their primary duty – the defence of the country they swore to protect. Because of this, in the recent period we started making significant investments in the Air Force, thus contributing to the strengthening of its operational capabilities, increasing the units’ capability for effective action in all segments of their competences.
Thanks to the expertise of our personnel and constantly striving for improvement, I am convinced that the efforts made so far to strengthen and equip the units are only one step in the progress of the Air Force and Air Defence units and the Serbian Armed Forces as a whole, which, with the support of the state, will not and must not stop.
I wish you a happy holiday hoping that you will continue to successfully protect your country, people and sky with your professionalism, courage and honour."
