15.02.2024.
Central State Ceremony Marking Statehood Day of Republic of Serbia
Envoy of the President of the Republic and Supreme Commander of the Serbian Armed Forces Aleksandar Vučić, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of Miloš Vučević led today the Central State Ceremony of marking the Statehood Day of Republic of Serbia, at the Monument to Vozhd Karađorđe in Orašac.
Today’s ceremony was attended by President of the Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik, members of the Government of Serbia, representatives of state institutions of the Republic of Serbia and the Republika Srpska, members of the Ministry of Defence and Serbian Armed Forces, representatives of diplomatic and military-diplomatic corps and numerous citizens.
Commemoration of the Statehood Day started with the memorial service dedicated to Karađorđe and his rebels served by Bishop of Šumadija Jovan with priests. On that occasion, Minister Vučević and President of the Republika Srpska laid wreaths at the monument dedicated to the leader of the First Serbian Uprising.
Addressing the present, Minister Vučević pointed out that one of the fundamental circumstances that form a personality of every human being was his past, and the past of his family, ancestors and people.
- That past represents one invisible, but very strong foundation, a point of orientation that tells us how to continue forward, it is a sign and inspiration to remember who and what we are. It is a spirit of the times gone, and a living memory of what designates us making us the way we are. All those who refused with resignation to be what they were and what they could only be, got lost in time and space. They tried to present themselves as different and diverse. They tried to present our values and heritage as disgrace, claiming that everything that belonged to somebody else was more beautiful and better. Sometimes, that negation of self and one’s own led to self-negation and auto-chauvinism. Moreover, the arrogance of self-loathing and disgust for what is one’s own - said Minister Vučević adding that all that revolt against one’s self, always ended fatally, because it always implied working in the interest of one’s own demise, and it can be applied both to individuals and entire peoples.
The minister of defence stated that nations and individuals who are grounded in their being had a great advantage, that being that their awareness of themselves, their flaws and virtues can help them choose the path of success.
- There is something that flows through our bloodstream, through our muscles and entire body. There is something that inspires our soul, which supports us driving us forward. That is faith. The faith is all. The faith in oneself and its people. The faith in one’s brother, mother, father, God, and people. The faith that we were imperial sons and daughters. “Тhat behind those hills a devastated court lies, where once the heroic assembly of my emperor was”. “And the faith that we will find our rest once the Serbs are no longer slaves”. One such heroic assembly gathered on this very place - Minister Vučević stressed.
He said that on that holiday, back in 1804, our forefathers had been inspired by the faith and dream of freedom and equality.
- But, a peasant cannot create his freedom out of nothing in a feudal state. There is no such example in the history of the world. It cannot happen that the naked and hungry conquer a world power. It cannot happen that the hungry, humiliated and defeated rise from the ashes and be recognised by all in Europe and world, who for the sake of their own interests primarily took care of the health of the so-called “sick man of the Bosphorus”. Can we but admire that fortitude of the people, that sacrifice and faith that created this Serbia of ours from dust and ashes. Can we but call upon, sing and celebrate those who had nothing, and yet they created a state completely alone having been left to die. However, they gloriously resurrected and created us - the minister of defence said.
As Minister Vučević pointed out, the beauty and greatness of our past was witnessed once again on this very same holy day of Candlemas.
- In 1835, as we once again created the people’s state, a state by the measure of all citizens, we were the first in Europe to constitutionally abolish slavery and feudalism, writing the Constitution which has remained a symbol of democracy until this very day, which proclaimed rights and freedoms of all citizens, independence of judiciary, freedom of movement and settling, inviolability of home and equality regardless of faith and nationality. That was the time when the people’s spirit of desire for freedom and equality started shining with unquenchable glow in our Serbia, so that we can always say to the face of all those in the country and abroad that our legal thought was the originator of human rights and freedoms, the constitutional division into legislative, executive and court authority. Who can deny it, and what is then our spirit like? Now the question arises whether it is an advantage or a shortcoming to be grounded in our past letting it be our motive for the future. Is there something to be ashamed of - the minister of defence inquired.
Minister Vučević pointed out that the Serbian people takes its pride of its national being and national soul from which we issued, and the freedom that we won and gained.
- We are proud to be descendants of those who showed entire world that they were capable of achieving freedom. We are proud every time we hear the world Serbia. We are proud because we know and feel in our veins how many of our immortal ancestors fell for this word, and for the dream of freedom and equality that is called Serbia. Every time when we use that sacred word, we should have that in mind. That is our foundation and our internal strength, to build ourselves into the mosaic of free and peaceful “Mother Serbia”. May the spirit of our ancestors live through us today, and our descendants tomorrow, guiding us into the safe future - the minister of defence concluded pointing out that he was honoured to extend greetings for the Statehood Day on that day in Orašac to everyone on behalf of President of the Republic of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić.
Extending his greetings for the holiday, President of the Republika Srpska, Dodik, pointed out the significance of togetherness for the Serbian people underlying the importance of celebrating great and important holidays together.
- This is the case owing to the state leadership of Serbia, headed by President Vučić who knew that we should celebrate and mark all holidays significant for both Serbia and the Republika Srpska together. I am particularly proud of having an opportunity today to express my happiness over such decision of President Vučić, as well as my satisfaction with the fact that this has been lasting for eight or nine years in continuity - Dodik said reminding of the most significant historical circumstances that had contributed to celebrating this day as the Statehood Day.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dačić reminded of the fact that entire world had admired our ancestors upon hearing that the Serbs had started their fight for freedom.
- Precisely 220 years ago, the most renowned Serbian people gathered at this very place, and passed one of the most important decisions in our history, and decided to start their struggle for freedom that generations before them had dreamt about for centuries. They had the most exalted goal that every man and every people can set for themselves. Nothing but freedom, and nothing less than freedom for its people - Minister Dačić underscored.
The central state ceremony of marking the Statehood Day is traditionally held with the highest state and military honours, in Marićević Ravine in Orašac, where the decision was made to start the uprising against the Turks.
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