21.04.2016.

Medals to members of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces

As part of the celebration of the Serbian Armed Forces Day – 23rd April, today, in the Guards Club in Topcider, active and retired members of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces have been awarded medals from the competence of the President of the Republic of Serbia.

The envoy of the Serbian President, Milorad Simic, presented the medals to members of the defence system, and the ceremony was attended by Defence Minister Zoran Djordjevic and Serbian Armed Forces Chief of General Staff General Ljubisa Dikovic.

Simic emphasized that the decorations are "the result of the years of sacrifice, hard work, dedication to the job, unit, the Armed Forces and the fatherland".

- The Serbian Armed Forces in the previous period, as many times before, carried out a number of important tasks and by their actions made invaluable contribution to the security of Serbia and peaceful sleep of its citizens. As an envoy of the President, I wish to recognise all the members of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces for the dignified and honourable performance of the delegated duties. You have shown that Serbia has an army to which it can always count and which every country in the world would be proud of. I am convinced that it will continue like that also in the future, Simic said.

By the Decree of the President of the Republic, on the occasion of Statehood Day, 108 members of the defence system were decorated. A number of 22 medals of White Eagle with Swords of the second and third degrees were awarded, as well as 50 medals for defence and security of the first, second and third degree, one golden and seven silver medals of merit and 28 golden and silver medals for diligent service.

Also, by the Decree of the President of Serbia on the occasion of the Serbian Armed Forces, 49 members of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces were decorated. Golden and silver medals of merit were awarded to 17 members of the defence system, and golden and silver medal for diligent service to 32 of them.

Army Commander Lieutenant General Milosav Simovic received today the Order of the White Eagle with Swords of third degree, which is his second such medal besides the medal for bravery.

- Obtaining of the medal for me is a great honour and memory of the great-grandfather Profil, Salonica soldier, the memory of all our great-grandfathers and grandfathers who fought in wars for their fatherland Serbia and the freedom in which we live today. Also, obtaining the medal is a further incentive for me and my colleagues to work together on strengthening the Serbian Armed Forces and ensuring peace in our country and the region, Simovic said.

The ceremony was attended by the members of the collegiums of the Minister of Defence and Chief of the General Staff.

Earlier that day, Defence Minister presented the war memorials to members of the Collegium of the Ministry of Defence on the occasion of 200 years of the Second Serbian Uprising.