09.05.2016.

Celebration of the Serbian Armed Forces Day and Victory Day - "Begej 2016"

Exactly at noon, today, the artillery salvo performed by members of the Guard Battalion, began the ceremony on the occasion of the Serbian Armed Forces Day and Victory Day at the Liberty Square in Zrenjanin. The ceremony was attended by Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic, Defence Minister Zoran Djordjevic, representatives of the legislative, executive and judicial authorities, Serbian Armed Forces Chief of General Staff General Ljubisa Dikovic, most responsible officers and executives of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces, military diplomatic corps, representatives of the local government and religious communities as well as numerous citizens.

President Nikolic recalled the historical significance of "two bright dates of the Serbian military history" by which we revive the memory and pay tribute to our brave rebels, heroes, soldiers, combatants, commanders and rulers, but also the importance of the city of Zrenjanin, which is "one of those cities that we proudly call the historical and cultural centres of Vojvodina and Serbia", he pointed out.

- Yugoslavia is the third country in Europe according to the number of casualties during the Second World War. Incomparable highest

percentage of Yugoslav victims were Serbs whether with guns in their hands or killed in two German and many Ustasha’s camps, the only concentration camps in the world specialized in housing and pogrom of children, for tens of thousands of Serbian children, but also Roma and Jewish ones – President Nikolic recalled, adding that we must not forget that the crime was committed and that it is our obligation to victims to mention them and to remember them with reverence.

According to him, our freedom is forged in blood so that we could be able today to lead the country in a peaceful manner, and accomplish our interests with wise statesmen policy.

- The 9th May, the Day of Victory in the Second World War, is celebrated at the same time as the Day of Europe, bearing in mind that contemporary Europe is founded on the basic principles that have guided the fighters against Nazism and fascism – on the principles of peace, understanding, tolerance and cooperation –the President of the Republic emphasized, adding that Serbia stands firmly on the path towards full membership of the European Union, and that it is devoted by word and deed to the application of the principles of freedom, understanding and cooperation, respecting diversity and maintenance of peace in the country, the region and the world.

Addressing the members of the Serbian Armed Forces, President Nikolic said that in the periods of great challenges and crises, they were the ones who offered full support to the strengthening of peace, security and stability in the region, and that in the missions around the world they are an example of professionalism and commitment.

- The prerequisite for such a good operational and functional capability of our army was modernization of units, which the Serbian Government provided even in the years of great sacrifice. What I expect from you is unity and respect of the principles of defence and the preservation of Serbia's integrity and identity of the Serbian Armed Forces – President Nikolic said.

The Supreme Commander of the armed forces of our country expressed the expectation that members of all units will continue to perfectly perform the tasks aware that the oath they took is also the behest to our ancestors and homeland, that they will perform their duties always posing military honour in the first place.

- Therefore I am convinced that the Serbian Armed Forces will present itself also today in the best light, as only it can do, and here in

Zrenjanin, at the central ceremony marking the Day of the Serbian Armed Forces "Begej 2016" – President Nikolic concluded stating that the times might have changed, but our love for freedom continues.

More than 1,300 members of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces and about 40 moveable assets, readily welcomed the command of Major General Vojin C. Jondic, Chief of Operations Department of the General Staff, Commander of "Begej 2016", which is the working title of this year's ceremony, which marked the welcome of the state flag with tuning the national anthem of the Republic of Serbia.

Then followed parade of infantry units, in which representatives of all branches and arms of the Serbian Armed Forces participated, which was led by the commander of the First Army Brigade, Brigadier General Zeljko Petrovic. It is for the first time that sub-echelon of soldiers on voluntary military service under arms "trampled" in the infantry parade and traditionally replicas of regimental flags were carried by cadets of the Military Academy.

The uniformity and practice that the members of the Serbian Armed Forces Guard showed while performing "drill", with specific firearms handling skills, were rewarded with applause of the citizens of Zrenjanin, and special attention was paid to the demo-jump by members of the 63rd Parachute Brigade who welcomed the participants in the ceremony by carrying flags of the Republic of Serbia, the Serbian Armed Forces and the Special Brigade in the sky over the city.

Around 8,000 spectators who gathered on the main square were able to enjoy also in the flight

programme and the sorties of the Galeb G-4 training combat airplane, Orao fighter bomber and "MiG-29" fighter, as well as Gazelle (Gama) helicopters, were followed by glances of the visitors of today's ceremony fixed on the sky. With a real feast for the eyes in the town square, but also in the sky, the citizens were also able to inspect ships of the Riverine Flotilla at anchor on the Begej River.

For the visitors of today's ceremony at the Liberty Square, a part of modernized weaponry and military equipment of the Serbian Armed Forces has also been on display.

On the occasion of the celebration of the Serbian Armed Forces Day and the Victory Day, during today's ceremony, all interested parties will be able to see part of the current thematic exhibition of the Military Museum "Withdrawal through Albania and stay of the Serbian Army on Corfu", which is set in the Contemporary Gallery of Art Colony of Ecka in Zrenjanin.