19.04.2018.
Decoration Award Ceremony for Members of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces
Within the celebration of the Serbian Armed Forces Day - 23rd April, at the Guard House in Topčider, today, members of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces were awarded decorations from the competence of the President and the Supreme Commander of the Republic of Serbia.
In the presence of Defence Minister Aleksandar Vulin and the Chief of General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces, Ljubiša Diković, the awardees were given decorations by the representative of the President of the Republic of Serbia, Nikola Selaković.
According to the decrees on the occasion of the Serbian Armed Forces Day, 52 members of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces were decorated - 18 of them with gold and silver medals for merits, and 34 with gold and silver medals for zealous service, while one member was awarded “Miloš Obilić” silver medal for bravery.Today's ceremony was an opportunity to award decorations to the members of the defence system who were decorated according to the decrees of the president of the Republic on the occasion of the celebration of the Statehood Day of Serbia. A total of 33 members of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces were honoured with gold and silver medals for merit, while 60 of them received gold and silver medals for zealous service.
Emphasising that it is an exceptional honour for him to give state decorations to the members of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces on behalf of the president of the Republic and supreme commander of our defence forces, Aleksandar Vučić, representative of the president, Selaković, reminded that 23rd April, the day that is chosen to be celebrated as the greatest military holiday, has been permanent source in preserving the national identity and continuity of the statehood of the Serbian people for more than two centuries.
The path of renewal and building the state and its institutions, which began in Orašac in 1804, was crowned by the adoption of the first Serbian Constitution, one of the most modern constitutions in Europe of that time, in 1835. This year, 2018, is real opportunity, in addition to the great historical anniversaries of the political, state and military history we mark, to remind us of the not so often mentioned Serbo-Turkish War in the period between 1876 and 1878, whose multiple significance is reflected, among other things, in the territorial expansion of Serbia and liberation of the Niš, Pirot, Toplica and Vranje districts, as well as the gaining of internationally recognized independence of our country at the Congress of Berlin, on 13 July 1878 - emphasized the representative of the president, Selaković.According to him, a particularly significant result of these wars and gaining full independence was the reform of our armed forces, legalized four and a half years after the end of the war, by passing the Law on the Organization of the Armed Forces, which is one of the legal acts according to which the reserve ranks were filled during the war.
- This ceremony is a nice opportunity to remember that the army is a symbol of the sovereignty of a state and its integrity. The army was often the last barrier of the state and its existence, but also the first renewed institution, the pillar of the society which, by its work and its existence secured peace, progress and building of institutions. Nevertheless, the army is more than anything. According to the time of its creation, our army is a little older than our country, because it derived from the people and from its love for freedom. That is why uniform, cap, and military boots and rifle is not ordinary clothes, shoes or weapons in our country, and only military decoration is a special recognition of the personality and character of the holder, a special confirmation of honour and glory, courage and honesty - everything that distinguishes a Serbian officer, a non-commissioned officer and a soldier - representative of president, Selaković, said.Decorations are, beyond any doubt, among the most recognizable features of the state and its identity, he added.
- Today we have here with us the decorated members of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces who were recognised for exceptional results demonstrated in the performance of their duties and tasks in the field of defence and security, as they contributed with their work and zealous service and devotion both to the defence system and to the Republic of Serbia, so they deserved to wear these decorations. I am sure that you will know how to preserve and wear these decorations with pride just as our officers, non-commissioned officers and soldiers have always done. Once again, I recognise the decorated ones for the contribution they made to the affirmation of the Serbian Armed Forces and our country in the world, confident that other representatives of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces will be able to show that they are worthy of their calling in every situation and in all circumstances - Selaković pointed out and congratulated on behalf of the President of the Republic all those decorated for the Serbian Armed Forces Day.
Sergeant Major Zoran Janković from the Cobra Military Police Special Operations Battalion who, off the duty, prevented an armed robbery in one of the capital's supermarkets, early this month, has received today a “Miloš Obilić” silver medal for bravery. He said that his recognition meant a lot to him personally and professionally.
- I did not expect recognition, because I believe that the duty of every soldier of the Serbian Armed Forces and members of my unit is to react as I reacted. This is precisely why this is not only my medal, but the medal of all my colleagues and the whole system, Janković said, and thanked the state and military leaders for recognising his work.
Chief of the Human Resources Department of the General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces, Colonel Savo Iriškić received gold medal for merits in work.- For each of us, the decoration means a personal recognition for the period spent in service and the task to send message to younger colleagues that with zealous work anyone can make a dent in their career, Colonel Iriškić said.
Civil servant Milena Terzić from the Accounting Centre of the Ministry of Defence, who received silver medal for zealous service, said that she was highly honoured with the presented decoration. She emphasized that she was glad that her work was recognized and that her reward would be an incentive for her further work.
The President of the Republic of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić decorated members of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces for outstanding merits and results shown in the performance of their duties and tasks in the field of defence and security of the Republic of Serbia.
