01.02.2019.
Prime Minister Brnabić: I am proud of Serbian Armed Forces and Military Educational System
In the presence of the envoy of the President of the Republic of Serbia and Supreme Commander of the Serbian Armed Forces, Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabić, Defense Minister Aleksandar Vulin and Chief of the General Staff, Milan Mojsilović, a ceremony marking the beginning of education of 8th Class of the Advanced Security and Defense Studies (VSBO) was held today at the Houses of the Guards at Topčider.
Today's ceremony was an opportunity to present the students of the previous seven classes of VSBO with a replica of the Serbian medieval sword, according to the decision of the President of the Republic and Supreme Commander of the SerbianArmed Forces, AleksandarVučić.
The Prime Minister Brnabićpresented the replicas of the Serbian sword to the Ministers in the Government, State Secretaries and Assistant Ministers who successfully completed VSBO in one of the previous seven generations, while Minister Vulin and General Mojsilovićpresented the swords to officers and civil servants.
Addressing thosepresent, the Prime Minister stressed that she is proud of the Serbian Armed Forces and the military educational system.
- All the security challenges and risks today require a unified approach in the area of foreign and economic policies, defense policy, internal security, social policy and all areas of social life. For this reason, in addition to the officers of the Serbian Armed Forces, participants of the new, 8th Class of the Advanced Security and Defense Studies are also senior state officials of institutions that create and implement security and defense policies. I am particularly pleased that, in addition to the representatives of our country, foreign students, including countries in the region, such as Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia and others, as well as countries such as Algeria, are being trained at this level of studies, said the Prime Minister adding that this is a confirmation of the quality and trust that our University of Defense and our military educational institutions hold.Addressing the participants of 8th Class of VSBO, who are commencingprofessional development today, the Prime Minister pointed out that by referring them to this level of improvement, their superiors have sent a message that they count on them, that they respect their previous achievements and results and that they believe that these personnel can become leaders at the strategic level.
- You enter a high-ranking state educational institution in the field of security and defense, where you will have the opportunity to find out what you did not know before and to ask what you did not have the opportunity to ask. In a way, you will be privileged users of services and capacities provided by the Ministry of Defense and other Ministries and Agencies of the Government of the Republic of Serbia, elected faculty professors from Serbia and our esteemed foreign partners – saidBrnabić, stressing that it is important that they never lose sight that a major, significant part of the responsibility for their professional development is in their own hands.
By the way of admission to these studies and studies of this kind, the Prime Minister pointed out to the students, they enter a higher level of responsibility.- You are joining today a circle of people who will be responsible for the development of the security system within the next decade, both politically and professionally. In the course of your studies you will already be personally engaged, so ask, and criticize and suggest. Do influence on the quality of teaching and help your colleagues, who will be your future associates - said the Prime Minister.
Prime Minister Brnabićpointed out that they are expected to remain visible in the institutions of their respective countries, as well as to contribute to peace, stability, mutual understanding and appreciation.
- The medieval Serbian sword, which you receive today, has a long history. Its history is as long as the history of the state of Serbia. As a symbol, it is embedded in the foundations of statehood since her creation. Today, let this symbolic sword be a testimony of the readiness of all those who receive it, to negotiate and cooperation in the fields of security and defense, and let it be a stamp and seal on your work and your person – emphasizedthe Prime Minister.
Prime Minister Brnabić reminded all present that this year marks 20 years of NATO aggression against FR Yugoslavia.
- Let it never happen again that weapons should be used in such anignominious manner. You who receive this sword today, always bear in mind that at all times you must stand ready to justify the trust that has been invested in you and the epithet of its bearer - Prime Minister Brnabić pointed out.
The Prime Minister asserted the Members of the University of Defense that it is a joint task to make our military educational system more open to the participation of not only civilian, but also significantly larger numbers of foreign participants and lecturers.
- With such an approach, military education will become an element of cooperation with the region and the world, and also the instrument of foreign policy of our country. As Prime Minister, I am personally proud of the Serbian Armed Forces, our military educational system, and I guarantee you my personal support in further advancement - said Prime Minister Ana Brnabić attoday’s ceremony.The acting Head of the School of National Defense, Colonel MišoPlanojević pointed out that the presence of the Prime Minister at today's ceremony unambiguously speaks about the attention that the state leadership and President of the Republic ascribe to the military education, and especially to its highest level - the Advanced Security and Defense Studies.
Head of the Advanced Security and Defense Studies, Colonel Goran Župac, PhD, emphasized that this is the highest level of career development not only in the Serbian Armed Forces, but also in the country, which has successfully been completed by 101 participants, including officers, civil servants and colleagues from the region.
He stressed that the state has ensured that students rise to the highest positions in the defense systemhaving completed this level of education. Through 25 topics, he added, participants are upgrading knowledge in the fields of strategy, geopolitics, as well as national and international security and defense institutions.
Brigadier General ŽeljkoBilić, Commander of 204 Air Force Brigade, is a student of 8th Class of VSBO; he expects this education to enable him to expand his knowledge and exchange experiences with colleagues in order to contribute to the security system of our country.
According to one of the VSBO professors, and also this year's student,professor Zoran Pavlović, PhD, this is one of the most important forms of continuous educationfor the system of security and defense of the Republic of Serbia, where students have the opportunity to learn about the security issues in an interactive and multidisciplinary way.
The swords presented today to the students who have successfully completed VSBO have an engraved inscription“The one who dares he can. The one who does not know for fear goes forward.”It is a true replica of the Serbian medieval sword that was used in Serbia in 14thand 15thcenturies. The original sword is exhibited at the Military Museum in Belgrade and dates back to the turn of 15thcentury. The Serbian sword with the upper part of the handle shaped in the form of the Latin letter S and the lower part of the handle of the square shape, thus differs from the other swords that were used at that time in most European countries. As the Serbs migrated fleeing from the Turkish invasion to the north and northwest, Serbian swords were also used across Hungary, northern Italy and southern Germany. The Serbian sword was a very effective combat weapon and was therefore recognizable and sought after.Advanced Security and Defense Studies are the highest level of career development of officers and senior officials of the Republic of Serbia. In addition to them, colleagues from foreign armed forces are often among the students, as this type of professional development is an important step in their careersalso.
