24.03.2016.
Minister Djordjevic in Prokuplje pays tribute to fallen citizens of Toplica
Defence Minister Zoran Djordjevic today in Prokuplje paid tribute and laid wreaths at the monument to the fallen citizens of Toplice in the wars from 1990 to 1999. Beside the Minister, the delegation of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces included also Deputy Commander of Joint Operations Command of the Serbian Armed Forces Major General Slavoljub Janicijevic and the Commander of the Third Army Brigade, Brigadier General Mile Jelic, while wreaths were laid also by the delegation of Toplica administrative district, Municipality of Prokuplje, veterans' associations and relatives and friends of the fallen soldiers, police officers, reservists and residents of Toplica.
Commenting on this day in 1999, Minister Djordjevic recalled that the first attack of the NATO aggression was carried out at 20:05 hours by bombing the communications centre in "Ratko Pavlovic Cicko" barracks in Prokuplje and that night fell the first victim of the bombing and it was a soldier Boban Nedeljkovic.- This was the beginning of an unprecedented event in the recent world history – 78 days of constant bombardment. During the NATO aggression, the Yugoslav Army lost 659 members, of whom 628 were killed, while 31 members are registered as missing. Our army and the people showed an unbreakable bond in the fight for their homeland. In defence of the fatherland there stood our courage and the youth. Unfortunately, we cannot bring back those who have given their lives, but with memory we can extend their presence among us. It is important to never forget and that is why today from this place of our pain and pride we are paying tribute to all those who gave their lives for their homeland – Minister of Defence Zoran Djordjevic pointed out.
During their stay in Prokuplje, Minister Djordjevic also met with the head of the Toplica administrative district Nebojsa Vukadinovic, President of the Municipality of Prokuplje Miroljub Paunovic and President of the municipal assembly of Prokuplje Radoslav Mihajlovic, and spoke to them about the economic development of Toplica district and the municipality of Prokuplje and the problems in the work of the local government.
