09.03.2019.
First competition of our and Russian cadets
Today, the Minister of Defense, Aleksandar Vulin, attended the ceremonial opening of the First Bilateral Athletic Indoor Meeting, a sports event that gathered cadets representing the Military Academies of the Republic of Serbia and the Russian Federation at the Belgrade Athletic Hall.
According to the Minister, when you see the youth of two brotherly and friendly nations, when you see them meet, socialize, compete, then you know that there is hope and future for our countries and nations.
- Our fraternity was born in trying and difficult times, and it is not only the consequence of common origin, it is a conscious decision of two great and proud peoples to share the common values of freedom and justice – said Minister Vulin, who is using his weekend leave same as all the members of the reserve forces in training and who will take his place in the unit in which he serves on Monday.
As he pointed out, the Serbian people were never on the wrong side, as was not the Russian people.
- When it was difficult, in the most trying of times we shared the same values and died for the same ideals. Today, we live for the same ideals. Dear friends from the Russian Federation, in front of you is the best and the most beautiful thing that the Serbian Army has to offer - youth that will prolong the Serbian Armed Forces, a youth that is worthy of its glorious ancestors. Dear cadets, be good hosts, show the best we have. There are richer and better equipped armed forces, but not braver, more stubborn and resilient armed forces in the world - emphasized the Minister of Defense.
Recalling that this year marks 20 years since the NATO aggression, Minister Vulin underlined that we demonstrat we have survived and that we are stronger than before.
- Dear cadets, be good hosts, but always go for the victory. Serbs always go for the victory, said Minister Vulin.
Speaking about today's competition, Commandant of the Military Academy, Major-General Bojan Zrnić, highlighted, among other things, the uniqueness of our Athletic Hall in this region.
- The Military Academy and our cadets are good hosts, and I am sure that we will develop a good competitive spirit today and that in the future we will expand cooperation in the sphere of sports as part of a comprehensive cooperation with the Russian Federation, said General Zrnić.
Head of the Russian delegation and deputy chief of the Central Army Sports Club, Lieutenant Colonel Oleg Parkhomenko, was pleased that today’s event is the first participation and organization of a joint sports meeting of cadets of the Military Academies of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Serbia.
“This is an opportunity for us not only to participate in games, but for cadets to find new friends, to get closer and share their experiences with one another”, said Lieutenant Colonel Parkhomenko, adding that he hopes that similar meetings will be organized in the following year not only in athletics, but also in other sports, and not only among cadets, but also among students of military schools.
The organizer of the First Bilateral Athletic Indoor Meeting is the Military Academy of the University of Defense, which is in charge of the activities of the Delegation of the Republic of Serbia with the International Council for Military Sports (CISM) on behalf of the Ministry of Defense and the Serbian Armed Forces. The Athletic Association of Serbia provided support for the event.
Male and female cadets will show their skills and capabilities in five athletic disciplines – shot put, long jump, racing at 60, 200 and 1.500 meters. 35 cadets from Serbia and 17 cadets from the Russian Federation will participate in the competition.
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