22.10.2017.
Minister Vulin: the Serbian Armed Forces is the Guardian of Traditional Values
This evening, Minister of Defence Aleksandar Vulin officially opened the stand of the Ministry of Defence and Media Centre “Odbrana” at this year’s 62nd International Book Fair in Belgrade.
Under slogan “Power of Sabre and Quill” the Ministry of Defence and Media Centre “Odbrana” will present themselves by considerable contents at this year’s Book Fair.
According to Minister Vulin, looking at the presented titles we can see to what extent our military ponders, breaths and thinks.- Then you see how much our military not only looks back, but it wants to send a message to the future; to send a message that we recognise and understand the time ahead of us. Here at this stand, you will see our glorious history, you will see journals of warriors, records of politicians, statesmen, all those who led the country in the most difficult times. You will be able to see for yourselves that they had doubts, fears, hopes, their mistakes and successes, and you will also be able to see an entire generation of writers who clearly see into the future and who already think about how our military will look like in the years to come and who never forget why the Serbian Armed Forces exist. They never forget the purpose of the existence of the Serbian Armed Forces, and that it lies not solely in its force and power, but in the virtue that those force and power guard. Here as well the Serbian Armed Forces proved itself to be a keeper of traditional values, a keeper of fundamental values, undisputed values cherished by Serbian people so that it can remain just as it is – the minister of defence noted.
As Minister Vulin stressed, at the stand of the Ministry of Defence “in the days of the Fair and in the days after the Fair, we will share the best that the military has to offer, we will share experience and share the knowledge”.
- And for this very reason, we have said that hopefully, during the next fair, we will have a completely new edition “Warrior” in which our most significant superior officers will share their memories, retell what they did, and how they see the future, how they perceive the time that is yet to come. If Živojin Mišić had not left his memoirs, if all our generals, all our warriors had not left their memoirs, if they had not left their thoughts and notes, we would never know enough about them. But I am afraid that we do not know enough about the generation of our warriors, the generation of those who defended and guarded us, and who are taking care and guard us even today. As if, sometimes, by somebody else’s will we turned our backs on them and as if sometimes, by someone else’s will, and to our shame, we let others tell us who our role models were, who the best were, and we let others decide and think instead of us what it was that we should remember, what we should look forward to, what we should be proud of. That is why I hope that we will exploit this Fair as well to prepare for the time that comes; the time in which we will collect the best and the most precious, not solely in the sense of military doctrine, although the military doctrine and military experience certainly make part of it, but in the sense of moral foundation that Serbian military possesses – Minister Vulin stated and concluded that we could be proud of our Armed Forces “both when it defends us, fights for us and when it writes, creates, sings and dreams”.
The present were addressed by Bishop of Morava region Antonije, the Vicar of His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Mister Irinej who wished successful beginning of the work of the 62nd International Belgrade Book Fair.- I wish to thank the Ministry of Defence and Serbian Armed Forces for the lovely publications. This Ministry not only modernises itself as an armed force by its power and weapons, but by spiritual quill, which is proved by many works of officers who wrote the exhibited books - Bishop of Morava region Antonije said.
This evening’s official opening of the stand of the Ministry of Defence and Media Centre “Odbrana” was also attended by the Chief of General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces General Ljubiša Diković, representatives of the Ministry of Defence and Serbian Armed Forces and numerous guests.
The interest of the public for the books of the Media Centre “Odbrana” in 2017, has reconfirmed the significant place and role of the publishing activities of this house, not only within defence system but on the publishing map of Serbia as well. In order to justify the confidence of reading audience, they have prepared more than 500 published editions, and 25 new titles which are going to be presented in the Borislav Pekić Hall and Laza Kostić Plato from Monday to Saturday. Socialising with authors and book signing will be organised at the stand of the Media Centre “Odbrana” starting at 17 o’clock.
Eminent personalities from public and social sphere will introduce the audience to the current topics that are significant for the Serbian Armed Forces in the framework of public discussions that are going to be held at the Fair stand of the Ministry of Defence and Media Centre “Odbrana” from Monday to Saturday beginning at 18 hours.
Military Film Centre “Zastava Film” has prepared films which are to be screened for the visitors of the stand of the Ministry of Defence and Media Centre “Odbrana”. The films will be presented each day starting at 13 hours.This year, everyone who wishes to qualify for defence system and Serbian Armed Forces will be welcomed by the pupils of Military Grammar School and cadets of the Military Academy so that they could provide basic information about these institutions of defence system.
This year’s Book Fair will be officially closed on 29th October.Detailed programme of the activities of the MoD and SAF at the 62nd International Book Fair in Belgrade is available here.
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