16.11.2018.
Handover of Decorations of the President of Serbia and Supreme Commander on the Occasion of the Day of the Army and Day of the Infantry
A ceremony of official handover of decorations, awarded by the president of the Republic of Serbia to members of the Ministry of Defence and Serbian Armed Forces on the occasion of the Army Day and Infantry Day, was held today in the Military Club in Niš.
The decorations to the awarded were presented by the envoy of the president of the Republic of Serbia and Supreme Commander of the Serbian Armed Forces, Aleksandar Vulin in the presence of Chief of General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces Lieutenant General Milan Mojsilović.
President of the Republic of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić decorated 50 members of the Ministry of Defence and Serbian Armed Forces for zealous service and extraordinary merit.The gold medal for zealous service was given to Colonel Stevan Kotarlić from the General Staff and Colonel Dragan Tasić from the Military Intelligence Agency. A silver medal of merit was given to 16 members of the Ministry of Defence and Serbian Armed Forces, while 32 members of the Ministry of Defence and Serbian Armed Forces were decorated with a silver medal for zealous service.
Minister Vulin stated that the entire state leadership, headed by Superior Commander of the Serbian Armed Forces Aleksandar Vučić. Was very proud of the Serbian Armed Forces.
We cannot but be proud of the armed forces which have endured such horrific blows such was NATO bombing, and yet they have proved now that they can match any armed force in the region which was not faced with such an ordeal. The exercise “Century of Victors” has shown that the Army, among other arms of our armed forces, is exceptionally organised, trained, highly motivated, comprised of the men whose morale is high and who truly love their country and their calling. These are the armed forces of professionals, but these are professionals who first of all love their country - the minister of defence highlighted.
He added that all the comments on the exercise underscored “the exceptional professionalism, competence, efficiency” and “high level of the materiel use”.- To many, the fact that the Serbian Armed Forces were so good came as a surprise. I do not know why they were so much surprised, since I know how much we worked to ensure that the Serbian Armed Forces preserve their strength and to enhance it, but I know that everyone who cares about freedom and peace can be satisfied and proud since the Serbian Armed Forces have always been the guarantor of freedom and guarantor of peace. A 100 years ago, the Serbian Army took victory in the First World War and since then, many things have changed, but one thing has not - the Serbian Armed Forces exist above all other because of freedom - stated Minister Vulin and reminded that the armed forces will continue equipping themselves, and that Niš was going to be one of the first towns where the flats would be built for the members of defence system.
- That makes me very proud, and that is not a coincidence whatsoever. The greatest portion of our armed forces is in the south, and it is only natural that we will work of satisfying their needs first.The Serbian Armed Forces will continue being equipped and armed, but we will above all make effort to make both members of the Serbian Armed Forces and their families satisfied. This year we had a 10 per cent salary increase, and the next year we will have another 9 per cent increase, daily allowances were increased, solidarity assistance for the birth of a child was introduced as well as numerous other emoluments and rewards for our soldiers. Of course, we will have more uniforms, boots, arms, equipment and everything that we do, we do it in order to have satisfied and secured soldiers. They have dedicated their lives to security and freedom of all of us, and this is the way to repay them. When we have a supreme commander who believes so much to his armed forces and is ready to ask from the entire state to invest in the armed forces, then we have to have such good results and we do have something to show off - Minister Vulin concluded.
One of the members of the Serbian Armed Forces who received the medal today is Commander of the Fourth Army Brigade, Brigadier General Slobodan Stopa who did not hide his pride and satisfaction.
- I am pleased that the minister of defence as the envoy of the president of the Republic and supreme commander of the Serbian Armed Forces has presented me with the medal for zealous service. For me, this is a reward for my overall work in the previous period and a motive and obligation for the period to come to honourably serve Serbia - General Stopa emphasised.
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