21.12.2010.

Minister gives a New Year and Christmas reception

Minister of defense Dragan Sutanovac and the Chief of the General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces LTG Miloje Miletic gave a New Year and Christmas reception in the Great War Hall of the Old Army HQ. the reception was attended by Prime Minister of Serbia Mirko Cvetkovic, ministers, representatives of judiciary, executive and legal powers, diplomatic and military representatives accredited to our country, the representatives of religious communities and denominations, renowned persons from cultural and public life and media representatives.

Minister stated that this year will be remembered by getting a new Patriarch of the Serbian orthodox Church His Holiness Irinej, by the great victory of our tennis representation, as well as by the remarkable and noteworthy results of our defense industry with the most valuable contract signed ever since 1985, by marking 160 years of military education and 180 years of the existence of the Guard. Sutanovac said that 2010 would also be remembered by two acknowledgments that the defense system was awarded.

"Even though these recognitions bear my name, all members of the defense system who helped me become the reformer of the year take the credit for this, as we worked together on reforming the Serbian Armed Forces and also for being awarded for the best non commercial promo campaign “Be a professional“, as the minister said, adding that it is actually the army which is the credited with greatest trust by the citizens of Serbia today.

Furthermore, in his address he described this year as a very successful one in which the top management of the defense system has kept all its promises, with 1 January 2010 as the starting date of the new history of the Serbian armed forces, as a fully professionalized military.

Congratulating the guests the coming holidays, Minister expressed his wish that they would gather in even greater number next year celebrating even better results.

SAF CHOD LTG Miloje Miletic expressed his pleasure at seeing so many renowned and famous persons who all together worked hard on strengthening the reputation of the army in 2010.

The members of the Serbian Armed Forces regard this year as a very successful one and it will be remembered predominantly as a year in which we finally competed the professionaization process-, as General Miletic pointed out adding that this was an all comprehensive process necessary for the security of our country and all its citizens. He took this occasion to thank all ministers, state organs and bodies, NGOs, and friends f the military from the cultural and public life who gave their selfless support and demonstrated commitment to creating a modern, professional and strong Serbian military.