09.05.2011.

Minister awarded the Best European for 2010 award

Defense Minister Dragan Sutanovac was awarded the "Best European Serbia" in 2010 in politics. The “European Eevening”on the occasion of the 9th May – the Day of Europe and the WWII Victory Day organized for the 11th time at the initiative of the First European House in Belgrade and with the support of the European Movement in Serbia, Municipality of Cukarica and company friends events.

"Best Europeans" of Serbia in 2010 are Oliver Dulic, Minister of Environment, Mining and Spatial Planning, Veroljb Dugalic, Secretary General of the Association of Serbian Banks, Sasa Jankovic, Ombudsman of Serbia, Ambassador of Portugal in Serbia Luis De Almeida and Mark Sampario Caric, co-founder and professor of several higher education institutions in Novi Sad.

Defense Minister Dragan Sutanovac, upon receiving the award, said that the Serbian government expects that Serbia would become a EU candidate, and that it is contributing of the reforms in order o carry out this goal as possible and recorded.

Sutanovac pointed out that the system he is in charge of deserves recognition.

- I manage a large system, and my closest associates who came to support me are here with me tonight, so that I can support them back and help them bring these reforms to a close that lead us towards the European Union - said Sutanovac adding that the EU parliamentarians of the organization in this year's report, had commended the defense system acknowledgment by describing the conducted reforms as very effective.

- I wish that next year the award would be given to the one who contributes most to the acquisition of candidacy for EU membership – as the defense minister remarked, expressing his belief that the this ship we are on towards a European future would start going faster to reach the port and that all those who row, row with all their might to reach this port of EU membership more quickly .

- "The most distinguished pro European figure is the one who believes in the idea, with a vision and invests all their energy to achieve it - said the Minister of Defence Dragan Sutanovac.

In the explanation of the award, Dragoslav Kandic, the chairman of the first European home, said that the persistence, perseverance, knowledge, the inexhaustible energy and knowledge and the results have singled out Minister Sutanovac on our political scene, as one of the most active ministers in the Government of the Republic of Serbia. Ministry of Defense, as he remarked, has achieved results of national significance through military cooperation plans, and foreign statesmen assess bilateral military cooperation as one of the best elements of the overall cooperation. By signing agreements with almost all countries in the region, the Ministry of Defence has contributed to the stability of the region. Also, the Serbian Armed Forces has been fully professionalized, which ranks among the most modern army the world, and mentioned the reform took place faster than in other sectors.

The credit for the revival of the defense industry can be attributed to Minister Sutanovac’s efforts and achievements in the field of military economic cooperation and to his associates, who fulfilled the promise of the export business reaching billion dollars. The decision to deploy the Serbian peacekeepers in missions and the EU has been met with ovations from all EU officials , which will surely greatly increase the capacity of Serbia's foreign policy towards European integrations, as Kandic said in his the award citation.

The Minister of Environment, Mining and Spatial Planning Oliver Dulic, who was awarded for the improvement of the culture of living and improving the environment, called on all the citizens of Serbia to engage in environmental protection and so provide a direct contribution to EU membership.

"I strongly believe that environmental protection is the best way to show patriotism towards the country. There is no better way to show love for one’s country and citizens than by protecting the environement," said Dulic.

Secretary General of the Association of Serbian Veroljub Dugalic said that the recognition he has received was for his way of thinking, behavior and decision to do more and better, at least to be as good as the examples in the EU, adding that the banks and associations gave their contribution towards the EU integrations, too .

Ombudsman Sasa Jankovic, was warded for a project recognition and promotion of institution of the protector of citizens, upon receiving the award, said that Serbian citizens have much to give the European Union, not only to take from it.

Jankovic yet pointed out the problems that people face today, saying that he would feel happy and carefree only if he knew that the citizens of Serbia were feeling the same.

Ambassador of Portugal in Serbia Luis De Almeida Sampario, was given the award for his contribution to European integration of Serbia, and his message to the participants of the ceremony said that the Serbia is already a part of the EU, the Serbs belong to Europe and that in order for Serbia to become EU members come from Portugal.

Portugal is one of the countries that most support Serbia's accession to the EU, said Ambassador of Portugal, adding that the European structures will never be complete until Serbia is a part of it.

Award for Entrepreneurship received the Mark Caric, who said he would try to justify and will continue to work on the inclusion of Serbia into the European and world trends.

This year's winners of the Best European award since 2000. presented to the luxury of the monograph "Best Europeans Serbia 2000-2010, Serbia and Europe yesterday, today and tomorrow" on this recognition and its winners, made the occasion of ten years of successful project implementation.

City Council Vice President Zoran Alimpic, opening the eleventh "European Council" in Belgrade, spoke about the reasons and purpose of organizing this and many other European events, political, cultural, sporting, scientific and other characters that make up the European metropolis of Belgrade. As such, said Alimpic, our capital will always be open for events that promote individual and collective values and achievements, and wish to continue tonight, but Europe is in Serbia.