24.06.2011.
Graduation of 54th class of General Staff Training
Graduation ceremony for the students of the 54th class of General Staff Training of the School of National Defence, Military Academy was held today at the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia. On this occasion, Minister Sutanovac presented officer sabers to the most successful students of this generation, and the Serbian Army Chief of General Staff General Miloje Miletic presented these sabers to other officers who have successfully completed training, including 30 members of the Ministry of Defense and the Army of Serbia, the two officers from the armed forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina and one officer each from the armed forces of Austria, Turkey and Montenegro.
The top student of the generation is LTC Milan Konjikovcu was awarded a gilded sword with an inscription, second of his class is Colonel Slaven Boskovic who was presented with a silver saber with an inscription, and Colonel John Dundic was given an officer's sword with the inscription.
Promotion of officers who finished the highest level of education in our defense system and have been trained for planning and commanding of the forces in modern operations, both at home and abroad, was attended by Slavica Djukic Dejanovic, the Serbian Parliament Speaker, Deputy Prime Minister Ivica Dacic, representatives of ministries, religious communities in Serbia, the organizational units of the Ministry of Defence and General Staff, as well as diplomats and MAs accredited in our country, as well as families of those who completed the highest military training. Congratulating the officers the end of training, especially to students from Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Turkey, the minister said he was confident that during the training they were able to acquire the necessary knowledge and forge friendships that would help them improve their armed forces and build friendly partnerships with our Army.
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Your training in military higher education institution tells us that the Military Academy has become a respectable institution for training military personnel in the region, he said, adding that commitment to the principles of cooperative security through dialogue and mutual engagement, regional cooperation and adherence to basic principles of international law were the main guarantor of achieving, maintaining and improving security in the region. According to him, obtaining EU candidacy, starting negotiations for EU accession are not only the priorities of our foreign policy but also leave room for our defense policy and security police to be implemented.
- The more united we stand in the fight against modern challenges, risks and threats, the result will be better. In this all necessary conditions for progress in almost all spheres of life will be created, as this means that we are creating the conditions for a stable life for the citizens, for the inflow of new investments, for further democratization of society and continuation to modernize our armed forces - said Sutanovac stressing that the Ministry of Defense and the Army of Serbia were dedicated to these goals.
Furthermore, in his address, Sutanovac said that the commitment of the Ministry of Defense and the Army can be seen in the results in reform that these institutions have made in order to achieve the highest standards in the field of defense, but also to incorporate European values into the defense system of Serbia.- The Serbian Armed Forces, in addition to tasks defined by law, is dedicated to citizens' security, international military cooperation and stability in southeastern Europe. In the projections of our country, the Army has a key role and a security and development potential. We are aware also that the high international credibility of our country is not only thanks to cooperation, partnership and interoperability with foreign armies, but also participation in multinational peacekeeping missions. There is no country that deserves respect, while refusing to assume responsibility and take on risks in order to achieve peace and stability. In this way, the armed forces serve as a guarantor of peace and integrity of our country, as the minister observed.
The Minister underlined that the rise in trust and reputation of the Army of the Serbian citizens, the Army has ranked among the leading national institution, which is best shown by the large number of candidates for the Military High School and Military Academy, to join the ranks of professional soldiers and voluntary military service. -Defense system, this year, has become richer for the University of Defence which creates the conditions for a four-year university level of military education, offering high quality and attractive international study programs. This year the first generation of female cadets of the Military Academy will be promoted to first officer's rank. It is worth mentioning that this is the first generation of women officers and pilots in the history of military aviation - said the minister.
Speaking of the defense system reforms and the Army, Sutanovac remarked that rounding up the reforms in strategic-doctrinal and normative-legal sphere, establishing a new organization of the Army, the adoption of the White Book of Defence have all created the institutional framework for the democratic control of Armed Forces in accordance with the standards of modern democratic societies.
The reform of defense system and design of a modern army is a continuous process and a prerequisite for democracy, stability and development of Serbian society as well as a key element of peace and stability. Only by building a defense system on such principles, can we be ready to respond to all security, education, scientific research and economic challenges. In this way we build a common future with the European family of peoples and contribute to internal development of the country, the general progress of our citizens, stability and security in the region and throughout Europe, as the minister noted.
Head of the School of National Defense Colonel Mile Jelic while welcoming present on behalf of the MA, said that the promotion of General Staff officers at the National Assembly has now become a tradition, and honor these officers. - During the studies there included more than 1200 classes within a very demanding program, marked by a high level of development where the MA professor should be credited for the student’s successful completion of studies-as Col Jelic emphasized, adding that the 54th school class had graduated with honors whereby Serbia got another successful generation of General Staff officers ready to face up possibly difficult times and great challenges.
According to him, the students from foreign armies, in addition to knowledge from Belgrade, will also take with them many fond memories of our country and the Serbian Army, as well experience, friendship and new impressions.
- Be loyal and devoted to your army, your government and peace - said Col Jelic at the end of his address.
On behalf of the 54th class of General Staff Training, National Defence School, Lt. Gen. Milan Konjikovac, as the best officer in the class addressed the present
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This solemn act of receiving this saber is the culmination of our work in implementing the planned curriculum. We are proud that the Army of Serbia has once again produced a generation of highly trained officers who during the school had the opportunity to get acquainted with modern concepts of safety, the importance of a comprehensive response to complex security environment, the modalities and dynamics of European integration and other processes as well as the achieved degree and direction of further development and modernization of the defense system of Serbia. Minister of Defense, you can be assured that we have successfully mastered the necessary skills and knowledge, comprehending the needs and problems of the defense system and that we will fully contribute to our future assignments in the Army of Serbia and the Ministry of Defence - said Lt. Col. Konjikovac. During this military specialist training, officers have studied military strategy, command, leadership and operation skills. They listened to lectures about theory of conflict, international relations, foreign strategies and doctrine, and international humanitarian law and civil-military relations. The lectures were given by professors of the Military Academy, and the ministers of defense, finance, energy and mining, including the Chief of our armed forces general Staff, Defence Ministry State Secretary and Deputy Minister, and the operational commanders of the Army. Furthermore, the students also had the opportunity to receive instructions of high ranking foreign statesmen visiting our country.
The 54th class of students had to attend classes in cabinets, while a number of organized study tours at home and abroad, and command trips through Serbia were organized.
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