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10.09.2011.
New officers promoted

What distinguishes today's ceremony from previous years is that for the first time in history 19 young women were promoted into officer ranks.
The promotion ceremony of lieutenants was attended by Serbian President Boris Tadic, Defense Minister Dragan Sutanovac, Serbian Chief of General Staff General Miloje Miletic, state and military top officials, as well as numerous guests from home and abroad, including vice president of the Central Military Commission People's Republic of China Su Tzaihou as well as the Ohio National Guard commander Maj. Gen. Deborah Ashenhurst.
Minister of Defense Dragan Sutanovac presented honorary pistols with special inscriptions to top land forces cadet Rajko Gujanicic (9.12) and the graduate in Air Force department Bogdan Kovacevic (8.90), as well as the best female cadet Vanja Mrdja (9.14).

- The path to the one star officer rank has lasted for four years during which you had to endure and overcome various difficulties. Your teachers and elders say they have studied hard and that you have rightfully earned your place in this glorious parade and alignment, as the Serbian President Boris Tadic said, adding that he wanted especially to congratulate the female cadets on their successful graduation from the Military Academy.
- After four years spent as cadets in the academy, you were finally promoted into ranks, and this is a historic moment for Serbia as for the first time in its history it has seen its girls become officers. Any day now, women officers will be in command of the units of the Army of Serbia and it is an important reform our armed forces have undergone. They will lead the units where there are women already, who in recent years have become professional soldiers - said the President of the Republic.

- In my first presidential speech, I advocated principles of gender equality in our Serbia and the rights of women, which, as we see today, has been partly realized. For all these reasons, I am pleased to say that the Military Academy has for years now been creating professional staff capable of responding to security challenges of modern community, successfully defending national and state interests of top priority – as President Tadic remarked.
Speaking of the currently top-priority interest, the President stressed, that while working on preserving the legitimate rights of our people in Kosovo, Serbia was also striving to obtain membership in the European Union.
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Serbian must leave the past behind, he said, and it wishes to forever put an end to conflicts which end with people bearing the consequences.
- This is the cornerstone of our policy and Serbian democracy. That is why we want to solve the historical conflicts between Serbs and Albanians in Kosovo and Metohija with a desire to find a model to suit the needs of both nations, only respect of other peoples' identity, dignity and interests can provide peace and life without fear for their children - said President.
- This dialogue must be approached with calm and patience, requires to be addressed seriously, but requires that everyone, regardless of their political and ideological differences refrain from themselves from any false and sensational interpretation of the solutions reached, given that these false allegations made by those persons who advocate these interests in public actually undermine the state, as President Tadic explained..
He stressed that all the regional issues in Southeast Europe can be resolved only through policy of peace and reconciliation, this being the only way that can lead our country and the region itself union of equal peoples of Europe.
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According to President Tadic, Serbia is now a peaceful and democratic country that offers a hand of friendship and cooperation, with an army as the key factor of regional stability. Army of Serbia shall cooperate and be a partner with the armies of major powers and countries in the world today, and the program "Partnership for Peace" has its peacekeeping role in the world. The fact that there are Army of Serbia members participating in EU missions proves Serbia’s commitment to European integrations.
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Recalling the 10th anniversary of9/11 terrorist attacks in New York, Tadic said that Serbia, while honoring the victims, reminded of the threat of global terrorism, once again confirms the commitment of its Army and the citizens to international fight against evil.
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Welcoming the crowd, the Head of the Military Academy, Brigadier General Mladen Vuruna said that integration is the key word, which has marked the education not only of this generation, but of the Serbian military education in general.
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- Today, the Military Academy is a unique educational center, with facilities that can meet the needs of the region, an institution in which officers are trained, and where as of civilians, and senior civil servants can enter study programs too. It is an institution with a high degree of international cooperation, integrated in the scientific and educational community of the Republic of Serbia, with academy’s educational process and training organization fully integrate all three Serbian Armed Forces branches - General Vuruna said, explaining that the program comprises Military High School , 13 academic study tracks at all three levels, offering five joint study programs with Belgrade and Kragujevac Universities, four career development programs and more than 60 different courses.
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According to him, in that environment and on the road for this development were also present revelers, cadets 131st and 132 class, including the first generation of girls, 107 lieutenants and 19 lieutenants of the Army of Serbia.

Such a choice worthy of profound respect for them and I congratulate in this election - said the head of the Military Academy.
On behalf of all students of that generation, the best among them, Predrag Andric said that studranje at the Military Academy, an institution with a tradition that began over 160 years, which has spawned many academics, a Ph.D. student and outstanding military leaders, for all cadets honor.
- After four or five years of hard work and many sacrifices, we bring our studies to a close. We have acquired many useful skills that will be applied in the preservation of peace and freedom of the Republic of Serbia. This year, the youngest lieutenant in the machine Army of Serbia is the first generation of girls who studied at the Academy. They have shown that they are able to cope with all challenges encountered during the study - said Andric, joining the congratulations which, he said, deserved his colleagues and wished them luck in the further career officers.
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With a parade, the ceremony was made even more glorious with the performance of airplanes and helicopters, Air Force Army of Serbia, which flew over Belgrade and Pancevo, and citizens had the opportunity to watch the Guaard exercir and enjoy the music program of the Art Ensemble of the Ministry of Defense “Stanislav Binicki’’ as well as he Guard Representative Guard.
- Serve your nation with honor and be proud of your motherland! Long Live Serbia! - Said Major Aleksandar Piposki, deputy commander of 101st fighter -aviation squadron, addressing eh cadets from one of the planes that flew over the capital to honor new officers. It was a cue upon which the graduate lieutenants’ caps flew into the air.
At a reception at the National Assembly, President Tadic and Sutanovac presented the Military Medal medals for contribution to the defense of the Republic of Serbia, to the most successful male and female cadets: Predrag Andric, Violeta Brkovic, Rajko Gujanicic, Bogdan Kovacevic, Marija Markovic, Vladimir Petrovic, Vanja Mrdja and Nenad Kanjevac.
Statements from officials
Serbian Parliament Speaker Slavica Djukic Dejanovic proudly pointed out that, even though she has participated in promotions of officers ever since she was appointed key speaker of the National Parliament but that this year is special because of the new second lieutenants in our Armed Forces, namely female lieutenants.
- This is a special infusion to our country and they are a resource that can enrich and prove how important gender equality in any profession, especially in the army. I hope to see more of these events is even- said the Parliament Speaker, adding that such ceremonies strengthen the bond between the Army and the nation.
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Minister Sutanovac expressed his satisfaction that the ceremony has been held for the sixth time in front of the National Assembly, in the presence of many high foreign delegations and senior citizens of Serbia. Promotion of a new generation of officers, both men and women, is probably the best ceremony that takes place in our country.
- I want young officers to fulfill the promises made by the top cadet of their class. Their days in the Academy were beautiful and I expect that their days in the Army are still beautiful, but filled with solemn duty - Sutanovac said.

- They showed that they can be equal with men and I am fully convinced that this is the correct attitude and wish them a "clear skies" and all those who are promoted today. I want them to never to use their guns but that they may stay in cabinets but rather to serve.
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- The ceremony was a spectacular parade and the program was excellent. The fact that this is a class where girls have graduated is important for all armies in the world. I am very glad that I was part of today's ceremony and witnessed a significant day for all women in the Serbian Army. I wish them all the best!- as General Deborah Ashenhurst, Commander of the Ohio National Guard stated.
Statement of cadets, family members and citizens
The parents of the best Military Academy of the best cadet Predrag Andric, did not hide their satisfaction at seeing the magnificent ceremony where the youngest officers were promoted.
- We are used to our son’s success, as Predrag’s father,Peter, an engineer, says but we are very happy today because of the way to promote Serbian officers. This is a wonderful celebration, and promotion these young men and women who chose the military profession deserve. We have always supported our Predrag, while he was in the military high school, when it was more difficult and more uncertain for him than in the Academy. Not only we as parents helped him but also his teachers. They understood the mischief of a fifteen year old boy, said Petar Andric, while mother Vera adds that, in effect, she has been with her son only periodically in the last none years.

Because of love , Sonja Jashin aged 24, is awaiting to move with her loved one from her native town of Elemir. I do not care where they will post him, as long as I am with him.
- I came because of my boyfriend Slobodan Hornjakwho has graduated today from the academy and become an officer. I am proud of him because this is the crown of his entire work - says Sonja.
Snezana Vidic from Kragujevac, a proud young mother of a young women officer Milica Milosavljevic saysshe has lived to see the day when her pride and joy, her daughter would mark the end of her studies at the academy by throwing her cap in the air.. - My daughter is now happy and satisfied. She was told to report to Nis, where they will be posted according to the needs of the military. This is what she has been preparing for all these years, as Snezana said.
- Not everyone in the audience today have their newly appointed officers. Marija came from Zagubica just to see festive promotion. - I love this celebration. I have always liked military uniforms. I was bon in 1996 and I plan to enroll in a year or two the Military Academy – as Marija says
Sasa Radovanovic is the father of the first women pilot,- Sandra Radovanovic,a jet pilot.. - I am very proud of her, and of my younger daughter who is the second year of the Military Academy, in the engineering field. We are a military family – Sasha is pleased to say.
And a great celebration will take place in Zabalj tonight- for Nedeljko Satara who graduated from the Military Academy. His friends came to the Serbian capital to greet him and lead the party. – Nedeljko, a good friend, student, friend, soldier ...His friends are proud of him, just like his mom Ljilja. After the promotion we will home to rrjoice-as Jaro Urosevic, a friend of the young officer said.
- We took the children to see the soldiers. For the youngest, but we know it will be a pilot and he came because the plane. I had to take him to the test yesterday, all the jets. He likes to watch the uniforms, just to teach him what it means. All absorbing, say, being a soldier dad - says Branko Majki?.
- We came to the promotion of the neighbors that Dragan is now an officer. I remember him even when he was little, when they played in front of the war with his friends. Today we are all proud of him. My son Mark said that he will be a soldier when he grew up - says Zorica Markovic from Belgrade.
- Alexander is our neighbor in the alignment , and we are proud to see him today. We came from Leskovac. We are overjoyed! - Dobrivoje Veljkovic said, and his wife, Jelica says that this is the time for tears of joy, especially for mothers whose children are in the machine.

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