11.11.2011.

Marking the armistice day

The central state ceremony to honor the WWI armistice day took place today near the tomb erected to defenders of Belgrade in World War I at New Cemetery. ON behalf of the Government of Serbia the wreath was laid by State Secretary Igor Jovicic with all state honors.

On behalf of the Ministry of Defense and the Serbian Army, the wreaths were laid near the crypt defenders of Belgrade by Deputy Chief of Staff of the Serbian Army, Maj. Gen. Milan Bjelica with his associates, as well as in the memorial tomb in memory of Russian soldiers, and at the cemetery of the soldiers from Commonwealth countries and French war cemetery.

At the end of the ceremony, State Secretary Igor Jovicic said that on this day, 93 years ago the First World War ended, which, according to him, thus stopping the suffering and violence, heralding a period of peace and reconstruction.

"The First World War was marked by then unprecedented sacrifice and suffering on global scale. This is the moment when we should revive our memories and express gratitude and appreciation to Serbian soldiers and heroes. The Serbian soldiers though greatly outnumbered and inferior in equipment, fought with immense courage and faith in themselves for the freedom of their country" said Jovicic.

He added that the current values of these officers and NCOs contribute to the development of modern Serbian Army.

"Today we build peace on those foundations established nearly a century ago when Serbia was going through in the most difficult moments that Serbia had in its history," said Secretary of State. He stressed that Serbia is ready, in accordance with national and state interests, to make a full contribution to peace and security, both in the Republic of Serbia and the region, and elsewhere in the world.

"Serbia is committed to the ideas and goals of peace and continuous improvement of bilateral and multilateral relations as well as developing various forms of international cooperation," said Jovicic.

Secretary of State also said that Serbia is building its future in partnership with counterparts in the countries which were our opponents during those turbulent times."

"Today, we bow to the memory of those who perished in the whirlwind of war and destruction. Let them rest in eternal peace," said Secretary of State.

The central national ceremony was attended by ambassadors and envoys of countries participating in the defense of the First World War, France, Russia, Australia, the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, Canada, Italy, Romania, Holland, Belgium, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Germany and the United States.

In the celebration of Armistice Day in World War II, Chief of the Serbian Army General Miloje Miletic, on behalf of the President of the Republic of Serbia, laid a wreath at the Monument to the Unknown Hero on Avala.

On that occasion, General Miletic wrote into the memorial book the following:

''Serbia as a country of peace preserves the memory of the day when armistice was signed in the First World War. May the destruction and horrors of war never happen again. For a modern and democratic Serbia in a united Europe. "

In addition to General Miletic, the ceremony on Avala was attended by the commander of the SAF training, Lt. Gen. Aleksandar Zivkovic and commander of the Air Force, Brigadier General Ranko Zivak.