22.12.2011.

Duty handover ceremony between the old and the new CHOD of SAF

General Miloje Miletic, handed over the SAF CHOD duty to the newly appointed Chief of General Staff Lieutenant-General Ljubisa Dikovic in the House of Guards in Topcider. General Dikovic, who has recently been appointed by the decree issued by President of Serbia Boris Tadic, was the Chief of the SAF Land Forces, and General Miletic, after almost four decades of military service, has retired.

The ceremony was attended by Defence Minister Dragan Sutanovac, State Secretary at the Ministry of Defence, Assistant Ministers, Deputy Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Milan Bjelica, Army Commander Major General Milan Mojsilovic and commander of Air Force Brigadier General Ranko Zivak, as well as representatives of the organizational units of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces.

On this occasion, Minister Sutanovac presented to General Miletic the first Chief of Staff Badge, a newly established medal, which will all future generals in that position will bear it.

Addressing the present, General Miletic said that he had had the honor being Chief of General Staff for three years, during which time the Army of Serbia and the Ministry of Defense did a great job in improving and modernizing the defense system and strengthening the safety of citizens of Serbia.

It is not easy to sum up everything that was done in a few words. We now have professional soldiers and soldiers on voluntary military service who took part in a number of exercises. Our system hosted important international meetings, such as the Conference of CHODs of the Balkan countries and strategic partners for the conference. Together with other United Nations member states we have participated in the consolidation of peace around the world. SAF has helped the people of Serbia, whenever needed. We intensified efforts to equip the Army of Serbia with new weapons and equipment, while also creating a modern framework for the engagement of military force, and have finally received the first generation of female officers graduated from the Military Academy of - General Miletic said.

Speaking about the results in the previous period, General Miletic said that the professionalization of the Serbian Army is certainly the most important part of the reform process.

Now our armed forces are at par with modern armies, capable of responding promptly to security challenges of our time. This is a socially responsible process in its broadest terms: in addition to strengthening security in times of economic crisis, the army has opened thousands of job vacancies for young people in Serbia. Professionalization has brought new experience and new working environment, but it does not signify that we will break from the military traditions of our people. On the contrary, our capabilities are deeply rooted on our tradition that makes our military and the Armed Forces of Serbia - General Miletic remarked, adding that the results of the reform of the Serbian Army can not be personalized, as they are the result of joint work of top management of the Ministry of Defense and the Army of Serbia.

He also expressed confidence that the members of our military in the future, together with General Dikovic would be very successful in their work.

- And after leaving the post of Chief of General Staff, I will remain soldier in my heart and I am ready to share my knowledge and ability and put them at the disposal of Serbia whenever necessary. General Dikovic wants success in the further development of the Army of Serbia as a modern armed force. I am sure that he will bring new energy and will have enough strength, courage and wisdom necessary for a Chief of Staff. With God’s speed! - General Miletic said.

According to General Dikovic, he started his military career at the age of 15 and as he pointed out, all he has he has gained in the military, but he has also given it most of himself.

- Having been done the honor to be appointed as chief of general staff, I will work with all members of the Ministry of Defense and the Army of Serbia, on building up the capabilities and capacities of our military in order to strengthen the security of our country - said the general Dikovic in his first official address since being appointed to a new duty, which, as he said, he felt to be a great honour and obligation to give his personal and professional maximum.

General Dikovic took this opportunity to thank General Miletic on the results the Serbian Army has achieved during his term as Chief of General Staff, but also to defense minister, saying that in future work he will follow a consistent policy of the Ministry of Defence. Officers have the obligation to do their duty and to be first.-

I will try to follow in the footsteps of our wise military commanders and rulers, but also to follow the work of foreign armies- said General Dikovic.

Sutanovac said that today we have the opportunity to attend a unique event which, he said, has become a tradition.

- This is an event in which the new Chief of General Staff bids good bye to the old Chief of General Staff- to the satisfaction both the old and the new CHOD, but where the newly appointed Chief of General Staff should be rightfully concerned as it is upon him to follow in the footsteps of the previous Chief of General Staff, and to the satisfaction of all those who attend the act - said Sutanovac, adding that this is just one of the ceremonies which are being introduced and implemented in the Defense Ministry and the Serbian Army, which until now had not existed.

- The times behind us and before us are the times in which we continue to carry out reforms, in order to improve conditions and reestablish the tradition in some segments. Few citizens of Serbia know that the promotion of new officers had not previously been done at the plateau of the Parliament of Serbia - said the defense minister expressing his desire that today’s tradition would become a tradition.

In his words, from the moment of taking the office the minister of defense, even though we have not directly worked, there was a very high level of understanding, especially in terms of agreeing that the Serbian armed forces must move forward, as without modernization the Serbian army cannot advance. The Minister also thanked General Miletic for everything that he has done, adding that he has led the reforms of Serbia as one of the oldest officers which he says, the most successful and best reform is not only in the defense, but in our society.

-Today we are not getting a Chief of General Staff who is any younger or less experienced We believe that although we often hear in the media that the reforms are completed, we are just beginning, and that the Army is only beginning to improve. My belief is that the years ahead are even more important. The fact is that we have set up the system on the right track and there is not more deflecting from reforms, but neither must we slow down the reforms because they would have slowed not only our progress, and progress of the whole society.

General Dikovic, I want to tell you it won’t be any easier on you. Until now as the commander of the army you had one problem, now you will have to deal with the problems of the whole system. Be sure that you and the Staff of the Minister, the President and myself will give full support to you in order to build a modern army that will be the center of our country’s defense system, the security of the region and will, in Serbia and internationally, give full support to the development of a democratic society and our country - said the minister wishing the newly-appointed Chief of General Staff much luck in future work as well as other members of the Ministry and the Army who have been appointed to new positions, as well as those who are leaving the system as retired officers.

May God help us, and long live Serbia! – as the minister concluded his speech with this exclamation.

The newly appointed Chief of the General Staff Lieutenant-General Ljubisa Dikovic was born on 22 May 1960 in Uzice. He graduated from the Military Academy, Department of infantry in 1984. , the General Staff School in 1996, and the National Defense School four years later, in 2000. He has been on the post of the commander of the Army since March 2009.