22.12.2011.

Minister and CHOD host a New Year and Christmas reception

The House of Guards in Topcider was too small to accommodate all the guests on last night’s reception which has become a tradition to hold on occasion of the upcoming New Year and Christmas holidays, organized by the Minister of Defence and the Chief of General Staff of Serbia. However, this year’s reception was unusual, since the reception was hosted by both Minister Sutanovac along with the outgoing and newly appointed Chief of General Staff , generals Miletic and Dikovic respectively.

The ceremony was among many guests, attended by Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic, Patriarch Irinej, ministers, representatives of legislative, executive and judicial authorities, diplomatic and military representatives accredited in our country, representatives of religious communities and denominations, celebrities from the cultural and public life and media .

Wishing the guests Merry Christmas and New Year holidays, General Miletic said that today he had handed over the duty of the Serbian Army Chief of Staff General Dikovic.

-

I am proud of a working life spent in the Army uniform. Of course, I remain attached to it and it remains in my heart since I first wore uniform four decades ago, yet I am ready place my abilities at the disposal of Serbia whenever necessary. I am especially proud of the Sebian armed forces, which has been professionalized during my term in office. This is a great job that required intensive teamwork of the Ministry of Defence and General Staff – as General Miletic said, adding that the professionalization will not stop reforms and the modernization of the Serbian Army, with a wish that the members of our armed forces, led by General Dikovic, achieve significant results in this important work for our country next year as well.

On behalf of the Serbian Army, General Dikovic also welcomed the crowd, pointing out that only by joint efforts of all institutions can achieve their goals and become part of a united Europe.

-

Next year will be the year for the Army to strengthen the operational and functional capabilities to carry out their missions dedicated to it. It will be a year of continuing reforms, primarily through the end of professionalism, active international military cooperation and enhancing the operational capabilities for increased participation in peacekeeping missions. We will build partnerships with countries in the region and the world in accordance with national and state interests - said the general expectation that Dikovi? expressing support for people who have come together tonight and will miss next year.

According to Minister Sutanovac a new tradition has been established.

-It is a tradition when you have before you a former and the current Chiefs of General Staff as one of the most important segments of our reforms - said Minister of Defense at the beginning of his address to the guests at the ceremony.

The year behind us, said Sutanovac, was a year of great challenges for the defense system and the Serbian armed forces.

-

This is the year we started with a fully professionalized army and the year when we successfully completed the reforms that is widely recognized as the best reform in this part of Europe. We will start the new 2012 with new reforms, reforms of the retirement system and health funds, but we still have a lot that has to be done so our army can reach the necessary level of interoperability, said Sutanovac thanking everyone who provided support to the Ministry and Army in the past – especially to the Prime Minister , the Government of Serbia, but most of all, to General Miletic and all those generals and officers who have been retired as of today.

- Without their work, commitment and dedication, the reforms of our defense system would not succeed. The reform does not only depend on money, depends not only on faith and work. It just depends on the energy of the Army of Serbia invested in the year for us. And today, we show that we want to continue the fight against corruption, the fight against fraud in the defense and to show that the system works all the time, even when celebrating - the minister said, adding that General Dikovic great military leader, brave and wise leader , a man who in all positions where it was proven to be an honorable officer who makes decisions and as an officer who is fully deserved to become the head of the Serbian Army.

-

- In this room having there are more such officers wand we will give them a chance to do so in the future. I am convinced that the reforms would continue whoever led the army, the reforms are on the right track which is why we shall continue at the same rate. In particular, I send my support our members who are celebrating the upcoming holidays away from their homes, in peacekeeping missions in which they participate - as Sutanovac concluded.