21.01.2013.

Commencement of Advanced Studies of 2nd Generation of the Higher Security and Defence Studies

On the occasion of the commencement of the advanced studies of the second generation of students in Higher Security and Defence Studies, the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Aleksandar Vucic addressed the professors and the students at the opening ceremony in the amphitheatre of the Centre for Simulations and Distance Learning at the Military Academy.

Addressing the gathering, Minister Vucic stressed the importance of knowledge and education for advancement in all spheres of the society.

- There is nothing more important for a country, for its security system and the defence system and military structure, than knowledge and education. We could be left without everything, but without our wisdom and knowledge we cannot accomplish anything. If we have enough of that, we can achieve a lot even in difficult historical circumstances – Minister Vucic said. He added that the importance of this level of education is also in the fact that it is attended also by civilians who wish to gain more knowledge in the area of security.

Hunger for knowledge and education, according to the Minister of Defence, is the main driver of a country to go ahead. He particularly stressed that the students of this generation will also be from the countries in the region, because it is important, and because there are many things that we can learn from each other.

According to the Head of the Studies Colonel Slobodan Joksimovic, seven members of the ministries and agencies of the Government of the Republic of Serbia, five members of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces and one representative from each of the Republic of Croatia, Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina were admitted to this year's advancement studies of the second generation of the Higher Security and Defence Studies.

Responding to questions from the students in Command Staff and General Staff level of education at the National Defence School who attended the ceremony of commencement of the studies, Minister Vucic said that when we speak about the future tasks, it is necessary to modernize the equipment and method of education in the defence system.

Speaking about the procurement of new equipment, the minister pointed out that the task of every minister of defence is to provide its members with the appropriate working conditions, and as he announced, one way to achieve it is by investing in the defence industry, about which there is agreement at the state level.

When it comes to international military cooperation, Minister Vucic said that the ministry he leads cherishes good relations with a great number of countries, particularly singling out the intensification of cooperation with Russian Federation, and as a confirmation of that he announced the visit by his Russian counterpart Minister Sergei Shoigu, which is planned for March.

The ceremony of commencement of the studies was attended by the representatives of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces General Staff, Commandant of the Military Academy Major General Mladen Vuruna with his Collegium, and the Military Academy professors. After the opening ceremony, Minister Vucic visited the premises of Higher Security and Defence Studies.

Higher Security and Defence Studies are to round off the series of courses, professional development and accredited studies that are conducted at the Military Academy. During the studies that will last from 21 January to 5 July this year, the students will become qualified to successfully follow the modern trends in the field of security and defence, to carry out the comprehensive analysis of the possibility of using the available instruments and for the protection of national interests and contributing to achieving the goals set in the National Security Strategy.

The Higher Security and Defence Studies within the National Defence School are the fourth and the highest level of career development of officers and civil servants of the Ministry of Defence. The Students in the Higher Security and Defence Studies are senior officials of other ministries and agencies of the Government of the Republic of Serbia and other countries in the region.