16.04.2014.

The ceremony in Uzice on the occasion of Serbian Armed Forces Day

The central ceremony to mark 23rd April, the Day of the Serbian Armed Forces "Djetinja 2014", has been held today in Uzice on the Square of partisans.

The ceremony was attended by Tomislav Nikolic, President of the Republic, Ivica Dacic, Prime Minister in the caretaker government, Nebojsa Stefanovic, Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, Nebojsa Rodic, Minister of Defence in the caretaker government and ministers in the Serbian Government, General Ljubisa Dikovic, the Chief of General Staff, the most responsible officers and management of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces, military diplomatic corps, representatives of local government and religious communities, as well as many citizens.

Several thousands of citizens of Uzice welcomed the members of their armed forces who paraded the central town square accompanied by military music and flights of combat aviation.

The ceremony began by firing salvo, welcoming the President, national flag and singing the national anthem of the Republic of Serbia. The commander of the ceremony was Major General Vojin C. Jondic, Head of Operations Department J -3 of the General Staff.

Welcoming the participants, General Ljubisa Dikovic, Chief of the Serbian Armed Forces General Staff, said that the Serbian Armed Forces in the last year carried out all the set tasks – in a conscientious, responsible and disciplined manner. He pointed out that the members of the armed forces are accustomed to it and that "we do not know how to do it in a different way".

"We work, save and keep – primarily peace in the country, and in the world", General Dikovic said and stressed that the Serbian Armed Forces is today recognized by its deeds. "Everything what I would say further fits in the following words – long live the Serbian Armed Forces".

In his speech, President Tomislav Nikolic reminded that Serbia as a modern state emerged from the First Serbian Uprising, which evolved from a struggle for the autonomy within the Ottoman system into a struggle for an independent state.

- That transformation took place in 1806 through victories of rebels against the Turkish army at Ivankovci, Misar, Deligrad, and especially after the entry into Belgrade. Serbian rebels were defeated only in 1813 when they refused the conditions of Russian-Turkish peace in the Assembly in Kragujevac, where the officers rejected this offer as it was stated: "This land belonged to our ancestors, and we won it with our blood. If the Russian promised Turks fortifications, he will give them somewhere else" - the President said, adding that the self-sacrifice of officers and soldiers until the last moment, heroic conduct before numerous enemies, was well remembered by the Turks, and the very thought that this could be repeated, made them to give in, when two years later, a new uprising broke out.

- The Serbian Armed Forces Day commemorates the date of Takovo uprising in 1815. The Army formed during the uprising liberated Serbia from centuries-long slavery. It was national, just as it is today. Field Marshals and officers called the people only when they had to fight – President Nikolic said and emphasized that apart from the fighters on call during the statehood gained by the First Serbian Uprising, there were, just like today, standing detachments of trained and armed soldiers, bachelors or boys, who were paid for their service.

Recalling the last two centuries of wealthy Serbian history – from the uprising, through warfare in the Balkan wars, the Great War, the anti-fascist struggle during the Second World War to the present day, the Serbian President pointed out that the military continually reaffirms its strong relationship with the people.

- Our two-centuries-long military past was marked by warfare. The war for freedom has become the essence of our existence. The yearning for freedom was coined by our freedom-loving and righteous spirit and made us proud and brave people. We lost the healthiest, brightest, bravest people in war actions or as a consequence of the war actions – Nikolic said, adding that this is why the Serbian soldier has always been respected by his opponents, recalling the words of the Turkish Commander Javid Pasha: "Serbian soldier is invincible. We can do nothing against the Serbs. Serbian farmer has no vices, he is gentle and generous. Serbian soldier constantly brings victory because he is finer and more intelligent, disciplined and with high morale. "

The President recalled that Serbia in the Great War expanded its territory, but also the number of external enemies, and that in the Second World War it was on the winning side when it "drowned its national identity again in a community created on compromise and forgiveness of the unforgivable, and as appreciation it got crimes, persecution, insults, lawsuits ..."

- Marking 100 years since the beginning of the First World War is an opportunity to remember the heroism and suffering of the people and the army which is unrivalled in modern history. Tactics and doctrine of our military leaders is studied even today in military schools around the world – the President said expressing his belief that such military leaders are the inspiration to today's soldiers and officers.

He particularly noted that modern Serbia has never waged the offensive wars, but it waged defensive ones and that it has always been on the winning side of justice, and that the military intelligence, courage and bravery, skill and perseverance, put Serbian soldiers among the most respected ones in the history of warfare.

The President recalled that those who called for a war by words "all Serbs must die" or "Serbia must die", after a series of heroic exploits of the Serbian army during the Great War wrote the following: "Serbian soldier is the most powerful warrior ever seen in the world's fire."

- Between the two celebrations of their holidays, our army, as always in its two-century-long modern history, were the first to come to the rescue of its people. Not sparing themselves, courageous and military brave, our engineers, pilots, members of the armoured units, medical staff, under extremely difficult conditions rescued and evacuated the frosted, life endangered passengers from snowbound columns in Vojvodina. The army did not stop until the last one was safe and secure – Nikolic said, adding that the army then demonstrated once again the knowledge, level of training, courage and sacrifice.

- Our military deserved its reputation among citizens and among colleagues around the world by amazing speed and professionalism with which it reacted when the citizens of Uzice were left without drinking water – the Serbian President said, adding that the army guarded round the clock presence of the water tanks in all parts of the city.

He recalled that the members of the Serbian Armed Forces were those who cleared the ground, making passes and expanding the existing roads, arranged the riverbed of the Djetinja river diverting its course to the right bank and taking a series of engineering and construction works for water to come to Uzice.

President Nikolic pointed out that the Serbian Armed Forces, following the vision of stability and prosperity, is becoming very active in multinational operations led by the UN and the European Union.

- Participating in the peacekeeping missions, we are helping the residents of those areas in the world where human lives are at risk; we build partnerships with foreign armed forces and strengthen our overall diplomatic potential.

- In its promotion and monitoring of contemporary global trends in the field of military development, the women are enabled to become members of the Serbian Armed Forces. Today, we are proud of the outstanding female cadets of the Military Academy, female professional soldiers, NCOs and officers - President Nikolic said , reminding us of the heroism of Milunka Savic, Sofija Jovanovic, Nadezda Petrovic and many others.

He mentioned that it was recently that the perpetrators of the destruction of Serbia in 1999 came out in recognition that they prevented, as they say, possible suffering of one people and possible persecution of civilians, without the consent of the UN.

They found justification for the bombing of a sovereign country, a member of the UN and the killing of its children and the destruction of wealth created by its people, in the prevention of potential casualties. They would be better off if they do not invent any reason as there was not any - "Or they would be better off if they acknowledge that the reason is the creation of the Albanian state in the territory of Serbia", Nikolic said.

- It is uncivilized precedent for ever and ever. It is something of which even the barbarous nations from the pre-Christian period would be ashamed of – the President said, noting that it was the act that costed Serbia 2,500 lives, over 12,500 wounded, including a large number of children, but that "we reasonably expect that Serbia stands back on its feet with a compensation for harm made by injustice.

"It is our task today to be born and live in peace and not to wage wars and die. And never again we shall do so over someone else's disputes – President Nikolic said congratulating once again all the citizens the Serbian Armed Forces Day with the "greeting that connects us with our ancestors who had uttered the same two words boldly fighting and heroically winning the Great War" – LONG LIVE SERBIA!

After drill of the Guard, echelon of the First Army Brigade, echelon of the unit for multinational operations of the Second Brigade, echelons of the Third and Fourth brigades, echelon of the regiment flags of the wars for freedom of Serbia and echelons of the Special Brigade, Mixed Artillery Brigade, Riverine fleet, Training Command and Guard paraded the Partisans Square and the main city street – Dimitrije Tucovic street. Parade of the units was accompanied by the Representative Orchestra of the Serbian Armed Forces Guard.

They were followed by parade of motorized echelons of the Military Police, Special Brigade, 2nd, 3rd and Mixed Artillery Brigade, with self-propelled multibarrel rocket launchers, "Defenders", " Hammers" and other specially equipped vehicles for combat actions .

Festive line-up of units was flown over by helicopters Gazelle Gamma.

After the end of the parade, the citizens of Uzice were presented the arms and equipment used by the Serbian Armed Forces. At the static display, among other things, there could have been seen assets of air defence units, armoured units, equipment and weapons of special operation units and their vehicles.

The Serbian Armed Forces celebrates its feast on 23rd April to commemorate the day in 1815 when the Second Serbian Uprising, which was a milestone in the creation of the modern Serbian state and the army. The Second Serbian Uprising in some ways is the foundation for the creation of the Serbian state and the Serbian army. The Serbian army evolved from the insurgent companies, or the people who took up arms to fight for their freedom. There lie the roots of the profound connection between our nation and our military. The Serbian Armed Forces cherishes this essential relationship, so that in the conditions of professionalization it remains devoted to the citizens of Serbia and helps them whenever needed. Citizens also recognize that fateful connection and appreciated the efforts that the military makes for the common good.

IMPRESSIONS:

The old member of the Guard, 72-year-old Mili Brkovic, who took part in two military parades half a century ago, says that everything was nice today. - I am proud that the Serbian Armed Forces celebrates its day in Uzice. It was 52 years ago that I participated in two parades in Belgrade, and I hope that our country will prosper in the future. Everything was good and we can be proud of our military, and the citizens of Uzice will remember this day for long, Brkovic said.

Citizens of Uzice were delighted that the Armed Forces celebrated its day in their city: - It is for the first time that I watch the parade live and I am happy. I followed all the rehearsals, everything looks great, and my neighbours asked from me to make photographs as much as possible more so that they could see as much as possible. - Our military is the best, and we from Uzice prepared ourselves well to welcome the Serbian Armed Forces. I am so glad that the ceremony takes place in our city ...

Schoolgirl Maja with her classmates watched the parade, and said that what she liked the most were the girls from the Guard who performed the drill. - So far I did not have opportunity to see what they do with guns, and I was delighted with how they trained it well with their fellows, without any errors - Maja said.

According to Mirjana from Uzice, even though it was cold, she attended the today's ceremony from the beginning to its end. - Everything was very well organized and I am very glad that the Serbian Armed Forces has chosen Uzice for the ceremony – she said, stressing that she was proud that we had such an army.

Among the numerous spectators at the main square in Uzice today, there was Milorad Petrovic, a pensioner from Cajetina, who was particularly interested in arms and military equipment that has been exposed on the occasion of the Armed Forces Day. - I was reminded a bit of the military days when I watched the soldiers marching military steps, and I will certainly try also soldier beans dish, which is the best –Milorad said.

Among the youngest citizens of Uzice who enjoy today's celebration there were Jelena Radojcicand Teodora Radosavljevic.

- I liked the parade quite a lot. It was too crowded, but good. What I liked the most was the beginning, when everyone came marching – Jelena said, while for Theodora, the strongest impression was made by girls in uniform. They both loudly said that one day they would be very happy to wear the uniform.

Borisa Aleksic, who came as a tourist to Zlatibor from the the Republic of Srpska, is delighted with today's parade. – What I liked the most was the organization; it can be seen that in Serbia everything is at high level – Boris said.

- Such events in our city should be organised in our city more often because everything has gone from here and the army came back today, which is very good for children and the youth, Ivan Vasotic from Uzice, who enjoyed today parade with his daughter in his arms, said.

Katarina, who brought her son the previous days to watch the rehearsals, was delighted with the complete event, especially since her father was a military man.

One of the youngest female officers, Second Lieutenant Pavelina Ikonic, said that for several days practicing for the parade she managed to feel the soul of the city of Uzice. – We were warmly received by the citizens of Uzice. We are thrilled with everything we did here – Lieutenant Ikonic said.

Although she did not have much opportunity to get acquainted with Uzice because she was busy practicing for the ceremonial parade most of the time, Corporal Danijela Decovic, a professional soldier said that the reactions of the citizens' to the appearance of the Armed Forces left a deep impression on her.

- I'm proud that I participated in this ceremony. The parade was not difficult for us because practicing in line is important for every soldier, and we practice the line-up actions every day – Corporal Dacovic said.