22.04.2014.

Minister Rodic awarded decorations on the occasion of Armed Forces Day

On the occasion of the Serbian Armed Forces Day, 23rd April, in the House of Guard in Topcider today, Nebojsa Rodic, Minister of Defence in the caretaker government, handed 10 decrees on promotion and 43 decorations from the competence of the President of the Republic of Serbia.

Major General Jovica Draganic, Deputy Chief of General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces was extraordinarily promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Brigadier generals Slavoljub Janicijevic, Goran Zekovic and Bojan Zrnic were promoted to the rank of Major General. Colonels Stanko Vasiljevic, Zeljko Ninkovic, Petar Latkovic Sinisa Radovic, Petar Cvetkovic and Slavoljub Dabic were promoted to the rank of brigadier general.

By the decree of the President of Serbia, 43 members of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces were decorated, and on the occasion of 170th anniversary of existence and successful operation, the Military Medical Academy was decorated by Order of Karadjordje star of 3rd degree. Order was received by Brigadier General Prof. Marijan Novakovic, Head of the Military Medical Academy.

The ceremony was attended by State Secretary Zoran Djordjevic, assistant ministers and Chief of General Staff General Ljubisa Dikovic with members of the Collegium.

Lieutenant General Jovica Draganic extended thanks on behalf of the promoted and decorated members of the defence system. He pointed out that among the decorated ones there are those who have helped the population in the snowed area of Vojvodina, those who built the water supply for the citizens of Uzice in record time and under difficult conditions and many others who helped in the rescue of the citizens of Serbia.

- It is a great satisfaction that the Ministry of Defence recognize and appreciate on the best way the true values and military and human virtues. This is certainly an additional motivation and encouragement for all of us to give much more to our country in the coming period and to work more – General Draganic said.

Defence Minister Nebojsa Rodic congratulated the promoted and decorated ones and rewarded all the members of the Serbian Armed Forces and the Ministry of Defence who contributed by their courage and perseverance, their work and efforts, for the Armed Forces to remain the institution that is most trusted in the country.

- Members of the Armed Forces, despite the extremely difficult and for some impossible conditions, are trying to defend their homeland at all costs and protect the citizens in emergency situations and natural disasters, aware of the risk for their own lives, and will do their best to save the property and ensure the safety of the population. Such acts should not remain unnoticed and that is why we are here today to publicly acknowledge them by ceremonial handing of decoration, as one of the most important symbols of the national identity – Minister of Defence said.

In the speech that followed, Minister Rodic pointed out that the period ahead of us will certainly bring new challenges.

- Solutions will certainly be painful, just like all those that are forced, but they will be such as to provide a chance for a new beginning, based on truth and justice, based on the real, possible and sustainable development and directed towards the prosperity of our entire society and the state – Minister Rodic said.

The promoted and decorated members of the defence system were also addressed by General Ljubisa Dikovic, Chief of General Staff.

At the end of the ceremony the Chief of General Staff presented the Great Plaque of the Serbian Armed Forces to Defence Minister Nebojsa Rodic.