16.11.2014.

Ceremonial academy on the occasion of the Day of the Army and the Day of Infantry units

Tonight, at the Military House in Nis, a ceremonial academy was held on the occasion of November 16 – Day of the branch of the Army and the Day of the Infantry units.

The academy, dedicated to the centenary of the beginning of the Great War and the Battle of Kolubara was attended by Head of the General Staff General Ljubisa Dikovic, Assistant Minister of Defence for Human Resources Milos Jankovic, commanders of operational formations of the Armed Forces of Serbia, Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Airborne Troops Lieutenant General Vladimir Anatolyevich Shamanov, Head of the Nisava District Aleksandar Cvetkovic, Mayor of Nis Zoran Perisic, representatives of local self-governments and religious communities, numerous members of Nis garrison with families and other guests.

For extraordinary achievements in development of the defence system of the Republic of Serbia and improvement and maintenance of operative capabilities in conditions of new security challenges, President of the Republic of Serbia awarded the Army with the Order of the White Eagle with swords. The Order was presented to the Army Commander by President’s representative Brigadier General Vaso Gujic, Head of the President’s Military Office.

Thanking on behalf of all members of the Army, Lieutenant General Aleksandar Zivkovic mentioned the centenary of the beginning of the Great War, the Battle of Kolubara, Serbian Army’s crossing over Albania, recovery on Corfu and the breakthrough of the Thessaloniki Front.

- Members of the Army proudly remember the soldiers and military leaders, heroes of the Great War. Their acts commit us to firmly follow the path of building and creation of a strong and modern Serbia – General Zivkovic stated.

At the end of the ceremony, Army Commander handed Plaques of the Army to Head of the General Staff General Ljubisa Dikovic, Head of the Third Center of the Military Security Agency Veselin Radovic and conductor of the Art Ensemble of the Ministry of Defence “Stanislav Binicki” Pavle Medakovic.

Performances were given by the Art Ensemble of the Ministry of Defence “Stanislav Binicki”, Nis Chamber Orchestra, actors from the National Theatre Nis, Aleksa Vasic, Oliver NJego, Danka Stoiljkovic and other vocal soloists.

The Day of the Army and the Day of Infantry units are celebrated on November 16, the day when in 1914 the battle in which the Serbian Army won its greatest victory – the Battle of Kolubara. The carriers of combat actions of the Serbian military during this battle were eleven infantry and one cavalry division, enforced with 426 artillery arms.