21.04.2015.

Ceremonial reception by Minister of Defence and Chief of General Staff on the occasion of the Day of the Serbian Armed Forces

Minister of Defence Bratislav Gasic and Chief of General Staff General Ljubisa Dikovic held the traditional reception at the Guard House in Topcider on the occasion of 23rd April – Day of the Serbian Armed Forces.

The ceremony was attended by President of the Republic of Serbia Tomislav Nikolic, representatives of legislative, executive and judiciary authorities, representatives of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces, religious communities, foreign military representatives and diplomats, persons from public and cultural life, and numerous guests.

Welcoming the guests, Minister Gasic reminded that 23rd April is of great importance for the Serbian people in preserving national identity, and that it is celebrated as the most important military holiday in the memory of the Takovo Uprising and setting of the foundations of modern Serbia.

- In the year behind us, in times of numerous and great challenges, the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces have successfully worked on strengthening peace security and stabilization of the state in the region, and on continuation of the Euro integration process – Minister of Defence said.

According to him, it is generally known that the main condition for good operative ad functional capability of any armed forces is modernization of units, and, as he stated, the defence system had received great help from the state in the realization of this complex task.

- We have used numerous possibilities, but we will not stop there. The initiated reforms in the Ministry of Defence and the process of reorganization and professionalization of the Serbian Armed Forces will be completed. I am certain that the help from the state will not be lacking in these tasks, as well – Minister Gasic stated, adding that a good portion of these visionary goals, which are bringing the Serbian Armed Forces to the place it had always deserved, would not be achievable without a created framework.

Minister Gasic also reminded that many primary and secondary legislation acts had been passed that allowed for the implementation of reforms and completion of planned tasks, which provided legal framework for the work of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces.

- I would like to use this opportunity to thank the state authorities, institutions and bodies that selflessly support us, and Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic, who provided us with the much needed means for the military in record time – Minister Gasic stressed, also thanking foreign armies for the cooperation in the past period.

The Serbia Armed Forces celebrates its holiday – 23rd April in memory of the beginning of the Second Serbian Uprising in 1815, a milestone in foundation of the modern Serbian state and military.