05.11.2015.

Day of Military Security Agency marked

A gala reception in the Great War Hall of the Old General Staff tonight marked the Day of the Military Security Agency in the presence of Minister of Defence Bratislav Gasic, ministers in the Serbian Government, Chief of General Staff General Ljubisa Dikovic, representatives of legislative, executive and judicial authorities, the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces, religious communities, diplomatic corps, and guests from cultural and public life.

Congratulating the holiday to members of the service, Minister Gasic stressed that the Military Security Agency represents a significant segment in the security-intelligence system of the Ministry of Defence and the Republic of Serbia as a whole, whose task is, in a very complex regional and international environment, to professionally respond to complex security challenges.

- In the previous year the MSA in their work faced many tasks, but, with its professional attitude and strict respect of laws and subordinate norms and procedures, it has proved to work in accordance with high standards of security services and thus once again confirmed its integrity, Defence Minister said and emphasized that the MSA in the year behind us had achieved outstanding results in fighting all forms of criminal activities, corruption, terrorism, extremist and other threats to the defence system.

He stressed that in the period between the two holidays, MSA had not registered cases of organized crime, and that in cooperation with related departments and competent prosecutor's office it had prevented two attempts of corruption, one in the field of healthcare and one in the field of solving status issues.

Minister also used today's ceremony to highlight the engagement of MSA in the working group that worked on unveiling unlawful disposal of

real estate in public ownership of the Republic of Serbia used by the Ministry of Defence, noting that to date, thanks to the Working Group, the military housing fund had been returned more than 120 apartments, studios and galleries.

- With its entire engagement, MSA has contributed significantly to the smooth functioning of the Ministry of Defence and the maintenance and development of operational and functional capabilities of the Serbian Armed Forces and contributed to improving the protection of the security of the Republic of Serbia and all its citizens - Minister Gasic concluded.

Director of the Military Security Agency, Brigadier General Petar Cvetkovic reminded the guests of the historical context of the development of military security service and commitment of members of the MSA in performing tasks in protecting the integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Serbia.

He also stressed the importance of human resources and professionalism of the Agency members, whose efforts had successfully created a safe environment in the defence system and set MSA as a key factor security-intelligence system of our country.

Quoting the words of Duke Misic "Who dares, he can," General Cvetkovic stressed that the MSA is ready, in accordance with its legal authority, to provide a decisive response to all challenges of modern security community and protect the interests of the Republic of Serbia, its citizens, and their constitutional and human rights.

Military Security Agency is a security service and part of a single security-intelligence system of the Republic of Serbia. As a body within the Ministry of Defence with the status of a legal person, it is responsible for security and counterintelligence protection of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces.

MSA Day is celebrated to commemorate 12 November 1839 when the first martial law adopted, in which are mentioned and elaborated acts of treason, espionage, rebellion and other acts that threaten to jeopardize the army and the state. It is the first legal document in which the issues of security protection of the army are defined in a comprehensive way.