Reception by the Minister of Defence and Chief of General Staff for veteran representatives

A military memorial medal was also awarded for contribution to the defence system of the Republic of Serbia to Nela Micovic, Director of the Institute for Protection of Cultural Monuments of the City of Belgrade.

The awards were presented by Defence Minister Bratislav Gasic, and the awardees were congratulated by Chief of General Staff General Ljubisa Dikovic.

In his address, Defence Minister congratulated the Veterans Day, which this year was celebrated for the first time in honour of our heroes from the wars of liberation of Serbia.

"We have chosen 4 December to commemorate the signing of the Armistice Day in the First Balkan War in 1912 and the final liberation of Serbia from centuries of the Ottoman rule. It was a new dawn of modern Serbia, where the then generations did not know what ordeals and suffering were waiting in the 20th century. The heroism of our ancestors obliges us to build a better and more beautiful Serbia today, which we will leave for generations to come," Minister of Defence stressed.

He then recalled that one of the days which should be particularly remembered was the day of the military parade in "March of the Victorious", which took place 29 years after the previous one. Then, according to the Minister, the modern armed force was displayed, with which Serbia showed that it is able and ready to protect its country and its citizens. Minister of Defence pointed out that without the exceptional cooperation and support of state authorities, institutions, organizations, veterans' associations and individuals, it would not have been possible to realize such a large event.

Bratislav Gasic stressed our commitment to peace through Serbia’s engagement in 11 peacekeeping missions, pointed to a developed military cooperation with more than 60 countries around the world in an effort, he said, to learn from the best, but also to confirm that Serbia is a reliable partner on the regional, European and global level. "A successful year is behind us, marked by the strengthening of our defence potential and a number of results in building a better Serbia. It encourages us to see next year, 2016, as a year of challenges for even better performance and greater effects, said the Defence Minister at the end of his speech at the ceremonial meeting.

ANSWERS TO JOURNALISTS' QUESTIONS

Responding to journalists' questions, the Defence Minister said that the people that forgets its past has no future. He noted that today a series of events was held, with which the Ministry and the Serbian Armed Forces were honouring military veterans.

He also answered a question on outstanding leftover payments for military pensions and said that some governments had given promises to pensioners and in some cycles brought certain decisions, and then forgotten its promises.

"This government takes on a different policy. We talk and we reach agreements with them. It is not easy if someone has left you a debt on 1 January 2008 of 24 billion dollars, which you have to pay, and you need to earn that money, to find it, to give it to military pensioners, who deserve it, because it is a legal requirement.

The Minister also stressed the good relationship and dialogue that exists with many associations, of which today there are more than 400, and particularly the military ones, for which space in the Central Military Club is being arranged.

"It is a place where they will be paid all expenses. And every year, we allocate a significant portion of our assets from our budget for their projects, and I think that with this part they are satisfied.”

When it comes to the issue of wages for reservists, Gasic said it was not up to the Ministry of Defence to bring its own judgment and pay them, but that it came down to the judicial authorities.

Minister of Defence announced for next year the passing of first the Law on Arms and Military Equipment, then the Law on Peacekeeping Missions and the preparation of other laws, and pointed out that in the past three years many laws had been passed from the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Defence, and that more than 15,000 documents had been passed to make these laws.