01.05.2016.

Prime Minister Vucic visits Defence Operations Centre on Easter

Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic, President of the Republic of Srpska Milorad Dodik, Minister of Defence Zoran Djordjevic, Minister of Interior Nebojsa Stefanovic and the Serbian Armed Forces Chief of General Staff General Ljubisa Dikovic, and their associates, have paid a visit today, on Easter, the Defence Operations Centre.

Congratulating on today's feast, after the tour and breakfast with members of the Serbian Armed Forces, with the traditional Easter custom of egg knocking, Prime Minister Vucic said that he was proud of the Serbian Armed Forces, as well as the fact that today 3108 soldiers take care about the security of Serbia doing their job with dedication, diligently and with a lot of love.

- Stability is a holy word, and they protect our peace, preserve our stability, along with

more than four thousand members of the Ministry of Interior. Today, I wish a happy Easter to all citizens of Serbia who celebrate Easter according to the Julian calendar, and first of all, the members of our armed forces, as they have no days off of rest and are doing their job with so much love, protecting and loving their country so much – Vucic said, adding that during the visit to the Operations Centre they had the opportunity to talk to our peacekeepers who are deployed in 11 multinational operations across the world, as well as with members of the Army who carry out difficult and complex tasks from the Ground Safety Zone to support to the members of the Ministry of Interior to protect the borders.

Vucic expressed his gratitude to all members of the defence system on the extraordinary contribution they provide to the stability of our country, because, he said, Serbia's stability is a precondition of our economic, democratic, political and every other progress.
During today's visit, according to the Prime Minister, the discussion was carried out about the allocation of more money for the development and improvement of the conditions in which members of the defence system are doing their job as well as the readiness of the Serbian Armed Forces to respond to all the challenges and to be a powerful deterrent to anyone who might be showing aggression towards our country.

- Our army will be getting stronger and stronger – Prime Minister Vucic said, adding that the defence industry will be a pillar of development and equipping of our army, which is best evidenced by the Complex Combat Systems factory in Velika Plana as well as a new ammunition factory under construction in Uzici.

The Serbian Armed Forces and the Ministry of Interior will jointly operate also in defending the country from terrorism and terrorist activities, the Prime Minister pointed out, adding that during the today’s visit to the Operations Centre they were able to see for themselves that this is one of the serious tasks, which is forwarded from that "heart of the system" to all units of the defence system.

- So far, this job was successfully carried out and in every way we will know and be able to provide full

security for the citizens of the Republic of Serbia – Prime Minister Vucic concluded.

Along with congratulations for today's feast, President of the Republic of Serbia Milorad Dodik pointed out that he wanted to see the Republic of Serbia powerful and strong, and that the Republic of Srpska is interested in developing and strengthening of Serbia.

- I'm glad I've been able today to see that the Serbian defence system works and that many people are justifiably devoted to issues of stability of the state itself – President Dodik said, adding that the Republic of Srpska fosters cooperation with the Serbian Armed Forces in the part relating to the education of members of two armed forces.