05.08.2016.

The Day of River Units and the Day of River Flotilla marked

Members of the River Flotilla have marked today the Day of River Units and the Day of River Flotilla with a ceremony in Novi Sad, on the Danube, on the quay of the victims of raids, commemorating the 6th August 1915 when the first Serbian warship, armoured boat Jadar, was launched from the Cukarica slipways, and thus began the history of Serbian River Flotilla of the Kingdom of Serbia.

Congratulating the members of the River Flotilla on their holiday on behalf of the Chief of General Staff and for his own part and addressing the guests and numerous citizens of Novi Sad gathered on the quay, Lieutenant General Milosav Simovic, Army Commander, stressed the importance of this specific unit.

- The River Flotilla was and still is very important, not only for the Army and the Serbian Armed Forces, but also in general for our homeland Serbia; not only for defending local waters and territories, but especially as it performs the tasks of the third mission of the Serbian Armed Forces, offering assistance to civilian population in natural and other disasters.

Looking back on today's date in 1995 when the Serbian people was expelled from Croatia, General Simovic said: "The members of the

Army River Flotilla, as well as all the citizens of Serbia, pay tribute to the victims of that persecution and all the people who found refuge in Serbia" .

General Simovic sent special greetings and congratulations to pontoneers of the River Flotilla representing and fighting for the River Flotilla, the Serbian Armed Forces and Serbia in the International Army Games in Russia, in a sportive manner, with dignity, dedication and courage.

- Today, the organizational structure of the River Flotilla enables successful execution of the assigned missions and the performance of a wide range of tasks on and in navigable rivers and canals, as well as other running or standing waters – Captain Andrija Andric, Commander of the River Flotilla, said adding that thanks to the ideas, commitment and work of each individual, the process of unit modernization runs in continuation.

During the ceremony, the best members of the River Flotilla were presented the awards by General Simovic and Captain Andric.

A sweeper 341 from the composition of the Group of multi-purpose vessels of the First River Detachment was declared the best boat. The crew of the floating conveyor in the First Division of the amphibious platoon of the First pontooneer Battalion was declared the best crew, and the prestigious titles of an exemplary officer, a NCO and a professional soldier went to Captain Vladimir Petrovic, Chief of Operations Group in the Command of the First pontooneer Battalion, Sergeant Dalibor Djordjevic, Commander of the infantry assault boat 411 from the composition of the First River Detachment and Corporal Stevan Plamenac, automatic gunner from the Command platoon, respectively.

The ceremony marking the Day of River Units and the Day of River Flotilla was concluded with a parade of ships and assets of pontoon units.