10.09.2025.
Minister Gašić attends ceremony marking 70th anniversary of Military Police
This evening, Minister of Defence Bratislav Gašić and the Chief of the Serbian Armed Forces General Staff, General Milan Mojsilović, attended a ceremony marking the 70th anniversary of the Military Police, held at the Guard Club in Topčider.
Minister Gašić extended his congratulations to the members of the Military Police on their anniversary, expressing deep appreciation for their work, professionalism, and dedication in addressing the most complex security threats and tasks.- For seventy years, the Military Police has remained steadfast, despite numerous challenges, changes and tests, in upholding the values that define its identity – honour, discipline, and responsibility. It is a testament to the continuity, strength and dedication of both the military and the state, to which the Military Police has always been a reliable support. It is the members of the Military Police who have been responsible for successfully carrying out execution of a wide range of tasks over the past seven decades of the unit’s existence. Thanks to their courage and expertise, they have become a symbol of professionalism and patriotism, rising up to the occasion in the most difficult moments for the armed forces and the state – Minister Gašić said.
He emphasized that the times we live and work in come with their own challenges.- Without your commitment, vigilance, and sense of responsibility, it wouldn’t be possible to maintain a high level of security within the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces. The very presence of Military Police members in our units serves as a strong deterrent to negative occurrences such as criminal activity or serious breaches of discipline. Therefore, every positive aspect of our system’s functioning carries your contribution as well, though it often goes unrecognized, as order, discipline, and adherence to the law are taken for granted. Units composed of military policemen are entrusted with some of the most complex and dangerous tasks, such as combating terrorism and protecting important persons and facilities. The trust that the state leadership places in your capabilities and moral qualities is the highest form of recognition, but also the greatest responsibility, Minister Gašić said.
The Minister of Defence said he is confident that every officer, NCO, and soldier wearing the black beret understands that they are expected to demonstrate professional, physical and moral excellence.- Therefore, the imperative for your work in the period ahead is top-level professional training and the flawless execution of all assigned tasks. The Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces, with the help of the state and Supreme Commander Aleksandar Vučić, will continue to support you, providing you with the highest-quality equipment, weapons and working conditions. They will also remain committed to improving your material well-being. Once again, I congratulate you on Military Police Day and I hope you will continue to serve your state and people in peace and prosperity in the decades ahead – said Minister Gašić.
At tonight’s ceremony, the Head of the Military Police Department, Major General Milan Lazić, presented commemorative plaques to the Minister of Defence, Bratislav Gašić, and to the Police Directorate of the Ministry of the Interior.The Head of the Military Police Department said that today, the Military Police represents a modern, well-equipped, highly trained, and socially recognized component of the Serbian Armed Forces, and that prevention is the core principle guiding its work.
- By carrying out complex and responsible tasks, we make a full contribution to maintaining and enhancing the operational and functional capabilities of the Armed Forces and the Ministry of Defence. Our priorities and future development will focus on increasing the operational capability and effectiveness of Military Police units, institutions and personnel, on strengthening the security of units and institutions of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces, on advancing the training system for Military Police personnel in line with modern security risks and threats, and on equipping our units with modern weapons and technical assets – said Major General Lazić, emphasizing that they take great pride in the legacy and achievements of Military Police members, each one of whom has, as he put it, “woven the history of the Military police into their very being”.
At the ceremony, a film about the Military Police titled Protectors of Law and Order was screened. The film was produced by the Military Film Centre “Zastava Film”, part of the Public Relations Department of the Ministry of Defence.The ceremony was attended by members of the Minister of Defence’s and the Chief of the General Staff’s collegiums, Military Police members, representatives of the Ministry of the Interior, and numerous distinguished guests.
As part of the jubilee celebration, Major General Lazić officially inaugurated the Memorial Room of the SAF Military Police at the Banjica 2 Barracks, in the presence of representatives of Military Police units and institutions, and members of the Association of Security and Military Police Personnel, one day prior to the official ceremony.The origins of the Military Police date back to the times of Prince Milan Obrenović, who ordered the formation of the first police sections within the brigades of the then army. However, the Military Police was formally established on September 15, 1955, by order of the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the Federal People’s Republic of Yugoslavia, as a separate unit within the Yugoslav People’s Army.
