Decorations Presented to Members of the Ministry of Defence and Serbian Armed Forces
Tuesday, 23.4.2019 | Culture and traditions
Today, on the occasion of the Serbian Armed Forces Day, Secretary-General of the President of the Republic of Serbia Nikola Selaković presented decorations within the purview of the President to members of the MoD and SAF.
Today, on the occasion of the Serbian Armed Forces Day, Secretary-General of the President of the Republic of Serbia Nikola Selaković presented decorations within the purview of the President to members of the Ministry of Defence and Serbian Armed Forces in the building of Secretariat of the President of the Republic.
The handover of decorations for distinguished service and achieved results in execution of duties and tasks in the field of defence and security of the Republic of Serbia was attended by Minister of Defence Aleksandar Vulin and Chief of General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces Lieutenant General Milan Mojsilović.
In keeping with a Decree of the President of the Republic, to mark the Candlemas - Statehood Day of Serbia, 93 members of the Ministry of Defence and Serbian Armed Forces were decorated with silver medal of merit (37 members) and gold and silver medal for zealous service (56 members).
Also, upon decrees of the President of the Republic, to mark 23rd April - Serbian Armed Forces Day, 80 members of the Ministry of Defence and Serbian Armed Forces were decorated: 27 members with silver medal of merit, and 53 members with gold and silver medal for zealous service.
Extending congratulations to the rewarded, on behalf of the President of the Republic and Supreme Commander, Secretary General Selaković reminded of historic importance of the day observed as the Serbian Armed Forces Day, which had been established in memory of very important date that was a turning point on the path of Serbia to final freedom.
- Despite lasting conflicts with immeasurably stronger enemies, internal instabilities and crisis, in two centuries of its existence of restored modern Serbian state, we have managed to achieve more than impressive results. From rebellious Serbia with virtually no literate people, we have arrived to a modern country with dozens of universities; from disorganised rebellious military, today, we have highly professional and equipped modern armed forces. We passed our Constitution and Civil code among the first countries in Europe, as well as the foundation and guarantees of legal order of law and freedom - Selaković stressed adding that our successes are even greater since we managed to recover several times after destruction of our country.
According to him, there would not be all those results if a group of our forefathers, Serbian peasants wanting for freedom and determined to fight for it had not dared to start that fight.
- Today, we remember those great feats knowing that it is that very memory that makes an investment for our future and the future of our children. In previous centuries, by its unselfish efforts and self-sacrificing, on many occasions Serbian military succeeded in defending the gained freedom, thus enabling development of our state and our people in peace. By that, it permanently gained the epithet of one of the most renowned institutions of Serbian state and Serbianhood in general.
In the previous year and the period of great challenges, the Ministry of Defence and Serbian Armed Forces, provided full support to strengthening peace, security and stability in the Republic of Serbia and the entire region. There is no doubt that the members of the Ministry of Defence and Serbian Armed Forces will continue as they have done so far to professionally and responsibly discharge their tasks – Selaković stressed adding that the help of our state would not fail, like it had not failed in the period before that. He added that “many young people who wish to wear the uniform are the sign of confidence not just in our military but in the state as well.
Secretary General of the President, Selaković, pointed out that our armed forces largely contributed not only to security, but to scientific, technological and any other progress of the Republic of Serbia and our entire society.
- I call upon you on behalf of the President of the Republic and Supreme Commander Aleksandar Vučić to what he himself calls upon on every occasion for the progress of Serbia, for better and more certain future – to unity, togetherness, in aspiration to better economic progress and further preservation of integrity of our Serbia - Secretary General of the President, Selaković sent a message.
Among members of the Ministry of Defence and Serbian Armed Forces, who were awarded on the occasion of the Serbian Armed Forces Day, there was Lieutenant Colonel Zoran Milinković from the Military Police Department of the General Staff.
- I am glad to be among decorated colleagues from the system today. This reward for zealous service means a lot to me as recognition of my work in the Serbian Armed Forces over all these years and I hope that we will in the future through our work justify the received decorations – Lieutenant Colonel Milinković emphasised.
Sergeant Major Dragan Timotijević from the Second Training Centre in Valjevo was decorated with a silver medal for the merits in the field of security.
- I am very glad to be here today among other rewarded members. I will try in the period to come to justify the confidence which has been given to me by this decoration and to be an example to the colleagues from my unit - Sergeant Major Timotijević emphasised.
Silver medal for zealous service was awarded today to civilian Brankica Potkonjak-Lukić from Department for Strategic Planning.
- To receive a recognition from the President of the Republic, Supreme Commander of the Serbian Armed Forces is an extreme honour and I would say a privilege as well – she stressed adding that it was principally a recognition for more than three decades of professional and responsible work in defence system, and additional stimulus for the tasks that are yet to come in the forthcoming period.
