Acknowledgements and Awards Presentation on the Occasion of Serbian Armed Forces Day

- The Serbian Armed Forces owes its power to people. Today, we rewarded the best members of the Serbian Armed Forces and they were selected based on the opinions of their departments and units and the opinions of the colleagues they work with. The Serbian Armed Forcesis not a mercenary force, it is an armed forcemade up of people who love their work, who love their call and who above all love Serbia, who above all love their people. This is our way to show that we recognize who are the best among us and to reward them in this way - said Minister of Defense Aleksandar Vulin at the ceremony of acknowledgements and awards presentation for the work done, the results of special importance, the best athletes, as well as military medals, medals for achievements in sports to members of the Serbian Armed Forceson the occasion of the Day of the Serbian Armed Forces which was held today in the Great War Room of the Old General Staff.

 

He stressed that sports are very important in the Serbian Armed Forces, adding that this is the last time that athletes are notrewarded standing in front of their sports company.

- The Serbian Armed Forces will also introduce a sports company that will include the best members of the Serbian Armed Forces and the best athletes, but also those representing our country in the world, numerous representation membersin different sports who will join the Serbian Armed Forces and continue to compete and train and significantly help us to learn more, to train and, in the uniform of the Serbian Armed Forces, preserve our honor and defend our colors around the world - emphasized Minister Vulin, thanking the Mozart company and the Association of Insurers of Serbia who provided the awards on this occasion, but also showed that our wider community respects the members of the Armed Forcesand appreciates them and that this is a way of demonstrating this.

The acknowledgements and awardswere presented by Minister of Defense Aleksandar Vulin and the Chief of the General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces, Lieutenant-General Milan Mojsilović, and this year, for the first time on the occasion of the Day of the Serbian Armed Forces, recognitions for success in military sportswere awarded.

Director of Corporate Communications of Mozart company, Borjan Popović, expressed satisfaction that this company was also in a position to cooperate with an institution such as the Ministry of Defense and to help its athletes.

- The company “Mozart” in a way lives from sports, so whenever we can, we try to invest back in sports, and not just in sports, but also the community we work with. I think that cooperation with the Ministry of Defense and the Serbian Armed Forces is the right way to do that - Popović said, stressing, on behalf of that company, the pride that the company “Mozart” feels forbeing responsible for at least a small segment of the great success of the military sportsmen.

On the occasion of the Day of the Serbian Armed Forces, for the work done and results of special significance achieved, Sergeant Saša Veljić was awarded for saving lives and elimination of consequences of elementary and technical and technological accidents, Private First Class Đuro Borbelj – forthe results achieved in the field of culture, tradition and sports, Senior Sergeant Dalibor Anđelković - for the results achieved in the field of culture, tradition and sport, Navy Commander Saša Strunjaš - for remarkable results and outstanding dedication and selflessness when performing regular military duties – Best Officer, Igor Perić - for remarkable results and outstanding dedication and selflessness when performing regular duties of civilian personnel - Best Civilian and military servant Nadica Kozić - for achievements in the field of science and development of weapons and military equipment – Best Researcher.

The winners of the awards for the best athletes at the Ministry of Defense and the Serbian Armed Forcesin the past year are Warrant Officer 1stClass Miroljub Janićijević - the most successful athlete in men’s competition, Captain Nevena Jovanović - the most successful athlete in women’s competition, the Military Futsal Team of Serbia - the most successful sports team in men’s competition and Military Athletics Representation of Serbia - the most successful sports team in women’s competition and military servant Snežana Stančetić - for contribution to the development of sports.

Captain Nevena Jovanović, military servant Ksenija Bubnjević, Lance Corporal Nataša Ćulafić, Second Lieutenant Vesna Rakić ​​and military servant Snežana Stančetić were awarded military commemorative medals for achievements in sports.

On behalf of the awarded for the work done and results of special significance achieved,Navy Commander Saša Strunjaš addressed the present and gave thanks for the honor and the trust shown,as symbolized by these awards. He also pointed out that all members of the departments and units they workin, as well as their families, have contributed to the awards. The work they perform every day helps in raising the reputation of the Serbian Armed Forces among the citizens he concluded. The awards willbe an incentive for even better results in the future, said Navy Commander Strunjašon behalf of all the awarded.

Captain Nevena Jovanović, who received commemorative medals for her achievements in sports, speaking on behalf of the award-winning athletes, thanked the Minister of Defense for the attention paid to the development of military sports in the Ministry of Defense and the Serbian Armed Forces, adding that today’s ceremony and awards presented were just one of the indicators of this commitment.