The ceremony on the occasion of Air Force and Air Defence Day

On the occasion of marking the Day of Air Force and Air Defence, today, in the House of Air Force and Air Defence in Zemun, the members of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces have been awarded medals from the competence of the President of the Republic of Serbia. 45 members of the defence system were decorated for outstanding merits and achievements in the field of defence and security of Serbia and for devoted service.

 

The envoy of the Serbian President Nedeljko Tenjovic in the presence of the Serbian Armed Forces Chief of General Staff General Ljubisa Dikovic, the Serbian Armed Forces Deputy Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Jovica Draganic and Air Force and Air Defence Commander Major General Ranko Zivak presented the medals to the members of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces and said that the greatest values of a military profession such as loyalty to the fatherland, dedication to job, fidelity, bravery and discipline are fulfilled by virtue and behaviour of the armed forces members. Therefore it is important that the grateful fatherland Serbia pays tribute to those who truly possess these values.

“Today we are expressing gratitude and showing respect to all of you who have been awarded, but we are also paying tribute to your predecessors who were the first in defence of the fatherland and by their heroic deeds gave an incentive for the development of stronger and safer Serbia. I am convinced that the decoration presented today to you will represent an incentive for even better work and an example to the other members of the defence system, which they should follow”, Tenjovic said.

 

During the evening the ceremony on the occasion of the Day of Air Force and Air Defence was held in the House of Air Force and Air Defence in Zemun in the presence of the envoy of the Serbian President Nedeljko Tenjovic, Defence Minister Zoran Djordjevic and the Serbian Armed Forces Chief of General Staff General Ljubisa Dikovic.

 

According to Air Force and Air Defence Commander Major General Ranko Zivak, the members of this branch of the Serbian Armed Forces perform their primary task in peace – they control and protect the sovereignty of their air space and prevent air threats to the security of Serbia and its citizens.

 

“Without an intention and possibilities to say something new, all of you are witnesses of the intensive struggle of the Government, the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces to solve the problem of fighter aviation and purchase of helicopters on a long-term basis for the following 10-15 years, as well as to improve the operational capability of the Serbian Armed Forces, primarily and exclusively in order to defend and protect national interests. If I have to characterize the following 2017, I could freely call it the year of great expectations for Air Force and Air Defence. We expect the continuation of positive trends, new young people in our branch, new technics, high quality training and the most important thing – safe flights and security at every place”, General Zivak said and added that “we expect a lot, but we are ready to work and give even more through a professional relation of our members and conscientious performance of set tasks”.

By the Decision of Air Force and Air Defence Commander, Republic Hydrometeorological Service of Serbia was awarded the Plaque of the Air Force and Air Defence for the long and successful cooperation.

The Artistic Ensemble of the Ministry of Defence “Stanislav Binicki”, “Abrasevic” choir, actresses Jelena and Ivana Zigon and artists Jelena Tomasevic and Bora Dugic took part in the cultural-artistic programme tonight. The exhibition of photographs “Belgrade from the air” was presented in the Gallery “Ikar” in the House of Air Force and Air Defence

The Day of the Air Force and Air Defence is celebrated to commemorate the 24th December 1912, when, based on the decision of the Serbian Military Ministry and General Staff, Field Marshal Radomir Putnik issued a decision on the formation of the Air Force Command based in Nis.