Serbia celebrates Statehood, Army Day

Serbia is this Sunday celebrating Statehood and Army Day, with the central festivities in the historic Orasac, central Serbia. The ceremonies in Orasac began when the Serbian Orthodox Church Metropolitan Amfilohije served a Holy Liturgy, and continued with a memorial service for the leader of the First Uprising Djordje Petrovic Karadjordje and his men. Serbia celebrates Statehood, Army Day Wreaths were then placed at Karadjordje's monument, accompanied by state and military honors. Prince Aleksandar Karadjordjevic also attended the ceremonies. Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic addressed the gathering by saying that it was time for Serbia to turn toward the future and to work on the state's accelerated development. According to Cvetkovic, the government that he heads has the goal of making Serbia an economic and political pillar of the Balkans, "a geostrategic bridge between east and west". The government will never and under no circumstances give up Kosovo, he also said, and pointed out that the country has chosen "legitimate and peaceful" means to fight for the province. "We have started a serious diplomatic campaign in line with international law to annul that self-declared independence, and we are succeeding," said the prime minister. He also stated that the government is investing in Kosovo's faster development and preparing a plan of sustainable survival and return of the IDPs. Cvetkovic added that the future cannot be built on conflict but only on agreement, and that the peoples from our region must cooperate, and engage in "a healthy process of reconciliation". A group of people described as members of nationalist and right-wing organizations booed during Cvetkovic's speech, and shouted, "NATO dahije [Turkish janissary leaders], out of Serbia". They also unfurled a banner reading, "Contempt for Dictatorship". Meanwhile, world and regional leaders, including Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and U.S. President Barack Obama, have sent messages congratulating Serbia today's holiday. In Belgrade, President Boris Tadic and Lt. Gen. Miloje Milatovic – whom he this morning appointed the new Serbian Army chief – placed wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Hero on Mt. Avala, near the capital city. The date for Statehood Day was chosen to commemorate the beginning of the First Serb Uprising in 1804, aimed against the Turkish occupation of the land. On the same day in 1835, the first constitution of the modern Serbia was ratified in Kragujevac. This act is known as the Sretenje Constitution, since it was passed on the day that the Serbian Orthodox Church celebrates the holiday of Sretenje (Candelmas). The Serbian Army (VS) chose Feb. 15 as its day to honor the successes of the military campaign of the First Serb Uprising, leading to the resurrection of the medieval Serb state after centuries of the Ottoman Turk invasion and occupation. Soldiers prepare to raise a Serbian flag on the eve of Statehood Day (Beta)

Serbia celebrates Statehood, Army Day

Wreaths were then placed at Karađorđe's monument, accompanied by state and military honors.

Prince Aleksandar Karađorđević also attended the ceremonies.

Prime Minister Mirko Cvetković addressed the gathering by saying that it was time for Serbia to turn toward the future and to work on the state's accelerated development.

According to Cvetković, the government that he heads has the goal of making Serbia an economic and political pillar of the Balkans, "a geostrategic bridge between east and west".

The government will never and under no circumstances give up Kosovo, he also said, and pointed out that the country has chosen "legitimate and peaceful" means to fight for the province.

"We have started a serious diplomatic campaign in line with international law to annul that self-declared independence, and we are succeeding," said the prime minister.

He also stated that the government is investing in Kosovo's faster development and preparing a plan of sustainable survival and return of the IDPs.

Cvetković added that the future cannot be built on conflict but only on agreement, and that the peoples from our region must cooperate, and engage in "a healthy process of reconciliation".

A group of people described as members of nationalist and right-wing organizations booed during Cvetković's speech, and shouted, "NATO dahije [Turkish janissary leaders], out of Serbia". They also unfurled a banner reading, "Contempt for Dictatorship".

Meanwhile, world and regional leaders, including Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and U.S. President Barack Obama, have sent messages congratulating Serbia today's holiday.

In Belgrade, President Boris Tadić and Lt. Gen. Miloje Milatović – whom he this morning appointed the new Serbian Army chief – placed wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Hero on Mt. Avala, near the capital city.

The date for Statehood Day was chosen to commemorate the beginning of the First Serb Uprising in 1804, aimed against the Turkish occupation of the land.

On the same day in 1835, the first constitution of the modern Serbia was ratified in Kragujevac.

This act is known as the Sretenje Constitution, since it was passed on the day that the Serbian Orthodox Church celebrates the holiday of Sretenje (Candelmas).

The Serbian Army (VS) chose Feb. 15 as its day to honor the successes of the military campaign of the First Serb Uprising, leading to the resurrection of the medieval Serb state after centuries of the Ottoman Turk invasion and occupation.