Serbia celebrates Statehood, Army Day

Serbia celebrates Statehood, Army Day

Serbian President Boris Tadić and a high Serbian Army delegation have placed wreaths at the monument to the Unknown Hero on Avala. Kalemegdan fortress hosted the military exercise “Sretenje 2007”.

Speaking at the Statehood Day celebrations in historic Orašac, Koštunica said that Serbia “had an obligation to warn in time of the dangerous and far reaching consequences of the forcible breaking up of a European and democratic state”, as well as that “at no cost will Serbia agree to become accessory to such aggression”, the government said in a press release.

“In Orašac, Serbia is celebrating the moment when her renewal began as a free and sovereign state in its entirety, and as we observe this occasion our thoughts, above all are turned towards our homeland, the southern part of our country, our Kosovo-Metohija”, Koštunica said.

“Precisely at this place, where our nation began the battle for freedom and the renewal of our country, it is important to reiterate that Serbia unwaveringly, consistently and with unity holds to the principles of law and justice, and with similar determination rejects the proposal which is based on arguments of force and legal aggression, directed towards tearing up the country”, the outgoing prime minister was reported as saying.  

Speaking about the leaders of the First Serbian Uprising, Koštunica said, “Our glorious predecessors rejected all privileges for individuals and apparent relief for the people, which were offered in exchange for what is termed today as being constructive and realistic”.

February 15 was established as the Serbian Statehood Day on July 10, 2001 in remembrance of February 15, 1804, the beginning of the First Serbian Uprising, led by Đorđe Petrović Karađorđe, which paved the way towards the independence from the Ottoman Empire.

On the same day in 1835, the Grand National Assembly proclaimed the first Serbian Constitution, which marked the beginning of Serbia’s contemporary statehood.

This is the first day Serbia celebrates the Serbian Army Day following the partition of Serbia and Montenegro. Serbia has its own army for the first time since December 1, 1918, when the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenians was formed.