"Military provides security and freedom"

"Military provides security and freedom"

Nikolić said that the current year marked the centenary of World War I and voiced confidence that the youngest second lieutenants of the VS would know how to follow the path of the heroes of a century before.

“Facing the complex security challenges of today, the Serbian Army will maintain and improve its operational and functional capabilities,” he said.

Nikolić said that the VS used its resources for the benefit of citizens, striving to help them whenever the needs arose, pointing to the assistance provided by the VS members during the catastrophic floods in May.

He observed that the participation of VS members in peacekeeping missions in several of the world’s crises-laden areas had been lauded by many international institutions, stressing that it was "of great importance for the realization of our country’s foreign policy interests.”

Cooperation with other armies in the process of establishing world peace is the best way to promote the Serbian Armed Forces and by that the country as well, he said.

By taking part in peacekeeping missions, “Serbia is making an unselfish contribution to global peace and fortifying its credibility in international relations,” said the Serbian president.

Nikolić also pointed to the importance of the Military Academy for Serbia’s education system, stressing that the educational institution had “the same kind of significance that the Serbian Armed Forces has in creating and preserving the Republic of Serbia.”

He said that the Military Academy had been there over 160 years and that ever since its foundation, its first and foremost mission was to create high quality officer corps.

A total of 221 young men and women were on Sunday promoted to the rank of second lieutenant at a ceremony in front of the Serbian parliament building in downtown Belgrade.

The event was graced by a ceremonial parade, an Air Force air show, a routine drill performed by the VS Honor Guard and live music put on by the Defense Ministry’s orchestra Stanislav Binički and the the VS Guard's Representative Orchestra .

Also, on display were uniforms worn by officers, non-commissioned officers and soldiers in World War I and regimental flags of the period.

The graduation ceremony was also attended by Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić, a number of ministers, Parliament Speaker Maja Gojković, senior military officials, families and friends of the newest generation of officers, Church dignitaries and diplomatic representatives of a number of countries.