Vučić presents state decorations: "We're celebrating our rebirth"; "Sacrifice of our ancestors wasn't in vain"

The ceremony was held at the Palace of Serbia.

At the beginning of the ceremony, the national anthem “Bože pravde” was performed.

The event was attended by Serbian Patriarch Porfirije, Speaker of the Serbian Parliament Ana Brnabić, caretaker Prime Minister Djuro Macut and government ministers, as well as representatives of the Republika Srpska — SNSD leader Milorad Dodik, President of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska Nenad Stevandić, Serb member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Željka Cvijanović — and President of Montenegro’s DNP, Milan Knežević.

“We are celebrating our rebirth and freedom”

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić addressed those gathered.

“This is the last time I will deliver a speech like this as President of the Republic on Serbian Unity, Freedom and National Flag Day,” Vučić said at the beginning of his address.

“We have gathered today to celebrate our rebirth and our freedom. To remember our ancestors and say that their sacrifice was not in vain,” he added.

“Wherever you may currently live — in Belgrade or Banja Luka, in Novi Sad or Trebinje, in Niš or Bijeljina, in Paris or New York, in your homeland or scattered across the world, under a sky that is not Serbian, yet whose heart beats to our rhythm, it beats Serbian. This day is not an ordinary day, nor is it merely a date on the calendar. This is a day when we pause, take off our hats, look up at the sky above us and ask ourselves: Where did we come from, what have we been through, and why and how are we, despite everything, still here — still on our own land, still one people?” he said.

He called on citizens to display Serbian flags today.

“We are not only celebrating a military victory, but the biological survival of our people. Republika Srpska and Serbia have agreed on something that is greatly needed. This holiday has its place in the official state calendars. Our tricolor became the official flag of our people in the 19th century. That flag has accompanied our people through every war. It flies as a reminder that continuity exists and that it cannot easily be broken. That is why I urge you to display it today,” Vučić said.

“Brothers and sisters, cultural unity transcends day-to-day politics. This holiday is an obligation to the future, to pass the flag on to those who come after us,” he added.

“Today, our state is expressing its gratitude to those who have made significant contributions to Serbia. Distinguished recipients, your work lives on across a broad sphere. Dear award recipients, today I want to say that your work has not gone unnoticed. On behalf of the Republic of Serbia, I extend my deepest gratitude to you for everything you have done. The decorations we are presenting to you today are more than just honors,” he said.

He then thanked the firefighters who defended Serbia against wildfires and, through their efforts, made a lasting contribution to the country.

Recipients of the State Decorations

Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, was awarded the Order of the Republic of Serbia on a Grand Collar for exceptional merits in developing and strengthening peaceful cooperation and friendly relations between the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Angus Macfadyen, a prominent Scottish film, television and theater actor, was awarded the Order of the Serbian Flag, Third Class, for distinguished merits and artistic and moral contributions to preserving the truth about the suffering of the Serbian people in the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija.

Petar Božović, one of Serbia’s most prominent dramatic artists, was awarded the Order of the Karadjordje Star, First Class, for exceptional merits in public and cultural activities, particularly in acting.

Predrag Djaković, an academic painter, was awarded the Order of the Karadjordje Star, First Class, for exceptional merits in public and cultural activities, particularly in painting.

Veselin “Vesko” Grozdanić, a television director who directed more than 5,500 broadcasts of major events, was awarded the Order of the Karadjordje Star, First Class, for exceptional merits in public and cultural activities, particularly in television directing.

Prof. Dr. Milica Bajčetić, a full professor at the Department of Pharmacology, Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, was posthumously awarded the Order of the Karadjordje Star, First Class for exceptional merits and achievements in representing the Republic of Serbia in the fields of education and healthcare.

Bajčetić was the recipient of the prestigious regional Medis Award for developing the first innovative formulation of enalapril in mini-tablet form, intended for children from birth to six years of age suffering from heart failure. The award was accepted by her husband, Zlatko Bajčetić.

The Order of the Karadjordje Star, Second Class was awarded to:

Veselin Dželetović, writer and journalist, for exceptional merits and achievements in public and cultural activities;

Prof. Dr. Svetlana Popadić, specialist in dermatovenereology and subspecialist in pediatric dermatology, professor at the University of Belgrade Faculty of Medicine and head of the Dermatovenereology Clinic at the University Clinical Center of Serbia, for exceptional merits and achievements in representing the Republic of Serbia in education and healthcare, particularly in the field of dermatovenereology;

Prof. Dr. Milan Stojičić, specialist in plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery and subspecialist in oncology, professor at the University of Belgrade Faculty of Medicine and head of the Clinic for Burns, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the University Clinical Center of Serbia, for exceptional merits and achievements in representing the Republic of Serbia in education and healthcare, particularly in the field of plastic surgery;

Prof. Dr. Tatjana Trajković, professor at the Department of Serbian Studies at the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Niš, for exceptional merits and achievements in public and educational activities, particularly in the field of Serbian studies;

Nebojša Jevrić, writer, journalist and war correspondent, for exceptional merits and achievements in public and cultural activities, particularly in literature;

Ivana Žigon, actress, principal actress of the Drama Company of the National Theatre in Belgrade, director, screenwriter and humanitarian, for exceptional merits in public and cultural activities, particularly in acting and humanitarian work.

TANJUG/ AMIR HAMZAGIĆ/ nr

The Karlovac Grape Harvest Festival, the Film Screenplay Festival in Vrnjačka Banja, prominent opera artist Ivan Tomašev, academic painter, set designer and director Zoran Čalija were also among those honored.

The Gold Medal was awarded to the Central Union of Greek Municipalities and Regions, Georgios Mastorakos, Dragana Matijašević, head nurse at the Clinic for Hematology, Ilmars Harijs Lapinš, Petar Stanojlović, Bogdan Obradović and his coach, Nebojša Đurić, Jorg Heskens, and Pan Ekspres LLC Lučani.

The Silver Medal was awarded to Rade Mladenović, the Čukarica Red Cross, the Subotica Symphony Orchestra, and the Belgrade Karate Federation.

Special attention at this year’s ceremony was given to those who work around the clock to keep our country safe and secure, including firefighters and numerous members of the Serbian Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The Order of Merit for Defense and Security, First Class, was awarded to Nenad Nedić, Luka Čaušić, Aleksandar Krstić, and Vlado Plemić.

The Second Class was awarded to Željko Čavić, Bojan Mladenović, Nikola Isidorović, Lazar Lučić, Srđan Jovanović, Milorad Milinović, Mirko Suvačarov, Nikola Matović, and Aleksandar Radosavljević.

The Third Class was awarded to Aleksandra Pavlović, Božidar Đalović, Branko Čanković, Bratislav Pavlović, Vladimir Beljinac, Vladimir Nikolić, Željko Repac, Zlatko Milovanović, Miloš Andrejević, Miloš Jovanović, Predrag Nešković, and Dimitrije Jovičić.

Vlado Plemić then addressed the ceremony on behalf of all the recipients.

Serbian Army broke through the Salonika Front in 1918

Serbia and Republika Srpska mark Serbian Unity, Freedom and National Flag Day in remembrance of September 15, 1918, when the Serbian Army broke through the Salonika Front, leading to the collapse of the Central Powers and the end of World War I.

The central ceremony marking Serbian Unity, Freedom and National Flag Day — a date jointly commemorated by Serbia and Republika Srpska — was held last night at the Borik Sports Hall in Banja Luka, organized by the governments of Republika Srpska and Serbia.

The Serbian delegation in Banja Luka was led by Serbia’s caretaker Prime Minister Djuro Macut.

The breakthrough of the Salonika Front led to the collapse of the Central Powers and the end of World War I, following the capitulation of Bulgaria and Turkey, and subsequently Austria-Hungary and Germany.

Following Serbia’s victory in World War I and the end of the conflict, the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes was established.

On September 11, 2020, the Government of Serbia adopted a decision designating September 15 as Serbian Unity, Freedom and National Flag Day. The Government of Republika Srpska adopted the same decision.

Serbian Unity, Freedom and National Flag Day was also commemorated in Chicago and Stuttgart.

The holiday was officially celebrated for the first time in 2021 in Belgrade’s Sava Square, near the monument to Stefan Nemanja.