Stefanović: Today, Serbia is a country which respects the others, but it still thinks for itself

Today, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Nebojša Stefanović PhD attended the ceremony of marking the conclusion of professional advancement of the officers of 67th class of the Command-Staff Course of the National Defence School. The ceremony took place in the House of Guard on Topčider. He stated that Serbia was a country which had opted for a difficult path on which we respected all others and cooperated with everyone, but we thought four ourselves, and where we were growing stronger because of the people and we made the decisions which were only in our national interest which was something that we desired for others as well.



At the beginning of the ceremony, the minister of defence congratulated the attenders of the 67th class and pointed out that Serbia counted on them.
 
“I am tremendously pleased to have had the opportunity over the last several months to see how seriously, thoroughly and strategically the University of Defence with its National Defence School, and with the support of Serbian Armed Forces units works on achieving the crucial thing for our armed forces – well educated, trained and serious cadre that will lead our units and soldiers. Without that, there cannot be strong armed forces, and there cannot be serious armed forces which deliberate on the response to the challenges of tomorrow” Stefanović said.
 
He underlined that Serbia of the present was a country which grew stronger, and which was willing to invest in its future.
“That is why I am particularly pleased to see your families here, your children, wives, sisters, mothers, fathers and all those who give you’re their support. They are the ones we fight for, and they are the ones we do all of this for, and they are the ones for whom we want to have a strong country ready to protect itself and its independence and autonomy. Serbia is a country that has opted for a difficult path, a path on which, as President Vučić said, we respect all others, and we cooperate with everyone, but we think for ourselves, and we are growing stronger because of our people and we make decisions that are only in our national interest and we wish the same for others” Stefanović stated.
 
He reminded that the job of members of the Ministry of Defence and Serbian Armed Forces is to ensure that Serbia is strong and that there is no one who can jeopardise security and peaceful sleep of its citizens.
 
“Of course, we that are within the system are also responsible for taking special care of our soldiers. I call upon you, as commanding officers, never to forget that it is people that make our armed forces. You should be resolute, but just, and you should insist on the professional advancement of your subordinates, like your commanding officers did it for you. May our great generals and field marshals who went down in history and who made Serbia proud be your role models. May you be exactly that kind of officers” Stefanović said to attenders.



He added that the Serbia of the present was not ashamed of its past, or the great victories and successes, or its heroes if Košare and Paštrik, but it honoured every soldier who had fought for our country.
 
“Today, Serbia is proud of you as well. It is proud of your results and successes, and it will continue investing in new equipment, and new arms, and in the strengthening of every segment of the military organisation, but it will also continue investing in your standard, your knowledge, and you. We truly believe in our officers, and we believe in our soldiers, and we believe in all those people who have chosen this honourable calling, and who have chosen to serve their country” Stefanović sent a message, particularly congratulating the attenders of the Command-Staff Course, the members of the Armed Forces of B&H and the Russian Federation.
 
At the ceremony, Minister Stefanović conferred ceremonial daggers to three best ranking officers, while Deputy Chief of General Staff of Serbian Armed Forces Lieutenant General Petar Cvetković presented the daggers to the officers of foreign armed forces.
 
The first ranking officer of the 67th class of the Command-Staff Course is Major Dalibor Aleksić, the second is Major Goran Prijović, and the third is Major Bojan Kovačević. This year the Command-Staff Course was completed by 63 officers from Serbia, seven from Bosnia and Herzegovina and one from the Russian Federation.
 
Head of National Defence School Colonel Mićo Suvajac stated that the new command-staff officers were expected to provide a fresh, new strength and to improve the state in the units in which they were to assume duty.
 
“We have trained them to command tactical units, to discharge the tasks in tactical and operational level commands. They have systematised their knowledge on military operations planning and the application of operational and tactical experiences from the past wars. Their knowledge and skills in military strategy, operatics and tactics have now been completed and founded on military science. In their units, they will show their knowledge and skill when making decisions and executing commander’s decisions” Colonel Suvajac highlighted and sent a message to the attenders to protect year soldiers, their people and preserve their reputation, and he expressed his hope that they would be worthy of their glorious ancestors.



Addressing the audience on behalf of the 67th class, the first ranking Major Dalibor Aleksić pointed out that the Command-Staff Course represented a significant turning point in an officer’s career, and a great recognition for the previous work, but that it also represented an obligation to demonstrate even greater motivation, responsibility and effort in the future work.
 
“This professional advancement has provided an opportunity for me to acquire new knowledge, to broaden the existing ones, and perhaps the most importantly, to mutually exchange experiences and opinions about all aspects and problems that are the integral part of military profession. Ten months of hard and arduous work are behind us, and the level of gained and acquired knowledge is the best shown by the success that we have achieved in the end of this Course, despite the outbreak that did not spare us at all in the period behind us”, said Major Aleksić stating that in the midst of the 67th class of the Command-Staff Course there were officers worthy of the glorious Serbian history, competent enough to tackle all challenges that the military profession entailed.
 
Major Aleksić availed himself of the occasion to express gratitude to superior officers, professors and lecturers of the National Defence School for the support rendered throughout the education, and he thanked the colleagues from the armed forces of B&H and Russiand Federation for sincere and friendly relation. Then he thanked the families of all attenders for always providing support and assistance, on which they counted on in the future.
 
Major Denis Kutchenov from the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and Major Mićo Ilić from the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina spoke about their impressions of the Command-Staff Course.
 
“The end of education is always an unforgettable event in life of every officer. It was honoured to be an attender of the 67th class of the Command-Staff Course in the previous period, and to have been given an opportunity to exchange my experiences with my colleagues. I take this opportunity to particularly thank all the officers, non-commissioned officers and civilians in the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Serbia. I would also like to thank my colleagues for their attention and understanding” Kutchenov said.
 
“As for the Course itself it was rather arduous at times, but on the other hand we had the honour to listen the lectures of renowned professors in various fields of tactics, operatics, strategy, command and management. With the colleagues, the members of the Serbian Armed Forces, and with the colleagues from the Russian Federation, we exchanged our experiences, enhanced our skills, which will bring great advantage in our future work” Major Ilić explained.
 
The Command-Staff Course represents the second level of professional advancement for officers. It lasts for one academic year, from September of the current until July of the following year and it encompasses the fields of instruction of military-expert, technical and specialist education and physical fitness training.