The big military parade will be held on September 15 in Belgrade, President Aleksandar Vučić announced, with the message that it will be "many times richer and more expensive" than the previous one. In an atmosphere of geopolitical tensions and domestic divisions, the parade was presented as a symbol of strength, but also a response to criticism that Vučić sees as "pathological hatred of Serbia."
"You see the pathological hatred and the need to say something against Serbia and Vučić, they cannot bear for Serbia to get stronger and stronger. Count on September 15th we will hold a big military parade, it will be convincingly the largest in the history of the Western Balkans and many times richer and more expensive than the last time we showed it," said Vučić.
When asked who will be the main guest of the parade, Vučić answered that it will be the people, who will come to see their army and weapons.
"Now, the occupancy of our special units is very high. The 'Cobras' are the highest, almost 90 percent. I will not talk about the data for the 72nd (special brigade) and 63rd (parachute brigade), but it is very high, it has never been at such a high level. What we have to do is tankers, aircraft technicians, flight technicians, but also pilots. We have to do a lot there. And that's why this military service, no matter how short it lasts, will be a salvation for our country," said Vučić.
He stated that Serbian military warehouses are much fuller today than before.
"I ordered that we have a 150 percent supply for food, that the ammunition for small arms must be up to 120 percent, so that we are always ready to respond to any possible aggression against our country. And that situation is much better, but it is still not what I would like... And until we succeed in creating an Israeli digital soldier system, I will not be happy. And I am ready to enter such a project," said Vučić.
Photo: Ministry of DefenseThe President of Russia at the military parade held in Belgrade in 2014
"Winner's step" in the rain with Vladimir Putin as the main guest
Let us remind you that the last such manifestation was held ten years ago.
The military parade on the occasion of seven decades since the liberation of Belgrade in the Second World War called "Step of the Victor" was held on October 16, 2014, and was attended by the then President of Serbia Tomislav Nikolić and the still current President Vladimir Putin. At that time, Putin's visit lasted six hours, during which he spoke with the Serbian leadership.
The first parade that was held after 29 years at the Palace of Serbia and on the Danube with the participation of about 4.500 members of the Serbian Army was also attended by the then Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić, Speaker of the Parliament Maja Gojković, as ministers in the Government of Serbia.
This event was marked by a heavy downpour that lasted for most of the parade.
Photo: Ministry of Defense / Dimitrije OstojićMilitary parade held in 2014
The parade was organized by the Ministry of Defense and the Serbian Armed Forces based on the decision of the President of the Republic, and the commander, by order of the Minister of Defense, was the Chief of the General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces, General Ljubiša Diković.
In addition to motor and combat vehicles, tanks, various artillery weapons and weapons for support of the Ground Army, anti-tank weapons, special-purpose electronic reconnaissance vehicles, airplanes, and helicopters were also displayed.
The visitors were shown the flags of the units that participated in the liberation of Belgrade in the Second World War, the regimental flags from the First World War and the current flags of the units of the Serbian Armed Forces.
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