Belgrade-The members of the Military Intelligence Agency (MIA) have marked this year for the first time December 4th, the Veterans Day. On this occasion the MIA’s Director Brigadier General Slavoljub Dabic presented the retired members of the MIA with the commemorative military medals for participation in the combat operations on the territory of SFRY and FRY.

Brigadier General Dabic said that throughout history the Serbian soldier preformed his duty professionally and responsibly and that he always was with the people in difficult times.

“By celebrating the Veterans Day we show that we do not want to forget those who did the deeds to remember and gave their lives for the country”, said the MIA’s Director. Congratulating the holiday, he expressed his hope that war sufferings, those from 90s as well as from the worlds wars, will never happen again.

“I am certain that the members of the Agency, in accordance with the tradition, will continue to carry out all the tasks in order to defend and protect national interests, the Director of the Agency emphasized. He also added that it was his great honour because he had the opportunity to hand over the medals to the retired members of the MIA for their participation in combat operations in the territory of FRY.

In the addition, the ceasefire in the First Balkan War was signed on 4th December, 1912 and appointing this day as the military holiday the continuity with veterans from 1912 was provided. That was the time when the Kingdom of Serbia as a modern state engaged 12 % of its population to participate in the war.

On this occasion with the moment of silence the respect was paid to the killed army members in the liberation and defence wars and armed conflicts in SFRY and FRY.