Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić presented awards to distinguished individuals and institutions on Thursday to mark Sretenje – Serbia’s Statehood Day.
According to state news agency Tanjug, the awards ceremony was broadcast live by Radio Television of Serbia and began with the national anthem.
“When You Fight for Your Homeland, There Is No Alternative”
During his address, Vučić emphasized the significance of Statehood Day, drawing on a quote from former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill.
“All great things are simple and can usually be expressed in a single word—freedom, justice, honor, duty, mercy, hope,” Vučić said. “This idea best reflects the essence of what we commemorate today and have been striving for over the past 200 years.”
Vučić recalled the 1804 Serbian uprising against Ottoman rule, citing it as a struggle for freedom and justice. He praised the award recipients, stating that they had “embodied and lived the values of justice and freedom, giving far more to society than they ever took.”
The president also addressed recent political tensions, saying Serbia was facing external pressure. “When you fight for your homeland and the freedom of your country, there is no alternative. You must be stronger, braver, and freer than ever,” he said. “We will work hard, fight, and give our best to be the best in Europe, and no one will stop us on that path.”
Posthumous Honor for Slain Police Officer
A total of 87 individuals and institutions were awarded honors in three categories—orders, medals, and commemorative plaques. Among the recipients was police officer Nikola Krsmanović, who was posthumously awarded a gold medal after being killed in the line of duty last summer by an ethnic Albanian attacker.
Statehood Day was also marked with events across Serbia, including a large gathering in Sremska Mitrovica where a declaration on Vojvodina was adopted by acclamation at Vučić’s invitation.
According to the declaration, Vojvodina is an “inseparable part of Serbia’s national, political, constitutional, and cultural identity.”
At the event, Vučić dismissed opposition efforts as a failed attempt at a “color revolution” and urged students to return to classes, asserting that “Serbia needs knowledge.” He also reiterated that a transitional government was not an option, and that a new cabinet would include at least 50% new ministers.
Vučić announced that starting March 15, preparations would begin for a new political movement set to be officially formed by Vidovdan (June 28).
Prime Minister Leads State Ceremony in Orašac
The central state ceremony took place in Orašac, led by Prime Minister Miloš Vučević, who reaffirmed Serbia’s commitment to independence and neutrality.
“Many do not want a free and neutral Serbia, but I assure them it will remain so because that is the will of the majority of our citizens,” Vučević said. “No matter the pressure, Serbia will never recognize the secession of Kosovo and Metohija or jeopardize its ties with traditional allies.”
