Nikolic: Serbia is dedicated to peace

BELGRADE - Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic presented on Thursday the officers of the 57th class of the National Defence School General Staff professional improvement course with officer sabers and said that Serbian officers on peace missions were ambassadors and the most eloquent testimony of Serbia and its dedication to peace and security in the world.

"Let knowledge be your most valuable weapon and let the wisdom coming from it increase its effect in any form of defence, including the defence of the Autonomous Province of Kosovo," he said at the ceremony held in the parliament.

It is dangerous to accept unilateral solutions that meet the interest of only one people and the best solution should be found to establish a lasting peace and prosperity in Kosovo, he pointed out.

Serbia is proud concerning the information coming from the headquarters of the multinational peacekeeping forces in Cyprus, Congo, Lebanon, Liberia, Ivory Coast and Somalia, which Serbian troops are a part of, he said.

It is the best confirmation of the quality of the Serbian military education and of Serbia's officers and soldiers, Nikolic noted.

He commented on the Armed Forces' involvement in fighting the May floods in Serbia by saying that the damage would have been even greater had the military not intervened in a timely and adequate fashion.

This ceremony is being held during the 100th anniversary of the start of World War One, a time when the Kingdom of Serbia relied on the skill of its political and military leaders, he stated.

The Serbian people, just like the members of the military and civil servants, want the country to facilitate closer cooperation, beace and security in the future, said the president.