Serbian Armed Forces Guard unit departs for Moscow

BELGRADE - Serbian Armed Forces (SAF) Chief of Staff General Ljubisa Dikovic and Russian Ambassador to Serbia Alexander Chepurin ceremonially farewelled a SAF Guard unit from the Batajnica military airport on Saturday as it departed for Moscow for the May 9 military parade.

General Dikovic wished the soldiers success in representing the SAF at the parade, which will mark the 70th anniversary of the victory over fascism in World War II.

Speaking to reporters, Ambassador Chepurin expressed satisfaction with the fact that the Serbian delegation at the military parade will be headed by President Tomislav Nikolic.

In all wars, Russians and Serbs have been on the same, right side of history and won together, and therefore it would be strange if there were no Serbian soldiers at this historic parade, he said.

Chepurin said that 15,000 Russian and 1,300 foreign soldiers will be taking part in the Moscow military parade, including 70 members of the SAF Guard.

In recent history, the SAF has participated in military parades in Libya and France. For the first time ever, the Serbian Guard unit that will be marching on the Red Square will include two

Photo TANJUG/S. Radovanovic