Serbian President Boris Tadic said that Serbia will continue the fight against organised crime and underlined that citizens can feel safe.

Speaking at the celebration of the Day of the Special Anti-Terrorist Unit (SAJ) in its base in Batajnica, Tadic said that if Serbia continues this way it will break down organised crime in Serbia and contribute to its breaking in the region of southeastern Europe.

The ceremony in Batajnica was attended by Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior Ivica Dacic, Head of the Security and Intelligence Agency Sasa Vukadinovic, Belgrade Mayor Dragan Djilas, representatives of the Serbian Army and diplomatic corps, and former and current members of SAJ.

Tadic said that we can be proud of the fact that at all international gatherings dedicated to achievements in the fight against organised crime and terrorism, Serbia is seen as a country that is high on the list of achievements.

Serbia is considered to be the leading country in the fight against terrorism and organised crime, the Serbian President said and added that today our country participates in global operations against terrorism and organised crime.

The Serbian President said that our country will continue to raise its capacity for combating terrorism and organised crime and emphasised that in this regard, the whole world will be able to count on Serbia.

Serbia will deal with challenges in the future as well, but we can tell our citizens that Serbia is safe and that the cities we live in are safer than cities in our region, Tadic underlined.

Dacic stated that SAJ confirms with its actions Serbia’s long tradition and continuity in the efficient fight against terrorism and heaviest crimes.

Since its establishment in 1978 until today, SAJ has changed its name and internal organisation several times, Dacic said and added that this unit was and still is highly trained, modernly equipped and ready to take action at any moment.

Photo: Tanjug

At the SAJ base in Batajnica, Tadic and Dacic unveiled a memorial plaque to SAJ members killed in the line of duty in defending their country.

Dacic pointed out that this memorial plaque with names of 16 members of SAJ shows how dangerous their work is, how difficult and complex, and added that it also speaks of the size of their sacrifice to their motherland which they made honourably and courageously defending the security in Serbia and protecting public safety.

We don’t want any more names to be added to this memorial plaque, that there are no more conflicts in these lands and that there is absolute peace, security and prosperity for all people, Dacic proclaimed.

We are aware, he added, that there are still many threats and challenges and that is why there must be special units such as SAJ which are fully capable and prepared to efficiently confront any danger.

SAJ Commander Spasoje Vulevic presented President Boris Tadic with a plaque for his contribution to development of the unit, and Head of Police Milorad Veljovic presented members of SAJ with jubilee awards for many years of service.