Serbian Defense Minister Dragan Sutanovac said late Tuesday that January 1, 2011, the date when the Serbian Armed Forces will officially become a professional military, will mark the beginning of a new history of the armed forces that meet the needs of the state and citizens.

At the traditional New Year reception in Belgrade, Sutanovac said 2010 will be remembered as the year marked by great achievements in the defense industry.

At the reception, which was jointly organized by the defense minister and Serbian Armed Forces Chief-of-Staff Lieutenant General Miloje Miletic, Sutanovac pointed out that in 2010, the defense industry signed its biggest contracts since 1985.

Miletic pointed out that the members of the Serbian Army view 2010 as very successful, adding that the year will be remembered “in the first place because it was the year in which we carried out the professionalization of the military.”

The reception was attended by Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic, other ministers, church dignitaries, the diplomatic corps and foreign military attaches accredited in Serbia, as well as many prominent public figures.