A military parade was held in Nicosia on the 1st of October, marking the 59th anniversary of Cyprus’ independence.

Minister of Defence of the Republic of Serbia Aleksandar Vulin also attended the event. In his short speech, minister Vulin said that the Republic of Serbia and Serbian people wholeheartedly support the territorial integrity and independence of the Republic of Cyprus. Even when the Serbian and Cypriot people don’t speak the same language, they fully understand each other. Minister said that although there is a distance between them, the people are united through their many values, for which they live and die, and above all the value of freedom.

Minister congratulated Cypriots on their Independence Day Anniversary on behalf of the President of Serbia and the military leadership and thanked Cyprus and Cypriot people for supporting Belgrade’s effort to save Kosovo. “We stood by the Republic of Cyprus in its most difficult days, while Cyprus was next to Serbia in the dark days of the NATO bombing campaign”, he added. In the end, he thanked Cypriot people for their everlasting friendship, by adding that Serbia will always be a true friend of Cyprus.

Serbian Nora B-52 self-propelled howitzer and Miloš armored vehicle, both made in Serbia, were presented at the parade as a new military acquisition and reinforcement of the Cypriot army.