Vučić: We live in time of great challenges, our own path is good for us; BIA celebrated its 22nd anniversary

The President of the Serbian Parliament Ana Brbnabić, Minister of Defense Bratislav Gašić, Minister of Internal Affairs Ivica Dačić, Minister of Finance Siniša Mali, Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Petar Petković, as well as BIA Director Vladimir Orlić are also attending the ceremony.

Today's BIA was formed by the Law on Security and Information Agency, which entered into force on July 27, 2002. BIA is a civilian, national security service, it is part of the unique security and intelligence system of Serbia.

This year, the Security and Information Agency is celebrating the 125th anniversary of the establishment of the Department for Confidential Police Affairs.

In Serbia, civilian security and intelligence affairs were institutionally organized for the first time by the Law on Supplementing and Changing the Organization of the Central State Administration from 1899.

By decree of King Aleksandar Obrenović, the affairs of the Department for Confidential Police Affairs in 1900 were transferred to the jurisdiction of the Police Department at the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Recognizing the importance of the first legal regulation of civilian security-intelligence affairs in Serbia, the Security and Information Agency marks October 17 as its day.

President of Serbia addressed the audience

"When I laid a wreath here, at the place where there is a marker of the victims, 25 years ago, I felt ashamed because we did not protect them more strongly," said Vučić.

"But what I am proud of about the Agency is that you were always with Serbia when it was difficult, defended its freedom, honor and integrity and fought against all those who wanted to destroy our country."

"I have never felt such a pressure from the inside, for me it becomes almost impossible to bear it, wanting them to divert Serbia's path somewhere else, and that direction is different from what we and the citizens of Serbia have planned," he added.

He noted that the most important thing is to ensure economic security for the citizens of Serbia, because "then there is no question whether there will be higher salaries or better cars, and that can happen if we have good economic results''.

"The war in Ukraine will not be over soon, everyone is offering some plans for peace, but there is no plan," Vucic said, noting that the American elections will be awaited to see "who could strike harder," he said.

He also added that there is no peace in the Middle East either. He added that "we are living in a time of great challenges, but Serbia's path is a good path, maintaining our independence."