Last evening saw the promotion of the newest class of the Serbian Army’s officers outside Assembly House in Nikola Pasic Square. Graduates of the 126^th and 127^th class of the Military Academy were promoted to the rank of Second Lieutenant in a ceremony held before the heads of the Serbian state and military. The parade of newly-promoted Second Lieutenants was attended by the Serbian President, Boris Tadic, the Chairman of the National Assembly, Predrag Markovic, the Prime Minister, Vojislav Kostunica, Serbian Army officials, Assembly deputies, Government Ministers, foreign diplomats, guests from other countries in the region, graduates’ family members, and members of the public. After the promotion ceremony and the parade, the Chairman of the National Assembly organised a cocktail reception for all guests of honour at Assembly House.

The best graduates were presented with sabres; the top ranking graduate, Second Lieutenant Uros Rackovic, was presented with a golden sabre by Serbian President Boris Tadic. The silver-plated sabre was awarded to Second Lieutenant Borisa Jovanovic, while Slobodan Cvetkovic received the officer’s sabre.