BELRADE. Oct 20 (Interfax-AVN) - Russia has kept its promise to deliver six MiG-29 fighter jets to Serbia by October 20, the 73rd anniversary of the liberation of Belgrade from Nazi forces during World War II, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said.
"When you visited Moscow in August, I promised that the planes would be in Belgrade in time for this holiday. The planes are in Belgrade. I am confident that they will serve as a reliable shield and a guarantor of Serbia's independence and security," Shoigu said at a meeting with Serbia's Defense Minister Aleksandar Vulin on Friday.
The jets were provided by the Russian Defense Ministry following a decision by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
It was reported earlier that the MiG-29's had arrived in Serbia from Russia at the beginning of October.
Vulin, for his part, thanked Russia for providing these aircraft.
"Serbia is a militarily neutral country. But in order to be an independent and militarily neutral state, it should be strong from a military standpoint. Therefore, your assistance is crucial to us," Vulin said.
He reiterated the importance of the agreement reached between Putin and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on these jets.
"Thanks to this, we can say that today we have the capability to defend our skies," Vulin said.
Vulin personally thanked Shoigu for implementing this decision.
"I want to thank you personally, dear minister, because I know how much effort and work it took to make it happen. Thank you for attending this holiday together with us today," Vulin said.
The 73rd anniversary of the liberation of Belgrade from Nazi forces during World War II is a holiday of freedom, he said.
"It is a day when we remember on how many occasions in history we have acted together on the side of good," Vulin said.
The Russian and Serbia people are close because they share Slavic roots, he said.
"This affinity is a guarantee that we have always been together on the same side. We were together at the most difficult moments of our history and of yours. This is what we remember. This is what defines our future. That is why we have no right not to be as courageous as our ancestors were," Vulin said.
Shoigu arrived in Serbia on Friday for an official visit. During his visit, Shoigu is also expected to meet with Vucic.
Shoigu will attend a parade at the Batajnica military airfield to mark the 73rd anniversary of the liberation of Belgrade from Nazi forces during World War II. The celebrations will include a performance by Russia's Strizhi (Swifts) aerobatic team, which arrived in Belgrade at Serbia's invitation several days prior to Shoigu's visit.
He will also lay wreaths at the Monument to the Liberators of Belgrade and the city's obelisk commemorating Soviet soldiers and visit the Cathedral of Saint Sava, the main Orthodox cathedral in Serbia.