Vučić awards Order of Karađorđe's Star to family of fallen soldier Jovanović

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić presented the Order of Karađorđe's Star, first class, to the family of Sergeant Major Milovan Jovanović, who died while serving in a UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon. The posthumous award recognizes Jovanović's exceptional merits in representing Serbia.

Jovanović's father, Miloš, accepted the decoration. President Vučić described Milovan Jovanović as a true Serbian hero, characterized by his courage, decency, and dedication as a parent and husband. "Milovan Jovanović was on an honorable mission, one that could not be more honorable," Vučić stated, adding that Jovanović performed his duties with pride, honor, and dignity, and met his end "valiantly and bravely."

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Milovan Jovanović was an honorable mission, one that could not be more honorable. He performed it with pride, honor, and dignity and he departed as heroes do – valiantly and bravely.

According to Vučić, Jovanović contributed more to peace and freedom than anyone else present. "You did what you could and had to. You could do what you had prepared for your whole life, and you had to do what military honor and your oath to Serbia obliged you to do," the president remarked. He noted that Jovanović proudly carried the Serbian flag far from home, while also serving under the Spanish flag in their joint mission base in Lebanon.

The decision by Spain to award Jovanović also signifies, in Vučić's view, that certain values transcend politics and protocol. He highlighted a shared belief among those involved that peace is more significant than sacrifice. Spain's Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles Fernández, was also present to award Jovanović's family the Cross for Military Merit with a yellow ribbon.

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You did what you could and had to. You could do what you had prepared for your whole life, and you had to do what military honor and your oath to Serbia obliged you to do.