Serbia marks Holocaust Day

International Holocaust Remembrance Day is being commemorated worldwide on Tuesday. The UN General Assembly chose January 27 as the official day for the commemoration, as it was on this day in 1945 that Soviet troops liberated the Auschwitz concentration camp. Serbia marks Holocaust Day Throughout Europe, tributes will be paid to the 53 million people who died during World War II, of whom 31 million were civilians. The central ceremony in Belgrade was held today at the Memorial to Victims of World War II Genocide. Belgrade rabbi Isak Asijel led the commemorative service. Wreaths were laid by officials of the Association of Jewish Municipalities in Serbia, the Education Ministry, the Belgrade City Assembly, Israeli Ambassador to Serbia Arthur Koll, and officials from the Museum of Genocide Victims. President Boris Tadic yesterday issued a statement, and said that the world must never again allow the suffering of millions of innocent people only because they belong to another religion or nation. “We commemorate all innocent victims of Nazi crimes and turned to the future we are building a better world,” Tadic said. The president added that the Serbian people had never had anti-Semitic sentiments and that the state of Serbia had always supported the preservation of the memory of the Holocaust. “The Serbian Constitution guarantees human and minority rights, forbids discrimination and instigation of racial, national and religious hatred. Also, the Constitution guarantees the right for the preservation of diversity and developing the spirit of tolerance,” Tadic pointed out. Zuza Marinkovic Bek, a concentration camp survivor, told B92 that society must work harder to prevent a repeat of such atrocities in future. She said that the media rarely mentioned the liberation of Auschwitz or the Holocaust in general. “I do not think that society has done enough,” she said. Marinkovic said that the number of witnesses and survivors was dwindling, and that the witness accounts were becoming less authentic. Belgrade Jews visit one of Belgrade's Holocaust memorials (FoNet)

Serbia marks Holocaust Day

Throughout Europe, tributes will be paid to the 53 million people who died during World War II, of whom 31 million were civilians.

The central ceremony in Belgrade was held today at the Memorial to Victims of World War II Genocide.

Belgrade rabbi Isak Asijel led the commemorative service.

Wreaths were laid by officials of the Association of Jewish Municipalities in Serbia, the Education Ministry, the Belgrade City Assembly, Israeli Ambassador to Serbia Arthur Koll, and officials from the Museum of Genocide Victims.

President Boris Tadić yesterday issued a statement, and said that the world must never again allow the suffering of millions of innocent people only because they belong to another religion or nation.

“We commemorate all innocent victims of Nazi crimes and turned to the future we are building a better world,” Tadić said.

The president added that the Serbian people had never had anti-Semitic sentiments and that the state of Serbia had always supported the preservation of the memory of the Holocaust.

“The Serbian Constitution guarantees human and minority rights, forbids discrimination and instigation of racial, national and religious hatred. Also, the Constitution guarantees the right for the preservation of diversity and developing the spirit of tolerance,” Tadić pointed out.

Žuža Marinković Bek, a concentration camp survivor, told B92 that society must work harder to prevent a repeat of such atrocities in future.

She said that the media rarely mentioned the liberation of Auschwitz or the Holocaust in general.

“I do not think that society has done enough,” she said.

Marinković said that the number of witnesses and survivors was dwindling, and that the witness accounts were becoming less authentic.