Holocaust Remembrance Day marked in Serbia

BELGRADE International Holocaust Remembrance Day has been marked in Serbia with a number of events, including a gathering at the Staro Sajmiste site in Belgrade. It is a moral obligation of all civilized people regardless of their creed to commemorate this most tragic chapter in the history of mankind, Israel's ambassador to Serbia, Yossef Levy, has said. Holocaust Remembrance Day marked in Serbia Speaking during the ceremony at Staro Sajmiste, a former concentration camp ran by the occupying German Nazi forces, the diplomat added that Serbs and Jews were victims of the same war, and that both peoples were on the right side of history. "I believe that it is a moral obligation of all civilized people regardless if they are Christians, Muslims, Jews or members of some other creed to remember this gruesome and most tragic chapter in the history of mankind when millions of men, women and children were killed in an outrageous manner," Levy told reporters after the end of the central state commemoration. The Israeli ambassador noted that Monday's commemoration was attended by representatives of the diplomatic corps from around the world, which proves that this remembrance day is of international significance, while it is also a reflection of greater awareness of the Holocaust. Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic laid a wreath and held a speech near the Memorial to Second World War Genocide Victims, and also addressed the gathering. The central state ceremony was attended by ministers of the Serbian government, including Foreign Minister Ivan Mrkic, Minister of Energy Zorana Mihajlovic, Minister of Culture and Information Ivan Tasovac, officials of the city of Belgrade, a great number of representatives of the diplomatic corps, holocaust survivors, descendants of the victims, former WWII death camp inmates, representatives of the Association of Jewish Municipalities in Serbia, the National Council of the Roma National Minority, associations and citizens. International Holocaust Remembrance Day was designated by a UN General Assembly resolution on November 1, 2005, and Serbia has marked this day since 2006 with a number of commemorative, cultural, educational and science programs. (Tanjug) Tanjug

Holocaust Remembrance Day marked in Serbia

Speaking during the ceremony at Staro Sajmište, a former concentration camp ran by the occupying German Nazi forces, the diplomat added that Serbs and Jews were victims of the same war, and that both peoples were on the right side of history.

"I believe that it is a moral obligation of all civilized people regardless if they are Christians, Muslims, Jews or members of some other creed to remember this gruesome and most tragic chapter in the history of mankind when millions of men, women and children were killed in an outrageous manner," Levy told reporters after the end of the central state commemoration.

The Israeli ambassador noted that Monday's commemoration was attended by representatives of the diplomatic corps from around the world, which proves that this remembrance day is of international significance, while it is also a reflection of greater awareness of the Holocaust.

Serbian President Tomislav Nikolić laid a wreath and held a speech near the Memorial to Second World War Genocide Victims, and also addressed the gathering.

The central state ceremony was attended by ministers of the Serbian government, including Foreign Minister Ivan Mrkić, Minister of Energy Zorana Mihajlović, Minister of Culture and Information Ivan Tasovac, officials of the city of Belgrade, a great number of representatives of the diplomatic corps, holocaust survivors, descendants of the victims, former WWII death camp inmates, representatives of the Association of Jewish Municipalities in Serbia, the National Council of the Roma National Minority, associations and citizens.

International Holocaust Remembrance Day was designated by a UN General Assembly resolution on November 1, 2005, and Serbia has marked this day since 2006 with a number of commemorative, cultural, educational and science programs.