"Serbia has no right to renounce past, looks to future"

"Serbia has no right to renounce past, looks to future"

Tanjug said in its report that Vučić pointed out that Serbia "has no right to renounce its past and history - however, it should also turn to the future and think about the coming generations."

“Serbia has a good future, and I think that we are capable of turning the wheel of history, and changing things for the better for our people,” Vučić said.

As Vučić and Eigner were deciding who would be the first to cast the soil over the tree they were planting, the prime minister jokingly told the ambassador, "You go first, you started the war."

The planting of the peace tree symbolizes the desire for cooperation and the best possible relations, also with countries with which we were once at war, Vučić said, adding that he is always pleased to note that Serbia has the best possible relations with Germany and Austria.

However, he also noted that "red plums are a symbol of Serbia's suffering, perseverance and love of freedom which the people will always foster."

The original ultimatum, a diplomatic note, has been put on display in the building of the Archdiocese. It contains the list of demands that the government of Austria-Hungary delivered to the Royal Serbian Government at 6 p.m. on July 23, 1914. Austria issued the ultimatum saying it believed the country was responsible for the Sarajevo assassination.

Also on display is the response of the Serbian government, written by Prime Minister Nikola Pašić and member of the government Stojan Protić. Pašić delivered the document to Baron Giesl von Gieslingen, Vienna's diplomatic representative to the Serbian Court, ten minutes before the expiry of the 48-hour deadline, on July 25, 1914.

On July 28, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, thus starting the First World War.

This is the first time that the two documents have been displayed alongside each other, as the original of the Serbian government's response is kept in Vienna.

The planting of the peace tree was preceded by a meeting of Vučić and Archbishop of Belgrade Stanislav Hočevar. The event brought together ambassadors of some countries that fought in the war, as well as Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Michael Davenport.

Serbian Minister of Culture Ivan Tasovac also "partook in the event," Tanjug reported.