Serbia marks WW2 Victory Day, Europe Day

Serbia is this Monday marking Victory over Fascism Day and Day of Europe, with a number of events commemorating the victims of World War II. The gatherings are also meant to celebrate the preservation of the country's anti-fascist heritage. Serbia marks WW2 Victory Day, Europe Day Serbian President Boris Tadic placed a wreath at the monument to the Unknown Hero on Mt. Avala, near Belgrade, to mark Victory Day. "Serbia against fascism, racism and human evil! In this age, today and forever. Auschwitz, Treblinka, Jasenovac, Jadovik, Kragujevac, let no execution site be forgotten. Glory to the heroes," Tadic wrote in the visitor's book. Wreaths were also laid today at the Liberators of Belgrade cemetery by representatives of the embassies of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Azerbaijan, city officials and Defense Ministry and Ministry of Labor and Social Policy officials. The wreaths were laid by Russian Ambassador in Belgrade Aleksandr Konuzin, Belgrade City Assembly President Aleksandar Antic and representatives of WW2 veterans' associations. "Belgrade and Serbia are proud of their anti-Fascist past. The force of the resistance and the strength of the sacrifice the Serbian people gave during WWII place us among the greatest heroes of the fight against Fascism. I believe the tradition should be nurtured and remembered today, on Victory Day and Europe Day," Antic said after laying a wreath. Victory Day is celebrated on May 9 marking the end of the Second World War. It was the bloodiest war in the history of mankind, which claimed over 50 million lives, including 31 million civilians. On that day in 1945, Nazi Germany signed its unconditional surrender. (Beta) Serbian citizens not sufficiently aware Milan Prokopijevic of the Center for Free Market said that the domestic political elite was creating a ceremony instead of, "at least on this (Europe) Day, introducing the citizens to the values of the EU and what should be done on that European road". "It's just ceremonies, without any real meaning, an attempt at instant marketing. What should have happened was for that day to be an expression of the overall policy. But that's not the case and we see that such an elementary thing like the visa-free regime can be brought into question if somebody is not doing their job and do not get to do the job they are elected to do," believes Prokopijevic. Latest polls show that the support for the EU in Serbia had dropped, but it still holds at above half those interviewed in surveys - at some 57 percent. The Serbian citizens, however, do are not sufficiently aware what joining the EU really means, and expect instead that it would bring instantly higher salaries and better standard of living, and in this, says Prokopijevic, they are not different from other Easter European nations and their expectations prior to the 2004 and 2007 EU enlargements. "On the declarative level there is certainly a majority in favor of the EU, but on the real level, I think there is not. And that real level is visible when the issue of changes that need to be done in order to join the EU surfaces." "A huge number of the citizens of Serbia reject pro-market reforms, and if the issue would be presented in that way, they would also reject EU membership," Prokopijevic concluded.

Serbia marks WW2 Victory Day, Europe Day

Serbian President Boris Tadić placed a wreath at the monument to the Unknown Hero on Mt. Avala, near Belgrade, to mark Victory Day.

"Serbia against fascism, racism and human evil! In this age, today and forever. Auschwitz, Treblinka, Jasenovac, Jadovik, Kragujevac, let no execution site be forgotten. Glory to the heroes," Tadić wrote in the visitor's book.

Wreaths were also laid today at the Liberators of Belgrade cemetery by representatives of the embassies of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Azerbaijan, city officials and Defense Ministry and Ministry of Labor and Social Policy officials.

The wreaths were laid by Russian Ambassador in Belgrade Aleksandr Konuzin, Belgrade City Assembly President Aleksandar Antić and representatives of WW2 veterans' associations.

"Belgrade and Serbia are proud of their anti-Fascist past. The force of the resistance and the strength of the sacrifice the Serbian people gave during WWII place us among the greatest heroes of the fight against Fascism. I believe the tradition should be nurtured and remembered today, on Victory Day and Europe Day," Antić said after laying a wreath.

Victory Day is celebrated on May 9 marking the end of the Second World War.

It was the bloodiest war in the history of mankind, which claimed over 50 million lives, including 31 million civilians.

On that day in 1945, Nazi Germany signed its unconditional surrender.

Serbian citizens not sufficiently aware

Milan Prokopijević of the Center for Free Market said that the domestic political elite was creating a ceremony instead of, "at least on this (Europe) Day, introducing the citizens to the values of the EU and what should be done on that European road".

"It's just ceremonies, without any real meaning, an attempt at instant marketing. What should have happened was for that day to be an expression of the overall policy. But that's not the case and we see that such an elementary thing like the visa-free regime can be brought into question if somebody is not doing their job and do not get to do the job they are elected to do," believes Prokopijević.

Latest polls show that the support for the EU in Serbia had dropped, but it still holds at above half those interviewed in surveys - at some 57 percent.

The Serbian citizens, however, do are not sufficiently aware what joining the EU really means, and expect instead that it would bring instantly higher salaries and better standard of living, and in this, says Prokopijević, they are not different from other Easter European nations and their expectations prior to the 2004 and 2007 EU enlargements.

"On the declarative level there is certainly a majority in favor of the EU, but on the real level, I think there is not. And that real level is visible when the issue of changes that need to be done in order to join the EU surfaces."

"A huge number of the citizens of Serbia reject pro-market reforms, and if the issue would be presented in that way, they would also reject EU membership," Prokopijević concluded.