Tadić honors victims of WW2 fascist Croat regime

President Boris Tadic was on Sunday in the village of Jadovno, Croatia, for a gathering commemorating 70 years since mass murder of Serbs, Jews, and Roma there. They fell victim to the fascist Ustasha regime of the Second World War Independent State of Croatia (NDH). Tadic honors victims of WW2 fascist Croat regime Ustashas killed over 40,000 people in this village in 1941, Tadic's maternal grandfather among them. On Sunday, the president said that he was honored to be able to pay his respect to the victims, who he said must never be forgotten. Representatives of Croatia's authorities were present at the commemoration, however, they did not include Tadic's counterpart Ivo Josipovic. "Tens of thousands of people were murdered here just because they had their identity, name, conviction, faith. That must never be forgotten. Innocent victims deserve our memory, today, and every year to come, here as well as in Pag and Jasenovac," Tadic said, mentioning the largest death camp ran by the NDH. After the event, the president also said that he was representing "a policy of remembrance" that would not bring division or conflict to Serbia and Croatia, but would instead enable for peaceful and tolerant life and condemnation of crime. The Jadovno death camp saw the murder of more than 40,000 women, children and men from May until August 1941. 38,010 of them were Serbs. Beside Jasenovac, this was the largest Ustasha execution site of the war. Also on Sunday, President of the Serb National Council on Croatia Milorad Pupovac said that the fact Tadic missed the 20th anniversary of the Croatian independence declaration and showed up in Jadovno instead "should not cause negative reactions in the Croatian public". Ivo Josipovic, who was not present at this year's ceremonies at the former death camp, was at the memorial site last year. Boris Tadic in Jadovno (Tanjug) "Croatia celebrates, Serbia mourns" Boris Tadic said on Sunday that Croatia has to try war crimes cases originating from Operation Storm 1995, when a quarter of a million ethnic Serbs were driven out of their homes in Croatia. The military and police onslaught against the Serb areas of Krajina is something "Croatia celebrates, while Serbia mourns it", said he. "The day of the operation is celebrated by Croatia, while Serbia mourns it. Serbs were driven out then and crimes were committed, and those crimes have to be addressed by Croatia," Tadic told Croatian reporters after the commemoration in Jadovno. Tadic said he "understood the feelings of the Croatian people", but that he also "understood the feelings of his own people".

Tadić honors victims of WW2 fascist Croat regime

Ustashas killed over 40,000 people in this village in 1941, Tadić's maternal grandfather among them.

On Sunday, the president said that he was honored to be able to pay his respect to the victims, who he said must never be forgotten.

Representatives of Croatia's authorities were present at the commemoration, however, they did not include Tadić's counterpart Ivo Josipović.

"Tens of thousands of people were murdered here just because they had their identity, name, conviction, faith. That must never be forgotten. Innocent victims deserve our memory, today, and every year to come, here as well as in Pag and Jasenovac," Tadić said, mentioning the largest death camp ran by the NDH.

After the event, the president also said that he was representing "a policy of remembrance" that would not bring division or conflict to Serbia and Croatia, but would instead enable for peaceful and tolerant life and condemnation of crime.

The Jadovno death camp saw the murder of more than 40,000 women, children and men from May until August 1941.

38,010 of them were Serbs.

Beside Jasenovac, this was the largest Ustasha execution site of the war.

Also on Sunday, President of the Serb National Council on Croatia Milorad Pupovac said that the fact Tadić missed the 20th anniversary of the Croatian independence declaration and showed up in Jadovno instead "should not cause negative reactions in the Croatian public".

Ivo Josipović, who was not present at this year's ceremonies at the former death camp, was at the memorial site last year.

"Croatia celebrates, Serbia mourns"

Boris Tadić said on Sunday that Croatia has to try war crimes cases originating from Operation Storm 1995, when a quarter of a million ethnic Serbs were driven out of their homes in Croatia.

The military and police onslaught against the Serb areas of Krajina is something "Croatia celebrates, while Serbia mourns it", said he.

"The day of the operation is celebrated by Croatia, while Serbia mourns it. Serbs were driven out then and crimes were committed, and those crimes have to be addressed by Croatia," Tadić told Croatian reporters after the commemoration in Jadovno.

Tadić said he "understood the feelings of the Croatian people", but that he also "understood the feelings of his own people".