Serbia observes First World War Armistice Day

BELGRADE First World War Armistice Day is on Sunday being marked in Serbia with numerous ceremonies, for the first time as a non-working state holiday. The day is observed in remembrance of all innocent victims of the 1914-1918 war. Serbia observes First World War Armistice Day The ceremonies in Serbia started on Saturday evening in Belgrade, when Serbian Army Guards fired honorary artillery salvos from the Kalemegdan Fortress. President Tomislav Nikolic took part in gatherings in Greece - on the islands of Vido and Corfu, where the Serbian Kingdom troops were evacuated during the war, and where many perished and were buried at sea. On Saturday, the president honored some 8,500 Serbs buried at the Zeytinlik military cemetery near Thessaloniki. Back at home, Prime Minister Ivica Dacic headed a government delegation that will attend a ceremony at the Memorial Ossuary of the Defenders of Belgrade. Ambassadors of Russia, France, the Commonwealth, Germany and other countries also took part in various gatherings. Belgrade Mayor Dragan Djilas was in the town of Lazarevac, while army chief Lt. Gen. Ljubisa Dikovic places a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Mt. Avala. Since the holiday falls on Sunday, Monday will also be a non-working day in Serbia. VS Guards are seen at Kalemegdan on Saturday (Tanjug) Army chief on Mt. Avala In his capacity as the envoy of Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic, who is currently on an official visit to Greece, Serbian Army Chief of General Staff, Lt. Gen. Ljubisa Dikovic, laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Mount Avala near Belgrade, in commemoration of Armistice Day, November 11. The wreath laying ceremony was held with full military honors and the sounds of the national anthem 'God of justice' and World War I patriotic song "March to the Drina" played. “Every respectful and freedom-loving citizen of Serbia proudly remembers their brave ancestors who shed their blood and lost their lives to liberate Serbia together with allied forces in World War I and who made a decisive contribution to the liberation of all enslaved nations in Europe. Eternal glory and praise to you,” Dikovic wrote in the visitors' book. After Dikovic, wreaths were also laid by representatives of organizations of war veterans. Gen. Ljubisa Dikovic (C) (Tanjug) Russian embassy officials lay wreaths In commemoration of World War I Armistice Day, representatives of the Embassy of the Russian Federation to Serbia laid wreaths at the monument to Russian soldiers at the New Cemetery in Belgrade on Sunday. After the playing of the Serbian and Russian national anthems, a wreath was laid at the crypt in the cemetery by Charge d'Affaires of the Russian Embassy Vladimir Petrovich. On behalf of the Serbian government, wreaths were laid by representatives of the Ministries of Defense and the Serbian Armed Forces, while on behalf of the city administration, wreaths were placed on the memorial by architect Dejan Vasovic. Ambassadors in Belgrade of several countries, including of the United States, France and the United Kingdom, also paid their respects to the fallen Russian soldiers. Commonwealth countries observe holiday Representatives of the embassies of Commonwealth countries to Serbia observed Remembrance Day by laying wreaths at the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery in Belgrade Sunday. Wreaths were placed on the memorial by British Ambassador Michael Davenport and representatives of the Embassies to Serbia of Canada, Australia, India, Cyprus, Poland, Nigeria and of the Sri Lankan Honorary Consulate in Belgrade. An official of the Canadian Embassy in Belgrade, which organized the ceremony commemorating the end of armed conflicts in World War I this year, expressed his satisfaction about Serbia becoming a partner in observing the holiday. Today's generations should learn lessons from the wars of the past and continue to forever live in peace, said the Canadian diplomat. Wreaths were also laid by representatives of the Serbian Ministry of Defense and the Serbian Army, by architect Dejan Vasovic on behalf of the city administration, and by members of the Society for Preserving the Tradition of the 1912-1918 Liberation Wars. The Commonwealth countries' embassy officials wore poppy flowers on their clothes as a reminder of the blood-red flower that still grows on the former battlefields of France and Belgium. Tanjug

Serbia observes First World War Armistice Day

The ceremonies in Serbia started on Saturday evening in Belgrade, when Serbian Army Guards fired honorary artillery salvos from the Kalemegdan Fortress.

President Tomislav Nikolić took part in gatherings in Greece - on the islands of Vido and Corfu, where the Serbian Kingdom troops were evacuated during the war, and where many perished and were buried at sea.

On Saturday, the president honored some 8,500 Serbs buried at the Zeytinlik military cemetery near Thessaloniki.

Back at home, Prime Minister Ivica Dačić headed a government delegation that will attend a ceremony at the Memorial Ossuary of the Defenders of Belgrade.

Ambassadors of Russia, France, the Commonwealth, Germany and other countries also took part in various gatherings.

Belgrade Mayor Dragan Đilas was in the town of Lazarevac, while army chief Lt. Gen. Ljubiša Diković places a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Mt. Avala.

Since the holiday falls on Sunday, Monday will also be a non-working day in Serbia.

Army chief on Mt. Avala

In his capacity as the envoy of Serbian President Tomislav Nikolić, who is currently on an official visit to Greece, Serbian Army Chief of General Staff, Lt. Gen. Ljubiša Diković, laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Mount Avala near Belgrade, in commemoration of Armistice Day, November 11.

The wreath laying ceremony was held with full military honors and the sounds of the national anthem 'God of justice' and World War I patriotic song "March to the Drina" played.

“Every respectful and freedom-loving citizen of Serbia proudly remembers their brave ancestors who shed their blood and lost their lives to liberate Serbia together with allied forces in World War I and who made a decisive contribution to the liberation of all enslaved nations in Europe. Eternal glory and praise to you,” Diković wrote in the visitors' book.

After Diković, wreaths were also laid by representatives of organizations of war veterans.

Russian embassy officials lay wreaths

In commemoration of World War I Armistice Day, representatives of the Embassy of the Russian Federation to Serbia laid wreaths at the monument to Russian soldiers at the New Cemetery in Belgrade on Sunday.

After the playing of the Serbian and Russian national anthems, a wreath was laid at the crypt in the cemetery by Charge d'Affaires of the Russian Embassy Vladimir Petrovich.

On behalf of the Serbian government, wreaths were laid by representatives of the Ministries of Defense and the Serbian Armed Forces, while on behalf of the city administration, wreaths were placed on the memorial by architect Dejan Vasović.

Ambassadors in Belgrade of several countries, including of the United States, France and the United Kingdom, also paid their respects to the fallen Russian soldiers.

Commonwealth countries observe holiday

Representatives of the embassies of Commonwealth countries to Serbia observed Remembrance Day by laying wreaths at the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery in Belgrade Sunday.

Wreaths were placed on the memorial by British Ambassador Michael Davenport and representatives of the Embassies to Serbia of Canada, Australia, India, Cyprus, Poland, Nigeria and of the Sri Lankan Honorary Consulate in Belgrade.

An official of the Canadian Embassy in Belgrade, which organized the ceremony commemorating the end of armed conflicts in World War I this year, expressed his satisfaction about Serbia becoming a partner in observing the holiday.

Today's generations should learn lessons from the wars of the past and continue to forever live in peace, said the Canadian diplomat.

Wreaths were also laid by representatives of the Serbian Ministry of Defense and the Serbian Army, by architect Dejan Vasovic on behalf of the city administration, and by members of the Society for Preserving the Tradition of the 1912-1918 Liberation Wars.

The Commonwealth countries' embassy officials wore poppy flowers on their clothes as a reminder of the blood-red flower that still grows on the former battlefields of France and Belgium.