Tadić: Intolerance of differences unacceptable

President Boris Tadic yesterday took part in Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremonies in Belgrade, Beta reports. He joined representatives of Serbia, Belgrade, the Jewish community and foreign diplomats in placing flowers at the Monument to the Victims of Genocide in World War II at Staro Sajmiste, which was a Nazi concentration camp during the war. Tadic: Intolerance of differences unacceptable Speaking about the mass persecution and extermination of Jews in WWII, Tadic said Serbia will never accept the destruction of others who are different or because they belong to other ethnic, national, religious or political group. "No prejudice or odium, which tend to justify and inspire intolerance, can jeopardize our belief that our human identity is above all that and that in others we recognize ourselves and the possibility to expand our human aspect," Tadic said. "We are witnessing attempts to make us forget those tragic temptations of the Holocaust, revision of the history of the Nazi crimes, and revival of the ideology of intolerance, racism and chauvinism, ethnic, religious and other forms of fascism," the president said, stressing that "this cannot and must not happen in Serbia." Israeli Ambassador Arthur Koll said the Holocaust Remembrance Day is a time to think and realize what can happen unless racism, prejudice and hate are stopped. Belgrade City Assembly speaker Aleksandar Antic pledged the city will do everything it can to maintain memorial centers and build new ones to keep the memory of the greatest evil in human history alive. He went on to say that everything will be done to make Belgrade a safe city, free of racial and religious intolerance. The possibility of turning Staro Sajmiste into a big memorial complex is being debated, according to Antic. Tadic attends the ceremonies in Belgrade (Tanjug)

Tadić: Intolerance of differences unacceptable

Speaking about the mass persecution and extermination of Jews in WWII, Tadić said Serbia will never accept the destruction of others who are different or because they belong to other ethnic, national, religious or political group.

"No prejudice or odium, which tend to justify and inspire intolerance, can jeopardize our belief that our human identity is above all that and that in others we recognize ourselves and the possibility to expand our human aspect," Tadić said.

"We are witnessing attempts to make us forget those tragic temptations of the Holocaust, revision of the history of the Nazi crimes, and revival of the ideology of intolerance, racism and chauvinism, ethnic, religious and other forms of fascism," the president said, stressing that "this cannot and must not happen in Serbia."

Israeli Ambassador Arthur Koll said the Holocaust Remembrance Day is a time to think and realize what can happen unless racism, prejudice and hate are stopped.

Belgrade City Assembly speaker Aleksandar Antić pledged the city will do everything it can to maintain memorial centers and build new ones to keep the memory of the greatest evil in human history alive. He went on to say that everything will be done to make Belgrade a safe city, free of racial and religious intolerance.

The possibility of turning Staro Sajmište into a big memorial complex is being debated, according to Antić.