Dačić leads Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremony

Dačić leads Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremony

Dačić said that the numerous victims of that war are a consequence of the ideologies of intolerance and hatred, and a warning that we must take note of to prevent similar events from happening again in our age.

"The idea of a union of European states emerged as a result of the victory over fascism and it is the most significant peace project in the history of our continent. It is by adhering to anti-fascist values that Serbia is making huge steps towards European integrations," Dačić said, adding that, in the past, Serbia has been able to define its international position by building joint progress in times of peace and by siding with anti-fascist forces in times of war.

Today, Serbia is a truly democratic country based on respect of the Constitution, laws, human and civil rights and liberties, as well as a country that is implementing reforms and defending its interests solely by diplomatic means, he said.

Serbia sees the challenges it is facing as an opportunity to demonstrate the maturity of its institutions and the principles of international law, based on the victory over fascism in WWII, Dačić said.

Serbia is a significant factor and guarantor of peace and stability in the Western Balkans, and the turbulent past is no obstacle for it to establish good-neighbourly relations based on respect of territorial integrity and sovereignty, he said.

"Citizens of Serbia, our past is an important segment of our identity, while at the same time providing a foundation for us to make our present and future prosperous. Whether we will take up the challenge and leave a democratic and civic state to posterity is entirely up to us," Dačić said.

The prime minister called on the citizens to rally around common objectives and continue to build Serbia as a home to equal and free citizens and make the wishes of their ancestors, who won WWII, come true.

The Remembrance Day was marked by a wreath-laying ceremony at the Genocide Victims Memorial on the site of the former Staro Sajmište Nazi German concentration camp.

The ceremony was attended by members of the victims' families, officials of several ministries and diplomats, as well as by representatives of the Association of Jewish Municipalities in Serbia and the Roma Minority Council.

The Remembrance Day for Holocaust and genocide victims and other victims of fascism is marked on April 22 to commemorate a successful attempt by the prisoners of the Jasenovac death camp in the fascist Independent State of Croatia (NDH) to break out of the camp in 1945.