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Prayer for victims of Storm held at St Mark’s Church, Belgrade
Belgrade,
4 August 2008
A prayer service was held today at St Mark’s Church in Belgrade for victims of the Croatian military operation Storm, during which on August 4–7, 1995, Serbs were exiled from Western Krajina in Croatia.
Author:
Fonet
The service was held by Bishop of Hvostno Atanasije Rakita and Bishop of Milesevo Filaret, and present at the prayer were Deputy Prime Minister Jovan Krkobabic, president of the Belgrade City Assembly Branislav Belic, Prince Aleksandar II Karadjordjevic and Princess Katarina.
Also present were representatives from the association of killed and missing persons from Croatia and Krajina, of the families of missing persons from Kosovo-Metohija and representatives of the government of the Republika Srpska Krajina in exile.
Bishop Atanasije said that during the operation Storm, the largest ethnic cleansing in Europe after World War II was executed, in which around 2,000 Serbs were killed or missing, 250,000 exiled from the ancestral hearths and 1,110 Serbia villages destroyed.
He said that people exiled from Croatia have been trying to build a new life in Serbia for 13 years, however many are trying in vain to return to their homes, despite the fact that the Croatian government has not ensured conditions for their return.
According to him, it is particularly distressing that though 13 years have passed from the Storm, not a word of remorse for crimes committed against Serbs has been uttered, and not a word of condemnation to those who committed the crime against peace.
President of the Serbian government’s Commission for missing persons Veljko Odalovic told reporters in front of the St Mark’s Church that more than 2,000 Serbs are still registered as missing in Croatia and that it is impermissible that the process of exhumation and identification goes so slowly.
He said that prolongation of the process of exhumation and identification is a bad message and announced that on International Day of the Missing, August 30, this Commission will request acceleration of that process.
Also present were representatives from the association of killed and missing persons from Croatia and Krajina, of the families of missing persons from Kosovo-Metohija and representatives of the government of the Republika Srpska Krajina in exile.
Bishop Atanasije said that during the operation Storm, the largest ethnic cleansing in Europe after World War II was executed, in which around 2,000 Serbs were killed or missing, 250,000 exiled from the ancestral hearths and 1,110 Serbia villages destroyed.
He said that people exiled from Croatia have been trying to build a new life in Serbia for 13 years, however many are trying in vain to return to their homes, despite the fact that the Croatian government has not ensured conditions for their return.
According to him, it is particularly distressing that though 13 years have passed from the Storm, not a word of remorse for crimes committed against Serbs has been uttered, and not a word of condemnation to those who committed the crime against peace.
President of the Serbian government’s Commission for missing persons Veljko Odalovic told reporters in front of the St Mark’s Church that more than 2,000 Serbs are still registered as missing in Croatia and that it is impermissible that the process of exhumation and identification goes so slowly.
He said that prolongation of the process of exhumation and identification is a bad message and announced that on International Day of the Missing, August 30, this Commission will request acceleration of that process.
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