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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Memory of Jajinci victims as message and reminder to our time

Belgrade, 2 October 2010

Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic stated today that the memory of victims killed in Jajinci during World War Two is a message and a reminder to our time of what may happen if we forget that all humans are equal before the law and have equal rights.

Any crime is unacceptable in a civilised society, the Prime Minister noted, stressing that contemporary societies must not allow crimes to be forgotten and those of a different opinion be subjected to violence.

There is not a national interest which can justify a crime, he reiterated, underlining that it is the ultimate goal to protect the life of a man and his right to freedom and democracy.

A democratic Serbia is committed to civilized standards and is doing all it can to prevent all sorts of ethnic and racial-based discrimination.

We have chosen a path of peace and reconciliation, because it offers a chance for a dignified life of all citizens, for prosperity, cooperation and the creation of a joint future in the Balkans, the Prime Minister stated.

The path to reconciliation is never long or tedious if we truly want these crimes not to be repeated in the future, he added.

The Prime Minister recalled that the policy responsible for the crime in Jajinci and other similar crimes has been condemned from a historical, moral and legal point of view.

President of the Association of Soldiers of the National Liberation War of Yugoslavia (SUBNOR) retired General Slavko Popovic stressed that the collective memory of such places of death, suffering and pain can never be suppressed.

Prime Minister Cvetkovic led a state delegation which laid wreaths at the Jajinci Memorial Park with full state and military honours.

Representatives from the City of Belgrade and SUBNOR, survivors of the Jajinci camp and representatives from the Israeli and German embassies also laid wreaths.

Apart from Serbian government representatives, military and diplomatic officials from several states attended the commemorative service in Jajinci along with a number of war veterans and citizens.

A play “Requiem for the Lost Town” was performed after the ceremony, inspired by the lyrics of poet Branko Miljkovic and produced by the Cultural and Educational Association of Serbia.

Following the commemoration, the Prime Minister signed the Book of Memory at the Jajinci Memorial Park.

This execution field in Jajinci near Belgrade is the biggest Second World War execution site in the territory of Serbia. More than 60,000 Serbs, Roma, Jews, soldiers of the National Liberation War, anti-fascists and all those who did not accept the occupation of the country and resisted the occupational forces were brutally killed.