11.11.2016.
Armistice Day in WWI marked
Armistice Day in World War I – 11th November – was marked today with the highest state and military honours. President of the Republic of Serbia Tomislav Nikolić, accompanied by Defence Minister Zoran Đorđević and Serbian Armed Forces Chief of General Staff General Ljubiša Diković laid a wreath at the Monument to the Unknown Hero on Avala.“Today we are marking the anniversary of the end of World War I. It was the war in which Serbs were heroes. The war Serbs wished never happen. Never to wage a war again in order to enable our children to live in peace and prosperity” - President of the Republic of Serbia wrote in the memorial book.
With the sounding of the national anthem, President Nikolić laid a wreath with a dedication – To heroes of the Great War, from proud descendants.
The Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić laid a wreath at the Memorial Ossuary of defenders of Belgrade in World War I. Then, accompanied by Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Boris Johnson, he paid homage to soldiers buried at Commonwealth cemetery at New cemetery in Belgrade.Central state ceremony of laying wreaths and paying homage at the Memorial Ossuary of defenders of Belgrade was led by Minister of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Policy Aleksandar Vulin, who laid a wreath in the name of the Government of the Republic of Serbia. Minister Vulin said that Serbs were neither in a position to choose world wars nor to decide about them because, as a small nation, they could not do so. However, there was no generation of our nation which managed to avoid participation in the war, therefore, if we could not decide about wars, we can about peace.
“Therefore the policy of military neutrality is our permanent commitment and our manner to seek friends among the great and powerful”, said Vulin.
At the French military cemetery, a commemoration service was held and attended by Christine Moro, French Ambassador, representatives of the Ministry of Defence and Serbian Armed Forces, the City of Belgrade, the diplomatic corps, the Association of War Veterans, veteran organizations, descendants of warriors 1912-1918.
Ambassador Moro emphasized that we should devote ourselves to memory in order to better face the present and prepare for the future. “In the time when the world survives hard moments or when more than ever the sense for duty and sacrificing is a guarantee of the most fundamental freedom, we should pay homage to the ones who honorably lost their lives in battlefields. Today we are going to remember five French soldiers who lost their lives this year in the operation Barkhane.
Wreaths were laid by Serbian Armed Forces Deputy Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Jovica Draganić on behalf of the Ministry of Defence and Serbian Armed Forces, representatives of veteran organizations, Serbian-French friendship associations, descendants of warriors 1912-1918 associations.
Homage was paid to killed Russian soldiers, as well. At the Memorial Ossuary of Russian soldiers a requiem was held, and then the representatives of the Government of Serbia, Ministry of Defence, Serbian Armed Forces, diplomats, members of veteran associations also laid wreaths.
The commemoration finished at the Commonwealth cemetery, where British Ambassador Denis Keefe greeted participants. “Marking the Great War, especially here in Belgrade, has a special importance”, said Keefe. “We are doing this together with all participating countries in this horrible conflict. We remember millions of people who died and suffered during that war, with hope they would never repeat. Even though in certain parts of the world horrible conflicts are happening right now”.
With the support of Irish Guards bagpipers and musicians from Artistic Ensemble “Stanislav Binički” wreaths at the Commonwealth cemetery were laid by Ambassador Keefe, general Draganić on behalf of the Ministry of Defence and Serbian Armed Forces, representatives of the City of Belgrade, the diplomatic corps, members of veteran organizations and descendants of warriors 1912-1918.Homage to the killed ones in the Great War was paid at the other memorial cemeteries at New Cemetery, by laying wreaths, sounding the anthem of Serbia and Member allies and adequate programme.
Armistice Day is marked throughout Serbia by laying wreaths and holding ceremonies.
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