11.09.2018.
Promotion of the memoirs of Franchet d’Espèrey
Defence Minister Aleksandar Vulin has attended tonight the promotion of the war log “Memoirs: of the Salonika Front. Serbia. The Balkans – by Marshal Franchet d’Espèrey” held at the residence of the Embassy of the French Republic in Belgrade.
French Ambassador Frédéric Mondoloni, Prof. Vojislav Pavlović, Director of the Balkanological Institute and the editor of the book, and Claude de Saint-Pierre, granddaughter of Marshal d'Espèrey.As Ambassador Mondoloni pointed out, the Memoirs are an opportunity to remind ourselves of “our brotherhood in arms during the First World War”.
- Sometimes we forget how close we were. This is an opportunity to underline that today our soldiers stand side by side in peacekeeping operations in Africa and Lebanon in order to preserve international peace and stability, Mondoloni said, adding that during the meeting of the French and Serbian presidents, Emmanuel Macron and Aleksandar Vučić, respectively, the president of France reminded how much courage the Serbian people showed during the Great War, and that this historic alliance made our two peoples to cherish great mutual respect.
Professor Pavlović emphasized that the publication of the Memoirs will “re-draw attention of the readers as a valuable testimony to preparations for the offensive, relations of the Allies and their victories on the Salonika Front”.The granddaughter of the famous Marshal said that her grandfather's words best describe the attitude towards Serbia - respect and great courage.
- It is a great privilege for me to be in this great country that my grandfather appreciated so much, Claude de Saint-Pierre said.
The promotion was also attended by Vladimir Kostić, President of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, representatives of the ministries of defence, labour and foreign affairs, as well as representatives of the embassies in Belgrade.
Franchet d’Espèrey's memoirs are based on his diary notes that he wrote during his rich military career. The Memoirs, in whole or in part, have never been published before and will be presented to the Serbian readers for the first time.
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