07.09.2019.
Serbian Army officers and cadets were prevented from attending the memorial to the victims of Jasenovac terror
Officers, NCOs, cadets and students, members of the Delegation of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces, who set off to attend the ceremony marking the Day of Jasenovac New Martyrs, have been prevented from entering the Republic of Croatia today, although they were announced in accordance with the established procedures.
The head of the delegation, Colonel Saša Milutinović, PhD, Head of the Department of Religious Services, on his return to Belgrade, emphasised that the delegation of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces was to attend the liturgy at St. John the Baptist Monastery in Jasenovac today and to pay homage to the relics of the martyrs of Jasenovac and all victims of Nazi NDH terror during World War II.
- However, we were prevented from doing so. Upon arrival at the Bajakovo border crossing, in the early morning hours, we were informed that the border police was notified of our arrival, and for the next three hours we waited for their final decision. During those three hours our passports were scanned twice, they requested additional data, searched vehicle and after all that we were told that we would not enter the Republic of Croatia - Colonel Milutinović said.
He stressed that as the leader of the delegation, he asked for further clarification and explanation what was the reason, to which he received an answer that "today they will not enter". Colonel Milutinović added that he has already had opportunity before to enter Croatia in the same way as other European countries.
- I am shocked by the behaviour of the border police and state authorities of the Republic of Croatia - Colonel Milutinović emphasized, pointing out that the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Serbia did everything that was necessary towards the competent institutions of the Republic of Croatia concerning this visit, adding that it was obvious that something else was decisive in preventing the delegation to attend the commemoration.
The delegation also included cadet Nikola Starčević, who attends the third year of the Military Academy. He points out that he is very surprised by what happened on the road to Jasenovac this morning.
- I am very sorry that I did not have the opportunity with the members of the delegation to pay tribute to all the innocent victims of Nazi terror in Jasenovac, including Serbs, Roma and Jews, as well as all other nationalities - cadet Starčević said, adding that he hoped that despite everything he will have the opportunity to pay tribute to the victims of Jasenovac and such a crime never to repeat again.
The student of the 4th year of the Military High School Petar Pavlović, who, like other members of the delegation of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces, did not have the opportunity to reach Jasenovac today, also regrets everything that happened on the road this morning.
- I am very sorry that we could not reach Jasenovac, because I personally wanted to visit the place where many Serbs, Jews and Roma were killed. I would like to visit Jasenovac in the future - student Petar Pavlović emphasizes.
PHOTOGALLERY
VIDEOGALLERY
mp4 