Macut lays wreath at Jajinci memorial park

BELGRADE - Serbian PM Djuro Macut laid a wreath at the Jajinci memorial park on Wednesday at a state ceremony that marked the Remembrance Day for the Victims of the Holocaust, Genocide and Other Victims of Fascism in WWII.

"Macut emphasised that today we stand as guardians of the memory of tens of thousands of innocent victims – Serb, Jewish and Roma women, men and children – whose lives were taken in the darkest chapter of history, as a result of ideologies of hatred that must never again be repeated," a government statement said.

"He noted that the tragedy at Jajinci speaks of the price humanity pays when respect for human life is lost and, as he underlined, we must always point out that peace is a value that must be safeguarded on a daily basis.

According to him, the strength of our society is reflected in understanding and respect for every individual, regardless of origin, religion or name, while remembrance of the victims obliges us to stand against oblivion, relativisation and the revision of history.

Serbia remains committed to preserving peace, dignity and mutual respect, the Prime Minister stated, adding that humanity and peace must be our highest values," it also said.

"We will forever preserve the memory of all innocent victims – Serb, Roma and Jewish women, men and children," Macut noted.

The Remembrance Day for the Victims of the Holocaust, Genocide and Other Victims of Fascism in WWII is observed on April 22, the date when the last surviving prisoners of the Jasenovac death camp in the WWII-era Independent State of Croatia broke out of the camp in 1945.