Brnabic, who lead the state ceremony marking the Day of Remembrance for the Victims of the Holocaust, Genocide and Other Victims of Fascism in World War II, stressed that Serbia today, under the leadership of President Aleksandar Vucic, continues to be the voice of reason and stability.

“It is precisely because we remember well the price of war and the price of division that we advocate for dialogue, peace and stability in our region, as well as the entire European continent and the world. Serbia is consistent, reliable and peace-loving. That is where our strength lies, it is maturity and it shows our responsibility," said Brnabic.

She recalled that during World War II, in the camps of Jajinci, Sajmiste, Jadovno, Prebilovci, Stara Gradiska, and Jasenovac, people were killed simply because they were Serbs, Jews, Roma and anti-fascists, because of their religion and name, because they were different. "Jajinci was one of the largest execution sites in Europe, where more than 80,000 Serbs, Jews, Roma and anti-fascists of other nations lost their lives in just a few years. It is a tragedy that is impossible to understand, but we must remember it. The memory of Jajinci is a responsibility to never allow something like that to happen again," Brnabic emphasised. She added that this is why Jajinci is more than a monument, a reminder that human life and dignity must be above all ideology, division and hatred. "Today, 80 years later, we pay tribute to their fall not only in words, but in deeds as well, preserving peace, defending the truth, protecting the values on which freedom rests. Our obligation is not to allow evil to be trivialised, suffering to be forgotten, the truth to be silenced, and that is why Serbia has actively dedicated itself to developing a culture of remembrance. Not because we want to live in the past, but because we draw lessons and moral foundations for the future from the past," Brnabic said. She pointed out that this is also evidenced in the support the state provides to the Genocide Victims’ Museum, the renovation of memorial complexes, as well as cooperation with research institutions and dialogue with the families of victims. She added that this is not just a matter of politics, but duty and respect.

"Unfortunately, we live in a time when what should not be relativised is sometimes quietly but persistently relativised. Victims are forgotten, silence becomes the official position. These are not coincidences, they are warnings to all of us. We must all be vocal in defending historical truth, not for the sake of the past, but for the sake of the children we teach what is good and what is evil. Serbia does this peacefully and decisively, without revanchism and hatred, with the awareness that there is no compromise when it comes to the truth," said Brnabic.

She stressed that as the President's envoy and the Speaker of the Assembly, and above all as a human being, she came to pay tribute to the victims and, on behalf of our entire country, to express what every person who comes to Jajinci feels: sadness, pride, and obligation.

"Let us not forget, that we will remain on the side of memory and that we will preserve the values of freedom, the fight against fascism, for truth and peace. That we will know what the price of silence is and why our voice is important now," said Brnabic.

As she said, Jajinci is pain, but it is a lesson, too. "A moral obligation was born here, never to deviate from humanity. That is why 22 April is not just a reminder of one event. It is a warning to all human kind not to repeat the same mistakes and not to allow new hatred. To understand how valuable and fragile freedom is," Brnabic said.

Source: TANJUG