The central ceremony marking the 30th anniversary of the Croatian military action "Storm" and the exodus of the Serbian population from the former Republika Srpska Krajina will be celebrated tonight, August 3, in Sremski Karlovci in the presence of the highest state officials.
We remember forever.
The program was called "The storm is a pogrom - Let's remember forever", and it was announced that the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, and the President of the Republic of Srpska, Milorad Dodik, would speak, and the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Porfirije, would serve as a memorial service for the victims.
In Serbia and the Republika Srpska, August 4 is the Day of Remembrance of the Victims and Exiled Serbs.
According to the data of the Veritas Documentation and Information Center, 1.881 persons of Serbian nationality were killed or disappeared in the "Storm" action. The operation began with an attack on Knin at dawn on August 4, 1995, and more than 220.000 people began to evacuate, while on their way to Serbia and Republika Srpska they were attacked by Croatian artillery and the military air force. Refugees were not allowed to enter Belgrade, but only to pass through Arsenij Čarnojević Boulevard.
Citizens' Assembly
The Citizens' Assembly of Sremski Karlovac announced that they will not attend the central state ceremony in that city on the occasion of three decades since the "Storm", with the explanation that the commemorative gathering is organized by the people who are largely responsible for it, as well as for all other horrors in the last 30 years and more.
"With great reverence and deep sadness, we remember the victims of the criminal action 'Storm'. We especially sympathize with their families and descendants, many of whom are our fellow citizens in Sremski Karlovci today," the choir said in a post on Instagram.
Under normal circumstances, as they stated, it would be quite natural for them to commemorate such important historical events together with the president of the country, but the reality is, unfortunately, completely different.
That's why they invite everyone to join the students and "all people with a clean heart and face" at the commemorative meeting that will be held near the Futoska market in Novi Sad on Monday, August 4, at 20 p.m.
"Our strength is in our unity, sincerity and responsibility towards the past and the future," said the choir of Sremski Karlovac.
Photo: WikipediaCourt
Representatives of Serbia in Croatia
In Croatia, in the municipality of Dvor in Banija, a commemoration was held in the village of Donji Žirovac on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Croatian military operation "Storm", where in August 1995 civilians from the refugee column, including children, were killed.
From Serbia, the commemoration was attended by delegations of the Movement of Free Citizens and the Green-Left Front.
"By jointly attending this commemoration, PSG and ZLF wanted to show human respect for the innocent victims and to remind of the importance of truth, memory and responsibility as a foundation for reconciliation in the region," the statement said.
It was added that innocent victims, regardless of their national, religious or political affiliation, deserve silence, respect and the truth.
Reconciliation among the peoples of the former Yugoslavia, PSG stated, is possible only through recognition and understanding of the suffering of all parties.
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