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Serbia Commemorates National Remembrance Day of the Roma Genocide

19.12.2012

Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia Mr. Ivica Dacic headed the central state commemorative ceremony on the occasion of marking the National Remembrance Day of Roma Genocide in World War II.

The ceremony was held on 16 December 2012 at the site of a mass grave of civilians killed in World War II, within the memorial complex "Stratiste" in Jabuka near Pancevo.  After the ceremony of laying wreaths and paying tributes, speeches were delivered by the Prime Minister of Serbia Mr. Ivica Dacic, the representative of the National Council of the Roma National Minority Ms. Sofka Vasiljkovic and Mayor of Pancevo Mr. Svetozar Gavrilovic.

The Prime Minister Mr. Dacic said among other things that "the genocide against the Roma in World War II is one of the most tragic episodes of this armed conflict, which has almost been completely forgotten by the present generations, and unfortunately suffering of Roma in the territory of the occupied Serbia during World War II was not limited only to these tragic events."

The state ceremony was attended by the descendants of the victims, representatives of the Roma national minority, the City of Pancevo and associations of citizens.