COMMEMORATION OF THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LIBERATION OF AUSCHWITZ BY THE RED ARMY

Belgrade, 27 January 2005 – Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander II and Princess Katherine attended the official commemoration of 60th anniversary (27 January 1945) of the liberation of Auschwitz when the Red Army freed 7650 people from the concentration camp in the South of Poland.

This commemoration was organized in co-operation with the Association of Jewish Communities of Serbia and Montenegro and the news agency 'Tanjug'.

The commemorative academy started with reading of a letter sent by .H.E. Mr. Boris Tadic President of Serbia, in which he invited all nations to unite in the fight against hatred which affects everybody. «We have to place deep in our memory the tremendous tragedy which Jewish people had encountered and to fight for the respect of human rights».

The guests were also greeted by Mr. Luka Miceta director of the news agency 'Tanjug', who mentioned that the founders of 'Tanjug' were all the anti-fascist as well Mosa Pijade a Jew among them. We should remember this day, which is proclaimed the International day by the United Nations, and warn future generations that the Holocaust must not be repeated. «The Holocaust was a crime without precedent, whose aim was the total destruction of the Jewish people, who back then did not even have their own country».

H.E. Jafa Ben-Ari, Ambassador of Israel to Serbia and Montenegro emphasized that she, as a proud Jew, will do everything to convey the tragic legacy. «All people should have their rights, the same for everybody. All people should be respected regardless of their differences, a world should be a better place for all of us. That is my dream», emphasized Ben-Ari.

In the name of the Association of Jewish Communities guests were greeted by Mr. Alexander Gaon who stressed that the number of Jews still has not reached the one in the eve of the Second World War.

Everyone listened the tragic experience of Mrs. Eva Timar, one of the survivors of the concentration camp 'Auschwitz'.

The choir «Braca Baruh» and tambouritza orchestra performed the cultural program.

Besides Their Royal Highnesses and H.E. Jafa Ben-Ari Ambassador of Israel the commemoration in the «Sava Centre» was also attended by H.E Prvoslav Davinic Minister of Defence, Mr. Predrag Markovic Speaker of the House of the Serbian Parliament, H.E. Jocic Dragan Minister of Interior, H.E. Mr. Milan Radulovic Minister of Religion, the representatives of the diplomatic corps, Mr. Nenad Bogdanovic Belgrade City Mayor, Mr. Zeljko Zegovic the President of the New Belgrade Municipality, Mr. Darko Ribnikar director and the owner of the newspaper group «Politika», the representatives of the Serbia and Montenegro Armed Forces, the representatives of the Jewish Communities, as well as the students from the Belgrade Military Academy and the survivors from concentration camps with their family members.