STATEMENTS

THE CHANCELLERY OF
H.R.H. CROWN PRINCE ALEXANDER
OF YUGOSLAVIA

THEIR ROYAL HIGHNESSES ON THE “GREAT SCHOOL CLASS” IN ŠUMARICE NEAR KRAGUJEVAC

Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Aleksandar and Crown Princess Katarina attended the commemoration marking 60 years since the killing of Kragujevac pupils in the Second World War.

The memorial service for the innocent victims of German terror in Šumarice near Kragujevac served by His Grace Bishop of Vranje Pahomije was followed by the traditional cultural event the “great school class”. His Royal Highness Crown Prince Aleksandar laid flowers on the place where on October 21st 1941 German occupation forces shot over 7000 pupils in revenge for losses caused by the partisans.

This sad event was attended by numerous guests from the country and abroad, among them the German ambassador Mr. Joachim Schmidt, representatives of the Embassies of Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland as well as the military attachėes of Grece and Italy, representatives of the Yugoslav Army, and federal, republic and local goverment representatives.

Before the departure for Šumarice, the President of Kragujevac municipality Dr. Vlatko Rajković hosted a reception for all guests in the City Hall. Addressing those present, Crown Prince Aleksandar said that rememberance and sadness are our rights and duties but looking toward the future was what we owed to the innocent victims of Kragujevac.

“God bless those for whom we are here today and let God look upon us that gather here. We are all God's people and he seeks love in our hearts and wisdom in our heads,” emphasized His Royal Highness Crown Prince Aleksandar.

Belgrade, October 21, 2001