Serbian officials, citizens mark Victory Day

Serbian officials, citizens mark Victory Day

BELGRADE -- President Tomislav Nikolić on Friday took part in Victory Day ceremonies by placing a wreath at the Monument to the Unknown Hero on Mt. Avala, near Belgrade.

"Our gratitude for Serbia's freedom and for the victory over fascism that you fought for with your blood is eternal. We are leading the Serbia of today in such a way that its freedom will never again require the blood of our children," Nikolić wrote in the memorial site's guest book.

The president was accompanied during the ceremony by Defense Minister Bratislav Gašić and Serbian Army chief General Ljubiša Diković.

WW2 Victory Day was also marked with a ceremony at the Liberators of Belgrade memorial, and Serbian Minister of Labor, Employment, Veteran and Social Issues Aleksandar Vulin laid a wreath on behalf of the government.

He said that Serbia has been humble for too long in terms of its role in the great victory, stressing that the country "got an entry ticket to Europe on May 9, 1945."

"For too long, Serbia was humble when speaking about its role in the great win. For too long, Serbia allowed others to give credit to themselves rather than Serbia and its people,” Vulin said after the ceremony.

"On this day in 1945, we got an entry ticket and acquired the right to be a part of Europe and a part of the civilized world," the minister said, adding that Serbia was never on the wrong side.

Officials of the Defense Ministry, the Serbian Armed Forces, SUBNOR, the city of Belgrade, and the embassies of the Russian Federation, Ukraine, Belarus and Azerbaijan also took part in the ceremony.

The flowers and wreaths were laid by numerous citizens including a...