Memorial to Serbian and Russian troops unveiled

Memorial to Serbian and Russian troops unveiled

BELGRADE -- A memorial to Serbian and Russian troops who died defending Belgrade during the First World War was unveiled at the Belgrade Fortress on Thursday.

It is the first joint memorial for the troops of the two countries related to that period.

Serbian President Tomislav Nikolić and President of Russia St. Andrew the First-Called Foundation Vladimir Yakunin unveiled the monument, while Serbian Orthodox Patriarch Irinej blessed it together with an envoy from Russian Patriarch Kirill.

"Standing before this monument, we recall how the Great War tested that brotherly bond between our two nations, and among all the Slavic nations, 100 years ago. It is a great history lesson that passes a moral of friendship and exalted sacrifice from generation to generation," Nikolić noted.

He added that the Austro-Hungarians declared war on the Kingdom of Serbia on July 28, 1914 and that Belgrade had been bombed from the other side of the Sava the very following day, while Russia, itself unprepared for warfare, had mobilized its forces, entered into the war and begun to send military, material and financial assistance to Serbia.

By the end of the war, Russia formed a river flotilla whose main task was to deliver military assistance to Serbia. The Russian expedition was made up of both coastal and anti-aircraft artillery and more than 1,500 Russian soldiers laid down their lives for Serbia's freedom during the war mission.

Nikolić said that Serbia owed a debt of gratitude to the Foundation and the Center of National Glory of Russia who had presented the citizens of Belgrade with the monument symbolizing the joint defense by Russian and Serbian soldiers. ...