Exhibition on Wehrmacht crimes in Serbia opens

BELGRADE - An exhibition on crimes committed by the Wehrmacht in Serbia during World War II has opened at Dom Vojske Srbije in Belgrade.

The author of the exhibition, which includes photos and documents related to the crimes committed by Wehrmacht troops against Jews, Serbs and Roma in Serbia, is Miroljub Filipovic.

Late Wednesday's opening of the exhibition was attended by Serbian Minister of Veteran and Social Affairs Aleksandar Vulin, who noted that what happened in that period must not be forgotten.

The Holocaust must not be forgotten, said the German and Israeli ambassadors to Serbia, Heinz Wilhelm and Josef Levi, who condemned the crimes committed during WWII.

Today, more than 70 years after the horrendous crimes committed by the Wehrmacht, Germany and Serbia are close partners and Germany is a privileged partner of Serbia in spite of the painful history that connects us, Wilhelm said.

For that reason, we are grateful to Serbia and we fully support Serbia's accession to the European Union, he said, adding that the unification of Europe, a historic endeavour, will not be complete until Serbia and other Western Balkan countries become EU member states.

Levy welcomed the Serbian government's efforts in marking the International Holocaust Remembrance Day, also thanking the Serbian president for this.

Archbishop Jovan of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Chief Rabbi of Serbia Isak Asiel and Ljuan Koka, a representative of the Roma national minority council, also spoke at the opening of the exhibition.

The exhibition, organised in collaboration with several museums in Serbia and the Odbrana Media Centre, is held under the auspices of the Ministry of Labour, Veteran and Social Affairs.