JERUSALEM, Oct 31 (Hina) - Croatian President Stjepan Mesic on Wednesday signed the Yad Yashem book of memory in front of the building dedicated to the memory of a million and a half of Jewish children who were killed during World War
Two. Together with a Croatian delegation, he visited the Memorial Centre and laid a wreath for the victims of the holocaust. "Today's Croatia and its president are aware of the grave tragedy of the Jewish people during WWII. We are also aware, without hiding this and with deep regret, that the victims of the holocaust include Jews who were killed on the territory ruled by the quisling regime of the so-called Independent State of Croatia," Mesic said and added that his visit to Yad Yashem was for him not only a protocol duty, but a wish to pay his respect to the millions of victims of the holocaust, including those who were killed by Croatians. "I ask for forgiveness from anybody who have ev
JERUSALEM, Oct 31 (Hina) - Croatian President Stjepan Mesic on
Wednesday signed the Yad Yashem book of memory in front of the
building dedicated to the memory of a million and a half of Jewish
children who were killed during World War Two. Together with a
Croatian delegation, he visited the Memorial Centre and laid a
wreath for the victims of the holocaust.
"Today's Croatia and its president are aware of the grave tragedy of
the Jewish people during WWII. We are also aware, without hiding
this and with deep regret, that the victims of the holocaust include
Jews who were killed on the territory ruled by the quisling regime
of the so-called Independent State of Croatia," Mesic said and
added that his visit to Yad Yashem was for him not only a protocol
duty, but a wish to pay his respect to the millions of victims of the
holocaust, including those who were killed by Croatians.
"I ask for forgiveness from anybody who have ever been harmed by
Croatians. I say this not only because this is expected of me, but
because I sincerely think and feel so. Today and here this applies
to Croatian Jews killed during WWII," the president stressed.
He asserted that the Croatian people were not responsible for the
crimes "because not one nation can be blamed collectively", but
individuals who had committed war crimes. He added that all war
criminals who are still at large should be brought to justice.
Recalling that Yad Yashem is a horrific reminder of crimes without
precedent in the history of mankind, Mesic stressed that nobody and
with any justifications should bring the holocaust into question,
or make relative the sufferings of the Jewish people.
The holocaust, he continued, must be remembered not only by the
Jewish people, but by all people in general, as this memory is the
only guarantee that such a thing would never occur again.
"I have arrived here to show that Croatia remembers, and the policy
it is carrying out today shows that despite resistance, we have
drawn the true lesson," Mesic concluded.
(hina) lml