VUKOVAR, Dec 30 (Hina) - A monument was unveiled on Wednesday at the +Ovcara mass grave site near Vukovar (eastern Croatia).+ The monument was erected in honour of 200 patients and employees of +the Vukovar hospital who had been
killed by the Serb aggressor on +November 20, 1991 at the Ovcara farm.+ Croatian President's envoy, Vesna Skare-Ozbolt, said the most +grievous crime took place in Vukovar, the more so because all the +human rights of the wounded from the Vukovar hospital had been +violated.+ Although this crime has no statute of limitations, the perpetrators +have not yet been punished, she stressed.+ "Not one of the Vukovar executioners has been brought to justice, +and there can be no peace without justice," Skare-Ozbolt stressed.+ Despite the aching wounds, we are turning to the future, and every +victim will have a proper burial. The fate of Croatia is above all +fates of Croatian citizens, Skare-O
VUKOVAR, Dec 30 (Hina) - A monument was unveiled on Wednesday at the
Ovcara mass grave site near Vukovar (eastern Croatia).
The monument was erected in honour of 200 patients and employees of
the Vukovar hospital who had been killed by the Serb aggressor on
November 20, 1991 at the Ovcara farm.
Croatian President's envoy, Vesna Skare-Ozbolt, said the most
grievous crime took place in Vukovar, the more so because all the
human rights of the wounded from the Vukovar hospital had been
violated.
Although this crime has no statute of limitations, the perpetrators
have not yet been punished, she stressed.
"Not one of the Vukovar executioners has been brought to justice,
and there can be no peace without justice," Skare-Ozbolt stressed.
Despite the aching wounds, we are turning to the future, and every
victim will have a proper burial. The fate of Croatia is above all
fates of Croatian citizens, Skare-Ozbolt stressed.
She added the victims had not fallen in vain.
Croatian Homeland War Soldiers Minister Juraj Njavro said Ovcara
was a place of dignity and tears, where all human rights had
perished and lives of wounded soldiers from the Vukovar hospital
lost.
Croats are a peace-loving people, ready to forgive, but never
forget.
This monument is a warning to everybody not to forget who is on the
other bank of the Danube River, he added.
The granite monument in the form of a cross and dove is a message to
everybody that we will be doves, but also granite if necessary,
Njavro stressed.
Croatian National Sabor vice-president Jadranka Kosor said this
gathering is the granting of a promise to the Vukovar victims that
we would not forget the crimes committed against the Croatian
people on November 20, 1991. AN unprecedented crime occurred on
Ovcara at the end of the 20th century, in front of those who could
have prevented the evil, but did not do so, Kosor said.
Ovcara is a permanent warning to the international community which,
with its indifference, made possible the crash of humanity and
human rights in the heart of Europe, Kosor stressed.
She added there would be no peace until the perpetrators of the
crimes were punished. She called on all the people gathered to
persist in the struggle against oblivion.
Without memories of the past, we have no right to the future, Kosor
stressed.
Vukovar's mayor Vladimir Stengl said Vukovar was a history book
about the creation of the Croatian state.
All those who committed the crimes will be sentenced. We shall
remain by our victims which we must not forget, Stengl stressed.
Numerous wreaths were laid and candles lit at the foot of the
monument after its unveiling.
Present at the ceremony were representatives of the Croatian
Government, President's Office, Parliament, Croatian Homeland War
Soldiers Ministry, Interior Ministry, Croatian veterans'
societies, numerous residents of Vukovar, along with family
members of the victims.
Present were also Croatian National Sabor vice-president Vladimir
Seks, Culture Minister Bozo Biskupic, Vukovar-Srijem County
officials headed by County Prefect Rudolf Koenig, Croatian army
officers and others.
(hina) lml