KRESTIĆ: NO OTHER EUROPEAN NATION SUFFERED AS MUCH AS SERBS

BELGRADE, DECEMBER 24 /SRNA/ – Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts /SANU/ academic Vasilije Krestić told SRNA that the figure of 700,000 people killed in the Jasenovac concentration camp is the minimum below which Serbian historiography, relevant institutions, and the state must not go, stressing that any other interpretation amounts to a disgraceful trade in victims.

Krestić warned that the victims must not be subject to bargaining, emphasizing that he consistently stands by the figures recorded by the enemy themselves- German generals, because, as he said, "they had no reason to deceive anyone."

"These enormous figures are found in their reports. Therefore, without investigations and excavations that should be carried out, we must in principle accept that number," he said.

Krestić says he does not understand why Serbia still does not have a memorial center dedicated to those killed during the NDH, despite repeated promises, nor why four attempts to adopt a law on a Day of Genocide have failed in the National Assembly of Serbia, and why the genocide against the Serbs still has no name.

"It is not important whether we call the genocide against the Serbs `Serbocide`, ‘the massacre,' or something else, but it is essential that we also have a name for genocide, just as Jews or Roma do," Krestić stated.

He asked why nothing is being done on this issue and who benefits from such inaction.

"Is it possible that we are currying favor with the Croats? Do we want to buy their affection, to please them so they let us into the EU? Do they think that with such falsifications and improprieties we can gain anything? In this way, we only take revenge on our victims and trade in them. We disgracefully trade in them and kill them again," Krestić said categorically.

He stated that the reasons for inaction are irrational, especially the fact that the Museum of Genocide Victims, as the competent institution, ties the number of those killed in Jasenovac to names.

"It is difficult to speak of 80,000, 90,000, or 100,000 solely because these are known names. Jews have around eight million victims of the Holocaust, yet they do not rely on first and last names. Therefore, one rule applies to them, while another is imposed on us. I do not know who imposes it and why. Why do we accept it, and why does an institution that exists by the will of the state and is funded by the state apply such a principle and an unscientific method?" he asked.

Krestić stressed that demography as a science has long shown that there is no country or people in Europe that suffered as the Serbs did.

"We run away from science; we do not respect scientific findings. Everything is subordinated to politics, so that our historiography and that policy in this field are scandalous," he believes.

Krestić argued that it is of the utmost importance for the Serbian people to be informed about the ideology of genocide.

"To know why it arises, when it arises, who creates the ideology of genocide and for what purpose, and whether the ideology of genocide still exists in Croatian society or not," he emphasizes.

He reminded that over the past two months he has published a short book addressing this issue.

"Based on first-rate sources, primarily Croatian ones, I have provided answers to all these questions. The ideology of genocide has not been destroyed in Croatia. It still exists, and we submit to that ideology and do it favors," Krestić stressed.