WORK OF MEMORIAL CENTER OF REPUBLIKA SRPSKA ENCOURAGES FAMILIES OF VICTIMS TO WITNESS

BELGRADE, JUNE 2 /SRNA/ - President of Belgrade Suza Association of the Families of the Missing and Killed People Dragana Đukić said that the families of the Serbian victims from Croatia are encouraged by activities of the Memorial Center of Republika Srpska, and that more and more of them are ready to testify, and that she hopes that the Center will soon present its activities in Belgrade.

Đukić emphasized that the families are satisfied with the way the database of the Memorial Center in Banja Luka is presented, as well as with how much attention is paid to and respect for the victims in Republika Srpska.

"And we, of course, participate, so that our families can also give visual testimonies. It is important that it is presented to the public and that it will be translated into several languages," she said.

Đukić said that it is of great importance that everyone be involved in that process and that every Serbian victim be recorded.

"In this way, we will ensure that they are not forgotten. It is the least we can do, our debt to them," said Đukić.

She stated that the Suza Association gave the testimonies to the Memorial Center, and that she hopes that soon, in Serbia, there will be a promotion of what has been done so far, so that other families will be encouraged to testify, which would mean a lot.

"People are a little skeptical because they have already made statements many times here and to people from abroad. They no longer trust and are tired of going back to the past and hurting themselves, but it is very important that they get to know each other well, to understand that what the Center is doing is something that is permanent, important for future generations," Đukić said.

According to her, visual testimony is especially important in today's multimedia world, when few people read.

"We have to work on the promotion of all that, so that people understand how important it is and get involved. A lot of things are changing for the better because people followed the events in Banja Luka, they saw how dignified it looks and now it is important to promote and present that base here as well, to inform people, simply, how to get in touch, because it is important that no victim is forgotten," says Đukić.

She stressed that it is important to talk about the Serbian victims as much and as often as possible so that the truth about the suffering of the Serbs reaches the world.

Đukić said that the "Remembrance" exhibition at the UN Palace in Geneva at the end of March, as well as in the Parliament of Serbia, made a significant contribution to this, when many could learn about the suffering of Serbs in Croatia and Kosovo and Metohija through the texts and accompanying illustrations.

"I can say that for the first time all the countries that were present in Geneva on those days were informed that the building houses an exhibition dedicated to the memory of Serbian suffering. We chose 16 works from Croatia, 16 from Kosovo and Metohija, and the works also represent mass suffering and the taking away of people before the war, the suffering of entire families, therefore, all categories of suffering," said Đukić.

Referring to the Government of Serbia's announcement that by the end of the year, Serbia will pass a law on the missing, Đukić emphasized that the most important thing for the families is that the Serbian victims are recognized as victims by this law.

"For decades, we have lived without the financial satisfaction, that we will receive," said Đukić and pointed out that it is more important than that that the law will recognize their loved ones who suffered as victims.

She reminded that the search is on for around 1,500 more missing Serbs in Croatia, and for around 500 in Kosovo and Metohija.