HISTORICAL LESSON HELD, NOVI ZEJTINLIK SYMBOL OF SUFFERING

SOKOLAC, MARCH 30 /SRNA/ - Today, participants of the "Meetings of Serbian Countries" event, together with representatives of the Pale Veterans' Organization, visited the Novi Zejtinlik cemetery in Sokolac, laid wreaths and paid their respects to the fallen soldiers of the Patriotic War.

At the Central Memorial Cross in Novi Zejtinlik, historian Lazar Škobo held a historical lesson and brought the importance of this place closer to those present.

"Even in the most beautiful moments, we must not forget those who gave their lives so that we can enjoy freedom today. We came to the Novi Zejtinlik cemetery, which is the greatest symbol of the suffering of the Serbian people in the Defensive-Patriotic War," Škobo told reporters.

He said that the Novi Zejtinlik cemetery is a symbol of the struggle of the Sarajevo Serbs who laid the foundation and made the greatest sacrifice for the creation of Republika Srpska.

Škobo expressed the hope that young people from Serbia could get real impressions about this important place.

A member of the Pale Veterans' Organization, Jovica Goreta, said that the participants of the event laid wreaths, lit candles, thus expressing their respect and remembering the heroes who gave their lives to defend their homeland.

This year's manifestation is held under the slogan "One flag - one country", and is organized by the Association for the Defense of Cyrillic "Dobrica Erić" in cooperation with the Representative Office of Republika Srpska in Serbia, with the support of the Cabinet of the President of Republika Srpska and the help of long-time friends of the event.

The idea and preparations for this event began in 1994, and the first "Meetings" were organized in 1995 during the war.

Since then, this traditional assembly gathers Serbs from the region and the diaspora every year, with a rich cultural, sports and humanitarian program, with the exception of interruptions during the aggression against the FRY in 1999 and the emergency situation related to the corona virus in 2020 and 2021.

The goal is to preserve and promote Serbian culture, language and identity, as well as to strengthen ties between Serbian communities around the world.