01.11.2018.
Minister Vulin: Serbs love freedom more than anything else
Do not ever underestimate the Serbs thinking that the Serbs and their state do not exist and that there will not be any. Serbs love freedom more than anything else and as such they have survived what the most numerous and the greatest ones would not survive. Serbian people remember everything, both good and evil. Only good they always unconditionally return, and evil they sometimes miss even to their own detriment, Defence Minister Aleksandar Vulin said at the opening of the exhibition hosted by the French Embassy entitled “Our History, Our Memories”, in the hall of the Old Court, dedicated to the liberation in the World War I, within the “Days of Freedom” event.
It is a travelling exhibition of family memories and the French-Serbian friendship, which includes memories of the liberation of Serbia and the French-Serbian military and civil friendship.As Minister Vulin pointed out, alliance and courage forged with the French army and people, 100 years ago in this city, will not and cannot be forgotten.
- We, the descendants of heroes, have no other way but to try to be as big as they were, to become even bigger than them. The Serbs have never chosen the wrong side, because the values they are fighting for have nothing to do with names and sides, but with the values for which they exist. Serbian duke d'Esperey tells that the only one who could overtake the Serbian infantry was the Serbian cavalry, but he forgot to write down another sentence, that both the infantry and cavalry were overtaken only by the Serbian people. This was the same people who patiently, courageously, quietly and persistently died with their army only to prevent dying of their state. If the state dies, the freedom will die, and if there is no freedom, there is no reason or sense to live and exist, Minister Vulin emphasized.
He also said that the Serbian and French armies, exactly 100 years ago, once again proved that they were dying to save what we live for - for freedom.
- Every Serbian soldier appreciated the sacrifice of a French soldier more than his own, because the Serbs say they do not need any rewards or praise for living and dying for their country. That is the reason for which your exist. But it is a great reward and a deserved commendation from a distant foreigner who, with his struggle and death in this city exactly, became one of us, the Serbian Minister of Defence concluded.
The audience was addressed by Ms Geneviève Darrieussecq, Secretary of State to the Minister for the Armed Forces of the French Republic, and Mr Zoran Radojičić, Mayor of Belgrade.
Secretary of State Darrieussecq said that today she is here to mark the joint success of the armies of France and Serbia and to open the exhibition.
- The exhibition provides an insight into the history of the First World War, but also provides the possibility to highlight the suffering of cities and the price paid by all, the soldiers and the civilians during this war. Also, the exhibition connects the history of our two peoples through family memories, Darrieussecq said.The mayor of Belgrade said that the exhibition testifies to an important friendship for our country.
- Serbia and France were on the right side during the Great War. Our countries were loyal allies and comrades when it was the hardest, and the exhibition is the testimony of exactly that alliance, Radojičić said.
The “Days of Freedom” event was organized in Belgrade on the occasion of the 100 years since the liberation of Belgrade in the World War I and 74 years since the liberation of Belgrade in World War II, and will be completed tonight, with a ceremony at the “Sava” Centre.
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