11.11.2012.

Armistice Day

Armistice Day in World War I was marked today in Serbia and tribute was paid by laying of wreaths at the memorial to commemorate the innocent victims of the WWI from 1914 to 1918. year.

The wreaths near the crypt to the defenders of Belgrade in World War I was laid at the New Cemetery in Belgrade, on behalf of the Government by Prime Minister Ivica Dacic.

On behalf of the Ministry of Defence, an MoD and SAF delegation, led by Brigadier General Dusan Stojanovic, commander of the Army Training Command Serbia laid the wreath.

Wreaths were also laid by representatives of the City of Belgrade, the ambassadors of France, Russia, Australia, the UK, Canada, Greece, Italy, USA, Romania, Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Germany, Bulgaria, as well as representatives of NGOs.

With full state and military honors, Army Chief of General Staff Lt. Gen. Ljubisa Dikovic, as the Representative of the President of the Republic of Serbia, laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Hero on Avala.

"Proud and freedom-loving citizens of Serbia remember with pride their brave ancestors who with their blood and lives together with the allied forces liberated Serbia in World War I and made a decisive contribution to the liberation of enslaved peoples of Europe. Eternal Glory and praise to you, wrote in a memorial book General Dikovic.

Furthermore, wreaths were also laid by representatives of veterans associations which foster the tradition of liberation wars.

Wreath laying ceremony was held at the French military cemetery, then at the memorial vault to Russian warriors and at the Commonwealth Cemetery. On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Serbia wreaths were laid by the Secretary of State of the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy Dragi Vidojevic.

Other delegations that laid wreaths were representatives of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces led by General Stojanovic, representatives of the City of Belgrade, the French Embassy, the Russian Federation, Australia, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Canada, Greece, Italy, the U.S., and representatives of the Embassy of Romania, the Netherlands , Belgium, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Germany and Bulgaria, as well as a representative of the Commonwealth - Ambassador of India, including representatives of the Embassy of Cyprus, Nigeria, Poland, Honorary Consulate of Sri Lanka Association of descendants of warriors Serbia from 1912 to 1920 , and NGOs.

Armistice Day commemorates the memory of the innocent victims who perished from 1914 to 1918 in WWI, and this is the first time the day has marked in our country as a national holiday.

Today, in accordance with the proposal of the President of Serbia, which was accepted by the Government, this day is to be marked nationwide and with obvious ceremonies. It was suggested that the emblem - a badge and a poster to mark Armistice Day is a combination of Natalia’s ramonda, or Serbian phoenix flower and the Albanian memorials, but the poster is to bear an explanation of both symbols.