By laying wreaths near the Monument to the Shot Slovaks in Kragujevac, 105 years have been commemorated since the day when 44 members of the reserve Trenčín 71st Infantry Regiment of the Austro-Hungarian Army were executed, because they resisted the war and senseless suffering. The wreaths were laid by Ambassador of the Slovak Republic Fedor Rosocha, State Secretary in the Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veterans and Social Affairs Lav Pajkić, President of the City Assembly Miroslav Petrašinović, representatives of the Ministry of Defense, the Serbian Army, the Memorial Park “Kragujevački oktobar”, non-governmental organizations and citizens.
Today, as we stand here together, not only that we remember the suffering, but also express our determination to build a society based on equality, tolerance and peace, said the President of the City Assembly, Miroslav Petrašinović. Everyone has the right to live in peace and freedom, regardless of their national or ethnic affiliation, he stressed and called on everyone to continue to work together for dialogue, understanding and preservation of peace and dignity of all people. Let today's commemorative gathering be an opportunity to once again express our respect for the victims and emphasize the value of life and the importance of togetherness and mutual respect. Only through joint efforts can we build a better future for our children. Kragujevac believes in the future of peace, Petrašinović said.
We met again at Stanovljansko polje to honor the soldiers who heroically stood up against war and oppression. Although 44 of them paid for this rebellion with their lives, they morally and spiritually reached the pedestal that celebrates humanity, said Ambassador Fedor Rosocha. The years that have passed have not diminished the courage of the Slovak soldiers, he added, and thanked the City of Kragujevac for taking care of their final resting place with dignity and respect for over a century. I am glad that the sacrifice they made at the end of the First World War is not forgotten. We consider the Monument next to which we are standing to be a symbol of the exceptional relations between Slovakia and Serbia and our two peoples, said His Excellency Ambassador Rosocha.
Today, 105 years later, we remember the brave soldiers who, although aware that they would pay the price of rebellion with their lives, stood up against a stronger one, considering that price to be worth the freedom. That is why it is our duty to remember them and speak with pride about their act, said the State Secretary, Lav Pajkić. Only a country that remembers has a future, he said and emphasized that Serbia and Slovakia still share the same values and have been nurturing friendly relations based on mutual respect, trust, support and key issues of national interest for more than a century.
