Đurić in Jerusalem at Book Launch on the Suffering of Serbs, Jews, and Roma

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia, Marko Đurić, stated today at the Menachem Begin Heritage Center in Jerusalem, during the presentation of the book “Ustashe Crimes: A Collection of Documents (1941–1942)”, that there is a shared responsibility to ensure that such tragedies are never forgotten, denied, or repeated.

Emphasizing that the publication is a work of exceptional historical importance and a powerful testimony to the suffering of the Serbian, Jewish, and Roma peoples during World War II, Đurić underlined its enduring moral weight and its significance for understanding the past.

“This book is not merely a collection of documents. It is the voice of those who can no longer speak, a testimony to the victims, and a warning to future generations—one that obliges us to preserve and convey the truth without distortion,” Đurić stated.

He assessed that World War II represents one of the darkest chapters for both the Serbian and Jewish peoples, whose histories are deeply intertwined through tragedy, but also through a shared commitment to preserving memory and dignity. According to him, understanding these sufferings transcends national frameworks and forms part of the broader human narrative of the Holocaust and genocide.

Referring to contemporary challenges, Đurić warned of the rise of historical revisionism and extremist ideologies, particularly in the Balkans, where narratives persist that seek to relativize well-documented crimes, thereby undermining the foundations of historical truth. He stressed that it is the responsibility of institutions and society to respond decisively.

“Preserving historical truth is not merely an academic duty, but a moral imperative and a prerequisite for the stability of our societies. At a time when we are witnessing attempts to revise the past, it is our obligation to rely on facts and safeguard the dignity of the victims,” the Minister stated.

He further highlighted the importance of clear and principled action in the political and diplomatic sphere, emphasizing the need to promptly recognize and unequivocally reject ideologies rooted in the darkest periods of history, including neo-Nazi, neo-fascist, and neo-Ustashe narratives. He warned that silence and ambiguity are equally as dangerous as the outright denial of crimes.

Reflecting on the significance of presenting the book in Jerusalem, Đurić noted that it further underscores the universal character of remembrance and the need to address such suffering at the global level. He added that Israeli institutions serve as an example in preserving the memory of the Holocaust and as an inspiration for fostering a culture of remembrance, with such initiatives contributing to a deeper understanding of past atrocities and to countering hatred and intolerance.

Minister Đurić reiterated that all societies bear a lasting responsibility to nurture a culture of remembrance and, through education and institutional action, prevent the relativization of crimes, ensuring that the tragedies of the past are never repeated.

The book, authored by Milan Koljanin and collaborators, and published by the Archives of Vojvodina (Novi Sad), the publishing house “Beseda” of the Bačka Eparchy, the Archives of the Republic of Srpska, and “Obodsko slovo” (Podgorica), is the result of years of research and provides a comprehensive account of Ustaše terror through archival material and testimonies of survivors from the 1941–1942 period.