Rodić: The memory of the tragedy of the Serbs in the "Storm" obliges all of us

Rodić reminded that on Friday, 4 August 1995, in the early morning hours, the largest exodus after the Second World War began, which was carried out by the newly established Croatian state on the part of its territory where its Serbian citizens have always lived.

He pointed out that the military and police forces of the Croatian state carried out a brutal attack on the territory of the then Republic of Serbian Krajina, in which they were assisted by members trained by NATO instructors.

The exodus, which Europe has not seen since World War II on its territory, has resulted in the forcible expulsion of over a quarter of a million Serbs from the Croatian state.

Rodić also pointed out that operation "Storm" was assessed in the first-instance verdict of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia as a joint criminal enterprise with the aim of permanently and forcibly expelling Serbs from the RSK and Croatia, but that such a qualification was missing in the ongoing appeal procedure, which was carried out without the presence of public in that court.

Rodić said that Serbia and the Republic of Srpska will never forget the suffering of their compatriots, because to this day, even after 26 years, the fate of 1,853 Serbs who disappeared in this criminal activity is still unknown.

He reminds that more than 25,000 houses, homes of Serbs in which they have lived since the time when Austria created the Serbian Krajina, were destroyed in the operation.

"Remembering the greatest tragedy that was carried out on ethnic grounds obliges us to remember, to remember forever, and encourages us to work even harder and better, so that it would never happen again that we as a state, Serbia, as the homeland of all Serbs, are not able to provide assistance to our people, wherever they live", said Ambassador Rodić.

And that, as he says, in the same way as the great and powerful do, guided by the same principle – care for each of its citizens, wherever they may be.

"That is why Serbia is recognizable today, in Europe and the world, by the results that are amazing in terms of the economy and employment, by the peace that reigns on the streets and by the financial stability that attracts investors from all over the world, every day", said Rodić.