World Jewish Congress backs Vucic and Serb authorities: "An example for the whole world" (PHOTO)

Foto: Tanjug/Predsedništvo Srbije

The president of the Republic of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, today received representatives of the World Jewish Congress - Interim CEO Maram Stern and Ernest Herzog, the Press Office of the President of the Republic has announced.

President Vucic emphasized the importance of the work of the World Jewish Congress, which, as an international federation of Jewish communities and organizations, fights for the rights of Jews worldwide.

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He said that Serbia appreciates the Jewish community and respects its rights, because Serbs and Jews have shared a tragic fate throughout history, especially during the Second World War.

President Vucic recalled that Serbia is the first country in the region and beyond to pass a special law on restitution of property to Holocaust victims without living legal heirs.

Photo: Tanjug/Presidency of Serbia

World Jewish Congress interim CEO Stern said the passing of the law was a major step and highlighted Serbia as an example for the entire world.

He emphasized that they greatly appreciate and support President Vucic and the Serbian authorities because of everything that has been done for the position of Jews, and because of Serbia's good relations with Israel.

The two interlocutors agreed that there is no antisemitism in Serbia, while President Vucic added that Serbia condemns any form of antisemitism.

Photo: Tanjug/Presidency of Serbia

He also stressed that Serbia has friendly relations and substantial cooperation with Israel, which was confirmed during last year's visit by President Rivlin.

The conversation stressed the importance of commemorating the place of suffering of a large number of victims at the site of the former camp at Old Fairgrounds, by building a memorial center there with the same name.

President Vucic expressed his dissatisfaction with the slow implementation of the project, as well as his expectation that the mistakes made by the Serbian representatives would be corrected, and that the memorial center project would be completed more quickly.

Photo: Tanjug/Presidency of Serbia

Interim CEO Stern invited President Vucic to attend a ceremony in Auschwitz in January, in addition to the marking of Holocaust Remembrance Day in Yad Vashem, that will mark the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the camp.

The meeting was also attended by United States Ambassador Kyle Scott and the ambassador of the State of Israel, Alona Fisher-Kamm, a statement said.

(Telegraf.rs)