Today in Velica, 80 years have been marked since the genocide committed by members of the SS divisions "Skenderbeg" and "Prince Eugen".
More than 500 old men, women and children died.
At the end of July 2022, the Parliament of Montenegro adopted a resolution on the genocide in Piva and Velica.
40 deputies voted for the Resolution, three against and 28 abstained.
On the occasion of commemorating the 80th anniversary of the martyrdom, messages were sent by politicians and parties.
Ćulafić: Eighty years since the massacre of Veličani and other Gornjepolim residents, brings us together and reminds us that human life is the greatest value
Eighty years since the massacre of the people of Veličani and other Gornje Polimjans, it brings us together and reminds us that human life is the greatest value, announced the Minister of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Development of the North in the Government of Montenegro, Damjan Ćulafić.
He stated in the announcement that he "attended the holy bishop's liturgy, which was presided over today by Serbian Partarch Porfirije, in Velica, on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the genocide that was committed against the Orthodox population of Velika and Gornji Polimlje on July 28, 1944."
On that occasion, Ćulafić paid homage to the monument erected in honor of the victims of the great massacre, stressing the importance of remembering the innocent victims.
"Eighty years since the massacre of Veličani and other Gornje Polim residents, brings us together and reminds us that human life is the greatest value. The state of Montenegro has certain obligations towards this place, but also towards Piva, and it needs to realize these obligations as soon as possible. At the same time, coming here reminds us of the duties that we, as a state, assumed with the Resolution on Piva and Velica, and, first of all, to build a memorial center in Velica, but also to start teaching programs to nurture the culture of remembering this crime," he said. Ćulafić.
He emphasized the importance of memory as the basis for never repeating anything like this to anyone.
Borovinić Bojović: Our duty is that, regardless of nation and religion, we see in every person primarily a human being
The delegation of the Assembly of the Capital City, headed by the President Jelena Borovinić Bojović, laid flowers today at the monument to the victims of the crime in Velica, where on July 28, 1944, around 500 locals, mostly children, women and the elderly, tragically lost their lives, it was announced. from the Assembly of the Capital City.
"Members of the German SS Division 'Prince Eugen' with the support of the SS Mountain Division 'Skenderbeg' committed genocide and one of the most brutal crimes in the history of our country against innocent victims in the Chakor village of Velika on July 28, exactly 80 years ago," the statement reads.
Borovinić Bojović said that on this day, exactly 80 years ago, in just two and a half hours, the beastly cruelty of enemy military units took the lives of hundreds of helpless and unprotected people.
"This crime has left deep wounds in our collective consciousness, especially when we remember more than a hundred children under the age of 12 who also died," Borovinić Bojović pointed out.
She added that Velika is a reminder to everyone of the horrors caused by national and religious hatred and at the same time an eternal reminder that we strive as a society to never let it happen again.
"Our presence today is not only a sign of respect for the victims, but also a reminder that we must work to preserve peace and tolerance in our society. It is our duty, regardless of nation and religion, to see in every person primarily a human being - someone who has the right to life, dignity and respect. We undertake to never forget the suffering in Velica and to continue to build a society in which such crimes will not be possible. Eternal glory and memory to the innocent victims," said Borovinić.
In the announcement of the Assembly of the Capital City, it is also written that Borovinić Bojović "this morning participated in the holy bishop's liturgy, which was served by His Holiness the Serbian Patriarch Mr. Porfirije, with numerous bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church".
Joković: We will never forget that over six hundred innocent women, children and old people were brutally murdered in one day by Nazis and domestic traitors
On this day, we remember with deep reverence the innocent victims of the genocide in Velica, announced Vladimir Joković, Deputy Prime Minister for the Economic System and Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management and President of the Socialist People's Party (SNP).
"We will never forget that in one day over six hundred innocent women, children and old people were brutally killed by Nazis and domestic traitors. It is a great lesson for all of us, that we must build inter-religious and inter-national relations in order to live in peace and harmony, with mutual respect and understanding," Joković pointed out in the press release delivered by the SNP.
He added that good relations and understanding are the basis for building a harmonious and united society.
"It is our duty to remember this and similar crimes, to learn from the past in order to build a better future and build a more peaceful and prosperous society," said Joković.
Canović: The future is here, where we stand together, so different, yet with the same aspirations, hope and good intentions
With deep reverence, remembering the innocent victims, we are commemorating eight decades of the terrible crime in Velica, announced the President of Plav Municipality and member of the Presidency of the Social Democrats (SD) Nihad Canović.
"These extinguished lives should not be a reason for indignation. On the contrary, they should give us the will, so that, by remembering them, we too will be better. To be those who respect history, to build a healthy and clean future on it," he said. Canović.
"And as I have been in several places in the past few days: The future is here, where we stand together, so different, yet with the same aspirations, hope and good intentions," he concluded.
Koprivica: Innocent victims are embedded in the eternal foundation of freedom and dignity of our people
Deputy Prime Minister Momo Koprivica laid a wreath at the memorial monument in Velica on the occasion of July 28, the day of remembrance for the innocent civilians who died in 1944, his office announced.
As it was announced, Koprivica attended the liturgy and the commemoration of 80 years since the crime in Velica.
"The suffering and crucifixion of the villages of Velika and Upper Polim is part of our historical memory and culture of memory. Innocent victims are embedded in the eternal foundation of freedom and dignity of our people. On July 30, 2022, the Parliament of Montenegro adopted the Resolution on the genocide in Piva and Velica, thus defining the civilizational relationship and universal approach of our country, and confirming the commitment to the anti-fascist tradition. Tragic events that took the lives of innocent people and led to suffering, are a warning to the entire humanity never to be repeated, anywhere and to anyone. in good faith, on understanding, cooperation and togetherness, and the rejection of any attempt to collectivize responsibility, are a prerequisite for the prosperity and stability of any society," the announcement states.
Bečić: Glory to every fallen victim for freedom, eternal glory to the great martyrs
The Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the Democrats said that the crime in the village of Velika was one of the most terrible and biggest crimes in the Second World War, in relation to the number of inhabitants of the region where it was committed.
"On that July day, no one suspected that Nazi military formations and SS troops would put an end to the lives of over five hundred great old men, women and children in the most monstrous, almost unprecedented way, which makes this Montenegrin wound even bigger and deeper, and it is not that there were few of them in our history. The cruelty of the massacre in Velica, but also the indestructibility of this nation, is best shown by the record of a Nazi officer, after he saw a child feeding on a dead mother, whose blood ran cold even from this distance: 'This nation is indestructible! It feeds itself from dead breasts...'" the announcement states.
Bečić said that with the resolution on the genocide in Velica, which, at the proposal of the Democrats, was adopted in the Montenegrin parliament, "the martyrs of Velica are forever inscribed in the pages of fallen heroes for freedom, who selflessly laid down their lives so that Velika and Montenegro would live in freedom and peace".
"With the resolution, we also obliged the state of Montenegro to systematically remember this massacre, and as deputy prime minister, I will especially advocate for this during the mandate of this government, so that the great victims finally get a worthy memorial, but also a place in history that they have given to their saints. Every victim is equally painful and tragic, and by adopting resolutions that included all victims of tragic events in the Balkans, regardless of their name and surname, we became the only country in the region that faced the ugly past of these areas and thus showed its historical commitment to civilizational progress on the way to the family of European countries," the announcement reads.
"And I am especially proud of the fact that I lead one of the few parties that, voting for all resolutions, that is, condemnations of all genocides and crimes, in parliament did not divide the victims into religions and nations. So that certain measures that are being taken these days, whose proposals are coming from Montenegro, with the intention of correcting the actions and policies of our party, are completely unfounded and will not achieve the desired effect. Our dedication to the principles of justice, sovereignty and unity remains firm and unwavering. Glory to every fallen victim for freedom, eternal glory to the great martyrs," he concluded is Bečić.
DNP: The commemoration of the anniversary of the martyrdom is an eternal warning to all humanity
A delegation of the Democratic People's Party (DNP) led by the leader of that party, Miilan Knežević, attended the commemoration of the eightieth anniversary of the genocide in the village of Velika near Plav, the DNP announced.
In addition to Knežević, the DNP delegation included Milun Zogović, vice-president of the DNP and deputy prime minister, and Mihailo Asanović, president of the municipality of Zeta.
The Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Porfirije, held a liturgy to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the genocide committed by members of the SS divisions "Skenderbeg" and "Prince Eugen".
"The commemoration of the anniversary of the suffering of innocent victims, more than 500 old men, women and children, along with numerous burnings of houses during one of the most monstrous crimes against Orthodox life in Montenegro, committed by members of the 'Skenderbeg' and 'Prince Eugen' divisions, represents an eternal reminder to all humanity that such and similar crimes must never be repeated anywhere. The DNP emphasizes that we must always remember all the innocent victims and commemorate the anniversaries of this terrible genocide. The only basis on which we can to build healthy and advanced interpersonal relations," the announcement reads.
Dajković: When a man starts to count to five hundred, he gets tired halfway through
President of Free Montenegro, Vladislav Dajković, attended the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the genocide in Velica at the invitation of the Jokić brotherhood, Slobodna announced.
Dajković called the genocide "the ugliest symbol of the suffering of the Serbian people in Montenegro."
"When a man starts counting to five hundred, he gets tired half way through. Imagine then how much effort, evil desire and monstrosity was needed to kill almost five hundred people in Velica, among whom were mostly women and children. For the crime that happened eighty years ago, unfortunately, it was not only Hitler's Nazis who were to blame, but their closest neighbors, the Muslims from that region. To make matters even worse, many descendants of those people today believe that the Serbs are a genocidal nation," the statement said.
"Nevertheless, this gathering today led by our Patriarch, Metropolitan, Bishops and numerous descendants of the victims and hundreds of boys and girls in costumes and with smiles says only one thing - that Velika is really great and indestructible. And something else: that Velika is the best Christian an example of the victory of life over death. Finally, I want to thank the President of the Municipality of Plav Nihad Canović for his presence today and his devotion to the Serbian victims. I believe that this is the best step towards the reconciliation of our peoples," concluded Dajković.
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