COMMEMORATION OF THE DAY OF REMEMBRANCE FOR MARCH 17, 2004

COMMEMORATION OF THE DAY OF REMEMBRANCE FOR MARCH 17, 2004 Serbia commemorated the 2004 pogrom against Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija, a two-day event involving organized terror that resulted in deaths, injuries, displacement, and destruction of property and cultural monuments. Officials stated that the pogrom was a failure of international law and a systematic, planned persecution of the Serbian population, with perpetrators still unpunished. The event emphasized the importance of remembering the victims, rebuilding, preserving Serbian identity, and advocating for the safe return of displaced Serbs.

• On March 17-18, 2004, an organized pogrom against Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija resulted in 16 deaths, hundreds injured, over 4,000 displaced, and the destruction of over 1,000 structures.
• A commemorative event was held in Belgrade, attended by Serbian officials, to mark the Day of Remembrance for the 2004 Pogrom.
• Officials emphasized that the pogrom was a failure of international law and a systematic persecution of Serbs, their culture, faith, and identity.
• Speakers highlighted the need to remember the victims, preserve the truth, and pass it on to future generations, while also advocating for the safe return of Serbs to their homes.
• The event underscored the ongoing struggle for justice, with perpetrators of the pogrom remaining unpunished.
• Officials vowed that Serbia would not forget the victims and would continue to fight for the dignity and safety of Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija through diplomatic and legal means.
• The rebuilding of the Bogorodica Ljeviška church was cited as a symbol of resilience and the possibility of return for the displaced.