High Representative Christian Schmidt attended “The Great School Class” at Šumarice Memorial Park near Kragujevac on Friday, the annual commemoration for the victims of mass executions committed by the armed forces of Nazi Germany in 1941.

“We bow to these victims in silence, yet the message from this place is thunderous: Never again! Remembering in particular the hundreds of school students murdered here, we are reminded of our duty to leave a better world to our successors. The pursuit of peace, and a safe and prosperous environment for the new generations, is a never-ending task.

Dealing with the past, acknowledging the victims, but turning towards the future – that is the best way to ensure such atrocities never happen again,” said the High Representative Christian Schmidt.

Apart from Schmidt, the ceremony was attended by other high-ranking officials from the region, including Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic.