Session of the Jadovno Board

Based on Article 108, item 3 of the Constitution of the Serbian Orthodox Church, and according to a need brought to the attention we reach the following

DECISION

with which, at the Eparchy of Gornji Karlovci, we establish a Board for marking and cherishing the memory on the victims of the complex of Ustasha camps Jadovno 1941.

The members of the Board are:

His Holiness Bishop of Gornji Karlovci Gerasim, President
Mr Dušan Bastašić, Doctor of Dental Medicine from Banja Luka, Vice President
Archimandrite Mihailo, Prior of the Monastery Gomirje
Archpriest-stavrophore Mićo Kostić, Parish-rector of Rijeka
Archpriest Dalibor Tanasić, Parich-rector of Korenica
Mr Đuro Zatezalo, historian
Mr Rade Kosanović, Head of Krnjak Municipality
Mr Milorad Delić, Head of Vrhovine Municipality
Mr Slobodan Platiša, Director of the Development Centre of the Serbian People’s Council
Mr Siniša Ljubojević, Vice Mayor of the City of Ogulin

The first session of this Board was held today at the Monastery of the Holy Virgin. The discussion involved the work of the Board, its tasks and objectives in the forthcoming period of its work.

PREAMBLE

There is no Orthodox family originating from the area once covered by the NDH which does not have a direct or collateral relative murdered during the existence of that state.

Adopting the suffering of the Serbian Orthodox people into the memory of our people is not only a due attitude towards our ancestors, but also a responsible attitude towards our future generations in order to prevent genocide.

PROGRAMME OF WORK

The Board preserves the liturgical and every other memory of the Martyrs of Jadovno and all other sufferers at the territory of Gornji Karlovac Diocese.

The Board keeps the memories and remembers of all of the martyrs, studies their suffering and celebrate it with liturgy.

The Board gathers the descendants and supporters of the Jadovno victims who with their work and activities contribute to preserving from oblivion this unprecedented crime that occurred in the Independent State of Croatia during the Second World War in the area of the Jadovno complex of camps and at other execution sites.

The aim of Board’s work is to let the whole world know about the Jadovno tragedy and preserving the memory of the innocent victims, our family members, relatives, fellow countrymen and their fellow sufferers who were killed almost 70 years ago.

PLANNED BOARD ACTIVITIES

With structures of the Gornji Karlovac Diocese organise a requiem service for the Jadovno Martyrs each year on June 24, the Remembrance Day.
Organise a requiem and memorial service for the innocent victims on Sunday, June 26, 2011 on Velebit and at the Slana Bay on the island of Pag, as well as every next year on Saturdays or Sunday closest to June 24 of that year.
Work on completing the list of names on which Dr Zatezalo worked until 1990 and which was continued by the Museum of Genocide in Belgrade.
Work on encouraging descendants of victims to write and send their information about what happened to their family members, relatives and neighbours at the Jadovno execution sites and send photographs and other available documents.
Work on identifying public and private archives and sources that own historical documents connected to the Jadovno execution sites.
Organising lectures and presentations on Jadovno 1941.
Work on protecting registered Memorial Sites: Šaranova Pit, the location of Jadovno camp and Slana camp on the island of Pag and other execution sites all over the Gornji Karlovac Diocese.
Look for ways to introduce at least a piece of information on Jadovno 1941 into school textbooks and curricula.
Look for ways to give room in museums for the Jadovno execution sites.
Establish cooperation with Jewish organisation that deal with Jadovno, a common execution site for Serbs and Jews.
Work on encouraging news agencies and all other media, especially public media services to give media time to topics dealing with the genocide over the Serbs in the NDH.
Work on encouraging institutions, local, county and republic, to recognise the importance of the Board and support its activities.
Look for ways to name at least one street or a square in certain towns in the Republic of Croatia with Serbian majority after the Jadovno victims in 1941.
Insist that local, county and republic institutions introduce the Jadovno 1941 Remembrance Day into their calendars.
Recognise way to support the First International Jadovno 1941 Conference which is to be held in Banja Luka on June 24, 2011.
Work on identifying local and foreign legislations and resolutions relating to the preservation of Second World War monuments and which reject fascism as an ideology of evil, hatred between men and mutual extermination.
Work on identifying local and foreign institutions and funds which finance projects dealing with preserving memories on sufferings in the Second World War.

On the path to realise its objectives, the Board offers and is ready to cooperate with individuals and institutions in the country and abroad.

In Donji Budački

February 22, 2011.

Source: SVEŠTENA EPISKOPIJA GORNJOKARLOVAČKA