Dikovic: Greek-Serbian friendship forged in war still strong

PIROT – Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces of Serbia and Greece, Generals Ljubisa Dikovic and Michail Kostarakos, respectively, laid wreaths and paid their tributes to Greek and Serbian soldiers killed during the First World War at a memorial complex in Metiljavica near Pirot, southeastern Serbia, on Friday.

The commemoration ceremony at the Serbian and Greek war cemeteries in Metiljavica was attended by the military attaches of the United Kingdom, the United States Canada, France, Cyprus and other countries.

“The friendship between Serbia and of Greece was forged in the wars over one hundred years ago, when Serbian and Greek soldiers fought and died for freedom side by side. The friendship continues today and will last into the future,” General Dikovic said.

General Kostarakos said he is moved by the fact that he stands at the place where the Greek and Serbian heroes were buried alongside each other.

This place is a symbol of friendship between the two peoples, said the chief of the Hellenic National Defense General Staff.

Buried in the Greek military cemetery are the remains of 358 Greek soldiers who died at this site from disease and cold in the harsh winter between 1918 and 1919. Right next to the Greek cemetery is the Serbian military cemetery with the remains of 7,610 Serbian soldiers from Pirot who died in the First World War.

The ceremony, organized by the Serbian government in cooperation with the Municipality of Pirot, was held to commemorate the 95th anniversary of the breakthrough of the Salonika Front.

Tanjug