The Culture Ministry said on Tuesday "it dismissed any unfounded interpretations of the epidemiologically determined protocol for wreath-laying at Jasenovac, calling on all stakeholders not to contribute to unnecessary divisions with their unfounded accusations," Croatian state agency Hina reported. Pročitaj više

The ministry said in a press release it was responding following some actors’ statements concerning wreath-laying at the Jasenovac Memorial Area on Thursday. “We believe that on that day it is important to remember the victims and the crimes of the Ustasha regime.”

The ministry said unfounded accusations contributed to unnecessary divisions “over a subject which requires unity and due respect for the victims.”

Ministry surprised by Jewish official’s statements

The ministry said it was surprised by the statements of Ognjen Kraus, leader of the Coordinating Committee of the Jewish Communities of Croatia, noting that in previous years he did not participate in joint commemorations for the Jasenovac victims despite having been invited.

“Therefore it is not fair to regret today that there is no joint commemoration, the reason being epidemiological conditions, certainly not anyone’s refusal to participate.”

The ministry said a government delegation and the prime minister attended every year the commemoration for the victims of the Jasenovac WWII concentration camp, encouraging all stakeholders, notably representatives of the victim peoples, to jointly commemorate the crimes committed there.

Due to the Covid-19 situation, this year, like last year, there will be no joint commemoration and memorial procession, the ministry said, so delegations were invited to lay wreaths in succession so that everyone who wants to pay their respects to the victims may do so on that day by visiting Jasenovac.

The ministry said that on 22 April 2020 Croatia had 42 new coronavirus cases while today there were 2,106, adding that one should also consider that the area around the Stone Flower monument was very small and the path leading to it very narrow.

“We hope and believe that next year the epidemiological situation will allow for organizing a joint commemoration and memorial procession once again, and that we will be able to count on Dr. Kraus’s participation.”