The Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia Maja Gojkovic attended the celebration of the 300th anniversary of the Pozarevac (Passarowitz) Peace Treaty, saying that by being the place where the big political powers of the day achieved peace Pozarevac became part of history of Serbia, the region and Europe as a whole.
Gojkovic said that Serbia could not have had a big impact on the big powers’ power struggle over the Balkans but it had, as so many times subsequently, been the centre of the historical events which shaped the geopolitical area of Europe, and that the relationship between the Christian countries and the Ottoman Empire had a great influence on the Serbian people and its life.
Gojkovic said that the history of Serbia and the region was never easy or simple and Serbia today, just like three centuries before, is again stuck in the middle between the West and the East, often beset by voices urging it to choose a side.
“The only response we can give is that Serbia chooses its own future based on its own national and state interests, along with a wish to develop cooperation with all of its friends and partners. We whom the citizens have entrusted with leading the country believe that that is the only right way, fully aware and respectful of what our forefathers had suffered to create a modern and free Serbia”, said Gojkovic.
The National Assembly Speaker said that Serbia must pursue a wise policy for the sake of the generations to come.
“That is why President Vucic, with the support of the National Assembly and the Government, takes bold and responsible political moves to set the groundwork for a better future for the generations to come. We do not want to make the future generations hostages to our unpreparedness and inability to resolve the conflicts and problems we had inherited, which had influenced our ability to fully utilize our developmental potentials”, said Gojkovic.
Gojkovic went on to say that this historical anniversary also celebrates peace, adding that we are all aware how much our country, region and Europe need peace.
“That is why we do not want to speak of war even when we again hear the threatening tones we thought part of a distant past in the region. We will do all in our power to keep our country and people out of any conflict”, said Gojkovic adding that this was essential for the continued economic development and improvement of life in Pozarevac, Branicevo Administrative District and Serbia at large.
