Djuric: The suffering of the victims and the scale of destruction in the March Pogrom must not be forgotten

Serbia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Marko Djuric, stated that on March 17 and 18, 2004, the spiritual and Christian cultural heritage of the Serbian people in Kosovo, built and preserved over many centuries, was subjected to widespread and coordinated violence, emphasizing that the suffering of the victims and the scale of destruction must not be forgotten.

“Burned homes, shattered churches and monasteries, desecrated cemeteries, and deserted villages – these haunting images have endured in our collective memory for more than two decades, as a testament to one of the most painful chapters in our recent history. During those tragic days, at least eight Serbs lost their lives, hundreds were injured, and more than 4,000 were forced from their homes. Dozens of Christian churches and monasteries were destroyed or heavily damaged, alongside homes, schools, and public institutions, while invaluable cultural and religious heritage was desecrated,” Djuric wrote on the social network “X”.

He pointed out that many of these crimes remain without full accountability and stressed that the suffering of the victims and the scale of destruction must not be forgotten.

“This remembrance is not only about the past. It is a solemn pledge while looking towards a different future, to preserve the truth, to honor the victims, and, as a people guided by Christian and universal values, to remain steadfast in protecting our people, our identity, and our spiritual and cultural heritage,” Djuric wrote.