Vukovar Commemorates 1991 Siege Anniversary With Moving Remembrances

The news in Croatian

1. procesija  (f.)
   Svečana povorka ljudi, obično povezana sa religioznim ili važnim događajima. ↩︎
2. sjećanje  (n.)
   Mentalni čin ili sposobnost da se nešto prisjeti ili evocira iz prošlosti. ↩︎
3. poginuli
   Osobe koje su preminule, obično u nesreći ili ratu. ↩︎
4. dužnosnik  (m.)
   Osobe koje imaju službenu poziciju ili odgovornost u organizaciji ili vladi. ↩︎
5. prisustvovati
   Biti prisutan na nekom događaju ili okupljanju. ↩︎
6. počast  (f.)
   Izraz ili čin zahvalnosti ili poštovanja prema nekoj osobi ili događaju. ↩︎

Translation

Text comprehension

Question 1: Who attended the commemoration in Vukovar?

Question 2: What event took place to honor those who died in the war?

Vocabulary

Croatian	English
procesija  (f.)	procession
sjećanje  (n.)	memory
poginuli	fallen
dužnosnik  (m.)	officials
prisustvovati	attend
počast  (f.)	honour

Read the full story

On the solemn occasion marking the 34th anniversary of the fall of Vukovar in the Croatian War of Independence, thousands gathered to participate in the annual Procession of Remembrance. This year, the event was deeply moving as Croatian people from all corners of the country and beyond came together to honour those who sacrificed during the city’s tragic siege in 1991.

The procession, a five-and-a-half kilometre journey from Vukovar Hospital to the Memorial Cemetery of the Victims of the Homeland War, was notably led by women veterans, a tribute to their resilience and contributions during the conflict. Amidst the participants were dignitaries including Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and Speaker of the Parliament Gordan Jandroković, who joined thousands in paying respects. However, the President of Croatia, Zoran Milanović, was absent due to health reasons.

During the commemorative mass at the cemetery, led by Bishop Tomislav Rogić, the profound suffering and resilience of Vukovar’s residents were acknowledged. Bishop Rogić emphasized that Vukovar’s experiences stretch beyond its name, provoking a profound empathy, pride, and a call for remembrance. “What the city endured has made Vukovar special, more than just a name, forever etched in the memories of those who witnessed its agony,” he stated.

Adding to the poignant atmosphere, church bells across Croatia were scheduled to chime at 6:11 PM as a national gesture of solidarity and respect for the victims, highlighting the unity as called for by the Vukovar Franciscan monks.

In a parallel event, over in Škabrnje, similar remembrances were held to honour the victims of another horrific event in the war. The tragedy of Škabrnje, which occurred on the same day in 1991 when Serbian forces attacked, remains etched in Croatian history as a period of immense suffering.

The mother of fallen French volunteer Jean-Michel Nicolier, Liliane Fournier, expressed her hope for justice, revealing her bittersweet relief after finding her son’s remains recently. She highlighted the ongoing struggle for recognition and justice, pointing out the failure in accountability from Serbia for the Ovčara massacre.

Prime Minister Plenković reiterated the nation’s commitment to continue revitalising Vukovar, aiming to ensure a prosperous future for all its residents. This day stands as a powerful reminder of the formidable perseverance displayed by Vukovar and the importance of safeguarding such memories to prevent future conflicts.

Info: “Croatian Learner News” is a service from “Let’s Learn Croatian”, a language school specialising in teaching Croatian. We offer a variety of online courses to help individuals learn Croatian effectively and at their own pace.