Success of the international conference Lessons of World War I, held in Belgrade on 16-18 September 2014

More than 100 foreign guests from fifteen countriesin Europe, Americas and Asia

On 17-18 September 2014, the “Sava Center” in Belgrade was the venue of the International Conference titled “World War I – Messages to Humanity”, organized by the Belgrade Forum for a World of Equals, jointly with two Russian Civic Society Organizations - The Center of National Glory, and the St. Andrew the First-Called Fund. The first speaker in the Conference was Serbian Patriarch Irinej. The audience was then addressed by Prof. Oliver Antić, in the capacity of Personal Envoy of the President of the Republic of Serbia Mr. TomislavNikolić, and Bishop Nazarij, Episcope of Kroonstad, in the capacity of Personal Envoy of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill. The Conference was attended by several hundred invitees and more than 100 foreign guests. Over 40 historians, diplomats, analysts and public figures from Serbia, Russia and fifteen other countries in Europe, America, and Asia presented their papers. The introductory paper was presented by Vladimir I. Jakunjin, President of the Council of Russian co-organizers, President of the Global Forum “Dialogue of Civilizations”, and President of the Russian Railways.

The audience and the media representatives were particularly interested in the interventions of VáclavKlaus, former President of the Czech Republic, Walter Schwimmer, former Secretary-General of the Council of Europe, Aleksey Y. Meshkov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Prof.Vasilije Krestić, Academician of the SANU, James Bissett, former Canadian Ambassador in Belgrade,Prof. Bim Singh from India, Prof. Momir Bulatović, former President of the Federal Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Jean Bricmont, Member of the Belgian Royal Academy, Prof. Darko Tanasković, Neil Clarke, publicist from the United Kingdom, and many others.

The Conference was preceded by the Serbian-Russian Scientific Round table on World War I, held on 16 September in the Russian House, with15 historians and publicists as its participants, including Prof. Jelena Guskova, Foreign Member of the SANU, historian Dr Mile Bjelajac, and many other prominent scientists.

Václav Klaus, former President of the Czech Republic, said at the Conference: “The First World War did start in Serbia, however it was not started by Serbia but by Austria, with a rather reluctant consent of Hungary and a crucial role of Germany with her growing ambitions to redraw the borders firstly in Central Europe, then across the entire Continent, and, finally, in the world”.

Among 500 present persons were representatives of Serbian Government, MPs of Serbian Parliament, ambassadors of Angola, Belorussia, Cuba, Russia, Venezuela and diplomats from other foreign missions in Belgrade.

Organizers and participants of the Conference and the Roundtable laid wreaths at the Russian Necropolis in the New Cemetery, and at the Monument to Children Victims of NATO aggression in theTašmajdan Park. In addition, they attended the ceremony of unveiling the Monument to Serbian and Russian soldiers fallen while defending Belgrade in World War I, in the old Fortress of Kalemegdan. On this occasion, the audience was addressed by Serbian Patriarch Irinej, President of SerbiaTomislavNikolić, President of the Council of Russian organizers and donors Vladimir I. Jakunjin, Russian Ambassador to Serbia Aleksandar V. Čepurin, and City Mayor of Belgrade Siniša Mali.

All these events have marked the Centenary of the beginning of the First World War.

Welcoming addresses on behalf of: His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia KIRILL presented by His Grace NAZARIY Bishop of Kronstadt, Curate of St. Petersburg Archdiocese, Abbot of the Holy Trinity- St. Alexander Nevsky Lavra (Russia)

World War I and the Modern World

Vladimir Ivanovich YAKUNIN Chairperson, Board of Trustees, Center of National Glory, St. Andrew the First Called

A Look at the Lessons of World War I

Živodin JOVANOVIĆ: President, Belgrade Forum for the World of Equals Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Yugoslavia (1998 – 2000) (Serbia)

Исторический урок Первой мировой войны: бомбардировки Югославии в 1990-е гг. и опыт миротворческой миссии Русской Православной Церкви

Протоиерей Сергий ЗВОНАРЕВ: Секретарь Отдела внешних церковных связей Русской Православной Церкви по делам Дальнего зарубежья (Россия)

Причины Первой мировой войны как основа современного состояния Зарубежной России 1920-2014 гг.

Высокопреосвященнейший МИХАИЛ: Архиепископ Женевский и Западно-Европейский (Швейцария)

Владимир Иванович ЯКУНИН - Заключительное слово

Vladimir Ivanovich YAKUNIN Chairperson, Board of Trustees, Center of National Glory, St. Andrew the First Called

Живодин ЙОВАНОВИЧ - Заключительное слово

Živodin JOVANOVIĆ: President, Belgrade Forum for the World of Equals Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Yugoslavia (1998 – 2000) (Serbia)

Владимир Иванович ЯКУНИН - Пресс-конференция