Government founds Vukovar Homeland War Memorial Centre

The government on Thursday issued a decree founding the Vukovar Homeland War Memorial Centre, a public institution to be visited by eighth graders and other visitors where they can be informed of the values of the Homeland War and the battle for Vukovar.
 

The study tours for students will be entirely financed by the state. As of September 2014, students in the last year of primary school will conduct a two-day excursion to Vukovar in busses that would be named after the nine army brigades and nine towns that were hit the most during the Homeland War.

The study tour will be compulsory for all students who will tour the most significant locations relating to the battle for Vukovar but also visit its cultural locations such as Vucedol and the Eltz castle.

While in Vukovar they will be informed of the most significant events during the Homeland War and their visit will end with a "school of peace", listening to lectures on peace, tolerance and togetherness.

In addition to visiting Vukovar, eighth graders will have to visit a war locality closest to their place of residence.

"The idea is not to force the truth onto children but in a peaceful, organised, civilised and reconciling way tell them about some historical facts within the framework of an institution which will be visited by children from all over Croatia during their education. This may not seem big but is something that should have been done years ago", Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic said during a cabinet session on Thursday.

Addressing a press conference after the meeting, Veterans Minister Predrag Matic rejected interpretations that the centre was being founded in response to current political events in Vukovar, stating that he had personally pondered on the idea for the past 15 years and that the ministry had been preparing the project over the past year.

He added that the project was fully supported by veterans' associations and that this would resolve unjustified objections that not enough was being taught about the Homeland War.

He explained that the centre would employ around 60-80 Vukovar residents and that, in cooperation with local restaurants and veterans' cooperatives, this could impact Vukovar's economy.

He said that the government planned to set aside around HRK 40 million in the first year for the founding of the Memorial Centre, the adaptation of a military barracks to provide accommodation for visiting students, and the purchase of busses. He expects these expenses to be lower in the years ahead as the centre would start generating revenue.

(Hina)
 

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