Consul General Vladimir Bozovic. Photo supplied by Duvi Honig.
Serbia’s consul general in New York, Vladimir Bozovic, condemned the attack on a Serbian Gendarmerie officer guarding Israel’s embassy in Belgrade and expressed solidarity with the Jewish community in a statement titled “A Message of Solidarity and Peace.”
“There is no place for antisemitism or terrorism in our society. Our solidarity must be unequivocal, and our resolve unwavering,” Bozovic said in the statement.
“Consul General Bozovic’s words show real leadership, and we honor his friendship and Serbia’s stand with the Jewish community,” said Duvi Honig, Founder / CEO, Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce.
The attack occurred at about 12:15 a.m. Wednesday, October 28, according to a Serbian government account of Interior Minister Ivica Dacic’s statement. Dacic said an assailant attacked the officer with two knives and the officer sustained a minor facial cut while responding in self-defense. Serbian authorities characterized it as a terrorist attack and raised the threat level to red, the highest level.
Message to New York’s Jewish community
Bozovic expressed support for the Serbian security forces and said their response protected the Israeli embassy. He called for vigilance against terrorism, radicalization and violence motivated by religious or ethnic hatred.
Addressing the Jewish community in New York, he said: “Serbia stands with you in defending the right to live in peace and security, to practice your faith freely, and to preserve your identity.”
The statement also referred to the historical ties between the Serbian and Jewish peoples and called for protecting the Jewish community’s dignity, security and religious freedom.
The Serbian government said the heightened alert would involve increased monitoring and police presence at important infrastructure and locations where large numbers of people gather.
JBizNews Desk | New York
© JBizNews.com. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution is strictly prohibited.
