Orasac, Feb 15, 2004 - The 200th anniversary of the First Serbian Uprising and the creation of modern Serbian state has been celebrated today in Orasac, the place where Serbian leader Vozd Karadjordje Petrovic raised Serbian people to fight against Ottoman Turk oppressors on Feb 15, 1804.
President of the Arandjelovac Municipal Assembly Radmilo Milosevic welcomed a large number of domestic and foreign guests, saying that our ancestors launched a liberation war against Turk rulers in this place 200 years ago, with the aim of creating a Serbian state.
His Royal Highness Crown Prince Aleksandar II Karadjordjevic, a descendant of Vozd Karadjordje, said that Orasac is a gathering place of our ancestors, Serbia's foundation, a place where hope and pride were restored and where one of the most famous banners ever lifted by Serbs was erected. It carried the words "Freedom, Truth, Justice, Serbia".
Crown Prince Aleksandar said that he, as Karadjordje's descendant, has a vision of a stable and modern Serbia, which respects the past, understands the present and heads towards the future. In that Serbia it is necessary to consolidate democracy, adopt a new constitution, accelerate economic growth and improve citizens'' standard of living.
Speaker of the Serbian parliament and Acting Serbian President Dragan Marsicanin said that jubilees such as this one are rare in Serbia's history, when the 200th anniversary of the First Serbian Uprising and birth of Serbia's modern state is celebrated.
Marsicanin said that historical events and processes which predetermined the entire course of Serbia's history in the next two centuries were conceived on this day, highlighting that it was in Orasac where our ancestors heard and assumed the historical imperative: the Serbian state is to be liberated, renovated and organised.
He said that insurgents resurrected Serbia after 345 years of slavery, and the fight for an independent state that would be organised according to the most advanced laws claimed many victims: every fifth Serb gave his life for freedom and the new-born state, and that is why we should be grateful to our ancestors at all times and in all occasions.
After the speech, Marsicanin unveiled a monument to Vozd Karadjordje in front of the School of Commemoration in Orasac, and the Serbian Orthodox Church clergy, led by Serbian Patriarch Pavle, consecrated the monument.
Dragan Marsicanin, representatives of the Serbia-Montenegro army, Guinean Ambassador to Serbia-Montenegro Fara Millimono, representatives of the Arandjelovac Municipal Assembly and HRH Crown Prince Aleksandar II Karadjordjevic laid wreath at the Vozd Karadjordje's monument.
Serbian Patriarch Pavle and bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church served a liturgy and a mass for the dead to warriors of the Fisrt Serbian Uprising at the Orasac church.
The celebration was attended, among others, by Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Zivkovic and ministers, Speaker of the Serbia-Montenegrin Parliament Dragoljub Micunovic, leaders of Serbian political parties and reprersentatives of the diplomatic corps.
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