ZAGREB, September 22, 2019 – The World Peace Gong, a symbol of lasting peace in the world, was unveiled in the eastern Croatian Danube river town of Vukovar on Saturday, the 50th such monument in the world.
The monument was installed outside the town library. The project was supported by the local government, the World Peace Committee, the Republic of Indonesia and the sculptor and painter Ante Sardelić Kraljević, who made nine sculptures placed near the Gong which are dedicated to all people killed in Vukovar during 1991-1995 Homeland War.
The Gong was unveiled by the President of the World Peace Committee, Djuyoto Suntani, and the Mayor of Vukovar, Ivan Penava.
“In this way we are sending a message to the world, that after we won independence our great aspiration and ideal is to build lasting peace and for Croatia to become a better country and better society,” Penava said.
He said that a satisfactory level of interethnic coexistence was achieved in the town after the war, and what the people of Vukovar were still expecting was Serbia’s “acknowledgement of the act of aggression and repentance.”
“Only after we receive a message to that effect will we be open to cooperation and good neighbourly relations,” the mayor said.
More Vukovar news can be found in the Politics section.
