Unveiling the memorial in honour of Dr. Archibald Reiss
Swiss military attaché Colonel Lars Vejlstrup unveiled today the memorial in bronze dedicated to Dr. Archibald Reiss, "the soldier of justice, truth and law" in the hall of the Central Military Club, and the ceremony was attended by State Secretaries at the Ministry of Defence Zoran Djordjevic and Nenad Neric, adviser to Serbian Prime Minister for regional cooperation and religions Vladimir Bozovic, and numerous guests.
On this occasion, Deputy Director of Odbrana Media Center Lt. Col. Zoran Krupez stressed that this event, sponsored by the Initiative Committee "In memory of Dr. Archibald Reiss," symbolically pays tribute to a great friend of the Serbs exactly on the centenary of his participation in the retreat of the Serbian army and people across Albania. He also added that Dr. Reiss is "the greatest Serb, not by birth but by choice."
According to Colonel Vejlstrup, much has been said and written about Dr. Reiss, and his legacy lives on today. He is also considered the father of modern forensics, and in his thoughts and actions, we can see the two characteristics typical of the Swiss mentality - propensity for innovation and the rule of law. Reiss devoted his life to the fight for the international law and justice, Colonel Vejlstrup said, and his famous cry of "no neutrality when faced with a crime", is still the guiding principle of all those who represent countries dedicated to neutrality.
Today's program also featured the Choir "Baruch Brothers", vocal soloist Svetlana Stevic Vukosavljevic, Dean for the Academy of Criminalistic and Police Studies Prof. Dr. Milan Zarkovic, one of the editors of the book "War Reports from Serbia and from the Thessaloniki Front" Milan Starcevic and actor Ljubivoje Tadic, in monodrama "Listen, Serbs."
As a war correspondent, Archibald Reiss informed the public about the massive war crimes against the Serbian population and violations of international law from the most dangerous places; carried out investigations in the places through which he passed and personally engaged in helping the Serbian refugees and providing shelter for Serbian orphans. With a desire to participate in building a new life in devastated Serbia, after the Great War, he settled in Belgrade, where he wrote his famous work "Listen, Serbs," a one-of-a-kind testament to the Serbian people.
Odbrana Media Centre began this year the project of symbolically marking the significant jubilees of the Serbian history, with the unveiling of memorials in the Hall of the Central Military Club, and as of today, , in addition to the bas-reliefs with figures of Nadezda Petrovic, Djordje Vajfert and Jovan Dragasevic, the bronze relief dedicated to Archibald Reiss, "soldier of justice, truth and the law" will also take its place.