Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Thursday his country needed peace above all, but pleaded with others “not to confuse that with a weakness,” since the country knew how to defend its freedom by arms during the First World War, and will know how to do the same if someone endangers it,” Beta news agency reported.

Taking part at a ceremony marking 100 years since the end of the First World War in Belgrade’s Sava Centre, President Vucic reminded the audience about the Serb army’s ordeal in 1918, when upon its return it found “all Serbian symbols and identity shelled or burned.”

“Coming to Belgrade meant winning freedom. According to the Paris Peace Conference in 1919, Serbia lost 28 percent of the population. If we observed a minute of silence for each of our dead predecessors we would have kept silent for 866 days,” Vucic said, adding that the losses Serbia suffered then were the highest in the history of warfare.

“Today, a century after that great and wonderful victory, and all the sufferings and calamities, Serbia stands uprightly and proud. We face troubles, but we fight for Serbia to remain free and military independent,” Vucic underlined.

He added it was now our turn to show that their sacrifices (during the First World War) were not in vain.

“Anything else would make our work senseless and would desecrate memories (of those who died). Serbia is finally getting to know its shortcomings and its values, we are increasing our welfare, we are honoring others and respecting ourselves,” President Vucic said.