The Embassy of Serbia in Washington hosted a reception attended by Minister Zlatan Klokić, on the occasion of screening of the film Heroes of Halyard to be held in the US Senate.

He expressed his gratitude to the Serbian Embassy and the Republic of Srpska Representative Office in the United States of America for supporting the screening of the film in the US Senate, in particular as it showed that throughout history Serbs and Americans had been on the same side. He also said that the Government of the Republic of Srpska would always support such initiatives.

– Whenever possible, we will do so in cooperation with Serbia, because we are one nation regardless of where we come from and have the common goal to protect Serbian national interest and Serbian culture – said Klokić.

The line ministry notes that Halyard operation is proof of the unique libertarian aspirations of the Serbian people wherever they live, and reminds that an improvised airfield was built in Boljanić near Doboj in just ten days during the Second World War, enabling rescuing of more than 60 allied pilots.

– It is very important that we keep the memory of this heroic act from oblivion and mark it as befits great deeds, and one of the ways we do that is by promoting the film Heroes of Halyard all over the world – reads the statement.

Serbian Ambassador to the USA Marko Đurić, film director Radoš Bajić, Serbian diaspora representatives and families of the American pilots who were part of the Halyard mission attended the formal reception in addition to many guests.

The US Senate hosted screening of the film Heroes of Halyard, which was attended by the Minister of European Integration and International Cooperation, Zlatan Klokić, and Assistant Minister for International Cooperation, Nemanja Kovačević.

This will be the first time to have a Serbian film screened in the Congress.

The film’s script is based on a true event when Serbs saved more than 500 American pilots in the Second World War.

The director of the film, Radoš Bajić, said that the screening of the film was a great honor for both the crew and the state.

– Halyard is probably the only Serbian, probably also Yugoslav film to be screened in such a significant place in America. Very importantly, it will open a new stage, I would say, in understanding something that is the basis of the future of the Serbian people, i.e. highlighting friendly ties between the American nation and our small but proud Serbian people – he said.

Source: Ministry of European Integration and International Cooperation – RTRS – SRNA

Photo: Ministry of European Integration and International Cooperation