By IANS,
Belgrade : Over 3,000 Serbians participated in a rally to express their support to the Japanese people who have been struggling with the consequences of devastating earthquake and tsunami for a month.
A magnitude-9 earthquake and ensuing tsunami devastated the northeastern Japan March 11.
Wearing T-shirts and carrying flags with inscriptions of “Belgrade for Japan,” about 3,500 people came to the centre of Belgrade at the Republic Square, to show solidarity with Japan.
Japan has invested much in the development of Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, over the past decade.
Assistant Mayor of Belgrade Tatjana Pasic said Japan has been helping improve the quality of life of citizens in the capital and across the country through various grants, and Belgrade wanted to show Sunday that this has not been forgotten, Serbian news agency Tanjug reported.
Japanese Ambassador to Serbia Toshio Tsunozaki thanked Belgrade and all Serbians for their sincere support in the difficult moments that Japan is going through.
The government and people of Japan are trying to overcome the crisis that has befallen them, and such messages of support and encouragement will certainly give them the strength to emerge from this difficult period as winners, he said.