CRI听力:Relatives of  Prince Franz Ferdinand Commemorate His Death

More than 120 direct descendants of the Austro-Hungarian crown prince Franz Ferdinand assassinated in Sarajevo have gathered in Lower Austria to mark the 100th anniversary of his death.

The ceremony honouring the archduke took place at Castle Artstetten, the royal family's former summer home, where his remains rest.

Elisabeth Hartig is a member of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.

"We are here today for the memorial service for his (Archduke Franz Ferdinand) death because this triggered a terrible war. And we are here to remember - neither euphoric nor deeply sad - but I think it's important that it stays in people's memories."

Ferdinand was assassinated by a Serb in Sarajevo, where Ferdinand had come to inspect his occupying troops in the empire's eastern province.

The shots fired by Serb teenager Gavrilo Princip were believed to spark World War 1.

Meanwhile, Serbs in the Bosnian city of Visegrad honoured Gavrilo Princip on Saturday.

Serbs from Bosnia and neighbouring Serbia believe that Princip was a freedom fighter who just wanted to rid his multi-ethnic country of Austrian dominance and lead it into what they said was a natural union with Serbia.

Miloard Dodik is President of Bosnia's Serbian entity.

"The shot fired by Gavrilo Princip a hundred years ago was not aimed at Europe, his was a shot for freedom. It marked the start of Serbs' fight for liberation from foreign occupiers which has claimed many victims."

The ceremony was attended by Serbia's president and Prime Minister and Serb prince, whose family ruled the then newly established Serbian Kingdom at the time of the assassination.