24.03.2015.

Central state commemorative ceremony

Tonight, in front of the building of the old General Staff in Kneza Milosa Street, a minute of silence for the victims of NATO bombing opened the commemorative manifestation that marked 16 years since NATO bombing of Serbia and Yugoslavia. The manifestation, organized by Government Board for Fostering Traditions of Liberation Wars of Serbia, was attended by representative of Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic, President of the Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik, Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic with Serbian ministers, Serbian Parliament members, Head of the General Staff of Serbia General Ljubisa Dikovic, representatives of religious communities, diplomatic corps and many citizens.

In a symbolic way, at 20.00, civil defense sirens were sounded, reminding of the 78 tragic days of bombing when almost 3,000 people were killed. Without an agreement of UN Security Council, on the evening of March 24, 1999, military intervention of 19 countries of the NATO Alliance began against the sovereign country where 552 military members were killed and over 5,000 wounded. During the “Merciful Angel” operation, 457 police members were killed, while over 3,000 were wounded. Over 2,000 Serbian civilians were killed, including 70 children. The infrastructure of the stat was nearly completely ruined.

Reminding of the tragically lost lives, Prime Minister of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic said that Serbia will never forget the 78 days of the aggression and its innocent victims, starting from the first one – soldier Boban Nedeljkovic, and all the other victims that followed, killed cowardly and cunningly, from afar, with the cynical explanation of a “collateral damage”.

- In Grdelica, Batajnica, Kosare, Surdulica, Sumatovacka Street in Nis, RTS building... innocent people were killed, and children... It is our duty to speak on their behalf and say that we remember each bomb, each Tomahawk, each shell and each death. We remember the meaninglessness, the sirens, Avram Izrael’s voice, the ruins, the graphite bombs and those with depleted uranium and cluster bombs, invisible planes, demolished bridges... We remember, and everyone else should remember that our Serbian memory is long lasting and that we will never forget – Serbian Prime Minister said.

He stressed that this had been a territorial war, when 19 most powerful countries in Europe attacked a small country, without the UN decision.

- For those 78 days, we stood upright, without fear of what anyone else would fear... That was not our first war; we are a country of wars,

destruction, and desolation. There is no justice, interests are much more common than justice, there are only the rich and the poor, the big and the small... Serbia has learned that lesson, as well. That it will only be as right as it is strong, that its guilt will be as small as big it is, and that it will be only as big as it can build, create – Vucic said.

He added that there are no retaliations in politics, and that, after all the victories and defeats, we have realized that no war brings winners, but only victims.

- The only victory is won after the war, the one where the country and the people live. Life must win in Serbia. A successful, arranged and decent country is our victory. Each building we build, factory we make – those are our victories – Serbian Prime Minister stated.