At a special government session held to mark Remembrance Day for victims of NATO bombing, Cvetkovic said that the NATO aggression was an illegal act and not in line with international law.
The government’s official web site quotes Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic’s speech:
On this day, 10 years after the beginning of the NATO bombing, we are here to recall the tragic events which lasted for 78 days and assess the most tragic episodes in European history during the second half of the 20th century.
The NATO attack on Serbia was illegal, not in accordance with international law and without the UN Security Council’s permission. The NATO bombing has left long-term consequences for Serbia, the entire region and political relations all over the world. Serbia cannot forget those tragic days.
If we want to secure our children’s future, we must not let such things happen again.
During the 11 weeks of the NATO aggression, 1,002 members of the Serbian Army and police were killed, as well as 2,500 civilians, 89 of which were children. A majority of victims lost their lives during the attacks on a train in Grdelicka Klisura, the RTS building, on Surdulica, a bus near Luzani and the attacks on Nis. The hardest attack was that on Albanian refugees near Prizren, where 87 civilians were killed.
In 2,300 air attacks all over Serbia, 148 buildings and 62 bridges were demolished and 300 schools and 176 cultural sites were damaged. According to a rough estimate, material damages were worth $30 billion.
Serbia can still feel the consequences of the NATO attack. The remnants of missiles and cluster bombs can still be found, which have had a negative influence on Serbian citizens’ health.
Could the attack on Serbia have been avoided?
We do not have answer to that question. Evil can be defeated only by reason. The past should teach Serbia and the rest of the world how to act in the future in order to avoid such mistakes. Responsible states would never put in question the survival of their people and all the other nations in the world.
The future cannot be based on someone’s misery. There is no excuse for the deaths of two year old Marko Simic from Novi Pazar, 11 moth old Bojana Tosovic from Merdare, three year old Milica Rakic from Batajnica and many others.
All innocent victims should always remind us that we must fight for our aims through civilised means, act responsibly, provide a better life to our citizens and must not make enemies. Serbia opts for reason and justice and not for weapons and will do all it can to solve its problems through peaceful, diplomatic and legal means.
While fighting for our own interests, we also fight for international law. The NATO bombing did not solve problems nor provide peace, stability and the rule of law in Kosovo-Metohija. On the other hand, it has lead to gross violations of human rights and international law.
Serbia will never recognise the unilaterally declared Kosovo independence and will fight for its interests in the UN.
Serbia is ready to cooperate with all who respect democracy and true values.
We invite Serbian citizens to pay tribute to all innocent victims of the NATO bombing, concluded the Prime Minister.
At the beginning of the special government session all participants observed a minute’s silence. Afterwards they were addressed by Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic.
Commemorative gatherings will be held on March 24 at 12 noon throughout Serbia in places where the air strikes claimed lives.
Remembrance Day for the victims of the NATO air attacks on the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia will mark the tenth anniversary of the tragic events that took place during the period from March 24 to June 10 in 1999.
No comments:
Post a Comment