Day of Remembrance of the killed in NATO aggression

A series of commemoration gatherings across Serbia today, on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the North Atlantic Alliance airstrikes, marked 24 March – the Day of Remembrance of the victims of the bombing campaign.

Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic laid a wreath at the Memorial to civilian victims of NATO aggression on Varvarin Bridge in Varvarin.

"Do not expect from me to forget what happened during the aggression on Serbia for 78 days and nights, from 24 March to 9 June 1999; or the fact that the NATO air forces bombed the bridge on the Velika Morava river for about 13 hours with four missiles on Sunday, 30 May the same year, on the day of the religious holiday of the Holy Trinity and the large weekly market", President Nikolic said. He added that most of us did not forget or forgive, and probably someone would do that, “but we did not hear a sincere apology yet".

Nikolic reminded that ten people were killed then, 17 were hardly wounded and around ten people were lightly wounded.

Serbian President commented that the heartless campaign called "Merciful Angel" had impact mainly on the innocent and that the aircraft of 18 NATO member states, just like in virtual games, dropping bombs, destroying civilian targets, children and the elderly, and the propaganda machine called them collateral damage. "Our obligation is that injustice which ended lives of the innocent civilians who were killed in Serbia and which is impossible to correct for all eternity should never be forgotten", Nikolic said.

On Strazevica hill near Belgrade today, by laying wreaths and flowers at the memorial to two members of the Air Force, Vlastimir Lazarevic and Vladimir Vujovic, homage was paid to all the fallen ones in the NATO aggression against the then Serbia and Montenegro.

Wreaths at the memorial Glasnik of Straževica were laid by Ivica Dacic, Prime Minister in the caretaker government, Nebojsa Stefanovic, Parliament Speaker, ministers Slavica Djukic Dejanovic and Aleksandar Antic, relatives and friends of the victims, members of the Armed Forces and numerous citizens. After paying homage to two members of the Serbian Armed Forces, Dacic pointed out that we must keep the memory of all those who have defended their country, pointing out that they were all innocent victims – soldiers and policemen and ordinary citizens.

Dacic emphasized that keeping the memory of them means keeping the memory of this historic event and drawing lessons that Serbia must do everything to defend its national and state interests in the period to come in a manner that prevents any possibility of an attack on it. He pointed out that the obligation of the state is to take care of all the families of the victims, and for the younger generations not to forget what happened then.

Nebojsa Rodic, Minister of Defence in the caretaker government, laid wreath in Vranje at the memorial to fallen soldiers, policemen and citizens of Vranje and the vicinity, from 1991 to 2003.

The Minister led the delegation of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces, consisting of the Lieutenant General Aleksandar Zivkovic, Army Commander, and Brigadier General Zoran Lubura, Commander of the 4th Brigade, and wreaths were laid also by representatives of Pcinj County, the city of Vranje, the Ministry of the Interior, veterans associations and families of victims.

Addressing the gathering, Minister Rodic pointed out that the monument symbolizes the force that appears out of the sky, but also the sun as a symbol of eternity, carved with the names of 95 killed citizens of our country.

- Today it is the beginning of the long Day of Remembrance that will last 78 sunrises and 78 sunsets, and during which we will evoke memories of the victims of the aggression on our country in 1999 every hour and every day. The long Day of Remembrance is an opportunity not to forget any of the 3,500 killed of our fellow citizens and this is the date to remember each of the 12,500 wounded and injured. The special feeling of pain is caused by remembering each of the 90 innocent victims of the youngsters and 1,031 killed soldiers and police – Minister Rodic said noting that it was an act of gross violation of international law.

According to him, on this day, all over the country we mark this sad and not laudable anniversary, since our homeland was drawn into the conflict, which was not only due to our guilt and confusion in the contemporary geopolitical developments.

- Century, which is unfortunately the century of great suffering of the Serbian people, ended as such – by another calvary, destruction and suffering, but fortunately, not only with hope but also with the determination that anything like this never happens again. That is why we are here together today to show that we memorise, remember, and honour the victims and that by this and such an act we confirm that we are aware of the time and the circumstances and the time in which we live, but also that we understood, although we cannot accept the fact that everything had to happen exactly like that and to such an extent – Minister Rodic emphasized sending a message that a war for the ends that could be achieved through negotiations and political dialogue should never happen again.

General Ljubisa Dikovic, Chief of the Serbian Armed Forces General Staff, laid a wreath beside the memorial to ''Heroes of the 37th Motorised Brigade'' in ''Stefan Nemanja'' barracks in Raska. Among the members of the delegation there were Major General Milosav Simovic, Deputy Army Commander and Brigadier General Marinko Pavlovic, Commander of the 2nd Army Brigade. Wreaths were laid by family members and friends of the killed ones, delegations of the local authorities, MoI, associations and organizations.

General Dikovic said that on this day, 15 years ago, the NATO aggression against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia began, when the most powerful alliance in the recent history attacked a country without allies, the country of proud and freedom-loving people.

- At the time of the martyrdom, the bond between the army and the people showed their strength and permanency. Army bravely defended its people, and the people familiarized itself with its army. In these difficult times, there have been many examples of chivalry and heroic deeds. They consisted both of individuals and the whole units. Among the best of our army units there was 37th Motorized Brigade, from here, from Raska, Kraljevo, Vrnjacka spa and Aleksandrovac. Its soldiers and officers with their military virtues, devotion and willingness, made it a heroic unit, the Chief of General Staff said.

He told the families of the killed members of the Serbian Armed Forces that their pain is the greatest and that "it is difficult to find the words of comfort".

- All heroes fallen in defence of the fatherland ascetics are defenders of justice and genuine value. Their sacrifice is sacred, General Dikovic said, adding that the victims of NATO aggression in 1999 to whose "spirits we are bowing down today" should never be forgotten.

Members of the delegation of the Serbian Armed Forces, and others, who were present, visited later the memorial room in the "Stefan Nemanja" barracks. From among the 37th Motorised Brigade 60 heroes gave their lives. For their performance and dedication, the brigade was awarded the Order of National Hero.

Lining up the units of the First Brigade, River Flotilla and 240th independent Air Defence Missile Battalion from Novi Sad garrison and laying the flowers at the memorial to members of the then 240th Self-Propelled Air Defence Missile Regiment killed in the bombing during 1999, the members of the Novi Sad garrison in the "Jugovicevo" barracks marked the fifteenth anniversary of NATO aggression against FR Yugoslavia.

- From the subconscious we can still hear the sounds of sirens, buzzing of airplanes and explosions. Let them not be an obstacle for forgiveness, but we must never forget the injustice and suffering experienced during the 78 days of bombing – Brigadier General Stojan Batinic the First Brigade Commander said.

Prayer memorial service to victims of NATO aggression was held by Captain Djordje Stojisavljevic, chaplain of the First Brigade and the choir of Saint Sava church in Novi Sad. Flowers and wreaths at the memorial, on behalf of the Novi Sad garrison, were laid by Brigadier General Stojan Batinic, Commander of the First Brigade and River Flotilla, and Colonel Andrija Andric, on behalf of the city of Novi Sad, Milos Vucevic and Sinisa Sevic, the Mayor and the Speaker of the Assembly, respectively, the delegations of reserve military officers, the Association of Vojvodina Airmen, and families and relatives of the victims.

In the "Radovan Medic" barracks in Batajnica residential area 13 May today, bust of Sergeant Major Radovan Medic, one of the first victims of the NATO bombing, who lost their lives in Sombor Airport on this day, has been officially revealed.

Talking about the deceased member of the 224th Centre for Electronic Warfare, Colonel Branislav Ljusic, Commander of that unit, said that Medic was a brave and determined man who successfully performed all tasks and he was posthumously awarded the Order of Merit in the area of defence and security of the third degree.

- Radovan gave the most precious thing he had, his life for the defence of his fatherland and he signed the book of eternity, like many soldiers, knights and heroes with whom he stood in line. He was and remained a soldier, but above all a man, and it is the brightest of all the crowns and more important than any chair – Colonel Ljusic said, adding that the bright feature of the hero of that units will remain in the memories and all future works.

The bust was discovered by Medic's wife Smiljana and Brigadier General Ilija Todorov, Chief of the Department for Intelligence and Reconnaissance, after which the priests of the Serbian Orthodox Church consecrated it and the delegations laid wreaths and flowers.

The gathering at the "Radovan Medic" barracks was attended by Brigadier General Slavoljub Janicijevic, Deputy Commander of the Joint Operations Command, Colonel Zoran Srdic, Deputy Chief of the Military Geography Institute, representatives of the Zemun municipality, special anti-terrorist unit of the Serbian MoI and the families and friends of the deceased members of the 224th Centre for Electronic Warfare.

On the occasion of the Day of Remembrance, today, in the commands, units and institutions, commemorative events were held, and the Serbian Armed Forces delegations laid wreaths and flowers at memorials around Serbia. Memorial service to victims of the NATO bombing was served in all the temples of the Serbian Orthodox Church.