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Sat, Feb 11 2012
Serbia marks the 10th anniversary of the Nato-led bombing campaign
March 24 marks the 10th anniversary of the Nato bombing campaign that left the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in ruins. The bombing was part of the conflict in Serbia’s now renegade province of Kosovo and lasted 79 days and nights between March 24 and June 11 1999. When Nato planes started striking targets in Yugoslavia, it marked the first military assault over a sovereign European nation since World War II.
The campaign aimed to force Milošević to withdraw his troops and mechanised units from Kosovo. Air strikes occurred in conjunction with continued skirmishes between Albanian guerrillas and Yugoslav forces, resulting in a further massive displacement of population in Kosovo. During the conflict, roughly a million ethnic Albanians fled or were forcefully driven from the province.
Numerous government buildings and military buildings and installations, including the Yugoslavian Army Headquarters, as well as several key infrastructure bridges in major cities - Novi Sad in particular - were heavily hit. The country's radio and telecommunication installations across Serbia and Kosovo were bombed into obliteration. During the bombing many civilian buildings and areas were hit including apartment blocks, a maternity hospital, a passenger train, an Albanian refugee convoy. Most notoriously, a smart bomb levelled the Chinese Embassy, which caused international uproar and embarrassment for Nato, and the US in particular.
The aftermath for Serbia was grim as the war left the country with little or no infrastructure. Novi Sad had no bridges left and water purification and waste treatment plants and electricity supplies were severely disrupted. The Balkan peninsula also suffered an ecological disaster as missiles struck oil refineries which subsequently released carcinogenic and toxic gases into the air and water supplies were polluted.
More importantly, however, as a result of the conflict, Europe witnessed the birth of another republic. Kosovo declared independence and, as of October 9 2008, all of Kosovo's immediate neighbour states, except Serbia, have recognised the country's status.
Macedonia and Montenegro recognised Kosovo on October 9, with Albania, Croatia, Bulgaria and Hungary also following suit subsequently.
On March 24 2009, air raid sirens will sound and church bells will ring across Serbia as the country marks 10 years since Nato's bombing campaign. According to Balkanfile.com, Serbs will gather at sites where people were killed and government ministers will lay wreaths for the dead.
Serbian defence minister Dragan Sutanovac said he had not changed his mind about the bombing, which he considered unnecessary.
"Then and now I think it was a great mistake of Nato and that the bombing shouldn't have happened," he told Reuters news agency. "I think that Nato's goals could have been achieved in other ways and that citizens could have been spared the consequences."
The campaign aimed to force Milošević to withdraw his troops and mechanised units from Kosovo. Air strikes occurred in conjunction with continued skirmishes between Albanian guerrillas and Yugoslav forces, resulting in a further massive displacement of population in Kosovo. During the conflict, roughly a million ethnic Albanians fled or were forcefully driven from the province.
Numerous government buildings and military buildings and installations, including the Yugoslavian Army Headquarters, as well as several key infrastructure bridges in major cities - Novi Sad in particular - were heavily hit. The country's radio and telecommunication installations across Serbia and Kosovo were bombed into obliteration. During the bombing many civilian buildings and areas were hit including apartment blocks, a maternity hospital, a passenger train, an Albanian refugee convoy. Most notoriously, a smart bomb levelled the Chinese Embassy, which caused international uproar and embarrassment for Nato, and the US in particular.
The aftermath for Serbia was grim as the war left the country with little or no infrastructure. Novi Sad had no bridges left and water purification and waste treatment plants and electricity supplies were severely disrupted. The Balkan peninsula also suffered an ecological disaster as missiles struck oil refineries which subsequently released carcinogenic and toxic gases into the air and water supplies were polluted.
More importantly, however, as a result of the conflict, Europe witnessed the birth of another republic. Kosovo declared independence and, as of October 9 2008, all of Kosovo's immediate neighbour states, except Serbia, have recognised the country's status.
Macedonia and Montenegro recognised Kosovo on October 9, with Albania, Croatia, Bulgaria and Hungary also following suit subsequently.
On March 24 2009, air raid sirens will sound and church bells will ring across Serbia as the country marks 10 years since Nato's bombing campaign. According to Balkanfile.com, Serbs will gather at sites where people were killed and government ministers will lay wreaths for the dead.
Serbian defence minister Dragan Sutanovac said he had not changed his mind about the bombing, which he considered unnecessary.
"Then and now I think it was a great mistake of Nato and that the bombing shouldn't have happened," he told Reuters news agency. "I think that Nato's goals could have been achieved in other ways and that citizens could have been spared the consequences."
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This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained
So proud of my Serbian friends who dont need to sing ;thank you Germany or thank you USA pride pride and dignity
we love Srbian people
so many omitted to mention that Kosovo is Serbian territory and no doubt considers Angus belongs to the Scots or British I doubt if any sensible goverment would wellcome some crackpot Liberation army demanding independance in his area.tHE KLA are wholly responsible for what happend to their people and it,s time somebody had the guts to say so
what price human right us concern for Albanians ever since WW2 they have demonised them so pull the other one.The US shows little interest in human rights remember Vietnam dying Iraqi children Kosovo Albanians are a gambit in a crazy game of chiken intend to boost Clinton and humiliate a weakened Russia.Srbija has been terorased and invaded so many times
what price human right us concern for Albanians ever since WW2 they have demonised them so pull the other one.The US shows little interest in human rights remember Vietnam dying Iraqi children Kosovo Albanians are a gambit in a crazy game of chiken intend to boost Clinton and humiliate a weakened Russia.Srbija has been terorased and invaded so many times
This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained
Sure, if you consider bombing churches, monasteries, schools, hospitals and nursing homes very ethical and justifying the means. What about the Serbians in Kosovo who were being killed by Islamic extremists? Someone had to do something and only Milosevic had guts to do it. Truth be told, NATO and America care not about Serbs (clearly shown by the massacre of Serbs) nor for Albanians, they were just afraid of Greater Yugoslavia and the Albanians proved to be a buffer. If the roles were in reverse, have no doubts they would have bombed the Albanians into oblivion....it's called "Divide and Conquer" [...]
Read the full comment it is after all a tactic used since the ancient days.
Well if NATO didn't take action, the death toll would have been much greater. The killing of inocent people would have continued and who would have stopped this back then? No body, Milosevic was a tirant and he proved that by the rapping and killing of young girls. Had NATO not stopped this tragy the situation would have been 10 times worse. Thanks to the American's and Prez Clinton for saving the lives of many and taking a stand to these bullies. Its just a shame that they didn't have the ability to do this then themselves. Once again, thanks [...]
Read the full comment USA for what you have done for my country. Yes we have a lot to re build but we still have our dignity and may Milosec rot in hell where he belongs. He is a war criminal and I wish he received along enought to do
just that be found guilg and hung him. So I say thank you to the USA and the many otheries for there help, THANKS
This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained