Memory of NATO victims: Belgrade and Novi Sad combined in mourning

Memory of NATO victims: Belgrade and Novi Sad combined in mourning

Belgrad, Serbien - On March 24, 2025, memorial events for the victims of the NATO bombardings from 1999 take place in Belgrade and Novi Sad. These annual memories are the result of an air offensive that started on March 24, 1999 and lasted 78 days. This operation, officially referred to as an operation Allied Force, was led by NATO Secretary General Javier Solana after failed negotiations on the Kosovo crisis increased the pressure on military intervention. According to Kosmo aims to commemorate the extensive destruction and the humanitarian crises caused by the attacks.

During the bombing, there were massive military and civilian losses. It is estimated that between 1,200 and 2,000 civilians were killed, while the Yugoslav armed forces lost around 1.008 military officers and police officers. NATO opted for intervention to counter the ethnic conflict and acute violations of human rights, such as the ethnic cleaning of the Kosovo Albanians. However, the intervention was carried out without the approval of the UN Security Council and therefore triggered international debates on their legality and morality, as reports of NATO Association Show.

planned memorial events

The memorial events today include wreath laying on various monuments. These start at 10 a.m. at the monument for the children killed in the NATO bombardment, led by Foreign Minister Marko Djuric. Further wreaths are at 11 a.m. at the "Glasnik Sa Straeevice" memorial by Nikola Nikodijevic and at 12 p.m. in the Tašmajdan park at the "Bili Smo Samo Deca" monument. In addition, a protest called "Protest for the General Staff" from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. in Belgrade is planned.

In Novi Sad, commemoration begins at 7.30 p.m. in front of the building of the oil industry in Serbia, followed by 17 minutes of silence in which the victim is to be thought of. A special commemorative bike tour is also carried out to keep the memories of the tragic events alive.

on the intervention and its consequences

The NATO bombardings led to considerable destruction in Serbia. Bridges, hospitals, schools and cultural monuments were both damaged and destroyed. This was done as part of a strategy that included over 38,000 combat operations by NATO aircraft, with the US air weapon playing an important role. The Yugoslav army tried to dismantle these attacks by the use of outdated aircraft and air defense, but got into an unsustainable location.

The conflict has shaped the region long after the end of the military conflicts. The withdrawal of Yugoslav troops from Kosovo was sealed on June 10, 1999 by accepting resolution 1244 of the UN Security Council and a military agreement between the Yugoslav army and NATO. These events ultimately led to the creation of an un-peaceful transitional government.

In the above-mentioned debates about NATO intervention, intellectuals such as Michael Ignateff and Robert Skidelsky controversial argued. While Ignateff considered the intervention as necessary for the protection of human rights, Skidelsky emphasized the need for a large powers and warned of the endangerment of state sovereignty. Together they acknowledge the humanitarian crisis in Kosovo, whereby their opinions about the means to solve this crisis.