Ninčić: Serbia is focused on preserving peace and stability, although the memories of 1999 still hurt

In her address, Ambassador Ninčić reminded that on this day 23 years ago NATO began aggression against the FR Yugoslavia without the authorisation of the UN Security Council, emphasising that this act was in violation of the UN Charter, the Helsinki Final Act, and the international legal order.

Ambassador Ninčić said that the forces of 19 countries carried out about 2,300 air strikes, including the attacks using cluster bombs and ammunition containing depleted uranium on 995 civilian facilities.

"In these attacks, 148 residential buildings and 62 bridges were destroyed, while 300 schools, 20 hospitals, 176 cultural heritage sites were severely damaged, including heating plants and water supply systems across the country. During 78 days of relentless campaign, about 2,500 civilians were killed, of which 89 were children”, Ambassador Ninčić pointed out and highlighted that each of their names was a symbol of shame of those responsible for this mindless act.

Ambassador Ninčić reminded that the youngest victim Bojana Tošović from Merdare was only 11 months old, recalling also two-year-old Marko Simić from Novi Pazar, who passed away in his father's arms, and three-year-old Milica Rakić, who was killed in the bathroom during the cluster bomb attack on Batajnica.

In her address, the Ambassador referred to the fact that humanitarian law prohibits acts of violence, attacks and reprisals against civilian facilities, reminding that the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic in Višegradska street in Belgrade was damaged as well as the Maternity Clinic of the Medical Center Dragiša Mišović, and the hospitals and medical centres in Ćuprija, Aleksinac, Raška, Prokuplje, Čačak, Mitrovica, Leposavić and Priština.

Ambassador Ninčić stated that 15 civilians were killed and 44 were wounded in the attack on a passenger train in Grdelička gorge, reminding that this mass murder was characterised by NATO as an "accident". She added that NATO bombed a bridge full of people returning from the Sunday service in Varvarin, when 10 people were killed and 17 were wounded. Also, cluster bombs were dropped on a crowded open market in Niš, when 15 civilians were killed and 16 were wounded.

"The headquarters of the Radio Television of Serbia in Belgrade was intentionally hit by a projectile on 16 April, killing 16 employees. This was a clear violation of all recognised safety and physical norms for the protection of journalists", said the Serbian Ambassador to the OSCE.

Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to the OSCE said that destruction of the oil refinery and chemical plants in densely populated areas around Belgrade caused long-term and irreparable environmental damage, which was in violation of Article 35 of the Additional Protocol to the Geneva Convention. She also pointed out the violation of Article 54 of the Additional Protocol to the Geneva Convention, highlighting that NATO dropped graphite bombs on five Serbian power plants, thus disabling 70% of the country's electrical power system.

Ambassador Ninčić stated that up to 15 tons of ammunition containing depleted uranium were dropped on the FR Yugoslavia, underlining that the use of such ammunition causes lasting and severe health consequences and pollutes the environment over a longer period of time.

The Ambassador said that the use of cluster munitions and other explosive weapons posed a serious hazard to civilians for decades after their use, and that unexploded ordnance might have serious socio-economic consequences.

"Despite enormous demining efforts, including a significant international aid, unexploded cluster munitions continue to pose a serious threat on an area of more than 1,000,000 square meters, followed by a threat of unexploded aircraft bombs and projectiles in the ground and waterways on 150 locations in central Serbia ", stated Ambassador Ninčić.

Ambassador Ninčić concluded her address by stating that the trauma from this unlawful military aggression was still present, and that Serbia was committed to peace, stability, non-selective preservation of territorial integrity and sovereignty, and diplomatic resolution of all conflicts and disputes in the OSCE area.