We, the participants of the Conference held on March 21st 2025 at the Serbian Military Club, gathered to mark the 26th anniversary of the beginning of NATO aggression against Serbia (the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia), titled “When War Was Reintroduced in Europe”, have adopted this
STATEMENT
We stand up for:
– A broader approach to the culture of remembrance. The respect owed to the victims fallen while defending the country and freedom from NATO aggression in 1999 as well as from other aggressions, should be held and felt in life, education, science, and art. Whatever we do, create curricula, entrust the writing of textbooks, choose strategic partners, assign economic interests, sign long-term agreements, just like when we defend Kosovo and Metohija and the Republic Srpska – we have to be deeply aware of our history and the victims fallen for the freedom and perseverance.
– Dissolution of NATO, which has, by virtue of its aggression against our country, formally turned from a defensive into an aggressive alliance of the unipolar world order and the neoliberal corporate system. NATO’s policy of expansion to the East intensified in 1999 and brought the world to the brink of nuclear doomsday. Presently, more and more governments of member states realize that NATO is but a relic of the Cold War that has no place in the multipolar world order.
– Closure of US military Camp Bondsteel and all foreign camps located in the Balkans, in Europe, and across the world. Camp Bondsteel is an illegal military base, just as are illegal that NATO aggression, the subsequent unilateral secession and its recognition under US and EU pressure. This base was erected on a part of the Serbian territory that has been temporarily placed under the mandate of UN Security Council Resolution 1244, but without the consent of either Serbia or the United Nations.
– Continuation and reinforcement of diplomatic activities aimed at de-recognition.
– Filing request for compensation for war damages. NATO has severely violated the basic principles of international law, the UN Charter, the ultimate authority of the UN Security Council, the OSCE Helsinki Final Act (1975) and the Paris Charter and, as such, is liable to compensate for the inflicted damage. Such request for compensation is both a right and a moral duty of Serbia towards the victims of the aggression.
– Furtherance of activities aimed at determining the consequences of the use of weapons filled with depleted uranium and other means of mass destruction. Relevant decisions made by the Assembly and the Government of Serbia need to be implemented, and the publicly given promises need to be honored.
– Conservation, adaptation, and preservation of the buildings of the Ministry of Defense and of the Armed Forces General Staff as both cultural monuments and a testimony of a great suffering, that are of lasting importance for the self-esteem and morale of the nation, and for the patriotic upbringing of the generations to come. Such a role and significance of those edifices are beyond comparison with any material or financial gains.
– Establishment of the Center for Documentation and Studying of NATO Aggression as a turning point in the global affairs. As a victim of the aggression and the first war to be waged on the European soil after WWII, Serbia deserves this. The organizers of this Conference stand ready to provide a concept for it.
– Compiling a list of civilian victims of NATO aggression. We must avoid critics of future generations for a failure that still can be rectified. This is a part of the culture of remembrance, too.
– Adjusting our domestic and foreign policies in line with new realities in Europe and the world. Tectonic changes in the European and global environments require in-depth adjustments planning, and vision, for a more thorough protection of long-term national and state interests.
– Condemnation, in strongest terms, of any interference in Serbia’s internal affairs and foreign policy.
– Preservation of Serbia’s natural, mineral, and other resources, including strategic minerals, precious metals, agricultural land, waters, and forests. The prolonged stagnation and economic crisis across Europe is not the time for sellout or concessions, but rather the wake up call for greater care of, and reliance on, own resources, and for a bolder diversification of economic-technological and investment cooperation.
– Reviewing the existing regulation and practices vis-à-vis the so-called NGOs which are funded from abroad, advocate other parties’ interests, and promote interfering in our country’s internal affairs and foreign policy. It should be established whether such NGOs have also, in parallel, used funds from the State Budget, namely, the funds belonging to the citizens of Serbia.
– Such human resources policy that prioritizes knowledge, professionalism, and proven commitment to most important state and national interests, and excludes voluntarism or promotion of persons who advocate foreign interests. A militarily neutral country cannot be represented by proven promoters of Serbia’s joining NATO!
– Reviewing the current EU framework for the dialog on Kosovo and Metohija, since it proved to be but a mechanism for extorting from Serbia unacceptable concessions that favor separatism and harm her state sovereignty and territorial integrity. Over the past 15 years, this framework diverged Serbia away from UN SC Resolution 1244 as the single most important legal basis for defending sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia, failed to bring about the expected results and is not capable of providing a just, balanced and durable solution.
– Reverting the process of resolving the issue of Kosovo and Metohija to the authority and within the framework of UN SC Resolution 1244, for the purpose of implementing all thus far unimplemented duties under this legally binding act, including: guaranteeing the right to free and safe return of 250,000 expelled Serbs and other non-Albanians; end of systematic violence against, and ethnic cleansing of, Serbs and other non-Albanians; returning and redeployment of the set contingents of the Serbian Army and Police personnel (up to 1999); demilitarization of the Province; security, freedom of movement, education, and freedom of religion for Serbs and other non-Albanians; restitution of the forcibly usurped private, socially-owned, and state-owned property; observance of all other fundamental human rights of Serbs presently living in the Province.
– Annulment of all acts, documents, changes, and measures taken in contravention with the status of the Province as a part of the Serbian state territory currently placed ad interim under the United Nations Security Council mandate, that is, taken contrary to the Constitution of Serbia and UN SC Resolution 1244.
– Proactive role of Serbia in the building of a new European security architecture she is entitled to owing to her immeasurable contribution to peace and security and the development of European civilization, particularly having in mind Serbia’s share in overcoming Nazism 80 years ago, and especially being aware that Serbia (the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia) was the first country to resolutely stand up to hegemonism and NATO’s expansion to the East, and also to defend the basic principles of international law as established on the outcome of the Second World War.
– Strengthening the policy of active neutrality and its upgrading to the level of a Constitutional principle, and for developing balanced relations and cooperation with all major stakeholders in global affairs, on the basis of mutual respect and benefits.
– We welcome the top-level dialogue and the beginning of normalization of relations between Russia and the USA as a strategically significant positive development, as well as the efforts invested by President Putin and President Trump in reinforcing global security and in achieving peace in Ukraine while eliminating the root causes that triggered the Ukrainian crisis.
– Further, we stand for the restoration and respect of ceasefire in Gaza and for free supply of humanitarian aid to the vulnerable population of Palestine.
– Condemnation of all factors that reinvigorate the conflicts and the warmongering propaganda.
– Halting the arms race. Should certain European countries continue this race, they might turn into hostages of arms’ stocks and sources of renewed threats to peace and security, with unfathomable consequences. Any preparations for war made at the times when leaders of the most powerful countries are searching to find paths leading to peace, global security and partnership, at times when the global majority is striving for a multipolar world order and development – are a hallmark of irresponsibility and political blindness. Allocations of fresh new trillions of euros for armament could only result in deepening the economic crisis in Europe, a faster capital outflow, the decline in living standard, and the rise of instability. The way out of it is not in militarization and Russophobia, but rather in normalization and good neighborly relations.
– Support to the leadership of the Republic of Srpska in defending the Dayton Accords, and the prerogatives and powers guaranteed to it under the Accords and the Constitution as an integral part thereof.
– We stand for the Dayton-defined Bosnia and Herzegovina, established on the bases of equality of the three constituent peoples and two autonomous entities with inviolable powers, and against attempts to restore a unitary-type Bosnia and Herzegovina under the dominance of one peoples’ elite over other peoples.
– We stand for ending political persecution of Milorad Dodik, President of the Republic of Srpska, and its other leaders.
– Departure of Christian Schmidt and abolition of the position of High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, as a relic of past times, neocolonialism and expansionism, and presently the biggest obstacle to the functioning of the Constitutional system of Bosnia and Herzegovina and its entities.
– Strongest condemnation of all pressures, harassment, and terrorism currently used against the Serbs in the Province of Kosovo and Metohija, with a view to putting a stop to the ethnic cleansing of the Serbian people.
– We deplore the anti-Serbian military networking of certain NATO member states with the illegal leadership in Priština. Beyond any doubt, this was executed in agreement with NATO leadership that already applies asymmetrical pressure against Serbia and the Serbian people. Serbia ought to inform the UN Security Council about this latest violation of Resolution 1244 and request and adequate response.
– We stand for the normalization in Serbia, and for the contribution of each individual in accordance with their responsibilities. Today, this is the most important way to express respect for the defender of the country and the victims of NATO aggression.
The Belgrade Forum for a World of Equals, the Club of Serbian Generals and Admirals, the Diaspora Fund for the Motherland и адмирала Србије, the SUBNOR of Serbia, the Association of Veterans of the Serbian Military Intelligence Services, the Association of Veterans of the Special Police Units.
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