Statement by the Belgrade Forum for a World of Equals, on the occasion of February 23rd, Global Day of Action to Close Foreign Military Bases

The Belgrade Forum for a World of Equals, as a voluntary, independent and non-partisan association of citizens founded 25 years ago, has publicly expressed its opinions and positions on important social issues on many occasions. According to the Forum's assessment today, these issues are:

- The necessity of peacefully overcoming all divisions, distrust and socio-political crises by uprooting their causes and by confidence building measures stabilizing society and its development.

This March 24rth, the Belgrade Forum for a World of Equals, Generals and Admirals Association of Serbia, Veterans Association SUBNOR of Serbia and some other independent associations and think tanks, will mark 24rth anniversary of the NATO aggression on Serbia and Montenegro (FR of Yugoslavia) honoring fallen heroes of the defense of the country as well as all the victims of this illegal and criminal act.

In keeping with the tradition maintained over all previous years, the Belgrade Forum for the
World of Equals is marking March 24, remembering this day back in 1999 when the NATO
Alliance’s illegal and criminal aggression against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (the FRY)
began, thus paying tribute to the fallen defenders of the motherland and the killed civilians.
This aggression was the first war on European soil waged since the end of World War II. As the
bombs and cruise missiles thrown by the most powerful military machinery in the history of

The Belgrade Forum for a World of Equals, the Club of Generals and Admirals of Serbia and a number of other independent, non-partisan, non-profit organizations have been continuously marking March 24rth 1999, the date of the beginning of NATO military aggression since the year 2000 to date, organizing commemorative ceremonies, domestic and international conferences, laying wreaths at the memorials dedicated to the victims of aggression, publishing books, releasing statements, and reminding friends and partners in the country and abroad to also take part in these activities.

21 years ago, acting on its own and without the UN Security Council approval, NATO carried out an armed aggression against Serbia, in gross violation of the UN Charter, the OSCE Helsinki Final Act, a series of other international conventions as well as of its own Founding Act of 1949.

From the Belgrade Forum, the Club of Generals and Admirals of Serbia, and the Foundation United for the Youth

by Živadin Jovanovic

Once again this March, the Belgrade Forum for a World of Equals, the Club of Generals and Admirals of Serbia and other independent non-party associations in Serbia pay tribute to the victims of NATO 1999 aggression on Serbia (FRY). This aggression took lives of more than thousand defenders, military and the police and their officers, and also of thousands of civilians, including 87 children. Regrettably, the final list of the civilian casualties has not been determined as yet, although the number is estimated to stand at over 3,000. About 10.000 people were wounded.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999) guaranteeing sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia and the wide autonomy of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia, is the highest binding legal document that obliges all members to this World Organization, including the member states of the EU, NATO, the OSCE, the OIC, the AU, and the EAU. Resolution 1244 is the only reliable basis and the framework for any negotiations concerning status.