COMMEMORATING THE VICTIMS OF NATO BOMBING

Belgrade, 24 March 2004 – HRH Crown Prince Alexander II has issued a statement on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the NATO bombing:

“With great grief we sadly remember the terrible aggression and suffering of our citizens and our country, unprecedented since the time of the Second World War.

Five years later our country is still trying hard to recover from the appalling harm inflicted on her, five years later there are still victims in Kosovo and Metohia. Once again, regrettably, it has been confirmed that violence only produces more violence, and that permanent solution for the region of the former Yugoslavia can be found only in a peaceful way.

The tragic events of the last week have reminded us all, including the international community, that we have a lot of work ahead of us in creating peace and stability in the region. All citizens must have conditions for life in safety and personal progress, and that can only be achieved by strengthening the institutions and speeding up the development of democracy and economy.

The lives that were lost and those injured must never be forgotten, they remain in our hearts, but in memory of those that were killed we should turn to a brighter future for all our citizens, to Europe – the great family of nations that we belong, too” – said the Crown Prince in his statement.

The memorial service for the killed in the NATO bombing was served by His Holiness the Serbian Patriarch Pavle and on behalf of HRH Crown Prince Alexander II was attended by the member of the Privy Council Mr. Dragomir Acovic and Mr. Dusan Babac.