DSS: We cannot forgive and must not forget NATO crimes

BELGRADE - The Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) held a commemoration rally in Belgrade downtown on Monday, promoting the policy of military and political neutrality on the Remembrance Day for the victims of the NATO aggression against Serbia.

DSS Vice-President Slobodan Samardzic said at the rally that NATO's criminal attacks must not be forgotten and cannot be forgiven.

"What NATO did in 1999 is unprecedented in recent history. Serbia was punished because it defended its state, territorial integrity and people," Samardzic said in a statement to reporters.

He underlined that the NATO bombing campaign was aimed at taking the southern Serbian province of Kosovo-Metohija by force.

"Fortunately, that process has not been completed yet, but it seems that the NATO aggressor is close to achieving that," he added.

A majority of Serbian citizens are against the country's membership in NATO, but the political elite fell under the influence of the Western factor, and the West is interested in Serbia just because of NATO membership, the DSS vice-president said.

"That is the strategy of occupation, hegemony, imperialism and contemporary colonialism, and Serbia should not accept that. Our political elite accepted the EU integration that does not benefit us at all, but we are in the process just so that we could accede to NATO," Samardzic said.

He noted that people and political organizations have the power to prevent that, and voiced confidence that Serbia will remain a free, independent and politically neutral state.

Photo Tanjug, N. Jovanovic