Podgorica, (MINA) – NATO air strikes in 1999 were a brave decision that terminated permanent breach of human rights and killing of innocent victims, said Secretary General of the Alliance Jens Stoltenberg and added that it was not aimed towards the Yugoslav people, but for protection of the civilians.
20 years since the beginning of NATO strikes on then-Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was marked on Sunday.
According to Stoltenberg, NATO initiated the operation “Allied Force” in order to stop humanitarian catastrophe which was happening in Kosovo at the time.
In an interview to Mina, Stoltenberg explained that the decision was reached after more than a year of fights in Kosovo and several unsuccessful international diplomatic attempts of the UN and the Contact Group to find a peaceful solution.
He remarked that by the end of 1998, the politics of then-president Slobodan Milosevic forced more than 300,000 people from Kosovo out of their homes, and thus NATO strikes were necessary and legitimate.
Stoltenberg said that he sees the period of bombardments as a period when NATO undertook a brave decision to act, and succeeded in terminating permanent violations of human rights and killing of innocent civilians.
“Following the air strikes, NATO assigned the peacekeeping operation KFOR, which in the beginning included Russia”, said he, and added that since its beginning KFOR was a guarantee of stability in Kosovo and the region.
Asked if NATO opponents are emotional about 1999 and use it as a main argument for opposing the membership, Stoltenberg said that NATO has remained a controversial topic is some circles.
He said that for many the air strikes of 1999 are painful, in particular those who lost their loved ones.
Serbia, Stoltenberg said, clearly acknowledged that it does not strive to become a NATO member.
“We fully respect that position”, said he, adding that NATO and Serbia are in the same time close partners, and that it is up to Serbia to decide how to improve its cooperation with NATO.
Commenting on some reports that the number of cancer patients has increased after the bombardment, Stoltenberg said that NATO established the Committee on Depleted Uranium, which concluded that NATO usage of depleted uranium in Kosovo did not cause any continuous risks.
He said that Montenegrin decision to become a NATO member is a result of the sovereign decision of Montenegrin government, and that he respects the right of every country to choose its own security arrangements.
Stoltenberg said that Montenegro has been contributing to Euro-Atlantic security, first as a partner and then as a full-fledged member state.
He welcomed Montenegro’s decision to increase defense expenses, with the plan to invest 2% of its GDP in defense by 2014, as well as its decision to contribute to the new mission in Iraq.
Stoltenberg said that ties between NATO and Montenegro are mutually beneficial and help strengthening collective security. Longer version of article is available on a link MINA ENGLISH SERVIS
