May 30th, 2009.

Ten civilians were killed and dozens wounded ten years ago when NATO bombers bombed the bridge over the Great Morava river close to the town of Varvarin, central Serbia. Among them were Sanja Milenkovic, 15 years old student of Mathematics Gymnazium in Belgrad and the priest of the local Serbian Ortodox Church, father  Milivoje.

Today’s ceremony to mark this event was attended by thousands of family members and friends of the victims, as well as by church leaders and general public. Hundreds of young people and school students also attended the ceremony. Artists from Varvarina and the City of Krusevac have performed special programme.

The monument to the victims was completely covered by dozens of wraths laid down by family members, government, army, local authorities and many civic associations representatives, including representatives of Serbian Diaspora from Germany, Great Britain and other Countries.

Following the religious ceremony led by Sumadija’s Serbian Ortodox Church Bishop Jovan (John), speeches were delivered by Varvarin District Mayor Zoran Milenkovic, who is also the father of late Sanja Milenkovic, then by Zivadin Jovanovic, Vuk Draskovic and others.

Zivadin Jovanovic, former Minister for Foreign affairs, chairman of the Belgrade Forum for a World of Equals, said that it is utmost moral duty of every Serb cherish a memory of the victims of the NATO aggression. “Killing peaceful people at the Morava bridge on Saint Trinity Day was the crime within the crime” – he said adding that “time is inevitably coming when Europe will recognize that the NATO aggression on Serbia ten years ago was a fatal historical mistake”. He recalled that Serbia has many friends all over the World who should be also remembered and respected. He thanked particularly Serbian Diaspora for solidarity before, during and after the aggression saying that, thanks such solidarity, many bridges destroyed by NATO were re-built, including this one in Varvarin.  

(Released by Belgrade Forum for the World of Equals).