The Serbian President at the United Nations: NATO's Bombing of Yugoslavia Opened the Door to Violating International Law

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić confirmed in his speech before the United Nations General Assembly that the NATO attack on the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 1999 set a dangerous precedent that undermined the principle of territorial integrity of states, and its repercussions are still evident today.

Vučić stated that "the selective application of the principle of territorial integrity practically means its cancellation," pointing out that NATO's bombing of his country 26 years ago "opened Pandora's box" and violated international law without accountability.

The Serbian president emphasized that the region of Kosovo and Metohija is "an integral part of Serbia," highlighting what he described as the "daily suffering" faced by Serbs there under discriminatory policies and pressure from the Pristina authorities. He also reiterated Belgrade's commitment to the principles of international law and the necessity of respecting them without exception.

Background:
In 1999, there was an escalation between Serbian security forces and Albanian separatists in the region of Kosovo, which prompted NATO to launch an air campaign that lasted from March 24 to June 10, without a mandate from the United Nations Security Council. Western countries justified the operation at the time as a means to stop what they considered "ethnic cleansing" and a humanitarian crisis in the region.