Twenty years since beginning of NATO air strikes against former Yugoslavia

Twenty years ago on March 24, 1999, NATO launched air strikes against former Yugoslavia, in order to stop the conflict between the Serbian forces of Slobodan Milosevic and the Albanian separatists in Kosovo. The military operation was held without the agreement of the United Nations. The bombing that lasted for 11 weeks started on the first year of the Kosovo conflict after the attempts for diplomatic solution failed. According to data of NATO, a total of 38,000 military flights were conducted by NATO aircraft over former Yugoslavia, including 10,000 bombings. According to different estimates, the number of civil victims ranges between 500 and 2,500. The air strikes ended on June 10, 1999 when Slobodan Milosevic withdrew the Serbian forces from Kosovo, where nearly 13,000 people died in military actions.

Appeal Chamber of Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals in Hague sentences former President of Republika Srpska Radovan Karadzic to life in prison

The Appeal Chamber of the Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals in Hague changed the sentence of former President of Republika Srpska Radovan Karadzic to life in prison. The chamber considers the former forty-year sentence inadequate. In March 2016 Karadzic was sentenced under a first-instance verdict to 40 years in prison. Karadzic was convicted for genocide, crimes against humanity and military crimes during the Bosnian War of 1992-1995. Nearly 100,000 people died in the war between Orthodox Serbs, Muslim Bosniaks and Catholic Croats. Karadzic was arrested in Belgrade in 2008 after spending thirteen years on the run.

Antigovernment protests in Albania continue

Thousands of Albanians protested in front of this country’s National Assembly building. The protesters demanded the resignation of the Albanian cabinet and early elections. Police used tear gas and water cannons against the protesters. The procession was part of the protests organized by the opposition Centre- Right Democratic Party. Last month it accused the cabinet of Edi Rama in corruption and links with organized crime. Later, the government denied these accusations.

Greek opposition demands answers by government over flights from Venezuela to Athens

A political scandal erupted in Greece due to flights held from Venezuela to Greek airports. The opposition insists to receive full information about the cargo and the persons who flew on these flights. According to Greek media, at least 9 government flights were made from Venezuela to Greece. The main opposition party New Democracy has insisted that Premier Alexis Tsipras explains in Parliament the relations between the Greek government and the government of Maduro. The socialists also criticized the position of Premier Tsipras on Venezuela. They point out that the decision to use Greek airports for flights of Venezuela’ planes with unknown people on board discredits Greece as European country, the BNR correspondent in Greece Katya Peeva reported.

Kurds is Southeast Turkey celebrate Newroz

Thousands of men and women waved flags of the Pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party at the celebrations of the Kurdish New Year (Newroz) in Diyarbakir (Southeast Turkey). This year’s celebrations are held in a tense pre-election campaign for the local elections due on March 31. The governmental pressure over the Peoples’ Democratic Party intensified especially after the failed coup attempt in Turkey in 2016. Many supporters and members of this party have been already sent to prison.

Compiled by: Miglena Ivanova

English version: Kostadin Atanasov