KOSOVO: STATEHOOD DAY OF YUGOSLAVIA CEREMONY

(27 Apr 1999) Serbo-Croat/Nat

Members of the Serbian government and the Pristina Corps celebrated Statehood Day of Yugoslavia on Tuesday at the Kosovo interim Executive Council in Pristina.

There in attendance to see the presentation of bravery medals to Yugoslavian soldiers, were high ranking Serbian officials, Zoran Andjelkovic and Nikola Sainovic.

According to Pristina Corps Commander General Vladimir Lazarevic, it is the first time Yugoslavian soldiers have been rewarded for valour in the time of war.

At the Kosovo interim Executive Council in Pristina on Tuesday, members of the Serbian government and the Pristina Corps celebrated Statehood Day of Yugoslavia.

It is a day that celebrates the formation of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, now in its seventh year.

Among those attending the ceremony and medal presentations for acts of bravery by Yugoslavian soldiers, were high ranking Serbian officials, Zoran Andjelkovic and Nikola Sainovic.

Third army commander, General Nebojsa Pavkovic, reiterated Serbia's resolve that should anyone try to invade their country, they will pay a heavy price.

SOUNDBITE: (Serbo-Croat)
"There are many heroes like these in the Third army and Yugoslav army in general. We think that the biggest hero is our people. The army that has such people, who display such courage in these decisive times can not be defeated. At the same time, I am delivering a message that anyone who tries to come to our country, anyone who tries to take a piece of our sacred soil will pay a dear price. We, the soldiers of the Third army and our Yugoslav army in general will do our utmost to prevent and stop any incursion into our territory."
SUPER CAPTION: General Nebojsa Pavkovic, Third army commander

Pristina Corps Commander, General Vladimir Lazarevic, before decorating soldiers from his own regiment, praised their heroism and the bravery of the Yugoslavian army in general.

SOUNDBITE: (Serbo-Croat)
"We are celebrating the seventh year of our statehood today. This is the 35th day of a heroic struggle for the freedom of our fatherland. Today for the first time we are decorating our brave, with war medals, but not only for the individual courage, but to collective heroism of all servicemen of the Third army Pristina corps, and Yugoslav army in general."
SUPER CAPTION: General Vladimir Lazarevic, commander of the Pristina corps

Although an accurate number of Yugoslavian military fatalities has not yet been released by Serbian authorities, sources report the number to be around 5-hundred so far.

With NATO's Operation Allied Force now entering its 35th day, a diplomatic end to the Kosovo conflict seems no closer.

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