On March 24th, the NATO bomb attack on Yugoslavia marks the 25th anniversary. The bloody attack on the right of self -determination of the peoples in the Balkans still draws its consequences. The military alliance bombed for 78 days and nights, between 12,000 and 15,000 people were killed. Austrian capital still benefits from the Yugoslavia War today.
NATO bombs for "peace promotion"?
The Yugoslavia war led to a deep split within the peoples in the Balkans. Under the pretext of "peace promotion", NATO intervened. From then on, the “peace” created after the war meant an area occupied by the UN troops named KFor (Kosovo Force). These troops are a military formation under the direction of NATO. The KFOR group is provided by 28 countries and has been comprising 4,443 soldiers since January 2024. Since then, Austria has also regularly sent around 500 soldiers. From April, a third of the company will be deducted from Kosovo in order to be able to provide Austrian soldiers for EU combat forces. Not only that neutrality has always been broken, the basis for the economic use of the Balkan countries for Austrian capital could be created from the start.
The "independent" Republic of Kosovo
The "Independent Republic of Kosovo" was proclaimed in February 2008. Nevertheless, Kosovo is led by the EU Council by a Mission (Eulex Kosovo). Among other things, this mission is intended to support the establishment of the Kosovar Republic in the rule of law and the maintenance of public order. This creates a means to secure the interests of the EU imperialists in the Balkans. With inserts of the flimsy "peacekeeping", the endeavor to expand the EU was also secured. There can be no question of an “independent” republic if the state is managed by an international military commission and permanent NATO base points are available in the country. This is the clear proof that the imperialists are not to support the "freedom" in the country, but only to secure their influence and power.
The mood of the population in the Balkans
The consequences of the Yugoslavia war can still be felt today. Even today, the ruling Austria also benefit from this war. Mass unemployment, corruption, poor living conditions are still partly the consequences of the war today. The peoples in the Balkans have been protesting against corruption, against pole age repression, against NATO base and also against the efforts to join the EU. In Croatia, as an EU member state, the population suffers from the introduction of the euro.
In memory of the victims of the NATO attack, the anti-imperialist struggle of the peoples in the Balkans against foreign rule, also supported and defended by Austrian anti-imperialist forces.
Bild : Protest rally in 2017, Vienna