A memorial service held early Tuesday in the church of St. Dimitrije in Mitrovica, northern Kosovo, marked the start of commemorations of the 16th anniversary of the onset of the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia.

The service was attended by citizens, officials of the government Office for Kosovo-Metohija, officials of northern Kosovo municipalities and the head of the Kosovska Mitrovica District Vaso Jelic.

After the memorial service, wreathes and flowers were laid at the Truth memorial, situated near the main bridge on the River Ibar in Mitrovica.

BELGRADE -- Serbia is on Tuesday marking the 16th anniversary since the beginning of NATO's air war against the country, then a part of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

The attacks lasted for 11 weeks and resulted in the deaths of between 1,200 and 4,000 people, according to different sources.

NATO caused heavy damage to Serbia's infrastructure, economy, schools, health institutions, media outlets, monuments of culture.

In the twentieth century Serbia was destroyed in three wars, but never fully compensated. The issue of reparations is not fully completed even after the world wars, and even though we were on the side of winners. Serbia did not come out as a winner after the 1999 bombing, but it was not a loser either. Many people see in this fact the argument that the state, 16 years after the war, again initiate the question of payment of damage resulting from the demolition of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. 

The chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Enver Hoxhaj, Kosovo Security Force Minister Haki Demolli, and KSF Commander Gen. Kadri Kastriati, on Wednesday visited NATO Headquarters and met with senior officials of this institution. Hoxhaj, said that NATO supports the transformation of KSF in Kosovo Armed Forces (KAF). "It should be emphasized that it is a genuine support for the transformation of KSF in the Armed Forces,” wrote Hoxhaj on his Facebook profile.

The Minister of Kosovo Security Force (KSF), Haki Demolli, and KSF commander, Lt. Gen. Kadri Kastrati along with a delegation of the Kosovo government, today and tomorrow will stay in Brussels at the invitation of the North-Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Demolli and Kastrati will participate in workshops and conferences dealing with security issues, opportunities for training and military education, military cooperation and the role of NATO in Kosovo and beyond.

The mission of KFOR remains committed to the mission of providing security and freedom of movement for all citizens of Kosovo, NATO's supreme commander for Europe, US General Philip Breedlove said.

The first man of NATO in Europe, US General Philip Breedlove said during a visit to Kosovo that he is extremely pleased with the work and efforts of KFOR soldiers, adding that KFOR daily progresses towards a more flexible and smaller mission in Kosovo, RTK2 reported.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Kosovo Hashim Thaçi has stressed that stability can only come to the Balkans after Serbia formally recognizes the independence of Kosovo, but added that Kosovo and Serbia must move forward to normalize their relations.

Minister of Kosovo Security Force, Haki Demolli, said on Monday that the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) is ready to be transformed into Kosovo Armed Force (KAF). Demolli made these statements in the report to the members of the Commission for Foreign Affairs, and informed them about the preparations that were made for the establishment of the Kosovo Armed Force (KAF). Demolli announced that in cooperation with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), his ministry designed the transformation of KSF into KAF.

The Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Jens Stoltenberg, today visited KFOR Headquarters in Pristina. Stoltenberg thanked NATO troops who worked hard to ensure stability and safety in Kosovo.  Asked about the future of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF), Stoltenberg said that KFOR will assist in the development of the KSF, and this is an internal issue of Kosovo.  In regards to terrorism, Stoltenberg said that this is a general issue and that they are committed to fighting this phenomenon.

The Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Jens Stoltenberg, will visit Kosovo on Friday. During his visit, Stoltenberg will meet COMKFOR, General Francesco Paolo Figliuolo, and top representatives of the international community in Kosovo. The NATO SG is also scheduled to meet President Jahjaga, Prime Minister Mustafa and Deputy Prime Minister Thaci.