BELGRADE, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Addressing an official state ceremony Monday evening to mark Remembrance Day for the victims of the 1999 NATO bombing, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic highlighted the nation's resilience and self-determination, stressing Serbia was not defeated during the NATO intervention 26 years ago.

"Today, 26 years after the NATO aggression, both as a Serb and as the President of Serbia, I feel only one sentiment -- unlimited pride," Vucic said at the ceremony at the Colonel-Pilot Milenko Pavlovic military airport. Dignities, including Serbian Orthodox Church Patriarch Porfirije and Republic of Srpska President Milorad Dodik, also attended the event.

Despite immense losses, Vucic stressed that Serbia never surrendered to the military forces of 19 nations which vastly outmatched his country in size, population, and resources.

"We did not bow our heads then, nor did we fall never to rise again. Today, I stand as the president of a free country, where decisions are made by its people alone," he underlined.

Reflecting on history, Vucic likened Serbia's resilience to the defiant spirit of Thermopylae, where a small force resisted a far larger enemy. He described the conflict as a testament to bravery and the struggle for freedom.

"We have nothing to be ashamed of," he said, underscoring a commitment to rebuilding and strengthening Serbia despite the deep scars left by the bombings.

As part of the commemoration, officials laid wreaths across the country in memory of those who perished. Minister of Foreign Affairs Marko Duric honored the child victims at the Children Victims Memorial, while Minister of Internal Affairs Ivica Dacic paid tribute to fallen police officers.

On Tuesday, a ceremony was held at the Belgrade military airport, paying tribute to those who sacrificed during the NATO intervention. The airport was named after Colonel-Pilot Milenko Pavlovic, commander of the 204th Fighter Aviation Regiment, who lost his life in the combat against NATO forces over Valjevo on May 4, 1999. His son, Nemanja Pavlovic, attended the event and honored his father's legacy.

"We have a duty to remember our heroes, without whom we would not exist. Serbia has no one but us, and we have nothing but Serbia. It is not merely a place of birth but a place of resurrection," he said.

On March 24, 1999, NATO started an aerial bombing campaign against then Federal Republic of Yugoslavia without the authorization of the United Nations Security Council. The 78-day strikes left more than 8,000 civilians dead and injured, and nearly 1 million more displaced.

Cluster bombs and depleted uranium bombs banned by international conventions were used in the strikes, which caused widespread destruction of infrastructure. Among NATO's targets were residential buildings, schools, hospitals, and even kindergartens.

Three Chinese reporters, including one from Xinhua News Agency, were killed during bombardments against the Chinese embassy in Belgrade. Enditem

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