In the night of April 29, 1999 at about 22.30 local time, NATO bombed yet another non-military target in Serbia, the broadcasting tower on Mount Avala south of Belgrade. The tower was built in 1965 and was 195 meters high.

 

For some it was the symbol of Belgrade, for me it was one of the symbols of Serbia. I visited Mt. Avala only once, as a young boy in early 70's with my relatives from Belgrade. We didn't climb the tower, we just passed by and visited the Monument of The Unknown Soldier located near by. But for the years to come on my way from Nish, my home town in south Serbia, to Belgrade and back I could always see the tower. I especially remember well its figure on hot summer afternoons approaching Belgrade. One could see the tower some 50 km or more ahead of Belgrade. Its appearance on the left windows of the bus was the sign to the sleepy traveler to wake up, check his luggage, and his schedule for the days to come, before entering always busy streets of the capital...

For those who consider the tower to be a "military target" I strongly disagree: first, this heinous attack by Nato on Serbia cannot solve the Kosovo problem; second, the tower located more than 300 km away from Kosovo was of no significance to events there; third, usual relay stations consisting of antenna musts and broadcasting equipment can be easily repaired, the tower of this kind cannot; and last but not least we young Serbs are deprived of one of the symbols of Serbia. Long after this war everyone will remember on passing Mt. Avala that here once stood a gorgeous tower destroyed by NATO.

Here is what remained of  MY  tower now...