Serbia says no to NATO on alliance's airstrikes anniversary

A man walks by the newly exhibited "Neva", Soviet made surface-to-air missile system, in Belgrade's military museum, Serbia, Thursday, March 23, 2017. Serbia marks the 18th anniversary of beginning of the NATO air-campaign in 1999, on March 24. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic) (The Associated Press)

Three Serbian police helicopters fly over the capital, Belgrade, as part of Remembrance Day ceremonies, in Serbia, Thursday, March 23, 2017. Serbia marks the 18th anniversary of beginning of the NATO air-campaign in 1999, on March 24. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic) (The Associated Press)

Serbia's prime minister has pledged that the Balkan country will never join NATO or any other military alliance as Serbia marked the 18th anniversary of the start of NATO airstrikes that stopped a crackdown in Kosovo.

Aleksandar Vucic spoke on Friday at a railway bridge in southern Serbia where the Western military alliance's missiles struck a passenger train, killing at least 28 people.

Vucic says "we will never be part of the alliance which killed our children, nor of any other alliance."

Anti-NATO sentiments run high in Serbia since the 78-day bombing in 1999 over a bloody crackdown by Serbian forces against Kosovo Albanian separatists.

Although formally seeking EU membership, Serbia has been boosting its military cooperation with Russia, which has agreed to deliver fighter jets, tanks and anti-aircraft systems.