500,000 Serbs rally against Kosovo’s secession in Belgrade

They have gathered from around Serbia, but also Republika Srpska and Montenegro, in front of the Serbian parliament, before moving to the plateau in front of the St. Sava temple for a Kosovo prayer.

In a sea of Serbian flags, protesters also waived Spanish, Romanian, Brazilian, Russian, Indian, Argentinian and South African flags - in a show of thanks to the countries which have refused to recognize the illegal secession.

The protest was organized by the Serbian government and the key opposition parties, while some of the most famous Serbian public figures took the stage, including Palme d'Or winner film director Emir Kusturica, Australian Open tennis champion Novak Djokovic and the captain of the Serbian world champion basketball team Dejan Bodiroga.

The Prime Minister of Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik and the leaders of the main Serbian opposition parties in Montenegro also spoke at the meeting, urging a united front against the non-recognition of Kosovo's secession.

Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica said in his speech that Kosovo had "always belonged to Serbia and will remain forever so".

"There is no force, no threat, no punishment big enough which will make any Serb, anytime, say anything else but - Kosovo is Serbia!", Kostunica said.

"The state of Serbia has annulled and will annul any illegal act of the false state, created by force on the territory of Serbia. A false state is nothing more but a triumph of lies against justice and truth. In a false state, everything must be false - laws, borders, flag, geography and history. The more the mighty in the world push for that lie, the more their creature will be false", the Serbian Prime Minister warned.

Tomislav Nikolic, the leader of the main opposition party -- the Serbian Radical Party - said Serbia would never forget those who recognize Kosovo's secession, nor will it forget those countries which refuse to do so.

"I am promising you that I will not calm down until Kosovo gets back under Serbia's control. Hitler could not take it away from us, and so will not the mighty of today", Nikolic said.

Basketball star Dejan Bodiroga said "the fight for Kosovo will be Serbia's most important match".

"I have played many matches for my country, but this match is the most important for Serbia. This match is not over because this match will be played until the final victory of Serbia - because Kosovo is Serbia!", Bodiroga said.

Tennis superstar Novak Djokovic said this was one of the most difficult moment in Serbia's history and that his "heart was always with Kosovo", but also that Serbia was ready to defend what it belongs to her.

Emir Kusturica urged Serbs to make a new calendar in which they would mark as a goal "the date on which Kosovo will be free again".

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