[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 41 (Thursday, March 13, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E473]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    IN REMEMBRANCE OF ZORAN DJINDJIC

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. CURT WELDON

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 13, 2003

  Mr. WELDON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I wish to express my sincere 
condolences both to the family of Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic and to 
the nation of Serbia-Montenegro. His assassination cannot be allowed to 
stop the process of democracy and reform that Mr. Djindjic promised.
  The world mourns the loss of a true democrat and lover of freedom; 
having dedicated his life to these ideals, Mr. Djindjic was willing to 
risk everything to bring freedom to his homeland. Both during their 
time in opposition and after the Democratic Party came to power, a rise 
in which he played a major role, Mr. Djindjic stood not only for 
democracy in Serbia-Montenegro, but also for justice, as demonstrated 
by his critical role in bringing Slobodan Milosevic to justice.
  Prime Minister Djindjic worked tirelessly to bring Serbia-Montenegro 
out of the international isolation forced upon it by the regime of 
Milosevic. Toward this goal, I met with the Prime Minister in January 
of this year, and I was quite impressed by both his commitment to 
democracy in Serbia-Montenegro and to making it an integral part of 
Europe and the world.
  In order to ensure democracy and justice, Mr. Djindjic also was a 
committed opponent of organized crime, the scourge of so many 
democratizing states. Without political leaders commited not only to 
the ideals of democracy, but also to a basic foundation of justice, a 
free society cannot flourish. Prime Minister Djindjic was a prime 
example of just such a political leader--one that Serbia-Montenegro, 
and the world, needs more of.
  Yesterday was truly a sad day for democracy, one of its champions 
fell; but we cannot let the crimes of a few undue the good of lifetime 
devoted to freedom. Although the world has lost Zoran Djindjic, we must 
all make sure that his dream lives on.

                          ____________________