[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 43 (Tuesday, March 18, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E500-E501]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




THE ASSASSINATION OF SERBIAN PRIME MINISTER ZORAN DJINDJIC ON MARCH 12, 
                                  2003

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOSEPH CROWLEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 18, 2003

  Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express outrage at the 
assassination of the Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic. This 
assassination represents a hideous and appalling crime that was 
intended to block reform and democratization endeavors. The United 
States has strongly endorsed Djindjic's reform-minded approach, his 
advocacy of democratic values and his struggle to propel Serbia into

[[Page E501]]

modern Europe and the Western world of democratic nations.
  As a student in Belgrade he was jailed after joining a non-communist 
student organization protesting against Marshal Tito's communist rule. 
In the late 1990s, Djindjic emerged as the leading figure in the 
opposition movement against Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic.
  Congress had a vital interest in ending Milosevic's dictatorship in 
Serbia, and Djindjic was instrumental in helping engineer the demise of 
this evil ruler. Djindjic played a crucial role in the arrest of 
Milosevic, and he later courageously sent the dictator to the United 
Nations war crimes tribunal in The Hague. When Milosevic was handed 
over to the tribunal in 2001, the Prime Minister pushed aside the 
objections of other senior Serbian politicians, and he was prepared to 
confront the harsh criticism by Serbian nationalists.
  The prosecutors at the United Nations tribunal regarded him as their 
best hope to deliver fugitive Serbian war criminals indicted by the 
court. At the time of his tragic death, Djindjic had been preparing to 
arrest Milorad Lukovic and his associates, some of whom are suspected 
of committing war crimes and belonging to an underworld group accused 
of dozens of murders and kidnappings.
  By promoting economic and democratic reforms, Djindjic was further 
instrumental in realizing the U.S. goal of bringing and maintaining 
stability on the Balkans. Djindjic saw the need for reform and taught 
his people to understand the demands and rewards of integrating Serbia 
into the world of peaceloving democracies. He urged the Serbian people 
to confront and work up its own past in order to manage the difficult 
task of democracy building. Djindjic understood the challenge to tackle 
these difficulties instead of denying them even if they are unpleasant. 
His death represents a major setback to the fight for democratic 
stability in this important transitional phase.
  I express my condolence to the people of Serbia and to Serbian-
Americans on the sad and tragic death of Zoran Djindjic, whose 
courageous endeavors to bring democracy to Serbia must not be 
forgotten.

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