Ministers bid farewell to their leader | 21:12 | FoNet
BELGRADE -- Saturday – Serbian Ministers Zoran Zivkovic, Vladan Batic and Bozidar Djelic all made addresses at today’s state funeral of assassinated Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic.
Zivkovic, First Deputy Leader of Djindjic’s Democratic Party, said that this walk with his president was the biggest ever, bigger even than 5 October, when they marched on the capital in a successful attempt to oust the then leader Slobodan Milosevic.
Reporting directly to Djindjic, Zivkovic continued: "This was a strange walk, the police were cooperating with us, everyone was silent and crying because everybody knew that, even though it was the biggest, this walk had a place at which to end".
He continued: "Your wife Ruzica lost you, your kids lost you, but Serbia lost you and did so at the hands of those whom you hated the most and against whom you were fighting".
Also speaking at the Belgrade New Cemetery, Serbian Minister of Justice Valdan Batic said that today was 6 October 2000, the day when we should return Serbia to ourselves and secure her future.
Serbian Minister of Finance and Economy Bozidar Djelic said that Djindjic had had a wonderful family, vision and courage, all that one man could wish for.
Speaking in the New Cemetery’s Alley of Great Men, and comparing the Serbian Prime Minister to American President J.F Kennedy, Djelic said that: "It is the responsibility of all of us, particularly those working in the economic sector of the Government, to lead our country in a proper way and bring to fruition all that Zoran Djindjic was so determined to achieve”.
Gangsters home to be blown-up | 20:43 | B92
BELGRADE -- Saturday – The house of Dusan Spasojevic, one of the prime suspects in the assassination of PM Djindjic, will be loaded with explosives and destroyed.
The Serbian Police have yet to confirm the action, but B92’s on-the-spot correspondent has said that the house, in the Belgrade suburb of Zemun, is currently being prepared for explosive demolition.
Zemun gang members arrested | 20:14 | SRNA
BELGRADE -- Saturday – The Serbian Ministry of Internal Affairs has confirmed the arrest of Mladjan Micic, wanted in connection with the assassination of PM Zoran Djindjic.
Micic, aka Pacov (Rat), who is a member of the Zemun Gang believed to have orchestrated the assassination of Djindjic, was arrested in the village of Smoljinac in Malo Crnice today along with six members of his gang.
Police raided flats that the gang members had been using as a hideout and confiscated illegally held weapons, bullets of varying calibre, vehicle registration plates and several cars, including a Ferrari.
A Ministry representative confirmed that the search for other leaders and members of criminal groups would continue in cooperation with neighbouring police forces.
Marovic confers with delegations of several countries
19:58 BELGRADE , March 15 (Tanjug) - Serbia and Montenegro President Svetozar Marovic received Saturday in the Federal Palace building the delegations of several countries that attended the funeral of Serbian Premier Zoran Djindjic.
President Marovic held separate talks with the heads of delegations of Albania (Prime Minister Fatos Nano), Austria (Federal Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel), Bosnia and Herzegovina (Presidency President Mirko Sarovic), Greece (Foreign Minister George Papandreou), European Commission (President Romano Prodi), Italy (Parliament Lower House Speaker Pier Ferdinando Kasini), Macedonia (Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski), Germany (Deputy Premier Joschka Fischer), Republika Srpska (President Dragan Cavic), Council of Europe (Secretary General Walter Schwimmer), the United States (former Secretary of State Lawrence Eagleburger), Slovakia (Prime Minister Mikulas Dzurinda), Slovenia (Prime Minister Anton Rop) and Croatia (Prime Minister Ivica Racan).
Three suspects entered via Croatia | 19:44 | FoNet
BELGRADE -- Saturday – Croatian Police sources have confirmed that three men entered Serbia from Croatia three days prior to the assassination of Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic.
The Zagreb media have announced that there are strong reasons to believe that the three men were connected with the assassination, as all of them have connections with the infamous Red Beret unit and are believed to be specially trained members of the Foreign Legion.
Croatian police have said that one of the three has already made the return trip to Croatia, but the other two have disappeared without trace.
Arrested Mladjan Micic called "Rat"
19:21 BELGRADE , March 15 (Tanjug) - The Serbian Interior Ministry announced Saturday evening the apprehension of Mladjan Micic called "Rat," one of the ringleaders of the Zemun clan, suspected of the murder of Serbian Premier Zoran Djindjic.
Micic and six other members of his group were arrested on Saturday in the village of Smoljinac in Malo Crnjice municipality.
We have to believe in, help Serbia, Prodi says
19:10 BELGRADE , March 15 (Tanjug) - European Commission President Romano Prodi said in Belgrade Saturday that he will convey to Brussels the message that they have to believe in and help Serbia - a country that is united in pain, but also in its policy.
Prodi, who attended the funeral of Serbian Premier Zoran Djindjic, told reporters that the European Commission must act swiftly to help Serbia.
Serbian PM Djindjic laid to rest | 17:18 -> 18:49 | B92
BELGRADE -- Saturday – The coffin of Prime Minister Djindjic was buried in Belgrade New Cemetery’s Alley of Great Men at approximately 2:50 this afternoon.
The coffin had been carried from the Temple of Saint Sava at around 1 pm, with representatives of the Democratic Party Zoran Zivkovic, Cedomir Jovanovic, Boris tadic, Goran Vesic and Information Bureau Chief Valdimir Popovic acting as pallbearers, alongside members of the Military Guard.
The funeral procession then made its way to Belgrade’s New Cemetery, followed by the Honourable Squad of the Serbia-Montenegro Army.
Following the farewell messages of family and close friends, the parting speech of the Chairman of the EU’s Council of Ministers, George Papandreou, and addresses made by ministers Vladan Batic, Bozidar Djelic and Zoran Zivkovic, the PM was finally laid to rest.
Papandreou vows to make Serbia-Montenegro part of the family | 16:29 -> 18:50 | FoNet
BELGRADE -- Saturday –George Papandreou, Head of Greek diplomacy and Chairman of the European Union’s Council of Ministers, said goodbye to Zoran Djindjic toady, promising to help realise the Prime Minister’s dream of Serbia-Montenegro finally becoming part of the European family.
Speaking from Djindjic’s graveside, on behalf of himself and his EU colleagues, Papandreou said that their wish was to promise to Djindjic and Serbia-Montenegro that they would be part of the European Family; he assured Zoran that his dream would become reality.
Papandreou continued by expressing his sense of disbelief and the painful feelings of bereavement that he was sharing with Djindjic’s family, and the friends he had all over the world.
Assuring the assassinated president that they would stand devoted to his vision, Papandreou said that Djindjic’s visions would stay alive and the perpetrators of this heinous crime would not go unpunished.
Schwimmer: Serbia should not be hindered on road to Europe | 18:44 | Beta
BELGRADE -- Saturday – Walter Schwimmer, General-Secretary of the European Council, today insisted that Serbia-Montenegro should be admitted to the European Council.
Speaking to Beta at the Federal Palace, Schwimmer said that despite the loss that had confronted the union, they would not be hindered in their quest for early admission into European institutions.
Schwimmer, who flew into Belgrade today to attend the funeral of assassinated PM Zoran Djindjic, spoke of Djindjic’s devotion to implementing democratic reforms and integrating Serbia-Montenegro into European structures. He insisted that Djindjic had laid the foundations of a road that we should all follow.
The General-Secretary implied that the new union’s Council of Ministers, due to be formed on Monday, should
fulfill the commitments that the Belgrade Government has already made steps towards satisfying, equating to full cooperation with The Hague Tribunal.
Serbia and Montenegro in Council of Europe by middle of year, Schwimmer
18:39 BELGRADE , March 15 (Tanjug) - Council of Europe secretary general Walter Schwimmer said in Belgrade on Saturday that the entry of Serbia and Montenegro into the
Council of Europe was a question of the moment and that it would certainly happen in first half of the year.
Scwimmer, talking to reporters, assessed that apparently Belgrade is ready to cooperate with The Hague so that he sees no obstacle for Serbia and Montenegro to enter the Council of Europe.
Serbian leaders resolved to pursue reforms, Eagleburger
18:07 BELGRADE , March 15 (Tanjug) - Former US Secretary of State Lawrence Eagleburger said in Belgrade on Saturday that he will convey to the US president and secretary of state that he believed in the resolve of Serbian leaders to remain steadfast on the course of reforms.
Eagleburger told reporters, after the funeral of Serbian Premier Zoran Djindjic, that it was absolutely necessary to apprehend and punish the criminals who committed the murder.
Marovic with representatives of foreign delegations attending funeral
17:34 BELGRADE , March 15 (Tanjug) - Serbia and Montenegro President Svetozar Marovic said on Saturday that, although he has "left physically," Serbian Premier Zoran Djindjic "remains in out hearts, rallies us in the hope that the Balkans can become a region of peace, stability, democracy and progress."
"We in Serbia and Montenegro have the strength to continue on the same path and
no one will stop us, especially when I see that we have good friends," Marovic told heads of state, foreign ministers and other ranking
representatives of over 70 countries, who attended on Saturday in Belgrade the funeral of the assassinated Serbian premier.
"Pressure" to continue but also more aid to Serbia, Ailes
16:52 LONDON , March 15 (Tanjug) - In Western capitals there are qualms and dilemmas whether there should have been less "pressure" and more aid to Serbian Premier Zoran Djindjic, but it is unlikely that the Western policy towards Belgrade will change essentially, assessed on Saturday Balkans experts Jonathan Ailes of the London Royal
Institute of Joint Armed Forces.
Ailes told the BBC that there had been some questions about Djinjdic's policy in the past year, but almost
no one doubted that he was one of the strongest promoters of democratic pro-Western changes in Serbia.
Papandreou vows to make Serbia-Montenegro part of the family | 16:29 -> 16:34 | FoNet
BELGRADE -- Saturday –George Papandreou, Head of Greek diplomacy and Chairman of the European Union’s Council of Ministers, said goodbye to Zoran Djindjic toady, promising to help
realize the Prime Minister’s dream of Serbia-Montenegro finally becoming part of the European family.
Speaking from Djindjic’s graveside, on behalf of himself and his EU colleagues,
Papandreou said that their wish was to promise to Djindjic and Serbia-Montenegro that they would be part of the European Family; he assured Zoran that his dream would become reality.
Papandreou continued by expressing his sense of disbelief and the painful feelings of bereavement that he was sharing with Djindjic’s family, and the friends he had all over the world.
Assuring the assassinated president that they would stand devoted to his vision,
Papandreou said that Djindjic’s visions would stay alive and the perpetrators of this heinous crime would not go unpunished.
This day symbolizes October 6, 2000, Batic says
16:06 BELGRADE , March 15 (TanJug) - Serbian Justice Minister said in his farewell speech at the funeral of Premier Zoran Djindjic that this day symbolically represents October 6, 2000 - the day when what was undertaken should be finished so as to secure a future for Serbia.
Batic pointed out that the assassinated premier has become the "symbol of the 21st century" and "a national and state beacon," who "restored Serbia's faith in itself and stirred hope in the future."
Farewell dear Zoran, Papandreou *
15:41 BELGRADE , March 15 (Tanjug) - EU ministerial council chairman, Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou bid farewell to Serbian Premier Zoran Djindjic on Saturday in the Alley of Outstanding Persons at Belgrade New
Cemetery.
Zoran, in this moment of grief, your vision of Serbia and Europe will go on living...the world will
continue to support democracy, freedom, peace, security and progress,
Papandreou said in his speech at the funeral of the Serbian premier.
Zoran Djindjic buried
15:31 BELGRADE , March 15 (Tanjug) - Serbian Premier Zoran Djindjic was buried on Saturday, at 14.50, with state and military honors, in the Alley of Outstanding Persons at the New
Cemetery in Belgrade.
From Djindjic bade farewell, on behalf of over 70 foreign delegations attending the funeral, Greek Foreign Minister and EU Ministerial
Council Chairman George Papandreou, on behalf of the the Serbian
government Justice and Finance Ministers Vladan Batic and Bozidar Djelic, and on behalf of the Democratic Party (DS), of which he was president, DS Vice-President Zoran Zivkovic.
Croatian-Serbian police cooperation intensified - Bardic
15:09 ZAGREB , March 15 (Tanjug) - Croatian Interior Ministry spokesperson Zinka Bardic has confirmed in public on several occasions that the Croatian and Serbian police were cooperating, but refused to give any further details.
However, media reported on Saturday that Serbian police forces were, among other persons, trying to trace three
Croatians who had arrived in Serbia a few days before the assassination of Serbian Premier Zoran Djindjic.
Serbia to head towards Europe courageously - Scheffer
14:48 BELGRADE , March 15 (Tanjug) - Dutch Foreign Minister and OSCE chairman-in-office, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, said in Belgrade on Saturday that his country, as well as the OSCE, were shocked by the brutal murder of Serbian Premier Zoran Djindjic, a man who had been a symbol of the new Serbia - on the way to Europe, rule of law, democracy and cooperation with the international community.
I am certain that Serbia will continue going in the direction it began going in with premier Djindjic, and that the democratic authorities will be strong and
courageous enough so as to bring the country into the European family, Scheffer said, and pointed out that that was important for the OSCE, European Union (EU) and Council of Europe (CE).
Serbia's stability means stability of Balkans - Sarovic
14:31 BELGRADE , March 15 (Tanjug) - Chairman of the Bosnia-Herzegovina Presidency Mirko Sarovic on Saturday expressed certainty that the murder of Serbian Premier Zoran Djindjic would neither stop the pro-reform and democratic processes in Serbia and Montenegro, nor influence the friendly relations between Serbia and Montenegro and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Republika Srpska (RS) President Dragan Cavic said that a delegation from Banja Luka had come to Belgrade to pay tribute to a man that, in the literal sense of the word, represented a
synonym of the new Serbia.
Funeral service for premier Djindjic concluded
14:09 BELGRADE , March 15 (Tanjug) - A funeral service for assassinated Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic, which was held by prelates of the Serbian Orthodox Church headed by Serbian Orthodox Metropolitan Amfilohije, has been concluded at the Vracar St. Sava Cathedral.
The funeral service was attended by Serbian Orthodox Patriarch Pavle as well, while Serbian Orthodox Metropolitan Amfilohije gave eulogy in the name of the Serbian Orthodox Church St. Archiereus Synod.
EU resolute that Djindjic's dream be realized - Papandreou
13:33 BELGRADE , March 15 (Tanjug) - I bring a message to Belgrade that the European Union (EU) is determined in doing all that is necessary to make the dream od Serbian Premier Zoran Djindjic come true, and to make Serbia and Montenegro become an EU member, EU chairman-in-office and Greek Foreign Minister, Georgios Papandreou, said on Saturday.
Papandreou also said that that would happen in spite of those who, by having murdered Djindjic, wished that the momentum of changes be stopped.
Church packed with dignitaries | 13:27 | FoNet
BELGRADE -- Saturday – The Temple of St Sava was packed with local and foreign dignitaries today for the funeral of slain Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic.
The local contingent was led by new federal president Svetozar Marovic, Acting Serbian President Natasa Micic and acting Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic, together with the speaker of the federal parliament, Dragoljub Micunovic.
Former US Secretary of State Lawrence Eagleburger, representing President Bush was present, with Privy Council President Robin Cook leading a British delegation.
The president of the European Commission, Romano Prodi and the current president of the European Union, George Papandreou is representing the Union at the funeral.
They are joined by a large number of foreign leaders and envoys.
Djindjic funeral procession closes central city | 13:19 | B92
BELGRADE -- Saturday – The funeral service for Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic finished just before 1.00 p.m. in the Temple of St Sava in Belgrade.
The head fo the Serbian Orthodox Church led the service with other senior cleric's.
The prime minister’s coffin has been carried on a gun carriage through the streets of the capital to Belgrade’s New Cemetery, where the funeral is expected to begin at 2.00 p.m.
Thousands of Belgraders have gathered outside the temple to pay their last respects to the murdered prime minister.
Most streets in the western part of the inner city have been closed for the funeral procession.
Bullets fired against future of Balkans - Nastase
13:05 BELGRADE , March 15 (Tanjug) - Serbian Premier Zoran Djindjic was murdered by bullets which were fired against the future of our region, Rumanian Prime Minister Adrian Nastase said on Saturday.
All of us who live in this part of Europe feel affected by this cynical murder, Nastase said and pointed out that stability and security in the region depended on the situation in each particular country.
Djindjic had vision of democratic, European Serbia - Cook
13:05 BELGRADE , March 15 (Tanjug) - Serbian Premier Zoran Djindjic had a vision of a modern and democratic Serbia, and he was capable of building bridges with Europe, British government ranking minister Robin Cook said.
Courage was required to oppose those who saw Serbia in a different way, Cook said and pointed out that what was of crucial
importance now was not to let those who had murdered him win.
Partner in creation of friendly relations between Serbia-Montenegro, Albania - Nano
12:35 BELGRADE , March 15 (Tanjug) - Albanian Prime Minister Fatos Nano said on Saturday that with the death of Serbian Premier Zoran Djindjic, he had lost a friend and important partner for the building of a new friendship between Serbia and Montenegro and Albania.
Nano said he had come to Belgrade not only to express his condolences, but also to give corresponding support to Serbia-Montenegro authorities, so that the two countries' partnership could be continued in creating a joint future in which the remains of the past and crime would be overcome, and the people of Serbia and Montenegro, Albania and the whole region of the West Balkans be guaranteed a Euro-Atlantic future.
Macedonia stands shoulder to shoulder with Serbia - Crvenkovski
12:09 BELGRADE , March 15 (Tanjug) - Macedonian Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski on Saturday expressed "great grief" on the occasion of the murder of Serbian Premier Zoran Djindjic, and promised that in this difficult period of time, Macedonia would do all it could and help Serbia stay on the road that led to the
democratization of the country and the whole region.
"Macedonia stands shoulder to shoulder with its friend and neighbour," Crvenkovski said.
Important to confirm readiness for cooperation - Racan
12:00 BELGRADE , March 15 (Tanjug) - Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan said on Saturday he had come to Belgrade to express his condolences on the
occasion of the murder of Serbian Premier Zoran Djindjic, to express solidarity with the people in Serbia democracy, as well as express a conviction that this "difficult period of time would be overcome in
favor of that what the citizens of Serbia should want in their future."
"It is extremely important that in these difficult circumstances we confirm our readiness for cooperation and
neighborly relations, because of the fact that we live next to each other and that it should remain like that. Croatia has established friendly relations and relations of cooperation with the government of Mr Djindjic, and therefore, it could not be otherwise but that I be present here today," the Croatian prime minister said.
Serbia strong enough to get over shock - Steiner
11:31 BELGRADE , March 15 (tanjug) - UN Kosovo mission chief Michael Steiner said in Belgrade on Saturday he was convinced that the democracy in Serbia was strong enough to overcome the present difficult situation.
The people know that the heirloom of Zoran Djindjic is that the democracy in Serbia functions in full, since Serbia's place is in Europe, Steiner said, and explained he had come to the funeral of the Serbian premier, who had been assassinated in Belgrade on Wednesday, on the behalf of the United Nations, and as Djindjic's personal friend as well.
Work on establishing democracy to be continued - Rehn
11:09 BELGRADE , March 15 (tanjug) - Special envoy to Finish prime minister, Elisabeth Rehn, former UN special human rights reporter, said on Saturday that the remembrance of assassinated Serbian Premier Zoran Djindjic should make the people in Serbia continue his work on establishing democracy, fight against
organized crime and respect of human rights of all the people that lived there.
Rehn voiced expectation that one of the consequences of the murder of the Serbian premier, which she viewed as an
appalling act, would be the uniting of the country in the
realization of those aims.
US Congress salutes fallen hero
10:25 WASHINGTON , March 15 (Tanjug) - At the Senate and Congress House of Representatives, several representatives of the US authority talked with reverence about Serbian Premier Zoran Djindjic, assassinated in Belgrade on Wednesday, and stressed that the United States was
saluting the fallen hero.
Congressman Curt Weldon from Penssylvania expressed deep regret, and warned that the fact that Djindjic was gone should not stop the process of reforms and
democratization, for which the Serbian premier had been striving for.
136 persons put in custody in past 24 hours
09:43 BELGRADE , March 15 (Tanjug) - The Serbian government press centre said late on Friday that 136 persons had been placed in custody in the past 24 hours, during the investigation the Interior Ministry is carrying out in tracing the murderers, as well as those who
assisted in and ordered the murder of Serbian Premier Zoran Djindjic.
Ever since the the state of emergency had been declared, 181 persons have been detained.
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