In Memoriam -- Dr. Zoran Djindjic (1952-2003)

Kajem se, zivim sa osecajem krivice svakog dana. Zasto ti nisam sve rekla dok sam mogla…sada samo zelim da ti kazem hvala, ali mi ni to ne daju…     Ja sam sebe vise puta zamisljala na tom mestu u tom trenutku kada posmatram ceo dogadjaj sa distance. I uvek je sve u usporenom snimku. Ja te posmatram i mislim se kako sam srecna sto sam tuda prolazila bas u trenutku kada izlazio iz kola i smeskam se jer si jadnicak na stakama, i u tom trenutku cujem pucanj i to je jedini zvuk oko mene, gledam ga sve vreme i gledam kako padas, tu na nekoliko desetina metara od mene, onda jos jedan pucanj, Milan pada, ja sam samo u stanju da pustim jedan dug ocajan krik koji odzvanja citavom ulicom, i trcim ka vama. Sve vreme vristim i pocinjem da placem, derem se "NEEEEEEEEEEEEE!! Molim te, ne!!! NEEEEEEEEEE!! Samo ne to! Molim te!!!" I samo to uspevam da ponavljam sve vreme. Ne uspevam da stignem do vas jer se vec gomila ljudi okupila oko vas i ne daju mi da prodjem, njih nekoliko me jedva zadrzavaju jer sam poludela, hocu da ih sve pokidam u trenutku. Padam na zemlju gde je si ti pao i pocinjem da placem kao da su mi ubili celu porodicu tu ispred mene, ali su mene namerno ostavili da zivim kako bih mogla celog zivota da patim i premotavam tu scenu zauvek. I dan danas me proganja, evo i sada su mi oci pune suza, jer vidim tvoje lice u trenutku kada si primio metak, a vidim i svoj uzas na licu i ne mogu da se smirim. Jos nisam otisla na to mesto, uzasno se plasim, ali sam resila da odem cim mi se za to ukaze prilika. Mislim da ce biti uzasno biti na tom mestu. Slika ce biti mnogo jasnija, znam da necu moci da prekinem odigravanje scene u mojoj glavi. Moracu ponovo da prodjem kroz ceo dogadjaj i to me uzasava. Ja se ne secam kako je pocelo sa mnom. Secam se kada si nosio Luku na ramenima u ranim 90tima, secam se postera za bojkotovanje izbora i taj poster mi je i dan danas okacen na vratima sobe u Kraljevu; "I ja sam se opametio, bojkotujem ove izbore. DS". Secam se da sam ucestvovala vrlo aktivno na protestima u zimu 96/7, ali se ne secam da sam mislila o tebi. Znala sam ko si, gledala sam te, slusala u medijima, citala o tebi, ali sam o tebi mislila vise kao o koaliciji Zajedno, sa Vukom i Vesnom Pesic. Onda je dosla 2000ta i tada sam vec imala samo tebe na umu, ti si bio jedino resenje, jedini odgovor, a ja sam se plasila da postanem clan DS-a. Plasila sam se da budem clan bilo koje stranke. Gotovo da prezirem sebe zbog kukavicluka. Koliko si ti samo dao, a ja nisam mogla cak ni toliko….     Oni koji su ti bili bliski imaju nesto sto ja nikada necu moci da imam. Bili su ti blizu, uhvatili su tvoj pogled, tvoje reci. Oni imaju secanja na tebe, one neformalne prijateljske razgovore, srecna vremena, a mnogi oko tebe nisu ni zasluzili da ti budu blizu. Nisu zasluzili da rade sa tobom, nisu zaradili tvoje poverenje, oni su te izdali koliko i ja. Zasto su oni imali tu privilegiju da te znaju, a ja nisam? Ja sam te vise postovala i cenila od vecine njih, iako te nisam znala. Nije fer da oni imaju svoja licna secanja na tebe, a ja nemam, a ja sam ta koja ih zasluzuje. Mene i dan danas ubija, muci i jede iznutra sto sam tvoje poslednje dve godine zivota bacila negde daleko u Americi. Propustila sam nesto sto nikada necu moci da dobijem natrag. Nisam bila u zemlji kada si ubijen, niti za sahranu, a ako je ikada bilo vreme da sam vise nego ista zelela da sam u Beogradu, to je bilo tih dana. Kako si mogao da odes bez mene?! Sebicna sam. Nisam ni poslednje zbogom imala prilike da ti kazem. O tome mislim svakog dana. Zar ja, kao jedan od tvojih najvecih postovalaca i obozavatelja da ne dobijem sansu da ti kazem zbogom?! Gde je tu pravda? Zasto meni nije omoguceno da stavim tacku, da zatvorim ceo slucaj? Kao da neko namerno zeli da me ta misao proganja do kraja zivota; kao da sam kaznjena sto nisam shvatila kada sam trebala shvatiti.     Kako si ti samo bio neshvacen, i dalje si. Boli me kada cujem sta se sve prica o tebi. Ali ja sam te shvatila, u sekundi sam te shvatila. Nije mi bilo potrebno nikakvo objasnjenje. Ja znam da si bio jedini, i da vise takvog necemo nikada imati. Zasto sam uopste morala da dodjem u ovu pisljivu Ameriku?! Zasto?!!! Kako sam mogla da dozvolim da se istorija moje zemlje pise bez mene u njoj? Ne mogu sebi nikada da oprostim sto nisam deo nje, sto sam bila samo pasivni posmatrac. Tada sam samo imala obican web sajt....nista narocito. 12.marta sam u suzama obrisala sve i placuci pocela da gradim totalno novi sajt, samo za tebe. Osecam se toliko krivom sto nisam mogla nista vise da uradim, morala sam nekako da se iskupim, ali nikako da bude dovoljno. Sta god uradim nikada nije dovoljno, nikada nece biti dovoljno, jer ja ne mogu da budem ti, ne mogu da uradim ono sto si ti hteo, ja nemam tu snagu. Ja mogu da dam sebe, i opet nece biti dovoljno, jer nikada necu moci da dam koliko si ti dao. Ja vise ni ime svog oca ne mogu da izgovorim da ne pomislim na tebe....i mog tatu svi zovu Zoki. Meni si ti bio najbolji prijatelj, a da te nisam ni poznavala. Kako je to moguce? Ti si mi bio deo porodice a nikad te nisam znala. Tebi sam sve dugovala a da to nisi ni znao. Tebi i dalje sve dugujem a ti to ne znas. To sam jedino htela da ti kazem i to pravo su mi uzeli. Uzeli su mi pravo da ti se zahvalim sto si mi pomogao da shvatim ko sam i sta zelim. Samo sam to htela…zar trazim mnogo?     Samo sam te jednom videla uzivo. Bio si na mitingu u Kraljevu. Ja nisam ni znala za miting, ali se igrom slucaja zadesilo da prolazim centrom gde je bio miting. Znala sam odmah o kome se radi. Nije bilo puno ljudi, bila sam na 10tak metara od bine, nisam se ni trudila da pridjem blize, kao da me nije zanimalo, ali sam ostala ceo miting, nisam ni otisla gde sam planirala da idem. To je bio miting kada si dobio jaje u glavu. Bilo je uzasno. Dobio si to jaje u glavu i nastavio da pricas kao da se nista nije desilo. Ma ne, pricao si jos strastvenije i pozrtvovanije, drao se na sve nas, ubedjivao nas. Kakav si samo covek bio. Veliki covek.     Milan je covek koji je cuvao tvoj zivot. Ima li vece odgovornosti, i vece casti od toga? Cuvati takvog coveka, biti spreman da das zivot za jednog takvog coveka. Mislim se kako je probuditi se svakog jutra i pomisliti "Danas mi je mozda zadnji dan zivota. Ja mozda danas dam zivot za Zorana Djindjica, i mozda necu ni znati da li sam bio uspesan.", narocito posle prvog pokusaja atentata. Meni je to neshvatljivo...ne umem da shvatim, ne razumem. Jeza me hvata kada pomislim kroz sta je sve prosao Milan posle 12.marta, sta mu je sve prolazilo kroz glavu. Da li ga grize savest? Da li misli da je mogao uciniti nesto vise? Koliko cesto misli o tom danu? Da li misli da te je izdao jer je preziveo a nije uspeo tebe da spase? Hocu sve to da znam. Taj covek mora da ima nocne more o tom danu, taj covek je ja iz moje zamisljene scene. On je ostao ziv da bi svakoga dana do kraja zivota bio primoran da misli o tome, on je kaznjen za nista. Ostao je ziv da bio mucen do kraja zivota. Mora da je uzasno biti Milan, ali mu i pored toga zavidim. On je imao deo tebe; imao je tvoje prijateljstvo, tvoje reci licno upucene njemu, on ima secanja na tebe, ja nemam nista. I sad je prekasno, nikada necu moci da imam licna secanja na tebe, secanja i uspomene na tebe koje su samo moje. Jedno cega mogu da se secam su tvoja gostovanja na televizijama i emisijama, intervjui, mitinzi koje sam videla na TV, i onaj jedan miting na kojem sam licno bila. Ali tada nisam imala misljenje o tebi, tada nisam shvatala ko si ti. Znala sam ti ime i prezime, da si dobar za sve nas, ali nisam shvatala sta mozes i sta ces uraditi za mene u buducnosti. Da sam samo znala, mogla sam da te zagrlim i zahvalim ti se za svoju buducnost i da ti kazem da te volim....eh, da sam samo znala. Sada je gotovo, nema nazad. Ako sam ikada zelela vise da se vratim u proslost to je tada. Zelim da se vratim u proslost u doba kada sam odlucila da odem u Ameriku i da ispravim tu gresku. Ja sam te svojim odlaskom izdala, ja sam otisla u avgustu 2001....a ti si sve vreme pricao kako je vazno da nam se mladi vrate u zemlju. Ja sam ti prkosila i isla ti u kontru, ja sam otisla kada si me on zvao da ostanem u zemlji. Kako sam samo mogla?! Sta sam mislila?! Kada bih samo imala sansu da uradim jednu stvar u zivotu koja je natprirodna, ne bih razmisljala ni sekundu, vratila bih te. Samo to hocu. Hocu te nazad da ispravimo gresku. Cak i ako je samo na minut, samo zelim da te vidim da ti kazem sta si ti meni. I need closure. Potrebno mi je da ti kazem a ne mogu. Da sam makar vernik pa da verujem da mozes da me cujes.     Dva puta sam bila kod tebe. Prvi put sam dosla sa drugaricom, i nisam mogla da se oslobodim, nisam mogla da pustim bes i ogorcenje iz sebe ispred nje. Ona ne zna. Ona nije politicki obojena, nju politika ne zanima. Ti si za nju samo jos jedan politicar. Ali sam vece pred povratak u Ameriku 4.januara 2004, sama sam otisla na grob, padao je sneg, bilo je uzasno hladno, nije bilo nikoga na groblju, grob se nije ni video od cveca koje su ti ljudi ostavili za novu godinu. Bilo je divno i tuzno u isto vreme. Klecala sam pored tebe vise od pola sata i plakala, pricala sa tobom, govorila ti sve, otvorila se, nisam ni primetila dvoje ljudi koji su me posmatrali sa strane...slomila sam se, skoro da sam lezala na zemlji koliko me je plakanje rasturilo, nisam ni mogla da se podignem, htela sam da budem pored tebe. Bila sam ocajna, zelela sam da me cujes, da mi odgovoris nekako, da mi das neki znak da ne pricam uzalud, ali nista, samo tisina. Nisam zelela da odem, da te ponovo ostavim, mislila sam da ponovo cinim gresku, ali znam da bi ti hteo da ja odem, da zavrsim sta sam pocela, da zavrsim fakultet, jer samo tako mogu da dam svoj maksimum kada se vratim u zemlju. Znam da bi ti hteo da ja to uradim. Ali opet sam osecala da te izdajem po drugi put, odlazim iz zemlje kada si ti samo hteo da se mi mladi vratimo. Ali vraticu se ja. Ako nista, vraticu se zato sto si ti hteo da mladi pomognu svojoj zemlji. To je moja duznost, to je moj zivotni cilj, da pomognem pravljenju zemlje kakvu si ti zamisljao za sve nas. Konacno znam koja mi je svrha u zivotu, ali zasto si ti morao da odes da bih ja to shvatila!? Kakva je to nagodba? Kakav je to deal? To je preskupa cena. Zasto nisam to mogla da shvatim i ranije? Zasto si ti morao da platis moju cenu?! O boze, kriva sam sto nisam znala I sto nisam shvatila na vreme. Sada je prekasno. Uradicu sve da ispravim gresku koliko mogu, ali nikada necu moci ispraviti je do kraja, jer ti moras biti pored mene za to, ali ti to nikada neces biti. Nikada. Bespomocna sam. Zauvek promenjena i u senci svoje krivice zivim zivot koji si mi ti omogucio. Nisam vredna takvog zivota, ne zasluzujem ga. Oprosti mi Zorane sto nisam bila tu, sto nisam shvatila na vreme, Senka S.

Belgrade, March 12, 2003 - Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic was shot at 12.25 local time in front of the Serbian Government Building. He died of his wounds at 13.30 in the emergency ward of the Serbian Clinic Centre in Belgrade. Zoran Djindjic was shot two times; once in the chest and once in the stomach. He was not conscious and did not have a pulse upon arriving to the emergency ward. Doctors attempted to resuscitate his heart immediately and performed a major operation but were unable revive him. This criminal act is a clear attempt to put an end to the development and democratisation of Serbia and plunge it into isolation once again and was carried out by those who have been trying over the past few years to do so through various murders and assassinations. The method in which the assassination was carried out is known. The assassination follows a recent attempt on a motorway to murder the Prime Minister. Since the attempt on the motorway, a thorough investigation was launched throughout the country and abroad that was supposed to lead to the arrests of those involved within days. Today's assassination cannot be considered outside the context of these recent events. The government will do everything in its power to protect peace and democracy in Serbia. At today's extraordinary session held immediately afterwards, the Serbian government has declared three days of state mourning from Thursday, March 13, 2003 to Saturday, March 15, 2003.       Belgrade, March 12, 2003 - In line with the Constitution of the Republic of Serbia, article 83, item 8, Acting Serbian President Natasa Micic has declared a state of emergency on the territory of the Republic of Serbia. The Serbian government made the state of emergency proposal following the assassination of Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic. Briefing the press in the Serbian government building, Micic said: "In view of the fact that the assassination of Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic has put into jeopardy the safety of the Republic of Serbia, the rights of citizens and the work of state institutions, I am declaring a state of emergency at the proposal of the Serbian government, in line with the Constitution of the Republic of Serbia, article 83, item 8, with the aim of facilitating the capture of the assassins. The state of emergency on the territory of the Republic of Serbia is declared. The assassination of Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic represents an attack on the country's constitutional system and is a major crime against its safety and stability. This criminal act is an attempt to stop the fight against organised crime, democratic reforms, integration into the international community and to undermine the stability of the country, but also the whole region. Today a warrant was to be issued for the arrest of members of the largest organised crime syndicate in the former Yugoslavia. Among the dozens of crimes that they are alleged to have committed are: The kidnapping and murder of a former Serbian president, Ivan Stambolic The murder of three opposition party members in October 1999 - the Ibarska magistrala case The attempted assassination of Vuk Draskovic in Budva, Montenegro Several dozen kidnappings over the past few years More than 50 murders in Belgrade and other cities Organised drug trafficking and creation of a drug trafficking network on the territory of the former Yugoslavia and Europe Employment of terrorist methods and means in inter-gang wars, jeopardising the safety of all citizens (the bomb attack on the Defence Road enterprise from Zemun Polje The attempted assassination of the Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic on a motorway outside Belgrade on Feb 21, 2003 The assassination of Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic outside the government building on March 12, 2003 This organised crime syndicate, better known as 'Zemunski Klan' ('The Zemun Gang'), is made up of around 200 criminals, against whom the police have so far brought over 300 charges for criminal acts. Back to the Top    Belgrade, March 13, 2003 - From the beginning of the state of emergency and the operation to track down the assassins of Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic till 17.00 today, the Serbian police arrested 56 persons suspected of taking part in the plot, eight of whom are from the list published yesterday. Three of the arrested have asked for protected witness status, and their statements confirm the involvement of the criminal group Zemunski Klan ('Zemun Gang') in the assassination of the Prime Minister and a number of other murders. As of 17.00, the police arrested 56 persons suspected of having committed the crime of criminal association, from Article 277 of the Serbian Criminal Code. Eight persons from the Zemun Gang list, published yesterday, are among the arrested. Their names cannot be made public, in the interest of the investigation. Police continue to search intensively for this group's leaders who remain at large. Among them are Milorad Lukovic, aka 'Legija'; Dusan Spasojevic, aka 'Siptar'; and Mile Lukovic, aka 'Kum'. Three arrested members of the Zemun Gang have asked for protected witness status and are currently giving statements to the special prosecutor. What they have said so far confirms that the criminal group was involved in the assassination of the Prime Minister and a number of other crimes and sheds light on other unsolved murders and crimes. In cooperation with the police forces of neighbouring countries and intelligence services of several European countries, police have obtained information confirming that the Zemun Gang and some other groups [mostly comprising members of the police and security units of the Milosevic regime] were involved in the assassination of Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic. Based on the information collected in the first 24 hours after the assassination, security forces gathered enough intelligence to confirm the allegations from the government's statement yesterday that the group was directly involved in an assassination attempt on the Prime Minister on Feb 21, 2003, and is also behind the Prime Minister's murder. It was also confirmed that the Gang's members, aided by other groups and accomplices, hired several mercenary teams for yesterday's operation. In line with the Law on state of emergency measures, the police will continue with their broad investigation and the hunt for the criminal group's leader.       Belgrade, March 13, 2003 - As part of the operation of tracking down the assassins of Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic, the police have arrested 40 people in the last 24 hours, and are still searching intensively for other members of the group suspected of masterminding and committing this heinous terrorist act, said Head of the Belgrade Secretariat of Interior Milan Obradovic at a Serbian Ministry of Interior press conference on Thursday. The persons arrested are directly or indirectly linked with the group suspected of murdering the Prime Minister. The majority of the group's members are still at large. The police have searched their apartments and are hunting for them across the territory of Serbia and Montenegro. The security forces have established connections with the police forces of neigbouring countries and from other European countries as well. According to the available data, the assassination was carried out by three unidentified men, dressed in dark blue jump suits. "One of them had a sniper rifle, and the other two carried guns in their hands," said Obradovic. The assassins fired shots from the second floor of a building at 14 Admirala Geparta Street. After the assassination they were seen heading for Balkanska Street. Obradovic said that Security and Intelligence Agency member Milan Veruovic was seriously wounded in the shooting. Immediately after the attack, police cordoned off the area around the Serbian government building, and soon afterwards closed all roads to Belgrade and border crossings between Serbia and Montenegro.    Belgrade, March 14, 2003 - The Serbian Ministry of Interior stated this evening that it had arrested in the past 24 hours 136 people suspected of involvement in the assassination of Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic, 125 of whom will be detained for 30 days. This decision is in keeping with the special powers granted to police by the Law on state of emergency on the territory of the Republic of Serbia. Since Wednesday's declaration of a state of emergency, 181 persons have been arrested. Persons arrested were found with a large cache of unregistered weapons, a significant amount of narcotics (of which 1.7 kilograms of heroin) and several stolen vehicles. Substantial evidence of the existence of a criminal organisation was also found. One of the persons detained today has asked for protected witness status and is currently giving a statement to the special prosecutor.       Belgrade, March 15, 2003 - Serbian Interior Minister Dusan Mihajlovic said late Friday that the police know who masterminded and carried out the assassination of Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic and that their capture is a matter of detail because the entire world has offered its assistance to Serbia in resolving this crime. Back to the Top    Belgrade, March 16, 2003 - The Serbian Ministry of Interior's dragnet for the capture of the assassins of Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic, as well as the masterminds and their accomplices, has been expanded in order to track down instigators and financiers of this criminal act. Since March 12, the police have arrested 318 persons. Of the 318 persons arrested, 190 were captured in Belgrade alone. A total of 307 were taken into custody for the maximum detention period of 30 days, as stipulated by the Law on state of emergency. Persons arrested were found with a large cache of firearms. Apart from traditional weapons - revolvers, hunting and assault rifles, and hand grenades - suspects were also found in possession of a large amount of teargas, explosive devices, Thompson submachine guns, crossbows, special optical equipment, a few kilograms of narcotics, forged documents, a large number of false licence plates, stolen motor vehicles and various communication devices, reads a statement by the Serbian government. Four of the arrested requested and were granted protected witness status. The statements they gave to the special prosecutor's office confirmed suspicions that the Zemun Gang drug cartel, with the help of members of the state and public security services during the Slobodan Milosevic regime, took part in political assassinations and organised drug trafficking. Through a European network of dealers, the Zemun Gang drug cartel was directly connected to the Columbian drug cartel. Its members also engaged in theft, robbery, assaults and other serious criminal acts, read the statement. The Zemun Gang continued with their criminal activities after the fall of the Milosevic regime on October 5, 2000, mostly engaging in drug trafficking and kidnappings. In clashes with other criminal gangs, they have committed more than 50 murders. With the help of informers, mercenaries in the police and state security service, and with police IDs in their possession, members of this group managed to evade arrest and often influenced police investigations into their activities. Despite a large number of criminal charges filed against them, they managed to slow down and stop many court proceedings through pressure and bribes, to remain at liberty to continue their criminal enterprise. Statements made by protected witnesses, members of the Zemun Gang, helped the police resolve some murder cases. In line with the Law on special prosecutor in the fight against organised crime, the public will not be informed about details of the search until a court procedure has begun. The Ministry of Interior's Directorate for the Fight Against Organised Crime, all secretariats of the Interior in Serbia and other security bodies will use all means available in the investigation and will continue their intensive manhunt for the leaders of this criminal gang, reads the statement by the Serbian government.    Belgrade, March 13, 2003 - EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana and EU External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten told the press after meeting Serbian and new state union authorities that the EU will give its strong support to the reform-minded Serbian government after yesterday's assassination of Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic. Solana said he was "shocked and surprised" when he learned that the Prime Minister had been gunned down. We came here to show our friends in this country, its people, and representatives of the government and all institutions our solidarity at this difficult moment, said Solana. We will do all that is in our power to help you make your dream come true, the dream the majority of you in this country shared with Prime Minister Djindjic - the dream of joining the EU family. Patten said he was shocked by the tragic killing of a man who supported the basic values of democracy. This is why we wanted to come to Belgrade, to offer you our condolences and share our sorrow with you, said Patten. I want to let you know that we are by your side and that we will continue to cooperate with you - give you all the assistance you need on your road to further democratisation. We also want to stress that you are well on your way there, said Patten, adding that there is no turning back.    Belgrade, March 13, 2003 - Hundreds of Belgraders are still waiting silently and peacefully in front of the Serbian government building, in central Belgrade, to sign the book of condolences and pay their respects to the late Prime Minister, Zoran Djindjic, who was brutally murdered yesterday. The queue extends from the corner of Kneza Milosa and Nemanjina Streets to Admirala Geprata Street and further still. A book of condolences was opened at 12.00.A long queue of people had formed an hour prior to that. The book will be open until Saturday, March 15, 2003, at 10.00. In front of the government building's main entrance are rows of lit candles and piles of wreaths. One handwritten message reads: "You were our window to the world", and "Serbia - what a pity, what a sin, what a shame". The book has been signed by citizens, but also by many state officials, diplomats, Serbia and Montenegro Army personnel, representatives of international organisations, and religious communities. Among the signatories are EU high representatives Javier Solana and Chris Patten, as well as the ambassadors of Italy, Greece, Israel, Cypress, France, the United Kingdom, Bulgaria, and more. Back to the Top    Belgrade, March 13, 2003 - The Serbian government declared yesterday three days of national mourning, from March 13 to 15, 2003. Citizens of Serbia are still gathering in front of the Serbian government's cabinet building, lighting candles and laying flowers, to pay their final respects to the late Prime Minister. A book of condolences will be open from 12.00 in the hall of the cabinet building. Serbia's citizens are in shock over the news of the assassination of the Prime Minister. Clearly distressed, many cried when the news of the tragedy broke. Citizens began gathering in front of the Serbian government's cabinet building and Democratic Party headquarters to pay tribute to their Prime Minister. Outside Democratic Party headquarters, there is a queue to sign the book of condolences. Citizens have been laying flowers and lighting candles outside Party headquarters as well. People are still mourning outside the government's cabinet building, where the assassination took place. Citizens are describing this as "a catastrophe and a great tragedy". Many are asking "what will happen next?" and call the murder of the Prime Minister an "attack on Serbia", but also on the reforms that Prime Minister Djindjic fought for. World leaders, political parties and associations have sent letters of condolences to the family of Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic and the Serbian government. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia and Montenegro has received numerous letters of condolences from many institutions and NGOs, including ones from the UN Security Council, the European Union, the OSCE, the Council of Europe, and the International Criminal Tribunal at The Hague. Embassies in Belgrade have also sent letters of condolences, in which they stress the importance of the Serbian Prime Minister's political engagement and the tragic loss not only for Serbia, but also for the region and the democratic world, a statement by the Serbia and Montenegro Foreign Ministry reads. Flags on state institutions in Serbia and embassies abroad are flying at half mast.    Belgrade, March 14, 2003 - Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic will be buried with full military honours in the Lane of the Great of Belgrade's New Cemetery on Saturday, March 15, 2003 at 14.00. The requiem service will take place at Saint Sava's Cathedral at 12 noon in the presence of Patriarch Pavle, Metropolitan Amfilohije, Episcope Atanasije, Episcope Irinej, and other Serbian Orthodox Church dignitaries. Citizens can pay their final respects from 11.00. The funeral procession will start out at 12.50, from the Saint Sava Cathedral, through Saint Sava Street, Slavija Circle, Beogradska Street, Kralja Aleksandra Boulevard, and Ruzveltova Street, to the New Cemetery where he will be buried with full military honours. Belgrade, March 14, 2003 - The Serbian government held today a commemorative session for the late Prime Minister, Zoran Djindjic. Among those present were the Prime Minister's family and friends, Serbian and Montenegrin officials and representatives of the diplomatic corps. When the Serbian government was appointed in January 2001, everyone knew that it was formed as a result of thousands of people having had to sacrifice their lives to get the government they deserved after a decade of disaster, wars, and suffering. No one knew that better than him, Zoran Djindjic, the first Prime Minister of the first democratic government which had to be appointed after such a sacrifice of the people. Today, no one remembers that at the time many were saying that this would only be a short-lived interim government which would soon dissolve; that no one would be able to hold 19 parties together, and that no one could win the battle against what was left by Slobodan Milosevic's regime. They were proved wrong. And every one in this government knows that its driving force as well as the engineer of reforms was the Prime Minister; a man who had restless energy and the great hope that Serbia be different, that it could and had to change. He did not like long meetings, but he had time for everyone. Everything interested him… he was interested in all things and he liked to share his thoughts on his idea of Serbia with everyone. During those two years of huge obstacles that were mainly erected by elements of the last regime and by people who did not believe that something needed to be sacrificed for the sake of changes in Serbia, he grew into a pillar and a symbol of those changes and reforms. The lot of reformers in Serbia has always been a cruel one - in the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries. Sadly, reformers in Serbia gain their glory only after death, because it is only then that this country realises what had to be sacrificed and what courage it took to defy tradition, conservativism, and, to our misfortune, the decay of the past ten years. I have to say something personal now: I've known Zoran Djindjic for more than 30 years, ever since my university days. He was a man literally made for the Prime Minister's role - always inquisitive, ready take a risk, to learn, and always quick to make decisions - almost always in the interest of Serbia and its citizens. We, who worked with him, and the citizens of Serbia know how much he has invested in the past two years, and know that those who had ordered, organised, and paid for this murder in some way or other recognised his achievements - because now that Serbia is irreversibly changing, they wanted to stop history, hoping that when the main reformer, the symbol and pillar of those reforms is removed, even in such a violent manner, the reforms would collapse and Serbia would return to the state in which they felt comfortable. Of course, they were wrong. In the past two years, as well as during his ten years in opposition, Zoran Djindjic changed Serbia enough for it to be completely different from that which we found when we took office in 2001. Zoran Djindjic will stay where nobody can ever hurt him again: in the hearts of those who loved him, and in the minds of people who will think about him more often now than they used to think about him while he was alive. An old American proverb says: 'No man is dead until he is forgotten.' I'm quite sure that one day, when Serbia is completely different than it is today - when it is peaceful, happy, prosperous, and part of Europe, and when people look back at history to see a gallery of personalities who sacrificed themselves to make their country better and happier - this period of two years will perhaps prove to have been the most important in the history of this nation. This is a period during which Serbia has had to make the largest number of tough decisions, perhaps in its entire history. None of those decisions would have been made if Zoran Djinjdic had not stood behind them, with his heart, soul, and mind. Serbia cannot make up for this loss, neither can his family or his friends, and, if I may say so, his children. But those children will live in a better world; a world that he had handed down to them. And I can assure you, dear friends, that Serbia is different today, and that the criminals who had organised this will by no means manage to achieve what they wanted to. Zoran Djindjic sacrificed his life and work, and was exposed to attacks from every direction. He often said: 'Let me be a 'lightning rod', that's all okay. May people know whom to attack, so that you can carry on working.' When you look at that 'lighting rod' today, in these tragic times, he will be remembered as someone who took a risk, and a responsibility, that not many in Serbia would be willing to take. Courage was the central characteristic of our late Prime Minister and I must say that his courage has changed Serbia. Serbia will never again be the same because it will continue along the path for which he gave his life. Unfortunately, I don't have the power to bring him back to his most intimate friends and his children. I can only utter these words for a final farewell and say that all of us who worked with him feel terrible and that never, for as long as we live, shall this period of working together with him be forgotten. He was our friend, he was our companion, he was the source of all optimism for us and whenever we went to him to complain, and whenever we fought, and whenever we protested, he always had time to calm us down, to counsel us… Back to the Top Belgrade, March 15, 2003 - Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic was laid to rest today in the Lane of the Great of Belgrade's New Cemetery. President of the EU's Council of Ministers, Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou, Serbian Minister of Justice Vladan Batic, Serbian Minister of Finance and Economy Bozidar Djelic, and Federal Interior Minister Zoran Zivkovic, also deputy president of the Democratic Party, each paid tribute to the late Prime Minister. More than 100,000 people followed the Prime Minister on his final stroll through the streets of Belgrade. The casket of the Prime Minister - draped in the red, blue and white Serbian flag - was displayed this morning in Saint Sava's Cathedral in central Belgrade. Tens of thousands of people came to pay their final respects to the assassinated Prime Minister. The requiem service was held from 12 noon to 13.00, in the presence of Patriarch Pavle and other Serbian Orthodox Church dignitaries. The funeral procession of more than 100,000 mourners started out at 13.00 from Saint Sava's Cathedral, through Svetog Save Street, Slavija Circle, Beogradska Street, Kralja Aleksandra Boulevard, and Ruzveltova Street, to the New Cemetery where the Prime Minister was buried with full state and military honours. Along with the late Prime Minister's mother Mila, widow Ruzica, daughter Jovana and son Luka, the funeral was attended by numerous foreign dignitaries, members of the Serbian government, Montenegrin officials, Serbia and Montenegro President Svetozar Marovic, Democratic Party representatives, the presidency of the ruling DOS coalition, members of other political parties, delegations of other religious communities and citizens carrying flowers, candles and photographs of the slain Prime Minister. Citizens from all across Serbia arrived in Belgrade this morning to attend the funeral. The heavily guarded streets around Saint Sava's Cathedral were closed to vehicle traffic.           Many world leaders and politicians have condemned the assassination od Dr. Zoran Djindjic. This is what some of them had to say: European Union Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana: "I am deeply shocked by the criminal attack against Prime Minister Djindjic. It is a tragedy. I knew Zoran Djindjic very well and worked with him a lot. He was a personal friend and a friend of Europe. I condemn this attack in the strongest possible terms. Violence of this kind has no place whatsoever in a democratic society. "This criminal and cowardly act should be fully investigated and those responsible brought to justice." European Commission Chief Romano Prodi: "During this transitional phase of the country's history, the European Commission stands by Serbia's side. It will keep doing all it can to ease a reform process that is still under attack from violent anti-democratic and anti-liberal forces." NATO Secretary General George Robertson: "I am profoundly shocked and saddened by the assassination of the Prime Minister of Serbia, Zoran Djindjic... Mr. Djindjic was a reformer who worked hard to bring democracy and prosperity to his country and region. In the face of constant threats to his life, Mr. Djindjic behaved with great courage to help his country at a time of crisis. He was a true believer in peace and pursued with vigour the legitimate ambitions of his country to fully integrate the Euro-Atlantic community of nations. This tragedy demonstrates that anti-democratic forces and extremism are still active in Serbia. There will be no sustainable peace, no prosperity, no justice until extremists are brought to justice. The attack on Mr. Djindjic is an attack against all who want to break with the past... Democracy will prevail and the memory of Zoran Djindjic will live on." UN Secretary General Kofi Annan: "The secretary general is shocked and saddened," Annan's spokesman, Fred Eckhard said. "He deplores this act of political violence and trusts that the perpetrators will be brought to justice." Council of Europe Head Walter Schwimmer: "[The assassination is] a huge setback to the peace-building and reform process." EU External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten: "Clearly we must not allow the assassination to set back the remarkable progress made Serbia toward democracy." Hague Tribunal Prosecutor Carla del Ponte: "Prime Minister Djindjic was our first supporter in the cooperation with this office of the tribunal. He worked very hard to help us. It was his work, because he did not hesitate when sometimes it was not easy for him politically. We lost our main, important point of connection for our activity, but as I said, I hope someone else will take his position." US Secretary Of State Colin Powell: "I was shocked and saddened by the assassination of Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic of Serbia who died earlier today after being shot in Belgrade. I want to extend the deepest condolences of the United States to his family, his friends and to the government and people of Serbia… I met with him many times and came to know him and admire his courage and wisdom." US President George W. Bush: "Prime Minister Djindjic will be remembered for his role in bringing democracy to Serbia and for his role in bringing Slobodan Milosevic to justice," White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said and added that President George W. Bush "expresses his condolences to the people of Serbia." French President Jacques Chirac: "History will remember Djindjic for making the choice of democracy and reforms to guide Serbia on the road to Europe." British Prime Minister Tony Blair: "[I was] deeply shocked and saddened… I met him in 2002 and was impressed by the energy he devoted to reforming Serbia and improving life for all her citizens… His murder is a loss to all those, from whatever political party, who have made strenuous efforts to deliver a better future for Serbia." Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs George Papandreou: "Prime Minister Djindjic's death must remind us all of our own obligation to push ahead, to give backing to democratic forces in Serbia and Montenegro." Robin Cook, Leader in the British House of Commons and former foreign minister: "He had great courage. He brought a vision to Serbia of a modern country and a democratic country. He was a man who was able to build bridges with the rest of Europe and to bring Serbia into a closer relationship with a modern Europe than could have been possible, probably under any other politician. It took courage for him to take on those who were opposed to his vision and to tackle those who had wanted to keep Serbia away from modern Europe and to prevent the rise of democracy within Serbia. It is essential that we do not allow those who killed him to succeed in the struggle." German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer: "We are shocked and horrified. This crime was aimed not only against Djindjic as a person but also against democracy and stability in the region. This terrible signal from Belgrade must under no circumstances be allowed to hinder this process."