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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Serbia faces challenges in European integrations

Belgrade/Takovo, 25 April 2005

At the celebration of 190 years since the Second Serbian Uprising today in Takovo, Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica stated that the country has embarked upon a path that will most certainly lead us to full-fledged membership in the European family of nations, and underlined that difficult tasks still lie ahead but that now we know our destination, goal and what we can expect on that path.

Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica

The ceremony began with services conducted by Serbian Patriarch Pavle at the church where rebels lead by Milos Obrenovic assembled on this day in 1815. After the church service, Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica, Serbian Parliament Speaker Predrag Markovic and President of the Gornji Milanovac municipality Drazimir Marusic placed wreaths on the Takovo monument where the uprising began.

Admiral Jovan Grbavac placed a wreath on behalf of Serbian President Boris Tadic, while Army Chief-of-Staff General Dragan Paskas placed the wreath on behalf of Serbia-Montenegrin President Svetozar Marovic.

The church service was also attended by Minister of Religion Milan Radulovic, Minister of Culture Dragan Kojadinovic, Minister of Interior Dragan Jocic and Minister of Energy and Mining Radomir Naumov as well as several hundred citizens.

After the placing of wreaths, the Serbian Prime Minister gave a speech in front of several thousand citizens, followed by a cultural programme.

Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica said on this occasion: “Two hundred years after Karadjordje’s uprising and 190 years after Milos’, we as a people, although in completely different historical circumstances, find ourselves before a great task of ordering our country. We need to achieve full internal freedom, which is possible only by adopting a new modern constitution. It is up to us today to make sure that our county’s international borders remain as they are now through wise state policy. We should understand our own strength, the real international situation and find the right compromise solution for Kosovo-Metohija where there will be no absolute winners, or absolute losers, as one side cannot gain everything and the other lose everything. We want to find a common solution through a political dialogue that respects the interests of both peoples and will contribute to the preservation of stability in our country, as well as the entire region. Serbia is willing to compromise but desires to preserve its vital state and national interests, and this is above all that internationally recognised borders of our country cannot be changed.

“We are anticipating with great pleasure the formal confirmation of the feasibility study tomorrow. This is our joint result, the work of the government, the citizens, and the state institutions. We have embarked on a path that will certainly lead us to full-fledged membership in the European family of nations. It is justly said that first steps are always the hardest and they are now behind us. Much difficult work still lies ahead of us, but now we know where we are going, what our goals are and what to expect on that path.

“I am convinced that this initial institutional step which our country has made in the process of European integrations must also have an integrative effect on relations within the State Union of Serbia-Montenegro. We should not be isolated or separating at a moment when Europe is uniting. Europe itself is setting a good example and inviting Serbia-Montenegro to enter Europe together.

“Serbia today must reform its economic system, in accordance with and in order to compete on the large European market. Our important state and national interest is to finally revitalise companies in Serbia and turn them into good, efficient and dynamic companies, which are capable of respecting clearly determined market conditions, providing quality service to its citizens and preparing for fierce competition and development. Only a constitutionally ordered, productive, dynamic, working, economically strong and wealthy Serbia, with an efficient administration and energetic people can it develop, attract investors, defend its territories, protect its identity and in a state union with Montenegro become a full-fledged member of the European family of nations.

“Today when we remember the great Milos Obrenovic, his comrades-in-arms and his wise state making policy, Serbia knows its aims and where its path lies. If we work together on creating a stable state and better living conditions for all citizens, it is quite certain that we will achieve these results. This will mean that our ancestors had not built in vain and that we will not leave our children with a desolate and ravaged patrimony, rather a strong and well-ordered house”, stated the Serbian Prime Minister.

The marking of 190th anniversary of the Second Serbian Uprising was organised by the Serbian government, which is also sponsoring the event, as well as the Gornji Milanovac municipality and the Serbian Orthodox Church.