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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

International Day of Democracy

Belgrade, 15 September 2008

Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic stated today at a formal session of Serbian parliament to mark the International Day of Democracy that Serbia is facing huge temptations and tasks, the greatest being the preservation of its territorial integrity and sovereignty.

At the session, which began to the sounds of the Serbian national anthem “Lord of Justice”, Cvetkovic said that today, together with the entire world, Serbia is marking the International Day of Democracy and recalled that the country has always strived towards democratic development, however, it did not always choose the best path.

He noted that though this was sometimes caused by global historic circumstances, it was mainly influenced by the adaptability of the ruling elite.

Conditions have now been created for Serbia to stop wandering in the past dealing with myths, legends and false dilemmas. It is time that with the benefit of its experiences it began creating a modern state with clear goals and ways to attain them, said the Prime Minister adding that the government’s intention is to make Serbia a synonym for democracy.

He recalled that the Serbian government was formed based on a consensus regarding its commitment to a European future, the safeguarding of Kosovo-Metohija, a stronger economy, stronger social responsibility, the fight against crime and corruption and respect for international law.

The clear principles are a realistic basis for the speedier development of a democratic Serbia. We have numerous advantages from our geostrategic position, to hardworking and educated people ready to turn Serbia into an economic leader in the region, stressed Cvetkovic.

According to him, it takes courage and wisdom to do that. Huge temptations and serious tasks lie ahead. Our greatest task is to preserve our sovereignty and territorial integrity. Our struggle to retain Kosovo-Metohija is a challenge almost every generation in Serbia has been faced with at some point. We have chosen the way of peace, negotiations and diplomatic legal struggle and that is proof of Serbia’s democratic character.

Cvetkovic stressed that the government strives to make the country a real stability factor in this part of Europe. We want international law to be respected here and we will fight for our rights at the United Nations. We expect the UN General Assembly and the international Court of Justice (ICJ) to declare the actual stance on the illegal declaration of Kosovo’s independence. Our aim is to transfer the issue of Kosovo’s independence from the political to the legal sphere, which will be a huge achievement, he said.

According to him, the second way to retain Kosovo-Metohija is to create preconditions for a prosperous life for citizens in the southern province, which is why Serbia is investing in the province’s economic development.

In order to preserve Kosovo-Metohija, we must strengthen Serbia economically. The only way is to be open to the flow of goods and capital both to the East and the West. Serbia’s European future has no alternative, he stressed.

Cvetkovic noted that the Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the EU is the most serious step Serbia has made in that direction. Our country is at the intersection of European roads and that is an advantage we must make use of. In the near future Serbia will be a country of modern roads, rail roads, gas and oil pipe lines, said the Prime Minister.

According to him, the energy agreement with Russia is in the best interest of creating energy stability in Serbia and accelerating its economic development, though Serbia should also improve trade relations with Russia.

In light of all that, we must get our country in order as soon as possible, create efficient institutions, adopt and, more importantly, implement laws, emphasised Cvetkovic and added that it is up to Serbia to fulfil all obligations towards international and domestic judiciary, because there are no reasons why Serbia should hamper its own development.

Democracy implies constant changes, acceptance of differences and the respect of equality. In a small country such as Serbia, the respect of these principles is crucial. There have been mistakes in the past. This generation will make no mistakes, but will speedily lead the country towards a democratically and economically strong state, said the Prime Minister.

Boris Tadic

Serbian President Boris Tadic addressed the gathering and said that the greatest enemies to democracy are populism, demagogy and corruption, and stressed that a young and fragile democracy in Serbia can survive and develop only if the authorities and citizens work on that in tandem.

A democratic government must use the people’s trust to develop the democratic spirit, fortify democratic institutions, include as many citizens as possible in social reforms, create an atmosphere for economic development, improve the living standard and help those who need help the most, emphasised the President.

He said that democracy today is in danger from marginalised, destructive, anti-democratic groups, and that possibly the greatest enemy of democracy in Serbia is corruption, since due to its presence in society citizens lose trust in the democratic order, the rule of law and the sense of justice.

Serbia is a democratic state today, with institutions, laws and a political practice standardised for the entire democratic world. The UN, the Council of Europe and other international organisations have prescribed the rules of democratic behaviour which we follow, he stressed.

I regret to say that in spite of all that, our compatriots and citizens in Kosovo-Metohija are not protected by these rules and Serbia must take care of them, said Tadic and listed other qualities of democracy, such as the respect of marginalised groups, their special needs and differences.

According to him, Serbia, as a state of citizens with different nationalities and cultural identities, must use that advantage and transform it into a growing tolerance and a democratic quality.

Tadic noted that democracy has become a global value and a political form of government which is a standard for all free societies, and added that every violation of democratic values carries with it the risk of being criticised by a large majority of countries.

He stressed that the majority of people worldwide see democracy as political freedom and the right to speak, criticize and join groups, as political equality, the absence of discrimination, as tolerance and freedom for all marginalised or minority groups.

Endangering these values is a moral and political violation condemned by civilisation, stressed Tadic and added that in the past two centuries Serbia was on the road to democracy on which it had to conquer many foreign and domestic enemies.

No democratic authority can forget that citizens are the bearers of sovereignty, therefore, they are the highest authority. Ancient thinkers have left us another historic experience: there cannot be a good state without good citizens, and good citizens can be crated only by a good state, concluded President Tadic.

Serbian parliament speaker Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic stated at the session that she expects the UN General Assembly to adopt a resolution seeking an advisory opinion from the ICJ on the illegal and unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo-Metohija.

She said that this court was established with the aim of defending the principles of the UN Charter and international law and that it should not turn a deaf ear to Serbia’s request.

I believe that we have the full right to expect the ICJ to support the universal democratic principle of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states in their internationally recognised borders, and consequently that of Serbia, stressed Djukic-Dejanovic.

She stressed that parliaments are central democratic institutions and that their special task is to invest maximum effort to respect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of all states, and that the policy of force must be eliminated in relations among states.

Parliament’s inalienable democratic function, as well as its obligation, is to be efficient, which means well-organised, in order to provide “services” for all citizens, she noted.

Apart from MPs, also present at the session were state officials, government members, the mayor of Belgrade, representatives of the diplomatic corps and religious communities and other guests.

Last year, the UN General Assembly declared September 15 the International Day of Democracy and starting from this year, Serbia will join national parliaments of the Inter-Parliamentary Union which are marking this day.