Doug Bereuter: “Mr. Speaker, this Member rises today in strong support of H. Res. 149, a resolution expressing the condolences of the…”

“Mr. Speaker, this Member rises today in strong support of H. Res. 149, a resolution expressing the condolences of the House of Representatives in response to the assassination of Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic of Serbia. It is with sadness that this Member brings this resolution to the floor of the House of Representatives today. Prime Minister Djindjic was assassinated on March 12. This tragic event was a shock to the people of Serbia, to the people of the Balkans, and to people around the world. If anyone represented the present state of the Balkans, all of the changes that occurred in recent years, the hope for a free, democratic and prosperous future, it was Prime Minister Djindjic. He was the decisive leader who played a critical role in bringing democracy to Serbia. He was probably the most visible and important proponent of helping the Serbian people come to terms with the past, the destruction and the injustices of the tragic events which have been happening in the Balkans over the past decade. He was the leader most determined to integrate his country into Europe and the community of Western democracies, to provide a future of security, prosperity, and hope to the Serbian people. However, only 2 rac{1}{2} years after the overthrow of Slobodan Milosevic, let us not forget how fragile freedom and democracy in the region really is.”