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.
The Montenegrin government held a commemorative session for the late Serbian Prime Minister, Zoran Djindjic. The session was chaired by Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic, who said, "Prime Minister Djindjic had many supporters and friends in Montenegro, who today feel compassion for his family, closest allies and all people of good will in Serbia."
The Embassy of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro in the Slovenian capital, Ljubljana, will also open a book of condolences today and tomorrow, from 12.00 to 16.00.
Flags on state institutions in Serbia and embassies abroad are flying at half mast.
