BELGRADE, April 18 (Hina) - Serbia and Montenegro's Defence Minister and leader of the Democratic Party, Boris Tadic, said at a news conference on Friday the current state of emergency in the country would be ended next week but the
clamp-down on organised crime would continue and be intensified.
BELGRADE, April 18 (Hina) - Serbia and Montenegro's Defence
Minister and leader of the Democratic Party, Boris Tadic, said at a
news conference on Friday the current state of emergency in the
country would be ended next week but the clamp-down on organised
crime would continue and be intensified. #L#
"Our goal is not only to catch the assassins of the late Serbian
Premier Zoran Djindjic, but to rid the country of organised crime,
take another step towards a civilised society and demilitarise our
society," Tadic said. He added that the fight against organised
crime would be extended to include fraud.
Tadic said the army's appeal for citizens to hand over and register
illegal weapons, a campaign to continue until the end of April, had
seen over 6,500 pieces of infantry arms, 468 grenade launchers,
5,000 bombs, more than 500 kg of various explosives, almost 800,000
bullets, and as many as 16 mortars handed in.
With this amount of illegal weapons in the possession of citizens
Serbia and Montenegro would never be admitted to any European or
world organisation, he said.
The minister announced reforms in the country's security system, to
last between six and eight years. He added that Serbia and
Montenegro's accession to the Partnership for Peace programme was
vital as political integration was not possible without military
integration.
The lifting of the state of emergency, declared after the
assassination of Premier Djindjic on March 12, was announced today
in the country's parliament by the acting president of Serbia,
Natasa Micic. Serbian Premier Zoran Zivkovic made the same
announcement a few days ago.
(hina) sp rml sb