US Secretary of State arrives in Serbia

(2 Apr 2003)
1. Colin Powell, U.S. Secretary of State walks into building with officials
2. Zoran Zivkovic, Serbian Prime Minister and Colin Powell walking into news conference
3. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Zoran Zivkovic, Prime Minister of Serbia:
"Ladies and gentlemen, good evening."
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Colin Powell, U.S. Secretary of State:
"I've come to Belgrade this evening to demonstrate strong United States support for Serbia and Montenegro after the assassination of Prime Minister Djindjic. The Prime Minister was a friend of mine, he and I went through a number of experiences together over the last couple of years and I came to admire him greatly as a leader, as friend and as someone dedicated to the future of his country and wanted only the best for his people. In the meetings I've had here this evening with president and the prime minister I am absolutely delighted with what I have heard of the commitment they have made for reform"
5. Colin Powell, U.S. Secretary of State sitting down with Svetozar Marovic, President of Serbia and Montenegro
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Colin Powell, U.S. Secretary of State:
"We discussed Mr Milosevic and I know many of you, the foreign minister and the minister of the interior met earlier today and I know there will be modifications that govern laws here and that shows to me determination on the part of the government to deal with this issue once and for all and I hope that in the months ahead we will see considerable progress in apprehending and bringing to justice and sending to the Hague those who are under indictment.
7. Svetozar Marovic, president of Serbia and Montenegro shakes hands with Colin Powell, U.S. Secretary of State
8. SOUNDBITE: (Russian) Zoran Zivkovic, Prime Minister of Serbia:
"We have a very good conversation, in which we confirmed from our side that we will continue with the report which we've started with the reforms that we began two and a half years ago, which were started by the late premier Djindjic. We will not step away from the path of reform, we will intensify the fight against organised crime and by the end of this his year we will have a final victory against organised crime. We will continue with the reform that we started, and with new reforms that we need to undertake which concern the army. We expect the help of the USA in these reforms as we approach a partnership for peace which is our goal. We will intensify co-operation with the Haque tribunal and I hope we will end the problems in the near future".
9. Colin Powell U.S. Secretary of State, sitting down with Svetozar Marovic, President of Serbia and Montenegro

STORYLINE:

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell offered Serbia and Montenegro support on Wednesday in its fight against the
remnants of Slobodan Milosevic's regime.

In talks with government leaders, Powell - the highest-ranking American official to visit Belgrade since 1997-underscored U.S. commitments to the Balkan republic in its struggle to contain rampant organized crime and bring
war crimes suspects to justice.

Powell said he was delighted by the commitment of the Serbian government to reform and take aggressive action taken against criminals.

The Serbian government has blamed allies of Milosevic, the former Yugoslav president, for last month's assassination of its pro-Western prime minister, Zoran Djindjic.

Powell called the former prime minister "a friend" and said the United States would do everything it could to support Serbia and Montenegro's aspirations to become a part of Europe.









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