Serbian Dawn: Reintegration and Renewal

H.E.  Zoran Djindjic
Prime Minister,
Republic of Serbia

Photos

The Prime Minister was accompanied at Harvard by his Chief of Staff Nemanja Kolesar, Minister of International Economic Relations Goran Pitic; Deputy Minister of International Economic Relations Ana Trbovic; Minister of Privatization and Economy Aleksander Vlahovic; Deputy Minister of Privitization Sinisa Mali; and Adviser to the Ministry of Energy Slavko Andrejevic.

In his public address 'Serbian Dawn: Reintegration and Renewal', Prime Minister Djindjic presented his vision for the future of Serbia and the broader region of Southeastern Europe. He stated that lasting stability and prosperity in Serbia could only come from strengthening and rebuilding democratic institutions, legal and constitutional reform, building a market economy, and deepening integration into western institutions. While optimistic about Southeastern Europe’s future, he noted that there was still a potential for disintegration, and that political, social and economic reconstruction in the region was largely a work in progress. He likened reform efforts to riding a bicycle, whereby the driver must pedal forcefully without pause while keeping focused on the finish line, in order to avoid falling off the path.

Djindjic visited Harvard for the first time in April 2000 as a leader of the democratic opposition movement in Yugoslavia, when he participated in a summit at the Kennedy School sponsored by the Kokkalis Program (Yugoslavia: Prospects for Democracy). He was accompanied at that conference by numerous other opposition figures, including Crown Prince Alexander of Yugoslavia, Milan Protic, Miroljub Labus, and Vesna Pesic. The conference was one of the most successful events at the Kennedy School that year, and attendees included prominent academics from across the U.S. as well as State Department officials.

Just six months after the April 2000 summit, through peaceful revolution, Djindjic and his colleagues led the successful grassroots campaign that toppled the Milosevic regime. Djindjic became Serbia's first democratically elected Prime Minister; Protic became the first Ambassador to the U.S. appointed by the new Yugoslav government; Pesic became the Ambassador to Mexico; Labus became Deputy Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) and is currently running for the Presidency of Serbia in the upcoming September 29 elections against the current FRY President Vojislav Kostunica. Djindjic and his colleagues feel a special connection to Harvard as a result of that conference, which they credit with having afforded them the opportunity to forge new allies and gain fresh insights and energy for their movement to institute democracy in Yugoslavia.

Prime Minister Djindjic’s dynamism and commitment to the development of his country and the broader region was inspirational to the many students engaged in the study of leadership and public service who were present at the event.