Bulgaria Greets Serbia on 10 Years since Milosevic Ousting

Diplomacy | October 6, 2010, Wednesday // 10:01|  views

Serbian dictator Slobodan Milosevic was forced out of power on October 5, 2010. Photo by paxplena.com

Bulgaria's Foreign Minister Nikolay Mladenov has issued a special statement congratulating the people of Serbia on the occasion of the 10th year since the end of the regime of Slobodan Milosevic.

"10 year ago the people of Serbia started the democratic changes in our Western neighbor by removing from power the regime of Slobodan Milosevic. Thus, Serbia made its first step towards its European future. I congratulate the people of Serbia who then chose to turn away from the past, and to take up a new road," Mladenov declared.

In his statement he emphasized the importance of democratic transition and reforms in all spheres as a key factor for the integration of the European Union.

"This is a complex, hard process requiring political decisiveness, will, and consistence. Bulgaria supports Serbia's aspiration for EU membership. We believe that the political leaders of Serbia have the courage and wisdom to continue the necessary reforms to that end," Bulgaria's Foreign Minister said.

Slobodan Milosevic (1941-2006) was in office as President of Serbia in 1989-1997 and as President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 1997-2000.

Milosevic resigned on October 5, 2000, following months of mass demonstrations, and the dispute presidential elections of September 24, 2000.

He was arrested on March 31, 2001, for corruption, abuse of power, and embezzlement but was subsequently turned over by the Serbian authorities to the Hague Tribunal for war crimes during the wars of the former Yugoslavia, in which he had a major role.

The five-year trial of Milosevic at the Hague ended without a verdict as he died in 2006.

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Tags: Slobodan Milosevic, war crimes, Serbia, former Yugoslavia, Nikolay Mladenov, Foreign Minister

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