The National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia commemorates the international Day of Democracy, 15 September, by publishing a message dedicated to democracy at the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia website:

DEMOCRACY

Today, it seems that, after a long search and some dangerous experiments, history has decided in favour of democracy as a long-term and universal form of political governance. The United Nations, comprising almost all the countries of the world, and thus it could be said, the whole of mankind, selected a day to celebrate democracy.

But a democratic celebration does not mean a celebration after work well done. Democracy is not the final form of political life, but a living process continuously renewed through new generations, a search for an ever better and more dignified life. Democracy enables the spread of freedom to all up to now marginalised groups, respect for people’s special needs and all forms of diversity. By suppressing discrimination and intolerance, democracy widens the horizons of freedom.

Although most people in the world today view democracy as political freedom of the citizens: to speak, criticize and associate, to be equal in the eyes of the law, freely elect their government representatives, freely develop their personality, democracy today is much more than that.

It is a development process which implies continual progress and expansion of freedom, constant innovation in the exchanges among citizens and between the citizens and institutions, it implies the citizens’ participation in making decisions that concern them directly, finding forms of cooperation between different segments of the society, and development of social and political dialogue.

Democracy is a world order that ensures equality and dignity of the citizens who are entrusted by sovereignty as the source of the most important decisions concerning the common good. Human and civil rights are standardised and concern not only political, but economic and cultural rights of all the citizens as well.

Serbia today is a free, democratic, secular republic with institutions, laws and political practice standardised by the United Nations, Council of Europe and other international organizations. Today, it is a full fledged member of all general international democratic organizations and continually adjusts its legislations to international standards. Serbia is a state for all the citizens of different nationalities and different cultural identities, and its democracy is reflected in its effort to improve the wealth of diversity by developing tolerance and equality.

Compared with the world’s long historical experience with democracy, Serbia’s democracy is young and insufficiently developed, and it needs friends. The political factors should make use of the people’s preference of democracy to include as many citizens as possible in the social reform, to create an environment conducive to economic development and better life, exhibiting social solidarity with the most underprivileged, and above all to spread trust in a free and just society.