At today's session of the Committee on Defence and Security of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, representatives of the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Serbia informed the Deputies about the implementation of measures under the state of emergency introduced after the assassination of the Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic of Serbia, Dr Zoran Djindjic, as well as about the activities undertaken by the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Serbia in combating organised crime.

Members of the Committee unanimously expressed support for the determination of the forces of the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Serbia, the Security and Information Agency and the Army of Serbia and Montenegro in shedding light on the terrorist act and bringing its perpetrators to justice.

It is the Committee's opinion that civilian life has not been disrupted, and that the emergency measures are being implemented to ensure the security of the population of the Republic of Serbia.

During the discussion, members of the Committee underlined that the murder of Prime Minister Dr Zoran Djindjic shows, in the worst possible manner, how powerful criminals had felt and how deep their influence pervaded all facets of our society. This cowardly murder was their attempt to cause chaos in the Republic and stop the reforms in order to again be able to develop their activities.

The measures taken in the course of the investigation and the interrogation of the arrested persons, which is being energetically pursued on the entire territory of the Republic, have shed light on a large number of hitherto unsolved serious offences, including a number of murders, attempted murders, smuggling of narcotics, firearms, and motor vehicles, aggravated assaults and robberies, burglaries which resulted in murders, as well as many others.

The Committee was informed of the possible consequences of the war in the Persian Gulf on the security situation in the Republic. Bearing in mind the newest developments in the Middle East, the beginning of military operations in Iraq, as well as the possibility of terrorist acts by Islamic militants, especially against diplomatic and consular offices of countries taking part in military operations, and the possibility of a large number of refugees arriving from the area affected by the war, increased security precautions have been taken on the territory of the Republic of Serbia.