Press Statement by James B. Foley, Deputy Spokesman
April 12, 1999

U.S. Condemns Slaying of Slavko Curuvija

The United States is deeply saddened and outraged by the murder of Slavko Curuvija, a prominent and courageous voice of the independent media in Serbia, who was shot outside of his apartment building Sunday afternoon. We note that the killing of Mr. Curuvija coincides with the Belgrade regime's sinister campaign to silence leaders of the independent media.

Slavko Curuvija was a responsible reporter of events in Serbia and the region and a courageous voice for the truth. He had been harassed numerous times by Serbian authorities; most recently Belgrade had fined his newspaper, Dnevni Telegraf, and sentenced him to jail. In spite of such intimidation tactics Mr. Curuvija never tired in his efforts to promote freedom of speech and provide his fellow citizens with alternatives to state-controlled media. His murder demonstrates the dangerous environment the Belgrade regime has created in its attempts to silence objective and independent voices within its borders.

Our condolences and thoughts are with Mr. Curuvija’s family and colleagues in this time of grief.