Veselin DjuranovicMr. Chairman,
I am very pleased to be here. Although this is my third visit to Yugoslavia, it is the first official one by a British Prime Minister. I intend that it should mark a step forward in our relations.
It was, as you know, only a few months ago that I came to Belgrade with a distinguished and representative group of my countrymen to take part in the sad ceremony of farewell to your late President. Among them were former members of the British Military Mission, who served with the partisans at Tito's side and who came to Belgrade to pay their last personal respects to him.
None of us who were present will forget that occasion when leading personalities from all over the world gathered in Belgrade to pay tribute to one of the greatest leaders of modern times.
For President Tito was, indeed, a great stateman. He knew that the lifeblood of politics is the link between the people and their representatives. He believed in a united and independent Yugoslavia. He had also the courage and determination to realise this belief in the darkest days of the War when the difficulties were enormous and exceptional qualities of leadership were required. After the War, he resolutely led the Yugoslav people in safeguarding the independence they had won at such a high cost. [end p1]
In this way, your late President set an example to other countries by showing that a country like Yugoslavia can be independent if it is sufficiently determined to be so.
From him you have inherited a strong, united, and non-aligned country, which enjoys the respect of nations of all persuasions and in particular the warm admiration of the United Kingdom. In its internal affairs, your country is guided by the essential principle that the people are the only reliable basis of good government; its external affairs, by the equally deep conviction that relations with all other countries, great or small, must be based on equality and independence and that no foreign power has the right to determine the policies of others.
We respect the way in which Yugoslavia has pursued its policy [sic] to true non-alignment. We have closely followed the efforts made by your representatives to keep the Non-Aligned Movement on its original path and to prevent its basic principles being frustrated.
I have been looking forward to my visit here. There is much to discuss and much to see. I am interested to hear more of the measures you are employing to further your internal development in the face of difficult economic problems, many of which also affect my country. I would also like to discuss with you ideas on how we can contribute to resolving the sources of tension now confronting us in different parts of the world. [end p2]
I bring to you, Mr. Chairman, and to all the people of Yugoslavia, the best wishes of the British people and our admiration for all you have done and are doing to create a better life for your people and to help others to live more prosperously and in peace, Thank you, Mr. Chairman.