The new state flag of Serbia was ceremonially raised on the flagpole of the Serbian Assembly building at 14, Kralja Milana street, to the accompaniment of the Serbian anthem, Boze pravde (O God of Justice). The flag-raising ceremony was attended by the Chairman of the Assembly, Predrag Markovic, heads of deputies’ groups, as well as several hundred members of the public.

The Serbian anthem was performed by the Guards Orchestra of the Army of Serbia and Montenegro, after which Mr Markovic unveiled a plaque mounted on the parliament building, bearing the inscription “National Assembly” surmounted by a large coat-of-arms of Serbia.

Answering questions as to why the plaque did not contain the country’s name, Mr Markovic said: “Wherever you see a Serbian coat-of-arms like this, there is the home of the state of Serbia. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has kept alive the memory of the insignia that have today been restored.”

Deputies of the Serbian Assembly had earlier this month adopted a reccommendation on the national symbols of Serbia, restoring old national insignia - the coat-of-arms of the Obrenovic dynasty, dating back to 1882, and Boze pravde, the old national anthem, and introducing the state flag, as well as personal flags for the Chairman of the Assembly and the President of Serbia.