Serbia said yesterday the assassination of Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic last month had strengthened its determination to crack down on organised crime, speed up privatisations and push for European Union membership.

Prime Minister Zoran Zivkovic told an international economic conference his government was intent on moving ahead with wide-ranging reforms and key industry privatisations but called on Europe to support it.

"The assassination of Djindjic will not succeed in leading this system to collapse. The murder was aimed at returning Serbia to the dark days of the Milosevic regime," Mr Zivkovic said. "But they have failed and the decisive battle will go on."

Serbian authorities launched a massive crackdown on organised crime after blaming Mr Djindjic's March 12 murder on a powerful gang. Police have detained thousands under state of emergency powers and last week said they had arrested the suspected assassin.

"A war has been declared on all organised crime groups and 2003 will be year we defeat crime," Mr Zivkovic said, but added it was now Europe's turn to support its efforts.

"We have fully met our international obligations, but the international community has not done that," he said. "Has Europe done enough? I don't think the answer is yes."

Mr Zivkovic, a former interior minister under Mr Djindjic, said his government was moving forward with much-needed economic reforms. Steel works, tobacco factories and other key Serbian industries were being denationalised and he called on investors to come to Belgrade.

"There is not a single civil servant who will say he has no time for you, from ministers to department heads," he said.

Zivkovic said an EU summit in June should give Serbia-Montenegro guidelines for its future entry into the 15-nation bloc.

"At the summit you must open up an opportunity for a clear offer for our young democracies," Zivkovic said. "We want to be given a chance to be offered a clear goal: the European Union...to become full members in the foreseeable future."