Fourteen years after the fall of communism in Serbia the former Yugoslav republic on Monday dropped the red star from its national emblem.
Parliament also unanimously approved a new anthem, Boze Pravde (God of Justice), a hymn of the Serbian Orthodox Church sung by pro-democracy protesters who ousted nationalist strongman Slobodan Milosevic in 2000.
Delegates from Milosevic's Socialist Party, still loyal to the former Yugoslav president who is standing trial at the UN war crimes tribunal at The Hague, boycotted the vote and described the new anthem as "monarchist".
The new coat of arms drops the communist red star but otherwise leaves the two-headed white eagle emblem unchanged. The symbol was first adopted by the Nemanjic monarchy during the 19th century.
Changes were also made to the official flag, adding the crest to the upper left corner of the traditional red, blue and white tricolour.
Serbia is the larger partner in a loose federation with neighbouring Montenegro. The union of Serbia and Montenegro was formed last year under European pressure to replace the disbanded Yugoslav federation.
Montenegro has its own national symbols but the federal parliament earlier this month failed to adopt a new federal anthem ahead of the Athens Olympics.
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