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RFE/RL Newsline, Vol. 4, No. 247, 00-12-22

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty: Newsline Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty <http://www.rferl.org>

RFE/RL NEWSLINE

Vol. 4, No. 247, 22 December 2000


CONTENTS

[A] TRANSCAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA

  • [01] ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT RESUMES BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDINGS AGAINST DEBTORS
  • [02] ARMENIA CONFIRMS PARTICIPATION IN CHEMICAL JOINT VENTURE WITH CHINA
  • [03] FORMER ARMENIAN EDUCATION MINISTER APPEALS SENTENCE
  • [04] GEORGIAN NGOS, OPPOSITION DECRY PRESIDENT'S ATTACK ON MEDIA
  • [05] TWO MORE DEPUTIES QUIT MAJORITY GEORGIAN PARLIAMENT FACTION
  • [06] RUSSIA AGAIN PROPOSES RETAINING USE OF GEORGIAN MILITARY AIRPORT
  • [07] KAZAKHSTAN'S PREMIER ENUMERATES ECONOMIC SUCCESSES
  • [08] NEW FIRST DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER NAMED IN KAZAKHSTAN
  • [09] IRAN'S CASPIAN ENVOY VISITS KAZAKHSTAN
  • [10] NEW PROTEST AGAINST KAZAKHSTAN'S DRAFT LAND LAW
  • [11] KYRGYZ PRESIDENT APPOINTS NEW PRIME MINISTER...
  • [12] ...STREAMLINES GOVERNMENT

  • [B] SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE

  • [13] NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL HINTS AT MILITARY COOPERATION WITH BELGRADE...
  • [14] ...WHILE KFOR COMMANDER OFFERS POSSIBLE TREATY REVISION
  • [15] NATO COMMANDER IN KOSOVA WARNS 'EXTREMISTS'
  • [16] ALBANIAN GUERRILLAS PLEDGE TO FIGHT
  • [17] MACEDONIA BOSNIA CALL FOR SERBIAN-ALBANIAN DIALOGUE
  • [18] KOSOVARS REJECT ANNAN PROPOSAL FOR NEW YUGOSLAVIA
  • [19] SERBIAN AUTHORITIES TO OPEN POLLING PLACES IN KOSOVA
  • [20] YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SAYS ARRESTING MILOSEVIC 'NOT A PRIORITY'
  • [21] SERBIAN INTELLECTUALS STAGE PARIS 'HAPPENING'
  • [22] YUGOSLAV AIRLINES TO BUY AIRBUS
  • [23] MONTENEGRIN PARLIAMENT WARNS FEUDING CHURCHES
  • [24] CROATIAN GOVERNMENT STANDS FIRM ON GENERAL'S HAGUE TESTIMONY
  • [25] HUNGARIAN FIRM WINS MACEDONIAN TELECOM STAKE
  • [26] EMBITTERED CONSTANTINESCU HANDS OVER ROMANIAN PRESIDENCY
  • [27] ILIESCU SAYS 1989 CULPRITS MAY NEVER BE DISCOVERED
  • [28] MOLDOVAN PRESIDENTIAL VOTE BLOCKED BY BOYCOTT
  • [29] BULGARIA OPTS FOR 'GROWTH-FRIENDLY' ECONOMIC POLICIES

  • [C] END NOTE

  • [30] SERBIA ELECTS A NEW PARLIAMENT

  • [A] TRANSCAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA

    [01] ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT RESUMES BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDINGS AGAINST DEBTORS

    At the behest of the country's tax authorities, the Armenian government decided on 21 December to reopen bankruptcy proceedings against more than 200 enterprises fully or partly owned by the state that have failed to clear their tax debts, RFE/RL's Yerevan bureau reported. The previous cabinet had suspended the law suits in March. Minister for State Revenues Andranik Manukian claimed that many of the supposedly bankrupt businesses continue to evade taxes, while operating and making profits. He warned that a list of known tax evaders will be published periodically, according to Noyan Tapan. The total private and public sector debt to the state budget currently stands at 57 billion drams ($103 million), having decreased by only 5 billion drams during this year. Under Armenian law, legal entities failing to meet their tax obligations can be declared bankrupt by the court, in which case their property is to be auctioned off by the state. LF

    [02] ARMENIA CONFIRMS PARTICIPATION IN CHEMICAL JOINT VENTURE WITH CHINA

    The Armenian government on 21 December gave its formal approval to Armenian participation in the establishment of a large chemical factory in China's Shangsi province, RFE/RL's Yerevan bureau reported. The Chinese government will provide $130 million to build and equip the factory, which is to produce synthetic rubber and other chemical products and will operate with the same technology as that of the huge Nairit chemical plant in Yerevan. Construction is due to begin next year. LF

    [03] FORMER ARMENIAN EDUCATION MINISTER APPEALS SENTENCE

    Ashot Bleyan has lodged an appeal against the seven-year prison sentence handed down to him on 15 December by a Yerevan district court, Noyan Tapan reported on 21 December. The court had found Bleyan guilty of embezzlement and abuse of power (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 18 December 2000). He maintains the charges against him were fabricated. LF

    [04] GEORGIAN NGOS, OPPOSITION DECRY PRESIDENT'S ATTACK ON MEDIA

    Two Georgian human rights organizations on 21 December expressed outrage at President Eduard Shevardnadze's criticism the previous day of what he termed the media's aggressive reporting, Caucasus Press reported (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 21 December 2000). The extra-parliamentary Republican Party of Georgia similarly issued a statement accusing the authorities of trying to offload on to the media responsibility for the failure to resolve the country's problems. LF

    [05] TWO MORE DEPUTIES QUIT MAJORITY GEORGIAN PARLIAMENT FACTION

    Two more deputies have announced their intention to leave the majority Union of Citizens of Georgia parliamentary faction, Caucasus Press reported on 21 December. They include the respected chairwoman of the parliament's Human Rights Committee, Elena Tevdoradze. Twelve deputies have already quit the faction in the past four months, leaving it with 114 deputies out of a total 235. LF

    [06] RUSSIA AGAIN PROPOSES RETAINING USE OF GEORGIAN MILITARY AIRPORT

    During the fourth session of the Georgian-Russian Intergovernmental Council in Tbilisi on 21 December, Russian Deputy Premier Ilya Klebanov again proposed that Georgia and Russia jointly utilize the airfield at the Vaziani military base near Tbilisi, ITAR-TASS reported. Russia had previously begun withdrawing military equipment from that base on 1 August with a view to its closure by 30 June 2001; it has since suggested, however, that it be allowed to continue using the airfield (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 1 August 2000). LF

    [07] KAZAKHSTAN'S PREMIER ENUMERATES ECONOMIC SUCCESSES

    Qasymzhomart Toqaev told the cabinet on 21 December that this year has been a success for the country's economy, Interfax reported. He said that during the first 11 months, industrial production increased by 15 percent compared with 1999 while investments rose by more than 29 percent. He estimated GDP growth for 2000 at 8 percent. The inflation rate has remained more or less constant at 8.5 percent. Foreign trade during the period January-October rose by 56 percent to exceed $11 billion. LF

    [08] NEW FIRST DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER NAMED IN KAZAKHSTAN

    President Nursultan Nazarbaev on 21 December promoted Deputy Prime Minister Daniyal Akhmetov to the post of first deputy premier, Reuters reported. Akhmetov replaces Aleksandr Pavlov, who was fired last month (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 27 November 2000). Economics Minister Zhaksybek Kulekeev was reappointed to that post but following last week's streamlining of ministries will also assume responsibility for trade (see "RFE/RL Newsline, " 15 December 2000). Yerzhan Utembaev, who was relieved of the post of deputy prime minister on 20 December, has been named deputy head of the presidential administration. LF

    [09] IRAN'S CASPIAN ENVOY VISITS KAZAKHSTAN

    During talks in Astana on 21 December with Kazakhstan's Prime Minister Toqaev, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Ahani said that while there are grounds for a rapprochement between the five Caspian littoral states with regard to the sea's legal status, Iran will not moderate its position, Interfax reported. Russia and Kazakhstan proposed dividing the seabed into national sectors according to the modified median line, while Tehran advocates joint use of the sea's resources or its division into equal sectors. Iran's sector accounts for only 14 percent of the sea. Ahani also noted the potential for expanding trade and bilateral relations, especially in the science and technology spheres. LF

    [10] NEW PROTEST AGAINST KAZAKHSTAN'S DRAFT LAND LAW

    At a press conference in Almaty on 21 December, political parties and movements aligned in the so-called Land Protection Front again called for amendments to the draft land law passed by the lower house of parliament last month (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 1 December 2000). The front's chairman, Salim Orazaliev, pointed out that the law fails to make provision for the repatriation to Kazakhstan of an estimated 5 million Kazakhs currently living in China, Uzbekistan, and the Russian Federation. LF

    [11] KYRGYZ PRESIDENT APPOINTS NEW PRIME MINISTER...

    Askar Akaev on 21 December proposed Kurmanbek Bakiev to head the new government, RFE/RL's Bishkek bureau reported. Of the 45 deputies in the upper house of parliament, 34 endorsed Bakiev's candidacy, while nine supported Amangeldi Muraliev, who headed the previous government. Bakiev, who is 51, is a graduate of the Bishkek Polytechnical Institute and worked for 10 years in Moscow Oblast. Since returning to Kyrgyzstan, he has served as director of the State Property Fund and as governor of Djalalabad and then of Chu Oblast. "Nezavisimaya gazeta" on 20 December had predicted that Bakiev would replace Muraliev. The newspaper noted that although Muraliev managed Akaev's successful re-election campaign and is a competent economist, he was unable to pull the country out of its ongoing economic crisis. In addition, the newspaper writes, Bakiev is from the south of Kyrgyzstan, whose "clans" are under-represented in the upper echelons of the leadership and have made clear that they want that imbalance redressed. Akaev is from northern Kyrgyzstan. Bakiev told parliamentary deputies that he considers the government's top priorities are to stabilize the economy and eradicate poverty, according to Interfax. He also pledged to support small and medium-sized businesses. LF

    [12] ...STREAMLINES GOVERNMENT

    As presidential press secretary Osmonakun Ibraimov had predicted earlier this month, Akaev also proposed to the parliament on 21 December a new structure for the government whereby number of government agencies is reduced from 42 to 29 and the number of ministries from 17 to 12, plus a government committee for managing state property and attracting investments. The number of deputy premiers is cut to one, and ministers will have no more than two deputies, with the exception of the law enforcement bodies. The National Security Ministry will be excluded from the cabinet and renamed the National Security Service. Akaev estimated that the streamlining measures will save some 55 million soms ($1.12 million) and make the work of the government more effective, according to Interfax. LF

    [B] SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE

    [13] NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL HINTS AT MILITARY COOPERATION WITH BELGRADE...

    Lord Robertson said in Sarajevo on 21 December that "the Serb government is frustrated by what is happening in the safety zone [on Serbia's border with Kosova] and so am I. That is why we are taking active measures, politically and militarily, to stop the violence going on," AP reported. He added that "with restraint being shown on the Serbian side, the active measures that are being taken [by KFOR] on the Kosovo side of the boundary...will address this issue. The growing political isolation of the extremists, who use the safety zone to launch violence and to try provoke violence, is now starting to produce results. It is in nobody's interest that these provocations get a response. Therefore, NATO, KFOR, and, if necessary, an association with the [Yugoslav] and Serbian authorities will continue to deal with the problem of the small number of extremists." Robertson did not spell out the terms of the possible "association" between NATO and Belgrade. PM

    [14] ...WHILE KFOR COMMANDER OFFERS POSSIBLE TREATY REVISION

    General Carlo Cabigiosu told Reuters in Prishtina on 21 December that it may soon be possible to revise the 1999 Kumanovo agreements that ban Serbian forces from the demilitarized zone on the border with Kosova (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 20 December 2000). He said of the Serbs: "Why should we treat them as enemies forever? We [may] soon have the opportunity to review those treaties" after the 23 December Serbian parliamentary elections. President Vojislav Kostunica and his allies are expected to win in a landslide victory. They have called for a revision of the Kumanovo documents (see also "End Note" below). PM

    [15] NATO COMMANDER IN KOSOVA WARNS 'EXTREMISTS'

    General Cabigiosu said in Prishtina on 21 December that KFOR troops may soon crack down on Serbian extremists in the north of the province (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 18 December 2000). He said that "the hard-liners there will be soon dealt [with] appropriately," but he did not elaborate, AP reported. Cabigiosu also urged ethnic Albanian fighters in the demilitarized zone to disarm and go home. "We want to interrupt any line of communication between Kosovo and the armed groups," he added. PM

    [16] ALBANIAN GUERRILLAS PLEDGE TO FIGHT

    Commander Muhamet Xhemaili of the Liberation Army of Presevo, Medvedja, and Bujanovac (UCPMB) told "The Daily Telegraph" of 22 December that his men will fight Serbian forces massing in the area. He added that the UCPMB will also fight NATO troops if the alliance sends them into the area without making a prior agreement with the guerrillas and without trying to convince the Serbian forces to leave. PM

    [17] MACEDONIA BOSNIA CALL FOR SERBIAN-ALBANIAN DIALOGUE

    Macedonian Foreign Minister Srdjan Kerim and his Bosnian counterpart, Jadranko Prlic, said in Skopje on 21 December that leaders of Serbia and of the Kosovar Albanians should begin talks soon aimed at defusing the tensions in southwestern Serbia. Kerim argued that "Belgrade and Pristina must start talking as soon as possible... There is no question that cannot be resolved through negotiations," AP reported. He added that both Macedonia and Bosnia are "adamantly against resolving issues with force, regardless of their nature." Prlic noted that "Bosnia has had long experience with the practice of having guns 'speak' instead of people." Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski was less impartial, saying that "if the [Albanian] extremists continue their efforts, this will be the beginning of a new cycle of instability for all" (see "RFE/RL Balkan Report, " 22 December 2000). PM

    [18] KOSOVARS REJECT ANNAN PROPOSAL FOR NEW YUGOSLAVIA

    Alush Gashi, who is an adviser to moderate Kosovar leader Ibrahim Rugova, said in Prishtina on 21 December that independence is the only future for Kosova. "We strongly believe that independence is a much better solution than attempting different arrangements that would be a question mark for the Kosovars and for others," AP reported. He was referring to a recent suggestion by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan that Yugoslavia be reconstituted as a tripartite federation consisting of Serbia, Montenegro, and Kosova. The daily "Zeri" wrote that "the future of Kosova will be decided by the Kosovars themselves," adding that Serbs and Albanians have become "irreconcilable" foes. Ramush Haradinaj, who is president of the Alliance for the Future of Kosova, said that the proposal can only undermine "stability in the region [because it ignores] the will of the Albanian people [for independence]." Kostunica has already rejected Annan's proposal (see "RFE/RL Balkan Report," 22 December 2000), while the majority of Montenegrin political parties have also turned it down, RFE/RL's South Slavic Service reported on 21 December. PM

    [19] SERBIAN AUTHORITIES TO OPEN POLLING PLACES IN KOSOVA

    Serbian Election Commission authorities plan to open 250 polling stations for the 23 December legislative vote in three districts of Kosova where an estimated 100,000 Serbs live. The regions are Peja, central Kosova, and Mitrovica, dpa reported on 21 December. The UN civilian authorities have not sought to encourage or discourage the organization of the Serbian vote in the province (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 15 December 2000). PM

    [20] YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SAYS ARRESTING MILOSEVIC 'NOT A PRIORITY'

    Kostunica said in Paris on 21 December that "France was one of the first countries to lead the European Union to support democratic change in Serbia, even before our election in September," dpa reported. He added that Paris played a "very important" role in Belgrade's subsequent reintegration into European political life. Kostunica met with President Jacques Chirac, Prime Minister Lionel Jospin, and Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine. The French leaders stressed the importance of "democracy, reconciliation, and regional cooperation," AP reported. They also reminded their guest of Yugoslavia's obligations toward the Hague-based war crimes tribunal. Kostunica replied that the tribunal will open an office in Belgrade but that bringing former President Slobodan Milosevic to justice is "not a priority" for him. PM

    [21] SERBIAN INTELLECTUALS STAGE PARIS 'HAPPENING'

    Serbian artists and intellectuals opened a multi-media exhibition in Paris on 21 December to present what they called the "true face of Serbia." "Serbia is ready to become part of Europe," one spokesman said. He added that "Milosevic's Serbia was a version that did not exist in reality, a false image that has to be corrected," Reuters reported. PM

    [22] YUGOSLAV AIRLINES TO BUY AIRBUS

    Mihajlo Vujinovic, who heads Yugoslav Airlines, said in Belgrade on 21 December that "JAT and the Serbian government have made the decision to purchase eight Airbus 319 planes. The value of the project is almost [$500 million]," Reuters reported. The first two planes are expected to be delivered in 2002. A deal was originally concluded in 1998 but held up because of EU economic sanctions against the Milosevic regime. Some three months ago, France and Germany called for the early lifting of EU sanctions against Serbia (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 19 and 27 September 2000). PM

    [23] MONTENEGRIN PARLIAMENT WARNS FEUDING CHURCHES

    The legislature passed a resolution reminding Montenegro's feuding Serbian Orthodox and Montenegrin Orthodox Churches that the purpose of Churches is to unite people and not to exacerbate divisions among them, Montena-fax news agency reported from Podgorica on 21 December. The resolution advised rival Church leaders to pursue their claims over property and other rights in the courts and nowhere else. Most Montenegrins who express a religious affiliation are Serbian Orthodox. The Montenegrin Orthodox Church is nonetheless vocal and well connected with the independence movement. The Montenegrin Church's members charge that they and their Church do not enjoy equality with the Serbian one. PM

    [24] CROATIAN GOVERNMENT STANDS FIRM ON GENERAL'S HAGUE TESTIMONY

    Justice Minister Stjepan Ivanisevic said in Zagreb on 21 December that the government will not allow General Petar Stipetic, who heads the General Staff, permission to testify in Croatia before representatives of the Hague- based war crimes tribunal until The Hague makes it clear whether it regards him as a witness or a defendant (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 12 December 2000). Ivanisevic stressed that the general will not testify "until the prosecutors clarify why they first summoned him as a witness and then as a suspect" in conjunction with the 1995 offensive against Serbian rebels, Reuters reported. The minister added that Croatia cannot accept a state of affairs in which "the court dictates and we listen," AP reported. Many Croats believe that the tribunal has rewarded the government's cooperative attitude by making far more demands on it than on Belgrade or Sarajevo. PM

    [25] HUNGARIAN FIRM WINS MACEDONIAN TELECOM STAKE

    The Macedonian government said in a statement in Skopje on 21 December that it has decided to sell a 51 percent stake in its Global System for Mobile to Hungary's Matav. The Hungarian bidder offered $674 million to purchase and develop the system. A Macedonian government spokesman said that the government was impressed with the Hungarians' pledges for the "future development" of Telecom. Prime Minister Ljubco Georgievski called it the "biggest [single] foreign investment in Macedonia," AP reported. PM

    [26] EMBITTERED CONSTANTINESCU HANDS OVER ROMANIAN PRESIDENCY

    Former President Emil Constantinescu told his successor Ion Iliescu on 21 December that Iliescu will have "advantages that I did not have." Among these, Constantinescu named "the backing of a large and compact party that is well-represented at local administration level," the backing of financial-economic groups formed during Iliescu's former presidential terms between 1990 and 1996 that managed to keep their influential positions under Constantinescu's presidency, and the support of a substantial part of the mass media. "Unlike me," Constantinescu commented, Iliescu will "not have political friends who criticize him more than political adversaries do, " RFE/RL's Bucharest bureau reported. MS

    [27] ILIESCU SAYS 1989 CULPRITS MAY NEVER BE DISCOVERED

    President Iliescu on 21 December addressed a joint session of the two chambers of the parliament marking 11 years since the "Romanian Revolution of 1989." Before that meeting, Iliescu told journalists that those events had been "a genuine revolution," regardless of "diversionist attempts" that might have taken place at that time. He said those who are guilty of killing innocent people "may never be discovered" because "it is difficult to establish [such guilt] when one deals with a movement of such magnitude". However, he said, "the main culprits had been sentenced and executed: these were the Ceausescu couple," RFE/RL's Bucharest bureau reported. MS

    [28] MOLDOVAN PRESIDENTIAL VOTE BLOCKED BY BOYCOTT

    Only 48 deputies attended the 21 December parliamentary session, at which the next round of presidential elections was scheduled to take place, RFE/RL's Chisinau bureau reported. As a quorum of 61 is necessary for the ballot to take place, the elections could not be held. Parliamentary chairman and Democratic Party leader Dumitru Diacov said this was a "political decision" taken by the center-right parties to hinder the election of Party of Moldovan Communists leader Vladimir Voronin to the post. A statement issued in the name of these parliamentary groups said they are now ready to agree to early parliamentary elections, "which have been imposed on us by destructive forces." On 22 December, the special parliamentary commission on the presidential election decided that the next round of voting will take place on 16 January, but observers say Lucinschi may dissolve the parliament with the next few days. MS

    [29] BULGARIA OPTS FOR 'GROWTH-FRIENDLY' ECONOMIC POLICIES

    Deputy Premier Petar Zhotev told journalists on 21 December that his country's economic policies next year will move from "emphasis on stabilization to emphasis on quick [economic] growth and high incomes," AP reported. Zhotev said this does not mean that Bulgaria is abandoning the strict financial discipline imposed three years ago, with the setting up of the currency board. But Sofia will reduce borrowing from lenders such as the IMF and the World Bank and will instead seek external loans for its private sector in order to make itself more attractive to foreign investors. "Bulgaria now needs a policy of high and stable economic growth...generated in conditions of durable macroeconomic stability, controllable inflation, and large foreign currency reserves," Zhotev said. He also said the cabinet will try to keep annual inflation below 10 percent. MS

    [C] END NOTE

    [30] SERBIA ELECTS A NEW PARLIAMENT

    by Jolyon Naegele

    The campaigning for the 23 December Serbian parliamentary elections has been brief and low-key, largely because the outcome of the vote seems a foregone conclusion. The 18-party anti-Slobodan Milosevic coalition of the Democratic Opposition of Serbia (DOS) is expected to score a landslide victory. Pre-election projections give DOS between 70 percent and 80 percent of the vote, while Slobodan Milosevic's Socialists have a little more than 15 percent.

    Eight parties and coalitions will be competing for 250 seats in the Serbian parliament. Six-and-a-half million registered voters will be able to cast their ballots at some 8,700 polling stations.

    In contrast to the Yugoslav federal elections two months ago, which Milosevic's Socialists tried to steal through electoral fraud and by barring Western monitors, these elections will be considerably more transparent. The OSCE, which Yugoslavia recently rejoined, is fielding 335 monitors, while the Serbian non-governmental Center for Free Elections and Democracy is supplying 12,000 monitors.

    In addition, ballot boxes this time will be--literally--transparent. Each voter will have to sign a voter list and have his or her hand sprayed with invisible ink in an effort to prevent multiple voting.

    Zoran Djindjic, DOS campaign manager and candidate for prime minister of Serbia, was the sole speaker at the coalition's final campaign rally in Novi Belgrade earlier this week. At that meeting, he restated DOS's four- point program for recovery: "A state of law, meaning no revenge and no amnesties. Second, a successful economy--fair work for fair pay, fair work for a decent living. Third, social policy as the main state program so that the transition that awaits us is not accomplished at the expense of the poorest [members of the population]. They have already paid too much over the past 10 years. Fourth, the decentralization of power."

    Djindjic called on Serbs, above all, to establish a clean, non-corrupt, and capable government that can turn the country into what he called a "model of a modern, organized state." In words tailored to a public weary of war after four bloody conflicts in 10 years, Djindjic declared: "Let's try to win in peace, we don't want wars any more. Let's make the 21st century an era of peace in the Balkans."

    Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica said this week that the public's expectations of change are immense and that the main problems can be tackled only once the Serbian parliament is elected and a new government formed. "The entire process of democratic changes will have to wait until Serbia is strengthened," he commented.

    There has been much speculation about an ongoing contest of wills and political styles between Djindjic and Kostunica, which could come into the open after the elections. Once the voting results are known, current Serbian President Milan Milutinovic--indicted by The Hague tribunal for war crimes--is likely to be forced out of office. Moreover, the Yugoslav presidency would cease to exist and Kostunica would be out of a job if Montenegro, the smaller of the two constituent Yugoslav republics, goes ahead with its threatened secession.

    But Kostunica insists he is not considering running for president of Serbia. He says it is more important to elect a new parliament as the foundation of democratic transformation. Kostunica, a constitutional law professor, says the post of president is less important, because, in his words, "democracy does not depend on personalities but on institutions."

    As in previous campaigns, Milosevic's Socialist Party exploited popular fears of the disintegration of the Yugoslav state as its main theme. Speaking at a rally in Belgrade earlier this week, Socialist General Secretary Zoran Andjelkovic warned of possible attempts to grant republican status to at least two ethnically diverse regions: Serbia's Vojvodina and the Presevo Valley. "We are," he said, "for a united Serbia." But while pledging to keep the country whole, Andjelkovic also tried to show a kinder, gentler Socialist face than Milosevic's.

    "Our program and our candidates are not against anyone," Andjelkovic said. "These are candidates for a new era who are for Yugoslavia, a Yugoslavia of equal republics, in the best interests of the citizens of Serbia and Montenegro--Serbs and Montenegrins-- that's what we favor and they [DOS] probably oppose. We are the guarantee that Yugoslavia will continue to exist and these candidates are for the existence of Yugoslavia."

    Yugoslavia's territorial integrity is threatened on several fronts-- Montenegro, Vojvodina, Kosova, and the Presevo Valley. Once the Serbian legislative elections are behind him and once the Socialists finally vacate the republic's ministries they have clung to since Milosevic's ouster in October, Kostunica will face the formidable task of keeping the Yugoslav federation together.

    The author is an RFE/RL correspondent based in Prague.

    22-12-00


    Reprinted with permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
    URL: http://www.rferl.org


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