From: malenovi@plains.NoDak.edu (Malenovic Nikola V.)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.yugoslavia
Subject: Serbia in a Broken Mirror ( VREME NDA 5 Sep 1992 )
Date: 5 Sep 92 18:13:18 GMT
Article-I.D.: plains.20180
Organization: North Dakota Higher Education Computing Network


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     "Vreme" News Digest No. 49                             August 31, 1992
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    Serbia in a Broken Mirror
    -------------------------


                                  ROUND TABLE


    The  Serbian  authorities  have  finally  agreed  to  negotiate with the
    opposition;  not so  much as  to reduce  the risk  of violent  political
    confrontation  (since they  seem to  believe international  isolation is
    grist  to their  mill) but  because they  want to  gain legitimacy  from
    abroad.

    The round table talks organized by the Serbian Government were adjourned
    last  week without  achieving any  results, while  the round table talks
    organized by the federal government began sloppily, with endless debates
    about who  has been invited  and why. The  federal government showed  it
    wanted political accord and quick elections.  It laid out a draft law on
    elections and  rules of conduct of  the media in the  election campaign.
    Its  representatives  were  tactical,  although  quite  vague as regards
    binding statements. The federal government needs elections to see how it
    stands - does it  really have power or does it only  serve as a disguise
    for Slobodan Milosevic.  The opposition needs accord to  ensure at least
    minimum conditions for a fair political contest.

    Vojislav  Seselj, leader  of the  Serbian Radical  Party (SRS), tried to
    ruin and undermine the meeting by obstructing it, perhaps because of his
    secret wish to thwart the holding of early elections.

    Seselj was obstinate in his objections to admitting the Democratic Party
    of  Serbia  to  the  round  table  talks,  since  the party had not been
    registered. Vojislav Kostunica, leader of the Democratic Party of Serbia
    (DSS), usually tactical, at one moment  retorted: "You are not in a pub,
    so just sit there and shut  up while others are talking". Kostunica also
    noted Seseljs party was being intolerant in the debate and that it could
    be banned because of its activities.

    The prevailing opinion was that the round table talks should be attended
    by all relevant political forces. The Socialist Party of Serbia proposed
    that  the representatives  of the  biggest party  of ethnic Albanians in
    Kosovo be  invited to the  talks. Yugoslav Deputy  Prime Minister Radoje
    Kontic  welcomed the  initiative on  behalf of  the federal government ,
    saying it  was politically useful,  but the Socialist  Party shelved off
    the proposal until  the next round table meeting. It  remains to be seen
    whether there will be a reply to  the invitation once the results of the
    London Conference become known.

    Another signal regarding the rejection  of Yugoslav Prime Minister Milan
    Panics ideas in Kosovo has come -- ethnic Albanians boycotted enrollment
    in high schools.

    The game was played with the intention of creating embarresments for the
    parties which  had challenged the  existing constitution. The  following
    opinion was also  voiced - " If you deny  Yugoslavia exists, why are you
    sitting  here."  At  the  beginning  of  the  talks, The Serbian Renewal
    Movement (SPO) and  the Democratic Party of Serbia  (DSS) asked that the
    round  table be  defined as  preparation for  elections to a Constituent
    Parliament which is,  as they said, a condition for  some parties to run
    in the elections.

    Dragan  Veselinov, leader  of the  Peasant Party  (NSS) defined  the the
    round table  meeting as "the  oppositions deep trust  of the Government"
    and asked that  the Government promise it would  discuss the possibility
    of resigning  if the proposed draft  laws , adopted by  the round table,
    are not passed by Parliament.

    The  Socialist  Party  of  Serbia  (SPS)  was  represented  by two young
    members, and this  was interpreted as a way  to avoid negotiations. They
    seemed persistent and obstinate,  and interupted the negotiations twice.
    The first  time, when they generously  offered the opposition to,  if it
    could,  reach   an  agreement  and   then  come  to   talk.  Under  such
    circumstances,    even   the    representative   of    the   League   of
    Communists-Movement  for Yugoslavia  (SK-PJ), Goran  Latinovic, lost his
    temper with  the SPS representatives, saying:  "Your behaviour shows you
    believe you  are a godsend to  this people and this  country. You should
    think about what you have done to this country!"

    The  Socialist Party  of Serbia  launched  a  debate on  changes in  its
    statute, definding itself  as a party of the  democratic left; noting it
    favoured  mixed ownership  with state  intervention and  a strong social
    welfare policy. There were calls  for a tolerance of different opinions,
    but SPS leader  Borisav Jovic disagreed. The SPS has  so far changed its
    program, ideology, name, membership, including  the state in which it is
    in power, but has  not shown any signs that it will  let go of the reins
    of  power. It  has also  launched an  initiative for  a new party symbol
    aimed  at  discarding  the  five-pointed  star  and  replacing it with a
    thornless rose.

    The SPS, however,  has instructed its younger members not  to give in to
    the opposition yet. As far as the law on elections is concerned, the SPS
    is for the time being on its own; Montenegrin parties have said that the
    proportional system suits them very well.
                                                             Milan Milosevic

    Election Time-Table

      Projected  applications of  the Law  on Elections  proposed at a round
      table meeting  organized by the  federal government. The  schedule was
      made by a group of experts  who proposed the law. Government officials
      say the elections are to be completed by December 31.

      September 15 - Law on elections to be adopted
      September 23 - Elections called
      September 28 - Media to ensure presentation of candidates
      November 6 - Federal Court to decide on  objections to election lists
                   of candidates
      November 20 - Election silence begins
                    Expiry of deadline for changes in lists
      November 22 - Elections
      November 23 - Deadline for objections  to violations of the  right to
                    vote
      November 24 - Deadline for objections to voting at election posts
      November 25 - Federal  Commission  announces  preliminary  election
                    returns by midnight

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     "Vreme" News Digest No. 49                             August 31, 1992
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