Protests in Serbia Archive
Odraz B92 Daily News Service

---

    ------------------------------------------------------------------
    ODRAZ B92, Belgrade                             Daily News Service
    Odraz B92 vesti (by 4 PM), January 5, 1997

    e-mail: beograd@siicom.com      URL: http://www.siicom.com/odrazb/
            odrazb92@b92.opennet.org     http://www.siicom.com/b92/
    ------------------------------------------------------------------
    All texts are Copyright 1997 Radio B92. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
    ------------------------------------------------------------------



    NEWS BY 4 PM
    ------------------------------------------------------------------


    COALITION ZAJEDNO APPEALS TO THE POLICE

    The coalition Zajedno today sent an official message to the
    members of the Serbian Ministry of Internal Affairs and called on
    them not to allow the ruling SPS to abuse them and push the police
    into a conflict with the citizens.

    ``The Socialists don't dare face the people, so they have put you
    on the streets instead. While we are all freezing in the streets,
    the President's son is driving around in luxury cars. Those who
    ordered you to go out into the streets have millions in their
    foreign bank accounts, and tomorrow or the day after they will
    flee Serbia. We are not in conflict with you, we just want respect
    for the law and the return of our votes. Think it over thoroughly
    before you decide whether to carry out the orders given to you by
    thieves. Neither you nor we have bank accounts in Cyprus; we don't
    have a spare country to go to, our families will remain in Serbia.
    Tomorrow we will have to look at each other in the eye,'' says the
    announcement Zajedno sent to the police forces before today's
    ``protest drive.''

    Numerous cars, decorated with balloons and handy noise-making
    devices, flooded and jammed downtown Belgrade. The absolute
    gridlock in the city center is filled with cars honking, their
    drivers whistling and banging on empty barrels on the roofs of
    their cars. Many drivers have been shaking hands with the traffic
    policemen who are completely surrounded by an ocean of vehicles.
    The ``protest drive'' is still underway right now.


    LAZOVIC'S HEALTH CONDITION IMPROVED

    The health condition of Ivica Lazovic, protester who was seriously
    wounded in a conflict with a pro-Milosevic crowd on December 24,
    has improved a little according to the doctors at Belgrade's
    Trauma Center. The doctors there have also said that, at this
    moment, Lazovic has pneumonia, cannot move his left extremities
    and that it is uncertain how long his partial paralysis will last.


    COVIC'S DECISION TO BE KNOWN ON TUESDAY

    Today's issue of Belgrade's daily Dnevni Telegraf reports that
    there has been no official announcement yet about Nebojsa Covic's
    decision to step down from the position of the Mayor of Belgrade.

    The paper says that Covic has temporarily shelved his resignation
    after his ``talks yesterday with the President of Serbia.''  Covic
    allegedly told Milosevic that he will remain mayor only if the
    results of November 17 elections are officially recognized and
    those members of SPS who compromised the integrity of state
    institutions are replaced. Nebojsa Covic has also insisted,
    repeatedly, that his party distance itself from the coalition JUL,
    headed by Mira Markovic, Slobodan Milosevic's wife. Dnevni
    Telegraf has no information on the Serbian President's response,
    but it claims that Covic's final decision on whether to stay on as
    mayor of Belgrade will be made public by Tuesday, at the latest.


    STUDENTS OF NIS WRITE TO MILOSEVIC

    The University of Nis students, whose delegation met with Slobodan
    Milosevic in Belgrade a few weeks ago, sent a letter to the
    President of Serbia in which they say:

    ``You told us that you will do everything in your power to defend
    the Constitution and that you will instruct all relevant state
    organs to ferret out the truth concerning the elections in Nis.
    Much time has passed since we talked to you, but nothing has
    changed.''  Today, at 2 PM, in front of the main building of the
    University of Nis, its alumni and students held another in a
    series of protest rallies that have been going on in this city for
    the last six weeks. The UofN alumni assembled in Nis today
    received honorary degrees from their younger counterparts for
    ``remaining true to their student heart.''  A new protest was
    announced for tomorrow.


    KINKEL'S MESSAGE TO MILOSEVIC

    In his official message to him, German Foreign Minister Klaus
    Kinkel urged President of Serbia Slobodan Milosevic to immediately
    and fully acknowledge the opposition victory in the local
    elections held last November 17, reports AFP.  Otherwise, Serbia's
    re-entry into the international community will be totally barred,
    stressed Kinkel.

    Klaus Kinkel also emphasized that Serbia must find its way back to
    a Europe it belongs to and offered Germany's help to ensure that
    its re-integration into the international community takes place
    under the conditions of a democracy.


    BIBI ANDERSON IN BELGRADE

    Bibi Anderson, Swedish actress known for her leading roles in many
    Bergman's movies, arrived in Belgrade yesterday. Anderson
    addressed the student crowd at the beginning of yesterday
    evening's protest and also gave an interview to the daily
    Demokratija. She said that the Swedish media are reporting daily
    on the protests in Belgrade and that she believes one must
    distinguish sharply between the state and the people of Serbia.
    Anderson also spoke of her delight at the humor and the ingenuity
    the protesters have been demonstrating for so long.

    Prepared by: Aleksandra Scepanovic
    Edited by: Vaska Andjelkovic (Tumir)

    ------------------------------------------------------------------
    ODRAZ B92, Belgrade                             Daily News Service
    e-mail: beograd@siicom.com      URL: http://www.siicom.com/odrazb/
            odrazb92@b92.opennet.org     http://www.siicom.com/b92/
    ------------------------------------------------------------------