Protests in Serbia Archive
Odraz B92 Daily News Service

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    ODRAZ B92, Belgrade                             Daily News Service

    Odraz B92 vesti (by 4 PM), February 5, 1997

    E-mail: odrazb92@b92.opennet.org, beograd@siicom.com
    WWW:    http://www.siicom.com/odrazb/, http://www.opennet.org/b92/
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    All texts are Copyright 1997 Radio B92. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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    NEWS BY 4 PM
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    ZAJEDNO LEADERS IN PARIS ON THURSDAY

    French Foreign Minister, Herve De Charet, has announced that he
    would receive the Zajedno coalition leaders Zoran Djindjic, Vuk
    Draskovic and Vesna Pesic, on Thursday in Paris, AFP reports.


    KOSTUNICA: DON'T TRUST MILOSEVIC

    Leader of the Democratic Party of Serbia, Vojislav Kostunica, has
    stated that Slobodan Milosevic should not be trusted and that his
    letter to the Serbian Prime Minister should be treated with
    caution. ``The Serbian President deserves mistrust,'' said
    Kostunica, adding that, from the legal point of view, Milosevic
    had no right to propose laws to the Parliament, and that his
    letter was ``an insult to the sovereignity of the people.''


    LAZAREVIC: MILOSEVIC'S GOOD MOVE

    Chairman of the Belgrade Electoral Commission, Radomir Lazarevic,
    described Milosevic's letter to the Serbian Prime Minister as ``a
    positive step.'' Asked about his opinion on the legality of the
    letter, Mr Lazarevic replied that he was not a judge of the
    Constitutional Court, and so was unable to evaluate that.


    BRITAIN APPROVES MILOSEVIC'S CONCESSION

    British Foreign Secretary, Malcolm Rifkind, expressed approval of
    Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic's decision, to recognize the
    opposition's electoral victory, Reuters reports. Rifkind
    emphasised that such a step should have been taken much earlier
    and that the proposal must be implemented without further delay.
    Mr Rifkind also expressed his respect for Serbian protesters and
    their methods of fighting for their democratic rights.


    KINKEL: FIRST POSITIVE SIGN

    German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel stated that Milosevic's
    decision to recognise the results of the local elections was the
    first positive sign, but that many more steps must be taken
    towards decmocracy in Serbia. ``First, we must see if there is any
    practical outcome from Milosevic's decision: the elected
    opposition members must take their seats in the assemblies without
    delay.''  Mr Kinkel also stressed that the work of the assemblies
    must not be obstructed.


    ITALIANS CYNICAL

    The Italian media generally regard Milosevic as having recognised
    electoral resutls, but not the rules of democracy. Ansa agency
    reports that ``eleven weeks of protests have destroyed the myth of
    the invincible Serbia leader.''  Daily Republic writes that ``the
    special law is yet to be seen, so the opposition is not sure
    whether or not Milosevic is bluffing.''


    FRENCH: VOLTE FACE

    The French media have reported extensively on the about turn in
    Serbia. The Daily 'Figaro' describes Milosevic as ``yielding,''
    but adds that ``Milosevic has proved himself a hypocrite over and
    over again. Nothing is impossible within his 'proper institutions
    of government'.''


    CZECHS: WHO BENEFITS?

    The Czech media note that Milosevic has first had police beat
    demonstraters and then recognised the election results. The daily
    'Hospodarske Novini' asks: ``It is a good start, but for whom? The
    demonstrators or Milosevic?''


    BRITISH DIVIDED

    Opinion among British media is divided. The Daily Telegraph
    believes that Milosevic ``really meant it,'' while The Times says
    that the Serbian president is ready to use any means available to
    retain power. They cite the example of the only independent
    television in the country having its transmission contract
    cancelled after showing police brutality on Sunday night. The
    Independent thnks that Milosevic is trying unsuccessfully to
    create the impression that he is making concessions due to the
    pressure of the international community, and not that of the
    opposition. The Indpendent also notes that Milosevic could have
    solved the crisis at any point during the previous 78 days, but
    failed to do so.

    Prepared by: Goran Dimitrijevic
    Edited by: Steve Agnew

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