Protests in Serbia Archive
Odraz B92 Daily News Service

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    ODRAZ B92, Belgrade                             Daily News Service

    Odraz B92 vesti (by 12 midnight), 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 12 MIDNIGHT
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    LEX SPECIALIS

    The Serbian Government has tabled a Bill for discussion and
    adoption in the Serbian Parliament.

    The first of the Bill's four articles declares that the
    preliminary electoral results are final, as recommended by the
    Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe. This article
    applies to nineteen Municipal and three city assemblies.

    Article 2 deals with the schedule for implementation and gives the
    electoral commissions three days from enactment of the law to
    confirm the seats. It also stipulates that the electoral decisions
    cannot be appealed.

    Article 3 requires the Speaker of the Serbian Parliament to
    constitute municipal assemblies within five days of the
    proclamation of the election results.


    SERBIAN PARLIAMENT TO CONVENE ON FEBRUARY 11

    Speaker of the Serbian Parliament Dragan Tomic on Wednesday
    recalled the Serbian Parliament for an extraordinary session on
    February 11. The Parliament will debate the Bill on Electoral
    Results as well as the Bill on Serbian Government Elections.


    WEDNESDAY IN THE SQUARE

    The Zajedno protest rally was held as usual in Belgrade's Republic
    Square on Wednesday surrounded by heavy police forces. Zajedno
    leader Vuk Draskovic told demonstrators that Zajedno would accept
    a dialogue with the government only after the OSCE recommendations
    have been implemented to the fullest extent and all detainees
    released from imprisonment.

    Mr Draskovic went on to say the the opposition would attend the
    round table only if the agenda included the electoral fraud,
    future elections and police terrorim and if the conclusions of the
    meeting were to become law.

    Zoran Djindjic, another Zajedno leader, described Tuesday's
    violence in Republic Square as a stage-managed provocation. He
    demanded to know what the 40,000-strong police force was doing for
    the hour and a half that thugs were molesting bypassers. Vesna
    Pesic, the third Zajedno leader, called on the protesters to ``see
    the game through'' and to keep it fair, peaceful and dignified.


    ZAJEDNO TO LONDON

    The leaders of the opposition coalition Zajedno have accepted the
    invitation of British Foreign Minister Malcom Rifkind to visit
    London at the end of February, the British Foreign Office stated
    on Wednesday. AFP reported on Wednesday that the visit might
    include a meeting with British Prime Minister John Major. The
    three Zajedno leaders are to meet French Foreign Minister Herve de
    Charette in Paris on Thursday.


    NINETEEN ARRESTED IN REPUBLIC SQUARE

    The information service of the Serbian Interior Ministry stated on
    Wednesday that people had been detained for disturbing the peace
    in Belgrade's Republic Square on Tuesday.

    A French diplomat was among those harrassed by by thugs. The
    offenders have been charged with a total of 2 felonies and 17
    misdemeanours.


    UNIVERSITY OF NIS: MILOSEVIC LETTER CYNICAL MANIPULATION

    The staff of the University of Nis on Wednesday released a
    statment describing the letter from Serbian President Milosevic to
    Serbian Prime Minister Marjanovic as a ``cynical manipulation of
    state institutions and the people'' and that ``the responsibility
    of the culprits in the election fraud cannot be abnegated.'' The
    Nis academics soundly condemned the Serbian President, the
    Government and the Interior Ministry for compromising the autonomy
    of Belgrade Univeristy and for molesting the students and citizens
    who took part in peaceful protests.


    CORDON OF DEMOCRACY

    Several thousand Belgraders gathered on Wednesday evening in front
    of the Belgrade City Assembly building and formed a ``democratic
    cordon'' around it together with some 30 Zajedno deputies of the
    Assembly. The chain was to symbolize that the citizens would
    defend the democratically elected City Assembly. The citizens then
    walked twice around the building to symbolise that they recognize
    only two electoral rounds.


    OSCE PRAISES MILOSEVIC'S INITIATIVE

    Chair of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
    (OSCE), Niels Hoelveg Petersen has saluted the initiative by
    Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic for solution of the electoral
    crisis. Mr. Petersen described Milosevic's letter to the Serbian
    Prime Minister as a step towards positive democratic change in
    Yugoslavia. Mr. Petersen also stated that the international
    community expected Yugoslavia to respect all human and civil
    rights.


    ATHENS SALUTES MILOSEVIC

    The Greek Government on Tuesday welcomed the news that Serbian
    President Slobodan Milosevic had made a move towards the
    recognition of the November 17 local election results. The Greek
    Government also announced it would provide concrete help to the
    Balkan states. Greek Foreign Minister Teodoros Pangalos stated
    that some negative consequences might have been avoided if
    President Milosevic had made his move earlier. Mr. Pangalos stated
    that he would propose some ideas towards stabilization in the
    Balkans region at the ministerial council of the European Union.

    Prepared by: Marija Milosavljevic
    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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