Protests in Serbia Archive
Odraz B92 Daily News Service

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    ODRAZ B92, Belgrade                             Daily News Service
    Odraz B92 vesti (by 3 PM), January 9, 1997

    e-mail: beograd@siicom.com      URL: http://www.siicom.com/odrazb/
            odrazb92@b92.opennet.org     http://www.siicom.com/b92/
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    All texts are Copyright 1997 Radio B92. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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    NEWS BY 3 PM
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    STUDENTS CALL ON BELGRADERS TO FORM CITIZENS' LINES IN FRONT OF
    POLICE

    In their newsletter today, UofB students call on their ``parents
    and friends'' to come out and join them on the streets. ``We, your
    children, are sticking to the freedom-fighting tradition of our
    ancestors and the sense of justice which we have inherited from
    you. We have been protesting in the streets of Belgrade for more
    than 45 days against the insolent theft and self-will of a
    departing regime. We are neither criminals nor thieves, nor are we
    the hooligans and pro-fascists ruining this city. The police have
    much more important business to do than to stand in the way of the
    future. We want a strong and honest state. Those among the police
    who are true to their calling will take our side; the others may
    leave with those who have destroyed this country,'' says today's
    newsletter of the Student Protest. Their action began around 2 PM
    today.


    KINKEL AND VAN MERLOT CALL ON MILOSEVIC

    German and Dutch Foreign Ministers, Klaus Kinkel and Hans Van
    Merlot, called on Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic to
    immediately acknowledge and confirm the opposition's victory in
    the local elections in 14 cities, reports FoNet. ``The OSCE
    [mission] determined that the opposition had won in the elections
    in Belgrade and most of the large cities in Serbia,'' Kinkel also
    said and called on Milosevic to ``establish democratic relations
    in Kosovo and not let the minority treat the majority in a non-
    democratic way.'' Asked if the European Community is considering
    certain sanctions towards Serbia if Milosevic doesn't give way on
    these issues, the two ministers said that members of EU are still
    deliberating their options; no decision has been reached yet.


    CHINESE AGENCY ON NIS

    Chinese news agency Hsinhua reports today that the official
    confirmation of the opposition's victory in the local elections in
    Nis, second largest city in Serbia, is the first clear concession
    by the Serbian government since the coalition Zajedno began
    organizing and holding daily protests for almost two months ago,
    reports FoNet. The Chinese agency claims that the opposition won
    in 15 out of 18 larger cities in Serbia and that the OSCE
    confirmed that victory. Hsinhua still hasn't made any comments on
    the events in Serbia. However, its reports have become more
    balanced in recent days and they are now publish opposition's
    views besides the official ones.


    DNEVNI TELEGRAF: EXPLOSION AT JUL'S HEADQUARTERS IS TODOROVIC'S
    IDEA

    Today's issue of the Belgrade daily Dnevni Telegraf says that the
    explosion at the headquarters of the Yugoslav United Left (JUL)
    was thought up by Zoran Todorovic, Secretary of JUL's Steering
    Board. The allegation about Todorovic rests on the statement made
    by an unnamed high ranking member of JUL who has asked to remain
    anonymous. The same source claims that Todorovic intended to
    present the explosion as a ``proof'' of the alleged terrorist
    nature and ambitions of the coalition Zajedno. Dnevni Telegraf
    also says that, in the past few days, several different sources
    have pointed to Todorovic's a key figure of the current political
    crisis in Serbia. Todorovic has great influence on Mira Markovic,
    President of JUL and Milosevic's wife, and on Milosevic himself,
    claims Dnevni Telegraf.


    MARKOVIC: MILOSEVIC MUST RESIGN

    Today's issue of the Belgrade daily Blic carries an interview with
    Dragoslav Markovic, formerly a high ranking official of ex-
    Yugoslavia.

    In his interview, Markovic observed that ``no matter how the
    protests end, they represent the beginning of the end of a policy
    that was catastrophically wrong for Serbian people. After this,
    the position of both Milosevic himself and his regime as such can
    never be the same as it used to be. It is hard to predict when,
    but he [Milosevic] must resign,'' emphasized Markovic. Asked if
    Milosevic is under the influence of his wife, Markovic answered:
    ``According to her public statements, it can be concluded that her
    influence is much bigger than could normally be expected.''


    COMMUNISTS' PRESS CONFERENCE

    At a press conference held today, Ratko Krsmanovic, President of
    the Board of the Communist Alliance-Movement for Yugoslavia, said
    that the elimination of all irregularities committed in Serbia's
    recent local elections is crucial for the sake of peace and
    stability in the country. He also accused the coalition Zajedno
    for being ``potentially forces of chaos and anarchy.''


    NASA BORBA: CONFLICTS WITHIN JUL

    Today's issue of Belgrade daily Nasa Borba says that there are two
    mutually opposed factions within the Yugoslav United Left (JUL).
    The conflict between them was evident at yesterday's meeting of
    JUL's Managing Board, when Nenad Djordjevic and Nebojsa Maljkovic
    sharply criticized Zoran Todorovic's actions concerning local
    elections. President of JUL, Mira Markovic, also wife of Slobodan
    Milosevic, just sat quietly and observed the debate, says Nasa
    Borba.


    MARKO NICOVIC TALKS WITH RADIO B92

    In the past few days, it has become evident that the number of
    policemen on the streets of Belgrade is steadily growing. Radio
    B92 has tried to contact some of the police officials but most of
    them were not in the mood for any kind of talk, except for one. He
    is Marko Nicovic, former Head Of Belgrade Police Department,
    recently dubbed ``the local Elliott Ness.''  Nicovic stated: ``Two
    months of continual protests have resulted in a political crisis
    and the blockade of the system. Police lines cannot solve the
    problem, because there is no police force large enough to confront
    the people. In their dealings with the police, the students cannot
    lose. It is wit against brute force, and time has always been on
    the side of those who use their wits. In the next few days, the
    students will simply come up with new tricks. I don't believe that
    the police can outwit the students. You cannot contain youth in
    such a small space.''  Since Nicovic is a member of Yugoslav Left
    (JUL), he was asked about Mira Markovic's influence on police
    actions. He answered that only a police official can command the
    police forces, but also added that all policemen are on the
    government's payroll, so the most important decisions are made at
    the highest level.


    RADIO B92 -- HOT SITE FOR JANUARY 6

    Radio B92 has learned that USA Today has selected B92's web-site
    as the Hot Site of the Day for January 6. The note received from
    the US magazine goes on to say that ``this award is very
    significant. As in the case of movies and TV programs, we do daily
    searches for those websites that can be of interest to the public
    -- sites that amaze and thrill, inform and provide entertainment
    either by their excellent graphic design, their content or both.
    Take a look at:

    http://www.usatoday.com/life/cyber/ch0106a.htm

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

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    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/
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