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), February 10, 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 3 PM
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    SERBIAN GOVERNMENT RESHUFFLE

    The Serbian Parliament, which is meeting on Tuesday to discuss
    President Milosevic's lex specialis, is also expected to effect a
    reconstruction of the Serbian Government.

    Belgrade media, quoting various sources within the government, on
    Monday reported a number of expected changes.

    It is believed that the Ministers for Mining and Energy, for
    Transport and Communications, for Tourism, for Education, for
    Agriculture and for Finance would be replaced, while the Minister
    for Industry had resigned.

    The formation of two new ministries is expected. These are Local
    Self-Government, and Economic and Ownership Transformation.


    JUL SUPPORTS KONTIC

    Spokesman for Yugoslav United Left Zivko Cokolovacki on Monday
    told media that JUL supports the reappointment of current Yugoslav
    Prime Minister Radoje Kontic. ``The Government should comprise
    young, competent, educated people, and JUL wants to be part of
    such a government,'' said Mr Cokolovacki. He was speaking after
    consultations called by Presdient Zoran Lilic to discuss the
    appointment of a new Prime Minister after Mr Kontic's term
    expires.

    Vojislav Seselj, leader of the Serbian Radical Party, stated after
    the consultations that his party would not support the candidacy
    of Mr. Kontic. He also stressed that his party was not willing to
    take a part in the Yugoslav Government. Mr. Seselj told media that
    the Radicals would form their own government when they won in the
    elections.


    ADMINISTRATION STARVING OPPOSITION MUNICIPALITIES

    Zoran Zivkovic, Mayor of Nis, said on Monday that the Serbian
    administration was already clamping down on those municipalities
    where opposition councils had been constituted. In a statement
    published on Monday in the Belgrade daily 'Vecernje Novosti', Mr.
    Zivkovic said that the city of Nis had had its share in the trade
    tax revenue of the city cut from 33 to 18%. He added that the
    Serbian Government also owed the city some 35 million dinars for
    social benefits from last year. He warned that the city government
    would have to protect its citizents if the Serbian Government
    failed to pay the overdue amounts, but denied claims that he had
    called on the citizens of Nis to discontinue tax payments.

    Mr Zivkovic went on to say that contact between the new city
    government in Nis and the Socialists was essential and that the
    members of the former ruling party in Nis had nothing to fear. He
    stressed that there would be no purges of Socialists from
    government bodies in Nis, adding that the only criterion for
    replacement of staff would be their incompetence.


    COUNCIL OF DEANS ON FEBRUARY 12

    Fedor Zdanski, Dean of the School of Technology and Metallurgy,
    has called a session of the Council of Deans, University Institute
    Directors and Members of the University Staff for February 12. The
    agenda will include the university's response to the demands of
    protesting students and preparations for the University Assembly.

    Mr. Zdanski has been authorized by 20 school deans and 8 institute
    directors of the UofB to manage the Council, which they
    established on January 30 to deal with the crisis in the
    University of Belgrade.


    THEATRES TO OPEN ON WEDNESDAY

    The Association of Theatre Artists of Serbia on Monday called on
    all theatres in Serbia to resume their work on February 12. The
    theatres had canelled performances in protest after violent police
    clashes with protesting citizens.

    Association Chair Svetislav Goncic said that the cancellation of
    performances was the gravest warning that these events must not be
    repeated. He warned that the theatres might again close if there
    was further police violence.


    NEW MOSTAR BOMBINGS

    Another three explosions shook the battered town of Mostar on
    Sunday evening. SFOR spokesman, Tony White, told media on Monday
    that no casualties had been reported.

    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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