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 15, 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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    NEW MAYORS FACE TOUGH TIME

    Zajedno leader Vuk Draskovic has warned, in an interview for
    Belgrade's DT Magazine, that newly elected mayors in Serbia will
    inherit problems from their predecessors, who have ``robbed and
    ruined'' the cities.

    ``Various new financial and other strictures will be imposed on
    us. We shall have to be very diligent and cautious about civic
    expenditure. Any future revival depends on our industriousness and
    on possible assistance from the USA and western Europe,'' said Mr
    Draskovic.

    Asked whether Zoran Djindjic would be appointed Mayor of Belgrade,
    Mr Draskovic declined to comment on contenders for the top civic
    job, saying only ``I know Zoran very well, and I can assure you
    that he is a wise, diligent and capable man.''

    Mr Draskovic added that the behaviour of the former mayor of
    Belgrade, Nebojsa Covic, during the past two months had been very
    decent and dignified and deserved respect. ``Although he attacked
    Zajedno during the electoral campaign, that was because he was a
    member of the Socialist Party. We bear no grudges. We cannot
    ignore a man of Covic's experience and ability. He is absolutely
    fit to be mayor, but that is impossible, for reasons that have
    nothing to do with him personally. If I were in the position to
    form a Serbian government I would offer him a senior portfolio
    with no hesitation,'' said Mr Draskovic.


    KOSOVO

    The Kosovo Committee for the Protection of Human Rights on
    Saturday claimed that eight Albanians had been shot dead in the
    last month, one had died after being beaten and three more
    injured. The Committee also claimed that thousands of Albanians,
    including 55 members of political parties had been detained. The
    statement added that most of these had been tortured by police.


    YES MINISTER

    The Serbian Minister for Information, Radmila Milentijevic has
    described Serbian media as having ``almost unlimited freedom, much
    more than in many countries,'' according to Beta. Ms Milentijevic
    also claimed that pro-government media were far more professional
    than anti-government. The minister added that it was necessary to
    examine and regulate the status of the media by law, as had been
    done in other European countries. She added that there were many
    problems with the work of state media, especially RTS and its news
    coverage. ``RTS should be more open, and focus on what is
    happening in Serbia and Republika Srpska,'' said Ms Milentijevic.


    REGIME COALITION DIFFERENCES

    Former Serbian Deputy Prime Minister, Svetozar Krstic, has said
    that there are significant differences among the member parties of
    the ruling coalition on economic matters, particularly
    privatisation. Novi Sad daily Dnevnik quotes Mr Krstic as saying
    that his party, Nova Demokratija, believes that privatisation
    should begin as soon as possible, unlike the Socialist Party and
    JUL.

    Nova Demokratija also believes that foreign investors will only be
    interested in certain sectors of Yugoslav business. ``On the other
    hand, the Socialist Party and JUL think that Yugoslavia is
    extremely attractive for foreign investments, and that foreign
    companies can hardly wait to come here,'' he said.

    ``The second big difference is that we believe that many factories
    are run down, because they have been lying idle. The Socialists
    think the opposite. We also believe that the ownership of state
    companies should be distributed to the citizens, via vouchers. But
    the left are against that, which is strange'' said Mr Krstic.

    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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