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), January 18, 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 4 PM
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    STUDENTS LAST THE NIGHT WITH POLICE

    At 6:30 on Sunday morning several thousand students finally set
    off on their protest march through the streets of Belgrade, after
    an all night stand-off with riot police in Kolarceva street.

    Around 4 a.m. they were joined by the Montenegrin Orthodox
    Archbishop, Amfilohije Radovic. In his address to students, the
    Mr. Radovic blamed Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic for
    sending police to block the students. At 5 a.m., the chief of
    police told the students to disperse. The student response was to
    sit down, blockading the street together with the Archbishop
    Radovic. After one hour the riot police dispersed allowing the
    studnets to march chanting ``Victory! Victory! .''  Next student
    protest is scheduled for Monday at 18:00 hours.


    NIKOLA KOLJEVIC'S CONDITION REMAINS CRITICAL

    Nikola Koljevic, former Vice-President of 'Republica Srpska' (RS),
    was brought to the Military Medical Academy in Belgrade Sunday
    morning after last night's suicide in Pale. RS newsagncey, SRNA,
    reports that his condition remains critical after undergoing brain
    surgery.


    ZAJEDNO CONDEMNS ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT ON RADIVOJE PAPOVIC

    On Sunday, the Zajedno coalition strongly condemned the
    assassination attempt on Pristina University Chancellor, Radivoje
    Papovic. ``This act was an attempt to halt democratization in
    Serbia and against the interests of all its citizen,'' the Zajedno
    statement said. Zajedno also urged a prompt investigation.


    REHN: ELECTIONS ARE AN INALIENABLE HUMAN RIGHT

    UN Special Envoy for Human Rights Elizabeth Rehn met leaders of
    the coalition Zajedno on Sunday. After that meeting, she stated
    that elections are an inalienable human right and that the will of
    people must therefore be respected.

    She stressed that it was essential that the Serbian goverment find
    a way to implement the conclusions of the Gonzalez report.

    Oppostion leader Vuk Draskovic told press after his meeting with
    Mrs. Rehn that Zajedno leaders had informed her of a number of
    specific instances human rights' violations in Serbia, especially
    during the current demonstrations.

    Mr. Draskovic also said they had discussed the issues of Kosovo
    and of the right to return of refugees. Mr. Draskovic also said he
    had pointed out that Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic had no
    intention of implementing the conclusions of the Gonzalez report.
    Mr. Draskovic blamed the inconsistancy of western diplomacy in the
    region for this. ``The international community does not respect
    its own decisions. It has formed the Hague War Crimes Tribunal,
    and nobody has been punished for refusing to co-operate with it.
    The Dayton accords provided for the return of the refugees. But
    this has not happened, and those who prevented it remain
    unpunished,'' specified Draskovic.


    ELERKMANN APPOINTED DEPUTY CHEIF OF THE OSCE'S MISSION TO BOSNIA

    The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)
    stated today that German diplomat Richard Elerkmann has been
    appointed deputy chief of the OSCE mission to Bosnia. AFP reported
    on Sunday that the senior diplomat used to be a lawyer. Mr.
    Elerkmann was also regional director of the monitoring mission
    during elections in Palestine, as well as a supervisor of the
    elections in Bosnia last September.

    Prepared by: Aleksandra Scepanovic
    Edited by: Mary Anne Wood

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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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