Re: Yugoslavia

[Yoshie Furuhashi <furuhashi.1@xxxxxxx>]

Paul wrote:
> I was listening to "As it Happens", the CBC news backgrounder,
> this evening on the events in Yugoslavia.  Rather interesting.
> Apparently Milosevic met with the Army Chiefs and Kostinica,
> congratulated Kostinica on his electoral victory and announced he
> was going to retire temporarily from politics to play with his
> grandchildren.  Meanwhile, as Ken Hanly has posted, his party
> retains an absolute majority in the legislature -- democratically
> elected -- and, it is noted, Kostinica has no legislative power since
> the office of president is largely ceremonial/ figurehead head of
> state.  i.e. Milosevic exerted power through political rather than
> executive or legislative influence, power he retains through his
> influence on the governing party, not on his elected office.
>
> Already some voices of the American/British Nato alliance were
> heard saying getting rid of Milosevic is not enough.
> Serbia/Yugoslavia must surrender to the demands of the west --
> i.e. the problem of Yugoslavia was not Milosevic, but Serbia's
> refusal to bend to occupation by western (i.e. US) capital.  This
> means that Kostinica must deliver Serbia to the west.  But he,
> constitutionally, is unable to do this, at least democratically.
>
> This poses a problem for the US/NATO (and for those on this list
> who accepted the demonization of Milosevic).  They have blamed
> the devil (Milosevic) and engineered his downfall.  But, at least to
> this point, have not attained their aims.

******   ----- Original Message -----
From: <AVucelic@xxxxxxx>
To: <RRONKKO@xxxxxxx>; <gthompson@xxxxxxxxx>; <sutra@xxxxxxxxxxxx>;
<gelich@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, October 06, 2000 4:45 PM
Subject: There is still hope for Democracy in Yugoslavia


Kostunica Coup not able to get the veneer of legitimacy it craves

The fires have long been put out. However, Kostunica still has not
been officially proclaimed President. Djindic has scheduled no less
than 3 sessions of Parliament; first Thursday night, Friday morning,
Friday afternoon and  Parliament has not yet met. This is odd ? Why
hasn't the ruthless Djindic been able to arrange for Parliament to
acclaim Kostunica President ?

Parliamentary assent is critical to Djindic's takeover. Parliament
controls the civil service, budget, judiciary, and the entire Federal
Government through the office of the Prime Minister. The Yugoslav
Presidency is largely ceremonial. In order to control the state,
Djindic needs a compliant Parliament.

And he isn't getting what he needs.

For the last 2 weeks, endless reports of splits within the SPS
(Milosevic's party) and within the SNP (the Montenegro Socialists
under Momir Bulatovic) have been coming over the wire services. The
wires said that Bulatovic was supporting Kostunica.

But that simply isn't true.

A quick web search uncovers ample evidence that Bulatovic eve today
remains committed to the SPS/SNP coalition.
(<<http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a39de20051cdd.htm>> &
<<http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a39de1ad61817.htm>>) Together,
the SPS/SNP coalition have a solid majority in both houses of
Parliament. (74 out of 138 seats in lower house and 27 out of 40
seats in upper house)

Djindic is scrambling to split the SNP and has announced (for a
fourth time) that Parliament will convene tomorrow to proclaim
Kostunica President, select a Prime Minister & Cabinet. If he cannot
split the SNP, then he will not get the veneer of legitimacy the Coup
Plotters crave.  One can be certain that Djindic is using every means
at his disposal to break the SPS/SNP coalition. But if Bulatovic held
fast in the face of a howling mob, it is difficult to see how Djindic
can break him.

Yugoslav democracy is not quite dead.   *****

Yoshie