DATE=5/24/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=YUGOSLAVIA / FOREIGN POLICY (L-O)
NUMBER=2-262758
BYLINE=STEFAN BOS
DATELINE=BUDAPEST
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Yugoslavia's increasingly isolated government
has launched a foreign policy initiative seeking
closer ties with Russia and China. Stefan Bos reports
from Budapest that Western diplomats say they fear
this development could harm their efforts to undermine
the government of Yugoslav President Slobodan
Milosevic.
TEXT: In a statement that has worried some European
Union diplomats, Yugoslavia's Foreign Ministry
announced that its relations with Russia and Communist
China are thriving.
The Yugoslav envoy to Moscow, Borislav Milosevic, who
is the brother of President Slobodan Milosevic, told
reporters that his country's diplomatic ties with the
Russian Government were, in his words - strengthening.
He added that Russia would never support the overthrow
of the current Yugoslav government by the opposition.
/// OPT /// The Yugoslav envoy stressed that earlier
this month Russia had issued an invitation to Yugoslav
Foreign Minister Zivadin Jovanovic and Defense
Minister Dragoljub Ojdanic, who was indicted for war
crimes. /// END OPT ///
The Belgrade government says it is also seeking to
improve relations with China, which is still upset
about NATO's accidental bombing of its embassy in the
Yugoslav capital during the bombing campaign last
year. Officials say the head of China's National
People's Congress, Li Peng, is scheduled to visit
Belgrade in the near future.
/// OPT /// Analysts say Belgrade sees China as a key
ally against Western governments. Belgrade accuses
the West of using the opposition in the main Yugoslav
Republic of Serbia to try to oust President Milosevic.
/// END OPT ///
Western diplomats say this potential new alliance with
Russia and China may undermine international efforts
to further isolate the government of Yugoslav
President Slobodan Milosevic, who was indicted by the
U-N War Crimes Tribunal in The Hague.
The European Union is reported to be uneasy over
Russia's relationship with Yugoslavia, prior to the
June summit meeting between U-S President Bill Clinton
and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The E-U had
hoped that Mr. Putin would distance himself from the
government in Belgrade.
Opponents of Yugoslav President Milosevic say the
foreign policy initiative is merely a last effort by
the government to survive international and domestic
isolation.
Even the smallest Yugoslav republic, Montenegro,
suggested this week that it may break away from the
Yugoslav federation if that was the wish of its
citizens.
In Serbia, the pressure is growing as well - following
a media crackdown and a mass trial in which 143-ethnic
Albanians were jailed for up to 13-years on terrorism
charges. The Foreign Ministry said the government
would press ahead with new anti-terrorist measures
designed to stop what it called - attempts to stir
unease among people in Serbia. (SIGNED)
NEB/SB/GE/RAE
24-May-2000 12:26 PM EDT (24-May-2000 1626 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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