DATE=9/1/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=YUGOSLAV ELECTIONS (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-266058
BYLINE=STEFAN BOS
DATELINE=BUDAPEST
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Campaigning is underway in Yugoslavia for next
month's presidential and parliamentary elections.
Fifteen Serbian parties are working together in a
joint effort to defeat Yugoslav President Slobodan
Milosevic. Public-opinion polls are running against
the president, and Yugoslavia's dismal economic
conditions have heightened discontent. But as Stefan
Bos reports, U-N officials and European diplomats in
Belgrade are concerned that the Milosevic government
may yet try to rig the vote.
TEXT:
/// SFX: STREET MUSIC IN BELGRADE--
ESTABLISH, FADE ///
Fifty-one-year-old engineer Zoran Lukic recently
turned to his accordion and took to the streets, where
he now tries to make a living as a musician in a
forgotten corner of the Yugoslav capital, Belgrade.
Mr. Lukic is one of many workers without jobs. Their
factories either were hit by NATO air strikes during
last year's air war over Kosovo, or the plants have
shut down as a result of the economic and political
policies of President Slobodan Milosevic's government.
During the Cold War, Yugoslavia was seen as a beacon
of stability and an example of Western-style reforms
for other countries in the region. Now, Serbs in what
remains of Yugoslavia (-- Serbia and the republic of
Montenegro --) are living, on average, on monthly
salaries worth about 35 dollars. Yugoslavia's
involvement in a series of Balkan wars has left the
country politically isolated from the Western world.
Mr. Milosevic himself faces immediate arrest if he
ventures outside territory controlled by his army,
since he has been indicted on war-crimes charges by
the U-N tribunal in The Hague.
Widespread discontent among once-proud Yugoslav
residents is one of the reasons why analysts say
opposition candidate Vojislav Kostunica could win the
presidency on September 24th.
The 15 parties backing Mr. Kostunica launched their
joint election campaign Friday in Belgrade. They will
work together as the Democratic Opposition of Serbia.
The vice president of the participating Social
Democratic Union, Vlatko Sekulovic, says the
opposition wants to carry its message directly to the
people, because Mr. Milosevic controls the mass media.
/// SEKULOVIC ACT ///
We have decided as a party for the elections to
go for a campaign door to door. To address to
the people in the places where they are living
and where they are working. Because if we don't
have the media, then we have to approach them
directly.
/// END ACT ///
/// OPT /// Opposition leaders say they are planning
to campaign throughout Serbia, visiting the 50 largest
cities and ending their cross-country-tour with a mass
rally before the election in Belgrade.
Authorities in the republic of Montenegro say they
will boycott the federal elections, because they say
Mr. Milosevic is organizing them in an undemocratic
manner. /// END OPT ///
Opinion polls at the outset of the campaign show the
opposition candidate, Mr. Kostunica, with a strong
lead over President Milosevic. However, U-N officials
and European diplomats based in Belgrade say there are
fears Mr. Milosevic may try to rig the vote.
Mr. Milosevic's plan to include Kosovo in the
elections also has aroused concern. Kosovo province
still is officially part of Serbia, despite
international administration of the territory by U-N
officials and peacekeeping troops from NATO.
/// REST OPT ///
A senior official in Belgrade said this week that Mr.
Milosevic plans to visit Kosovo, but NATO and U-N
officials say he would be arrested at once, based on
the war-crimes charges filed against him.
U-N officials, who are organizing their own local
elections for Kosovo for October 28th, are expected to
decide next week whether they will allow residents of
the province to cast Yugoslav ballots.
Western diplomats say extending the Yugoslav election
to Kosovo could spark new unrest in the province,
which is dominated by ethnic Albanians seeking
independence. (Signed)
NEB/SJB/WTW/JP
01-Sep-2000 12:02 PM LOC (01-Sep-2000 1602 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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