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Secretary of State Albright on Yugoslav Elections

Op-ed column from Newsweek Magazine Oct. 9, 2000
[Note: This byliner was published in the October 9, 2000 issue of
Newsweek Magazine. Persons who intend to redistribute this byliner
should give credit to Newsweek Magazine as the source.]
(begin text)
AMERICA TO MILOSEVIC: STEP ASIDE
-- His machine is falling apart like a Balkans Humpty Dumpty, never to
be put back together again.
By Madeleine K. Albright
U.S. Secretary of State
On September 24 the Yugoslav people went to the polls in record
numbers, and voted by a wide margin to replace Slobodan Milosevic's
discredited regime with a new and democratic one. Not surprisingly,
Milosevic is refusing to accept the verdict of his people, and is
lying about the results. He is fooling no one and will not succeed.
The opposition leader, Vojislav Kostunica, justifiably insists that
the victory of the democratic forces be recognized. He is pressing his
case through the courts and by peaceful public protest. The Yugoslav
people are responding. The European Union and many governments around
the world, including the United States, have called upon Milosevic to
admit defeat and step down.
The democratic opposition's electoral victory marks a historic turn
upward for Yugoslavia and all of Europe. Through centuries of history,
power has never changed hands in Serbia by democratic means. Moreover,
a democratic Serbia will mean that freely elected governments are in
power in every nation in the Balkans. This, in turn, will bring within
reach a major goal of the entire transatlantic community, which is to
transform southeastern Europe from a region of chronic instability
into a full partner and participant in Europe's democratic mainstream.
During the last decade, largely because of Milosevic, the Balkans were
the scene of the worst fighting in Europe in 50 years. The new decade
has begun with the promise of an end to all such wars. The
breakthrough in Belgrade was the direct product of the courage and
democratic faith of the Yugoslav opposition. For months they defied
threats, harassment, arrests and the suppression of independent media.
Many were told that a vote for democracy would cost them their jobs,
pensions, apartments and health insurance. Some were risking their
very lives.
Notwithstanding all this, the opposition campaigned openly and hard.
While the authorities threatened, the democratic leaders educated,
persuaded and exhorted the people to register, cast their ballots and
join in monitoring and verifying the results. This combination of
hardheaded organization and stouthearted daring paid off. Within 72
hours after the election, the opposition was able to put together a
final vote count based on tallies from more than 9,000 polling places.
These numbers reflected official local results that were approved by
members of Milosevic's own party. The numbers added up to a greater
than 50 percent win for the opposition.
Under the rules, the consequences are clear. Milosevic must go. The
opposition should be allowed to get on with the many jobs it has been
elected to do: restoring democracy, reviving the economy, rooting out
corruption and bringing Serbia back into the European family of
nations.
As I write this, Milosevic is trying desperately to buy more time. His
puppet electoral commission has issued a fictional and wholly
undocumented tally of votes purporting to show that a second round of
balloting is needed. Milosevic's problem is that time is no longer on
his side. He is, quite clearly, a figure of the past, a lingering
shadow separating Serbia from a new dawn of democracy and hope. The
Yugoslav people did not deserve Milosevic. With their actions during
the last week they showed that they deserve democracy.
As a result, Milosevic's own officials are starting to distance
themselves from him. Military and police leaders are saying, some even
in public, that they will not continue repressing the people for the
sake of one man. Milosevic's machine, which has intimidated and
plundered Yugoslavia for more than a decade, is falling apart like a
Balkans Humpty Dumpty, never to be put back together again.
The days immediately ahead will not be easy for the people of
Yugoslavia, Serb and non-Serb alike. The sooner Milosevic leaves, the
better it will be, and the quicker the process of recovery can begin.
European and American leaders have made it clear that we are prepared
to lift the sanctions imposed against the Milosevic regime as soon as
a new and democratic government is in place. We are ready to assist
where we can in helping Yugoslavs to repair infrastructure, attract
investment, strengthen their democracy and ensure respect for the rule
of law. And we will support Yugoslavia's entry (or re-entry) into and
participation in global and regional institutions.
The people of Yugoslavia should be congratulated for turning out to
vote and for their commitment to democratic change. At the ballot box
and in the streets, they are showing their courage, their independence
and their love of freedom. But to prevail in this moment of crisis,
they will need our solidarity and our steadfast support. The Yugoslav
people did not deserve Milosevic. With their actions during the last
week they showed that they deserve democracy.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)