TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
BYLINE=EVE CONANT
DATELINE=BELGRADE
INTERNET=YES
TEXT: VOA Balkans correspondent Eve Conant is in Belgrade in anticipation of the expected swearing-in ceremony for president-elect Vojislav Kostunica.
She spoke by telephone Saturday morning with VOA's Victor Beattie. The text follows:
Q: You are in Belgrade. Tell us what is happening today. Are streets quiet? Is there still a celebration going on?
A: For now the streets are quiet, however, celebrations have been taking place in the evening. We are waiting to see whether today we will see the official swearing in ceremonies for Vojislav Kostunica as the new Yugoslav president. Also the swearing in of the new parliament. We expect that to happen today, and also expect there will be a serious degree of celebrations on the streets after that, if it were to happen. The question is just where that would take place. The federal parliament building has been destroyed. Hundreds of thousands of rioters broke into the building, set fire to parts of the building earlier, and also moved to the television tower, storming that Thursday as well.
So some of the institutions where the ceremony might take place have been damaged, but we're waiting to see. We do believe that will happen today.
Q: You've been reporting for many days from Pristina. Has the ability of reporters to come in to Belgrade before?
A: Yes, to some degree it has opened up more. More reporters have been able to get in than have been able to before, but people are coming in without visas. They're being issued visas at the airport,
Q: What kind of atmosphere are you finding? In your opportunity to talk to people, are you getting a sense of relief?
A: Certainly right now it seems calm. People are happy this has happened without any violence. I think this is foremost on people's minds, that this has happened without any serious injuries to people, or fatalities.
Again, President Milosevic went on television Friday to say that this was over, that he was handing over power, that he did recognize Mr. Kostunica. So that was a huge step.
Q: Do we know of his whereabouts and his plans?
A: We don't know specifically what Mr. Milosevic will do. He said he would like to rest and spend some time with his family. But after that he said he would like to go on to lead his political party, the SDS, to become a strong opposition party. That certainly prompted an outcry from western leaders, who say there is no room for Mr. Milosevic in politics. So we'll see just how political he plans to be. He is an indicted war criminal, indicted for alleged atrocities commited in Kosovo during the NATO bombing raids in 1999, so if he were to leave the country he would be arrested. So it would seem he would want to strike some sort of deal with the new government in power to ensure his safety.
Q: We know the Russian Foreign Minister, Mr. Ivanov was in Belgrade yesterday. He spoke to both Mr. Kostunica as well as Mr. Milosevic over the edge to concede defeat? Or was it pressure from the public?
A: Certainly the support of Russia for Mr. Kostunica is a very strong signal sent to Mr. Milosevic that one of last remaining allies is not going to be behind him. so certainly that would have had some influence on him. But the exact nature of the talks we don't know. Mr. Kostunica, when he went on television, said he did speak with Mr. Milosevic about the peaceful transfer of power, and he called the talks "positive".
Q: We know there is still no confirmation of the swearing-in today of Mr. Kostunica. Are there any signs of the setting up of the transfer of power.
A: We are all here waiting to witness this inauguration if it were to take place. Different ministries are functioning. It is a Saturday today so it is harder to tell. There seems to be some process of weeding out pro-Milosevic forces in government institutions, but for the most part it does look peaceful.
NEB/PFH
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