DATE=10/08/00
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=YUGOSLAV POLITICS (L)
NUMBER=2-267641
BYLINE=EVE CONANT
DATELINE=BELGRADE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Yugoslavia's new President Vojislav Kostunica spent his first day in office with the challenge of forming a cabinet and appointing a new Prime Minister. V-O-A Correspondent Eve Conant in Belgrade reports the European Union is expected to announce on Monday an easing of sanctions against Yugoslavia, now that former leader Slobodan Milosevic is out of office.
TEXT: A popular uprising helped bring him to the presidency just a few days ago, but now Vojislav Kostunica faces the daunting challenge of solidifying power and ending Yugoslavia's economic isolation.
Leaders in Belgrade are expecting the European Union to reward Yugoslavia on Monday by easing the sanctions that have strangled the country's economy.
French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine said E-U Foreign Ministers will begin by easing an oil embargo and flight ban against Yugoslavia. But Mr. Vedrine repeated E-U opposition to former leader Slobodan Milosevic playing any further role in Yugoslav politics. Mr. Milosevic has said he wants to remain in Belgrade as a leader of the opposition to Mr. Kostunica.
The French foreign minister said it was, in his words, an "absolute priority" for Europeans, the United States, and neighboring countries to Yugoslavia that Mr. Milosevic be "removed from the realm of power." But Yugoslav President Kostunica has firmly ruled out extraditing him to The Hague where he is wanted on war crimes charges. Belgrade's new Mayor Milan Protic says there are more important tasks ahead than dealing with Mr. Milosevic.
/// PROTIC ACT ///
Our responsibility at this point is to put together the major elements of the political system so our citizens don't feel that things are getting worse or are not getting better. So we have been completely concentrated in last couple of days to organize life, especially here in Belgrade, as much as we can under these irregular circumstances.
/// END ACT ///
But in Belgrade Sunday, an influential pro-democracy group of economic experts (led by Mladjen Dinkic) said Slobodan Milosevic should stand trail domestically on charges of rigging last months election.
Officials have said a further easing of sanctions is likely to follow once it is clear that Mr. Kostunica has a firm grip on power and his commitment to democracy is certain. But even Mr. Kostunica's swearing-in ceremony was fraught with difficulty, delayed for hours because of infighting with the pro-Milosevic majority in the Federal Assembly. Another test of Mr. Kostunica's political clout will be the meeting of Serbia's powerful parliament on Monday. Supporters of Mr. Kostunica are expected to push for new elections.
Kostunica supporters say the most important task now is to gain full control over Yugoslavia's police and security services, removing any trace of pro-Milosevic officials within the higher ranks who could be manipulated by him. Serbia's President Milan Milutinovic, a key Milosevic ally, has direct control over the Serbian police force.
The process of purging Milosevic supporters from institutions and industry is underway throughout Serbia, with reports of directors of one electricity company in Nis, in southern Serbia, being attacked despite a police escort as they tried to leave their building in secret.
In a sign of confidence in Mr. Kostunica, the Yugoslav currency, the dinar, is making a stunning recovery on the black market as Yugoslavia awaits a promised easing of sanctions and the opening of relations with the international community. (Signed)
NEB/EC/JWH
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