SERBIA: CURRENT POLITICAL EVENTS
Misa Brkic of the Belgrade daily Nasa Borba looks in the June 22, 1997 issue of that paper at the political atmosphere in Serbia.
Since Serbian frail children, under the name of the opposition did not have the force and smarts to force the Socialists to apply the Gonsales report point by point, the process of the democratization of this state remained in the phase of unnatural conception, which forced Washington and European Union to switch to a synchronized offensive towards dictatorial Belgrade. With this, the manoeuvreing space in the political field of Serbia has been clearly marked for all of its participants, and the rules determined and nailed. It was precisely drawn to Milosevic and his Socialists what they have to practically do so that Serbia could return into international community and financial institutions: a dialogue with the opposition concerning fair and elections, respect of the electoral results and laws, building of democratic institutions (including independent judiciary and free media), dialogue concerning kosovo, cooperation with the Tribunal in the Hague... If something was forgotten, the Socialists are directed towards additional reading and application of Gonsales primary.
If things do not go as asked, hard days are yet ahead of Serbia, including new isolation. The American Congress has shown how seriously it is thinking with the passing of a special law called Development of Democracy in the Republic of Serbia, and in the future, this document will be the cornerstone of the relations between Washington and Belgrade. EU will make at the beginning of Autumn a balance sheet of Belgrades actions concerning the Gonsales Report, and if it is unfavorable - the autonomous trade measures will be canceled.
For the moment, Milosevic is not showing readiness to put into practice the OESCE recommendations written into the Gonsales Report. The President of Serbia and the ruling Socialists are swimming on the wave of self - congratulation, produced by the sale od telecommunications to the Italians and Greeks. The money for the electoral campaign and buying off of impoverished ranks of the population are here, and there is no doubt that Milosevic will spend them rationally.
Certain defeatism in the part of the political opposition, analysts and foreign observers is created by this solo investment coup, and the thesis that the international community, although it considers Milosevic as a dictator, plays him as a strong card in the Balkans.
The illusion that is being spread is dangerous for two reasons: it puts the Serbian public opinion into a false sweet dreams of our supposed integration into the world and continues to spread already mentioned defeatism that nothing here can be done for the democratization of the country, since Milosevic is the man of the West. On the other hand, the West has stated this week what it thinks and what it expects of the last European dictator. In that respect, and without him wishing it, Felipe Gonsales became the metaphor of the Serbian political drama.
Source: Belgrade daily Nasa Borba, June 22, 1997
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