FRY - VOJVODINA

Radovan Balac of the Novi Sad weekly 'Nezavisni', writes in the January 20, 1997 issue on the current developments among the political opposition in Vojvodina.

If things develop as they are envisaged, Nenad Canak could soon become a much more serious conductor, and not only an entertainer for the New Years Eve, when he conducted an orchestra which played Radetsky March. Canak will actually lead the pro-autonomy shadow government which, according to the decision of the LSV and RDSV parties, the Vojvodina coalition partners, should be formed until the end of January. In co-operation with other parties of democratic opposition profile.

The government, which would be lead by Canak, should be the complete opposite to the anemic Perosevic team. according to the idea of the pro-autonomy supporters, it would have as its primary task to prepare a clear program of economic recovery and development of Vojvodina, which has been almost completely robbed and misused in the last decade after the Yoghurt revolution.

Parallel to the program of economic recovery, the shadow government will prepare the Vojvodina budget, which will not only represent the crumbs from the centralized republican coffers. Instead of less than one percent of the republican budget, the regional budget should be at least one fifth of that sum, which is gathered through the tax revenues in Serbia. Following the already known slogan An end to robbery, the parallel pro-autonomy will envisage the reformation of special regional funds for health, education, pensions, culture and information. All that Vojvodina previously had when it did not have to extend its hand as a beggar toward Belgrade. The creators of the shadow government idea say that in that case there would be no current problems dealing with the payment of pensions, such a situation in health care, education and other areas, which are currently on an African level.

This new government, simply said, would have to show that it could be much better and different in Vojvodina than it is now, but that, as in an experiment, has to show to Vojvodina public what the pro-autonomy want, and can do. The cabinet headed by Canak has the intention to show in a very realistic way that Vojvodina is the development locomotive of Serbia and Yugoslavia, the locomotive that could lead this impoverished and ruined country into Europe and the world.

The shadow cabinet, in accordance with the political theory and practice, will also have adequate ministries, except for defence and foreign affairs. Some regime journalists have already attacked the shadow government idea itself, repeating the already (mis)used phrases, and labels, about the subversion of the Serbian state and secession of Vojvodina, and supposed joint action of pro-autonomy supporters and Shiptar separatists. So, the shadow government will also have the ministry for interior, justice, economy, definitely for agriculture and all other areas. Along with usual departments, it will also have two that no previous government did: ministry for the standard of living and the ministry for refugees. It is envisaged that the ministry for the standard of living does not solely take care about those that are socially endangered, but first of all, about the standard of all citizens and how to make it better. Of course, nothing has to be said about the installment of the ministry for refugees, except the fact that in Vojvodina some 200 thousand refugees are living for 6-7 years now.

What has to be emphasized is that, as an idea, the shadow cabinet is envisaged as an experts team, while only the president and his deputy would be party people. As it stands now, the Vojvodina coalition could be joined by the Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians. Jozef Kasza, the leader of this party was quite reserved about the idea, but has changed his mind in the meantime. The participation of the DSS is quite possible, about which there were discussions with this partys leader Vojislav Kostunica during his recent visit to Novi Sad. He is not so highly enamored with the idea, but the Vojvodina wing of his party is. Along with those named, Canak government could be joined by the SPO, while the participation will also be offered to the Democratic Party, whose Vojvodina head, Predrag Filipov, has announced the possibility of the formation of such a cabinet.

If everything goes by the plan, sitting in as vice presidents would be Ratko Filipovic, RDSV president and Jozef Kasza, SVM president. Along with them, as possible ministers there is mention in public about writer Aleksandar Tisma, film director Zelimir Zilnik, owner of the MK komerc company Miodrag Kostic, Dusko Bogdanovic, as minister of information, professor Vasilije Topalov, prof. Jovan Stojkov, head of the urology clinic, are mentioned as possible health ministers. On the list of potential ministers are also Slobodan Beljanski and Milan Dobrosavljev, renowned Novi Sad lawyers. The sports minister position will probably be offered to Vujadin Boskov or Marija Veger, and the people who are thoroughly discussed are former Panic government ministers - Dr. Momcilo Grubac and prof. Tibor Varadi.

Source: Novi Sad weekly 'Nezavisni', January 20, 1998