BELGRADE - Yugoslavia's reformers faced fresh political and social turmoil as allies of ousted leader Slobodan Milosevic stalled the transition to democracy by pulling out of talks to set up a new government.
The ultra-nationalist Radical Party and the Socialist Party of Serbia, still headed by Milosevic, were angry that workers
and students were allowed to stage their own mini-revolts across the country, sweeping away loyalists of the old regime from lucrative state posts in firms and universities.
The two parties said they would not resume negotiations with the Democratic Opposition of Serbia (DOS) bloc supporting new Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica until violence and anarchy ended.
It was unclear whether the two parties could be persuaded to return to the negotiating table.
Apart from setting up a new government for Yugoslavia, control of a transitional government for Serbia - the dominant republic in the federation with tiny Montenegro - is key for Kostunica and his reformers.
Party leaders in the Serbian Parliament on Tuesday agreed to hold early parliamentary elections in December and the talks were aimed at agreeing to an interim administration.
While Kostunica faced political headaches at home, the international community moved to lift Yugoslavia's isolation with pledges of support and aid to strengthen the country's fledgling democracy.
Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine of France, which holds the European Union presidency, arrived in Belgrade yesterday, the first top-level diplomatic encounter since Milosevic's downfall.
Officials said the French put greater emphasis on how to support Kostunica than on pushing for the extradition of Milosevic to face war-crimes charges.
"The absolute priority is to do everything to help with the installation and consolidation of the new democracy," Vedrine told a news conference after meeting Kostunica.
A key visitor to Belgrade today will be Balkan Stability Pact coordinator Bodo Hombach to discuss Yugoslavia's admission to the programme.
The Brussels-based pact, launched last year by major powers to help rebuild southeastern Europe, was likely to be the main channel for serious aid to Yugoslavia.
US President Bill Clinton's top adviser on the Balkans, James O'Brien, was also due in Belgrade, the State Department said. Italian Prime Minister Giuliano Amato is expected tomorrow - the first major Western head of government in Belgrade for years.
Whatever support comes from outside, Kostunica and his DOS supporters have to keep control to stop the country veering off course. DOS has set up a crisis committee to try to keep the state and economy functioning until a new government can be formed and is intent on forming a new administration in the next few days to avoid a power vacuum.
DOS leaders put a brave face on the pullout of the Radicals and Socialist Party, saying they thought they were playing for time and would soon realise they had no more cards left to play.
Coming hard on the heels of statements by DOS leaders that they do not fully control the police, it underlined their fears of lawlessness after last week's protests.
After withdrawing from the talks, the Radical Party said it had supported the removal of Milosevic but condemned the takeover of state institutions and firms.
"Everything that the new self-proclaimed DOS regime did after the recognition of Vojislav Kostunica's election victory is a putsch," the party said in a statement.
Zoran Djindjic, one of the main supporters of Kostunica, said there were rogue elements in the secret police and the pace of change within the Army had gone too slowly for some. "What we know informally is that high-level [secret police] surveillance is again under way. A week ago it was cut off, but then they activated some other sources of monitoring," he said.
"We know they are bugging, that there is fierce surveillance, and we know there is an attempt at consolidation within those forces."
DOS negotiators want to put one of their own at the head of the Serbian Interior Ministry, which controls the police and security services - an idea Milosevic allies oppose and fear.
- REUTERS
Herald Online feature: Revolution in Yugoslavia
International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
Serbian Ministry of Information
Serbian Radio - Free B92
Otpor: Serbian Student Resistance Movement
BELGRADE - Yugoslavia's reformers faced fresh political and social turmoil as allies of ousted leader Slobodan Milosevic stalled the transition to democracy by pulling out of talks to set up a new government.
The ultra-nationalist Radical Party and the Socialist Party of Serbia, still headed by Milosevic, were angry that workers
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.