Clash Between SNP and DOS: The Montenegrin Angle

What is the Federal Interest?

Quarrel over the Law on Cooperation with the Hague Tribunal has not only threatened to bring down the alliance between the DOS (Democratic Opposition of Serbia) and Coalition "Together for Yugoslavia", but has also shaken the federal state.

AIM Podgorica, June 9, 2001

It seems that the preservation of FRY is getting harder every day, since it is no longer threatened by only pro-Montenegrin oriented forces, but also by those who are most ardent supporters of its survival.

The Socialist National Party has refused to adopt the federal Law on Cooperation with the Hague Tribunal despite all assurances it gave during the pre-election campaign that those accused of war crimes would have to answer to this international institution for charges against them. "We have distanced ourselves from Slobodan Milosevic's politics, whom I have never voted nor shall ever vote for. On the other hand, we consider it would be below our national level if we were to allow for a former President of the state, no matter how did he rule, to be surrendered to the Hague", said SNP's spokesman Dragan Koprivica explaining the reasons why SNP could not agree with DOS' stand on the Hague.

On the other hand, the Serbian part of FRY has not given up the idea on establishing cooperation with the Hague. "Despite all understanding for the SNP's stand, which has been adopted in a legal procedure, the DOS will not change its decision because it was adopted with 18 vote in favour and not a single one against", said the Serbian Justice Minister Vladan Batic.

Obviously, there is a conflict of interests between coalition partners and its consequences might be the fall of the Federal Government or a compromise. For the time being, according to Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic, the only compromise that could be made is "the transfer of operational activities to Republican authorities", which would mean that, federal law permitting, the court proceedings could be transferred to Republican courts. But the law has to be the federal one.

The leader of the Socialist National Party, Predrag Bulatovic, announced a concession offered by the SNP -(calling new elections and suppot to the minority DOS Government) -.

Will this be enough and whether DOS will get fed up with SNP's "whims" will become evident in the next few days. Apart from the fall of the Federal Government, the disagreement between SNP and DOS could at the same time disrupt the coalition agreement of SNP, the Serbian Radical Party and the Popular Party, which are in favour of cooperation with the Hague Tribunal, which will, in turn, affect the possible realignment on the Montenegrin political scene. For the time being, this not a subject of discussion. President of the Popular Party Dragan Soc still thinks that "we should not lose hope" and believes that the agreement will be eventually reached.

And while Predrag Bulatovic does not rule out a possibility of extraordinary elections in which the DPS might take part, Djukanovic's party has different opinion about the developments in Belgrade. According to Igor Luksic, spokesman for the DPS "This confirms that, when it comes to Serbian-Montenegrin relations, the DOS is a natural partner for cooperation with the coalition "Victory is Montenegro". He reminded of the still valid Montenegrin offer on future relations between Montenegro and Serbia. It seems that "Victory is Montenegro" doesn't expect federal parliamentary crisis, but "a continuation of talks with Serbia".

For the Liberal Alliance of Montenegro (LSCG), the disagreement of federal coalition partners and non-adoption of the Law on Cooperation with the Hague Tribunal "is bad news both for Montenegro and Serbia". "We regret that Montenegro happened to be the one to defend Slobodan Milosevic, whose rule left horrors behind it", said Vesna Perovic, spokeswoman for the LSCG. According to her "the Hague Tribunal is an international institution which can charge all those who have really committed war crimes so that all other who live in this state could be exonerated". Dragisa Burzan (member of the SDP) also expressed support for the Tribunal and condemnation of the SNP's attitude saying that "Montenegro will extradite everyone the Hague Tribunal asks for". SDP also expressed its support for unconditional cooperation with the Hague.

Pro-Montenegrin forces did not comment whether the bad news was a fact that the failure to reach agreement might jeopardise the survival of Yugoslavia. It is still unclear whether the rejection of the bill on cooperation with the Hague Tribunal might cause the fall of the Federal Government and play into the hands of those forces which advocate the renewal of Montenegro's statehood. There is a possibility that the builders of Yugoslavia will actually help build an independent Montenegro and Serbia.

Prime Minister Djindjic was the only to clearly express regrets: "The cause of current problems at the federal level is the fact that we have formed a coalition with Slobodan Milosevic's former coalition partner. Now we have to pay for it". Interestingly enough, Montenegro is no longer the only one talking about independence: "What do we need the federal state and Government for if the Republican Governments are going to decide everything", asked the Federal Minister of Police, Zoran Zivkovic. Serbian Justice Minister Vladan Batic even hinted at a possibility of holding a referendum in Serbia, while Dragan Veselinov, President of the Vojvodina Coalition assessed that "SNP will bear all the responsibility for the disintegration of the Yugoslav community".

However, for the time being the tradition has been maintained: FRY does not function, but still exists.

Milen PEROVIC

(AIM)