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Yugoslav Daily Survey, 96-12-13Yugoslav Daily Survey Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Yugoslavia <http://www.yugoslavia.com>CONTENTS
[01] LETTER ADDRESSED BY WARREN CHRISTOPHER, SECRETARY OF STATE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, TO SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIADear President Milosevic:At my meeting with Foreign Minister Milutinovic in Paris last month, I raised the concerns of the United States regarding democratization in your country. These concerns have increased substantially since the annulment of the results of November 17 local elections by Serbian authorities. Deputy Secretary Talbott and Assistant Secretary Kornblum discussed recent developments in London with Foreign Minister Milutinovic, and Charge Richard Miles has conveyed our views to you directly. It is essential that you understand the very high level of importance we place on the democratic and peaceful evolution of your country. Violence cannot provide a solution to the current situation. We are greatly disturbed by reports of the beating of a peaceful demonstrator, Dejan Bulatovic, while in police custody. As you know, manipulation of the electoral results has set back much of the progress made over the past year in improvement of our bilateral relations. Further use of violence against a peaceful democratic protest would exacerbate the situation and increase the isolation of your country. You must ensure that the will of your people, as expressed through their votes, is respected, and that a dialogue which promotes democratic evolution is opened. On a broader level, you need to take steps to assure that democratic procedures are established and respected in Serbia and throughout the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. It is vital that you do so in the interests of your own country and of peace in the region. At Dayton, you agreed to comply fully with international standards of human rights. This is the foundation of the Dayton Accords, and failure to meet those standards would lead to instability affecting the entire region. I stress to you the importance of prompt action to address these concerns. Serbia's future lies not in authoritarianism and isolation, but in full participation in the Dayton process and in the rebuilding of peace and prosperity in the region. Sincerely, His Excellency Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1996-12-13 ; Tanjug, 1996-12-12[02] LETTER ADDRESSED BY SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA TO WARREN CHRISTOPHER, SECRETARY OF STATE OF THE UNITED STATED OF AMERICAMr. Secretary of State,Since you have expressed your concern about the situation in Serbia, I wish to inform you in this regard in the belief that the proper source of information for the U.S. Secretary of State should be the official institutions of the state he is interested in. Yugoslavia is gradually emerging from the great troubles it went through over the last five years - disintegration of the country, war in its neighbourhood, sanctions, refugees. It is slowly rising back to its feet. Its program is a peaceful and modern economic and cultural development. And democracy, by all means. Democracy in Serbia has a long-standing tradition. I am very happy that the Government of the United States and you personally attach great importance to the peaceful and democratic development of Yugoslavia, and to the region of the Balkans, as well. Peace and democracy, with economic development, are the fundamental aims of our policy and the prime interest of our citizens. I, therefore, wish to give you precise answers to each of the concrete questions that you have raised: 1. Repetition of voting at the polling stations where, on the basis of legitimate complaints, such a decision is taken by legitimate organs, is a procedure provided under Law and is part of the overall electoral procedure. I believe that our system is very good, because in such exceptional cases when irregularities are found, the only democratic answer can be provided by citizens-voters who will cast their votes again in accordance with the electoral procedure. In Serbia there were more than ten thousand polling stations, in 96,5% of which voting was completed without repetition, and was repeated in only 3. 5% due to irregularities established exclusively by electoral commissions or regular courts of justice. At repeated elections, at the same polling stations, with the same candidates and the same voters, candidates as well as parties stand the same chances. We do not know of anything in the world practice that would be more democratic. Consequently, Mr. Secretary of State, the claim that is being voiced and seen these days that "the Serbian authorities have annulled local elections" is a fanciful invention. The truth is what I have written here. Of course, in the event of any irregularities that have not yet been identified, they have to be eliminated. Like any other shortcoming of a similar nature, they fall within the jurisdiction of institutions of this Republic envisaged to that end. The elimination of such irregularities is in the interest of our country and its citizens, so you can be assured that the electoral activities, as a part of the interest of our Republic and its citizens, will be the subject of the outmost care of all state institutions, as well as mine personally. 2. No violence whatever is applied against peaceful demonstrators in Yugoslavia. We have a highly professional and very disciplined police force. Like in every civilized country, police in the performance of its duties reacts against vandalism, disturbance of public order and safety of citizens and property, which is its duty and which it will continue carrying out. 3. As for dissatisfaction with the electoral results, it is being voiced by a portion of the opposition who have won local elections in several large urban centres but are not satisfied. They have expressed their discontent partly through vandalistic acts and by threats of political terrorism, bringing out children and youth in the streets and by obstructing city life in the centre of Belgrade. Such an expression of dissatisfaction not only is not democratic but is also not political and should not enjoy support form democratic and progressive individuals, institutions and the world. Demonstrations in Belgrade are not aimed at the Yugoslav man-in-the street, since the Yugoslav public is well aware of the truth. The demonstrations are aimed at those outside factors from whom support and pressure on Serbia are expected, with the purpose of slowing down its full reintegration int he international community. Since you and I have successfully cooperated up until now, you may take for granted a continued cooperation on my part. Mr. Secretary of State, Since a distorted picture has been created in the international public opinion about the facts connected with the local elections in Serbia, our Government has decided to send an invitation for an eminent delegation of the OESC to visit our country and obtain genuine information about all the facts, so that any reserve in our relations with the international community should be removed. Because of the great significance I attach to the relations between Yugoslavia and the United States and their development, which can only be successful if we maintain permanent and open dialogue, I will request the representatives of the media to publish in full both yours and my letter. Citizens have a right to be fully informed and to evaluate themselves the gravity of the complaints being addressed to us as well as the truthfulness of the answer. Sincerely, H.E. Warren Christopher Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1996-12-13 ; Tanjug, 1996-12-09Yugoslav Daily Survey Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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