HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK ---------------------------[DOS is really stupid. Apparently becoming a small landlocked country will be a boon to Serbia's economy, also apparently the only Montenegrins against the deal are those who favor indipendence. The SNP's grass-roots however, in reality, is seething with anger at Predrag Bulatovic who has sold out the principles of the "Zajedno za Jugoslaviju" (Together for Yugoslavia) coalition and is now collaborating with the West to the detriment of the majority of Montenegrins and Yugoslavia as a whole (the SNP could in theory block the creation of the USM through its votes in the Federal Parliament). My grandmother - WWII era partizan resistance fighter who lives in Montenegro - says that the SNPs grassroots is up in arms about this deal and is vociferously opposed to it. Furthermore, no one in Serbia - either than stupid and myopic Serb nationalists of the DOS variety who are happy that the name "Serbia" will be on the map again even if it is landlocked, federated, reduced in size, occupied, exploited, encircled, governed by the US embassy, and overflowing with refuggees - is happy with the agreement. Most see it as a betrayal and as something definately not in accordance with their wishes. Even DOS stallwarts like Vladan Batic - Mr. We need to Cooperate with the Hague Tribunal himself - believe the deal makes no sense and cannot be carried out effectively. Its fine and nice to say that the USM is one state, when everyone knows it isn't. The Orwellianism in Balkan-speak now is too much to take! I hope this is the final straw, this summer will be interesting, I'll be sure to be there.]
Yugoslav Restructuring Criticized
By SLOBODAN LEKIC
.c The Associated Press
BELGRADE, Yugoslavia (AP) - Serbia's justice minister criticized as untenable a European Union-sponsored plan to drastically restructure the present Yugoslav federation into a loose union between Serbia and Montenegro.
``This imitation of a nation cannot survive long,'' Vladan Batic said Friday. ``This kind of loose union does not exist anywhere in practice, or even in political theory.''
Still, others praised the agreement, signed Thursday, which foresees Serbia and Montenegro becoming semi-independent and holds open the possibility of full independence three years down the road, should either republic choose to opt out of the arrangement.
The two republics will share a defense and foreign policy for the next three years. However, the two will run separate economies, currencies and customs services. The name Yugoslavia will be replaced by Serbia and Montenegro.
The EU, whose foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, mediated the accord, has insisted that Serbia and Montenegro remain united to avoid further political instability in the Balkans. Solana said the accord would pave the way for eventual EU membership, but refrained from predicting when this would occur.
The EU also has agreed to recognize the two nations as independent states if the union is dissolved after a three-year period.
Some top Serbian officials praised Thursday's agreement, saying it would enable Serbia's economy to develop more quickly in the coming years.
``This will be a good arrangement if it is implemented correctly,'' Finance Minister Bozidar Djelic told reporters. ``Serbia will achieve all the economic preconditions to function as a sovereign state - its own customs service, central bank and fiscal policy.''
But some independent analysts expressed doubt.
``The proposed economic arrangements ... will be both inefficient and expensive,'' said Nebojsa Savic, the head of an economic research institute in Belgrade. ``In practice, the union will have overlapping customs, banking and tax systems.''
In Montenegro, the republic's president, Milo Djukanovic - who signed the accord - was harshly criticized by his coalition partners for allegedly caving in to intense pressure from the EU.
``This represents a betrayal without parallel in modern European history,'' said Slavko Perovic, head of the pro-independence Liberal Party.
If the Liberals go ahead with plans to withdraw their support, the Montenegrin government could collapse. This may lead to early parliamentary elections at a time when many pro-independence voters are furious with Djukanovic.
Dozens of independence-minded Montenegrins protested against the deal in the Montenegrin capital, Podgorica. In a leaflet distributed to media, protesters demanded ``to exercise their right to vote on Montenegrin independence.''
But Montenegro's pro-Serb Socialist National Party celebrated the survival of a joint state, saying it would benefit both entities.
``Within three years, the new state will stabilize itself and demonstrate its efficiency,'' declared party leader Predrag Bulatovic. ``There will be no need for referendums on independence.''
AP-NY-03-15-02 0903EST
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