BELGRADE, Feb 9 (Hina) - Serbia's Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic was the only signatory to the Belgrade Agreement who attended the proclamation of the new union of Serbia and Montenegro at the Yugoslav parliament on Tuesday evening, a
fact he commented by saying he assumed "responsibility also for compromises and not only for something that is pleasant and beautiful".
BELGRADE, Feb 9 (Hina) - Serbia's Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic was
the only signatory to the Belgrade Agreement who attended the
proclamation of the new union of Serbia and Montenegro at the
Yugoslav parliament on Tuesday evening, a fact he commented by
saying he assumed "responsibility also for compromises and not only
for something that is pleasant and beautiful". #L#
The next day Serbia's media focused on facts concerning the new
joint state, changes in the names of institutions and associations,
and calculations of the costs the new union would have on taxpayers,
particularly in light of the fact that Montenegro did not pay
legally prescribed contributions to the Yugoslav federation since
1997.
A commission made up of representatives of the two republics'
finance ministries has estimated the new union's expenditure this
year will amount to some EUR1.1 billion. It has been agreed
Montenegro will participate in this with 50 million euros, the
Belgrade-based daily Blic said on Wednesday.
"Because of a smaller federal administration and the transfer to a
new model of financing the joint state, Serbia will save between
five and eight billion dinars annually," its Finance Minister
Bozidar Djelic said.
Judging by announcements, the division of Yugoslav Army property
will be the cause of the biggest dispute as assets include numerous
tourist facilities, representative buildings, and hunting
grounds. This will be regulated by a special law.
The two republics also have to divide about 140 villas and 150 flats
until now owned by the Yugoslav federation, as well as other assets
including more than 3,000 immovables and about 400,000 movables
which are valued at about US$50 billion.
Citizens' identification documents will remain the same as now, it
has been announced. In the future, however, it is possible that the
citizens of Serbia and Montenegro will have different IDs, driver's
and car licences, licence plates, etc. as each republic will
regulate this with its own laws.
Under the Constitutional Charter, the citizens of one republic have
equal rights on both republics' territories -- with the exception
of the voting right. In the future, conscripts will serve in the
army on the territory of the republic they are citizens of, unless
they choose otherwise.
The media on Wednesday also focused on changes in the names of
sports and other associations as well as companies. Many companies
have announced they will retain their names prefixed by "jugo".
Actors of the Yugoslav Drama Theatre have also rejected the idea of
changing their house's names.
The Constitutional Charter and the law on its implementation came
into force on Tuesday evening, when the new union was proclaimed,
also marking the beginning of a 30-day period during which the new
union's bodies should be constituted. The union will have a joint
parliament and council of ministers. The latter will have five
ministries -- for foreign affairs, defence, minority and human
rights, foreign economic relations, and interior trade.
(hina) ha