BELGRADE, June 26 (Hina) - The fired Yugoslav Army chief-of-staff, General Nebojsa Pavkovic, has handed over his office to General Branko Krga, Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica said at a press conference in Belgrade on
Wednesday.
BELGRADE, June 26 (Hina) - The fired Yugoslav Army chief-of-staff,
General Nebojsa Pavkovic, has handed over his office to General
Branko Krga, Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica said at a press
conference in Belgrade on Wednesday. #L#
General Krga can hold the post for a period of one year as the
constitutional charter on the future alliance of Serbia and
Montenegro will redefine the army's position, Kostunica said.
The decision on Pavkovic's replacement was not opposed by the
members of the Supreme Defence Council - Montenegrin President Milo
Djukanovic was not against his replacement, while Serbian
President Milan Milutinovic abstained, Kostunica said.
Speaking about Gen. Pavkovic, who said he "does not accept the
decree on replacement", announcing that he would file a complaint
with the federal Constitutional Court, Kostunica said Pavkovic was
"an excellent general who for a moment let himself turn into a
politician and a bad soldier".
Responding to claims by the former army chief-of-staff that a year
ago Kostunica's associates demanded that a special army unit raid
the Serbian government's Communications Office, Kostunica said it
was "a bizarre story". He added that he had no intention of replying
to the Serbian government's request that he comment on those
claims.
The Yugoslav president also criticised statements by the Serbian
premier that presidential elections in Serbia would be called soon,
saying that "there is no legal reason for the elections to be called
before the end of the year" since the incumbent Serbian President
Milan Milutinovic was elected on December 30, 1997 and took an oath
on January 5, 1998. It would be "politically harmful and wasteful to
call an election according to the old Serbian Constitution".
Kostunica would not comment on his candidacy for Serbia's
President, saying he would "consider it, if elections are called"
and that "there are no legal obstacles" for him to be Yugoslav
President and run for Serbia's President.
(hina) rml sb