BELGRADE, Aug 17 (Hina) - The Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS), which is headed by Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica, on Friday decided to withdraw its representatives from the Serbian government, led by Zoran Djindjic, because,
it said, "it cannot tolerate any further deception and degradation of Serbian citizens." The latest decision of Kostunica's party is more or less expected following a ten-day public confrontation of the two most influential parties in the country's ruling DOS coalition over a scandal caused by the "Gavrilovic case." The DSS Presidency issued a statement saying the decision to withdraw its representatives in the Serbian government referred to Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Pravdic, Health Minister Obren Joksimovic and several deputy and assistant ministers. The party said the reason for this decision was "the government's inability to fight organised crime." "Some government members,
BELGRADE, Aug 17 (Hina) - The Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS),
which is headed by Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica, on Friday
decided to withdraw its representatives from the Serbian
government, led by Zoran Djindjic, because, it said, "it cannot
tolerate any further deception and degradation of Serbian
citizens."
The latest decision of Kostunica's party is more or less expected
following a ten-day public confrontation of the two most
influential parties in the country's ruling DOS coalition over a
scandal caused by the "Gavrilovic case."
The DSS Presidency issued a statement saying the decision to
withdraw its representatives in the Serbian government referred to
Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Pravdic, Health Minister Obren
Joksimovic and several deputy and assistant ministers.
The party said the reason for this decision was "the government's
inability to fight organised crime."
"Some government members, wishing to justify their own
inefficiency, are organising an internal political war in the DOS
and launching smear campaigns in the media Milosevic's most
notorious media executioners could envy them on," the statement
reads.
No crime chain in the country has been severed, the party says,
announcing that the question of the government's responsibility
for the current situation would not be raised only in the DOS but in
the Serbian parliament as well.
The confrontation between the DSS and the Democratic Party (DS),
which is led by Djindjic, ensued after the mysterious murder of a
former senior official of the Serbian secret service, Momir
Gavrilovic, on August 3. Gavrilovic was killed only a couple of
hours after he talked to Kostunica's associates at the Yugoslav
president's office.
The DSS claims that during the visit to Kostunica's office
Gavrilovic presented a series of accusations against some
individuals from the authorities who he said were linked with
organised crime.
It was later established that Gavrilovic actually discussed the
reorganisation of the state security service and that he did not
leave any documents regarding the alleged connections.
Djindjic's DS has requested that documents be produced for anything
Gavrilovic might have left at the office, which the prosecution
requested as well, but no documents were forwarded. The DS accused
the DSS of wishing to take over control of the Serbian security
service and requested that the content of Gavrilovic's talks with
Kostunica's associates be made known.
Djindjic tonight expressed surprise at the DSS' decision, but he
also insisted that the matter be discussed within the coalition and
in the Serbian parliament.
So far, the two parties have only been exchanging accusations, with
the DSS alluding to the DS being involved in crime and Djindjic's
party claiming the DSS and Kostunica are establishing "parallel
centres of power."
(hina) rml