BELGRADE, Aug 30 (Hina) - The Yugoslav government on Thursday adopted a starting platform for the redefinition of relations in the federal state, i.e., between the republics of Serbia and Montenegro, which, it has been announced, is
"open to revision" but on condition the joint state is preserved as an international subject. It is believed that the platform, 'tailored' by the coalition partners on the federal level - Serbia's DOS coalition and Montenegro's opposition bloc 'For Yugoslavia', will be opposed by the authorities in Podgorica, which advocate Montenegro's independence. The platform envisages changes to the constitution which should result in a system of state administration with a bicameral parliament, i.e. a council of member-republics and a council of citizens. The president of the (federal) state would be elected by the parliament and an ombudsman would be appointed to protect the basic ri
BELGRADE, Aug 30 (Hina) - The Yugoslav government on Thursday
adopted a starting platform for the redefinition of relations in
the federal state, i.e., between the republics of Serbia and
Montenegro, which, it has been announced, is "open to revision" but
on condition the joint state is preserved as an international
subject.
It is believed that the platform, 'tailored' by the coalition
partners on the federal level - Serbia's DOS coalition and
Montenegro's opposition bloc 'For Yugoslavia', will be opposed by
the authorities in Podgorica, which advocate Montenegro's
independence.
The platform envisages changes to the constitution which should
result in a system of state administration with a bicameral
parliament, i.e. a council of member-republics and a council of
citizens. The president of the (federal) state would be elected by
the parliament and an ombudsman would be appointed to protect the
basic rights of citizens and special rights of national minorities
and ethnic groups.
Foreign affairs, defence and border control as well as the monetary
and customs system, the law of obligations, bonds and court and
administrative proceedings would be exclusively within the
jurisdiction of the federation. The state would have the form of a
federation consisting of two member-states with the status of
federal units and one seat in the United Nations.
(hina) sb rml