BELGRADE, Oct 2 (Hina) - Yugoslav Vice Premier Miroljub Labus has stated he is willing to participate in negotiations about the future of the Yugoslav federation if the federal government and all other participants agree. The
possibility of Labus participating in the negotiations instead of Prime Minister Dragisa Pesic was presented on Monday by Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica in an interview with the Associated Press, but Podgorica rejected the possibility, calling it "one in a series of Kostunica's political inconsistencies." The authorities in Yugoslavia's other republic, Montenegro, do not recognise the federal government because it was elected on the basis of last year's "constitutional coup" of Milosevic's regime, which enabled the appointment of prime minister and his cabinet without Podgorica having any influence on it. This is the reason Podgorica has been refusing talks on re
BELGRADE, Oct 2 (Hina) - Yugoslav Vice Premier Miroljub Labus has
stated he is willing to participate in negotiations about the
future of the Yugoslav federation if the federal government and all
other participants agree.
The possibility of Labus participating in the negotiations instead
of Prime Minister Dragisa Pesic was presented on Monday by Yugoslav
President Vojislav Kostunica in an interview with the Associated
Press, but Podgorica rejected the possibility, calling it "one in a
series of Kostunica's political inconsistencies."
The authorities in Yugoslavia's other republic, Montenegro, do not
recognise the federal government because it was elected on the
basis of last year's "constitutional coup" of Milosevic's regime,
which enabled the appointment of prime minister and his cabinet
without Podgorica having any influence on it.
This is the reason Podgorica has been refusing talks on redefining
relations between Serbia and Montenegro as long as federal
government officials are involved in them, and why it seeks that
they be conducted by the presidents and premiers of the two
republics, with Yugoslav President Kostunica participating "as a
distinguished person in Serbia and prominent leader of the DOS
coalition."
"It is my obligation to participate in the talks if both conditions
are met," Labus told reporters in Belgrade on Tuesday, adding he
agreed with Kostunica that dialogue should be started "without
making any conditions."
Montenegro's ruling Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) believes
Kostunica is trying to "use the reputation of renowned professor
Labus" to accomplish his goal - legalisation of the federal
government.
DPS says Kostunica's priority is to carry out the testament of the
former Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic.
"He cares about ruling Serbia and Montenegro more than he cares
about the republics themselves," reads a statement issued by the
party, which is led by Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic.
(hina) rml