KOSTUNICA AGAIN CALLS FOR NEGOTIATIONS ON YUGOSLAVIA'S FUTURE

BELGRADE, Oct 20 (Hina) - Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica has scheduled for October 26 in Belgrade a meeting of officials of Yugoslavia, Serbia and Montenegro to discuss the future of the Yugoslav federation, Belgrade's media reported on Saturday, estimating it is unlikely the meeting will happen because Podgorica refuses the participation of the federal government. This was one more attempt by Kostunica to arrange talks between Podgorica and Belgrade about the destiny of Yugoslavia and the redefinition of relations between the two republics, Serbia and Montenegro. Montenegrin authorities refuse to participate because of the presence of representatives of the federal government, which Podgorica considers "illegitimate" as its members were elected at last year's "constitutional coup" by former President Slobodan Milosevic's regime. "Kostunica's call is more of a symbolic nature because representatives of Montenegro's authorities have already said they will not attend a meeting including representatives of the federal government", Serbia's Prime Minister Djindjic said in his first reaction to the letter addressed to him. He added the holding of the meeting depended on Montenegro's government. The official Podgorica demands that in the future talks be held exclusively between representatives of two republics, and that Kostunica be present as "guest (who has) a reputation in the (ruling) coalition DOS". (hina) np/ha sb