NEW YORK, Sept 13 (Hina) - The countries of the so-called first line - the neighbours of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia - and countries in a broader area such as Greece and Italy, as well as the United States, are sceptic about
the outcome of the forthcoming elections in Yugoslavia, according to views foreign ministers of the aforementioned countries expressed at a working dinner U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright gave for them in New York on Tuesday. Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula warned that the remaining 12 days before the start of the ballot in Yugoslavia was a too short period for any serious intervention of the international community in the election's technical organisation. Yugoslav authorities actually make it impossible for impartial observers to have an insight in the ballot, under the pretext that Belgrade could not let representatives of unfriendly countries to c
NEW YORK, Sept 13 (Hina) - The countries of the so-called first line
- the neighbours of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia - and
countries in a broader area such as Greece and Italy, as well as the
United States, are sceptic about the outcome of the forthcoming
elections in Yugoslavia, according to views foreign ministers of
the aforementioned countries expressed at a working dinner U.S.
Secretary of State Madeleine Albright gave for them in New York on
Tuesday.
Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula warned that the remaining
12 days before the start of the ballot in Yugoslavia was a too short
period for any serious intervention of the international community
in the election's technical organisation. Yugoslav authorities
actually make it impossible for impartial observers to have an
insight in the ballot, under the pretext that Belgrade could not let
representatives of unfriendly countries to come.
Italian Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini maintained that it was worth
trying to call once again Belgrade to allow Organisation for
Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) representatives to
monitor the ballot.
Romania's diplomats expressed suspicion that such a move would
bring any positive result explaining that recently they
unsuccessfully tried to persuade Slobodan Milosevic (Yugoslav
President) to accept international monitoring of the ballot.
Commenting on possible outcome of the election Croatia's Minister
Picula said it would show "whether an era of changes or of cheating
has come."
He emphasised that although presidential, parliamentary and local
elections would be held, the Serbian opposition was united only for
the presidential ballot.
Picula forecast that only a very high turnover (between 75 and 80
percent of voters) can shake the current authorities.
US State Secretary Albright and Greek Foreign Minister George
Papandreu shared Picula's opinion.
On this occasion Albright reiterated her country's support to
Montenegrin democratic authorities. Montenegro Foreign Minister
Branko Lukovac also attended the dinner.
Albright's message to Belgrade was that it did not have free hands
to interfere into democratic processes in Montenegro and she
described a military exercise which is being carried out on the
southern Adriatic as a clear message which deters imprudent acts.
She told reporters that the New York meeting was in particular
important in view of the coming elections in Serbia (24 September),
Kosovo (28 October) and in Bosnia-Herzegovina (11 November).
She added that the United States and countries in the region were
working hard on the programmes of the Stability Pact for
Southeastern Europe, and that's why she wanted to be acquainted
with opinions on certain projects within the Pact and within SECI,
such as the construction of road corridors and communications
systems.
(hina) ms