Milosevic concedes defeat to Kostunica

11:00 AM

BELGRADE - Slobodan Milosevic last night conceded defeat in last month's presidential election, leaving the way open for parliament to inaugurate Vojislav Kostunica as Yugoslavia's new president tomorrow.

"I congratulate Vojislav Kostunica on his election victory and I wish our nation success over the next term," Milosevic said in a brief recorded statement on state-owned Yu-Info television.

The former Serb strongman gave way after hundreds of thousands of Serbs massed in Belgrade on Thursday with the aim of ending his 13-year rule following September 24 elections.

"I've just got official information that Vojislav Kostunica won the elections," Milosevic said, adding that his Socialist Party would form a strong political opposition to the new administration.

Army chief General Nebojsa Pavkovic also congratulated Kostunica on television on his election victory, dousing fears of possible violence.

Western governments rejoiced at what they had seen as the overthrow of Milosevic in a people's uprising, with Russia cautiously joining them in welcoming the new leader in Belgrade.

Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov had met Milosevic in his residence in a plush suburb of the capital and quoted him as ruling out the use of force to retain power.

Ivanov also quoted Milosevic as saying he intended to continue playing a political role in Yugoslavia.

The United States said it would not support any continuing role for Milosevic in Yugoslavia. French President Jacques Chirac said Milosevic, accused by a U.N. tribunal of war crimes, must account for a decade of crimes.

The U.S. State Department also insisted that a $5 million reward for information leading to the arrest of Milosevic still stood.

Kostunica himself had talks with Milosevic in Belgrade yesterday and said afterwards the ousted leader had congratulated him, in an apparent admission of election defeat before the TV statement.

Revolution gave way to carnival, meanwhile, as excited crowds milled through the Belgrade city centre, celebrating Milosevic's departure.

"I wanted my boys and girls to see what has happened here. This is history," said Nedeljka Filovski, with four children in tow.

Jelena, a 23-year-old law student, said: "No one thought it would all end so easily," adding: "Let this be a warning to other presidents: If you hurt your people, you will suffer."

Parliament, elected in tandem with the presidential poll, is expected to hold its first session on Sunday afternoon, during which it will inaugurate Kostunica as federal president.

European Union foreign ministers are expected to lift at least some sanctions against Yugoslavia during a meeting on Tuesday.

Chirac, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, said he had invited Kostunica to attend an informal EU summit in the southwestern French resort of Biarritz on Friday and Saturday next week.

Ivanov met Kostunica in Milosevic's old presidential office in Belgrade before his talks with the former strongman. "I have passed to Mr Kostunica regards from the president of Russia, Mr (Vladimir) Putin, and congratulated him on his victory in the presidential election," Ivanov said.



Kostunica, however, rebuked Russia for dithering in the crisis.

"I think the crisis and arguments about our election results were unnecessary," he said, referring to last month's presidential election which triggered the revolt.

"I am deeply convinced that this is the last time that representatives of the international community and friendly countries like the Russian Federation try to resolve our internal disputes," the 56-year-old former academic added.

U.S. President Bill Clinton hailed the events in Belgrade as "an extraordinary victory for the people of former Yugoslavia who endured oppression and deprivation...who took their country back with nothing but courage, principal and patriotism."

"What we witnessed yesterday was the democratic self-liberation of the Serb people," German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer told reporters in Berlin.

Fischer also urged the European Union to offer immediate aid to the new authorities in Belgrade to foster democracy. He said he would make the proposal at Monday's meeting of foreign ministers of the 15-nation bloc.

EU officials in Brussels said the meeting would likely lift a European oil embargo and flight ban, while the other two sets of sanctions on Yugoslavia -- financial sanctions and a visa ban -- would probably not be removed until later.

The United States said yesterday it would talk with its allies about allowing Belgrade to rejoin the IMF and World Bank, offering hope for the country's economy shattered by conflict, sanctions and NATO air strikes.

- REUTERS

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