Serbs keen to start reviving shattered country

BELGRADE - Reformers who toppled Slobodan Milosevic from the Yugoslav presidency prepared yesterday to sweep away the remnants of his rule after trouncing his Socialists in Serbia's parliamentary election.

In polls hailed by international observers as free and fair, in contrast to manipulated elections under Milosevic, the Democratic Opposition of Serbia alliance backing new President Vojislav Kostunica won around 65 per cent of the vote.

Milosevic's long-mighty Socialists were a distant second in the weekend election with about 14 per cent, according to results released by the Electoral Commission.

The reformers vowed the new Government, Serbia's first for more than 50 years not led by Socialists or communists, would start work as soon as possible on reviving a country laid low by a decade of wars and corruption.

Prime Minister-designate Zoran Djindjic said he aimed to form his team to run the powerful Serbian Government by January 10, three days after the Orthodox celebration of Christmas.

"We should not forget that our entire economy is on its knees and that the Serbian Government will have to do everything immediately to launch its recovery," Djindjic told a Serbian television station.

A DOS-Socialist caretaker Government was formed in Serbia after a popular uprising ousted Milosevic as federal President in October. His allies clung to key posts in the bureaucracy, economic management and security services. That will now change.

Western Governments welcomed the results, although they will be dismayed by the success of a party founded by late Serbian warlord Arkan. Latest figures put it on course to take more than 5 per cent of the vote and enter Parliament.

The result gives the reformers control of the most powerful institution in Yugoslavia, the Serbian Government.

The result also finally puts Serbia on the path towards Western democracy and market economics chosen by other eastern European states after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.

"The Serbian people's decision ... is a final rejection of the Milosevic era," said British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook.

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's foreign policy adviser described the result as a Christmas present for Europe.

Aware of the huge problems facing the country, ordinary Serbs were far from euphoric.

"We voted for them on the grounds of their pre-election promises," said Mirko, aged 42, a Belgrade hotel receptionist. "They have to realise we will oust them if they do not stick to what they have said."

The Electoral Commission said the returns so far would give the DOS 177 deputies in the 250-seat Parliament, with the Socialists winning just 37 seats.

The ultra-nationalist Radicals should hold about 22 seats and, in a surprise showing, may be joined by 14 followers of Arkan, whose paramilitaries sowed terror in Croatia and Bosnia and who was gunned down in a Belgrade hotel this year.

The Socialists were philosophical in defeat, predicting they would be back in power one day. Analysts say that prospect is unlikely as long as Milosevic is party leader.



The reformers face formidable challenges, from rooting out systemic corruption and stemming economic decline to keeping Yugoslavia together.

They must also deal with the future of Kosovo and Western demands for Milosevic to stand trial for war crimes.

- REUTERS

Herald Online feature: Revolution in Yugoslavia
International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia

Serbian Ministry of Information

Serbian Radio - Free B92

Otpor: Serbian Student Resistance Movement