Change Of Course

by Dragan Todorovic

On Thursday, October 6, Serbian Renewal Movement (SPO) leader Vuk Draskovic held his first rally since the June demonstrations and his subsequent arrest. Draskovic did right to choose his ``capital,'' the Serbian town of Valjevo, to send his messages to the authorities. Between 5 and 10 thousand people came to hear him at the moment of the regrouping of political forces in Serbia.

One should note that there was none of the usual euphoria nor cries against the ``gang in power'' on the full central town square. After the standard reactions of Draskovic's most fervent supporters and his ten-minute exchange of greetings with them, most of the audience peacefully listened to Draskovic's speech.

Several hours after the rally, Draskovic gave a brief interview to VREME. He first denied rumours of a several-hour meeting with Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic--he said he had never met him, had never been invited to meet him, although he had never avoided such an invitation or such a meeting. Draskovic said: ``All I proposed was the condition for a normal parliamentary system, which does not exist now, and for a normal and accountable behaviour of the head of state, which does not exist either.''

Draskovic said that not only the President had to change but the opposition as well, that it has for a long time now been merely attacking instead of offering alternatives. In response to our question about the compromise according to which Milosevic would remain the ``Master of Serbia,'' Draskovic said: ``It didn't cost me anything to say--Mr. President, turn in your resignation--and to receive ovations. He won't resign and I don't have the power to force him to. I have nothing personally against him, but I called him to account because the system he rules over is not democratic. The reason why I am counting on the President to change his behaviour lies in the fact that we have to count on Mr. Milosevic as an unavoidable fact at this moment. I never wanted to topple him in the Hasbulatov manner, which I could have. And, what other way is there but the one I have proposed? Hopefully, the President and the ruling party's leadership are sane and responsible enough to change their course. That is why it is necessary that the authorities realise that we all exist because of Serbia, not that Serbia exists because of us, and that there can be no power if there is no Serbia.''

Asked if the authorities and the President would realise this, Draskovic said: ``I doubt it, but it was my duty to say what I think. I think this is the only solution and I am ready to give my all and, together with the democratic opposition, rebuild the home we have not razed.''