Anica Meets the Mayor

Anica Glusac was forcibly expelled from her apartment in Belgrade's Spanskih Boraca street on January 5, after having spent 17 years there. The sign on what used to be her front door now says Galogaza. Neighbors say the curtains are always drawn and add that Milunka Galogaza, whose law suit got Anica expelled, has not moved any furniture in yet. They said several men took turns guarding the apartment.

Glusac now lives with her late husband's relatives in Novi Beograd. She's an invalid who spends most of the time in bed. The stress is obvious in her face. Her belongings are in the safekeeping of friends and neighbors after being forcefully removed onto the stairway.

From that start of the whole thing, Anica got the support of her neighbors. They prevented Galogaza from moving by force in April 1992 and actively urged a postponement of Anica's expulsion. There was every legal reason for that since the courts haven't said the last word yet. When she was finally expelled many of them offered to take her in.

On Tuesday, January 10, Anica's neighbors went to the local council offices. One of them, Mirjana Popovic, says they decided to do everything they could to get the case solved legally and justly. Lawyer Ivan Jankovic was there as well, providing legal details. They all said they want Anica back in the building and the local council chairman was told to go see the federal government housing committee.

The neighbors decided to keep track of the law suit that Anica filed in an effort to get the flat purchase contract between the federal government and Galogaza annulled as well as a flat exchange contract. The hearings have been scheduled for January and February. They also decided to turn to the federal government themselves and Belgrade Mayor Nebojsa Covic.

Before the neighbors got in touch with Covic the city information secretariat contacted VREME to ask for Glusac's address. Covic sent one of his officials to se her and tell her that a car would be waiting for her that same day to take her to a meeting with the Mayor.

Anica and her lawyer Ivan Jankovic met with Covic who promised to provide emergency housing for her in a week at most. She will be entitled to stay in the city flat until the trial over her former apartment ends.

Jankovic warned that Glusac is not healthy and can't move somewhere far from her neighbors and relatives. "She has to see where you offer to house her and then decide," he said and added: "I have no doubt Covic will keep his promise."

The question in my mind is why something as ugly as an expulsion had to happen before someone reacted. Who knows, perhaps Covic's promise was made after pressure from the SOS discrimination victims line and Anti-War Action human rights center as well as independent journalists. The saddest thing that could happen would be if all this is just cheap talk and an advertisement for the ruling party.

Covic was unavailable for comment before this issue went to press.

Belgrade's honor has been saved. It was saved by Anica Glusac and her neighbors.