Radic in Center

Slobodan Milosevic at the Congress of the Socialist Party of the Bosnian Serb Republic held in Banja Luka on 1 June told his "dear comrades" that he wanted "unification of all progressive - Left and democratic powers in the Bosnian Serb Republic - parties, movements and individuals into a joint and strong front" and that "all that is progressive and democratic in the Bosnian Serb Republic should stick together." The socialists, to whom these wishes were addressed, announced that a Leftist election block would be formed and that, apart from the socialists, it would include also the Party of Private Initiative, Social-Liberal Party and "Independent Dodik". The state-controlled media in Serbia also recognized the "progressive and democratic" in the Left block, so that is all they are informing about. Others do not exist. And they do exist, even out of the too independent SDS.

With an insight into the situation and Banja Luka Major Radic's statement that "time has come to choose healthy forces, to refresh the Government, the Parliament and SDS" and that he who wanted to lead the people must be morally clean and prove that he had taken nothing during this war, VREME in early April foretold that the forces gathered round Radic, Kasagic and Koljevic and the military authorities such as the "Panther" commander Major Mauzer would try to transform SDS from within, so the party cleared of the sinful people and deeds would win the elections. However, this did not happen. Kasagic was dismissed, there was an attempt to do the same with Radic, Pale is holding the reins even tighter. What is SDS doing nowadays? It is trying to control the media in order to remain where it is, with the help of Seselj's radicals or numerous satellite parties. As Seselj seems to have demanded too much, they will have to try on their own to stay in the saddle. Therefore, they decided to surprise the people - during the campaign, they will formally carry out privatization by distributing shares. As the deadline for nomination of presidential candidates and deputies has been shifted from 27 June to 4 July, a reliable source tells us that a few days prior to nomination SDS will hold a party assembly in which they will choose the candidates. Aleksa Buha is planned for the party president, Biljana Plavsic for the presidential candidate and Momcilo Krajisnik for the Serbs' representative in the Union of Bosnia-Herzegovina. And where is Karadzic? Although certain SDS boards hope that "if world power wielders ease, he might become president," there is no way - the elections regulations clearly say that the lists with candidates for the Hague are not valid. Koljevic is at a crossroads. Before the nominations are handed in, there is going to be a meeting with Milosevic and Koljevic hopes he might be the compromise solution because Bosnian Serbs do not want a "Leftist" president and the world dreads Karadzic's "Rightist" extremists.

The news is that the Party of Democratic Center from Trebinje, Fatherland Party from Banja Luka, National Radical Party "Nikola Pasic" from Banja Luka, Peasant-Radical Party from Kozara Dubica and Democratic Party from Bijeljina formed the Democratic Patriotic Block in Bijeljina on 8 June, which is as of 13 June headed by Banja Luka Mayor Predrag Radic, as a "person of special patriotic and democratic determination."

The Democratic Patriotic Block declares itself as a block in the center, the lower limit of the Bosnian Serb Republic's sovereignty is the Dayton agreement, their aim is to unite with other state units of the Serbian people, to develop good, primarily economic relations with the Muslim-Croat federation, the state should be based on the observance of the constitution and laws, have independent judiciary, free media, professional army, market economy, take care of refugees, take care of the families of people killed in the war, members of ethnic minorities and their rights... In a capsule, patriotism can go along with democracy. If the people accept this program, will Milosevic admit that this is what is "progressive and democratic."