More Than a Centimeter

He is said to be the most handsom member of the federal government. More importantly, he is seen as the reformist in the ruling administration. He also proved to be a tough negotiator in fluent English at talks with the London Club of creditors, the Financial Times reported. That alone is enough to do an interview with Danko Djunic, deputy prime minister of the FRY.

VREME: You have been reported to have come to the post of federal deputy prime minister at the personal recommendation of Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic?

DJUNIC: "Prime Minister Elect, Radoje Kontic, chose me. Previously, I had a meeting with President Milosevic. We talked about potential reforms and how to achieve them. Personally, I gained the impression that President Milosevic seriously believes that Yugoslavia should take the road of clear market economy reforms. Since that is also my belief, I had no dilemma about whether I should accept this post, although the job is much more difficult and uncertain (as well as more materially rewarding) than my previous job. On the other hand, you just can’t refuse some challenges - at least that’s how I was brought up. I know it won’t be easy to launch reforms; it’s a long process. Every locomotive is slow when it starts, but I expect things will pick up speed as they go along."

What do you expect of the locomotive in the end?

"My main wish is to free the energy of people to take care of themselves within an institutional framework defined by the state; but within that framework, the state must not interfere with the rules of the game. We, Serbs, do not have the right to be arrogant and believe we are better than others, but that does not mean we should think we are worse than others. We can achieve what others did in the same or worse situations."

Clashes are appearing over the privatization and foreign currency laws, showing that the reform course won’t be easy. On what do you base your optimism?

"Two things - the first is objective, the second personal. Let me begin with the second: I can’t function if I don’t believe in what I’m doing. As a former top athlete (rowing), I believe I should enter every race with the belief that I will win. If you don’t believe that, you won’t win; but neither will you be first just because you believe it. There’s a widespread practice here of finding thousands of excuses why something didn’t happen. That’s counterproductive. Instead, we have to find thousands of ways to achieve what we want."

What is the realistic basis for your optimism?

"The resources of this country, including a qualified workforce which we often criticize but which is still our comparative advantage; the fact that we are the third central European country and have a strong position in the southeast European initiative; the fact that 40% of our social product is already being produced in the private sector. For me, the greatest achievement in 1996 was the fact that privatization has become an accepted fact. President Milosevic said that clearly in his new year’s message, and I think that means the abandonment of any ideological obstacles.

Today, the borders are coming down easily. Everything can be seen, no one can hide behind curtains, ideological or otherwise. I have to say that no one who is alone can do anything with this thing called economic reform. There are people in the federal government, in the republican government and even more so in institutions who can help, people who, regardless of political orientation, are willing and ready to do everything they can to make Yugoslavia the market oriented European country which it is geographically and historically."

In London, international bankers saw you as a capable and aggressive negotiator. How do you expect that conflict of impressions to be resolved?

"I hope the final impression will be: clever, consistent and market-oriented, because that was the basic platform we presented; that Yugoslavia wants to repay its debts, but within its abilities. It can’t do more than that."

The job you’re doing is partly political. It demands compromises which the economy does not allow as a rule. How do you see yourself in that conflict?

"I have no problem with my personal position, nor with everything I’m going to get out of it since my ambitions don’t go in that direction. I could quote Pointcarre here: "Whoever is not radical in his youth has no heart; whoever is not conservative in old age has no brain". Since I am not young any more, unfortunately, I can’t allow myself the luxury of being exclusive, of insisting on things which can’t happen even if they are good. On the other hand, I am not old enough to be conservative yet. Some measure of the possible lies in what I see as necessary compromise. My belief is that economic results are the foundation for everything else and that economic reforms should be implemented without delay. There is no country that is poor and democratic and has everything that democracy includes."

What is the limit of the compromise you are prepared to make?

"My personal measure is whether the thing is moving along. Since it is, I’m taking part in it. We were right to criticize the US and CNN for their black and white portrayal during the sanctions, but I think we are also susceptible to black and white portrayals ourselves. It’s easiest to sit on the sidelines and talk about things that are no good. If you come inside and move things forward by even one centimeter, you have done much more than if you just criticize. I have no intention of moving things by just one centimeter. I’m convinced we’ll go far beyond that."