Two Reasons for Usurping Power

DJUKANOVIC: If you permit me, I would like to correct one of your impressions by bringing up one of my own opinions or attitudes. The central issue on the Yugoslav, not the Montenegrin, political scene today is the issue of democracy. Not the issue of separatism, of unitarianism, nor even of relations within the federation. All of these separate issues flow out of one basic issue — democracy. Heading into the XXI century, will Yugoslavia adopt democratic principles which have already been affirmed by our neighbors, or will we continue to accept being hostage to a totalitarian regime which is ruled by one man and his family? I even think that the weighty words in support of separatism hide beneath them an effort on the part of Belgrade to change the power structure in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and to do so on the basis of two things: first, for power on the level of the republic to be transferred to the level of the federation, which is characteristic of untarianism; but at the same time, for there to be a restructuring of power on the federal level, so that all power centers around the president of the federation. Thus we always come back to the same issue — do we want democracy, democratic principles, or do we want the rule of one man, for whom we will modify the Yugoslav Constitution, either through amendments or by looking the other way, and for whom we will assign what belongs to the republics and what belongs to the federal government, according to how much he decides is enough for him? That, for me, is the main political issue at the present time.

Now, let me get back to your question. My political agenda is one of belief in the Yugoslav federation. Therefore, I want to continue to work on the realization of the choice of the majority of the citizens of Montenegro for life in a shared state, and I wish to dispel all doubts that my election will initiate a breakup of Yugoslavia, which would supposedly begin in Montenegro. My efforts will be directed at initiatives in Yugoslavia and in the Parliament of Yugoslavia — despite the fact that some people might think this to be sheer illusion, given the fact that the President of Yugoslavia has such enormous talent for concentrating power around himself, and marginalizing everyone else, especially the parliament — initiatives which will attempt to define a single state and political platform for the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia that will have as its central issues the unconditional choice for economic reform, the unconditional choice for democracy in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and third — or rather, first — the fulfilling of all necessary conditions so that FRY can be re-integrated into the international community as soon as possible. I think that this is a way out of this very enticing, but essentially shallow political dilemma — for or against Yugoslavia, for or against Milo