Round Table

The round table talks organized by the Serbian Government were adjourned last week without achieving any results, while the round table talks organized by the federal government began sloppily, with endless debates about who has been invited and why. The federal government showed it wanted political accord and quick elections. It laid out a draft law on elections and rules of conduct of the media in the election campaign. Its representatives were tactical, although quite vague as regards binding statements. The federal government needs elections to see how it stands - does it really have power or does it only serve as a disguise for Slobodan Milosevic. The opposition needs accord to ensure at least minimum conditions for a fair political contest.

Vojislav Seselj, leader of the Serbian Radical Party (SRS), tried to ruin and undermine the meeting by obstructing it, perhaps because of his secret wish to thwart the holding of early elections.

Seselj was obstinate in his objections to admitting the Democratic Party of Serbia to the round table talks, since the party had not been registered. Vojislav Kostunica, leader of the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS), usually tactical, at one moment retorted: "You are not in a pub, so just sit there and shut up while others are talking". Kostunica also noted Seseljs party was being intolerant in the debate and that it could be banned because of its activities.

The prevailing opinion was that the round table talks should be attended by all relevant political forces. The Socialist Party of Serbia proposed that the representatives of the biggest party of ethnic Albanians in Kosovo be invited to the talks. Yugoslav Deputy Prime Minister Radoje Kontic welcomed the initiative on behalf of the federal government , saying it was politically useful, but the Socialist Party shelved off the proposal until the next round table meeting. It remains to be seen whether there will be a reply to the invitation once the results of the London Conference become known.

Another signal regarding the rejection of Yugoslav Prime Minister Milan Panics ideas in Kosovo has come -- ethnic Albanians boycotted enrollment in high schools.

The game was played with the intention of creating embarresments for the parties which had challenged the existing constitution. The following opinion was also voiced - " If you deny Yugoslavia exists, why are you sitting here." At the beginning of the talks, The Serbian Renewal Movement (SPO) and the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) asked that the round table be defined as preparation for elections to a Constituent Parliament which is, as they said, a condition for some parties to run in the elections.

Dragan Veselinov, leader of the Peasant Party (NSS) defined the the round table meeting as "the oppositions deep trust of the Government" and asked that the Government promise it would discuss the possibility of resigning if the proposed draft laws , adopted by the round table, are not passed by Parliament.

The Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) was represented by two young members, and this was interpreted as a way to avoid negotiations. They seemed persistent and obstinate, and interupted the negotiations twice. The first time, when they generously offered the opposition to, if it could, reach an agreement and then come to talk. Under such circumstances, even the representative of the League of Communists-Movement for Yugoslavia (SK-PJ), Goran Latinovic, lost his temper with the SPS representatives, saying: "Your behaviour shows you believe you are a godsend to this people and this country. You should think about what you have done to this country!"

The Socialist Party of Serbia launched a debate on changes in its statute, definding itself as a party of the democratic left; noting it favoured mixed ownership with state intervention and a strong social welfare policy. There were calls for a tolerance of different opinions, but SPS leader Borisav Jovic disagreed. The SPS has so far changed its program, ideology, name, membership, including the state in which it is in power, but has not shown any signs that it will let go of the reins of power. It has also launched an initiative for a new party symbol aimed at discarding the five-pointed star and replacing it with a thornless rose.

The SPS, however, has instructed its younger members not to give in to the opposition yet. As far as the law on elections is concerned, the SPS is for the time being on its own; Montenegrin parties have said that the proportional system suits them very well.