.A) News Summary (Part I)
B) Serbian independent media under attack again (Part II -- in next
message)
1. DECLARATION BY THE INDEPENDENT JOURNALISTS ASSOCIATION OF SERBIA
2. IN SERBIA, A MUZZLED PRESS STAGGERS
3. JUSTICE MINISTER SAYS INFORMATION LAW TO BE AMENDED
C) Official crackdown on university
4. REGIME'S MOVES TO STIFLE UNIVERSITY
5. DEJA VU FOR SERBIAN ACADEMICS
D) Signs of struggle within regime
6. RADICALIZATION OF SERBIAN GOVERNMENT
7. PRESS CONFERENCE WITH SERBIA'S VICE-PREMIER VOJISLAV SESELJ AND
RUSSIA'S STATE DUMA VICE SPEAKER SERGEI BABURIN
E) Serbian economy viewed
8. NINEYEAR LONG DOWNFALL OF THE ECONOMY OF YUGOSLAVIA
A) News Summary (Compiled from news and wire reports)
MEDIA ISSUES
The Serbian government continues to carry out what Associated Press
called November 10 "an ongoing purge of Serbia's independent media," which has
included the shutdown of three newspapers, the shutdown of two independent
radio stations and the removal of one station's editor, and lawsuits against
five publications and persons connected with those publications. The crackdown
opened with an October 8 meeting between editors-in-chief of media outlets,
Serbia's Deputy Prime Minister Milovan Bojic and Information Minister
Aleksandar Vucic, at which independent Radio B-92 (Belgrade) reported "it was
first recommended that broadcasters drop foreign news programs. The government
representatives then suggested that the recommendation would become an order
banning the rebroadcast of programs from the Voice of America, Radio Free
Europe, the BBC and Deutsche Welle." Following the meeting, the government
issued a decree banning such broadcasts.
Less than two weeks later, Reuters noted the October 21 passage by the
Serbian parliament of "a new media law on Tuesday curbing the dissemination of
news, especially from foreign media." One international legal expert in
Belgrade
noted "the bill imposes high taxation (as in the case of extremely high fees
for frequencies); places bans or restrictions on domestic donations and from
abroad; places bans or restrictions on rebroadcasting foreign programmes in
Serbian; simultaneous imposing obligation to rebroadcast information programme
by Serbian Radio and Television (RTS - state-run radio and TV network)
according to a previously determined schedule; journalists' reporting is to be
closely monitored by the authorities - their responsibilities are so loosely
defined that this matter could be interpreted in such a manner which would
lead
to legal persecution of journalists, thus effectively imposing restrictions
upon critical journalism; and it imposes direct censorship (through
institutionalizing censoring boards)."
The Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) reported
October
24 that "Serbian Information Minister Aleksandar Vucic...announced that the
new
Serbian Law on Information pertained to the Internet as well as other mass
media. He specified that a web presentation of newspapers which committed
verbal or opinion violations would be fined $10,000 to $80,000."
Three independent daily newspapers were banned under the new decree:
Danas, Dnevni Telegraph and Nasa Borba. Despite re-registering in Montenegro,
Danas and Dnevni Telegraf continue to have problems distributing newspapers
throughout Serbia. B-92 reported November 16 the "embattled Belgrade daily
Dnevni Telegraf again failed to appear on news stands today, as had been
announced. The Novi Sad printer which had contracted to print the paper was
yesterday informed by the Serbian Information Minister, Aleksandar Vucic, that
no printer in Serbia was permitted to print a newspaper registered in
Montenegro. Journalists from the paper told Radio B-92 this morning that the
editorial board had decided to work as normal, although they were facing
technical difficulties in attempting to produce the paper from Podgorica."
Dnevni Telegraf, Evroplanjin, and the editors and publishers of the
two
publications have been fined a total of $360,000 in two lawsuits since October
22. The first lawsuit -- brought by the pro-Milosevic Patriotic Alliance of
Serbia -- alleged an article in Evroplanjin "violates...patriotic sentiments
and that the magazine calls for the destruction of the constitutional order of
Serbia." The second lawsuit was brought by the Serbia's Secretary for Refugees
Bratislava Morina on behalf of the Yugoslav Women's Alliance, although Radio
B-92 reported it had "spoken with Anka Zudic, the president of the Montenegrin
chapter of the same organisation, who said that she had not been informed of
the decision. She added that the charges brought against DT by Morina without
the participation of her organisation were both illegitimate and illegal."
Associated Press reported October 24 that "police raided the office
of...independent daily [Dnevni Telegraf] late Sunday, confiscating
equipment to
collect a fine against its publisher and editor for alleged anti-state
activity." B-92 also noted that "10 to 15 [police] officers, some of whom were
carrying automatic weapons" entered Curuvija's apartment October 24 and
confiscated computers and other office supplies. BETA reported that "computers
and other equipment were taken out of the offices of the Belgrade daily Nasa
Borba on Oct. 26."
Serbian authorities have also targeted independent Radio Indeks.
Independent daily Blic (Belgrade) noted November 11 "Belgrade University
administrative board appointed Vladan Draskovic, a Faculty of Law student, as
the station's new director and editorinchief. "At the initiative of the
Serbian vice premier and a member of the university board, Vojislav Seselj, it
was decided that this station should be returned to the students and that, in
the future, only fulltime students could serve on the station's staff," Radio
Belgrade reported. Radio B-92 however noted October 11 that "a statement from
the editorial board said that the board did not accept the University
Council's
decision saying that the council was only a formal founder of the station and
had never paid any money for its support."
Radio B-92 reported October 28: "The Belgrade District public
prosecutor
today brought criminal charges against Nenad Cekic, the editor-in-chief of
banned independent Radio Indeks. He is charged with unauthorised operation
of a
radio station, a charge which carries a maximum penalty of 13 years." On
Oct. 8,
the Radio Index editorial staff was forced out of its offices in the Radio
Belgrade building and stopped broadcasting, and on Oct. 10, all its
broadcasting equipment was confiscated. Until being banned, Radio Indeks was
awaiting the results of its tender for a transmission frequency in the
government's "open competition" for frequency allocations. Similar action [on
frequency applications] was taken against City Radio in Nis, Radio Kontakt in
Pristina, Radio Television Pirot and Radio Senta. All are members of the
Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM), a network of more than 50
independent radio and TV stations Serbia and Montenegro. ANEM announced on
Oct.
11 that a federal communications inspector had banned Radio Senta two days
before, adding that the radio station's transmitter was impounded.
Independent news service BETA (Belgrade) reported November 6 that
Radio
Indeks (banned by the Serbian authorities) and the Association of Independent
Electronic Media (ANEM -- a network of some 50 independent TV and radio
broadcast stations in Serbia and Montenegro) "will soon broadcast from
Montenegro and will be heard in southern parts of Serbia, including Kosovo, as
well as in one-third of the territory of Montenegro, BETA was told by Indeks
radio today."
B-92 reported yesterday that it has acquired a new "transmitter on the
roof of Dom Omladine, the building from which the B-92 operates in central
Belgrade...Radio B-92 can now be heard as far as the town of Zrenjanin in
Vojvodina. Since the transmitter was switched on at 11.00 this morning, a
large
number of listeners have reported better reception from all areas of
Belgrade."
B-92 also noted the transmitter had been acquired through public subscription
of more than 5,000 donations.
UNIVERSITIES
The Financial Times noted October 15 that "attacks on the independent
media are part of a wider clampdown on outspoken opposition to the government.
The Radical party is leading a purge of disloyal academics at Belgrade
University, where students launched anti-government street protests two years
ago." Following a number of government moves aimed at silencing dissent at
Belgrade University, including the removal of several professors thought to be
"disloyal," student protest against the Milosevic regime is growing stronger.
Radio B-92 reported November 17 that "several hundred students from Belgrade
University's Faculties of Law and Electrical Engineering blocked traffic in
central Belgrade for five minutes today. The students were protesting over
measures introduced since the passing of the Universities Act earlier this
year. Their demands include the reinstatement of dismissed teaching staff and
the removal of security guards from the hallways of faculty buildings."
BETA noted the Social Democratic Youth group said the "three Belgrade
university students, sentenced to ten days in prison for spray-painting
slogans, were released in the morning of Nov. 13." Radio B-92 reported that
"one of the group, Teodora Tabacki, told media yesterday that the punishment
and the treatment they received in prison clearly indicated that they were
being punished for their opposition to the authorities. Tabacki also said that
the prison conditions were inhumane and that prisoners were exposed to
constant
verbal abuse. She said that although she and the other female students had not
been beaten, they had seen other people being beaten, including one who was
obviously under age."
BETA reported November 12 the formation of a student resistance
organization: "Students of Belgrade's Faculty of Philology announced that they
will boycott all classes starting on Nov. 23. The boycott decision was made at
a joint meeting of several hundred students from all study groups at the
faculty's main amphitheater on Nov. 12. 'We will proceed with the boycott
unless the Serbian government dismisses the dean, Radmilo Marojevic by Nov.
23,
and cancels every decision he made,' Boris Karajicic, a student of Germanic
languages and activist of a student organization called OTPOR (resistance),
told BETA...." Radio B-92 reported October 22 that "teaching staff of the
University of Belgrade's Faculty of Electrical Engineering who had not signed
employment contracts with the University were today forbidden to lecture....
Two lecturers were this morning were thrown from a lecture theatre by unknown
security guards when they attempted to begin teaching. One of them managed to
return to the theatre and gave one lecture. When he began a second, he was
again thrown out of the building."
Radio B-92 reported October 26 that "another Belgrade University
lecturer has been blocked from teaching. Professor Branko Popovic of the
Faculty of Electronics, who is also a member of the Serbian Academy of Science
and Arts, is one of a group of twelve teaching staff of the faculty who had
refused to sign employment contracts as required by the Serbian Government's
new Universities Act. Popovic was prevented from entering his lecture room by
two unidentified men. He responded by calling his students outside the faculty
building and giving his lecture in the street. About a hundred students in the
faculty hallway at the time of the incident applauded the professor and
shouted
support." Reuters noted October 22 that "economists are alarmed by the
[Universities Act] legislation as well. 'We also publish some bulletins.
And we
can be closed down for criticizing official economic policy. They are simply
denying us the right to be professionals,' said a senior economist who asked
not to be named.' "
POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN BELGRADE
Two "moderates" in the Milosevic regime have been forced out of the
government in the past three weeks. Agence France Presse noted November 13
that
Milorad Vucelic, "a leading moderate of Serbia's governing Socialist Party
(SPS) ... [was according to a statement by the SPS] 'disbarred from the
party's
governing board...due to indecent behavior and inactivity which has harmed the
reputation and authority of the SPS."
Agence France Presse reported October 27 that "Yugoslav President
Slobodan Milosevic sacked his secret service chief Jovic Stanisic following
reports that the official opposed his hardline policies." Independent weekly
Vreme (Belgrade) analyst Dejan Anastasjevic wrote November 4 that "many other
'downtown' sources believed that Stanisic was the only man who dared to say
"no" to Milosevic (to oppose him), and even to tell him something worse. In
last two years he used those privileges. It is known that during the winter
demonstrations, Stanisic was for accepting the results of the local elections;
that he refused to oppose the leadership of Montenegro; that he was opposing
use of massive armed forces against Albanian separatists, and that he
wanted to
apply some better methods."
Independent daily Nasa Borba (Belgrade) had reported October 25 that
Yugoslav Army General chief-of-staff Momcilo "Perisic and Stanisic did not
agree with the actions undertaken in [the security forces' attacks on
civilians
in Kosovo's region of] Drenica in early March.... Political analysts believe
that the eventual removal of Perisic and Stanisic would mean a triumph of the
radical wing and increased prospects of further instability in the country."
The Financial Times reported October 24 "a speech earlier this week by
General Momcilo Perisic, Yugoslav army chief of staff, about the danger of
going to war with NATO. General Perisic accused unnamed politicians of being
'amateurs' and attacked 'leadership members' who have 'subjected everything to
their own interests.' "
Reuters reported "a coalition of Serbian opposition parties on October
15 called for early elections, saying that without a change of government
there
is no way out of crises in the Balkans. The Alliance for Change said no
solution
in Kosovo was possible while Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic remained in
power and they urged Kosovo Albanians to end their boycott of Yugoslav
elections." Blic October 21 cited an anonymous source in the federal
government
saying early elections in Serbia are not under dispute, but the Yugoslav
president, Slobodan Milosevic, has not "given green light" for the federal
elections.
BETA reported October 29 that the both the Democratic Party of
Vojvodina
Hungarians and the Democratic Movement for Pancevo joined the Alliance for
Change.
Serbian schools have been banned from taking students on excursions
abroad. The Serbian Minister for Education, Jovo Todorovic, announced November
11 that all organised excursions with international destinations would be
cancelled.
MONTENEGRO
Tensions between Serbia and Montenegro continue to grow, fueled in
part
by Belgrade's media crackdown. "BETA reported yesterday that Serbian
authorities
had seized a part of today's edition of the Podgorica weekly 'Monitor' that
was
intended for readers in Serbia." The Montenegrin government on November 5
issued a decree which according to official Radio Montenegro "guarantees
freedom of foreign media activity, establishes free import and distribution of
foreign press in Montenegro and guarantees the right of radio organizations in
the republic to rebroadcast foreign media programs."
BETA reported that on November 4, Montenegro's Information Secretary
Bozidar Jaredic said that the Serbian police's stopping the truck carrying the
daily Danas, printed in Montenegro, "represented 'an act of violence and a
continuation of pressure on Montenegro...It represents a continuation of
severe
and uncivilized pressure on Montenegro. The confiscation of the press will
greatly damage relations between the two federal units.' He added that the
Montenegrin state bodies would 'warn the Serbian bodies of such an
undemocratic
act, which echoes all the prerogatives of those times that are far behind us.
If they ignore our warnings, Montenegro will be forced to take reciprocal
action,' Jaredic said."
Associated Press reported Montenegro's President Milo Djukanovic
warned
November 1 at his ruling Democratic Party of Socialists congress that 'because
of the tyranny of the autocratic regime' in Belgrade, Montenegro would
continue
taking over authority from the federal level and handle its affairs more
independently... Without being on principle against partnership with Serbia,
Djukanovic said that 'all possibilities have not been exhausted for a
democratic transformation of the federal state' but that Montenegro needs to
become an equal partner."
REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS
The international community's High Representative in Bosnia
November 14
expelled Serbia's Vice-Premier Vojislav Seselj from Bosnia. AP reported
"[Serbia's Deputy Prime Minister] Vojislav Seselj was expelled Saturday after
attending an inauguration party for new Bosnian Serb president and fellow
nationalist Nikola Poplasen in the Serbrun part of Bosnia. An angry Seselj
told
reporters that his expulsion was 'brutality showed by the occupying force'...
NATO peacekeepers in armored cars surrounded the hotel in Banja Luka where the
reception was held and told Poplasen that Seselj had to leave, citing orders
from the office of the U.N. high representative in Bosnia, the top foreign
authority overseeing the country's postwar development. Seselj was back in
Belgrade on Sunday, where he blasted 'the veiled form of occupation which
basically does not differ from Hitler's.' "
Following a decision by the Republika Srpska (RS) government to peg
the
exchange rate for Yugoslav dinars circulating in Republika Srpska at 7.5 to
the
Bosnian mark, the Yugoslav government on October 14 suspended currency
transfers to the RS. BETA noted that "at a reception in Banja Luka
organized by
Nikola Poplasen and Mirko Sarovic, the president and vice president of RS, RS
Premier Milorad Dodik said the RS cabinet decision to adjust the exchange rate
was simply 'a move that made the factual situation official...it is not aimed
at undermining the FRY monetary system, but represents an objective need to
ensure that tax payers pay their taxes at the realistic exchange rate rather
than the reduced official rate' of 6 dinars for one mark. Banja Luka
Faculty of
Economics professor Mladen Ivanic told BETA on Nov. 14, that...state-run
companies and the RS budget were losing money because of the reduced exchange
rate set by the Yugoslav Central Bank, but added that RS should have simply
used the black market rate without making a fuss about it, just like private
companies were doing."
