Putin and Shreoder: "Victory of Kostunica" Signals Serb Will for Democracy
October 2, 2000 - 0:0
TEHRAN According to an official statement released by Berlin Sunday both Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder have agreed the victory of Vojislav Kostunica strongly supports the wish of the Serb people for democratic change.
The statement followed telephone discussions between the two leaders on Saturday over the Yugoslav post-election crisis, which has seen incumbent President Slobodan Milosevic reject opposition claims of overall victory in the September 24 polls.
During the discussions, Putin agreed with Schroeder that "the election victory of Vojislav Kostunica signals the wish of the Serb people for democratic change," the statement said.
The two leaders discussed "ways in which this wish can be peacefully translated, and with this in mind what contribution the international community can make." They also "warned against making any steps that could lead to violence," the statement said, adding that Putin would "over the coming days closely follow developments in Yugoslavia." Meanwhile, a Reuters report said two Russian diplomats arrived in Belgrade for talks with Yugoslav authorities and leading Serb politicians in a sign that Russia may be seeking to mediate in the election crisis.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Sunday that Vladimir Chizov, Russia's special envoy to the Balkans, and Alexander Tolkach arrived in Belgrade late on Saturday. The two diplomats had been on a tour of the Balkans.
Meanwhile, Saddam Hussein, the Iraqi leader, has sent his senior intelligence officers to Belgrade to advise Slobodan Milosevic on how to survive his political crisis, according to a report in the Sunday Telegraph.
The delegation, which arrived last Monday and has close links with Saddam's eldest son, Uday, will advise Milosevic on how to resist the mounting popular challenge to his rule, Western diplomats in Belgrade were quoted as saying.
The Iraqi delegation's presence coincides with reports of growing friction between Milosevic and his wife over how to tackle the political crisis sweeping Serbia.
According to reports received this weekend by Western intelligence, Milosevic is coming under strong pressure from his wife, Mira, to abandon hope of clinging to power and flee.
While Milosevic himself is understood to be determined to remain in power in Serbia, even if it means dying inside the presidential palace, his wife is said to be keen to avoid a similar fate to Romania's Nicolae and Elena Ceausescu, who were machine-gunned to death shortly after their overthrow during the 1989 revolution.
DPA also quoted the Sunday Telegraph as saying China and Russia have both been mentioned as countries that might provide a refuge if Mrs Milosevic is successful in persuading her husband to leave. But the presence of the Iraqis suggests that Baghdad could also be offered as a haven.
The statement followed telephone discussions between the two leaders on Saturday over the Yugoslav post-election crisis, which has seen incumbent President Slobodan Milosevic reject opposition claims of overall victory in the September 24 polls.
During the discussions, Putin agreed with Schroeder that "the election victory of Vojislav Kostunica signals the wish of the Serb people for democratic change," the statement said.
The two leaders discussed "ways in which this wish can be peacefully translated, and with this in mind what contribution the international community can make." They also "warned against making any steps that could lead to violence," the statement said, adding that Putin would "over the coming days closely follow developments in Yugoslavia." Meanwhile, a Reuters report said two Russian diplomats arrived in Belgrade for talks with Yugoslav authorities and leading Serb politicians in a sign that Russia may be seeking to mediate in the election crisis.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Sunday that Vladimir Chizov, Russia's special envoy to the Balkans, and Alexander Tolkach arrived in Belgrade late on Saturday. The two diplomats had been on a tour of the Balkans.
Meanwhile, Saddam Hussein, the Iraqi leader, has sent his senior intelligence officers to Belgrade to advise Slobodan Milosevic on how to survive his political crisis, according to a report in the Sunday Telegraph.
The delegation, which arrived last Monday and has close links with Saddam's eldest son, Uday, will advise Milosevic on how to resist the mounting popular challenge to his rule, Western diplomats in Belgrade were quoted as saying.
The Iraqi delegation's presence coincides with reports of growing friction between Milosevic and his wife over how to tackle the political crisis sweeping Serbia.
According to reports received this weekend by Western intelligence, Milosevic is coming under strong pressure from his wife, Mira, to abandon hope of clinging to power and flee.
While Milosevic himself is understood to be determined to remain in power in Serbia, even if it means dying inside the presidential palace, his wife is said to be keen to avoid a similar fate to Romania's Nicolae and Elena Ceausescu, who were machine-gunned to death shortly after their overthrow during the 1989 revolution.
DPA also quoted the Sunday Telegraph as saying China and Russia have both been mentioned as countries that might provide a refuge if Mrs Milosevic is successful in persuading her husband to leave. But the presence of the Iraqis suggests that Baghdad could also be offered as a haven.