[ALBSA-Info] US backs Yugoslav protesters, seeks Russian help

[Gazhebo at aol.com]

US backs Yugoslav protesters, seeks Russian help

By Randall Mikkelsen

WASHINGTON, Oct 5 (Reuters) - President Clinton on Thursday hailed the 
popular revolt against Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic, as the United 
States sought Russia's help in persuading Milosevic to relinquish power after 
13 years. 

U.S. officials said Milosevic's hold on power was crumbling and would be hard 
to recover, citing as evidence a report by the Yugoslav state news agency 
declaring opposition leader Vojislav Kostunica the ``elected president.'' 

But they said they had no confirmation that ``the final chapter'' had been 
written with Milosevic's departure. 

``The people of Serbia have spoken with their ballots, they have spoken on 
the street, I hope the hour is near when their voices will be heard and we 
can welcome them to democracy, to Europe, to the world's community,'' 
President Clinton said in a speech at Princeton University in New Jersey. 

U.S. National Security Adviser Sandy Berger said he and Secretary of State 
Madeleine Albright were trying to reach their Russian counterparts to get 
their help in persuading Milosevic to step down. 

``We would hope the Russians would join others in the international community 
(and) recognise that Kostunica is the next president and Milosevic should 
go,'' Berger told Reuters. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a brief statement in Moscow, called for 
opposing forces in Yugoslavia to avoid an escalation of violence but did not 
call for Milosevic to go. 

The departure of three military aircraft from an airport near Belgrade 
fuelled speculation some of Yugoslavia's leadership was leaving, but Berger 
said there was no indication Milosevic had departed. 

``Until we have clear confirmation that he's left, I think we have to assume 
that he's still there,'' Berger told PBS television's ``NewsHour with Jim 
Lehrer'' 

``Something quite dramatic and extraordinary is happening in Serbia, but I 
don't know that the final chapter has yet been written,'' Berger said. 

Albright told reporters while flying back from Europe that she expected to 
call Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov shortly. She called the 
demonstrations ``the most important thing'' that had occurred during her 
nearly four-year tenure. 

NO MILITARY INTERVENTION 

Clinton has condemned Milosevic for conflicts that have torn Yugoslavia apart 
and he oversaw NATO's bombing of Yugoslavia last year to drive Milosevic's 
forces out of the southern province of Kosovo. 

Asked if the United States would intervene militarily in the case of a 
violent crackdown, Clinton said: ``I don't believe it's an appropriate case 
for military intervention, and I don't believe that the United States should 
say or do anything that would strengthen Mr Milosevic's hand.'' 

The United States demands that Milosevic, an indicted war criminal, be tried 
at the international court in the Hague. 

But it has been cautious in its support for the political opposition because 
strong anti-U.S. feeling in Yugoslavia meant this could undermine the 
opposition's cause. 

Berger, asked about the Yugoslav state news agency's declaration of Kostunica 
as elected president, said, ``It's one more sign that the instruments of 
state power are slipping out of Milosevic's grasp.'' 

Berger told CNN television it would be hard for Milosevic to thwart the will 
of the Yugoslav people and recover his ebbing power. 

Demonstrators stormed the Yugoslav parliament on Thursday in what opposition 
leaders called a final showdown with Milosevic, following a constitutional 
court ruling that annulled the disputed presidential election held September 
24. Yugoslav opposition claims to have won the vote outright. 

The court ordered a rerun, which would allow Milosevic to remain in power for 
months. The United States denounced the ruling as undermining the will of the 
people. 

``There's been an attempt to rob them of their vote,'' Clinton said. 

There had been no direct U.S. contact with the opposition to Milosevic, 
officials said. Berger said the United States was not interested in a making 
deal with Milosevic. 

In August, Kostunica denounced as a ``flagrant interference'' in Yugoslavia's 
internal affairs a U.S. decision to open an office in Budapest to support 
democratic forces in Yugoslavia. Clinton said on Thursday said he recognised 
that Kostunica had ``strong differences'' with the United States. 

He said the right of the Serbian people to choose their leaders was paramount 
and he reiterated a U.S. promise to lift economic sanctions against 
Yugoslavia after Milosevic leaves. 

Both major party presidential candidates echoed Clinton's backing of the 
opposition supporters in Yugoslavia. 

``Our country must work closely with our allies in Europe and the 
international community including Russia to pressure Mr. Milosevic to go,'' 
Republican nominee George W. Bush said at a campaign stop in Michigan. 

Vice President Al Gore, the Democratic nominee, told reporters in Michigan, 
``We call upon Milosevic to get out of power. It will be taken from him if he 
does not, because the people of Serbia have spoken and now they are rising 
up.''