DJINDJIC REJECTS REGIME CALL FOR RUN-OFF

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005445138
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: June 24, 2015
• Document Release Date: August 25, 2010
• Case Number: F-2009-00733
• Publication Date: September 26, 2000

OVED FOR RELEASE[] DATE:
APPROVED
2010
(b)(1)
T1 (b)(3)
26 September 2000
07:00 EDT
Spot Comm #6
Djindjic Rejects Regime Call for Run-off
There are still no official election returns, despite press reports that the Federal
Election Commission was scheduled to announce official results at 0600 EDT today.
Press reports indicate that Milosevic has decided to declare that neither he nor Kostunica
received the required majority of votes and that a second round of voting is necessary.
Opposition spokesmen are threatening to declare Kostunica President if the government does
not announce official elections results by Wednesday. Opting for a second round would
mark an admission by the regime that its defeat is too massive to be fixed by vote-rigging.
Further delay in resolving the election outcome would indicate serious confusion and
indecision within the regime and could spark protests from impatient opposition
supporters.
Democratic Party leader Djindjic told interviewers Milosevic would be "wiped out" in a run-
off, but he says the opposition is not inclined to permit the regime to deny it the victory it
achieved in the first round. For his part, Kostunica is claiming victory but says he expects
Milosevic to call for a second round. Djindjic is establishing a high media role and
likely intends to dominate the coalition building around Kostunica.
The election returns reinforce the impression of a massive opposition victory. The regime
has won only 10 out of 70 seats on the Novi Sad munici al council, according to inde endent
press reports.
Opposition demonstrations are gradually getting larger as the country waits for the next
developments. Crowds in Belgrade yesterday reached an estimated 40,000. Tens of
thousands also gathered in Nis and thousands in other cities. The demonstrators so far are
well-behaved, apparently confident for the moment that the regime cannot steal-or has
not decided how to steal---the election. 0
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