A BREATHER FOR BOTH SIDES

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005445146
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: June 24, 2015
• Document Release Date: August 25, 2010
• Case Number: F-2009-00733
• Publication Date: September 29, 2000

(b)(1)
(b)(3)
29 September 2000
0700 EDT
Spot Comm 12
A Breather for Both Sides
Milosevic followed his television appearances Thursday with further moves designed to
reassert his authority. The Federal Election Commission-minus a deputy chairman who
resigned Thursday-took away four seats in the federal parliament from the DOS coalition
on dubious technical grounds.
? In part, this maneuver could be designed to prepare the ground in case
Milosevic is forced to cede the federal presidency to Kostunica and then moves
to become Prime Minister. FRY Ambassador to Moscow, Milosevic's brother,
said in an interview today that FRY President Milosevic could become federal
prime minister if the opposition gains the presidency.0
Opposition leaders promised a "massive civil disobedience movement" to dislodge
Milosevic from power, but the lack of a follow-up to Wednesday's rally and Milosevic's
reappearance on television dampened the momentum against the regime. Democratic party
leader Djindjic called for a rally on Friday at which he promised to explain the opposition's
tactics.
? Spontaneous demonstrations took place in several cities despite the lack of
opposition leadership. According to press reports, about 10,000 protested in Novi
Sad, 3,000 in Leskovac, and 1,000 gathered before Democratic Party
headquarters in Belgrade. The independent media claimed a total of 50,000
demonstrated throughout Serbia.
Prepared by; DCI Interagency Balkan Task Force. Comments and Questions can be addressed to[:=
APPROVED FOR RELEASED DATE:
06-23-2010 ti
 ? The diplomats claim Moscow is pushing Kostunica to accept a second round.
The opposition has shown Russian officials their vote registers, possibly in
response to Moscow's request for an accurate vote count and to convince
Moscow that Kostunica won a majority in the first round, according to press
reporting.
? The opposition's initial, strident rejection of a second round would make
accepting one now look like a sign of weakness. In addition, any Kostunica
about-face on this issue likely would reopen divisions between Kostunica and
? Predrag Bulatovic has expressed open opposition to regime policies and has
been seeking a dialogue with Montenegrin President Djukanovic since
Belgrade forced the SNP into coalition with the Radicals and with Mira
Markovic's JUL in local elections earlier this year.
? A spokesman for Draskovic's Serbian Renewal Movement publicly called Seselj
"hypocritical" and demanded that he clearly remove his party from the ruling