YUGOSLAVIA: SERBS GIRD FOR CONFRONTATION

Created: 3/18/1991

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

ir.

Gird for Confrontation

President Milosevic's withdrawal from the federal Presidency and moblUxfttion of Serbian security forces set thi staxe for confrontation with his opponents this

under the yugoslav constitution, milosevic would have replaced president jovic, who resigned friday, as serbia's representative on the presidency. the montenegrin and vojvodinan representatives, both serb puppets, also resigned from the presidency.serb-populated region inonce again that it was separatingauam f;

mm

communist-organized demonstration in belgrade to show support or jovic, milosevic, and the military drew0 on saturday; the communists had hopedimilar rally in zagreb rew. serbian opposition leaders have condemned milosevic's action and plan toally in belgrade on wednesday, when the serbian assembly is to con venc j ^

ilosevic's refusal to recognize federal authority and the ions of the montenegrin and vojvodinan presidency representatives further deepen yugoslavia's constitutional crisis and will cripple the federal government. milosevic's purposes are unclear he may aim to consolidate asrrh "hlnr" and xenire his own position.

but he mayiolent confrontation, possibly involving the serbian minority in croaiia, in the hope of forcing the largely serbian leadership of the army to intervene in his

b1

. senior military officers now can produceiolent or negotiated resolution. they arc divided among themselves and probably are reluctant to act for fear that military discipline would degenerate and precipitate civil war. violence between serbs and croats or serious disturbances in belgrade, however, could play into the hands of leaders pushing for actionf'

Original document.

---

---