Yugoslavian Demonstrations May End Soon

The opposition signaled an end to 11 weeks of street protests Thursday and a close ally of Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic urged all political parties to unite in a common goal: Guiding the country out of economic misery.

Vuk Draskovic, a leader of the three-party Zajedno alliance that has spearheaded the pro-democracy drive, said the protests would end if Milosevic truly recognized opposition election victories in Belgrade and 13 other major Serbian cities.

In that case, “we will stop our demonstrations,” Draskovic said in Paris after he and the two other opposition leaders met with French Foreign Minister Herve de Charette.

However, that did not mean that pressure on Milosevic would stop.

Another opposition leader, Zoran Djindjic, said the three “received promises and assurances” that international pressure would continue on Milosevic to free the news media from state control and set conditions for free and fair presidential elections this year.

“They gave us a message that neither we nor Europe should stop now,” said Vesna Pesic, the third leader. “They are ready to support efforts to democratize Serbia.”

Up to 12,000 people joined an opposition rally in the evening, after their leaders returned from Paris. It was the 79th straight day of street protests.

Meanwhile, Zoran Lilic, president of Yugoslavia, offered a political dialogue to all parties, something the opposition long has demanded of Milosevic.

Yugoslavia consists now only of Serbia and tiny Montenegro. Although Lilic’s official position carries little weight, he often speaks for Milosevic, Serbia’s strongman.

Lilic said economic recovery was now the country’s most urgent task and political instability was holding up desperately needed foreign investments.

“For this, the political consensus of all parties is needed,” he said.

His comments were the first indication that Milosevic and his Socialists may be willing to include the opposition in the decision-making process.