Serb Lawmakers Endorse Pact With Yugoslavia

Ignoring criticism from the United States and partners in Bosnia, Serb lawmakers on Saturday endorsed an agreement on closer military and economic ties with Yugoslavia.

Of 72 deputies present at the session of the Bosnian Serb parliament, 61 voted for the agreement signed last month by Momcilo Krajisnik, Serb member of the joint Bosnian leadership, and Yugoslav President Zoran Lilic. Eleven lawmakers voted against.

Approval came after hours of heated discussion. Bosnian Serb President Biljana Plavsic urged its rejection, saying the pact was against the Serb constitution and the Dayton peace plan.

The accord does not specify the economic and military ties it envisages for Bosnian Serbs with neighboring Yugoslavia, now consisting of Serbia and Montenegro. The defense cooperation is to be spelled out in a separate pact.

The agreement has drawn fierce criticism from the United States as well as Bosnian Muslims and Croats, who fear it may lead to the merger of Bosnian Serbs with Serbia proper.

Bosnian Muslim President Alija Izetbegovic has accused the Serbs of violating the Dayton peace accord. The 1995 plan cut the country into Serb and Muslim-Croat halves, with joint central institutions.

The parliaments of Serbia and Yugoslavia are expected to ratify the agreement later this month.

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