YUGOSLAVIA: VUK DRASKOVIC ON KOSOVO PEACE PLAN

(4 Jun 1999) Eng/Serbo-Croat/Nat

Former Yugoslav deputy Premier Vuk Draskovic said on Friday that the Kosovo peace agreement is the beginning of a new era for Serbia.

Draskovic, leader of the opposition Serbian Renewal Party, said the peace plan was not a capitulation and that it maintains Kosovo's future as part of Serbia.

While it could mark the end of the NATO war, Draskovic believes the peace plan will mean the beginning of a new war for a democratic Serbia.

It was a typical summer day in Belgrade on Friday.

In Belgrade's main square, people were out strolling in the sunshine with a new confidence following Thursday's agreement by the Yugoslav government to accept a peace plan.

The opposition figure Vuk Draskovic, leader of the Serbian Renewal Party leader, thinks the agreement will have a far wider influence on Serbia's future than just bringing an end to the bombing.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Yesterday's decision of the parliament of Serbia and Federal government and President Milosevic means the end and the beginning. The end of the war and the beginning of peace and the beginning of the new road for the new future Serbia."
SUPER CAPTION: Vuk Draskovic, opposition Serbian Renewal Party leader

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"It was not a capitulation of Serbia and Serbian future. Kosovo is part of Serbia according to the settlement we accepted yesterday. But of course, yesterday we signed capitulation of political hatred, of the policy of the anti-world primitive feelings, the policy of isolation from the world and it could be very good for the Serbian future."
SUPER CAPTION: Vuk Draskovic, opposition Serbian Renewal Party leader

Newspaper headlines on street corners announced the end of the war.

The independent "Vreme" magazine led with the simple headline "It's over".

Other headlines included: "The offer accepted, NATO and Russians are coming."

There was little mention of the possible consequences for Serbia predicted by Draskovic.

On Belgrade's main Knez Mihajlova Street, pedestrians welcomed the agreement.

SOUNDBITE: (Serbo-Croat)
"I hope that things are going to be much better and some things should change. It's not all about signing, I think it won't be over soon, it won't. We will wait for a while."
SUPER CAPTION: Voxpop

SOUNDBITE: (Serbo-Croat)
"We went through a lot of suffering, but their suffering is still to come."
SUPER CAPTION: Voxpop

SOUNDBITE: (Serbo-Croat)
"It should be good because this agreement is the only way out. There is no way, we had to do it. They were killing us."
SUPER CAPTION: Voxpop

The disruption of normal life in Belgrade could continue for some time yet.

NATO leaders in the west are demanding proof of the Yugoslav government sticking to their agreement before they call off the bombing.

They point to the record of Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic, who has broken similar agreements in the past.

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