The Kokkalis Program on Southeastern and East-Central Europe hosted on October 20, 2000 a panel discussion on Yugoslavia: The Challenge of Democracy. Pavle Jevremovic, chief advisor on foreign affairs to President Kostunica; Dr. Miroljub Labus, leader of the G-17 group of economic experts, and Dr. Milan Protic, Mayor of Belgrade joined Kennedy School’s Asst. Professor Richard Falkenrath and Professor Steven Burg of Brandeis University on the panel via phone conference. This innovative and well-attended event was a follow up to a conference held last April by the Kokkalis Program at Harvard, entitled Yugoslavia: Prospects for Change.

The discussion evolved around the issues of political stability, democratization, economic development and foreign relations of Yugoslavia, in the post-Milosevic era that just began. The Yugoslav panelists referred to the priorities of the new leadership, the country’s international prospects but also the dangers lurking in this transitional period.

In response to the audience’s focus on issues of Yugoslavia’s territorial integrity and other complex challenges the country faces, Dr. Miroljub Labus stressed that Yugoslavia’s top short-term priorities are economic out of necessity. Survival through the forthcoming winter will be imperative, and Western assistance will be needed in order to avoid shortages in food, medication and fuel. Dr. Labus also stated that Yugoslavia aims to become again member of IMF by mid-December 2000, provided that all succession issues will be resolved among the other successor states that were formed after the collapse of the former Yugoslavia. The long-term economic policy of Yugoslavia will focus on the development of trade between the country and the world, as well as the attraction of foreign investment, along with an effort to fight corruption and increase the efficiency of the public sector. Finally, he said that some time would be needed until the first positive economic and political results appear, and asked for patience from the West.

Mr. Pavle Jevremovic said that the fist priority of President Kostunica and the new government is the restoration of order within the country and the strengthening of democratic institutions. In the foreign policy front, the President’s advisor mentioned that his country is willing to cooperate with its neighboring states in order to achieve stability in the Balkans and expedite the development of the region. When asked about the extradition of war criminals, Mr. Jevremovic admitted that there is a series of moral and legal issues that has to be resolved, but stated that the establishment of democracy and justice is a prerequisite in order for these questions to be addressed.

Dr. Milan Protic, the newly elected Mayor of Belgrade, called the events of October 5 a "democratic revolution" that led to the fall of the Milosevic regime. He remarked that although the democratic opposition had limited access to the media and was leading a campaign under grim conditions, it managed to maintain its direct connection to the people. According to Mayor Protic, the next step is the confirmation of the support of the democratic changes by the Yugoslav people, through the upcoming December elections. Responding to a question regarding Milosevic’ political role in the future, Mayor Protic stated his belief that Mr. Milosevic has no role to play in this new era in Yugoslav politics, although he admitted that issues that are related to the Milosevic regime and his supporters have to be addressed and resolved.

On the other hand, Dr. Richard Falkenrath, Assistant Professor of Public Policy at the Kennedy School noted that a number of problems will arise as soon as this "honeymoon" between the new Yugoslav government and the West ends. More specifically, Dr. Falkenrath identified the following as potential issues of disharmony: (a) financial assistance: Western aid pledges may be below the expectations of Yugoslavia; (b) war criminals: the West will likely insist on resolving the issue; (c) Bosnia-Herzegovina: NATO will likely pressure Yugoslavia to convince the Bosnian Serbs to accept the status quo in the country; and (d) Kosovo: the Kosovo Liberation Army is determined to seek independence and the response of the West and the new Yugoslav government remains unclear.

Brandeis University Professor Steven Burg, author of The War in Bosnia-Herzegovina: Ethnic Conflict and International Intervention, stressed the fact that whatever happens to Kosovo and Yugoslavia will have a direct impact on other minorities in the region, such as the Albanian and Roma populations in Macedonia. In addition, President Kostunica’s decisions on Kosovo will affect the nature of states that are going to be formulated in the Balkans, with respect to their ethnic composition. Professor Burg advised the Yugoslav government to encourage the democratic participation of Montenegrins and Albanian Kosovars in the December elections, to ensure their representation in the legislature, as a way to avoid further tension in the area and demonstrate its true commitment to democracy.