SERBIA: OPPOSITION PARTIES AGREE TO RUN JOINTLY

Описание: (7 Aug 2000) Serbo-Croat/Nat

Serbian opposition parties which have agreed to run jointly against president Slobodan Milosevic nominated Vojislav Kostunica on Monday as their presidential candidate.

The nomination of Kostunica, from the small central right Democratic Party of Serbia, will likely move the fractious opposition a step further away from ousting Milosevic in elections on September 24.

On Sunday the larger Serbian Renewal Party nominated a separate candidate, spelling doom for a united block against the autocratic leader.

The rest of the Serbian opposition criticised the Serbian Renewal Party, led by Vuk Draskovic, accusing him of failing to sever ties with Milosevic.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"On some sort of conditions on which I insist, I think we will reach some sort of agreement or contract and I hope that after that we will just go to the campaign."
(Question: So if the conditions are met, you will say yes?)
"Yes, if these conditions are met I will say yes but I will say yes more - I repeat this for the third time - just because of the public's demands, expectations and hopes, much more than the parties taken altogether including my own."
SUPER CAPTION: Vojisslav Kostunica

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I would think 18 parties in this coalition are strong enough to support one candidate to win against Milosevic and we will continue our attempt to find a candidate strong enough to beat Milosevic."
(Question: Who is the most serious candidate?)
"We'll see. At the moment the most serious candidate is Mr. Kostunica. But today or in the next two/three days we will decide about the final decision."
SUPER CAPTION: Zoran Djindjic, Opposition Democratic Party leader

SOUNDBITE: (Serbian)
"The opposition is interested in local elections only because there is money at a local level."
SUPER CAPTION: Vox pop, Belgrade resident

SOUNDBITE: (Serbian)
"If we are not united, we cannot do anything."
SUPER CAPTION: Vox pop, Belgrade resident

SOUNDBITE: (Serbian)
"If Vojisslav Kostunica is a candidate, then maybe we can do something."
SUPER CAPTION: Vox pop, Belgrade resident

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