ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, January 15, 1997 TAG: 9701150110
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-6 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: BELGRADE, YUGOSLAVIA
SOURCE: The Washington Post
Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic made a major concession Tuesday in his eight-week struggle with his political opponents, validating disputed election returns that would give the opposition control of Belgrade's city government and could seriously weaken his 9-year-old grip on power.
Allies and foes alike cautioned, however, against declaring an end to the standoff between Milosevic and an opposition movement that has staged daily protests since the Serbian leader annulled its victories in more than a dozen municipal elections conducted Nov.17.
Belgrade's municipal electorial commission Tuesday v commission's findings can be appealed within 48 hours.
Skeptical opposition leaders welcomed the decisions as ``reasonable first steps'' but vowed to continue daily protest marches until victories in all 14 disputed municipalities are formally recognized and their representatives have taken up their duties.
Vuk Draskovic, one of the coalition's three leaders, said that only then would the opposition agree to meet government officials to ``start a democratic dialogue on freeing the [state-controlled] media'' before parliamentary and presidential elections this year.
Because municipal councils in Serbia do not have significant financial resources, they are largely dependent on institutions controlled by Milosevic. But the councils have the power to investigate corruption and run their own radio and television stations.
That quasi-monopoly over the local media has long helped cement Milosevic's grip on power, and the loss of it in key cities - particularly Belgrade - will weaken him and bolster his opponents in elections this year. In addition, analysts say, the fact that Milosevic appears to have lost a key battle with the opposition could deal him the most telling blow in the coming vote.
LENGTH: Short : 44 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: AP. Radomir Lazarevic, head of Belgrade's electoralby CNBcommission, announces the Together coalition as the winners.