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  Serbian Reform Stalls Again

Belgrade/Brussels, 17 July 2003: Strong and consistent international pressure is needed to ensure that the reform process in Serbia continues towards the goal of European integration. There were a number of important and positive steps taken after the assassination of Premier Zoran Djindjic, but genuine reformers are again being hampered by strong obstructionist forces within the army, police and security services (BIA) and the government itself. And should they challenge these forces too openly, the reformers risk suffering the same fate as Mr Djindjic.

A report published today by the International Crisis Group, Serbian Reform Stalls Again*, describes new and troubling signs of obstruction to military reform, increasing restrictions on the media, serious abuse of prisoners including torture, no real judicial reform, stalled cooperation with The Hague Tribunal (ICTY), and reluctance to mount a real fight against organised crime and corruption.

ICG Serbia Project Director Dr James Lyon said: “The government appears to be unable to pursue reforms due to excessive dependence on the Milosevic-era financial oligarchy and strong obstruction from within a largely unreformed state security and army sector. As a result, the popularity of the Democratic Party (DS) and the new premier, Zoran Zivkovic, is sliding. Public quarrels have erupted in the ruling DOS coalition, and the DS is increasingly turning to Milosevic’s old allies and defectors from other right-wing nationalist parties”.

In the current political environment there is little hope of continuing real reform. New elections are needed if the ruling coalition is to have a chance of getting a clear mandate to carry out far reaching changes. However, it is uncertain whether the government will risk advancing the next elections, which are not due until autumn 2004.

ICG Europe Program Director Nicholas Whyte said: “The only real way for the international community to assist Serbia’s reformers is to provide them with political cover to carry out the hard choices needed to clear the rubble of the Milosevic era. This means applying strict conditions to all assistance, with annual reviews requiring the government to reach certain benchmarks”.

These benchmarks should include compliance with Council of Europe human rights standards, cooperation with the ICTY, progress in reforming the judiciary, tackling organised crime and corruption, disbanding the Security-Information Agency (BIA), bringing the military under civilian control and removing war criminals from the top ranks of the army, police and BIA. European integration is not simply a matter of saying the right things in public. Until Serbia’s politicians realise that the European home is built with functioning institutions and respect for the rule of law, Serbia will continue to make only virtual reforms.


Media Contacts: Katy Cronin (London) +44 20 7981 0330 [email protected]
Francesca Lawe-Davies (Brussels) +32-(0)2-536 00 65
Jennifer Leonard (Washington) +1-202-785 1601
*Read the report in full on our website: http://www.crisisweb.org/

The International Crisis Group (ICG) is an independent, non-profit, multinational organisation, with over 90 staff members on five continents, working through field-based analysis and high-level advocacy to prevent and resolve deadly conflict.



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