(15 Jan 1998) English/Nat
The U-S has blasted Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic for not restraining the outgoing president of Montenegro, who led 10-thousand demonstrators in a protest that turned into a riot in the streets of Podgorica on Wednesday night.
The U-S envoy for the former Yugoslavia, Robert Gelbard, said he held Milosevic responsible for supporting the demonstration.
The outgoing president of Montenegro, Momir Bulatovic, is refusing to accept election results which saw his rival, Milan Djukanovic, win and has led three days of demonstrations against him.
He is due to inaugurated later on Thursday.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"The United States government is deeply concerned, and the international community I think I can say on our mutual behalf, is deeply offended by the absolutely outrageous behaviour by outgoing President Bulatovic in inciting these illegal riots yesterday and last night completely in contravention with international law and all accepted standards. Bulatovic made it very clear to me when he and I met on Monday that the accepted the results of the election. I was offended personally and on behalf of my government that he then denied that later in the day. His subsequent behaviour makes it very clear that he is not a person who lives by international standards or accepts democracy. I hold him responsible along with his collaborators for this outrageous illegal behaviour and I also have to hold President Milosevic for supporting these demonstrations and for not restraining his colleague Mr. Bulatovic for this kind of outrageous behaviour. The United States government supports the election of president elect Djukanovic and we expect to see his inauguration take place peacefully and expect to see no interference in his ability to implement the government which he will be putting into place."
SUPER CAPTION: Robert Gelbard, U-S Envoy to former Yugoslavia
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Until and unless the government of this country and its political leaders come to accept that international standards of behaviour and democratic processes, and recognition and acceptance of democratic processes are what the world expects to happen - sanctions will not be lifted, we feel great sympathy for the people of Yugoslavia but its leadership has to be held accountable and taken to account for this kind of outrageous behaviour."
SUPER CAPTION: Robert Gelbard, U-S Envoy to former Yugoslavia
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