885096457

JPRS-EER-91-053 25 April 1991

POLITICAL

29

“Those who believe that Markovic is facing a big crisis and that he is prepared for anything are not few,“ writes the paper, adding that in this context “one may also talk of a potential danger of a military mediation in Yugo-slavia in alliance with Antę Markovic.”

It says that “Markovic is in a hopeless position" and that the “only question is whether he is fully aware of that.”

DELO holds that the “point in question is Markovic’s definitive stepping down from the Yugoslav political scene,” which it says “would bring two major benefits to all—the process of reaching an understanding among the republics in Yugoslavia would be concluded without hindrance, and the world would get rid of a tiresome illusion that there is a man in Yugoslavia who can save it from breaking up by a kind of a reform programme.’’

“What Yugoslavia nceds at present is a caretaker gov-emment, not some sort of a political ‘ideologist,"’ con-cludes the paper, mentioning President of the Yugoslav Chamber of Economy Dagmar Suster as a possible new prime minister.

Demos Leader on Slovenia’s Independence

91BA0507A Ljubljana NEODVISNI DNEVNIK in Slovene 6 Apr 91 pp 4-5

[Interview with Dr. Joze Pucnik by Jak Koprivc; place and datę not givcn: “Everyone in His Own Little Garden!“)

[Text] [Koprivc] Why are you so aggressive with criti-cisms that Slovenia is too slow in seceding, or sepa-rating?

[Pucnik] My assessment of events on Yugoslav territory forccs me to do so. In the first place, the internal political difficulties in Serbia havc shifted the interest of Serbian politicians to Serbian events only. On the fcderal level, that has created somewhat morę maneuvering room for Markovic and his concept of a unitaristic federation. At this time, it seems to me that Markovic is just as much of a danger to Slovene independence as Milosevic or Jovic, if not morę so. There have been some indications that Markovic is now entering into a coalition with the Army. That can be dangerous, sińce Markovic still has what in my opinion is an unjustified reputation in the Western world, where he is thought to be a market-oriented economist and a democrat. Because of that reputation, a coalition between Markovic and Kadijevic, and possibly someone else, is a potential danger to the independence of Slovenia, and that is why it is necessary to hurry. The other thing is the collapse of the economy, both Slovene and Yugoslav. I am interested primarily in the Slovene economy. It is necessary to prevent that collapse through radical economic reform, but for that we need a healthy banking system. We will not create a healthy, reliablc banking system without settling the monetary issue. In order to settle the monetary issue, we need sovereignty and our own currency, or some other monetary link, for instance, with Croatia or someone else. At any ratę, that issue has to be resolved, bccause as far as I am concerned it is the premise, the condition, for settling our economic situation. There is no morę time. We cannot afford to ncgotiate for another six months, going to Split or Belgrade or wherever; there is quite simply no time. We are adults. Very cxperienced politicians who know Yugo-slavia—who are negotiating. Why is it necessary to talk so much? The talks should be brought to an end, and we should begin to try to solve the everyday ordinary problems—everyone in his own little garden, and Slove-nia, of course, in Slovenia. A few days ago a sort of mild—one might say hypocritical—Bałkan form of a military coup happcned in Belgrade. These are harsh words, but the wording of the announcement from the generał Staff does not allow different interpretations. That is why I think that it is necessary to speed up the federation’s death throes. We Slovenes must become independent, and as soon as possible. I myself supported having that done constitutionally and legally back at the last session of the republic assembly, but the actual process for that independence is longer, of course.

Impatience, Adventurism?

[Koprivc] Obviously, there is no consensus on this in your coalition.

[Pucnik] There have been serious objections, from cer-tain ministers as well, that allegedly everything necessary for that has not been done yet.

[Koprivc] Some peoplc in your ranks and in the opposi-tion are criticizing you for impatience, and even adven-turism...

[Pucnik] So far I have not been criticized in Demos for adventures, but some renovators there are trying to discredit me; some people there still believe in the federation, as they did a year ago.

[Koprivc] A considerable number of people think that Yugoslavia should not be abandoned crudely, by cutting off all ties. There is also increasing criticism that the economic situation is getting worse and worse, and they blame the present authorities for that.

[Pucnik] Do not forget that the economy was in a total mess when we assumed power. That is why it is very surprising that some people are still trying to prove that it has been worse for everyone sińce Demos came to power.

[Koprivc] Are all the steps that you have taken here in Yugoslavia and in Europę the optimal ones, however?

[Pucnik] I am in favor of analyzing this, without our being attacked on the basis of demagogie positions: “We in the opposition are for the standard of living, the ruling Demos coalition is against the standard of living.“ I am in favor of Professional criticism and analysis of indi-vidual specific problems, and not just theoretical ones. When I take an interest in criticism within Demos, I am also thinking of criticism outsidc Demos—with the same