Bratislava, 21 July 1999 (RFE/RL) - Representatives of
Yugoslavia's opposition groups met today in the Slovak capital, Bratislava, to discuss the reconstruction of post-war Yugoslavia. The meeting was hosted by Eduard Kukan, the Slovak foreign minister and a UN special envoy to Kosovo. Members of opposition groups at the meeting called for a common front to take action against the government of Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic. However, Vuk Draskovic and Zoran Djindjic, the leaders of Yugoslavia's two most powerful opposition groups -- the Serbian Renewal Party and Democratic Party -- did not attend today's meeting.
So far, Yugoslavia's opposition has not been able to create a unified front against Milosevic, but the leader of Yugoslavia's New Democracy Party, Dusan Mihajlovic, said he believes an agreement between Draskovic and Djindjic is a question of "when" not "if."
Meanwhile, KFOR spokesman Louis Garneau said peacekeeping troops today seized weapons, including rifles, rocket-propelled grenades and anti-personnel mines, from two villages near Pec. One of the villages was Albanian, the other Serbian.
Garneau said, however, that KFOR is satisfied with the Kosovo Liberation Army's (UCK) compliance in turning over its heavy weapons. The UCK had agreed to turn over its heavy weapons by midnight tonight. The final deadline for the UCK's demilitarization is Sept. 19.
In Belgrade, the Yugoslav Army chief-of-staff, General Dragoljub Ojdanic, said that 524 Yugoslav soldiers were killed during the 11 weeks of NATO air strikes. NATO estimates have been much higher.
So far, Yugoslavia's opposition has not been able to create a unified front against Milosevic, but the leader of Yugoslavia's New Democracy Party, Dusan Mihajlovic, said he believes an agreement between Draskovic and Djindjic is a question of "when" not "if."
Meanwhile, KFOR spokesman Louis Garneau said peacekeeping troops today seized weapons, including rifles, rocket-propelled grenades and anti-personnel mines, from two villages near Pec. One of the villages was Albanian, the other Serbian.
Garneau said, however, that KFOR is satisfied with the Kosovo Liberation Army's (UCK) compliance in turning over its heavy weapons. The UCK had agreed to turn over its heavy weapons by midnight tonight. The final deadline for the UCK's demilitarization is Sept. 19.
In Belgrade, the Yugoslav Army chief-of-staff, General Dragoljub Ojdanic, said that 524 Yugoslav soldiers were killed during the 11 weeks of NATO air strikes. NATO estimates have been much higher.