Serbian strongman's death threatens to spark political crisi
Posted: 3/13/2006, 10:20 am
Talk about being stuck between a rock and a hard place... geez
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ ... ional/home
The funeral places Serbia's government, considered moderate and pro-European though it is supported by some radical nationalist parties, in an extremely awkward position.
To allow a state funeral, which appears necessary under Serbian laws, they will have to allow entry to Mr. Milosevic's wife and adult children, who are reportedly living in hiding in Russia. His wife, Mirjana Markovic, faces charges for ordering the assassination of a rival.
To grant the family immunity and to allow them to preside over a huge funeral at a moment when even moderate Serbs are feeling sympathy for Mr. Milosevic could reignite the ultranationalist cause.
But to refuse them admission or to reduce the scope of the funeral could cause the family to hold it in Russia instead, a prospect that would further embitter the Serbian people, possibly driving them even more dramatically into the hands of the radicals.
Serbian officials wrestled with these choices yesterday and said they were not even close to reaching a conclusion. Their government is already extremely fragile. It is in the midst of international talks over the status of Kosovo, the country's embattled southern province, that will likely lead to its independence, further embittering Serbs.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ ... ional/home
The funeral places Serbia's government, considered moderate and pro-European though it is supported by some radical nationalist parties, in an extremely awkward position.
To allow a state funeral, which appears necessary under Serbian laws, they will have to allow entry to Mr. Milosevic's wife and adult children, who are reportedly living in hiding in Russia. His wife, Mirjana Markovic, faces charges for ordering the assassination of a rival.
To grant the family immunity and to allow them to preside over a huge funeral at a moment when even moderate Serbs are feeling sympathy for Mr. Milosevic could reignite the ultranationalist cause.
But to refuse them admission or to reduce the scope of the funeral could cause the family to hold it in Russia instead, a prospect that would further embitter the Serbian people, possibly driving them even more dramatically into the hands of the radicals.
Serbian officials wrestled with these choices yesterday and said they were not even close to reaching a conclusion. Their government is already extremely fragile. It is in the midst of international talks over the status of Kosovo, the country's embattled southern province, that will likely lead to its independence, further embittering Serbs.
