Serbia Congress of the socialist Party Cuba Columbus and after IMF Protest marches in Washington

Asima Basu, from Belgrade

The Socialist party of Serbia (SPS),ruling party in Serbia, held on February 17,2000, its fourth congress since the foundation of the party in July 1990 following the break up of the League of Communists of Yugoslavia "LCY" in January 1990.

Opening the Congress at Belgrade's Congress Centre" Sava" held under the slogan "renewal, development and reform", Yugoslav President Mr Slobodan Milosevic, founder and President of SPS said "It is ten years since the formation of the Socialist Party of Serbia. These ten years it (SPS) stood at the head of our nation in the struggle for survival, freedom and independence and succeeded in that struggle and succeeded in that struggle to endure and win. Today the name of Serbia and our people is linked to the struggle for freedom and enjoys the solidarity and support
of all the freedom loving people countries in the world".

Mr. Milosevic added that the presence of representatives of political parties from the entire world at the Congress was the biggest support to the policy of SPS and struggle for freedom of the country and its people.

Representatives of about 100 parties from 60 countries from all the continets reportedly were
present at the Congress.

The congress, which was attended by 2314 delegates unanimously, re-elected Slobodan Milosevic as the President of the Socilaist Party of Serbia. Mr. Milosevic has been holding the post of the President of SPS since its foundation in July 1990.

The NATO, West and the opposition in Serbia came under fire at the Congress. General Secretary of SPS Miss Gorica Gajevic slammed the West. She said the U.S. Administration and its marionettes were still stirring up disintegration process in this land, were trying to annul the results of the struggle of the Serbian people in the Serb entity "Srpska Republika"(RS) in Bosnia, Kosovo was grabbed by force and there were attempts to separate Serbia and Montenegro (the two Republics which form Yugoslavia).Miss Gajevic said "Today the big powers of the world want to isolate us as a state and people, to devide and punish as our endurance in independence does not suit the global strategy of submission and shaping of the world on the principles of force and dictate".

Mrs Gajevic said that the aggression of NATO against Yugoslavia would remain written in the history as crime against peace and humanity. "The aim of the aggressor was our subjection that is it why attacked our country. We did not attack anyone-our aim was to defend" she said and
added "NATO did not fulfil its aim we defended ours". "Serbia and Yugoslavia have sovereignty and integrity over Kosovo, Kosovo was, is and will remain Serbia. Our state organs will return
to Kosovo", said Miss Gajevic and called upon the KFOR(Internationalforce in Kosovo) and UN civil mission UNMIK to leave Kosovo immediately, what according to her ,would be the only and just contribution to the solution of the crisis and would give chance to the political process for political solution which would respect Yugoslavia's territorial integrity and sovereignty and the rights of all who live in Kosovo.
Gorica Gajevic said the opposition in Serbia was" co-opearting with the criminals who devastated our country and killed our people" and accused them of treason.

Talking about the slogan of the Congress "renewal, development and reform", Miss Gajevic said development meant realization of the projects in the fields of industry, agricukture, transport, communication, tourism-wherever the country has comparative advantage. "We shall realize these projects alone or with others. Pressures of sanctions will not stop us in that, they can of course stall and make it difficult as they did till now. We know the potentials of our country and our people", Gajevic said.

She said "we shall change everything that stands in the way of renewal and development -laws, institutions and people who stall these (renewal and development) don’t implement them
quickly and efficiently".

According to her reform would mean changes meaning efficient economy, cheap administration, further development of democracy, minimum possible risk of existence of individuals, familie and people-the aim in one word is better life of our citizens". Mrs Gajevic said.