Clinton Administration Hails Yugoslav Opposition's Victory Amid Widespread Uncertainty

The Clinton administration has hailed the Yugoslav opposition's surprise victory, with President Clinton praising the "brave people" for choosing change and warning that President Slobodan Milosevic may still try to "cling to power at the expense of his people." Despite the uncertainty surrounding the outcome, the administration has concluded that Milosevic has lost his legitimacy and that the opposition movement, led by Vojislav Kostunica, has successfully organized a fast parallel vote count, announcing a credible 54.66% victory.

Key Takeaways:

• The Clinton administration has concluded that President Slobodan Milosevic has lost his legitimacy and that the opposition movement, led by Vojislav Kostunica, has successfully organized a fast parallel vote count.
• The opposition movement announced a credible 54.66% victory, while Milosevic's forces claimed 40.23% and the opposition 48.22% in a second round of voting that has been called for October 8.
• Senior officials said that signs of fissures within Milosevic's ruling circle and evidence of paralysis in his government indicate that he has finally lost his magic and is no longer invincible in the eyes of his people.
• The decision by Milosevic to call a second round of voting is seen as a desperate effort to buy time and may indicate that he either failed to set up an efficient scheme to steal votes or that he would have had to steal too many to make a credible claim.
• The administration has expressed hope that in the next two weeks, the opposition will create even more of a steamroller, and that Milosevic will not be able to withstand it.
• It is also possible that Milosevic could try to cut a deal with Kostunica, and that he could create some kind of crisis, such as an intervention in Montenegro or a cancellation of the election.
• The administration tried to weave a delicate balance between showing support for the opposition and keeping a distance to avoid offending Yugoslavia's voters.
• Mr. Kostunica, a proud Serbian nationalist, has expressed anti-American sentiments and has criticized the West's war in Kosovo and the presence of NATO peacekeepers.
• The administration has expressed concern that Kostunica's anti-American stance may lead to a rapprochement between the two countries.

Statistics:

• $25 million: the amount of support given by the Clinton administration to the Yugoslav opposition for get-out-the-vote groups and independent news media.
• 54.66%: the percentage of the vote won by Kostunica, according to the opposition's parallel vote count.
• 40.23%: the percentage of the vote claimed by Milosevic's forces.
• 48.22%: the percentage of the vote claimed by the opposition, according to Milosevic's forces.
• 1991: the year when Milosevic called out tanks against protestors in Belgrade.
• 1995: the year when NATO air raids took place in Bosnia.

Sources:

• The New York Times, September 26, 2000.
• Reuters, September 26, 2000.
• Agence France-Presse, September 26, 2000.
• BBC News, September 26, 2000.