Milosevic to 'win Kosovo elections'

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BELGRADE, Yugoslavia -- Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic is predicted to gain most from controversial elections due to take place in troubled Kosovo later this month.

Despite United Nations officials expressing unease about voting taking place in the province for Yugoslavia's federal elections, Milosevic said he plans to go-ahead and set up polling stations.

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Yugoslav authorities will be solely in charge for collecting votes and setting up polling stations as well as canvassing voters.

Milosevic is expected to be the only candidate to gain from the move as the Albanian majority population will abstain from taking part, leaving only Serbs to cast their votes in favour of his Socialist Party.

Bernard Kouchner, head of the U.N. Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), said the Yugoslav elections would not be democratic so he could not support them.

"For us, these particular so-called elections are not fair, open and democratic elections and UNMIK will not support these elections, will not organize these elections," Kouchner said in the Kosovo capital Pristina.

"But we will offer security for the people because we are in charge of security," the former French cabinet minister added. Kosovo legally remains part of Serb-dominated Yugoslavia but has been run as a de facto international protectorate since June last year, after NATO's bombing campaign to end Serb action against the province's ethnic Albanian majority.

Kouchner said the elections would be seen as "provocative" to angry Albanians who want complete independence for the province.

The Yugoslav authorities have called federal presidential and parliamentary elections and Serbian municipal elections, all for September 24. Milosevic said last week that he intended to go ahead and stage elections in Kosovo.

Serbs are outnumbered by Albanians in many parts of Kosovo and face intimidation, but they are expected to risk their safety to get to the polls.

Alessio Vinci, CNN's Belgrade bureau chief, said: "In large parts of Kosovo it is very difficult, if not impossible, to set up polls for Yugoslavian authorities.

"In large parts it is dangerous for Serbs to go out to buy milk and bread, let alone take part in elections.

"Kosovo Albanians do not want, and even do not recognise, the elections.

"But in some parts of Kosovo where many Serbs live it is likely that polling stations will be able to be put up by Yugoslav authorities -- they are talking about hundreds."

He added: "Many observers believe this is where Milosevic could, or will, try and steal some votes.

"Kosovo is very difficult for anybody to control these polling stations."

Despite lagging behind in the polls to his rival Voijslav Kostunica, head of the Democratic Opposition of Serbia party, Milosevic is predicted to stay in power.

One of Milosevic's main potential rivals Ivan Stambolic, president through the 1980s, is still missing after disappearing while out jogging near his home in a Belgrade suburb last month.

Opposition parties say Stambolic, who had been Milosevic's patron before he was overthrown by his protege, had been kidnapped.

Steve Crawshaw, former European editor at the British newspaper the Independent, forecast only large demonstrations, similar to the ones that took place in Belgrade during 1996, would topple him.

"The opposition lacks a charismatic leader," he told CNN. "Vuk Draskovic is more in the background and Kostunica is not a charismatic figure.

"Milosevic has always managed to win. He has given himself an eternal life in the constitution.

"He could still be there in eight to nine years. There is a minimal chance of getting rid of him through elections."

Crawshaw added that nothing changed during elections because of the "general apathy" in the country.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Milosevic faces pressure after ex-premier's disappearance
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Polls point to the unimaginable: election loss for Milosevic
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September 1, 2000

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