Yugoslav reformers agree cabinet line-up

Backers of Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica have chosen their ministers for a new government.

BELGRADE, Yugoslavia -- Yugoslavia has moved a step closer to a new federal government as backers of reformist President Vojislav Kostunica said they had agreed on their cabinet line-up.

Vladan Batic, a leader of the Democratic Opposition of Serbia bloc, announced a list of ministers the alliance would provide in the new government after talks with Kostunica and prime minister-designate Zoran Zizic.

"The federal parliament will hold a session on Friday, when the new government will be voted on and then constituted," independent news agency Beta quoted Batic as saying on Monday.

The DOS, which united to defeat Kostunica's autocratic predecessor Slobodan Milosevic in elections last month, is to provide around 10 ministers in the new government, expected to be slimmed down to about 15 ministries from 28.

The Socialist People's Party (SNP) from Montenegro, Serbia's junior partner in the Yugoslav federation, will supply most of the other ministers, including Zizic himself.

DOS will have Miroljub Labus, an expert from the G-17 Plus group of economists, as deputy prime minister who will also be in charge of foreign economic relations, Batic said.

Goran Svilanovic, leader of the Civic Alliance of Serbia party and a law specialist, will be foreign minister. Zoran Zivkovic, the popular mayor of the city of Nis, will take charge of the interior ministry.

The SNP has not yet announced who will occupy the ministries likely to go to its members, such as finance and defence.

Zizic said another party, the Serb People's Party of Montenegro, might also have a seat in the new government.

Copyright 2000 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

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