Global Policy Forum

By Paul Anderson

The Serbian parliament has voted in principle to restore some autonomous powers to the northern Serbian province of Vojvodina, which was stripped of its privileges by former President Slobodan Milosevic. The province, which has significant non-Serb ethnic minorities, including Hungarians, lost its autonomous status in 1989, at the same time as Mr Milosevic began the crackdown in Serbia's other autonomous province - Kosovo. Hopes were high after his overthrow 15 months ago of a full restoration of autonomy. But despite earlier pledges from the new democratic leadership, the parliament has stopped short of granting self-rule.

Resistance

Vojvodina is a relatively wealthy area, distinct from the rest of the country because of its Austro-Hungarian rather than Ottoman roots. It is rich in agricultural resources and home to some of Serbia's most successful industries, as well as huge numbers of refugees from the wars in Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo. It generates around 40% of the country's revenue, but sees little of that after Belgrade skims off taxes and other duties. All of that has generated demands for special treatment which Mr Milosevic denied the region's people.

Now, the authorities in the main city, Novi Sad, should get more control over their financial affairs as well as health and social care and the local media, but only if the details of the legislation are passed in coming parliamentary sittings. And there is still plenty of resistance - not just from Mr Milosevic's allies in parliament, but from the party of the Yugoslav President, Vojislav Kostunica. Its members abstained in the vote. Many politicians do not want to go handing out self-rule to regions and provinces before a new post-Milosevic constitution is drawn up.

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