Yugoslav Parliament OKs Moves to Ease Crisis

Parliament on Saturday approved a package of constitutional amendments designed to make the economy more market-oriented and ease the worst economic crisis since World War II.

The amendments also would give Serbia more control over its autonomous provinces of Kosovo and Vojvodina. The crisis has been fueled by hundreds of thousands of Serbs protesting the alleged harassment of Serbs in Kosovo by the majority ethnic Albanians.

Strong opposition to the 34 measures approved by Parliament is expected when they are submitted for consideration by the legislatures of each of Yugoslavia’s six republics and two provinces.

Meanwhile, the government approved price increases of up to 53% on meat and 60% on bread, two days after Parliament eased an unpopular austerity program by allowing salary raises for some workers.

The wage increases of between 140% and 152% for this year will only partially compensate for falling living standards because inflation is now at 217%.

The economic amendments were designed to help ease a crisis that has reduced living standards by one-half since 1980.

They provide for less state interference, greater private and foreign investment and more market mechanisms in the economy, such as closing unprofitable enterprises and dismissing unnecessary or undisciplined workers.

The moves to give Serbia more control over Vojvodina and Kosovo and a controversial proposal for army financing are likely to meet particularly stiff resistance in regional legislatures.

Serbia would increase its control over Kosovo’s largely ethnic Albanian judiciary, which Serbs contend is biased against them.

The reforms also would require Kosovo pupils to study according to programs drawn up in Serbia. The object is to broaden the non-Albanian cultural background given to ethnic Albanian pupils.