Yugoslavs Reach Impasse Over New Federation
Feuding ethnic leaders of Yugoslavia’s six republics remained deadlocked Friday after eight hours of talks on the future of the federation.
The leaders agreed to meet again on March 12.
President Franjo Tudjman of the pro-secession Croatian republic refused to attend the sixth session convened this year, accusing the Communist-ruled Serbian republic of threatening him with arrest on treason charges.
“Talks are to be resumed because nobody wants to take responsibility for the collapse,” Slovenian President Milan Kucan told reporters after Friday’s session.
Croatia and Slovenia, two republics that replaced Communist governments in May in Yugoslavia’s first multi-party parliamentary elections in 45 years, advocate that the federation of 23 million people be transformed into a confederation of independent states.
Serbia, the largest republic, and the Yugoslav military, which is dominated by Serbian generals, want to safeguard the federation based on Marxism.
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