New Montenegro President Warns Milosevic on Need for Reforms

The new leader of Montenegro put Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic on notice Thursday to reform or face a possible bid for autonomy in his own backyard.

Milo Djukanovic was inaugurated as president of the small republic of Montenegro, one of only two republics remaining in Yugoslavia, after a night of protest that left 51 people injured.

Djukanovic narrowly defeated a Milosevic ally in October. But 10,000 protesters who refused to accept the defeat marched to the government building Wednesday night and were met by police firing tear gas.

In his inaugural address, Djukanovic indicated that he would prefer Montenegro stay in Yugoslavia but said he might seek a referendum on autonomy or independence if Milosevic’s policies don’t change.

“Only the people of Montenegro, and no one else outside Montenegro, can decide on its status within Yugoslavia,” he said. “Without equal rights for both Serbia and Montenegro, there is no Yugoslavia.”

Djukanovic was inaugurated in the palace of the kings who ruled independent Montenegro until 1918, a reminder of Montenegro’s separate identity from Serbia, the other, larger Yugoslav republic.

On Wednesday, supporters of Momir Bulatovic, the incumbent defeated by Djukanovic, threw stones and Molotov cocktails. Police responded with tear gas and detained 13 people overnight, said Vuk Boskovic, Montenegro’s deputy interior minister.