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In Berane Local Assembly Mayor Mitrovic Defects From DPS and Changes Balance of Power: Pro-Serb Parties Take Over in Berane

by S.STOJANOVIC

Vijesti, Podgorica, Montenegro, FR Yugoslavia, March 27, 2001

Local councilors of the SNP, the People's Party (NS), and the Serb People's Party (SNS), with assistance of mayor Sveto Mitrovic, who defected from the DPS, yesterday took control of the local authorities in Berane. The parties of the Serb block, at a session boycotted by the councilors of the DPS and the SDP, dismissed the president of the Municipal Electoral Commission Veselin Dosljak, from the DPS, and instead of him appointed Milan Vukicevic from the People's Party.

The councilors of the SNP, the SNS and the People's Party, following a proposal by mayor Mitrovic decided that Dr. Strahinja Asovic again become the deputy mayor. As a president of the Municipal organization of the People's Party, Asovic resigned from that office after the break up of the coalition "To live better" [consisting of the DPS, the SDP and the People's Party].

At the same time, Mitrovic initiated the process of dismissal of deputy mayors Radivoje Merdovic (DPS) and Mersad Mulic (SDP), and this will be discussed at the next session, as both deputy mayors were absent yesterday. The president of the local assembly stated that the club of local councilor of the DPS had submitted a request for the postponement of the yesterday's session of the local assembly, but the session nevertheless had to be held in order to discuss and adopt the municipal budget for year 2001. Parties of the Serb block and Mitrovic approved a DM3.8 million municipal budget for the year 2001, as well as the final account of the budget for the year 2000.

After the departure of the People's Party from the coalition "To live better", the local authorities in Berane lacked the support of a majority of councilors in the local assembly, because of which the DPS and SDP tried to avoid the holding of a session of the local assembly. Mayor Mitrovic stated last week that he disagreed with the policy of the DPS, which advocates independence for Montenegro. However, he claimed that he would not leave the party before the elections, but would vote for the parties fighting for the survival of Yugoslavia.

Electrical Utility Company Blocked Functioning of Municipal Authorities and Public Companies in Berane: Municipality and Five Local Companies Had Electricity Cut Off Because of Debts

by R.V.

Vijesti, Podgorica, Montenegro, FR Yugoslavia, April 5, 2001

Yesterday all companies in Berane owned and run by the municipal authorities had their electricity cut off because of unpaid bills. This action blocked the functioning of the local authorities, the local housing maintenance company, the information center, the center for culture, the Lim Valley museum, and the sports center. The local authorities owe $75,000 to the electrical utility company. Because of that, but also because of many other problems, including three months of wage arrears, the employees of the municipal companies have announced a strike.

Companies and institutions owned and run by the local authorities, as could be heard at a press conference called yesterday by their management, also have other numerous problems - unpaid phone bills and utility services bills as the Municipality has not been financing their work for a while.

The budget for this year does not specify a program for the work of these companies nor did the owner, the Berane Municipality consult the individuals who submitted proposed programs regarding the financing of the same. Directors of all companies owned and run by the local authorities will pass their views regarding the problems facing them to the local authorities and the Government of Montenegro.

At the most recent session of the local assembly, the councilors announced the dismissal of management in local public companies and institutions, after dismissing members of governing boards from the DPS and the SDP, as well as deputy mayors from these two parties. The last and one before last session of the local assembly were boycotted by the councilors from the ranks of the SDP and the DPS, besides mayor Sveto Mitrovic and Smajo Sabotic, who defected from their party [DPS].

Translated on April 12, 2001