Milosevic Rival Shakes Up Campaign

By Katarina Kratovac
Associated Press Writer
Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2000; 7:58 a.m. EDT

NOVI SAD, Yugoslavia -- Stanko Saric pushed his way past the women
holding their babies and farmers extending their hands. In front at last, he
handed a jar of his prized honey to the man challenging Slobodan
Milosevic in upcoming presidential elections.

"You see?" Saric said, his black mustache twitching in excitement after
shaking the hand of Vojislav Kostunica. "I can talk to him! He is the one I
want for my president."

Saric is one of thousands swarming to see Kostunica, a law professor
who has dared take on Milosevic in Sunday's national elections. Wherever
Kostunica goes, from village to town across Serbia, people rush to
embrace him, an ordinary man like themselves who has rekindled faith
long lost among the Serbs.

Many in the crowds are feverish, chanting with passion and conviction.
More than 20,000 spilled last week onto the streets in Novi Sad, Serbia's
second-largest city, to wave banners and thunder in unison: "Kostunica,
save us from this madhouse!"

Sentiments flow easily from those suffering the fatigue of Milosevic's
decade in power - marked by four Balkan wars and a descent into
isolation and economic misery.

They rush to see the soft-spoken academic who dares campaign, going
door-to-door throughout this troubled land of 10 million - an unusual act
in a country where the aloof president is kept on a pedestal, away from
masses.

He has even inspired suggestions that his candidacy fulfills an old
prophecy embedded in legend here that one day, Serbia would be saved
by a man with the same family name as his ancestral village.

Enter Kostunica, whose roots go back to Kostunici, a village on the
slopes of Mount Suvobor. The 400 peasants living there today swear his
name alone is proof he is the country's savior.

Shy and lacking frills, Kostunica, 56, seems an unlikely hero. He's never
held a major office, speaks in low monotones, and is known for gray suits
and dark circles under his eyes. Though he once dreamed of playing
professional basketball, constitutional law proved more absorbing.

More important to voters, though, he has never been involved in the
scandals and shady deals linked to ruling officials. His campaign poster
simply reads: "Who can look you straight in the eyes?"

Overwhelmed by bursts of euphoria at his rallies, the demure professor
seems startled and says he "only wanted to talk to the people, hear their
troubles."

"Of course I am encouraged by all this rebirth of hope but I am also aware
of the tremendous responsibility," Kostunica said. "Along with despair,
decade-long bitterness and humiliation, there is faith in some sort of divine
justice."

Picked by an alliance of 18 opposition parties, Kostunica has long
hovered on the fringes of Serbia's political scene. A fervent
anti-communist, he was fired in 1974 from Belgrade Law School.

Fifteen years later, Milosevic's Socialists offered him his job back, but
Kostunica refused, founded the Democratic Party of Serbia and has led it
ever since. He was always critical of the "falsely reformed, renamed
communists, like Milosevic."

Kostunica's personal and political consistency, steadfast belief in rule of
law and Serb patriotism are qualities which endear him to average voters.

"He appeals to all, disillusioned nationalists, traditionalists, monarchists,
urbanites, farmers, refugees and the young," says Belgrade political analyst
Aleksandar Tijanic. "In a fair ballot, Kostunica would undoubtedly win."

In a country still recovering from NATO bombings last year and where
Milosevic scorns opponents as Western stooges, Kostunica has
succeeded in mixing the right dose of criticism and tactical distance from
the West.

"We have to make our peace with Europe and the world," he said.

Until last week, Milosevic paid little heed to Kostunica's campaign,
despite trailing in every independent opinion poll. But when Kostunica
came to a northern Serb enclave in Kosovo, Milosevic's supporters pelted
him with stones, hitting him squarely under the eye.

Kostunica simply wiped the blood from his cheek and suggested that
Milosevic must be frightened in order to react with violence.

Days later in Novi Sad, he warned the throngs that Milosevic was ready
to rig the vote or even resort to force to secure victory Sunday.

"Milosevic's regime has stolen years of our lives," Kostunica said as he
wrapped up the rally in Novi Sad. "And now it's preparing the theft of the
century."

© Copyright 2000 The Associated Press