Belgrade, 27 August 2002 (RFE/RL) -- Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica said today that the Constitutional Charter for a reshaped union of Serbia and Montenegro is invalid. Leaders from Serbia and Montenegro agreed yesterday on the Constitutional Charter that would formally end the Yugoslav Federation. They sent the document to the European Union and to Kostunica, who did not take part in the writing of the latest version.
However, Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic, Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic, and other key officials refused to attend a meeting last night that was called by Kostunica. Djindjic's allies said the meeting was unnecessary because the Serbian and Montenegrin governments have already backed the document.
But Kostunica said the refusal to hold the meeting means the issue is "back at the beginning, where we were months ago." Kostunica is campaigning against an ally of Djindjic for the post of Serbian president in an election due at the end of September.
However, Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic, Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic, and other key officials refused to attend a meeting last night that was called by Kostunica. Djindjic's allies said the meeting was unnecessary because the Serbian and Montenegrin governments have already backed the document.
But Kostunica said the refusal to hold the meeting means the issue is "back at the beginning, where we were months ago." Kostunica is campaigning against an ally of Djindjic for the post of Serbian president in an election due at the end of September.