The Press TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1973. Russian interest in Jugoslavia

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33387, 20 November 1973, Page 18

The Press TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1973. Russian interest in Jugoslavia

The talks in Kiev between President Tito, of Jugoslavia, and the Russian Communist Party leader, Mr Brezhnev, are reported to have concerned prospects for broader co-operation between the two countries. When they ended, nothing was said about their content, except that they were held “in an atmosphere of comradeliness and mutual “ understanding ”, It may safely be assumed, however, that President Tito resisted any Russian approaches for a renewed political association. President Tito has emphatically denied that Jugoslavia will again come under Russian influence politically, although he has welcomed Moscow’s offers of assistance in industrial development. He has also denied that his country will be allowed to “ slip “ quietly towards the West and one day become a “ capitalist nation again What he is concerned about is to ensure that Jugoslavia’s particular brand of communism will survive the leadership changes which must follow his own retirement, or death — he is now 80. And he has persisted with a policy of removing from party posts members who are no longer willing to follow the revolutionary line.

Yet there have been some modifications of policy, away from the austere communism that marked the founding of the republic some 25 years ago. The party has slowly retreated from direct management of the economy — which Russian communism has not done — leaving power shared between the State, workers’ councils, and the mechanisms of the market. It has set out, successfully, to attract tourists and to benefit from the earnings of an estimated million Jugoslavs working elsewhere in Europe, who send home most of what they earn. In this atmosphere of political and economic independence — Jugoslavia regards itself as the leader of the non-aligned countries — it may be wondered what Mr Brezhnev and, before him, Mr Kosygin, have had to offer. Jugoslavia still needs capital for investment in the creation of employment. There are some 400,000 unemployed, and living costs continue to rise faster than wages; and there would be grave concern if circumstances compelled the return of workers now abroad.

Hopes of West German credits, raised when Mr Brandt was in Belgrade last April, have not materialised. There have also been difficulties over the use of Russian credits. Jugoslav firms have not found it easy to raise their share of the finance required for development, nor are Jugoslav buyers interested in high-priced Russian goods, or the low wages offered for Jugoslav participation in their manufacture. It is clear that Russia’s show of interest in Jugoslavia’s internal affairs stems from the hope that, when President Tito has gone, more malleable leaders may emerge. There is little sign of any such development as yet, with President Tito still firmly in command. He showed that in June, when he dismissed his special adviser on security, General Miscovic, who wanted wider powers, after the Russian pattern, for his own agents. It is certain that at this late stage of his guidance of his country, President Tito is giving searching attention to the problem of the succession.