International Independent Tito shrugs off pressure from East and West

Press, 22 June 1978, Page 7

International Independent Tito shrugs off pressure from East and West

AZ PA-Reuter Belgrade President Josip Tito, in a speech clearly designed as a political testament, has reaffirmed Yugoslavia’s determination to go its own unorthodox way, resisting any attempts to draw back into the Soviet orbit.

The 86-year-old president, the only important World War II figure still alive and in power, made it clear Yugoslavia was not willing to vield to any pressure from East or West to modify its independent stance. Marshal Tito, who has trodden a delicate path between the two blocs for three decades, told more than 2000 delegates at the opening session of the Yugoslav Communist Party congress in Belgrade he would accept no “universal models” for a Socialist society — a clear rebuff to the Kremlin. The four-day congress, attended by senior representatives of 130 Socialist parties, including the Soviet bloc, coincides exactly with the thirty-ninth anniversary of Tito's historic split with the Soviet bloc after defying Stalin. Marshal Tito, who spent weeks of seclusion at his Adriatic island retreat of! Brioni drafting his speech,' said world developments ■ vindicated his political I stand.

.| He spoke for almost an I hour without faltering, and i I looked suntanned and rob- i ■lust, as he gave an analysis >jof developments in the communist movement and the i) world. The Yugoslav leader, a . ■ founder-member of the ■world communist movement, 1 ■ warned of a dangerous worsening in relations between h Washington and Moscow. I “Detente in relations be- ■ tween the great powers has : broken down . . . the threat of an outbreak of war not (only at a local level but '' even on a world scale, can;not be excluded.” he said. ,i While the Middle East I •i posed the greatest threat to I [ world peace, the super- j J Powers were also interfering; i in Africa, turning it into an) area of perilous rivalry be-1 ! tween East and West, he ; declared. On the home front, President Tito reasserted his ) commitment to Yugoslavia’s ■system of workers’ self-man-lagement, but voiced unexpectedly harsh criticism of i shortcomings in the economy and the ruling party. i

He said the economy was suffering from a vast trade deficit, low productivity, and misguided investments, while the party itself gave room for bureaucratic hacks, leading to “an unprincipled scramble for offices and positions, which is causing us serious political harm.” The congress on Tuesday split into six commissions, each responsible for an area of party policy, to hold discussions until tomorrow, when delegates will elect a new . 24-seat Presidency to replace the unwieldy body of 48. Its composition of trusted and loyal lieutenants of President Tito is a foreigone conclusion. Marshal Tito, life president of both party and ) State, has still to designate )an heir-apparent. Yugoslav politicians strongly tip Mr Edvard Kardelj as his successor.

Mr Kardelj, a 68-year-old Slovene, is President Tito’s closest aide and has served as his chief ideologist for three decades.