The German Chancellor, Mr Gerhard Schroder, and Russian President Vladimir Putin have agreed that last week's victory of Mr Vojislav Kostunica in Yugoslavia's presidential election was a "clear expression of the will of the Serbian people for change", according to a statement issued yesterday by the federal government in Berlin.
The two leaders were anxious to resolve the electoral dispute in a peaceful way, the statement said, warning against "any steps that could lead to violence".
Significantly, however, the Kremlin has as yet refused to confirm the statement. It says it has no information about the conversation the Berlin government says took place between the two leaders on Saturday when this position was reportedly agreed.
Public expression of any decisive pro-Kostunica opinion would reflect a dramatic change of heart by Mr Putin, who has so far steered clear of taking sides in the electoral dispute and has criticised the West for doing so.
The Chancellor's office in Berlin stood by its statement last night. A spokesman told The Irish Times it was an accurate reflection of the telephone conversation between the two leaders. "Mr Putin knows that Mr Kostunica got more than 50 per cent of the vote and we are just edging towards a public acknowledgement of that," the spokesman said.
The federal election commission in Belgrade puts Mr Kostunica's share of the poll at 48.96 per cent, less than the 50 per cent required to avoid a run-off ballot with President Slobodan Milosevic.
The content and timing of the release appear to have the express purpose of increasing pressure on President Milosevic to recognise claims by the opposition and the West that he had been defeated by Mr Kostunica in the presidential election. It also appears designed to pin down Mr Putin on a definite point of view on Mr Milosevic's election defeat after previously unsuccessful attempts.
Mr Schroder said after talks in Moscow last Monday that Mr Putin agreed the people of Yugoslavia had voted for change, whereas Mr Putin made no reference to the matter.
Mr Putin's apparent change of heart comes as Russia appeared to be seeking to establish itself as a mediator in the dispute, sending two special envoys to the Balkans on Saturday evening. Russia, which was Yugoslavia's main supporter in its conflict with the West last year over Kosovo, has more political influence in Belgrade than the West. Any change in Moscow's position towards Belgrade would have a significant effect on Mr Milosevic's political fortunes.
The last week has seen reports of conversations between Western leaders and Mr Putin, speculating on the Russian leader's private opinions. President Clinton also had telephone discussions with Mr Putin on Saturday. The White House said afterwards Mr Putin's true position may be closer to that of the West than he has been prepared so far to acknowledge publicly.
