Belgrade disillusioned one year on

The Otpor symbol has been turned to a new use

By Alix Kroeger in Belgrade

Overnight, a new poster has appeared on the streets of Belgrade.

Otpor, the student-based protest movement which provided much of the push to topple Slobodan Milosevic, has given its verdict on his successors.

These bandits managed to reduce even the value of the Deutschemark

Market seller

It is a variation on their clenched-fist logo, with the thumb pointing down. "Mnogo ste isti," it says - "You're much the same."

An exaggeration, perhaps - only a handful of Milosevic loyalists would rather go back to the old regime.

But it reflects the disappointment many people feel, that the opposition coalition now in government has not done more with its year in power.

Public disgust

At the Bajlonij market in central Belgrade, the autumn produce is piled high.

A kilo of apples costs 40 dinars - about a third more than last year. Stallholders are unanimous in their disgust.

President Kostunica popularity rests on his image as a non-politician

"I don't have any more expectations, "one man told me.

"These bandits managed to reduce even the value of the Deutschemark. Last year, DM100 meant something - now it doesn't."

"Everything is worse," the woman on the next stall agreed.

"Electricity is 10 times more expensive. Taxes - everything. People can't live like this for long."

Shaky federation

President Vojislav Kostunica has his office in the Palace of the Federation, a grey stone complex of echoing corridors in New Belgrade.

People's attitudes will have to change, say observers

But the very existence of the Yugoslav federation is in question: if Montenegro, the smaller of the two remaining Yugoslav republics, votes for independence, Mr Kostunica will be out of a job.

This is his top priority for the year ahead: a new constitutional settlement for the tangled relationship between Serbia, Montenegro and Yugoslavia.

During his years in power, Slobodan Milosevic manipulated offices and constitutions to his own ends, moving from the presidency of Serbia to the presidency of the federation.

The names Serbia and Yugoslavia are often used interchangeably. The confusion is symptomatic.

The problem with Milosevic was not what he did; the problem was that he was elected by the people

Stevan Niksic

Mr Kostunica's popularity rests on the perception that he is not a typical politician: he is a stickler for legality, austere and unwilling to compromise.

But he is enough of a politician to blame the slow pace of economic reform on the Serbian Government, headed by his great rival, Zoran Djindjic.

The infighting between Mr Kostunica and Mr Djindjic is one of the reasons for people's disillusionment with the DOS coalition.

People's problem

But perhaps some of the responsibility for change lies with the people themselves.

People's thoughts have turned from big ideas to daily worries

"Change is not free," says Stevan Niksic, editor of the weekly magazine Nin.

"This is the problem: how to change the people themselves. The problem with Milosevic was not what he did; the problem was that he was elected by the people."

And Yugoslavia's October revolution was a historic change, he believes.

"Before 5 October, Serbia thought in terms of big concepts - Europe, justice, heaven, love, hate," Mr Niksic says.

"Now they realise they were manipulated and impoverished by Milosevic. So the majority are turning to simple, daily things, like in the normal world".