SERBIA AND MONTNEGRO: FEDERAL TRANSITION

UNCLAS BELGRADE 000287 E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL SR YI SUBJECT: SERBIA AND MONTNEGRO: FEDERAL TRANSITION REF: BELGRADE 278 ¶1. WITH THE ADOPTION OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL CHARTER AND THE CHARTER IMPLEMENTATION LAW, "YUGOSLAVIA" CEASES TO EXIST AND THE NEW STATE OF "SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO" IS ESTABLISHED (SEE REFTEL). HOWEVER, THERE IS FULL CONTINUITY BETWEEN THE OLD STATE AND THE NEW STATE. THEREFORE, INSTITUTIONS AND OFFICIALS OF "YUGOSLAVIA" WILL CONTINUE TO PERFORM THEIR DUTIES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CHARTER UNTIL NEW OFFICIALS ARE ELECTED AND NEW BODIES ARE FORMED. THIS REFERS TO THE FEDERAL PARLIAMENT, PRESIDENT OF THE FRY, FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, FEDERAL COURT AND FEDERAL CONSTITUTIONAL COURT. ACCORDING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION LAW, ALL INSTITUTIONS OF THE NEW UNION OF SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO HAVE TO BE ELECTED OR FORMED WITHIN THIRTY DAYS. THE LAW ON IMPLEMENTATION STIPULATES THAT FRY BODIES WILL PERFORM THEIR WORK UNTIL NEW BODIES ARE ELECTED, BUT CAN "BRING ONLY THOSE DECISIONS THAT ARE NECESSARY FOR OBSTACLE-FREE FUNCTIONING OF THE UNION OF SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO". MONTGOMERY