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Reiterating a stance he shared with the Ambassador in April
(Ref A), Djilas told the Charge that he did not favor a Russian
built/financed metro for Belgrade, preferring instead to hold a
public tender for a light rail system. Such a system would be
cheaper, more flexible, and more compatible with the high water
table in New Belgrade, he said. Djilas confided that his views on
the topic had recently gotten him into hot water with DS
leadership. When word reached presidential advisor Miki Rakic that
Djilas had stated during a June lunch hosted by the French
Ambassador that the Russians were not qualified to build a subway
system as they hadn't done so in over 30 years, Rakic instructed
him to tone down his comments about the Russians.
===