Free Trade For Free Elections?

Boosting political foes of Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic, the Clinton administration today announced it would permit oil to be delivered to Serbia if free elections are held.

Flanked by eight leaders of the Serbian opposition, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said the new strategy would assist "their struggle for the right of people to choose their own leaders."

European governments already have decided to provide about $5 million worth of energy to two cities in Serbia that are governed by opponents of Milosevic, who the administration considers a war criminal.

Albright said the United States would consider making its own contributions to the program if internationally supervised elections are held in Serbia. And she said the administration also would move to end a boycott of Yugoslav flights.

At a news conference, Albright dismissed as hypothetical any possibility that Milosevic could retain power in free elections and benefit from the lifting of economic sanctions.

"I find that really, really hard to believe," she said, considering "he terrorizes his population."

The European Union already has pledged to help pro-democracy forces seeking to oust Milosevic by supplying heating oil and humanitarian aid to communities under the control of opposition forces.

International sanctions were imposed against the rump state of Yugoslavia to punish Milosevic for his autocratic rule and for Serb military assaults on ethnic Albanians in Kosovo, a Serb province. Earlier this year, the United States led a 78-day NATO bombing campaign to remove Serb forces from Kosovo, but Milosevic remained in power despite growing opposition to his rule.

The bombing destroyed most of the nation's oil-refining capacity.

Albright discussed today's move in advance by telephone with Foreign Ministers Joschka Fischer of Germany and Hubert Vedrine of France and Foreign Secretary Robin Cook of Britain.

Asked if the administration had changed its policy of not aiding the Yugoslav government as long as Milosevic is in power, State Department spokesman James P. Rubin said: "It's a refinement."

He said the administration was defining more precisely the terms under which sanctions were suspended.

"The administration is not in any respect compromising its principle," Rubin said, "but is trying to be practical in helping to effect a change the whole world wants."

Attempts to unseat Milosevic have been hampered in the past by divisions among his political opponents.

But Albright said "they have made it quite clear" in talks with her "that they understand their strength comes from working together ... and reaching out to the Serb people."

The Clinton administration is assisting insurgents in other ways, as well. A total of $11.8 million has been allocated to promote political development, a free press and independent lbor unions. Last year, the United States provided $25 million in humanitarian assistance to Serbia