The Yugoslav federation will cease to exist later this year, when Serbia and the neighboring republic of Montenegro form a looser union with a new name.

But Mr. Meciar has maintained that this plan would mean a looser union, not a breakup of Czechoslovakia.

On 19 May 1991, the Croatian authorities held a referendum on independence with the option of remaining in Yugoslavia as a looser union.

After hesitating for two weeks, the Ukrainian Parliament voted last week to join with Moscow in a new, looser economic union.

February 4: Yugoslavia is renamed to Serbia and Montenegro converting the federal republic to a looser union.

March 1991: In a nationwide referendum, voters support Gorbachev's plan for creation of a looser union.

It also indicated they would seek to expand their borders at the cost of other republics if the country split up or became a looser union.

Britain argues for a broader, looser union that could embrace Scandinavia, Austria and the more advanced East European states.

A separate, longer-range proposal would aim to create a new, looser political union rooted in home rule for each republic.

Parliament overwhelmingly endorsed a looser union between the two remaining republics.