Dok Slobodan Milošević pokušava učvrstiti srbijansku vlast u okviru federacije, u porastu su nacionalistički i separatistički pokreti u drugim jugoslavenskim republikama, posebno u Hrvatskoj i Sloveniji. 20. januara 1990. godine, hrvatska i slovenska delegacija povlače se sa Kongresa Saveza komunista Jugoslavije.
As Slobodan Milosevic attempts to assert Serbian power within the federation, nationalist and separatist movements are on the rise in other Yugoslav republics, notably Croatia and Slovenia. On January 20th, 1990, the Croatian and Slovenian delegations withdraw from the Congress of the League of Communists of Yugoslavia.