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Serbia Today, 96-12-23
CONTENTS
[01] THE SERBIAN PRESIDENT RECEIVE JACQUES KLEIN
[02] STOLTENBERG: THE US IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PROLONGING THE WAR IN
BOSNIA
[03] SLOVENIA IS CONDUCTING A NEW ROUND OF ETHNIC CLEANSING
[04] BAD MEDICINES AND TOXIC WASTE - AID FOR BOSNIA
[05] CONDITION FOR THE ABOLITION OF HERZEG-BOSNIA
[06] CONCERN FOR THE MALTREATMENT OF SERBS
[07] POSITIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF 1996
[08] FR YUGOSLAVIA MUST BE PART OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
[09] LEARNING THE FACTS
[10] MILOSEVIC: A STEP TOWARDS THE NORMALIZATION OF THE STATUS AND
RELATIONS BETWEENOUR COUNTRY AND THE OSCE
[01] THE SERBIAN PRESIDENT RECEIVE JACQUES KLEIN
President Slobodan Milosevic received Mr. Jacques Klein - the UN
Administrator for the Srem-Baranja region, and discussed with him the
implementation of activities that are being carried out for the
stabilization and normalization of life, and especially for the economic
reconstruction in the region. It has been observed that the coherent
implementation of the Erdut Agreement, which includes the talks of the
between the representatives of the Srem-Baranja Region and Croatian
officials concerning vital issues of security, freedom, and rights of
people, and the intensification of the economic reconstruction in the
region, constitute a basis for the overall normalization of relations and
the strengthening of peace and stability.
Serbia Today, 1996-12-23 ; Politika, 1996-12-21
[02] STOLTENBERG: THE US IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PROLONGING THE WAR IN
BOSNIA
Mr. Thornvald Stoltenberg - former UN Peace Mediator for ex-Yugoslavia
accused Washington for the fact that the West failed to find a peaceful
solution for Bosnia at the very beginning of the crisis. In his book
entitled "A Thousand Days" the Norwegian diplomat reveals that the conflict
in Bosnia could have been stopped at the end of 1993, had the US given
their support. "The biggest difference between the Dayton Agreement (1995)
and the one drafted in 1993, lies in the cemeteries and in the refugee
camps," remarks Mr. Stoltenberg bitterly. Just like his colleague - Lord
David Owen (who published a similar book last year), Stoltenberg suggests
that the 1993 peace agreement between the Serbs, Croats and Moslems, failed
because Washington did not back it up. Even some American diplomats have
previously affirmed that that in 1993, the US induced the Moslems to
withdraw from the negotiations, by hinting that they would be helped or at
least be given more arms.
Serbia Today, 1996-12-23 ; Ekspres, 1996-12-23
[03] SLOVENIA IS CONDUCTING A NEW ROUND OF ETHNIC CLEANSING
Ethnic cleansing has been pursued in Slovenia for the past five years, and
the Slovenian ministries of interior and defense are the most active ones
in conducting it. Even the Slovenian judiciary (acting under the direct
orders of the government) is taking part in the persecution of non-
Slovenians, stated the Slovenian Helsinki monitor, practically denying the
position of the State Department. In an analysis of the state of human
rights in the European states, the American diplomacy praised Slovenia.
However, the Helsinki monitor which has been trying for years to help the
unfortunate ones whose rights are threatened, affirms that the Slovenian
Government provided false data. "Slovenia is now conducting the third round
of ethnic cleansing, and in view of the law suits against the ministries of
interior and defense, numerous people are being denied a deserved pension,
handicapped assistance, child support, health insurance or apartments.
1.200 families have been served with an eviction order, and more than
10.000 people have no voting rights, because the authorities refuse to
settle their citizenship status" said Ms. Neva Miklavcic Predan of the
Slovenian Helsinki monitor. Responding to the American praises for the
settlement of the minority issues in Slovenia, the monitor stresses that
some 54 thousand Croats, about 47.000 Serbs and 27.000 Moslems, that have
been living and working in Slovenia for decades, have no rights and no
representatives in the Parliament. It is also shocking that Slovenian
authorities refuse to settle the status of some 7.000 non-Slovenian
children born in Slovenia. "The breach of basic human rights and the
pursuit of ethnic cleansing, is the Slovenian way of covertly implementing
a new demographic policy and 'clearing the alpine air'" stresses the
Slovenian Helsinki monitor.
Serbia Today, 1996-12-23 ; Vecernje Novosti, 1996-12-23
[04] BAD MEDICINES AND TOXIC WASTE - AID FOR BOSNIA
Hundreds of tons of bad medicines and useless medical supplies that have
long expired, and even toxic waste, have been sent to Bosnia in the past
several years as "humanitarian aid", affirms the article published
yesterday by the London Sunday Times, quoting sources from the "Doctors
without Frontiers". It is still a mystery how much "global pharmaceutical
waste" has been actually used in Bosnia, but it is quite certain that 300
tons of such material are now stored in Mostar. Most of this "aid" came
from the United States. The same newspaper remarks that none of the
international mediators in Bosnia know how such material arrived in the
country, nor is there any documentation about it, and stresses that this is
nothing but "foul play of the global pharmaceutical companies". They used
Bosnia to get rid of large stocks of obsolete medicines and avoid the cost
of destroying them. To make the whole thing even more ironic, they have
been exempted from taxes by their respective governments for sending
"humanitarian aid".
Serbia Today, 1996-12-23 ; Politika, 1996-12-23
[05] CONDITION FOR THE ABOLITION OF HERZEG-BOSNIA
The enemies of the Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia would like it to
simply disappear, but this process (in accordance with the Dayton document)
will be carried out in parallel from both the Moslem and Croatian side. The
open letter, in which the leader of the Bosnian Croats - Kresimir Zubak -
announced the abolition of the Herzeg Bosnia, demands that the use of the
state seal, logo and other state symbols of the Moslem Republic that the
Moslems insist on calling Bosnia and Herzegovina must also cease. "Before
that and without that, there can't be any implementation of the Moslem-
Croatian Federation, even though the Moslem partner keeping silent about
it", says the commentary broadcast by the Croatian Radio. The Moslem side
has rejected all demands made until now by the Croatian side regarding the
new territorial-political division within the Federation, i.e. the new
county borders. In fact, one of the conditions for the abolition of Herzeg-
Bosnia, submitted by Kresimir Zubak to the international forums, is that
all larger Croatian villages be turned into Croatian counties with complete
local self-government.
Serbia Today, 1996-12-23 ; Vecernje Novosti, 1996-12-23
[06] CONCERN FOR THE MALTREATMENT OF SERBS
In its latest Presidential Statement, the United Nations Security Council
expressed concern for the continuing harassment, plundering and physical
attacks against Serbs in Croatia. The Statement, adopted after a quarterly
report submitted by Secretary General Boutros Boutros Ghali, particularly
indicates alarm for the fact that that numerous attacks against the Serbs
involved men in uniforms - namely members of the Croatian Army and Police.
The Council invited the Croatian Government to make efforts to improve the
security situation, so that the conditions are created for the safe live of
the Serbian population and the return of the Serbian refugees throughout
Croatia. The Zagreb Government is also quoted for not having taken measures
to protect the property of the Serbs and for applying a discriminatory
policy regarding the Serbs, especially in the sphere of social rights. The
Presidential Statement observes that the Croatian Government is not
implementing the amnesty law and stresses that Croatia has to keep faith to
the obligations it assumed by becoming member of the European Council.
Serbia Today, 1996-12-23 ; Borba, 1996-12-21
[07] POSITIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF 1996
Analyzing the economic aspects of 1996, the Director of the Belgrade
Economics Institute - Prof. Dr. Danko Djunic, underscored that the most
salient positive element was the lifting of the sanctions that had a
devastating effect. This is why the elimination of the embargo has far-
reaching importance. According to the same expert, the next positive trend
that marked the year was the complete expansion of privatization on all
levels, to the point that concrete arrangements have already been made to
privatize - i.e. sell-off parts of publicly owned companies. Prof. Djunic
also quoted the absolute stability of the dinar, the growth of the national
product by 6 per cent, and the fact that the prices were relatively stable.
Serbia Today, 1996-12-23 ; Politika, 1996-12-23
[08] FR YUGOSLAVIA MUST BE PART OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
"I am deeply grateful for the opportunity I have been given to freely
access all institution that might provide information, the competent
authorities, the political parties and all other institutions", said Mr.
Felipe Gonzales at a press conference. Commenting the talks with President
Milosevic, the former Spanish premier said "...it was very important. We
talked about many problems, specific and general. We also discussed the
integration into the international community." At the end of the meeting
with the reporters, Mr. Gonzales stressed what he believes is the essence:
"I believe that it is indispensable for FR Yugoslavia to play its role
namely in the international community, because the international community
needs FRY to achieve democracy and stability."
Serbia Today, 1996-12-23 ; Politika, 1996-12-22
[09] LEARNING THE FACTS
Welcoming Mr. Felipe Gonzales and his assistants, Federal Foreign Minister
Milan Milutinovic greeted the OSCE delegation and stressed that he expects
it to give a detailed evaluation of the local elections in Serbia. Mr.
Milutinovic reminded that the OSCE Delegation, has been invited by the
Yugoslav side to monitor the course of the general federal elections and
the first round of the local ballot. "The report prepared on that occasion,
was in our view correct and objective. We harbor no doubts that the next
report will be prepared in the same way", observed the Yugoslav Foreign
Minister. He also expressed his belief that this visit will "help remove
all dilemmas and to continue and conclude with success the normalization of
the cooperation and relations with FRY, both within the OSCE framework, and
with all other political, economic and financial organization in Europe and
the rest of the world."
Serbia Today, 1996-12-23 ; Politika, 1996-12-21
[10] MILOSEVIC: A STEP TOWARDS THE NORMALIZATION OF THE STATUS AND
RELATIONS BETWEENOUR COUNTRY AND THE OSCE
Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic received former Spanish prime minister
- Mr. Felipe Gonzales, currently heading the OSCE delegation visiting
Belgrade. In the talks marked by sincerity and understanding, both sides
expressed the hope that the OSCE delegation will have the opportunity to
objectively review all the relevant facts. Stressing the expectation that
an impartial report of the high OSCE delegation will be help eliminate the
distorted representation of facts present in part of the international
public concerning the local elections in Serbia, President Milosevic
stressed his conviction that this will also help remove the reservations in
the relations between Yugoslavia, given countries and international
circles - prompted by such distorted reporting. Mr. Milosevic also
indicated that the presence of the OSCE delegation and its involvement and
interest should mark a step towards the normalization of the position and
relations of our country within the framework of OSCE, in view of the fact
that Yugoslavia was one of the organization founders.
Serbia Today, 1996-12-23 ; Politika, 1996-12-21
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