Serbia Today, 97-05-13

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From: Yugoslavia <http://www.yugoslavia.com>

Serbia Today

CONTENTS

[01] PREPARATIONS FOR REFORM LAWS ARE PROCEEDING WITH SUCCESS

[02] INVITING A NEW WAR

[03] "FERAL TRIBUNE" ON RELOCATION OF SERBS

[04] NEW THREAT TO MOSLEM-CROATIAN RELATIONS

[05] MOSLEMS DESTROYED A SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH

[06] MILES: US ENDORSES YUGOSLAV INTEGRATION INTO EUROPE AND THE WORLD COMMUNITY

[07] COOPERATION SIMPLER WITH BARTER-ARRANGEMENTS

[08] CRIME IS LOOSING GROUND - WORK PHILOSOPHY SHOULD BE AFFIRMED

[09] THE WORLD IS CHANGING ITS ATTITUDE TOWARDS YUGOSLAVIA

[01] PREPARATIONS FOR REFORM LAWS ARE PROCEEDING WITH SUCCESS

Politika, 1997-05-13

Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic received yesterday the republican prime minister - Mr. Mirko Marjanovic accompanied by his collaborators - coordinating Minister Dragan Tomic and head of the Government Team preparing the Ownership Transformation Law - Mr. Milan Beko. It has been remarked that the preparations for the reform laws are proceeding successfully. The Draft Law on Concessions has been submitted to the Parliament today, and the public debate on the Ownership Transformation Conceptual Law is expected to be completed soon. Particularly positive evaluation has been given to the fact that the reform regulations are being prepared in an environment of stable prices and exchange rate, growing production and employment rates, and generally positive trends in national economy. President Milosevic stressed that all that is taking place - both in the regulative and material sphere - should serve the realization of the objectives set for economic development, i.e., the growth of production, employment and exports - leading to a better standard of living. The growth of budget income and government funds, registered since the end of March, should enable the quicker payment of pensions and wages in civil services, as a direct effect of the positive trends in the economy.

[02] INVITING A NEW WAR

Politika Ekspres, 1997-05-13

Slovenia is anticipating a new war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, using this as and additional argument for its urgent admission into NATO. The German newspaper "Die Welt" reports that Slovenian Defense Minister Tit Turnsek included the Ljubljana regime "pessimism" regarding the outcome of the present SFOR mission in Bosnia in his campaign for a Slovenian membership in the western alliance. "When the pull out, a new war will soon break out between Serbs, Moslems and Croats] said Mr. Turnsek in an interview published by "Der Welt", underscoring that this is why his country is doing everything to be listed for NATO membership as soon as possible. Slovenia already offered NATO two of its airports along the border with Croatia for "after SFOR". The German reporter ironically remarks that, Ljubljana already celebrated the "American gesture" of sending the aircraft carrier "Kennedy" to the port of Kopar - as a good sign of Slovenian involvement in NATO. The large vessel will enter Slovenian territorial waters on June 15 - Slovenian Independence Day. The possibility of a war in Bosnia and a US carrier in the port of Kopar - are these the foundations of Slovenian independence? The question arises inevitably after ominous warnings about an imminent crisis in the Balkans coming from Ljubljana. One should not forget that Slovenians made a handsome profit selling arms to both Croats and Moslems in the recent war, with an observation that this republic merely changes sides "according to current needs".

[03] "FERAL TRIBUNE" ON RELOCATION OF SERBS

Politika, 1997-05-13

The project for "so-called humane relocation" of Eastern Slavonija population is entering the final phase, and the ethnic cleansing is assuming a "velvet form", after the creation of the "Agency for mediation in specific real-estate trade" by the Croatian Government - states the Split opposition daily "Feral Tribune". According to certain estimates, as much as 20% of the Serbs that found shelter in Eastern Slavonija after the military operations "Storm" and "Flash", is determined to definitely leave Croatia - the Split newspaper affirms. In an article entitled "Agency for Humane Relocation", the same newspaper indicates that in the past several years, Serbian houses of 100 sq. meters were being sold for in Istria for 25-30 thousand German marks, while apartment prices are 50% of the pre-war rates. "Feral Tribune" remarks that "it is evident" that most of the Serbs will settle for something - i.e. what they are offered by the Tudjman regime - rather than returning home - into the unknown.

[04] NEW THREAT TO MOSLEM-CROATIAN RELATIONS

Vecernje Novosti, 1997-05-13

The latest tensions between federal partners in the divided town of Mostar, provoked by the incident at the hydro-powerplant "Mostar", represent a serious threat for the normalization of Moslem-Croatian relations in the town - independent Mostar media reported yesterday. The cause of growing tension is the unsettled status of the hydro-electric powerplant, because during the 1993 conflict between the two sides the installation changed hands several times, ending up divided. The left bank access to the power- plant is now controlled by the Moslems, while the right bank is in the hands of the Croats. Croatian authorities believe that the installation should be managed by the Power Company of the Croatian Community of Herzeg- Bosnia, because two other powerplants on the Neretva have been seized by the Moslems even though they are situated along the demarcation line. International peace forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina (SFOR) intervened several days ago to prevent a conflict at the "Mostar" power-plant after Croatian security prevented Moslem Power Co. workers from entering the installation. Subsequently a large group of Moslems gathered at the left bank threatening to take the installation by force. A public statement issued by the Ministry of Energy of the Herzegovina-Neretva County indicates that the Moslem side is determined to maintain constant tension and cause incidents.

[05] MOSLEMS DESTROYED A SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH

Politika Ekspres, 1997-05-13

Maj. Magnus Edvinston, spokesperson of the Scandinavian-Polish brigade stationed in Doboj, confirmed at a press conference that the Moslems recently destroyed the Orthodox Holy Trinity Church in the village of Vozuca (near Zavidovici). He also revealed that the fence and a number of tombstones at the local Orthodox cemetery have been damaged. The same SFOR spokesperson confirmed that the Orthodox churches in the villages of Stog and Kumare on Mt. Ozren have been badly damaged and that the roof has been taken down on both of them.

[06] MILES: US ENDORSES YUGOSLAV INTEGRATION INTO EUROPE AND THE WORLD COMMUNITY

Borba, 1997-05-13

Mr. Richard Miles - Charge d"Affaires of the US Embassy in Belgrade, said yesterday that the Washington Administration assumed the obligation to support the reintegration of Yugoslavia in to European and global organizations, and that the Belgrade authorities are expected to persist in the implementation of the Dayton Document. As a guest speaker at the Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory in Belgrade Mr. Miles commented upon the future of US-Yugoslav relations: "When we speaking about Europe, the US does not contemplate only developed Western European countries or Russia, but all European countries, including Yugoslavia." Mr. Miles reaffirmed that the US respects the territorial integrity of FR Yugoslavia, but added that the tense and artificial situation generated in Kosovo is of no use to anyone. The US diplomat particularly commented the project for the integration of South-European countries (SECI), stressing that Washington expects to see Yugoslavia within the framework of this program for the cooperation of European countries from the region.

[07] COOPERATION SIMPLER WITH BARTER-ARRANGEMENTS

Borba, 1997-05-13

Yesterday, the Yugoslav Chamber of Economy (PKJ) was visited by a 16-member delegation of the Chinese Council for the promotion of international trade - an NGO which comprises the Chinese Chamber of International Trade. The delegation - headed by Tsui Youshan, Chamber and Council Vice President - included board chairmen or deputies of various transport and production companies, of the Shanghai Free Trade Zone, and of the Corporation for International Economic and Technical Cooperation in Light Industry. After meeting with PKJ President - Mr. Mihailo Milojevic, a plenary session with Yugoslav businessmen has been staged, chaired by Mr. Svetozar Krasin, Secretary of the PKJ Committee for International Economic Cooperation. The representatives of Yugoslav and Chinese companies had direct and concrete talks about business cooperation. "Last-years trade volume between FR Yugoslavia and China was merely 60 million dollars, our exports being 10.7 million dollars, and imports around 48 million. In the first trimester of this year, exports amounted to 3.5 million dollars and imports 17.8 million. The most important deal made by our countries is - undoubtedly - the barter arrangement within which we are to import about 350 million dollars worth of Chinese oil in the next 2-3 years. This is a good chance to revive domestic production, especially in the metal processing sector, but also in the textile and chemicals sector, because the Chinese are giving crude oil in exchange for Yugoslav products." - said Mr. Krasin in informing the Chinese businessmen that Yugoslavia is now open to all types of trade transactions.

[08] CRIME IS LOOSING GROUND - WORK PHILOSOPHY SHOULD BE AFFIRMED

Politika / Tanjug, 1997-05-13

The security situation in the Republic of Serbia this year and last is favorable, the priority being given by the Ministry of Interior to the protection of the constitutional order, through an energetic battle against crime, protection of public peace and order, custody of state borders, enhancement of traffic safety, fire prevention, and other forms of protection of personal and property safety of the citizens - said on the occasion of Security Day - May 13th - the Minister of Interior and Deputy Premier - Mr. Vlajko Stojiljkovic. In the past period - said the Minister - the war in the neighboring countries ended, unjust economic sanctions have been removed, bilateral relations with most countries in the world have been normalized, as well as economic relations with EU countries, resulting in the stability of prices and the exchange rate and growing production and export rates. All this means that the "philosophy of survival" and the consequential crime can no longer exist, and that the conditions for working normally and promoting the "philosophy of work" have been met, to ensure normal functioning of the institutions and affirm all other values entailed by such philosophy - said Minister Stojiljkovic.

[09] THE WORLD IS CHANGING ITS ATTITUDE TOWARDS YUGOSLAVIA

Politika Ekspres, 1997-05-13

We have learned about the European Union decision to re-instate trade preferentials for FR Yugoslavia with great satisfaction and we intend it as a first - but a extremely important - move of the international community in the evolution of its policy towards our country - said Federal Prime Minister Radoje Kontic at the opening of the 41st International Fair of Technology and Technical Achievements yesterday in Belgrade. We now expect that relevant international organizations , such as the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the World Trade Organization and others will follow the EU example and allow the normalization of relations with FR Yugoslavia - in view of the fact that it now meets all the requirements - added the Prime Minister. "Our country endorses all the initiatives leading to peace, stability and cooperation in the region. FRY gave its support to the EU initiative for regional cooperation, to the US for South-Eastern Europe Cooperation Initiative (SECI), and to the multilateral cooperation of Balkan countries", said the Prime Minister and finally stressed: "Preventing FRY from taking part on equal footing in the regional and sub- regional integration, slows down the democratization and transition process and makes difficult the selection of optimum infrastructure projects. In the interest of peace and stability the economic development of all countries in the region should be fostered. Political conditions and the promotion of political, social and economic tensions is quite counter- productive."

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