Serbia Today, 97-05-14

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

Serbia Today

CONTENTS

[01] EU PREFERENTIALS FOR FRY OFFICIAL

[02] BULLETIN SUPPLEMENT: NEW WAR THREATS

[03] ORGANIZED POLITICAL PRESSURE

[04] THE REFINERY IN SRPSKI BROD OPENED

[05] ONLY BI-DIRECTIONAL REPATRIATION OF REFUGEES POSSIBLE

[06] LEARNING ABOUT SERBIA

[07] INFORMATION LINKS IN THE BALKANS

[08] THE LAW ON INFORMATION - RESULT OF COLLECTIVE THINKING

[09] LAW ON CONCESSIONS PASSED

[10] MORE THAN 300 FOREIGN EXHIBITORS AT THE NOVI SAD AGRICULTURAL FAIR

[11] DETERMINATION AND PERSEVERANCE IN FIGHTING CRIME

[01] EU PREFERENTIALS FOR FRY OFFICIAL

Tanjug, 1997-05-14

European Union Preferentials accorded to FR Yugoslavia have become official. The decision adopted at the Ministerial meeting held on April 29 in Luxembourg, has become official after being published in the European Union Official Gazette. Circles in Brussels remark that the decision has an enormous bearing on the improvement of economic cooperation between our country and the EU. Trade preferentials for Yugoslavia include customs-free access to the Union markets for industrial and agricultural products, which will yield an annual effect of 100 million dollars.

[02] BULLETIN SUPPLEMENT: NEW WAR THREATS

Politika, 1997-05-14

The Bosnian Government will start a new war because it has deliberately spread and now incites the belief in its own legitimacy. At the same time, it is using all possible ways to make it clear that it denies the basic integrity of the Republic of Srpska. All this is rooted in the belief that such a stand will be endorsed by the Clinton Administration. This is not sheer political bookmaking, but the voiced thinking of Mr. Jim Jetras, State Department foreign-policy analysts, who offers minute details about the possibility of official US endorsing the Moslems in a second Bosnian war.

According to this expert, the Clinton Administration would "swallow" Izetbegovic's propaganda fairy tale about Arcadian prospective for a multi- ethnic, and multi-cultural Bosnia and Herzegovina, ruled by tolerance according to a pure democratic state model. It seems that the US does not realize that the Izetbegovic regime is actually a perfidious infiltration of fundamentalism in Europe. Indirect proof that this is not just another empty theory by one of many geo-political clairvoyants, can be identified in the attention given to the celebration of Republic of Srpska Army Day, organized for the first time two days ago. All analysts in Bosnia and Herzegovina distinguish among festive statements made by RS Army Chief of Staff - Gen. Pero Colic, the observation that in spite of all war difficulties the Serbian people in Bosnia found the strength to crate an army "nationally identifiable, strong and modern, fully respecting all norms of international war laws."

Speaking before a group of high military officials from Turkey, US, France, Germany and Hungary, reaffirmed the analyses made by his team - that the Moslem armed forces are continue to prepare for an aggression on RS. The balance in weaponry and human resources has long been disturbed against the Serbian side, in spite of clear Dayton Agreement articles. Gen. Colic warned that if peace is to be preserved, than the attitude towards the war oriented side must be changed.

These foreign officers who carefully monitor the Bosnian area, but also represent frequently contrasting interests of their countries, are well aware of the fact that some ten days ago, general Colic issued a warning that according to intelligence reports, the Moslem side already decided to start the aggression in August. Units have already been formed for the strike, modeled on the ill-famed Croatian operations "Storm" and "Flash", the towns of Prijedor, Doboj and Brcko being their prime and simultaneous targets. For example in the town of Kakanj, 250 foreign instructors are currently preparing these special strike forces. The final goal has also been proclaimed - to seize the Republic of Srpska territory within eight days. RS sources also observe that for quite some time parades and rallies are being staged by the Bosnian Army, designed to inspire a warring spirit even among children. The Moslem army ignores the articles of the armament reduction agreement, it is constantly being sent military aid by Moslem countries, and a significant number of Moujahedeen and foreign mercenaries has never been withdrawn from Bosnia, nor has the collaboration with Iran been interrupted even though the US insisted on it.

General Colic submitted a summary of his analyses to the SFOR General Kristensen - head of the OSCE Mission for regional stabilization. Several days ago, The New York Times revealed that the US will send 116 heavy artillery pieces to the Moslem and Croatian army, allegedly for the defense of the Bosnian Federation. The same newspaper, disinclined to the Bosnian Serbs for a very long time, raises the question: is America helping establish a balance of forces or the break-out of a new war? Concern is further justified by a Washington Post commentary about the "second Bosnian war", which will allegedly break out unless tendencies to definitely divide Bosnia are stopped." The actual message has been presented in a quite direct but also cynical way: the Moslem side lacks adequate territory and resources for development! This and a "strong sense of injustice together with doubts about relying on the international community", might - according to the same commentary - ignite the war. The series of ominous evaluations includes the forecast of a "new exodus" of Serbs made by Steven Burg from Massachusetts University, because Moslems, together with Croats might attack the Banjaluka region and even reach the banks of the Drina river!

The Republic of Srpska insists - stronger than ever before - on the implementation of the Dayton Agreement - representing - for the time being - the only hope of peace. War-drums should draw the attention of the Old Continent. "Europe must prevent a new war", recently said Michael Steiner, the second-in-charge at the High International Representative Office for B&H, warning that international forces should stay where they are at least until next year. The Dayton document can have effect only with gradual democratization, and the top priority is to hold local elections and stimulate donors to invest in the reconstruction of Bosnia. In this situation, Europe should not play a passive role leading it even deeper into the shadow of the only global super-power.

[03] ORGANIZED POLITICAL PRESSURE

Borba, 1997-05-14

The burning of Serbian homes in the Drvar zone constitute an organized Croatian campaign intended to prevent the return of Serbs to Drvar, said Mons Niberg - spokesman of the UNHCR office at a press conference held yesterday. He stressed that the fires set in the area on May 2nd and 3rd, were systematic and planned arson adding that he is aware of the negative attitude of local Croatian Democratic Community officials regarding the return of the Serbs. Commenting the arson of Serbian houses in the Drvar region - International Police Forces spokesman in Banjaluka - Mr. Alun Roberts, remarked that a special police investigation has been conducted and that the results will soon be made public. He warned about the stern letter of the most responsible international organizations regarding the implementation of the Dayton Agreement, stressing that the situation generated by the arson incidents around Drvar might have serious consequences for the side discovered to be responsible.

[04] THE REFINERY IN SRPSKI BROD OPENED

Vecernje Novosti, 1997-05-14

Yesterday in Srpski Brod (Republic of Srpska) the well-know refinery has been re-opened. After five years since it stopped working due to war and major destruction, the refinery has been repaired with the help of the Serbian Oil Industry (NIS) and the Pancevo Refinery. Inaugurating the crude oil processing line, Mr. Momcilo Krajisnik, Bosnian Presidency Member from the Republic of Srpska, stated among other things: "This is the first major result of the Agreement on Special Parallel Relations between the Republic of Srpska and FR Yugoslavia. The procurement of crude oil for the start-up has been helped by the Government of the Republic of Serbia, and we are very grateful to it and to the people of Serbia." Mr. Krajisnik also reminded that in the recent war, the Serbian people Managed to preserve the state resources - without any loans - with factories that worked as much as they could, and to resist to the enormous pressures and blockades. He also remarked that the international community allocated 1.4 billion dollars to help the Moslem-Croatian Federation, and that the Republic of Srpska received less than 2 per cent of that sum.

[05] ONLY BI-DIRECTIONAL REPATRIATION OF REFUGEES POSSIBLE

Vecernje Novosti, 1997-05-14

Several days ago the UNTAES Transitional Administrator - General Jacques Klein suddenly and without any announcement to the local authorities visited the zone of Korenica, Knin, Donji Lapac and Srb, which greatly disturbed local rulers and provoked their violent protests. Explaining that he visited these towns to verify the conditions in which the Serbs might return to given areas, gen. Klein said: "Only autistic persons do not realize that the return can be ensured only through bi-directional return to the previous place of residence of all refugees." It is essential for Croatia, stressed gen. Klein, that the Serbs return to their previous residence in Western Slavonia, Knin, Gracac, Donji Lapac and all the localities where this is possible, and this is a Croatian state interest. Why is it a Croatian state interest to solve the refugees problem in this particular way? Gen. Klein clarified: "Should the present national structure be maintained in UNTAES supervised territories, the Croatian authorities must be aware that the Serbian majority will have to be given far broader rights than those promised and warranted to them, including a specific autonomy."

[06] LEARNING ABOUT SERBIA

Politika, 1997-05-14

The Literary-Publishing-Cooperative "Kultura" from Belgrade and the "Pravoslavna rec" Publishers from Novi Sad published (in an edition of 3000 copies) the phototypic version of the book "Serbia- Description of the Land, People and State" - the most important work if Prof. Vladimir Karic originally published in 1887. In the opinion of experts, this is a publishing feat which - as the Manager of the Serbian National Library Milomir Petrovic said at the promotion held yesterday - an important scientific work has been brought back to light. With this re-edition our culture also pays its dues to an important figure in Serbian science from the past century: a lawyer, politician, researcher, and writer Vladimir Karic. The book is excellently prepared containing 149 illustrations, three color maps, numerous tables, and even scores of 17 folk songs. Experts that took part in the promotion of the book said that it is very difficult to list the numerous contents: descriptions of landscapes, customs, nature, societies, institutions, facts on public education, culture and public figures. In a word, the book is a "compendium on 19th century Serbia".

[07] INFORMATION LINKS IN THE BALKANS

Borba, 1997-05-14

Serbian Minister of Information - Prof. Dr. Radmila Milentijevic, received yesterday Mr. Spiros Kuzinpoulos - General Manager of the Greek national Agency MPA from Thessaloniki. During the talks, Ms. Milentijevic has been informed about the project to set up Balkan information links with Thessaloniki where the technical center of the Association of Balkan News Agencies (ABNA) is to e set up. Reiterating that it is in the interest of the Serbian Government to have an effective diffusion of information about our country, and providing comprehensive information to the international public about the events here, Ms. Milentijevic indicated readiness to participate in this project, as well as that the traditional closeness between Serbia and Greece constitutes a special advantage for a rich cooperation in information.

[08] THE LAW ON INFORMATION - RESULT OF COLLECTIVE THINKING

Ekspres, 1997-05-14

At a panel concerning the Draft Law on Public Information, Organized by Tokovi Publishing House from Jagodina, Serbian Minister of Information Prof., Dr. Radmila Milentijevic stated that the final version of the Law will be submitted to the Serbian Government probably by the end of this week. "The 2nd draft of the Law on Public Information reflects the collective wisdom of Serbia, and the final version will be the result of such collective thinking. We have tried to find solutions to protect the reporters, but also ways to protect the citizens from misinformation and falsities." - said Minister Milentijevic She also remarked that the draft law is compliant to the Constitution of Serbia, and also fits into western standards. "On the other hand, Serbia is an integral part of Europe because it greatly contributed to the development of the western-European civilization. All legal changes are positive ones, because they grant more freedom and lead towards democracy." - remaked Ms. Milentijevic.

[09] LAW ON CONCESSIONS PASSED

Politika, 1997-05-14

The Serbian Parliament passed yesterday the Law on Concessions regulating the conditions, modalities and procedures in granting domestic and foreign persons the right of utilizing Serbian natural and national resources. The object of concession can be extremely diverse, but the contract can concern only what is actually owned by the republic of Serbia. It can concern research, research and utilization, or simply utilization of mineral resources. Another sphere concerns the construction, maintenance and utilization of water supply systems, as well as irrigation and drainage systems. Domestic and foreign concession users can be entrusted with the construction, maintenance and utilization of roads, power installations, railroad infrastructure, civil aviation installations, airports, oil and gas pipelines. The concession can also concern municipal facilities, telecommunications, construction and utilization of river banks, rivers and lakes, the construction of tourist facilities in spas. According to the Law, concessions can be granted only under if rational utilization of natural resources, technical and technological improvement of the activities in question and environment protection are respected. The republican Minister of Construction - Mr. Branislav Ivkovic said that the Law has been based on the experience of developed countries and transition countries. With the implementation of the Law, fresh funding will be ensured for investments in the economy, all precautions being taken to avoid negative effects of foreign investments.

[10] MORE THAN 300 FOREIGN EXHIBITORS AT THE NOVI SAD AGRICULTURAL FAIR

Politika, 1997-05-14

This year's 64th international Agricultural Fair in Novi Sad (May 17-25), includes about 1.800 exhibitors, including 300 from foreign countries. Firms from some three dozen countries from all over the world: Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Great Britain, Greece, Denmark, India, Italy, Japan, Hungary, Macedonia, Germany, Norway, Slovakia, Slovenia, France, Holland, Czech Republic, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland... have come to Novi Sad. Some of them will stage collective exhibitions. The traditional main fair exhibition - offering a review of "everything from the field to the table" will be accompanied by exhibitions of livestock, thoroughbred horses, poultry, equipment, medicines, and animal breeding tools, and even a equestrian tournament will be held.

[11] DETERMINATION AND PERSEVERANCE IN FIGHTING CRIME

Politika, 1997-05-14

On the occasion of Security Day - May 13th, Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic received the representatives of the Ministry of Interior and Security Service, headed by Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior Vlajko Stojiljkovic, State Security Superintendent Jovica Stanisic, and Yugoslav Army Security Service Chief Col. General Aleksandar Dimitrijevic. Extending his greetings, President Milosevic wished his guests much success in carrying out their highly responsible security duties in protecting our country and citizens, their civil rights and freedoms and shielding them from any form of threat and violence, fighting crime with determination and perseverance.

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