Yugoslav Daily Survey 96-02-05

Yugoslav Daily Survey Directory

From: ddc@nyquist.bellcore.com (D.D. Chukurov)

5 February 1996

CONTENTS

[A] FROM THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA

[01] MILOSEVIC RECEIVES CHRISTOPHER

[02] MILOSEVIC, CHRISTOPHER SATISFIED WITH TALKS

[03] CHRISTOPHER SAYS DAYTON AGREEMENT IMPLEMENTATION PROCEEDS AS PLANNED

[04] YUGOSLAVIA AND COUNCIL OF EUROPE TO RENEW COOPERATION

[B] REPUBLIKA SRPSKA

[05] KRAJISNIK: REPUBLIKA SRPSKA FULFILLED COMMITTMENTS UNDER DAYTON ACCORD

[06] BOSNIAN SERB STATE MEETS DAYTON OBLIGATIONS FOR LIFTING OF SANCTIONS

[07] MUSLIMS TAKE PRISONER SERB OFFICERS IN SERB SECTION OF SARAJEVO

[C] BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

[08] ICRC REGISTERS ANOTHER 88 SERB POWS IN TUZLA

[D] ON HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA

[09] HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN SERBIA CRITICAL

[A] FROM THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA

[01] MILOSEVIC RECEIVES CHRISTOPHER

As was made public, during the cordial and open talk, which passed in an atmosphere of mutual understanding, Milosevic expressed satisfaction with the American State Secretary's visiting Yugoslavia again after several years. The arrival of Secretary Chrisher, President Milosevic emphasized, undoubtedly manifests the progress made in the Yugoslav-American bilateral cooperation as well as the successful course of the peace process for Bosnia, which, after the conclusion of the agreement in Dayton, has scored positive results in its implementation. The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia attributes to this visit great significance, confident that it would contribute to the intensification of comprehensive cooperatioon between the two countries on an equal footing, as well as to the reaffirmation of their traditionally friendly relations.

The political dialogue and constructive approach of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the USA were the decisive factors for achieving peace in the areas of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Hence the resumption of this dialogue and the coordination of approaches to the most important questions of the situation in the region are of essential significance both for the overall normalization and renewal of bilateral relations between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the USA and for the opening of the prospect for lasting stability and encouragement of the successful development and integration processes in this part of Europe.

The American side pointed out the irreplaceable positive role of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia both in the achievement and in the successful implementation of the peace agreement. It is mutual conviction in this respect that the successful course of implementing the peace plan for Bosnia would continue all the way until its end as foreseen. The Governments of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the USA would for this objective give their biggest possible contribution to the consistent implementation of the agreement, stressing the indispensability of all the sides' adhering strictly to their obligations.

The resolve was expressed by both sides to carry on with investiing political efforts in the direction of the overall consolidation of political conditions in the Balkan region, in order to encourage the perspective for an equal and mutually beneficial cooperation amongst the Balkan states and nations.

It was emphasized at the meeting that the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was pursuing the policy of peace, equal cooperation and good neighbourly relations, as well as the stepped-up own economic and technological development, and that it was open to universal international cooperation on the footing of equality which presumed the recovery of its active participation in the United Nations and other international organizations that were co-founded by Yugoslavia.

Yugoslavia expects the USA to show understanding for and give support to the reactivation of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia within international organizations and financial institutions. The visit of State Secretary Chrisher should give an impetus to the future development of bilateral relations and to a better mutual understanding between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the USA and should encourage the forces of peace and equality in the world.

Taking part in the talk on the American side were Chrisher's aides, while on the Yugoslav side were Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs Milan Milutinovic and Assistant Federal Minister Zivadin Jovanovic.

[02] MILOSEVIC, CHRISTOPHER SATISFIED WITH TALKS

Milosevic said that this visit, the first by a US Secretary of State in five years, was very important and that it represented a symbolic indication of a change in the relations between the two countries.

Milosevic said that he was very pleased with the possibility to meet with Chrisher in Belgrade. He said that the talks had been very sincere and open and that views had been exchanged about the main issues in the situation in the region and the Yugoslav-US relations.

Milosevic said that he and Chrisher had basically discussed two important ics.

The first ic was the full implementation of the Dayton peace agreement, Milosevic said and added that both he and Chrisher had been optimistic about it. The second ic were bilateral relations, which are being gradually promoted, Milosevic said and added that they had been optimistic about this issue as well.

Chrisher thanked Milosevic on the reception and said he was pleased to have the opportunity to come to Belgrade.

He said that his basic task in the tour of the former Yugoslavia was to secure a further implementation of the Dayton accords. Chrisher said he was very pleased with the President's new assurances of the determination to implement the Dayton agreement.

Chrisher said that he was leaving with the belief that the implementation of the agreement would continue and that he hoped that the gradual promotion of bilateral relations would continue.

[03] CHRISTOPHER SAYS DAYTON AGREEMENT IMPLEMENTATION PROCEEDS AS PLANNED

Chrisher said all sides would have to ensure compliance with 'each and every provision' of the Dayton agreement or would not enjoy the benefits it provided. He said he had conveyed the same message to Bosnian Muslim leader Izetbegovic, Croatia's President Tudjman and Milosevic.

He assessed as especially positive the role played by Milosevic as a guarantor of the Dayton peace agreement.

Chrisher said relations between the US and Yugoslavia were steadily improving, and expressed hope that they would soon be fully normalized. He said he was very optimistic about the further implementation of the peace agreement, and described his three-day tour of the former Yugoslavia as the most important in his three years in office.

He said he had asked Izetbegovic in Sarajevo that the Muslim side release all prisoners of war and drive out all foreign fighters. He said he had asked Tudjman in Zagreb to guarantee that eastern Slavonija would peacefully be reintegrated andto enable the return of refugees to Croatia. Chrisher said he had also asked Croatia's President to eliminate all obstacles standing in the way of the functioning of the Muslim-Croat Federation in Bosnia-Herzegovina, which he said was indispensable for stability in the region.

He said one must not be naive and fail to see the obstacles which stand in the way of the peace process, but that he, nevertheless, hoped that the challanges to peace would effectively be countered.

[04] YUGOSLAVIA AND COUNCIL OF EUROPE TO RENEW COOPERATION

The Governor of the Fund, Rafael Alamar, expressed deep understanding for the grave problem and expressed the Fund's readiness to meet all its credit obligatins.

[B] REPUBLIKA SRPSKA

[05] KRAJISNIK: REPUBLIKA SRPSKA FULFILLED COMMITTMENTS UNDER DAYTON ACCORD

[06] BOSNIAN SERB STATE MEETS DAYTON OBLIGATIONS FOR LIFTING OF SANCTIONS

Kasagic said on Radio Kragujevac, that the sanctions had not been lifted because IFOR Commander for Bosnia-Herzegovina, General Leighton Smith had incorrectly interpreted UN Security Council resolution 1022.He said General Smith had promised to send an additional report to competent authorities.

'We do not intend to violate the sovereignty of Bosnia-Herzegovina in the affairs in which it is sovereign. It is our wishto cooperate with Yugoslavia primarily at the economic level as part of the Dayton agreement,' Kasagic said.

[07] MUSLIMS TAKE PRISONER SERB OFFICERS IN SERB SECTION OF SARAJEVO

The three VRS members were unarmed and had their papers in order, the communique said.

They were taken prisoner on their way to a scheduled meeting with representatives of IFRO and civilian authorities at Ilidza, at which the handing over of facilities in Sarajevo for IFRO's use was to be discussed.

[C] BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

[08] ICRC REGISTERS ANOTHER 88 SERB POWS IN TUZLA

[D] ON HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA

[09] HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN SERBIA CRITICAL

Red Cross warehouses were practically emptied six months ago, while international humanitarian organizations for now only evaluate and assess the situation in the field in order to appear before donors in mid-February and ask for new funds for their work in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

Within international humanitarian aid and bilateral cooperation, about 18,000 tons of food, including 545 flour, arrived from August 1995 until January 1996. When this amount of aid is placed in proportion with the number of refugees, it stems that one person monthly gets 17.5 kilos of humanitarian aid consisting of one liter of table oil, one kilo of sugar, two cans of corned beef, three cans of sardines, and 10-15 kg of flour. Packages with articles for personal hygiene arrive only occasionally, and warm clothing and winter footwear very seldom.

The main reason for this disproportion in needs and possibilities lies in the number of refugees and exiled persons registered by international humanitarian organizations.

The UNHCR, the Humanitarian Office of the European Union, or the World Food Program have on their lists 160,000 refugees and 175,000 expelled persons, while the Yugoslav Red Cross has 185,294 active users of aid among refugees and 289,438 among expelled persons. Moreover, about 50,000 persons from Republika Srpska (the bosnian should be added to this list, the Red Cross said, as they have no refugee status but use aid provided by the Red Cross.