Yugoslav Daily Survey 96-02-09

Yugoslav Daily Survey Directory

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

9 February 1996

CONTENTS

[A] FROM THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA

[01] PRESIDENT LILIC: PEACE AND STABILITY ARE YUGOSLAVIA'S BASIC GOALS

[02] PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC RECEIVES MINISTER GRACHEV

[03] BULATOVIC: PEACE PROCESS HAS A CHANCE FOR SUCCESS

[04] YUGOSLAV OFFICIAL ON YUGOSLAVIA'S DIPLOMATIC ACTIVITIES

[B] ON ARREST OF BOSNIAN SERB GENERAL

[05] RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTER ON ARREST OF BOSNIAN SERB GENERAL

[06] REPUBLIKA SRPSKA OFFICIAL ACCUSES MUSLIMS OF VIOLATING DAYTON AGREEMENT

[07] BOSNIAN SERB ARMY SUSPENDS CONTACTS WITH IFOR

[B] ON ARREST OF BOSNIAN SERB GENERAL

[C] CROATIA

[08] CROAT ALLIANCE OF ANTIFASCIST FIGHTERS PROTESTS OVER MEMORIAL COMPLEX

[D] FROM FOREIGN PRESS

[09] NEW YORK TIMES: BOSNIAN SERB OFFICERS ARRESTED WITHOUT AN INDICTMENT

[A] FROM THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA

[02] PRESIDENT LILIC: PEACE AND STABILITY ARE YUGOSLAVIA'S BASIC GOALS

At a meeting with Belarus Deputy Prime Minister Leonid Sinitsin, Lilic said Yugoslavia wanted to have good relations with its neighbors and friendly countries and with all who wish to develop lasting ans successful cooperation with it.

Yugoslavia honors all its commitments stemming from the Dayton peace agreement on Bosnia-Herzegovina and consequently expects the international community to also duly honor its own commitments towards Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Lilic said. This is the only way that Yugoslavia can play its role in guaranteeing peace in the region of the former Yugoslavia and thus ensure stability in the Balkans and Europe, Lilic said.

Lilic and Sinitsin expressed both countries' wish and readiness to rapidly promote the traditionally good bilateral relations in all fields, especially economy, the communique says. Noting that the comprehensive and mandatory anti-Yugoslav sanctions have been suspended after three and a half years, Lilic said Yugoslavia's and Belarus' economies were compatible and their political and economic goals identical, adding that both countries were accelerating their economic reforms.

[02] PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC RECEIVES MINISTER GRACHEV

This provides an incentive to the consolidation of peace and stability in the Balkans and to the restoration of confidence among the region's states and peoples, it was noted during the meeting.

The talks focused on the military and political situation in the Balkans, with a special emphasis on the implementation of the peace agreement on Bosnia-Herzegovina. The talks focused on bilateral cooperation in the military-technical field.

It is essential that the peace process underway be pursued with constructive cooperation of all sides with the peace force, and the latter must maintain an impartial attitude and ensure consistent abidance of all sides by the agreement. This rules out any arbitrary action or transgression detrimental to any side.

Several initiatives were taken for the further development of cooperation between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Russian Federation, including especially scientific and technical cooperation and exchange of expertise in military industry and technological development.

[03] BULATOVIC: PEACE PROCESS HAS A CHANCE FOR SUCCESS

'The talks dealt with the current stage of the peace process, and Grachev informed us about his visit to the Russian contingent in Bosnia,' Bulatovic said after meeting.

Commenting on the abduction of a group of Bosnian Serb officers and soldiers, Bulatovic said that 'IFOR has a duty to act more resolutely in such cases.'

He said he and Grachev had expressed hope that this was an isolated incident which would have no serious effect on the peace process.

[04] YUGOSLAV OFFICIAL ON YUGOSLAVIA'S DIPLOMATIC ACTIVITIES

The rate of normalizing relations will depend on the readiness of the former Yugoslav republics for compromise and their respect of Yugoslavia's legitimate interests, said Jovanovic.

Yugoslavia is open for normalization, which is based on respecting equal interests and positions and expects the seceded republics to recognize the continuity of yugoslavia as a member and personality in international relations without prejudging the division of assets and liabilities, he said.

As far as normalizing relations with the former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia is concerned, we have had a meeting of experts which has been concluded successfully, said Jovanovic. We believe normalization of relations would soon be formally effected as it is in the interest not only of the two immediate neighbors, but of the entire peace process, and stimulates positive processes throughout the Balkans, he said.

Jovanovic said after a standstill political dialogue had been renewed recently with Zagreb, to which a return visit of Croatian Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Mate Granic was conducive. The two sides have close positions on many questions, particularly in dealing with humanitarian and economic questions. We attach particular importance to the rights of Serbs expelled from Krajina and their free return and life in safety, just as we urge the equal care and treatment of all refugees and full freedom in choosing a place of habitation, regardless of nationality, said Jovanovic.

The recent note whereby Slovenia proposed a normalization of relations with Yugoslavia is positive, but belated for unknown reasons, said Jovanovic. Yugoslavia had in August 1992 sent a note recognizing Slovenia, but the authorities rejected it flatly. It seems to have taken more than three years for Ljubljana to perceive that it cannot thus treat a sovereign state without detriment to its own interests, he said.

He said the frequent visits by members of influential European governments and businessmen and preparations for the reappointment oftheir ambassadors in Belgrade was a good signal.

There are, however, certain obstacles toward strenthening Yugoslavia's position. The normalization of Yugoslavia's status in international financial institutions, the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, above all, lags. Normalizing Yugoslavia's status in financial institutions is in the interest of those institutions as well, as Yugoslavia would be enabled to meet its debts and carry out other transactions regularly, said Jovanovic.

The visit of US Secretary of State Warren Christopher is also very important, the first high-ranking visit in five years, which marks a new quality in political dialogue, and thereby in overall relations, he said. It is also significant because the two countries, as important factors in the peace process in the former Yugoslavia, are promoting political dialogue and intensifying cooperation, he said.

It was extremely important for achieving the dayton accord, its successful enforcement and permanent stability and peace in this part of europe, said Jovanovic.

[B] ON ARREST OF BOSNIAN SERB GENERAL

[05] RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTER ON ARREST OF BOSNIAN SERB GENERAL

Gen. Djukic, whose name is not on lists of alleged war criminals, should receive medical treatment, Grachev said.

'Gen. Djordje Djukic is a respected general, who did not take part in combat operations as he is in charge of security, and, also, he is very sick,' Grachev said.

Speaking about the arrest of these officers, Grachev pointed out that he had met with Republika Srpska leaders on Wednesday who had expressed serious concern for this Muslim action. Grachev said he could neither condemn nor not condemn the action. He said he would submit a report on this also to Russian Federation President Boris Yeltsin himself.

[06] REPUBLIKA SRPSKA OFFICIAL ACCUSES MUSLIMS OF VIOLATING DAYTON AGREEMENT

[07] BOSNIAN SERB ARMY SUSPENDS CONTACTS WITH IFOR

The order banned the citizens and army personnel of the Republika Srpska from crossing into the territory of the Muslim-Croat Federation, the statement added. The army command further cancelled the participation of the Republika Srpska Army's representatives in all scheduled military and civilian meetings with representatives of the Muslim-Croat Federation.

[C] CROATIA

[08] CROAT ALLIANCE OF ANTIFASCIST FIGHTERS PROTESTS OVER MEMORIAL COMPLEX

'Leave the Jasenovac victims alone,' said the former fighters against the nazi and fascist occuppiers in World War II and added that these victims deserve to be treated with respect and dignity.

The Alliance called on Tudjman to return the earlier appearence and contents of the Jasenovac memorial complex and warned that reconcilliation is not possible 'by placing under the same roof the brutally murdered victims alongside their killers.'

[D] FROM FOREIGN PRESS

[09] NEW YORK TIMES: BOSNIAN SERB OFFICERS ARRESTED WITHOUT AN INDICTMENT

The New York Times was referring to the latest sensitive developments in Bosnia, precipitated by the arrest of officers of the Republika Srpska by Muslim authorities in Sarajevo on Jan. 30.

The New York Times said that the Hague tribunal must pursue its own investigation for as long a relations among the rivals had been put on a footing of mutual trust, and added that nobody should be arrested without a warrant from and indictment by the tribunal.

This is probably the more difficult way of locating and apprehending war crime suspects, but it is the way that guarantees an honest trial and does not undermine peace as do cases of the kind of the latest arrests, it said.