Yugoslav Daily Survey 96-09-11

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

CONTENTS

[01] STRENGTHENING OF COOPERATION AND CONFIDENCE WITH EX-YUGOSLAV REPUBLICS

[02] ON IMPORTANCE OF TRADE AGREEMENT WITH MACEDONIA

[03] LAVROV HOPES SANCTIONS TO BE LIFTED SOON

[04] SERBIAN PRESIDENT RECEIVES CANDIDATES AT ELECTIONS

[05] 120,000 VOTERS TO TRAVEL FROM YUGOSLAVIA

[06] DELEGATIONS OF CROATIAN, SERB REGIONAL PARLIAMENTS HOLD TALKS

[07] F.R.Y. BEARS THE BRUNT OF ASSISTING REFUGEES

[01] STRENGTHENING OF COOPERATION AND CONFIDENCE WITH EX-YUGOSLAV REPUBLICS

The important element in the agreement is the establishment of diplomatic relations between Yugoslavia and Croatia which has paved the way for improving the position of Serbs and Montenegrins in Croatia and better protection of their rights and interests, the Yugoslav Ministry of Information said.

At a session held on Tuesday and presided over by Prime Minister Radoje Kontic, the Government decided to address the agreement to the Federal Assembly for ratification. The ratification of these inter-state agreements in the Yugoslav Parliament will confirm Yugoslavia's commitment to normalizing relations, enhancing cooperation and building confidence with former Yugoslav republics. That will also be Yugoslavia's significant contribution to the peace process and global stabilization in the region, the statement said.

The Government also discussed a draft agreement between the Yugoslav and Croatian Governments on the abolishment of visas for holders of diplomatic and official passports which should be shortly finalized and signed, the statement said.

[02] ON IMPORTANCE OF TRADE AGREEMENT WITH MACEDONIA

It is an huge step forward on Yugoslavia's path to free market economy and world trade, the Government said after a session chaired by Prime Minister Radoje Kontic.

The session pointed out that the Belgrade-Skopje accord was Yugoslavia's first agreement on the establishment of a free trade zone, which is highly important not only for the two countries' relations but Yugoslavia's efforts to join European and world integration as well.

The Federal Government said that the agreement, which provides for a phased establishment of a free trade zone, would be addressed to the Yugoslav Parliament for ratification, the Yugoslav Ministry of Information said in a statement.

[03] LAVROV HOPES SANCTIONS TO BE LIFTED SOON

Lavrov was speaking after meeting with Montenegrin President Momir Bulatovic, who arrived for a working visit to the United States on Sunday.

On Tuesday, Bulatovic met with the Ambassadors of the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council - Russia, Great Britain, France and China.

Bulatovic's U.S. talks have focused on topical issues of the Balkan peace process, specifically the reintegration of the F.R.Y. in international bodies, upcoming elections in Bosnia-Herzegovina and the lifting of the anti-Yugoslav sanctions.

Lavrov said that the matter of the strategic Prevlaka peninsula in Montenegro, which straddles the Yugoslav-Croatian border, had also been discussed, and added that the settling of the problem of Prevlaka would help normalise Yugoslav-Croatian relations.

[04] SERBIAN PRESIDENT RECEIVES CANDIDATES AT ELECTIONS

The forthcoming elections are extremely important for the R.S. and the entire region, Milosevic said, adding that it was important for the R.S. that citizens elect those who will work for unity and not those who are clashing with the entire world. People who will work for the well-being of citizens and not their own interests, Milosevic said.

Milosevic received Zivko Radisic, candidate for the post of R.S. President, Mladen Ivanic, candidate for the Bosnian Presidency, Nedja Djuric, candidate for the post of R.S. Vice-President, Dragutin Ilic, holder of an election list for the R.S. Parliament and Branko Dokic, holder of an election list for the House of Representatives of Bosnia-Herzegovina. You have our full support in your efforts to achieve peace and successful economic and cultural development, Milosevic said during his meeting with candidates for senior posts in the R.S. and joint institutions of Bosnia-Herzegovina.

[05] 120,000 VOTERS TO TRAVEL FROM YUGOSLAVIA

The Commission, whose session was presided over by Serbian Refugee Commissioner Bratislava Morina, said that the voting by refugees in Yugoslavia had been carried out successfully and that international monitors had not filed any complaints.

The Commission and its subcommissions, for logistical assistance, security and humanitarian support, which will have operative tasks are fully ready so as to allow all voters to safely reach polling-stations and return to Yugoslavia, the Yugoslav Ministry of Information said.

The statement said that most of the voters would go to the R.S. and only few to the Muslim-Croat Federation.

[06] DELEGATIONS OF CROATIAN, SERB REGIONAL PARLIAMENTS HOLD TALKS

After the talks, it was announced that the Croatian Parliament would soon pass a law amnestying all Serbs who had lived in the territory of that former Yugoslav republic that seceded violently in 1991.

Croatian delegation member Ivica Vrkic said that the law would absolutely exonerate all those who had fought in the war, except war criminals, and would apply not only to this region, but to all of Croatia.

The Serb region's Executive Council President Vojislav Stanimirovic, who headed the delegation to the Tuesday talks, described the talks as very useful. Stanimirovic said he expected that imprecisions in the November 1995 accords, specifically those concerning the organisation of Serb communes and the holding of elections, would be cleared up to mutual satisfaction.

Croatian Parliament Deputy Speaker Vladimir Seks, who headed the Croatian delegation, said that the forming of a council of Serb communes was too abstract a formulation, but as it was in the accords, it would certainly be debated in Croatian Parliament.

During the afternoon, the Croatian delegation visited Ilok, but was met there by more than 1,000 locals who protested against Seks's presence. Deputy U.N. Administrator Derek Budbie tried to persuade the Serb protesters to disperse. However, they refused, saying they were willing to meet with the other civic-minded members of the Croatian delegation, 'but not the ultra-nationalist Seks', and the schedule planned for Ilok had to be abandoned.

[07] F.R.Y. BEARS THE BRUNT OF ASSISTING REFUGEES

The F.R.Y. has received about 650,000 refugees. the U.S. comes second with 646,000 refugees, according to the U.N. ECE which also covers North America and Israel.

In Europe, Germany with 569,000 refugees comes second, followed by Croatia (189,000 refugees), France (170,000), Sweden (43,000), while there are 870,000 refugees and 1.2 million displaced persons in the entire region of the former Yugoslavia.

According to the plan of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, a total of 370,000 refugees and 500,000 displaced persons will return to Bosnia by the end of the year, the U.N. ECE recalled. However, only 70,000 refugees and displaced persons made use of the right to return in the Organization of the UNHCR by mid-this summer.

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