Yugoslav Daily Survey, 96-12-20

Yugoslav Daily Survey Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT LILIC EXTENDS CONGRATULATIONS TO KOFI ANNAN

[02] GOOD CONDITIONS EXIST FOR YUGOSLAV-VIETNAMESE ECONOMIC COOPERATION YUGOSLAVIA WILL GET 20-40% LESS AID FOR REFUGEES IN 1997

[03] MILUTINOVIC: REMOVING ALL RESERVATIONS ON YUGOSLAVIA'S INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

[04] OSCE DELEGATION EXPECTED FRIDAY IN BELGRADE

[05] SERBIAN PRESIDENT RECEIVES U.N. ADMINISTRATOR

[06] YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT LILIC EXTENDS CONGRATULATIONS TO KOFI ANNAN

[01] YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT LILIC EXTENDS CONGRATULATIONS TO KOFI ANNAN

Lilic said Yugoslavia, as a co-founder of the most important international organization, had always attached the greatest significance to the activities of the U.N., especially in the preservation of world peace and international security, and the pursuit of global social and economic development.

Lilic offered assurances to Annan that Yugoslavia would continue to urge the enhancement of and respect for the basic principles and goals of the U.N. Charter, and the fulfilment of the ideals which had guided the U.N. co- founders when setting up the organization more than 50 years ago.

The Yugoslav President expressed conviction that the U.N., with Annan as its Secretary-General, would meet the expectations of the international community and help further consolidate the world peace, international security and development.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1996-12-20 ; Tanjug, 1996-12-19

[02] GOOD CONDITIONS EXIST FOR YUGOSLAV-VIETNAMESE ECONOMIC COOPERATION YUGOSLAVIA WILL GET 20-40% LESS AID FOR REFUGEES IN 1997

Both sides expressed readiness to promote bilateral cooperation, especially in the building industry, agriculture, mechanical and electrical engineering industries, trade and transportation, a Government statement said.

The two sides agreed that it was necessary to reactivate the mixed committee for trade cooperation, and to open economic missions in the two capitals.

Nguyen Van Hgan said Vietnam was ready to back Yugoslavia's full reintegration into international organizations, especially through ASEAN, the statement said. (Tanjug, December 19, 1996)

Yugoslavia will get in 1997, 20-40% less international aid for refugees than this year, as Yugoslav Red Cross representatives have been told during talks in Geneva. Difficulties in securing funds from institutional donors were cited as the reason.

The Yugoslav Red Cross delegation returned home from Geneva on Thursday, after meeting with ranking officials of the International Committee of the Red Cross, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and the UNHCR, a released statement said.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1996-12-20 ; Tanjug, 1996-12-19

[03] MILUTINOVIC: REMOVING ALL RESERVATIONS ON YUGOSLAVIA'S INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Answering a question by CNN reporter on the reason for the OSCE delegation's visit to Belgrade, minister Milutinovic told a crowded press conference at Sava Center in Belgrade:

'We have invited the OSCE delegation precisely because an extremely deformed picture was created in the international public on facts regarding elections in Serbia. This is why we have invited the delegation to come in order to obtain true information on all facts so that all reservations regarding our relations with the international community can be removed.'

'We thought that OSCE was the best framework for such a mission as OSCE represents practically all countries of Europe and we are an integral part of Europe'.

'First of all, as you know, Yugoslavia is not an OSCE member and was, if I might say so, expelled irregularly, without consensus and beyond all OSCE regulations. However, we thought, and still think that we should be part of OSCE with all our rights and duties. Consequently, this was the basic idea.'

'Of course, any conclusions taken by OSCE, one way or another, after establishing all facts, which means that it should not come here with some pre-conceptions but to examine all election results - as you know, the elections had practically ended even before the so-called third round began, as 96% of the delegates for 7,600 seats had already been elected - anything that the OSCE will say will be discussed and assessed by our competent institutions'.

'Everything will therefore be within the framework of our system. As you know, in keeping with our electoral system, local elections are held entirely under the competence of electoral commissions and the courts, and that is where it all ends. Consequently, it is precisely these institutions which should examine the issue on the basis of facts established by OSCE'.

'I cannot speak on behalf of those institutions. The Federal Government, and particularly the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, can not do so'.

Answering a question on the pre-defined procedure on the holding of elections in Yugoslavia, minister Milutinovic underlined that as regards local elections, and elections in general, it is the citizens who have the last word, not courts or electoral commissions.

'Consequently, in any case, any dispute will be resolved by the citizens, by voting, because there is no other way. And, as your colleague Peter Arnst has rightly said, this should be resolved by the Serbian people. And, of course, by the institutions', Milutinovic specified.

Reuters' reporter asked for an explanation on how the minister assessed the damage suffered by Yugoslavia internationally due to the events in Belgrade.

Milutinovic answered:

'The damage has been done in any case. Our assessment is that everything that is happening now should be resolved, as I have said, within the framework of the system, as you have seen, even during the second round of voting there were, if I might say so, irruptions in the premises of the electoral commissions, which generated many of subsequent developments'.

'Local elections in any country represent a specific confrontation of interests at all local levels. I think that all that happened regarding our local elections was over emphasised in the international community and has lead to a specifically deformed picture in the world regarding everything happening here'.

'I think that an unacceptable thesis was launched - that the entire elections were annulled'.

'It is not true that the entire elections were annulled, what was demanded was a repetition of the vote, the citizens were urged to go out again to the polling stations and the candidates were the same'.

'I repeat, the elections were not repeated with different candidates but with the same candidates, so one may wonder why a verification by the voters should be feared'.

'Also, the picture was also deformed in another sense'.

'The opposition accepted the third round in places where it was winning, and where it was not winning it did not accept it'.

'You are, however, right in noting that the interests of the country had suffered specific damage. It is clear that we must have a dialogue on any and all issues, but, of course, within the framework of the institutions of the system. Anything outside that framework is not democracy. It then constitutes an attack on that other part of the citizenry who hold different views'.

'In previous elections, opposition in Yugoslavia had won in many places and exercised local authority. No one had hindered it in this exercise, absolutely'.

'In Vracar (a Belgrade municipal district) in 1992, court rulings were sought nine times until all seats were in the hands of the opposition. The voters went to the polls nine times and no one dramatized the situation'.

'Why is the present situation being dramatized? That is the right question. Why and with what motives. I think that this is where the basic part of the responsibility for the present situation lies.'

'That the opposition has won local elections in many towns and communities is nothing new here', Yugoslav Foreign Minister said.

The correspondent of German news agency DPA asked whether the foreign flags being carried during demonstrations could be interpreted as foreign interference.

'In itself, carrying the flags is not a problem. The problem lies in the connotations linked with those flags, in the slogans being used and in the kind of messages being sent to our population. Essentially, therefore, this represents a request for foreign interference, ... which has antagonized a major part of our population'.

'These are political demonstrations to which a foreign factor is being invited, symbolically, by those flags', Milutinovic underlined.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1996-12-20 ; Tanjug, 1996-12-19

[04] OSCE DELEGATION EXPECTED FRIDAY IN BELGRADE

The OSCE delegation comes to Belgrade on a fact-finding mission on the situation in the Yugoslav Republic of Serbia following the partial annulment of local election results and in order to remove all reservations regarding the relations between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the international community.

The delegation comprising high-level diplomats and experts from OSCE member- states will return to Vienna on Saturday or Sunday evening, OSCE spokeswoman Melissa Fleming said.

Delegation members will confer in Belgrade with the representatives of all political structures, including judiciary bodies, the media and any organizations they expect can help them understand the factual situation in Serbia.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1996-12-20 ; Tanjug, 1996-12-19

[05] SERBIAN PRESIDENT RECEIVES U.N. ADMINISTRATOR

The talks focused on activities aimed at speeding up the overall stabilisation of relations and normalisation of life, and especially conditions for the region's economic recovery.

It was said that a consistent implementation of the Erdut/Zagreb Agreement was a basis for the overall normalisation of relations and consolidation of peace and stability.

The implementation of the agreement includes talks between representatives of the Srem-Baranja region and the Croatian Government on protecting security, freedom and rights of citizens as well as the speeding up of the region's economic recovery, it was said.

Yugoslav foreign minister Milan Milutinovic also participated in the talks.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1996-12-20 ; Tanjug, 1996-12-20

[06] YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT LILIC EXTENDS CONGRATULATIONS TO KOFI ANNAN

Lilic said Yugoslavia, as a co-founder of the most important international organization, had always attached the greatest significance to the activities of the U.N., especially in the preservation of world peace and international security, and the pursuit of global social and economic development.

Lilic offered assurances to Annan that Yugoslavia would continue to urge the enhancement of and respect for the basic principles and goals of the U.N. Charter, and the fulfilment of the ideals which had guided the U.N. co- founders when setting up the organization more than 50 years ago.

The Yugoslav President expressed conviction that the U.N., with Annan as its Secretary-General, would meet the expectations of the international community and help further consolidate the world peace, international security and development.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1996-12-20 ; Tanjug, 1996-12-19

Yugoslav Daily Survey Directory - Previous Article - Next Article