Yugoslav Daily Survey, 97-09-02

Yugoslav Daily Survey Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

Yugoslav Daily Survey

CONTENTS

[01] YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC RECEIVES US ENVOY GELBARD

[02] BULATOVIC SAYS EARLY PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS INDISPENSABLE

[03] KRAJISNIK SAYS REPUBLIKA SRPSKA IS THREATENED

[04] FOREIGN MINISTER MILUTINOVIC CONFERS WITH CHINESE PREMIER LI

[05] YUGOSLAV, LONDON CLUB REPRESENTATIVES END SESSION

[06] KINKEL HINTS GERMANY BACKS EXTENSION OF SFOR MANDATE IN BOSNIA

[07] SITUATION IN BRCKO SETTLING

[08] KLICKOVIC: "BANJALUKA SCENARIO" FAILS

[09] SFOR ACTIONS IN RS, KRAJISNIK ISSUES WARNING

[10] OSCE SENDS OBSERVERS TO MONITOR ELECTIONS IN SERBIA

[11] WALKER SAYS MEETING WITH PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC WAS VERY POSITIVE

[12] PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC RECEIVES WALKER

[13] VLATKOVIC HOLDS TALKS WITH LONDON CLUB REPRESENTATIVES

[14] YUGOSLAV-CHILEAN CONSULTATIONS

[15] YUGOSLAV, CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTERS DISCUSS BILATERAL COOPERATION

[16] AGREEMENT ON CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL COOPERATION SIGNED

[17] GERMANY DEPORTS ANOTHER 93 ETHNIC ALBANIANS TO SERBIAN PROVINCE

[01] YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC RECEIVES US ENVOY GELBARD

Tanjug, 1997-08-29

President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Slobodan Milosevic has received the Special Envoy of the US President Bill Clinton for the implementation of the Dayton agreement, Ambassador Robert Gelbard.

The meeting focused on the current issues regarding the implementation of the Dayton agreement and on resolving the problems created by confrontations within Republika Srpska institutions.

President Milosevic expressed his firm conviction that the current crisis and tension can be overcome only by political means.

International factors actively involved in the peace process are expected to contribute to the consolidation of peace which is in the greatest interest of the people in Republika Srpska who have the legitimate right to freely elect their political representatives and institutions which should work for the realization of that interest.

The meeting was attended by the Assistant Yugoslav Foreign Minister Nikola Cicanovic and the US Charge d'Affaires in Belgrade Richard Miles.

[02] BULATOVIC SAYS EARLY PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS INDISPENSABLE

Tanjug, 1997-08-30

Montenegro President Momir Bulatovic said late Friday that early parliamentary elections were a most effective means of stabilizing the political situation in the Republic.

He said on TV Montenegro that the shortening of the term of Deputies of the republican assembly was a condition for the calling of early parliamentary elections.

President Bulatovic's proposal that the Deputies' mandate end on Dec. 31 this year will be discussed at the upcoming session of the Montenegro Assembly.

Bulatovic said he had taken the decision because of the crisis in the functioning of the executive, legislative and partly also judicial authorities.

Asked to comment the speculation about the introduction of a state of emergency in Yugoslavia, the Montenegro President underscored that there did not exist a single reason or possibility for that, since the decision could be taken only by the Federal Parliament.

"A state of emergency is no solution, but instead the development of democratic methods, fair and correct presidential elections first and right after parliamentary ones too," Bulatovic said.

[03] KRAJISNIK SAYS REPUBLIKA SRPSKA IS THREATENED

Tanjug, 1997-08-30

Republika Srpska member of the Bosnia-Herzegovina Presidency Momcilo Krajisnik said Saturday that the situation in the Bosnian Serb entity was critical and the peace process in Bosnia was threatened.

Krajisnik said on Serb Radio that SFOR troops had played a positive role in the initial phase of the implementation of the Dayton peace agreement.

"They respected things and their mandate was clear," he set out.

Krajisnik said the SFOR mandate had changed and a dangerous game was now being played on the territory of Republika Srpska.

He condemned the developments in Brcko and Bijeljina, where SFOR troops were instructed to take control of some state institutions (Security Centre and police station) but were resisted by the local populations.

Krajisnik said that Republika Srpska was threatened and that the main culprits were RS President Biljana Plavsic and her followers and their "usurpative behaviour." He welcomed the initiative of the RS Assembly for simultaneous municipal, parliamentary and presidential elections, as a solution to the crisis.

[04] FOREIGN MINISTER MILUTINOVIC CONFERS WITH CHINESE PREMIER LI

Tanjug, 1997-08-29

Yugoslav Foreign Minister Milan Milutinovic discussed Friday with Chinese Premier Li Peng the bilateral relations.

In a press statement after the talks, Milutinovic expressed satisfaction with the meeting, which he said was another confirmation of the importance attached by China to the development of its relations with Yugoslavia, of the high degree of mutual understanding and traditional confidence between the two countries.

"We assessed as positive the successful development of our bilateral relations to date and confirmed our readiness further to promote them at both the political and economic levels," Milutinovic said.

He set out that Premier Li had specifically upheld the furthering and expansion of economic cooperation, which he said would be in the mutual interest.

The Yugoslav Foreign Minister said that China's principled and consistent position during the crisis in the former Yugoslavia was of special significance for the development of relations between the two countries.

Milutinovic told the press that Premier Li had underscored the high regard China had for Yugoslavia's independent and peaceful policy and its role in the reaching and implementation of the Dayton agreement.

Milutinovic set out that the Yugoslav side had lent full support to China's peaceful policy, its role in and contribution to the positive development of international relations.

"It is our firm conviction that the world needs such a policy on the part of the People's Republic of China, which is an essential factor of peace, stability and equality-based cooperation," the Yugoslav Minister underscored.

Milutinovic said he was leaving China convinced that relations between the two countries were about to enter a period of very dynamic all-round cooperation on stable and long-term foundations.

Milutinovic ends the official return visit to China on Aug. 31.

[05] YUGOSLAV, LONDON CLUB REPRESENTATIVES END SESSION

Tanjug, 1997-08-28

Representatives of the Yugoslav Government and of the London Club of creditors ended on Thursday in Belgrade a two-day round of talks and issued a joint press statement.

The talks were attended by a delegation of the International Coordinating Committee of commercial banks (ICC) headed by Robert Gyenge, and by a Yugoslav Government delegation comprising Deputy Prime Minister Danko Djunic and Minister Nebojsa Maljkovic.

The round focused on an analysis of all economic and financial data and figures regarding the rescheduling of Yugoslavia's debt with the London Club, the statement says.

Both sides agreed that a significant progress had been achieved.

Both sides said they believed that the fruitful talks they had had would be pursued in order to reach an agreement acceptable to both sides.

Another round is scheduled for next month, the statement says.

[06] KINKEL HINTS GERMANY BACKS EXTENSION OF SFOR MANDATE IN BOSNIA

Tanjug, 1997-08-28

Germany will urge the extension of the mandate of the multi-national peace force in Bosnia SFOR, which expires next summer, according to what German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel said in an interview published in the Stuttgart Zeitung on Thursday. Minister Kinkel said the West would surely not allow the creation of a "security vacuum next June," and underscored that there was no alternative to the Dayton Agreement.

The German Foreign Minister set out that the current developments in Republika Srpska did the greatest harm to the Serb entity's population, and insisted that the situation be resolved as soon as possible. Kinkel stressed that support was given only to those who guaranteed the implementation of the Dayton Accords, and said the upcoming elections were the real way to resolve the current dangerous rift between Pale and Banjluka in Republika Srpska. "A possible disintegration of Republika Srpska would undermine the overall structure of the Dayton peace Accords," the German Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung said on Thursday.

[07] SITUATION IN BRCKO SETTLING

Tanjug, 1997-08-28

The situation in the Bosnian Serb town of Brcko was slowly settling in the early evening of Thursday and the people were dispersing from the streets.

However, two more civilians were hurt in shooting by SFOR in the afternoon.

Local municipal authorities have had brief meetings with officials of some international institutions. SFOR troop movements have slowed down, but reconnaissance flights are continuous.

Both SFOR and international supervisor for the Brcko area Robert Farrand have issued statements.

SFOR said in its statement that it had taken action to separate confronted police forces of two factions in the Republika Srpska.

Farrand, for his part, invited the people to disperse, so as to avoid fresh incidents. He strongly criticised the broadcasting of the local radio station, the only one that can be heard in Brcko as the radio and television of the Republika Srpska are not transmitting, saying that it was engaging in impermissible propaganda.

Immediately after the statement was released, an SFOR helicopter broke the pillar supporting an antenna of Radio Brcko. A radio worker was injured by flying debris in the turbulence created by the chopper. However, the local radio is still broadcasting.

During the afternoon, the Brcko municipal council held an emergency session to discuss the situation, and decided to issue a statement inviting the people to exercise restraint and return to their homes. In view of the fact that Brcko Public Safety Centre chief Andrija Bjelosevic has disappeared from town, the municipal council has in a summary procedure appointed Bosko Maricic, first commander of the Serb Territorial Defence of Brcko, to be acting chief.

The council's three-man delegation - Chairman Radoslav Bogicevic, Councilman Simo Kojic and Serb Democratic Party leader Mladen Bosic - called at the SFOR base at Brcko in the evening for a meeting with Division North commander Col. David Grange at the latter's request.

[08] KLICKOVIC: "BANJALUKA SCENARIO" FAILS

Tanjug, 1997-08-28

Republika Srpska Premier Gojko Klickovic said in Brcko on Thursday that the scenario from Banjaluka of taking over power with the help of SFOR and international services, had failed in Duge Njive near Doboj and in Brcko and Bijeljina, Bosnian Serb news agency SRNA reported.

Klickovic assessed that the taking over of Brcko and Bijeljina, would mean the realization of the goal to form an illegal ministry of internal affairs, loyal to RS President Biljana Plavsic.

He said that the fiercest attack was carried out by SFOR in Brcko, where the resistance of the people was the strongest, and that the situation in Bijeljina, where he stayed before that, "was under the control of the people who repeled SFOR attacks from all directions."

The RS premier at a rally of support on Thursday morning to legally elected RS bodies in Bijeljina said that events in the northern part of the country "represent the last attampt to drag RS into a unitary Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is not provided by the Dayton Peace Agreement and what the Serbian people will not accept."

Klickovic said that the same scenario as in the Republic of Serb Krajina should have taken place in Bijeljina, but that it was never realized thanks to the resolution of the people who gathered spontaneously and prevented SFOR from occupying Ministry of Internal Affairs facilities.

[09] SFOR ACTIONS IN RS, KRAJISNIK ISSUES WARNING

Tanjug, 1997-08-28

Bosnia and Herzegovina Presidency member from Republika Srpska Momcilo Krajisnik warned on Thursday that the actions carried out now by SFOR throughout RS could have unforeseeable consequences for peace in the region. Krajisnik said that "SFOR from a guest has turned into a force which we will not call occupational, but it is in a phase very close to that qualification."

He added that SFOR had carried out actions in Brcko and in Bijeljina, that it had occupied a Ministry of Internal Affairs facility on Mt. Jahorina, Kosuta, and a Serb Radio Television transmitter on Mt. Udrigova near Bijeljina.

[10] OSCE SENDS OBSERVERS TO MONITOR ELECTIONS IN SERBIA

Tanjug, 1997-08-28

The OSCE announced on Thursday in Vienna that it would send 40 observers to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia by next week to monitor the electoral campaign and presidential and parliamentary elections in Serbia. This group of "long-term" observers will be followed later by 150 others who will arrive on the eve of the elections scheduled for September 21, to monitor the voting itself, OSCE Spokeswoman Melissa Fleming told Tanjug.

A preliminary OSCE delegation visited Belgrade last week, headed by Anthony Welch who has drawn up a report on the visit, Fleming said.

The OSCE did not need to take a formal decision on the matter as an earlier invitation by Yugoslav Foreign Minister Milan Milutinovic had already been accepted.

[11] WALKER SAYS MEETING WITH PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC WAS VERY POSITIVE

Tanjug, 1997-08-28

Transitional U.N. Administrator of the region or Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and West Srem William Walker said his meeting with Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic Thursday had been very positive and useful. Walker told a news conference at the U.N. mission in Belgrade that he had received assurances from President Milosevic that Yugoslavia and he, himself, would lend full support to a successful termination of the UNTAES mandate.

Walker told the press that he had been informed by President Milosevic about the current initiatives and talks devoted to a further normalization of relations between Yugoslavia and Croatia.

The U.N. official singled out the importance of the demilitarization to be carried out after the UNTAES mandate ended, the setting up of soft borders, and the dual citizenship for Serbs in Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and West Srem, which he said he had discussed with President Milosevic.

Walker said that as far as the announced intention of Croatia to introduce a visa for entry into the region of Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and West Srem was concerned, he had told President Milosevic that he would stand by what his predecssor Jacques Klein had pledged.

The new Transitional U.N. Administrator said his goal was to create conditions for a normal life of all inhabitants of the region once the UNTAES pulled out.

Walker said he hoped Yugoslavia, Croatia and the local authorities would create conditions for a general reconciliation of the region's population.

The U.N. Transitional Administrator told the press that he had informed President Milosevic about the process of a two-way return of refugeees, Croats to the region of Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and West Srem and Serbs now living in the region to other parts of Croatia.

When a journalist observed that nothing was yet functioning in the region of eastern Slavonia, Baranja and West Srem, including local authorities, health services, schools, the judiciary and the payment of pensions to Serbs, Walker replied that the UNTAES was seriously discussing all relevant matters with the Croatian Government.

Asked whether the UNTAES was included in the apprehension of war-crimes suspects, the U.N. official replied that the UNTAES mandate did not include the arrest of persons indicted for war crimes, but noted that he received instructions from the U.N. and that there was an inclination to arrest all war-crimes suspects.

[12] PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC RECEIVES WALKER

Tanjug, 1997-08-28

Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic received on Thursday the new U.N. Administrator for Eastern Slavonia, Ambassador William Walker.

Greeting President Milosevic, Administrator Walker congratulated him his election for President of Yugoslavia, on behalf of the U.N. Secretary General and in his own name.

Thanking Ambassador Walker, President Milosevic wished his guest success in performing his mandate, entrusted to him by the U.N., and pointed to the positive results achieved in the realization of the Erdut Agreement.

Hope was mutually expressed that the process of overall normalization of relations in Eastern Slavonia would continue, including the intensification of efforts for economic recovery. Full support was lent to further constructive cooperation between the organs and institutions of the Region with the U.N. Transitional Administration for the efficient protection of the freedom and legitimate rights and interests of all citizens.

Special importance was given to the positive development and improvement of Yugoslav-Croatian relations in strengthening the stability of the region, and the full normalization of life in the Region of Eastern Slavonia.

[13] VLATKOVIC HOLDS TALKS WITH LONDON CLUB REPRESENTATIVES

Tanjug, 1997-08-28

Yugoslav National (central) Bank Governor Dusan Vlatkovic with associates held talks on Thursday with representatives of the International Coordinating Committee of London Club commercial banks, headed by London Club chairman Robert Gyenga, the National Bank of Yugoslavia has announced.

Vlatkovic informed Committee representatives about the role and function of the central bank, seized them about current Yugoslav economic and financial trends and the central bank's efforts in extremely adverse conditions, to preserve the stability of the domestic currency and of prices. He pointed out especially that in such conditions a high level of financial discipline and solvency in international payments had been maintained.

The Governor pointed to the need to reach a realistic and mutually acceptable arrangement for rescheduling the Yugoslav foreign debt towards commercial banks.

He pointed out that the National Bank of Yugoslavia, in conformity with its legal obligations and responsibilities, wishes to secure an arrangement which will later be carried out consistently. This is particularly important, as a realistic arrangement secures solvency and regular payments over a longer period of time towards foreign countries.

The conclusion of an arrangement with the London Club, the Governor said, opens possibilities for the cooperation of foreign banks with Yugoslav banks and the Yugoslav economy and the inflow of foreign capital.

London Club Chairman Gyenga assessed positively the results achieved by Yugoslav banks and the economy in such conditions and particularly the stability of the rate of exchange of the dinar and of prices. He also pointed out it was in the joint interest to reach an agreement on rescheduling the debt towards foreign commercial banks which will be mutually acceptable and enable the long-term servicing of obligations in stable conditions, the statement said.

[14] YUGOSLAV-CHILEAN CONSULTATIONS

Tanjug, 1997-08-28

Yugoslav-Chilean consultations were held at the Federal Foreign Ministry in Belgrade on Wednesday at the level of directorate directors, a Federal Government statement said on Thursday.

These were the first consultations by representatives of the two ministries since diplomatic ties were reestablished in March 1990. The Chilean side to the talks was headed by Ambassador in the Federal Ministry Alvaro Suniga Benavides, the Director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

The talks focused on the state and prospects for the development of bilateral relations, in particular, possibilities for promoting mutual economic cooperation. The two sides also informed each other about their respective foreign-policy priorites and positions.

[15] YUGOSLAV, CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTERS DISCUSS BILATERAL COOPERATION

Tanjug, 1997-08-28

Yugoslav Foreign Minister Milan Milutinovic, on an official visit to the People's Republic of China, met on Thursday in Beijing his host, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Qian Qichen, to discuss bilateral cooperation.

The visit forms part of continuous contacts and fruitful political dialogue at the highest level between the two countries, Milutinovic told the press after the meeting.

Milutinovic said he had the pleasure of presenting to his Chinese colleague a personal message from the President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Slobodan Milosevic for his Chinese counterpart Jiang Zemin.

Both sides expressed their satisfaction with the very positive development of bilateral relations and with the outstanding results achieved in the past two years especially as regards economic cooperation, Milutinovic said.

In addition to the realization of contracts that have already been concluded, additional endeavors should be exerted to conclude more business cooperation deals, it was noted during the meeting. Great prospects exist for the promotion and development of higher forms of economic cooperation and a more active involvement of Yugoslav companies in China's dynamic economic development, Milutinovic said.

The two ministers also discussed the prospects for developing other forms of traditionally good cooperation, such as scientific, technical, cultural and educational. A new program for cultural and educational cooperation for 1997-99 was approved during the visit.

Discussing the most important international issues, the two ministers expressed identical or similar views on current world developments, Milutinovic said, adding they had agreed on the need for building an international order that would ensure full equality of all states, regardless of their size or internal order.

Only an international order based on full respect of the principles of non- interference in internal affairs and avoidance of the use of force or threats of use of force, can ensure the conditions for progress and democratic development of all states, Milutinovic said.

The People's Republic of China with its consistent peace policy has a special place and role in the establishment of such international relations, Milutinovic said, and added that China had made a great contribution to the establishment of peace in the territory of the former Yugoslavia, that the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia greatly appreciates.

Although China is far away geographically, it has always been a close friend to Yugoslavia and its peoples, Milutinovic said and added he was keeping in mind China's long history and rich cultural heritage, its fight for freedom and independence, and its outstanding role in contemporary international relations.

The Chinese Minister had noted that Yugoslavia's principled and constructive policy was decisive for the consistent implementation of the Dayton-Paris peace agreement, and both sides underlined that only a full implementation of the agreement and the respect of the principle of equality of both Bosnian entities could ensure lasting peace and stability in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Milutinovic said.

Any attempt at interpreting or reviewing the agreement unilaterally would bring into question the future of the peace process, he noted.

The Yugoslav delegation praised China's successful development results especially as regards economy, science and technology which guarantee to its people all-round economic and cultural prosperity.

Milutinovic reiterated Yugoslavia's support to the "One China" policy and welcomed the recent reintegration of Hong Kong as a first step in the realization of the policy of reunification of Chinese territories and the mother country, Milutinovic said.

The talks have confirmed the joint interest of both countries in the promotion of all forms of bilateral relations through intensifying political dialogue and exchanging high-level visits.

In a brief statement to Serbian Radio-Television, Minister Qian Qichen underlined that traditional relations between China and Yusoslavia had never been broken off.

After the anti-Yugoslav sanctions were lifted, economic cooperation was re- established and will certainly improve and develop in the future, he said.

China sees the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia as an equal and respected member of the international community and believes that Yugoslavia should regain its rightful place in all international institutions and organizations, Qian Qichen said.

Minister Milutinovic will meet Chinese Prime Minister Li Peng Friday in Beijing.

[16] AGREEMENT ON CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL COOPERATION SIGNED

Tanjug, 1997-08-28

Foreign Ministers Milan Milutinovic of Yugoslavia and Qian Qichen of China conferred on bilateral issues in Peking on Thursday for more than an hour. Following the talks, the two sides signed a programme for cultural and educational cooperation between the Yugoslav and Chinese Governments until the year 2000. The programme envisages more active cultural and educational cooperation between the two countries.

Cultural-educational cooperation between the two countries, which have traditionally good relations, was established for the first time in 1957.

Today's cooperation agreement was signed by Deputy Chinese Culture Minister Meng Siaosi and Yugoslav Ambassador in the Foreign Ministry Dragomir Vucicevic.

[17] GERMANY DEPORTS ANOTHER 93 ETHNIC ALBANIANS TO SERBIAN PROVINCE

Tanjug, 1997-08-28

The Government of the German province of Baden-Wuertenberg deported on Thursday another 93 ethnic Albanians to the Yugoslav Republic of Serbia's Kosovo-Metohija province, after turning down their applications for political asylum in Germany.

Germany has returned 662 persons to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in this way so far this year, 52 of whom were criminals, according to German files.

The deportations are being carried out under an inter-state treaty signed in Bonn in 1996 by the two countries' interior ministers and regulating that either country shall deport the other country's nationals if they should not have valid papers.

According to the most frequently quoted German figure, more than 100,000 asylum-seekers have been turned down in Germany, mostly ethnic Albanians from Kosovo-Metohija.

Yugoslav Daily Survey Directory - Previous Article - Next Article