Yugoslav Daily Survey, 97-09-16

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

Yugoslav Daily Survey

CONTENTS

[01] MILUTINOVIC AND GRANIC MEET FOR TALKS

[02] SERBIAN LANGUAGE AND ALPHABET SHOULD ENTER OFFICIAL USE

[03] NEW WAVE OF TERRORISM IN KOSMET

[04] REPUBLIKA SRPSKA OFFICIAL SAYS 230,000 PEOPLE UNABLE TO VOTE

[05] FAVOURABLE RUSSIAN LOAN FOR YUGOSLAVIA

[06] YUGOSLAV PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL ADDRESSED THE IPU PLENARY SESSION

[07] VOTING AT LOCAL ELECTIONS IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA WELL ORGANIZED IN FRY

[08] DJUNIC RECEIVED JAPANESE OFFICIAL

[09] MOMIR BULATOVIC - DPS CANDIDATE

[10] SERB NATIONAL COUNCIL: SERBS WILL NOT BE PLACED IN GHETTOS

[11] PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC: YUGOSLAVIA'S ROAD TO EUROPE

[12] SERBIAN PARLIAMENT SPEAKER RECEIVES OSCE DELEGATION

[13] CANCAR: MORE THAN 90 PERCENT TURNOUT OF VOTERS

[14] AUSTRIAN PRESS: MILOSEVIC CRUCIAL IN CONVINCING BOSNIAN SERBS TO PARTICIPATE IN LOCAL ELECTIONS

[15] OSCE URGES RESPECT FOR DAYTON ACCORD ON BOSNIA

[16] YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT COMMISSION DISCUSSES REPORT ON WATTS MEETING

[17] WESTENDORP URGES BOSNIAN ELECTORATES TO VOTE

[18] RUSSIA WELCOMES DECISION OF BOSNIAN SERBS, CRITICIZES BOSNIAN CROATS

[19] YUGOSLAV DEFENCE MINISTER BULATOVIC ENDS VISIT TO SLOVAKIA

[20] RUSSIA, NATO HOLD "VERY CLOSE" VIEWS ON BOSNIA, NATO SOURCE SAYS

[21] OSCE SUPERVISORS FOR BOSNIA LOCAL ELECTIONS ARRIVE IN YUGOSLAVIA

[01] MILUTINOVIC AND GRANIC MEET FOR TALKS

Tanjug, 1997-09-15

Yugoslav Foreign Minister Milan Milutinovic and Croatian Foreign Minister and Vice-Premier Mate Granic opened talks on bilateral cooperation in Belgrade on Monday.

After the talks, Milutinovic and Granic are to sign a number of agreements on cooperation in spheres crucial to the promotion of Yugoslav-Croatian relations.

Granic arrived in Belgrade earlier in the day at Milutinovic's invitation.

[02] SERBIAN LANGUAGE AND ALPHABET SHOULD ENTER OFFICIAL USE

Tanjug, 1997-09-13

Discussions about the return of refugees and the state of Serb media in Croatia, chaired by Milorad Pupovac, continued on Saturday the second day of the session of the Serbian National Council Presidency in Croatia.

Presidency members adopted unanimously on Friday the proposal of the President of the Serb cultural society Prosveta, Slobodan Uzelac, to make known to President Franjo Tudjman and to the entire public the document about the educational and cultural autonomy of Serbs in Croatia, especially the recently-signed agreement on the education of Serb children in the region under UNTAES administration, was neglected or simply not put into practice.

Uzelac characterized the actions of the Croatian Education and Sports Minister and of other representatives of education authorities in Croatia as "deliberate and organized obstruction of the declared right of the Serb community to cultural and educational autonomy, which in the end is also detrimental for the Republic of Croatia."

In his view, that Ministry should review its actions, put an end to obstruction and start acting in accordance with the Constitution and signed documents.

The Serbian National Council Presidency in conclusion called on parents and school children to attend Serb schools in the region in spite of the risks involved.

The call is the result of the opinion that things will improve in the future and that the risks of schooling and finding employment with diplomas obtained in Serb schools will diminish as the society moves further away from war.

The Presidency, discussing the right and possibilities of using the official Serbian language everywhere in the Republic of Croatia where the Serb community represents a majority or a significant minority of the population, adopted an Act on the public use on an equal footing of the Serbian language and the cyrillic alphabet.

"We demand that the Serbian language and cyrillic, in cities or municipalities where Serbs form a majority or a significant minority, be in official use, so that official documents are issued in both languages and alphabets," Pupovac said.

He stressed that the Act was also significant because of the media, so that Serb media in the region, but also in other parts of Croatia could use their language and alphabet.

The Act is significant, he added, also because of signposting in the Serbian language for towns, street names and other public institutions, as is the case in some other parts of Croatia where representatives of other national minorities live.

[03] NEW WAVE OF TERRORISM IN KOSMET

Tanjug, 1997-09-12

Some ten terrorist attacks on police stations in Kosovo and Metohija were carried out almost simultaneously a little after Thursday midnight.

The terrorists used automatic guns and bombs against the police in Rznic near Decani, in Kijevo, Suva Reka, Glogovac, Klincina, Podnosevac near Djakovica, Rudnik near Srbica and in Pec.

No-one was injured but considerable material damage was inflicted.

Radio Pristina said that the police used weapons to repel the terrorists. There is no information whether the attackers had casualties.

During the night, strong police forces blocked the roads leading towards the attacked police stations and a large scale investigation was mounted.

This is the biggest wave of terrorist attacks in Kosovo and Metohija recorded in the past years. So far, responsibility for all similar attacks was claimed by the Albanian separatist terrorist organization "Liberation Army of Kosovo."

[04] REPUBLIKA SRPSKA OFFICIAL SAYS 230,000 PEOPLE UNABLE TO VOTE

Tanjug, 1997-09-14

Republika Srpska Deputy Prime Minister in charge of international relations Aleksa Buha said after casting his ballot in Pale on Sunday that he felt both satisfied and bitter.

Buha, who is also acting President of Republika Srpska's Serb Democratic Party (SDS), also said he was "satisfied that we are taking part in the municipal elections and bitter because a lot of Serbs were unable to exercise their democratic right."

He said that 160,000 people from the FR of Yugoslavia and another 70,000 from the Republika Srpska were unable to cast their ballots in the Bosnian Serb state.

Buha called on the Republika Srpska people to come to the polls and exercise their democratic right, despite irregularities created by the international community.

He said that representatives of the international community had disrespected an agreement, reached in Belgrade, on constituents in Brcko and that the international community was responsible for major violations of election rules there.

Commenting that during the making of the election rules, a great deal of changes and irregularities took place, Buha said that the Provisional Election Commission's latest rule that the elected municipal bodies of power would have a two-year mandate was made public on the eve of the elections. He also said that this clashed with the Dayton Peace Accords.

[05] FAVOURABLE RUSSIAN LOAN FOR YUGOSLAVIA

Tanjug, 1997-09-12

Delegations of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) and the Russian Federation met here to coordinate a draft agreement between their two governments for a state loan to FRY for financing the export of Russian equipment, goods and services, as well as other major issues for the promotion of the two countries' overall economic relations, the Federal Information Secretariat said on Friday.

The FRY and Russian delegations were headed by Deputy Finance Ministers Dragutin Vucinic and Mikhail Kasyanov respectively, who signed the draft agreement.

The agreement has secured on a long term basis the import of Russian goods, especially, equipment needed by the Yugoslav economy.

The two delegations made up a list of Yugoslav companies importers from the Russian Federation. The list will be open to new additions in keeping with Yugoslav needs.

The other conditions of the loan are much more favourable than was initially proposed by the Russian side. The loan will amount up to 150 million dollars, with a +1.25 % interest rate, it will be used in the 1997- 99 period, with possible new loans if this one is not used up at the end of the period. Also achieved was a very favourable repayment schedule and a grace period in keeping with the type of equipment and goods imported from the Russian Federation.

The agreement is the first goods loan which FRY has received and which will be used for the renewal and reconstruction of the Yugoslav economy.

The forthcoming session of the Inter-Government Yugoslav-Russian Committee, planned for this October, will continue work on the coordination of an inter-bank arrangement aimed to put the agreement into operation.

During the Russian delegation's visit, also was held a meeting between the representatives of the National Bank of Yugoslavia and the Vnyshekonombank of the Russian Federation which focused on the balance of the clearing account. The two sides' corresponding bodies will continue activities in this sphere.

The Russian delegation also exchanged views on the two countries' activities in international financial institutions. The Russian delegation expressed readiness to fully support the reintegration of FRY into international financial and trade organizations, the Federal Information Secretariat said in a statement.

[06] YUGOSLAV PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL ADDRESSED THE IPU PLENARY SESSION

Tanjug, 1997-09-14

Yugoslav Parliament official said here on Saturday he was convinced that Yugoslavia's internal reforms, its activities in the implementation of the Dayton Peace Accords and its commitment to an overall regional economic and political cooperation led to its faster reintegration into the international community.

Chamber of Republics Speaker (Upper House) Srdja Bozovic heads a Yugoslav delegation to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Conference in Cairo.

On the third day of the Conference, Bozovic said at a plenary session's general debate that a confirmation of democratic reforms was indispensable for a faster development of the FR of Yugoslavia and its member-republics of Montenegro and Serbia.

Bozovic also referred to the world's political, economic and social situation and to economic and social reforms and democratic processes currently under way in Yugoslavia.

The IPU rallies members of 140 parliaments the world over. Participating in the Cairo Conference are about 1,600 delegates from 138 countries.

[07] VOTING AT LOCAL ELECTIONS IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA WELL ORGANIZED IN FRY

Tanjug, 1997-09-14

OSCE deputy coordinator for voting outside Bosnia-Herzegovina, Gerda Theuermann said that the voting process at the local election in Bosnia- Herzegovina in the territory of the FR of Yugoslavia was very well organized.

Theuermann arrived from Vienna to follow the voting process in the territory of the FRY and visited on Saturday polling stations in Belgrade, Stara Pazova, Indjija, Novi Sad and Ruma.

"My impressions are excellent. The polling stations are organized according to regulations and the local staff and supervisors are very experienced, enabling the voting process to proceed as it should," Theuermann told Tanjug.

Asked to explain the omissions registered on Saturday at some polling stations, she said that some technical omissions had been registered, but that they had been removed. The omissions involved an insufficient number of reserve ballots for those voters who could not find themselves on the lists but who possessed written confirmation that they were registered voters.

"Those who were not listed received reserve ballots which are cast in separate boxes and sent to the Sarajevo Provisional Election Commission. These ballots, and the regular ones, will be counted by international observers, OSCE supervisors and representatives of all three peoples in Bosnia and Herzegovina," Theuermann said.

[08] DJUNIC RECEIVED JAPANESE OFFICIAL

Tanjug, 1997-09-15

Deputy Yugoslav Premier Danko Djunic received Japanese Parliament's Foreign Policy Committee President Ichiro Aisawa in Belgrade on Saturday.

This is the first high-level meeting between the two countries since relations were normalized. The talks lasted over an hour and were comprehensive and friendly, with mutual understanding, the Deputy Premier's office said.

Aisawa underscored the importance of Yugoslavia's full return to the international community, saying the implementation of the Dayton accords was the road to stability, development and further democratic processes in the region.

Djunic said it was necessary for Yugoslavia to be reintegrated into international organizations, especially international financial institutions, where there were still certain obstacles of a political nature. Djunic spoke about Japan's role in the world as a global factor with a strong economy, which can contribute to stabilization and economic development, and said he hoped Japan would approach Yugoslavia's situation with understanding.

Djunic informed Aisawa about the concept of economic reforms aimed primarily at creating an open market economy. Integral reforms cannot be achieved quickly, but are a lengthy process, he said.

Yugoslavia is interested in open cooperation with all international subjects, including Japan, in order to secure necessary help for the implementation of reforms, he said.

Aisawa spoke about the significant possibilities, activities, but also certain principles which determine Japan's participation in supporting economic reforms in certain countries.

Views were exchanged on prospects for overall and especially economic cooperation. Interest was expressed in Japanese capital entering Yugoslavia and the expansion of trade, but a market economy and international standards are necessary for this, it was agreed.

The announced exchange of ambassadors will give impetus to further bilateral development, as well as a continuation and promotion of high- level dialogue, said Djunic.

Aisawa said the useful talks had given him a better understanding of Yugoslavia. He invited Djunic soon to visit Japan, said the statement.

[09] MOMIR BULATOVIC - DPS CANDIDATE

Tanjug, 1997-09-13

The Montenegrin Election Commission confirmed and declared on Saturday the candidacy of Momir Bulatovic for President of Montenegro, submitted by the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) of Montenegro, represented by Momir Bulatovic.

The Election Commission confirmed the candidacy of Momir Bulatovic on the basis of the decision of the Federal Constitutional Court, which has assessed as unconstitutional the legal provision about the election of the President of the Republic, according to which a political party can have only one candidate for the highest office.

The proposed candidacy of Momir Bulatovic for President of the Republic fulfils all conditions determined by law for his confirmation and proclamation, the Montenegrin Election Commission said.

[10] SERB NATIONAL COUNCIL: SERBS WILL NOT BE PLACED IN GHETTOS

Tanjug, 1997-09-12

The Presidency of the Serb National Council began a two-day session in Vukovar on Friday under the chairmanship of its President Milorad Pupovac. The Council is in charge of issues concerning the return of displaced persons, schools, media and the preservation of elements of national identity.

"Serb people do not ask for special privileges, simply for the privilege of being equal with others," Pupovac said, adding that Serbs demanded those rights which others already have - the right to their script, language, religion, culture and sense of belonging to their people.

Pupovac said the Council did not intend to place Serbs in ghettos in Croatia. With their existence and functioning, Serb people primarily want to contribute to the democratization of Croatia and the normalization of relations between Yugoslavia and Croatia, he said. This will not be possible, however, without organized institutions for preserving the Serb identity, he said.

Speaking about the objectives of the Presidency session, Council Vice- President Svetozar Livada pointed out that this institution was ready to be the best partner in dialogue to all Croatian institution.

"We have the intellectual strength to be the defense mechanism for all assaults on the lives and property of the Serb people in Croatia," said Livada.

In an introductory speech, Srem-Baranja region's Joint Council of Municipalities President Milos Vojinovic underlined that the Councils and other institutions would do their utmost to contribute to the settlement of all topical issues.

Pointing out that Serb institutions do not exist in order to criticize certain institutions in Croatia without any arguments, Vojinovic said the basic objective was to realize the rights guaranteed to the Serb people on the basis of agreements signed earlier.

Serb Independent Democratic Party (SDSS) President Vojislav Stanimirovic said the Serb National Council should protect the rights and interests of Serbs in Croatia, which is far from easy, since Croatia passes laws made according to European standards but does not implement them in practice.

Stanimirovic illustrated this with the concrete example of schools in the region. Already at the beginning of the school year, the Croatian Ministry of Education violated an agreement on education.

Documents analyzing the situation in the region of the U.N. Transitional Administration for Eastern Slavonija (UNTAES), which are being prepared, will be presented soon to Transitional Administrator Walker and ambassadors of member-states of the Contact Group.

Stanimirovic said he was confident the analysis prepared by the Serb leadership, together with reports by other interested sides and international observers, would considerably add to top international institutions getting the real picture about the situation in the region.

[11] PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC: YUGOSLAVIA'S ROAD TO EUROPE

Tanjug, 1997-09-14

Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic said on Sunday at the inauguration of the trans-Yugoslav highway section from Subotica to Feketic, that it should be Yugoslavia's road into Europe and a peaceful future.

In a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by over 50,000 people, Milosevic inaugurated the 55-kilometre-long highway section from Subotica to Feketic.

"I am very gratified that we are opening today together this modern highway, which should be of great importance for our whole country and I would say of equal importance for all of Europe.

Allow me at the very beginning to thank, in your and in my name, the builders of this highway. Rain like this one today often interrupted them this summer but they completed it anyway two months ahead of schedule. They would have finished it even earlier if it had not been for the rain. But on the other hand it was very beneficial for agriculture.

Allow me on the occasion of the completion of an important economic project to say a few words. In the past years we have left behind us huge difficulties. Each of these difficulties will make history, just as the fact that we had the strength to overcome all of them. And today we can say that economic revival has started and that it is well under way.

This is confirmed by the fact that we have the highest industrial and agricultural production growth rate, that we have the highest growth of investments, that the basis of our development is growing stronger every day and that in many fields, especially in infrastructure, telecommunications, energy infrastructure and other fields we have made even seven-mile steps this year.

Further revival will gain momentum once we regulate fully relations with the international community, and here I think about both financial and political relations. That is why it is of great importance, among other things, how the situation will evolve and the pursuit of the implementation of the program in Bosnia and Herzegovina, or Republika Srpska.

I want to tell you that since the moment an agreement was reached as defined by the Dayton agreement for Bosnia and Herzegovina it became clear that the interests of the international community, the interests of the people in Republika Srpska and the interests of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia are converging. That is why it is precisely the greatest interest of Yugoslavia and Republika Srpska and of all our people that the agreement is implemented consistently.

I am certain that everyone here in Yugoslavia and in Republika Srpska will do their utmost for the agreement to be implemented. The first task in Republika Srpska is to make sure that the leadership is united, and that they do not fight for power.

The people in Republika Srpska should elect a leadership whose first concern should be their problems, instead of fighting for power. That unity is indispensable in the interest of our people. Here, Serbia is the best example how unity was necessary in order to successfully start revival. It would not have been possible to start, and the Government of National Unity would not have been successful if that unity, in the political sense, had not been achieved in Serbia.

I am certain that the citizens of the FRY, of Republika Srpska and the entire Serbian people will know how much this unity is important for the successful continuation of processes that have started here and there, in the interest of the assertion of our national interests and the interests of all citizens of the FR of Yugoslavia.

I want to say that I am very pleased, and I think that we are all pleased that this new highway is starting its life here, in the north of our country, in Vojvodina. In Vojvodina which, I would say in a symbolic manner represents a model how people live and develop together who belong to different nationalities, different religions, who have different interests, to live in peace and to make progress in the most important fields.

I am certain that all of Yugoslavia will live that way and that this model, that exists in Vojvodina, will be developed very well in multiethnic, multicultural, multinational Yugoslavia, where only on the policy of national equality can be based any progressive policy.

Allow me to say finally that this good will and cooperation among peoples and between people in the territory of Vojvodina and in the territory of Yugoslavia will overcome all big and small hatreds that lie on the way of development of our country, and that this highway will be a road leading our Yugoslavia into calmer waters and a happier life," Milosevic said.

[12] SERBIAN PARLIAMENT SPEAKER RECEIVES OSCE DELEGATION

Tanjug, 1997-09-13

Serbian Parliament Speaker and acting Serbian President Dragan Tomic on Saturday received a delegation of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), headed by Anthony Welch.

The OSCE delegation will be monitoring Serbia's parliamentary and presidential elections scheduled for September 21.

The Serbian Parliament Press Office said in a statement released after the meeting that the delegation had been informed about what had so far been achieved in the organization of the coming elections.

It was heard at the meeting that, as on all previous occasions, all steps had been taken to ensure fair and democratic elections.

Tomic said that the presence of OSCE observers would be of mutual interest and that the officially accredited monitors would have direct access to all election documents and to all polling stations. The OSCE observers will also have access to all information they should consider interesting.

Welch thanked Serbian authorities for giving the OSCE delegation a direct insight into all the documents and information that would help them become better informed about the election process, the statement said.

[13] CANCAR: MORE THAN 90 PERCENT TURNOUT OF VOTERS

Tanjug, 1997-09-14

Republika Srpska Elections Commission President Petko Cancar said in Pale late on Sunday that figures available to the Commission showed that more than 90% of the citizens of Republika Srpska had gone to the polls to vote for municipal authorities on Saturday and Sunday.

Cancar expressed satisfaction with the number of citizens who cast their votes and said elections had proceeded without any problems, which the many controllers and supervisors at the polling stations could have seen for themselves.

He said he expected the first preliminary results for municipalities would be known on Monday.

[14] AUSTRIAN PRESS: MILOSEVIC CRUCIAL IN CONVINCING BOSNIAN SERBS TO PARTICIPATE IN LOCAL ELECTIONS

Tanjug, 1997-09-11

Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic played the decisive role in Wednesday evening's decision of the Republika Srpska (RS) Parliament to participate at the local elections in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Austrian commentators said on Thursday.

Vienna paper Kurier said that coupled with the international community's recommendations, threats and negotiations, the turnabout came after the Bosnian Serb representative in the Bosnia-Herzegovina Presidency, Momcilo Krajisnik, met yesterday in Belgrade with Milosevic and the international community's High Representative, Carlos Westendorp.

The Austrian commentators also wondered what the aim of the elections would be if the threats of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) for Bosnia to boycott the elections were realized. The response to this would be in the form of another question - is there an alternative?

Noticeable is that the commentators here are mentioning only in passing the HDZ boycott threats and that Vienna has failed to even mention and criticize its "protege" Zagreb, i.e. the Bosnian Croats who are much influcenced by Austria.

[15] OSCE URGES RESPECT FOR DAYTON ACCORD ON BOSNIA

Tanjug, 1997-09-11

An official of the OSCE invited on Thursday all three nations in Bosnia- Herzegovina to honour their obligations under the Dayton Accord. An OSCE statement released in Vienna quoted the OSCE President, Danish Foreign Minister Niels Helveg Petersen, as stressing the importance of upcoming local elections in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Petersen invited all parties in Bosnia-Herzegovina to allow the people to vote by securing secret ballotting and freedom of movement, among other necessary conditions. He also urged all three nations to cooperate with international organisations, support the work of the OSCE mission and monitors at the elections, and adhere to the election rules.

[16] YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT COMMISSION DISCUSSES REPORT ON WATTS MEETING

Tanjug, 1997-09-11

The Yugoslav Government Commission in charge of federal relations with the Peace Implementation Council (PIC) and international financial and trade organizations met in session on Thursday under the chairmanship of federal Prime Minister Radoje Kontic to discuss a report by a Yugoslav delegation which had met with Sir Arthur Watts in Brussels on Sept. 4 this year.

Adopting the report, the Commission assessed the bilateral talks in Brussels as basically satisfactory. The Yugoslav delegation had followed the Federal Government's determinations in principle and platforms on this issue.

During the talks, the other side came to a better understanding of our stands regarding matters of succession, and also the division of assets and liabilities, the report said.

It was assessed that this provided real possibilities for the upcoming task to secure further progress in settling these extremely important issues in connection with the normalization of relations with the former Yugoslav republics.

The group for succession is in charge of making a platform for the upcoming bilateral talks and a plenary meeting and present it to the Yugoslav Government for consideration.

[17] WESTENDORP URGES BOSNIAN ELECTORATES TO VOTE

Tanjug, 1997-09-11

High Representative of the international community for Bosnia-Herzegovina Carlos Westendorp on Thursday urged the peoples of Bosnia-Herzegovina to take part in the municipal elections on Sept 13-14 in both Bosnian entities. In a message which was read at a press conference in Sarajevo by representatives of international organizations, Westendorp said the elections would give a chance to the peoples of Bosnia-Herzegovina to express their will and take the future into their own hands.

Those who want to persuade these peoples not to vote are denying them their fundamental right to choose their own leaders, said the message.

Bosnian Croat leaders announced two days ago that they would boycott the elections, claiming they were damaged because some of their candidates were rejected by the OSCE, the official organizer and controller of the election process.

[18] RUSSIA WELCOMES DECISION OF BOSNIAN SERBS, CRITICIZES BOSNIAN CROATS

Tanjug, 1997-09-11

The Russian Foreign Ministry on Thursday welcomed the decision of Bosnian Serbs to participate in the upcoming municipal elections and set out the positive role played during its adoption by Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic.

The leadership of Republika Srpska arrived at the joint understanding that it is necessary the elections take place, to which Belgrade's constructive position contributed, Ministry Spokesman Gennady Tarasov told a press conference in Moscow.

Reiterating Moscow's stand that elections should take place as planned, on Sept. 13-14, Tarasov said the expression of the will of Bosnia's electorates was an important element in the continuation of the peace process and a way to secure a permanent nature for that process.

Tarasov also expressed serious concern over the stand of the Bosnian Croat leadership, which announced a boycott of the elections. This presents a real threat to the implementation of the elections in the entire territory of Bosnia-Herzegovina, and only the Croat population of the republic will lose from a boycott, he said.

Tarasov said he was confident a solution could be found by the elections for issues which are controversial for Croats. We are working with our partners in the Contact Group and the Croatian side to find a solution, he said.

[19] YUGOSLAV DEFENCE MINISTER BULATOVIC ENDS VISIT TO SLOVAKIA

Tanjug, 1997-09-11

The Defence Minsiters of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) and the Slovak Republic, Pavle Bulatovic and Jan Sitek, signed here on Thursday a protocol on cooperation in the sphere of defence thus successfully ending a two-day visit by the Yugoslav delegation.

The signing of the protocol secures an institutional framework for the stepped up development of military-economic, scientific, technical and overall inter-army cooperation for which there exist all the conditions and an interest expressed by both countries, Bulatovic said.

Sitek added that he had agreed with Bulatovic the setting up of expert inter-army teams which will, on the basis of expert analyses, propose concrete programs for cooperation between the two countries, especially in the sphere of the military industry in order to realize the technical modernization of the two countries' armies and for joint ventures in third countries.

Today Bulatovic was first received in the Slovak Parliament by Speaker Marijan Andyel, and later by Prime Minister Vladimir Meciar. Meciar underscored that Slovakia unreservedly supports the integration of FRY as soon as possible into international political and financial organizations and institutions. He pledged that the Slovak Government would fully support economic cooperation with FRY.

The Yugoslav delegation also attended an excercise of the Slovak Army mechanized brigade.

Bulatovic's visit ended with a ceremony before the Slovak Defence Ministry in Bratislava.

All talks were attended by Yugoslavia's Ambassador to Slovakia, Veljko Curcuc.

[20] RUSSIA, NATO HOLD "VERY CLOSE" VIEWS ON BOSNIA, NATO SOURCE SAYS

Tanjug, 1997-09-11

Nato and Russia hold "very close" views on the implementation of the peace operation in Bosnia, an unnamed source at NATO Headquarters in Brussels was quoted on Thursday as saying.

The Russia-NATO Standing Council held an ambassadorial-level meeting in Brussels on Thursday, at which it basically agreed an agenda for the body's ministerial meeting, called for Sept. 26 in New York.

The agenda will be finalised by the Ministers before their session, but it is already certain that the peace operation in Bosnia will be a central point of discussions.

Itar-TASS news agency quoted the source as saying that Russia and NATO held "very close" views on how the peace operation in Bosnia should be carried out.

The source added that the two sides had supported an unwavering implementation of the Dayton Accord and the holding of local elections in Bosnia on Sept. 13-14 as scheduled.

At the Thursday meeting, NATO undertook to consult regularly with Russia via its Embassy in Brussels and directly within the SFOR in Bosnia, and to keep the Contact Group, of which Russia is a member, informed about its decisions.

Russian Ambassador to Belgium Vitaly Churkin told Itar-TASS that he "shared this position."

[21] OSCE SUPERVISORS FOR BOSNIA LOCAL ELECTIONS ARRIVE IN YUGOSLAVIA

Tanjug, 1997-09-11

The Chairwomen of the Federal Government's Committee for aiding refugees at the local elections in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bratislava Morina, greeted on Thursday in the Hotel Yugoslavia 80 supervisors of the OSCE who will monitor voting at 79 polling stations in Yugoslavia.

Adressing the supervisors sent by the Governments of Norway, Sweden and Finland, Morina expressed satisfaction with the seven-month cooperation so far with the OSCE Bureau in Belgrade. She said that in this period all preparations had been carried out for the registration of as many as possible refugee-voters for the elections in Bosnia-Herzegovina on Sept. 13- 14. "The decision of the Republika Srpska (RS) Parliament not to boycott the local elections, has removed the biggest obstacle. I hope that the mass appearence of refugee-voters both in the Federal Republic of Yugoslvia and in RS, will contribute to the further democratization and strengthening of peace in these regions," Morina said.

She expressed belief that the international supervisors would have good contacts in the field with the members of the election committees and with ordinary people and that they will have the opportunity to feel how much all citizens of Yugoslavia desire peace in this region.

OSCE Belgrade Bureau Head Jeff Labovic set out that over the past seven months cooperation with the Fedearl Committee and the Commessariat for Refugees of Serbia, had been very good and communication possible at all times.

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