Yugoslav Daily Survey, 98-02-02

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

Yugoslav Daily Survey

CONTENTS

[01] LILIC-LUKASHENKO: FRIENDLY RELATIONS FOR THE WELFARE OF THE PEOPLES

[02] SCHUMACHER SAYS NEW REPUBLIKA SRPSKA GOVERNMENT WAS NOT IMPOSED BY INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY

[03] BULAJIC: ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES OF DIPLOMACY SHOULD BE STREGTHENED

[04] SEAT OF BOSNIAN SERB GOVERNMENT MOVES TO BANJALUKA

[05] PREMIER DODIK SAYS HIS GOVERNMENT WILL WORK IN INTEREST OF REPUBLIKA SRPSKA

[06] NEW REPUBLIKA SRPSKA CABINET SWORN IN

[07] MIXED YUGOSLAV-MACEDONIAN COMMITTEE MEETS

[08] BELARUS IS BRIDGE FOR TIES WITH FORMER SOVIET STATES - LUKASHENKO

[09] AGREEMENTS ON COOPERATION WITH BELARUS SIGNED

[10] JOINT YUGOSLAV-BELARUS DECLARATION 28-30, 1998.

[11] YUGOSLAV PM RECEIVES YUGOSLAV-MACEDONIAN COMMISSION CO-CHAIRMEN 1996.

[12] LUKASHENKO SAYS BELARUS SUPPORT TO YUGOSLAVIA OF LONG STANDING

[13] MILOSEVIC-LUKASHENKO-STATEMENT:BIG STEP IN COOPERATION BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES

[01] LILIC-LUKASHENKO: FRIENDLY RELATIONS FOR THE WELFARE OF THE PEOPLES

Tanjug, 1998-01-30

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, who met with Deputy Yugoslav Prime Minister Zoran Lilic within his official three-day visit to Yugoslavia, described relations between Yugoslavia and Belarus as very good. In an exclusive statement to Tanjug, Lukashenko compared relations between the two friendly countries with the relations he had established with the Deputy Federal Premier. We have no problems in our mutual relations, President Lukashenko said.

Lilic, who met with Lukashenko for the third time, pointed out that seven inter-state agreements had been signed during their previous meeting in Minsk, including the most important agreement on friendship and cooperation. Lilic underscored that the agreement reached by Presidents Milosevic and Lukashenko, and what was at the end presented also by Yugoslav Prime Minister Radoje Kontic, was a really good basis not only for better mutual cooperation, but also the future of the two peoples.

[02] SCHUMACHER SAYS NEW REPUBLIKA SRPSKA GOVERNMENT WAS NOT IMPOSED BY INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY

Tanjug, 1998-01-31

The international community's Deputy High Representative for Bosnia- Herzegovina Hans Schumacher said on Saturday that the new Republika Srpska Government wanted to preserve the RS's unity, and it had not been imposed by the international community. Schumacher said Premier Milorad Dodik and his Cabinet should be given a chance to do what they intended, which he said would mean an improvement for the people of the RS.

The Deputy High Representative stressed that a headway had already been made not only in terms of financial assistance but also of the political confidence the Dodik Government had in the world.

Schumacher said the new Government was capable of securing the development of the two entities - Republika Srpska and the Muslim-Croat Federation - under the umbrella of a common state, as envisaged under the Dayton agreement.

[03] BULAJIC: ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES OF DIPLOMACY SHOULD BE STREGTHENED

Tanjug, 1998-02-01

In the first half of this year over 25 economic and trade advisors will join Yugoslav Embassies throughout the world in order to create conditions, with the help of diplomacy, for the Yugoslav economy to make gains on the international market, Yugoslav Deputy Foreign Minister Radoslav Bulajic said.

In a statement to Tanjug on Sunday, commenting the recent decision of the Yugoslav Government to strengthen the work of Yugoslav Embassies and consular representations by appointing a large number of economic advisors, Bulajic pointed out that the policy was "in line with world trends and essential social-economic and international-political changes, that emerged in the last few years."

Bulajic said that, in accordance with Government decisions, trade advisors will be appointed to Yugoslav Embassies in Rome (two posts), Paris, the Hague, Athens, Moscow (two posts), Kiev, Prague, Bucarest, Sofia, Harare, Pretoria, Tokyo and the Permanent Mission to the U.N. in New York, as well as in other countries.

He pointed out that economic and trade advisors are already appointed to Yugoslav Embassies in Vienna, Budapest, Nicosia, Warsaw, Bratislava, Bonn, Bern, Brussles, London, Stockholm, Cairo, Lagos, Beijing, New Delhi, Permanent Mission to the U.N. European Office in Geneva and the Permanent Mission to the European Union in Brussels.

Speaking about the work of economic advisors and the need for a large number of competent experts, Bulajic said that the Government in taking the decision to strengthen the economic activities of diplomacy had in mind primarily the development of economic cooperation with those countries.

Bulajic said that the importance of "economic diplomacy" had been realized on time in the Yugoslav Foreign Ministry and in the Yugoslav Government.

He added that the FRY had nearly one hundred diplomatic missions and that in most of them, especially in countries which are the traditional and most important economic partners of the FRY - there are economic advisors and departments for economic affairs.

Speaking about the appointement of an economic advisor in Moscow, Bulajic said that the Russian Federation, a source of strategic raw materials, semi- products and equipment, was an important market and one of the most important economic partners for the Yugoslav industry.

The importance of Greece and Italy, as economic partners of the FRY and EU members, should be viewed primarily in the context of our position that key economic interests are realized with our neighbours and other European countries, Bulajic said.

Speaking about the appointment of experts in the United States, Canada and Japan, Bulajic said that these industrial countries, possessing huge technical-technological and financial potential, were interesting for us primarily as investors, notably in the field of infrastructure facilities.

The appointment of economic advisors in Yugoslav Permanent Missions to the E.U. in Brussles and to the U.N. in New York is motivated by the need for intensified efforts for the return of the FRY as a full-fledged member into international financial and trade organizations and institutions, Bulajic said.

"Our diplomacy must prepare primarily for an economic function, as its task is to establish a balance between the commercial interests of the country and foreign policy. Modern diplomacy serves best its country and its citizens as part of a wider foreign policy, when it defends state trade interests and opens the way for potential markets," Bulajic said.

Bearing in mind the fact that globalization and multilateralism are continuous processes, we have to take part in those process, with the help of diplomacy, Bulajic said.

According to World Trade Organization (WTO) data, there are in the world over 80 free trade zone, customs unions, various regional and sub-regional institutions and associations, as the best way for realizing state intrests, Bulajic said, stressing that Yugoslavia was in the process of joining those instituions, but that due to the "currently unfavorable status of the FRY in the interanitonal community, that process has been slowed down."

Bulajic assessed that without the active participation of the FRY in the region, it cannot develop economic and goodneighbourly relations and voiced hope that this fact will be taken into account by the region, by Europe and the world and that obstacles will soon be lifted to the return of Yugoslavia to the international community, primarily the "outer wall of sancitons".

Bulajic said that "commercial diplomacy" which used to be a privilege of the rich, was increasingly becoming a strong policy element of of developing countries in their fight for a more just political and economic system.

[04] SEAT OF BOSNIAN SERB GOVERNMENT MOVES TO BANJALUKA

Tanjug, 1998-01-31

The Parliament of Republika Srpska adopted on Saturday after hours of debate an amendment that moves the seat of the Bosnian Serb government from Pale to Banjaluka.

Votes in favor were cast by 55 deputies of the Serb National Alliance, Socialist Party of Republika Srpska, Serbian Radical Party RS, Coalition for a Single Bosnia-Herzegovina, Social Democratic Party and Serb Democratic Party.

Twenty one deputies from the Serb Democratic Party voted against the amendment, and one deputy abstained.

[05] PREMIER DODIK SAYS HIS GOVERNMENT WILL WORK IN INTEREST OF REPUBLIKA SRPSKA

Tanjug, 1998-01-31

New Premier Milorad Dodik told the Assembly on Saturday that his Government would do everything to prove that it was working in the interest of Republika Srpska. Premier Dodik set out that his Government had received support not only from RS citizens, political parties and various associations but also from the international community.

He stressed that the international community's support was not verbal but comprised of concrete assistance.

The new Premier said his Government would produce results in the next 60 days and urged the Assembly to cooperate with it and work in the interest of the RS's prosperity.

Changes have been necessary, Premier Dodik said and noted that his Government, made up of capable ministers, would strive for the RS's prosperity and guard against the violation of the RS's interests defined in Dayton.

[06] NEW REPUBLIKA SRPSKA CABINET SWORN IN

Tanjug, 1998-01-31

New Republika Srpska Premier Milorad Dodik and his cabinet were sworn in on Saturday at a National Assembly session in Banjaluka. The ceremony was not attended by Deputies of the Serb Democratic Party (SDS) because, as SDS Deputy Savo Knezevic explained, it was inappropriate for a Cabinet which included atheists to be sworn in in a religious ceremony.

Before the swering-in ceremony, the Assembly, whose third session is attended by 82 of the 83 Deputies, adopted a 40-item agenda.

The Assembly session is attended by also Republika Srpska President Biljana Plavsic, Co-Chairman of the Bosnia-Herzegovina Council of Ministers from the RS Boro Bosic, Chief of the General Staff, Gen. Pero Colic, and representatives of the international community - Deputy High Representative for Bosnia-Herzegovina Hans Schumacher and the Ambassadors of the Contact Group member-countries in Sarajevo.

[07] MIXED YUGOSLAV-MACEDONIAN COMMITTEE MEETS

Tanjug, 1998-01-30

The Co-Chairmen of the Joint Committee for Monitoring Trade Between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Republic of Macedonia, Vojin Djukanovic, who is also Yugoslav Vice Prime Minister, and Boris Rikalovic, Macedonian Economy Minister met here on Friday.

The meeting focused on the realization of trade between the two countries in 1997 and the creating of conditions for its unimpeeded realization and promotion. It was concluded that the scope of trade is increasing and that it amounted to 510 million in 1997, but that the Yugoslav deficit also rose and was 68 million dollars. The talks underscored mutual interest and orientation for balancing the trade inbalance with the further increase of the exchange of goods, i.e by stepping up the export of Yugoslav goods for which the Macedonian market is interested.

Coordinated were the 1998 lists of goods with limited import-export quotas and which amount to 7.5 percent of the overall trade. The majority of these goods are from the agricultural sphere.

[08] BELARUS IS BRIDGE FOR TIES WITH FORMER SOVIET STATES - LUKASHENKO

Tanjug, 1998-01-30

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko was quoted in Belgrade on Friday as saying that he had exhaustive consultations with his host and other Yugoslav officials about matters of vital interest to the two countries.

In an interview for Serbian Radio-Television, Lukashenko said Belarus absolutely supports and has always supported the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in all international organisations. He said it is the position of Belarus that the present international treatment of Yugoslavia is totally unjust and untenable.

He especially condemned efforts to block Yugoslavia's return to such world bodies as the UN and the OSCE, and even to the Non-Aligned Movement which Yugoslavia actually did much to create.

This injustice must be set right as soon as possible, he said.

Asked about his position on the efforts of some foreign circles to discredit Belarus, Lukashenko said this situation is reminiscent somewhat of the attitude to the Federal Fepublic of Yugoslavia. He went on to say that public protests in both Belarus and Yugoslavia were financed by certain circles in the West. He said that, according to information from those behind the whole affair, a scenario on the lines of that applied to Yugoslavia was being prepared for Belarus as well. However, he added, this was soon put to rights, and Belarus now has peaceful development.

He noted that his meeting with Milosevic came on the eve of a very great headway about to be made in bilateral trade relations, adding that much has been done in the sphere of political relations, on the promotion of political dialogue.

Lukashenko said that agreements reached during the visit should raise Yugoslav-Belarus economic cooperation to a level that should correspond to the present high level of their political relations.

He said he is leaving Yugoslavia in the hope and with a wish that he will return again to continue the dialogue, and hoping that the people of Belarus will have an opportunity to offer hospitality to their Slav brothers.

He further said bilateral relations and cooperation should be developed to the limits of their potential, adding that Yugoslavia could use Belarus television channel as a bridge of cooperation with the other former Soviet republics.

The two nations have the experience needed and practically speak the same language and have common roots, which should be made use of to mutual advantage, he said, noting that the most important thing for the two states in 1998 is to reach the planned level of trade.

[09] AGREEMENTS ON COOPERATION WITH BELARUS SIGNED

Tanjug, 1998-01-30

The General Director of the Belarus concern of material reserves Belresursi, Yuri Astapchenko, and the President of the Consortium for Cooperation with the Belarus Republic, Rajko Uncanin, signed on Friday at the Serbian Chamber of Commerce (PKS) a number of agreements on business and techincal cooperation, transfer of technology and the export of our products to that market.

The agreement was signed by Belresursi, the Consortium, Jugoexport and the chain of department stores Beograd and includes the appearence of our firms on the Belarus market and the opening of permanent stores in Belgrade and Minsk.

Belresursi also signed an agreement with Bambi of Pozarevac and the domestic private company Jovanovic on the export of Bambi's confectionary products and technology to the Belarus.

Bambi director Miroslav Miletic also signed a protocol with Belresursi on the setting up of a joint firm for the manufacture of children's cookies, the transfer of technology and the marketing of Bambi's products to the markets of the Community of Independent States (CIS) via Belresursi as the general agent.

The representatives of the Leather and Footwear Industry (IKOP) of Petrovac, the Jovanovic company and Belresursi also signed agreements on the delivery of footwear, leather goods and clothing to the Belarus.

Belresursi and the representatives of IKOP, the Leather and Textile Combine of Zajecar, Razvitak of Mladenovac, Kopeks of Pec and Ekspogeks of Lebane also signed a protocol on the marketing of our goods in Belarus, Kyrgyzia, Kazakhstan and Russia and the export of raw hide.

Also signed was a protocol between Rudnap and the Tractor Institute of Minsk on the marketing of farming machinery, tractors and spare parts in Yugoslavia, the joint production of tractors, export of farming equipment and the setting up of a joint company.

[10] JOINT YUGOSLAV-BELARUS DECLARATION 28-30, 1998.

Tanjug, 1998-01-30

At the invitation of Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko paid an official and friendly visit to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on January

The official visit to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia of Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko and his talks with Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic passed in an atmosphere of friendship and high degree of mutual understanding which characterises relations between their countries and peoples and in the joint determination to keep on strengthening relations and comprehensive cooperation in all fields.

The visit confirmed that meetings on the top state and political level, which the two sides had agreed should be regularly continued, opened wide prospects for a successful development of inter-state relations, made possibilities for a meaningful exchange of views and concrete agreements on all bilateral and international issues of joint interests.

Satisfaction was expressed that relations between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Republic of Belarus and their peoples were based on traditional friendship, closeness and mutual appreciation, which represents a good basis for their stable development in future. The signing of an agreement on friendship and cooperation on March 6, 1996, created a lasting political framework for a successful development of these relations and all forms of bilateral cooperation.

The two sides confirmed their determination to abide by the principles and goals of the U.N. Charter, the Helsinki Final Act and the OSCE's Paris Charter in their mutual relations and relations with other countries and international organisations.

As European countries, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Republic of Belarus are committed to an active participation in the modern integration processes and point at the fact that through their own cooperation, openness and attachment to peace, they are making a major contribution to the strengthening of equal cooperation and stability in Europe. Europe is the home of all countries and peoples who live in it and its democratic development will be stabler and richer if it is based on full equality and appreciation of all countries and peoples.

The two sides are determined to bolster mutual cooperation in all fields on the basis of full mutual respect, mutual interest, notably economic and trade cooperation, encourage their companies and firms to intensify contacts and strengthen mutual cooperation in developing higher forms of cooperation and setting up joint firms.

Besides the talks of the two presidents, substantive and comprehensive talks were also held at the level of parliaments, governments and ministers who have reviewed and determined concrete measures for the further promotion of cooperation in the fields of their competency. President Alexander Lukashenko visited the Federal Parliament where he held talks with the presidents of both chambers, received Yugoslav Prime Minister Radoje Kontic, and visited the Chamber of Commerce of Yugoslavia and enterprises in Belgrade.

It is of special importance that during the visit a number of state accords were signed which create conditions for a vigorous development of cooperation in different fields, notably in the field of economic relationbs. Besides that, a number of meetings were with the directors of leading economic organizations and firms during which a number of concrete business agreements were concluded on further cooperation. All that represnets a good basis for a multifold increase of economic cooperation in this and in coming years. It was agreed to intensify efforts for achieving the further liberalization of mutual economic cooperation with a view to raising it to the level suited to the interests and needs of the two countries and their economies.

The need was underscored for supporting the developement of bilateral cooperation in the field od science, technology, ecology, culture, information, sports and tourism, as well as speeding up cooperation and establishing direct links between other organs and organizations.

It was agreed to pursue regular contacts and intensify dialogue on all levels in the aim of strengthening bilateral, notably economic relations, as well as exchange of opinions on international issues of joint interest.

President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Slobodan Milosevic accepted with pleasure the invitation of President Alexander Lukashenko to pay an official friendly visit to the Republic of Belarus.

[11] YUGOSLAV PM RECEIVES YUGOSLAV-MACEDONIAN COMMISSION CO-CHAIRMEN 1996.

Tanjug, 1998-01-30

Yugoslav Prime Minister Radoje Kontic on Friday received the Co-Chairmen of the mixed Inter-Governmental Commission for following Yugoslav-Macedonian trade. Macedonian Trade Minister Boris Rikalovski and Yugoslav Vice Premier Vojin Djukanovic informed Kontic about the results of the Friday talks.

The sides assessed that an Agreement on trade and customs cooperation had helped intensify the Yugoslav-Macedonian trade, which amounted to 510 million dollars in 1997 or 20 percent up on

Kontic said he was satisfied with the development of the Yugoslav- Macedonian economic cooperation and that he expected a plan on a free trade zone between the two countries to be realised in 1999.

[12] LUKASHENKO SAYS BELARUS SUPPORT TO YUGOSLAVIA OF LONG STANDING

Tanjug, 1998-01-30

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said on Friday that his country had always backed Yugoslavia in the United Nations and other international organisations.

Addressing reporters at the Yugoslav Parliament after meeting with Upper House speaker Srdja Bozovic and Lower House Speaker Milomir Minic, Lukashenko said Belarus would continue to offer support to Yugoslavia on the international scene.

Referring to prospects of interparliamentary cooperation, Lukashenko said the two countries' Parliaments were to prepare documents that should enable the promotion of trade and other forms of cooperation.

He said the two countries were faced with major tasks, saying their trade should be ten times higher this year and should amount to 100 million dollars, while in 1999 this sum should double.

He said he backed an agreement on interparliamentary cooperation that the two countries had reached. He said the Yugoslav Parliament's leaders had reassured him that they would do all they could to secure a speedy adoption of documents needed for achieving the planned rate of increase in trade, agreed on with Yugoslav Government officials.

Bozovic described the talks that Minic and himself had held with Lukashenko as substantive and useful. He said, "We shall create conditions, through parliamentary cooperation, for the two countries' good political relations to become even stronger and we shall strengthen and diversify economic cooperation, relations in the sphere of culture and education, and scientific and technical cooperation through political cooperation." He said Yugoslavia and Belarus would work out in detail forms of cooperation through direct contacts.

Minic said the talks of Yugoslav and Belarus parliamentarians had focused on the promotion of interparliamentary cooperation and the diversification of economic ties between the two countries. He said parliamentary cooperation played an important role, saying the Belarus parliamentarians had launched an initiative for setting up clubs for cooperation with their Yugoslav colleagues. He said the initiative would be accepted.

Referring to Yugoslavia's return to world organisations, Minic said the country's position on the issue was clear and specific. He said the country took the view that it should be granted again the founder's rights in all international organisations, saying these were the UN, the OSCE and other relevant institutions.

[13] MILOSEVIC-LUKASHENKO-STATEMENT:BIG STEP IN COOPERATION BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES

Tanjug, 1998-01-30

Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic and Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said on Friday at the end of the three-day official visit by the Belarus president to Belgrade, that they believed that the two countries would achieve a major development of relations and cooperation.

Milosevic and Lukashenko conducted closing talks at the White House in Belgrade after which they attended the signing of six interstate agreements.

The two presidents then adressed the press. Milosevic said that the visit by the high state delegation of the Belarus Republic had exceeded expectations and that it would undoubtadly represent a very big step in the development of cooperation between the two countries. Milosevic set out that the talks had shown the existence of traditional friendship between the two countries and their peoples, as well as a high degree of understanding and joint interest for multiplying economic cooperation as much as tenfold in the initial stages.

Milosevic described the visit as "unusually efficient" as shown by the signing of a number of interstate agreements which aim to develop economic cooperation. He added that time would not be wasted in the realization of the agreements reached in Belgrade. This series of interstate agreements which were signed today, are followed by a number of agreements between corresponding companies in Yugoslavia and the Belarus, Milosevic said.

We expect that both sides, in view of this joint interest, will step up the realization of the reached agreements, as well as a constant tendency of extending relations, Milosevic said. He added that parallel with this, it was necessary to develop relations in the sphere of cultural and scientific cooperation, and in all other fields.

"We discussed all spheres of cooperation and determined many in which it is possible to achieve great advancement in a short time," Milosevic said. He underscored his belief in the success of this cooperation and the development of friendly relations between the two countries and their citizens.

President Lukashenko said that President Milosevic and himself "established at the closing talks there were no pending issues between Belarus and Yugoslavia." "We have achieved full mutual understanding about political, economic and cultural relations and cooperation." "We have also agreed that economic, trade cooperation should reach the level of political cooperation and that it should total this year 100 million dollars," Lukashenko said.

The Belarus President also said that the two countries have also determined the list of goods "which will enjoy certain facilities for their delivery during this year."

"Our legislators and yours, and Parliament Presidents, have agreed that our agreements, accords, will also be given legislative support."

"We will do our utmost so that cooperation between our people and the friendly people of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia reaches the highest level," Lukashenko said.

"I would like to convey warm greetings on behalf of the delegation, the Belarus people and me personally to the peoples of Yugoslavia, and wish them firmness and courage.

I am sure that what is best for the Slav peoples - is ahead of us."

Before the statements of the two presidents, ministers and members of the two Governments signed six state accords and agreements, including a protocol on economic cooperation, agreement on double taxation relief, accord on air traffic, two accords in the field of agriculture and a memorandum on trade liberalization.

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