Yugoslav Daily Survey, 98-03-06

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

Yugoslav Daily Survey

CONTENTS

[01] MILOSEVIC RECEIVES COOK

[02] GOVERNMENT SETS PLAN OF INTERNATIONAL VISITS IN 1998

[03] ROME DAILY REPORTS TRAINING OF KOSOVO ETHNIC-ALBANIANS IN ALBANIA

[04] SOLUTION LIES IN DIALOGUE, ETHNIC ALBANIANS' RADICALISM BLOCKS IT

[05] MONTENEGRIN GOVERNMENT URGES FOR DIALOGUE ON KOSOVO

[06] YUGOSLAV ARMY IS NOT TAKING PART IN ANTI-TERRORIST ACTIONS IN KOSOVO

[07] SERBIAN PRESIDENT RECEIVES INTERIOR MINISTRY DELEGATION

[08] YUGOSLAV DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER RECEIVES BELGIAN AMBASSADOR

[09] COOK: BRITAIN STRONGLY OPPOSES TERRORISM

[10] JOVANOVIC - COOK TALKS

[01] MILOSEVIC RECEIVES COOK

Tanjug, 1998-03-05

Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic received on Thursday British Foreign Secretary and Chairman of the E.U. Council of Ministers Robin Cook. The talks dealt with relations and cooperation between Yugoslavia and Great Britain, the promotion of Yugoslavia's relations with the European Union and the current situation in the Balkans. The interest was stressed in strengthening the two countries' relations still further, especially as regards economic cooperation. Yugoslavia's expectation was voiced that Great Britain, which holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, would back the development and promotion on the footing of equality of the European Union's relations with Yugoslavia, which is doubtless a key factor of strengthening stability and peace in the region. Referring to issues in Kosovo and Metohija, Milosevic said they could be only resolved within Serbia. Serbian authorities clearly differentiate between ethnic Albanians and ethnic Albanian terrorists, with the former often being the victims of terrorist attacks. As regards terrorism, all will be done to put an end to it, while as regards issues requiring political solutions they will be carefully dealt with, in the process of which national equality of all citizens will be respected. Yugoslavia is making a continual effort to help successfully implement the peace process in its immediate neighbourhood and, through its policy of openness, it urges the strengthening of mutual understanding and confidence, based on the footing of equality and the principle of non-interference in countries' internal affairs. Also present were Yugoslav Foreign Minister Zivadin Jovanovic and British Ambassador to Yugoslavia Joseph Brian Donnelly.

[02] GOVERNMENT SETS PLAN OF INTERNATIONAL VISITS IN 1998

Tanjug, 1998-03-05

The Federal Government met in session on Thursday under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Radoje Kontic and adopted a plan of international visits in 1998, setting preconditions for the more efficient realization of priority tasks of the national foreign policy activities for this year - the return of the F.R. of Yugoslavia into the world community, regional and subregional organizations, the EU, and other international political, financial and trade organizations. In determining the plan, the Government took into consideration the readiness of most countries to continue the process of promotion of relations and cooperation with Yugoslavia.

It was heard that, following the successful Crete summit of Southeastern European countries and the visit of the Yugoslav President to China and Prime Minister to Russia, conditions are more favourable for the exchange of high- and top-level visits. The Government agreed that the plan reflected the country's need to step up its foreign policy activities, primarily in the economy and in strengthening the economic function of Yugoslav diplomats, about which the Federal Government recently adopted special guidelines and conclusions. The plan includes an exchange of visits with neighbouring countries, EU members, as well as other European countries and members of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). It also covers visits to countries of the Group 7 and major partners from Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

This year once again, a foreign policy priority will be the further normalization of relations with former Yugoslav republics. The plan includes proposals for official meetings with Croatia and Macedonia, and also Bosnia-Herzegovina. The government established the platform for talks between Yugoslav Foreign Minister Zivadin Jovanovic and Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos in Belgrade on March 6 this year. It also adopted platforms for talks between Federal Defense Minister Pavle Bulatovic and Greek National Defense Minister Apostolos Tsohatzopoulos to be held in Athens this month.

The Government passed a decision to regulate submission of applications for use and repayment of Russian state credits worth 150 million US dollars, approved to legal subjects for financing deliveries of Russian equipment, goods and services. A platform was adopted also for the participation of a Yugoslav delegation to the 52nd session of the UN Committee for abolishing racial discrimination, to be held in Geneva on March 11-12. The Yugoslav delegation will be headed by Assistant Yugoslav Justice Minister Redzep Hodza.

[03] ROME DAILY REPORTS TRAINING OF KOSOVO ETHNIC-ALBANIANS IN ALBANIA

Tanjug, 1998-03-05

Hundreds of young ethnic-Albanians living in Serbia's southern province of Kosovo and Metohija have undergone secret training for terrorist operations at military camps in Labenot and Surel in Albania through the end of January this year, the Rome daily La Repubblica said Thursday. The daily said that the fact was "denied by the Albanian Government." It noted that "it is certain that relations between representatives of the ethnic- Albanian guerrilla in Kosovo and the separatist movement are very close, since they both hope for a Greater Albania." The Milan Corriere della Sera focused on the difficult economic situation in Serbia's southern province and underscored that the poverty there was "a result of the ethnic-Albanian economic model of a closed circle." "Thousands of young ethnic Albanians are jobless but they, at the same time, reject to work in state-owned firms. They instead resort to shady dealings, mostly arms and cigarette trafficking," the Milan daily said.

[04] SOLUTION LIES IN DIALOGUE, ETHNIC ALBANIANS' RADICALISM BLOCKS IT

Tanjug, 1998-03-05

A ranking official in Kosovo-Metohija said on Thursday that dialogue was the best way to deal with the problem of this province in the Yugoslav Republic of Serbia, but that ethnic Albanians' radical demands were blocking it. Kosovo-Metohija Information Secretary Bosko Drobnjak was responding to foreign reporters' growing interest in the "current situation, views of the conflict and steps to be taken to cut the Kosovo-Metohija knot, " the Pristina-based Secretariat said. "I believe that the answer lies in a dialogue which would entail compromise and goodwill on both sides. Unfortunately, we are not meeting with goodwill on the part of the other side. As everybody well knows, all they want is an independent Kosovo.

Naturally, this is a poor position on which to base a dialogue. We want a dialogue that would guarantee the full sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia and Yugoslavia, on the one hand, and all rights for the ethnic Albanian community in line with the highest international standards, on the other," Drobnjak said.

[05] MONTENEGRIN GOVERNMENT URGES FOR DIALOGUE ON KOSOVO

Tanjug, 1998-03-05

The Montenegrin Government expressed Thursday evening its concern at the situation in Serbia's southern province of Kosovo-Metohija and pointed to the need for initiating dialogue urgently, the Montenegrin Information Secretariat said in a statement. The Kosovo problem cannot be resolved through terrorism or through the use of force by the state, the statement says and warns of a risk of internationalization of the crisis. The Montenegrin Government is aware of the serious international community threats of fresh sanctions and expects a responsible approach to resolving the Kosovo issue, the statement says.

[06] YUGOSLAV ARMY IS NOT TAKING PART IN ANTI-TERRORIST ACTIONS IN KOSOVO

Tanjug, 1998-03-05

The Yugoslav Army is not taking part in the anti-terrorist actions in Serbia's southern province of Kosovo-Metohija carried out by the personnel of the ministry of internal affairs. The police are well trained and equipped for their task of curbing terrorist activities in line with the law. The scope and nature of acts of terrorism in Kosovo are not such that would make army involvement necessary. Attempts at involving the Yugoslav Army in the developments in Kosovo are aimed at exaggerating the importance of terrorist actions in the province. Such attempts are being made to get the support of the international public opinion to a political and military involvement of the international community in resolving the Kosovo issue.

[07] SERBIAN PRESIDENT RECEIVES INTERIOR MINISTRY DELEGATION

Tanjug, 1998-03-05

Serbian President Milan Milutinovic received Thursday a delegation of the Serbian Interior Ministry headed by Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Vlajko Stojiljkovic. Stojiljkovic informed Milutinovic about the achieved results, the measures and activities the Interior Ministry is undertaking with a view to preserving and further improving the security of the Republic of Serbia and its citizens. The focus is on the protection of the constitutional order, combatting resolutely crime, suppressing the terrorism of ethnic Albanian separatists in Kosovo and Metohija, preserving stable public order and peace. He pointed to positive indications in the past and this year of a further drop of the crime rate and greater efficiency in solving the most difficult crimes, including the suppression of all forms of fiscal indiscipline of economic subjects and of the "grey economy", which hinder and jeopardize the realization of the country's economic policy. Stojiljkovic conveyed to Milutinovic firm assurances and the readiness of all members of the Serbian Interior Ministry and of senior officers to continue to protect the constitutional order, reinforce security in the Republic and secure a peaceful life for all citizens, in a professional, efficient and responsible manner. Milutinovic supported the basic orientation in the work of the Interior Ministry and the priority tasks proceeding from the Constitution, laws and Interior Ministry program documents for 1998 and assessed positively the work of Interior Ministry members. He pointed out especially that one of the priorities of the Republic of Serbia was to deal, by carefully using all legal means, as is the case everywhere in the world, forcefully and efficiently with ethnic Albanian terrorists in Kosovo and Metohija.

Speaking about recent terrorist attacks, President Milutinovic gave credit to Interior Ministry members for defending professionally, resolutely and courageously the order, territorial integrity, peace and security of all citizens of the Republic of Serbia, pointing out that Kosovo and Metohija is an inalienable part of the Republic of Serbia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and that the resolution of that issue was exclusively in the competency of Serbia. Reminding that the past years were full of trials and difficulties for Serbia and its citizens, Milutinovic said t hat preconditions had been created for citizens and economic subjects to pass from a war environment, social and economic insecurity, into qualitatively new and stable conditions of life and work. In that respect, the state is obligated to find and implement systemic solutions necessary for economic and social reforms, rounding up the legal and economic system, and at the same time eliminating possible sources of crime, especially in the economy. In combatting crime, besides the Interior Ministry, should in a greater measure be also active other competent state bodies (courts, prosecution offices, financial police, inspection services and others). President Milutinovic assessed that the Republic of Serbia has at its disposal highly- professional security forces who are the best guarantee that they will carry out the most complex security tasks for the good of citizens, and that is why the state will endeavour to undertake appropriate measures for strengthening its personnel, technical equipment and improving the material and personal status of Interior Ministry members.

[08] YUGOSLAV DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER RECEIVES BELGIAN AMBASSADOR

Tanjug, 1998-03-05

Yugoslav Deputy Prime Minister Zoran Lilic received Thursday Belgian Ambassador to Yugoslavia Joris Couvreur at the latter's request, the Yugoslav Information Secretariat said. Lengthy, open talks dealt mostly with the current situation in Kosovo and Metohija. It was mutually assessed that the escalation of conflicts in the region could affect negatively stability in the Balkans and outside the region. Lilic reiterated our country's readiness to seek for a solution to the problem in Kosovo through dialogue, mutual confidence and understanding. That is the only option which is in the interest of Serbs and Montenegrins, and also of members of the Albanian national minority. This implies, first of all, that those problems, and similar problems in other countries, can be solved only on the basis of the Constitutions of Serbia and the FRY, the U.N. Charter and the Helsinki documents. In other words, as in other countries facing such conflicts - there can be no negotiations with terrorists, Lilic said, and our country, just as any other country, will undertake appropriate measures at its disposal. This means that there can be no talk about the so-called "Republic of Kosovo", which is a subject-matter exceeding constitutional frameworks.

Living in Yugoslavia are members of 24 nations and national minorities, of which the greatest number lives in the other Autonomous Province - Vojvodina. The reality that members of 23 out of 24 nations and national minorities enjoy all their rights and fulfil all commitments, while only ethnic Albanians do not - leads to the conclusion that at work here is pure and simple secessionism. Thus our readiness for dialogue - Lilic emphasized - rules out any talk about attributes of statehood for Kosovo and Metohija. The international community, however, can help a great deal in resolving the problem, in the first place by an objective approach to discourage false hopes of a part of the Albanian national minority about the possibility of creating a "Republic of Kosovo". The FRY expects from the international community to condemn resolutely ethnic Albanian terrorism and secessionism. Lilic said he expected that Belgium, the seat of the European Union and other international organizations, will actively contribute to a more balanced appraisal of the situation in Kosovo and Metohija, a factual assessment of the role of the FRY in stabilizing the overall situation in this part of Europe, and a speedier inclusion of Yugoslavia into international financial, trade and other organizations, the statement said.

[09] COOK: BRITAIN STRONGLY OPPOSES TERRORISM

Tanjug, 1998-03-05

British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook said Thursday in Belgrade before leaving for London that the European Union and Britain strongly opposed terrorism and expected the situation in Serbia's southern province of Kosovo-Metohija to be resolved through a political dialogue between Yugoslav authorities and representatives of ethnic Albanians. Cook told the press at the airport that his country, too, had experienced terrorism and that Britain and the EU had a firm stance against anyone resorting to terrorist activities. Cook said he understood the stance of Serbia's Government that Kosovo is an internal issue, and pointed out that the EU advocated the respect of human, minority and civil rights. The EU urges for the immediate implementation of the agreement on education in the province, Cook said. Cook denied media reports that the Special US Envoy Robert Gelbard had announced the undertaking of military actions in Kosovo. No one speaks about military actions as a political solution must be found through diplomatic means, Cook said. Cook added that he would present a report on his visit to Yugoslavia to the forthcoming meeting of EU foreign ministers at the end of next week. Among other things, the British Foreign Secretary said he had conferred with Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic on the normalization of relations between Yugoslavia and the European Union.

[10] JOVANOVIC - COOK TALKS

Tanjug, 1998-03-05

British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook was on a working visit to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on Thursday at the invitation of Yugoslav Foreign Minister Zivadin Jovanovic, a Federal Foreign Ministry statement said. The two Ministers exchanged views on major issues of bilateral Yugoslav-British relations, prospects of cooperation between Yugoslavia and the European Union, as well as the development of the peace process and relations in the region. It was agreed in the talks that the tradition of friendly relations between the two countries, cooperation so far and common interests - present a good basis for developing cooperation in the coming period as well. The sides emphasized the importance of deepening political dialogue and a speedier development of economic relations, especially proceeding from the favourable possibilities which are provided by the socio-economic reforms in Yugoslavia and the openness of the Yugoslav market to foreign investments, said the statement. Yugoslavia's lasting orientation to develop comprehensive relations with the European Union and its equal participation in contemporary integration processes in Europe were affirmed in the talks. It is expected that any obstacles on the road to the full normalization of relations between Yugoslavia and the European Union will be removed more quickly, so that the Yugoslav economy and products might have equal conditions for competition on the European market. Cook wanted to know about the current situation in the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija, pointing out that Great Britain, as well as the European Union and other international factors, condemn terrorism and urge the finding of solutions to all issues through dialogue, with respect for the integrity and sovereignty of Serbia and Yugoslavia. Yugoslav Minister Jovanovic underscored, pointing out that this was an internal affair of Serbia, that no-one was denied any rights in Kosovo and Metohija and that the problem was not in relations between citizens of different nationalities or religions, but that they were problems caused by leaders with a programme for secession from Serbia and terrorism based on separatism. Both sides expressed readiness to continue with the political contacts and dialogue aimed at the further promotion of mutual understanding and cooperation between the two countries.

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