Yugoslav Daily Survey, 98-04-28

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Yugoslav Daily Survey

CONTENTS

[01] PREMIER KONTIC FELICITATES KIRIYENKO

[02] WHO IS SPONSORING SEPARATISM AND TERRORISM IN KOSOVO-METOHIJA?

[03] CROATIA HANDS OVER 40 RECORDS ABOUT MISSING IN FLASH AND STORM

[04] SUPPORT TO TERRORISTS

[05] WOUNDED TERRORIST ADMITTED TO HOSPITAL IN KOSOVSKA MITROVICA

[06] TWO POLICEMEN WOUNDED NEAR MALA KRUSA

[07] ARMED ETHNIC ALBANIANS INTERCEPT SERBIAN METROPOLITAN AND NUNS

[08] SERBS DEMONSTRATE WORLDWIDE FOR SERBIA'S UNITY

[09] YUGOSLAV AMBASSADOR TO U.N. ON KOSMET

[10] ITALIAN DELEGATION FOR PEACEFUL RESOLUTION OF KOSMET PROBLEMS

[11] VICO: STUDENTS TO RETURN TO THREE FACULTIES BY MAY 15

[12] OFFICIAL STATUS OF YUGOSLAVIA IN THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE EXPECTED IN

[13] YUGOSLAV DELEGATION AT THE INTERNATIONAL REGIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE RETURN OF REFUGEES

[14] PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC RECEIVES NUMEROUS FELICITATIONS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD

[15] TERRORISTS KILL ALBANIAN

[16] PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC GIVES RECEPTION IN CELEBRATION OF YUGOSLAVIA'S STATEHOOD DAY

[17] GENERAL PERISIC RECEIVED GREEK NATIONAL DEFENSE DELEGATION

[18] SHOTS FIRED AT JAPANESE DIPLOMAT'S CAR

[19] PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC LAYS WREATH ON MT AVALA

[20] ONE POLICE OFFICER WOUNDED NEAR KIJEVO ON SUNDAY

[21] FOREIGN MINISTER JOVANOVIC RECEIVED VATANI

[01] PREMIER KONTIC FELICITATES KIRIYENKO

Tanjug, 1998-04-27

Yugoslav Prime Minister Radoje Kontic has sent felicitations to Sergei Vladilenovich Kiriyenko on his election to the office of Russian Federation Prime Minister.

Kontic expressed belief that the friendly relations and comprehensive cooperation between the FR of Yugoslavia and the Russian Federation would continue to develop successfully in the interest of the preservation of international peace and stability and the affirming of equal relations between sovereign states within the international community.

[02] WHO IS SPONSORING SEPARATISM AND TERRORISM IN KOSOVO-METOHIJA?

Tanjug, 1998-04-26

By playing a dangerous game of terrorism, with all its serious and deadly consequences, the leaders of ethnic Albanian political parties in Pristina, capital of Serbia's southern province of Kosovo and Metohija, are refusing dialogue and obstinately attempting to internationalize Serbia's internal problem and gain the support of some big powers.

It is, therefore, violence, not dialogue, which is the principal means used by militant members of the ethnic Albanian minority in Kosovo and Metohija and their political sponsors in the country and the world. They are thus attempting to force Serbia to give up a part of its territory.

However, this lethal policy for which several dozen innocent lives were sacrificed in the past two months - including both Serbs and ethnic Albanians loyal to their own state - is increasingly failing the test, despite constant incitements and provocations by neighbouring Albania and by some important world centres of political and other kinds of power.

The terms "moderate ethnic Albanian leaders in Kosovo" and "Kosovo independence fighters" used to describe the separatist movement and its terrorist wing only strengthen the determination of the militant faction among ethnic Albanians in Kosovo and Metohija to continue the bloodshed.

Advocates of this option among ethnic Albanians are probably encouraged not only by the open sponsoring of their terrorist actions and banditism by the authorities in Tirana, but also by some leading western states in a more or less open manner.

The latest in a series of serious border incidents which occurred four days ago at the Yugoslav-Albanian border demonstrates that terrorist gangs of ethnic Albanian separatists are both armed and trained for their actions in Albania's territory.

The incident in which the Yugoslav Army shattered a 200-strong terrorist group clearly demonstrated the close links between Tirana and ethnic Albanian terrorist gangs in Kosovo and Metohija.

This conclusion is based on incontestable evidence found by Yugoslav Army investigation officers after the terrorist group was shattered, and on the reaction of panic in Tirana, where the Minister of Defense and several other government members resigned.

It is interesting to note that these developments have not given rise to the expected, normal, reaction by those western countries which allegedly feel well-intentioned concern for Balkan security.

The media in those countries reported tersely on the latest incidents at the Yugoslav-Albanian border. This does not, however, mean that the insolence of the terrorists who try to bring weapons across the border will remain unpunished, or that those power-wielders in the world who maintain a benevolent attitude towards the "Kosovo independence fighters" - despite true facts - will be free from responsibility.

Obviously, these powers are using different yardsticks in reference to separatism and terrorism in their own countries or in those international community members seen as "cooperative", and in reference to Serbia and Yugoslavia.

However, Serbia and Yugoslavia will not allow terrorism to gain momentum as some world powers wish, and will not give up their territory or borders to anyone. Serbia has confirmed this determination in the recently held referendum - no foreign factor has the right to interfere in internal affairs of states and their peoples.

This principle is included in the UN Charter, the Helsinki Declaration, and the principal documents of the OSCE and other leading world organizations, which are quoted frequently even by those world powers which today ruthlessly and openly violate International Law by their policies of fait accompli, blackmail and political, economic and even military threats.

The latest example of such an irresponsible policy is given this year by some powerful countries in their attitude towards Serbia and Yugoslavia, by presenting an image of alleged danger for regional security stemming from the allegedly explosive situation in Kosovo and Metohija.

The protagonists of this policy have certainly contributed to a large extent to the eruption of ethnic Albanian separatism in Kosovo and Metohija and to the intensification of terrorism by their militants.

On April 23, Serbia said a firm "No" in a clear expression of its views of such policies.

The time has come for those governments which want to take all the decisions and whose behaviour has helped create the picture of a so-called Kosovo issue, to pause and reflect.

Albanian leaders who came into power in Tirana after last year's civil unrest should also reflect on the direction in which their support to ethnic Albanian separatists and terrorists will take them.

If Tirana does not take the path of peace, tolerance and mutual respect, the way will be opened for fresh serious misunderstandings with tragic consequences. This prospect is least in the interest of Serbs and Albanians and their countries.

The illusion on Kosovo and Metohija's independence is also being persistently spread by Albanian-language press in Pristina, which never uses the term terrorism. Bujku recently wrote that the leaders of ethnic Albanian parties had informed the Contact Group members and international community representatives of their plans and goals. It is now up to them to decide whether such plans and goals are realistic and to take measures guided by the sole criterium of readiness for dialogue.

Following all the measures taken by Serbia's Government, the international community should change its negativist approach and make a positive approach prevail, based on cooperation and on common bilateral and regional interests, making all potentials available for the general prosperity of the region and Europe as a whole.

Serbia's Government has consistently demonstrated its readiness for a direct and unconditional dialogue with representatives of all citizens of Kosovo and Metohija in order to resolve all issues in line with European and international human and minority rights standards.

This attitude of Serbia's Government was welcomed and accepted by all in Kosovo and Metohija except the leaders of the ethnic Albanian minority political parties.

[03] CROATIA HANDS OVER 40 RECORDS ABOUT MISSING IN FLASH AND STORM

Tanjug, 1998-04-25

Croatian Government Commission for the imprisoned and missing has handed over to the Yugoslav Commission for humanitarian issues and missing people 40 more records about people who went missing in Croatian military operations Flash and Storm, from May and August 1995 in the former Republic of Serb Krajina, Yugoslav Commission President Maksim Korac told Tanjug on Saturday.

"In accordance with the agreement reached in a meeting of the two state commissions held in Belgrade on April 1, we held a meeting in Samac yesterday, where the Croatian side handed over 40 more documented records about people who went missing in the military operations Flash and Storm," Korac said.

In the meeting, chaired by Yugoslav Commission President Korac and Croatian Commission President Ivan Grujic, the Croatian side promised that it will prepare for the next meeting, scheduled for mid-May in Zagreb, more documented records about missing people.

In Belgrade, the Croatian side handed over to the Yugoslav Commission 57 documented records about people killed, which is a total of over 300 documented records about people who went missing in Flash and Storm, but the Croatian side needs to prepare another 300.

By releasing all prisoners, some 800, in Nemetin as early as August 1992 and by handing over on February this year all the 1,047 documented records about those killed in Vukovar, Yugoslavia has answered all Croatian demands in connection with the killed and missing.

Yugoslavia has thus fulfilled all its commitments from the bilateral agreement with Croatia, as well as the promise made on January 19 to the President of the International Commission for missing persons in the territory of the former Yugoslavia, Bob Dole, during his visit to Belgrade, Korac recalled.

In Samac, the Croatian side informed the Yugoslav Commission that on April 28 will start exhumations at the new cemetery in Vukovar, the so-called "Bulgarian Cemetery," where several hundred Serbs were buried in 1991.

Among the buried there are many unidentified and it was agreed, at the request of the Yugoslav side, that refugees in Yugoslavia be able to safely attend the exhumations with a view to identification or confirmation of identification on the basis of the documented records, Korac explained.

It was also agreed that refugees be able to decide if their killed will remain in that cemetery or if they wish to bury them in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia or in some other place in Croatia, Korac said.

[04] SUPPORT TO TERRORISTS

Tanjug, 1998-04-27

Members of the Albanian national minority continued expressing their support to terrorist actions in Kosmet at Monday's 18th gathering in Pristina.

After the usual 20-minute "walk", they halted, stood in silence for ten minutes with two fingers raised, and then shouted "Amen" and dispersed.

The observance of several minutes of silence was intended for the Albanian terrorists killed in the recent illegal attempt to penetrate Yugoslav territory from Albania. The infiltrators carried weapons and equipment intended for carrying out terrorist actions in Kosovo and Metohija.

Thus, the gathered Albanian separatists once again expressed support to the terrorist actions of their compatriots, just like when they chanted: "Drenica, Drenica", paying respects to terrorist Adem Jasari and the then liquidated Albanian terrorists, or when the "president of the republic of Kosovo" Ibrahium Rugova declared a day of mourning.

Despite the paying of respects to the terrorists, today's show staged by the Albanian separatists failed to draw much media attention.

The leader of the Kosmet Albanians, Rugova, told a press conference last Friday, after comments about the several attempts at infiltrating terrorist groups into Yugoslav territory, that he "has no information about this, is not certain that they even exist and that this could be yet another Serb game."

However, the "Organizing Committee for Protests", which includes Rugova's Democratic Alliance of Kosovo, called on those gathered today to pay their respects to terrorists who were killed.

Police presence was not felt, with the exception of several traffic wardens.

[05] WOUNDED TERRORIST ADMITTED TO HOSPITAL IN KOSOVSKA MITROVICA

Tanjug, 1998-04-27

Representatives of the International Red Cross brought on Sunday to the hospital in Kosovska Mitrovica Avni Salju from the village of Brocna, who was gravely wounded in the Saturday attack on the police checkpoint in Turicevci, near Srbica, and doctors in Kosovska Mitrovica are trying to save his life.

Police assume that Salja was one of the participants in the terrorist attack on the police checkpoint in Turicevci because he is known to have taken part earlier in terrorist attacks on police patrols in the Drenica region.

[06] TWO POLICEMEN WOUNDED NEAR MALA KRUSA

Tanjug, 1998-04-27

In the vicinity of the railway station Mala Krusa, between Prizren and Orahovac, 45 minutes after midnight on Monday, an attack was carried out on a police checkpoint and two policemen were wounded.

On the police checkpoint, Pristina Media Center reported, fire was opened from an arm-held rocket launcher, from a BMW with foreign registration plates.

Policemen Bojan Nikolic, wounded in the neck and shoulder, and Srdjan Ilic, wounded in the arm, have been transferred to the hospital center in Pristina and, according to doctors' accounts, are not injured critically.

The attackers were in one truck, and two cars, BMW and Lada. The police returned fire and the attackers fled.

At the spot of the attack police found one arm-held rocket launcher, several shells and other weapons. There are also traces of blood, so it is assumed that among the attackers there are wounded.

[07] ARMED ETHNIC ALBANIANS INTERCEPT SERBIAN METROPOLITAN AND NUNS

Tanjug, 1998-04-25

The Metropolitan of Montenegro and Adriatic coastal region Amfilohije and a group of nuns from Montenegrin convents accompanying him were intercepted twice on Friday by armed ethnic Albanians as they were touring several monasteries and convents in Serbia's southern province of Kosovo and Metohija, Prior Teodosije of the Decani monastery told the Pristina Media Center.

In the first incident near the Devic convent, eight armed and masked men stopped the car in which the Devic Prioress Anastasija was riding, and gave the driver five minutes to leave the area.

Some time later near Srbica, Metropolitan Amfilohije's car and the bus in which the nuns were riding were stopped by two armed and masked men, who allowed them to continue on their way after a ten-minute conversation with the metropolitan.

No one was harassed or searched in the incidents.

Prior Teodosije told the Media Center that Metropolitan Amfilohije's visit had given great comfort to the monastic communities in Kosovo and Metohija and strengthened their determination to remain in Serbian monasteries and convents in the province.

[08] SERBS DEMONSTRATE WORLDWIDE FOR SERBIA'S UNITY

Tanjug, 1998-04-26

Serb demonstrations held around the world on Saturday and Sunday at the appeal of the World Serbian Congress with the slogans "Kosovo is Serbia" and "Kosovo is Serbia's Jerusalem" constituted an expression of massive support to the Serbian people and to the integrity of the homeland and Serbia's southern province of Kosovo and Metohija, the WSC said.

Serb nationals around the world demanded an end to the attempts by some countries to interfere in Serbia's internal affairs, and protested against the violence and terrorism perpetrated by ethnic Albanian separatists and the threats being made again by a part of the international community against Serbia and Yugoslavia.

Thousands of Serbs in various countries expressed in a dignified manner a high degree of patriotism, solidarity and determination for the defense of Serbian Kosovo and Metohija. The petitions they addressed to the authorities of the countries with Serb communities and to the Contact Groups member-states pointed to the need for preserving Serbia's integrity and to the importance of a Serbian and Orthodox Kosovo and Metohija for the entire Serb people. The petitions are expected to help put an end to the attempts of some countries to interfere in Serbia's internal affairs, the WSC said in a statement.

Serb demonstrations were held this week-end in the United States (New York), Canada (Ottawa), Germany (Bonn, Munich, Berlin), Sweden (Stockholm), France (Paris) and the Netherlands (The Hague).

The WSC pointed to the important support provided by all Yugoslav diplomatic representations and church offices in the world.

The WSC intends, if necessary, to organize more demonstrations and the signing of petitions as a means of pressure on the governments of states which wish to interfere in Serbia's affairs, the statement says.

[09] YUGOSLAV AMBASSADOR TO U.N. ON KOSMET

Tanjug, 1998-04-25

Yugoslavia expects the international factors to strongly warn Albania about its obligation to adhere to the U.N. Charter and other international agreements it has signed, and the Contact Group to come to see that the giving in to separatism and terrorism are seriously threatening peace and security in the region, head of the Yugoslav U.N. mission Ambassador Vladislav Jovanovic said on Friday evening.

Jovanovic told a press conference at the New York U.N. headquarters that separatist forces in Kosovo are persistently trying to internationalize the internal problem of Serbia and to get the support of some big powers.

These powers, wishing to realize their interests in the Balkans, are using Kosovo as an excuse, Jovanovic said. He added that this was a dangerous game with possible serious, widespread and disastrous consequences.

The threat of new sanctions against Serbia and Yugoslavia, in itself represents indirect support to separatism and terrorism in Kosovo, Jovanovic said warning that the policy of pressure and double standards represents the policy of destabilization of Yugoslavia.

Jovanovic set out that Serbia, aware that the problems in Kosovo are solely within the province of the Serbian and Yugoslav leadership, responsibly and persistently called numerous time the Kosovo Albanian leaders to take part in a dialogue. He added that the representatives of humanitarian organizations had also been enabled to visit this part of Serbia.

However, the leaders of the Kosovo Albanians are refusing a dialogue and insist on the unacceptable separation of this part of Serbia into an independent state, Jovanovic set out.

Citing a number of concrete and current examples, Jovanovic said that Albania is interfering in an unacceptable way in the internal affairs of Serbia and Yugoslavia and is trying to threaten the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the FR of Yugoslavia (FRY).

The latest attempts of large groups of armed Albanian terrorists to illegally cross the Yugoslav border, were organized with the knowledge, maybe even with the direct support, of the Albanian authorities, Jovanovic pointed out.

He added that Yugoslavia believes that the U.N. General Secretary's report should include all the facts about the most recent serious incidents caused by the Albanians on the border with Yugoslavia and that he should inform the Security Council about this.

Yugoslavia is avoiding on purpose to react to the provocative policies of Albania, the separatists, terrorists and their foreign sponsors, but it must firmly react when its sovereignty and territorial integrity are threatened, Jovanovic said.

In the end, Jovanovic said that Serbia and FRY believe in a resolution through dialogue and in a peaceful way, but that there can be no solution for Kosovo outside Serbia, nor does Serbia need foreign help in the resolution of its internal problems, as confirmed by the results of the recent referendum in Serbia.

[10] ITALIAN DELEGATION FOR PEACEFUL RESOLUTION OF KOSMET PROBLEMS

Tanjug, 1998-04-25

An Italian Government delegation, which included Italian Foreign Ministry General Secretary Umberto Vatani, Italian Ambassador to Yugoslavia Ricardo Sessa, Italian Foreign Ministry head of the Department for Neighbouring Countries Laura Miracciani and the political advisor at the Italian Embassy Rosela Francini-Sherifis, visited the Kosovo district on Saturday and met with its head Veljko Odalovic and Provincial Information Secretary Bosko Drobnjak.

The Italian delegation expressed concern over the current developments in Kosovo and Metohija and said it hoped that a solution would not be reached through violence, but peacefully through a dialogue.

Odalovic said that terrorist activities had been stepped up prior to the Contact Group meeting, scheduled for April 29 in Rome.

He warned that the aim of the terrorists, who are acting according to a set scenario, is to cause disturbances and "the possible of engagement of state organs in order to neutralize and denigrate the Serbian Government's efforts so far in reaching a solution in a peaceful way through dialogue," a statement said.

[11] VICO: STUDENTS TO RETURN TO THREE FACULTIES BY MAY 15

Tanjug, 1998-04-24

Member of the "3+3" group Ratomir Vico told Tanjug on Friday that the group had agreed that students return to the first three faculties by May 15. Vico said that "in connection with the carrying out of measures for the implementation of the agreement on education in Kosovo and Metohija, the 3+3 group has agreed that the return of students to the first three faculties, the buildings of the present Faculties of Technical Sciences, Civil Engineering and Architecture, which will be prepared for this, will start on April 30 and end by May 15."

[12] OFFICIAL STATUS OF YUGOSLAVIA IN THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE EXPECTED IN

Tanjug, 1998-04-25

We expect the status of Yugoslavia in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to be made official in May already, Yugoslav Parliament Lower House Foreign Relations Committee President Ljubisa Ristic said in an interview to Radio Belgrade second program.

"At the same time we expect a green light from the Council of Europe Ministerial Committee for the procedure of admittance into full membership, " he added.

Ristic, who headed the Yugoslav delegation at the session of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly that ended on Wednesday, pointed to an important change towards Yugoslavia that occurred between the January and April debates about Kosovo.

"That is in the first place the result of the principled policy of the FR of Yugoslavia," Ristic considered, indicating an early return of Yugoslavia also into other international institutions and organizations.

"The crisis in Kosovo and Metohija, if our positions continue to be consistent and principled, could speed up that return. From what I heard in the debates in the parliaments of Spain, Portugal, and also in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe the gravity of the crisis and the way it is increasingly more clearly viewed in the world, is more an indication of the return of Yugoslavia into the world, than of renewed isolation and blockade," Ristic told Radio Belgrade.

[13] YUGOSLAV DELEGATION AT THE INTERNATIONAL REGIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE RETURN OF REFUGEES

Tanjug, 1998-04-27

A Yugoslav delegation headed by the Yugoslav Minister for work, health and social policy, Dusko Lalicevic, left for Banja Luka on Monday where it will take part tomorrow in the work of the International Regional Conference on the Return of Refugees, the Yugoslav Information Secretariat said.

The conference is held in the organization of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees and the international community's High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a view to speeding up the return of refugees to their homes.

In the Yugoslav delegation are Serbian Commissioner for refugees Bratislava Morina and the Montenegrin Commissioner for displaced persons Djordje Scepanovic, the statement said.

[14] PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC RECEIVES NUMEROUS FELICITATIONS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD

Tanjug, 1998-04-27

Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic has received numerous felicitations from home and abroad for the Day of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, April 27.

Some of the world leaders who sent congratulations are: Greek President Constantine Stephanopoulos, Indian President Narayanan, Polish President Alexander Kwashnyevski, Cyprus President Glaphkos Kleridis, Macedonian President Kiro Gligorov, Zambian President Frederik Chiluba, Portuguese President Jorje Sampayo, Guinean President General Lansana Conte, Lybian Leader Moammar Al Gadaffi, Algerian President Liamin Zerual, Maltese President Ugo Mifsud Bonichi, Union of Myanmar President Tan Shve, Uzbek President Islam Karimov, Tadzhik President Rahmonov, Ethiopian President Negaso Gidada and others.

[15] TERRORISTS KILL ALBANIAN

Tanjug, 1998-04-27

Ruzdi Ladrovci, an Albanian employed as a security guard in the Feronikl company, was killed in the village of Globare, near Glogovac, on Sunday evening, the local authorities said.

Ladrovci was ambushed and shot with an automatic gun.

In Feronikl it is claimed that terrorists had repeatedly threatened Ladrovci and demanded that he hand over his service gun.

Over the past two years, Albanian extremists have been responsible for almost all terrorist attacks on the police in Kosovo and Metohija and on Albanians loyal to the Republic of Serbia.

[16] PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC GIVES RECEPTION IN CELEBRATION OF YUGOSLAVIA'S STATEHOOD DAY

Tanjug, 1998-04-28

Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic and his wife gave a reception at the federal residence late on Monday to mark Yugoslavia's Statehood Day.

Top officials, including Yugoslav Parliament Lower House Speaker Milomir Minic and Upper House Speaker Srdja Bozovic, Serbian President Milan Milutinovic, Yugoslav Prime Minister Radoje Kontic, Serbian Parliament Speaker Dragan Tomic, Serbian Premier Mirko Marjanovic, Montenegrin Premier Filip Vujanovic, and members of the diplomatic corps in Yugoslavia, felicitated Milosevic on the holiday.

Milosevic received felicitations also from Yugoslav vice-premiers and ministers, Yugoslav Army Chief of General Staff Gen. Momcilo Perisic, the Secretary-General, vice-presidents and other top officials of Serbia's Socialist Party (SPS), Serbian and Montenegrin government officials, Yugoslav Army and Serbian Interior Ministry generals, the leaders and top officials of the Socialist People's Party of Montenegro (SNP) and the Yugoslav Left (JUL), top officials of parliamentary parties, presidents and judges of the constitutional, federal and supreme courts, the Yugoslav Public Prosecutor, Yugoslav MP's and party whips.

Chairmen of federal and republican institutions and organisations, veterans of Serbia's 1912-1918 liberation wars, World War II veterans, directors of leading companies and scientific, health care and cultural institutions and newspapers, trade union leaders, dignitaries of religious communities and other prominent political and public figures also attended the reception.

Also present were delegations of the Greek Army General Staff, headed by the Staff's chief Lt. Gen. Athanassios Tsoganis, and of the pan-Chinese Women's Federation, led by Secretary of the Federation's Secretariat Kang Ling, which are on a visit to Yugoslavia.

[17] GENERAL PERISIC RECEIVED GREEK NATIONAL DEFENSE DELEGATION

Tanjug, 1998-04-27

Yugoslav Army Chief of General Staff General Momcilo Perisic, with associates, received on Monday a delegation of National Defense of the Republic of Greece, headed by Chief of General Staff General Athanasios Tzoganis.

Talks dealt with the military-political situation in the region and current developments in the territory of Kosovo and Metohija. A high measure of agreement was achieved that a political solution was the best way of preserving peace and security.

Information was exchanged about the organization, duties and development prospects of the armed forces of the two countries. It was mutually assessed that cooperation between the two armies has been very good, and some aspects of its further promotion were reviewed, the Information Service of the Yugoslav Army General Staff said.

[18] SHOTS FIRED AT JAPANESE DIPLOMAT'S CAR

Tanjug, 1998-04-27

Automatic guns were fired on Sunday at 1 p.m. on the car of the Japanese Embassy in Belgrade near the village of Lausi on the Klina-Srbica road in Drenica.

The attack wounded one of the escorts of the Japanese diplomat who was in the vehicle, the Media Centre learned in the Kosovska Mitrovica hospital where the victim is undergoing treatment.

The car was hit several times. The shots were fired from Lausi, a major stronghold of armed Albanians. The attack happened in the same place where gunfire was opened more than 20 times over the past month on police and civilian vehicles.

[19] PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC LAYS WREATH ON MT AVALA

Tanjug, 1998-04-27

One the occasion of the Day of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic laid a wreath on Monday at the Tomb to the Unknown Soldier on Mt Avala.

At the ceremony held on Mt Avala with the highest military honours, the national anthem was struck up. After laying the wreath, President Slobodan Milosevic wrote down in the book of commemoration:

"On the occasion of April 27, national holiday of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and symbol of resistance to pressures on our country, I wish the citizens of Yugoslavia peace, freedom and prosperity."

President Milosevic then inspected the honourary unit of the Yugoslav Army Guard, on the plateau in front of the Tomb to the Unknown Soldier.

Written on the wreath ribbon laid by President Milosevic at the Tomb to the Unknown Soldiers are the words: To the heroes who fell for freedom.

[20] ONE POLICE OFFICER WOUNDED NEAR KIJEVO ON SUNDAY

Tanjug, 1998-04-26

A police officer was wounded when shots were fired on a police vehicle at 11 a.m. on Sunday on the Pristina - Pec road, near Kijevo, the Pristina Media Centre has learned.

The police unofficially claims that fire was opened from an ambush from automatic guns and hand-held launchers. The police returned fire and the attackers ran away.

This is the second attack on the police on this road since 6 p.m. Saturday evening when mortars were launched on a nearby police point and one police officer was wounded.

[21] FOREIGN MINISTER JOVANOVIC RECEIVED VATANI

Tanjug, 1998-04-25

Yugoslav Foreign Minister Zivadin Jovanovic received Italian Foreign Ministry Secretary General Umberto Vatani, who handed him a written message from Lamberto Dini for Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic.

In a cordial and friendly talk, views were exchanged about bilateral relation issues, the normalization of the status of Yugoslavia in OSCE, prospects for cooperation with the European Union and about current processes in the region.

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