Yugoslav Daily Survey, 98-09-22

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

Yugoslav Daily Survey

CONTENTS

[01] YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC RECEIVES U.S. ENVOY HILL

[02] RISTIC: YUGOSLAVIA FOR DEVELOPMENT OF REGIONAL PARLIAMENTARY COOPERATION

[03] YUGOSLAV CITIZENS, OWNERS OF PROPERTY IN CROATIA, DEMAND RIGHTS

[04] POPOVSKI: SO-CALLED OVK HAS INFRASTRUTURE IN MACEDONIA

[05] ROYAUMONT INITIATIVE MEETING OPENS

[06] MINISTER JOVANOVIC CONFERS WITH DINI AND DE GAMMA

[07] DINSTBIR ENDS VISIT TO YUGOSLAVIA

[08] YUGOSLAV FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS ARGENTINEAN COUNTERPART AT UN

[09] MINISTER JOVANOVIC ENGAGED IN DIPLOMATIC ACTIVITIES IN NEW YORK

[10] YUGOSLAV EMBASSY IN PARIS SENDS LETTER TO LE FIGARO

[11] MINISTER MILENKOVIC RECEIVES FRENCH SECRETARY OF STATE MASSERET

[12] MINISTER KOVAC RECEIVES FRENCH SECRETARY OF STATE MASSERET

[13] PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC RECEIVES RUSSIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER AFANASYEVSKI

[01] YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC RECEIVES U.S. ENVOY HILL

Tanjug, 1998-09-21

Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic on Monday received U.S. Special En voy for Yugoslavia, Ambassador Christopher Hill. The talk covered topical issues concerning the resolution of problems in Kosovo and Metohija.

It was set out that the measures taken by state authorities to resolve h umanitarian issues in the region had produced positive effects. Temporari ly displaced persons have returned home in large numbers. The creation of conditions for a secure life and the providing of continuous assistance to citizens, regardless of nationality, enable a stepped up normalizaton of the situation. That is why pressures on Yugoslavia by individual inte rnational circles are unfounded. The term "humanitarian disaster" which h as been heard in the recent weeks is not based on the reality but is a pr etext for continued pressures on the Republic of Serbia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

It was assessed that a solution may be found solely by political means, which calls for an immediate resumption of the direct dialogue, which sho uld at last be undertaken by representatives of ethnic-Albanian political parties in Kosovo and Metohija.

Yugoslav Deputy Prime Minister Nikola Sainovic also participated in the talk.

[02] RISTIC: YUGOSLAVIA FOR DEVELOPMENT OF REGIONAL PARLIAMENTARY COOPERATION

Tanjug, 1998-09-21

The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia attaches special importance to inter- parliamentary cooperation in the region of South Eastern Europe and is co mmitted to fully contributing to the strengthening of cooperation, peace and stability in the region, Yugoslav Parliamentary official Ljubisa Ris tic told European Parliament here on Monday.

"Regional cooperation, promotion of stability and good-neighborly relati ons is in the interest of all countries in the region because it also con tributes to the strengthening of the international position of each indiv idual country and the region as a whole," Ristic said during a debate.

Ristic, who chairs the Chamber of Citizens (lower house, 1998) Foreign R elations Committee, is heading the Yugoslav Parliamentary delegation to t he meeting of participants of the Royaumont initiative held in the Brusse ls-based European Parliament.

Taking part in a very constructive debate, Ristic said that regional coo peration was a priority of the Yugoslav foreign policy, adding that Yugos lavia had always called for an active linking with its neighbors and a fr ee flow of goods, capital, information and people. This way alone enables the region's linking with other parts of Europe, which confirms its inte rest in joining the dominant European integration processes, said Ristic.

Ristic said he was hopeful that mutual trust could be strengthened throu gh joint efforts by all countries. He also said that efforts exerted with in the Royaumont initiative to-date had yielded specific results. Ristic said that the process of stability and good-neighborliness in the region entered a stage where various joint projects were to be implemented. He also said that he believed that the principle of equal approach and use o f funds and resources allocated through certain programs would be honored for all countries participating in the initiative.

Yugoslavia is interested in receiving an equal treatement for its propos als for a cooperation program, which it had drafted in line with recommen dations of Coordinator Rumeliotis, said Ristic. He added that Yugoslavia was also interested in joining other countries' programs compatible with its development needs.

Referring to Yugoslavia's developed parliamentary cooperation with count ries of the region and also with other countries, Ristic underscored Yugo slavia's activity within multilateral cooperation among South East Europe an countries.

He recalled Yugoslavia's proposal, which had been accepted, for founding a consultative assembly of the parliaments of the South East European co untries, adding that a draft document to this effect had been sent for co nsideration to all parliaments of the countries participating in the init iative.

The consultative assembly would review and initiate measures of promotin g trust, peace and good-neighborly relations in the region and give recom mendations with a view to boosting bilateral and regional cooperation in many fields, ranging from economy and finances to power industry, respect for human rights and expanding of humanitarian, social and cultural coo peration and also that in the areas of the judiciary and fight against or ganized crime and terrorism, Ristic said.

As for building trust and good-neighborly relations, Ristic said that th is necessitated a consistent compliance with peace agreements and constan t respect for their principles, especially those of the Dayton/Paris Peac e Accords, stressing that Yugoslavia was consistent in its implementation 2E

Ristic recalled that Yugoslavia had applied for a full-fledged membershi p of the Council of Europe, thus showing its great respect for the body's principles and actions. He said that Yugoslavia's full-fledged membershi p of the Council of Europe and other regional and international organizat ions would prompt and have a favorable effect on other processes of upgr ading cooperation in the region of South Eastern Europe and elsewhere in Europe.

During the several-hour debate, participants mostly urged that efforts b e made and conditions created for developing not only parliamentary coope ration but also overall cooperation among the countries of South Eastern Europe.

An Albanian representative failed in his attempt to expand a debate on S erbia's alleged repression in its southern Province of Kosovo-Metohija, w hich prompted him to urge a NATO intervention. The topic was effortlessly brought up also by Croatian, Slovene and Hungarian parliamentarians as K osovo-Metohija was not even mentioned in the conclusions passed at the m eeting.

An unprincipled discussion on Kosovo-Metohija by a Spanish representativ e to the European Parliament made his French counterpart sharply reply th at several E.U. member-countries were virtually prompting and maintaining the unstable situation in the Province by delivering arms to ethnic Alba nian terrorists and keeping their money in their respective banks.

The Albanian delegation's attempt to have Yugoslavia excluded from parli amentary cooperation within the Royaumont initiative failed as Spencer di smissed their request as inappropriate.

[03] YUGOSLAV CITIZENS, OWNERS OF PROPERTY IN CROATIA, DEMAND RIGHTS

Tanjug, 1998-09-21

Close to 30,000 Yugoslav citizens whose property worth about two billion dollars has been usurped in Croatia, have founded an association aimed p rimarily at reclaiming this property or getting just compensation if that property is destroyed or stollen.

"Informing the world public about the methods used by Croatia to prevent Yugoslav citizens from repossessing their property will be a specific me dia battle which we must win," association member and property-owner Miro slav Diklic told Tanjug.

Under the Agreement on a normalization of relations between Yugoslavia a nd Croatia of August 1996, refugees and displaced persons are guaranteed repossession of their property or just compensation. It has been a full t wo years since then, and there has been no progress at all in this issue regarding either Yugoslav citizens or refugees.

[04] POPOVSKI: SO-CALLED OVK HAS INFRASTRUTURE IN MACEDONIA

Tanjug, 1998-09-22

Macedonian intelligence service head Vlado Popovski told a press confer ence in Skopje on Monday that their operative data showed that the so-cal led Kosovo Liberation Army (OVK, 1998) had its infrastructure also in the Republic of Macedonia, but that it would probably not undertake any extr eme actions which might lead to the radicalization of the political and m ilitary-security situation in Macedonia.

There are also indications that the Democratic Party of Sali Berisa has direct control over the so-called OVK and that there is an agreement betw een Berisa and Bukosi about its actions in Macedonian territory as well, said Popovski.

The critical moment for the radicalization of inter-ethnic relations in Macedonia has passed, but the state might still be jeopardized by terrori st actions, terrorist attacks on border posts, police stations, and other important state objects, the intelligence chief said.

[05] ROYAUMONT INITIATIVE MEETING OPENS

Tanjug, 1998-09-21

In the European Parliament in Brussels opened on Monday a meeting of par ticipants in the Royaumont initiative * diplomatic process aimed at stren gthening stability and cooperation of Southeastern European countries.

The Yugoslav Parliament delegation is headed by Committee for Foreign Re lations Chairman in the Chamber of Citizens Ljubisa Ristic, and taking pa rt in the meeting are also representatives of parliaments of other countr ies in the region * Greece, Albania, Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia and Hungary.

Also present are representatives of the EU, as well as the representativ es of Russia, the US, the Council of Europe, the OSCE and other European associations.

The main theme of the meeting today, opened by European Parliament Forei gn Relations Committee Chairman Tom Spenser, is the contribution of natio nal parliaments and the European Parliament to stability in Southeastern Europe.

The coordinator of the initiative, Panaiotis Rumeliotis, pointed out tha t the cooperation of parliaments was an important step for achieving last ing peace and stability in Southeastern Europe.

[06] MINISTER JOVANOVIC CONFERS WITH DINI AND DE GAMMA

Tanjug, 1998-09-22

Yugoslav Foreign Minister Zivadin Jovanovic, within his lively diplomati c activities in New York during the 53rd regular session of the UN Genera l Assembly, met on Monday afternoon local time with Foreign Ministers Lam berto Dini of Italy and Jaime de Gamma of Portugal. Both meetings passed in an axtremely friendly and sincere atmosphere. The Foreign Ministers of Italy and Portugal told Jovanovic that the development of friendship wit h Yugoslavia was in the long-term interest of the two European countries.

During the talks, emphasis was placed on the situation in Kosovo and Met ohija Province. Jovanovic acquainted the Ministers with the latest facts pertaining to a successful action of taking care of displaced persons, th eir return home, and a significant improvement of the humanitarian situat ion.

Ministers Dini and de Gamma underlined there was no support, nor would t here be, to any idea on a so-called independence of Kosovo. They said the problems in that southern Serbian Province must be resolved solely withi n Serbia and Yugoslavia.

Underscoring the importance of political measures as the only method for easing tensions in Kosovo, the Ministers emphasized support to Yugoslavi a's efforts to open talks as soon as possible on settling these problems. Pressures and threats merely encourage separatist circles of Kosovo Alba nians to prolong the start of talks, it was agreed in the talks.

The talks also covered the development of economic relations, which were said to have extreme potential which should be used to the best advantag e for economic cooperation.

[07] DINSTBIR ENDS VISIT TO YUGOSLAVIA

Tanjug, 1998-09-22

U.N. Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Jirzi Dinstbir said in Belgrade on Monday that political dialogue is necessary in Serbia's Kosovo and Met ohija Province and backed a proposed agreement on a corresponding degree of self-administration for this Province.

Disntbir said he was glad that ethnic Albanian leader Ibrahim Rugova had de facto agreed with him that the so-called Kosovo Liberation Army (OVK, 1998) was a tragedy for the Albanian people. One cannot fight for freedo m and human rights by killing people and forcing others to join you in su ch activities, Dinstbir said, as carried by Serbian Radio Television.

Disntbir said the international community was seriously concerned over t he fact that some people wanted the unification of ethnic Albanians in Ma cedonia, Kosovo or Montenegro through an armed struggle for independence.

An end to armed actions, the return of displaced persons, and the releas e of all abducted persons are priorities in settling the situation Kosovo and Metohija, Dinstbir said.

[08] YUGOSLAV FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS ARGENTINEAN COUNTERPART AT UN

Tanjug, 1998-09-21

Yugoslav Foreign Minister Zivadin Jovanovic, who is in New York to atten d the 53rd regular UN General Assembly which started on Monday, has met h is Argentinean counterpart Guido di Teglia.

The two Ministers discussed the future development of bilateral ties and expressed satisfaction with the raising of diplomatic relations between the two countries to the level of ambassadors.

The talk focused especially on the development of economic cooperation, with a special emphasis on a contract signed between Belgrade company Ene rgoprojekt and some Argentinean partners. Argentinean companies are inter ested in infrastructure projects, especially the construction of roads an d railways in Yugoslavia, it was noted during the meeting.

The two ministers expressed the wish to promote bilateral cooperation in all fields and agreed to exchange visits. They also discussed the develo pment of parliamentary cooperation and the exchange of visits by business delegations.

Jovanovic explained to di Teglia the current situation in Serbia's south ern Province of Kosovo-Metohija and di Teglia said he respected the moder ate and flexible approach of Serbian and Yugoslav authorities to resolvin g the problems in the Province.

[09] MINISTER JOVANOVIC ENGAGED IN DIPLOMATIC ACTIVITIES IN NEW YORK

Tanjug, 1998-09-21

Yugoslav Foreign Minister Zivadin Jovanovic on Monday begins lively dipl omatic activities at the United Nations headquarters in New York, where a debate opens at the 53rd regular annual session of the General Assembly.

Jovanovic will meet with many ministers and heads of delegations to the U.N. and senior U.N. officials. Meetings are also planned with General As sembly President Didier Operti and Security Council President, Swedish Am bassador Hans Dalgren.

Today, Minister Jovanovic will confer with Foreign Ministers Klaus Kinke l of Germany, Alberto Dini of Italy, Igor Ivanov of Russia, Guido di Tel of Argentina, and Jaime da Gamma of Portugal. During these meeting, Minis ter Jovanovic will discuss the promotion of bilateral relations and major international issues.

In the next few days, during the debate at the autumn session, Jovanovic will continue to meet with some 30 other diplomats from all over the wor ld.

[10] YUGOSLAV EMBASSY IN PARIS SENDS LETTER TO LE FIGARO

Tanjug, 1998-09-21

Advisor of the Yugoslav Embassy in Paris and Consul Bozidar Jovanovic ad dressed a protest letter to Le Figaro daily on Monday in reference to a t ext published recently by the paper using wrong terms to describe the sel f- styled Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA, 1998).

Commenting the text on Europe's attitude towards Serbia's southern Provi nce of Kosovo-Metohija published by Le Figaro on September 15, Jovanovic said in his letter that terms rebels, guerrilla or rural guerrilla used b y the author cannot be used to describe ethnic Albanian terrorists and cr iminal gangs.

Jovanovic quoted the International War Law which precisely defines in wh ich cases the terms guerrilla or rebels can be used to describe groups of armed persons. The "KLA" in no way fulfills the definitions of the Inter national War Law as it does not have a single command whose orders are ca rried out in a disciplned manner, does not abide by the International War Law as regards humane treatment of captives and civilians and does not c ontrol any specific territory, Jovanovic said.

Most of the "KLA" members come from Albania to perpetrate crimes and the n return to Albania, which supports them in violation of the fundamental principles of the international law and the UN Charter, Jovanovic said.

[11] MINISTER MILENKOVIC RECEIVES FRENCH SECRETARY OF STATE MASSERET

Tanjug, 1998-09-21

Serbia Minister of Labour, Veteran and Social Affairs Tomislav Milenkovi c on Monday received French Secretary of State for War Veterans Jean Pier re Masseret, who is visiting Yugoslavia for the observance of the 80th an niversary of the Tsalonika Front Breakthrough.

Milenkovic and Masseret agreed that the conflict in Serbia's southern Pr ovince of Kosmet had been provoked by the terrorist onslaughts of ethnic- Albanian separatists and that a solution must be found through political means. They set out that life in peace must be secured for all citizens in Kosovo and Metohija and the sovereignty and integrity of Yugoslavia pr eserved.

Milenkovic informed French Secretary of State Masseret about the results of the Serbia Government's humanitarian actions in Kosovo and Metohija a nd the high-degree of protection it provides for the civilian population there.

[12] MINISTER KOVAC RECEIVES FRENCH SECRETARY OF STATE MASSERET

Tanjug, 1998-09-21

Yugoslav Minister of Labour and Social Policy Miodrag Kovac on Monday re ceived French Secretary of State for War Veterans Jean Pierre Masseret in connection with the observance of the 80th anniversary of the Tsalonika Front Breakthrough. Minister Kovac and State Secretary Masseret spoke abo ut the difficult hours eighty years ago, when the deep friendship between the Serbian and French peoples was born, and the present quest of the tw o peoples for peace, friendship and prosperity, a Government statement sa id.

Kovac and Masseret informed each other about the two sides' positions on the situation in Serbia's southern Province of Kosovo and Metohija.

Kovac underscored the continued efforts of the Serbia Government for a p olitical dialogue with leaders of the Albanian national minority in Kosov o and Metohija on solutions for the equality of all ethnic communities li ving in the Province. He set out that Yugoslavia was in all ways trying t o combat terrorism on its territory, to prevent terrorist operations and eliminate their consequences, which Kovac said equally affected Serbs, et hnic Albanians and other inhabitants in the Province.

Kovac said Yugoslavia expected the international community to fully back it in these efforts and to adopt a balanced approach to the developments in Kosovo and Metohija, so that a lasting solution would be found as soo n as possible for a life in peace and prosperity.

French Secretary of State for War Veterans Masseret said the internation al community, whose eyes were turned to Kosovo and Metohija, would not al low conflicts in that part of the Balkans to threaten broader security. M asseret said the issue of Kosovo and Metohija must be resolved by peacefu l political means, and pointed out that his country would take this stanc e at the upcoming Contact Group meeting in New York.

French Ambassador in Belgrade Stanislas Filliol also attended.

[13] PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC RECEIVES RUSSIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER AFANASYEVSKI

Tanjug, 1998-09-21

Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic on Monday afternoon received Russi an Deputy Foreign Minister Nikolai Afanasyevski. The talk covered topical issues relating to peace and stability in the region.

It was set out that terrorism had been defeated in Kosovo and Metohija, and that state authorities were taking extensive measures and activities to step up the elimination of the consequences of the actions of bandit-t errorist groups in a part of the territory of Kosovo and Metohija. It was pointed out that significant results had been achieved and that they wer e primarily reflected in the return home of large numbers of temporarily displaced persons, to whom the state had given guarantees of security and the necessary aid.

President Milosevic said that Yugoslavia was exposed to an unprecedented campaign and unparalleled threats only because it was defending its sove reignty, its territorial integrity and its citizens from the onslaughts o f terrorists in a part of its territory.

With such a stance, which violates basic international principles, the i nternational community is doing great damage to the process of the consol idation of peace, stability and regional security.

The FR of Yugoslavia and Russia are committed to the stands contained in the Moscow Declaration. It was set out that problems in Kosovo and Metoh ija could succesfully be resolved solely by political means, and it was a ssessed that the policy of pressures and threats was an unacceptable way of communication among states.

Yugoslav Deputy Prime Minister Nikola Sianovic and Russian Ambassador to Yugoslavia Yuri Kotov also attended the meeting.

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