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Serbia Today 96-05-25
Serbia Today
25 May 1996
CONTENTS
[01] CLOSE STANDS
[02] MAJOR IN BOSNIA
[03] SPECULATORS HAVE NO CHANCE
[04] CO-OPERATION ENHANCED
[05] CENSUS - AN IMPERATIVE
[06] THE AMNESTY LAW SHOULD BE CORRECTED
[07] REGULATIONS IMPEDE THE RETURN OF THE REFUGEES
[08] THE TRUTH HURTS
[09] A MONUMENT TO THE TERRORISTS
[10] FROM COUNT MIHAILO TO SOFTWARE
[11] THE MEDIA IMAGE OF YUGOSLAVIA HAS BEEN IMPROVED
[01] CLOSE STANDS
During his visit to Greece, Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Marjanovic gave an interview for the
United Ionic Television. Remarking that his talks with Greek Premier Kostas Simitis three days ago were
very successful, Mr. Marjanovic stressed that identical positions regarding a number of issues have been
affirmed during the talks. Mr. Simitis underscored the strong support of the Greek Government for the
peace policy of Yugoslavia and the efforts being made by President Slobodan Milosevic.
Yugoslavia fits into all international standards, said Mr. Marjanovic, adding that foreign investment in
Yugoslavia is growing, especially in the form of direct ties between companies. Commenting the relations
Yugoslavia has with the rest of the world, The Serbian Prime Minister observed that most of the countries
recognise the continuity of Yugoslavia. He reminded that diplomatic relations are being renewed, new
ambassadors have been appointed and negotiations have been initiated with international institutions - with
the International Monetary Fund, The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and with
others. (Politika Ekspres, May 25, 1996.)
[02] MAJOR IN BOSNIA
Without any previous announcement, British Prime Minister John Major, arrived yesterday in
Bosnia for a one day visit. Around noon he arrived in Banjaluka, where the command of the British IFOR
contingent is based. Here he met with the local Serbian politicians including the Mayor of Banjaluka - Mr.
Radic and Mr. Rajko Kasagic - until recently premier of the Republic of Srpska. (Politika, May 25, 1996)
[03] SPECULATORS HAVE NO CHANCE
Ever since the new constitutional order has been introduced in our country, major results have
been achieved in securing legal operation of all authorities in Kosovo and Metohija, creating a favourable
environment for an equitable dialogue and peaceful settlement of all current issues, said Mr. Tomica
Raicevic - Federal Minister and member of the SPS Executive Council - during the session of the Regional
Executive Council of the Socialist Party of Serbia, he attended yesterday in Pristina. He stressed that the
existing constitutional system grants all nations and ethnic groups living in Kosovo completely identical
rights to decide about their future, and added that in the Province of Kosovo constitutional, civil and
national rights of individuals are not threatened, because our constitutional system adopted all the highest
international standards regarding civil and minority rights. Mr. Raicevic also remarked that the efforts to
use Kosovo and Metohija as an argument to obstruct the Re-integration of FR Yugoslavia into the
international community have no grounds, especially such attempts regarding the membership in
international financial institutions and organisations. Mr. Raicevic also underscored that speculations about
Kosovo are being promoted by groups and individuals - whose present position will be inevitably
marginalized by the stabilisation of the situation - and that are managing to remain on the political scene
only by insisting on some false national strategies and interests. (Borba, May 25-26. 1996)
[04] CO-OPERATION ENHANCED
Yugoslav Prime Minister - Dr. Radoje Kontic met yesterday with the Polish Minister of Education
- Prof. Dr. Jerzhy Wyatar.
During a lengthy conversation both sides stressed the interest to renew and enhance mutual co-
operation. The reconstruction of traditionally good ties in the sphere of education and culture will clear the
way to broaden the contacts in other areas as well, the two high officials agreed. This is the first visit to
Yugoslavia by a high Polish official since the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was proclaimed. (Politika,
May 25, 1996)
[05] CENSUS - AN IMPERATIVE
Serbian Commissioner for Refugees - Ms. Bratislava Morina stressed in an interview for "Politika"
daily that the census of the refugees has multiple bearing. First of all the exact number of refugees and
expatriates will be established. "By taking part in the census, the refugees will finally confirm our estimates
that they are some 700 thousand. This will also confirm that the Serbs were the ones to suffer the most in
the past war. The census is also necessary for the aid efforts, because it is a known fact that the help FR
Yugoslavia and Serbia received from international humanitarian organisations and the UNHCR was far
lesser than that sent to other Yugoslav republics. This has to be corrected", said the Serbian Commissioner
for Refugees. (Politika, May 25, 1996)
[06] THE AMNESTY LAW SHOULD BE CORRECTED
"In its present form, the law on amnesty has a number of negative elements. It is the duty of the
UN transitional administration to intervene with the Croatian Government to have the law corrected
adapted to its true purpose." - said the Russian Federation Special Ambassador for the Eastern Slavonija,
Baranja and Western Srem - Mr. Aleksandar Aksenonik yesterday in Erdut. He also stressed that the
reintegration process can not be completed without ancillary activities intended to promote the security of
the population and the protection of property. (Politika, May 25, 1996)
[07] REGULATIONS IMPEDE THE RETURN OF THE REFUGEES
The Human Rights Committee of the Serbian community in Croatia has at this moment some
30.000 applications for repatriation submitted by Serbian refugees from Croatia - said Committee Chairman
- Mr. Veselin Pejnovic. The Committee also received 5.000 demands for a just indemnification of property
damages suffered by Serbs who are Croatian citizens.
The same committee stresses that the already reduced repatriation of Serbian refugees is being
further obstructed lately. An analysis of pertinent regulations blocking their return to Croatia is being
carried out. (Politika, May 25, 1996)
[08] THE TRUTH HURTS
Croatia submitted a strong diplomatic protest to the British Foreign Office. The angry reaction of
the Croatian Foreign Ministry and the government controlled media was prompted by an official
publication for the European Football Championships (Euro '96.) that will take place in Britain on June 8-
30. The authors of the Euro '96 booklet distributed to the students of 3.200 schools in Great Britain, have
been accused of "malicious presentation of warped and incorrect historical facts about Croatia". The booklet
states: "During World War Two, the Nazis founded their government in Croatia managed by the Ustashi -
former terrorists. They committed a genocide against the Serbs, including massacres, expatriation and
forcible conversion into Roman Catholics. After the war, Croatia was integrated into the federal
Yugoslavia, headed by Marshal Tito, who was a Croat himself. After his death in 1990, Croatian separatists
came to power and subsequently proclaimed independence..." (Politika Ekspres, May 25, 1996.)
[09] A MONUMENT TO THE TERRORISTS
In the little village of Trnbusi near the town of Omis on the Croatian Adriatic coast, a monument
has been unveiled - dedicated to Ambrozije Andric and Pavle Vegar the leaders of an Ustashi terrorist
group. This terrorist group, recruited among Croatian emigrants in Australia, was trained in a an Austrian
military camp near the border, and infiltrated into Yugoslavia in June 1972, with the assignment to "incite
popular rebellion" for the resurrection of the Independent State of Croatia (NDH) headed by Ante Pavelic
during WW II. The group was eventually seized and eliminated, but it caused the death of 13 Yugoslav
citizens. (Politika, May 25, 1996)
[10] FROM COUNT MIHAILO TO SOFTWARE
The "Svetozar Markovic" University Library in Belgrade celebrated yesterday it patron - St. Cyrill
and St Method as well as its 75th anniversary. Actually the institution has an even longer tradition. In fact,
when the Belgrade College was founded 158 years ago, following the advice of Stefan Stefanovic, Count
Milos of Serbia donated numerous books to this library.
The primary task of the library is to provide scientific and expert help and bibliographic
information about the enormous scientific production in the world. Celebrating it jubilee the University
Library introduced a new software package for the users. As part of the Library Data Search Centre, a local
computer network has been set up. The server is linked to the Library computers and CD ROM's, allowing
the users to establish a modem connection with the server and search the data base even when the library is
closed. (Vecernje Novosti, May 25, 1996)
[11] THE MEDIA IMAGE OF YUGOSLAVIA HAS BEEN IMPROVED
"Peace, Freedom, Co-operation, Media" is the title of the round table involving 32 journalists from
24 countries. The participants of the 34th Annual meeting of Journalists, held in Milocer (Montenegrin sea
resort) this year, stressed the "decisive Yugoslav contribution to the signing of the Dayton Agreement, and
the major efforts it is making in favour of a lasting peace in the Balkan area." Mr. Dusan Cukic - Chairman
of the Yugoslav Journalist Association, remarked that due also to the help of the foreign colleagues
attending the meeting, the warped media image about Yugoslavia and Serbia has improved lately. (Politika,
May 25, 1996)
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