Serbia Today 96-07-08

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

Serbia Today

8 July 1996

CONTENTS

[01] FIGHT FOR PEACE

[02] MARJANOVIC: WE ARE IN THE PHASE OF FAST ECONOMIC RECOVERY

[03] THE PROPOSAL BY FR OF YUGOSLAVIA ACCEPTED - FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF A CONSTITUTIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE BALKAN COUNTRIES

[04] REN SUCCUMBS TO PREJUDICE

[05] WHOSE ARE 'OUR' ALBANIANS?

[06] READY FOR ELECTIONS

[07] INSTRUCTORS FOR BOSNIA

[08] GATHERING OF EVIDENCE OF CROAT CRIMES IN KRAJINA

[01] FIGHT FOR PEACE

President Milosevic emphasized that we, as a country and people, have given an enormous contribution to the victory of Allies over Fascism, the greatest evil of the 20th century, and that every citizen of Serbia and Yugoslavia has the right to be proud of that.

"Life in peace is the greatest interest of every people. Peace can not be separated from freedom. Now the struggle for peace which, as you well know, was the constant feature of our politics in all these difficult years, is being fought in a different way", said President Milosevic.

"This struggle is being fought in the efforts for our country to develop fast and completely, to promote links with our neighborhood and with the entire world".

President Milosevic underlined that the most important process which is taking place before our very eyes is actually the process of integration of free countries and free peoples on equitable grounds.

"We wish to take part in this process as an equitable and a free country, to be opened and to cooperate with our neighborhood in the region of the Balkans and in this to link the area with the rest of Europe and with the world".

He added that in this direction, every citizen will have an opportunity of giving his contribution to the development of the standards of living, to the promotion of life in our country and to the progress and prosperity of his family, of his town, his country and people.

At the end of his address, President Milosevic congratulated all the citizens of the Republic the 7th of July - Day of Resurrection of the People of Serbia. (Vecernje novosti, July 8, 1996)

[02] MARJANOVIC: WE ARE IN THE PHASE OF FAST ECONOMIC RECOVERY

"Realization of the large-scale projects and programs at the same time means full affirmation of the policy of the Government of Serbia and consistent implementation of its economic program, having as the main target through market transformation of the economy and through securing stable climate for earning, to create an inspiring environment for dynamic functioning of the overall economic activities", underlined Prime Minister Marjanovic. (Politika, July 8, 1996)

[03] THE PROPOSAL BY FR OF YUGOSLAVIA ACCEPTED - FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF A CONSTITUTIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE BALKAN COUNTRIES

"In our view the meeting of the foreign ministers in Sofia has fully confirmed readiness of all the Balkan countries to join efforts and revive regional cooperation and thus contribute to the strengthening of stability, security and good neighborly relations", said at the end of the Conference, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Yugoslavia Milan Milutinovic.

Minister Milutinovic expressed satisfaction with the support which the participants have given to the full implementation of the Dayton-Paris peace agreements, as well as with the strives of the participants for a fast and full integration of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in the international organizations and institutions.

While pointing out at the fact that a number of Yugoslav very concrete proposals for cooperation in certain fields was fully accepted, Milutinovic especially underlined that the proposal of Yugoslavia was accepted for establishment of some kind of constitutional Assembly of the Balkan countries. (Politika, July 8, 1996)

[04] REN SUCCUMBS TO PREJUDICE

Minister Savovic underlined that for this reason in the reports by Elizabeth Ren there are unverified and unargumented claims and added that Elizabeth Ren has succumbed to some prejudice.

All this is witnessed by her recent appearance before The Hague Tribunal where she confirmed that she had seen mass graves in Srebrenica. It is true, she is testifying in her reports also about sufferings of Serbs in Krajina, but she is doing this more for establishing an equilibrium than for energetic demands for prosecution of those who have committed those crimes. Mrs. Ren has certainly seen the traces of mass perdition of Serbs in Mrkonjic Grad, but neither she nor the others were excited about it - states her opinion Margit Savovic. (Politika, July 8, 1996)

[05] WHOSE ARE 'OUR' ALBANIANS?

This is the fourth extension of the temporary residence granted to Albanians in Switzerland. This latest postponement is interesting because of two things. The first one is that in respect to December last year when the figure of 7,000 Albanians was mentioned, this present one is increased for 2,700 Albanians. Second, for the first time since the problem of Albanians in Switzerland exists, the official Bern has informed its public that there are negotiations to this effect with Belgrade.

Until now, according to the occasional information from Bern, it appeared as if Yugoslavia is reluctant to receive its citizens. The facts, however, are different and it seems that they have finally become clear to the Swiss authorities.

Because, it is undisputable that the Yugoslav authorities from the very beginning have insisted on conditions to be fulfilled.

Firstly, for every Albanian who would eventually be returned to Yugoslavia, previously to submit evidence that he is a Yugoslav citizen, i.e. citizen of the Republic of Serbia. Secondly, for Switzerland and Yugoslavia to reach an intergovernmental agreement so that this return of Albanians could be fully organized and not chaotic.

It is difficult to say how many of the 9,700 Albanians are the ones coming from Kosovo because it is no secret that many Albanians have thrown away their passports, believing that without them they will be granted easily an asylum. Furthermore, many Albanians from Albania are presenting themselves in Switzerland as those from Kosovo, also believing that in this way they will easily achieve their wishes. (Vecernje novosti, July 8, 1996)

[06] READY FOR ELECTIONS

Implementation of the Dayton Agreement and the return of refugees to their homes are the priority tasks of the leadership of the Republic of Srpska. Leadership of the Republic of Srpska is faced with an enormous task regarding the return and accommodation of some half a million exiled Serbs. When this task is completed, the conditions will be created for the exiled Muslims also to return to their property.

"We are of opinion that the international community should not allow Muslims to retain Serbian houses and property in Sarajevo, Glamoc and in other places from where Serbs have gone. We also believe that the international factors will react and prevent the terror perpetrated by the Muslims against Serbs who have remained to live in the territory of the Muslim-Croat entity", stated Biljana Plavsic. (Politika, July 8, 1996)

[07] INSTRUCTORS FOR BOSNIA

Some 160 of the American military advisers and instructors are ready to start immediately for Bosnia and take into their own hands the operations of arming and training of the Muslim-Croat army. All of these instructors are recruited from the American firm "Military Professional Resources" from Washington D.C., which is run by the retired generals and admirals and which was selected by the U.S. Administration to conduct the job of arming of the Muslims in Bosnia. (Vecernje novosti, July 8, 1996)

[08] GATHERING OF EVIDENCE OF CROAT CRIMES IN KRAJINA

Over the past ten days judges were, in cooperation with the documentation and information center "Veritas" from Knin, interrogating 100 witnesses and on the basis of their testimonies have compiled 13 files against Croats who have committed killing of and crimes against civilian population in the Republic of Serbian Krajina until the year 1995.

Judges from the United States, Denmark and Finland did not wish to disclose their identity and neither give a statement for the press, because their have on their own initiative and without the knowledge of the Main Prosecutor Richard Goldstone, gathered evidence of the Croat crimes. President of the "Veritas" organization announced the possibility of filing an indictment soon for war crimes against the Croat President Franjo Tudjman. (Nasa borba, July 8, 1996)

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