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Serbia Today 96-08-14
Serbia Today
14 August 1996
CONTENTS
[01] REALIZATION OF THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT
[02] FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ON NORMALIZATION OF RELATIONS WITH CROATIA
[03] CHINESE PARLIAMENTARIANS IN THE FR OF YUGOSLAVIA
[04] GOVERNMENT OF UKRAINE SATISFIED WITH THE STATUS OF UKRAINIANS IN
YUGOSLAVIA
[05] ALL CITIZENS ARE EQUAL
[06] O.S.C.E. PUBLISHED RESULTS OF REGISTRATION OF POLITICAL PARTIES
[07] STATE OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION WORSE THAN DURING
THE WAR
[08] HDZ DEMANDS NEW ELECTIONS IN MOSTAR
[09] DISAGREEMENT ABOUT DURATION OF THE UN TRANSITIONAL ADMINISTRATION
[10] NATIONAL CLEAN-UP IN THE SPLIT POST OFFICE
[01] REALIZATION OF THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT
American mission at the UN in Geneva, for the third time this
year, will be the host today and organizer of the meeting between
Presidents of Serbia Slobodan Milosevic, of Croatia Franjo Tudjman
and of the leader of the Bosnian Muslims Alija Izetbegovic. Like
in the previous meetings, the role of mediator in bilateral talks
will be held by the U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher.
The agenda of the meeting has not yet been announced, but it is
quite certain that the focus of attention will be on the
implementation of the peace agreement from Dayton and the
elections in Bosnia. In the Geneva diplomatic circles it is
pointed out that the meeting today is being held in a much more
favorable atmosphere then the previous meetings, thanks to the
recent meeting between Presidents of Serbia and Croatia in Athens.
It is believed that this meeting is a decisive step towards
normalization of the Yugoslav-Croat relations, which is a
significant factor for the stabilization of the situation in the
entire Balkans. It is also certain, however, that the Americans,
nevertheless, are not completely calm about this meeting. Muslim-Croat
Federation is still not functioning, the trial test in
Mostar has practically failed and it is necessary now to find some
other formula for the cooperation between Muslims and Croats in
their joint entity. However, this is primarily an American worry,
just like the Federation itself is an American invention.
(Politika, August 14, 1996)
[02] FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ON NORMALIZATION OF RELATIONS WITH CROATIA
Federal Government at its yesterday's session, discussed the
information about preparations for the normalization of the
relations between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the
Republic of Croatia, submitted by the Federal Minister of Foreign
Affairs Milan Milutinovic. There was a positive view of the
development so far of the Yugoslav-Croat relations, especially
about the economic cooperation and the solution of pending
humanitarian problems, and it was concluded that the competent
authorities should continue bilateral contacts for purpose of
promotion of transport communications and overall economic
relations. It was especially emphasized that it is important to
create conditions necessary for solution of the disputable
question of Prevlaka, free and safe return of refugees and
dislocated persons, securing of their property and physical
safety. Readiness was confirmed of the Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia to start full normalization of the relations with
Croatia and with the other former Yugoslav republics, which is of
outstanding importance for the promotion of the peace process,
stability,. development and cooperation in the region.
(Borba, August 14, 1996)
[03] CHINESE PARLIAMENTARIANS IN THE FR OF YUGOSLAVIA
Delegation of the All Chinese National Congress, headed by the
Vice President Vu Djieping, arrived yesterday, at the invitation
of the Federal Assembly, to the official and friendly visit to the
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. "The purpose of our visit is
instigation of the cooperation between the two peoples and the two
assemblies. Yugoslavia is an important country in this part of
Europe and has a long history and a high culture", stated Vu
Djieping upon arrival at the Belgrade airport. Underlining that
between China and Yugoslavia there is a profound friendship and
understanding, Vice President of the Chinese Parliament conveyed
"the message of love of the Chinese people towards the Yugoslav
people". Vice President of the Chamber of Republics of the Federal
Assembly, Radmilo Bogdanovic, while expressing welcome to the
Chinese guests, said that "this is one of the few delegations to
be visiting us at this level after the suspension of sanctions".
(Politika, August 14, 1996)
[04] GOVERNMENT OF UKRAINE SATISFIED WITH THE STATUS OF UKRAINIANS IN
YUGOSLAVIA
President of the Executive Council of the Autonomous Province
of Vojvodina Bosko Perosevic, in his talk with the Ambassador of
the Republic of Ukraine in our country Vadim Primachenko, pointed
out at very good relations between our country and Ukraine, which
were not suspended even during the sanctions. It is realistic to
expect that they will continue to develop and expend now, said
Perosevic and underlined that good relations between the two
countries are greatly assisted by the Ruthenian and Ukrainian
minorities living in Vojvodina. They are enjoying all the rights
in the field of education, culture and information. Primachenko
said that the Government of Ukraine is very satisfied with the
fact that Ukrainians in Vojvodina, i.e. Yugoslavia, are free to
attend tuition and to start newspapers and broadcasts in their
mother tongue.
(Borba, August 14, 1996)
[05] ALL CITIZENS ARE EQUAL
In Vojvodina we are striving consistently for the national
equality of all the citizens, we are succeeding in the rights of
minorities and ethnic groups to be realized to the maximum and
there are no major problems in this field, stated provincial
secretary for exercise of rights of national minorities and Vice
President of the Provincial Committee of the Socialist Party of
Serbia Pavel Domonji. In his interview for the Novi Sad "Dnevnik",
Domonji stated that in Vojvodina, where members of 26 national
minorities are living, inter-ethnic relations "are good, correct
and stable". "Politics of national equality has its deep roots in
the historical experience of citizens in Vojvodina, who are well
aware that only the spirit of tolerance, mutual respect and
regard, can secure peace, dignified life and a well harmonized
social, economic and cultural development", said Domonji. In the
realization of national rights of minorities, the most important
are the questions of the mother tongue and cultural
identification, and therefore, in the municipalities of Vojvodina,
further to the Serbian language, also Hungarian, Rumanian, Slovak
and Ruthenian languages can be
used. From 45 Vojvodina municipalities, the decree on the official
use of language and alphabet was entered in the statutes of 35
municipalities and the city of Novi Sad. Municipality of Bela
Crkva, where 900 members of Czech national minority are living,
has introduced in the equitable use also the Czech language, said
Domonji.
(Politika ekspres, August 14, 1996)
[06] O.S.C.E. PUBLISHED RESULTS OF REGISTRATION OF POLITICAL PARTIES
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
published yesterday preliminary results of registration of the
political parties and independent candidates for the forthcoming
general elections in Bosnia. According to the report by the
O.S.C.E. representative Jeff Fisher, for the elections to be held
on September 14, 1996 for the three-member Presidency of
Bosnia-Herzegovina, Presidency of the Republic of Srpska, parliaments of
the entities, cantonal assemblies of the federation of
Bosnia-Herzegovina and municipal assemblies, 39 political parties have
registered, seven coalitions and joint lists and 27 independent
candidates. At the question about Croat authorities which are
preventing the access to the international observers in the
registration stations, Fisher said that this problem was solved
both in Croatia and in the FR of Yugoslavia, and that the OSCE
observers will be present in both countries, although he declined
to explain in what way this problem was solved, in view of the
fact that the blockade lasted until the last day of registration.
(Vecernje novosti, August 14, 1996)
[07] STATE OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION WORSE THAN DURING
THE WAR
Institution for the protection of human rights (ombudsman), in
its report on its work during the first six months of this year,
writes that the state of human rights in the Muslim-Croat
Federation is now worse that it was during the war. Situation is
especially difficult in small towns where information are being
concealed about violation of human rights. "We have found out that
the federal police authorities are simply not performing their
duties and that they are violating human rights because they are
not offering protection to citizens", says Esad Muhidic, one of
the ombudsman. A large number of citizens are being arrested
according to some lists with potential war criminals, although the
only competence in this respect rests with The Hague Tribunal.
Ombudsman are warning also about the behavior of the federal
police in the reintegrated parts of Sarajevo, where money is
demanded from the citizens of Serbian nationality, under threats
that they will be arrested as war criminals. Among the major
problems is the return of refugees where, according to ombudsman,
no move was made from zero. There is a large number of refugees
who have a place to return to, because their houses are empty and
preserved, but the local authorities are not allowing that, says
ombudsman Branka Raguz.
(Politika, August 14, 1996)
[08] HDZ DEMANDS NEW ELECTIONS IN MOSTAR
President of the City Council of the Croat Democratic Community
(HDZ) of Mostar, Mile Puljic, rejected the decision of the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe that the
Mostar elections held on June 30, 1996, are an integral part of
the general electoral process, Croat Radio reports. In the letter
to the President of the Temporary Electoral Commission Robert
Frowick, Puljic is opposing the decision of this Commission,
according to which municipal elections in Mostar will not be held
again on September 14, 1996, as in all the other cities of
Bosnia-Herzegovina. Contrary to the Croat side, the Muslim side is not
requesting elections in Mostar to be held again in September,
because it is satisfied with the minimal victory achieved in June.
(Borba, August 14, 1996)
[09] DISAGREEMENT ABOUT DURATION OF THE UN TRANSITIONAL ADMINISTRATION
Croat President Franjo Tudjman and chief of the UN transitional
administration in Eastern Slavonia, General Jacques Klein, had
talks yesterday about the future of the UN mission in this region.
After the meeting, Tudjman's cabinet announced that "because of
the status of Croat refugees from Eastern Slavonia, Croatia can
agree with the extension of the UN mission mandate for a maximum
period of up to three months". Croatia is also demanding that
during that time, elections be organized for the local government
authorities and that the UN should create conditions for the
return of refugees. Klein said that Croat request about the
elections can be fulfilled, but not before Croatia passes
satisfactory amnesty law for the Krajina Serbs. The UN Secretary
General Ghali requested several days ago extension of the UN
mandate in Eastern Slavonia for another year.
(Politika, August 14, 1996)
[10] NATIONAL CLEAN-UP IN THE SPLIT POST OFFICE
From the ten employees in the Split post office, who were
dismissed from work in October 1992, six are Serbs, one is a
Muslim while the others are Croats with family connections with
persons of other nationalities, writes the Split weekly "Feral
Tribune" in its latest edition. Municipal Court of Split until now
ruled three times in favor of the postal employees, but the other
side, through the District Court, every time succeeded in
annulling these sentences. The weekly is stating that after the
clean-up in the Split Court, it is realistic to expect
"implementation of the state policy" and confirmation of this
policy in the courtroom which in this case will confirm itself as
"a national clean-up".
(Politika, August 14, 1996)
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