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Serbia Today 96-08-26
Serbia Today
26 August 1996
CONTENTS
[01] CROATIA RECOGNIZED THE CONTINUITY OF FR YUGOSLAVIA
[02] MILUTINOVIC: BREAKTHROUGH IN THE RELATIONS
[03] REACTIONS TO THE SIGNING OF THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN FRY AND CROATIA
[04] ALBANIANS INVITED TO TAKE PART IN THE ELECTIONS
[05] NEW BUSINESS ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE INTERNATIONAL MARKET
[06] MAJOR SUCCESS OF YUGOSLAV JUNIOR TEAMS
[07] HAGUE TRIBUNAL OFFICE OPENED IN BELGRADE
[08] SDA GANGS ARE TERRORIZING POLITICAL OPPONENTS
[09] SDA PROCLAIMED THE JIHAD
[10] VIOLENCE IN THE STREETS OF MOSTAR
[11] THE ORTHODOX CHURCH IN KARIN DESTROYED
[01] CROATIA RECOGNIZED THE CONTINUITY OF FR YUGOSLAVIA
Federal Foreign Minister Milan Milutinovic and the head of
Croatian diplomacy - Mr. Mate Granic signed on Friday in Belgrade
the agreement on the normalization of relations between the Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia and the Republic of Croatia. The communique
issued by the Federal Foreign Ministry states among other things:
"This agreement means that the Republic of Croatia accepted the
existence of the state continuity of FR Yugoslavia regarding former
Yugoslavia. Furthermore, an agreement has also been reached that
the Republic of Croatia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia will
settle all questions concerning succession in a mediated way." The
two countries agreed that the definition and demarcation of the
mutual border shall be resolved in a peaceful way, refraining from
threats or use of force, and in this sense the important
territorial controversy about Cape Prevlaka will be also be settled
in the same way. The two sides assumed the obligation to "ensure
the free and safe return of refugees and displaced persons to their
previous place of residence or to other localities they might
choose" and to undertake the necessary measures aimed at providing
security of the persons that return. General amnesty will also be
proclaimed regarding acts committed in relation to the armed
conflicts. In the document, Yugoslavia and Croatia stressed the
importance of the coherent and complete implementation of the Erdut
Agreement concerning Eastern Slavonija, Baranja and Western Srem.
This document warrants to the Serbs and Montenegrins living in
Croatia and to the Croats living in FRY all the rights they are
entitled to according to international law. Consent has also been
reached about prospective cooperation in numerous spheres. "Within
15 days after the signing of the Document, the two countries will
establish complete diplomatic and consular relations, raise the
level of the existing bureaus to embassy level and exchange
ambassadors" reads the statement.
(Politika, August 24, 1996)
[02] MILUTINOVIC: BREAKTHROUGH IN THE RELATIONS
This agreement and this day are in a certain way a historical
ones because they mark the turning point in the relations between
our two countries. We have always believed, and we still do, that
the Serbo-Croatian relations, i.e. the Yugoslav-Croatian relations,
represent the backbone of all relations in this region, both in the
framework of former Yugoslavia and that of the Balkan Peninsula.
The Agreement constitutes a decisive moment in the political settlement
of the Yugoslav crisis, because
it formulates the bases for a definite and lasting peace in the
region" - said Yugoslav Foreign Minister Milan Milutinovic. The
Document reconfirms the coherent policy and the constructive
contribution pursued by FR Yugoslavia in the name of peace,
stability and creation of conditions for development and progress
in the region, added the Federal Foreign minister, stressing that
Croatia accepted the state continuity of FR Yugoslavia, which was
a fundamental issue for us.
(Politika, August 24, 1996)
[03] REACTIONS TO THE SIGNING OF THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN FRY AND CROATIA
The first official US reactions hailed the signing of the
agreement on the normalization of relations between FRY and Croatia
as a "positive step towards the establishment of lasting stability
in the Balkans". German Foreign Minister Claus Kinkel remarked that
the documents " is a contribution to the stabilization of the
situation in south-eastern Europe" and reminded that "the EU has
been insisting for a long time that the successor states in Former
Yugoslavia should recognize each other". The representative of the
British Foreign Office stated that the agreement is a "decisive
step" towards the normalization of relations between all countries
in former Yugoslavia, and the British media underscore that this
is a prime event in international politics. No official statements
were made in Moscow, but they are expected soon because Moscow has
reiterated on numerous occasions that the relations between
Yugoslavia and Croatia are decisive for the settlement of the
conflict in former Yugoslavia and further afield. Moscow television
commentaries indicate that the signing of the agreement is an
extremely important event. Italy has expressed major satisfaction
for the signing of the agreement, reads the official communiqu
issued by the Italian Foreign Ministry. The statement also
indicates hope that the new climate in the relations between Zagreb
and Belgrade will allow solutions to be found quickly for the open
questions between the two countries and that it will help the
creation of a favorable environment for the elections in Bosnia.
(TANJUG, August 24, 1996)
[04] ALBANIANS INVITED TO TAKE PART IN THE ELECTIONS
Dr. Basri Plana - Chairman of the Serbs, Montenegrins and
Albanians Society for United Serbia and Yugoslavia - stated in an
interview for the Pristina daily "Jedinstvo" that he believes that
this year the ethnic Albanians will go to the ballot in spite of
the major pressure and harassment used by Rugova's separatist
Mafia. According to Dr. Plana, part of the Albanian electorate will
obey Rugova's order to boycott the elections, not because they are
fervent separatists but for fear of separatist retaliation.
Commenting Rugova's order to the ethnic Albanians not to vote, Dr.
Plana remarked: "Rugova and his foreign bosses have realized that
should the people vote, they would be heavily defeated. This is why
they insist that the elections be boycotted, hoping that this will
allow them to preserve their privileges. This is why I am publicly
inviting all Albanians in Kosovo and Metohija to go to the ballot,
because there is no greater tragedy for an ethnic minority but to
be left without representatives in the legal institutions of the
country it lives in."
(Vecernje Novosti, August 25, 1996.)
[05] NEW BUSINESS ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE INTERNATIONAL MARKET
The US based Du Pont Co. licensed the "Metalac" company from
Gornji Milanovac to use Teflon for the entire range of its cookware
products. "Metalac" General Manager - Mr. Dragoljub Vukadinovic,
stated that his company plans to export 12 million marks of
products by the end of the year. Various types of Teflon cookware
destined to European, US and Canadian buyers will total some
thousand units.
Representatives of the "Feronikl" Co. from Glogovac (Kosovo) and
the biggest German steel concern - "Tussen", signed a contract
worth 3 million dollars. The arrangement has been mediated by the
Belgrade based "Progres" company which anticipates that the
turnover will progressively reach some 80-100 million marks. The
business arrangement with the German partner will allow the metal
processing firm from Kosovo to double its production (currently
some 250 tons of nickel).
(Politika, August 24, 1996)
[06] MAJOR SUCCESS OF YUGOSLAV JUNIOR TEAMS
In a single day, Yugoslav junior national teams won two great
trophies and reconfirmed that our country has a significant
position on the international sports scene. At the World Athletics
Championships in Sidney, Ms. Olivera Jeftic won the silver medal
in 5000 meters, and at the under 18 European Water Polo
Championships, the Yugoslavs won the gold medal.
(Ekspres, August 26, 1996)
[07] HAGUE TRIBUNAL OFFICE OPENED IN BELGRADE
The Hague Tribunal Office in Belgrade started officially working
yesterday. Mr. Dejan Mihov - a jurist from Bulgaria has been
appointed Office head. The Office has been opened according to the
agreement between FRY and the UN - said International Criminal
Court Deputy Prosecutor Graham Bluitt at a press conference. He
remarked that this is an important event because the prosecution
will be able to carry out investigations in Yugoslavia as well.
Asked whether the Court reviewed the documents on war crimes
provided by the Yugoslav Federal Committee on Crimes of War, and
the dossier prepared by the Serbian Information Center concerning
the crimes committed by Franjo Tudjman and Alija Izetbegovic, Mr.
Bluitt said that the Criminal Court received numerous evidence,
some of it from FR Yugoslavia. Certain investigations have already
been launched, but he refused to reveal which ones.
(Borba, August 24, 1996)
[08] SDA GANGS ARE TERRORIZING POLITICAL OPPONENTS
Quoting statements by UN officials, the London Guardian stresses
that the Moslem Democratic Action Party (SDA) is seriously
threatening the electoral activities in the Moslem-Croatian
Federation in Bosnia. The same daily states that the SDA has secret
armed groups that are terrorizing the political opponents,
destroying their property and threatening them with death unless
they withdraw their candidacy at the forthcoming elections. These
gangs - as UN observers call them - are mostly made up by local
criminals and members of the Moslem Youth organization - the
ultra-Islamic wing of the SDA. Canadian International Forces units
discovered two secret police centers in Velika Kladusa. There they
found the lists of political opponents that are to be liquidated.
The Guardian stress that the situation in Sarajevo is no better.
The newspaper indicates that along with eliminating political
competition, SDA wants to create a situation that will force OSCE
to postpone the elections and thus practically maintain the current
state of things. The commentary reminds that the Moslem Government
in Sarajevo and SDA are not facing any consequences for their
anti-democratic behavior and terrorism, primarily because the media do
not want to destroy the picture created for the western public -
namely that the Moslem leaders in Bosnia are endorsing democracy
and a multi-ethnic society.
(Politika, 25.8.1996.)
[09] SDA PROCLAIMED THE JIHAD
At the elections rally staged in Capljina (a town controlled by
the Bosnian Croats) the Moslem Democratic Action Party (SDA)
launched a call for Jihad. Some 400 supporters present staged
ovations after the Imam of the Islamic Studies Center Jamaal Gadara
launched the call to war. The rally was mostly attended by Moslems
that came by bus from Mostar where they fled from Capljina during
the violent Moslem-Croatian clashes in 1993-94.
(Vecernje Novosti, August 26, 1996)
[10] VIOLENCE IN THE STREETS OF MOSTAR
Moslem Radio Sarajevo reported that a wave of violence is
spreading in the western (Croatian) part of the town of Mostar. The
same source affirms that a group of hooligans beat up two Moslem
youths before the eyes of local Croatian Police that did nothing
to protect them. Two other persons were injured because their
Sarajevo license plates bore the lily symbol. At ON the other hand,
Croatian Radio reports that vehicles bearing the license plates
issued by the Croatian Republic of Herzeg Bosnia are constantly
being stoned in the streets crossing the Moslem controlled parts
of the town. Martin Gerod - EU Special Envoy for Mostar - newly
accused local politicians of not preventing violence and
lawlessness.
(Politika, August 25, 1996)
[11] THE ORTHODOX CHURCH IN KARIN DESTROYED
The Serbian Orthodox church in the little town of Karin (on the
Croatian Coast) abandoned by the Serbs last year during the
Croatian Army offensive, has been razed to the ground with
explosives. The church was not previously damaged. The Zadar-Knin
Police Dept. revealed that measures have been taken to discover the
culprits.
(Vecernje Novosti, August 24, 1996)
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