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Serbia Today, 96-12-11
CONTENTS
[01] SECURITY IN THE REGION
[02] TALKS ABOUT THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS
[03] CROATS ARE NOT GIVING UP
[04] NEW MANDATES
[05] EVERYONE BUT SERBS IN "SERBIAN MAFIA"
[06] SERBS ARE STILL BEING VICTIMIZED
[07] UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT WILL VISIT BELGRADE
[08] THE MANDATES OF THE NEW DEPUTIES HAVE BEEN VERIFIED
[01] SECURITY IN THE REGION
The Supreme Defense Council convened in Belgrade yesterday. The session was
chaired by Federal President Zoran Lilic. According to the statement
released by the Military Cabinet of the Presidents Office, the Supreme
Defense Council discussed the current military-political situation in the
region and various issues in its competence, and passed decrees on
promotions, appointments and retirement of officers of the Yugoslav Army.
Serbia Today, 1996-12-11 ; Borba, 1996-12-11
[02] TALKS ABOUT THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS
Mr. Michael Steiner - assistant of the High Representative of the
international community, met yesterday evening in Pale with Mr. Momcilo
Krajisnik - Republic of Srpska representative in the Bosnian Presidency,
and discussed with him issues regarding the appointment of the Ministerial
Council that the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina should pass at its
session due today. After the talks, Mr. Steiner expressed hope that today's
session of the Presidency will provide the names of the future Council
members. "The Constitution clearly indicates that the Presidency can
appoint a Co-Chairmen of the Ministerial Council who then nominates the
ministers", suggested Mr. Steiner.
The place where today's session of the Bosnian Presidency will be held is
still unknown. According to the customary rotation, the three members of
this body should convene in Lukavica - in the Serbian part of Sarajevo.
However, the Moslem side insists on the meeting taking place in the
Sarajevan Museum.
Serbia Today, 1996-12-11 ; Politika Ekspres, 1996-12-11
[03] CROATS ARE NOT GIVING UP
"The western (Croatian) part of Mostar is becoming ethnically pure, because
Croats are expelling both Moslems and Serbs", stated UNHCR spokeswoman
Christian Bertiom at a press conference held yesterday in Geneva. Mme
Bertiom added that the "UN High Commissioner for Refugees is greatly
alarmed by the events in Mostar." According to the latest UNHCR reports,
Croatian authorities in this town in southeastern Bosnia are doing
everything to chase out the remaining Serbs and Moslems and have no
hesitations in using the worst forms of violence to achieve the goal.
Serbia Today, 1996-12-11 ; Politika Ekspres, 1996-12-11
[04] NEW MANDATES
At a press conference held yesterday in Banjaluka the Western Sector IPTF
spokesperson -Allun Roberts stated that the UN International Police in
Bosnia and Herzegovina (IPTF) will continue its mission in both Bosnian
entities next year. He stressed that these forces, will be given broader
authorizations and become involved in the protection of human rights and
some sort of "supervision" over local police forces.
Serbia Today, 1996-12-11 ; Politika Ekspres, 1996-12-11
[05] EVERYONE BUT SERBS IN "SERBIAN MAFIA"
There are no Serbs in the "dangerous Serbian gang" Austrian newspapers have
been writing about in the past several weeks. The "Neue Kronen Zeitung" -
one of the most highly circulated dailies in Austria, published a two page
article entitled "Blow to the Serbian Mafia", but actually denied its
previous articles and the statements of other Austrian newspapers that
reported about thefts of diamonds and cash allegedly committed by Serbs.
The second paragraph of the article published by "Neue Kronen Zeitung"
specifies that the gang was actually headed by a Croat and an Austrian from
Graz (still sought by the Police), and that the other members were a
Bosnian Moslem, another Croat, an Austrian from the province of Gradiste.
The reporter illustrates in detail the felonies - thefts, creation of phony
companies, swindles - but provides no explanation for the quite obvious
contrast between title and contents of his article. However, the "Neue
Kronen Zeitung" editors made another serious omission. They did not publish
the fact that the alleged "godfather" i.e., the head of the Vienna branch
of the "Serbian Mafia", probably the only Serb arrested for suspected
involvement in the robberies, has been released as innocent after few days
of interrogations: Branislav V. is a restaurant owner in Vienna. The "Neue
Kronen Zeitung" has a reputation of presenting "radical" articles to its
readers, but also of sensationalism. In the past several years, during the
war in former Yugoslavia, this newspaper insisted on attacks and unfounded
slander of Serbs both in Serbia and in Bosnia. The articles published by
this daily and by other Austrian tabloids, indicate that a "reflex"
acquired during the international sanctions is hard to get over - all bad
things coming from the Balkans are automatically ascribed to the Serbs.
Serbia Today, 1996-12-11 ; Politika Ekspres, 1996-12-11
[06] SERBS ARE STILL BEING VICTIMIZED
In the Krayina region in Croatia, especially in the zone of Knin, robberies
and harassment of the local Serbian Serbs continue - states the latest UN
Secretary General's report on the state of human rights in Croatia. The
lack of determination of the Croatian authorities to investigate and solve
cases of breach of human rights that occurred during "Operation Storm"
reduces the chances of the Croatian government gaining trust among the
local Serbs, says the document Dr. Ghali submitted to the UN Security
Council and distributed to the reporters yesterday. The UN Secretary
General also remarks that "the question can justly be raised whether the
Croatian Serbs in this region will be able to return to normal life in the
near future." "Since my last report little progress has been observed in
the return of the Serbian refugees to Croatia." states Dr. Ghali and adds
that "after the heritage of five years of hostilities, Croatian authorities
and people simply do not want the Croatian Serbs to return, and as far as
those that have not fled are concerned - they do not want them to stay.
" Giving arguments for his evaluation about "poor prospects for the
future" the UN Secretary General stresses that Zagreb refuses to
"effectively warrant the right of property", and that after the Law on
Amnesty was adopted, numerous individuals were "released and then arrested
immediately after". This kind of implementation of the law "deprives such
legislative of its the potential to build-up trust and reconciliation in
Croatia" - said the UN Secretary General.
Serbia Today, 1996-12-11 ; Politika, 1996-12-11
[07] UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT WILL VISIT BELGRADE
Yugoslav President Zoran Lilic received yesterday the Defense Minister of
Ukraine - Colonel General Olexander Kuzmak, who is on an official visit to
our country. During the talks, it has been observed that the visit
represents a major contribution not only to the enhancement of the
cooperation between the armies of the two countries, but also promotes the
strengthening of the traditional friendship between the two nations.
Serbia Today, 1996-12-11 ; Politika, 1996-12-11
[08] THE MANDATES OF THE NEW DEPUTIES HAVE BEEN VERIFIED
At the first constitutive session of the third call of the Federal
Parliament Chamber of Citizens held yesterday, the mandates of the newly
elected deputies have been verified. Mr. Milomir Minic from the joint list
"Socialists- United Left-New Democracy" (SPS-JUL-ND ) has been elected
speaker of this Parliament Body, while Mr. Milutin Ojdanic of the
Democratic Socialist Party of Montenegro has been elected his deputy. The
Parliament session was not attended by the deputies of the "Zajedno"
(Together) coalition and their mandates could not be confirmed, because the
Federal Electoral Committee did not receive the names of the candidates of
this political alliance that secured 22 parliament seats at the November
3rd elections. The Parliament chamber confirmed 116 mandates: 64 for the
SPS-JUL-ND list, 20 for the Montenegrin Democratic Socialist Party, 16 for
the Serbian Radical Party, 8 for the Popular party (Montenegro), 3 for the
League of Vojvodina Hungarians, 2 for the "Vojvodina" Coalition, 1 for the
List for Sandzak, 1 for SDP of Montenegro and 1 for Democratic Action Party
(SDA) of Montenegro.
Serbia Today, 1996-12-11 ; Politika, 1996-12-11
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