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Serbia Today, 97-02-03
Serbia Today
CONTENTS
[01] FULL EQUALITY OF ALL ETHNIC MINORITIES
[02] TUDJMAN IS DISTORTING FACTS ON THE REFUGEES.
[03] FRY MUST TAKE A DIGNIFIE‹‰MACE IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
[04] MOSTAR DIVIDE FOR ELECTIONS AS WELL
[05] NEW CONTROVERSIES IN THE FEDERATION
[06] THE SECURITY COUNCIL ON EASTERN SLAVONIJA
[07] ARMED RESISTANCE OF THE TERRORISTS IN KOSOVO
[08] IMPORTS OF NATURAL GAS ACCORDING TO SCHEDULE
[01] FULL EQUALITY OF ALL ETHNIC MINORITIES
Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Marjanovic, accompanied by the Ms. Eva
Slavkovska - Minister of Science and Education of Slovakia, opened a
dormitory for ethnic Slovak students attending Jan Kolar high school in
Backi Petrovac, built with joint funding from Serbia, Slovakia and the
Backi Petrovac community. Within the framework of civil rights, enjoyed by
all people in Serbia, the right to an education in mother-tongue is one of
the key democratic right, said Mr. Marjanovic, reminding that in the
province of Vojvodina, in elementary and high schools classes are held in
five languages: Serbian, Hungarian, Slovak, Romanian, and Ruthenian. This
is clear proof of the full equality of ethnic minorities in Vojvodina and
Serbia both in education and in other spheres of life. The minorities
represent a bridge for cooperation with their mother-countries and nations.
The fact that Serbia and Yugoslavia have good and cordial relations with
these countries is primarily due to the role played by the ethic minorities
living here in Vojvodina and, of course, to the efforts that Serbia is
making for all its citizens to be equal-righted. The rights of the ethnic
minorities in our country are in accordance with the highest standards
defined by European conventions and United Nations documents , said Prime
Minister Marjanovic.
Serbia Today, 1997-02-03 ; Politika, 1997-02-02
[02] TUDJMAN IS DISTORTING FACTS ON THE REFUGEES.
Croatian President Franjo Tudjman categorically stated in an interview for
CNN that "not more than 150.000 Serbs" left Croatia. This statement
surprised even the CNN reporter, and he asked Mr. Tudjman to repeat that
not 400.000 Serbs fled from Croatia but "150.000 at the most". The UNHCR,
whose data are generally deemed impeccable, published on various occasions
the number and the age structure of the refugees in former Yugoslavia. At
the international conference held on December 16th last year in Geneva, UN
High Commissioner Sadako Ogata stated: Lamentably, to this moment, Croatia
has allowed the return of only several thousand Serbian refugees. " Ms.
Elisabeth Renn - Special UN Reporter on Human Rights in former Yugoslavia,
repeatedly warned, the last time only ten days ago, that Croatia is doing
everything to prevent the return of Serbian refugees. This attitude assumed
by Zagreb regarding the Serbian refugees has irritated even the United
States. The American representative at the Geneva Conference used an
unusually harsh wording to warn Croatia that the international community
will no longer tolerate such behavior.
Serbia Today, 1997-02-03 ; Politika, 1997-02-03
[03] FRY MUST TAKE A DIGNIFIE‹‰MACE IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
The First Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation - Mr. Igor
Ivanov - stated that the events in Yugoslavia are an internal affair that
should be taken care of by the Serbs within a Serbian-Serbian dialogue."
Russia has no pretension of becoming a mediator in the settlement of the
political crisis in Yugoslavia, said Mr. Ivanov in a statement for INTERFAX
adding that any form of mediation would represent involvement in internal
affairs. Asked about the western involvement in the Yugoslav crisis, Mr.
Ivanov responded that this should be commented by Yugoslav officials.
However, what we see is undoubtedly an attempt to make more acute the
situation in Yugoslavia and pressure on this country, concretely with
threats of new sanctions. Mr. Ivanov indicated the necessity to give
Yugoslavia more direct support in developing trade and with its admission
to the OSCE and the Council of Europe. FRY must now take a dignified
position in the international community since this will contribute to the
implementation of internal political reforms in the direction of
democratization - Mr. Ivanov remarked.
Serbia Today, 1997-02-03 ; Borba, 1997-02-02
[04] MOSTAR DIVIDE FOR ELECTIONS AS WELL
Moslem Radio Sarajevo reports that the Moslem side rejected the
announcement made by the head of the OSCE interim elections committee for
Bosnia and Herzegovina - Mr. Robert Frowick, that the local elections in
Mostar will be newly held in July. Deputy Mayor of Mostar - Saffet Orucevic
reminded Mr. Frowick that the elections in Mostar, held last June, were
integral part of the general local elections in B&H and therefore asked for
an explanation why has OSCE abandoned its previous decision. We must first
ensure the full implementation of the results from the last elections and
the right of the Moslems to return to Mostar, an only then can we think
about new elections , said Mr. Ismet Grbo, spokesman of the Moslem
Democratic Action Party (SDA). Unlike the Moslems, the Croatian side
insists that local elections be repeated in Mostar, because the June '96
elections organized by European Union were never recognized by the Croatian
side.
Serbia Today, 1997-02-03 ; Ekspres, 1997-02-02
[05] NEW CONTROVERSIES IN THE FEDERATION
The Assembly of the Livno Canton adopted unconstitutionally and
unilaterally a series of important laws and decisions, because the session
held in Livno was attended only by representatives of the Croatian
Democratic Community (HDZ) - Moslem media report. Deputies of the Moslem
Democratic Action Party boycotted this and all previous sessions of the
Livno Canton Assembly, including the constitutive meeting, because they are
constantly outvoted by their Croatian federal partners. Furthermore, the
Moslem deputies have rejected all documents distributed for the sessions,
because they were published in Croatian only and bore the seal of the
recently abolished Croatian Community of Herzeg-Bosnia. The Moslem Radio-
Sarajevo correspondent in Livno remarks that all international mediators
and envoys in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the Federation Government
and Parliament, close their eyes before the arbitrary rule of the Croatian
authorities in the Livno Canton.
Serbia Today, 1997-02-03 ; Vecernje Novosti, 1997-02-03
[06] THE SECURITY COUNCIL ON EASTERN SLAVONIJA
The UN Security Council adopted a Presidential Statement regarding the
enactment of the Basic Agreement on the Region of Eastern Slavonija,
Baranja and Western Srem. The document stresses the importance of holding
elections, which are the responsibility of the UN transitional
administration (UNTAES). The Security Council also stressed that the
elections will be possible only if the Croatian authorities fulfill all
their obligations, especially concerning the issuance of citizenship and
personal documents. The importance of introducing trust building measures
is also underscored by the document that invites the Croatian authorities
to maintain the demilitarized status of the region and to fully carry out
the Amnesty Law.
Serbia Today, 1997-02-03 ; Borba, 1997-02-01
[07] ARMED RESISTANCE OF THE TERRORISTS IN KOSOVO
Police patrols were faced with armed resistance during an investigation on
the terrorist activity of the Albanian extremists in Kosovo and Metohija
which led to the arrest of a leader of the so-called Liberation Army of
Kosovo"., which has assumed the responsibility for numerous terrorist
attacks. According to the press service of the Ministry of Interior, shots
were fired on police officers from a vehicle that had on board one Zahir
Pajaziti, resulting in the wounding of three police officers. When they
returned fire, Pajaziti, the driver of the suspect vehicle, one Hakif
Zejnulahu and a non identified person were killed. Pajaziti was one of the
leaders of the so-called Liberation Army of Kosovo and founded suspects
exist that he was directly involved in staging and executing a number of
terrorist attacks in the zone of Podujevo, Pristina, Kosovska Mitrovica and
other localities. In the past several days Serbian Police arrested a number
of members of illegal or terrorist organizations, seizing major quantities
of arms, explosive devices and part of the documentation that undoubtedly
reveals the preparations made for continuing such terrorist activities.
Serbia Today, 1997-02-03 ; Politika, 1997-02-02
[08] IMPORTS OF NATURAL GAS ACCORDING TO SCHEDULE
The import of Russian natural gas, as part of the barter arrangement
between our two countries, involving the exchange of energy sources and
consumer products, is proceeding according to schedule in spite of some
difficulties. said Mr. Toplica Nedeljkovic general manager of the joint
Yugoslav-Russian company Progresgas-trading seated in Belgrade. According
to Mr. Nedeljkovic, last year we planned to import 3,5 billion cu meters of
gas, and received 2,1 billion worth about 180 million dollars, which is
twice as much than in 1995. This year it should be expected that the import
of gas will increase up to 3,5 billion cu. meters, representing some 270-
300 million dollars, said Mr. Nedeljkovic. He also reminded that the trade
volume in both directions is about 500 million dollars annually. The plan
is that Yugoslav imports should comprise agricultural products,
construction work and services of our firms in a ratio of one third each.
Serbia Today, 1997-02-03 ; Tanjug, 1997-02-03
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