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Serbia Today, 97-02-13
Serbia Today
CONTENTS
[01] MAIN ISSUES: STATUS OF THE SERBS AND THE RETURN OF SERBIAN REFUGEES
[02] PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC SETTLED THE CONTROVERSIES RELYING ON STATE
INSTITUTIONS
[03] MOSLEMS THREATEN WAR
[04] THE VILLAGE OF DUGI DIO NOW ALSO UNDER RS CONTROL
[05] INTERNATIONAL POLICE STRENGTHENS THE CONTROL IN MOSTAR
[06] TESLA AWARDS HAVE BEEN PRESENTED
[07] THE SPECIAL LAW HAS COME INTO EFFECT
[08] PROMOTION OF THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE SERBIAN NATION
[01] MAIN ISSUES: STATUS OF THE SERBS AND THE RETURN OF SERBIAN REFUGEES
Ms. Elizabeth Renn - Special UN reporter on human rights in former
Yugoslavia, starts her new mission in Croatia today. As it has been said in
Geneva, the first part of this tour will be dedicated to the situation in
Krajina. All her previous reports on Krayina, that have been submitted to
the UN Security Council and General Assembly on various occasions, were
quite critical of the policy pursued by official Zagreb. In spite of that,
nothing has changed in the Croatian policy regarding the Serbs, Ms. Renn
repeatedly affirmed. The status of the Serbs that stayed in Krayina has not
been significantly improved, nor did Croatian authorities allow a more
massive return of Serbian refugees. Ms. Renn will direct the second part of
her mission to Eastern Slavonija, concentrating in particular on the
preparations for the elections. This indicates that the Human Rights Center
in Geneva is quite concerned having obviously reached the conclusion that
the necessary preconditions for elections still have not been created -
scheduled to take place on March 15th this year.
Serbia Today, 1997-02-13 ; Vecernje Novosti, 1997-02-13
[02] PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC SETTLED THE CONTROVERSIES RELYING ON STATE
INSTITUTIONS
British Ass. Foreign Secretary - Mr. Nicholas Bonsore, stated that London
hails the decision of the Serbian Parliament, stressing that it represents
the first step towards democratization. The first media reactions in London
indicate that the Special Law has been passed following the initiative by
President Milosevic, and that it proves that the current crisis is being
settled through existing state institutions.
Mr. Yves Doutrieaux - official Spokesman of the French Government also
welcomed the decision making "France very pleased", and added that "now the
road for an authentic dialogue between the government and the opposition in
Serbia has been cleared". The media underscore that the Special Law
recognizes controversial county elections results in compliance with the
OSCE Mission findings, just as President Milosevic suggested and as the
international community insisted.
The first reactions in Germany indicate that this move might finish the
crisis lasting several months. German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel
remarked that the passing of the law "represents a positive step in
respecting the will of the voters in Serbia."
In reporting about the passing of the law, Associated Press and American
radio and TV stations, observe that new demands are being made that might
prolong the crisis. The New York Times warns that such strategy of the
Serbian opposition might extend the crisis, whilst The Washington Post
indicates that the assertions made by Serbian Opposition leaders about
election victories in the municipalities of Novi Beograd and Mladenovac are
in contrast with the OSCE report. The same newspaper newly points out the
diversity of political orientations of Serbian opposition leaders, and in
an analysis of forces on the Serbian political scene published yesterday,
stresses that "president Milosevic is still at an advantage".
The Russian Foreign Ministry welcomed yesterday the decision of the Serbian
Parliament to pass the special law on election results and observed that
this creates "the legal grounds for getting over a long confrontation
between the authorities and the opposition". The press statement made by
the Russian ministry underscores that ever since the crisis started, Russia
advocated dialogue and took active part in the well-intentioned
international efforts to "find a political solution." The same communiqu
indicates that all additional demands should be abandoned, public
demonstrations stopped and social tensions reduced. Hailing the vote of the
Serbian Parliament, Russian media warn that the beginning of dialogue in
Serbia, generally attended after the adoption of the law, might be
jeopardized by the incoherence of the opposition. Reporters indicate that
opposition leaders are constantly setting new conditions, giving the
impression that they actually do not want to overcome the crisis.
Serbia Today, 1997-02-13 ; Tanjug, 1997-02-13
[03] MOSLEMS THREATEN WAR
Only a few days are left to the deadline by which the arbitration committee
headed by Mr. Robert Owen has to formulate a final decision on the fate of
the Bosnian town of Brcko. In spite of the fact that according to the
Dayton Document, Brcko is not a controversial issue but merely an inter-
entity border-point between the Republic of Srpska and the Federation of
Bosnia and Herzegovina, major tension and concern prevails in this part of
RS territory. An unfavorable ruling against the interests of RS would
merely constitute another confirmation of the partiality of the
international community. Republic of Srpska Defense Minister - Mr. Milan
Ninkovic, said yesterday that the status of Brcko should not be questioned
because it is within RS territory. However, should this problem be settled
in a way that goes against the Dayton Agreement, i.e. "if the Dayton
Agreement were altered, then its entire implementation would be
jeopardized" - Mr. Ninkovic remarked. The concern of the Bosnian Serbs is
corroborated by the fact that in the past several days Moslem media have
been inviting their people to forcibly enter Brcko. Even dates have been
mentioned in these broadcasts - 13th and 15th February. Two days ago, a
meeting of Moslem refugees from Brcko was organized in Sarajevo ending with
a call to everyone to get ready for the return to Brcko. "Unless Brcko
becomes ours and is supervised by a Bosnian, the international community
will have to face us - warned Munib Jusufovic - superintendent of the
"municipality of Rahic-Brcko". He also added: "Either Brcko goes to us or
the Dayton Agreement is off - and you know very well what that means - we
go back, to 1992, to war!" Mr. Andrija Bjelosevic - Head of the Public
Security Center in Brcko, stated that the Serbian side has coinciding
information that Moslems might try to forcibly enter Brcko in the next few
days.
Serbia Today, 1997-02-13 ; Ekspres, 1997-02-13
[04] THE VILLAGE OF DUGI DIO NOW ALSO UNDER RS CONTROL
Police patrols from the Zvornik Public Security Center entered yesterday
the village of Dugi Dio, thus placing under the control of the Republic of
Srpska the third controversial village (after Mahale and Jusici), "In
cooperation with the International Police patrols have been deployed in the
village. No problems occurred, and we expect none in the future", - said
the Center Superintendent - Mr. Dragomir Vasic adding that the obligations
of all the people of the Republic of Srpska have to be shared by the
Moslems living in the village of Dugi Dio. After full authority is
established over all three villages that were occupied by force by Moslems
several months ago, we will know - Mr. Vasic said - "...whether the Moslems
will keep faith to the agreements they signed before international
mediators, or all this is just a farce, a toying with Republic of Srpska
territory."
Serbia Today, 1997-02-13 ; Borba, 1997-02-13
[05] INTERNATIONAL POLICE STRENGTHENS THE CONTROL IN MOSTAR
According to the reports ofd the International Police deployed in Mostar,
in the western (Croatian) part of the divided town 27 cases of forcible
eviction of Moslems have been registered until now. Sarajevan media add
that this figures have been confirmed, but that 50 complaints for eviction
were actually filed. The Police in the Croatian part of the town reported
that in the past 24 hours - on the state highway Ploce-Sarajevo, numerous
Croatian drivers have been molested in the locality of Potoci, controlled
by Moslem forces. The situation in Mostar is still very tense. Telephone
communications between the Moslem and Croatian quarters have been
interrupted, and the International Police has strengthened the control -
especially along the disengagement line dividing the town. Yesterday,
Sarajevan newspapers published several commentaries strongly accusing the
"Croatian Mafia" and Croatian political leaders in western Mostar for the
tragic events that took place in the past several days. Moslem media even
affirm that the head of Croatian Police - Marko Radic directed the attacks
on Moslems - and underscore this incident is sheer political terrorism
acting as a clockwork placed at the foundations of the Federation.
Serbia Today, 1997-02-13 ; Borba, 1997-02-13
[06] TESLA AWARDS HAVE BEEN PRESENTED
The Tesla Awards - the highest Yugoslav prizes for creativity in natural
and technical sciences, have been presented yesterday at the Serbian
Academy of Arts and Sciences for achievements in 1996. The ceremony also
marked the 140th anniversary of Nikola Tesla's birth. The "Nikola Tesla
Foundation" has been presenting these prestigious awards for the past 12
years, aimed at inciting young generations of scientists to even higher
achievements. This year the Tesla Award has been presented to Dr. Sanja
Vranes for her works on computer science published by the leading
international specialized magazines, to Mr. Bosko Bogetic BSEE for his work
on the "Perucica" hydroelectric power station, and to Prof. Dr. Djurdje
Perisic for his invention called "libromax". The Tesla Award for the
implementation of the Foundation objectives has been presented this year to
the Belgrade Institute for Textbooks and Teaching Aids, for its
illuminating role in promoting the intellectual unity of the Serbian people
in the country and abroad. Grants for creativity have been assigned to
university students Vladimir Tosic, Natasa Grujicic, Gordana Popovic and to
Marko Bacic who is still in high school.
Serbia Today, 1997-02-13 ; Politika, 1997-02-13
[07] THE SPECIAL LAW HAS COME INTO EFFECT
The Special Law proclaiming final the temporary local elections results
listed in the OSCE Mission report, has become effective, since President
Slobodan Milosevic signed the relative decree after the Serbian Parliament
passed the Law. This Law proclaims final the temporary results of the
November 17th elections in the municipalities of Pirot, Kraljevo, Uzice,
Smederevska Palanka, Vrsac, Sokobanja, Pancevo, Jagodina, Zrenjanin, Lapovo,
Sabac, Stari Grad, Vracar, Savski Venac, Zvezdara, Rakovica, Palilula,
Cukarica, Vozdovac, and the mandates for city councilors in Kragujevac, Nis
and Belgrade. The individual appointment of deputies will be managed by the
county, i.e. municipal, elections committees not later than three days
after the enactment of the Law. Should any elections committee fail to make
the list of elected deputies, this will be done by the Ministry of Justice
within the next 48 hours. Law suits against the decisions adopted by the
county and municipal elections committees and/or the Ministry of Justice
can not be initiated. Speaking about the law at the Serbian Parliament
session, Minister of Justice Arandjel Markicevic explained that once the
Law is passed, all existing law suits will be terminated, and the elections
results will be determined according to documents kept by bodies in charge
of carrying out the elections, and not based on the OSCE Mission report.
Serbia Today, 1997-02-13 ; Politika, 1997-02-13
[08] PROMOTION OF THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE SERBIAN NATION
The bibliophile edition of the prestigious Encyclopedia of the Serbian
Nation in nine volumes with some 4.500 pages, prepared by the Belgrade
publisher "DBR", has been presented to the public yesterday. Luxuriously
bound, with countless supplements, maps, graphs and tables - the
Encyclopedia lists all important events and phenomena in the history of the
Serbian nation. The bibliophile edition will be printed in 1.499 copies, on
high-quality opaque paper, bound in leather with gold title-lettering and
decorations. Along with this one, another -less sophisticated edition will
be published. The Encyclopedia Editor-in-Chief Mr. Zoran Gluscevic,
stressed that this capital work establishes with argumentation, clarity and
documented facts the important position of the Serbian Nation in the
civilized world, providing an answer to the questions about the origin, the
origin, the potentials, the achievements and the future of the Serbian
nation.
Serbia Today, 1997-02-13 ; Politika, 1997-02-13
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