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Serbia Today, 97-02-14
Serbia Today
CONTENTS
[01] SERBIA ENTERS THE REFORM YEAR
[02] WHY IS KLEIN IN A RUSH?
[03] POISONOUS TRUCKLOADS
[04] PROTESTS AGAINST THE AWARD TO IZETBEGOVIC
[05] THE MOSLEM-CROATIAN FEDERATION PROCESS - A FARCE
[06] BRCKO STAYS IN THE REPUBLIC OF SRPSKA FOR A YEAR?
[07] "LESSONS" IN AMERICAN DEMOCRACY
[08] EXPORT OF FARMING SEEDS
[09] THE REAL TRUTH ABOUT SERBIA SHOULD BE PRESENTED TO THE WORLD
[10] POSSIBILITY OF A CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOGUE
[01] SERBIA ENTERS THE REFORM YEAR
During the talks with the newly appointed Serbian Cabinet members,
President Slobodan Milosevic stressed that this year marks the beginning of
reforms in Serbia, not only in the sphere of economy, but of life in
general - leading to a higher standard of living, personal safety of the
citizens, and closer economic, political and cultural ties between our
country and the international community. To carry out this reform, we need
stability - President Milosevic said, specifying that by stability he
intends the political consent for reforms and the political and moral
responsibility in the reform of all society subjects. "I expect that the
renewed government will help create the necessary economic environment
allowing the expansion of production and fully using the advantages of our
country. Further more, state institutions and the society as a whole must
stand up with determination against crime, corruption and all other forms
of illegal actions. The Government has particular responsibility in
affirming the legal order, i.e. in protecting the legality", underscored
President Milosevic during his meeting with the newly appointed Members of
Government of Serbia.
Serbia Today, 1997-02-14 ; Politika, 1997-02-14
[02] WHY IS KLEIN IN A RUSH?
The officials in the Srem-Baranja Region were surprised by the speedy
decision of the UN Administrator Jacques Klein to hold the elections on
April 13th - the same day when Croatian parliamentary elections are
scheduled. The Serbs hoped that Gen. Klein would study in detail the
overall political situation in the Region and meet some of their basic
requirements, and then decide on the date of the elections. Actually, none
of the Serbian demands has been fulfilled. It seems that general Klein
believes that by postponing the elections by a month, the Serbs will now
have time to apply for a Croatian citizenship certificate, register the
voters and political parties, prepare and hold the elections. Serbian
Region officials are convinced that before the elections all preconditions
should be fulfilled. For the past nine days, the Serbs have held peaceful
protests, asking guarantees for their survival and residence in the Region.
They still believe that general Klein should re-examine his decision
regarding the date of the elections.
Serbia Today, 1997-02-14 ; Ekspres, 1997-02-14
[03] POISONOUS TRUCKLOADS
During the war in former Yugoslavia and immediately afterwards, numerous
humanitarian organizations from Europe and other parts of the world sent
large quantities of medicines, thus deserving immeasurable gratitude of the
Serbian people. Lamentably, these humanitarian shipments often contained -
and still do - drugs with obsolete expiration date, making them poisonous.
"Dozens of truckloads of such medicines are still there in the field. We
now realize that this was nothing by European waste - exported to the
Republic of Srpska", said in Banjaluka Dr. Milorad Kuzmanovic - Deputy
Minister of Health of the Republic of Srpska. "The medical institutions in
RS just don't know what to do with this waste.. We have contacted
humanitarian organizations and asked them - if they can't get us an
incinerating chamber - to engage SFOR for the transport of these supplies
so that they can be burned in the incinerator that they have bought for the
Moslem-Croatian Federation." - said Dr. Kuzmanovic. The Serbian side
insisted upon this problem even during the war, but such medicines kept
coming mixed with humanitarian aid, so that founded suspicion exists that
the true motivation of the donations was not providing aid, but rather
getting rid of poisonous drugs.
Serbia Today, 1997-02-14 ; Ekspres, 1997-02-14
[04] PROTESTS AGAINST THE AWARD TO IZETBEGOVIC
National Liberation War veterans living in Belgrade are embittered by the
fact that the American Center for Democracy presented this years award to
Alija Izetbegovic - reads a communique issued yesterday by the Municipal
board of the Veterans Association. Since his youth Izetbegovic endorsed and
pursued militant Islamism, which denies the right of existence of all other
nations and ethnic groups. During World War II he was a member of the pro-
fascist organization "Mladi muslimani" (Young Moslems), which was an
Islamist version of "Hitler Jugend" used to recruit troops for the ill-
famed "Handzar" (Knife) Division. Even if the people that gave the Award
ignored this, they were certainly aware of his role in the break-up of
former Yugoslavia and in organizing ethnic cleansing and torture of Serbs
in Fundamentalists concentration camps and jails during the recent war in
Bosnia - states the letter of protest of the Veterans Association.
Serbia Today, 1997-02-14 ; Borba, 1997-02-14
[05] THE MOSLEM-CROATIAN FEDERATION PROCESS - A FARCE
Croatian and Moslem media constantly report about new incidents between
federal partners in Mostar and the surrounding area, accusing the other
side of causing them. Croatian media affirm that in the Jablanica area,
harassment, threats and attempted physical attacks have been experienced
even by the Federation Foreign Minister Jadranko Prlic and Deputy Co-
Chairman of the Ministerial Council Neven Tomic. In the past two days,
Moslems stopped numerous Croats, beating them up and demolishing their cars
on Sarajevo-Mostar state road and now no cars bearing Herzeg-Bosnia or
Republic of Croatia license plates can bee seen along this road. The Mayor
of Moslem Mostar - Safet Orucevic stated yesterday that there will be no
peace in the town until joint police forces are formed and all refugees are
allowed to return home. "I will no longer take part in a farce called
federal process", said Orucevic.
Serbia Today, 1997-02-14 ; Ekspres, 1997-02-14
[06] BRCKO STAYS IN THE REPUBLIC OF SRPSKA FOR A YEAR?
Yesterday, well informed diplomatic sources in Geneva revealed that the
Arbitration Committee for Brcko completed its work and has decided that
this Bosnian town should remain within the Republic of Srpska, for another
year, when the final decision will be made. The same sources affirm that
Mr. Robert Owens - Chairman of the Arbitration Committee, will make this
decision official today. According to unofficial information, the
authorities in the Republic of Srpska will have to allow the return of all
Moslem and Croatian refugees to Brcko. The decision on Brcko was greatly
determined by the positive stand of the RS authorities concerning the
settlement of disengagement zones by Moslem and Croatian refugees,
especially in the zone of Zvornik - in the villages of Mahale, Jusici and
Dugi Dio. Diplomatic circles in Geneva also indicate that great importance
was given to the previous statement of all sides in Bosnia and Herzegovina -
namely the Moslem-Croatian Federation and the Republic of Srpska - that
they are willing to accept the decision of the Arbitration Committee,
whatever it might be. However, the President of the three-member Presidency
of Bosnia and Herzegovina - Mr. Alija Izetbegovic threatened yesterday that
he will resign should international arbitration assign Brcko to the Serbs, -
Reuters reports quoting the private news agency BH.
Serbia Today, 1997-02-14 ; Vecernje Novosti, 1997-02-14
[07] "LESSONS" IN AMERICAN DEMOCRACY
The US is determined to "significantly increase the support to newspapers,
radio stations and unions opposing Slobodan Milosevic", said a high US
official, quoted by The New York Times. Although the article indicates that
the funds allocated this year will be rather modest - about two million
dollars - it is five times greater than the sum used for these purposes
last year (400.000 dollars). A lesser part of the money will be allocated
without any delay through the US Embassy in Belgrade in a form of "small
donations ranging from five to ten thousand dollars". The greater part of
the finds will be distributed to American foundations, that will - as the
same US official explained - "organize training for journalists, union
leaders, and political parties". Hailing this decision of the Clinton
Administration, some of the members of these foundations lamented the delay
in these actions, because last year American aid to "anti-Milosevic media
and unions" was merely 400.000 dollars. Still, even though last year the
American Embassy made significant efforts to identify "a worthy government-
independent recipient", Serbian organizations have displayed "reserves in
applying for or accepting donations from the Americans", states the same
source. However, after the latest demonstrations in Belgrade, "Serbian
organizations are coming forth more willingly", but the leaders of the
foundations are now concerned by the possibility that their representatives
might be denied entrance visas, and that the Belgrade authorities might
"prevent (chosen) Serbs to go to US for training and studies". In an
article confirming that Serbian opposition is financed directly by foreign
organizations The New York Times reminds in conclusion that Republican
Senator Richard Lugar is one of the greatest advocates of support to so-
called independent media. Part of the funds already allocated by the US
Administration will be sent to Serbia through various groups and
foundations allegedly representing formal and informal organizations of
supporters of democracy, human rights and freedom of the press whilst they
are actually bodies financing and managing various activities intended to
de-stabilize Serbia.
Serbia Today, 1997-02-14 ; Politika, 1997-02-14
[08] EXPORT OF FARMING SEEDS
At the meeting of the Serbian Government Coordinating Team for Agricultural
Seeds, which discussed the implementation of the economic policy objectives
and the preparations for agricultural activities this spring, it has been
stressed that sufficient quantities of high quality seeds have been
secured. In fact, significant quantities can be exported. This year's first
sales abroad have already been contracted, and it is expected that
negotiations with foreign partners sales of some 20 million dollars worth
of seeds will be concluded quite soon. In view of the natural comparative
advantages, skilled personnel and scientific achievements in this field,
the production of farming seeds is production sector with high potentials.
In view of the significant development potentials, the Coordinating Team
assumed the stand that a consortium of seed producers should be formed to
ensure their organized presence at the world market.
Serbia Today, 1997-02-14 ; Borba, 1997-02-14
[09] THE REAL TRUTH ABOUT SERBIA SHOULD BE PRESENTED TO THE WORLD
One of the most important tasks of the Serbian Ministry of Information will
be to present the real truth about our republic to the world - said
yesterday in an interview for Radio Belgrade the newly appointed Minister
of Information - Ms. Radmila Milentijevic. She also underscored that this
will gradually reveal to the world the facts about the biggest victim of
the disintegration of former Yugoslavia. Stressing the importance of
relations between Serbia and the United States, Ms. Milentijevic observed
that "...in principle, America is not against the Serbian people and
against Serbia", and that "... we must convince America that Serbia and the
Serbian people represent its best support in the Balkans".
Serbia Today, 1997-02-14 ; Politika, 1997-02-14
[10] POSSIBILITY OF A CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOGUE
Italy reacted with "particular pleasure" to the news of the adoption of the
Special Law by the Serbian Parliament , state news agencies quoting the
communiqu issued by the Foreign Ministry in Rome. Hope has also been
expressed that after the enactment of the Law, "a constructive dialogue
will be follow between the Government and Opposition in order to
democratize the political system in Serbia."
"Zhenmin Zhibao" the leading Chinese daily reported that the Serbian
Parliament confirmed the results of part of local elections held in
November, thus allowing the conclusion of the crisis in the country. The
same paper also indicates that following an initiative made by President
Slobodan Milosevic, the Government submitted to the Parliament a motion to
proclaim final the controversial elections results. The Spokesman of the
Chinese Foreign Ministry expressed hope that President Milosevic's
initiative will be useful in relieving the tension in the country.
Serbia Today, 1997-02-14 ; Borba, 1997-02-14
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