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Serbia Today, 97-02-28Serbia Today Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Yugoslavia <http://www.yugoslavia.com>Serbia TodayCONTENTS
[01] MARJANOVIC RECEIVES DELEGATION OF 'PROSVJETA' SOCIETY FROM ZAGREBPrime Minister of the Republic of Serbia Mirko Marjanovic received yesterday delegation of the Serbian cultural society "Prosvjeta" from Zagreb. Representatives of this society, headed by Dr. Slobodan Uzelac, informed Prime Minister Marjanovic of the work of this central cultural, educational and scientific organization of Serbs in the Republic of Croatia. The society gathers members of the Serbian people and their institutions in the activities of preservation and development of the Serbian national identity. In this sense, at present, activities have been intensified in obtaining the right to the Cyrillic alphabet in the supplementary schools. For purpose of strengthening of the cultural and overall links with the home country, activities are in the final stage of the opening of a cultural and business club of "Prosvjeta" in Belgrade. Prime Minister Marjanovic underlined that the Government of the Republic of Serbia and its ministries, especially those in charge of culture and education, will continue to promote cooperation for purpose of affirmation of the Serbian cultural values, pointing out that this is also a part of the overall efforts which are being made in the normalization of the relations between Serbia and Croatia.Serbia Today, 1997-02-28 ; Politika, 1997-02-28[02] SUPPLEMENT TO THE NEWS BRIEFS: WHAT IS WRITTEN IN THE 'STRATEGIC PAPER' OF THE EUROPEAN UNION FOR KOSMETEuropean Commission is presenting to the EU Council of Ministers a conditional "strategic paper", in which the political and economic targets of the European Union in certain states of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia are being elaborated into practical operative measures. As the priorities of this "strategic paper" are being defined global targets of the European Union towards the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. For the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, the targets of the European Union are establishment of a broader autonomy for Kosmet, for Croatia - a peaceful reintegration of Slavonia and the local Serbs, and for Bosnia-Herzegovina - functioning of the joint institutions."Strategic paper" is demanding of Serbia - Federal Republic of Yugoslavia a broader autonomy for Kosmet, which would embody the right for Kosmet to have its own constitution, but that through this act Kosmet shall not be an international legal subject. It is demanded for Kosmet to be a part of Serbia, but with its autonomy in the field of judiciary and administration, education, with its own government and parliament. As a political target for the European Union, it is set to have a proportional representation of Kosmet in the government bodies of Serbia. The proposed measures of the "strategic paper" objectively speaking are aimed to be a prejudice as to the political solution for Kosmet and are in advance determining the platform for negotiations between the Government of Serbia and the local Skypetars and their parties in Kosmet. There is an indirect search for a model between the state and autonomy, i.e. independence of Kosmet under the Skypetary (Albanian) jurisdiction and a loose federal principle between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Kosmet. The politicians and analysts of the European Union, who are asking for the solution for Kosmet, are determining the player's variants, and in this way are putting conditions before Serbia and its government, but are also determining options for the Skypetary side. It is well known that almost 90 percent of Skypetars is insisting on the independence of Kosmet. This independence in its essence is being achieved by the introduction of the constitution and of a special para-system of the state in Kosmet in respect to the constitutional framework of Serbia and of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Drafting of the "Kosovo constitution" is one step up to the special links with the European Union, Islamic states and most of all Albania, but also of NATO with Kosmet. Through the constitution and the full control of the so-called 'local' Kosovo government, both the state and the national strategy for survival of Kosovo within Serbia would be suppressed. The start is with the constitution and the legal solutions for a broader autonomy, and the end is with a legalized secession aided in 5 or 10 years by some international factors. In this way Kosmet is systematically being thorn-off from Serbia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. It is well known that the leading parties and leaders in Kosmet and among the Skypetars (Albanians) do not wish to be a part of Serbia but a part of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Constitution and a parallel government without state and administrative control is providing this effect. The questions related to the position of Kosmet can not be bided at the Council of Ministers of the European Union, and become the basis for diplomatic action of the European Union towards Kosmet and Serbia as a state, if the stands of the state politics of Serbia and of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia are not to be taken into consideration. Serbia is being coerced with the Kosovo question, and it is being forgotten that political solutions are to be found in the dialogue between the Serbian and the Skypetary side, with maximum respect for the sovereignty of Serbia over Kosmet, and of the constitutional and legal solutions now in force. "Strategic paper" determines a pragmatic policy of European Union towards Serbia and Kosmet, but from the point of view of its own stands and interests. It is disconcerting that Kosmet, as the Serbian state question, but also as a global international problem, is being favored in respect to the Croat solution for Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Srem. While speaking of the UNTAES region, what is said is "the peaceful reintegration of the region and of the local Serbs", and no attention is being paid in what way the policy of Croatia towards Serbs will be manifested and how many Serbs will at all remain in the Region. Serbian question in Croatia is being treated as a technical one, while the question of the Skypetary minority is being defined as an international one, with the solutions for a nation and not for minority. At one time there was a question Krajina - Kosovo, synchronization of the solution of the question of Serbs in Croatia and Skypetars in Kosmet. There is no more this formula, but Kosovo according to the model from the year 1974, and with additional guarantees. In Croatia Serbs at one time were a nation, through the constitution to become a minority, and are now practically reduced to the level of an ethnic community. Skypetars in Serbia remained equitable citizens with the status of minority, but with the same rights as all the other citizens of Serbia. It is quite obvious that the Kosovo issues can not be solved according to the O.S.C.E. and the UN standards if Serbia is to lose the state sovereignty over Kosmet. The proposed solutions in the 'strategic paper' are suggesting that. Serbia Today, 1997-02-28 ; Politika ekspres, 1997-02-28[03] STRANGE PROMOTION OF THE ALBANIAN MAYOR OF TETOVOOn the occasion of the last-week's victory of the rightist radical Party of Democratic Prosperity of Albanians in Macedonia (PDPA), in "the extended round of local elections for the mayor of the city of Tetovo", in this Macedonian city a mass rally was held from which the Skypetary (Albanian) leaders have sent an ultimatum to the government in Skopje. Leader of the PDPA Arben Dzeferi, while commenting on the actual Macedonian and Kosovo developments, said that Albanians will give a wholehearted supports "to their own in Kosovo". His deputy Menduh Taci warned the government in Skopje that it is its duty to bring into life the interests of Albanians in the joint state, especially in the case of recognition and use of the Albanian language as the official language in the governmental bodies, with an obligatory legalization of the Albanian state flag. Taci demanded an urgent recognition and financing of the "All Albanian Tetovo University", which the Macedonian authorities are not recognizing. Skypetary (Albanian) leaders threatened to start with civic protests, refusal to tay taxes and other dues, if their demands should not be accepted.Serbia Today, 1997-02-28 ; Borba, 1997-02-28[04] SCANDALOUS DISCLOSURE ABOUT ACTIONS OF THE GERMAN SECRET SERVICE IN BOSNIAGerman secret service BND from the year 1993 was using the neutral observer mission of the European Union for spying purposes and delivery of armament to the Muslim army in Bosnia, under the cover of the humanitarian aid. This was disclosed by the reporters of the TV channel VDR in Cologne, in the program "Monitor", broadcasted late last night on Channel One of the German state television. In at least five cases German spies were using the humanitarian convoys for Bihac to supply Muslims with arms and ammunition, and at least three BND operatives were infiltrated in the work of the European Union observer mission. German reporters are claiming that BND offices in Zagreb were the main organizers of the arms smuggling for Bosnia and Croatia. German members of the observer mission have prepared and carried out a large-scale project of delivery of a total of 30 aircraft type "MIG-21" from the arsenal of the former German Democratic Republic. The finds of the American and British intelligence services are confirming the statements made by the German reporters that the German secret service BND was directly violating the Security Council decisions. The world renown British military expert Paul Beaver confirmed in the "Monitor" program that "without the support of BND, a large part of illegal arms trafficking in former Yugoslavia would not have been at all possible". In the opinion of the reporters, this is "a very good reason indeed' for criminal prosecution of the top management of this institution at the international level.Serbia Today, 1997-02-28 ; Vecernje novosti, 1997-02-28[05] KLEIN RECEIVES THE LIST OF 'WAR CRIMINALS'Chief of the transitional UN administration in Eastern Slavonia Jacques Klein, received from the Croat Government a list of persons from that region, who are not covered by the provisions of the Law on Amnesty and who are charged with war crimes, writes yesterday's Split daily "Slobodna Dalmacija". Quoting reliable sources, this newspaper is writing that at the top of the list of 170 persons "who can not be forgiven even with this meager justice", is the president of the Srem and Baranja Region Goran Hadzic. On the list, according to the claims of this newspaper, are also the former and present lord mayor of Vukovar Slavko Dokmanovic, then Miroslav Keralica, an outstanding man among the Vukovar Serbs Grujo Amidzic and the military commander Mile Mrksic. It is still not known whether among the accused is also Dusan Loncar, who was for a long time the chief of the Krajina army, as well as 12 women against whom an investigation was conducted in Croatia for alleged war crimes. The newspaper states that for the Croat public as important as the names is also the fate of this list. Doubting that either General Klein or the Croat state "will bring criminals to justice", the newspaper concludes: "The only thing that can be expected is that the perpetrators will retire from the region of the Danube river basin before the Croat rule is established".Serbia Today, 1997-02-28 ; Politika, 1997-02-28[06] KRAJINA IS FORGOTTENThe latest announcement by the Croat Government, in which it is claimed that the Croat authorities have so far issued 108,455 Croat passports from the total of 114,784 applications by Serbs in the Srem and Baranja Region, was received yesterday in the Geneva Palace of Nations with an apparent reservation. Well informed circles are explaining this reservation most of all by the fact that the announcement is lacking one very important element - what is to happen with the refugees from Krajina? The second reason for the reserve is the statement made by the U.S. Ambassador in Zagreb Peter Galbright that Croatia could be banned from the Council of Europe and that Serbs in Krajina are still the targets of attacks, plunder and harassment. In the Palace of Nations there is a wide spread view that by accelerating the issuing of Croat passports in the Srem and Baranja Region, Zagreb is actually trying to avoid fulfilling of its obligation to create conditions for a mass return of Serbs to Krajina. This is the reason why the question is raised what will be like the elections in Croatia if more than 250,000 Serbian refugees from Krajina are not to take part in them. At the annual session of the UN Commission for Human Rights which will be held soon, this problem will be discussed also by Mrs. Elizabeth Ren, a special UN envoy, who had recently after her return from the latest mission, expressed fear that the international community "has forgotten Krajina". The way things are now, they are saying in Geneva that only the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia did not forget Serbs from Krajina, the country which with a constantly decreasing humanitarian aid from the world, is taking care of over 250,000 Serbian refugees.Serbia Today, 1997-02-28 ; Politika, 1997-02-28[07] ASSOCIATION OF SERBS SENDS A LETTER TO ELIZABETH RENAssociation of Serbs from the Republic of Serbian Krajina and the Republic of Croatia has sent a letter of thanks to the special UN envy for human rights Elizabeth Ren, for her objective assessment of the status of Serbs in Croatia and for informing the public of inadmissible, irresponsible and hypocritical behavior of the Croat authorities. "We are especially concerned over the development of the situation in Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Srem, because the situation there is dramatic and is threatening with a new exodus of the Serbian people, which you have seen for yourself on the spot and in a direct contact with the people. There is an atmosphere of general insecurity, of a growing anxiety and uncertainty, because the Croat authorities, even while the UNTAES is present, are continuing with threats and pressure on Serbs to leave this region", states the letter. The Association is also asking special UN envoy to request a consistent implementation of the Erdut Agreement and states that it is the last hour for both the Security Council and the European Union to force Croatia to implement the decisions on peaceful reintegration of the region and make possible an unobstructed return of Serbs to Croatia.Serbia Today, 1997-02-28 ; Politika, 1997-02-28[08] PITIFUL ROLE OF BADINTER COMMISSIONIn the Institute for Contemporary History of Serbia in Belgrade, before a large number of lawyers and historians, professor at the University of West Sydney (Australia) Petar Radan, delivered a lecture entitled "International Law and Breaking Down of Yugoslavia". He stated that the Badinter Arbitration Commission, established by the European Community in 1991, was intended in fact to give an excuse for the demands of the secessionist republics, i.e. to provide legal justification for the political decision of the European Community to recognize these republics as former states. The principle of self-determination (with the famous fourteen points by the American President Wilson of the year 1918) was often abused, says Radan, and Yugoslavia is the most obvious example of this. Yugoslavia was created after World War One on the basis of the self-determination of several nations, but the same principle "was used also as the basis for disintegration of the state". Although as late as the middle of the year 1991 European Community was supporting the continuity of the territorial integrity of Yugoslavia, European Community suddenly started its inclination towards the recognition of Slovenia and Croatia. The primary initiator of these shifts, comments the Australian professor, was Germany. Badinter Commission used as justification of its stands the principle which had its application in maintaining the former colonial frontiers in Latin America and Africa! "One is almost forced to conclude that if the American civil war had erupted some 130 years later, Badinter Commission in mid 1992 would have passed the decision that, according to the international law, the United States have ceased to exist as a state", says professor Radan. While speaking of Yugoslavia "the question here was not a de-colonization, but a disintegration of an internationally recognized state, under the influence of the secessionist movements, which have gained the support of powerful states and international organizations". The international community, while insisting on the inviolability of the republican frontiers, not only has failed to resolve the problem of former Yugoslavia, but has extended it. Every secessionist movement in the world now can claim the Badinter Commission and the practice of European Community in the case of Yugoslavia", concludes Professor Radan.Serbia Today, 1997-02-28 ; Politika, 1997-02-28[09] PROGRAM FOR CONSOLIDATION OF KOSOVO ECONOMYRepublican Minister Djura Lazic, in charge of the economy of Kosovo and Metohija, yesterday in Prishtina at the meeting with the directors of Kosmet (Kosovo and Metohija) companies, representatives of the Chamber of Economy of Kosovo and Metohija and the leaders of all the five counties of Kosmet, announced the adoption of the Program of economic and financial consolidation of the provincial economy. "In these areas very important industrial capacities are located which we should activate. The present state of facts is the consequence of several years of sanctions against our country, and this program means readiness of the Republican Government to approach seriously the solution of economic and financial consolidation of the economy of Kosovo and Metohija, which is having very rich resources. This will be an encouragement for people to remain in Kosmet", underlined Minister Lazic. The program of consolidation was drafted by the Republican Institute for Development and it contains both the macro and the micro analysis of operation of the local enterprises. The target of the Program is a permanent consolidation which is to start the production.Serbia Today, 1997-02-28 ; Vecernje novosti, 1997-02-28Serbia Today Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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