Serbia Today, 97-05-08

Serbia Today Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: Yugoslavia <http://www.yugoslavia.com>

Serbia Today

CONTENTS

[01] ECONOMIC POLICY OBJECTIVES FULLY REALIZED

[02] THE TRUST OF FOREIGN PARTNERS IS BACK

[03] BULLETIN SUPPLEMENT: IMPROVED INTERNATIONAL STANDING AND REPUTATION FOR YUGOSLAVIA

[04] US PREPARED TO COLLABORATE WITH SERBIA AND FR YUGOSLAVIA

[05] THE DEMANDS OF THE SERBS FROM THE SLAVONIA-BARANJA REGION ACCEPTED

[06] MOSLEM AGGRESSION ON THE REPUBLIC OF SRPSKA EXPECTED

[07] GRATITUDE TO THE CYPRIOTE PEOPLE AND COMPANIES

[08] IMPORTANT CORRIDORS FOR EUROPE

[01] ECONOMIC POLICY OBJECTIVES FULLY REALIZED

Politika, 1997-05-08

At its session held yesterday, the Serbian Government discussed the "Report on the Implementation of the Economic Revitalization Program". In view of indications of zero price growth, stable dinar rate and balanced budget expenditures, the Government concluded that in the first four months this year, the economic policy goals have been fully implemented. During this period a growth of both industrial production and exports has been registered, as well as a reduction of the trade deficit. Experts stress the increased trade volume and reduction of stocks as signs that companies are now emptying their warehouses and are prepared to reduce prices in order to secure circulating capital. The Government believes that the measures that have already been launched to alleviate the fiscal pressure on the companies, and increase the production in industry and agriculture, accompanied by other economic measures, can justify expectations that the planned national product growth rate will be achieved. The Government also discussed and approved the "Report on the Implementation of the Spring Sowing and Agricultural Products Payments". According to data provided by expert bodies and agricultural inspectors, about 71% of the planned areas have been sown.

[02] THE TRUST OF FOREIGN PARTNERS IS BACK

Vecernje Novosti, 1997-05-08

At a press conference held yesterday in Pristina after the signing of a business contract worth 500 million dollars with a Greek partner, the General Manager of the "Trepca Co." - Mr. Novak Bjelic stated that the deal with "Mitilineos" will boost the production of this Kosovo and Metohija company for a long period of time, ensure the full use of production capacities and open many new jobs. The contract will allow "Trepca" to fully use its modern metaluurgy installations, remove production bottlenecks, and improve the production of all Yugoslav lead and zinc mines operating within the "Trepca" system. Mr. Bjelic also invited all companies from Kosovo and Metohija to cooperate with "Trepca", stressing that the contract with the Greek partner opens the EU market to all Yugoslav firms, and reinstate the trust of foreign partners regarding the stability of our economy. Mr. Bjelic said that the present production volume in "Trepca" is worth over 600.000 dollars.

[03] BULLETIN SUPPLEMENT: IMPROVED INTERNATIONAL STANDING AND REPUTATION FOR YUGOSLAVIA

Tanjug, 1997-05-08

The celebrations held on the occasion of April 27th - FR Yugoslavia Constitution Day, have shown that the international standing of FRY, after years of sanctions and isolation, has now become highly stable. Yugoslav diplomatic throughout the world have organized receptions and various manifestations and the presence of host country officials, cultural personalities and public figures, members of the diplomatic corps, media representatives and Yugoslav citizens living and working there clearly indicate a positive change compared to the sanctions period. This is also corroborated by the fact that the attendance was visibly greater than in the past years. The main guests frequently included prime ministers or their deputies, parliament speakers, foreign ministers or heads of other ministries, mayors etc.

Obviously April 27th celebrations have assumed the characteristics of Yugoslav national day and our foreign partners treat it as such. The receptions have shown that in spite of the enormous difficulties faced by our country in the past years, it is now highly respected just like its constructive and peaceful policy which played a decisive role in the stabilization of the events in former Yugoslavia and in the Balkan area. The broad presence of local high officials clearly illustrates the interest of these countries to enhance comprehensive bilateral relations and cooperation with FRY. In some countries, officials have delivered congratulation speeches indicating satisfaction for the stabilization of the situation in former Yugoslavia and acknowledging the peace policy pursued by our country and its contribution to the creation of peace. The interest and readiness of numerous countries to endorse full normalization of the status of FRY in the UN and other international organizations has been underscored accordingly. The importance of these manifestations is expanded by the presence of businessmen, bankers and financial officials of the host countries, confirming the intense foreign interest to develop various forms of economic-financial cooperation with Yugoslav partners.

The Constitution Day celebrations have also been media coverage. Numerous suitable articles about our country have been published, and a number of Yugoslav high diplomats were given the opportunity to address the local public - either in TV or newspaper interviews - revealing an major readiness of international media to present official and authentic evaluations of the events concerning our country.

Yugoslav citizens living and working abroad have also shown great interest for the celebration of Constitution Day. Their massive attendance and readiness to help celebrate the holiday in various ways, unequivocally showed their devotion to the mother country and the determination to maintain close ties with it.

[04] US PREPARED TO COLLABORATE WITH SERBIA AND FR YUGOSLAVIA

Politika, 1997-05-08

Serbian Minister of Information - Ms. Radmila Milentijevic, received the US Charge d'Affaires in Belgrade - Mr. Richard Miles and US Embassy Councilor - Mr. John Brown. The American Charge d'Affaires underscored the unconditional readiness and openness of his Government to establish full cooperation and enrich relations with Serbia and Yugoslavia. Minister Milentijevic stressed the importance of lifting the outer wall of sanctions against FRY, in order to accelerate the overall democratization process. She also informed her guests about the changes in public information. Dr. Milentijevic asked Mr. Miles to intercede personally to secure as many grants as possible for the training of young journalists in US newspapers and TV stations, and also announced that seminars for local reporters will be organized in Serbia with reputable foreign journalists as lecturers.

[05] THE DEMANDS OF THE SERBS FROM THE SLAVONIA-BARANJA REGION ACCEPTED

Politika, 1997-05-08

"Croatia agrees that the territory currently under UN Administration should remain demilitarized, and corresponding agreements should be made with FR Yugoslavia and Hungary." This is part of the statement issued after the latest Zagreb meeting between Croatian President Tudjman and Gen. Jacques Klein, called to discuss further steps for the peaceful re-integration of Baranja, Western Srem and Eastern Slavonija. The communiquE9 also affirms that Croatia accepts the introduction of local border trade with Yugoslavia, that it has no objections to twin citizenship, and that it anticipates that within the legal term of 30 days, local government bodies in UN administered territories will be formed according to the results of the recent elections. Thus, the most important demands presented by the Vukovar government to the authorities in Zagreb have been met. The Croatian side also believes that "all conditions have been fulfilled for the completion of the peaceful re-integration process" and preparations are already being made for President Tudjman's visit to Vukovar, which will probably a reproduction of his triumphant quest across Krayina after the Croatian Army offensive.

[06] MOSLEM AGGRESSION ON THE REPUBLIC OF SRPSKA EXPECTED

Vecernje Novosti, 1997-05-08

Moslems are preparing to carry out an aggression on the Republic of Srpska (RS) in August, and the offensive is to be a copy of the Croatian "Storm" and "Flash" operations against the Republic of Serbian Krajina. The preparation is very thorough, Izetbegovic's troops are arming, and the threat to the Dayton Peace Agreement is growing. This is part of the analysis recently presented by Major General Pero Colic, Chief-of-Staff of the Republic of Srpska Army, who also stressed that these forecasts are quite dependable and that the RS Supreme Defense Council justly concluded that the security in the area is jeopardized. "The main directions of the Moslem aggression are the towns of Brcko, Prijedor and Doboj. Special units and high quality weaponry is to be used in these areas. The arms are being secured through the American "Train and Equip" program, but even more through clandestine arms shipments from Islamic countries" - said Gen. Colic, adding that international officials have been already informed about these plans. RS military circles have dependable information that 2nd and 3rd Corps of the Moslem Army are undergoing rapid training in the zone of Kakanj. 250 military instructors are working there, many of them from Islamic countries. The prime objective of the operation is to cut across RS in less than seven days and then occupy Serbian territory.

[07] GRATITUDE TO THE CYPRIOTE PEOPLE AND COMPANIES

Borba, 1997-05-08

During a meeting with the Ambassador of Cyprus to Yugoslavia - Mr. Andreas Scarparis, and an official delegation of Cypriote businessmen, the Chairman of the Yugoslav Chamber of Economy - Mr. Mihailo Milojevic, stressed the gratitude to the Cypriote people and companies "for the humanitarian aid they sent us during the embargo" and "for showing understanding for our difficulties and accepting Yugoslav banks and companies in those dire times." Mr. Milojevic also said that companies are highly interested in establishing an open economic and market cooperation. Both sides agreed that the economic relations are quite good and that cooperation should be further enhanced, primarily by increasing trade volume, creating the conditions for a joint appearance on third markets, and establishing joint investment firms. The Cypriote delegation including representatives of chambers, banks and ministries of trade, industry and tourism, stressed the interest in taking part in the privatization, i.e. in the ownership transformation of the companies in FR Yugoslavia. They suggested that a "Yugoslav Economy Week" be soon organized on Cyprus and invited Yugoslav companies to take part in international fairs held in their country.

[08] IMPORTANT CORRIDORS FOR EUROPE

Borba, 1997-05-08

We expect that at the pan-European Ministerial Conference due in Helsinki in June, transit communication lines in FR Yugoslavia will be recognized as important traffic corridors for Europe. This should open the possibility to secure financing through various forms of foreign capital investment, said Serbian Minister of Transport and Communications - Prof. Dr. Svetolik Kostadinovic. During a meeting with the representatives of the Belgrade Roads Institute, the Minister said that the European interest for transit communication lines running across FR Yugoslavia has been newly confirmed by a EU document adopted last week. It indicates that the changes in the Balkans entail an additional traffic corridor in former Yugoslavia, and we must take into account that 42.5% of our existing road network is already part of European roads - the Minister said. This potential has to be adapted to European standards and fully used. "According to some estimates, under certain circumstances, some 300.000 trucks, 400-500 thousand busses, 10-15 million passenger cars, i.e. 30-35 million passengers could be transiting through our country every year." - Dr. Kostadinovic said.

Serbia Today Directory - Previous Article - Next Article