Tanjug Daily News Review, 96-05-10

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From: Tanjug, Yugoslavia, via Serbian Unity Congress <http://www.suc.org/>

May 10, 1996
NEWS AGENCY - TANJUG
DAILY NEWS REVIEW

CONTENTS

[01] BOOK ON MEDIA WAR AGAINST SERBS LAUNCHED IN BELGRADE

[02] UNHCR HEAD SAYS NO REALISTIC HOPE FOR RETURN OF OVER 500,000 REFUGEES

[03] AYALA-LASSO URGES RESPECT OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN CROATIA

[04] WORKERS OF FIVE NIS ENTERPRISES CONTINUE ON STRIKE

[05] HAGUE: LAWYER CRITICIZES PROSECUTION WITNESS

[06] EXCHANGE OF VISITS ANOTHER STEP IN SERB-CROAT RELATIONS IN SLAVONIA

[07] BOSNIAN MUSLIMS REJECT PROPOSED ELECTORAL RULES

[08] OWNERSHIP TRANSFORMATION CRUCIAL FOR YUGOSLAVIA'S SURVIVAL

[09] JOINT ELECTIONS COMMISSION FOR NORTHEASTERN BOSNIA FORMED

[10] ADMIRAL LEIGHTON SMITH SAYS BOSNIA ELECTIONS NEXT BIG STEP FOR IFOR

[11] THE HAGUE TRIBUNAL AS A POLITICAL AMPHITHEATER

[12] SADAKO OGATA, R.S. MINISTER DISCUSS REFUGEE PROBLEM

[13] CROAT POLITICAL LEADER REJECTS DEAL ON SETTING UP FEDERATION POLICE

[14] BOSNIAN MUSLIMS REJECT PROPOSED ELECTORAL RULES

[15] BOSNIAN SERB POLICE ARREST MUSLIM SUBVERSIVE-TERRORIST GROUP

[16] U.N. OFFICIAL SAYS INCIDENTS IN BOSNIA TEST PEACE FORCE

[17] NAMBIAR ON BOSNIAN MUSLIM PRETENSIONS

[18] BOSNIAN MUSLIM TERRORISTS CONFESS THEY KILLED SERB CIVILIANS

[01] BOOK ON MEDIA WAR AGAINST SERBS LAUNCHED IN BELGRADE

the book presents evidence of a media war against serbs in the territory of the former yugoslavia over the past five years.

it points at the various forms of an anti-serb campagn conducted by world media and gives numerous examples of twisted facts and the abusing of the journalist profession.

speaking about the book and the media war against the serbs in general, editor of the belgrade paper nedeljna borba teodor andjelic said that the media war in the former yugoslavia had been effective and strategically extremely well-planned.

the world's top televisions had systematically worked to build their viewers' trust so that, at a crucial moment, they would present lies which later influenced political decisions.

milivojevic's book, which has been translated into english, includes a large number of excerpts from the world press, caricatures, photographs and examples of gross exaggerations or downright disinformation.

stories of this kind include, for example, an allegation that serbs had destroyed the old bridge in the bosnian town of mostar, which was in fact the scene of a bloody one-year war between bosnian muslims and croats, and a story about a muslim woman raped by 1,500 men.

[02] UNHCR HEAD SAYS NO REALISTIC HOPE FOR RETURN OF OVER 500,000 REFUGEES

in a report from sarajevo reuters recalled that ogata had stated earlier this year that the unhcr was working on the assunmption that as many as 900,000 bosnians might return or be resettled in other communities this year.

'serious problems' with freedom of movement and the fact that few still have proper homes to go back to meant that the actual figure would be much lower, ogata said at a news conference in sarajevo.

'i am quite aware that the real number will be far less, at best half a million', she said. ogata refused to set a date for the repatriation of refugees, agence france presse (afp) reported, also from sarajevo.

zones where the return of refugees in blocked will not receive unhcr aid for reconstruction, ogata said.

the unhcr budget for this year is 70 million u.s. dollars.

ogata, who met thursday with bosnian muslim leader alija izetbegovic and prime minister hasan muratovic, complained that international donors who have pledged to pump in billions of dollars were too slow to act on their promises, reuters added.

ogata added that the 'lack of confidence in the long-term future of the country is preventing large-scale reconstruction money coming in'.

[03] AYALA-LASSO URGES RESPECT OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN CROATIA

ayala-lasso told a press conference in zagreb after talks with croatian leaders and human rights representatives that he had warned the authorities in zagreb to obesrve a clear policy in human rights.

he asked the authorities to form non-governmental organzations for the protection of human rights, in particular the rights of ethnic minorites, news agencies report.

disturbing reports have been submitted to ayala lassa on human rights violations and a repressive political atmosphere under croatian president franjo tudjman, said reuters.

serbs living in krajina have little legal and physical protection from persecution by vengeful croats.

the regions, once populated by a serb majority now number less than 3,000 serbs, most of them elders.

the croatian aggression on parts of krajina put to flight 250,000 serbs.

the serbs also face daunting obstacles to obtain jobs, pensions or other documentation needed for their return to their homes in croatia.

serbs seeking financial aid to rebuild homes destroyed in the four-year war receive repair estimates significantly less that croat-owned homes with the same amount of damage.

other problems include loopholes in a new war amnesty bill for serbs, lack of schools for serb and italian children, politically manipulated courts and renewed harassment of the free press, said reuters.

[04] WORKERS OF FIVE NIS ENTERPRISES CONTINUE ON STRIKE

the workers, who have assembled in central nis, are demanding higher wages, restoring production and negotiations with town authorities.

workers of the nis electronics and machine industries, pump plant jastrebac, and angropromet and nis stores, said they would block traffic in principal town streets and on the nis-belgrade highway if their requests are not met.

[05] HAGUE: LAWYER CRITICIZES PROSECUTION WITNESS

agencies pointed out that gow had suggested in an 8-hour testimony to the three court judges on thursday that the breakaway republics had broken up yugoslavia fearing 'greater serbian' hegemony, thus casting the possible guilt of the accused on the entire nation to which he belongs.

tadic's lawyer alfons orie said that all three sides in bosnia-herzegovina -- croats, serbs and muslims -- had formed paramilitary units before the war, not only serbs, the agence france presse news agency said.

the international tribunal in the hague was founded under a u.n. security council resolution adopted in may 1993. it has so far indicted 57 persons -- 46 serbs, eight croats, and three muslims.

the trial of tadic, who ius accused of murder and torture in the civil war in bosnia-herzegovina, began on tuesday.

deputy chief prosecutor graham blewitt confirmed on thursday prior to leaving belgrade that the court had indeed indicted more serbs and said this disproportion would soon be changed.

the last thing the tribunal would want is for a trial of one man for war crimes should be turned into a trial of an entire nation, blewitt said. on the contrary, he said, the court is trying to prove that persons who have committed crimes should answer for them.

tadic's trial continues on monday.

[06] EXCHANGE OF VISITS ANOTHER STEP IN SERB-CROAT RELATIONS IN SLAVONIA

chizik said at a press conference that in addition to reuniting families separated by war, the exchange of visits was an important, if not dramatic, step towards normalizing serb-croat relations in the region.

the region located between croatia and federal republic of yugoslavia was placed under one-year u.n. administration in line with the agreement signed in november 1995, until a definite settlement is found. the term can be extended by another year if necessary.

chizik said mail deliveries would continue to be exchanged three times a week at two border crossings.

[07] BOSNIAN MUSLIMS REJECT PROPOSED ELECTORAL RULES

'we must make sure that everybody votes in his environment, where he or she resided at the time of the 1991 census (before the outbreak of the war),' ganic said at a political meeting in central bosnia.

he said that there would be no peace in bosnia-herzegovina until all muslim refugees and displaced persons returned home.

croat officials have more than once this week criticized the federation partner for rejecting the proposed electoral rules.

mutual recriminations over the issue have especially been sharp between the croat and muslim authorities in the divided city of mostar.

bosnian croats, just as bosnian serbs, maintain that elections must be held by the set deadline and according to the proposed rules, which will enable voters to vote also where they are currently residing.

[08] OWNERSHIP TRANSFORMATION CRUCIAL FOR YUGOSLAVIA'S SURVIVAL

the convention, held in nis, a town in southern serbia, is attended by 300 renowned businessmen, serbian and montengrin government officials, representatives of the national bank of yugoslavia and university professors, the belgrade daily politika reported on friday.

macedonian and bulgarian experts will also address the two-day convention.

president of the serbian association of businessmen boris marovic said thursday he hoped that proposals made at the convention would be included in about 10 systemic laws which he said would be on the agenda of a yugoslav parliament session later in the month and which would be crucial for the country's economy.

professor jovan rankovic said of 70,200 companies in yugoslavia, 62,500 are privately-owned, and said about 8,000 companies were yet to become private. he said it was impossible to reach agreement on tactical means of privatisation and proposed privatisation models.

rankovic said assets by the socially-owned companies were estimated at about 100 billion dinars (about 20 billion dollars).

he said privatisation could not be carried out overnight, and said it must not be allowed that social property be sold for next to nothing.

professor dragan djuricin said the transition was aimed towards increasing business efficiency and doing business on market principles.

mileta babovic, secretary-general of the association, said adverse effects of the u.n. security council sanctions against the country, an overall insolvency, and losses have imposed restrictions on the transition.

[09] JOINT ELECTIONS COMMISSION FOR NORTHEASTERN BOSNIA FORMED

representatives of seven municipalities of both entities in bosnia-herzegovina took part in the meeting which was chaired by deputy high representative of the international community for bosnia-herzegovina michael steiner.

the meeting was attended by representatives of the municipalities of banjua luka, mrkonjic grad, prijedor, and gradiska of the serb entity of republika srpska, and the municipalities of kljuc, sanski most, and drvar of the muslim-croat entity, the federation of bosnia-herzegovina.

after the meeting, which was held behind closed doors, steiner said the representatives had realized time was running out and that local elections commissions should be formed as soon as possible.

he said freedom of movement was a precondition for this very important job. movement must not be obstructed in any way, he said. the u.n. high commissioner for refugees will take special care about this, he said.

this is why bus lines between banja luka and zenica, and banja luka and drvar will be opened soon, and telecommunication links established between the two entities.

steiner said regional economic commissions would also soon be formed. he said they would know best where and what should be repaired and built. he warned that the peace accords must be successful in all areas.

asked why the serb entity had so far received only two million and the federation more than 200 million dollars, steiner said this was on no account a mistake of the international community, but of the republika srpska authorities.

[10] ADMIRAL LEIGHTON SMITH SAYS BOSNIA ELECTIONS NEXT BIG STEP FOR IFOR

elections in bosnia's both entities -- the (bosnian serb state) republika srpska and the moslem-croat federation -- are to be held by september 14 at the latest, as provided for by peace accords for bosnia-herzegovina struck in dayton, ohio, in november 1995.

admiral smith, who visited air base in milan, italy, on thursday, said nato reports showed that between 3-7 million mines had been planted in bosnia, because of which he said it would be really difficult to secure free movement of bosnia's population.

smith said u.s. troops would withdraw from bosnia in december, but said he could not specify how long nato troops contributed by european states would remain in the region.

about 60,000 troops contributed by more than 30 countries are participating in ifor, with u.s. troops accounting for one third of the force.

[11] THE HAGUE TRIBUNAL AS A POLITICAL AMPHITHEATER

excerpts from a series by the bbc and expert opinion by british military historian james gow have formed the framework for the guilt of the defendant and the entire serb population to which he belongs.

gow had suggested to three judges and the world public that the internal destroyers of yugoslavia had opted for secession fearing greater serbian hegemony.

the voice of russia said the tribunal had a 'tendentious stand that disturbs the world public which is begining to suspect its impartiality'

it said this had been confirmed by the fact that the trial had ignored material evidence of alleged torture, rape and murder of 170 muslims and croats.

when a person has to stand trial for the tragic developments in the former yugoslavia, then those who had incited nationalist ambitions in the former yugoslavia and brought about its destruction should be put to trial,' said the voice of russia.

it said those who had hastened with the recognitions of croatia and bosnia-herzegovina and thus precipitated the conflicts between the different ethnic groups should also be tried.

tadic is the first to stand trial of the 46 serbs charged with committing war crimes in bosnia.

tadic was arrested in germany in 1992 and charged with killing and torturing muslim and croat pows in northern bosnia.

analysts and legal experts have said that establishing tadic's guilt would depend constantly and impermissibly on the needs of the political marketing of those who had set up the tribunal as an ad hoc institution.

the tribunal, said the experts, is fundamentally subordinate to the u.n. security council which is dominated by one super power, and the statute ensures its supremacy over national courts, including authority to demand the extradition of suspects, which is a violation of the u.n. charter, which stipulates that the u.n. cannot usurp the sovereign rights of states.

these ambiguous defects with which the tribunal has been construed have led the experts to infer that international positive law had definitely been abandoned in the hague and a dangerous revision of the charter made.

they pointed to the double standards of the tribunal which in broader context justify the destruction of a sovereign state (former yugoslavia) and based on an insufficiently corroborated indictment of one of the participants of the civil war depict the crusade of a nation (serb) that defended its sovereignty.

evidence has been proferred that the trial is an orwellian farce that restores stalinist justice.

the belgrade weekly intervju quoted u.s. columnist galen carpenter to the effect that this was another example of false morals and double standards guised in quest for truth. it would be an act of mercy if the farce ended as soon as possible.

[12] SADAKO OGATA, R.S. MINISTER DISCUSS REFUGEE PROBLEM

after touring both bosnian entities - r.s. and muslim-croat federation - to find out the living conditions of refugees, ogata said that the situation was improving and that people wanted to return to their homes.

many problems remain pending, ogata said, pointing to the need for more projects for rebuilding houses destroyed by war.

freedom of movement must be ensured in line with the dayton accord, ogata said.

vladusic requested ogata's help in dismantling by the end of this year the inadequate accomodation where refugees are sheltered at present in order to find a lasting solution to the problem of their residence.

the unhcr plan for repatriating about 800,000 refugees to bosnia-herzegovina in 1996 is deadlocked, it was noted at a recent consultative meeting in kotor, town on the adriatic coast.

unhcr plans to repatriate about 200,000 refugees from europe and about 170,000 from the former yugoslav republics, as well as some 500,000 inside bosnia.

[13] CROAT POLITICAL LEADER REJECTS DEAL ON SETTING UP FEDERATION POLICE

speaking in a hdz panel discussion in sarajevo on thursday, rajic said there was only cantonal police and no federation police.

radio sarajevo said that, under pressure of the german diplomacy that had threatened them with sanctions, moslems and croats had even agreed on the colour of police uniforms in the petesburg talks.

rajic said croats regarded the federation with moslems as a federation of peoples rather than a federation of cantons. moslems strongly oppose this position.

following nearly a year of fierce fighting for territories with mixed population in central and southern bosnia-herzegovina, moslems and croats bowed to u.s. pressure and signed in washington in march 1994 an agreement to set up a binational federation.

the federation has however largely remained a dead letter.

rajic rejected articles of an agreement reached between the federation partners in vienna providing for two cantons with mixed population, one in central bosnia and the other in the south, in the river neretva valley.

he said, 'there are no mixed cantons, only cantons in which one people constitutes a majority.'

[14] BOSNIAN MUSLIMS REJECT PROPOSED ELECTORAL RULES

'we must make sure that everybody votes in his environment, where he or she resided at the time of the 1991 census (before the outbreak of the war),' ganic said at a political meeting in central bosnia.

he said that there would be no peace in bosnia-herzegovina until all muslim refugees and displaced persons returned home.

croat officials have more than once this week criticized the federation partner for rejecting the proposed electoral rules.

mutual recriminations over the issue have especially been sharp between the croat and muslim authorities in the divided city of mostar.

bosnian croats, just as bosnian serbs, maintain that elections must be held by the set deadline and according to the proposed rules, which will enable voters to vote also where they are currently residing.

[15] BOSNIAN SERB POLICE ARREST MUSLIM SUBVERSIVE-TERRORIST GROUP

the police station of zvornik, a town in eastern republika srpska bordering with yugoslavia, said the muslim terrorists were discovered and arrested in the village of planinka, between the zvornik districts of orahovac and caparda.

all the detainees are from srebrenica, the former muslim so-called safe area in eastern bosnia, which the dayton peace accords placed under serb control.

the zvornik police station said there was grounds to suspect that the muslim terrorists had carried out a number of crimes against serb civilians in the area of srebrenica and nearby places.

the sources said the muslims could also be involved in the disappearance of four serb civilian residents of srebrenica. the serbs went missing in krusev dol, 40 km east of milici on may 2 this year.

[16] U.N. OFFICIAL SAYS INCIDENTS IN BOSNIA TEST PEACE FORCE

manuel told a news conference it was possible that incidents resume on the line of separation between the (bosnian serb) republika srpska and the bosnian muslim-croat federation.

she said that this was a test for the bosnia peace implementation force (ifor) and the international community.

manuel said that there were no problems with individual crossings of serbs into the muslim-croat federation but that incidents occurred during attempts at organized visits.

the international police force work at removing all obstacles to the freedom of movement, manuel said and added that the freedom of movement was built into the peace accords.

manuel said that international police would be reorganized by summer and that they just monitored the implementation of the peace agreement.

international policemen are unarmed and cannot make arrests, but they cooperate with the local police forces, she said.

the two bosnia's police forces -- that of the republika srpska and of the muslim-croat federation -- will wear grey uniforms and their insignia are still being discussed, manuel said.

[17] NAMBIAR ON BOSNIAN MUSLIM PRETENSIONS

nambiar was speaking to the indian daily statesman in the first interview since he left sarajevo in 1993.

the retired indian general said he believed that some pressure on sarajevo authorities would probably be needed because muslims had agreed to the dayton agreement very unwillingly.

speaking about the bosnian muslim-croat federation (which makes up bosnia-herzegovina together with the republika srpska), nambiar said that it was very superficial and that he knew for sure that the two entities did not trust each other.

asked whether he thinks that unprofor could do the same task as the nato-led bosnia implementation force, nambiar said that the well-equipped u.n. forces could have realized this mission at the beginning of the conflict.

nambiar said that unprofor's main obstacle had been the stand of big powers -- the united states, great britain, france and russia -- which only engaged in rhetoric without giving the necessary political support to the u.n. force during the year he spent in sarajevo.

[18] BOSNIAN MUSLIM TERRORISTS CONFESS THEY KILLED SERB CIVILIANS

according to the terrorists, ahmo harbas, behudin husic and nedzad hasic committed the murder, while their accomplices enver harbas, vahdet avdic, mujo mehic and muharem hasanovic helped drag the bodies to a pit and cover them with ground.

according to the terrorists, the serb civilians were killed in the village of stublic and transported to the adjacent village of krusev do, where they were burried in an old muslim cemetery.

zvornik public security centre teams are investigating the terrorists' claims on the ground, srna said and added that pathologists from belgrade's military academy of medicine were expected to arrive.

all terrorists originate from the former muslim enclave of srebrenica which belongs to the republika srpska under the dayton agreement.

Copyright © Tanjug, Yugoslavia, 1996

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