Tanjug Daily News Review, 96-05-14

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

May 14, 1996
NEWS AGENCY - TANJUG
DAILY NEWS REVIEW

CONTENTS

[01] WORKERS' PROTEST IN FRONT OF THE YUGOSLAV ASSEMBLY

[02] LOWER HOUSE OF YUGOSLAV PARLIAMENT IN SESSION

[03] HUNGARY DENIES PAPER'S CLAIMS ON ITS INVOLVMENT IN BOSNIA ARMS EXPORTS

[04] CROATIA'S ADMISSION INTO THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE BROUGHT IN QUESTION

[05] CROATIAN PRESS ASSESSES FAVOURABLY TALKS IN BELGRADE

[06] GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS CROATIA HAS TO MEET ITS OBLIGATIONS

[07] BOSNIAN MUSLIM TROOPS LEAVE FOR TRAINING IN TURKEY

[08] KINKEL'S VISIT TO BELGRADE: THAW IN YUGOSLAV-GERMAN RELATIONS

[09] WORLD BANK PREPARES RECONSTRUCTION PROGRAMS FOR REPUBLIKA SRPSKA

[10] E.U. WILL HELP ALL RELIGIOUS COMUNITIES IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA

[11] HISTORIAN GOW'S TESTIMONY BEFORE WAR-CRIMES TRIBUNAL UNACCEPTABLE

[12] BILDT DISAPPOINTED BY DISMISSAL OF BOSNIAN SERB PRIME MINISTER

[13] YUGOSLAV NATIONAL BANK COUNCIL REJECTS GOVERNOR AVRAMOVIC'S DEMAND

[14] NATIONAL BANK GOVERNOR AVRAMOVIC DESCRIBES IN PARLIAMENT YUGOSLAV ECONOMIC SITUATION AS CONTRADICTORY

[15] RENEWAL OF YUGOSLAV-U.S. AGRICULTURAL COOPERATION

[16] KARADZIC: NO CRISIS IN IMPLEMENTATION OF DAYTON ACCORDS ON BOSNIA

[17] EUROPEAN UNION MINISTERS DISCUSS IMPROVING RELATIONS WITH YUGOSLAVIA

[18] GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER DUE IN BELGRADE ON THURSDAY

[19] MUSLIMS SAY THEY WILL BOYCOTT LOCAL ELECTIONS IN MOSTAR

[20] WORLD WAR TWO LASTED A WEEK LONGER IN YUGOSLAVIA

[21] U.S. PUBLISHER TO RELEASE BOOKS BY TWO YUGOSLAV SCIENTISTS

[22] MILOSEVIC, SMITH ON IMPLEMENTATION OF DAYTON AGREEMENT

[23] YUGOSLAV NATIONAL BANK COUNCIL DEMANDS REPLACEMENT OF GOVERNER AVRAMOVIC

[24] ADMIRAL SMITH: PROGRESS MADE IN IMPLEMENTING BOSNIA PEACE PLAN

[25] BURNS: U.S. WILL NOT LET MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION FAIL

[26] YUGOSLAV PREMIER: CRUCIAL MOMENT IN BUILDING NEW ECONOMIC SYSTEM

[27] U.N. HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES PLANS NEW ACTIVITIES IN BOSNIA

[28] YUGOSAV VICE-PREMIER ACCUSES GOVERNOR OF USURPING NATIONAL BANK

[29] OPPOSITION PARTIES SUPPORT YUGOSLAV NATIONAL BANK GOVERNOR

[30] YUGOSLAVIA'S ROLE IN IMPLEMENTATION OF DAYTON ACCORDS POSITIVE

[31] SO FAR 4,812 UNTAES MEMBERS ARRIVE

[32] CONTRARY OPINIONS OF YUGOSLAV MPS ON GOVERNOR-GOVERNMENT CONFLICT

[33] U.S. BRINGS ABOUT NEW AGREEMENT BETWEEN BOSNIAN MUSLIMS AND CROATS

[34] MUSLIMS IN MOSTAR: THERE ARE NO CONDITIONS FOR HOLDING ELECTIONS

[35] YUGOSLAV LOWER HOUSE RESUMES WORK

[36] RS PRESIDENT KARADZIC REMOVES FROM OFFICE PREMIER KASAGIC

[37] CROATIA'S POLICE ARE OMNIPOTENT

[38] BILDT CONCERNED WITH POOR PREPARATIONS FOR ELECTIONS IN BOSNIA

[39] YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT ADOPTS PRINCIPLES FOR SETTING UP TRIBUNAL'S BELGRADE OFFICE

[40] FRANCE AGAINST CROATIA'S MEMBERSHIP IN COUNCIL OF EUROPE

[41] POSTPONEMENT OF ADMITTANCE INTO COUNCIL OF EUROPE SURPRISES CROATIA

[01] WORKERS' PROTEST IN FRONT OF THE YUGOSLAV ASSEMBLY

workers of imt, engine and tractors' industry and of 21 may, agricultural engines, who protested in the past days asking for higher wages and better working conditions, extended their support to national bank governor dragoslav avramovic and his privatisation programme.

in the past days avramovic has been in polemics with the yugoslav government over this subject and over how to conduct talks with the international monetary fund and the world bank.

traffic is closed in front of the federal parliament building where on tuesday a discussion started on a series of bills, including the government's privatisation bill.

[02] LOWER HOUSE OF YUGOSLAV PARLIAMENT IN SESSION

the three systemic economic bills on the agenda of the chamber of citizens are bills on the transformation of social capital, on enterprises and on foreign investments.

the chamber will also discuss bills on amnesty, labour relations, strike, taxation system, pension and disablement insurance and ownership relations.

the chamber decided tuesday to include in its agenda a discussion on the work of the national bank of yugoslavia and relations with international financial instituions.

the session is attended by national bank governor dragoslav avramovic, who has been engaged in a polemic with the federal government over talks with world financial institutions and the proposed privatization of the economy.

before the session started, several hundred employees of two belgrade mechanical engineering factories assembled outside the parliament building to lend support to the central bank governor.

[03] HUNGARY DENIES PAPER'S CLAIMS ON ITS INVOLVMENT IN BOSNIA ARMS EXPORTS

hungarian secretary of state in the defence ministry istvan fodor said hungary observed the u.n. embargo and there was absolutely no foundation for the washington post claims regarding its involvment in the bosnia arms imports.

the hungarian industry and trade ministry also said there had been no transport of arms via hungarian territory with the knowledge or authorisation of the competent bodies.

in a recently-published detailed article on the involvment of president clinton and the u.s. administration in arms exports to bosnia while the u.n. embargo was in force, the american daily the washington post named hungary besides iran, turkey and a number of muslim countries.

[04] CROATIA'S ADMISSION INTO THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE BROUGHT IN QUESTION

zagreb, may 14 (tanjug) - following the recent green light given by the european parliament for croatia's admission into the council of europe, news arriving from strasburg is starting to make the croatian authorities nervous because things are not progressing as desired.

according to information that even leaked through media loyal to the state there are real possibilities that ministers of the council of europe delay the discussion on crotia's admission to the important european institution.

nedeljna dalmacija, close to the government, wrote in its latest issue there were complications for croatia in strasbourg and that 'it is absolutely certain that croatia will not be on the agenda this month'.

before the opening of the disucssion at the recent session of the european parliament croatia agreed to fulfil all demands posed for its entry into the council of europe.

there were 21 specific conditions posed to zagreb, and as guarantees they would be carried out they were signed by president franjo tudjman and parliament speaker vlatko pavletic.

the demands cover guarantees for the respect of human and national rights to the serb population, including allowing the return of serb refugees, freedom of the media and democratic end to the political crisis regarding the election of the zagreb mayor.

europe is showing this time that just putting your siganture on paper is not enough, but that implementing the underatken commitments is also needed.

zagreb was therefore informed by strasbourg that crackdwon of the media and wrangling over the election of the zagreb mayor are not compatible with membership in the council of europe.

financial pressure on independent rijeka novi list, police interrogation of editor-in-chief and journalist of the independent weekly feral tribune, closure of premises of the panorama paper, threats of dismissal of journalists in vjesnik are only the latest examples of the regime's pressure on the media.

the zagreb political crisisis is getting more complicated and the opposition is prevented from taking over local authority on the basis of the election results.

realising the extent of european and international pressure the zagreb authorities have started making different moves ahead of the ministerial meeting in strasbourg, to soften those who will decide about croatia's admission.

for example, the croatian constitutional court rescinded the government decision on disbanding the legally-elected zagreb municipal assembly, payment of novi list customs and tax fines was deferred and the panorama premises were opened allowing the paper to resume work.

[05] CROATIAN PRESS ASSESSES FAVOURABLY TALKS IN BELGRADE

the press quoted simonovic as saying that all talks so far have focused on practical issues and that now the time has come for discussing topics crucial for the full normalization of relations between the two countries.

major issues should soon be discussed in belgrade by the yugoslav and croatian foreign ministers milan milutinovic and mate granic, the croatian press said.

zagreb daily vjesnik said that simonovic's talks with milutinovic and his assistant zivorad jovanovic in belgrade on monday were conducted in an atmosphere of mutual respect and good will and that activities are moving towards the normalization of relations between yugoslavia and croatia. end ju/sk/mb

[06] GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS CROATIA HAS TO MEET ITS OBLIGATIONS

speaking in an interview to the tuesday issue of the rijeka daily novi list, kinkel said that croatia had to make every effort to fulfill what it had pledged to do.

germany advocated croatia's independence and international recognition, but in return, croatia had to assume a number of obligations written down in the december 1991 e.u. statement on yugoslavia, kinkel said.

they included provisions on building a state ruled by law and democracy, human rights of national and ethnic groups, which in the case of croatia primarily refers to serbs, and autonomy for the regions where they are the majority population, kinkel said.

croatia, like any other country, has to fulfill conditions for its admittance into the council of europe, kinkel said but added that there existed some 'specific obligations.'

they include the possibility for the return of krajina serbs and serbs from other regions, cooperation with the international criminal tribunal for the former yugoslavia, full support to the dayton peace agreement and correct implementation of the serb-croat agreement for east slavonia, baranja and west srem.

[07] BOSNIAN MUSLIM TROOPS LEAVE FOR TRAINING IN TURKEY

the associated press news agency said that the first group of artillery and tank troops was transferred by turkish military aircraft.

chief of staff of the sarajevo muslim army headquarters, gen. enver hadzihasanovic, said that the turkish army training will involve new nato-standard weapons.

ap did not say who will supply the muslim army with those weapons.

ap, however, quoted other bosnian muslim army officials as saying that 60 bosnian army soldiers are already being trained in turkey for more than a month on helicopters, tanks and artillery.

the u.s. press recently revealed that turkey, iran and several other muslim countries had in 1993 secretly armed the bosnian muslims thus violating the u.n. embargo on arms deliveries to the territory of the former yugoslavia.

the turkish foreign ministry denied washington post's recent discovery about turkey's army shipments to the bosnian muslims.

turkey's former chief of general staff, retired gen. dogan dures, told turkish paper hurriyet in 1994 that his country had violated the u.n. arms embargo. end ju/sk/mb

[08] KINKEL'S VISIT TO BELGRADE: THAW IN YUGOSLAV-GERMAN RELATIONS

the agency said that a decision adopted a month ago to normalize relations with the federal republic of yugoslavia had clearly showed bonn's willingness to gradually upgrade the relations.

judging by the commentary and the carefully prepared visit, germany attaches great importance to kinkel's visit.

germany and f.r. yugoslavia have made many diplomatic and political moves towards an opening of dialogue and normalization of relations so that any step backwards is less unlikely that the expected upgrading of bilateral relations.

efforts in the field of economic relations have won full support on both sides.

[09] WORLD BANK PREPARES RECONSTRUCTION PROGRAMS FOR REPUBLIKA SRPSKA

the programs are for education and reconstruction of roads, bridges and railways, worth about 80 million dollars, the republika srpska news agency srna said, quoting o'sullivan.

o'sullivan said the board of managers of the world bank had today received for consideration programs which pertain to education and city heating.

according to foreign news agencies, the world bank is in the closing stage of making programs for the renewal of medical centers in republika srpska, especially the military-clinical center in banja luka.

o'sullivan said the bank was working on projects for agriculture and water supply, and finalizing a project on mine removal.

all projects depend on whether they will be signed by republika srpska, he said, specifying that the republika srpska authorities should sign an additional agreement with the muslim-croat federation, as a member of the world bank, in which they will primarily pledge to pay back credits for the realization of these programs.

o'sullivan said there were certain indications that the agreement between the muslim-croat federation and the republika srpska would be signed.

[10] E.U. WILL HELP ALL RELIGIOUS COMUNITIES IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA

the bishop of the biggest town in republika srpska (bosnian serb republic) visited the european commission in brussels to ask for aid for the return of croats to his diocese, where he said only about 5,000 of the former 80,000 of his flock remained.

bishop komarica said it was necessary to launch an action which would enable not only the return of croats to banja luka, but also serbs to their former places of residence which are now controlled by the muslim-croat federation.

van den broek welcomed the bishop's initiative that the orthodox bishop of banja luka and the banja luka mufti also join in the action to restore the situation to normal. these dignitaries sent a joint appeal to all believers already in 1992 not to accept the split.

[11] HISTORIAN GOW'S TESTIMONY BEFORE WAR-CRIMES TRIBUNAL UNACCEPTABLE

vujin said in an in interview in the belgrade daily politika wednesday that gow had presented his personal views about the historical context of the developments in the former yugoslavia, the constitutional development and the causes of the wars there.

he said the british historian, who testified as an expert, 'forgot that the former yugoslavia carried the name of democratic federative yugoslavia at one point of its development', which vujin said showed that gow was not an expert on the particular subject.

vujin said gow's testimony was contrary to the tribunal's status, according to which the tribunal was dealing with individual crimes and could not therefore take into consideration historical events.

commenting what gow had to say about the causes and nature of the war in the former yugoslavia, vujin said it was all the same under the tribunal's status whether an international conflict was involved or an internal one.

he said article 5 of the tribunal's statute specified that the tribunal would have the authority to prosecute perpetrators of crimes committed in military conflicts, either international or internal.

vujin said it was all the same in tadic's case whether an internal or international conflict was involved.

he said it was a well-known and intedrnationally accepted fact that bosnia-herzegovina was the stage of a civil war which did not have the character of an internatioal conflict.

'under article 7 of the statute, the tribunal can try only persons who planned, instigated and ordered war crimes and aided their planning and execution, and such persons can be held only personally responsible,' the belgrade lawyer said in politika.

vujin said the hague tribunal could not be compared with the nuremberg tribunal because a world war was involved in the case of the latter.

'individual defendants and not an entire people were tried in nuremberg nevertheless' vujin observed.

[12] BILDT DISAPPOINTED BY DISMISSAL OF BOSNIAN SERB PRIME MINISTER

bildt said the 'surprising information' had disappointed him as he felt sure that democratic forces opting for an open society would win, news agencies quoted bildt's spokesman in sarajevo colum murphy as saying.

republika srpska president radovan karadzic decided to dismiss prime minister kasagic 'in order to protect the constitutional system, implement the adopted policy and prevent further deepening of the crisis in the government's work.'

kasagic has already 'caused considerable damage that would inevitably create a threat to the basic state and national interests,' the presidential cabinet on wednesday quoted karadzic as saying.

foreign news agencies said international mediators had already accepted kasagic as a moderate official prepared to cooperate with the muslim-croat federation.

news agencies indicated possible complications but said that it was still to be seen whether kasagic's supporters at the helm of several government departments would try to oppose the decision on his dismissal.

[13] YUGOSLAV NATIONAL BANK COUNCIL REJECTS GOVERNOR AVRAMOVIC'S DEMAND

the council said in a statement delivered to tanjug on tuesday that contacts with international financial organizations came within the competence of the yugoslav government, the national bank, other banks and the economy as a whole.

the council said that avramovic's demand to be solely in charge of the talks 'has already caused a lot of damage in (the process of) creating conditions for carrying out a credit and monetary policy and for increasing production and exports.'

the session on monday evening dealt particularly with the announced personnel and organizational changes and their illegal implementation, and the council said that some of the steps taken by the governor were illegal.

the statement said that avramovic had also impeded the adoption of the statute and other documents of the national bank as an institution of major importance in implementing yugoslavia's monetary and foreign exchange policy.

the statement said that the governer had conducted monday's session in a manner that was not in accordance with the council's rules of procedure and that he had walked out before its end.

[14] NATIONAL BANK GOVERNOR AVRAMOVIC DESCRIBES IN PARLIAMENT YUGOSLAV ECONOMIC SITUATION AS CONTRADICTORY

he was addressing yugoslav parliament after the issue of nbj functioning and relations with international financial organizations was included in the parliament session agenda at the request of avramovic himself, nbj board and federal government.

for the first time we have a stable exchange rate and no black market rate, as a result of the program 2 (of economic recovery), avramovic said, adding that the exchange rate of national currency dinar would be even better (2.6 instead of 3.3 against the german mark) had the three governments agreed to the program six months earlier.

assessing that yugoslav economy was 'sick', with enormous margins, monopolistic structure, and catastrophic social model of organization of enterprises and distribution, avramovic said this chronic disease must be cured through a democratization of property relations.

the problem should be resolved also through a liberalization of imports, lifting of administrative restrictions on the economy and a reorganization of the economy through property transformation, he said.

yugoslavia's economy is afflicted with many weaknesses, such as low foreign exchange reserves and 15 percent monthly interest rate which represents a time bomb, avramovic said.

noting that there are several ways of resolving this problem, avramovic said the burden of taxation on the population and for business activities must be drastically reduced.

this, he said, would enable enterprises to contract less debts and to get operating capital, and would raise the standard of living of the population.

avramovic in this context criticized federal and serbian and montenegrin governments for high budget expendutures and for being unable to reduce them.

printing money is another possible solution, nbj governor said, but this would plunge yugoslavia into an inflationary catastrophe within two weeks.

referring to some requests to nbj to reduce interest rate to six percent, avramovic said this would mean that not a cent would be borrowed from nbj any more but that all credit and loan transactions would move to the black market, which would lead to interest rates of 30 percent instead of the present 15.

if it is impossible to reduce taxes and interest rates and if money cannot be printed, then the only way to get capital is to turn to foreign sources, unless the federal and republican governments are ready to reduce their budgets by 50 percent, avramovic said.

avramovic also criticized federal government for excluding privatization from its platform for negotiations with international monetary fund, while at the same time requesting membership continuity.

for the sake of continuity, federal government has even offered to take on all unallocated debts of former yugoslav republics, avramovic added.

avramovic also expressed disagreement with the stance of the delegation appointed by federal government, adding that he had told yugoslav prime minister radoje kontic before leaving for paris for negotiations with imf that he would not comply with the platform but would try in his own way to open money channels.

according to avramovic, the issue of succession was the main reason for the failure of the paris talks, as imf representatives rejected yugoslavia's stance on continuity and said yugoslavia could apply for admission as a new member, but would in that case lose many advantages.

[15] RENEWAL OF YUGOSLAV-U.S. AGRICULTURAL COOPERATION

the yugoslav information secretariat said that a concrete program of exchange visits and the exchange of current information had been established.

kisgeci and huth also discussed the re-establishment of cooperation in the sphere of scientific research and supervision.

the two officials agreed that it is necessary to stimulate cooperation in the exchange of current laws and standards in the sphere of agriculture and to create conditions for the free exchange of goods of plant and animal orgin between the two countries. end mb/dd/mb

[16] KARADZIC: NO CRISIS IN IMPLEMENTATION OF DAYTON ACCORDS ON BOSNIA

the military part of the dayton peace accords has been implemented in full with the approval of the republika srpska state and military leadership and that is a basis for peace, karadzic said in an interview to republika srpska television.

we shall implement the dayton accords, nothing less, karadzic said, adding that there was a crisis in the interpretation of the dayton accords.

[17] EUROPEAN UNION MINISTERS DISCUSS IMPROVING RELATIONS WITH YUGOSLAVIA

the one-day sssion focused mainly on developments in the former yugoslavia, said a eu statement.

the statement said the eu would examine with international high representative on bosnia carl bildt improving relations with yugoslavia.

the conclusions said the eu desired to improve contact with the leaders of republika srpska who have shown a readiness to implement the dayton peace process, to which the opening of bildt's office in banjaluka will provide fresh impetus.

the ministers agreed that the consolidation of the muslim-croat federation was a key element of the bosnian peace process and appealed to both sides to overcome difficulties.

the problem-plagued federation was formed in march 1994 at washington's initiative.

elections in bosnia, scheduled tentatively for late september, under the terms of the dayton peace agreement, and the return of refugees, are the biggest trials for the peace process in yugoslavia, said the ministers.

they said a planned visit of senior eu officials to states created in the former yugoslavia had been postponed for technical reasons, due to the coming government changes in italy, which presides over the eu until july 1.

the visit is, however, expected to take place in the nearest future, possibly by the end of may or early june.

hastening the visit is a eu conference due in florence on june 13-14 to discuss semi-annual efforts to establish peace in the former yugoslavia.

[18] GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER DUE IN BELGRADE ON THURSDAY

kinkel will meet with serbian president slobodan milosevic and yugoslav foreign minister milan milutinovic.

talks are to focus on the implementation of the dayton peace accords for bosnia-herzegovina and promotion of relations between germany and the federal republic of yugoslavia, the statement said.

kinkel's visit to belgrade is part of germany's policy both in the european union and the contact group for the former yugoslavia.

talks are expected to deal also with the repatriation of bosnia's refugees and the return of persons who have sought asylum from the german government, mainly ethnic albanians from serbia's southern province of kosovo and metohija.

germany upgraded relations with yugoslavia to the ambassadorial level on april 17.

[19] MUSLIMS SAY THEY WILL BOYCOTT LOCAL ELECTIONS IN MOSTAR

hamdija janic said on muslim radio sarajevo that the main reason for the election boycott was that not all mostar residents of a voting age would be able to cast their ballots.

only voters who who will be in the european-union-administered city on the day of the elections will be entitled to vote, according to the e.u.

'nobody can deny the 50 percent of mostar residents who are currently displaced persons the human right of sufferage,' jahic said.

he gave as another reason for the boycott the short time given for securing conditions and carrying out preparations for the elections.

the e.u. foreign ministers decided in brussels monday to have elections in mostar on may 31, in keeping with the dayton peace accords for bosnia-herzegovina.

the ministers took the stand that any postponement of the balloting would be detrimental to the peace process in bosnia-herzegovina.

after the muslim-croat federation in bosnia-herzegovina was created in 1994, but only on paper, mostar remained divided into the muslim western section and the croat eastern.

the agreement on the federation was signed in washington in march 1994 after a year of fierce muslim-croat fighting.

[20] WORLD WAR TWO LASTED A WEEK LONGER IN YUGOSLAVIA

the general staff of the yugoslav army issued its last war communique on may 16, 1945 informing the public that the national liberation war had ended in the territory of yugoslavia.

this marked the end of the second world war in the whole of europe.

in its report of may 15, 1945 the yugoslav army general staff said that following three-day fierce fighting near the upper reaches of the river drava yugoslav troops had forced the remaining german and quisling ustasha-chetnik forces to capitulate.

over 20,000 ustashas, ill-famed members of the fascist army of the independent state of croatia, were arrested, according to the same report.

some 5,000 enemy troops were killed in the last combats of the second world war.

the extension of war operations in the area after may 9 was preceded by an order issued by hitler's sucessor admiral denitz to troops in the southern territory to surrendor to the americans or the british and save themselves from 'bolshevism and slavery'.

the german troops' unsuccessful attempt to withdraw forced on may 10 general lehr to sign unconditional capitulation and hand over arms to the yugoslav army.

part of the german and quisling troops nevertheless continued the fruitless struggle to reach the allies and surrender to them.

under the decision of the court martial in belgrade general lehr was declared a war criminal and was executed on february 16, 1947.

yugoslavia paid its resistance during the four years of war with 1,700,000 dead, 304,948 of whom were troops of the people's liberation army.

another 1,600,000 yugoslavs were detained, held in concentration camps, forcibly mobilised or taken to forced labour.

a quarter of yugoslavia's population was left homeless and total material damage was assessed at 47 billion dollars.

[21] U.S. PUBLISHER TO RELEASE BOOKS BY TWO YUGOSLAV SCIENTISTS

the two scientists in question are nikola tesla and rajko tomovic whose scientific works are also on the list of science books considered to be revolutionary, the belgrade daily politika reported on tuesday.

works by giordano bruno, nicolaus copernicus, charles darwin, isaac newton and other scientists from the same period are also on the list.

tesla (1856-1943) will be represented with two books in this series -- predavanja, pronalasci i clanci (lectures, inventions and articles published by the museum of nikola tesla in belgrade) and svetlo u njegovim rukama (light in his hands, published by omni publications).

with nearly 1,000 inventions in all fields of electrical engineering, tesla, who was also an electrical engineer, physicist and academician -- was one of the most fruitful geniuses of his time.

his invention of multiphase electrical systems proved to be revolutionary in the production and transmission of electricity.

tomovic, 77, academician and professor at the belgrade university school of electrical engineering, is the inventor of the 'belgrade' artificial hand.

in 1958, tomovic wrote a monograph titled high-speed analogue computers that the first time ever dealt with the use of computers for solving differential equations.

the first computers of the kind appeared in the world in the early fifties, with tomovic giving his contribution to the representation of mathematical solutions in the form of the curve.

[22] MILOSEVIC, SMITH ON IMPLEMENTATION OF DAYTON AGREEMENT

a statement released by the serbian presidential office said that a positive assessment had been given to the results of the implementation.

both sides agreed that cooperation in the implementation of the peace plan had helped stabilize peace in war-affected regions, the statement said.

both sides said they expected progress to be made also in the implementation of civilian and political aspects of the peace agreement, the statement said and added that economic reconstruction and preparations for the coming elections for legal institutions in both bosnian entities (the republika srpska and the muslim-croat federation) were a priority.

in this context, the importance of the freedom of movement, which should be promoted, was specially stressed, the statement said.

the statement quoted both sides as saying that the easing of tension in the regions of former hostilities was an important condition for the strengthening of stability and overall normalization of the situation, which requires primarily a strict observation of obligations taken by the sides to the agreement and political settlement of all issues.

the talks were also attended by yugoslav foreign minister milan milutinovic and charge d'affaires of the u.s. embassy in belgrade lawrence butler, the statement said.

[23] YUGOSLAV NATIONAL BANK COUNCIL DEMANDS REPLACEMENT OF GOVERNER AVRAMOVIC

in a letter, signed by six council members (dusan vlatkovic, krunoslav vukcevic, djordje djukic, petrasin kasalica, zlatan perucic and dragan tomic), it is said that such a decision aims to prevent 'further economic damages at this crucial period for our country.'

the nby council said that avramovic had changed his conduct following recent talks with the international monetary fund (imf) in paris which, the letter said, 'the council cannot explain and accept.'

the council said that further cooperation with the governer is impossible and that avramovic first clashed with the vice-governers, then with his deputy, and then continued the dispute with 'a series of tactless statements, illogical demands and unfounded accusations' against the yugoslav government.

the nby council said that these conflicts have caused much damage to yugoslavia and that there are no objective reasons not to end this end ju/sk/mb

[24] ADMIRAL SMITH: PROGRESS MADE IN IMPLEMENTING BOSNIA PEACE PLAN

after a meeting with milosevic, smith said that the talks had focused on the successful hitherto implementation of the dayton agreement and on some problems, primarily concerning the freedom of movement in the whole of bosnia-herzegovina.

smith said that there were evidence of a possibility of free movement in many places in bosnia but that a greater degree of such freedom was sought, as well as cooperation of all sides in settling this and other problems.

he said that ifor had so far built or reconstructed over 50 bridges and repaired a number of roads.

there are now four airports ready for operation in bosnia, he said.

these include sarajevo airport, which has been open for traffic without interruption since the peace agreement came into effect, and tuzla airport, while mostar airport is open only at daytime.

the international commission for air traffic is expected to issue a permit for the use of banjaluka airport in the near future, smith said.

generally speaking, things are moving on quite well, he said, adding that he was particularly satisfied with the implementation of the military part of the bosnian peace agreement.

[25] BURNS: U.S. WILL NOT LET MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION FAIL

the meeting, hosted by u.s. secretary of state warren christopher, is attended by top-level officials of the federation, the sarajevo government and croatia -- federation president kresimir zubak, a croat, federation vice-president ejup ganic, a muslim, premier of the sarajevo muslim government hasan muratovic, croatian foreign minister mate granic and others.

the agreement on the creation of a muslim-croat federation in bosnia-herzegovina was signed in washington in march 1994 under u.s. pressure after one-year fierce fighting and mutual ethnic cleansing between bosnian muslims and croats, particularly in southern and central bosnia.

even after over two years, the federation remains a dead letter and the two federal partners have not settled their disputes.

the washington meeting is yet another attempt by clinton's administration, which brought about the setting up of the federation, to invigorate the idea because it is of paramount importance for the success of the dayton peace accord.

[26] YUGOSLAV PREMIER: CRUCIAL MOMENT IN BUILDING NEW ECONOMIC SYSTEM

kontic said that favorable conditions had been created for a radical break-through in the finalization and arrangement of a market-oriented economic system, which was 'imperative for opening better development prospects.'

he said that a speedy normalization of relations between yugoslavia and the world was a prerequisite for a regular functioning of state and economic institutions and for the setting up of new, modern institutions and practices, compatible with institutions and practices of highly developed industrialized economies, especially in the european union.

economic stability and development are not current tasks, but permanent and unavoidable aims, inseparable from the over-all prosperity of the country, said kontic.

addressing the parliament, kontic said: 'on that basis, yugoslavia can expect support from international financial and other institutions and foreign partners in general.'

he said that the ownership structure, despite some political changes, had remained insufficiently adapted to open market economy requirements.

kontic said that the international blockade of yugoslavia had dimmed the success of certain firms, but that some firms would nevertheless have to go bankrupt, and most others to adapt to new standards.

he said that the yugoslav government was 'preparing an expansive developmental policy, even though its success will depend also on outside factors.' therefore, he said, 'full attention is paid to yugoslavia's economic and political approach to the world.'

kontic said there were no difficult obstacles in communication between yugoslavia and the world (the european union and the international monetary fund) on essential economic issues.

the speedy normalization of relations with international financial-trade organizations and with european integrations present yugoslavia's strategic interest, kontic said.

he added that, in spite of most e.u. countries being willing to regulate relations with yugoslavia, 'there are certain political preconditions to the global development of economic relations.'

that is why the so-called realization in phases is quite acceptable to yugoslavia, in which diplomatic relations are raised first, and then trade prefentials restored, and then yugoslavia is included in the international phare program, he said.

'the federal government has therefore adopted a program for work on achieving harmony between yugoslavia's legal system and e.u. regulations,' kontic said.

pointing out that there is no dynamization of economic activities or structural changes without a normalization of relations with international financial and trade organizations, kontic pointed out that dialogue had already been opened with them.

accord has been reached with many countries for the continued implementation of inter-state agreements of the former yugoslav federation, which has realized the legal continuity of the federal republic of yugoslavia, he said.

'we are not denying any economic aspect of the return of our membership rights in international organizations, but political issues are in the forefront, such as continuity and succession,' kontic said, pointing out that these were 'categories which can have major consequences on our (yugoslavia's) international position.'

the yugoslav government has therefore opted to separate property-legal and economic issues, which are within the authority of international financial institutions, from political-legal issues, of which the united nations are in charge, kontic said.

underscoring the importance of the normalization of relations with the world trade organization, the yugoslav prime minister said yugoslavia would turn to a pragmatic solution which would not disrupt the principled national options.

'the promotion of economic-system-related conditions is linked with the promotion of international cooperation,' kontic concluded.

[27] U.N. HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES PLANS NEW ACTIVITIES IN BOSNIA

unhcr spokesman ron redmond told reporters in geneva on tuesday that bus lines would link mostar in the muslim-croat federation with nevesinje in the republika srpska, drvar and zenica with banjaluka, and tuzla with zvornik, in the eastern republika srpska.

redmond said that these would be commercial lines and that the unhcr would offer various assistance to transport companies to maintain the lines.

the unhcr made public tuesday ten basic principles which would be applied to visits of refugees and displaced persons to places in either of the entities in bosnia-herzegovina.

the principles include that a group planning to visit a place in one of the entities should first contact the unhcr, which would then arrange the visit with local authorities and contact the group representatives.

the unhcr would inform the multinational peace implementation force (ifor) and the u.n. civilian police before each group leaves, in order to secure conditions for a safe visit.

the unhcr would organize meetings with groups of displaced persons and refugees to determine who has the right to a visit of this kind.

the unhcr would report on each violation of the principles to the international community's high representative for the implementation of the civilian aspect of the dayton peace accords carl bildt and the ifor command.

[28] YUGOSAV VICE-PREMIER ACCUSES GOVERNOR OF USURPING NATIONAL BANK

'what we have here is that one man aspires to be the yugoslav national bank and wishes to seize authority of governments and other state institutions and to dictate to us how we should act in our affairs,' zebic said in a yugoslav parliament debate, speaking about avramovic's speech.

zebic said the yugoslav government was authorized under the constitution to conduct the country's economic policy, including also the credit-monetary policy, and that the yugoslav national bank was obliged to help in the implementation of that state policy.

pointing out that the bank was not fulfilling this obligation, zebic said the governor was taking credit for everything positive resulting from the economic measures, and blaming the government for all the faults.

'federal government decisions are not being realized in the yugoslav national bank. the governor carries out those decisions which he wants to, and those which he does not - he does not,' zebic said, concluding that avramovic was not protecting yugoslav interests.

zebic assessed the governor's speech on talks with the international monetary fund as 'an improvisation at random.'

zebic indicated that the government had established a platform for talks on the grounds of the constitution and that 'a stand which is -- the stand of the federal republic of yugoslavia -- must be presented outside (the country).'

he added that the finance ministry, which he heads, had great problems in cooperation with the national bank, specifying that the bank was withholding data on credits and obligations of banks.

recalling the governor's claim that he had been given approval by yugoslav premier radoje kontic 'not to stick to the government platform,' zebic pointed out that 'no-one can grant such rights' and said the prime minister flatly denied that he had given any such approval.

he denied also the governor's claims that 'ministers demand the printing of money', noting that no ministers had been named.

accepting the statement that expenditures in yugoslavia were large, zebic said 'our (yugoslavia's) expenditures are of such a nature that they are still not flexible and their reduction is toilsome and difficult, until the people start working more and until production is back on its feet.'

he pointed out that the greatest items in expenditures were pensions, health insurance, social security, medical care of refugees and wounded, and also for maintaining refugees (about 700,000 of them), the army, and others.

zebic said the yugoslav finance ministry would start failing to carry out part of its functions 'if this situation continues to be tolerated and no solution is found immediately today or tomorrow.'

part of the functions of this ministry are in coordination with the national bank and yugoslavia's overall banking system, with payment operations, and 'this is where a complete break has taken place,' zebic said.

he asked deputies to adopt an adequate decision on the basis of facts.

[29] OPPOSITION PARTIES SUPPORT YUGOSLAV NATIONAL BANK GOVERNOR

representatives of the serbian renewal movement, the democratic party, the montenegrin peoples' party and the social-democratic party of montenegro expressed full solidarity with avramovic at news conferences held during a break in a yugoslav parliament session on a package of system-related bills.

serbian renewal movement leader vuk draskovic said that the conflict between the federal government and avramovic was not between parties or ideologies, but between significantly different projects for the future of the country.

democratic party president zoran djindjic said that avramovic, as different to the current government, was practically advocating an european model of life, where rules of the world economic policy had to be adopted.

novak kilibarda, president of the montenegrin peoples' party, said that avramovic, if relieved of duty as governor, would be even more dangerous to the governments in belgrade and podgorica.

leader of the social-democratic party of montenegro srdjan darmanovic said that he feared that the opposition's support to avramovic would not be sufficient to change his planned replacement.

he said that avramovic could not be replaced unless the ruling montenegrin democratic party of socialists supported such a plan, adding that it was obviously a matter of trade between serbia and montenegro.

milan gajovic, democratic party of socialists whip, said that there were no differences between the montenegrin and the federal governments, the latter being a coalition of the democratic party of socialists and the socialist party of serbia.

he said that at the moment, he could not state an official stand of the montenegrin socialists on the conflict between the federal government and avramovic.

montenegro is for a governor who will be determined to lead restrictive credit and monetary policies and secure stability of the yugoslav currency (dinar) and a low inflation rate, gajovic said.

he said that the conflict between the federal government and avramovic was about authority.

leader of the opposition serbian radical party vojislav seselj said that his party would support the replacement of yugoslav prime minister radoje kontic and that it disagreed with avramovic's dropping yugoslavia's request for continuity with the former yugoslavia.

'we are glad that avramovic has unveiled the true nature of the regime, but if we renounce continuity, the world powers and the united nations will force us to pay war reparations, problems will be made of the issues of kosmet, sandzak and vojvodina, and the property of the former yugoslav peoples' army, worth 80 billion dollars, will be claimed,' seselj said.

[30] YUGOSLAVIA'S ROLE IN IMPLEMENTATION OF DAYTON ACCORDS POSITIVE

yugoslavia was in these meetings praised also for its efforts to take care of more than 640,000 refugees from war-torn areas of former yugoslavia.

the yugoslav delegation, headed by yugoslav minister tomica raicevic, on monday took part in a meeting of the working group for humanitarian issues.

in talks with representative of the international federation of red cross and red crescent societies margaret valstrom, the yugoslav delegation learned that the organization would continue sending humanitarian aid to yugoslavia at the present level.

head of the world food program office bernd kaes also said aid would continue to arrive at the present level and that it was very important that part of this aid was being secured through purchases of yugoslav products, primarily wheat and meat.

dirctor general of the world health organization hiroshi nakajima said the organization was very pleased with the current cooperation with yugoslavia and would continue to send aid in medicines at the same pace.

the yugoslav delegation was received at the international migrations organization by james purcell who asssed as very positive the meeting of the working group for humanitarian affairs, especially the conclusions of this meeting which should give impetus to the process of the massive return of displaced persons and refugees.

yugoslav delegation head raicevic urged in these talks equal treatment in the process of repatriation of all refugees and displaced persons -- those from bosnia-herzegovina as well as the ones from krajina.

[31] SO FAR 4,812 UNTAES MEMBERS ARRIVE

speaking at a press conference, he said the number included members of the military part and those of civilian services.

as planned, the military component will have 5,000 members and the civilian about 200.

under an agreement between representatives of croatia and local serbs, the area will have a one-year u.n. administration with a possible one-year extension.

the untaes spokesman said conditions had already been met for the start of the demilitarization of the area, but he could no specify the day when u.n. administrator jacques klein would inform the u.n. secretary-general about this.

all military units will be disbanded during demilitarization and their equipment removed from the area, he said. part of the local police will remain, but they will work in close coordination with u.n. police forces, he said.

the untaes urges the openness of borders and freedom of movement for citizens in the area both toward croatia and yugoslavia, the spokesman said. automobiles will soon be reregistered, so that vehicles from eastern slavonija, baranja and west srem will get an additional u.n. registration plate.

arnold said travel and other documents would be issued by a special office set up by the croatian side in a month's time.

[32] CONTRARY OPINIONS OF YUGOSLAV MPS ON GOVERNOR-GOVERNMENT CONFLICT

yugoslav vice-premier and justice minister nikola sainovic rejected insinuations that the government was not urging yugoslavia's reintegration in the international community.

'yugoslavia's reintegration in the united nations, european union, and the conference on security and cooperation in europe, and all international financial organizations is in agreement with our policy of peace, and the appointment of ambassadors is the first step in that process,' he said, adding that this was the desired pace of reintegration.

'circumstances, surroundings, the outer ring of sanctions, and many other international factors limit this pace, but things are proceeding in a positive direction,' he said.

sainovic also denied claims by the governor that the government was postponing talks with the international monetary fund for another six months, underscoring that yugoslavia was in favor of controversial issues with the international monetary fund being resolved already by june 14 and having its status normalized.

democratic party of socialists of montenegro whip milan gajovic urged a compromise in the conflict between the governor and the yugoslav government, because he said the economic situation so dictated.

praising the governor for the results achieved so far, gajovic however, criticized him for his 'sharp and emotional speech.'

gajovic said montenegrin socialists would support the yugoslav national bank for a restrictive policy and firm control of the money mass, but also the yugoslav government in the implementation of its foreign policy and proposed system-related bills, as it was impossible to implement privatization without them.

gajovic, however, said in a statement to the montenegrin radio and television late tuesday, that his party would vote for the replacement of the governor if it came to dissolving the national bank council or replacing the governor.

miroljub labus of the opposition democratic party said the conflict between the governor and the council of the national bank and the conflict between avramovic and the yugoslav government were marginal issues, and that he believed the central issue was 'whether yugoslavia will joint europe or asia.'

independent mp brana crncevic assessed the replacement of the governor would have major and serious political consequences.

opposition serbian renewal movement whip milan komnenic said the essence of the conflict between the opposition and the socialists was 'in the demands to print money.'

the parliament chamber resumes work tomorrow.

[33] U.S. BRINGS ABOUT NEW AGREEMENT BETWEEN BOSNIAN MUSLIMS AND CROATS

the latest muslim-croat agreement also provides for the setting up of a joint command structure and joint civilian-led defence ministry.

the united states has also brought about agreement on a free return of refugees to their homes.

u.s. secretary of state warren christopher, who announced the deal, did not disclose details on the joint armed forces but sources said that the croatian conception had prevailed.

croats favoured a defence law under which the joint armed forces would have a joint command structure but would keep the ethnic outline. the muslims were for single and not joint armed forces.

the wasington talks were attended by federation president kresimir zubak, a croat, federation vice-president ejup ganic, a muslim, premier of the muslim government in sarajevo hasan muratovic and croatian foreign minister mate granic.

the united states convened the meeting because clinton's administration, which brought about the setting up of the muslim-croat federation, maintains that its success is of paramount importance. washington believes that the muslim-croat federation is also crucial for the dayton peace accord.

after one-year fierce fighting and mutual ethnic cleansing, particularly in central and southern bosnia in 1993, bosnian muslims and croats yielded to u.s. pressure and signed in march 1994 an agreement on the setting up of a federation. the federationn, however, has remained a dead letter.

[34] MUSLIMS IN MOSTAR: THERE ARE NO CONDITIONS FOR HOLDING ELECTIONS

mostar, divided into the eastern, muslim, part, and western, croat, part, should be a united city under the terms of the dayton peace accord.

there are not the minimum conditions for holding elections in mostar, said the radio, as there is no freedom of movement, political activity or approach to the media.

the radio said that a decision by the european union, taken at a meeting in brussels on monday, whereby the elections must be held in the scheduled date, was received with incredulity and anxiety among muslims.

the muslims were angered by a statement by european adminstrator in mostar ricardo peres casado to the effect that elections could not be postponed merely because muslims would not take part in them.

another cause for dissatisfaction are the regulations prescribed by the eu, allowing for only those citizens present in the city on the day of the elections and whose names are on the 1991 census list to vote.

at the beginning of bosnia's civil war, about 40,000 serbs were driven from mostar, before the muslims and croats began fighting for domination over the city.

[35] YUGOSLAV LOWER HOUSE RESUMES WORK

the issue was put on the agenda on tuesday at the initiative of the council of the yugoslav national bank, yugoslav governor dragoslav avramovic and the federal government.

the first day of the session was held in a heated atmosphere and deputies presented contrary opinions on the conflict between avramovic and the federal government.

the first one to address the parliament on tuesday was avramovic who exposed his views on the current economic situation, ways to overcome difficulties and renew cooperation with the international financial institutions.

on the other hand, six members of the national bank's council demanded the mps either to sack the governor or dissolve the council since, as they said, cooperation between them was impossible.

a group of opposition mps on wednesday interrupted the proceedings and demanded an explanation on the negotiations between the yugoslav government and international financial institutions and the governor's status.

in the interpellation, 26 mps of the serbian renewal movement (spo), the democratic party (ds), the social-democratic party of the yugoslav republic of montenegro (sdp cg), montenegro's people's party (ns cg) called for removing premier kontic and his cabinet.

the mps are also expected to discuss 20-odd organic laws, including a law on the transformation of socially-owned capital and laws on enterprises, foreign investments, cooperatives, amnesty, labour, strikes and the tax system.

[36] RS PRESIDENT KARADZIC REMOVES FROM OFFICE PREMIER KASAGIC

president karadzic's office said that premier kasagic was removed 'with a view to protecting the constitutional order, pursuing the adopted policy and preventing further widening of governmental crisis'.

rs president, the statement said, assessed that the premier was disorientated and that he had 'caused considerable damage that would have imminently jeopardized the fundamental interests of the state and of the people'.

the statement said that until the appointment of the a new mandator, the government of the serb entity in bosnia and herzegovina will be led by the vice-president.

[37] CROATIA'S POLICE ARE OMNIPOTENT

prague, may 15 (tanjug) - tourists cannot be safe in croatia because its police are omnipotent, czechs say in reaction to an unpleasant episode between six czech tourists and croatian policemen.

the agonizing episode started when the six czech tourists tried to photograph the croatian policemen who were searching through their belongings and equipment, throwing the things around, damaging them and even taking some.

the czech tourists, who are divers and sea water photographers from tahovo, wanted to spend their holidays in croatia's istria but went through a tantalizing experience instead, czech papers said.

after a 'close encounter' with a police patrol, the czechs were first harrassed, then arrested and forcibly detained. a local court in rabac condemned them to a suspended sentence and expelled them from croatia.

on their way to the coast, the czechs were stopped by a police patrol. the policemen started searching through their belongings and equipment in the van without any special reasons. one of the tourists, bohumir kracmar tried to photograph the policemen but they immediately started beating him.

the six were then taken to the police station where they were kept for 12 hours in small cells without food or water. no explanation was given. kracmar was beaten once again. one of the czechs, who has diabetes, was not permitted to take his pills.

after 24 hours, the czechs were released from the police station but without passports and equipment. they were told to appear before the court in two days.

they managed to obtain the czech embassy in zagreb only the second day. the embassy had previously been contacted by their families.

there were no information about my husband, but the embassy official told me that croatia had gone through war and that police had infinite power, the wife of one of the arrested czechs told the paper zemske novini.

kracmar told the paper pravo that when he contacted the embassy they told him that nothing could be done because the police in croatia were omnipotent.

the czechs were left to themselves, the self-will of the police and local authorities and were expeditiously tried without an interpreter and then expelled from croatia.

[38] BILDT CONCERNED WITH POOR PREPARATIONS FOR ELECTIONS IN BOSNIA

in an interview to wednesday's issue of banjaluka bi-monthly nezavisne novine, bildt said that the situation is also difficult in the media sphere, especially on television.

bildt said it is important that television is permitted equal coverage of political parties whose political, social, economic and other programs should be shown in an objective manner because tv should not serve as a propoganda machine for only one party.

speaking about the implementation of the civilian part of the dayton agreement, bildt said that there are tendencies in the bosnian serb state republika srpska to 'neglect the need to secure the freedom of movement and the right of refugees to return home, while in the bosnian federation there are tendencies to ignore the existence of republika srpska.'

bildt said that regarding cooperation with serbian president slobodan milosevic, 'belgrade and president milosevic support all who are committed to and are engaged in the implementation of the dayton accords, and that bosnian serb prime minister rajko kasagic had definitively opted for this.' end mb/dd/mb

[39] YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT ADOPTS PRINCIPLES FOR SETTING UP TRIBUNAL'S BELGRADE OFFICE

the office will operate in keeping with the yugoslav constitution and other laws and the liaison officer and bureau officials will enjoy diplomatic immunity and all privileges in accordance with the international law, the yugoslav information secretariat said in a statement.

it is in yugoslavia's interest that all persons who have violated international humanitarian law in the former yugoslavia be punished, regardless of their nationality and religion, the statement said.

under the agreement, the bureau will have to talk with all those who wish to make statements in connection with war crimes.

the fact that the largest number of people indicted by the tribunal are serbs was justified by the non-existence of a liaison office on the serb side and a lack of possibilities that investigators get relevant information about muslim and croat criminals, the statement said.

[40] FRANCE AGAINST CROATIA'S MEMBERSHIP IN COUNCIL OF EUROPE

the french ministry criticized human rights violations of the serb population in croatia and the secessionist ambitions of bosnian croats, who are supported by the regime of president franjo tudjman.

france objected at the eu ministerial council two days ago in brussels, along with other eu members, to croatia becoming a member of the council of europe because of its 'strange democracy', as german foreign minister klaus kinkel described the authorities in zagreb.

following yesterday's decision of the council of europe to postpone indefinitely zagreb's membership, croatian 'democracy' is also the subjet of debate in the french press.

the influential parisian le monde recalled that tudjman made several undemocratic decisions, that he dissolved zagreb city assembly in which the opposition had won a majority and that he took legal action against the 'disobedient' press and journalists.

le monde also said that the authorities in zagreb were preventing the return of serb refugees to their homes and contributing to the uncertain fate of the city of mostar, 'where croatian extermists foment tension between the muslim and croatian communities.'

the daily liberation said that croatia 'has yet to coordinate its reality with the norms of the council of europe on democracy and the human rights', before it can count on membership in that organization.

[41] POSTPONEMENT OF ADMITTANCE INTO COUNCIL OF EUROPE SURPRISES CROATIA

zagreb regarded its admittance into the council of europe as a fait accompli after the parliamentary assembly's april recommendation.

zagreb press on wednesday wrote with disbelief that no other country had ever been forced to wait for admittance in the council of europe after a parliamentary assembly decision.

the press described this as a precedent and said that croatia had to undergo some sort of a 'special treatment.'

the zagreb daily vijesnik wondered why croatia's case was the precedent.

vijesnik said that the date for a final decision on croatia's admittance in the council of europe had not been set in strasbourg, but that a proposal had been accepted to set deadlines in which croatia would have to meet its obligations.

croatian foreign ministry official in charge of european integrations mladen andrlic said that the strasbourg decision was disappointing and described the setting of deadlines as an 'inappropriate interference in a state's internal affairs.'

the istrian democratic assembly was the first croatian opposition party to react, saying that the postponement was both a precedent and result primarily of the 'dangerous policy of the (ruling) croatian democratic union towards media, minorities and voters' will.'

Copyright © Tanjug, Yugoslavia, 1996

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