Tanjug Daily News Review, 96-05-15

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

May 15, 1996
NEWS AGENCY - TANJUG
DAILY NEWS REVIEW

CONTENTS

[01] WORLD BANK PREPARES RECONSTRUCTION PROGRAMS FOR REPUBLIKA SRPSKA

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

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

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

[05] IFOR COMMANDER: U.S. TROOPS WERE RIGHT TO HAND OVER MUSLIM TERRORISTS

[06] GEN. WALKER: DECISION TO HAND OVER MUSLIM TERRORISTS TO SERBS WAS RIGHT

[07] GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS BONN HAS NEVER PURSUED ANTI-SERB POLICY

[08] U.N. CONCERNED ABOUT REPLACEMENT OF REPUBLIKA SRPSKA PRIME MINISTER

[09] U.N. CONCERNED ABOUT REPLACEMENT OF REPUBLIKA SRPSKA PRIME MINISTER

[10] OPPOSITION PARTIES SUPPORT YUGOSLAV NATIONAL BANK GOVERNOR

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

[12] SO FAR 4,812 UNTAES MEMBERS ARRIVE

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

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

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

[16] RS PRESIDENT KARADZIC REMOVES FROM OFFICE PREMIER KASAGIC

[17] CROATIA'S POLICE ARE OMNIPOTENT

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

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

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

[21] BELLON: ALL POSITIVE FORCES MUST BE MOBILIZED IN UNTAES REGION IN TRANSITION PERIOD

[22] YUGOSLAV NATIONAL BANK GOVERNOR AVRAMOVIC DISMISSED

[23] WAR DAMAGES TO BE ASSESSED SOON IN UNTAES REGION

[24] YUGOSLAV NATIONAL BANK GOVERNOR AVRAMOVIC DISMISSED (REOPENS)

[25] EX-US OFFICIAL: MUSLIMS, CROATS CANNOT BE FORCED TO STAY TOGETHER

[26] YUGOSLAV VICE-PREMIER ON ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES OF YUGOSLAV NATIONAL BANK

[27] SOLANA, JOULWAN IN BELGRADE THURSDAY

[28] INTERNATIONAL OFFICIALS SAY BANJALUKA AIRPORT READY FOR USE

[29] REPUBLIKA SRPSKA CABINET TO BE CHAIRED BY VICE PREMIERS

[30] PRIMAKOV TO VISIT BELGRADE IN LATE MAY

[31] YUGOSLAV PREMIER: GOVERNMENT HAS NO CONFLICT WITH NATIONAL BANK, BUT WITH ITS GOVERNOR AS AN INDIVIDUAL

[32] HAGUE COURT TO RETURN FORMER REPUBLIKA SRPSKA SOLDIER TO YUGOSLAVIA

[33] YUGOSLAV PARLIAMENT LOWER, UPPER HOUSES OUST NATIONAL BANK GOVERNOR

[34] KINKEL ARRIVES IN BELGRADE

[35] YUGOSLAV AND GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTERS BEGIN TALKS

[01] 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.

[02] 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.

[03] 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.

[04] 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.

[05] IFOR COMMANDER: U.S. TROOPS WERE RIGHT TO HAND OVER MUSLIM TERRORISTS

'the (peace) agreement clearly characterizes such armed groups, military or civilian, as threats to the peace,' walker said in a statement quoted by news agencies.

he said that desiite wanting to question them, ifor was obligated to turn such people to authorities at whose territory they had been captured.

[06] GEN. WALKER: DECISION TO HAND OVER MUSLIM TERRORISTS TO SERBS WAS RIGHT

according to the peace accord, such an armed group, whether military or civilian, is considered a threat to peace, gen. walker said in a statement carried by news agencies.

ifor must hand over any such group to the authorities of the territory in which they were captured, although ifor would also very much like to question them, walker explained.

security authorities in zvornik, eastern r.s., charged the seven members of a special muslim force with the killing of at least six civilians in villages in the milici area 40 km from zvornik. they were arrested on may 7 in the village of planinci near zvornik.

muslim authorities in sarajevo had requested ifor intervention for the release of the captured terrorists, claiming they were muslims who had remained in hiding in r.s. since the fall of srebrenica (eastern bosnia) last summer and were on the list of missing persons.

[07] GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS BONN HAS NEVER PURSUED ANTI-SERB POLICY

kinkel, who is to arrive in belgrade on thursday, said that he would urge a speedy and consistent implementation of the dayton agreement and that his visit to belgrade was 'part of a policy agreed on at the european union and 'contact group' for bosnia.'

german press said on wednesday that kinkel's coming visit to belgrade was the most important step in the normalization of bilateral relations and praised the yugoslav side for its readiness to enter a new phase of cooperation unburdened.

the german-yugoslav relations were frozen since 1991, when bonn recognized the secessionist yugoslav republics of slovenia, croatia and bosnia-herzegovina.

the two countries fully restored diplomatic relations on april 30, when credentials of the new german ambassador to yugoslavia were accepted.

[08] U.N. CONCERNED ABOUT REPLACEMENT OF REPUBLIKA SRPSKA PRIME MINISTER

'the u.n. is extremely disturbed by the removal of mr. kasagic from his position,' especially because his contacts with the united nations were quoted as one of the reasons for his replacement, u.n. spokesman in sarajevo alexander ivanko was quoted by news agencies as saying.

'removal of mr. kasagic will not serve the interests of the bosnian serb people,' ivanko said and added that this could only be an obstacle in the way of stability.

a statement released by the republika srpska presidential office said that republika srpska president radovan karadzic had replaced kasagic in order to 'prevent further deepening of the crisis in the functioning of the government.'.

the statement said that kasagic's work had resulted in considerable damage that would lead to the jeopardizing of basic interests of the nation and the state.

ivanko said that the decision had been made by a person indicted by the hague-based international criminal tribunal, who should not occupy a public position under the dayton agreement.

we deplore the replacement, unhcr spokesman chris janowski said and added that kasagic was known as one of the moderates within the republika srpska leadership.

german foreign minister klaus kinkel said in a statement that kasagic's replacement was another proof that the dayton agreement could not be implemented with karadzic.

the statement, submitted to the tanjug correspondent in bonn, said that all politicians who advocate their own interests and who should be tried by the hague tribunal, should be isolated in order to restore peace in bosnia-herzegovina.

[09] U.N. CONCERNED ABOUT REPLACEMENT OF REPUBLIKA SRPSKA PRIME MINISTER

nato secretary-general javier solana has rejected the ousting of rs prime minister rajko kasagic.

solana told a press conference in luxembourg that he considered rs president radovan karadzic's decision to oust kasagic as invalid. 'i take no account of his (karadzic's) declarations,' he said.

'i will continue with my scheduled visit to banja luka with the prime minister of republika srpska.' solana said. he said kasagic was still the only person in the republika srpska with whom he would meet.

[10] 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.

[11] 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.

[12] 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.

[13] 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.

[14] 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.

[15] 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.

[16] 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.

[17] 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.

[18] 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

[19] 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.

[20] 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.'

[21] BELLON: ALL POSITIVE FORCES MUST BE MOBILIZED IN UNTAES REGION IN TRANSITION PERIOD

croatian and local serb authorities are directly responsible for confidence-building among the region's population in the period, but international organizations active in the region also have indirect responsibility, he said at a press conference.

a one-year transitional u.n. administration was established in in november 1995 in this region in croatia inhabited mainly by serbs, and can be extended by another year if necessary.

according to bellon, loal serb population feels insecure and nervous, especially after croatian army actions blitz and storm in the spring of 1995, when about 300,000 serbs were expelled from krajina and slavonia.

referring to the amnesty recently announced by croatian government, bellon said it was very important for the safety of former combatants, adding it must be applied throughout croatia except as regards persons facing war crimes charges acording to international humanitarian law.

bellon said about 300 serbs remained in croatian prisons, where they are regularly visited by icrc representatives, adding he hoped that all who had not committed war crimes would be released soon.

he also recalled that 450 serbs were reported missing in the blitz and storm operations, and that about 20,000 persons are reported missing throughout the former yugoslavia according to icrc figures.

[22] YUGOSLAV NATIONAL BANK GOVERNOR AVRAMOVIC DISMISSED

seventy-five deputies supported the motion in an open ballot while 33 deputies opposed it. there were no abstainers in the voting.

the motion to dismiss avramovic had been made by parliament deputy ivko djonovic of the ruling socialist party of serbia.

[23] WAR DAMAGES TO BE ASSESSED SOON IN UNTAES REGION

after meeting the president of this serb region goran hadzic, fischer said the teams, to be financed by a u.s. agency and norwegian government, would first evaluate the property owned by people before the conflict, and then assess real damages.

avoiding to answer directly what he thought on the supension of a decision on croatia's admission in the council of europe, fischer said the time had come for serbs and croats to find a common ground for human rights respect in the region.

after untaes leaves, the human rights situation in the region will be monitored by international agencies and present sponsors of the u.n. mission, he added.

hadzic and u.n. administrator for the region jacques klein had agreed to place the local oil deposit dzeletovci under untaes control as of tuesday, fischer said.

there is no longer any reason why dzeletovci should remain closed and the region remain deprived of the oil it needs, hadzic said adding that the problem of fuel supplies to the region would be resolved by the end of this week.

commenting the statement by german foreign minister klaus kinkel that serbs have the right to autonomy in croatian regions where they are a majority population, hadzic said this provided an opportunity to the serbs to remain in the region with a minimum of necessary conditions they hope to ensure.

[24] YUGOSLAV NATIONAL BANK GOVERNOR AVRAMOVIC DISMISSED (REOPENS)

the upper chamber has a total of 40 deputies. the session was attended by 32 deputies but opposition mps walked out before the voting, so that the present 26 mps all voted in favor of the dismissal, with no-one opposed or abstaining.

avramovic declined to comment the decision on his dismissal after the voting in the chamber of citizens. he only said that he had proposed the mps vote in answer to a roll call so that their votes are clear.

opposition deputies applauded him as avramovic left the yugoslav parliament building.

[25] EX-US OFFICIAL: MUSLIMS, CROATS CANNOT BE FORCED TO STAY TOGETHER

he said that attempts to this end would only deepen tensions in relations between the two sides, now formal federation partners, which obviously aspire to separation.

kenny has decided to leave a high position in the state department, where he has been in charge of former yugoslavia, unhappy with the us policy in bosnia-herzegovina.

the southeastern bosnia-herzegovina, mainly populated by bosnian croats, uses the currency of neighboring croatia and has been completely integrated in it, he said.

at the same time, the muslim-croat federation will not be able to function unless the muslim leadership in sarajevo renounces their muslim platform, kenny said.

he said that despite washington and some european countries believing in a secular nature of bosnia-herzegovina, the local muslim leadership had turned toward an islamic state concept, which croats could not accept.

in an attempt to save the muslim-croat federation in bosnia, the clinton administration succeeded on tuesday in persuading the federation partners to agree to form a common army.

the muslim-croat federation, set up in march 1994 under strong pressure from washington, has never gotten off the ground.

[26] YUGOSLAV VICE-PREMIER ON ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES OF YUGOSLAV NATIONAL BANK

speaking at a session of the chamber of citizens of the yugoslav parliament, zebic said the bank had not given a single dinar to the yugoslav budget in the past two years, although it had been obliged to do so under the law.

all the bank's earnings in excess of expenditures must go into the federal treasury.

the yugoslav national bank never presented any sum in excess, but raised expenditures to cover all its earnings, the minister said.

zebic said the lawyer engaged in london in connection with the conflict with slovenia and croatia had not been engaged by the yugoslav government, but by yugoslav national bank governor dragoslav avramovic. he showed the signed contract and the governor's instructions to the lawyer.

'the governor is now shifting responsibility for his actions on to us (the government) and i do not know under whose pressure and interest he is placing the problem of slovenia and croatia above the interests of the federal republic of yugoslavia,' zebic said.

'who authorized the governor to talk with slovenia and croatia on the division of gold and hard currency accounts,' zebic asked. he said: 'only when the division of assets and liabilities is completed shall we see who owes what to whom, because perhaps they will have to pay us.'

commenting avramovic's decision to dismiss the vice-governor only because he had accepted his government's stand, zebic said the governor did not have the right to do so and that 'he could have only proposed to the national bank council to dismiss him (the vice-governor).'

[27] SOLANA, JOULWAN IN BELGRADE THURSDAY

solana will be accompanied by nato chief commander europe and commander-in-chief of the nato-led multinational peace implementation force (ifor) in bosnia, us general george joulwan.

according to nato sources, the nato council decided wednesday to send solana and joulwan to belgrade, and, before belgrade, to banjaluka, in the (bosnian serb) republika srpska.

although the sources did not state the objective of the visit to belgrade, observers in brussels see it as a new impetus to the implementation of the dayton accords for bosnia.

[28] INTERNATIONAL OFFICIALS SAY BANJALUKA AIRPORT READY FOR USE

kovacevic said that he hoped the airport would soon resume regular traffic, now that it has been established that it has all the necessary equipment and personnel.

the banjaluka airport is the only one rendered usable for civilian traffic in the (bosnian serb) republika srpska.

col. smyth said he was satisfied with what he had seen at the airport and thanked the officials of the international aviation organization for their assistance.

the airport has already received several aircraft carrying officials of some international bodies, ifor, and humanitarian aid.

the last regular flight from the airport in the biggest city of the republika srpska was made four years ago, in may 1992, before the un security council imposed sanctions on yugoslavia, which included air traffic.

[29] REPUBLIKA SRPSKA CABINET TO BE CHAIRED BY VICE PREMIERS

the cabinet appointed foreign minister aleksa buha member of the joint civilian committee for the implementation of the dayton accords for bosnia and coordinator of relations with the multinational peace implementation force (ifor) and the international community.

republika srpska president radovan karadzic informed the cabinet that he had relieved of duty prime minister rajko kasagic in order to protect the constitutional order and integrity of the republika srpska and secure the implementation of the adopted policies.

officials of international organizations strongly criticize karadzic's decision to dismiss kasagic.

[30] PRIMAKOV TO VISIT BELGRADE IN LATE MAY

ivanov, who recently visited belgrade, told the interfax news agency that key problems in the region and the development of yugoslav-russian relations would be considered during primakov's visit.

before visiting belgrade, primakov will meet in rome with the european union troika, ivanov said.

it had been planned in moscow earlier that primakov might also visit other states formed in former yugoslavia, but this is not possible at this time because of his busy schedule, ivanov said.

[31] YUGOSLAV PREMIER: GOVERNMENT HAS NO CONFLICT WITH NATIONAL BANK, BUT WITH ITS GOVERNOR AS AN INDIVIDUAL

yugoslavia badly needs foreign capital and cooperation with international financial organizations, pimarily the international monetary fund (imf) and the world bank, and the government does not believe different in any stand, kontic said.

the prime minister underscored that the government had not sat idle in the past period and had not waited for the imf to address it to normalize relations, but had worked on preparing five standard economic projects in parallel with the activities on regulating its status in the imf.

the fund asks for these projects, he said, when it decides on new financial arrangements.

kontic pointed out that, under the constitution, only the yugoslav government is responsible for relations and is authorized to establish stands for such talks, which was done already in early 1993, when the national bank governor was a different official.

kontic said yugoslavia had at that time accepted the economic conditions set by the imf executive directors for legal-formal succession of imf membership, to participate with 36.52 percent in the overall assets and liabilities of the former federation, to carry out all statutary articles of the imf and settle all due obligations, but that it had at the time raised the issue of continuity.

'we said that our option for 36.52 percent could not be a precedent for regulating the status of the federal republic of yugoslavia in any other international financial or trade organization and that this especially could not be a prejudgement of the debate within the group for succession of the geneva conference,' kontic specified.

however, he said, the normalization of relations with the imf did not take place because of a fourth condition -- that the imf board of executive directors decide if the federal republic of yugoslavia can meet its financial obligations or not and be a member.

'it is evident that this was a purely political decision, since the united states practically dominates the imf, in fact the board of executive directors,' he said.

kontic underscored that yugoslavia's proposal that the deadline of june 14 for regulating relations with the imf be extended to dec. 14, does not mean urging that the talks resume only after six months.

this request was sent only as security in case relations with the imf were not normalized until june 14, since 'we would then be treated not as a country which legally-formally inherits imf membership, but as a completely new country,' kontic said.

the request for an extension of this deadline does not mean that yugoslavia shall not normalize relations with the fund already in july, or that this should not be done, he pointed out, adding that governor avramovic had also taken part in working out the platform for talks with the imf, except in march this year when he was abroad for a longer period.

kontic said he was confident the imf letter dated may 8 opened prospects for a continuation of talks with the fund. he reiterated that it was the government's stand that there should be no insistence on economic continuity and that the question of political and legal continuity be resolved in the united nations.

the yugoslav prime minister said the government had opted for the alternative of using facilities for debt servicing with the paris and london clubs, because it was their practice to grant 20-percent off a debt at the start and subject the remainder to reorganization.

kontic accused governor avramovic of having misinformed the public on this issue, when he said that the government wanted to sell the debts at 20 percent, while their market value was allegedly about 50 percent.

kontic denied avramovic's claims that the government wanted immediately to pay the fund 104 million of the debt from its reserves, and the world bank a 1.1-billion dollar debt, even though yugoslavia's hard currency reserves stand at 300 million dollars.

kontic said 'the platform clearly states that the only possible way to pay debts is through their refinancing.'

[32] HAGUE COURT TO RETURN FORMER REPUBLIKA SRPSKA SOLDIER TO YUGOSLAVIA

investigative proceedings against kremenovic have been completed and he is no longer needed by the court as a witness, so that he will shortly be returned to the federal republic of yugoslavia, the court statement said.

the second suspect in this case, also former rs army member drazen erdemovic will face the court council on may 28. he is suspected of possible war crimes.

yugoslav authorities extradited kremenovic and erdemovic at the request of the hague tribunal on march 30 as witnesses.

erdemovic and kremenovic were arrested in yugoslavia after they gave an interview to the fernch daily le figaro in which erdemovic said he had committed crimes against muslims near the town of srebrenica in eastern bosnia-herzegovina last summer.

the court has also asked yugoslav authorities for additional documentation on erdemovic and his possible participation in the events in srebrenica last summer, the court said on wednesday.

[33] YUGOSLAV PARLIAMENT LOWER, UPPER HOUSES OUST NATIONAL BANK GOVERNOR

all opposition mps who took part in the discussion on the dismissal motion in both parliament houses spoke in favor of the governor, while all mps from the ruling socialist party of serbia and the democratic party of socialists of montenegro criticized the national bank for not being sufficiently in the service of the national economy.

serbian agriculture minister and federal mp ivko djonovic tabled the motion for avramovic's dismissal tuesday after six members of the national bank council demanded the upper house dismiss either them or the governor, saying that further cooperation with the governor was impossible.

djonovic said that avramovic had parted with every person he should be cooperating with and had claimed the right to implement certain federal government decisions and discard others, thus creating a serious problem in the functioning of the central monetary authority, especially in the agriculture sphere.

djonovic said that avramovic should be blamed the most for the difficult situation in agriculture, adding that the national bank had been asked to direct only part of the credits for the economy to agriculture, but that it had 'categorically rejected' the request.

he also criticized the national bank for not cutting interest rates, emphasizing that too high interest rates on credits 'erode the economy' and that it was ridiculous to say that interest rates cannot be cut unless the budget is reduced.

in reply, avramovic denied the statement that credits for the economy can be redirected to agriculture without adverse economic consequences, adding that 'the incompetence of agriculture to repay loans last year caused the rise in interest rates.'

calling for a drastic reduction of the budget and sales of part of the state property, avramovic said that 'if taxes and budgets are not cut, only foreign credits can maintain the stability of the dinar.'

yugoslav vice premier and finance minister jovan zebic said that the country could not place monetary power into the hands of one man.

accusing avramovic of overstepping authority, zebic said that under the law on the national bank and the yugoslav constitution, the government had the right to conduct the country's economic policy, including the credit and monetary policies, and that the national bank should help implement it.

supporting the governor, opposition mps said that the dispute between avramovic and the government had been caused by his resolute decision not to issue fresh money to secure the government in power or prepare elections, adding that 'the current government will be responsible for what will happen in the towns of serbia tomorrow.'

opposition serbian democratic party spokesman milorad jovanovic told reporters during a break in the session that he feared the consequences of the governor's dismissal could be a return to the inflationary economy and a delay in talks with international financial bodies.

speaking at a separate news conference, president of the opposition civic alliance of serbia vesna pesic said that it was absurd that a man who had managed to stabilize and save the local currency and created a program for the reconstruction of the economy had to leave his office.

[34] KINKEL ARRIVES IN BELGRADE

kinkel was welcomed at belgrade airport by his yugoslav counterpart milan milutinovic and other officials.

kinkel will be received by serbian president slobodan milosevic and meet with senior yugoslav officials.

[35] YUGOSLAV AND GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTERS BEGIN TALKS

kinkel arrived for an official visit to belgrade at the invitation of milutinovic. he will be received by serbian president slobodan milosevic.

Copyright © Tanjug, Yugoslavia, 1996

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