Yugoslav Daily Survey 96-04-19

Yugoslav Daily Survey Directory

From: ddc@nyquist.bellcore.com (D.D. Chukurov)

19 April 1996

CONTENTS

[A] THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA

[01] MILOSEVIC, DERYCKE ON UPGRADING OF YUGOSLAV-BELGIAN RELATIONS

[02] FRY EXPECTS BELGIUM TO SUPPORT RENEWAL OF YUGOSLAV MEMBERSHIP IN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

[03] YUGOSLAV-BELGIAN RELATIONS FACE GOOD PROSPECTS

[04] MINISTERS POINT TO IMPORTANCE OF NORMALIZATION OF YUGOSLAV-BELGIAN RELATIONS

[05] MILUTINOVIC RECEIVES ARAB DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATIVES

[06] YUGOSLAVIA'S PLACE IS IN OSCE

[07] YUGOSLAVIA UNRESERVEDLY DENOUNCES RECENT INCIDENT INVOLVING MOSQUE IN BELGRADE

[08] SERBIAN PATRIARCH CALLS ON BELGRADE MUFTI

[09] SERBS IMPRISONED IN CROATIA SOON TO BE RELEASED

[B] BOSNIA - HERZEGOVINA

[10] RS PREMIER SAYS NO FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE GRANTED TO REPUBLIKA SRPSKA

[11] REPUBLIKA SRPSKA AGAINST UNIFIED PAYMENT OPERATIONS SYSTEM IN BOSNIA

[12] HUNDREDS OF MUSLIMS TRY TO STORM TESLIC, NORTHERN BOSNIA

[C] SERBS IN CROATIA

[13] SERBS FROM KRAJINA DISPUTE TUDJMAN'S CLAIMS ON CROATS AS ANTIFASCISTS

[D] SREM-BARANJA REGION

[14] SERB, CROATIAN EASTERN SLAVONIA POLICEMEN TO BE TRAINED IN BUDAPEST

[E] THE HAGUE INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL

[15] PROSECUTOR GOLDSTONE DROPS CHARGES AGAINST GEN. DJUKIC

[A] THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA

[01] MILOSEVIC, DERYCKE ON UPGRADING OF YUGOSLAV-BELGIAN RELATIONS

The statement said that the importance of consolidating peace and creating stability in the Balkans, to which Yugoslavia has been making a constant contribution, had been stressed during the talks. This is why Yugoslavia's active and equal participation in international relations is in the interest of consolidating peace and developing understanding and confidence betweek states and peoples who can and should use political means to resolve outstanding issues in mutual relations, the statement said.

Yugoslav Foreign Minister Milan Milutinovic also participated in the talks, the statement said.

[02] FRY EXPECTS BELGIUM TO SUPPORT RENEWAL OF YUGOSLAV MEMBERSHIP IN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

The Belgian Foreign Minister arrived Wednesday evening on a two day official visit to FRY, at the invitation of Yugoslav Minister Milutinovic.

The two countries reiterated their commitment to work for the consistent and overall implementation of the Bosnia peace process and of the basic agreement on the Srem-Baranja Region, reached toward the end of last year.

It was concluded that the international community should invest greater efforts for the implementation of the civilian and political aspects of the Bosnia peace agreement. Equal treatment of all the parties to the peace process was stressed, including the process of economic recovery of the two entities in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Republika Srpska and the Muslim-Croat Federtaion). The two sides stressed the importance of the right of refugees to free and safe return, to the full protection of their property, and of the need to increase humanitarian aid.

Belgium plays a significant role in the implementation of the basic agreement on the Srem-Baranja Region, it was stressed, and it is expected to use its political influence in the E.U. and U.N. to implement peacefully and fairly the Serb-Croat agreement on finding a peaceful solution for the Serm-Baranja Region.

It was concluded by the two sides that there are significant possibilities for resuming and developing bilateral cooperation. The two sides expressed an interest for promoting concrete cooperation in the economic-financial, cultural-educational and scientific-technical fields.

Belgium is expected to exert an influence in the European Union to return the FRY on the list of users of preferences and regulate cooperation between the eu and FRY on the basis of the agreement on association. The first step in that direction is expected to be made by the E.U. introducing as soon as possible positive economic measures towards the FRY and thus equate its relations with all the countries in the territory of the former Yugoslavia, which have been discriminatory towards the FRY.

[03] YUGOSLAV-BELGIAN RELATIONS FACE GOOD PROSPECTS

According to Milutinovic, both sides focused on the speedy promotion of bilateral relations, the implementation of the peace process in the territory of the former Yugoslavia and the application of the basic agreement on the Srem-Baranja Region for which he said the Belgain side was specially interested. It is well known that within UNTAES Belgium plays a leading role with its 2,000 troops and General Joszef Schoups, who is UNTAES Commander, Milutinovic said.

He said that the Yugoslav side had expressed hope that Belgium would support Yugoslavia's reintegration into the international community and its institutions.

'We specially exchanged views on relations between Yugoslavia and the E.U. and expressed hope that Belgium would support the revival of Yugoslavia's previous relations and cooperation with this European integration,' Milutinovic said.

Derycke told the press that his visit to Belgrade had been 'very important.' He praised the normalization of certain segments in relations between Yugoslavia and Croatia and explained that Belgium continued to believe that for the resolution of the Yugoslav crisis it is necessary to be objective and treat all sides equally.

Derycke said that his country continues to make efforts in this direction 'as much as possible.'

He expressed satisfaction with the talks and added he was impressed with Yugoslavia's good results so far in the economic sphere.

Derycke said he believed that 'Belgrade, as the central point in the region, could play a central economic role.' He explained that a committee of experts would be in charge of the regulation of the issue of the two countries' bilateral agreements. He said that in Belgium the business community is interested in cooperation with Yugoslavia for which, he said, a corresponding state legal framework is needed.

[04] MINISTERS POINT TO IMPORTANCE OF NORMALIZATION OF YUGOSLAV-BELGIAN RELATIONS

Derycke pointed to Yugoslavia's contribution to the establishment of peace in the region and to the important role it can play in promoting stability and cooperation in the Balkans.

The meeting between Kontic and Derycke was attended also by Yugoslav Foreign Minster Milan Milutinovic. They underlined the need for Yugoslavia's reintegration in international institutions and financial and trade organizations as the basic pre-condition for the development of bilateral cooperation.

Kontic especially expressed appreciation of Belgium's contribution to the peacekeeping operation in the Srem-Baranja Region.

[05] MILUTINOVIC RECEIVES ARAB DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATIVES

[06] YUGOSLAVIA'S PLACE IS IN OSCE

'OSCE should secure its universality within its territorial competences, and if this is to be realized, it is necessary for Yugoslavia to join up,' Cotti said adressing the 52nd session of the U.N. Human Rights Committee in Geneva. Cotti added that Yugoslavia's joining OSCE, i.e. its activation in this organization, could 'be achieved in a much easier way if Yugoslavia were to show political will to find solutions for the problems of its minorities.'

Cotti urged the protection of human rights and democratic freedoms in Bosnia, becuase this is the basic precondition for holding fair and democratic elections in this ex-Yugoslav republic. According to Cotti, this is one of the main conditions for the successful continuation of the peace process. Cotti, however, said that Bosnia is still far from realizing these aims. 'On the contrary, the ethnic division of Bosnia is continuing in a covert way,' he warned.

[07] YUGOSLAVIA UNRESERVEDLY DENOUNCES RECENT INCIDENT INVOLVING MOSQUE IN BELGRADE

Speaking with Belgrade Mufti, Hamdija Jusufspahic, Bingulac said that 'this mindless act was received with the unreserved condemnation of the Federal Government, senior representatives of state bodies, political parties, the Serbian Orthodox Church and other religious communities and citizens of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.' Bingulac said that the citizens from all parts of Yugoslavia have been phoning in in expectation of the capture of the perpetrators.

Bingulac and the Belgrade Mufti 'jointly said that this unpleasant incident is aimed against the interests of our people, and the stable, good and tolerant relations between the citizens of all religions in our country which have been preserved during the time of the crisis and the war in the territory of the former Yugoslavia.'

[08] SERBIAN PATRIARCH CALLS ON BELGRADE MUFTI

[09] SERBS IMPRISONED IN CROATIA SOON TO BE RELEASED

The Croatian side has promised to make available all its information about the imprisoned, arrested and missing persons, as well as about the people killed in the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia, Todorovic said. The two sides also agreed to exchange the lists of names and all other available information concerning persons imprisoned on any grounds and included on the list of people sought by the other side.

Todorovic stressed as particularly important the third article of the protocol, which states that the two sides are bound to release without delay all prisoners of war, soldiers, officers and civilian sheld in connection with the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia. This, however, does not refer to persons accused of or sentenced for crimes described in the statute of the Hague Tribunal for War Crimes.

Todorovic said that, a few years back, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia had released most of the persons who would now surely be candidates for the Hague court, while Croatia had not fully met the requirements of the agreement for an 'all-for-all' exchange.

[B] BOSNIA - HERZEGOVINA

[10] RS PREMIER SAYS NO FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE GRANTED TO REPUBLIKA SRPSKA

He said the Bosnian Serbs had until recently been denied contacts with the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and other international institutions due to the U.N. Security Council sanctions against the Republika Srpska.

The Republika Srpska has prepared about 2,750 recovery and reconstruction programmes that are to be financed by the internationaly community. The condition for financial assistance to the Republika Srpska are elections, although no conditions for the assistance are set in the case of the Moslem-Croat Federation, he said.

Kasagic listed as priorities in the recovery and reconstruction of the Republika Srpska roads and railways, electric-power system and telecommunications, and said the Republika Srpska's future rested upon establishment of ties with all neighbouring countries. The Republika Srpska has adopted a single regulation on trade and exchange of services with the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Moslem-Croat Federation, he said.

The regulation on a complete liberalisation of trade with the Moslem-Croat Federation has not gone into effect because the Federation is making lists of war crimes suspects despite an agreement reached in Rome in February stipulating that no one can be arrested if the Hague-based International War Crimes Tribunal does not issue a warrant for his arrest, he said.

Referring to the coming elections, Kasagic said the Republika Srpska was prepared for them and that its position was that the elections were vital, because he said in some cases the same people had been holding the office for six years.

Kasagic said, 'we have been at war with neighbouring peoples and states already three times in this century and the time has come to overcome war and mutual killings and to establish cooperation based on economic interests.' He said the Republika Srpska had already opened talks with the former Yugoslav republics of Croatia and Slovenia.

[11] REPUBLIKA SRPSKA AGAINST UNIFIED PAYMENT OPERATIONS SYSTEM IN BOSNIA

[12] HUNDREDS OF MUSLIMS TRY TO STORM TESLIC, NORTHERN BOSNIA

[C] SERBS IN CROATIA

[13] SERBS FROM KRAJINA DISPUTE TUDJMAN'S CLAIMS ON CROATS AS ANTIFASCISTS

Documents from foreign and domestic archives, including NDH, provide evidence for the fact that 106,000 Croatians were in the ranks of the fascist quisling NDH in late 1941, and only 800 in the partisan antifascist movement, said the statement. In 1942, the number of Croatians in the ranks of NDH rose to 162,000 and the number of partisans increased to 5,280.

Another document states that in February 1942, the partisan detachment of Bania numbered 1,350 soldiers, of whom only 44 were Croatians, and in July 1943, there were only 164 Croatians in the4, 210-strong seventh Bania division. The statement said NDH in August 1941 formed a legion of 3,865 soldiers and a detachment of 1,907 men, and sent them to the eastern front to fight the red army.

The statement said the international community, above all Germany and the U.S., would not be able to tolerate Tudjman's lies much longer, especially human rights violations of the few remaining Serbs in Croatia, nor to dispute the right to expelled Serbs to return to their homes.

The statement said the U.N. Security Council and humanitarian organizations had gathered many documents on Croatia's Government policy and human rights violations, in particular the genocide against the Serbs.

[D] SREM-BARANJA REGION

[14] SERB, CROATIAN EASTERN SLAVONIA POLICEMEN TO BE TRAINED IN BUDAPEST

[E] THE HAGUE INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL

[15] PROSECUTOR GOLDSTONE DROPS CHARGES AGAINST GEN. DJUKIC

Fila said he hoped gen. Djukic would be in Belgrade by the end of next week at the latest. 'They (the Prosecution) will, of course, give the (General's) health condition as the reason for dropping the charges, which is away to get out of the disgraceful situation into which they have got themselves,' Fila said, adding that the real reason for dropping the charges was lack of evidence.

Fila said the Prosecutor's Office was not asking that Djukic be returned to Sarajevo, which he said was a guarantee that he would not be handed over to the Muslim authorities.

Fila said that the Hague Tribunal might rule that Djukic's trial proceed in spite of the Prosecutor deciding to drop charges, but that this was just a theoretical possibility.

The Hague Tribunal can adopt such a decision, since it has been given the widest possible authorization, such as no other court in the world has, Fila concluded at the press conference in Belgrade.