Yugoslav Daily Survey, 97-02-04

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

Yugoslav Daily Survey

CONTENTS

[01] ASSISTANT FOREIGN MINISTER RECEIVES BUNDESTAG DEPUTY

[02] PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC'S LETTER TO PREMIER MARJANOVIC

[03] TUDJMAN MINIMIZES NUMBER OF SERBS WHO HAVE FLED CROATIA

[04] TRAFFIC BLOCKAGE RAISED IN BELGRADE

[05] JUSTICE MINISTER: MUNICIPAL ELECTION COMMISSION USURPS STATE AUTHORITY

[06] SERBIAN PRESIDENT RECEIVES INTERIOR MINISTRY DELEGATION

[07] ZAJEDNO COALITION TAKES OVER POWER IN VRSAC

[08] ASSISTANT FOREIGN MINISTER RECEIVES DELEGATION OF SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTIES

[01] ASSISTANT FOREIGN MINISTER RECEIVES BUNDESTAG DEPUTY

Discussed was the development of Yugoslav-German relations, the prospects of integration processes in the Balkans and Yugoslavia's role in securing stability and development in this part of Europe, the Federal Foreign Ministry said.

The guest from Germany was informed about the current economic and political situation in the country.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-02-04 ; Tanjug, 1997-02-03

[02] PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC'S LETTER TO PREMIER MARJANOVIC

"Mr. Premier,

I believe that the election conflicts, regarding part of the local elections, especially in Belgrade, have inflicted severe damage to our country both in the internal and foreign areas and that it is high time to resolve the problem, in the very top institutions of our Republic: the Government and the National Assembly.

That is why I propose that, in keeping with its constitutional authorities, the Government of the Republic of Serbia submit for adoption to the National Assembly the draft of a special law (lex specialis), which will proclaim as final the results of part of the local elections in Serbia, as found by the OSCE mission.

I wish to emphasize that state interest in promoting relations between our country and the OSCE and the international community as a whole far exceed the importance of any number of deputy seats in several cities.

Confident that this proposal is aimed at a settlement with which the executive and legislative authorities will pragmatically, while respecting our country's legal system, resolve the developed crisis.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-02-04 ; Tanjug, 1997-02-04

[03] TUDJMAN MINIMIZES NUMBER OF SERBS WHO HAVE FLED CROATIA

Baffled by the statement, in view of the figures provided by international organizations, the CNN journalist asked the Croatian President to repeat the statement which distorted the truth about the number of Serbs forced to leave Croatia.

The UNHCR, whose figures are taken as the most reliable in all of the world, has more than once officially said there were 298,000 refugees from Croatia in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, in addition to the 254,000 refugees from Bosnia and Herzegovina.

U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Sadako Ogata told the conference that Croatia had permitted only several thousand Serb refugees to return, and not even all of them had actually done so.

According to estimates of Yugoslav humanitarian organizations, more than a half million Serbs have left Croatia under various forms of pressure since 1991.

In April and August 1995 alone, Croatian troops drove out of Western Slavonia and Krajina more than 250,000 Serbs, of whom the bulk took refuge in Yugoslavia and the remainder in east Slavonia and Republika Srpska in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Special U.N. Human Rights Rapporteur Elisabeth Rehn has also said more than once, most recently ten days ago, that Croatia has been doing everything to prevent Serb refugee from returning.

Rehn said ten days ago that Croatian authorities had failed to provide even a minimum of security for the few Serbs who have remained in Krajina, mostly the elderly.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-02-04 ; Tanjug, 1997-02-02

[04] TRAFFIC BLOCKAGE RAISED IN BELGRADE

Eighteen persons have been remanded in custody for breaking public peace, and measures are being taken for determing their responsibility.

With a view to preventing blockages of public transport and breaking of public peace, the Ministry of Internal Affairs will continue to take all the necessary measures, in accordance with law, said the statement issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-02-04 ; Tanjug, 1997-02-03

[05] JUSTICE MINISTER: MUNICIPAL ELECTION COMMISSION USURPS STATE AUTHORITY

Following a Court annulment, the Municipal Election Commission again ruled as valid some of the results of the second round of local elections in Serbia, held on November 17, 1996.

'The Municipal Election Commission (GIK), in a series of illegal acts, on January 14, 1997 annulled the ruling of the First Municipal Court on the correctness of GIK decisions,' Markicevic said in a statement carried on Monday by Belgrade daily Politika.

GIK's solution is based on 'logical mistakes and surprising ignorance,' Markicevic said recalling that GIK had described the rulings of the First Municipal Court as managing documents and concluded that, since it also adopts such documents, it is equal to the Court.

Markicevic added that thus an unprecedented legal scandal had taken place in which a non-government body, appointed by another non-government body - the Municipal Assembly, annuls the rulings of a state organ.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-02-04 ; Tanjug, 1997-02-03

[06] SERBIAN PRESIDENT RECEIVES INTERIOR MINISTRY DELEGATION

The anti-terrorist operation resulted in the arrests of 66 members of terrorist organizations, including the perpetrators of terrorist actions in Kosmet. Police found large quantities of arms and explosive devices, equipment, and documents which unequivocally indicate terrorist activities and violence in the territory of Kosovo and Metohija.

Paying tribute to members of the Serbian Interior Ministry for this successful operation, President Milosevic pointed out that it should be clear to all those who believe they can achieve terrorist goals through terrorist actions that this state would not allow Serbia to be a testing ground for terrorism.

The citizens of Kosovo and Metohija, regardless of national affiliation, have the right to live in peace and freedom and to resolve political issues using political methods, in public and democratically, without fear of violence or pressure, President Milosevic said.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-02-04 ; Tanjug, 1997-02-03

[07] ZAJEDNO COALITION TAKES OVER POWER IN VRSAC

After long court procedures, the ratio of forces in Vrsac has changed in favour of Zajedno, which now has 23 deputies in the Town Council, as against 21 of the leftist coalition of the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) and the Yugoslav Left Movement (JUL).

The Leftist coalition hopes to have another seat after due process.

The mandates of 44 deputies to the 45-seat council were verified on Monday, and the one remaining SPS candidate is awaiting the Serbian Supreme Court's decision.

Vrsac is one of 14 owns in Serbia where a Commission of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe has confirmed that the Zajedno Coalition won November municipal elections.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-02-04 ; Tanjug, 1997-02-03

[08] ASSISTANT FOREIGN MINISTER RECEIVES DELEGATION OF SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTIES

It was heard during the talks that it was necessary to facilitate the opening of European institutions and organizations on the principles of equality and mutual respect, development of dialogue, and mutual relations.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-02-04 ; Tanjug, 1997-02-03

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