Yugoslav Daily Survey, 97-11-10

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

Yugoslav Daily Survey

CONTENTS

[01] YUGOSLAV DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER RECEIVES U.S. BUSINESSMAN

[02] AGREEMENT ON BORDER CROSSING IN EFFECT AS OF NOV. 1

[03] YUGOSLAVIA-ROMANIA

[04] MILOSEVIC RECEIVES SOLANA, CLARK

[05] PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION OF MOLDAVIA AND YUGOSLAVIA

[06] NEW BUILDING OF ISRAELI EMBASSY IN BELGRADE INAUGURATED

[07] KRAJISNIK MEETS EU OFFICIALS

[08] SERBIAN POWER COMPANY EPS AND GERMANY'S KRUPP SIGN 30-ML-DLR DEAL

[09] KRAJISNIK RECEIVES US DELEGATION

[10] REPUBLIKA SRPSKA PARLIAMENT ENDS SESSION

[11] STABLE ASSEMBLY IS GUARANTEE OF REPUBLIKA SRPSKA SURVIVAL

[12] PROTOCOL ON FOUNDING OF BEOFINEST SIGNED

[13] COUNCIL OF EUROPE LAYS CONDITIONS FOR ADMITTING BOSNIA

[14] US PARTICIPATION IN THE MULTINATIONAL PEACE FORCE

[15] PRESS BRIEFING ON JASENOVAC DEATH CAMP HELD AT U.N. HEADQUARTERS

[16] YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT HOLDS SESSION

[17] VOJVODINA FOSTERS NATIONAL IDENTITY OF ETHNIC CZECHS

[18] PREMIER KONTIC MEETS WITH RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR

[19] SERBIAN GOVERNMENT WILL PURSUE FIRM ECONOMIC POLICY

[20] KRAJISNIK: THE SERB SIDE WILL HONOUR THE DAYTON ACCORDS

[21] FEDERAL AND REPUBLICAN PREMIERS DISCUSS ECONOMIC POLICY FOR NEXT

[22] YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC RECEIVED U.N. ADMINISTRATOR WALKER

[23] BOSNIAN MUSLIMS REJECT ACCORD ON SPECIAL TIES WITH CROATIA

[24] F.R. YUGOSLAVIA - HABITAT

[25] NEW TRAFFIC REGIME IN THE BORDER ZONE WITH THE SREM-BARANJA REGION

[26] YUGOSLAV DEPUTY PREMIER: YUGOSLAV REFORM FORCES NEED SUPPORT

[27] KRAJISNIK RECEIVED A VISITING US DELEGATION

[28] KRAJISNIK RECEIVED A WORLD BANK DELEGATION

[01] YUGOSLAV DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER RECEIVES U.S. BUSINESSMAN

Tanjug, 1997-11-07

Yugoslav Deputy Prime Minister Nikola Sainovic received on Friday U.S. businessman and international law expert, Robert Hendry. Sainovic and Hendry, who has visited Yugoslavia's leading companies over the past few days as a guest of the Yugoslav Chamber of Commerce, discussed ways of how to promote Yugoslav-U.S. relations through direct contacts among the two countries' companies, said a statement released by the Yugoslav Information Secretariat. Also present was Yugoslav Chamber of Commerce President Mihailo Milojevic, the statement said.

[02] AGREEMENT ON BORDER CROSSING IN EFFECT AS OF NOV. 1

Tanjug, 1997-11-09

The Yugoslavia-Croatia Agreement on passenger and goods traffic at the border-region crossing between Backa Palanka and Ilok has been in effect as of Nov.1. Under the agreement, the traffic between the Yugoslav municipalities which border with the U.N. administered Srem-Baranja region unfolds with passes, issued at the police station in Backa Palanka. I.D. cards and earlier documents are still valid, but there have been quite a few unclear points. The UNTAES sets out that the border between Croatia and Yugoslavia is a "soft border" and that many issues will be resolved through tolerance. However, it does not appear so judging by actions of Croatian authorities, which sometimes complicate the implementation of the Agreement with excessive red tape, including the charging of a transit tax.

[03] YUGOSLAVIA-ROMANIA

Tanjug, 1997-11-09

The recent Crete summit of leaders of south-eastern Europe has opened good prospects for the promotion of economic cooperaton between Yugoslavia and Romania, First Secretary for Economic Affairs of the Romanian Embassy in Belgrade Vasile Stefan has told Tanjug. Stefan said that possibilities for the development of the bilateral cooperation existed in all sectors of the two complementary economies, so that the annual value of trade was expected soon to reach and even exceed the level of 373.4 million dollars, attained in 1992, before international sanctions were introduced against Yugoslavia. The Danube offers wide possibilities for cooperation in the electrical power industry. The Yugoslavia-Romania Commission recently met in Belgrade to discuss the exploitation and maintenance of the joint Iron Gates I and Iron Gates II hydro-electric power and navigational systems. The Commission decided that after 25 years of joint work, the electrical power industries of the two countries continue to cooperate in the next century. Romania was among the first to sign with the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia a whole range of agreements conducive to the consolidation of good-neighbourly relations. Stefan singled out the inter-governmental agreement on economic cooperation, the agreements on the mutual stimulation and protection of investments, on the avoidance of dual taxation, on cooperation in tourism, agriculture and in other areas.

The value of Yugoslav-Romanian trade for the first nine months of this year stood at about 115 million dolars, Stefan set out and specified that the Romanian imports from Yugoslavia were worth 31 million and exports 83 million. The annual value of trade for this year is expected to stand at 160 million dollars, which would be 22.5 million less than last year, when Romania's imports from Yugoslavia amounted to 60.5 million and exports to 120 million. The chief reason for the drop in trade are difficulties encountered by the two economies and the inadequate use of production facilities. The liberalization of trade and privatization in both countries are to stimulate direct ties between their companies. The process has been initiated. The Yugoslav chemical complex of Pancevo signed last month a long-term contract with a Romanian partner, with the initial monthly value at 2.3 million dollars.

Major deals exist also in the agriculture, including the production of seed maize in Romania using Yugoslav technology.

Business contacts are organized by Chambers of Commerce, especially, regional ones, and they take place at fairs, specialized expositions and through other forms of cooperation. Twenty-two Yugoslav companies participate in the current agricultural exposition Indagra '97 in Bucharest. More than 50 Romanian companies participated in different Belgrade fairs last year, First Secretary of the Romanian embassy in Belgrade Stefan set out.

[04] MILOSEVIC RECEIVES SOLANA, CLARK

Tanjug, 1997-11-07

Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic on Friday received NATO Secretary- General Javier Solana and NATO Europe Force Commander-in-Chief Gen. Wesley Clark, who arrived in Belgrade with their associates. The talks focused on issues of interest for the implementation of the peace accords on Bosnia- Herzegovina, and other questions of importance for cementing peace and regional stability.

It was agreed that the international force which is in Bosnia-Herzegovina in keeping with the Dayton Accords, continuously contributes to the success of the peace process in these lands.

In this respect, it was indicated that it was necessary to coordinate and settle all issues pertaining to the implementation of the accords through agreements, cooperation and on the basis of confidence among the legitimate organs and engaged international factors, without one-sidedness or imposing of solutions. The sides underscored it was necessary to secure joint engagement and cooperation on curbing the illegal parallel economy, smuggling, corruption and crime. They underscored that all outstanding issues could successfully be settled through political solutions, and that the process of a comprehensive normalization of relations, which is taking place in the territory of the former Yugoslavia, could best be stimulated by mutual openness to strengthening economic cooperation and linking, as well as the affirmation of the equal position of the countries and peoples in these lands, thus at the same time strengthening regional and overall stability in Europe.

[05] PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION OF MOLDAVIA AND YUGOSLAVIA

Tanjug, 1997-11-07

A Parliamentary delegation of the Republic of Moldavia, headed by Speaker Dimitru Mopcan, will pay a visit to out country from November 10 to 12, at the invitation of Lower House Speaker Milomir Minic, the Yugoslav Parliament Information Service said today. The visit of Moldavian parliamentarians is a return visit. The Moldavian Parliamentarian delegation will hold talks with Minic, Yugoslav Prime Minister Radoje Kontic, Yugoslav Parliament Upper House speaker Srdja Bozovic, Yugoslav Minister of Trade Borislav Vukovic and Yugoslav Deputy Foreign Minister Radoslav Bulajic.

Moldavian parliamentarians will visit the Belgrade agricultural complex and the Institute for maize in Zemun Polje.

[06] NEW BUILDING OF ISRAELI EMBASSY IN BELGRADE INAUGURATED

Tanjug, 1997-11-09

Israeli Ambassador to Yugoslavia David Sasson officially opened the new building of the Israeli Embassy in Belgrade on Sunday, with numerous visitors and guests attending the ceremony. The ceremony began with the traditional attaching of a mezuzah to the doorpost, which was done by Ambassador Sasson and Chief Rabbi for Yugoslavia Cadik Danon. In a brief address, Ambassador Sasson said much had changed since Yugoslavia and Israel had renewed diplomatic ties after 30 years in January this year. There had been unofficial relations during all this time, Sasson said, adding that there was now a strong basis for friendly and firm ties between the two countries. The ceremony was attended also by Serbian Information Minister Radmila Milentijevic, representatives of the Foreign Ministry, the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church, and representatives of political parties, members of the Jewish Community in Yugoslavia, and numerous reporters.

[07] KRAJISNIK MEETS EU OFFICIALS

Tanjug, 1997-11-07

The Republika Srpska member of the Bosnia-Herzegovina Presidency Momcilo Krajisnik and Deputy Foreign Minister of the Bosnia-Herzegovina Council of Minister Dragan Bozanic received on Friday in Pale Huberton Virtoi, representative of Luxemburg which chairs the European Union, and Valeria Sluiter, permanent EU representative to Sarajevo. The meeting focused on the preparations for the forthcoming conference of the Bosnia Peace Implementation Council scheduled for December 10 in Bonn. Srpska representatives reiterated their wish to pass the laws on currency, travel documents and citizenship, Bozanic said after the meeting. He however noted that new issues were being constantly added to the list of those that must be resolved in line with the Dayton Agreement, as if though someone aimed to deepen the crisis.

Bozanic expressed hope that the Bonn conference would result in good proposals for the implementation of the Dayton agreement.

[08] SERBIAN POWER COMPANY EPS AND GERMANY'S KRUPP SIGN 30-ML-DLR DEAL

Tanjug, 1997-11-09

A 30-million-dollar contract on business-technical cooperation was signed at the Yugoslav Chambre of Commerce on Sunday between the public Serbian electric power company JP EPS and the German company Krupp Fordertechnik (KF). The contract envisages 10-year business-technical cooperation in the production of parts and machine sets and instruments for mining equipment of the KF production programme. In the presence of Chambre President Mihailo Milojevic and German Ambassador to Yugoslavia Wilfried Grueber, the contract was signed by JP EPS Director General Slobodan Babic and KF Board of Managers President Herbert Wiedenheus. The cooperation will proceed through Yugoslav firms, including "Kolubara-Metali" of Lazarevac, "14 Oktobar" of Krusevac, "Gosa" of Smederevska Palanka, the "Lola" Corporation of Belgrade, the Machine Industry of Nis, and others. Pointing out the importance of the contract, which is renewable, Babic said home manufacturers would not compete with each other as they would apply KF marketing and engineering for the world market and also coproduce basic equipment, parts and components for third markets.

The contract also envisages purchases of spare parts and equipment for the JP EPS from KF, and those which KF does not manufacture, from other world renowned manufacturers, said Babic.

The financial side will be regulated through Yugoslav counter deliveries of goods and services, since the JP EPS does not have the necessary funds. Since the JP EPS needs major funds for promoting its capacities, such as, for instance, the construction of a power plant in Kosovo (two blocks of 350 megawatts each), Babic said his company had also discussed possibilities for purchasing equipment through Krupp and Siemens. He said high-level talks on this would continue. Underscoring the importance of the JP EPS during the difficult years of the international embargo against Yugoslavia, and for the country's development, JP EPS Board of Managers President Dragan Kostic said the Electric Power Industry was resolved to secure for its electric power and mining facilities the best possible equipment and production means.

Today's contract is a step in that direction, Kostic said. It is important that the KF realized the position of the power company, but also that they accepted the proposed contract concept with insight, as it is not only in the interests of the two companies, but the two economies and the two countries as well.

Wiedenheus described the contract as a continuation of the former cooperation with Yugoslav companies in this area, but also as a contract for the 21st century. He underscored the wish that relations between Yugoslavia and Germany grow and that closer cooperation between diplomats and businessmen lead to the renewal of the engagement of Germany's insurance company Hermes in Yugoslavia, which he said would enable and facilitate KF's investment activities in Yugoslavia. Privatization in Yugoslavia is definitely an interesting area for the German industry, said Wiedenheus. The German Ambassador and the Chambre President, as the host, underscored that this was a very useful contract which would doubtless contribute to future economic cooperation between the two countries. Milojevic underscored the fact that Yugoslav companies were able to become partners to such powerful manufacturers as Krupp, at home and on third markets. Grueber said he wished to demonstrate with his presence Germany's interest in developing and promoting economic cooperation with Yugoslavia.

[09] KRAJISNIK RECEIVES US DELEGATION

Tanjug, 1997-11-07

The Republika Srpska member of the Bosnia-Herzegovina Presidency Momcilo Krajisnik received on Friday in Pale a US delegation headed by Assistant Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Mark Madish. The meeting was attended also by the Republika Srpska member of the management board of the Bosnia- Herzegovina Central Bank Manojlo Coric and its Deputy Governor Ljubisa Vladusic.

Coric said that considerable progress had been achieved in the talk and that the US delegation had hailed Srpska's flexible approach to resolving the problem of designing Bosnia's currency.

The delegation promised to back the proposal discussed with the Srpska representatives to have the future banknote design include images of writers and Srpska coat of arms on one side and its flag on the other, while other elements of the design are envisaged by the law on the Central Bank.

[10] REPUBLIKA SRPSKA PARLIAMENT ENDS SESSION

Tanjug, 1997-11-07

The Republika Srpska Parliament ended its session on Mt Jahorina on Thursday by adopting reports by the R.S. Electoral Commission and the Provisional Electoral Commission on returns of the Republika Srpska's September local elections. The R.S. Government was entrusted with a task of drawing a memorandum on objections to election rules and regulations, on the strength of the two reports and the parliamentary debate. Copies of the memorandum are to be submitted to the OSCE and other international bodies. The R.S. Parliament called on all citizens to register in the next few days for parliamentary elections to be held in the Republika Srpska on November 23. Reviewing the issue of arbitration for the disputed town of Brcko, Parliament agreed that Vitomir Popovic, Radomir Lukic, Dragoljub Mirjanic and Miodrag Pajic remain R.S. representatives in the arbitration process.

All authority over the Brcko arbitration will be transferred from the R.S. Parliament to the R.S. Government until parliamentary elections are over and a new Parliament has been formed. All relevant bodies and institutions, set up by Parliament, the Government or the Brcko municipality to monitor the implementation of the Dayton Peace Accords in the town, are to immediately submit to the arbitration team all information available, specifically that referring to the repatriation of refugees and displaced persons, freedom of movement and the building of infrastructure in the town area. The R.S. Parliament also said that, by seizing transmitters of Serb Radio and Television, the international community had violated the Dayton Agreement with an aim of merging the Republika Srpska into a single Bosnia- Herzegovina. The R.S. Parliament also reiterated its commitment to freedom of speech and equal treatment of media in the Republika Srpska. It also condemned the usurpation of state property by unauthorised persons and institutions, requesting that the SFOR withdraw troops that have blocked the transmitters of Serb Radio and Television.

It fully backed an agreement reached in Belgrade between R.S. President Biljana Plavsic and R.S. representative in Bosnia's three-man Presidency Momcilo Krajisnik. Parliament also adopted several laws in the session, held behind closed doors.

[11] STABLE ASSEMBLY IS GUARANTEE OF REPUBLIKA SRPSKA SURVIVAL

Tanjug, 1997-11-08

Republika Srpska Assembly Speaker Dragan Kalinic has urged voters to turn out in the upcoming elections and enable the constituting of a stable Assembly with a large majority.

"Only a strong Serb Parliament and Government can preserve Republika Srpska, because several scenarios for its partitioning, i.e. for the regionalization of Republika Srpska are at work," Kalinic said at a meeting of the local Serb Democratic Party (SDS) organization late on Friday.

He underscored the importance of the Agreement on Special and Parallel Ties between Republika Srpska and Yugoslavia and called for a stepped-up implementation of that agreement, since he set out it was the wish of the Serbian people on both sides of the Drina.

Kalinic stressed that the conflict between Pale and Banjaluka had artificially been created so that the state of the Serbian people would be divided into the eastern and western parts.

He said that the Nov. 22-23 parliamentary elections had been imposed so that as many political parties as possible would participate and the Serb electorate be broken up.

According to Kalinic, the new Assembly will hardly be able to function unless a single party has a majority, and noted that Republika Srpska President Biljana Plavsic was hoping it would not.

The Assembly speaker told the meeting that representatives of the international community had a mandate to stabilize the situation in Bosnia- Herzegovina and not to serve any of the sides there.

Kalinic drew attention to the highly unequal election-campaign position of the regions in Republika Srpska since the eastern part was still under a media blockade.

[12] PROTOCOL ON FOUNDING OF BEOFINEST SIGNED

Tanjug, 1997-11-07

Beobanka Bank and Finest, a financial institution for the promotion of economic cooperation with East European countries set up by the Italian Government, signed here today a protocol on the founding of a joint corporation Beofinest. The protocol was signed by Beobanka president Zlatan Perucic, Finest President Leonardo Simoneli and the Deputy Director of the Trieste Bank-SL Paolo Zanetti, in the presence of the Italian Ambassador to Belgrade Ricardo Sessa, representatives of the Yugoslav and Serbian governments, Chambers of Commerce and Yugoslav and Italian firms, interested in mutual cooperation. Beofinest is a financial institution through which Italian firms will invest capital in Yugoslav small and medium size enterprises, and the director will be an Italian, Sergo Genki.

Perucic said that the initiative for its founding was made at the time of sanctions and that the first results were expected by the end of this year. He added that the basic goal was that our enterprises receive foreign capital and access to the world market. Beofinest is a profit institution, and the profit made will be equally distributed between Yugoslav and Italian partners, who are equally represented in the Administration Council where decisions will be made by consensus.

Perucic said that Beobanka, which has 28,000 clients, has offered so far 30 projects worth over 100 million D marks. He said that Italian banks have also announced several credit lines with interest rates at the level of European Union commercial banks, so that for the first time after sanctions interest rates will not contain the Yugoslav risk factor. He recalled that Italy was Yugoslavia's second largest foreign trade partner, whose trade last year totaled 470 million dollars. Perucic pointed out that Yugoslavia had a very favorable position and legislation for foreign investmenats. Foreigners are able to found their own or mixed firms, to puchase existing enterprises or their shares, to dispose freely of the profit made, to reinvest it or repatariate it. Yugoslav Deputy Prime Minister Danko Djunic said that the Government supported the project, as it is interested in the development of small and medium size enterprises. The Government is creating an institutional framework and facilities for foreign investments, but will not interfere in the internal business policy of enterprises, Djunic said, noting that the formation of Beofinest was a good step towards the normalization of relations with international financial institutions. Yugoslav Foreign Trade Minister Borislav Vukovic said that in 18 months, 1, 800 contracts on foreign investments had been signed, with Italy ranking first in financial cooperation and second in the number of signed contracts. He added that trade with Italy, in the first nine months this year, had grown 50 percent and announced new facilities for foreign investments.

Serbian Minister for Ownership Transformation Milan Beko recalled that the Italian Government supported the integration of Yugoslavia into international financial processes. He assessed that it was good that Beofinest will take part in the financing of ownership tarnsformation. After signing the protocol, representatives of Yugoslav and Italian firms continued bilateral talks about concrete cooperation in the agricultural industry, wood-processing industry, textile industry, engineering and plastics.

[13] COUNCIL OF EUROPE LAYS CONDITIONS FOR ADMITTING BOSNIA

Tanjug, 1997-11-08

The Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly Political Commission has ruled that Bosnia-Herzegovina does not satisfy the conditions for admission into the Council, principal European human rights institution. The Commission presented to a joint delegation of Republika Srpska and Muslim-Croat Federation a list of pre-conditions for initiating negotiations on admission with the Council of Europe, the Paris daily Le Monde writes on Saturday. The conditions include the repatriation of refugees, free movement throughout Bosnia-Herzegovina, the freedom of the press and cooperation with the War Crimes Tribunal. Political Comission President Andras Barsony (Hungary) said that Bosnia must be truly united before it can join the Council. The Council does not want a part of a state or an autonomous territory, but a single candidate-state with one flag, one currency and one passport for its citizens, he said. Le Monde also carries a statement by Assistant High Representative of the international community for Bosnia Jacques Klein, who said in Strasbourg referring to Bosnia's application for membership that state structures in Bosnia were not functioning yet. The daily underlines Klein's appeal for putting an end to satanizing the Serb people and for focusing attention on individual war crimes suspects.

[14] US PARTICIPATION IN THE MULTINATIONAL PEACE FORCE

Tanjug, 1997-11-06

US Defense Secretary Willian Cohen said on Thursday that a consensus had not yet been reached on keeping US troops in Bosnia after the mandate of the Bosnia peace Stabilization Force (SFOR) expires in June 1998. He said a consensus was building for an international military presence in Bosnia after next June. "But there's been no decision made, no consensus established, in terms of what form that international presence would take and whether the United States would participate, and in what form," he said.

US forces could provide intelligence support, logistics support or military, but that has yet to be decided or defined, Cohen specified, refusing to say if he supports keeping US troops in Bosnia.

[15] PRESS BRIEFING ON JASENOVAC DEATH CAMP HELD AT U.N. HEADQUARTERS

Tanjug, 1997-11-06

A press briefing on Croatia's World War II Jasenovac death camp was held at the U.N. Headquarters on Wednesday following the first International Conference on the subject that took place in New York several days ago.

The briefing, organised by the Association of foreign reporters based at the U.N. headquarters, was addressed by Bernard Klayn, a Kingsborough College professor, and Milan Bulajic, Director of Belgrade's Museum of World War II genocide victims.

Klajn said the recent Conference had been aimed at learning the truth about the Jasenovac death camp, set up by the World War II Independent Nazi- puppet state of Croatia. He said the truth about the Nazi-run Auschwitz and Dachau concentration camps had been disclosed long time ago, saying it was high time that a file on the Jasenovac death camp were opened.

Asked by reporters what made him believe that it would be possible to disclose the truth about the camp at this point when it had been withheld from the public for 50 years, Klajn said this was not going to be an easy job. He said the truth had been withheld for political reasons, which was confirmed by a large number of participants in the Conference on the Jasenovac death camp, held at the Kingsborough College last week.

He said the most important thing to do at this point was to make U.S. academicians interested in the matter so that historians could begin their research work. He said an International Commission, which would be set up under a decision taken at the close of the Conference, would also take part in the effort. He said the commission would be formed by Bulajic and himself but the Croatian side would also be called upon to take part in the research.

Reporters were informed that some of the files on the Jasenovac death camp were still under seal and that it was of utmost importance to gain access also to documentation in the possession of countries of the anti-Hitler coalition as well as those that were kept in Germany.

Commenting on attempts to revise history, Bulajic said Croatian President Franjo Tudjman had also tried to do this by claiming that only 20,000 people had perished in the Jasenovac death camp. He said there were lists containing the names of more than 77,000 Jasenovac victims, Serbs, Jews and Gypsies. Of this figure, 19,544 are the names of children aged between 1 and 14 years, he said.

He said Jasenovac was an extermination site where at least between 500,000 and 600,000 Serbs, Jews and Gypsies had been killed, saying former Jasenovac camp inmates could testify to atrocities committed by Croatia's World War II Ustasha fascist troops.

Bulajic said the United Nations' responsibility in shedding the light on atrocities committed at the camp was great.

Asked by a German reporter whether there was anything left of the Jasenovac death camp, Bulajic said that, according to numerous reports, Croatian authorities had planted a park on the site where used to be the Jasenovac memorial and that there was practically nothing left of it.

Klajn said it would be best if an international delegation went to Jasenovac to see for itself what had really happened.

[16] YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT HOLDS SESSION

Tanjug, 1997-11-06

At its Thursday session, chaired by Prime Minister Radoje Kontic, the Yugoslav Government reviewed and adopted Yugoslav Foreign Minister Milan Milutinovic's report on the Crete Summit of the heads of state or government of Southeastern European countries.

The Government said that the Summit, the first of its kind in the history of the Balkans, was successful not only for the future of the Balkans but also of Europe as a whole, to which the Yugoslav delegation, headed by President Slobodan Milosevic, had largely contributed.

It is especially important that all participants reaffirmed their readiness to join efforts on the creation of conditions for closer cooperation and prosperity of regional countries and peoples in peace, security, good neighbourly relations and stability.

The Government said that the Crete Declaration, adopted at the end of the Summit, represented a strong stimulus to the promotion of regional cooperation aimed at a better use of common potentials and securing of the Balkan countries' active and equal position in modern European processes and efforts.

Welcoming the adopted conclusions and agreements, which should help improve political and all other forms of cooperation in the region, especially in the economy, transport and other infrastructure, telecommunications, the power industry, science and culture, the Yugoslav Government said that the FR of Yugoslavia would actively work on the implementation of adopted stands and conclusions, expecting all other regional countries to give their full contribution to this.

The Government described as useful and important bilateral meetings between the Yugoslav delegation and the heads of all delegations, especially that of the Republic of Albania.

The Government also determined platforms for the conclusion of an Agreement on the tourist industry with China, an Agreement on investment stimulation and protection with Israel, and an Agreement on social security with Greece and Ukraine.

The Government adopted a report by the Yugoslav delegation for succession issues on its meeting with international mediator Sir Arthur Watts in Brussels on October 16. It was said that the Yugoslav delegation had fully abided by the Yugoslav Government's platform during the meeting.

Yugoslav Assistant Minister for Labour, Health Care and Social Policy Maksim Korac was appointed head of a Yugoslav Government Commission for humanitarian issues and missing persons.

[17] VOJVODINA FOSTERS NATIONAL IDENTITY OF ETHNIC CZECHS

Tanjug, 1997-11-06

Vojvodina Deputy Premier Damnjan Radenkovic and Provincial Secretary for Minority Rights Pavel Domonji received the Czech Ambassador to Yugoslavia on Thursday, at his request.

The officials informed Busniak of the measures the Serbian and Provincial governments were taking to help the Czech minority in Vojvodina renew its cultural activities, said a statement released by the Provincial Information Secretariat.

They said the 75th anniversary of the Czech Cultural Society will be marked in the town of Bela Crkva later this month. Ethnic Czechs, who live in Bela Crkva and surrounding villages, wish to introduce the Czech language in schools and start a radio program in Czech.

The Serbian Government and local Provincial bodies have allotted funds to this purpose, though there is a shortage of staff, said the statement.

Busniak said the Czech Republic was prepared to assist in efforts to foster the national and cultural identity of Czechs in Vojvodina.

[18] PREMIER KONTIC MEETS WITH RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR

Tanjug, 1997-11-06

Yugoslav Prime Minister Radoje Kontic met on Thursday with Russian Ambassador to Belgrade, Yuri Kotov, to discuss Kontic's forthcoming official visit to Moscow, the Federal Information Secretariat has said.

Kontic and Kotov also discussed key issues of Yugoslav-Russian cooperation and the degree of readiness of interstate agreements whose signing is expected to take place during Kontic's visit.

Kontic and Kotov said that, before the visit, it is necessary to hold the third session of the Yugoslav-Russian Mixed Committee for trade, economic, scientific and technical cooperation.

[19] SERBIAN GOVERNMENT WILL PURSUE FIRM ECONOMIC POLICY

Tanjug, 1997-11-06

Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Marjanovic said on Thursday that the Government would not deviate from its policy of economic and social stability and would do everything to stabilize the market situation as speedily as possible.

Addressing a press conference, Marjanovic strongly denied recent media speculations and "expert interpretations" on allegedly approaching end of the stability of prices and exchange rate.

There are no economically valid reasons for increasing prices, especially those of essential foodstuffs, Marjanovic said and pointed to exceptionally good results in agriculture this year.

That fact and the incentives provided by Serbia's Government completely deny the announced possible perturbations in prices and supply of bread, cooking oil, sugar, milk and dairy products, Marjanovic stated.

Price and exchange rate stability, good market supply and considerable growth of production and wages were achieved in the past four years precisely thanks to the financing of the payment of old age pensions and of wages in health, education and other public sector spendings from real sources, Marjanovic said.

"We acted in the same manner now in ensuring stable and regular payment of old-age pensions through a correction of prices of oil and fuels. We have stated publicly that this correction will influence the general price growth by only 2.8% and that this measure is the most acceptable at this moment from economic and social aspects", Marjanovic explained.

Underlining that the Serbian Government has the means and will to take measures so as to maintain stable prices and market supply in the coming period, as it has done so far this year, Marjanovic said his Government had decided at its session on Wednesday to sell considerable quantities of cooking oil, sugar and flour from state stocks at present prices and to import powdered milk.

Anti-monopoly measures will be taken firmly and without exception against anyone resorting to marker speculations, Marjanovic said and added that the Serbian Government measures would be backed by the Federal Government and the Yugoslav National Bank. These measures will lead to reducing the amount of money in circulation and to stabilizing the exchange rate, the market and prices, Marjanovic underlined.

Marjanovic added he was sure that the measures would be effective speedily and pointed out that the recent increase in the black market exchange rate had been reduced, which is a clear indication that it had been due to pure speculation and psychological factors.

[20] KRAJISNIK: THE SERB SIDE WILL HONOUR THE DAYTON ACCORDS

Tanjug, 1997-11-06

Republika Srpska member of the Bosnian Presidency Momcilo Krajisnik said late on Thursday that the Serb side was ready to solve all problems and persist in respecting the Dayton Peace Accords and carrying out the obligations ensuing from it.

On return from Sarajevo, Krajisnik said in Pale that, at its session, the Steering Board for the implementation of the Dayton Peace Accords had exchanged reports on outstanding issues of Bosnia's joint bodies. He said that there were some warnings on both sides, saying that threats of use of force towards the settlement of some issues were voiced.

I have urged that the mandate of every institution included in the implementation of the Dayton Peace Treaty be observed, said Krajisnik. He said that use of force or outvoting was the wrong way of trying to solve problems. He also said that it was necessary to cooperate in all issues in order to bridge the differences in a quality manner.

Krajisnik said that laws on passports and citizenship should be regulated before an International Conference on the results achieved so far in the implementation of the Dayton Peace Accords, scheduled for Vienna in early December.

He said that other two members of the Presidency of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bosnian Croat leader Kresimir Zubak and Muslim leader Alija Izetbegovic, had urged that, at the coming Conference in Vienna, international community's High Representative for Bosnia Carlos Westendorp be given more authority and the role of arbitrator-executive. If they are for it, then I accept it, too, but first they should solve problems in the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina and then in Bosnia-Herzegovina, said Krajisnik. He said that it would be wrong to revise the Dayton Peace Accords and give the international community's High Representative more power which clashed with the Accord itself.

Krajisnik did not rule out this possibility, evaluating that recently many attempts are being made to impose things which are not in accordance with the Dayton Peace Accords.

[21] FEDERAL AND REPUBLICAN PREMIERS DISCUSS ECONOMIC POLICY FOR NEXT

Tanjug, 1997-11-06

Yugoslav Prime Minister Radoje Kontic met on Thursday with republican Premiers to discuss the economic policy for 1998, said a statement issued by the Federal Information Ministry.

Premiers Kontic, Mirko Marjanovic (of Serbia) and Milo Djukanovic (of Montenegro) discussed a single economic policy for next year, to be implemented by the federal and republican governments, and the National Bank of Yugoslavia.

The Federal Government remains committed toward an open and market economy, capable of competing on the world market, and protected by the standards of the World Trade Organization.

The economic policy will maintain stable prices and a steady currency, work on accelerating production and exports, increasing the living standard, and speeding up the reform process, especially in transformation and privatization.

Implementation of the economic policy requires Yugoslavia's return to international financial and trade organizations. Otherwise, the Yugoslav economy has no access to the world market. Bearing this in mind, the policy is based on structural changes and privatization, the adoption of laws that would attract foreign capital and enable long-term development and the stability of Yugoslavia's economy and society, said the statement.

[22] YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC RECEIVED U.N. ADMINISTRATOR WALKER

Tanjug, 1997-11-06

Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic received on Thursday the U.N. Administrator for the Srem-Baranja region, Ambassador William Walker, and his associates.

Milosevic and Walker focused on the current situation in this region and on the realization of the Erdut Agreement.

Walker informed Milosevic about the efforts for the successful implementation of the UNTAES mandate, especially the creating of normal living conditions, and the securing of the freedom and safety for the citizens.

Both sides expressed satisfaction with the overall realization of the Erdut Agreement and underlined that the process of promoting the Yugoslav-Croat relations contributes to the total stabilization of the situation and normalization of life in this region. Mutual belief was expressed that joint and coordinated efforts towards the faster normalization of the situation in the Srem-Baranja region would give positive results.

The talks were attended by Assistant Federal Foreign Minister Dragomir Vucicevic and the Chief of the Yugoslav President's Cabinet, Goran Milinovic.

[23] BOSNIAN MUSLIMS REJECT ACCORD ON SPECIAL TIES WITH CROATIA

Tanjug, 1997-11-06

The Muslim Party of Democratic Action (SDA) rejected on Thursday an Accord on special ties between the Republic Croatia and the Muslim-Croat Federation proposed by the Republic Croatia, Muslim Radio Sarajevo reports.

"The SDA is firm in its stand that any confederation of Croatia and Bosnia, or the Federation, is unacceptable," said SDA spokesman Ismet Grbo. The SDA supports only the provisions that contribute to cooperation between the two states, said Grbo.

The office of the High Representative for Bosnia expressed concern over some parts of the Accord, which Croatia submitted to the representatives of the Federation.

[24] F.R. YUGOSLAVIA - HABITAT

Tanjug, 1997-11-05

A Yugoslav Parliament delegation, headed by Serbian Minister of Construction Branislav Ivkovic, concluded successfully its participation in the first session of the European Council of members of national parliaments for HABITAT.

Ivkovic was chosen on Tuesday into the Presidency of the European branch of HABITAT, and at the constituent session proposed to the permanent members of that body to prepare soon their Information Center which would be connected to Internet. The proposal was accepted, and at the initiative of the host of the meeting this important job was entrusted to Yugoslavia.

In only three years of participating in the work of HABITAT, FR Yugoslavia has, despite difficulties due to our status in international organizations, succeeded to become a full-fledged member and acquire influence in the U.N. agency.

Until the next conference, which according to yesterday's decision in Bonn, will be held in 1998 in Mexico, Yugoslavia will actively take part in the preparations for the meeting and implement the already adopted positions in the field of urban development and create conditions for adequate housing, and thus continue to make its contribution to that important field of work of the world organization.

[25] NEW TRAFFIC REGIME IN THE BORDER ZONE WITH THE SREM-BARANJA REGION

Tanjug, 1997-11-05

Spokeswoman for the U.N. office in Belgrade Suzan Manuel said today that the application of the traffic regime in the border zone of the Srem- Baranja region would be postponed till December, or the so-called soft borders which were initially due to take effect on November 1 this year.

Manuel specified, at a joint press conference, that the two sides were not ready yet to start applying the agreement, adding that the traffic regime from Yugoslavia to the region and vice-versa was conducted in the same way as before.

According to her, the population living in the UNTAES region will have to apply for special passes at local stations of Transitional Police forces in Beli Manastir, Dalj, Ilok, Mirkovci and Vukovar.

Manuel said that for the population living in border zones in FR Yugoslavia and in the Region should refer to the Passport Departments of local police stations. They will be able to cross the border on both sides with those special passes and without visas as of December 1.

All those travelling to the Region as of Monday by bus or train will need to fill a form with personal data, and the carrier will hand over the list of passengers to members of the Transitional Police. Those travelling in their cars are advised to possess Special Passes till November 19, and after that date they will fill forms at control points.

Manuel said that as of November 11, trains will be in service between Tovarnik * Sid, and Erdut - Bogojevo.

She denied Croatian press reports that allegedly Croatian citizens had access to the "blue zone" on Prevlaka, pointing out that only representatives of U.N. peace missions had access to that zone. She specified that the mission's mandate was till January 14 next year.

Spokesman for the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Mons Niberg said that the UNHCR had proposed that the budget for next year, in the case of FR Yugoslavia, will remain at this year's level of 40 million dollars, and that a budget reduction had been proposed for the Muslim*Croat Federation from 124 to 87 million and for Croatia from 22 to 14 million dollars.

[26] YUGOSLAV DEPUTY PREMIER: YUGOSLAV REFORM FORCES NEED SUPPORT

Tanjug, 1997-11-05

Reforms and the process of transition in Yugoslavia are a question of survival and the only way to lasting prosperity, said Yugoslav Deputy Premier on Wednesday, opening an International Conference on transition in Yugoslavia.

The two-day Conference, titled Challenges and Possibilities for Transition in Yugoslavia, brought together about 150 participants, 70 of them from abroad.

Addressing a two-day international meeting on the challenges and prospects of transition in Yugoslavia, Djunic underlined that the country was committed to privatization, free private enterprise, full opening to the rest of the world, and guarantees to domestic and foreign investors in the form of a stable political and economic environment.

We cannot carry out reforms all by ourselves, nor has any eastern European country been able to do it, the Yugoslav official said.

It is why Yugoslavia "expects and seeks political, expert and material support from the international community for its reformist efforts," Deputy Prime Minister Djunic emphasized.

Meanwhile, Yugoslavia had worked out an economic systemic and institutional ambience to carry out the transition process more efficiently, said Djunic.

There have been results, but much still remains to be done, such as practical application of the reforms, said Djunic, and set out courses for reform activity in the country.

"We believe that we will not be alone in the future in our reformist efforts and that support from the international community will not be lacking," the Yugoslav official told the meeting.

He said the participation of distinguished guests in the Belgrade meeting and the readiness of the U.S. Agency for International Development to initiate it reflected readiness to lend full support to reformist processes in Yugoslavia and the forces which he said were the chief representatives of those reforms.

He said the legal and institutional prerequisites for implementing privatization had been realized and that the process of restructuring firms and banks had begun.

Yugoslavia must open up to the world market and international capital trends. A strategic developmental orientation is to trade more than half the social product with the world, said Djunic, and announced the setting up of state agencies to boost exports and foreign investments.

Another course of transition relates to public spending, which currently exceeds 50%. It will be reduced gradually, said Djunic, one to two percent annually.

On the plane of relations with the international community, Djunic said it was necessary to make concrete progress, in the succession issue and negotiations with the International Monetary Fund and other institutions.

He said it was realistic to expect the social product to rise between 8 and 10%, and maintain a steady currency and stable prices.

Djunic said Yugoslavia had always paid its debts, and it was prepared to do so now, and to make additional efforts to lift the so-called outer wall of sanctions.

The wall of sanctions is detrimental to both Yugoslavia and the international community, said Djunic and added that talks on the conditions for Yugoslavia's return to international political and financial institutions should be more flexible, without endangering anyone's interests.

"Basic economic, political and national interests must be protected, but newly created realities must be respected," said Djunic.

Serbian Minister for economic and ownership transformation Milan Beko said the Law on ownership transformation, which was passed last week, did not round off the reform regulations.

Trade is about to be liberalized, said Beko, and the foreign trade regimen adjusted to the demands of the World Trade Organization, pension and welfare benefits improved and the securities market better regulated.

The Law on ownership transformation is being launched in conditions where we have to struggle against the dwindling of the value of the assets of social capital left behind from the past, as the coexistence of the social and private sector that had so far been detrimental to the social sector, said Beko.

[27] KRAJISNIK RECEIVED A VISITING US DELEGATION

Tanjug, 1997-11-05

The Republika Srpska member of the Bosnia-Herzegovina Presidency Momcilo Krajisnik and Parliament Speaker Dragan Kalinic received on Wednesday a delegation of the Washington-based US Institute for Peace headed by Harriet Hengis.

The meeting focused on the proposal to create a Commission for truth and reconciliation in Bosnia on the basis of the Dayton Agreement, Krajisnik's Cabinet said.

The Serb side voiced readiness to do everything to build and consolidate trust and reconciliation of the former parties to the conflict in Bosnia.

Serb representatives underlined that the future Commission's task should be preceded by an agreement of the three sides on general amnesty and on a new approach to the activities of the War Crimes Tribunal.

Hailing the peacemaking mission of the US Institute, Krajisnik and Kalinic pointed to the complex task of seeking and understanding the truth on the causes and the nature of Bosnian war, which will certainly influence the efficiency of the activities of the Commission, which should be created with the participation of all three sides in Bosnia on an equal footing.

[28] KRAJISNIK RECEIVED A WORLD BANK DELEGATION

Tanjug, 1997-11-05

Republika Srpska member of Bosnia's three-man Presidency Momcilo Krajisnik received late on Tuesday a delegation of the World Bank, headed by its Deputy Director Samia Mitra.

After the meeting, Mitra said he had informed R.S. officials about the World Bank's readiness to back and offer technical assistance in implementing a privatisation project in the Republika Srpska.

Mitra said the World Bank would offer financial and expert assistance by sending teams that would help organise financial and money markets and help draft relevant laws.

He said the Privatisation Law should be amended through new regulations and measures that would mark the beginning of the privatisation process. He said in this way shares that were to be released on the market would become more valuable.

Mitra said the World Bank had offered cooperation to the R.S. Government, saying if both sides worked hard, privatisation should be completed within 3-4 months.

The World Bank delegation met also with R.S. Premier Gojko Klickovic.

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