Yugoslav Daily Survey, 98-02-05

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

Yugoslav Daily Survey

CONTENTS

[01] MINISTER JOVANOVIC ON PRIORITIES OF FOREIGN POLICY

[02] KINKEL, DODIK MEET

[03] REPUBLIKA SRPSKA EXPECTS BRCKO TO REMAIN PART OF ITS TERRITORY

[04] PARLIAMENT ELECTS TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT

[01] MINISTER JOVANOVIC ON PRIORITIES OF FOREIGN POLICY

Tanjug, 1998-02-04

Yugoslav Foreign Minister Zivadin Jovanovic gave a reception for foreign ambassadors and diplomatic mission heads and for the heads of offices of international organizations in Belgrade, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Jovanovic said that the fundamental priorities of Yugoslavia's foreign policy were peace, stability and good neighbourly relations in the region, and integration in European and world institutions.

The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia follows a principled and open foreign policy and fully abides by the UN Charter, the Helsinki document of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Paris Charter, Jovanovic said.

All-round international cooperation based on full respect of equality, reciprocal interests and mutual understanding is a corner-stone of Yugoslavia's foreign policy, Jovanovic said and added that the Foreign Ministry would always be open to all initiatives to that end that may be proposed by foreign diplomats.

Nigerian Ambassador Ezekiel Gotom Dimka replied to Jovanovic on behalf of the diplomatic corps and wished him success in his work following his recent appointment.

[02] KINKEL, DODIK MEET

Tanjug, 1998-02-04

German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel talked in Bon on Wednesday with Republika Srpska Prime Minister Milorad Dodik, who arrived Tuesday on a several-day visit to Germany.

"We hope that in the case of Brcko a solution will be adopted which is favourable for Republika Srpska," Kinkel said after talks with Dodik Wednesday.

Dodik told Tanjug that it was ascertained at the talks Wednesday that the decision on Brcko must not be prejudicial for his Government so that it does not suffer destabilization.

"I hope that the final arbitration decision will determine that Brcko belongs to Republika Srpska in the territorial sense," Dodik said.

He said that the town of Brcko was a good example of the assertion of all Dayton agreement provisions on the return of refugees, on mixed police and on local administration. "We need jurisdiction over that town," Dodik said.

Kinkel repeated, talking to journalists after meeting with Dodik, everything that Germany has promised so far to the new RS Government and stressed that Bonn will endeavour to help wherever it can, citing among other things sending experts for finances and economy.

An important project is the help of German firms for the reconstruction of Banjaluka airport which, Dodik said, will be opened by Kinkel personally in about ten days time.

"RS inhabitants must feel the advantages brought by the implementation of the Dayton agreement," the German Foreign Minister said.

Talking about promised aid, Kinkel pointed especially to his Action Program, announced in Brussels at the European Union Ministerial Council, an urgent six million DM aid, a 31 million D mark aid to be approved by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, and an urgent payment of 400,000 marks by the Bonn Government for setting up the new seat of RS Government in Banjaluka.

Dodik reiterated to journalists in Bonn that the most important tasks of his government were to ensure unity of action in RS, the implementation of the Dayton agreement as a whole, and to enable economic recovery as an essential precondition for the return of people to their homes. He cautioned in that respect that in the Serb entity as much as 70 percent of the work force was unemployed, and that average monthly pays were only 70 D marks.

According to Dodik, economic circumstances must be improved in order to secure the return of refugees, stressing that return must be simultaneous, or that all refugees should return at the same time and held each other out with accommodation.

Kinkel then said he would soon travel with his French counterpart Hubert Vedrine to Belgrade and Zagreb and that on that occasion he would demand from the authorities in Croatia to facilitate the return of Serbs to Krajina which, he said, would at the same time improve the housing situation in RS.

[03] REPUBLIKA SRPSKA EXPECTS BRCKO TO REMAIN PART OF ITS TERRITORY

Tanjug, 1998-02-04

Republika Srpska expects that the International Arbitration Commission for Brcko will rule that the Brcko region remain part of the Bosnian Serb entity, RS Vice President Dragoljub Mirjanic told Yugoslav journalists on Thursday, before the Commission met for the last hearing.

Mirjanic, who heads the RS delegation to the hearing, reminded the press that it had been agreed a year ago that the final decision on the status of Brcko be passed by March 15 this year. Mirjanic said that the International Arbitration Commission, whose session will be closed to the public, would first hear representatives of the international community - Brcko Supervisor Robert Farrand and representatives of the SFOR and the UNHCR.

The Commission is next to hear representatives of the Muslim-Croat Federation and their witnesses, and in the end RS representatives and their witnesses.

Mirjanic said that since Republika Srpska had made an immense contribution to the implementation of the earlier arbitration decision, it expected that the upcoming decision would be final and in its favour, i.e. that Brcko would remain part of its territory, which it has been since 1992.

He told the press that the RS had the so far strongest arguments and greatest prospects to keep Brcko "in view of the consistent implementation of the Dayton decisions in the RS, especially the Brcko area. "The freedom of movement functions on all of the RS territory, new authorities have been set up in the municipality, and the latest economic indicators are also in our favour," RS Vice President Mirjanic said.

[04] PARLIAMENT ELECTS TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT

Tanjug, 1998-02-04

The Montenegrin Parliament is expected on Wednesday to appoint a transitional cabinet until the holding of early elections, called for May this year.

Prior to the appointment, Premier-designate Filip Vujanovic took the floor to set out the program of the new Government.

In his address, Vujanovic said that a priority of his cabinet would be "stabilization of political circumstances, as part of the democratic ambience, necessary for the forthcoming parliamentary elections."

"The government will continue to pursue strategic courses of development, affirming economic reform and privatization, and work for a healthy economy that guarantees a better and safer future for the people," he said.

Speaking on foreign policy, Vujanovic said he would insist that the Federal Government draw up a program for Yugoslavia's reintegration into the international community.

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