Yugoslav Daily Survey, 98-03-10

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

Yugoslav Daily Survey

CONTENTS

[01] YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT S.MILOSEVIC RECEIVED U.S. ENVOY R.GELBARD

[02] "CONTACT GROUP ON THE BALKANS" UPHOLDS MIGHT AS RIGHT

[03] INVITATION TO WAR AS SIGN OF SUPPORT TO TERRORISTS

[04] YUGOSLAV DEPUTY PREMIER LILIC RECEIVED THE AUSTRIAN AMBASSADOR

[05] YUGOSLAV AND SLOVENIAN EXPERTS DISCUSS NORMALIZATION OF RELATIONS

[06] RISTIC RECEIVED IRAQI FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICIAL

[07] MONTENEGRO PREMIER VUJANOVIC CONFERRED WITH BOSNIA FOREIGN MINISTER PRLIC

[08] RUMELIOTIS SAID THAT HIS VISIT WAS AIMED AT PROMOTING REGIONAL STABILITY

[09] F.R. YUGOSLAVIA * EUROPEAN UNION YUGOSLAV FOREIGN MINISTER RECEIVED THE EU ROYAUMONT INITIATIVE COORDINATOR

[01] YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT S.MILOSEVIC RECEIVED U.S. ENVOY R.GELBARD

Tanjug, 1998-03-09

Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic received in Belgrade late on Monday special U.S. presidential envoy Robert Gelbard and his aides.

The talk focused on questions of interest to the current situation and stability in the region.

Gelbard briefed Milosevic about Monday's meeting of the Contact Group in London.

In connection with the situation in the Yugoslav republic of Serbia's Kosovo-Metohija province, Milosevic said that problems in the province could be dealt with only within Serbia and by political methods.

The meeting was attended by Yugoslav Foreign Minister Zivadin Jovanovic and U.S. Charge d'Affaires in Belgrade Richard Miles.

[02] "CONTACT GROUP ON THE BALKANS" UPHOLDS MIGHT AS RIGHT

Tanjug, 1998-03-09

Foreign ministers of five western powers and Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister passed in London on Monday an action plan allegedly designed to help calm and normalise the situation in Kosovo-Metohija.

The four-point action plan of the self-styled "Contact group for the Balkans" is supposed to help bring about a speedy relaxation of tensions in this province in the Yugoslav republic of Serbia, according to news agencies.

It provides for a moratorium on credits for Yugoslav export, investment and privatisation, and for recommending to the U.N. Security Council to consider bans on arms imports, on the sale of equipment "which might be used for repression or terrorism," and on issuing visas to those Yugoslav and Serbian officials who were allegedly involved in "operations by the security forces in Kosovo-Metohija."

The ministers from the United States, Russia, Britain, France, Germany and Italy said in a joint statement that "the violent repression of non-violent expression of political views is completely indefensible."

This strange conclusion, to say the least, makes absolutely no mention of terrorist activity in Kosovo-Metohija and the most recent terrorist operations in which police officers as well as civilians - Serbs and ethnic Albanians loyal to the state - were killed.

It is not quite clear how the action plan was adopted at all, in view of the fact that, according to news agency reports, the Russian representative dissented from some of the actions proposed against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. In fact, there is much that is not clear, especially as concerns the activity of the "Contact Group for the Balkans."

The question forces itself as to what are the grounds on which this group of states imposes measures on anybody, since it is self-proclaimed and has itself defined its own field of activity.

At the time of the Bosnian civil war, a "Contact Group" was formed to deal with matters concerning solely that former Yugoslav republic, and it comprised representatives of Russia, the United States, France, Great Britain and Germany.

After the signing of the Dayton Peace Accord, the five states were joined by Italy and they simply proclaimed themselves to be "the Contact Group for the Balkans."

Their first self-assigned "task" was to do something that not even the U.N. Security Council has ever done - interfere in the internal affairs of a sovereign state. Furthermore, the self-styled "Contact Group" is trying to usurp the authority of the Security Council and the prerogatives of the United Nations.

The question also arises as to which country would be obliged to apply "measures" as set down in the "action plan" of the six-state group if the measures are not part of a U.N. decision or a U.N. Security Council resolution.

At its meetings in Bonn, Moscow and now London, the group has constantly concerned itself with Kosovo-Metohija.

It is curious that it has never felt called upon to consider the situation in the Serb-populated Srem-Baranya region in Croatia and Croatia's policy towards the local Serbs.

Besides, one must ask what could possibly be the purpose of the existence of the "Contact Group" now that the Dayton Peace Accord has been signed.

According to some western European views, its basic purpose is to satisfy the desire of these powerful states to maintain their presence in the Balkan political theatre, just as it is NATO's intention to maintain its military presence as long as possible in the Balkans.

[03] INVITATION TO WAR AS SIGN OF SUPPORT TO TERRORISTS

Tanjug, 1998-03-09

Demonstrations under the slogan "We want war" were held in a number of towns in Serbia's southern province of Kosovo and Metohija on Monday in the organisation of the "Coordination committee of ethnic Albanian political parties" and in support of the terrorist operations of the so-called Liberation Army of Kosovo.

In Pec, the demonstrators approaching the town opened fire at security organs, but luckily no one was hurt. The demonstrators carried the pictures of the killed terrorist leader Adem Jasari and posters reading "Drenica, we are with you." The protesters shouted "we want war" throughout the demonstrations.

Before he was liquidated in Donji Prekaz, criminal gang leader Adem Jasari mercilessly killed his 10-year-old cousin and one of his two wives, probably afraid that they would tip him off as they attempted to flee their hideout.

The demonstrations in Pec lasted for just half an hour and they ended peacefully without a police intervention. The situation was similar in Kosovska Mitrovica.

Although the Albanian-language press announced it as a peaceful rally "for peace and against violence," the demonstrators in Pristina shouted "Drenica, Drenica" and "We will give our lives, but we will not give Kosovo." They carried Albanian flags and posters which read "State of Kosovo," which clearly demonstrated their support to terrorism and separatists. The protest lasted for about an hour. Police neither intervened nor were they present in large numbers near the demonstrators.

The scenario was similar in Djakovica, where the demonstrators used jeers and threats in an attempt to provoke police, who did not react.

In Gnjilane there were no rallies in the centre, but in the side streets and suburbs the demonstrators shouted the well-known slogans supporting "Drenica," "Kosovo - republic," etc.

These demonstrations and warmongering statements by some Kosovo Albanian leaders are another proof that the ethnic Albanian separatist movement in Kosovo and Metohija is identifying with the terrorist and that political talks and dialogue are not on its mind.

So-called "premier" in refuge Bujar Bukosi loudly boasts that the Kosovo army exists and that it comprises mostly of young people "ready to die for Kosovo," which is why he organises the collection of funds and manpower for them.

[04] YUGOSLAV DEPUTY PREMIER LILIC RECEIVED THE AUSTRIAN AMBASSADOR

Tanjug, 1998-03-09

Yugoslav Deputy Premier Zoran Lilic received Austrian Ambassador to Yugoslavia Wolfgang Petritsch at his request on Monday, a Federal Government statement said.

The talks covered bilateral economic cooperation which had shown an upward trend following suspension of the U.N. sanctions but was currently burdened by the political situation in Kosovo and Metohija.

Underlining the need that the problems of the southern Serbian province be resolved in the interest of all those who live there, Lilic said there could be no question of an independent Kosovo and Metohija, which separatist leaders of Kosovo Albanians had proclaimed in public as their goal and tried to realize with over 200 terrorist actions since the year 1991.

In the case of terrorism, the state will intervene with all available means, very professionally and within international laws, said Lilic. A group of close to 40 foreign ambassadors could see this when they visited Donje Prekaze, the village where a terrorist hideout was liquidated after members of antiterrorist units tried for several hours to persuade the terrorists to release all civilians, including women and children, but only some 30 ethnic Albanians came out.

However, if we eliminate these two evils - terrorism and their desire for an independent republic, Lilic said, then it is clear that only one road is left, although the more difficult one, the path of dialogue and talks.

Lilic expressed hope that the Contact Group would make an effort to encourage the leaders of Serbia and Yugoslavia and all democratically- oriented forces in Kosovo to take the path of dialogue with an unequivocal condemnation of terrorism at their meeting.

The first positive step toward resolving problems in Kosovo might be an additional effort to realize the agreement on education, even though Ibrahim Rugova postponed co-opting his three representatives on the Group 3+3, certainly, with the precondition that articles 20. and 21. of the Council of Europe Convention on Human Rights, international laws, and the laws of the states in which they live are respected, Lilic said.

Kosovo Albanian leaders who are for a peaceful settlement of the problem must condemn terrorism themselves, and ethnic Albanians must take part in local, republican and federal elections if they want to get out of the ghetto into which they have been drawn by separatist-minded leaders, Lilic said.

Lilic also informed Ambassador Petritsch about preparations of a Law on local self-administration, modelled on valid laws in developed democratic countries all over the world, and which equally respects the rights of all, prevents any outnumbering, and is aimed at contributing to creating an atmosphere of mutual respect and confidence.

Thanks to the open talks and detailed information, Ambassador Petritsch reiterated his country's stand that Kosovo is an internal problem of Serbia and Yugoslavia and an integral part of Serbia and Yugoslavia from the viewpoint of International Public Law.

Austria and the European Union have unequivocally condemned terrorism always and in every place, Petritsch said, but the escalation of the problem in this region causes the concern of the international community, said the statement.

[05] YUGOSLAV AND SLOVENIAN EXPERTS DISCUSS NORMALIZATION OF RELATIONS

Tanjug, 1998-03-09

A Yugoslav delegation headed by the Foreign Ministry Political Director Dragan Vucicevic and a Slovenian delegation headed by Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ernest Petric discussed on Monday in Ljubljana the normalization of bilateral relations.

The two delegations exchanged views on the principles regarding normalization, and described the talks as useful although fundamental differences in the stances of the two countries remain.

The meeting constituted a follow-up to the talks held by diplomatic representatives of Yugoslavia and Slovenia last May in Belgrade. The participants agreed to pursue negotiations aimed at a rapprochement of views, as both countries have confirmed their intention to continue the normalization process.

[06] RISTIC RECEIVED IRAQI FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICIAL

Tanjug, 1998-03-09

Ljubisa Ristic, the President of the Foreign Policy Relations Committee of the Chamber of Citizens of the Yugoslav Parliament, received a visiting Iraqi Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Abdul Jabel al Duri in Belgrade on Monday.

Ristic informed al Duri at length about the situation in the region and the problems which Yugoslavia faced in the recent years following the crisis caused by the disintegration of the former Yugoslav federation, a Parliament statement said.

Ristic also informed the Iraqi Undersecretary about the causes of this situation, as well as the terrorist activities of separatists in Kosovo, pointing out that a solution to this issue lies solely in the full equality of the Albanian national minority and their fulfilling their rights and obligations, like all other citizens, but with the firm obligation to preserve the full sovereignty and integrity of Yugoslavia.

Al Duri especially spoke about the current situation which is in connection with the Iraqi crisis, underlining the importance of the agreement reached with the United Nations Secretary-General during his visit to Iraq.

The two officials agreed mutual contacts between the two countries should be intensified at different levels, and that steps should constantly be taken along these lines to promote political, economic, cultural and other forms of cooperation.

[07] MONTENEGRO PREMIER VUJANOVIC CONFERRED WITH BOSNIA FOREIGN MINISTER PRLIC

Tanjug, 1998-03-09

Montenegro Premier Filip Vujanovic discussed on Monday with Bosnia- Herzegovina Foreign Minister Jadranko Prlic economic cooperation between the Yugoslav republic and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Premier Vujanovic and Minister Prlic expressed conviction that it was necessary to establish economic cooperation and voiced readiness to back all initiatives conducive to the prosperity of Montenegro and Bosnia- Herzegovina, a government statement said.

Minister Prlic was received on Monday also by his Montenegro counterpart, Branko Perovic.

[08] RUMELIOTIS SAID THAT HIS VISIT WAS AIMED AT PROMOTING REGIONAL STABILITY

Tanjug, 1998-03-09

European Union's Royaumont initiative for cooperation with southeastern European countries coordinator Panayotis Rumeliotis said after meeting with Yugoslav Foreign Minister Zivadin Jovanovic on Monday that his visit to Belgrade was aimed at promoting stability and good neighbourly relations in southeastern Europe within the initiative in which Yugoslavia actively participates.

Rumeliotis told reporters that he had informed Yugoslav officials about preparations for the coming Royaumont initiative meeting in Athens on March 31. This will be a conference of southeastern European journalists and media owners, where steps would be reviewed for promoting media cooperation aimed at an easier flow of people and ideas in the region.

[09] F.R. YUGOSLAVIA * EUROPEAN UNION YUGOSLAV FOREIGN MINISTER RECEIVED THE EU ROYAUMONT INITIATIVE COORDINATOR

Tanjug, 1998-03-09

Yugoslav Foreign Minister Zivadin Jovanovic discussed on Monday with Panayotis Rumeliotis, Coordinator of the European Union's Royaumont Initiative for cooperation with southeastern Europe, upcoming activities for a speedier inclusion of southeastern Europe into European integration processes.

It was established with satisfaction that Yugoslavia, as an equal and active participant, has from the beginning been contributing to the promotion of the Royaumont process with its peace policy, stability, the development of good-neighbourly and all-round cooperation in the region, the Yugoslav Foreign Ministry said.

The proposal that Yugoslavia host an upcoming meeting of the Royaumont Initiative was also discussed.

The European Union inaugurated the Royaumont Initiative in late 1995 to open prospects for closer ties between the countries of southeastern Europe and the European Union through the development and strengthening of good- neighbourly cooperation.

The Royaumont Initiative covers all E.U. countries, Yugoslavia, the former Yugoslav republics, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Albania, Russia, the United States, the Council of Europe and the OSCE. Meetings of the Royaumont Initiative are attended by representatives of other regional initiatives (SECI, CMES). Cooperation is developed in a wide range of areas, especially education, culture, religion, science and sports.

The next meeting of the Royaumont Initiative will open in Athens on March 31.

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