Yugoslav Daily Survey, 98-06-24

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Yugoslav Daily Survey

CONTENTS

[01] ANOTHER VICTIM OF A TERRORIST ATTACK

[02] PROTOCOL SIGNED ON RETURN OF REFUGEES TO CROATIA

[03] YUGOSLAV FINANCE MINISTER RECEIVES EUROFIMA OFFICIALS

[04] YUGOSLAV DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER RECEIVES GERMANY'S SIEMENS DIRECTOR

[05] YUGOSLAV DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER RECEIVES EUROFIMA DIRECTOR-GENERAL

[06] TERRORISTS KEEP UP ATTACKS

[07] ETHNIC ALBANIAN TERRORISTS TORCH SERB HOUSES NEAR KLINA

[08] PRIMAKOV AND KINKEL CONFER ON THE KOSOVO AND METOHIJA ISSUE

[09] HOLBROOKE: ESCALATION OF CONFLICTS IN KOSMET MUST BE PREVENTED

[10] SWISS FOUNDATION URGES WORLD'S REPORTERS TO VISIT KOSOVO AND METOHIJA

[11] KOSMET INTERIOR SECRETARIAT ON INCIDENT INVOLVING DANISH TV CREW CAR

[12] VICE-PREMIER LILIC: WESTERN STANCE SPURS ETHNIC ALBANIAN TERRORISTS

[13] YUGOSLAV AMBASSADOR PROTESTS TO OSCE

[14] SERBIAN GOVERNMENT SENDS AID TO KOSOVO AND METOHIJA

[15] CHINESE DELEGATION VISITS NOVI SAD

[16] PEROSEVIC RECEIVES BULGARIAN AMBASSADOR

[17] PRESIDENT OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE RECEIVED THE UKRAINIAN AMBASSADOR

[18] FOREIGN MINISTER JOVANOVIC RECEIVED THE ANGOLAN AMBASSADOR

[19] YUGOSLAV DELEGATION AT THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY

[20] BULATOVIC: PLEASURE AT YUGOSLAVIA'S PARTICIPATION IN EXPO '98

[21] PREMIER BULATOVIC ATTENDS "YUGOSLAV DAY" AT THE EXPO '98 EXHIBITION '98.

[22] YUGOSLAV DEPUTY PM RECEIVES RUSSIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER

[23] PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC RECEIVED AFANASYEVSKI

[01] ANOTHER VICTIM OF A TERRORIST ATTACK

Tanjug, 1998-06-23

Iljaz Vranovci, retired policeman, was killed Monday night, in the villa ge of Trnje, municipality of Suva Reka, near Prizren.

A group of armed men, Pristina Media Center said, killed Vranovci in his house.

[02] PROTOCOL SIGNED ON RETURN OF REFUGEES TO CROATIA

Tanjug, 1998-06-23

Representatives of Republika Srpska and the Republic of Croatia signed i n Banja Luka on Tuesday a Protocol on the manner of organizing the return of refugees.

The protocol regulates a lasting solution for the return of refugees to their earlier homes and its goal is to encourage an organized return, sai d a statement signed by the Minister for Refugees and Displaced Persons o f Republika Srpska, Miladin Dragicevic, and the head of the Bureau for Re fugees of the Republic of Croatia, Lovre Pejkovic.

In Republika Srpska there are around 60,000 Serb refugees from the form er Republic of Serb Krajina.

[03] YUGOSLAV FINANCE MINISTER RECEIVES EUROFIMA OFFICIALS

Tanjug, 1998-06-23

Yugoslav Finance Minister Dragisa Pesic on Tuesday received Director-Gen eral of the European Company Financing Railway Rolling Stock (EUROFIMA, 1 998) Andre Bovet and Vice-President of EUROFIMA's Basle-based Internation al Railway Bank Marcus Felix.

According to a statement issued after the meeting by the Yugoslav Infor mation Secretariat, Pesic highly praised financial cooperation and relati ons between the Yugoslav Rail and EUROFIMA. He said he was convinced tha t EUROFIMA's bank would continue to have understanding for the Yugoslav Rail's need for fresh financial support necessary to renew its railway tr ack and rolling stock.

Pesic pledged that the state would continue its concrete support for fi nancial cooperation and relations between the Yugoslav Rail and EUROFIMA.

For his part, Bovet singled this out as very important, adding that it w as equally important to improve framework conditions for mutually benefic ial professional cooperation, the statement said.

[04] YUGOSLAV DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER RECEIVES GERMANY'S SIEMENS DIRECTOR

Tanjug, 1998-06-23

Yugoslav Deputy Prime Minister Jovan Zebic on Tuesday conferred with Rud olf Bertsch, who heads German Siemens company's Directorate for Central a nd South East Europe, about cooperation between Yugoslav companies and Si emens.

The parties to the talk expressed satisfaction with a successful implem entation of business deals that had been launched in much more difficult conditions. It was also noted that there was a good will to continue and expand economic cooperation in the interest of both sides.

Zebic informed Bertsch about changes in the organization and structure of Yugoslav telecommunications and also about the privatization process. He said that privatization depended on the presence of world's renowned c ompanies in Yugoslavia and also on foreign investment, adding that succes sful cooperation with Siemens proved that this was both necessary and fea sible, the statement said.

[05] YUGOSLAV DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER RECEIVES EUROFIMA DIRECTOR-GENERAL

Tanjug, 1998-06-23

Yugoslav Deputy Prime Minister Jovan Zebic on Tuesday received Director- General of the European Company Financing Railway Rolling Stock (EUROFIMA , 1998) Andre Bovet and Yugoslav railway company executives.

It was noted in the talks that cooperation between EUROFIMA and the Yug oslav Rail had been very fruitful for many years. The parties to the talk also voiced interest and readiness to continue this cooperation in the f uture, the Yugoslav Information Secretariat said in a statement issued af ter the meeting.

The EUROFIMA director-general backed Yugoslavia's efforts toward involv ing other international institutions in the implementation of a project o f renewing and modernizing its railways aimed at securing their successfu l operation within the European railway transport.

[06] TERRORISTS KEEP UP ATTACKS

Tanjug, 1998-06-23

The Secretariat of the Interior in Pristina said on Tuesday that despite the measures undertaken for establishing dialogue and finding out a peac eful solution to problems in Kosovo and Meothija, ethnic Albanian terrori sts and separatists pursue the violence against Serbs and continue to att ack the police.

Monday afternoon in the municipalities of Decani, Klina and Prizren, the y carried out several attacks on Serbian villages and policemen.

The attacks were carried out with hand-held rocket launchers, machinegu ns and other automatic weapons. The police repelled all the attacks, brok e up the terrorist groups and inflicted heavy casualties.

In the attacks, policemen Zoltan Tot and Marko Skoric were wounded.

In a hiding place in the house of the ethnic Albanian terrorist Hisen Ha dzija, in Djakovica, the police discovered on June 21 a large quantity of arms, ammunition, medical material and lists of terrorist group members in the surroundings of Djakovica.

[07] ETHNIC ALBANIAN TERRORISTS TORCH SERB HOUSES NEAR KLINA

Tanjug, 1998-06-23

Ethnic Albanian terrorists set fire to 12 Serb houses in the village of Jelovac near Klina, Serbia's province of Kosovo and Metohija, on Monday, the Pristina-based Media Centre reported on Tuesday.

After repeated attacks on their homes, the 12 Serb families were evacua ted and accommodated in Klina, the Centre said.

The terrorists opened fire on police officers near the village on Monda y setting fire to all houses in the village before leaving it, the Centre said.

Serb families have fled most of the villages near Klina because of frequ ent attacks by ethnic Albanian terrorists, it said. About 80 persons, mai nly women, children and the elderly, have found shelter in the town.

Town authorities say that there is not enough food and medicine.

The situation is most critical in Kijev where about 60 Serb families and 30 Serbs from the village of Mlecane have been for days defending themse lves against ethnic Albanian terrorist attacks.

The Centre said the terrorists held Kijevo under siege.

It also said that nine Serbs, most of whom are employed with the Kosovo Power Industry enterprise, are missing since they have been last seen at the Belacevac mines, near Obilic, on Monday. Three of them were abducted by armed ethnic Albanians, while the other six were reported to have dis appeared between the mines and the village of Grabovac.

Local authorities in Obilic and enterprise officials said they had not h eard from them since, saying their families had reported their disappeara nce.

[08] PRIMAKOV AND KINKEL CONFER ON THE KOSOVO AND METOHIJA ISSUE

Tanjug, 1998-06-23

Russian Foreign Minister Yevgeny Primakov and his German counterpart Kla us Kinkel have discussed the issue of Serbia's southern province of Kosov o and Metohija, a Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesman said on Tuesday.

Primakov and Kinkel met during a session of the Council of Baltic state s held in Denmark's island of Fyn.

Russia's Itar-Tass news agency quoted Spokesman Vladimir Rahmanin as say ing Moscow considered it vital that all that President Boris Yeltsin of R ussia and President Slobodan Milosevic of Yugoslavia had agreed upon last week be implemented, saying, however, that it was vital at this point a lso to exert pressure on ethnic Albanians.

Rahmanin said that it was now necessary to put the process that had ope ned through agreement reached in Moscow to the realistic negotiating lev el.

He said he believed the international community was unanimous on the ma tter, saying all countries worked together towards the attainment of that goal. The joining of forces in resolving the Kosovo and Metohija crisis is necessitated by the impossibility of dealing with the issue through a single move, he said.

Primakov has discussed the issue also in separate meetings with Baltic foreign ministers, thus offering active support to his two assistants vis iting the Balkans in an attempt to find a diplomatic solution.

[09] HOLBROOKE: ESCALATION OF CONFLICTS IN KOSMET MUST BE PREVENTED

Tanjug, 1998-06-23

U.S. special envoy Richard Holbrooke said late on Tuesday after talks wi th Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic that the purpose of his visit wa s to prevent an escalation of conflicts in Kosovo and Metohija.

Holbrooke declined to give any details or specify the nature of these ta lks, explaining this was standard procedure in the case of a confidential exchange of opinions.

Holbrooke said this was the critical moment of the crisis concerning Kos ovo. He said this made it imperative for both sides to exercise restraint.

[10] SWISS FOUNDATION URGES WORLD'S REPORTERS TO VISIT KOSOVO AND METOHIJA

Tanjug, 1998-06-24

Franz Weber of Switzerland, founder of a Montreux-based foundation beari ng his name, has urged the world's reporters to visit Kosovo and Metohij a to try to salvage unique masterpieces of European art and architecture that can be found in the province.

Letters sent to reporters in Switzerland, France, Germany, Belgium, Ital y, Greece and Russia, said the action would be carried out under the ausp ices of the "Saviour of Delphi", the way Weber is often referred to, and would be devoted to peace and brotherliness.

Weber, who has a reputation of an environmentalist and champion of the world's cultural heritage, expects the action to mark the beginning of a road which, inspired by art and culture which is the heritage of all peop le, will lead to peace.

[11] KOSMET INTERIOR SECRETARIAT ON INCIDENT INVOLVING DANISH TV CREW CAR

Tanjug, 1998-06-23

In response to a report carried by the "Beta" news agency and published also by some daily papers that a vehicle of a Danish TV crew came under f ire in Glogovac in the Yugoslav Republic of Serbia's Kosovo-Metohija Prov ince, the Interior Secretariat in Pristina issued a statement saying that this was a provocation aimed at discrediting legitimate and professional police work in the province.

At around 12:30 p.m. on June 22, a police patrol, doing its regular duty , tried to stop a white Land Rover for a routine check, strictly obeying rules of procedure. The vehicle that had no license plates or any other v isible insignia drove on without stopping in the direction of the Feronik l factory in Glogovac where its passengers were seen watching the facilit y.

On their way back, the police signalled the vehicle to pull over, but it went on at a life-threatening speed. The police first fired overhead sev eral bullets from service guns and then shot in the tires of the vehicle.

Given the fact that the police failed to stop the vehicle and establish the identity of the passengers, it may be rightfully presumed that, apart from reporters there were also other persons in the vehicle.

The Danish reporters' suspicious and unprofessional behaviour is also c orroborated by the fact that they did not notify the police about the inc ident.

It is interesting to note also that Beta published the report about the incident before the Danish reporters returned to Pristina.

The statement said that it was contrary to the rules of conduct for jour nalists to avoid routine police checks and to inform only a few news agen cies about what happened, without letting the other source of information , in this case the police, say its side of the story.

[12] VICE-PREMIER LILIC: WESTERN STANCE SPURS ETHNIC ALBANIAN TERRORISTS

Tanjug, 1998-06-22

Yugoslav Vice-Premier Zoran Lilic has stated that Albania's open support and the world's indirect support for ethnic Albanian terrorists are the greatest obstacles to political dialogue as the only way to settle the pr oblem of Kosovo and Metohija.

Speaking in an interview for the Belgrade daily "Vecernje Novosti", the first instalment of which the daily published on Tuesday, Lilic said, "i nstead of pressure and threats, the world would best help solve the Kosov o and Metohija problem if it stopped the arming of ethnic Albanian terror ists and their infiltration in this province of the Yugoslav republic of Serbia.

"The western states can certainly do this, because their intelligence se rvices know full well that the terrorists are being trained in Albania, S witzerland, Germany, Turkey..."

"They also know how the terrorists are financed and armed and how and wh ere they are infiltrated into the territory of the Federal Republic of Yu goslavia," Lilic said.

"The only question is whether the world will use its authority for peace and for a political settlement for Kosovo and Metohija, or will abuse it to the point where it will itself soon feel the consequences of supporti ng terrorism in Serbia's province," he said.

Commenting on the importance of Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic's recent visit to Moscow and his meeting with President Boris Yeltsin, Lili c said the visit testified to the strengthening of Yugoslavia's position in the world. He said that, moreover, Yugoslavia's commitment to resolvin g the Kosovo and Metohija crisis through political dialogue and the count ry's stand that the issue could and must be resolved in this way had been backed.

"In a joint statement by Slobodan Milosevic and Boris Yeltsin Yugoslavi a stressed again its commitment to defusing the Kosovo and Metohija crisi s through political dialogue, proving incorrect some Western countries' c laims that we oppose dialogue and ignore the political option. On the con trary, through its attitude, the West itself encourages terrorism by the so- called Kosovo Liberation Army i.e. the 'Albanian militia', the way it has been referred to by some Western sources lately, which is not acciden tal," he said.

He said a general failure to condemn terrorism had given ethnic Albanian terrorists false legitimacy, saying they were encouraged to terrorist ac tions not only against legitimate authorities and the Serb and Montenegri n peoples in Kosovo and Metohija but also against ethnic Albanians.

Through the rule of terror and intimidation they are trying to turn memb ers of their minority against Serbia and Yugoslavia and to persuade them to leave their homes in order to create the impression that Serbia is pur suing ethnic cleansing and bring the world blame Serbia for it, he said.

Referring to the world's hypocritical attitude, Lilic said that, instead of exerting pressure on ethnic Albanians who avoided dialogue and on Alb ania to end activities directed against Yugoslavia, it had launched a tou gh media campaign agianst Yugoslavia and anti-Yugoslav propaganda to show the world public that, allegedly, Serbia and Yugoslavia did not only cau se humanitarian problems but also posed a threat to peace in the region and security in southeast Europe.

"This propaganda is aimed at creating conditions for the U.N. Security Council to adopt a resolution that will make possible a NATO military act ion in Kosovo and Metohija. Not even Article 7 of the U.N. Charter provid es for such an intervention. Thus the true cause of the crisis in Kosovo and Metohija * ethnic Albanian terrorism that is a threat to the security of Serbia and Yugoslavia * goes unpunshied," he said.

Setting a condition to Yugoslavia to withdraw its security forces from K osovo and Metohija, without condemning aggressive moves by Albania that i nfiltrates armed terrorists and weapons in Yugoslavia is illogical and se ts a dangerous precedent, he said.

"The question is why NATO does not launch air strikes against bases in A lbania where terrorists are being trained and logistical support organise d for their actions. This is more so in the light of NATO's stand on terr orism in the alliance's territories and the measures it takes against it.

"We shall fight against terrorism with all available means as long as we do not defeat it. What we still insist on is that the international comm unity respect International Law, condemns terrorism and, consequently, gi ves true contribution to the resolution of problems and to securing peace and security throughout the region, especially in the light of the fact that Macedonia could also be jeopardised," he said.

[13] YUGOSLAV AMBASSADOR PROTESTS TO OSCE

Tanjug, 1998-06-23

Yugoslavia's Ambassador to Austria protested on Tuesday to the Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Gianc arlo Aragone beacuse of recent statements by an OSCE official in Albania.

Dobrosav Veizovic protested because of a statement by the head of the OS CE mission in Albania Dan Everts, published in the June 17 issue of "De Moren" newspaper, to the effect that Serbs were setting up camps for ethn ic Albanians in northern Kosovo and Metohija.

Veizovic, who head's Yugoslavia's mission in the OSCE, said such untrut hs were detrimental to the reputation of the OSCE, whose mission is to as sist in quests of peaceful solutions and strengthening measures of confid ence.

In denying the statement, Veizovic said that foreign diplomats, reporte rs and representatives of international organizations had visited Kosovo and Metohija.

Veizovic submitted to Aragone a copy of a program adopted by the Serbia n Government last week and said he expected the OSCE to support it.

[14] SERBIAN GOVERNMENT SENDS AID TO KOSOVO AND METOHIJA

Tanjug, 1998-06-23

A Serbian government humanitarian program for the province of Kosovo an d Metohija is being successfully implemented, sources in charge of imple menting the program said on Tuesday.

The population is supplied with basic foodstuffs, such as flour, sugar, cooking oil, beans, rice, milk powder etc., petrol and petroleum produc ts, medical supplies, deterdzent, items for personal hygiene, clothes an d footwear.

Staples and other necessities have also been delivered to those who had been evacuated or had left their homes, in particular the areas of Deca ni, Djakovica, Klina and Srbica.

The aid is delivered by local bodies, in cooperation with humanitarian organizations, in particular the Yugoslav Red Cross. Most of the goods h ave been obtained via regular market mechanisms, others were supplied by the republican commodity reserves.

Construction materials such as cement, roof tiles, wall blocks, bricks, sand, shingle, etc., have been supplied for repairs of houses damaged i n terrorist attacks and police shootouts.

Commissions have been set up in municipalities to estimate damages, tog ether with the Directorate for the Development of Kosovo and Metohija, a nd distribute the materials.

The government calls on all those who have left their homes to return. Transportation has been organized for the return of those who had taken refuge with relatives or in accommodation centers.

The Serbian refugee commissioner has taken measures with the UN High Co mmissioner for Refugees, for the immediate organized return of refugees in northern Albania.

Competent ministries in charge of carrying out the tasks are due to sub mit reports to the government once a week, and the government has ordere d the bodies to cooperate closely with the International Committee of th e Red Cross and UNHCR.

[15] CHINESE DELEGATION VISITS NOVI SAD

Tanjug, 1998-06-23

It is the firm stand of the People's Republic of China that Kosmet is an internal affair of Serbia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, member s of China's Association for International Understanding said in the nort hern Serbian town of Novi Sad on Tuesday.

The delegation, which is on an official visit to the Serbian Oil Industr y NIS of Novi Sad, said China's leadership gave strong support to the pol icy of peace of Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic and the efforts of the Yugoslav leadership to preserve national independence and sovereignty and that all conflicts are resolved in political dialogue, without viole nce or armed conflicts.

It was also heard that economic cooperation between Yugoslavia and China would continue to develop and cover many areas.

The association delegation, which is on an official working visit to Yug oslavia at the invitation of the Yugoslav Left (JUL, 1998), was received in Novi Sad today by NIS Board of Managers President and JUL political co ordinator for Serbia's Vojvodina province Zivko Sokolovacki and NIS Direc tor General Milan Djakovic.

[16] PEROSEVIC RECEIVES BULGARIAN AMBASSADOR

Tanjug, 1998-06-23

Vojvodina Executive Council President Bosko Perosevic received Bulgarian Ambassador to Yugoslavia Ivajlo Trifonov in Novi Sad on Tuesday at the l atter's request, said the information secretariat of Serbia's northern Pr ovince of Vojvodina.

Informing the Ambassador about the economic and social developments in Vojvodina, Perosevic said Serbia was a civil state, which was most eviden t in Vojvodina, where members of national minorities realize all rights - from culture to information, said the statement.

Ambassador Trifonov highly praised the presence of minority rights in th e Republic of Serbia, in particular in Vojvodina, said the statement.

The Ambassador also conveyed his country's official stand that Kosovo w as an internal affair which should be settled within Serbia. He said Bulg aria was against the creation of new states in the Balkans, the statement said.

[17] PRESIDENT OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE RECEIVED THE UKRAINIAN AMBASSADOR

Tanjug, 1998-06-23

President of the Yugoslav Chamber of Commerce Mihajlo Milojevic received on Tuesday Ukrainian Ambassador in Belgrade Vadim Primachenko for a fare well visit.

Milojevic underscored Yugoslavia's interest in promoting cooperation wi th Ukraine with increased barter arrangements.

Primachenko said the current annual trade between Yugoslavia and Ukrain e, which stood at 80 million dollars, could reach as much as one billion dollars, with support from state institutions and economic associations.

Milojevic said he expected the Chamber's office in Kiev to become fully active soon, and announced the arrival of a Yugoslav economic delegatio n in mid-July.

[18] FOREIGN MINISTER JOVANOVIC RECEIVED THE ANGOLAN AMBASSADOR

Tanjug, 1998-06-23

Yugoslav Foreign Minister Zivadin Jovanovic received on Tuesday Angolan Ambassador Evarist Domingos for a farewell visit on the completion of his mission to Yugoslavia.

Domingos, a doyen of the Belgrade Diplomatic Corps, has spent nine year s in Yugoslavia.

Jovanovic praised the Ambassador for his personal contribution to the p romotion of overall relations between the two friendly countries, during his mission in Belgrade.

[19] YUGOSLAV DELEGATION AT THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY

Tanjug, 1998-06-23

A Yugoslav delegation will take part in the current June session of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly in Strasburg, at the invitation of its President Leni Fischer.

The participaiton of the Yugoslav delegation, headed by the Chairman of the Yugoslav Parliament Lower House Foreign Policy Committee Ljubisa Rist ic, in the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly session represents th e continuation of the action for the admission of our country in the Coun cil of Europe.

An official request for the admission of FR Yugoslavia into the oldest E uropean political organization was made on March 19.

The Ministerial Committee, the Council of Europe government body, has t he Yugoslav request on its agenda and is expected to refer it soon, accor ding to the rules of procedure, to the Parliamentary Assembly, which shou ld decide about the status of special guest, as the first step towards th e full membership of Yugoslavia in the Council of Europe.

At the opening of the June session of the Parliamentary Assembly, in Str asburg on Monday, the Chairman of the Political Committee, Hungarian soci alist Andras Barsony, announced a debate about the situation in Yugoslavi a for Tuesday, at 15:00.

Barsony, in his report about the work of the Parliament Bureau spoke abo ut the visit of a delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly to Yugoslavia. The delegation visited Belgrade, Podgorica and Pristina from June 10 to 12. Barsony assessed that the situation in Kosovo and Metohija was very c omplex and that it cannot be viewed only from one side. A serious approac h to the matter is needed, taking into account all relevant elements, he said.

Barsony underlined that the situation in Kosovo and Metohija cannot be a ssessed and that action cannot be taken only on the basis of media report s.

Barsony also said that the Parliamentary Assembly was very active on the issue of Kosovo and Metohija and that it was one of the rare internation al insitutions which is received positively in Belgrade.

[20] BULATOVIC: PLEASURE AT YUGOSLAVIA'S PARTICIPATION IN EXPO '98

Tanjug, 1998-06-23

Yugoslav Prime Minister Momir Bulatovic expressed satisfaction in Lisbon on Tuesday with the way in which Yugoslavia was presented at the World E xhibition EXPO '98, and his hosts spoke about the importance of Yugoslavi a's presence at a time when Yugoslavia was in need of moral support.

At the flag-raising ceremony, EXPO Commissioner General Tores Campos we lcomed Yugoslavia's participation in this event, the last of its kind in this millennium. He said he was grateful for the opportunity to get acqua inted with this beautiful country and the achievements of the Yugoslav ec onomy, science, history and culture, said a Serbian Radio and Television (RTS, 1998) report.

On behalf of Yugoslavia, Bulatovic paid tribute and expressed gratitude to Portugal, the host-country, for making the world richer with such an event.

Bulatovic, the state delegation members, and other visitors from Yugosla via, escorted by Portuguese Government officials and the commissioner ge neral, toured the Yugoslav pavilion and the main subject pavilions at the exhibition.

On the occasion of Yugoslavia's National Day, the Portuguese Government and the commissioner general gave a lunch in honour of Prime Minister B ulatovic and the Yugoslav state delegation.

Portuguese Minister Antonio Costa said on that occasion that he was fam iliar with the difficulties through which Yugoslavia was passing and that this was why he was even happier that it was present at the exhibition a t this time when it needed moral support.

In the statement to RTS, Bulatovic said after touring the Yugoslav pavil ion that he had "got the impression that it was made in a modern way, tha t it presents to interested visitors the history, culture, tradition, but also something we can be proud of in the intellectual, spiritual and cul tural sense."

"I believe they have also taken into consideration the moment for making the presentation in a very good way, but having in mind the economic cir cumstances in our country. I am also particularly pleased that our pavili on is in the centre of attention because of the current successes of our national soccer team and the expected success of our basketball players. Mostly, Yugoslavia is known here and spoken of, not only today, on its Na tional day, but on days in the past, as I am certain that it will continu e to be in the centre of attention in future," said Yugoslav Prime Minist er Bulatovic in Lisbon.

[21] PREMIER BULATOVIC ATTENDS "YUGOSLAV DAY" AT THE EXPO '98 EXHIBITION '98.

Tanjug, 1998-06-23

Yugoslav Prime Minister Momir Bulatovic attended on Tuesday the marking of the national day of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia at the World Ex hibition EXPO '98 in Lisbon.

The ceremonies started at 12:00, Yugoslav time, at the ceremonial squar e of the World Exhibition. In the presence of the Yugoslav state delegati on, headed by Prime Minister Bulatovic, the flag of the Federal Republic of Yugoslav was hoisted.

Prime Minister Bulatovic and members of the delegation, accompanied by P ortuguese Government representatives, then visited the pavilions of EXPO

Yugoslavia, according to the concept established by the government, is p resented at the World Exhibition as a country going through social and e conomic reforms, which has rich natural resources, specific civilization al heritage, is an integral part of Europe and, despite the slowdown, tak es part in modern world processes.

The participation of Yugoslavia in the exhibition is assessed as very im portant, in the first place as one of the ways for the world to review co nceptions about our country and to form new opinions.

[22] YUGOSLAV DEPUTY PM RECEIVES RUSSIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER

Tanjug, 1998-06-23

Yugoslav Deputy Prime Minister Nikola Sainovic on Tuesday received Russi an Deputy Foreign Minister Nikolai Afanasyevsky, who is paying a working visit to Yugoslavia.

It was noted in the talk that a joint statement by Presidents Slobodan Milosevic of Yugoslavia and Boris Yeltsin of Russia was of major importan ce to the resolution of problems in the Yugoslav Republic of Serbia's Kos ovo-Metohija Province through dialogue and by peaceful political means, s aid a statement issued after the meeting by the Yugoslav Information Secr etariat.

It was also noted that Serbian and Yugoslav state bodies, in cooperatio n with the International Committee of the Red Cross and the office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR, 1998), had already taken ste ps toward mending the consequences of terrorist attacks and anti-terroris t activities so as to bring life in Kosovo-Metohija back to normal.

The two parties to the talk voiced readiness to start restoring a direc t and unconditional political dialogue with representatives of ethnic Alb anian political parties without delay, in an effort to find solutions to all problems and create conditions for a stable life of all citizens and ethnic communities in Kosovo-Metohija, said the statement.

[23] PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC RECEIVED AFANASYEVSKI

Tanjug, 1998-06-23

Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic received on Tuesday Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Nikolai Afanasyevski.

A high level of understanding of the two countries was stressed, both wi th respect to a readiness for the further intensive development of bilate ral cooperation and the joint efforts of Yugoslavia and Russia for streng thening regional security, open and equal cooperation, and especially the need to preserve the territorial integrity and respect for the sovereign ty of the FR Yugoslavia.

Information was exchanged about issues relating to the program of measur es of the Serbian and Yugoslav governments aimed at normalizing life and the creation of conditions for the return of persons who were forced to a bandon their homes during terrorist attacks and anti-terrorist activities in a number of towns and villages in Kosovo and Metohija. It was said th at the undertaken measures, and the cooperation of state bodies with the International Red Cross and the UNHCR were an efficient way for removing the negative consequences.

Freedom of movement, normal traffic, communications, and especially the protection of all residents and their property, regardless of nationality * are of vital importance for overcoming existing problems.

The joint stand of FR Yugoslavia and Russia was affirmed that existing p roblems in Kosovo and Metohija should be resolved by political means, whi ch implies the renewal of the dialogue with representatives of political parties of ethnic Albanians from Kosovo and Metohija with the state deleg ation.

Taking part in the talks were Yugoslav Foreign Minister Zivadin Jovanov ic, and the Russian Ambassador to FR Yugoslavia Youri Kotov.

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