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Serbia Today 96-05-15
Serbia Today
15 May 1996
In This Edition:
* PROGRESS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE POLITICAL ASPECTS OF THE PEACE AGREEMENT ON BOSNIA
* END OF THE "ICE-AGE" RELATIONS BETWEEN BELGRADE AND BONN
* TRADE LIKE BEFORE THE EMBARGO
* RECOGNITION AND AID
* THREE PROJECTS FOR BOSNIA* THE ADMISSION OF CROATIA HAS BEEN POSTPONED
* SINGLE OR COMMON ARMY
CONTENTS
[01] KONTIC: IN FAVOR OF THE EUROPEAN OPTION
[02] PROGRESS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE POLITICAL ASPECTS OF THE PEACE AGREEMENT ON BOSNIA
[03] END OF THE "ICE-AGE"
[04] TRADE LIKE BEFORE THE EMBARGO
[05] RECOGNITION AND AID
[06] THREE PROJECTS FOR BOSNIA
[07] THE ADMISSION OF CROATIA HAS BEEN POSTPONED
[08] SINGLE OR COMMON ARMY
[01] KONTIC: IN FAVOR OF THE EUROPEAN OPTION
Federal Prime Minister Radoje Kontic addressed the Yugoslav Parliament
to illustrate some twenty draft laws that the Parliament deputies are expected
to approve.
Remarking that the Government thoroughly analyzed foreign and domestic
experience, Dr. Kontic indicated that the right conditions have been met for a
radical move in the completing the transformation of the national economy into
a market-oriented one. He also underscored that the new laws will lead to a
change of the economy-structure and a development transformation for a dynamic
evolution of the national economy.
The Federal Premier underlined that the modern, European, market option
has not been imposed upon Yugoslavia but that we managed to defend it in spite
of the recent economic blockade. "This is the reason why there are no
essential obstacles in reaching an agreement with the European Union, the IMF,
the world bank or other international organizations. A quicker normalization
of the relations with international financial and trade organizations, as well
as with the regional European integration constitute a strategic objective for
our country." - concluded Dr. Kontic.
Today, the Federal Parliament will continue the debate concerning the
functioning of the Yugoslav National Bank and the relations with international
financial organizations, and will then initiate the debate about the economic-
system laws. (Tanjug, May 15,1996.)
[02] PROGRESS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE POLITICAL ASPECTS OF THE PEACE AGREEMENT ON BOSNIA
Yesterday, Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic received IFOR Commander
- Admiral Leighton-Smith, who came to Belgrade accompanied by his assistants.
During the talks, the most important issues concerning the current realization
of the peace agreement have been discussed, in particular the military
aspects. Both sides expressed expectations that progress will be made as well
in the implementation of the civil and political aspects of the Dayton
Agreement, and that priorities should be given to economic reconstruction and
preparations for the democratic elections in both entities, with even greater
freedom of movement. (Tanjug, May 14, 1996)
[03] END OF THE "ICE-AGE"
The arrival in Belgrade of the German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel
(Thursday), will mark the end of the "ice age" in the relations between the
two countries which lasted almost five years - reads the first commentary of
the official visit circulated by the German news agency DPA. The same agency
also states that last month's decision to normalize the relations with
Yugoslavia, confirmed Bonn's "clear determination to gradually enhance them."
(Tanjug, May 14,1996.)
[04] TRADE LIKE BEFORE THE EMBARGO
Yesterday, the Federal Minister of Industry - Mr. Djordje Siradovic, and
the Hungarian Minister of Industry and Trade - Mr. Imre Dunai, signed in
Budapest a trade agreement worth 150 million dollars. At the signing ceremony,
the two ministers stated that they will do everything possible to raise the
bilateral trade to the previous level. Mr. Siradovic stressed that the
Yugoslav economy is open to the world, especially to neighboring countries,
that it wants contacts with these countries and that the new law liberalizing
further foreign investments is about to be adopted. (Borba, May 15,1996.)
[05] RECOGNITION AND AID
The role of FR Yugoslavia in the implementation of the Dayton Agreement,
especially of its civil part, has been judged highly during the talks that the
Yugoslav humanitarian delegation had in Geneva with the representatives of
international organizations. During the meetings, the Yugoslav efforts to
provide shelter to more than 640.000 refugees have been acknowledged. Ms.
Margaret Valstrom - representing the International Committee of the Red Cross
and Red Crescent, vowed that her organization will continue to send aid on the
present level. Mr. Bernd Kaes - Director of the World Food Program Bureau,
also stressed that aid will be continued on the current level and that it is
very important that part of the aid is secured through purchases of Yugoslav
products, primarily wheat and meat. (Borba, May 15,1996.)
[06] THREE PROJECTS FOR BOSNIA
Yesterday in Washington, the World Bank approved three projects for
Bosnia, worth some 40 million dollars, and encompassing the reconstruction of
schools, of the Sarajevo heating system, and the purchase of orthopedic
appliances and other medical equipment for the victims of war. The World
Bank Director for Bosnia and Herzegovina - Mr. Rory O'Sullivan stated in Pale
that this international financial institution is working on two projects in
the Republic of Srpska. They concern the educational programs and the
reconstruction of roads, bridges and railways worth some 80 million dollars.
"We are also considering projects in agriculture and water supply, and the
mine sweeping project is almost ready," added Mr. O'Sullivan. The World Bank
is also finishing its projects for the reconstruction of medical centers in
the Republic of Srpska, particularly of the Veteran's Clinical Center in
Banjaluka. (Nasa Borba, May 15,1996.)
[07] THE ADMISSION OF CROATIA HAS BEEN POSTPONED
The European Council decided to postpone for an indefinite amount of
time the admission of Croatia. This is the first case in the history of the
organization encompassing 39 countries and involved in the promotion of
democracy and human rights, that the Council did not approve automatically the
decision of its Parliamentary Assembly. In fact the European Council
Parliamentary Assembly gave the "green light" for Croatian membership on April
24, but the recent decisions of the Croatian President such as the disbanding
of the Zagreb Municipal Council - with an opposition majority - and the
indictments against several reporters of independent newspapers, induced the
Council to reject the previous decision of the Parliamentary Assembly.
(Politika Ekspres, May 15,1996.)
[08] SINGLE OR COMMON ARMY
Faced with strong pressures by the Clinton Administration, the
leadership of the Moslem-Croatian Federation in Bosnia reached a compromise.
According to the agreement they accepted last night in Washington, common,
joint armed forces, having a common command and a common civil Defense
Ministry will be formed in three years time. The Americans, represented by
Secretary of State Warren Zimmermann, managed to force the Bosnian side which
included Federation president and vice president Kresimir Zubak and Ejup
Ganic, to reach an agreement on the free return of the refugees to their
homes. (Politika, May 15,1996.)
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