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Serbia Today 96-06-11
Serbia Today
11 June 1996
CONTENTS
[01] ONLY BELGRADE COOPERATES WITH THE EU
[02] RENEWAL OF THE YUGOSLAV - AMERICAN ECONOMIC RELATIONS
[03] FR YUGOSLAVIA AND GREECE ARE TRADITIONAL FRIENDS
[04] A MISSION OF FRIENDSHIP
[05] MOSLEMS SHELLED MARKALE - THE INTERNATIONAL FORCES BOMBED THE SERBS
[06] HERZEG BOSNIA WANTS TO SECEDE
[07] THERE ARE NO SUPPORTERS FOR UNITED BOSNIA
[08] UNLEASHED RACISM
[01] ONLY BELGRADE COOPERATES WITH THE EU
Having convened in Luxembourg for a regular ministerial meeting the EU foreign ministers agreed
that the European Union will not alter its existing policy based on a regional approach to the settlement
of the relations with former Yugoslav republics. They have adopted the stand after the chairman of the
European Commission - Jacques Santer presented his report on his last week's visit to Belgrade, Skopje,
Zagreb and Sarajevo, together with Mr. Lamberto Dini - Chairman of the EU Ministerial Council. The talks
they had during the tour involved the future cooperation between the EU and the newly formed states in
former Yugoslavia, based on the so-called regional approach. This attitude primarily involves the
development of cooperation and neighborly relations between these countries, the renewal and the use of
the infrastructure that existed before the break-up, allowing the cooperation with EU countries. Although
such a EU approach was welcomed only in Belgrade, whilst Zagreb, Sarajevo and Skopje fear the "renewal
of Yugoslavia in its previous form" the European top diplomats reached the conclusion that the regional
approach policy has no alternatives. (Politika, June 11, 1996)
[02] RENEWAL OF THE YUGOSLAV - AMERICAN ECONOMIC RELATIONS
Speaking on behalf of the Yugoslav business, I would like to welcome the re-opening of the
Yugoslav-American Business Council in Belgrade - Yugoslavia, a politically stable state which was faced
with a civil war in the immediate vicinity, a country which shouldered terrible sanctions and is
determined to pursue peace and a market economy, a country that clearly contributes to peace and
cooperation." - said yesterday Dr. Mihailo Milojevic - Chairman of the Yugoslav Chamber of Commerce
and
Industry at the opening session of the Yugoslav-American Business Council. He stressed that in the
immediate future special attention will be dedicated to the renewal of the Yugoslav membership in the
international financial institutions, as well as to the enhancement of the economic-business system and
its harmonization with the global conditions. For all these activities we need the both economic and
political support of the United States, and FRY is a potentially important business partner. - Mr.
Milojevic added. "We know what are the production potentials of your national industry and what is the
value of the Yugoslav market. This is precisely why we have come here to discuss with you the possibility
of renewing the business cooperation with you." - said Mr. Fulvio Dobric, Chairman of the American
Business Council for south-eastern Europe. (Ekspres, June 11, 1996)
[03] FR YUGOSLAVIA AND GREECE ARE TRADITIONAL FRIENDS
"Greece and Yugoslavia were always friendly countries and their relations were never burdened
by problems." - said the newly appointed Ambassador of Greece to Yugoslavia - Mr. Vlasopulos
Panagiyotis,
who took the office yesterday. I am glad that I have come to Yugoslavia - a country with which Greece
has long historical and traditional ties - Mr. Panagiyotis added, and stressed that in the past several
difficult years the Greek people displayed solidarity, sympathy and friendship for Yugoslavia. Yugoslavia
plays an important and constructive role in the implementation of the Dayton Agreement, thus contributing
to peace and stability in the Balkans. Greece endorses the reintegration of Yugoslavia into all
international institutions - stressed the Greek Ambassador. (Politika, June 11, 1996)
[04] A MISSION OF FRIENDSHIP
In view of his visit to Yugoslavia by the President of Zimbabwe - Dr. Robert Mugabe, the media
in Harare stress that the President will discuss the current international problems with his hosts, but
also the comprehensive enhancement of bilateral cooperation. Zimbabwe displayed full understanding of
the fundamental causes of the crisis in former Yugoslavia and never accepted to join the campaign of
unilateral accusations against Belgrade, nor did it vote for the sanctions against FRY as a non permanent
member of the UN Security Council. (Borba, June 11, 1996)
[05] MOSLEMS SHELLED MARKALE - THE INTERNATIONAL FORCES BOMBED THE SERBS
A secret UN report accusing the Bosnian Moslems for the massacre of civilians in the Sarajevo
Markale market in February 1994. This has been confirmed by Japanese diplomat Yasushi Akashi who was
head
of the UN Mission in Bosnia at the time of the incident. Consequently, the United Nations were aware who
fired the mortar grenade, but this did not affect the decision to blame the Serbs for it, thus clearing
the way for the NATO air strikes against Bosnian Serb positions. Another diplomat recently voiced his
opinion in this matter - Norwegian official Kai Eide - who was a peace envoy in former Yugoslavia stated
that the western media reporting on the war in the area committed a grave injustice against the Serbs
accusing only them of the violence that all three sides involved resorted to. These two examples of
"delayed wisdom" are nothing new in the behavior of the international community officials. Only when
they
leave the office, many of them start revealing facts that mysteriously disappeared from official UN
reports. For example, Lord David Owen, after leaving the office of ICFY Co-Chairman, accused the US
government of undermining the peace process by openly siding with the Moslems. He also revealed the
media
manipulations used by the Moslem Government in Sarajevo and quoted the examples of the massacre of
their
own civilians in Markale and the shelling of the Sarajevo hospitals, both ascribed to the Serbs. Only
a month after he returned from Bosnia, Canadian General Lewis Mackenzie, gave two dozen interviews in
which he exemplified the media manipulations used by the Moslems. Among other things he stated that the
UN held evidence that Moslem "territorial defense troops" often acted as Serbs, opening fire on Sarajevo.
British General Michael Rose, quoted the example of Gorazde in 1994, when certain media strived to create
the impression that as many as 60.000 people were killed there and demanded the use of force. The attack
was by no means so extensive - confessed General Rose later. (Politika, June 11, 1996)
[06] HERZEG BOSNIA WANTS TO SECEDE
In his report from Sarajevo yesterday, the "Radio Free Europe" corespondent reveals that the
highest officials of the self-proclaimed Croatian Republic of Herzeg Bosnia, have started advocating
publicly the division of Bosnia into three parts. The Bosnian Croat leaders affirm that this thesis will
be best confirmed at the local elections in Mostar, scheduled for the end of this month. Herbage Bosnia
is not only weakening, but is strengthening certain state functions instead in spite of the fact that
the Dayton Agreement requires their elimination. Mr. Seyfudin Tokic - head of the Bosnian Social
Democrats Union, stated that the part of the Dayton Agreement concerning the Croatian-Moslem
Federation
is rather retrogressing than progressing (Borba, June 11, 1996)
[07] THERE ARE NO SUPPORTERS FOR UNITED BOSNIA
The most influential Hungarian daily "Nepsabadszag" opposed yesterday the US media in their
affirmation that the complete removal of Radovan Karadzic and gen. Ratko Mladic from the political scene
in Bosnia would create favorable conditions for free and democratic elections. The article authored by
the reputable foreign correspondent Endre Atzel indicates that it is a big mistake to believe that the
disappearance of Karadzic and Mladic would give a pole position to the supporters of unified Bosnia. No
such forces exist because separatism triumphed in Bosnia long before anyone even heard of Karadzic and
Mladic, and it would be silly to expect changes in the near future. The elections will be free and
democratic, but there is no doubt that the Serbs will vote for Serbs , Moslems for Moslems, and Croats
for Croats. Those who think that without Karadzic and Mladic some liberal faction might win, live in the
dreams - concludes the Hungarian newspaper with the highest circulation. (Borba, June 11, 1996)
[08] UNLEASHED RACISM
The convention "Serbs in Croatia - yesterday, today, tomorrow" called for the end of June in
Zagreb by the Croatian Helsinki Committee (HHO), has been postponed for the autumn. This has been
made
public by HHO representatives who indicated that the postponement is due to the total boycott by the
authorities, the opposition and the Catholic Church. The Croatian state media launched a witch-hunt
against the convention organizers - primarily the reputable US Professor and HHO Vice Chairman - Dr. Ivo
Banac, and HHO Chairman - Mr. Zvonimir Cicak - inviting the Croatian intellectuals to refuse to cooperate
in such "anti-Croatian projects". HHO officials also remarked that the Croatian authorities refused the
invitation for the convention fearing the "internationalization of the Serbian issue in Croatia".
According to Dr. Banac, the return of the refugees - one of the main issues on the agenda of the Zagreb
convention - is also the most important political question in Croatia and "can not be sorted on national
grounds." This is exactly why those that promoted the ethnic cleansing are now trying to prevent the
meeting. Mr. Dragutin Hlad - member of the organizing committee, stated that the venue was intended to
show that in Croatia "there are people that think differently than those who promote racism both in the
society and in the government structures." As far as the repatriation of the Serbian refugees is
concerned, most of the Croatian opposition leaders have the same stands as the ruling HDZ, and this
includes the Catholic Church and its highest prelates. Mr. Zvonimir Cicak said that "in their sermons
some priests instruct the Croats not to familiarize with the Serbs". (Vecernje Novosti, June 11, 1996)
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