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Serbia Today, 97-01-15
Serbia Today
CONTENTS
[01] READINESS TO CONTINUE THE DIALOGUE AND CONTACTS
[02] BULLETIN SUPPLEMENT: "WHICH OPTIONS ARE BEING OFFERED FOR BRCKO"
[03] HUNGER THREATENS HERZEGOVINA
[04] ZUBAK: ALIJA DID NOT RENOUNCE TO THE IDEA OF ISLAMIC BOSNIA
[05] ALBANIAN TERRORISTS AGAINST THEIR CO-NATIONALS
[06] PTT PTT "SRBIJA" AND "SIEMENS / VF-TEL" CONTRACT SIGNED
[07] INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS - MAJOR POSSIBILITIES FOR THE NATIONAL ECONOMY
[08] PRODUCTION OF STEEL - PRE-WAR LEVEL
[09] THE IMPORTANCE OF THE RETURN OF YUGOSLAVIA INTO THE WTO
[01] READINESS TO CONTINUE THE DIALOGUE AND CONTACTS
Federal Foreign Minister Milan Milutinovic received Mr. Piero Fasino -
Under Secretary of the Italian Foreign Office, who is heading the Italian
delegation currently visiting Belgrade. During the open and comprehensive
talks, current issues regarding the further evolution of friendly relations
and cooperation between Yugoslavia and Italy, and the situation in the
region have been discussed. Once again both sides affirmed their readiness
to continue the contacts and the political dialogue on all levels. The
Italian side reaffirmed its support for a quick and complete reintegration
of FR Yugoslavia into the OSCE and other international organizations.
Serbia Today, 1997-01-15 ; Politika, 1997-01-15
[02] BULLETIN SUPPLEMENT: "WHICH OPTIONS ARE BEING OFFERED FOR BRCKO"
The de-stabilization of Brcko jeopardizes the Republic of Srpska in the
form it has been granted by the Dayton Peace Agreement. The military and
political pressure exerted on Brcko by the Bosnian Federation and NATO,
globally threatens the strategic interests of Serbia and Yugoslavia, that
signed an agreement on special ties with the Republic of Srpska. The Rome
arbitration that is to define the status of Brcko today, is a combination
of diplomatic pressure of the Bosnian Federation on the US and the EU to
have Brcko treated as a interest zone for all three ethnic communities,
i.e. for both entities.
The Republic of Srpska already sacrificed several towns and counties -
reducing its territory - only to acquire full control over the town of
Brcko. However, Alija Izetbegovic recently stated that "Brcko is a Bosnian
town." Croatian representatives have also been publicly saying that they
too have concession rights for Brcko and that - according to estimates made
by Croatian experts - the Republic of Srpska would be reduced by 10 to 20
percent should it loose the control over this town in North-eastern Bosnia.
The stand assumed by the RS politicians and military clearly defines that
Brcko is Serbian territory that has been acquired in Dayton and that it
represents the "backbone" for the survival of the Republic of Srpska. As
far as US and NATO interests are concerned, Brcko represents an important
transit point for communications of NATO bases in Hungary across the
present UNTAES region (Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Srem) in
Bosnia and Herzegovina. The US maintains the stability of peace in Bosnia
and Herzegovina through Brcko because it serves to prevent Croatia from
assuming total control of the river Sava valley.
Should the Croatian side realize its state-territorial interests regarding
Brcko, conflicts will inevitably arise and even war might follow. First of
all, this would radicalize the conflict between the Moslems and Croats, and
in view of the explosive situation in Mostar, this would objectively
rekindle the war. This would actually jeopardize US and NATO objectives and
even deteriorate the situation in the region. On the other hand, should
Brcko become a neuralgic spot, a military and political offensive of the
Bosnian Federation against the Republic of Srpska is possible, and this
would inevitably draw Croatia into the conflict, and then even FR
Yugoslavia, because it could not remain passive when its own interests are
threatened.
NATO involvement in the arbitration and denial of legitimacy of RS control
over Brcko practically breaches the rights RS acquired with the Dayton
Agreement, as an fully pledged entity in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The
introduction of a UN or NATO protectorate in order to avoid a military or
political crisis entails the reduction of RS sovereignty. This would allow
the application of the same model for Sarajevo or Mostar. And all this
would generate a formula of NATO occupation zones in Bosnia, similar to the
one used for Berlin and Germany in 1945.
A rational political decision regarding Brcko would be to grant RS the
sovereignty over the town and to introduce a special duty-free zone as part
of the future corridor. The duty free zone would promote free trade and
foreign investments. On the other hand, the division of Brcko would entail
ethnic cleansing and renew the war. This is why Brcko represents the
beachhead of not only Serbian and Yugoslav interests, but also of the Serbs
living in Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Srem that might be forced
this autumn to move to the Republic of Srpska due to inadequate solutions
for Croatian and UNTAES administration of the region. Controversies on
Brcko bear a serious threat to re-ignite the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Serbia Today, 1997-01-15 ; Ekspres Politika, 1997-01-15
[03] HUNGER THREATENS HERZEGOVINA
Red Cross warehouses in Serbian Herzegovina - devastated and depopulated by
the recent war - are completely empty. In the past two months humanitarian
organizations sent no aid at all, and local humanitarian workers were
forced to stop until further notice the distribution of food for some
73.000 needy persons. "We lack even the basic articles for survival, not an
ounce of flour. We fear what will happen in the coming months. Should this
situation continue, the very existence of some 35.000 refugees and 38.000
needy locals living exclusively on humanitarian aid will be threatened,"
said Mr. Brano Dursun, Secretary of the Regional Red Cross Committee in
Eastern Herzegovina. Stressing that even though the war has been ended,
factories can not start production overnight, Mr. Dursun remarked that
humanitarian problems have become more acute. Lately, the only supplier of
aid for Eastern Herzegovina was the World Food Program, but this source
seems to have run dry. In fact the World Program announced a shipment of
merely 17 tons of beans, whilst Gorazde (with a population of only 30.000)
is to receive 26 tons, and the town of Bihac 72 tons. The people of Serbian
Herzegovina addressed an appeal for aid to all humanitarian organizations
and Serbian clubs and societies abroad.
Serbia Today, 1997-01-15 ; Vecernje Novosti, 1997-01-15
[04] ZUBAK: ALIJA DID NOT RENOUNCE TO THE IDEA OF ISLAMIC BOSNIA
Mr. Kresimir Zubak - representative of the Bosnian Croats in the three
member Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina - stated that Moslem leader
Alija Izetbegovic never gave up the political goals he listed in his pre-
war pamphlet "Islamic Declaration", and that this booklet embodies the
program for the creation of an Islamic Bosnia. "Izetbegovic's Democratic
Action Party is not only a national party, but also a national movement
determined to establish an Islamic state in Bosnia and Herzegovina", said
Mr. Zubak in an interview published by the Zagreb daily "Vjesnik". "This is
not a Croatian or Serbian view used to frighten the people, this is really
so." - stressed Mr. Zubak reminding that the "Islamic Declaration" clearly
states that "the introduction of a government based on Islamic principles
is a long-term objective which is to be realized gradually".
Serbia Today, 1997-01-15 ; Politika, 1997-01-15
[05] ALBANIAN TERRORISTS AGAINST THEIR CO-NATIONALS
Sumar Fazli Hasani (from the village of Brabonici in Kosovo and Metohija)
has been killed on January 13th by a terrorist organization that calls
itself "Kosovo Liberation Army". Mr. Hasani was a honest and respected
person in his village, renown because of his pro-Yugoslav orientation. This
is exactly why he was blacklisted by the "Kosovo Liberation Army" that
threatens to assassinate all those that do not embrace the separatist
ideology. The terrorist organization sent a statement to various newspapers,
and it has also been quoted by the "Buyku" daily published in Albanian. In
the communiqu the same terrorist organization assumes the responsibility
for the recent assassinations of Malici Seholi and Faik Belopoju. The
organization "headquarters" that issued the statement , anticipated new
liquidations that will primarily involve their co-nationals - ethnic
Albanians.
Serbia Today, 1997-01-15 ; Vecernje Novosti, 1997-01-15
[06] PTT PTT "SRBIJA" AND "SIEMENS / VF-TEL" CONTRACT SIGNED
Yesterday, PTT "Srbija" (Serbian Post) and the "Siemens-VF-TEL" company
signed a contract worth 73 million German marks for the purchase of digital
telephone exchanges, that will provide 150000 new lines this year and as
many in 1998. The contract also specifies the delivery of a digital
telephone network worth 6.830.000 marks. "The present situation in Serbia
is no obstacle for the realization of these arrangements", stressed Mr.
Lothar Pleve, "Siemens" Director for Europe. He also added that the company
objective is to establish a long term cooperation with PTT "Srbija".
Anticipating the signing of a new contract with "Alcatel" concerning the
delivery of 300.000 new telephone lines, Mr. Milorad Jaksic - the General
Manager of the Serbian Post - reaffirmed that the company objective is to
use the cooperation with foreign firms to employ and modernize the domestic
industrial sector.
Serbia Today, 1997-01-15 ; Borba, 1997-01-15
[07] INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS - MAJOR POSSIBILITIES FOR THE NATIONAL ECONOMY
The Serbian Government Coordinating Team for machinery and electric-
machinery sector, defined yesterday the primary operational tasks and draft
measures for the effective implementation of the 1997 economic policy
goals. It has been remarked that the machinery electric-machinery sectors
have already played an important role in Serbian development and exports,
and that they will continue to represent a cornerstone of national
development because numerous preconditions are fulfilled: highly skilled
professionals, trained workers and modern production facilities. This is in
fact the industrial sector with the most up-to-date technology and with the
largest production potentials. Once a stable economic environment is
ensured, this sector has a real chance for the most dynamic production and
export growth, at a far greater rate than that forecast for the overall
economy. It is also encouraging for this sector that major investment
projects regarding the road network have already been defined and
initiated; other large investment projects in other infrastructure areas:
electric power production and railroads, will also give a strong momentum
to the revitalization and growth of this industrial sector.
Serbia Today, 1997-01-15 ; Politika, 1997-01-15
[08] PRODUCTION OF STEEL - PRE-WAR LEVEL
Last year, the Yugoslav steel industry reached the production level it had
before the introduction of international sanctions - said Mr. Arsenije
Jovanovic -Director of the Yugoslav Steel Association. The furnaces
smelters were non-operational during the embargo, and they were reactivated
four months after the suspension of the sanctions. Last year, the
indicators for the entire sector were better than the 1991 figures - the
year before the embargo. For example, in 1991 525.500 tons of pig iron was
produced, and this year - 568.500 tons. According to Mr. Jovanovic, 60 per
cent of the production was exported last, which represents a major success
bearing the global competition and the local limitations.
Serbia Today, 1997-01-15 ; Politika, 1997-01-15
[09] THE IMPORTANCE OF THE RETURN OF YUGOSLAVIA INTO THE WTO
The Federal Government Committee for the Relations Between Yugoslavia and
the Council for the Implementation of Peace and international financial and
trade organizations, discussed the issues regarding the settlement of the
membership status of FRY in the World Trade Organization. It has been
observed that the draft memorandum on the foreign trade regime for FRY,
represents a good basis for the final version of the document which is to
be submitted to the WTO in order to initiate the procedure for the
admission of our country into this organization. The Committee agreed that
FR Yugoslavia should request a developing country status within the WTO
framework.
Serbia Today, 1997-01-15 ; Borba, 1997-01-15
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