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Serbia Today, 97-04-03Serbia Today Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Yugoslavia <http://www.yugoslavia.com>Serbia TodayCONTENTS
[01] AT THE POLLS ONLY WITH THE DUAL CITIZENSHIPThe decision on whether Serbs in the Srem and Baranja Region will appear at the polls of April 13, 1997 will be passed by the deputies of the Regional Assembly until the end of this week, stated Goran Hadzic, President of the Region, with the remark that not yet all the conditions have been fulfilled for the Serbian population to take part at the elections. "One of the most important conditions is a dual citizenship for our people in the Region, on which subject Serbia has already given its positive stand, while Croatia is still delaying", underlined Hadzic. He added that people in the Region believes that this question will be solved positively, especially after the support from Belgrade. If such a 'dual passport' would still be delayed by Croatia, elections in the Region and participation of Serbs in the elections will be seriously brought in jeopardy.Serbia Today, 1997-04-03 ; Vecernje novosti, 1997-04-03[02] SUPPLEMENT TO THE NEWS BRIEFS: COMMENTS ON THE TALKS IN NEW YORK ABOUT THE FUTURE OF KOSOVOPrishtina, April 2, 1997Statements given by certain leaders of the Albanian national minority on the occasion of the forthcoming talks in New York, that they will also in New York insist only on the option "independent" and "Kosovo republic", regardless of the fact who are the participants from the Serbian side, does not yield much hope that these, as many so far conducted talks and encounters, will give good results. The Albanian representatives are going to New York to present their already well known stand, and the Serbian ones to say that such a stand can not even be discussed. Hard insistence of the Kosovo Albanians on the "Kosovo republic" was agreed upon at the meeting of the representatives of the political parties which have been invited to the United States. No matter how Albanian representatives are to accuse the Serbian state for the failure of almost all of the so far commenced talks, the realistic observers are of the view that the main culpability is on the Albanian side. Neither are the talks about solution of the situation in the field of education yielding any results. In this case again, Albanian representatives are insisting on the impossible: to be granted that all of the school buildings are their own, that they are occupied, that on the school certificates and diplomas a two-headed eagle coat-of-arms is to be placed and and in the heading the words "Kosovo republic". If these demands are to be given up and if the Albanian representatives are to be realistic in their assessment of the situation, certainly the question of education would be solved much sooner. Those well acquainted with the Kosmet (Kosovo and Metohija) situation are even claiming that the Albanian representatives are delaying the solution of this question because in the case it would be solved, all the children who are now placed in schools abroad would have to return , and actually they are the children of those Albanians who were the most loud in insisting for children to leave the local schools. Political parties in Kosmet, especially the leading one Democratic Party of Kosovo, headed by Ibrahim Rugova, have as their aim "Kosovo republic". They are underlining their aim almost at every occasion possible, regardless of the fact whether they are meeting representatives of the government, non- governmental or humanitarian organizations. Many Albanians are already living-in their alleged roles of 'the president', 'the minister', 'the ambassador' or 'the rector', so it is now very difficult for them to give up on those roles. Such their ambitions are being nurtured also by the various international institutions which are obviously having sympathies only for the Albanian side. Over the past few months Albanian representatives are being encouraged also by the statements of certain representatives of the political parties in Serbia, which in their views of solution of the Kosmet question are conducting false flattering politics and offering proposals which are being forwarded to the international community. Socialist Party of Serbia, although reproached by some that it allegedly it is not pronouncing itself on Kosovo, has a firm stand about this problem. It is of the view that some matters should be solved, but that there can be no talk about any "broader autonomy", and neither 'an independent Kosovo" nor "a Kosovo republic". All these questions have been deleted from the agenda by passing of the new Constitution of the Republic of Serbia in which the state is constituted as the state of all of its citizens. The question of education is a humanitarian question and on that basis it shall be resolved and this is what the emphasis will be on, regardless of the hard-core stand of the Albanian minority. On the other hand Constitution of Serbia in its provisions prescribed that Kosovo and Metohija and Vojvodina are the autonomous provinces. But the situation is paradoxical. While the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina is living its full life through its institutions, the Province of Kosovo and Metohija because of the boycott and secessionist stands is unable to function as prescribed by the Constitution of the Republic of Serbia. Because, the Albanian minority is refusing to take part at the elections which after passing of the new Constitution of Serbia, have already been held three times. Serbian side is ready even for talks and for certain compromise in order to solve some of the question as soon as possible. Albanians would like to have 'a republic' but Serbs are not ready to give them a republic. Also talks would be held about the return of Albanians to their work posts which they have of their own free will abandoned, but not in the way in which the Albanian side is insisting, and that is for all Serbs to abandon "the occupied institutions". The questions which would be discussed are there, there is also good will, but an enormous number of Serbs in Kosmet wishes to live in their own state of Serbia and does not wish to involve here various interests, especially because Kosmet is no question of interest but most of all a national and etatistic matter. No matter how much the members of the Albanian minority are to insist on their own option, the fact remains that their interests are linked with the present-day Serbia in which they are living. The economy, business, cooperation at all levels, and most of all with the rich Albanians, and increasingly frequent meetings outside of the cities of Kosovo and Metohija have made it possible over the past fifteen years of the open secessionist rebellion against Yugoslavia, nevertheless for various contacts to be maintained. Albanian businessman today is not embarrassed to enter the Government of Serbia and visit various ministries, to submit documents for exports and imports, as well as to cooperate with Serbian companies, and for Serbian businessmen to cooperate with the Albanian firms. Whether some persons would like it or not, there is an undeniable fact that the economic issues shall prevail over the political ones, if not today, then tomorrow. The only condition for this is to stop with the interference from the outside. The fear that the economic interests will prevail over the political ones and the interests of the leaders of political parties which are gathering Albanians, had as consequence the fact that there are frequent criticisms appearing at the expense of Albanian businessmen who are being accused for cooperation with the Serbian companies. Serbia Today, 1997-04-03 ; Politika, 1997-04-03[03] INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIANS RECRUIT PRISONERS AS INFORMERSChief of the delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Michael Fray and the interpreter Mazlom Salja have taken the chance of their recent visit to the investigating prison in Prishtina to recruit Skypetary separatists and terrorists and engage them as their informers. During three days (February 25, 26 and 27, 1997) the chief of the International Red Cross delegation, without the obligatory permit and mandatory presence of the investigating judge, through his interpreter, had talks with the arrested terrorists, for the alleged humanitarian reasons. The doubts into the good intentions of Michael Fray were aroused by his insistence to eliminate the investigating judge from the talks. How justified the suspicions were was confirmed by Muj Prekupni, against whom the investigation has started on the grounds of a justified suspicion that he participated in the terrorist activities. He of his own initiative informed the investigating bodies about the offers that he had received. He was promised that he will be often visited in prison if he is to inform in detail "about everything that is happening in prison", and especially "about the behavior of the members of the State Security Service". It was especially requested from him to provide proof of torture of the Serbian police against Skypetars (Albanians) in detention and, if possible, if someone from the detained had been liquidated. All these proofs as the international 'humanitarians' explained, are necessary so that they can inform The Hague Tribunal. The insistence for them to obtain affirmative replies to more than suggestive questions and 'proof' on a given subject, can not be interpreted differently than as interference, recruiting and finally interfering into the interior affairs of the sovereign Federal Republic of Yugoslavia for purpose of a new demonization of Serbs, and of its state bodies before the international public.Serbia Today, 1997-04-03 ; Politika ekspres, 1997-04-03[04] MASS RELOCATION OF CROATS INTO SERBIAN HOUSES IN KRAJINACommittee for protection of rights and interests of exiled persons and return to the homeland, with the seat in Belgrade, has sent a protest to the Croat Prime Minister Zlatko Matesic, because of the organized activities of the Croat authorities on the relocation of Bosnian Croats to the areas of Banija, Kordun, Lika, Northern Dalmatia and Western Slavonia. Only during the past year in the area of Northern Dalmatia, or the Knin Krajina, where for centuries the majoritarian Serbian population was living, some ten thousand Bosnian Croats were settled, states the open letter sent by the president of the Committee, Borislav Mikelic. Especially underlined are the places of Kistanje and Djevrska in which mostly the Croats from Kosovo are being relocated. Settling is also taking place in the other areas. It is estimated that this is "closing the possibilities for a mass return of refugees into their homeland and is driving them far away from their own property". "After the completion of a peaceful reintegration of the Srem and Baranja Region into Croatia and the local elections, Croat authorities intend to execute a mass relocation of some 80,000 Croats into the western parts of Krajina, regardless of the fact whether they are coming from Bosnia, Kosovo or Germany, claims Mikelic. He is also stating that Croatia in a premeditated way is misleading the international community by claiming that Serbs have of their own free will abandoned their homeland and is tricking the signed agreement with the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on the normalization of the relations.Serbia Today, 1997-04-03 ; Politika, 1997-04-03[05] SPECIAL MONITORING IN EASTERN SLAVONIAAt the invitation of the Croat Government and the UNTAES, the Congress of local and regional European authorities of the Council of Europe will send to Croatia and especially to the Eastern Slavonia, the observers who are to monitor the forthcoming local and regional elections of April 13, 1997. "Sending of the observers does not mean that the Congress at this moment is satisfied with the way in which Croatia is fulfilling its obligations", states the communique. Congress is insisting that the voting rights must be respected both in Zagreb and in the counties, which means that the democratically elected majority must be allowed to elect the town mayor. This body of the Council of Europe also called upon Zagreb to respect the rights of minorities, especially of the Serbian one.From the total of 16 European observers, seven will be located is Eastern Slavonia, three in Zagreb and two each in Glina and Western Slavonia, one each in Knin and Sisak. Serbia Today, 1997-04-03 ; Vecernje novosti, 1997-04-03[06] MUSLIMS WANT BOTH THEIR OWN AND PROPERTY OF OTHERSProhibition by the Muslim authorities for 29 Croat and Serbian families to return to their repaired apartments in Sarajevo, has caused great protests by the Croat media in the area of the Muslim-Croat Federation. "They (the Muslims) would like to grab all the real estate of Serbs and Croats which has remained in the areas under their control, and at the same time for all the exiled Muslims to return to the Republic of Srpska and the Croat Community of Herzeg-Bosnia into their own houses and apartments", report the Croat commentators. The prohibition of the return of Croats and Serbs to Sarajevo as it is stated, is based on purely national basis, because for 29 Serbian and Croat families it was established that they are undisputable titulars of the renting rights. Funds for reparations of their apartments were given by the UN High Commissariat for Refugees. "It must be now clear to the entire world what is this country which is supported by the Muslim side", state the comments of the Croat media. Leader of the Bosnian Muslims Alija Izetbegovic at the beginning of this year confirmed that not even one Muslim family will be evicted from the apartment in Sarajevo so that the titular of the renting right or the owner could return from exile.Serbia Today, 1997-04-03 ; Politika, 1997-04-03[07] CELEBRATION IN MEMORY OF THE VICTIMS OF GENOCIDECelebration in memory of the victims of genocide - Serbs, Jews and Gypsies - who perished during World War Two in Jasenovac, will be held on April 22, 1997 in schools by holding a public class on genocide. This was announced at the press conference by the director of the Museum of the Victims of Genocide, Dr. Milan Bulajic. Jasenovac is not only a prison camp, but an area which was covering 240 square kilometers and in which the planned crimes of genocide were perpetrated exclusively by the then-independent Ustashi state of Croatia, said Bulajic and added that it is very important for some 600,000 of killed victims of Jasenovac never to be forgotten, and to be warned at all times about the falsehoods by President Tudjman when he claimed that in this prison camp only some 20,000 persons were killed. Journalists were informed that the initiative was given for the international protection to be provided for the area of the mass grave system of the Ustashi death camp of Jasenovac through the UNESCO, as well as for the establishment of an international committee for protection and reconstruction of Jasenovac. President of the Alliance of Jewish Communities Aleksandar Singer recalled that Jews in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, over the past years, are making public efforts for the truth about killed Serbs, Gypsies and Jews not to be forgotten and underlined the following: "In Jasenovac alone Ustashis have killed at least 20,000 Jews, and claims by Franjo Tudjman even today stand as a barrier towards establishment of the diplomatic relations between Croatia and Israel".Serbia Today, 1997-04-03 ; Borba, 1997-04-03[08] LEGAL FRAMEWORK IN THE FIELD OF INFORMATIONIn the public debate on the first draft version of the Law on Public Information, organized by the directorate of the Zlatibor County in Uzice, Prof.Dr. Radmila Milentijevic first of all recalled that the basic postulates of the Law - freedom of speech and freedom of information, are in accordance with the constitutional provisions, and have been retained from the previous Law. The significant novelties which have been introduced in the draft version are aimed at bringing the legal framework in the field of information in harmony with our own environment and with the main guidelines in this field in the developed western countries. "Among such novelties I can list the establishment of a supervisory body, a Board for protection of freedom of public information, which is to analyze the work of the mass media. The new provisions are also that the draft Law does not allow monopoly of individual and private TV channels in public information, which is a protection of the principle of a free market which, if applied, would lead to the highest rating of only the truly best programs", said Minister Milentijevic. She further stated that she found in Serbia an unresolved situation in the field of frequencies, which is illustrated also by the fact that until now 186 radio stations and 72 TV channels are broadcasting their programs without permits and licenses. "Therefore, this fact eliminates the arguments of the criticism voiced in the world that President Milosevic is controlling the media, because it is obvious that we have the freedom of media which is completely uncontrolled", said Minister Milentijevic and added that this problem must be solved.Serbia Today, 1997-04-03 ; Politika, 1997-04-03[09] DRAFT VERSION OF THE LAW ON OWNERSHIP TRANSFORMATION GAINS SUPPORTExecutive Committee of the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) gave its support at the yesterday's session to the draft version of the Law on Ownership Transformation, which is, as it was stated, in accordance with the basic program documents of the SPS and the commenced economic and global social reforms. Socialist Party of Serbia is of the view that ownership transformation is a component part of the comprehensive reform process, the implementation of which is a prerequisite for the market restructuring of the economy and its integration into the international trends. The stand was supported of the Government of the Republic of Serbia for the basic solutions of this Law to be based on the principles of efficiency, stimulation, justice and transparency. It was also stated that it is very important for the proposed Law to be in the best interest of all those who are living from their labor and who have participated in the creation of the social property.Serbia Today, 1997-04-03 ; Tanjug, 1997-04-03[10] THE PATH PAVED FOR COOPERATION BETWEEN YUGOSLAVIA AND MOLDAVIAYugoslav chief of diplomacy Milan Milutinovic had talks yesterday in Belgrade with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Moldavia, Michael Popov on the promotion of the bilateral relations between the two countries. After the talks a Protocol was signed on cooperation between the two ministries of foreign affairs. The visit of Minister Popov is the first visit at the high level from friendly Moldavia, which is giving her a special importance, said Milutinovic. "We have conducted important talks and have reach concrete agreements on the ways how to promote and extend further our overall cooperation", said the Yugoslav Minister of Foreign Affairs and specified that special attention was focused on the intensifying of the political dialogue along all the lines, including the highest state, government and parliamentary levels. It was jointly stated, said Milutinovic, that good political relations, the closeness of the two countries, as well as compatibility of the markets and linkage with the Danube river, are excellent facilities for the development of economic and all the other forms of cooperation. To that end the agreement was reached to simplify as much as possible the customs and administrative procedures of work and to allow as free as possible circulation of goods, passengers and capital.Serbia Today, 1997-04-03 ; Borba, 1997-04-03Serbia Today Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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