Yugoslav Daily Survey 96-02-21

Yugoslav Daily Survey Directory

From: ddc@nyquist.bellcore.com (D.D. Chukurov)

21 February 1996

CONTENTS

[A] FROM THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA

[01] SERBIAN PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC RECEIVES BRITISH FOREIGN OFFICE MINISTER BONSOR

[02] YUGOSLAVIA, BRITAIN TO RENEW ECONOMIC AND BILATERAL COOPERATION

[03] BRITISH BUSINESSMEN FAVOUR PROMOTION OF COOPERATION WITH YUGOSLAVIA

[04] YUGOSLAV-BRITISH BUSINESS TALKS

[05] MONTENEGRO, BRITAIN SATISFIED WITH ROME SUMMIT ON BOSNIA

[06] MILUTINOVIC RECEIVES NEW RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR TO YUGOSLAVIA

[07] DECISIVE CONTRIBUTION OF BELGRADE TO PEACEFUL SOLUTION, SAYS AGNELLI

[08] YUGOSLAVIA AND VATICAN REESTABLISH FULL DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS

[09] YUGOSLAVIA ASKS TO NORMALISE RELATIONS WITH IMF, WORLD BANK

[B] BOSNIA - HERZEGOVINA

[10] REPUBLIKA SRPSKA ADJUSTS CONSTITUTION TO DAYTON PEACE ACCORDS

[11] BOSNIAN SERB GENERAL MEETS NATO GROUND FORCES COMMANDER FOR BOSNIA

[12] SERBS FLEEING SARAJEVO, SEEKING SHELTER IN EASTERN BOSNIA'S BRATUNAC

[13] BELGRADE ATTORNEY: NO GROUNDS FOR BOSNIAN SERB OFFICERS' ARREST

[14] BOSNIAN CROAT AUTHORITIES ARREST NINE IRANIANS IN CENTRAL BOSNIA

[15] POLICE IN DOBOJ PROPOSES INDICTMENTS AGAINST 461 MUSLIMS

[16] U.S. THREATENS NO AID TO BOSNIAN MUSLIMS BECAUSE OF MUJAHEDDIN

[C] KRAJINA SERBS' HUMANITARIAN AND HUMAN RIGHTS

[17] UNHCR CONCERNED ABOUT VIOLATIONS OF KRAJINA SERBS' HUMAN RIGHTS

[A] FROM THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA

[01] SERBIAN PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC RECEIVES BRITISH FOREIGN OFFICE MINISTER BONSOR

The Serbian President's Cabinet said that both sides underscored the importance of making efforts for the successful realization of the peace process in Bosnia and expressed belief that the decisive activities for strengthening peace and stability in the Balkans wouldenable comprehensive development in the region.

It was said that the two countries clearly have great mutual interest both for renewing and extending past contacts and links. Both sides said they believe that the normalization of relations beween the two countries would positively affect the entire process of linking and releasing all cooperation from the imposed obstacles.

The talks were attended by Yugoslav Foreign Minister Milan Milutinovic and British Charges d'affaires in Belgrade Ivor Roberts.

[02] YUGOSLAVIA, BRITAIN TO RENEW ECONOMIC AND BILATERAL COOPERATION

Kontic briefed the British delegation on the endeavours to establish a system of open market economy in Yugoslavia and prospects for foreign investments.

Bonsor expressed hope that Yugoslav-British cooperation would be renewed soon and that the two countries would establish diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level. The existence of visas is impeding a promotion of economic cooperation between the two countries, Bonsor said, adding that Great Britain would propose that the E.U. review the list of states whose nationals now need visas.

Kontic underscored that Yugoslavia's economic development was important for strengthening peace and stability in the region. He expressed gratitude to Bonsor for humanitarian aid provided by Britain for refugees in Yugoslavia, the statement said.

Yugoslav Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Nikola Sainovic also discussed with Bonsor and the British business delegation a renewal and promotion of economic cooperation between te two countries. The meeting focused on a renewal of state-level cooperation and concrete details to be concluded by Yugoslav and British firms.

The British delegation showed great interest for Yugoslavia's strategy of economic development, its priority programmes, prospects for foreign investments and the privatization process. It is necessary for Yugoslavia to be reintegrated in international, financial and economic institutions as soon as possible and a reintegration would contribute to Yugoslavia's unhindered adjustment to economic trends in Europe and the world.

[03] BRITISH BUSINESSMEN FAVOUR PROMOTION OF COOPERATION WITH YUGOSLAVIA

Speaking at a news conference, Bonsor said that he and the managers of 15 leading British firms had come to Yugoslavia primarily to stimulate trade exchange and examine prospects for British investments in Yugoslavia.

Referring to his talks with Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic, Bonsor said that he was impressed by Milosevic's role in the implementation of the peace process. He said that his meeting with Milosevic had focused on economic cooperation but that they had also tackled the situation in Bosnia. The British diplomat expressed the conviction that the sanctions against Yugoslavia, which were currently suspended, would be soon lifted and that Yugoslavia would be recognized very soon.

Great Britain will recognize Yugoslavia as soon as Yugoslavia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia recognize each other, Bonsor said.

Bonsor said that British firms were interested in trade, investments and other forms of economic cooperation and that there existed no specific obstacles in the Yugoslav legislation.

Milosevic confirmed that the process of privatization would continue and that the model of market economy would be further strengthened, Bonsor said, adding that the issues had also been extensively discussed in talks with the Governor of the Yugoslav National Bank and the Yugoslav and Serbian Prime Ministers.

[04] YUGOSLAV-BRITISH BUSINESS TALKS

Bonsor was speaking in a plenary meeting between the delegation - representing fifteen leading British companies interested in resuming and promoting economic cooperation with Yugoslavia - and some sixty Yugoslav businessmen. He said he hoped that Yugoslavia would soon be officially recognised and the U.N.' sanctions against it lifted, and that bilateral trade would not only return to its original level but be expanded.

Yugoslav Chamber of Commerce President Mihajlo Milojevic said that efforts were being made to obtain Fresh capital, both domestic and foreign, through privatisation. Milojevic added that 200,000 of the 250,000 companies registered in Yugoslavia were privately owned, and that the number of joint-stock companies was on the rise, too. He said that Yugoslavia was giving priority to the construction and modernisation of roads, telecommunications lines, thermal and hydro-power plants and facilities and equipment in the food processing industry and other industries.

Attention is being devoted also to small and medium-sized businesses, irrigation, natural gas utilisation and the building of tourist facilities, Milojevic added.

[05] MONTENEGRO, BRITAIN SATISFIED WITH ROME SUMMIT ON BOSNIA

Bulatovic saw as positive the fact that the decisive factors in the world community showed clear signs that they respect the need for taking firm steps towards a faster activation of the civilian part of the accord. This means an economic reconstruction of Bosnia-Herzegovina and the lifting of sanctions against the (Bosnian Serb State) Republika Srpska.

The meeting brought to light satisfaction that inter-state relations and overall cooperation between Montenegro and Great Britain were continuing. This continuation was not interrupted even during the time of the political and economic isolation of Montenegro and Yugoslavia by the international community, the statement stressed.

[06] MILUTINOVIC RECEIVES NEW RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR TO YUGOSLAVIA

The high level of bilateral relations and overall cooperation between the two countries so far was emphasized in the talks and mutual readiness was expressed for their even further promotion.

[07] DECISIVE CONTRIBUTION OF BELGRADE TO PEACEFUL SOLUTION, SAYS AGNELLI

In an interview that appeared in the latest issue of the Belgrade political monthly, Agnelli said that 'the decisive contribution of Belgrade to a peaceful solution, especially from the moment when it took over last September the role of negotiator for the Bosnian Serbs.

Undoubtedly is was a turning point in the solution of the crisis, which led to the signing of the peace agreement in Paris, Susanna Agnelli said.

The Italian Foreign Minister assessed that the military component of the Paris agreement on peace in Bosnia was implemented as scheduled, and pointed to the need to secure a 'greater degree of coordination between all those contributing to stabilizing peace'.

Announcing the gradual return of Italian-Yugoslav relations to 'traditional ties from the period before the crisis' in the former Yugoslavia, Agnelli said there were wide possibilities in the economic field, first of all in infrastructure, and in medium and small businesses.

[08] YUGOSLAVIA AND VATICAN REESTABLISH FULL DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS

The Vatican informed on Tuesday the Yugoslav Foreign Ministry that Pope John Paul II had approved an appointment of Monsignor Santos Abril y Castelo as new Apostolic Nuncio to Belgrade.

Prior to being appointed Yugoslav Ambassador to the Vatican, Dojcilo Maslovarica held the post of Foreign Relations Secretary in the Government of the Yugoslav Republic of Serbia.

[09] YUGOSLAVIA ASKS TO NORMALISE RELATIONS WITH IMF, WORLD BANK

Meanwhile, the Yugoslav economy cannot wait for foreign credits, but must look about it at home to obtain at least a part of the funds necessary for reviving production, especially that for export, Avramovic said.

Production revival necessitates between two billion and three billion dinars (600-900 million German marks), which means that the present capital in the commercial banks of 300 million dinars is insufficient for the purpose, he said.

[B] BOSNIA - HERZEGOVINA

[10] REPUBLIKA SRPSKA ADJUSTS CONSTITUTION TO DAYTON PEACE ACCORDS

[11] BOSNIAN SERB GENERAL MEETS NATO GROUND FORCES COMMANDER FOR BOSNIA

Following the meeting in Pale, Gen.Tolimir said: 'I pointed out the intrusion of IFOR into the Bosnian Serb Army barracks in Han Pjesak, which is outside the separation zone, and recalled its obligation to influence the release of Serb officers and soldiers captured in IFOR-protected zones.' IFOR said on Sunday that the U.S. troops in IFOR on Saturday 'carried out the inspection' of the heavy weapons in two Serb military bases in Bosnia - Han Pjesak and Han Kram.

Tolimir also explained the absence of Bosnian Serb Army representatives at Monday's meeting of a joint military committee with representatives of IFOR and the Muslim-Croat Federation. Underscoring that in question had not been a protest, Tolimir said that the Serb side had been informed too late and had been prevented by bad weather from sending its representative to the meeting on the U.S. carrier in the Adriatic. Tolimir said that Walker had informed him about the outcome of the talks on the U.S. carrier in the Adriatic and with the content of the documents agreed last weekend at the summit in Rome.

[12] SERBS FLEEING SARAJEVO, SEEKING SHELTER IN EASTERN BOSNIA'S BRATUNAC

The remaining Serb families have been accommodated in two schools where they get food as well. These are mainly families of combatants of the Bosnian Serbs' Republika Srpska Army who have either been killed or invalided out of the army.

Bratunac can accommodate another 3,000 persons in the available housing facilities.

The Republika Srpska Government set up an operational staff on Friday for reception and accommodation of Serbs who want to leave Sarajevo, calling on the international community to give safe conduct to them.

[13] BELGRADE ATTORNEY: NO GROUNDS FOR BOSNIAN SERB OFFICERS' ARREST

Fila said that the documents offered arbitrary conclusions as to the possible guilt of the (Bosnian Serb State) Republika Srpska's Army officers and absolutely no proof. There is no internal book of rules or any other legal document that justifies an arrest and extradition to be made on the basis of such documents, he added.

The Hague Tribunal has appointed Toma Fila as Gen. Djukic's defense counsel.

Fila dismissed the Tribunal's explanation that Gen. Djukic and Col. Krsmanovic could be held as witnesses, saying there was no legal precedent to warrant that witnesses should be brought to court in handcuffs and held in prison pending their testimony.

Fila visited Gen. Djukic again in the Scheweningen prison on Tuesday.

[14] BOSNIAN CROAT AUTHORITIES ARREST NINE IRANIANS IN CENTRAL BOSNIA

The A.P. news agency said that the Iranians had not been armed when they were taken off a civilian bus.

Bosnian Croat military Commander of Vitez Drago Dragicevic said that although the Iranians were not members of a Mujaheddin armed formation, there was some suspicion about the purpose of their presence in Bosnia. Dragicevic said there were Islamic philosophy teachers and scholars in the group.

The Croatian news agency HINA quoted the Iranians as saying they had come to Bosnia to give concerts on the occasion of Eid Al-Fitr, three-day feast marking the end of Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting.

[15] POLICE IN DOBOJ PROPOSES INDICTMENTS AGAINST 461 MUSLIMS

A wanted circular has been sent out for 461 Muslims, charged with detaining Serbs in camps and bombing civilian targets.

[16] U.S. THREATENS NO AID TO BOSNIAN MUSLIMS BECAUSE OF MUJAHEDDIN

The IFOR arrested the three Iranians, together with eight Bosnian Muslims, when it discovered the terrorist training camp at Fojnica, 50 km northwest of Sarajevo. IFOR found about 60 kinds of weapons and explosive devices in the camp.

[C] KRAJINA SERBS' HUMANITARIAN AND HUMAN RIGHTS

[17] UNHCR CONCERNED ABOUT VIOLATIONS OF KRAJINA SERBS' HUMAN RIGHTS

The situation in Serb Krajina is still critical although the Croatian Government suspended on December 27 a law setting the deadline by which Krajina Serbs were to return to Croatia if they wanted to settle matters regarding their property, the report said.

The report said Serb authorities in the area of Banjaluka, in the northwest of the Bosnian Serbs' Republika Srpska, had created conditions for Moslem families to remain in the area, saying 20 Moslem families had returned to Prijedor, Gradiska and Banjaluka.