Yugoslav Daily Survey 96-03-04

Yugoslav Daily Survey Directory

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

4 March 1996

CONTENTS

[A] FROM THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA

[01] SERBIAN PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC RECEIVES SPEAKER OF UKRAINIAN PARLIAMENT

[02] KONTIC-MOROZ: GOOD CONDITIONS FOR EXPANDING FRY-UKRAINE COOPERATION

[03] TALKS BETWEEN YUGOSLAV, UKRAINIAN PARLIAMENTARIANS

[04] YUGOSLAV PRIME MINISTER LISTS COUNTRY'S INTERESTS AS PRIORITY

[05] YUGOSLAVIA, CROATIA TO MOVE TOWARD MUTUAL RECOGNITION STEP BY STEP

[06] YUGOSLAVIA, CUBA TO SIGN PROTOCOL ON INTERPARLIAMENTARY COOPERATION

[07] YUGOSLAV, ALBANIAN OFFICIALS SEE NEED FOR POLITICAL NORMALISATION

[08] DAVOS FORUM OFFERS OPPORTUNITY TO BACK PEACE, COOPERATION IN BALKANS

[B] BOSNIA - HERZEGOVINA

[09] BOSNIAN SERB STATE RECEIVES BRUNT OF AID FROM YUGOSLAVIA -OFFICIAL

[10] R.S. PREMIER: INSUFFICIENT GUARANTEES FOR SARAJEVO SERBS

[11] R.S. SEEKS MORE U.N. POLICEMEN IN SARAJEVO

[12] BOSNIAN SERB OFFICIAL RECEIVES U.S. GOVERNMENT DELEGATION

[13] OSCE BOSNIA MISSION CHIEF VISITS BANJA LUKA

[14] IRANIAN PRESIDENT PROMISES AID TO BOSNIAN MUSLIMS

[C] THE HAGUE TRIBUNAL

[15] WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL INDICTS BOSNIAN SERB ARMY GEN.DJUKIC

[16] YUGOSLAV LAWYER SAYS HAGUE TRIBUNAL INDICTMENT ON DJUKIC SHAMEFUL

[D] CROATIA - SERB KRAJINA

[17] GALBRAITH CONCERNED OVER CROATIAN AUTHORITIES STAND ON REFUGEE SERBS

[E] FROM FOREIGN PRESS

[18] NEW YORK TIMES SAYS BOSNIAN MOSLEMS TRAINED IN IRAN

[A] FROM THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA

[01] SERBIAN PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC RECEIVES SPEAKER OF UKRAINIAN PARLIAMENT

Yugoslavia and Ukraine, which are both countries of the Danube river basin, have many interests in common, especially in the field of economic cooperation, the statement said. The two sides urged closer regional ties and equal treatment for those aspiring to join current integration processes in Europe and the rest of the world, it added.

Milosevic and Moroz also touched upon the latest situations in Yugoslavia and Ukraine and upon their efforts for consolidating peace and stability in the region.

[02] KONTIC-MOROZ: GOOD CONDITIONS FOR EXPANDING FRY-UKRAINE COOPERATION

During his talks with Moroz, Kontic emphasized that Ukraine is a very important partner for the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and expressed his belief that Ukraine will contribute through its diplomatic activity to a quicker reintegration of Yugoslavia into the international community.

[03] TALKS BETWEEN YUGOSLAV, UKRAINIAN PARLIAMENTARIANS

Speaking at a joint press conference, Bozovic and Moroz said that international sanctions against the Yugoslav Federation should be definitively lifted.

Commenting on concrete proposals for promoting bilateral cooperation, Bozovic said that the Governments of the two countries would prepare documents on all aspects of cooperation and sign comprehensive cooperation programmes in the coming weeks.

The two sides have agreed to set up groups for interparliamentary cooperation.

Moroz said that the Yugoslav Parliament, Government and leadership had supported Kiev's bid to host the next conference of the OSCE.

[04] YUGOSLAV PRIME MINISTER LISTS COUNTRY'S INTERESTS AS PRIORITY

Kontic said Yugoslavia had begun normalising relations with all former Yugoslav republics, but said the pace of normalisation was different in each case.

Commenting on what the Government had done over the past three years, Kontic said peace had been achieved and the crisis in the former Yugoslavia had almost been resolved despite attempts by factors both at home and abroad to involve Yugoslavia into the conflict.

As regards the situation at home, hyper-inflation, one of the highest in the world, has been curbed and a successful recovery of the country's economy and its stabilisation has begun, he said.

The growth rate of social product has gone up considerably without any foreign assistance, while stable social situation has been preserved, he said.

Kontic said not even in the most difficult circumstances had the Government decided to replace trade-oriented economic activity by a state-controlled economy.

Yugoslavia is on the threshold of a fundamental recovery, normalisation and reintegration into international relations, which means that the country and its economy will have to be adapted to the industrialised countries' standards and conditions, he said.

[05] YUGOSLAVIA, CROATIA TO MOVE TOWARD MUTUAL RECOGNITION STEP BY STEP

In that context, preparations have been made for a meeting of the two countries' Foreign Ministers, i.e. Yugoslav Foreign Minister Milan Milutinovic's return visit to Croatia.

Speaking in an interview with the Zagreb weekly Nacional prior to Milutinovic's visit to Zagreb, Knezevic said that 'the question of Prevlaka needs to be settled before mutual recognition can take place because Yugoslavia insists on a consistent implementation of the Dayton agreement.'

Politika quoted Knezevic as saying that most Serb Krajina refugees wanted to return home and that they had every right to do so.

Referring to the Srem-Baranja Region, Knezevic said that, under an agreement signed by the two parties, 'all persons have the right to freely return to their homes in the region and to live their in safety.'

[06] YUGOSLAVIA, CUBA TO SIGN PROTOCOL ON INTERPARLIAMENTARY COOPERATION

The Press Office of the Yugoslav Parliament said in a statement that both sides emphasized it was necessary to promote the traditionally friendly and close relations between the two countries.

[07] YUGOSLAV, ALBANIAN OFFICIALS SEE NEED FOR POLITICAL NORMALISATION

A Yugoslav Government statement quoted the two sides as saying the minorities are expected to be loyal to their country of residence which respects their rights in line with all international norms and enables them to maintain ties with the country of origin.

Gjergji Lleka, Vice-President of the Albanian Party that rallies members of all ethnic minorities, said that his party had a clear position on Kosovo-Metohija as a province in the Yugoslav Rrepublic of Serbia.

[08] DAVOS FORUM OFFERS OPPORTUNITY TO BACK PEACE, COOPERATION IN BALKANS

A Yugoslav delegation attended the forum in Davos, Switzerland, in early February.

Briefing reporters about the Government's adoption of the delegation's report, Bulajic said Prime Minister Radoje Kontic had clearly explained the country's views on the implementation of the Dayton peace accords and the economic recovery, including that of Yugoslavia that had been badly affected by the three-and-a-half yearsof the U.N. Security Council sanctions.

Bulajic said the forum provided the first opportunity following the suspension of comprehensive and mandatory sanctions to manifest an extremely correct attitude towards Yugoslavia and for the Yugoslav delegation to present the country's stand on the future of the Balkans.

[B] BOSNIA - HERZEGOVINA

[09] BOSNIAN SERB STATE RECEIVES BRUNT OF AID FROM YUGOSLAVIA -OFFICIAL

Vice President of the R.S. Nikola Koljevic, speaking for Radio Kragujevac in central Serbia, said that the suspension, effected by Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic at a Rome summit on Bosnia in mid-February, was extremely important.

Koljevic said that the R.S.a was receiving the brunt of aid from the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The suspension of the sanctions against the R.S. is proof that there is no more war in former Yugoslavia, more particularly in Bosnia-Herzegovina, he said.

Koljevic said it was important that the U.S. took the view that Serbs should freely decide whether they want to stay or leave the Serb parts of Sarajevo. This will remove political differences and misinterpretations about 'who is forcing whom to stay or to go', he added.

[10] R.S. PREMIER: INSUFFICIENT GUARANTEES FOR SARAJEVO SERBS

Commenting the mass departure of Serbs from Sarajevo municipalities, Kasagic said in an interview published by the Novi Sad daily Dnevnik that the agreement from the recent summit on Bosnia in Rome was obviously insufficient guarantee for the Serbs to go onliving in the city.

Fearing reprisals by the Muslim-Croat authorities, who will take control over the entire Sarajevo area on March 20, about 40,000 Serbs left their homes in five Sarajevo municipalities which at the time of the signing of the Dayton peace agreement were part of R.S.

Kasagic, who represented R.S. at the last meeting of the Contact Group in Rome, said that the Serb entity will be a modern democratic community in which every person, regardless of his religion, nationality, or any other affiliation, will feel safe. Private property, an open market and democracy will be the basis of the future development of R.S., Kasagic said.

[11] R.S. SEEKS MORE U.N. POLICEMEN IN SARAJEVO

A letter to the Command of the IFOR on Friday pointed out that the transfer of authority onto the organs of the Muslim-Croat Federation in sections of the Serb Sarajevo was accompanied by a large number of incidents provoked by the Federation's police and citizens.

[12] BOSNIAN SERB OFFICIAL RECEIVES U.S. GOVERNMENT DELEGATION

The Serb exilees from Sarajevo's serb municipalities need additional humanitarian aid, R.S. Minister for Refugees Ljubisav Ladusic said in talks with the U.S. delegation, which was headed by Deputy Assistant U.S. Secretary of State for Refugees Margaret Rivera.

Serb delegation sources said that the talks had focused also on the implementation of the part of the Dayton accord pertaining to the repatriation of refugees to the Serb and Muslim-Croat entities in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

[13] OSCE BOSNIA MISSION CHIEF VISITS BANJA LUKA

R.S. Premier Rajko Kasagic welcomed Frowick and said that the opening of the OSCE Office honoured the R.S. and demonstrated its opening to Europe and to democratic societies. Kasagic said he was sure that the IFOR and the U.N. would help restore trust in Bosnia-Herzegovina and pave the way for progress for all.

Speaking about the OSCE's role, Frowick said that the mission would oversee the preparation and holding of elections, human rights practices, disarmament of the former belligerents and there-establishment of mutual trust.

[14] IRANIAN PRESIDENT PROMISES AID TO BOSNIAN MUSLIMS

Muratovic told reporters in Tehran that his country would always remember Iran's help during the war with Bosnian Serbs, the Iranian news agency IRNA said. The Iranian Government and people offered humanitarian aid to Bosnia at a time when its Islamic identity had been jeopardized, Muratovic said, pointing out that Bosnian Muslims would never forget the importance of that aid.

Iranian Vice-President Hassan Habibi announced on Sunday that Tehran would expand its cooperation with Sarajevo's Muslim Government. Now that circumstances in Bosnia have improved, Iran will continue to provide aid for the Bosnian Muslims, Habibi said.

[C] THE HAGUE TRIBUNAL

[15] WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL INDICTS BOSNIAN SERB ARMY GEN.DJUKIC

The Tribunal said Gen. Djukic could not be returned to the Sarajevo court which had asked for his extradition.

Prosecutor Goldstone has asked that Col. Krsmanovic's custody be extended through Apr. 4 because there is 'reasonable doubt' that he, too, has committed war crimes and because he is a potential witness.

[16] YUGOSLAV LAWYER SAYS HAGUE TRIBUNAL INDICTMENT ON DJUKIC SHAMEFUL

[D] CROATIA - SERB KRAJINA

[17] GALBRAITH CONCERNED OVER CROATIAN AUTHORITIES STAND ON REFUGEE SERBS

In an interview to the Zagreb daily Vjesnik On Sunday, Galbraith spoke about a recent Presidential Statement of the U.N. Security Council which criticized the slow pace of the Croatian Government in taking measures to enable refugees and expelled persons to return.

Requests for return by refugee Serbs could be resolved in a few minutes, Galbraith said. It is unacceptable that this should not have been settled in seven months, he said.

Galbraith quoted Croatian Government statements that Serbs who are currently in Croat houses will not have to leave before other accommodations are found for them.

Galbraith said this required the introduction of corresponding security measures, which he said were insufficient in Krajina. He said Serbs should also be secured financial aid for repairing their houses.

[E] FROM FOREIGN PRESS

[18] NEW YORK TIMES SAYS BOSNIAN MOSLEMS TRAINED IN IRAN

Officials of European countries with embassies in Iran, who also spoke on the condition of anonymity, told the paper that there were probably a few hundred Bosnian Moslem troops being trained in Iran.

A senior European military officer said there were reliable reports that the Sarajevo Moslem Government was sending troops to Iran for training, but said he could give no precise numbers.

The Times report has come after an incident in so far fairly good relations between the U.S. administration and Bosnian Moslem leader Alija Izetbegovic triggered by the discovery of a training camp near Sarajevo under command of three Iranian mercenaries.