Yugoslav Daily Survey 96-03-08

Yugoslav Daily Survey Directory

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

8 March 1996

CONTENTS

[A] FROM THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA

[01] LILIC ANNOUNCES IN MINSK NEW BELARUS-YUGOSLAV AGREEMENTS

[02] YUGOSLAVIA PURSUES POLICY OF PEACE, SAYS PRESIDENT

[03] MILOSEVIC RECEIVES DELEGATION OF RUSSIAN BUSINESSMEN

[04] PROMOTION OF YUGOSLAV-BULGARIAN ECONOMIC RELATIONS

[05] YUGOSLAVIA, BULGARIA SEE GOOD PROSPECTS FOR ECONOMIC COOPERATION

[06] YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT ON UPCOMING TALKS WITH CROATIA

[07] YUGOSLAV BANK GOVERNOR CALLS AT EUROPEAN BANK

[08] AVRAMOVIC: PRIVATIZATION IN YUGOSLAVIA MUST BE RELATIVELY QUICK

[09] DANUBE COMMISSION WILL ENABLE YUGOSLAVIA TO PARTICIPATE IN ITS ACTIVITY

[B] BOSNIA - HERZEGOVINA

[10] SERBS STILL LEAVING SARAJEVO

[11] U.N. SPOKESWOMAN: MASS EXODUS OF SERBS FROM SARAJEVO

[12] U.N. ENVOY ANNAN CONFIDENT THAT BOSNIA PEACE WILL HOLD

[13] COUNCIL OF EUROPE SETS UP BOSNIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

[14] U.S. COMMANDER IN BOSNIA PLEASED WITH COOPERATION OF ALL SIDES

[15] MINISTERIAL MEETING ON BOSNIA IN ROME ON JUNE 13-14

[C] WAR CRIMES

[16] SERBIA: ARREST OF WAR CRIMES SUSPECT

[17] THE HAGUE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL SEEKS YUGOSLAV HELP ABOUT WITNESSES

[D] FROM FOREIGN PRESS

[18] IZETBEGOVIC LAYS GROUNDWORK FOR MUSLIM STATE IN BOSNIA

[A] FROM THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA

[01] LILIC ANNOUNCES IN MINSK NEW BELARUS-YUGOSLAV AGREEMENTS

Sharetsky said that few peoples in Europe had endured the ordeals like the 'heroic' people of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia during the civil war in the former Yugoslavia. Sharetsky underscored that Belarus firmly believed in the need to upgrade friendly relations between the two countries.

Lilic praised Belarus stand during the sanctions against Yugoslavia and said that he expected a boost of Yugoslav-Belarus economic cooperation.

Lilic and Belarus Premier Mikhail Chigir agreed during talks on Thursday that they expected that the agreements signed in Minsk on Wednesday would pave the way for an overall development of relations between the two countries.

Chigir said that Lilic's visit would give an impetus to the development of relations between the two countries.

In a brief statement after the meeting with the Belarus Premier, Lilic told the press that he expected new agreements to be signed. Lilic said that he had discussed with Belarus officials the creation of free trade zones in both countries and the establishment of a Yugoslav-Belarus customs union.

Chigir expressed the hope that an agreement on double taxation relief would be signed shortly.

Yugoslavia and Belarus have signed an agreement on friendship and cooperation and seven inter-government agreements on cooperation in various domains.

[02] YUGOSLAVIA PURSUES POLICY OF PEACE, SAYS PRESIDENT

'Who in the world can show that sanctions are weapons of democracy, humanity and civilisation,' Lilic said and added that, fortunately, that time was passed, affirming Yugoslavia's policy of peace.

He said that the Dayton peace accord, effected largely thanks to Yugoslavia's peaceful policy, had sped the war and made peace possible, and that Yugoslavia wanted this peace to be stable, durable and just. 'This peace is possible only if the rights and interests of all nations in Bosnia and in the territory of former Yugoslavia are respected equally,' Lilic stressed.

'The Serbs do not seek privileges, they are satisfied with equality. We expect Europe and the U.S. to understand this, just as Belarus has understood it. This understanding is the key to a lasting and stable settlement,' he added.

Lilic spoke also of the danger of favouritism towards the Bosnian Muslims and Croats. 'There are factors in the world that declare themselves for peace in Bosnia, while supplying the Muslim and Croat sides with arms,' he said. 'Quite apart from the fact that this practice is in violation of the U.N. Security Council's decisions, it also raises the extremely important question of whether peace and an end of civil war can be achieved by arming one side against another.' 'Bosnia does not need any more weapons or Mujahedeen. Bosnia and Europe need peace, stability and development,' Lilic stressed.

Yugoslavia's strategy has three objectives, Lilic said. These are, first, peace, stability and development in the Balkans and in Southeast Europe. Second, modern scientific, technological, economic and democratic development. And third, constant strengthening of the international position, he added.

Lilic said that Belarus had maintained a principled position and demonstrated historic responsibility in its attitude to the tragic developments in former Yugoslavia. 'It will be written down in the pages of history that the Republic of Belarus was the first country in the world with which the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia signed a friendship and cooperation agreement,' he added.

[03] MILOSEVIC RECEIVES DELEGATION OF RUSSIAN BUSINESSMEN

The Russian delegation included leaders of Russian oil companies - Naftagas of Surgut, Nafta-Moskva, and Kinef. During the talks, cooperation was considered in scientific research and civil engineering in industrial production and in trade, said a statement released by the Office of the Serbian President. Business deals between these Russian companies and companies from the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia have an important place in the process of strengthening economic ties between Russia and Yugoslavia, the statement said.

[04] PROMOTION OF YUGOSLAV-BULGARIAN ECONOMIC RELATIONS

In a talk between the Yugoslav delegation headed by Deputy Prime Minister Jovan Zebic and Bulgarian hosts headed by Deputy Prime Minister Doncho Konaktsiev, the two sides agreed to promote local border trade and to open first free trade zones, leading Sofia papers set out on Thursday.

Zebic said that several big capital investment projects, in the first place the construction of a natural gas pipeline from Russia to Yugoslavia via Bulgaria were of extreme importance for the development of Bulgaria and Yugoslavia, Bulgarian sources set out.

Bulgaria has accepted Yugoslavia's proposal through concerted efforts to contribute towards activating navigation on the Danube. Bulgaria upholds Yugoslavia's proposal that its ports on the Danube should be given the status of major ports on the Danubian route connecting the Black Sea and North Sea after opening to traffic the Rhine-Main-Danube Canal.

Two Government Commissions would simplify customs regulations to speed up the circulation of people and commodities between the two neighbouring countries.

[05] YUGOSLAVIA, BULGARIA SEE GOOD PROSPECTS FOR ECONOMIC COOPERATION

Yugoslav Vice Premier Jovan Zebic, Co-Chairman of the Committee, said after signing a protocol on the Committee's work that the two nations' economies were ready jointly to manufacture goods for both markets and appear together on third markets.

Zebic said that the relevant Bulgarian authorities had shown absolute support for Yugoslavia's speedy reintegration in international organisations and institutions, primarily the World Trade Organization and world financial forums.

Zebic said that there were practically no problems that might have a negative impact on the consolidation of bilateral economic ties.

Bulgarian Vice Premier Doncho Konakchiev, the other Co-Chairman, said that the two sides had agreed to work daily, year in year out, on strengthening bilateral economic cooperation.

Zebic and Konakchiev said that the upswing in Yugoslav-Bulgarian economic cooperation was exemplary in the Balkans. They stressed that only regional integration could take Eastern Europe out of under-development and help it find its place among the highly-developed countries of Europe and the world.

[06] YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT ON UPCOMING TALKS WITH CROATIA

Yugoslav and Croatian representatives last met at the level of Foreign Ministers in Belgrade in mid-January this year.

[07] YUGOSLAV BANK GOVERNOR CALLS AT EUROPEAN BANK

While in Britain, Avramovic was guest of the Foreign Ministry, the Royal Treasury, the Trade and Industry Ministry, and the Bank of England. He met also with representatives of the Anglo-Yugoslav Bank, Britain's only financial institution which has majority Yugoslav capital.

Avramovic told the press that he was very content with his visit to Britain, especially his meeting with Bank of England Governor Eddie George who showed keen interest in the economic reforms in Yugoslavia. Avramovic noted that Britain was very much concerned about overall relations with Yugoslavia to be fully restored as soon as possible. He said Britain also wanted to help finance the recovery of the U.N. sanctions-impaired Yugoslav economy.

[08] AVRAMOVIC: PRIVATIZATION IN YUGOSLAVIA MUST BE RELATIVELY QUICK

'I was openly told here what i already presumed myself - that international institutions will insist on privatization as an absolutely essential precondition for developing ties with Yugoslavia,' Avramovic said.

There is evidently a difference of opinion on whether privatization should be decided by firms themselves or by society as a whole, but the question is expected to be decided in state institutions, Avramovic said.

Asked how British investors see possible investments in Yugoslavia and problems such as the Yugoslav succession and frozen assets, Avramovic said that, on the one hand, there was a great interest in future development of Yugoslav-British economic relations, which depended on the privatization process. On the other hand, he said, great interest had been shown for solving the problem of Yugoslavia's relations with other republics of the former Yugoslavia, particularly in connection with the distribution of assets of the National Bank.

[09] DANUBE COMMISSION WILL ENABLE YUGOSLAVIA TO PARTICIPATE IN ITS ACTIVITY

Vujovic expressed hope that Yugoslavia would once again assume its position in the Danube Commission. In accordance with the rotation system used by the commission, Yugoslavia should become its vice-president at the next election.

Misur expressed satisfaction with the full restoration of relations between the Danube Commission and Yugoslavia.

[B] BOSNIA - HERZEGOVINA

[10] SERBS STILL LEAVING SARAJEVO

Sources at the Headquarters for refugees said they were in urgent need of humanitarian aid. Food, medicines, and heating fuel are needed. There are also problems with accommodations, as there are no more group facilities. The Headquarters appealed for help, since several thousand more Serbs are expected to leave Sarajevo in the next few days.

The source said 12,000 people arrived in Bratunac and Zvornik, and about 2,500 in Srebrenica.

Under the Dayton accords on Bosnia-Herzegovina, Sarajevo, including its five Serb municipalities, will be taken over by the Muslim-Croat Federation on March 20.

[11] U.N. SPOKESWOMAN: MASS EXODUS OF SERBS FROM SARAJEVO

Manuel said that Muslim-Croat Federation police would enter the Sarajevo Serb suburb of Ilidza on March 12 and Novo Sarajevo and Grbavica suburbs on March 19.

The Federal police comprises 50 Muslims, 15 Serbs and five Croats, Manuel said, adding that Croats were dissatisfied with its composition although it reflects the pre-war ratio of the three peoples living in the suburb, in line with the Dayton agreement. Manuel expressed hope that cooperation between IFOR and U.N. would be better in the future as NATO Council decided Wednesday to expand the prerogatives of its troops in Bosnia. If IFOR troops have the time and opportunity, they can help search for mass graves, detain war criminals and repatriate refugees.

The situation is generally calm in the Srem-Baranja Region, and regional committees of Serb and Croatian Red Cross continue meetings aimed at reuniting separated family members, Manuel said. Serb and Croatian representatives from Srem-Baranja are due to meet on March 12 in Erdut to plan repatriation of refugees in cooperation with UNTAES and UNHCR, Manuel said.

[12] U.N. ENVOY ANNAN CONFIDENT THAT BOSNIA PEACE WILL HOLD

Speaking about the Srem-Barania Region, Annan said that the biggest problem in that area was demilitarisation. He said he felt sure that agreements reached for the region would be implemented, because he had received assurances to this effect from both Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic and Croatian President Franjo Tudjman.

[13] COUNCIL OF EUROPE SETS UP BOSNIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

The Sarajevo-based Human Rights Council, set up to deal with rights violation complaints, will comprise European legal experts and six jurists from Bosnia-Herzegovina - four from the Muslim-Croat Federation and two from the Republika Srpska.

[14] U.S. COMMANDER IN BOSNIA PLEASED WITH COOPERATION OF ALL SIDES

[15] MINISTERIAL MEETING ON BOSNIA IN ROME ON JUNE 13-14

The Rome ministerial meeting will discuss primarily the civilian aspects of the Bosnia peace accord, as agreed at the London Conference on Bosnia held a week before the Paris signing ceremony.

[C] WAR CRIMES

[16] SERBIA: ARREST OF WAR CRIMES SUSPECT

The suspect was charged and handed over to the Investigative Judge of the Novi Sad District Court who at the request of the District Public Prosecutor ordered investigation and detention of the suspect. When investigation is completed, Erdemovic will be indicted. In the presence of his defense counsel, Erdemovic admitted his criminal act to the Investigative Judge.

Radoslav Kremenovic, 29, from Bistrica near Banjaluka (north-eastern Bosnia) was also detained and is being investigated for hiding Erdemovic, Serbian Public Prosecutor's Office said in a statement.

The Hague International Tribunal for violations of international humanitarian law in the former yugoslavia was informed of the investigation and its preliminary results, the statement says.

[17] THE HAGUE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL SEEKS YUGOSLAV HELP ABOUT WITNESSES

The witnesses are Radoslav Kremenovic and Drazen Erdemovic who, the Tribunal claims, were in the Bosnian Serb Army when it marched into the eastern Bosnian town of Srebrenica in the summer of 1995.

The Tribunal has information that war crimes were committed at the time that fall in the jurisdiction of the Tribunal. Serbian State Security Police arrested Erdemovic on March 2, 1996, on suspicion of involvement in civilian massacres in the Srebrenica area in July 1995.

The Hague Tribunal said that it was sending a four-member team, headed by Deputy Prosecutor Graham Blewitt, to Belgrade on March 12 to clear up the matter and establish cooperation with the authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

[D] FROM FOREIGN PRESS

[18] IZETBEGOVIC LAYS GROUNDWORK FOR MUSLIM STATE IN BOSNIA

A series of articles published recently on this subject was on Thursday added to by the influential Washington Post. The Washington Post said that Izetbegovic has turned a deaf ear to all Washington's demands and deceived the U.S. both at the Rome meeting of the enlarged 'Contact Group' for Bosnia last month and before.

Quoting western diplomatic and military sources, the daily said that there are between five and seven 'training centres' in Bosnia run by Iranian 'instructors' who have stayed there after the war or Iranian secret service agents who have come since. Such 'training centres' are to be found near Tuzla, Travnik and Zenica, and they are run by about 150 Iranian 'instructors', the newspaper said. The Iranian 'instructors' are working to form and train a secret intelligence service founded by Izetbegovic in January as an agency for investigation and documentation. The agency should serve Izetbegovic and his ruling party in the power struggle and, in the long run, as a lever to create conditions for a separate Muslim state in Bosnia, the daily said, quoting western diplomats and intelligence experts.

Iran wholeheartedly supports the idea of creating a purely Muslim state in Bosnia that would be a stepping stone for spreading its interests and influence in Europe, especially with the growing Muslim community there, The Washington Post said.

Iran's plan to make Bosnia its European foothold was the subjectof an article also in the latest issue of The U.S. News and World Report weekly. The weekly said that the Iranian Embassy in Sarajevo has a staffof 40, that Sarajevo and Tehran are maintaining very intensive relations and that a number of Bosnian Muslim cadres are being trained in Iran.