Yugoslav Daily Survey 96-05-07

Yugoslav Daily Survey Directory

From: Yugoslavia http://www.yugoslavia.com

CONTENTS

[01] FOREIGNERS TO BE ABLE TO OWN 51 PERCENT OF STOCK IN YUGOSLAV FIRMS

Foreigners might be allowed to own 51 or more percent of stock in firms engaged in energy production, railway traffic, forestry and some postal services.

The Government proposes to retain the provisions of the current law which prevents foreign citizens from owning more than 49 percent of stock in companies manufacturing and selling arms and military supplies, and in media houses.

Under the law, foreigners cannot own more than 49 percent of stock in the country's communication systems (telecommunication facilities of international and major national importance), public utilities (water supply and heating systems) and the areas which the federal law designates as off-limits for foreign nationals.

The Government also proposes that natural resources or public property concessions be given to foreigners for the maximum period of 30 years and that it be regulated by the federal law, not republican laws as is the case now.

Foreigners might be given concessions, as sole owners, to develop and manage manufacturing plants, or parts of them, infrastructural and communication facilities - roads, bridges, hotels, motels, and the like.

For these, the concessions would again be given for the maximum 30-year period, the same as for services of public interest, for the operation of which public utilities would have to be established in Yugoslavia.

The Government proposes that concessions be granted by the competent state body through bidding.

[02] MONTENEGRO'S TOURIST INDUSTRY PREPARES 17 FOREIGN INVESTMENT PROGRAMS

The estimated value of the programmes is about 750 million dollars and the existing capacities on the Adriatic Coast and in Northern Montenegro would increase to about 19,000 accommodation units through their realization.

The formal process of transformation of Montenegrin tourist companies has ended and the estimated capital amounts to about 1.2 billion dollars.

This year, Montenegro will intensify its offer and sell shares of unidentified socially-owned capital to identified owners.

The second phase of privatization is said to be much more complex, because a speedy privatization and revival of the Republic's financial market should be carried out.

Fresh capital is also needed for this purpose. The Montenegrin Government has made a decision, under which foreign partners who invest more than 100,000 German marks in tourist facilities will be freed of profit tax over the next five years.

[03] OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL HIGH REPRESENTATIVE OPENED IN BANJALUKA

The reception organised by Bildt on that occasion was attended by the chairman of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Swiss Foreign Minister Flavio Cotti, the head of the OSCE mission for Bosnia and Chairman of the Provisional Election Commission Robert Frowick, U.N. Human Rights Rapporteur Elisabeth Rehn, Republika Srpska Prime Minister Rajko Kasagic and a number of representatives of international organisations and Republika Srpska.

[04] REHN SAYS HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION GREATLY IMPROVES

Renh said after meeting with Republika Srpska Prime Minister Rajko Kasagic and Justice Minister Marko Arsovic that the improved human rights situation would help win the support of many countries for the Bosnian Serb entity.

She said the more all sides in Bosnia-Herzegovina were treated as equals, the more successful the peace activities would be.

Kasagic said after the meeting that he would back Rehn's efforts for the world and European standards in the area of human rights to be applied in Republika Srpska. He said Rehn was objectively informing the world about the Serbs and had greatly contributed to the progress made, especially in terms of the restoring of confidence and lasting peace.

Special U.N. Rapporteur Rehn urges the equal treatment of Republika Srpska and the Muslim-Croat federation in the economic programme, Kasagic said.

[05] IVANOV: DAYTON AGREEMENT HAS NO ALTERNATIVE

Problems have to be overcome. The Dayton agreement has no alternative, and all the sides are bound to observe it, Ivanov said.

[06] KORNBLUM CONFERS WITH BANJALUKA MAYOR

After the talk, Kornblum said he wanted to show that the U.S. was taking care of the implementation of the peace agreement in all parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Radic said he told Kornblum that the 'return of Serbs to their territories was the condition for the return here of the non-Serb population.' Radic stated he reminded Kornblum that Bosnian Muslim leader Alija Izetbegovic might not do what he had done in Gorazde and Bihac, without provoking reactions on the Serb side.

Last weekend at a meeting in Gorazde, Izetbegovic threatened that the 'battle of Bosnia and Herzegovina will not cease until all Bosnia is free.' He spoke in a similar vein at Bihac somewhat earlier.

[07] FAMILIES OF RS ARMY SOLDIERS PROTEST TO BILDT

The families organized the protest on the occasion of the opening of the office of the High Representative for Bosnia in Banjaluka.

The President of the Association, Branko Panic, informed Bildt about their numerous attempts to learn the truth about prisoners and those who went missing in the war that ended last year, and said they had absolutely no news about these people since last fall.