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Yugoslav Daily Survey 96-05-30
CONTENTS
[01] YUGOSLAVIA MUST RETURN TO WORLD BODIES
[02] YUGOSLAVIA HONOURS DAYTON ACCORDS
[03] MILUTINOVIC-PRIMAKOV: DAYTON ACCORD APPLICATION BRINGS LASTING PEACE
[04] YUGOSLAV PRIME MINISTER: PEACE AND NORMALIZATION OF RELATIONS WITH WORLD ARE A PRIORITY
[05] YUGOSLAV PRIME MINISTER'S LETTER TO EU COMMISSION PRESIDENT
[06] YUGOSLAVIA DOES NOT WANT ITS IMF MEMBERSHIP INTERRUPTED
[07] YUGOSLAVIA INSISTS ON SEPARATE TALKS ON ASSETS DIVISION, CONTINUITY
[08] YUGOSLAVIA ACCUSES CROATIA OF VIOLATING DAYTON ACCORD
[09] UNHCR ENVOY IN PALE
[01] YUGOSLAVIA MUST RETURN TO WORLD BODIES
B e l g r a d e, May 29 (Tanjug) - Yugoslav Prime Minister Radoje Kontic and Russian Foreign
Minister Yevgeny Primakov agreed Wednesday about the importance of Yugoslavia's return to all
international financial and commercial bodies.
This would also help along a faster development of bilateral relations, they agreed.
Kontic praized Russia's role in keeping the peace in the former Yugoslavia and emphasized the
Russian diplomacy's contribution to the consistent implementation of the Dayton peace accords. Kontic also
pointed out Russia's aid for the refugees in Yugoslavia.
Primakov said that it was important to resume and expand bilateral economic cooperation,
emphasizing that Russia had become Yugoslavia's biggest business partner in the first three months of
1996.
[02] YUGOSLAVIA HONOURS DAYTON ACCORDS
B e l g r a d e, May 29 (Tanjug) - Yugoslav and Russian Foreign Ministers Milan Milutinovic and
Yevgeny Primakov agreed on Wednesday that the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia has met in full all its
obligations under the Dayton peace accord.
Milutinovic and Primakov stressed that the implementation of the accord is prerequisite for lasting
peace and stability in former Yugoslavia and the Balkans as a whole. The Balkan region is an integral part
of Europe and stability in all of Europe is inseparable from peace and stability in the Balkans, in was said
during the Milutinovic-Primakov talks.
The development of overall relations between Yugoslavia and Russia to date was assessed as
positive and as being based on friendship, equality, mutual respect and mutual interest.
Primakov expressed Russia's support for Yugoslavia's efforts to take its rightful place in all
international political and financial organisations and forums. The two ministers said that the world must
accord absolutely equal treatment to both entities in bosnia-herzegovina - the Republika Srpska and the
Muslim-Croat Federation - if the peace process is to succeed.
This is necessary in all stages of the implementation of the peace accord, including the process of
economic reconstruction, they added.
Both Milutinovic and Primakov believe that preparations for elections in Bosnia-Herzegovina
have priority and that their holding as scheduled is essential for the success of the peace accord.
The beginning of the implementation of the accord on the Srem-Barania region was described as
positive and support given to the UNTAES in the region.
Stressing the exceptionally great problems in the accommodation of the 700,000 refugees in the
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Milutinovic paid tribute to Russia for its humanitarian aid for the refugees
in Yugoslavia.
He further stressed that russia has been and remains one of Yugoslavia's biggest economic
partners. Milutinovic and Primakov urged the raising of bilateral scientific, technical and cultural
cooperation on a level where it should be on a par with the traditional cultural and spiritual ties and
historical closeness between the Yugoslav and Russian peoples.
[03] MILUTINOVIC-PRIMAKOV: DAYTON ACCORD APPLICATION BRINGS LASTING PEACE
B e l g r a d e, May 29 (Tanjug) - The Yugoslav and Russian Foreign Ministers agreed on
Wednesday that a consistent implementation of the Dayton accord for Bosnia is the best way to bring
lasting peace and stability to this part of Europe. Milutinovic and Primakov were meeting reporters after
signing a Protocol on Cooperation between the Foreign Ministries.
Milutinovic said that their talks had encompassed all important questions of bilateral relations and
the situation in the Balkans, Europe and the world.
'We agreed about the necessity of returning the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to the United
Nations, the OSCE and other international organisations and forums,' Milutinovic said. '(This is) in the best
interest of promoting the peace process and bringing lasting peace and stability to the region,' he added.
Milutinovic further said that the determination was reaffirmed to continue cooperation in the
preparation of free and democratic elections in Bosnia-Herzegovina and its economic reconstruction. In
this, both entities in Bosnia-Herzegovina - the Republika Srpska and the Muslim-Croat Federation - might
have equal treatment, he added.
Special attention was devoted to bilateral relations and more advanced forms of cooperation,
according to Milutinovic. These include industrial cooperation, joint ventures in industry and banking,
liberalisation of bilateral trade, tariff and taxation policies and opening of free trade zones, he added.
Primakov, for his part, said that Russia would do everything for an equitable settlement of the
crisis in former Yugoslavia, stressing that this presupposed an equal treatment of all sides in Bosnia.
FROM THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA
[04] YUGOSLAV PRIME MINISTER: PEACE AND NORMALIZATION OF RELATIONS WITH WORLD ARE A PRIORITY
B e l g r a d e, May 29 (Tanjug) - The priority of the Yugoslav policy is the consistent realization
of obligations from the Dayton peace agreement, full reintegration into the international community and
normalization of relations with the former Yugoslav republics and other neighbors, Yugoslav Prime
Minister Radoje Kontic said on Wednesday.
Speaking to the participants of the 34th international conference of journalists in Belgrade, Kontic
said the peace process would be secured only on condition that all signatories apply the provisions of the
Dayton agreement and the agreement on the Srem-Baranja region, and if the inernational community treats
equally all sides involved in the crisis in the territory of the former Yugoslavia.
'Although the sanctions have been suspended, Yugoslavia continues to be surrounded by an outer
wall of sanctions which prevents its participation in internatonal political, financial and trade organizations,'
Kontic said. He said that the federal government's aim is the lifting as soon as possible of all forms of
sanctions.
Kontic warned that no additional conditions and blackmail of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
are acceptable, especially since all reasons 'which served as an excuse for the imposition of the sanctions in
the first place' have long since been overcome.
'Yugoslavia is ready to fulfill all economic conditions necessary for the normalization of relations
with world trade and financial organizations, with political issues being resolved in corresponding
international institutions and forums,' Kontic said.
He also recalled that 'Yugoslavia has affirmed itself as a factor of peace and stability in the region,
and after the suspension of the sanctions, numerous bilateral agreements with other countries have been
renewed and diplomatic relations with Belgrade elevated.'
Kontic said that the application of sanctions in international relations is an unacceptable
instrument for the resolution of conflicts and an expression of powerlessness and inability to reach
corresponding political solutions.
'In the case of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia it is clear that the sanctions were totally
counterproductive and that the hardest hit were the most defenceless people, Kontic said. He said that the
sanctions had slowed down the initiated democratic processes and enabled the surfacing of militant and
extemist powers, which had found root in the social poverty caused by the international blockade of
Yugoslavia.
According to kontic, the main advocates of the sanctions now admit that a civil war had been
fought in Bosnia-Herzegovina, rather than an aggression by Yugoslavia, and that Belgrade had supported
all five proposed peace agreements for this ex-Yugoslav republic because these documents 'gave peace a
chance.'
Kontic said that some external factors are even now threatening to reimpose the sanctions in an
attempt to use this kind of pressure to realize their special aims. This could seriously threaten peace,
especially since most frequently in question are solely internal Yugoslav problems, Kontic said.
Kontic said that despite the strict international sanctions, the country had managed to maintain
social peace, and over the past two years implement a stabilization program and achieve the advancement of
the national economy. Kontic said that 'over the part two years the social product rose by 6%, and that even
better results are forcast because the market and the foreign currency rates are stable and total monetary and
budget stability are maintained.'
Yugoslavia is using previously preserved market elements to develop a new economic system, in
keeping with the regulations of the developped EU countries, Kontic said.
'Federal laws are in the process of being adopted in the sphere of privatization and the structural
adapting of the economy, with all foreign investors being given full national treatment,' Kontic said.
Kontic said singificant results were achieved in relations with Macedonia, as the two countries
have concluded an agreement on normalization of relatioins and raised their diplomatic relations to the rank
of ambassadors.
As regards Croatia, resumption of economic cooperation in transports, telecommunications and
reactivating the oil pipeline are underway, but important problems still hinder the establishment of full
relations - the status of the Prevlaka peninsula and Croatia's refusal to recognize the Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia as the state ensuring the continuity of the former federation, Kontic said. Kontic recalled that
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia had recognized Slovenia's statehood already in 1992, but that the Ljubljana
authorities rejected this recognition at the time. Slovenia recognized Yugoslavia only last year, but not its
continuity.
In line with the Dayton accord, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia has recognized Bosnia-
Herzegovina 'territorially' but a final recognition will depend on resolving several important pending issues
regarding elections and the establishment of legitimate administration bodies, Kontic said, noting that talks
were underway on the establishment of diplomatic and economic relations.
Referring to cooperation with the international tribunal for war crimes in the former Yugoslavia,
Kontic said Yugoslavia would duly comply with its commitments stemming from the Dayton accord, and
would firmly support all endeavors to establish the responsibility of all suspects of war crimes and of
violations of humanitarian law.
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia had reservations concerning the tribunal as it wants a universal
court which would punish war criminals and not limit its activities to a specific territory or period, Kontic
said, noting that Yugoslavia had prepared as many as seven reports on war crimes that the tribunal had not
duly taken into account.
Kontic said that cooperation with the tribunal was intensifying, as demonstrated by the
forthcoming opening of a tribunal's office in Belgrade.
[05] YUGOSLAV PRIME MINISTER'S LETTER TO EU COMMISSION PRESIDENT
B e l g r a d e, May 29 (Tanjug) - The Mission of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia at the
European Union in Brussels has conveyed a letter from Yugoslav Prime Minister Radoje Kontic to EU
Commission President Jacques Santerre.
The letter contained Yugoslavia's proposals for its rejoining an assistance programme for transition
countries (PHARE) and a normalization of relations and cooperation between Yugoslavia and the European
Union.
[06] YUGOSLAVIA DOES NOT WANT ITS IMF MEMBERSHIP INTERRUPTED
B e l g r a d e, May 29 (Tanjug) - The head of the Yugoslav Government team for negotiations
with the International Monetary Fund Oskar Kovac said Tuesday Yugoslavia would find a way to restore its
membership in the IMF.
'Yugoslavia is one of the founders of the IMF and we do not want its membership to be interrupted
for a single day,' Kovac told Reuters. Kovac said the future talks with the IMF should be conducted only on
economic aspects of Yugoslavia's membership because the issue of who should inherit the former
Yugoslavia was in the competence of the United Nations not of the Fund. 'There is no need to discuss with
the IMF whether Yugoslavia is recognised or not, whether it is a UN member or not. Switzerland is not a
UN member but is a member of the IMF', Kovac said.
Belgrade will try to convince the IMF to accept that Yugoslavia has assumed all economic
obligations for regulating its membership in the Fund, Kovac said.
[07] YUGOSLAVIA INSISTS ON SEPARATE TALKS ON ASSETS DIVISION, CONTINUITY
B e l g r a d e, May 29 (Tanjug) - The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia insists that continuity with
former Yugoslavia and the division of its assets be discussed separately in future with the International
Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the London and Paris Clubs. This position was taken at a joint session
on Wednesday of the governmental commissions on relations with international financial organisations and
on monitoring the peace implementation task forces.
The commissions discussed preparations for Yugoslavia's talks with the Paris Club of creditors
called for June 4 in Paris. Talks with the Paris Club are among the Yugoslav Government's foreign and
economic policy priorities aimed at a speedy normalization of relations with international financial,
economic and commercial institutions and organizations.
The Yugoslav delegation will approach the talks with international financial bodies with a
coordinated, well-organized and united platform, in line with the platform adopted by the Yugoslav
Government.
[08] YUGOSLAVIA ACCUSES CROATIA OF VIOLATING DAYTON ACCORD
B e l g r a d e, May 29 (Tanjug) - The Yugoslav Government Commission for Humanitarian Issues
and Unaccounted for Persons Wednesday denounced Croatia for still holding in its prisons and under its
authority several hundred war prisoners, soldiers, officers and civilians. The Government Commission
discussed on Wednesday the implementation of a cooperation protocol signed with the Croatian
Commission for Detained and Missing Persons in Zagreb on April 17.
The Yugoslav Government Commission determined that the cooperation protocol was not being
implemented. The Yugoslav Commission said that only 302 persons out of the total number of detainees in
Croatian prisons were being visited by the International Committee of the Red Cross while it was positively
known that there were many prisoners who had not been registered by the ICRC.
Croatia is thus flagrantly violating the Geneva conventions and the Dayton peace accord and
failing to honour an obligation it assumed by signing the cooperation protocol to free all those who were
captured and those whom it holds against their will under its authority. The Commission criticized Croatia
for failing to meet a single obligation from the protocol while the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia has
released all detainees.
REPUBLIKA SRPSKA
[09] UNHCR ENVOY IN PALE
P a l e, May 29 (Tanjug) - The Republika Srpska Prime Minister Gojko Klickovic discussed on
Wednesday with UNHCR Envoy Soren Jens Petersen the implementation of the Dayton peace accord,
particularly the repratriation of refugees and the freedom of movement. After the meeting, Klickovic said
that he had informed Petersen of the readiness of the Government of the Republika Srpska to fully
implement the peace accords. Concerning Annex 7 of the Dayton peace accord on repatriation of refugees
and freedom of movement, Klickovic said that they had agreed on the need for more time to prepare its
implementation, Klickovic said, adding that there must reciprocity must be applied in the freedom of
movement so as to guarantee a higher level of security.
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