Yugoslav Daily Survey 96-07-15

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

CONTENTS

[01] PRESIDENT OF SERBIA MILOSEVIC FELICITATES MONTENEGRIN PRESIDENT BULATOVIC ON NATIONAL HOLIDAY

[02] YUGOSLAV MINISTER OF TRADE INVITED TO VISIT TURKEY

[03] YUGOSLAV PARLIAMENT TO DISCUSS NEW CITIZENSHIP BILL NEXT WEEK

[04] BRITISH AMBASSADOR ON YUGOSLAVIA'S KEY ROLE

[05] BRITISH FOREIGN OFFICE REPRESENTATIVES VISITS KOSMET PROVINCE

[06] RUSSIA DISSATISFIED WITH WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL'S WORK

[07] CZECH PROFESSOR DOLECEK: THE HAGUE TRIBUNAL MUST BE MORE OBJECTIVE

[08] BULGARIAN PAPER SAYS HAGUE TRIBUNAL HAS LOST CREDIBILITY

[09] EXISTENCE OF MUSLIM MASS GRAVE BASED ON ASSUMPTIONS, SAYS EXPERT

[10] ACTING R.S. PRESIDENT BELIEVES R.S. WILL KEEP ITS STATEHOOD

[11] 'MAKE PEACE POSSIBLE' CONFERENCE ENDS IN BANJALUKA

[01] PRESIDENT OF SERBIA MILOSEVIC FELICITATES MONTENEGRIN PRESIDENT BULATOVIC ON NATIONAL HOLIDAY

Milosevic wished the citizens of Montenegro the 'success in the realization of a stepped-up economic headway in the interest of their and common well-being of all citizens of the F.R. Yugoslavia (F.R.Y.) '.

'Marking the 55th anniversary of the Uprising is an opportunity not only to recall the glorious national liberation struggle and the great contribution that our peoples had given to the joint triumph over Fascism having won out peace and freedom, but also an opportunity, in which, turned to the joint future and the development of the F.R.Y., we express the firm commitment to the building up ofan economically and culturally well-developed, humane and prosperous society of equal citizens,' pointed out Milosevic.

[02] YUGOSLAV MINISTER OF TRADE INVITED TO VISIT TURKEY

It was agreed that a draft agreement on the protection of investments and avoidance of double taxation be prepared in the shortest time possible, while Turkey and the F.R.Y. should reactivate the work of the Yugoslav-Turkish Inter-Governmental Committee for Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation.

[03] YUGOSLAV PARLIAMENT TO DISCUSS NEW CITIZENSHIP BILL NEXT WEEK

Jokanovic told reporters that the Yugoslav Government had introduced a new legal institution called 'the Acceptance of Yugoslav Citizenship,' having in mind the situation caused by secession and war in former Yugoslavia. The institution applies to those former Yugoslav citizens who have been forced to leave their homes in former Yugoslavia because of their nationality or religion or their struggle for the respect for human rights and freedoms, currently living in Yugoslavia and having no other citizenship but that of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) and one of its republics, except Serbia and Montenegro.

These persons can acquire the citizenship of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia through a simple procedure, provided their acquiring Yugoslav citizenship does not threaten Yugoslavia's security, defense and its international position, Jokanovic said. He said that these persons should apply for Yugoslav citizenship, stating reasons for their expulsion and submitting proof that they have no other citizenship.

The new bill considers the citizens of the SFRY who had been holders of Serbian or Montenegrin citizenship on the date of the proclamation of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (April 27, 1992), and onwards, eligible for the citizenship of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

The citizens of other republics of the SFRY who were permanently residing in either of the two republics on the said date and onwards, and curently hold no other citizenship, are also eligible for yugoslav citizenship, the Bill says.

The Citizenship Law of the SFRY provided for citizens of each of the six republics of the Federation to be holders of both the citizenship of their respective republics and of the SFRY.

Jokanovic said that the new bill recognized dual citizenship in special cases. It will be granted to those Yugoslav citizens who had acquired citizenship of another state that does not demand renouncement to of Yugoslav citizenship, he said. The dual citizenship will be regulated by international agreements, Jokanovic said.

Asked by reporters if dual citizenship would be possible through inter-national agreements between Yugoslavia and the former Yugoslav republics, Jokanovic said that it would depend on the solution of the crisis in the former Yugoslavia.

The Yugoslav Parliament will discuss the new Citizenship Bill at an extraodrinary session on Tuesday, July 16.

[04] BRITISH AMBASSADOR ON YUGOSLAVIA'S KEY ROLE

Roberts told Radio Kragujevac (central Serbia) that Yugoslavia had the opportunity to play an important role in the integration of the Balkans in the European family of nations.

The British diplomat described as positive Yugoslavia's stance that a regional approach to European integration was the best option, as requested by the E.U., underlining this stance was logical and a demonstration of common sense.

This part of the Balkans used to be a highly inter-dependent single market before the disintegration of the former Yugoslavia, the Ambassador said and added that the prosperity and the future of the new states of the region would depend on restoring trade.

Political stability in the region also depends on regional cooperation, which is why the E.U. advocates a regional approach. This should encourage economic growth and contibute to lasting peace, Roberts said.

Reminded by the interviewer that Zagreb rejects such an approach, Roberts said it was in Croatia's interest to demonstrate a will for regional cooperation.

[05] BRITISH FOREIGN OFFICE REPRESENTATIVES VISITS KOSMET PROVINCE

Director at the Foreign Office Political Department Jeremy Greenstock and British Ambassador in Belgrade Ivor Roberts told the representatives of provincial authorities in Pristina late on Friday that their Government fully understood and supported the stand that the problem of Kosovo and Metohija was Serbia's internal affair.

A statement by the Provincial Information Secretariat quoted Greenstock as saying that the British Government was very interested in normalizing the Kosovo issue. Greenstock said that in all contacts with leader of the biggest party of Kosovo Albanians Ibrahim Rugova and other ethnic Albanian representatives, British officials unequivocally stressed that the independence of Kosovo or any new state in the region was out of the question.

Deputy head of the Kosovo district Milos Nesovic and Provincial Information Secretary Bosko Drobnjak informed the British side that ethnic Albanians are visibly changing their attitude towards Serbia and its organs and expressed hope that this would influence their political representatives.

THE HAGUE WAR TRIBUNAL FOR THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA

[06] RUSSIA DISSATISFIED WITH WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL'S WORK

'In the U.S., elsewhere in the West and Islamic countries, the attitude towards Serbia is full of prejudice, to say the least, which leaves its trace on the Tribunal's work,' the diplomat said, commenting on the Tribunal's demand for the arrest of Republika Srpska officials Radovan Karadzic and Gen.Ratko Mladic.

The diplomat said that Russia 'regards as unconstructive attempts by some international community's members to replace Radovan Karadzic as the leader of the Serbian Democratic Party (SDS).'

Russia urged Karadzic's withdrawal from the political scene along with the other 'Contact Group' members, but to request his withdrawal from a party office, threatening that the party would not be allowed to participate in the elections, means to change along the way the rules of the game agreed at Dayton, the official said and added that Russia could not agree with that.

[07] CZECH PROFESSOR DOLECEK: THE HAGUE TRIBUNAL MUST BE MORE OBJECTIVE

'It is absolutely dishonourable to accuse only one side and close eyes to the crimes of the other,' Dolecek said and raised the question of why not bring to trial all who have prepared the tragedy in the former Yugoslavia. 'Has it occured to you to analyze the role of former German Foreign Minister, Mr. Genscher and other European and American politicians and diplomats. They have committed flagrant crimes against peace and sponsored the bloody developments. Why doesn't anyone charge them,' Dolocek asked.

'The case of two Serb officers, Gen.Djukic and Col.Krsmanovic could not have happened in civilized countries. although not indicted, they were unlawfully and contrary to the Dayton Agreement abducted and handed over to the Muslims in Sarajevo, whose Court declared them war criminals, although innocent,' Dolecek said. He noted that Krsmanovic was acquitted, while Djukic was held without adequate medical care although he had cancer, from which he died shortly after being released.

[08] BULGARIAN PAPER SAYS HAGUE TRIBUNAL HAS LOST CREDIBILITY

The international community has sent the IFOR to Bosnia-Herzegovina to monitor the implementation of the Dayton peace accords rather than to hunt down persons indicted by the Tribunal.

Duma also said the Tribunal was under strong Islamic pressure.

MUSLIM 'MASS GRAVES' IN SREBRENICA

[09] EXISTENCE OF MUSLIM MASS GRAVE BASED ON ASSUMPTIONS, SAYS EXPERT

Stankovic carried out between 4,000 and 5,000 exhumations on more than 30 locations since the beginning of the war in the former Yugoslavia. In 1993, he became a member of an expert team of the Yugoslav State Committee for gathering information about crimes against humanity and international law.

Speaking about the arrival of a Finnish expert team to the region of Srebrenica, Stankovic said that this was another proof of the arrogant and partial behaviour of the international community, 'which looks only for the truth that suits it.' 'It is not true that Bosnian Serb authorities are blocking the work of international teams. Procedure and order are in question here, because one cannot dig without a registration, however and wherever one pleases,' he explained.

Stankovic believes that the Yugoslav expert team should be in Srebrenica too, 'because if the international community wants cooperation with us, it is only proper to offer it.

'The area where a dozen of bodies were found cannot be considered a mass grave. This lacks seriousness and so does the method of putting a probe into the ground and deciding whether there are bodies there according to the smell,' he said.

Saying that the 'international community incessantly applies double standards and makes no mention of the evidence that does not support the 'truth' it fights for,' Stankovic mentioned the recent scandalous admission by former U.N. Envoy to the former Yugoslavia Yasushi Akashi to the effect that despite knowing that Muslims had committed the massacre at Sarajevo's Markale marketplace, the U.N. accused the Serbs of it.

Speaking in this context, Stankovic said that a U.S. expert team, who had arrived a few months ago with divers and state-of-the-art equipment to find the bodies of 3,000 Muslims allegedly killed in the Ljubija mine, had merely found a dog's skeleton. This has never been made public.

The example of the village of Ovcara near Vukovar, which was u.n.-monitored since 1992, is even better. 'The Hague Tribunal charged the former Yugoslav Army officers Mile Mrksic and Veselin Sljivancanin with the alleged killing of 261 persons,' Stankovic said and added that it had never been made public that 'just three (human) skeletons were found after the investigation and animal bones after additional digging.'

The Wednesday Croatian report, saying that 1,270 people went missing in the region of vukovar, is another proof of manipulations with the truth. The initial number of 36,000 missing persons was at first reduced to 18,000 and the report on 1,000 missing persons was eventually sent to the U.N.

Stankovic said that the Muslim Army, commanded by Jaser Orlic, had killed 32 people in the village of Kravice on January 13, 1993. another

15 bodies were found at a nearby location during an exhumation attended by the then Commander of the UNPROFOR for Bosnia-Herzegovina Philip Morillon, which can be seen on a photo made on that occasion. '(Tadeusz) Mazowiecki, former U.N. Human Rights Rapporteur, said in a report that Bratunac Police Commander Milutin Milosevic had been killed by Serbs while he was defending Muslims. The truth, which Morillon could see for himself, is that we found his (Milosevic's) body in Sandici near Kravica, where he was killed along with 14 Serb civilians,' Stankovic said.

The international partiality was confirmed also in the case of Tomislav Mercep, who commanded Croatian special units that had committed crimes in the town of Gospic between October 16 and 19, 1991, and who has not been indicted by the Hague Tribunal. The bodies of 19 of the 24 Serb civilians killed in Gospic in this period have been identified. The Yugoslav side has a list of names of another 54 persons who were taken on the same day, killed and thrown into a pit, whose locations is known, Stankovic said.

In a report of October 21, 1991, the Croatian Government described these murders as a war crime, but people responsible for it have never been indicted. However, Tihomir Blaskic ended up in the Hague because he killed eight Muslims, Stankovic said.

Our side believes that facts and material evidence must not be ignored, regardless of how embarrassing they might be for any of the sides, Stankovic said and added that an equal treatment and observation of facts, rather than assumptions and indications, were necessary.

BOSNIA - HERZEGOVINA

[10] ACTING R.S. PRESIDENT BELIEVES R.S. WILL KEEP ITS STATEHOOD

Plavsic said that ending the war was a great achievement of the international community, and noted that any attempt to push things back to the starting point would lead to another war.

According to Plavsic, R.S. is facing a difficult diplomatic struggle to preserve the considerable degree of statehood obtained through the peace accord, but wisdom, courage and perserverance would lead to success.

Unerlining that the Union of Bosnia-Herzegovina would partly undermine the statehood of both R.S. and the Muslim-Croat Federation to an equal extent, Plavsic however noted that R.S. would also benefit from the Union, especially as regards economy.

The only thing that R.S. must not do is let itself be drawn into a unitary, sovereign and indivisible Bosnia-Herzegovina as Bosnian Muslim leader Alija Izetbegovic desires, as the Serbs would then quickly be proclaimed second-class people, and the same fate would lie in store for Croats, and in a few decades the Serbs would disappear altogether, Plavsic said.

Plavsic is convinced that Muslims and Croats will be unable to form a coalition and take decisions by outvoting the Serbs in the union of Bosnia-Herzegovina, as the Dayton Accord gives the right to each side to use veto to protect its interests.

Underlining that R.S. is not rejecting the Union, as some specific intersts can and should be achieved through it, Plavsic underlined that the long-term aspiration and final objective of the serbs was to live all together in one state. The French, the Germans, the Italians, the Spaniards all have their own states, there is no reason why the Serbs should be denied this, she said.

Referring to the forthcoming elections in Bosnia-Herzegovina scheduled for next September 14, Plavsic said she believed right-wing forces would win.

Plavsic descibed the International Tribunal for War Crimes in the former Yugoslavia as a geat disgrace. It is not a court ofjustice but a political court which has the sole task of accusing the Serbs, by indicting Radovan Karadzic and R.S. Army Commander General Ratko Mladic and by issuing arrest warrants for them, she said.

The international community, in other words the West, is exerting unprecedented pressure to have the Serbs presented to the world as the aggressors and the Muslims as the victims of the Bosnian war. The West has been working for this from the very beginning, as the scenario for bosnian tragedy was written by the West, Biljana Plavsic said.

[11] 'MAKE PEACE POSSIBLE' CONFERENCE ENDS IN BANJALUKA

The Conference titled 'Make Peace Possible' organized by Christian Democats from the European Parliament ended by adopting a Declaration underlining that the elections scheduled for next September in Bosnia would be an important step on the way to establishing democratic institutions.

The Declaration underlines the need for cooperation of the former warring sides in the ex Yugoslav republic with the International War Crimes Tribunal and notes that all conditions for the return of refugees have been ensured and that the safety of repatriates and the ability of countries to receive them must not be jeopardized in anyway.

The President of the Group, former Belgian Prime Minister Wilfried Martens who chaired the Conference together with the Head of the Parliamentary delegation for Southern Europe Doris Pack (Germany), said he expected a restoration of a multi-ethnic and multi-religious state in Bosnia and promised to do all he can to bring about a reconciliation of the waring sides.

The Banjaluka Mayor Predrag Radic said 'there is no business more humane than the return of refugees to their homes' but noted that this must apply equally to all, including those who fled to Republika Srpska from the Muslim-Croat Federation and the Serbs expelled by Croatian authorities from the Republic of Serb Krajina.

The living conditions in Banjaluka during and after the war were described also by the Banjaluka Catholic Bishop Franjo Kumarica and Mufti Ibrahim Halilovic, whereas Serb Orthodox Church Bishop Jefrem was prevented from attending by his Church duties.

The Conference was attended by representatives of France, Italy, Greece, Finland, Denmark, Netherlands, Spain, Belgium, Austria and Germany, the U.N. Observer Mission in Banjaluka, international refugee oroanizations and several R.S. political parties.

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