Yugoslav Daily Survey 96-07-23

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

CONTENTS

[01] PREREQUISITES EXIST FOR YUGOSLAVIA-LUXEMBOURG COOPERATION

[02] YUGOSLAV, LUXEMBOURG FOREIGN MINISTERS URGE STABILIZATION OF SITUATION IN FORMER YUGOSLAVIA

[03] MILUTINOVIC, POOS ASSESS THEIR TALK AS POSITIVE

[04] MILOSEVIC RECEIVES LUXEMBOURG'S FOREIGN MINISTER POOS

[05] TALKS OPEN BETWEEN YUGOSLAVIA, M-C FEDERATION

[06] INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY CONDONES CROATIA'S HYPOCRITICAL POLICY

[07] DAYTON PEACE ACCORDS NOT THWARTED BY SERBS ONLY

[01] PREREQUISITES EXIST FOR YUGOSLAVIA-LUXEMBOURG COOPERATION

The Yugoslav Information Secretariat said in an announcement that they noted that the two delegations' meeting was the best confirmation of the two countries' readiness to renew and promote their cooperation.

Assessed at the talk was that the biggest obstacle in the way to the further development and promotion of universal and especially economic relations was raised by what is called the outer wall of sanctions, or by the slowness in the normalization of relations between Yugoslavia and international political, economic and trade institutions and organizations.

At the Kontic-Poos talk, in which Yugoslav trade Minister Dj.Siradovic and Deputy Foreign Minister R.Bulajic also took part, it was concluded that, without the normalization of financial and trade relations, Yugoslavia could hardly restore and develop its economy and, consequently, be the stable factor of peace in these areas.

The announcement said that Poos appraised highly Yugoslavia's role in and contribution to the achievement and maintenance of peace in these areas.

Poos showed interest particularly in Yugoslavia's views on the forthcoming free elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and on the situation and future of relations with the former Yugoslav republics, the announcement said.

Kontic pointed out Yugoslavia's readiness for equal-footing cooperation with all the countries, including also the former Yugoslav republics.

Kontic stressed in particular that it was necessary to implement the Dayton accords consistently, presuming in the first place that free elections be held in the BiH on September 14 and legal organs of authority constituted.

[02] YUGOSLAV, LUXEMBOURG FOREIGN MINISTERS URGE STABILIZATION OF SITUATION IN FORMER YUGOSLAVIA

Efforts for a consistent and comprehensive implementation of the Dayton/Paris peace agreement have been stressed in the talks, the Yugoslav Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Both sides agreed that the holding of free elections in Bosnia-Herzegovina on September 14 was crucial, together with the ensuring of equal conditions for all participants and observation of the democratic procedure.

The Yugoslav side underscored the interest for a speedy revival and full normalization of relations between Yugoslavia and the European Union, to which Luxembourg can contribute as an influential member.

The need was stressed for the restoration of economic and trade relations between Yugoslavia and the European Union and equalization of E.U.'s autonomous trade measures towards all countries that emerged in the territory of the former Yugoslavia.

The talks confirmed mutual interest and readiness of Yugoslavia and Luxembourg for the intensification of bilateral relations and cooperation and especially political dialogue.

It was said that great possibilities existed for bilateral cooperation and that the promotion of economic, scientific and technical and cultural links and the expansion of the legal basis for cooperation should have priority.

[03] MILUTINOVIC, POOS ASSESS THEIR TALK AS POSITIVE

The two ministers made statements to the press in which they underscored that free elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina, scheduled for September 14, had a decisive role in successfully completing the process of the implementation of the peace agreement, in which it is necessary to secure equal conditions for all parties to the agreement.

Milutinovic told the press that both parties had reaffirmed their commitment to and readiness for cooperation so that the Dayton-Paris peace agreement be implemented consistently and fully.

He said the two sides agreed that equal treatment of all sides, especially in the allocation of funds, was the necessary prerequisite for the rebuilding of confidence, successful outcome of the process of reconstruction and balanced development of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

We assessed as positive Luxembourg's role in searching for a political settlement of the crisis in former Yugoslavia, to which Minister Poos had made a notable personal contribution, Milutinovic said.

He said the talk underscored F.R.Y.'s interest in the reintegration into the U.N., OSCE and international financial institutions, as well as into European groupings for which the F.R.Y. expects Luxembourg's full support.

Milutinovic and Poos said there were ample possibilities of promoting bilateral cooperation, to which Luxembourg's April 1996 decision on normalizing relations between the two countries had given an impetus.

Poos, whose country takes over the six-month E.U. presidency term in January next year, said he paid a visit to Belgrade to speed up the implementation of the Dayton accords.

Poos said he asked partners at his talks to continue to have a positive influence on all parties (to the Bosnia crisis), especially on the Republika Srpska, to carry on with the implementation of the peace agreement.

Poos said many things had already been done, but a lot still remained, among other things, for Bosnia to be rebuilt and to provide for preconditions for the true reconciliation of the peoples.

Poos voiced hope that the presence of the Implementation Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina would not be needed after the elections, that prudent men, who would establish good relations with neighbours, would be elected to the key offices. He assessed as positive Bosnian Serb leader R.Karadzic's withdrawal from the political scene.

[04] MILOSEVIC RECEIVES LUXEMBOURG'S FOREIGN MINISTER POOS

The mutual interest was expressed in all-round cooperation, development and ties among european countries, aimed at strengthening peace and stability, a statement released by the presidential office said.

The statement said that special interest was shown in the intensification of economic ties between Yugoslav and business partners in the European Union.

Hope was expressed that the necessary conditions for economic cooperation would be secured through a stepped-up renewal of economic agreements or the conclusion of new ones.

The hitherto results in the implementation of the peace agreement in Bosnia-Herzegovina were assessed as positive and the significance of the upcoming elections in the former Yugoslav republic pointed up, the statement said.

Note was made of the fact that the elections were to create conditions for an all-round normalization of relations in the region.

The talk, attended also by Yugoslav Foreign Minister Milan Milutinovic, covered the bilateral relations too, the statement said.

YUGOSLAVIA - MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION

[05] TALKS OPEN BETWEEN YUGOSLAVIA, M-C FEDERATION

The talks are expected to cover possibilities for the normalization of trade and transportation links.

The businessmen who are members of the Federation delegation will have separate talks in the Yugoslav and Serbian Chambers of Economy with representatives of individual companies.

CROATIA - DISCRIMINATION OF SERBS

[06] INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY CONDONES CROATIA'S HYPOCRITICAL POLICY

The Association said in a released statement that Serbs in the Serb region of East Slavonija, Baranja and West Srem were subjected to pressures and threats of Croatian authorities and injustices on the part of the international community.

It urged the international community to take a realistic view of the position of Serbs in the Serb region, since the current policy did not help resolve problems and did not guarantee peace.

The condoning of Croatia's policy and favouring of its interests is a cause of the Serb population's 'dissatisfaction and lack of confidence in all factors of the international community, including the U.N. transitional administration (UNTAES),' the statement said.

FROM FOREIGN PRESS

[07] DAYTON PEACE ACCORDS NOT THWARTED BY SERBS ONLY

Power, an analyst of the International Crisis Group that monitors compliance with the Dayton accords, commented on the latest developments in BiH and the Balkans in the light of U.S. envoy R.Holbrooke's latest mission to the region.

Power said that Tudjman's regime also constituted a threat to peace in the region. She said Mostar had remained divided into the Moslem-held East and the Croat-controlled West section even after local elections in June. Moreover, she said, evictions of Moslem families from the Western sector of Mostar have multiplied and that D.Kordic, the most notorious bosnian Croat linked to ethnic cleansing, seemed untouchable.

The climate is only marginally better in Croatia itself, where last August more than 150,000 Serbs were driven from their homes and where the authorities still insist they did nothing wrong, she said. In this connection, she quoted Tudjman as saying 'we have not asked for all the Serbs to leave. The fact that 90 percent of them have left is their problem.'

The U.N. Security Council recently discussed for the fourth time since last summer violations of Serbs' human rights in Croatia, expressing only its deepest regret at such a state of affairs.

A Security Council Presidential statement and Secretary-General Ghali's report said a small number of Serbs who had remained in Croatia were the target of pressure and lawlessness, and said Croatia was doing all it could to prevent Serb refugees from returning home.

Power said the Croatian government seemed confident that it would not be scolded for bad behaviour.

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