Yugoslav Daily Survey 96-09-26

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

CONTENTS

[01] YUGOSLAV FOREIGN MINISTER'S CONTACTS AT U.N. HEADQUARTERS

[02] BULGARIAN, YUGOSLAV OFFICIALS SEE BILATERAL TIES AS EXEMPLARY

[03] YUGOSLAVIA WANTS TO JOIN COUNCIL OF EUROPE, E.U.

[04] R.S. WARNS IFOR AGREEMENT ON JUSICI VILLAGE NOT MET

[01] YUGOSLAV FOREIGN MINISTER'S CONTACTS AT U.N. HEADQUARTERS

'These important decisions are to be made these days,' said Milutinovic.

Milutinovic on Wednesday held separate talks with Foreign Ministers Hervet de Charette of France, Malcolm Rifkind of Britain, Abel Matutes of Spain and Theodoros Pangalos of Greece.

He also met with Assistant U.S. Secretary of State for the Balkans John Kornblum, and on Tuesday held talks with his Predecessor Richard Holbrooke.

He is due on Thursday to meet with Secretary of State Warren Christopher. Milutinovic is bringing to a close a series of talks with most U.N. Security Council members and practically all the Contact Group representatives.

[02] BULGARIAN, YUGOSLAV OFFICIALS SEE BILATERAL TIES AS EXEMPLARY

Bulgarian President Zhelyu Zhelev and Prime Minister Zhan Videnov were meeting with Yugoslav Parliament Lower House Speaker Radoman Bozovic, who is paying a three-day official visit to Sofia at the invitation of Bulgarian Parliament Speaker Blagovest Sondov.

Zhelev and Bozovic said that good-neighbourly relations and the stabilisation of the situation in the Balkans were of great importance to the region as a whole and its inclusion in Europe's integration processes.

Bilateral agreements that are expected to be signed shortly, especially those in the economic sphere, will be of importance to overall bilateral relations, it was noted.

In a separate meeting, Videnov and Bozovic said that bilateral good-neighbourly cooperation was being constantly promoted. In future, the world will speak of the Balkans as an economically developed region, rather than a region of conflict, as is now the case, they added.

Videnov said that all prerequisites had been created for lifting the sanctions against Yugoslavia immediately, and that a successful end of Bosnia's elections would help implement the peace process in former Yugoslavia under the Dayton accords.

Videnov and Bozovic agreed that Bulgarian-Yugoslav relations were trouble-free and that the upcoming visit of Yugoslav Prime Minister Radoje Kontic to Sofia would give a fresh impact to the strengthening of their economic, scientific and other ties.

[03] YUGOSLAVIA WANTS TO JOIN COUNCIL OF EUROPE, E.U.

Speaking at the promotion of the book titled the Council of Europe 1949-1996, Krivokapic said Yugoslavia had made it clear that its membership in European organisations was vital for the realisation of its strategic national interests and was working hard on becoming a member of the Council of Europe and the European Union.

Krivokapic said the intensification of integration processes in Europe and Yugoslavia's growing influence there had for the largest part been brought about by the mutual recognition of the former Yugoslav republics and by dealing successfully with some unresolved issues in Serbia's southern province of Kosovo and Metohija.

Before its suspension from the Council of Europe in 1991, the former Yugoslavia was the signatory of 16 conventions in the sphere of culture, university cooperation, science, legal cooperation and cooperation with the Council of Europe's Reintegration Fund, he said.

In the light of the fact that the Yugoslav Parliament and the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly renewed contacts last April, the Council will very likely be the first European organisation to resume cooperation with Yugoslavia, granting it full membership in the organisation, he said. Krivokapic also said that in order to speed up its integration into Europe, Yugoslavia had focused efforts on bringing into accord its legislation with E.U. standards.

[04] R.S. WARNS IFOR AGREEMENT ON JUSICI VILLAGE NOT MET

IFOR representatives accepted the deadlines and obligations concerning the villages of Mahala, Dugi Do, and Jusici in the municipality of Zvornik in eastern R.S.

You and your command have ascertained that in this concrete incident it is a case of paramilitary armed formations carrying weaponry (long barrel), Kijac said in his letter to Gen. Walker.

The intentions of these formations are clear and many members of these Muslim units arrived from other parts of the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina, said the letter.

All these reasons, as well as my obligations stemming from the laws and constitution make it imperative for me, in line with my duties, to have to take measures to set up R.S. authority in these areas as well, regardless of the area being in the zone of separation, Kijac said.

Kijac expressed hope that IFOR representatives would take measures within their competence and respect agreements, upon receipt of this letter. This would secure the fulfilment of obligations and resolve the existing problem with fewer consequences, said Kijac in closing in his letter to Gen. Walker.

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