Yugoslav Daily Survey, 96-10-11

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

CONTENTS

[01] LILIC: YUGOSLAVIA HAS WON RECOGNITION FOR PEACE POLICY

[02] YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT ASSESSES KONTIC'S VISIT TO SLOVAKIA AS SUCCESSFUL

[03] YUGOSLAVIA IMPROVES RELATIONS WITH UNDP

[04] YUGOSLAV AND GERMAN MINISTERS HOLD TALKS IN BONN

[05] YUGOSLAVIA - GERMANY: ACCORD ON RETURN OF CITIZENS

[06] TALKS ON PARLIAMENTARY COOPERATION BETWEEN YUGOSLAVIA AND GERMANY

[07] SUPPORT TO YUGOSLAVIA'S REINTEGRATION INTO U.N. SYSTEM

[08] KRAJISNIK SPEAKS WITH BRITISH DIPLOMATS

[09] BOSNIAN SERBS EXPRESS WILLINGNESS TO FORM COMMON BODIES OF POWER

[10] KRAJISNIK AND REHN DISCUSS HUMAN RIGHTS IN BOSNIA

[11] CONTACT GROUP INVITES BOSNIAN SERBS TO COOPERATE

[12] WORLD ENVOY BILDT FOR PROLONGING FOREIGN MILITARY PRESENCE IN BOSNIA

[13] U.N. CALLS FOR FURTHER ENQUIRY INTO BOSNIAN HUMANITARIAN LAW OFFENSES

[01] LILIC: YUGOSLAVIA HAS WON RECOGNITION FOR PEACE POLICY

The anti-Yugoslav sanctions' lifting is cause for satisfaction, and an obligation to go on with much more energy and determination to bring about economic recovery, Lilic said in a meeting of economic and political leaders of the Belgrade Municipalities of Zemun and Novi Beograd.

He stressed that the lifting of the U.N. sanctions, as a recognition of Yugoslavia's irreplaceable role in the negotiation and implementation of the Dayton Accords, 'has opened prospects for developing Yugoslavia and the entire Region, and Europe, too.'

The Dayton Accords created the Bosnian Serb Republika Srpska, which is an achievement nobody can deny, as it has protected the essential national interests of the Serbs in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Lilic said.

He stressed that Yugoslavia's Foreign Policy priorities were good-neighbour relations and economic and cultural links with the world on the basis of respect for mutual interests and non-interference in the internal affairs of others.

The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia strives for the fastest and fullest possible normalisation with the International Community and with all former Yugoslav Republics, Lilic stressed.

'A considerable number of states, including several permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, have explicitly recognised Yugoslavia's continuity with the former Federation,' he said. 'They have recognised the validity of Inter-State Agreements signed earlier and agreed to the signing of new ones,' he added.

Lilic said that the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia today had Diplomatic ties with more than 160 states, and that Diplomatic Relations with almost all European states had been raised to the highest level.

He said that negotiations with the International Monetary Fund and the Paris and London Clubs of creditors had been intensified, and that considerable headway had been made in normalising relations and cooperation with these financial institutions.

This will allow access to the international capital market and bring in foreign investors interested in the development of the Yugoslav economy, he added.

Lilic said that another foreign policy priority was Yugoslavia's active and constructive role as a full member in the United Nations and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and the promotion of cooperation with the European Union.

The Yugoslav President said that the lifting of sanctions had removed limitations for the business activities of our businessmen abroad. Recalling that in the past two months 18 Systemic Laws had been passed that have created a favourable environment for domestic producers and also for foreign investors and partners, Lilic announced further changes in legal regulations in order to create better market conditions.

Lilic also said that huge efforts were being made for the normalization of relations with the former Yugoslav Republics. 'I think that we should not have any illusions that we will live in a community similar to the one we lived in', Lilic said. He added that members of the former Yugoslav Federation needed to cooperate, notably on the economic, bilateral and multilateral level.

[02] YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT ASSESSES KONTIC'S VISIT TO SLOVAKIA AS SUCCESSFUL

In keeping with their commitment to establish all-round cooperation, the two sides signed during the visit seven bilateral agreements and a series of concrete arrangements, which will enable a stepped up enhancement of cooperation, a Government statement said.

It is particularly significant that the validity of 34 agreements signed between the former Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia, which are of interest to the two sides, were extended, the statement said.

The Slovak Republic has recognized the continuity of Yugoslavia and lent unreserved support to Yugoslavia's return to all international organizations and institutions, the Yugoslav Government noted.

It adopted a Platform for Yugoslav Foreign Minister Milan Milutinovic's talks with his Greek counterpart, Theodoros Pangalos, who will officially visit Yugoslavia October 16-17.

The Government adopted a Platform for the participation of Yugoslav experts in a Plenary meeting of the Working Group for succession of the Council for implementation of peace in Brussels October 14-15.

The Government approved a Draft Agreement on cooperation in tourism between Yugoslavia and Zimbabwe, to be signed during Yugoslav President Zoran Lilic's visit to the African country October 15-17, the statement said.

The Government also approved a Draft Agreement on cooperation in health, medical science and pharmacy between Yugoslavia and Cyprus.

[03] YUGOSLAVIA IMPROVES RELATIONS WITH UNDP

The plan has been worked out on the basis of an improvement in relations with the UNDP which opened a Liaison Office in Belgrade in May, a Yugoslav Government statement said.

Under an Agreement on the content of and mechanism for utilising the remaining funds earmarked for the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, reached with that U.N. agency, the plan encompasses four fields:

1. counselling services in the preparation of a development strategy and programming of cooperation with the UNDP,

2. organisation and management of sources of foreign assistance for the purpose of development cooperation,

3. activities aimed at a faster integration of refugees who have opted to stay in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and

4. environmental protection programmes.

[04] YUGOSLAV AND GERMAN MINISTERS HOLD TALKS IN BONN

After the Bonn meeting, Jokanovic told reporters he was confident that Germany, as a highly influential member of the European Union and of the Group of 7 industrialised states, would greatly contribute to Yugoslavia's full integration in the International Community.

He said that the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was prepared for the widest possible economic cooperation with all E.U. states, stressing that his meeting with Kinkel had been held in a very cordial climate.

After the Thursday talks, Jokanovic said he was sure that the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Germany would reach concrete Accords on joint action in combatting international crime, especially terrorism and drug and arms trafficking.

[05] YUGOSLAVIA - GERMANY: ACCORD ON RETURN OF CITIZENS

Jokanovic told journalists after the signing of the Accord that it 'will give a strong impetus to the full normalization of relations and the renewal of cooperation between the FRY and Germany in all fields and to its return to the level that existed before the breakup of the former Yugoslavia'.

Minister Kanther affirmed to journalists the importance of the signed Accord in the context of the normalization of relations between the two countries.

[06] TALKS ON PARLIAMENTARY COOPERATION BETWEEN YUGOSLAVIA AND GERMANY

Jokanovic said in a statement to Tanjug that the precise dates for an exchange of visits between Yugoslav and German Parliament members would be set subsequently.

Jokanovic on Thursday met with German Parliament Speaker Rita Zismut and European Parliament President Leni Fischer.

[07] SUPPORT TO YUGOSLAVIA'S REINTEGRATION INTO U.N. SYSTEM

The readiness was expressed by Director-General of the Geneva U.N. Headquarters Vladimir Petrovski and Executive-Secretary of the U.N. Economic Commission for Europe Yves Berthelot in talks with Yugoslav Minister of Transportation and Communications Zoran Vujovic.

The talk with Petrovski focused on political aspects of Yugoslavia's reintegration into the U.N. Petrovski said he was ready to assist Yugoslavia's integration into the International Community, especially cooperation with Regional organizations, including the European Union.

In his statement after the talks with Vujovic, Berthelot singled out the importance Yugoslavia has for economic processes in Southeastern Europe and stronger economic cooperation in the Region, which he said would be assisted by the U.N.

Bertholot said he did not wish to go into the institutional aspects of Yugoslavia's full reintegration into the U.N., and offered to the Yugoslav Minister assistance and cooperation in nearly all fields of activity of the U.N. Economic Commission for Europe.

Bertholot announced that a delegation of experts in a field of interest to Yugoslavia would visit Belgrade early next year. He said his Commission would urge Yugoslavia's full inclusion in the development of the European transportation infrastructure, specifically the transportation corridors planned by the European Union.

The U.N. official paid recognition to the Yugoslav Government's economic policy, saying he was aware of the results achieved in the past period, especially in the suppression of hyperinflation. Berthelot said the U.N. Economic Commission for Europe respected what Yugoslavia had accomplished and was ready to cooperate with it.

[08] KRAJISNIK SPEAKS WITH BRITISH DIPLOMATS

After the talks, Krajisnik said he conveyed to the British diplomats the willingness of Republika Srpska to work in the joint organs of Bosnia which he hoped would be constituted as quickly as possible.

We are prepared for the Presidency to convene as soon as possible, and to call our (Serb) deputies to sign a Joint Statement and contribute to the functioning of joint organs, said Krajisnik.

[09] BOSNIAN SERBS EXPRESS WILLINGNESS TO FORM COMMON BODIES OF POWER

News agencies quoted Krajisnik as saying that the Republika Srpska was willing to send representatives to the new Parliament of Bosnia-Herzegovina to sign their solemn oath as soon as possible, so that common bodies of power could be set up soon.

He said that the Republika Srpska's National Assembly might hold its Constituent Session on October 19. to elect Serb representatives to the Chamber of Peoples of the Bosnia-Herzegovina Parliament, which should complete setting up common bodies of power.

Krajisnik said that the Serb side was being accused without just cause of a reluctance to work in the Common Bodies of Power. We demand that those bodies work, because that is in the interest of the Serb people, he said.

[10] KRAJISNIK AND REHN DISCUSS HUMAN RIGHTS IN BOSNIA

Rehn pledged to solve the problem of refugees and POW's.

Krajisnik said the talks focused on settling questions pertaining to refugees, the release of POW's, the protection of Serbs in Sarajevo, and on forced entry of Muslims into Bosnian Serb territory in Eastern Bosnia. I insisted on the equality of both Entities and on a serious approach on solving these questions, said Krajisnik.

[11] CONTACT GROUP INVITES BOSNIAN SERBS TO COOPERATE

Reuters quotes a statement released after the Group met at the level of Political Directors in London as describing Bosnian reconstruction as a crucial priority and the funds set aside for the purpose as considerable.

The body warned, however, that the world community's willingness to distribute assistance between the Bosnian Entities, the Muslim-Croat Federation and the Republika Srpska, would depend on their conduct and support for the new common bodies of power.

[12] WORLD ENVOY BILDT FOR PROLONGING FOREIGN MILITARY PRESENCE IN BOSNIA

Bildt said he felt that this would allow the country to recover from the effects of war and hold General Elections planned for september 1998, according to news agencies.

The military presence should reflect the Transatlantic Political Coalition and include Russia, which has made the Peace Accord possible and participated in the first year of Bosnian Peacekeeping, he said on a visit to the Royal United Services Institute. He said that the Military Mission to Bosnia should include a Rapid Reaction Force deployed to several crucial places.

[13] U.N. CALLS FOR FURTHER ENQUIRY INTO BOSNIAN HUMANITARIAN LAW OFFENSES

A Presidential Statement said that the Security Council condemned all attempts at obstructing the international investigation and cases of obliteration or falsification of the existing evidence of such crimes.

It further stressed the obligation of all parties to cooperate with the Hague-based International War Crimes Court for former Yugoslavia, and expressed concern that light had so far been shed on the fate of only several hundred missing persons.

The Council welcomed the recent visit by a delegation of the Bosnian Serb Republika Srpska to the Hague-based Tribunal, and hoped that this would mark a turning point in the Bosnian Serb Entity's cooperation with the Tribunal.

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