Yugoslav Daily Survey, 96-10-24

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

CONTENTS

[01] YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT LILIC MEETS WITH GREEK PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS

[02] YUGOSLAV FOREIGN MINISTER VISITS AUSTRIA

[03] YUGOSLAV CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF VISITS AUSTRIA

[04] YUGOSLAV AND FRENCH BUSINESSMEN AGREE ON ALL MAJOR ECONOMIC ISSUES

[05] LILIC SAYS VISIT TO AFRICA MARKS YUGOSLAVIA'S RETURN TO THE WORLD

[06] NATIONAL BANK VICE GOVERNOR: YUGOSLAVIA'S STATUS IN IMF WILL SOON BE RESOLVED

[07] PLAVSIC DESCRIBES DECISION TO PUT OFF LOCAL ELECTIONS AS WISE

[08] PLAVSIC MEETS WITH U.S. OFFICIAL

[09] PLAVSIC MEETS WITH RUSSIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER

[10] BILDT SEES POSTPONEMENT OF LOCAL ELECTIONS IN BOSNIA AS A GOOD MOVE

[11] KORNBLUM: MEETING OF BOSNIA PRESIDENCY MARKS A NEW BEGINNING

[01] YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT LILIC MEETS WITH GREEK PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS

The one-hour meeting between Lilic and Simitis focused on the promotion of bilateral relations and deepening of the Yugoslav-Greek political dialogue on all levels. The two officials paid special attention to the promotion of economic cooperation. They said that there were big possibilities for and interest of both countries' businessmen in the promotion of economic cooperation. They also said that Yugoslavia and Greece had confirmed their commitment to joint appearance on the third markets and creation of concrete circumstances aimed at facilitating the flow of people, goods and cultural wealth.

Both sides praised the improvement in the implementation of the Dayton/Paris Peace Agreement for Bosnia-Herzegovina, expressed the two countries' determination in rendering full support to a further implementation of agreements and consolidation of peace and stability in the Balkans and Southeastern Europe.

Lilic thanked the Greek Government for its contribution to the resolution of the crisis in the former Yugoslavia and said that Yugoslavia would continue fulfilling all provisions of the Peace Agreement, initialled at Dayton by Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic.

Both sides said that peace and stability were preconditions for an overall linking of the Balkan countries and activation of economic and human potentials, with the aim of modern social and economic and cultural development.

Reviewing the promotion of multilateral cooperation in the Balkans and Europe, Lilic and Simitis said that further promotion of relations between Yugoslavia and the European Union was in the mutual interest of Greece and Yugoslavia as well as all E.U. members. This is all the more so because Yugoslavia has always been and will continue to be an important economic partner of the European Union, it was said.

Joint agreement was expressed to promote contacts and meetings on high and top levels in the spirit of friendship, mutual interest and understanding.

Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos and Simitis's associates, as well as Yugoslav Deputy Prime Minister Uros Klikovac and Yugoslav Minister Zoran Bingulac participated in the talks.

[02] YUGOSLAV FOREIGN MINISTER VISITS AUSTRIA

Yugoslavia and Austria used to have excellent relations and very good economic ties in the past, and Austria was Yugoslavia's fifth biggest trade partner, Milutinovic said on arriving on a two-day visit. If Austria and the Austrian people want relations to return as much as possible to the earlier level, Yugoslavia is willing and sees no obstacle, he added.

On thursday, Milutinovic is scheduled to meet with Vice-Chancellor and Foreign Minister Wolfgang Schuessel and with Chancellor Franz Vranitzky, to discuss the promotion of bilateral cooperation and the current situation in the Region.

Speaking after a Government Session on Wednesday, Minister Schuessel said he would like to take the opportunity of his meeting with Milutinovic for a gradual normalisation of bilateral relations with Belgrade. Schuessel added that he wanted political normalisation to be accompanied by a speedy resumption of economic and cultural contacts as well.

[03] YUGOSLAV CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF VISITS AUSTRIA

The Yugoslav Army General Staff Information Service said on Wednesday that Gen. Perisic, who heads a Yugoslav Army delegation, paid a one-day working visit to Vienna on Wednesday. Gen. Perisic thus returned Meizen's visit of March. Meizen was the first high-ranking Western European Army official to visit Yugoslavia before the formal lifting of the international sanctions against Yugoslavia.

The statement said that the Yugoslav Army delegation was informed about the basic facts of the organisation of the Austrian Army, staff training and enabling for participation in U.N. Peace Operations. Special attention was paid to cooperation between the two armies in the coming period, the statement said.

[04] YUGOSLAV AND FRENCH BUSINESSMEN AGREE ON ALL MAJOR ECONOMIC ISSUES

The three-day talks were organized by the Yugoslav Chamber of Commerce (PKJ) and the Association of French industrialists. Over the past few days the Yugoslav and French businessmen signed concrete cooperation agreements, worth tens of millions of dollars, and determined the schedule of future contacts.

The French businessmen were able to see for themselves that there are no formal or other kinds of obstacles to cooperation with the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, PKJ President Mihajlo Milojevic told Tanjug.

Milojevic, who was heading the Yugoslav delegation, also said that the hosts were able to see that all Yugoslav systemic laws have been adapted to the demands of the European Union, thus making Yugoslavia ready for the European market. Milojevic underscored that of special importance is that the French businessmen can now be certain that their investments in Yugoslavia will be protected and that they will be free to dispose of their profits at will.

France needs the Yugoslav market, but is also interested in using Yugoslav production capacities and is ready to invest in their modernization and expansion, he said.

The President of the French industrialists, who is also Alcatel General Director, Gerard Dega, said that the talks represented yet another step towards Yugoslavia's return to the international market and the French economic space. I have once again come to see that since the suspension and lifting of the sanctions, Yugoslavia has done much and focused on the reconstruction of its industrial production, said Degas who headed the French delegation. He said he believed that projects by Yugoslav firms, presented in Paris over the past few days, are very attractive for French businessmen.

[05] LILIC SAYS VISIT TO AFRICA MARKS YUGOSLAVIA'S RETURN TO THE WORLD

Lilic headed a Yugoslav state and business delegation on a one-week tour of Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Ghana and Guinea with which Yugoslavia has had friendly ties for years.

Lilic told reporters at Belgrade airport that five important Inter-state Agreements had been signed during the delegation's visit to the four African states. He said Yugoslavia's peace policy had received full support there. The visit also confirmed Yugoslavia's contribution to the reaching of the Dayton Peace Agreement, its implementation and the holding of elections in Bosnia-Herzegovina, he said.

Yugoslavia can now act as a strong link between Africa on one side and the European Union and other countries, on the other, he said. Lilic also said cooperation among Non-aligned countries should be a model of cooperation among developing countries.

Lilic noted that his tour demonstrated in the best possible way that Africa was a true and sincere friend of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

According to Yugoslav President, the leaders of all countries he has visited have expressed the wish to see Yugoslavia regain its rightful place in the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and, above all, the Non-aligned Movement. This is a logical wish as Yugoslavia wishes to cooperate with both developed and developing countries, with all who follow the policy of common interests and partnership, Lilic said.

Lilic said that the leaders of Guinea, Ghana and Zimbabwe had approved his view that the Non-aligned Movement should be a framework for much more intensive South-South cooperation in order to increase its economic power and thus become an important partner of the developed world above all.

Yugoslavia has many friends among Islamic countries and wishes to be friends even with those countries which have done it much harm in the past few years. Yugoslavia is convinced that those countries had not done so intentionally, but rather due to political manipulations, the President said.

Lilic underlined that the importance of his visit to Africa was confirmed by a series of agreements, protocols and letters of intent signed by Yugoslav businessmen and Government representatives with their African hosts. The presence of many businessmen in Yugoslav delegation was also very important as it has resulted in the conclusion of cooperation agreements to the total value of between 130 and 150 million dollars, he said.

Lilic described his visit to Greece on his way back from Africa as a reflection of the traditionally good and friendly relations between the two countries, whose principal interest is stable peace in the Balkans. They share the view that the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia should promote its relations with the European Union as this would be in mutual interest.

One thing is certain after the tour, and that is that Yugoslavia can provide an extraordinarily strong link between Africa and the European Union and other developed countries, Lilic said.

[06] NATIONAL BANK VICE GOVERNOR: YUGOSLAVIA'S STATUS IN IMF WILL SOON BE RESOLVED

Trbojevic said in an interview to the Belgrade daily Vecernje novosti's Wednesday editions that the lifting of the sanctions had set the preconditions for Yugoslavia's reincorporation into the world economic community and normalization of relations with international financial organizations.

The talks currently conducted by Government negotiating teams focused on reorganization of external debts to official creditors and commercial banks, bearing in mind Yugoslavia's ability for foreign debt servicing. The amount of debt service, said Trbojevic, should range from 15%-20% of Yugoslavia's total currency inflow. Other solutions would be unacceptable to Yugoslavia or the creditors, he said.

Trbojevic said he hoped the IMF management would soon regulate Yugoslavia's status, as it was interested in renewing cooperation with Yugoslavia, an 'original member' of the Organization, as soon as possible.

Yugoslavia met all the demands set by the Board of Executive Directors in 1992, said Trbojevic, and added he expected a session would soon be called to examine the question. Yugoslavia might be apt to receive a loan for structural readjustment, considering its annual income of 1,510 dollars per capita, said Trbojevic. The term for repayment is 17 years, beginning four years after the loan is given, with a variable interest rate that alters twice a year and a commitment fee of 0.25% a year.

[07] PLAVSIC DESCRIBES DECISION TO PUT OFF LOCAL ELECTIONS AS WISE

She said that she had expected the decision and that it was reached by a man who had a conscientious approach to his work. According to Plavsic, an 'analysis of developments on the ground and people's mood' clearly showed that Local elections would be premature at this moment because the situation in the Republika Srpska was currently completely different from the one in September, especially in border regions. Mentioning Frowick's statement that minimum democracy was reached for the September 14. elections, Plavsic said that this 'certainly could not be ensured for the Local elections now.'

[08] PLAVSIC MEETS WITH U.S. OFFICIAL

Plavsic did not make a statement after the talks and Kornblum told reporters that he was satisfied with the Tuesday agreement with the three-member Presidency of Bosnia-Herzegovina and scheduling of the Republika Srpska Parliament's Session for early next week.

Kornblum said that the Republika Srpska should adhere to the Arms Control Agreement and extend the mandate of the OSCE for the Local elections, which the Muslim-Croat Federation had already done.

Kornblum said that the United States would remain engaged in ensuring the implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement, which benefited all Bosnian sides equally.

[09] PLAVSIC MEETS WITH RUSSIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER

After a meeting with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Nikolai Afanasyevski, Plavsic said that the talks focused on how to resolve difficult problems in a peaceful way.

Afanasyevski said that this was his first official visit after the September elections and that he was satisfied to have an opportunity to meet with 'Bosnia-Herzegovina representatives Momcilo Krajisnik, Kresimir Zubak and Alija Izetbegovic' on Tuesday.

Afanasyevski said that in its latest activities the Republika Srpska had shown that it favoured a peaceful resolution of some issues and that new possibilities in the relations between the Republika Srpska and the Muslim-Croat Federation were being discovered. Afanasyevski said that Russia had traditional interests in 'this Region' and stressed the interest in strengthening and promoting traditional historic links.

[10] BILDT SEES POSTPONEMENT OF LOCAL ELECTIONS IN BOSNIA AS A GOOD MOVE

On Wednesday morning in Brussels, Bildt acquainted NATO Secretary General Javier Solana and NATO Councillors with the latest developments and Peace Process in the BIH.

Bildt at the same time commended the presence of Momcilo Krajisnik in the three-man Presidency of the BIH at the meeting of this body held in Sarajevo on Tuesday. His presence, said Bildt, was a good sign which showed that the institutions of the common state were beginning to operate on their difficult and slow road towards the ultimate peace in these areas.

Solana and Bildt agreed that very close cooperation was continuing between the military and civilian sectors assigned with the implementation of the Dayton Peace Accord. Bildt pointed out the great assistance extended by members of the International Force (IFOR) to the efforts to reconstruct the BIH.

Solana told the Council that NATO military planners were working hard on a proposal to continue the IFOR mission in the BIH. Their proposal should be made public in the second week of November at the latest. The most likely option in this proposal provides for a much reduced number of IFOR members, who, however, would retain their operational capability to avert any attempted renewal of hostilities in the BIH.

[11] KORNBLUM: MEETING OF BOSNIA PRESIDENCY MARKS A NEW BEGINNING

Kornblum was one of the initiators of the meeting of Moslem Alija Izetbegovic, Serb Momcilo Krajisnik and Croat Kresimir Zubak.

High Representative for Bosnia Carl Bildt said the meeting marked headway because the members of the Presidency had pledged to set up Bosnia's Government by October 30.

International officials welcomed the beginning of the Presidency's activity towards creating a Bosnia-Herzegovina based on the principles of the Dayton Peace Accords. They said conditions would be thus created for the functioning of common institutions based on the principle of equality of the Moslem-Croat Federation and the Bosnian Serb Republika Srpska and Bosnia's three Constituent Peoples, as well as on tolerance, the respect of all obligations assumed under the Dayton Accords and cooperation in this sense.

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