Yugoslav Daily Survey, 97-02-20

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

Yugoslav Daily Survey

CONTENTS

[01] MILOSEVIC RECEIVES GRANIC

[02] YUGOSLAVIA SUCCESSFULLY MEETS ALL ARMS REDUCTION OBLIGATIONS

[03] YUGOSLAV DEPUTY-PREMIER RECEIVES HIS MACEDONIAN COUNTERPART

[04] SIGNIFICANT POLITICAL IMPETUS TO YUGOSLAV-CROATIAN COOPERATION

[01] MILOSEVIC RECEIVES GRANIC

During the talks, both sides expressed interest in the promotion of Yugoslav-Croatian relations and the development of cooperation between the two countries, a statement said.

They agreed there was progress in bilateral relations, in spite of obstacles and limiting factors, primarily in the realization of dialogue which creates conditions for resolving open issues, reaching agreement, and the speedier establishment of ties in areas of common interest.

In this respect, it is necessary to step up activities on the implementation of the Agreement on a normalization of relations, it was agreed.

The sides stressed the importance of the due implementation of the Erdut Agreement, which should secure the lasting normalization of the situation in the Srem-Baranja region, in particular conditions for the free and equal life of all citizens in these lands and for the restoration of mutual confidence.

The successful development of Yugoslav-Croatian relations and the resolving of outstanding issues in the spirit of the mutually expressed readiness to develop good-neighbour relations, on the basis of equality and mutual respect, are in the best interest not only of Yugoslavia, Croatia, and the citizens of the two countries, but also in the interest of cementing peace and stabilizing the political situation in the region.

Federal Foreign Minister Milan Milutinovic also took part in the talks.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-02-20 ; Tanjug, 1997-02-19

[02] YUGOSLAVIA SUCCESSFULLY MEETS ALL ARMS REDUCTION OBLIGATIONS

In talks with Gen. Kadijevic, who heads the Yugoslav Government Commission for the implementation of this Agreement, and Yugoslav Army General Staff representatives, Gen. Bonabella said the OSCE believed Yugoslavia exceptionally successfully carried out all its obligations from the plans for inspection and reduction of excess arms envisaged under the first phase of the Florence Agreement.

Gen. Kadijevic informed OSCE officials that the second phase of arms cuts was proceeding in continuity and that Yugoslavia would meet all its obligations stemming from the Agreement on time, by the end of October this year.

During the visit to Yugoslavia, Gen. Bonabella also visited certain Yugoslav Army premises and saw that all tasks planned by the Agreement were being realized with expert skill and responsibility, the statement said.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-02-20 ; Tanjug, 1997-02-19

[03] YUGOSLAV DEPUTY-PREMIER RECEIVES HIS MACEDONIAN COUNTERPART

Both sides summed up the results of talks, held in Belgrade on Wednesday, between Yugoslav and Macedonian experts in the field of industry, commerce, transport, ferrous metallurgy and agriculture.

Zuta and Sainovic said that Macedonian and Yugoslav experts agreed upon the majority of issues important for the further promotion of economic cooperation. This will improve the trade between the two countries, they said. Sainovic and Zuta set out that economic relations between the two countries on the basis of a free trade zone could serve as an example for cooperation with the other states of the former Yugoslavia, and in the Balkans.

Both sides pointed out that Yugoslavia and Macedonia shared wider strategic interests - for regional cooperation in the Balkans and faster joining European and regional integrations in line with their geographic position and potentials, said the statement.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-02-20 ; Tanjug, 1997-02-19

[04] SIGNIFICANT POLITICAL IMPETUS TO YUGOSLAV-CROATIAN COOPERATION

Our overall relations are on an upward trend, they are good-neighbour relations, and promise great prospects for the future of overall cooperation between the two countries, Milutinovic said after talks with Granic.

Milutinovic said this had been his third meeting with Granic in the past six months, since diplomatic relations were established between Yugoslavia and Croatia.

As many as 18 agreements and accords were discussed today, and they should be ready for signing in the next few weeks, he said.

A series of other meetings were held between department ministers and delegations of the two governments over the past six months, which testifies to the mutual interest to promote dialogue, develop relations and resolve a series of outstanding problems, he said.

In comprehensive and open talks, we separately analyzed the results achieved so far in the realization of the previous agreements, as well as open issues in our relations. We agreed that evident progress had been made in certain important areas of cooperation since our last meeting in Zagreb, Milutinovic said.

Milutinovic said there had been several important meetings of Government representatives of the two countries, when cooperation in many areas of common interest had been agreed or initiated.

Talks have begun in the areas of social, pension, and disability insurance. Interior Ministers met to consider issues of mutual cooperation, in particular, how to facilitate and simplify the regime of border crossings, so as to make it a border of cooperation, confidence, and the closest possible mutual economic linking, open to the freest possible passage of people and goods, he said.

An agreement was practically coordinated during talks on railway traffic, and we agreed today that there were no obstacles to prevent its concluding. I especially wish to point out also the important work of the Joint Commission for Humanitarian Issues and Missing Persons, Milutinovic said.

He said it had been agreed in today's talks that in spite of evident results, there was stagnation in certain segments of relations and cooperation.

Here, we primarily have in mind the return of refugee and expelled Serbs, the protection of their property, as well as the property of Yugoslav citizens in the territory of Croatia. The Agreement on a normalization of relations precisely and unequivocally obliges both sides to resolve these issues quickly and responsibly, he said.

Granic noted that some progress had been achieved in discussing the return of refugees. As you can see, we have tackled many issues and progress has been achieved on nearly all of them, he underlined. Granic finally said that a return visit of Yugoslav Foreign Minister Milutinovic was scheduled in two months' time, and that the Croatian Embassy in Belgrade would be opened on the occasion of his next official visit.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-02-20 ; Tanjug, 1997-02-19

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