Yugoslav Daily Survey, 97-02-21

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

Yugoslav Daily Survey

CONTENTS

[01] OBJECTIVE AND TRUE INFORMATION ABOUT EVENTS IN YUGOSLAVIA

[02] HEADWAY IN YUGOSLAV-CROATIAN RELATIONS

[03] ANGOLAN MINISTER ARRIVES IN YUGOSLAVIA

[01] OBJECTIVE AND TRUE INFORMATION ABOUT EVENTS IN YUGOSLAVIA

Milentijevic said the Serbian Government would spare no effort in offering the world objective and true information about events in Yugoslavia.

On behalf of the Serbian Government and President Slobodan Milosevic, I hope that we will soon be included in the work of the United Nations, one of the founders of which Yugoslavia is, said Milentijevic.

She said all of Serbia's activities were aimed at integration into the western world, the European Union and broader, the international community.

Speaking on the current situation in Serbia, Milentijevic said now that the political crisis instigated by the local elections was over, Serbia was taking big steps toward realizing two of the Government's biggest tasks - economy and democratization.

As far as the economy is concerned, Milentijevic said the process of privatization had begun in Serbia even before the break-up of the former Yugoslavia.

She said the international sanctions had halted natural processes in economic and market trends, which must now be reanimated.

Serbia has an adequate legal framework for the privatization process, said Milentijevic, and added that institutional mechanisms for the realization of that aim would be worked out.

Speaking of political democracy, Milentijevic said freedom in Serbia was guaranteed under the Constitution, and reflected in various forms and through the functioning of democratic institutions.

She recalled that Serbia had a multi-party system and had several multi- party elections so far.

There is freedom of the press in Serbia, said Milentijevic, handing out to journalists the many opposition papers and magazines in illustration of that fact.

She announced the drafting of a new law on information in media, on the model of the most liberal laws in Europe, that would be adapted to local needs.

As far as radio and television are concerned, Milentijevic said Serbia had a state radio and television station, but added that there were private stations as well.

There are as many as 100 radio and over 20 television stations through out Serbia that have not been registered, yet broadcast programs, said Milentijevic.

Asked about current movements in Europe and the position of Serbia and Yugoslavia, Milentijevic said that the Balkan countries would most likely set up a kind of economic community and thus move toward integration into western Europe.

Asked about the situation in Serbia's province of Kosovo and Metohija, Milentijevic said it was much more peaceful in Kosovo than a few years ago, when the former Yugoslavia was breaking apart.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-02-21 ; Tanjug, 1997-02-20

[02] HEADWAY IN YUGOSLAV-CROATIAN RELATIONS

The press said both sides had agreed that headway had been made in a series of issues concerning the two countries' future relations.

Croatian media quoted Milutinovic as saying the Belgrade talks had helped accelerate Yugoslav-Croatian relations that were the backbone of relations in the Balkans.

The Zagreb daily Vjesnik quoted Granic as saying the talks with Milosevic and Milutinovic were a step ahead in the two countries' relations.

Granic also said it had been agreed in the talks that the process of peaceful reintegration of Eastern Slavonija, Baranja and Western Srem was proceeding well, with Serbs being fully guaranteed survival, dignified life and all human and minority rights.

The Zagreb press said a large number of expert groups and ministry officials were to meet now to draft bilateral agreements on road, railway and air transport, border trade, the visa regime, cooperation between the Interior Ministries, the consular convention and other issues.

The majority of agreements to this effect are expected to be signed during Milutinovic's visit to Zagreb that is to take place in about two months' time.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-02-21 ; Tanjug, 1997-02-20

[03] ANGOLAN MINISTER ARRIVES IN YUGOSLAVIA

Da Silva Isata heads a delegation which will have talks on the promotion of bilateral relations and cooperation with Yugoslav officials.

The Angolan delegation met with Deputy Foreign Minister Radoslav Bulajic to discuss possibilities for the further promotion of bilateral relations and cooperation, said a statement released by the Yugoslav Foreign Ministry.

Both sides focused on the strengthening of peace and prospects of development in former Yugoslavia and Angola since these were absolute priorities of both countries, said the statement.

Angola has been one of the most important Yugoslav business partners in Africa. The two countries have mostly cooperated in the field of construction of roads and other infrastructure and in the field of petrochemistry.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-02-21 ; Tanjug, 1997-02-20

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