Yugoslav Daily Survey, 97-04-01

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

Yugoslav Daily Survey

CONTENTS

[01] MOLDAVIAN FOREIGN MINISTER TO VISIT YUGOSLAVIA

[02] U.N. HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION TO DISCUSS TWO YUGOSLAV DOCUMENTS

[03] YUGOSLAV PRIME MINISTER MEETS WITH HUMANITARIAN ASSEMBLY PARTICIPANTS

[04] MINISTER MILENTIJEVIC: SECOND VERSION OF MEDIA LAW THIS WEEK

[05] REHN: HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATED EXTENSIVELY IN MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION

[06] INFLATION IN MARCH ONE PERCENT

[07] KONTIC RECEIVES CYPRIOT AMBASSADOR

[01] MOLDAVIAN FOREIGN MINISTER TO VISIT YUGOSLAVIA

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-04-01 ; Tanjug, 1997-03-31

[02] U.N. HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION TO DISCUSS TWO YUGOSLAV DOCUMENTS

The two Yugoslav documents are argumented denials of the Novak Report, as they enable an absolutely unbiased evaluation of problems in the search for missing persons on the territory of the former Yugoslav Federation.

The Memorandum lists Yugoslavia's activities in the resolution of the issue of missing persons and also of pows and other prisoners since the outbreak of the military conflict first in Slovenia and then Croatia, meaning since the then arrests of members of the then Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) in the two republics.

The problems have been resolved with Slovenia, while the situation is different as far as Croatia is concerned. The Yugoslav Commission for humanitarian issues and missing persons and the Croatian Commission for pows and missing persons signed on April 17 last year a Protocol on cooperation, which gave rise to hope that problems would be resolved.

The Memorandum reiterates the obligation assumed by Yugoslavia and Croatia under the Agreement on the normalization of the mutual relations, signed in August last year, to resolve without postponement and in full the issue of missing persons.

the memorandum states that yugoslavia has fulfilled all itsobligations stemming from the agreement and the protocol.

it specifies that yugoslavia released all croatian pows by aug. 14, 1992, and that it released on jan. 12, 1994 all members ofthe subversive- terrorist group 'somborska grupa' who were captured onyugoslav territory.

The Memorandum sets out that there has been no single person with the prisoner-of-war status in Yugoslavia since then.

Croatia has not taken great pains, at least not so far, to meet its obligations, and still holds prisoner Krajina inhabitants and members of the former JNA. It is known for certain that Croatia also holds a number of persons who are neither listed as missing nor are on any lists of the International Committee of the Red Cross.

It is hard to precisely say how many Yugoslav and Krajina inhabitants are still held prisoner in Croatia, but there is a list of 55 names, including five pilots of the former JNA.

The list of obligations Croatia has not met is very long. There is, for instance, the issue of persons listed back in 1991 as missingin the areas of Gospic, Zagreb, Bjelovar, Osijek, Vinkovci, Karlovac and other towns.

The Yugoslav Memorandum stresses that the issue of missing persons has to be resolved also with the Muslim side in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Yugoslavia insists that the fate of a number of former JNA officers and soldiers be established, but the Muslim side has turned down all offers for cooperation in this domain.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-04-01 ; Tanjug, 1997-03-31

[03] YUGOSLAV PRIME MINISTER MEETS WITH HUMANITARIAN ASSEMBLY PARTICIPANTS

Pointing out that the problem of refugees who have found haven in Yugoslavia is just as big and complex as it was last year, Kontic said this year's Assembly was aimed at paying tribute to the donours for their humanitarian activities so far.

'We must agree how to continue this work on a long-term basis, but also to step up the affirmation of Yugoslavia through Yugoslavs abroad, a method we have not used sufficiently so far,' he said.

Speaking about taking care of about 700,000 refugees in Yugoslavia, Kontic pointed out that investigations showed the great wish of refugees to return home, but also their insistence that they be secured safe return and the right to their property and other civil rights.

'The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia will help them in the realization of these rights, as proclaimed by the international community, but, unfortunately, statements by certain leaders in Croatia and Bosnia- Herzegovina are not in favour of such a solution,' Kontic said. Moreover, he said, very many western countries are avoiding to take in refugees. That is why most refugees will choose integration as a lasting solution, which places great efforts and serious tasks before Yugoslavia.

'Yugoslavia is currently unable to secure efficient integration, so that we shall have to address the international community in the next long-term period to help us create conditions for the integration of refugees in these lands,' Kontic said.

He announced the Federal Government would soon prepare a plan and programme to enable institutionalized cooperation with Yugoslavs abroad. The primary task of this cooperation will be to direct aid from Yugoslav and foreign donours into reconstruction and construction by giving favourable conditions for investments and enabling greater profits, Kontic said. Such cooperation, established on a new basis, will be aimed at preserving and strengthening ethnic, cultural, and other ties between our citizens and immigrants with the mother country, but also securing their greater protection as Yugoslav citizens in countries where they live and work.

The 4th Assembly has rallied about 250 representatives of clubs and associations of Yugoslav citizens in 15 European countries, the United States, Canada, and Australia.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-04-01 ; Tanjug, 1997-03-31

[04] MINISTER MILENTIJEVIC: SECOND VERSION OF MEDIA LAW THIS WEEK

Milentijevic spoke about her recent visit to the United States where she said she informed her hosts that everything in the draft law is lible to change except its first part which refers to the Serbian Constitution. 'We cannot change the Serbian Constitution which is excellent and guarrantees the freedom of speech and information,' she said.

Milentijevic said she had met with the representatives of influential U.S. Government agencies, such as USN, the National Democratic Institute, the U.S. Congress' Committee for the OSCE, and with the editors of major news agencies, including the AP, and explained to them the problems linked to the status of BK Telcom and Radio Bum 93 from the town of Pozarevac, about which there had been much speculation in the United States. Milentijevic said she had told them there was no truth in reports that BK Television had been banned and that the Serbian Governmentwas involved in this.

'I told them that the Serbian Government had approved to Karic's Television two licences - one which covers Belgrade and its vicinity, and the other Novi Sad and its vicinity. The problems arose between BK and Radio- Television Serbia (RTS) and the representatives of these two companies should resolve this among themselves,' Milentijevic said. She said that Karic's Television should continue working, but not in violation of agreements with RTS.

In the U.S. they also have incorrect information about Radio Bum 93 of Pozarevac. They believe that this Radio had its licence taken away and that it was shut down. However, this Station never had a licence and it operated illegally 5,5 years, Milentijevic said.

According to Information Ministry data, Serbia now has 186 unregistered radio stations which broadcast programs not controlled by the Government. Also illegally operating are 72 television stations in Serbia. 'In Serbia, there is a jungle in the media sphere. People are braodcasting whatever they like. The frequencies are overloaded so that it happens that, for example, planes cannot land at Belgrade Airport because they lose radio- contact with the control tower since some pirate radio stations tune in to that fraquency,' Milentijevic warned.

She recalled that the Ministries for Information and for Transport and Communications, as well as the corresponding federal organs, would soon open a public tender for frequencies. We now know what we have at our disposal in Serbia and, based on the law, we will set the standards which will be obligatory for all, Milentijevic said.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-04-01 ; Tanjug, 1997-03-31

[05] REHN: HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATED EXTENSIVELY IN MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION

In an interview to Monday's issue of Sarajevo daily Oslobodjenje, Rehn said that continuing are murders, physical abuse, harrassment, curtailing of the freedom of movement and eviction of people from their homes.

Rehn said that the media in the Federation is greatly influenced by the ruling circles, that it is difficult to obtain information from the other entity, and that this is why there is insufficient objective reporting.

Asked what she will say in the United Nations after returning from Bosnia- Herzegovina, Rehn said that she is concerned that the world is slowly becoming tired of Bosnia-Herzegovina, especially since new focuses of crises are opening up in its neighbourhood, like in Albania.' 'The world believes that the signing of the Dayton Agreement resolved everything and my role is to constantly remind it that the tragedy continues in Bosnia- Herzegovina,' Rehn said.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-04-01 ; Tanjug, 1997-03-31

[06] INFLATION IN MARCH ONE PERCENT

Speaking at a press conference, Assistant Director of Central Statistics Mirjana Rankovic specified that the increase of retail prices, which determine inflation, was 0.9 percent in Serbia and 3.6 in Montenegro. She said prices of industrial products, beverages, tobacco, and services were stabilized in March. Their growth did not exceed one percent, while retail prices of agricultural products increased 7.9 percent because of the seasonal specificities.

Prices of industrial food products increased 0.8 percent on the average, which shows they were mostly stable or dropped. The average growth of service prices in March was 0.9 percent.

Rankovic said the three-month changes in prices this year were very stable, since retail prices increased a total of three percent. Such a low rate of inflation in the first quarter of the year has not been registered in the past few years, Rankovic said, and added that this meant the annual inflation rate would be slightly under 15 percent.

The three-month increase in retail prices in Serbia was 2.9 percent, and 6.5 percent in Montenegro.

The three-month increase in living costs in Yugoslavia was 3.7 percent -- 3.5 percent in Serbia and 6.8 percent in Montenegro.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-04-01 ; Tanjug, 1997-03-31

[07] KONTIC RECEIVES CYPRIOT AMBASSADOR

Yugoslav-Cypriot relations have always been on an enviable level and there are real possibilities and interest for their promotion. In that sense, it is necessary as soon as possible to update international agreements, especially those pertaining to economic cooperation, stimulation of investments, avoidance of double taxation, and contracts on cooperation in the areas of tourism and traffic, especially maritime traffic, it was heard.

The two sides agreed that such cooperation could be realized provided Yugoslavia returned to international political and financial institutions. Cyprus will, as ever, urge Yugoslavia's reintegrationin to the international community, Scarparis said.

Kontic conveyed Yugoslavia's unreserved support to the preservation of the teritorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus and a peaceful and just solution to the Cyprus crisis.

Kontic accepted with pleasure to visit Cyprus this year. He also extended an invitation to top Cypriot officials to visit Yugoslavia, said the statement in closing.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-04-01 ; Tanjug, 1997-03-31

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