Yugoslav Daily Survey, 97-04-07

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

Yugoslav Daily Survey

CONTENTS

[01] MONTENEGRIN PREMIER WANTS FURTHER CONSULTATIONS ON CABINET RESHUFFLE

[02] BOSNIAN SERB OFFICIAL RECEIVES WORLD ENVOY

[03] SERBS - REGIONAL REFERENDUM

[04] LESS THAN ONE SIXTH OF REFUGEES HAVE RIGHT TO VOTE, ACCORDING TO VOTERS' ROLLS

[05] YUGOSLAV AND CROATIAN EXPERT COMMISSIONS END LATEST ROUND OF TALKS

[06] COORDINATION OF DOCUMENTS ON CIVILIAN ISSUES

[07] SECOND WORKING DRAFT OF MEDIA LAW

[08] YUGOSLAV ASSISTANT MINISTER VISITS JORDAN

[09] YUGOSLAV AND ISRAELI OFFICIALS DISCUSS ECONOMIC COOPERATION

[10] YUGOSLAV MINISTER RECEIVES POLISH UNDERSECRETARY

[11] SPANISH AMBASSADOR VISITS KOSOVO

[12] U.S. SUPPORTS TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY OF SERBIA

[13] LOCAL OFFICIAL CALLS FOR SPECIAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR KOSMET

[14] YUGOSLAVIA AND CROATIA COORDINATE TEXT OF THE CONSULAR CONVENTION

[01] MONTENEGRIN PREMIER WANTS FURTHER CONSULTATIONS ON CABINET RESHUFFLE

At its March 24 session, the DPS Main Board had requested Premier Milo Djukanovic to replace Vice Premier Slavko Drljevic, Culture Minister Goran Rakocevic and official in the Interior Ministry Vukasin Maras.

A reliable source quoted Djukanovic as saying in a letter sent to the DPS Executive Board on Friday that he could not reach a definitive decision on the request without some additional consultations.

The DPS Executive Board was informed that Niksic Iron Mills workers had invited the Party's leaders Momir Bulatovic, Milica Pejanovic-Djurisic, Svetozar Marovic and Premier Djukanovic to come to Niksic and explain the reasons for the Party-Government dispute.

Similar meetings with Party activists are to be held in Montenegro's capital Podgorica and in Bijelo Polje in the course of the coming week.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-04-07 ; Tanjug, 1997-04-04

[02] BOSNIAN SERB OFFICIAL RECEIVES WORLD ENVOY

Presidency Member Momcilo Krajisnik and Deputy High Representative Boris Khabirov discussed the February 28 agreement which established special parallel relations between the Republika Srpska and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

A statement from Krajisnik's Cabinet quoted Krajisnik as saying that the agreement was a contribution to the consolidation of peace in the region.

The Muslim-Croat Federation, too, should be given the chance to establish economic ties with Yugoslavia, and similar ties should be established also with Croatia, on the principles of equality and mutual interest, it was noted, according to the statement.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-04-07 ; Tanjug, 1997-04-04

[03] SERBS - REGIONAL REFERENDUM

They are voting to show if they want the region to remain an undivided territory after its reintegration into Croatia.

The Regional Press Centre based in the region's biggest city of Vukovar said that the highest turn-out was in Mirkovci, where 90% of the electorate had voted by 5 p.m.

The referendum has been called under a decision of the Regional Parliament, despite the fact that the demand for territorial integrity has not met with understanding either from the Croatian regime or from the international community.

The polling stations close at 7 p.m.

In another development, the U.N. Transitional Administration (UNTAES) said in Vukovar on Sunday that the region's International Administrator Jacques Klein had extended the deadline for completing voters' registers in the region until Tuesday, April 8. The original deadline expired at midnight on Saturday.

Klein explained his decision by a need to give potential voters the chance to be registered and so exercise the right to vote in democratic elections called for April 13.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-04-07 ; Tanjug, 1997-04-06

[04] LESS THAN ONE SIXTH OF REFUGEES HAVE RIGHT TO VOTE, ACCORDING TO VOTERS' ROLLS

Assessing the data as gloomy, Stanimirovic who heads all lists of candidates of the Independent Democratic Serb Party (SDSS) said that 'it was the consequence of delayed issuing of Croatian papers and that the Croatian Bureau for issuing documents in the first two months of work did not possess the necessary registration lists used as the basis for voters' rolls.

'It was precisely during those first two months that the majority of our people were expelled from other parts of Croatia, and who under the Erdut Accord have the right to vote here, applied for Croatian papers. It is now difficult to convince them to try again to be registered in voters rolls, but we call on them to register anyway, as every vote is precious for the final outcome of the elections,' Stanimirovic said.

Among the problems which could seriously affect the outcome of the elections, Stanimirovic pointed to the fact that 'out of approximately 71, 000 eligible voters among Serbs who have always lived in the region, more than 17,000 have still not obtained Croatian papers.'

We can divide those people, said Stanimirovic, into two groups. The first group is waiting for the last day and contemplating whether to apply for the papers or not and the second group, in the meantime, had acquired Yugoslav citizenship. According to our assessments in this second group are some 10,000 people and we call on them to take Croatian papers, register themselves and cast their ballots at the polls, said Stanimirovic.

As in the mean time, said Stanimirovic, 'Klein had pressed Croatia to issue documents to all those who according to the 1991 census lived in the region, ' citizenship papers are waiting for these people and they can pick them up in Croatian bureaus in Vukovar, Beli Manastir, Ilok and other places along with identification cards and other papers.

Stanimirovic illustrated the need to do this by the unified position about the indispensability to stay in the region and cast their vote at the polls, which is supported by all international factors, from the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to the Serbian Orthodox Church and Republika Srpska.

The deadline for completing voters rolls expires Saturday at midnight, but Stanimirovic expressed his hope that 'in view of the interest demonstrated by a great number of people who come to the office to register themselves for the polls, it will be extended for a few days.'

Stanimirovic cautioned that Croats had completed their voters rolls listing exactly 68,310 names, which according to Croatian records is equal to the number of refugees from the region.

This is unprecedented, as that would mean that those who left the region were only eligible voters. On Croatian lists are also people who did not live in the region before 1991, there are also those who had died before or since and some names are repeated on several voters rolls, and we have brought this to the attention of the UNTAES Committee in charge of elections, Stanimirovic added.

Our victory would have been certain if our suggestion to take Croatian papers had been accepted on time, but now everything is under a question mark.

In a number of Serb localities and municipalities victory is certain. But a victory in Vukovar would be very important, and the tightest electoral battle is expected to take place in that city. If all eligible voters had taken their papers on time and registered themselves in voters rolls, there would be no dilemma, if we take into account the number of Serbs who have always lived in Vukovar and the number of refugees living in it and its surroundings, and who have the right to vote, Stanimirovic said.

The outcome of elections and their regularity, Stanimirovic said, will depend in a great measure on international observers monitoring the elections.

Croats who fled from the region will vote in as many as 70 voting stations in Croatian towns, their present place of residence, he observed.

'The best possible solution would be if we were able to send our people to all those voting stations in Croatia, but unfortunately that is not possible. All we can do is hope that international observers will be impartial and prevent all attempts to rig voters' rolls, the number of voters and other circumstances affecting the final outcome,' Stanimirovic specified.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-04-07 ; Tanjug, 1997-04-04

[05] YUGOSLAV AND CROATIAN EXPERT COMMISSIONS END LATEST ROUND OF TALKS

The two Commissions decided that it was indispensable to define the border crossings between the two States and to adjust views on expert and organizational details as soon as possible.

In the two-day talks, views were adjusted on the basic principles for the resolution of major border-traffic issues.

The Expert Commissions of the two countries once again presented differing stands on the issues of dual citizenship and visas. The Croatian side insists that the issue of dual citizenship be resolved through Yugoslav legislation.

The two sides agreed that the regulation of dual citizenship was very important for the further normalization of their Inter-State relations, and set out that a speedy solution to the issue would also be conducive to a continued peaceful reintegration of Easter Slavonia, Baranja and Western Srem into Croatia.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-04-07 ; Tanjug, 1997-04-05

[06] COORDINATION OF DOCUMENTS ON CIVILIAN ISSUES

The Yugoslav delegation was headed by the Assistant Minister of Justice Nikola Banovic and the Croatian by his counterpart Lidija Lukina- Karajkovic.

The two delegations examined the draft documents submitted by both sides and coordinated stances on a major part of the texts. They agreed to hold another round to finalize the documents which are expected to be signed shortly.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-04-07 ; Tanjug, 1997-04-04

[07] SECOND WORKING DRAFT OF MEDIA LAW

Milentijevic told a press conference for foreign and domestic journalists in the Serbian Government building that the new draft contains all the uncontested solutions from the first version coupled with efforts for their more precise definition.

Milentijevic said that this draft is the result of the work of the Information Ministry and the Government, and Panel discussions in the Serbian Assembly with the widespread participation of journalists, associations of professionals and citizens whose comments and suggestions resulted in the text being published only a month after the first version.

The public debate on the first working draft which, according to Milentijevic, involved entire Serbia, has shown that 'we aim for a Law composed according to top European standards, but which would also reflect our daily demands.'

She said that the debate confirmed that almost all European countries have laws which prevent a monopoly in the sphere of public information and that this is why the second working draft Media Law contains the provision on monopoly curbing. According to the new version, this will be resolved in keeping with the Constitution, most probably through a separate Law.

From the first draft was erased the provision that an individual or organization can not own more than 20, i.e. 15 percent, of all dailies published in the territory of the Republic, nor broadcast radio and television programs which cover more than 25 percent of the entire population of Serbia.

Milentijevic stated that also was dropped the stand that the media is obliged to note foreign aid it is receiving on each published copy or within the credits broadcast before or after every program. Instead, was offered a solution which secures that the information about the sources of media financing is available to the public through reports published at least once a year by the Information Ministry.

Milentijevic underscored that the second draft was also based on criticism and proposals stemming from the public debate so that it contains solutions on the obligation of State organs to secure the availability of information from their sphere of competence, provisions which prevent two media registering under the same name, and defines more precisely responsibility in public information.

The second working version fully regulates the publication of statements, responses and corrections, and regulates the prevention of the distribution of the press as well as the spreading of information in the media. These two new provisions were 'necessary to secure the entirety of the Law in keeping with the Serbian Constitution,' Milentijevic said.

Commenting the part which states that the source of an information and its author are responsible for its truthfulness, Milentijevic said that 'a journalist is entitled to preserve the anonymity of his source, but is responsible that his report is based on facts.' She pointed our that 'all sources are responsible for their own statements, and it is the duty of the journalist to report about this truthfully, or be guilty of not publishing this.'

Milentijevic said that the second working draft would also be subject to public debate and expressed belief that the Media Law would secure an atmosphere for the further democratization and strengthening of journalism as a profession and of all organs of power.

Milentijevic said that a tender for frequencies would be opened by the end of next week.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-04-07 ; Tanjug, 1997-04-04

[08] YUGOSLAV ASSISTANT MINISTER VISITS JORDAN

There is great potential for promoting economic cooperation between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Jordan, it was noted in the course of the talks. The two sides agreed to begin work immediately on intensifying all future contacts with a view to implementing the concrete business arrangements made during the visit.

The Jordanian media have given great publicity to the visit, with Jordanian television carrying in prime-time news programmes extensive reports about the Sunday talks at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The Jordanian daily newspapers quoted Potezica as saying he expected Yugoslav-Jordanian economic cooperation soon to reach the level it had stood at before the United Nations clamped sanctions on the FRY in May 1992.

Velickovic ends his two-day visit to Jordan on Monday.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-04-07 ; Tanjug, 1997-04-06

[09] YUGOSLAV AND ISRAELI OFFICIALS DISCUSS ECONOMIC COOPERATION

Milojevic said that Yugoslav businessmen were interested in lasting cooperation with Israeli partners and added that agriculture, construction engineering and the aircraft industry were the most appropriate spheres.

Milojevic said that Yugoslav businessmen were interested in Israeli high technology for the production of food which could be applied in Yugoslavia. He said that two countries should extend cooperation and engage in joint activities in Yugoslavia, Israel or on third markets.

Sasson noted that the Serbian and Israeli people had always been friendly. He expressed a wish for Yugoslavia to regain its economic positions from 1990 and to become economically independent.

The geopolitical, social and cultural similarities between Yugoslavia and Israel could contribute to successful business cooperation, Sasson said. He said that cooperation could be most successful in agriculture and health service and that Inter*State accords on cooperation in these fields already exist. He added that similar accords could promote cooperation in other fields.

Exports and imports in the world would soon be replaced by joint investments and other forms of joint ventures, said Sasson.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-04-07 ; Tanjug, 1997-04-04

[10] YUGOSLAV MINISTER RECEIVES POLISH UNDERSECRETARY

Chaladaj and Filip Turcinovic, the Yugoslav Deputy Trade Minister, signed an Accord on economic cooperation and trade, a Yugoslav Government statement said.

Vukovic and Chaladaj agreed that the Accord would encourage overall economic cooperation and preparations for the establishment of free trade between the two States. Yugoslav and Polish experts are expected to work on this issue in August.

The two sides agreed to make a list of goods and engagements which would be encompassed by Polish credits through direct business relations. An exhibition of Yugoslav economy in Warsaw was also announced at the meeting.

Chaladaj said that Poland would support Yugoslavia's efforts to reintegrate in international business organizations, said the statement.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-04-07 ; Tanjug, 1997-04-04

[11] SPANISH AMBASSADOR VISITS KOSOVO

The relations between Spain and Yugoslavia have developed to an enviable degree, they noted.

The international community stance, supported by Spain, that Kosovo and Metohija is an inalienable part of Serbia and Yugoslavia and that State borders will not be redrawn in the region was reiterated during the meeting, the statement says.

Ethnic Albanian minority in the Province must take this stance into account and give up the idea of a so-called 'Republic of Kosovo'. All issues must be resolved through talks and dialogue within the framework of constitutional autonomy, it was noted during the meeting.

Asked by Ambassador Perez what they thought about the forthcoming so-called Serb-Albanian dialogue in New York, the Kosovo officials said that dialogue must be held with ethnic Albanian political parties in Kosovo and Metohija, but only within official institutions as this is Serbia's internal issue that can the resolved only internally.

Perez said that Spanish Government condemned terrorist attacks on police officers, ethnic Albanians loyal to Serbia and public figures and institutions.

The Ambassador was interested to learn about the functioning of republican, provincial and local administration bodies and was told that the Republic of Serbia was the State of all its citizens and that ethnic Albanian minority should exercise its rights on the basis of the Constitution, the Law and other documents adopted by republican, provincial and local bodies, the statement says.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-04-07 ; Tanjug, 1997-04-04

[12] U.S. SUPPORTS TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY OF SERBIA

Burns said the U.S. encouraged ethnic-Albanians in Kosovo and Metohija to participate in Serbia's political system, and in its political and economic life. The State Department Spokesman urged the opening of a dialogue between the Serbian Government and ethnic Albanians on a solution to the issue.

Burns made the statement commenting a Round-Table on Serbian-ethnic Albanian Relations in Kosovo and Metohija to be held in New York on April 7- 9.

The meeting, organized by the private U.S. organization Project for National Relations, will be attended, as announced, by representatives of the Albanian national minority in Kosovo and Metohija and representatives of some belgrade-based political parties.

Leaders of Serbia's 'Zajedno' opposition coalition Vuk Draskovic, Vesna Pesic and Zoran Djindjic arrived in the U.S. as early as Thursday, and visited Washington on Friday, before going to New York for the Round-Table. Burns said the U.S. viewed the Round-Table as a good opportunity for Serbs and ethnic Albanians to discuss the situation in the Province.

He said it was very good that 'Zajedno' representatives would participate in the meeting, and expressed surprise that the Serbian Government had rejected to attend, as he put it.

Governing Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) Spokesman Ivica Dacic said on Thursday that the SPS would not participate in the so-called Round-Table because talks on the exercise of the rights, freedoms and duties enjoyed by the Albanian national minority under the Serbian and Yugoslav constitutions could be held only at home, based on full respect for Yugoslavia's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-04-07 ; Tanjug, 1997-04-06

[13] LOCAL OFFICIAL CALLS FOR SPECIAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR KOSMET

Nesovic said in a interview published in the 'Pristina Magazin' that the development program would help stop the migration of Serbs and Montenegrins from the Province and secure the return of those who had already left.

The Kosovo official refuted the claims that ethnic-Albanian political groupings have set up 'parallel authorities,' saying the 'authorities' were not functioning at all, except in education, and poorly there too.

'I have information that classes sometimes last only 10-15 minutes. Pupils and students are repeatedly told, from the first day in school, that Serbia is not providing education for them because they are ethnic Albanians, that the territory belongs to Albania. This is one of the reasons why it is necessary, as soon as possible, to implement the agreement on education signed by (Serbian) President (Slobodan) Milosevic and mr. (Ibrahim) Rugova (ethnic-Albanian leader),' Kosovo District Chief Nesovic said.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-04-07 ; Tanjug, 1997-04-06

[14] YUGOSLAVIA AND CROATIA COORDINATE TEXT OF THE CONSULAR CONVENTION

The Yugoslav delegation was headed by Assistant Federal Foreign Minister Dragan Sekulovic, and the Croatian by his counterpart, Jaksa Muljacic.

The concluding of the Consular Convention between the two countries will regulate, at bilateral level, the carrying out of the functions of diplomatic consular offices in providing protection and services to Yugoslav citizens and legal subjects in the territory of Croatia and vice versa.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-04-07 ; Tanjug, 1997-04-04

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