Yugoslav Daily Survey, 97-05-15

Yugoslav Daily Survey Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

Yugoslav Daily Survey

CONTENTS

[01] YUGOSLAV BUSINESS DELEGATION VISITS ANGOLA

[02] REPUBLIKA SRPSKA * ECONOMIC PRIORITIES

[03] REGISTRATION OF REFUGEES SATISFACTORY

[04] BULATOVIC SAYS SOCIALISTS 'CONSTRUCTIVE COMPROMISE' VERY SIGNIFICANT

[05] YUGOSLAV FOREIGN MINISTER SEES TALKS WITH BELGIAN COLLEAGUE AS USEFUL

[06] YUGOSLAV FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS DERYCKE

[01] YUGOSLAV BUSINESS DELEGATION VISITS ANGOLA

Tanjug, 1997-04-14

A Yugoslav State and Business delegation headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Radoslav Bulajic left on Wednesday for a three-day official visit to Angola.

The visit is expected to boost bilateral ties, provide continuation for political dialogue and elaborate accords on concrete forms of long-term economic ties and the appearance of Yugoslav firms on the market in Angola.

[02] REPUBLIKA SRPSKA * ECONOMIC PRIORITIES

Tanjug, 1997-05-14

The chief task of the Republika Srpska economy is its opening to Yugoslavia in keeping with the Agreement on special parallel relations, Republika Srpska's representative in the Bosnia-Herzegovina Presidency Momcilo Krajisnik said at a meeting with Banja Luka businessmen on Tuesday evening.

Krajisnik stressed the need for the Republika Srpska economy to open also to the Muslim-Croat Federation and to turn to the Western markets via Croatia.

He said Republika Srpska and Yugoslavia might bring in line their customs regulations as early as next week.

Within a discussion on the economic situation in Republika Srpska, Krajisnik was informed about the capacity at which production facilities operated and the implementation of the economic, customs and monetary policies.

He said that Republika Srpska's priority was economic development, and that the Government must create the necessary favourable conditions by introducing economic regulations which will enable the freedom and creativity of economic subjects.

[03] REGISTRATION OF REFUGEES SATISFACTORY

Tanjug, 1997-05-14

The registration of refugees in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) for local elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina on September 13-14 is satisfactory, it was assessed on Wednesday by a Federal Commission for assisting refugees in realizing their rights at the elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The session, presided over by Commission President Buba Morina, reviewed organizational and material issues of assisting refugees at the local elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in accordance with Yugoslavia's commitments under the Dayton Agreement.

The Commission assessed that the new rules of the international community for the participation of refugees at the local elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina were much more restrictive than last year.

It was said that in the extensive preparations made by the FRY as the country host to help refugees realize their voting right, a high level of cooperation has been achieved with OSCE representatives. A memorandum of understanding has been signed specifying the commitments of both sides.

The registration of potential voters in the FRY is conducted by 35 teams, with one international supervisor in every team.

The Federal Commission is inviting all persons to register, and those who are unable to come personally to registration points - teams will go to them especially hospitals and rehabilitation centers.

It was assessed that the media has contributed significantly in informing eligible voters about possibilities and technical details of registration.

[04] BULATOVIC SAYS SOCIALISTS 'CONSTRUCTIVE COMPROMISE' VERY SIGNIFICANT

Tanjug, 1997-05-14

Montenegro President Momir Bulatovic expressed satisfaction Tuesday evening with what he described as a 'constructive compromise' reached at a session of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) Main Committee earlier in the day.

President Bulatovic said the compromise was important not only for the overcoming of the current disputes and differences but also for the defining of the future policy and relations not only in Montenegro but also in Yugoslavia as a whole.

'We must now discuss the differences in the DPS leadership in a calmer atmosphere. Differences are part of politics... the meaning of freedom and democracy is that differences exist. The essence of democracy is to find a mechanism for differences to be overcome,' Bulatovic, who is also President of DPS, said on the Montenegro TV program 'Open TV Screen.'

He urged that words should not be wasted discussing 'in generalized terms the existing differences in Montenegro, which we are sure to have also in the future.'

'I think that it is necessary precisely to establish what the differences are in relation to concrete issues in a democratic and tolerant atmosphere, be it within a political party or our State, and to find solutions,' Bulatovic set out.

He said that did not mean giving up of the fight and abandoning of the policy and principles which had led to nearly two months of fomentation and disputes within the DPS leadership, mostly on the party-government line.

Bulatovic said the result of the discussions was that no one in Montenegro was talking any more about the possibilities of the introduction of the Republic's own currency, a referendum on its secession from Yugoslavia, and the like.

[05] YUGOSLAV FOREIGN MINISTER SEES TALKS WITH BELGIAN COLLEAGUE AS USEFUL

Tanjug, 1997-05-14

Yugoslavia's Foreign Minister said in Brussels on Wednesday after meeting with his Belgian counterpart that they had useful talks and had fully agreed about a need to intensify bilateral political contacts.

Speaking after hours-long talks, Yugoslav Foreign Minister Milan Milutinovic said that this intensification would accelerate overall cooperation between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Belgium.

He said he and Belgian Foreign Minister Eric Derycke had reviewed a series of bilateral and international topics, adding that this was his first visit to a European Union state since the restoration of E.U. trade preferentials to Yugoslavia earlier this month. He added that the trade preferences had paved the way for raising bilateral relations to a higher level.

Minister Derycke, for his part, told reporters that the restoration of preferences was a significant decision and was shortly expected to result in major Belgian investments in Yugoslavia, as another proof of good Yugoslav-Belgian relations.

Derycke, who visited Belgrade in 1996, said that Milutinovic's visit to Brussels came at the right time, adding he was pleased that the two countries' Chambers of Commerce were stepping up contacts and information exchanges.

Milutinovic said that there was mutual interest in strengthening contacts between Government departments, Parliaments, Chambers of Commerce and all factors that might help raise the quality of bilateral ties to a higher level.

He said that special importance was being attached to resumed contacts between the two nations' businessmen, who should find ways and means of further expanding economic cooperation.

He said he had informed the Belgian side about structural social and economic reforms planned in Yugoslavia for 1997 with a view to creating an open market economy and democratising political life.

Yugoslavia counted on cooperation with Belgium and other E.U. states, especially in the economic field, for the attainment of these objectives, he added.

In this context, Milutinovic informed Derycke that a priority of Yugoslav foreign policy was to develop all-round relations with the European Union and all its members, and that this was a long-term strategic commitment.

Milutinovic added that Yugoslavia considered the restoration of trade preferences as a first step towards expanding this cooperation to the PHARE, COST and other programmes.

One of the topics of discussion was the situation on the territory of former Yugoslavia, specifically the Srem-Baranya region. Belgium has a large contingent of troops serving with the U.N. Transitional Authority (UNTAES) in that Serb region and, as such, plays a most important part there in securing true equality and safety for all in the wake of recent polls.

Belgium's role in the Peace Stabilisation Process in the Serb region was again assessed as positive, and its troops as professional and responsible in the discharge of their duties.

The Yugoslav side stressed an interest in Belgium's continuing to play its part in the region in the interest of true stability and the preservation of the region's multi-ethnic character.

Derycke told reporters that Belgium was interested in peace being maintained in the region, and stressed the importance of the recent elections to this end.

Speaking about Yugoslav - E.U. relations, Derycke said that the restoration of preferentials was certainly conducive to a rapprochement, adding that Yugoslavia's future lay in its full integration in Europe.

Milutinovic ended his visit to Brussels late on Wednesday.

[06] YUGOSLAV FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS DERYCKE

Tanjug, 1997-04-14

Yugoslav Foreign Minister Milan Milutinovic and his Belgian counterpart Eric Derycke agreed in talks on Wednesday to promote traditionally good bilateral ties.

Agenda includes discussion on Yugoslavia's relations with the European Union, and the situation in former Yugoslavia, in particular the region of Eastern Slavonia, Barania and West Srem.

Belgium has the largest number of troops within the UN Transitional Administration in Eastern Slavonia, where equality and safety must be secured to the population, following last month's local elections.

Milutinovic's visit to Brussels is his second in five months, and confirms an intensification of Yugoslav-Belgian dialogue.

Derycke visited Belgrade last year at Milutinovic's invitation.

Yugoslav Daily Survey Directory - Previous Article - Next Article