Yugoslav Daily Survey, 97-06-05

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

Yugoslav Daily Survey

CONTENTS

[01] YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT RECEIVED AUSTRALIAN AMBASSADOR

[02] MONTENEGRO PRESIDENT M.BULATOVIC - INTERVIEW

[03] YUGOSLAVIA-BULGARIA SIGN CUSTOMS COOPERATION AGREEMENT

[04] CROATIA OBSTRUCTS DEAL ON NORMALISATION OF RELATIONS WITH YUGOSLAVIA

[05] YUGOSLAV NEGOTIATOR GIVES POSITIVE MARKS TO BRUSSELS SUCCESSION TALKS

[06] YUGOSLAV STATE AND BUSINESS DELEGATION VISITS HAMBURG

[07] YUGOSLAV FOREIGN TRADE MINISTER VUKOVIC VISITS BONN

[08] TRIAL OF 15 ETHNIC-ALBANIAN TERRORISTS RESUMED IN KOSOVO AND METOHIJA

[09] YUGOSLAV JUSTICE MINISTER RECEIVES HAGUE TRIBUNAL OFFICIAL

[10] MILUTINOVIC RECEIVES U.N. HUMAN RIGHTS RAPPORTEUR REHN

[01] YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT RECEIVED AUSTRALIAN AMBASSADOR

Tanjug, 1997-06-04

President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Zoran Lilic on Wednesday received the newly-appointed, extraordinary and plenipotentiary Ambassador of Australia in Yugoslavia Noel Donald Campbell, Presidential Office has said in a statement.

Campbell presented Lilic the credentials by which Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia William Dean appointed him Ambassador, the Office said.

[02] MONTENEGRO PRESIDENT M.BULATOVIC - INTERVIEW

Tanjug, 1997-06-03

Montenegro President Momir Bulatovic, gave an interview to the Belgrade News Agency "Beta" on Tuesday. The following is the full text of the interview, a copy of which was sent to the Tanjug Office in Podgorica:

Question: You said in a recent interview to TV Montenegro that the DPS (Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro) deputies in the Federal Assembly would back the SPS (Socialist Party of Serbia) proposal for President of Yugoslavia. How do you comment (Montenegro) Premier (Milo) Djukanovic's recent statement that neither You nor he could decide on that, but that the decision was up to DPS bodies, and also that the 'a priori' support for an unnamed SPS candidate for the President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was a 'confederal principle.' Will the DPS deputies back any SPS candidate for President of Yugoslavia.

Answer: The Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro and the Socialist Party of Serbia make up a programmatic coalition whose goal is the strengthening of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. It has been so since our State came into being, and not since yesterday. The coalition has its rules and is founded on mutual respect for the positions and interests of the two parties. That does not of course have anything to do with confederal relations, since confederal relations can be a feature only of relations between states and not of those between parties.

The Socialist Party of Serbia is a serious political party, and it is quite realistic to assume that it will not propose 'just anyone' for such an important office.

The decision on support for a concrete candidate for President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia is up to the DPS Main Committee, and I have no doubts that that political body will take a decision in line with the strong sense of political responsibility which has characterized it long since. The preliminary accords we have already reached on the issue assure me of that.

Question: Are media reports that Federal Prime Minister Radoje Kontic will remain in office only until the new President of Yugoslavia is elected.

Answer:It is my opinion that the political program and make-up of the current Federal Government deserve confidence for the full term.

Question: Premier Djukanovic said that formal communication between Serbia and Montenegro functions on the Milosevic-Bulatovic line and that State and party bodies know little about the results of that communication. What is your comment.

Answer: The question is why Premier Djukanovic does not maintain contact with his colleague (Serbian Premier Mirko) Marjanovic and why he does not attend consultations in the Federal Government. He has chosen a more comfortable position which resembles an opposition member in power. He is prone to criticize and not to adequately contributes to the resolution of Federal problems. He in that way creates the impression that he is the only one concerned with Montenegro's problems and that he is in fact its chief protector. Naturally, that is not the case, since the interests of Montenegro are best protected through the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the equal positions of the member-republics in it.

Question: Would you accept to run for another term of office, and would you back some other DPS candidate for the post in case it happened that your candidacy was not put up by your party.

Answer: I thank numerous DPS members and organizations that have nominated me for President of the Republic. I will accept the nomination and am ready to set forth before my party a serious program for the continuation of State reforms and to seek support for its implementation. I believe success will follow.

Question: Montenegrin Premier Milo Djukanovic has recently said that in numerous talks with you, he wanted to hear arguments for your initiative for the replacement of Assistant Interior Minister and State Security Service Head Vukasin Maras but that you have not given him a single argument and he is under the impression that Mr. Maras is 'not to your liking.' On what have you based your demand to replace Mr. Maras and how do you comment on statements by Premier Djukanovic and Interior Minister Vujnovic that the initiative for the replacement of the State Security Service Head is not in your jurisdiction.

Answer: Unfortunately, there are plenty of arguments. Mr. Djukanovic's problem is that he does not want to hear them, let alone take them into account. Presently, one can only guess why he is so attached to this gentleman. But my demand for his replacement was indisputably the cause for Djukanovic's refusal to accept the mandate for this Government's composition. On December 20, 1996, I was officially informed by him that he was unable to accept my proposal to be Prime Minister-designate. Facing such a blackmail, I made a concession. Djukanovic was more important to me than Maras, but the most important thing to me is that this State should be based on the law and observation of laws.

This is why I invite Mr. Djukanovic to give public and unequivocal answers to just two questions.

First of all, which law served as the basis for the State Security tax which is being paid by cigarette dealers in Montenegro. How can a hard currency State Security revenue be considered legal, when it is not included in the budget list and its purpose is secret. My Office has documents which show that the Podgorica Tobacco Complex alone paid the State Security tax amounting to 236,412 German marks in four months. Not only does this example, which is just a drop in the ocean of illegal and wilful actions, show the need to replace the State Security head, but in all democratic countries all those who protect such taxes, including the Government, would topple.

The second question is why he will not allow the control of the firm ASI Podgorica. Forty days ago today, the Podgorica Interior Ministry exempted the firm's documents, allegedly for purposes of control. Mr. Maras is the Head of the firm's Managing Board and the firm has had a huge turnover and profit. With each day that passes I grow increasingly convinced that the Ministry does not want to control but to protect this firm. Especially when it is known that the control is organised by one of Mr. Djukanovic's numerous buddies, who heads the Podgorica Security Centre and who is in charge of accompanying and securing the 'secret transports' of cigarettes.

If everybody is equal under the law, let's prove it. Economic crime inspectors appeared in the company where my wife is the Director only two days following press reports about illegal operations. Of course, they were and are welcome there.

But when the Head of State calls for the control of the ASI company's business operations, there appear the Constitution, legal limitations, tearful minister and Premier who talks about somebody's taste.

Therefore, I invite him to publicly urge the unimpeded, objective and speedy control of the company's business operations and publication of the results, Bulatovic said.

[03] YUGOSLAVIA-BULGARIA SIGN CUSTOMS COOPERATION AGREEMENT

Tanjug, 1997-06-04

The Governments of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) and the Republic of Bulgaria signed on Wednesday an Agreement on cooperation and mutual aid in the sphere of customs, the Federal Information Secretariat said.

The Agreement was signed by the directors of the Yugoslav and Bulgarian Customs Administrations, Mihalj Kertes and Elka Vladova respectively.

The agreement confirmed the continuity of relations and cooperation between the two neighbouring and friendly countries on the basis of a customs cooperation Agreement signed in Belgrade on April l7, 1964 between the two countries and which expires after the new agreement is ratified.

The new agreement, which is a widespread basis for cooperation between the Yugoslav and Bulgarian Customs, will enable the two countries' Customs Services to help each other to correctly apply customs regulations.

Within this cooperation, the Yugoslav and Bulgarian Customs will: introduce measures to facilitate and speed up the flow of passengers and goods, secure aid in preventing the violation of customs regulations, provide information for the implementation of customs regulations and take measures for cooperation in the study, development and implementation of customs procedures, undertake staff training, exchange of experts and other mutually important issues.

What is new is that the agreement specially defines cooperation between the two countries' Customs Services in the sphere of illegal trade of special goods such as: arms, ammunition, explosives and explosive devices; objects of historic, artistic or archeologic significance; poisonous or narcotic substances, as well as substances dangerous for the environment and human health. Transfer of goods subject to customs duties and taxes.

The agreement calls for regular meetings between representatives of the two Customs Services and the establishing of direct links between central and local services for anti-smuggling activities and to prevent the violation of customs regulations.

The agreement is expected to speed up and simplify customs formalities, and thus positively affect trade between the two countries.

[04] CROATIA OBSTRUCTS DEAL ON NORMALISATION OF RELATIONS WITH YUGOSLAVIA

Tanjug, 1997-06-04

Yugoslav Assistant Justice Minister Radivoje Rajakovic said on Wednesday that Zagreb kept postponing meetings of the Yugoslav-Croatian Commission for the implementation of Article 7. of the Accord on normalisation of relations, obstructing the Commission's work.

Rajakovic, who co-chairs the Commission, told a news conference in Belgrade that, 'we have had only two meetings since the Agreement on the normalisation of relations between Croatia and Yugoslavia was signed last August.' He said Croatia had cancelled each meeting, held eventually on February 28 and May 7, seven times.

He said the full normalisation of the two country's relations would depend on the application of Article 7. which he said envisaged that issues in the domain be solved within six months of the Agreement's going into force. He said the Agreement had been endorsed by the two countries' Parliaments which meant that Croatia had assumed an obligation to implement it.

Rajakovic also said talks to date had dealt with the issue of the procedure for the return of refugees. He said it had been concluded that only a small number of people - between 1,500 and 2,000 Serbs - had returned home due to a very complicated procedure. In this connection, he said the Croatian Embassy in Belgrade issued daily only about 120 forms that all who wanted to return to Croatia had to fill in.

Moreover, Yugoslavia has insisted that the return be collective, especially as regards the return to rural areas, because people feel safer in that way, he said.

He said there was a list of localities in Croatia to which 60,000 people wanted to return. These people, he said, did not ask to be granted guarantees for their security or compensation for their property that had been damaged or destroyed.

'The Croatian side has not accepted that but we shall insist on the collective return and each individual's wish to return because bringing together family members through UNHCR has not amounted to much,' he said.

He said those who had returned were in a difficult position because there were no guarantees for their security, they were the target of harassment, they did not have the refugee status and, consequently, did not receive humanitarian aid. Moreover, he said, they could not visit their homes and had to stay in collective centres.

'In all meetings to date the Croatian side has insisted on the issue of war damages which it believes Yugoslavia should pay. We, however, consider the issue of Serb refugees' return most urgent,' he said.

According to Rajakovic, Yugoslavia will request that Croatia abolish more than 12 laws and regulations which have been adopted since the signing of the Agreement but which are contrary to its Article 7. and relevant european laws.

Commenting on the commencement of activity by Croatia's state-run Real Estate Agency, Rajakovic said this was yet another way of taking away property from Serb refugees and Yugoslav citizens or of giving inadequate compensation for it.

He said that, several years ago, the Yugoslav Justice Ministry had set up a section for the registration of property that Serbs had left behind in Croatia. He said the section had registered 70,000 cases up to this point.

He said Serb property could not be restituted collectively, explaining that each case would be discussed separately in talks with Croatian officials.

Commenting on an Agreement on the return on the principle of reciprocity of Croats to Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Srem and Serbs to other regions of Croatia, which the U.N. Transitional Administration in Eastern Slavonia (UNTAES) and UNHCR recently signed, Rajakovic said this was yet another attempt by Zagreb to befog the problem as a whole of Serb refugees' return to Croatia.

The Commission is to hold is third meeting in Belgrade on June 11-12.

[05] YUGOSLAV NEGOTIATOR GIVES POSITIVE MARKS TO BRUSSELS SUCCESSION TALKS

Tanjug, 1997-06-04

The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia's chief negotiator at the latest round of succession talks said on Wednesday that the three-day discussion that had just ended in Brussels could be said to have produced certain results.

Speaking at the close of the plenary session of the Task Force on succession to former Yugoslavia, academician Kosta Mihajlovic said that the delegations had worked from one document, submitted by Task Force Chairman Sir Arthur Watts.

Mihajlovic added that the parties had all had an opportunity to present their views more completely than before in the form of amendments.

He said that the document was a draft Memorandum, an informal document which should furnish a basis for regulating relations between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the four new states created on the territory of the former six-unit Yugoslav Federation.

He said that this had been more of a registration meeting at which the interested parties had had a better chance than before to express their views, so that there was now an overview of their positions and their differences.

He added that the proposed amendments had not been discussed. 'Only brief explanations were offered for each amendment, so that stock was taken preparatory to much more intensive negotiations that lie ahead, first bilateral and then probably multilateral, already in July.

'Each side will have another chance to add to their amendments in written form, in any case to give a written explanation.

'From this viewpoint, as a stock-taking and preparatory meeting for future more intensive talks, it may be said that the Brussels meeting produced certain results,' Mihajlovic said.

Watts, for his part, described the talks as very useful, adding that they would be resumed in the same composition in early July.

[06] YUGOSLAV STATE AND BUSINESS DELEGATION VISITS HAMBURG

Tanjug, 1997-06-04

A delegation of Yugoslav State officials and businessmen, headed by Foreign Trade Minister Borislav Vukovic, held a series of talks with politicians and businessmen in Hamburg, Germany, on Wednesday.

In talks in Hamburg's Trade Chamber, the delegation informed German businessmen about Yugoslav regulations on foreign investment and presented 190 projects that can be realised in the country.

After the talks, Vukovic told Tanjug that the German businessmen the delegation had met with had backed Yugoslavia's economic and development policy stressing that major obstacles to the promotion of cooperation lay in the sphere of finance.

He said in order to restore the two countries' cooperation to the high level of 1991, it was necessary to open all channels. He said the inability to persuade the well-known 'Hermes' to act as a guarantor was a major obstacle to large-scale investment in the Yugoslav economy.

He said the German side had shown the willingness to invest in the Yugoslav economy and in particular in some of the projects presented.

German partners welcomed the fact that trade between the two countries was on the upturn, largely due to the European Union's recent decision to grant Yugoslavia trade preferences again.

[07] YUGOSLAV FOREIGN TRADE MINISTER VUKOVIC VISITS BONN

Tanjug, 1997-06-04

Yugoslav Foreign Trade Minister Borislav Vukovic met in Bonn with State Minister in the German Economy Ministry, Lorenz Schomerus.

Vukovic informed Schomerus about the economic situation in Yugoslavia and the political and economic reforms planned by the Federal and two Republican Governments.

Schomerus positively assessed Yugoslavia's results so far in the control of inflation and the increase of exports.

The talks also focused on bilateral relations. It was said that encouraging are the results of economic cooperation with a rise in trade and joint investment agreements, and that this trend should continue.

Underscored was the need to resolve the problems of banks, financial cooperation and support to export arrangements.

Vukovic and Schomerus also discussed cooperation in the sphere of transport and autonomous trade measures by the European Union.

[08] TRIAL OF 15 ETHNIC-ALBANIAN TERRORISTS RESUMED IN KOSOVO AND METOHIJA

Tanjug, 1997-06-04

The trial of a group of 15 ethnic Albanians charged with carrying out terrorist attacks and killing three policemen and one civilian in the 1992- 1996 period resumed in the capital of Serbia's southern Province of Kosovo and Metohija on Wednesday.

Policemen who were fired at in Glogovac on May 22, 1993 near Kosovska Mitrovica on April 22, 1996 and at Sipolj on June 17, 1996 testified.

In the three terrorist attacks, which were minutely described by the witnesses, three policemen and a young woman of Serbian nationality were killed and quite a few policemen were wounded.

The witnesses included refugees at whom bombs were hurled but fortunately did not explode at the refugee centre in Vucitrn on February 11, 1996.

A witness was also a soldier who stood guard at the Vucitrn barracks on September 23, 1996 when the defendants staged an attack using two bombs, which exploded and caused great material damage.

Defendants Besim Rama and Avni Nura admitted that the shown weapons were theirs - two automatic rifles, two pistols, seven bombs, three rifle- grenades and quite a number of bullets.

Other physical evidence was presented, including two statements released by the 'Liberation Army of Kosovo,' in which the terrorist organization assumed responsibility for the above and other terrorist attacks.

[09] YUGOSLAV JUSTICE MINISTER RECEIVES HAGUE TRIBUNAL OFFICIAL

Tanjug, 1997-06-04

Yugoslav Justice Minister Zoran Knezevic received on Wednesday Head of the Hague-based International Criminal Tribunal's Belgrade Office, Dejan Mihov.

A statement issued by the Yugoslav Information Secretariat said cooperation between Yugoslavia and the Tribunal was in the mutual interest, saying it had a good basis and should be diversified in the coming period.

The statement said Yugoslavia had manifested full cooperativeness so far, honouring the International Law as well as its own legislation.

Mihov thanked Yugoslavia for helping the Tribunal's Chief Prosecutor gather evidence of crimes against humanity and relevant international war conventions in the former Yugoslavia.

He also referred to problems concerning the completion of files necessary for bringing in indictments or continuing trials that were under way.

Knezevic said a standstill in fulfilling the Tribunal's requests was the result of a thorough approach and the fact that it was necessary to gather all relevant evidence, saying this constituted the basis of all legal proceedings.

In this connection, he said Yugoslavia would try to meet the Tribunal's requests in the shortest time possible, in keeping with obligations that it had assumed on the international scene.

The statement said both sides had expressed readiness to continue and diversify cooperation in order to deal with requests made in a speedier manner.

[10] MILUTINOVIC RECEIVES U.N. HUMAN RIGHTS RAPPORTEUR REHN

Tanjug, 1997-06-04

Yugoslav Foreign Minister Milan Milutinovic received on Wednesday the U.N. Human Rights Commission's Special Rapporteur on former Yugoslavia, Elisabeth Rehn.

Milutinovic and Rehn, who is paying a brief visit to Yugoslavia, discussed issues within Rehn's sphere of responsibility. They agreed that relevant Yugoslav authorities' cooperation with Rehn developed successfully, confirming willingness to continue promoting it.

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