Yugoslav Daily Survey, 97-07-08

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

Yugoslav Daily Survey

CONTENTS

[01] KONTIC AND CRVENKOVSKI SATISFIED WITH DEVELOPMENT OF COOPERATION

[02] MEETING BETWEEN PLAVSIC AND KRAJISNIK CANCELLED

[03] PLAVSIC SAYS ELECTIONS SHOULD BE ORGANIZED INDEPENDENTLY

[04] AGREEMENT REACHED ON ELECTORAL CONDITIONS

[05] YUGOSLAV PARLIAMENT DELEGATION CONCLUDES VISIT TO GHANA

[06] TRADE MINISTER CONCLUDES VISIT TO MOSCOW

[07] STATEMENT ON PRIMAKOV-DJUKANOVIC MEETING

[08] YUGOSLAV INTERIOR MINISTER VISITS SWITZERLAND

[09] SRDJA BOZOVIC SPEAKS AT MEETING IN MONACCO

[10] GELBARD SAYS ESCALATION OF TENSIONS MUST BE AVOIDED

[11] PRESIDENT OF SERBIA MILOSEVIC RECEIVED GELBARD

[01] KONTIC AND CRVENKOVSKI SATISFIED WITH DEVELOPMENT OF COOPERATION

Tanjug, 1997-07-03

Yugoslav Prime Minister Radoje Kontic and his Macedonian counterpart Branko Crvenkovski on Thursday expressed satisfaction with the development of all- round cooperation between the two countries. Addressing reporters following the signing of four agreements by delegations of the Yugoslav and Macedonian Governments, Kontic and Crvenkovski said that, in the process of the promotion of cooperation, the two countries' readiness to do so played a key role. The agreements in question include those on no-visa regime, on cooperation in the field of science and technology as well as of culture, education and sport, and a consular convention. Commenting on talks with Crvenkovski, Kontic said they had been very useful, open and constructive.

"Our expectation that Macedonia would be interested in the overall development of cooperation with Yugoslavia has proved to be justified," he said. "I would like to say that the promotion of all-round bilateral cooperation and goodneighbourly relations are our country's top foreign policy priorities," he said.

Kontic said both sides had agreed that there was an upturn in all spheres of cooperation and that there were great possibilities for the further promotion of bilateral cooperation. "In that context, we agreed that it was necessary to create conditions for the free traffic of people and free circulation of goods and capital," he said.

"We can therefore expect a free trade zone between the two countries to start functioning in September of 1999, as it was agreed on," he said. He said, however, that results achieved in the sphere of free circulation of capital, for which legal and institutional conditions have also been created, were not so good as in the sphere of free circulation of goods.

Crvenkovski also pointed out a constructive trend in the all-round development of the two countries' relations. He saidYugoslavia and Macedonia had reached a trade agreement last year, saying it could be said at this point that results of this agreement were evident.

Commenting on cooperation between the two states and their trade organisations, Crvenkovski said Macedonia believed that the two countries had not used all possibilities and could give an even greater contribution to it. Rferring to the signed agreements, Crvenkovski also stressed the importance of the agreement on no-visa regime, explaining that no visas had been required up to this point but that this was a symbolic way of showing that the two countries would remain committed to the no-visa regime also in the future.

He said Macedonia was willing to continue cooperation in the coming period, saying Yugoslavia had also manifested such readiness. He said he was confident that cooperation between the two countries would bear good results in the coming period.

[02] MEETING BETWEEN PLAVSIC AND KRAJISNIK CANCELLED

Tanjug, 1997-07-06

The meeting between Republika Srpska President Biljana Plavsic and the Serb entity's member of the Bosnia-Herzegovina Presidency Momcilo Krajisnik which was to be held Sunday afternoon has been called off for security reasons, the Presidential Office said.

Serb Radio quoted the Serb SRNA news agency as saying the Presidential Office had cancelled the meeting on the basis of the latest evaluations of the Presidential Security Service.

Krajisnik voiced "great disappointment because of the vague and questionable reasons which cannot be compared with the difficult situation and political crisis created in Republika Srpska by the decision of the Republika Srpska President to dissolve the National Assembly."

"The meeting was an opportunity to communicate to the President of the Republic the stands of the other members of the state leadership and the National Assembly of Republika Srpska, with a view to trying to find a solution to possibly the most serious crisis since the beginning of the Serbian people's struggle for its own state," Krajisnik said in a statement reported by Serb Radio.

"The question may therefore be asked of whether the meeting, which was so greatly needed and expected by the people, has actually been called off for security reasons or whether it is a question of a lack of will for talks of fateful importance for the Serbian people," Krajisnik said.

[03] PLAVSIC SAYS ELECTIONS SHOULD BE ORGANIZED INDEPENDENTLY

Tanjug, 1997-07-07

Republika Srpska President Biljana Plavsic said Monday that early parliamentary elections should be held on Sept. 1 this year according to Republika Srpska regulations and not the rules of the OSCE, which she said could act as an observer.

Plavsic told a news conference that the latest session of the RS Assembly was merely a "meeting of people talking between themselves," and that the Assembly and the Government had carried out a state coup by blocking a constitutional decision of the President of the Republic. Reminding the press of her decision on the dissolution of the National Assembly, Plavsic said she had sent a letter to the Assembly Speaker and the Premier on the evening of July 2, asking their opinion, but had received no reply by 3 p.m. on July 3, when she said she decided to use her constitutional right and take the decision alone.

Plavsic told the press that she was not avoiding to meet with RS member of the Bosnia-Herzegovina Presidency Momcilo Krajisnik, but would do so in Banjaluka and not Bijeljina, since she said groups of men had been sent who posed a threat to her security, of which she noted Krajisnik was aware. The RS President told the press that the Army General Staff was an "expert body of the Supreme Commander and cannot independently pursue politics."

"The Army serves the state and must not take sides," she set out. Plavsic repeated that she was denied access to state media.

[04] AGREEMENT REACHED ON ELECTORAL CONDITIONS

Tanjug, 1997-07-03

Agreement was reached Thursday at a session attended by Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Marjanovic and representatives of parliamentary parties on proposals regarding the financing of political parties, their media presentation and conditions for the forthcoming elections, Serbian Information Ministry said in a statement.

Written proposals were submitted by the Democratic Party of Serbia, the Socialist Party of Serbia, New Democracy, and earlier by the Serbian Civil Alliance and Democratic Party of Serbia on behalf of a group of parties.

President of the Serbian Renewal Movement Vuk Draskovic, Democratic Party President Zoran Djindjic and Serbian Civil Alliance President Vesna Pesic once again refused to attend the session.

The participants reached agreement on the financing of political parties and on the need to draw up a law also on the financing of their electoral campaigns.

One half of the funds earmarked for this purpose should be distributed to the parties at the beginning of the campaign according to the number of deputies, and the other half after the elections according to the number of seats they win. The Government will also propose to the Parliament to pass a law regulating the financing of the campaigns of candidates for the office of Serbian president, the statement says.

As regards the media presentation of parties during the campaign, the participants said that an agreement to this effect should include precisions on the time and the media programs set aside for the presentation of parliamentary parties, their programs and candidates. They also agreed that the provisions of the agreement should apply to all media, whether state or private.

The participants concluded that the Government should immediately draw up proposals on amending the present electoral laws and regulations in line with what was agreed during the session and with the documents presented by the participants and to submit them to the Serbian Parliament for debate and adoption, the statement says.

[05] YUGOSLAV PARLIAMENT DELEGATION CONCLUDES VISIT TO GHANA

Tanjug, 1997-07-05

Ghanian Vice-President John Evans Atta Mills received in Accra a Yugoslav parliament delegation which has completed a three-day official visit to the Ghanian Parliament.

In exceptionally cordial and open talks, mutual satisfaction was expressed that future generations are continuing and promoting the longstanding friendship between the two countries. A readiness was confirmed for the exceptionally good political relations between the two countries to be realized in the coming period also on the economic plane, through direct business contacts and concrete programs.

[06] TRADE MINISTER CONCLUDES VISIT TO MOSCOW

Tanjug, 1997-07-04

Yugoslav Trade Minister Borislav Vukovic completed Friday a three-day working visit to Moscow aimed at reviving economic cooperation between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Russia. In the talks Vukovic held in Russian Ministries of economy, finances and foreign trade, the greatest attention was devoted to the liberalization of mutual trade and clarification of all issues around the agreement on financial cooperation.

It was assessed by both sides that all conditions existed for accelerating and expanding cooperation, especially after the changes introduced by the two countries in their foreign trade regime in order to bring them closer to the criteria of the World Trade Organization.

Liberalization will primarily mean lowering customs duties, facilitating customs procedure and reducing transport and other costs in mutual trade. The issuing of certificates for individual products will also be facilitated in the future.

[07] STATEMENT ON PRIMAKOV-DJUKANOVIC MEETING

Tanjug, 1997-07-04

Stability and dynamic development of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and at the same time of Montenegro, is the basic prerequisite for the return of the FRY into international organizations, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in statement issue Friday following a meeting between Russian Foreign Minister Yevgeny Primakov and Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic.

The Russian side, in reviewing political problems, devoted particular attention to the importance of strengthening the Yugoslav federation, while respecting the interests of the Republics that form it, the statement said. The statement assessed that direct links with partners in Montenegro can contribute positively to overall relations between Russia and the FRY.

The Russian Ministry also stressed that Russia is actively supporting the FRY's efforts for full return into international organizations.

The meeting with Primakov marked the end of Djukanovic's visit to Moscow, during which he held talks with Russian businessmen and politicians and presented Montenegro's business and tourist possibilities.

[08] YUGOSLAV INTERIOR MINISTER VISITS SWITZERLAND

Tanjug, 1997-07-03

Within an official visit to Switzerland, Yugoslav Interior Minister Zoran Sokolovic met in Bern on Thursday with Swiss President and Justice and Interior Minister Arnold Kohler.

The Yugoslav Interior Ministry said in a statement that the talks had focused on the promotion of the Yugoslav-Swiss relations and restoration of bilateral cooperation in all fields of mutual interest.

Both sides agreed that the existing level of bilateral relations did not correspond to the countries' realistic interests and possibilities and stressed readiness for a further promotion and upgrading of relations. The Yugoslav Government and the Swiss Federal Council signed an agreement on returning and taking over Yugoslav and Swiss emigrants, which represents a concrete contribution to the resolution of the problem with illegal migrants in Europe.

[09] SRDJA BOZOVIC SPEAKS AT MEETING IN MONACCO

Tanjug, 1997-07-04

Yugoslav Parliament Upper House Speaker Srdja Bozovic spoke Friday in Monacco at a meeting of representatives of Mediterranean countries members of the Interparliamentary Union about prospects of promoting cooperation between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Mediterranean countries in the field of work and employment.

Srdja Bozovic informed participants in the meeting about current activities of the FRY in carrying out economic reforms for the structural and ownership transformation of its economy, renewing and expanding links with the world and uniform development of the region.

Bozovic stressed the need for the return of Yugoslavia into the United Nations Organization, The International Labour Organization and other financial and trade international organizations.

[10] GELBARD SAYS ESCALATION OF TENSIONS MUST BE AVOIDED

Tanjug, 1997-07-03

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Robert Gelbard said on Thursday that he had asked Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic to use his authority and influence to help ease political tensions in the Republika Srpska.

After two hours and a half of talks with Milosevic, Gelbard told reporters that they had focused on the latest developments in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Gelbard said he had arrived in Belgrade on behalf of the five-nation 'Contact Group' that had expressed concern in a meeting in the Netherlands late on Wednesday about the situation in the Republika Srpska. He said the Contact Group had released a statement on the matter.

He said he had been asked by the Contact Group member states to convey their stand to President Milosevic as well as the U.S. Government's position on the situation in the Republika Srpska and its insisting on a speedier implementation of the Dayton Peace Accords.

Gelbard said President Milosevic had also expressed concern about the situation in the Republika Srpska, quoting President Milosevic as saying that both R.S. President Biljana Plavsic as well as R.S. representative in Bosnia's Presidency Momcilo Krajisnik should show reserve and patience.

He said they had agreed that the escalation of tensions must be avoided.

He also said the talks had been aimed at finding ways of how to avoid more tensions and of how to continue the implementation of all segments of the Dayton Agreement.

He said President Milosevic had expressed his resolve to exert his influence over all parties in Bosnia, especially the Republika Srpska, to do all they could to implement the agreement.

Gelbard said they had agreed also that the Republika Srpska should start cooperating with the International Police Task Force (IPTF) and reorganising and reforming its police, as provided for by Annex 11 of the agreement. He said President Milosevic had expressed readiness to help solve all outstanding issues concerning the implementation of the agreement, including the issue of Brcko and the repatriation of refugees. Gelbard stressed President Milosevic's role in persuading R.S. authorities and in particular Krajisnik to adopt economic regulations.

He called on all R.S. leaders to change their attitude and do more in the implementation of the accord, threatening that they would have to face serious consequences if they failed to do so.

[11] PRESIDENT OF SERBIA MILOSEVIC RECEIVED GELBARD

Tanjug, 1997-07-03

Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic received on Thursday the special envoy of the U.S. President for the implementation of the Dayton Agreement, Robert Gelbard, who heads a U.S. team.

Exchanged were views on the major issues concerning the implementation of the Peace Agreement on Bosnia, and the current trends important for the political situation, peace and stability in the region. Underscored was that significant efforts, which enabled positive development in the implementation of the peace process, whose current stage is especially marked by efforts to speed up economic revival, serve as a basis for the entire normalization of relations and life in the territories where the civil war was fought. Also underscored was the importance of the package of regulations and documents for the speedy economic reconstruction of Bosnia- Herzegovina which was initiated by the international community and accepted by both entities. The talks were also attended by Federal Foreign Minister Milan Milutinovic and the U.S. Charges d'Affaires in Yugoslavia, Richard Miles.

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