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Yugoslav Daily Survey, 97-07-21Yugoslav Daily Survey Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Yugoslavia <http://www.yugoslavia.com>Yugoslav Daily SurveyCONTENTS
[01] POLAND'S KWASNIEWSKI RECEIVES YUGOSLAV PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATIONTanjug, 1997-07-17Polish President Alexander Kwasniewski said on Thursday that Yugoslavia had a place in the international community and that Warsaw would do its all to help reintegrate Yugoslavia in all world bodies. Kwasniewski was receiving a Yugoslav parliamentary delegation, which arrived in Poland on Wednesday on a three-day visit. The delegation is headed by Chamber of Republics (upper house) Speaker Srdja Bozovic, and comprises Parliament Deputies Zoran Zizic, Ivica Dacic and Dusan Mihajlovic. Kwasniewski asked Bozovic, who is acting President of Yugoslavia, to convey his felicitations to Slobodan Milosevic on his election as President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Bozovic, in turn, expressed the Yugoslavs' sympathies over disastrous floods that have claimed human lives in Poland. He informed the Polish President about the political and economic situation in Yugoslavia, stressing the country's openness to the world and consistency in the implementation of the Dayton Accord. He thanked Kwasniewski for his personal efforts invested so far in making the truth about Yugoslavia known to the world. Kwasniewski, for his part, pledged Poland's and his own personal efforts in all international organisations and institutions for Yugoslavia's full reintegration in the world community of nations. He said that the visit by the Yugoslav delegation was a confirmation that the two countries were well on the way to resuming relations. [02] YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT'S SESSIONTanjug, 1997-07-17The Yugoslav Government held a session on Thursday, at which it debated and endorsed a bill on legal obligation and the basics of property relations in air transport. The session was chaired by Prime Minister Radoje Kontic, a Government statement said. The bill should coordinate regulations in this area with the Yugoslav Constitution, the bill on air transport and the relevant international regulations, and allow the country to take part in international air transport as an equal partner. The Government defined a platform for talks with the Netherlands on road transport of goods and passengers in line with the existing European regulations and to mutual advantage. The Government defined a platform for Agriculture Minister Nedeljko Sipovac's talks with his Bulgarian colleague Ventzislav Barabanov in Sofia on July 18. The two ministers should agree the signing of inter- governmental treaties, as well as concrete forms of cooperation in the agriculture industry, the water resources management industry, and trade in agricultural produce. The Government approved a report on Kontic's working visit to Poland on June 12-13. The visit was assessed as successful and as a major contribution to the intensification and diversification of bilateral cooperation, to the development of which neither side saw any political obstacle. The two countries agreed to maintain a continuous political dialogue, and signed several agreements designed to stimulate economic cooperation. The Government instructed the competent ministries to make the necessary preparations and adopt comprehensive measures to implement the agreements reached during the visit. The Government approved a report on measures taken, in line with its earlier decisions and obligations under international law, to accommodate and integrate in society Serb and Montenegrin refugees from Albania. The securing of the necessary conditions for the refugees' permanent integration in society was being hampered by a recent absence of financial support from the UNHCR, it was noted. The Government instructed the Ministry of Labour, Health and Welfare to formulate and take the necessary measures to accommodate and integrate the refugees. [03] SERBIAN PARLIAMENT ADOPTS LAW ON POLITICAL PARTY FINANCINGTanjug, 1997-07-17The Serbian parliament on Thursday adopted a law on the financing of political parties, which regulates the financing, registering and control of the parties' financial operations. The law was passed with 126 votes for and no votes against. There were 17 abstentions and three deputies did not vote. The law was adopted in principle on Monday and during a three-day debate, the parliamentary majority rejected all amendments submitted by the Democratic Party. Under the law, parties are financed through membership fees, donations, income from their property, on the basis of ownership rights in companies, credits, gifts, legacies, endowments and budgets. Under the law, a party cannot receive funds that exceed the amount of three percent of its annual net income in the previous year from foreign governments and other organs, state and local self-management organs, enterprises and anonymous donors. Part of the funds for the financing of parties will be secured in the republican budget. [04] MILOSEVIC ELECTION IMPORTANT IMPULSE TO RUSSIAN-YUGOSLAV COOPERATIONTanjug, 1997-07-17Russia expects that the election of Slobodan Milosevic for President of Yugoslavia will impart a significant impulse to cooperaton between the two countries, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Thursday. "The Russian side expects that bilateral cooperation between Russia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, which rests on the strong traditions and historical friendship of the peoples of the two countries, will receive a significant new impulse," Ministry Spokesman Gennady Tarasov told a news conference. Tarasov singled out the "significant contribution" made by President Milosevic to the resolution of the crisis on the territory of the former Yugoslavia and to the agreement on peace in Bosnia. "The existing practice of direct contacts between Russian officials and Slobodan Milosevic and continued political dialogue has always been viewed in Moscow as a key element of our policy in the region," the Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesman underscored, and said Russia was "convinced that such a practice will continue in the future." [05] HUNGARIAN WORKERS' PARTY LEADER CONGRATULATES MILOSEVICTanjug, 1997-07-17Hungarian Wrokers' Party President Gyla Thuirmer congratulated Slobodan Milosevic on his election for President of Yugoslavia. Thuirmer expressed profound respect for Milosevic and his contribution to the development of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and said he was convinced that his "future work will have great importance for the successful development of Yugoslavia and positive impact on the stability of peace in the region." "I am certain that good-neighbourly relations and cooperation between the FR of Yugoslavia and the Republic of Hungary will develop in the interest or our peoples, in which you will have a special place and role," the Hungarian Workers' Party leader said in the telegram of congratulations to Milosevic. [06] CZECH PRESS ON IMPORTANCE OF MILOSEVIC ELECTION TO FEDERAL POSTTanjug, 1997-07-17All Czech newspapers reported the election of Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic for President of Yugoslavia, and set out that his election was important for the peace process in the region. The daily "Mlada Fronta Dnes" underscored the convincing majority of votes Milosevic received in the Yugoslav Parliament. The daily "Telegraf" said Milosevic's election for Yugoslav President was important for the stabilization of the situation in the country and also for stability and peace in the Balkans and south-eastern Europe as a whole. "Lidova Noviny" and "Pravo" devoted attention in their reports to the political situation in Yugoslavia, setting out that the Zajedno Coalition had split up and did not attend the session of the Yugoslav Parliament at which Milosevic was elected because it had not yet agreed on how to divide the won parliamentary seats. [07] RUSSIAN PAPERS ON MILOSEVIC'S ELECTION FOR YUGOSLAV PRESIDENTTanjug, 1997-07-17Leading Russian newspapers on Thursday gave much coverage to the election of Slobodan Milosevic for Yugoslav President, saying that he would continue to care about the country which he could lead through the most complex crises. "Izvestiya" carried a lengthy biography of the Yugoslav President and paid most attention to the crisis moments through which Yugoslavia had passed in the past few years and in which Milosevic always found a solution. The political crisis in Belgrade last winter was described as especially difficult. "Showing iron restraint," Izvestiya said, "the President did not command the dispersing of the demonstrations," which secured him the moral victory in the end. The paper described in detail how after the victory "Socialists started to take important steps in the field of economy," particularly stressing the adoption of a law on concessions and a draft privatisation law. The paper quoted a statement by a leading Belgrade opposition official, who reluctantly admitted that "Socialists, headed by Milosevic, are currently the most consistent reformers in the country." The newspaper carried a series of criticising statements made by the Serbian opposition, which is said to have "briefly been favoured by the international public," and concluded that "the fate of the Balkan powderkeg in the next few years will largely depend on Yugoslavia as the most influential republic in the region. This is why the world community should get a more careful orientation towards Slobodan Milosevic and count on him." "Commercant daily" said that Milosevic's position remained very firm, especially since the opposition was not a united force, and because its leaders could not agree among themselves. The daily said that it had not been a special problem for him to receive the Federal Parliament's support. The daily said that even the Montenegrin ruling party's wing led by Milo Djukanovic, did not dare to block his election obviously in fear that in the absence of other recognised leaders, this might trigger a serious crisis in the country. Describing as a "problem" the fact that the Yugoslav President's powers are not as big as the republican presidents', the daily said that it all depended on the personality and that regardless of his position Milosevic would continue to take care about the country. [08] BOSNIAN SERB OFFICIAL KRAJISNIK MEETS WITH SFOR GENERAL CROUCHTanjug, 1997-07-17The Republika Srpska's representative to Bosnia-Herzegovina's three-man Presidency Momcilo Krajisnik met in Pale on Thursday with Commander of the SFOR Gen. William Crouch. Crouch's deputy Gen. Roddy Cordy-Simpson and Co- Premier of Bosnia-Herzegovina from the Republika Srpska Boro Bosic attended the meeting. The two sides reviewed NATO's latest operations that have disturbed the people in the Republika Srpska, a statement from Krajisnik's Cabinet said. NATO's operations that resulted in the killing of Simo Drljaca and the abduction of Milan Kovacevic in Prijedor have additionally complicated the security situation in the Republika Srpska, and provoked negative reactions, it was noted. The statement said the two sides agreed that SFOR and the institutions in the Republika Srpska must closely cooperate in order to prevent a further deterioration of the situation. The population of the Republika Srpska has been further disturbed by talk of secret lists of war crime indictees and searches of homes of local and state officials, it was noted. Krajisnik expressed readiness to invest additional efforts in order that relations with SFOR should be stabilised and mutual trust restored. This is in the best interests of both sides and of great importance to the functioning of the joint institutions in Bosnia-Herzegovina and the implementation of the Dayton Peace Accord, the statement said. Any hold-up in these processes might produce negative effects in both entities in Bosnia-Herzegovina, it added. [09] YUGOSLAV INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION RISES BY 7.6 PERCENT IN SIX MONTHSTanjug, 1997-07-17Yugoslavia's industrial production registered a 7.6-percent rise in the first half of 1997 in comparison with the same period of 1996, the Yugoslav Statistics Bureau has told a press conference. The latest figures show that last year's moderate but continual production growth in most industrial sectors continued, Bureau Assistant Director Mirjana Rankovic said. Rankovic said that in the first six months of the year, the power industry registered a growth of 6.6 percent, metallurgy 36.1 percent, metal- processing and electronic appliances industries 12.9 percent, chemical and papermaking industries 17.6 percent and the textile, leather and rubber industries 3.6 percent. A slight production decline was registered in the production of nonmetals and construction materials (0.1 percent), foodstuffs and tobacco (5.9 percent), wood-processing industry (4.7 percent) and other industrial branches (1.6 percent). The production in June 1997 rose by 6.7 percent in comparison with June 1996 and according to deseasonalised figures, it rose by 0.6 percent in comparison with May. After taking into account seasonal influences, however, the June production dropped by 0.9 percent in comparison with May, Rankovic said. [10] YUGOSLAV-CROATIAN TALKS ON TRANSPORT STARTTanjug, 1997-07-17Yugoslav and Croatian Government delegations began in Belgrade on Thursday to coordinate draft agreements on the regulation of border railway transport and international land transport of passengers and goods. The Yugoslav delegation is headed by Deputy Transport Minister Budimir Sarenovic and the Croatian delegation is headed by Assistant Maritime, Transport and Communications Minister Dragutin Subat. An agreement on the regulation of railway transport would create conditions for the regular railway traffic between Yugoslavia and Croatia. An agreement on the international land transport should regulate and improve this form of transport between Yugoslavia and Croatia, transit through their territories and transport of goods from and to the third countries on the principle of reciprocity and to the mutual benefit. The two sides are expected to sign the agreements soon, which would be very important for a normal communication of their citizens, the countries' commercial activities and their link with the world. [11] YUGOSLAV-MACEDONIAN TRADE COMMISSION OPENS SESSIONTanjug, 1997-07-17The Yugoslav-Macedonian Commission on Trade opened session in Skopje, Macedonia, on Thursday. The two-day session is expected to culminate in the signing of an inter-governmental treaty on bilateral trade. The Yugoslav delegation is headed by Vice Premier Vojin Djukanovic, and the Macedonian, by Economy Minister Boris Rikalovski, who are co-chairmen of the Commission. At today's session, the Commission reviewed bilateral trade results achieved in the first half of the year and set up a joint commission to supervise the implementation of the treaty that should be signed on Friday. Djukanovic, Rikalovski and Yugoslavia's Ambassador to Macedonia Zoran Janackovic were on Thursday received by Macedonian Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski. The two sides agreed there was mutual interest in intensifying bilateral trade. The Commission continues session on Friday, and a news conference is scheduled to be held after the signing of the treaty, at which the co- chairmen should make statements about the results of the session. Yugoslav and Macedonian businessmen and bankers resumed at the Macedonian Chamber of Commerce on Thursday their talks begun in Belgrade earlier in July, during a visit to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia by a Macedonian state and business delegation. Executives of the Yugoslav corporations Sartid, Zastava, FAP, Coop-Invest, Impex and Obod have already arranged concrete business deals with Macedonian partners. [12] RUSSIAN MEDIA ON ELECTION OF MILOSEVIC FOR YUGOSLAV PRESIDENTTanjug, 1997-07-15Many Russian TV stations gave a biography of President-Elect Milosevic, singling out the role he had played in sparing the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia of the war in the Balkans and in the quest for political solutions to inter-ethnic conflicts. Russian media reported in detail the votes in the two Chambers of the Yugoslav Parliament, and set out that Deputies of the Socialist Party of Serbia and the Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro had obviously unanimously voted for Milosevic, as well as some Serbian Radical Party Deputies. [13] RUSSIA SPECIFIES POSITION ON SFOR OPERATION IN REPUBLIKA SRPSKATanjug, 1997-07-16The Russian Foreign Ministry reiterated on Wednesday its position that the recent operation of the SFOR in the Republika Srpska had not been consistent with SFOR's mandate. In a statement for TASS, Ministry spokesman Gennady Tarasov specifically listed the international norms violated in the operation, which was carried out by the SFOR British Battalion in the Prijedor area last week. Tarasov explained that it was not the duty of the multinational force to carry out special operations, planned in advance, to seek and arrest war crime suspects, especially not on the basis of "closed" lists, as had been the case here. He said that "while working out our position we acted on the assumption that the principle of fairness during the dispensation of justice can and should be observed in strict compliance with all related rules which have been approved by the international community and become operative norms of international law." In this particular instance, he added, this had not been the case. "The documents of international conferences and the Charter of the International War Crime Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia make concerned parties or foreign countries implement its requests, including those for the arrest, detention and extradition of indictees or their transfer to the Tribunal," he said. "In other words, such actions should be carried out only by the Government of the country or Bosnia-Herzegovina's constituent entities where the indictees are staying," he explained. Under a February 1996 Agreement on the arrest and transfer of suspects, the multinational force can detain a person only when they find and identify them as an indictee, for instance at a checkpoint or in the course of a routine patrol, according to Tarasov. On the strength of this, he stressed, Russia's position on the recent detention by SFOR in Bosnia of people suspected of war crimes had not changed. The Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement in connection with the SFOR operation in the Republika Srpska on July 11 to say that "the detention of the suspects is not consistent with the mandate of the multinational force." [14] SERB PARTY OFFICIAL SAYS SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION SATISFACTORYTanjug, 1997-07-16Independent Democratic Serb Party (SDSS) leader Vojislav Stanimirovic said on Wednesday that the latest U.N. Security Council resolution on the extension of the mandate of the UNTAES until Jan. 15 next year was satisfactory. Stanimirovic said that the Security Council had established that the situation in Croatia posed a threat to international peace and stability. He said the Security Council position indicated that the situation in Croatia could trigger a deep crisis. Stanimirovic stressed that the Council had established that Croatia did not adequately cooperate with the Hague war-crimes tribunal, and that it reiterated that the Croatian Amnesty Law had to be implemented in full. He singled out as positive the fact that the resolution fully reaffirmed the Erdut Agreement between the Serb population and Zagreb, and singled out the importance of the provision relating to a two-way return of refugees. [15] KRAJISNIK WELCOMES ELECTION OF MILOSEVICTanjug, 1997-07-15Republika Srpska member of the Bosnia-Herzegovina Presidency Momcilo Krajisnik welcomed on Tuesday the election of Slobodan Milosevic to the office of President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia as an act that would lead to a stabilization of the political situation in Serbia and Montenegro. Any improvement of the situation in the mother country brings joy to the Serb people west of the Drina river, Krajisnik said and expressed his conviction that the future would bring concord, patriotism, wisdom and reason to the Serb people and that the present problems and the attempts of the enemies to destroy Serb faith and hope will become a thing of the past, Krajisnik said. [16] YUGOSLAV PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION VISITS POLANDTanjug, 1997-07-16A Yugoslav parliamentary delegation, headed by Chamber of Republics Speaker Srdja Bozovic, arrived on Wednesday on a return visit to Poland, during which it will discuss with Senate and Sejm representatives the promotion of inter-parliamentary cooperation and in general of relations between the two countries. In the first meeting the Yugoslav parliamentarians had with members of the Polish Senate Commission for Internatonal Affairs, the hosts set out that their country was not ready only to promote the bilateral cooperation but also hoped to strengthen cooperation with Yugoslavia in international forums. Commission Chairman Henrik Makarwicz said the talks with the Yugoslav parliamentarians would be a good incentive to cooperation between the two countries. The Yugoslav delegation acquainted the hosts with the parliamentary and political life in Yugoslavia and the transformation of the Yugoslav economy. They underscored that Yugoslavia's return to the international community was the central political issue and that Yugoslavia expected Poland to adopt a more realistic and flexible approach when the issue came up in international forums. [17] AUSTRIA: MILOSEVIC PROVES TO BE BALKANS' MOST INFLUENTIAL POLITICIANTanjug, 1997-07-16The election of Slobodan Milosevic as President of Yugoslavia ranks him in among the most influential politicians in the Balkans, Austrian commentators say on Wednesday. The commentators underline that the outgoing Serbian president was elected with a majority of votes in both houses of the Yugoslav Parliament. The election of Milosevic, who has been Serbia's President for the past two mandates, was expected and shows the "triumph of the 56-year-old politician," the commentators say. Austrian analysts expect the functions of the Federation of Serbia and Montenegro to strengthen in the near future. [18] HUNGARIAN MEDIA ON MILOSEVICTanjug, 1997-07-16Hungarian media highlighted on Wednesday the election of outgoing Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic for the President of Yugoslavia. The Magyar Hirlap gave front-page coverage to the topic, laying stress to the fact that both houses of the Federal Parliament supported the left-bloc candidate. Slobodan Milosevic is a politician who has preserved the unity of Serbia, avoided war and laid the foundations to a multi-party democracy and market economy, the daily said. [19] BULATOVIC FELICITATES MILOSEVICTanjug, 1997-07-16Montenegrin President Momir Bulatovic sent on Wednesday a message of felicitations to Slobodan Milosevic on becoming the president-elect of Yugoslavia. "On behalf of the people of Montenegro and myself, I wish you all the best on your becoming president-elect of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia," Bulatovic said. "As the President of the Democratic Party of Socialists, I convey to you the best wishes of our members and supporters," he said. "Your convincing victory in both houses of the Yugoslav Parliament reflects the prevailing political will of most people in Yugoslavia and their determination for the policy of peace, democratic and economic reforms and for stability that guarantees overall prosperity for Yugoslavia, as a state of equal citizens and republics", said the message. "Once again, to the aim of our commitment for the development of Yugoslavia as a democratic, economic, socially just, legally safe country, I congratulate you heartily and wish you every success in your work", the message said. [20] INTERNATIONAL SPOKESMEN HOLD NEWS CONFERENCE IN PALETanjug, 1997-07-16Spokesman for the High Representative for Bosnia's office Duncan Bollivan said on Wednesday that the office backed the Republika Srpska as an internationally recognised entity and all its legally elected institutions. Commenting on the crisis in the Republika Srpska in a joint news conference in Pale, Bollivan said the R.S. constitutional court was entitled to take decisions, saying the international community would respect those decisions. He said the international community wanted to help implement the Dayton Peace Accords rather than to tell parties what they should do. He said the office was monitoring the security situation in the Republika Srpska, continuing to perform its regular activities. Spokesman for the SFOR John Blakely denied that secret lists with the names of war crimes suspects existed. Responding to reporters' remark that prosecutor of the Hague-based International War Crimes Tribunal Louise Arbour had confirmed that such lists existed, Bollivan said that sealed indictments existed. Spokesman for the IPTF Liam MacDowell said a bomb had gone off near the IPTF station in Prijedor late on Tuesday. He said no one had been hurt in the explosion that had left windows on nearby buildings and houses broken. Spokesman for the OSCE David Foley said the OSCE backed all institutions in the Republika Srpska elected in September's elections. He regretted having offended R.S. authorities in the last week's news conference when he called a part of R.S. insitutions in Pale the Pale gang. [21] YUGOSLAV PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION HAS TALKS IN WARSAWTanjug, 1997-07-16Poland pledged on Wednesday to uphold Yugoslavia's efforts for full reintegration in the international community, according to the Polish Senate Speaker. Speaker Adam Strurzyk was meeting with a delegation of the Yugoslav Federal Parliament, which arrived on a three-day visit to Poland earlier in the day. Strurzyk, member of the Polish National Party, which is a coalition partner of the ruling Democratic Left Alliance, said that relations between the two countries were now developing well after a period of standstill. Poland hoped for greater economic, cultural, scientific and other forms of bilateral cooperation, he added. The Yugoslav delegation is headed by Chamber of Republics (upper house) Speaker Srdja Bozovic, and comprises parliament deputies Zoran Zizic, Ivica Dacic and Dusan Mihajlovic. Strurzyk inquired about internal political and economic trends in Yugoslavia and about the main problems in returning Yugoslavia to the international community. The delegation explained that Yugoslavia was open to cooperation with the world and that its return to international political and other institutions should help stabilise the overall situation in the Balkans. Yugoslavia consistently works for the implementation of the Dayton Accord, and it is unfair, now that peace has been achieved, to be setting new conditions for its reintegration in the international community, Strurzyk was told. Hope was expressed that Poland, when it takes over the Presidency of the OSCE in 1998, will keep constantly on the table the question of Yugoslavia's return to that organisation and to other world bodies. Yugoslavia's return to the world community of nations dominated also the delegation's talks with Sejm Deputy Speaker Alexander Malachowsky, members of the Senate Commission for International Affairs and the Yugoslav-Polish parliamentary group. Malachowsky, member of the opposition Labour Union, said that there was every indication that Yugoslavia could and should be part of the international community. He added that the two countries' Parliaments should both urge their respective Governments and other bodies of power to promote bilateral economic cooperation. [22] FRENCH MEDIA FOCUS ON ELECTION OF MILOSEVIC AS YUGOSLAV PRESIDENTTanjug, 1997-07-16The election of Slobodan Milosevic as President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia is highlighted in French media on Wednesday. French radio and television reported on Tuesday that both houses of the Yugoslav Parliament voted in overwhelming majority for Milosevic as President of Yugoslavia for the next four years. The dailies Le Figaro and Liberation stress the importance of the vote in the strengthening of the Yugoslav Federation, for stability and peace in the Balkans. The dailies revert to the political situation in Serbia, as Milosevic will soon have completed his term of office as the president of Serbia. Yugoslav Daily Survey Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |