Yugoslav Daily Survey, 97-08-01

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Yugoslav Daily Survey

CONTENTS

[01] YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT FELICITATES ALBANIA'S NEW PRESIDENT

[02] MILOSEVIC RECEIVES MORE MESSAGES OF FELICITATIONS

[03] RUSSIA WILL NOT TAKE PART IN ARRESTS OF SUSPECTS IN BOSNIA

[04] SFOR WILL NOT GUARANTEE SAFETY TO REPATRIATES - SPOKESMAN

[05] MONTENEGRIN PREMIER ON YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT, MONTENEGRIN CADRES

[06] RUSSIAN WEEKLY SAYS MILOSEVIC HAS NO ALTERNATIVE IN YUGOSLAVIA

[07] YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT DEBATES ECONOMIC POLICY

[08] LONDON CLUB CO-PRESIDENTS VISIT BELGRADE

[09] SERBIAN GOVERNMENT APPROVES LAWS, PROJECTS

[10] MONTENEGRO MIGHT HOLD PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN EARLY 1998

[11] YUGOSLAV MINISTER WRITES TO RABBI OVER JEWISH GRAVES DESECRATION

[12] ACCORD ON AIR TIME FOR PARTIES OPEN FOR SIGNING BY SEPT 5 - MINISTER

[13] TALKS WITH LONDON CLUB RESUME IN BELGRADE

[14] YUGOSLAV CHAMBER OF COMMERCE RE-ELECTS MILOJEVIC ITS PRESIDENT

[15] SERBIAN CHURCH LEADER CONDEMNS DESECREATION OF JEWISH GRAVES

[16] SERBIAN GOVERNMENT, TV, PARTIES SIGN AIR TIME ALLOTMENT ACCORD

[17] BOSNIAN SERB OFFICIAL SAYS ONE SIDE HAS TO LOSE

[18] YUGOSLAV-BELARUS COMMISSION SESSION ENDS

[01] YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT FELICITATES ALBANIA'S NEW PRESIDENT

Tanjug, 1997-07-31

Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic sent a message of felicitations on Thursday to Albanian President Rexhep Majdani on his election to the post. Milosevic expressed hope that relations between Yugoslavia and Albania would normalize to the interest of regional development.

[02] MILOSEVIC RECEIVES MORE MESSAGES OF FELICITATIONS

Tanjug, 1997-07-31

Belarus President Alexandar Lukashenko sent on Thursday a message of felicitations to Slobodan Milosevic on his election as President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

Similar messages were sent to President Milosevic on Thursday also by Presidents Jorge Sampaio of Portugal and Nuhak Phumsavan of Laos.

Over the past few days, Milosevic has received messages of felicitations from a number of world statesmen and eminent politicians.

[03] RUSSIA WILL NOT TAKE PART IN ARRESTS OF SUSPECTS IN BOSNIA

Tanjug, 1997-07-31

By arresting war crimes suspects in the former Yugoslavia SFOR has overstepped its mandate, and the Russian brigade of peacekeepers will never take part in such operations, Russian Foreign Ministry said Thursday. High NATO officials have issued a series of statements which are tantamount to a public announcement of planned urgent arrests of suspects with the help of the international peace force, Foreign Minstry Spokesman Gennady Tarassov said.

Russia believes that war criminals must be punished as they deserve, but all issues in this regard must be resolved through direct cooperation between Bosnian parties and the International War Crimes Tribunal in line with international agreements, Tarassov said.

The recent action of British SFOR troops has increased tension in Republika Srpska and made the task of international representatives more difficult, as Russia had warned would happen, Tarassov said.

Any future operations of this kind or threats of such operations would only lead to a deterioration of the situation and bring into question the holding of local elections in Bosnia scheduled for next September, he said.

Russia expects all participants in international endeavors aimed at resolving the situation to act in a balanced manner and with caution, without taking any steps that would have negative effects on the peace process in Bosnia, Tarassov underlined.

[04] SFOR WILL NOT GUARANTEE SAFETY TO REPATRIATES - SPOKESMAN

Tanjug, 1997-07-31

Bosnia Stabilisation Force Nordic-Polish Brigade Spokesman Maj. Artur Bilski of Poland said here on Thursday that SFOR would not guarantee safety to Bosnian Muslims who wish to move in the Republika Srpska part of the demarcation zone with the Muslim-Croat Federation. This is the task of local authorities and police, Bilski said in confirmation of a statement by Nordic-Polish Brigade Commander Jakob Karsten Muler.

Reporters posed the question of Bosnian Muslims' safety after a Muslim attempt to forcibly enter the Serb villages of Svjetlica and Poljice on Tuesday and Wednesday, when they provoked a fight with Bosnian Serb refugees in the villages.

[05] MONTENEGRIN PREMIER ON YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT, MONTENEGRIN CADRES

Tanjug, 1997-07-31

Montenegro's Premier said here on Thursday that individual officials and bodies of the Yugoslav federal state and its constituent republics were pursuing a policy of self-isolation of Yugoslavia. Premier Milo Djukanovic was speaking in a meeting with supporters of the faction of that Yugoslav republic's ruling Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) that he is heading.

State electronic media, however, quoted Djukanovic as repeating his earlier negative assessments of the work of individual cadres from Montenegro in the Federal Government and the functioning of some federal bodies of power.

Djukanovic said that "the chief political job of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia today is to achieve a complete and qualitative reintegration in the international community". He added that his Government was actively pursuing this policy and "reminding the competent authorities in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia daily about it, whether they like it or not."

"We shall do so in the future, too, urging and demanding the replacement of all those in responsible jobs in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia who hamper or slow down this process," he said.

[06] RUSSIAN WEEKLY SAYS MILOSEVIC HAS NO ALTERNATIVE IN YUGOSLAVIA

Tanjug, 1997-07-30

The Russian weekly Literaturnaya Gazeta on Wednesday published a lengthy article stressing that the entire world, including the western patrons of the Yugoslav opposition, had seen that as a politician, Slobodan Milosevic had no alternative in Yugoslavia.

The parliamentary decision to elect him Yugoslav President confirmed this, the weekly said and added that the credit for this went to Milosevic alone, "his personal qualities of a politician, which is recognised not only by his supporters, but also his unreconcilable opponents."

The weekly quoted as an example the rallies organised by the opposition last winter. "However, Milosevic did not waver, though he made significant concessions - he even ceded Belgrade to his opponents - but he was able to keep Serbia's support," Literaturnaya Gazeta said.

The weekly said that Milosevic's forecast that the opposition would quarrel had been correct, "They quarreled and reduced to nothing their western patrons' hopes."

[07] YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT DEBATES ECONOMIC POLICY

Tanjug, 1997-07-31

The Yugoslav Government held a session on Thursday to review progress in the implementation of the economic policy for 1997. The session was chaired by Prime Minister Radoje Kontic, a Government statement said.

The Government noted that the set economic policy objectives are being attained on the whole, especially as regards stabilisation of prices and of the national currency, the dinar, which is at the core of the 1997 economic policy.

Other main objectives are also being attained, such as increasing production and export, it was said.

Ownership and structural changes in the economy have begun, and the living standards are up, which are also some of the priorities of the Yugoslav Federal Government's economic policy for 1997, it was said.

The body noted that there are positive trends in export, which is considerably greater than last year's average, although still below plan. Special difficulties are being encountered in the sphere of public spending, where there is a wide discrepancy between earnings and the necessary budgetary outlays. This is a serious problem which needs to be tackled without delay, it was noted.

The Government decided that additional measures and steps should be taken especially in order to accelerate the rise in production and export, as well as to combat "the gray market."

The body approved reports on the results of negotiations on bilateral agreements on social security with Croatia, Macedonia, the Czech Republic, Romania and Russia. These agreements should regulate important questions of interest to a large number of people, the body said, specifying that these concern old-age and disability pension benefits and health insurance.

The Yugoslav side to the talks urged that the agreements be based on experience to date and on the latest European standards in these fields.

The Government further reviewed the results of negotiations with Croatia on agreements that should regulate across-border railway traffic, international road passenger and goods traffic, the setting up of border posts and border-zone traffic. The body also reviewed the outcome of talks with Croatia on the implementation of Article 7 of the Normalisation Accord between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Croatia. Article 7 sets down conditions for the repatriation of refugees and fair compensation for property destroyed in the war, the statement said.

[08] LONDON CLUB CO-PRESIDENTS VISIT BELGRADE

Tanjug, 1997-07-31

London Club co-presidents Marie-Christine Crosnier of the Paris-based Societe Generale Bank and Heidi Lefeber of the Duesseldorf West LB on Thursday visited the Belgrade Banking Group and met with President Borka Vucic and her associates. The talks focused on the resumption of talks with the London Club and promotion of cooperation with French and German banks. The London Club co-presidents voiced optimism regarding the resumption of talks and stressed the Belgrade Banking Group's contribution so far, saying it was efficient and successful.

Beogradska Banka was also visited by German Ambassador in Belgrade Wilfried Walter Gruber. Gruber and Vucic discussed the talks with the London Club, the rescheduling of Yugoslav debts and promotion of economic and financial relations with Germany.

Gruber was interested in the organisation and functioning of the Belgrade Banking Group, its role in credit transactions with foreign countries and privatisation projects as well as other activities in which the bank participates.

[09] SERBIAN GOVERNMENT APPROVES LAWS, PROJECTS

Tanjug, 1997-07-31

Serbian Government held a session on Thursday chaired by Prime Minister Mirko Marjanovic and approved the bills on public information and on courts and judges and referred them to the Serbian Parliament for discussion and adoption.

The Government approved a program of realization of the project of construction of the E-80 highway Nis-Pristina-Pec-Montenegro providing an easy route linking the Adriatic coast and the Danube river and the Black Sea. It also approved a program of construction and maintenance of roads in Serbia this year.

[10] MONTENEGRO MIGHT HOLD PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN EARLY 1998

Tanjug, 1997-07-31

The Government of Montenegro chaired by Premier Milo Djukanovic said on Thursday that Montenegro would hold early parliamentary elections in the first half of 1998. A government statement said that, at a meeting convened by Djukanovic on Thursday, all parliamentary parties in this Yugoslav republic had agreed that parliamentary elections should be held early and that this should be in the first half of 1998.

The meeting was attended by Parliament Speaker Svetozar Marovic.

[11] YUGOSLAV MINISTER WRITES TO RABBI OVER JEWISH GRAVES DESECRATION

Tanjug, 1997-07-30

Yugoslav Minister Zoran Bingulac wrote on Wednesday to Yugoslav Chief Rabbi Cadik Danon in connection with the weekend's desecration of nine headstones at the Jewish cemetery in Belgrade's Zemun district. Bingulac, who heads the Government's Commission for relations with religious communities, condemned the vandal act in the strongest terms and hoped that the perpetrators would soon be found, a Government statement said.

Harmony and mutual respect existing between the Serbian and Jewish people in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia could not be jeopardised by anything, not even by this senseless deed which was calculated to disturb the public, Bingulac said.

[12] ACCORD ON AIR TIME FOR PARTIES OPEN FOR SIGNING BY SEPT 5 - MINISTER

Tanjug, 1997-07-30

Serbia's Information Minister said late on Wednesday that the Accord on equal representation of parties on state radio and television in the run-up to elections, signed earlier in the day, would be open for signing until Sept. 5.

Presidential and parliamentary elections in this Yugoslav republic have been called for Sept. 21.

Minister Radmila Milentijevic said she was happy about Wednesday's discussions on the draft accord held at the Serbian Government between reresentatives of the Government, state Radio and Television and 24 parties.

Speaking after the meeting, Milentijevic added that there had been many suggestions made which were interesting and to the point, and that some of them would be incorporated in the text of the Accord.

She stressed that the original text would be revised in the light of the suggestions made this evening, saying she was confident that the parties that had not attended the meeting would also sign the Accord after it had been amended.

[13] TALKS WITH LONDON CLUB RESUME IN BELGRADE

Tanjug, 1997-07-30

Talks about the Yugoslav initiative on the rescheduling of debts with the Co-Chairmen of the London Club of creditor banks will resume in Belgrade on Wednesday and Thursday, the Yugoslav Government said in a statement.

An agreement to resume the talks was reached in London in late June, in a meeting with Yugoslav Deputy Prime Minister Danko Djunic and Yugoslav Minister in charge of coordination of activities and cooperation with international financial organisations Nebojsa Maljkovic. The Yugoslav proposal for the rescheduling of debts is based on the Yugoslav economy's realistic possibilities to fulfil its obligations towards all creditors. It is based on the fact that only economies with a stable growth rate based on orientation towards exports can fulfill all their obligations towards creditors in the long run.

Additional information requested by commercial banks' representatives about the sources and dynamics of influx in and ouflow of funds from the Yugoslav economy as the basis for the rescheduling of obligations will be reviewed at the talks, the statement said.

[14] YUGOSLAV CHAMBER OF COMMERCE RE-ELECTS MILOJEVIC ITS PRESIDENT

Tanjug, 1997-07-30

The Yugoslav Chamber of Commerce Assembly on Wednesday re-elected Mihajlo Milojevic Chamber of Commerce President for a four-year term.

Addressing businessmen, Milojevic said that the positive trend of operation of Yugoslav companies had continued in the first half of this year and that the stability of prices and the national currency, the dinar, had become reality.

Despite grounds for satisfaction with these results, Milojevic said that "there are very serious reasons for objections, both by us and by foreign partners, in connection with a slow adjustment to the new ambience and implementation of new economic laws. Objections also refer to a slow introduction of technologies, fresh capital and best world experiences and working methods into practice."

Milojevic stressed the need for using Yugoslav brains, knowledge and experience in the technological, investment and all other forms of cooperation with competent foreign partners.

He said that "we have reason to support and appreciate each good business move and project - from the small ones to those like the gas arrangement with Russia, oil arrangement with China and telecommunications arrangement with Italy and Greece."

The Yugoslav Chamber of Commerce Assembly also elected Milutin Cirovic and Drago Sofranac chamber vice presidents.

[15] SERBIAN CHURCH LEADER CONDEMNS DESECREATION OF JEWISH GRAVES

Tanjug, 1997-07-30

Patriarch Pavle of the Serbian Orthodox Church sent on Wednesday a message to the head of the Jewish Community in Yugoslavia, Aca Singer, deploring a recent desecration of Jewish graves in Belgrade's Zemun district.

"Returning to Belgrade late on Tuesday after a lengthy absence, we learned about the desecration of nine tombstones in the Jewish cemetery in Zemun (over the weekend). "Condemning this vandal act on behalf of the Serbian Orthodox Church and in our own name, we expect that the perpetrators of this dishonourable deed will be tracked down and punished. We take this opportunity to renew to you the assurances of our sincere consideration," Patriarch Pavle said in the message.

[16] SERBIAN GOVERNMENT, TV, PARTIES SIGN AIR TIME ALLOTMENT ACCORD

Tanjug, 1997-07-30

Officials of the Serbian Government, state Radio and Television and 24 parties that will contest the next polls signed an Accord late on Wednesday on equal representation of parties in the election campaign, the Information Ministry said.

Presidential and parliamentary elections in this Yugoslav republic have been called for Sept. 21.

Meeting at the Serbian Government, they coordinated the text of the Accord with amendments to the Law on Parliamentary Elections adopted by Parliament, in the section about differences in the presentation of the parliamentary and non-parliamentary parties.

Air time allotted to the parties on state television in the run-up to elections will depend on the size of the parties' parliamentary clubs for the parties represented in parliament, and on the number of election tickets for the non-parliamentary parties.

The Accord lays down principles for the equal representation of all contestants in the coming elections, with the signatories agreeing that the same principles should hold for all media, be they state, private or otherwise, regardless of who finances them.

The Accord will remain open to all political organisations to sign before the expiration of the deadline for the nomination of candidates for the elections, which is Sept. 4.

The text of the Accord will be made public, in line with the Law on the election of parliament deputies, the statement said.

[17] BOSNIAN SERB OFFICIAL SAYS ONE SIDE HAS TO LOSE

Tanjug, 1997-07-30

Bosnian Serb member of the Bosnia-Herzegovina Presidency Momcilo Krajisnik has said that the constitutional crisis in the Republika Srpska is about to be settled and that the ruling will have to go against one side. Krajisnik was speaking in an interview to the Thursday issue of the Pristina daily Jedinstvo.

"I have wished so much and pleaded with Mrs Biljana Plavsic that there must be no winners and no losers in this conflict, because there can be no worse thing than a Serb winning against the Serbs. She did not want a compromise, she rejected this."

Krajisnik believes that the crisis in the Republika Srpska was created under the influence of international factors who wish to make the Republika Srpska appear to be a criminalised state in order to be able to evade the sending of assistance with an excuse. "International factors have skilfully imposed this plan of which we are aware, but, unfortunately, Mrs Biljana Plavsic isn't. Mrs Plavsic has some new advisors, people who came from the abroad, whose views about our affairs are different than ours and she just left the team. She separated from us and went to Banja Luka," Krajisnik said.

He said that Plavsic had made two fatal mistakes which the "people can never forgive" - she dissolved Parliament and "attacked Radovan Karadzic without any reason, just because somebody in the West told her that the Republika Srpska would be isolated if she did not dissasociate herself from him."

Krajisnik said that the Republika Srpska could now be rightfully described as a nearly independent state, because only small part of the prerogatives which make state a state belong to Bosnia-Herzegovina. Everything except foreign affairs has remained on the level of entities, i.e. on the level of the Republika Srpska.

"We could not agree what Bosnia-Herzegovina is, we have left this to the future to show through the implementation of the Dayton Accords. In any case, in relations in Bosnia-Herzegovina we have already accomplished important things in keeping the basic and agreed independence of the Republika Srpska," Krajisnik said.

[18] YUGOSLAV-BELARUS COMMISSION SESSION ENDS

Tanjug, 1997-07-30

The first session of an inter-governmental Yugoslav-Belarus Commission for trade and economic cooperation ended in Minsk on Wednesday. The Yugoslav delegation was headed by Yugoslav Foreign Trade Minister Borislav Vukovic, who is also president of the Yugoslav part of the Commission.

The Yugoslav Government said in a statement that both sides had expressed great interest in promoting cooperation, which had already been successful, especially in the field of agriculture, services, the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, transport and the tourist industry.

It was agreed that cooperation agreements should be signed in the field of veterinary medicine, the construction and tourist industries and telecommunications and that higher forms of industrial cooperation, such as joint investments and joint appearance on the third markets, should be one of the forms of future cooperation.

During the visit, which was given much media coverage in Belarus, Minister Vukovic was received by First Deputy Prime Minister Peter Prkonovich and Foreign Minister Antonovich.

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