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Yugoslav Daily Survey, 97-11-21Yugoslav Daily Survey Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Yugoslavia <http://www.yugoslavia.com>Yugoslav Daily SurveyCONTENTS
[01] YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT RECEIVES DELEGATION OF NOVI SAD DAILYTanjug, 1997-11-19On the occasion of the 55th anniversary of the Novi Sad daily Dnevnik, Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic on Wednesday received a Dnevnik delegation headed by Editor-in-Chief Dragan Radevic and company Director Milan Antic. President Milosevic felicitated Dnevnik's staff on its anniversary and stressed the newspaper's role in informing especially in Serbia's northern Province of Vojvodina. Speaking about media's responsibility in providing objective information, Milosevic stressed their importance for Yugoslavia and affirmation of the values of a free country of free people, its independence, economic possibilities, openness towards the world, development and reforms. President Milosevic wished success to Dnevnik and stressed its contribution to the strengthening of national equality and affirmation and positive influence of different national values and cultures. The delegation presented President Milosevic with the golden charter of Dnevnik. [02] YUGOSLAV DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER RECEIVES SHANGHAI DELEGATIONTanjug, 1997-11-19Yugoslav Deputy Prime Minister Nikola Sainovic on Wednesday received a delegation of Shanghai businessmen, headed by City Foreign Trade Affairs Department head Ding Jiangli. The Yugoslav Government said in a statement that both sides had agreed that this working meeting, like the delegation's numerous contacts with the Yugoslav economy in Belgrade, contributed to the speedy strengthening of the two countries' economic relations. Sainovic spoke about concrete possibilities for Shanghai's participation in the transformation of the Yugoslav economy and realisation of important projects in China and Yugoslavia. Shanghai businessmen were especially interested in cooperation in engineering, industry and trade. Serbian Chamber of Commerce Vice President Momir Pavlicevic and Chinese Embassy representatives also participated in the meeting. [03] YUGOSLAV JUSTICE MINISTER MEETS WITH HAGUE TRIBUNAL OFFICIALTanjug, 1997-11-19Yugoslav Justice Minister Zoran Knezevic on Wednesday met with head of the Investigative Department of the Hague-based Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia Kis Hindrix. Knezevic and Hindrix discussed Tribunal's investigations and investigations in which the Yugoslav side is interested, the Yugoslav Government said in a statement. Knezevic reiterated that the Yugoslav Ministry was ready to help promote cooperation with the Tribunal in keeping with Yugoslavia's international obligations and on the basis of the work of the Ministry and other competent organs. He said that this meeting reaffirmed Yugoslavia's cooperation with the Hague Tribunal and that he hoped the Tribunal would be more of a legal than political institution and that every person would enjoy equal treatment during trial. In this context, he pointed at the huge responsibility of investigative judges. Stressing Yugoslavia's cooperation in the realisation of the Tribunal's basic activity, Hindrix mentioned the necessity for a balanced approach to all perpetrators of crimes in the former Yugoslavia. This will enable impartial investigation and realisation of the Tribunal's main goal of winning justice for all victims of crimes and will also enable the stabilisation of the overall political circumstances in the former Yugoslavia. Both sides agreed that Yugoslavia's cooperation with the Tribunal was significantly promoted, which is a good basis for establishing mutual trust. This is why it is possible to expect the entire political picture of Yugoslavia to change, where its relations with this international institution are concerned, the statement said. [04] YUGOSLAV JUSTICE MINISTER KNEZEVIC RECEIVES AUSTRALIAN AMBASSADORTanjug, 1997-11-19Yugoslav Justice Minister Zoran Knezevic received on Wednesday Australian Ambassador Christopher Lamb at the Ambassador's request. Questions relating to inter-state cooperation in the judicial domain were discussed, and it was set out that the cooperation in the particular field was of mutual interest in view of similarities in the two countries' federal systems. Special attention was devoted to the large Yugoslav community in Australia and the need for cooperation on matters relating to it. The two sides expressed readiness to cooperate in the area of economic legislation, with a view to enabling the faster linking of the Yugoslav economy with the rest of the world and securing foreign capital investments in it. [05] ELECTION ADMINISTRATION EXPERTS INSTEAD OF SUPERVISORSTanjug, 1997-11-19The OSCE will send to the Dec. 7 presidential elections in Serbia, experts for monitoring the election administration, instead of the standard supervisors, Tanjug learned on Wednesday at the Vienna OSCE seat. The task of the about 60 experts monitoring the election administration will not be to visit the polling stations, since at the last presidentail elections no problems were recorded on voting day, the OSCE said. Certain deficiencies were recorded only in the election process preceeding the actual voting. OSCE experts will determine whether any changes had occurred since the previous report and recommendations by supervisors. Regarding the Nov. 22-23 parliamentary elections in Republika Srpska, present will be 1,200 OSCE supervisors. In Republika Srpska this mission will cost a little over 20 million German marks, the OSCE said and expressed satisfaction with the results of the voting and the voting itself during the local elections in Bosnia-Herzegovina, held in September. OSCE's main task remains the implementation of the election results, about which there are still difficulties in certain parts of Bosnia, the OSCE said. [06] EXHIBITION OF PHOTOGRAPHS BY GERMAN AUTHORS OPENS IN BELGRADETanjug, 1997-11-19German Ambassador to Yugoslavia Wilfried Gruber opened in Belgrade on Wednesday evening an exhibition of photographs by 30 German photographers. The exhibition is part of the "Good-bye XX Century" project, and the visitors will vote to choose the best photographs to be included in a book, "The XX Century," which is to be published in the year 2000. The photographs on display in Belgrade are part of the German national collection that was exhibited in Belgrade from Oct. 1 to Nov. 1. A pilot exhibition of the 1,000 photographs and a selection from 10,000 photographs from 39 countries has been mounted as the greatest display of photographs in the XX Century. Similar exhibitions will be held throughout the world by the year 2000, to culminate in an "exhibition to top all exhibitions," the photographs from which will be published in the book "The XX Century." The opening of the exhibition was attended by Director of Belgrade Fair Grounds Sinisa Zaric and President of the European Association of Professional Photographers Nikola Radosevic. [07] REPUBLIKA SRPSKA GOVERNMENT INVITES CITIZENS TO VOTETanjug, 1997-11-19The Republika Srpska Government on Wednesday invited the Serbian people to participate in the November 22-23 parliamentary elections and vote for the survival and unity of the Republika Srpska. The Government urged citizens, parties and independent candidates to secure the spirit of democracy and atmosphere of tolerance, avoid new incidents and prevent all forms of violence among political opponents. The Republika Srpska Government condemned all acts of harassment of people who have different views and attacks at their property. In this country, all means must be used to secure the freedom of speech, the statement said. [08] ELECTION ACTIVITIES ACCORDING TO PLANTanjug, 1997-11-19The election activities in Republika Srpska are going according to plan and so far there are no obstacles for the unimpeeded holding of the forthcoming parliamentary elections, the OSCE Office in Trebinje has said. The electorate will cast their ballots on Saturday, November 22, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The OSCE called on the people to vote on the first day to avoid queues. The two-day voting will be carried out at the same polling stations as during the September local elections. In the majority of cases the composition of the election committees will the same as in September and their experience is a guarrantee that there should not be major difficulties during the voting. At the forthcoming elections competing will be 49 independent candidates, coalitions and political parties. [09] SERBS FROM CROATIA PROTEST TO UN ADMINISTRATORTanjug, 1997-11-19The Belgrade-based Association of Serbs from Croatia has urged the UN Administrator of the Srem-Baranya Region (Croatia) William Walker to protect the Serb population in the Region from pressures by Croatian authorities, the Association said in a statement on Wednesday. The acts of the Croatian authorities are aimed at forcing the Serbs to leave the Region in order to have an ethnically pure Croatia. Croatia will be extremely determined and aggressive in this regard unless something is done to prevent it, the statement says. The Association was informed of the disappointment, bitterness and fear of the Serbs in the region, who feel deprived of their rights and unprotected by UNTAES. The behaviour of the Croatian authorities is contrary to international law and to all commitments made by Croatia, the statement says. As the conditions for a peaceful reintegration of the Region into Croatia have not been met since Croatian authorities are unwilling to meet even the most elementary requests of the Serb population, the Association urged Walker to postpone the December 1 deadline for the implementation of the small border trade agreement. This would enable the Serb population to exercise the rights guaranteed by the UN Charter, the Erdut Agreement and other agreements, the statement says. [10] THE HAGUE - NEW PANEL OF JUDGES FOR DOKOMANOVIC CASETanjug, 1997-11-19The War Crimes Tribunal has appointed a new panel of judges for the trial of the former Vukovar Mayor Slavko Dokmanovic, Belgrade lawyer Miroslav Vasic told Tanjug on Wednesday evening. The Tribunal informed Dokmanovic's defense counsel Toma Fila in Belgrade that the Chairman of the panel would be Italian Justice Antonio Cassese and the members Richard George May (Britain) and Florence Ndpele Mwachande Mumba (Zambia). Cassese was President of the Tribunal until today, Wednesday. The date of Dokmanovic's trial will be decided on November 27. Dokmanovic is charged with participation and complicity in the crimes committed in Ovcari near Vukovar in November 1991, Fila's colleague Vasic said. [11] PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC'S VISIT TO CHINA MARKED AS AN IMPORTANT EVENTTanjug, 1997-11-19The official visit of the Yugoslav President to China is an important event that opens a new stage in the development of bilateral relations, Serbian Radio and Television reports, quoting a Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman. Asked by Serbian Radio and Television reporters at a regular news conference, Shen Guofang hailed the visit as a promotion of bilateral relations. Shen said the two presidents, Slobodan Milosevic of Yugoslavia and Jiang Zemin of China, examined bilateral relations and other issues of mutual interest, expressing identical or similar stands, evincive of which is a joint Declaration on friendly relations and cooperation. The visit of President Milosevic has opened a new stage in the development of the two countries, said Shen, and described the signing of the Declaration as a significant political event and a basis for deeper ties in the future. The Declaration envisages closer cooperation in resolving regional and international questions relating to world peace and stability, said Shen. The two presidents examined economic relations, and several contracts on business cooperation were signed to that effect. Carrying Peking's stand, Shen expressed the conviction that great prospects lay ahead for bilateral economic cooperation. We expect both governments to continue to lend support and encouragement to businessmen in implementing concrete projects that will raise the level of economic relations, Shen said in conclusion. [12] SINO-YUGOSLAV RELATIONS DEVELOP STEADILYTanjug, 1997-11-15President Milosevic of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was on his first visit to Chine from the 13th to 16th November. This was a great event in the history of Sino*Yugoslav relations. The press here attached great importance to this visit and held generally that the visit will add new impetus to the development of the relations between the two countries and further promote co*operation in diverse fields between the two countries to a new stage. For days, Yugoslav press, including papers, broadcasting stations and TV, reported in a great way on China's economic achievements and social life, describing a new upsurge of "China craze". Traditional friendly and co*operative relations exist between Chinese and Yugoslav peoples. The two sides, in the long*term contact, understood each other and supported each other and formed deep ties of friendship. After the demise of former Yugoslavia in early 90's, China continued to develop friendly and co*operative relations with all former Yugoslav countries, including Yugoslavia, on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit. In April, 1995, Chinese Vice Premier and Foreign Minister Qian Qi Chen visited Yugoslavia, expounded in a clear*cut way China's principled stance on solving peacefully the former Yugoslav crisis. Yugoslavia spoke highly of China's peaceful foreign policy and the constructive role played in affairs in the said area. Yugoslavia reiterated it will abide by the "one China" policy and have no official relations with Taiwan. During the visit, the two governments signed a plan for co*operation on culture and education in 1995*1996. In December, 1995, Zoran Lilic, Former President of the of the FR of Yugoslavia, paid a visit to China and held successful talks with Chinese President Jiang Zemin on further development of friendly co*operative relations between China and Yugoslavia. The two governments signed an Agreement on encouraging and protection of investment. During the past two years, frequent contacts between the personnel of the two governments and the two parliaments have been witnessed. After Yugoslavia got rid of world sanctions, Sino*Yugoslav economic and trade co*operation was quickly restored. The two countries are highly complimentary in economy. China's textile products and other goods for daily use find favour, since long, in eyes of Yugoslav people; while Yugoslavia's machinery equipment and mechanical and electrical products have also market in China to a certain degrees. Personnel from both economic circles cherished great enthusiasm to the restoration and expansion of co*operation. Last year witnessed the exchange of about 50 economic and trade delegations and groups. The Sino*Yugoslav Mixed Commission on Economy and Trade was also held last year in Belgrade. Through common efforts, the trade volume between the two rose steadily. It is worth mentioning that China's National Chemical Industry Import and Export Corporation reached an agreement, last June, with Yugoslavia Petroleum Corporation to provide annually about 2 million tons of oil to Yugoslavia to help the latter solve its energy problem. During Yugoslav Foreign Trade Minister Vukovic's visit to China, last October, Chinese side decided to provide a loan of USD 19 million to help Yugoslavia reconstruct the Pancevo Nitrogenous Fertilizer Factory. The field for Sino*Yugoslav economic and trade co*operation has expanded sustainedly. While there is a promotion of trade, both sides are exploring actively the possibility for promoting co*operation in diverse ways, such as mutual investment, establishing of joint ventures and developing joint efforts in third country markets. Cultural exchange serves as an important part to the Sino*Yugoslav friendly co*operation. Frequent exchange between the two cultural circles has been witnessed in the past two years. China's Puppet Troupe, the Oriental Song and Dance Ensemble and Yantai Peking Opera Troupe, etc., visited Yugoslavia in continuation and were warmly welcomed by Yugoslav audiences. Yugoslavia's Manovic Folk Song and Dance Ensemble and other art troupes also showed Chinese audiences the elegant demeanour of Yugoslav art. Happily, apart from the cultural exchange between governmental organizations, the exchange between non*governmental cultural organizations is increasing. Just as President Milosevic said during an interview to Chinese journalists in Beijing that although China and Yugoslavia are far from each other, yet the two peoples are on intimate terms. We believe that the friendly and co*operative relations between China and Yugoslavia will steadily and continuously develop and would achieve new successes. [13] PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC MET WITH TRANSITIONAL ADMINISTRATOR WALKERTanjug, 1997-11-18President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Slobodan Milo evi met with Ambassador William Walker, UN Transitional Administrator in the Srem*Baranja region (Eastern Slavonia) and his associates, and with representatives of the region headed by V. Stanimirovi . They discussed the current situation in the region, in particular the process of creating conditions for normal life and development, in accordance with the Erdut Agreement. It was noted that efforts should be intensified to enhance security of all citizens in the region, especially in order to overcome the current problems that render this process more difficult. It was pointed out that a parallel process of an overall normalization and promotion of Yugoslav*Croatian relations should contribute to further positive trends in this territory, and in particular mark a guarantee of a lasting stability, freedom and equal legal security for all citizens of the Srem*Baranja region. The FR of Yugoslavia would continue to offer its support to the efforts made by the UN mission in accomplishing its tasks. [14] WALKER: SOFT BORDERS SYSTEM POSTPONED FOR DECEMBER 1Tanjug, 1997-11-18UNTAES has decided to postpone the establishment of the soft borders system in the Srem-Baranja Region for December 1, the Region's Transitional Administrator William Walker said on Tuesday at a press conference in Belgrade after meeting with Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic. Administrator Walker specified that the soft borders regime was to become effective on 1 November, but that it had to be postponed because documents were not issued in time. The talks with the President of FR Yugoslavia Slobodan Milosevic also dealt, according to Administrator Walker, with guarantees for Serbs in the region as well as with other outstanding issues. Regarding extension of the UNTAES mandate in this region, Administrator Walker said that it would depend on the security situation which, in his judgment, was normal at present. However, as he stressed, the Security Council would take a decision on possible extension of that mandate. The Croatian Government is expected to make public a plan for the reconstruction of Vukovar with the aid of the international community, Walker concluded. [15] YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC GIVES INTERVIEW TO CHINESE STATE TVTanjug, 1997-11-17Central Chinese state TV on Monday broadcast an interview which Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic had given before he left Beijing. During the interview, granted to a Chinese TV editor, President Milosevic answered a number of questions about the Chinese-Yugoslav relations, perspectives of Yugoslavia's economic development, Yugoslavia's role in the resolution of key issues in the Balkans and the country's contribution to the peace process in the former Yugoslavia. Speaking about his talks with Chinese President Jiang Zemin, President Milosevic said that the joint Declaration on friendly relations and cooperation between China and Yugoslavia was very important for progress and friendship and promotion of cooperation between the two countries. We chose a form which would express in the best way what both sides wished to promote: economic, scientific, cultural, educational, sports and all other forms of cooperation which would consolidate our friendship, President Milosevic said. Answering the question about the development of Serbia and especially its economy in the 21st century, Milosevic said that Yugoslavia should be a medium-developed country at the turn of the century. This means that our country should use all of its resources and its position to achieve this goal in industry, high technologies, development of new forms of production as well as in agriculture, food production, transport, tourism and telecommunications, i.e. all segments important for the development of any economy in the world, President Milosevic said. We expect to achieve a ten-percent growth this year, which is by far the biggest in Europe and twice or three times bigger than the biggest growth rate among European countries, Milosevic said. Since late 1993, when we decided to implement our economic programme, all economic indices have constantly been growing. Our goal until the end of this year and the beginning of the next century is that Yugoslavia should reach the next period as a medium-developed country. I believe that we can achieve this, President Milosevic stressed. As for cooperation and development in the field of economy, it is extremely important for us to be fully open to the world. This is why I am certain that these truly impressive development processes in the People's Republic of China would provide possibilities for certain cooperation with the Yugoslav economy and that this cooperation would be in the interest of China and Yugoslavia, President Milosevic said. Asked about the lessons and messages the regional people can get from the period of the Yugoslav crisis and conflicts in the territory of the former Yugoslavia, President Milosevic said that it was Yugoslavia's position since the very beginning that the interests of all Yugoslav peoples had to be equally protected and that the crisis could not be settled to the detriment of one of the peoples. We did not allow the settlement to be to the detriment of the Serbian people, the Yugoslav President said. This is why I believe we have pursued a correct policy and we have preserved the interests of the Serbian people, without inflicting damage on other peoples. It was confirmed that conflicts can be settled only through peaceful means because through the conclusion of peace agreements we succeeded in achieving what could not be achieved through confrontation, President Milosevic said. Therefore, the principal message is that peace is really priceless and that peaceful solutions to conflicts are the only correct way. But I would like to add something else - that peace can not be separated from freedom, because a people must be free if it wishes to live in peace, he said. In this sense, freedom is also priceless, President Milosevic said. Therefore, this is one message which we can draw from the very long history of the Yugoslav peoples and especially the Serbian people and which we can offer to everyone interested in it, the Yugoslav President said. The Chinese television editor asked: Can regional peoples resolve their issue on their own, without the involvement of big powers? The Yugoslav President answered: "The history of the Balkans is turbulent, many a storm has hit the Balkans, but this history, which was difficult, which was turbulent, which consisted of wars and fights for freedom most frequently against empires, against big powers, always ended up with the victory of those who fought for freedom. I am certain that this history which the Balkans and its peoples have left behind can be a great lesson for them all in their future cooperation. "Of course, we have recently held a Conference of the heads of state or government of Balkan countries on Crete, where we made a big step forward in our mutual cooperation. I believe that the Balkan peoples can stop confronting and returning to the past only through intensive cooperation, openness and joint progress. The Crete Conference was held at our initiative, at the initiative of Balkan countries." "This initiative meant that they would participate on an equal footing, this initiative proved to be so successful because Balkan countries were its initiators, because other forces did not interfere in this initiative. I believe that this initiative will help in the process of European integration and that a bright perspective is opening before the Balkan countries," the Yugoslav President said. Asked about his impressions and assessments about China, President Milosevic said: Both I and the entire Yugoslav delegation and a large group of businessmen who visited China have the best impressions about your country's development. You have simply found the right way for carrying out reforms, for making them successful, so that they undoubtedly and very surely lead China to the 21st century as a country which makes intensive progress in its economic development and which has a tendency doubtlessly to be the biggest world economy at the beginning of the next century. In Shanghai I saw that people worked both day and night, that 20,000 construction sites were making steps towards success and progress every day and that similar trends existed in many other parts of China, President Milosevic stressed. We saw Chinese people's huge work aimed at China's welfare, which actually confirms that China is pursuing the best policy for its people and the best policy for its progress. We are impressed by this conclusion and we wish that the Chinese people, the Chinese state, Chinese businessmen and China's leadership succeed, because they are undoubtedly on the path of great success. As for our relations and friendship and cooperation, rest assured that we will do all in our power successfully to promote the started cooperation, that our friendship is constantly being consolidated, President Milosevic said. I have concluded this from my talks with President Jiang Zemin, whom I highly respect and appreciate, and I believe that President Jiang and I made a major step towards the consolidation of our friendship and promotion of our cooperation, Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic said in the lengthy interview, which was broadcast several times at all three Chinese Television channels. [16] R.S. PARLIAMENT ADOPTS DECLARATION ON REPUBLIKA SRPSKA'S EQUALITYTanjug, 1997-11-17The Republika Srpska Parliament adopted in Pale on Monday a Declaration on the Republika Srpska's equality and independence. In the Declaration, the R.S. Parliament stressed that it opposed attempts to strengthen a unitary Bosnia-Herzegovina to the disadvantage of the achieved degree of independence of the Republika Srpska, through the revision of the Dayton Peace Accords. Parliament also stressed its opposition to any changes in the mandate of the NATO-led Stabilisation Force (SFOR) for Bosnia and other international organisations and representatives. It called on R.S. voters to take part in R.S. parliamentary elections scheduled for November 22-23 and to cast ballots in favour of those candidates that guarantee the Republika Srpska's survival and that respect the Constitution and laws that will re-unite the Republika Srpska and preserve it from fatal divisions. Taking into account threats to the Republika Srpska and the fact that Parliament has not been dissolved or has not dissolved of its own accord in keeping with the Constitution and that elections have not been called for in a legal manner, Parliament has decided to continue its work as long as a new Parliament is not set up, the Declaration said. The Declaration also said the international community's representatives have stepped up pressure on the Republika Srpska, its state and political bodies and representatives in Bosnia's common bodies, to accept unacceptable solutions detrimental to the Republika Srpska to which it was not committed under the Dayton Agreement. This is accompanied by impermissible behaviour of the multinational force deployed to Bosnia that has overstepped its mandate providing for the stabilisation of peace and, consequently, has jeopardised peace and order, the harmonious functioning of state and social institutions, creating an atmosphere resembling very much that created by an occupying force, the Declaration said. All this is happening despite R.S. state bodies' readiness to fully implement the Dayton Agreement, the Declaration said. Those exerting pressure from abroad have found an ally in R.S. President Biljana Plavsic and her associates, it said. The R.S. Parliament called on Plavsic to dissolve what it called the illegal Interior Ministry based in Banja Luka urging her not to bypass the R.S. Government and Foreign Ministry in pursuing the Republika Srpska's foreign policy. It criticised Plavsic for assuming much too readily obligations set by the international community that are detrimental to state and national interests, including her agreeing that the Organisation for Security and Cooperation organises the elections in keeping with its rules and her unconditional acceptance of the U.S. equip and train programme. [17] REPUBLIKA SRPSKA ARMY ABIDES BY THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORDSTanjug, 1997-11-17Republika Srpska army Chief of General Staff Gen. Pero Colic met British Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Gen. Rodger Wilker in Pale on Monday and discussed with him the implementation of the Dayton Peace Accords. Colic said after the meeting he had told Wilker that the Bosnian Serb Army consistently abided by the Dayton Peace Treaty. He said Wilker was informed that Bosnian Serbs were of the opinion that the international community had contributed to the restoration of peace in Bosnia, but were also worried that a change in the mandate of the international force or its withdrawal might threaten the stability in this territory. [18] BOSNIAN SERB PREMIER ADDRESSED THE WAR CRIMES COURT ON ANTI-SERB CRIMESTanjug, 1997-11-17The Bosnian Serb Premier invited the War Crimes Court for former Yugoslavia on Monday to investigate the accountability of top-ranking Croat and Muslim officials for crimes against Serb civilians in Sarajevo. Republika Srpska Premier Gojko Klickovic addressed his open letter to the Hague-based Tribunal's Chief Prosecutor and President, Louise Arbour and Antonio Cassese. The letter was prompted by increasingly frequent writings in the western press about Croat and Muslim crimes against Serb civilians in Sarajevo. Klickovic said that the Serb side had submitted to the Tribunal substantial documentation about this matter, but that the Court had not responded adequately. The Court's International Committee had received complete documentation about the persecution and harassment of Serb civilians in Sarajevo, he said. He added that the documents showed that Muslim and Croat civilian and military authorities and leaders had not only been aware of the crimes against Serb civilians in Sarajevo, but had in fact instigated and incited them. Klickovic said it was not clear why the international community had not paid greater attention to the evidence of anti-Serb crimes. The publication by some of the most influential world newspapers of reports about the suffering of Serb civilians in Sarajevo, picked up from Sarajevo's independent "Dani" newspaper, was an effort to inform the world about a several years long delay concerning war crimes against Serb civilians from Muslim, and even from Croat, sources, he said. In view of the interest shown by the world public towards these reports, the Republika Srpska's Government has invited the Court to take the necessary steps to establish the truth and the accountability of high officials for the anti-Serb crimes in Sarajevo, he said. The indifference of the Court's International Committee towards legitimate Serb demands so far had resulted in the Serb people developing a great mistrust of this United Nations body, he stressed. The Serb side is continuing to work intensively on the compilation of further materials which would soon be presented to the Court and the public, Klickovic said. [19] YUGOSLAV INFORMATION SECRETARY ON OPEN COMMUNICATIONSTanjug, 1997-11-17Yugoslav Information Secretary Goran Matic met on Monday in Belgrade over 60 foreign diplomats and press attaches and told them that his Secretariat would strive to develop more open communications with them and to improve their quality. Matic told the press attaches of the United States, Great Britain, Russia, Germany, Canada, China, Ukraine, Bulgaria and other countries that the doors of his Secretariat would be open for them day and night. The Secretariat will do all it can to make communications more free and open and thus contribute to their better quality and to better information flow, Matic said. Matic said that he, as well as foreign diplomats, often disapproved the reporting by some media, but noted that this was the result of the freedom of the press in Yugoslavia. This is part of the impressive democratization process that has been under way in Yugoslavia for several years, he said. Matic noted that the media boom Yugoslavia has been experiencing for several years was really impressive, as demonstrated by the large number of dailies, and expressed hope that the forthcoming Law on information would include provisions on expanding international cooperation in information. Matic underlined that in addition to information flow, it was also essential to maintain friendly relations among people, especially those exercising similar professions. [20] SEVEN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES HAVE LEGALLY VALID DOCUMENTSTanjug, 1997-11-17The Serbian Electoral Commission has so far established that seven candidates in Serbia's presidential elections scheduled for December 7 fulfil all legal requirements. Nebojsa Rodic, the Commission's Secretary, told a news conference in Belgrade that the candidates in question included Milan Milutinovic * nominated by the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS), the Yugoslav Left (JUL) and the New Democracy (ND), Vojislav Seselj * nominated by the Serbian Radical Party (SRS), Ratko Mijailovic * nominated by the Universalist Movement of Serbia, Miroslav Kostic * nominated by the Progressive Party, Vuk Draskovic * nominated by the Serbian Renewal Movement (SPO), and Miodrag Vidojkovic and Milan Milisavljevic * nominated by civil groups. Rodic said the deadline by which presidential candidates were to be nominated expired at midnight on Sunday, saying four candidates had registered on Saturday and as many as 13 on Sunday. He said more than a half of the total number of candidates had registered almost at the last possible moment. Subsequently, the Commission will have to determine whether other candidates meet all legal requirements in the shortest time possible, he said adding that the list of candidates had to be completed by November 22. Figures released by the Commission put the number of voters that confirmed their support to candidates by signatures at 985,963. Nearly a half of these voters offered support to Milutinovic, followed by Seselj who secured support of 160,000 and Draskovic of 16,000 voters. Other presidential candidates secured support of 10,000 voters each or slightly more, Rodic said. Rodic said the candidates had been nominated by political parties, other political organisations and 12 civil groups. It will be possible to give up candidacy by the end of the week when the list of candidates is to be released. A sum of 784,000 dinars, secured for financing the December 7 election, will be equally divided among the parties whose candidates are running in the election. [21] PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC VISITED THE ECONOMIC ZONE PUDONGTanjug, 1997-11-15Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic visited in Shangai the special economic zone of Pudong whose development testifies to the impressive results achieved by China's economic reforms in the last few years. The special economic zone of Pudong was created seven years ago within China's projects of opening up towards the world and attracting foreign capital. The zone's officials informed President Milosevic about the main orientations of development. President Milosevic was interested to learn about the zone's development, its tax system and other regulations of this future financial, trade, and economic center. President Milosevic then visited in Shangai the Museum of the Communist Party of China where in July 1921 the First Congress of the Chinese Party was held. After visiting Pudong President Milosevic met with the Mayor of Shangai Si Kuang Di who hosted a lunch in honour of President Milosevic. [22] KRAJISNIK MET WITH SCHUMACHERTanjug, 1997-11-15The President from the Republika Srpska (RS) in the Presidency of Bosnia- Herzegovina, Momcilo Krajisnik, met on Saturday with Deputy High Representative Henrich Schumacher, to discuss the implementation of the Dayton Agreement. After the talks, Krajisnik said that the meeting had been constructive and that a statement made by members of the London Club on the resolution of some controversial issues linked to the implementation of the Dayton Agreement was also discussed. Krajisnik said that he had signed this statement and that the Bosnia- Herzegovina Parliament, which should convene on Tuesday, would accept the proposal on the passport, flag and citizenship laws. According to him, the Serb people are specially interested in the passport which, he said, should contain on its cover the symbols of Bosnia- Herzegovina and RS and use letters of the same size to show to the people that this passport also belongs to them. Schumacher said that the Bosnia-Herzegovina Parliament would on Tuesday adopt a Law on the Council of Ministers which should be a basis for the work of joint Bosnia-Herzegovina institutions and which does not prejudge any issues. I proposed to Krajisnik that he and his colleagues implement the laws and thus signal to the international community that RS is submitting to the Dayton Agreement and that it accepts the joint institutions, Schumacher said. He set out that agreement must be reached on citizenship, passport and flag. Time is running out, the international community is becoming impatient, Schumacher said and added that an International Conference on the application of the Dayton Agreement should be held on December 10 in Bonn. [23] YUGOSLAV AMBASSADOR HELD A RECEPTION FOR PRESIDENT MILOSEVICTanjug, 1997-11-15In honour of Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic, who ended a very successful three-day official visit to the People's Republic of China, Yugoslav Ambassador in Beijing Slobodan Unkovic has hosted a reception at the Embassy. Greeting President Milosevic, Unkovic said that his visit to China has given exceptional results. "Your talks with President Jiang Zemin and other senior Chinese officials have opened new roads for the expansion of friendship and cooperation in all spheres, especially the economic," Unkovic said. Addressing the assembled guests, President Milosevic expressed satisfaction with the development of comprehensive cooperation between China and Yugoslavia which, he said, was the object of his visit. "President Jiang and I have made a huge step in this direction," Milosevic said and expressed hope that the Chinese and Yugoslav peoples would do everything to render their comprehensive links and friendship lasting. [24] PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC VISITED SHANGAITanjug, 1997-11-15Yugoslav President Milosevic said, after visiting Shangai, that he was impressed by the city's economic development. "This is a confirmation of the right way of the Chinese policy, of economic reforms and opening up towards the world. Such an impressive and accelerated development could have been achieved only by pursuing a policy for which it is not enough to say that it was a good choice. It should be said that it was the best choice", President Milosevic said in talks with the Mayor of Shangai Si Kuang Dijem. Welcoming the Yugoslav President, Mayor Si said that he received on Friday a message from President Jiang Zemin to provide for President Milosevic a comfortable stay in Shangai. He pointed to the closeness of our two peoples, recalling that it dates back to the time of the fight against fascism and for liberation. President Milosevic said he hoped China will continue on the road of successes and that the country will soon be reunited. "As for our relations, we have come here to cement our friendship and develop cooperation", Milosevic said summing up the results of his visit to China. President Milosevic assessed that important steps have been made towards the strengthening of friendship and cooperation between the two countries. [25] PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC: COOPERATION OF GREAT MUTUAL IMPORTANCE AND INTERESTTanjug, 1997-11-16The visit to the Republic of China has been successful and marks the beginning of very wide and multiform cooperation between FR Yugoslavia and PR China, Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic said upon his return from an official visit to China. President Milosevic told reporters at the Belgrade airport that he believed cooperation between Yugoslavia and China "will be of great importance for both countries." It will undoubtedly "express the need of the process of integration, cooperation and prosperity for all those taking part in the process," the Yugoslav President said. "China is today not only a country with the largest population in the world but also the most successful, as it has been registering for over one decade unparalleled economic growth in the modern world. China has already stepped into the next century in many fields of high technology, telecommunications, industry," President Milosevic said. "I am especially gratified," President Milosevic said, "for having established also a personal relationship with President Jiang Zemin." "I think that is of exceptional importance and will guarantee and support the realization of the program of cooperation which we have agreed. Our joint orientation for comprehensive cooperation has been confirmed in the official document which we have signed and the Declaration on friendship and cooperation concluded between FR Yugoslavia and PR China. It involves practically all fields of economic, scientific, cultural and every other form of a activity and I am certain that it will represent an important institutional basis which will encourage cooperation. As you know, a large number of businessmen has travelled with me. They are representatives of renowned Yugoslav enterprises who have concluded a number of concrete deals about which you will learn in detail from them, but everything that was achieved during this visit can be considered as the first step of a very successful future cooperation in mutual interest. Time will show if that is true and I firmly believe in that cooperation," Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic said in conclusion. [26] MILOSAVLJEVIC: SUCCESSFUL VISIT TO THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUSTanjug, 1997-11-14Serbian Minister Andra Milosavljevic said that the Serbian state-economic delegation had a "useful and successful" three-day visit to the Republic of Belarus. "In talks with the representatives of the Belarus ministries and Parliament we identified ways and possibilities of economic cooperation between Serbia and Belarus," Milosavljevic told reporters on return from a three-day visit to Belarus. Milosavljevic said our delegation had stated an interest for the Yugoslav economy to import from Belarus components for the production of artificial fertilizers, the production of cooking salt, and medium and big-power tractors. He also said that the Serbian delegation had offered to partners from Belarus final products of the Yugoslav food industry, maize, flour, cooking oil, sugar, footwear and health tourism services. According to Milosavljevic, talks also dealt with joint investments, formation of mixed enterprises, double taxation relief and customs facilities. [27] YUGOSLAV PARLIAMENT SPEAKER BOZOVIC CONFERED WITH CHINESE CONGRESS OFFICIAL WANGTanjug, 1997-11-14Speaker of the Yugoslav Parliament's Chamber of Republics Srdjan Bozovic, who was in China as member of the Yugoslav delegation headed by President Slobodan Milosevic, met on Friday with Deputy Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Chinese National People's Congress Wang Bingchian. It was assessed in the talk that the signed joint Declaration on friendly relations and cooperation between the two countries had opened new areas for stable and comprehensive cooperation between Yugoslavia and China, on clearly defined principles. The vist to China of Yugoslav President Milosevic and the signed Declaration mark a new important stage in the development of Yugoslav- Chinese relations, it was set out. The two sides assessed that the visit of President Milosevic was extremely important because it opened wide possibilities for an all-round development of relations between the two countries, especially economic cooperation. The Chinese side stressed its interest in having Yugoslavia as soon as possible take its place in the international community, which it said rightly belonged to it, and pointed out that this would be in the interest not only of Yugoslavia but of the international community, itself. Deputy Chairman Wang set out that President Milosevic and Chinese President Jiang Zemin had had very substantive talks and had agreed on the further development of cooperation between the two countries. Wang said the joint Declaration was a foundation for a forceful development of friendly and comprehensive relations between the two countries. We are pleased with this and can say that the visit of President Milosevic has already been successful, Wang stressed. Wang and Bozovic emphasized that adequate conditions existed for the further promotion of parliamentary cooperation through the exchange of parliamentary delegations, direct communication between parliamentary committee and commissions, and other forms of exchange of parliamentary experiences. [28] CONCLUSION OF IMPORTANT AGREEMENTS BETWEEN YUGOSLAV AND CHINESE BUSINESSMENTanjug, 1997-11-16The conclusion of 12 business arrangements and the opening up of possibilities for new deals, are the results of activities of the Yugoslav business delegation in China during the official visit of Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic. To that number should be added the contract signed by the Lola Corporation with their Chinese partner just before the departure of President Milosevic for Beijing. Representatives of Sever, Zmaj and Viskoza gave concrete forms to agreements of cooperation with partners from China. In the past two days agreements of cooperation have been signed by IMT, Azotara Pancevo, 14 Oktobar, Jugoimport STPR, Gosa, Lola Corporation and Livnica Kikinda. The contracts regulate purchase-sale relations, joint investments and technology transfer. Sever has concluded two pre-agreement for the sale of irrigation pumps. The partners are from the Provinces of Henan and Shandong and the deals are worth three million dollars. A good deal has been announced by Zmaj. Our firm will deliver 200 combines and 100 corn-picking machines to a Chinese firm from the Province Internal Mongolia. The machines will be delivered in parts and the deal, worth six million dollars, should be realized next year. The latest contract signed by our firms in China is by Viskoza from Loznica worth seven million dollars. Loznica will deliver to the Chinese buyer cellulose fibres. The list of concrete arrangements with the Chinese will soon be expanded, our businessmen have confirmed. "Possibilities for cooperation are huge," said President of Gosa Company from Smederevska Palanka, Branislav Milanovic after signing an agreement with the Chinese partner on the building of steel silos. Gosa has started the realization of an agreement on building a trailer car plant in the town of Karbina and other deals are also planned. Optimism regarding possibilities for new deals was expressed also by the representative of Livnica from Kikinda Nadj Ferenc. The town of Kikinda has for several years been exporting to the Chinese market goods worth half a million dollars and now together with the Lola Corporation they have concluded a new agreement worth 15 million dollars. The deal involves the exporting of tool machines to the Chinese Machine Corporation. "Our representative has been working here for three years, a sign that we are counting on the Chinese market," Nadj said. Assessing these arrangements, Yugoslav Foreign Trade Minister Borislav Vukovic announced even better days, as the deals between Yugoslav and Chinese firms will receive greater backing from the two countries' banks. [29] PRIME MINISTER KONTIC RECEIVED ASSISTANT MINISTER SCHILLTanjug, 1997-11-14Yugoslav Prime Minister Radoje Kontic received on Friday German Assistant Minister of Economy Hans Schill, who heads a German state and economic delegation on a several-day visit to Yugoslavia. The talk which covered the renewal, strengthening and promotion of Yugoslav- German cooperation, was attended also by Yugoslav Deputy Minister of Economy Slobodan Djokovic and German Ambassador in Belgrade Wilfried Gruber, a Government statement said. Special attention was devoted to the intensification of all-round bilateral relations. Prime Minister Kontic stressed that Germany had been the leading economic and financial partner of the former Yugoslavia and that the Yugoslav Federation of Serbia and Montenegro accounted for the bulk of the German technology and equipment imported at the time. Kontic said the several hundred thousands of Yugoslavs who were working in Germany were a bridge of cooperation between the two countries. The Yugoslav Prime Minister pointed out to the great interest of German businessmen in cooperation with partners in Yugoslavia and urged also the full normalization of political relations between the two countries. Assistant Minister Schill set out that the formerly traditionally good Yugoslav-German economic cooperation provided a basis for the further development and promotion of economic relations. Schill assured Prime Minister Kontic that Germany was interested to see Yugoslavia regulate its relations with international financial, trade and other organizations as soon as possible. [30] PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC CONFERRED WITH ASSEMBLY CHAIRMAN QIAO AND FOREIGN MINISTER QIANTanjug, 1997-11-14Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic received on Friday afternoon Chinese Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Qian Qichen, and then met with Chairman of the Standing Committee of the All-China National People's Congress Qiao Shi. The meetings, which followed exhaustive and substantive talks with Chinese President Jiang Zemin on Thursday, completed President Milosevic's contacts and talks with top Chinese officials. In the talk between President Milosevic and Standing Committee Chairman Qiao, which was extremely substantive and friendly, just as all the other meetings the Yugoslav President had in China, the readiness steadily to promote Yugoslav-Chinese relations was reiterated. Standing Committee Chairman Qiao said he hoped President Milosevic's visit to China would be successful, and set out that the Chinese Assembly and he, himself, attached great importance to it. President Milosevic said he was pleased to be meeting with such a distinguished Chinese personage which had greatly contributed to the development of friendly relations and cooperation between the two countries. He pointed out the great importance and role played by parliaments in the overall development of relations between the two countries, a point with which Qiao agreed and which is contained in the Declaration signed on Thursday by Presidents Milosevic and Jiang. Qiao set out that the Chinese Assembly was ready to back efforts for a further diversification and steady promotion of Yugoslav-Chinese relations. He emphasized the importance of President Milosevic's visit to China, and said it would open new possibilities for the further development of Yugoslav-Chinese political and economic relations. Qiao stressed that the Chinese leadership and he, himself, were following with extreme interest the development of the situation in Yugoslavia, and he wished Yugoslavia success in its current efforts to secure stability on the basis of the principles of the policy defined by the Yugoslav leadership. Qiao pointed up the need for the two parliaments to intensify their mutual contacts and dialogue and in that way contribute to better understanding and the quest of possibilities for the development of all forms of cooperation, especially economic. President Milosevic especially dwelt on the development of the FR of Yugoslavia since peace was established on the territory of the former Yugoslavia. Yugoslavia has become an important factor of peace and stability in the region, President Milosevic stressed. He set out that Yugoslavia was still exposed to certain external pressures, but said it, nevertheless, succeeded in securing its own dynamic growth and stability. The Yugoslav President and the Chairman of the Chinese Assembly's Standing Committee urged that efforts be joined to secure a forceful development of Yugoslav-Chinese relations and cooperation in all domains, so that the two countries could play an even more important role in international relations. The meeting between President Milosevic and Chinese Foreign Minister Qian Qichen was devoted to international topics, including the development of the situation in the regions to which Yugoslavia and China belong, and to Yugoslav-Chinese relations. President Milosevic said he had come to China wanting relations, cooperation and friendship between the two countries to be promoted. Minister Qian said he was pleased to be meeting with President Milosevic, and noted that he had pleasant memories of his visit to Belgrade two years ago. Affirming that major changes had occurred in the region of the Balkans, Qian said that the greatest difficulties were over and hailed the results achieved by Yugoslavia in internal development and the stabilization of its international position. Qian pointed out that Yugoslavia was an important factor of stability and peace not only in the region but also on the wider international level in Europe. The Chinese Foreign Minister supported the efforts of FR Yugoslavia to preserve unity and promote cooperation with all countries in the world. He assessed that Yugoslav-Chinese relations were good, that cooperation had solid bases promising even better future results, expressing China's readiness that relations with Yugoslavia be further improved. President Milosevic said that Yugoslavia was firmly decided to be a factor of peace and stability in the region. President Milosevic in that context pointed to the importance of the recently-held Summit of Countries of Southeastern Europe on Crete for the development of regional cooperation which is very important, as it strengthens the role of each and every country and of the region as a whole on the international level. President Milosevic emphasized Yugoslavia's efforts to remove all barriers limiting economic and other cooperation with Balkan countries and to create a wider space for the further strengthening of relations and cooperation. Pointing to the fact that major changes had occurred recently in the region of Yugoslavia, which has entered a period of intense economic and technological development, Milosevic said that the country was still exposed to certain external pressure including the so-called outer wall of sanctions. That outer wall has no justification in any international document and constitutes a difficulty for Yugoslavia, Milosevic said, expressing his belief that this obstacle too will soon be overcome. President Milosevic said that Yugoslavia attaches great importance to relations with China and wants to improve and step up cooperation considerably. Chinese Foreign Minister Qian said he was pleased to see the accelerated economic recovery and development of Yugoslavia. China, he said, is in principle against all sanctions and urges relations which guarantee full cooperation and the equality of all countries. He stated readiness to continue to contribute to the solution of regional problems and said that in that respect he expected full cooperation with Yugoslavia. Speaking about relations in the region, Milosevic pointed out that conditions had been created for the Balkans to be a region of stable development and multifaceted cooperation, stressing once again the importance of the recently-held summit on Crete. Speaking about the Peace Process in the territory of the former Yugoslavia, Milosevic underlined the huge importance of the Dayton Peace Agreement, pointing to the interest and commitment of Yugoslavia to its consistent implementation. Yugoslavia sees in that agreement a guarantee for peace, stability and prosperity in the territory of the former Yugoslavia, the Yugoslav President said. (only the first 30 articles are shown) Yugoslav Daily Survey Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |