Yugoslav Daily Survey, 98-09-18

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

Yugoslav Daily Survey

CONTENTS

[01] STRONG PROTEST LODGED WITH THE BRITISH AMBASSADOR

[02] ITALIAN MEDIA USE TERM "TERRORISTS" FOR "KLA" MEMBERS

[03] CHINESE DAILY: E.U. BAN ON YUGOSLAV AIRLINES FLIGHTS UNREASONABLE

[04] FINAL RESULTS OF BOSNIA ELECTIONS TO BE ANNOUNCED NEXT WEEK

[05] YUGOSLAVIA SETS UP AN ECONOMIC AND BANKING CENTRE IN BRATISLAVA

[06] YUGOSLAV-CROATIAN COMMISSION HOLDS ITS 10TH SESSION

[07] SIX PERSONS IDENTIFIED

[08] AFANASIEVSKY: RUSSIA SEES NO MILITARY SOLUTION TO THE KOSMET CRISIS

[09] RUSSIA FINDS USE OF FORCE TO SOLVE KOSMET ISSUE UNACCEPTABLE

[10] SELEZNYOV: KOSOVO AND METOHIJA IS AN INALIENABLE PART OF SERBIA

[11] FOUR POLICEMEN WOUNDED IN TERRORIST ATTACKS

[12] STATE DUMA OFFICIALS DISCUSS SITUATION IN KOSMET

[13] SERBIAN REPORTERS CONDEMN MANIPULATIONS IN FOREIGN MEDIA

[14] DJUKANOVIC: MONTENEGRO IS FOR PEACEFUL RESOLUTION OF THE KOSMET CRISIS

[15] KOSOVO DISTRICT HEAD MEETS WITH U.S. OFFICIAL

[16] MILOSAVLJEVIC: CONDITIONS ARE BEING SECURED FOR NORMAL LIFE IN KOSMET

[17] GATHERING OF DANUBIAN COUNTRIES OPENS IN BELGRADE

[18] PRESIDENT OF SERBIA MILUTINOVIC RECEIVED CASPARETT

[19] PROTECTION OF RIGHTS AND ECONOMIC INTERESTS OF YUGOSLAV AIRLINES

[20] STRONG PROTEST LODGED WITH GERMAN CHARGE D'AFFAIRES

[01] STRONG PROTEST LODGED WITH THE BRITISH AMBASSADOR

Tanjug, 1998-09-18

Ambassador of Great Britain, Brian Donelli, was summoned yesterday to th e Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs where strongest protest was lodged to him in the wake of the statement of the British Foreign Secretary Robi n Cook made two days ago. The Federal Ministry characterized the statemen t as one ignoring the facts and the actual state of affairs, i.e. lacking readiness to accept the latest positive developments in the Southern Ser bian province of Kosovo and Metohija.

In the protest, it was emphasized that the British decision to ban the J AT flights represents a discriminatory act, that it harms positive develo pments in Kosovo and Metohija and directly supports separatism and terror ism.

The claim in Secretary Cook's statement to the effect that repressive ac tivities continue, is totally baseless and ill-intentioned. It ignores th e fact that citizens are massively returning to their homes, that they ha nd over arms and demonstrate trust towards the authorities. At the same t ime, Secretary Cook failed to mention the terrorist atrocities, particula rly Nazi-style execution sites of civilians in Klecka, Jezero and other p laces. This speaks of the fact that the positions contained in the statem ent are not only totally baseless but biased and ill-intentioned. These a nd similar positions, however, cannot change the reality nor stop the pos itive processes which are not dependent on the statements and interests o f others, but on constructive efforts of the State authorities and citize ns.

[02] ITALIAN MEDIA USE TERM "TERRORISTS" FOR "KLA" MEMBERS

Tanjug, 1998-09-17

The political crisis in Albania has compelled Italian media for the firs t time to use the proper term "terrorists" for members of the "Kosovo Lib eration Army".

The Turin "La Stampa" said that Albanian Government Spokesman Ben Blushi had urged political representatives of the Albanian national minority in Serbia's southern province of Kosovo and Metohija "to distance themselve s from Sali Berisha and his terrorists, as they can only prove detrimenta l."

The daily said the statement had been prompted by the open support lent to Sali Berisha in Tirana by "members of the militant group 'Kosovo Liber ation Army,'" and that some leaders of the terrorist organization had ope nly stated that "they will come to the former Albanian president's aid if necessary."

The Rome "La Repubblica" quoted authorities in Tirana as warning ethnic Albanians in Kosovo and Metohija "to avoid any contact with those who wan t to carry out a state coup and who resort to terrorist acts." The Itali an news Agency ANSA set out that the "Kosovo Liberation Army" was "chiefl y responsible for the large number of civilian casualties in clashes in K osovo and Metohija."

ANSA quoted UNHCR Spokeswoman Margaret O'Keefe as accusing the "KLA" of using ethnic Albanians as a "human shield in the fighting" and that this was why there were "many innocent civilian casualties."

[03] CHINESE DAILY: E.U. BAN ON YUGOSLAV AIRLINES FLIGHTS UNREASONABLE

Tanjug, 1998-09-17

It is unreasonable that the European Union is introducing sanctions agai nst Yugoslavia and, at the same time, sacrificing its own economic intere sts, the Chinese daily "Gongren Ribao" said on Thursday in an article on the E.U. ban on Yugoslav Airlines (JAT, 1998) flights.

"Historical experiences show that sanctions cannot help resolve any inte rnational or regional problem," the daily said in the article headlined " Sanctions Are Not a Good Solution." It set out that E.U. members, themsel ves, disagreed about the measure and that the ban was being implemented w ith difficulty.

"Gongren Ribao" said the sanctions had been unnecessary, and stressed th at there had been no larger-scale clashes in Serbia's southern province o f Kosovo and Metohija since the ban was imposed.

The daily said the "Yugoslav Government has many times stated its readin ess for a dialogue" with representatives of ethnic Albanians on a degree of autonomy for the province.

"In such a situation, the E.U. should have changed its policy on time an d invested new diplomatic efforts to bring about a dialogue on Kosovo and Metohija," the Chinese daily stressed.

It reminded readers that the United States had more then a 100 times res orted to economic sanctions against other countries since World War II an d that "an overwhelming majority failed to produce the expected results."

"Why does the E.U. wish to adopt the U.S. method of sanctions," it asked and pointed out that, in order to protect its own economic interests, th e E.U. had more than once opposed the U.S. policy of sanctions.

[04] FINAL RESULTS OF BOSNIA ELECTIONS TO BE ANNOUNCED NEXT WEEK

Tanjug, 1998-09-17

Head of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Bosnia m ission Robert Barry said on Thursday that the final results of the electi ons in Bosnia would be announced on September 23 and 24.

In a press conference at Banjaluka airport, Barry said that early result s would not be announced, adding that the counting of ballots was in proc ess and that it would be precise.

Barry excluded any possibility of manipulation in the counting of votes, and added that there had been many complaints of violations during the c ampaign silence, in particular in Republika Srpska.

[05] YUGOSLAVIA SETS UP AN ECONOMIC AND BANKING CENTRE IN BRATISLAVA

Tanjug, 1998-09-17

An agreement on the setting up of a Yugoslav economic and banking centre in Bratislava was signed at the Yugoslav Embassy in Slovakia on Thursday.

The agreement was signed by the founders * the Yugoslav Chamber of Comme rce, the Yugoslav Embassy in Slovakia, Beogradska Banka a.d., the Belgrad e Agricultural Corporation a.d., the Tanjug news agency, the companies Mo bex and Cosimex, the Genex System Holding Corporation, the Gosa Holding C orporation and PIK Takovo.

The Yugoslav Embassy in Bratislava has secured the premises and all lega l and technical preconditions for the centre's successful work.

Belgrade Agricultural Corporation Director-General Vojislav Simanovic wa s nominated centre's Administrative Board President and Radomir Lukovic i ts Director.

The agreement, which was also signed by Tanjug Director and Editor-in-Ch ief Dusan Djordjevic, envisages the opening of Tanjug's office in Bratisl ava within the centre.

Yugoslav Ambassador to Slovakia Veljko Curcic said that the value of the Yugoslav-Slovak trade had previously amounted to 900 million dollars a y ear and that the centre should help the two countries reach the value of trade of at least 450 million dollars.

The value of the Yugoslav-Slovak trade is expected to amount to about 10 0 million dollars this year.

[06] YUGOSLAV-CROATIAN COMMISSION HOLDS ITS 10TH SESSION

Tanjug, 1998-09-17

The Yugoslav-Croatian Commission for implementing Article 7 of the norma lisation treaty between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Croatia he ld its 10th session in Zagreb on Thursday.

According to a joint statement the two sides noted there was a positive trend in the process of repatriation of exiles and refugees to Croatia, b ut that the process had to be stepped up.

The competent estate agencies briefed the commission on their work to da te and agreed future action.

Talks were resumed also on either country's corporate property in the ot her country, with both sides noting that stock of such property was being taken in both countries.

Croatia informed the Yugoslav side that the sale of such property owned by Yugoslav companies in Croatia had been stopped.

The commission called its next session for early October in Belgrade, th e joint statement said.

[07] SIX PERSONS IDENTIFIED

Tanjug, 1998-09-17

Expert teams from the Belgrade Medical Faculty and the Forensic Institut e are continuing the identification of bodies uncovered in Glodjani in a canal leading towards Radonjic Lake.

Pec District Court Investigating Judge Radomir Gojkovic told Tanjug on T hursday that the investigation to date has shown that the bodies and part s of bodies uncovered undoubtedly show they are the remains of 34 persons 2E Also were found parts of bones whose origin cannot be determined.

All these remains were uncovered in the village of Dasinovac and the can al which leads from Decanska Bistrica to Radonjic Lake.

A body was found buried in the stables of the Porparimi agricultural coo perative in Rznic.

Experts of the Belgrade Medical Faculty and the Forensic Institute have been engaged to determine the identity, cause of death and time of death.

So far have been identified six persons: Milovan Vlahovic, Velizar Stosi c, Iljire Frokaj, Jusuf Hodza, Slobodan Radosevic and Milos Radunovic, Ju dge Gojkovic.

Close to the bodies found near the canal, barbwire with a sliding noose at one end was also uncovered. The wire was entwined with long hairs. A p art of an electric cable with black plastic insulation was also found. It s characteristics are the same as that of a cable found in the stables of the before-mentioned cooperative.

Expert teams also uncovered a rope used by mountaineers with a noose at one end.

[08] AFANASIEVSKY: RUSSIA SEES NO MILITARY SOLUTION TO THE KOSMET CRISIS

Tanjug, 1998-09-17

Russia believes that there can be no military solution to the crisis in the Yugoslav republic of Serbia's Kosovo and Metohija province and oppose s imposition of such a solution from outside, according to Deputy Foreign Minister Nikolai Afanasievsky who spoke on Thursday for Belgrade's BK te levision.

He stressed that Moscow urged only a political and peaceful settlement o f the crisis based on the principles as set down in the June 16 Moscow st atement by Presidents Slobodan Milosevic of Yugoslavia and Boris Yeltsin of Russia.

Afanasievsky said he believed that the positions of Serbia and Yugoslavi a were very important in this respect and that there was good will to fin d a political and peaceful settlement of the crisis, as evident from thei r proposal of an interim solution.

He went on to say that the way to achieve such a settlement was graduall y, adding that the most important thing at present was to end fighting in Kosovo and Metohija, enhance security measures and stability, and restor e mutual trust. This should be followed by organising self-rule in the pr ovince based on modern European standards, and by dealing with the humani tarian problems.

The road is hard, much time has been lost and problems have piled up, an d regrettably, ethnic Albanians in the province are not united on the nee d to open dialogue, according to Afanasievsky. He further said that Serbi a and Yugoslavia were demonstrating commitment to the Moscow statement.

He said that everybody could see that much had been done, especially for the return of displaced people and in providing care and humanitarian ai d, which was very important for opening talks.

Asked if there could be negotiation with terrorists, Afanasievsky said h e had discussed this point a couple of months ago with U.S. envoy Holbroo ke, who had allegedly met by chance with ethnic Albanian terrorists. He h ad made it clear to Holbrooke then that there could be no negotiation wit h those fighting for secession, since it was impossible to negotiate with people who were against negotiating a peaceful settlement.

Afanasievsky said that the international community had several proposals and ideas how to end the Kosovo and Metohija crisis, stressing however t hat the territorial integrity and unity of Yugoslavia could not be questi oned. This could not be discussed at all; quite the opposite, a solution to the crisis should be sought on the basis of territorial integrity, he added.

He was asked if Russia could, in light of its serious economic difficult ies, defend its principled position that there could be no military settl ement for Kosovo and Metohija against those in the U.N. Security Council who were urging precisely such a settlement.

He said he hoped that the worst of Russia's economic problems were over, that Russia would soon get a new government headed by Yevgeny Primakov, which would make no changes in the foreign policy, including the policy o n the Balkans and Kosovo and Metohija.

[09] RUSSIA FINDS USE OF FORCE TO SOLVE KOSMET ISSUE UNACCEPTABLE

Tanjug, 1998-09-17

Russia and the international community are concerned about the situation in the Yugoslav republic of Serbia's Kosovo and Metohija province, but a ny option involving the use of force to settle the issue is unacceptable, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Vladimir Rakhmanin told a regular press brief ing that this view was expressed also by Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov dur ing his Wednesday's telephone conversation with U.S. Secretary of State M adeleine Albright.

Rakhmanin was commenting on threats to use force in Kosovo and Metohija reiterated of late by German Defense Minister Volker Ruehe.

Rakhmanin said that the international community currently focused on the humanitarian situation in Kosovo and Metohija, adding that the Contact G roup was also exerting efforts to solve this problem.

To a question of an alleged Russian-U.S. rapprochement in ways to overco me the crisis in Kosovo and Metohija, he said that the two countries had joined efforts to solve the problem within overall efforts to settle cris is spots worldwide.

The Russian-U.S. dialogue on these matters is constructive. Both countri es call for a peaceful settlement of the conflict, said Rakhmanin. He add ed that preservation of the unity of the Contact Group was still vital fo r the settlement of the Kosovo and Metohija issue.

[10] SELEZNYOV: KOSOVO AND METOHIJA IS AN INALIENABLE PART OF SERBIA

Tanjug, 1998-09-17

Russia sees Kosovo and Metohija solely as an inalienable part of the Yug oslav republic of Serbia, with some form of autonomy, but certainly not a s a separate state, Russian State Duma Lower House Speaker Gennady Selezn yov said on Thursday.

The Albanian state already exists and if someone wants to live in the Al banian state, it is right across the border, Seleznyov told reporters.

He confirmed Russia's support for Belgrade's stand on the settlement of the Kosovo and Metohija issue and stressed that the solution could be fou nd by peaceful, diplomatic means alone.

Seleznyov held consultations on the Kosovo and Metohija issue with leade rs of parliamentary factions on Thursday, as part of preparations for a m eeting with representatives of the European "troika".

The meeting took place on Thursday afternoon, focusing only on the resol ution of Russia's economic problems. The issue of Kosovo and Metohija was not discussed, Seleznyov's office told Tanjug.

Taking part in the meeting were Foreign Ministers Klaus Kinkel of German y and Wolfgang Schuessel of Austria, British Foreign Office Minister of S tate Joyce Quin and European Commission member Hans van den Broek.

A State Duma statement issued after the closed-door meeting quoted Selez nyov as saying that Russia did not want any kind of dictatorship, having chosen the path of democratic development.

Seleznyov said that Russia was interested in civilized cooperation with European countries, dismissing allegations by some Western media, especia lly those in the U.S., saying that Russia was facing Communist revanchism and straggling dictatorship.

[11] FOUR POLICEMEN WOUNDED IN TERRORIST ATTACKS

Tanjug, 1998-09-17

Four policemen were wounded on Wednesday in a terrorist attack near the village of Huseinovic Mahale, northeast of Kosovska Mitrovica, the Pristi na-based Media Center reported on Thursday.

Aleksandar Savic and Dragan Kovacic suffered serious injuries. All the p olicemen were transferred to a hospital in Kosovska Mitrovica. None are i n critical condition, doctors said.

On Thursday, terrorists launched fresh attacks on police forces in the s ame area with automatic gun-fire and mortar shells, municipal sources sai d. Police responded and broke up the group. The search for dispersed terr orists is under way.

[12] STATE DUMA OFFICIALS DISCUSS SITUATION IN KOSMET

Tanjug, 1998-09-17

Heads of parliamentary factions in the State Duma, the Russian Parliamen t's Lower House, on Thursday held a closed-door session devoted to the si tuation in Serbia's southern province of Kosovo and Metohija, Duma Presid ent Gennady Seleznyov told reporters.

Seleznoyov declined to disclose any details, but sources at the Duma Pre ss Service said the meeting was part of Seleznyov's preparations for a me eting with representatives of the E.U. "troika," Germany, Great Britain a nd Austria, later in the day.

During the closed meeting, video footage coming from quite a few sources , including Yugoslav TV stations, was run.

Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel of Germany and Wolfgang Schuessel of Austr ia, and British State Minister of Foreign Affairs Joyce Quin met with Rus sian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov on Thursday shortly after arriving in M oscow. One of the topics of the meeting, in addition to the economic situ ation in Russia, is to be the situation in Kosovo and Metohija.

[13] SERBIAN REPORTERS CONDEMN MANIPULATIONS IN FOREIGN MEDIA

Tanjug, 1998-09-17

The Administrative Board of the Serbian Reporters' Association on Thursd ay condemned the latest wave of manipulations in some foreign media and t he continued spreading of false reports from Serbia's Kosovo and Metohija (Kosmet, 1998) province, the board said.

The board said that most media in the country reported objectively from Kosmet on Serbia's readiness for dialogue and the refusal of representati ves of the Albanian minority to engage in negotiations.

However, not few papers, agencies and electronic media follow the politi cal stands of their officials and send in one-sided and unobjective repor ts from Kosmet, persistently and maliciously.

Such media spread falsehoods about an alleged humanitarian disaster in K osmet, deliberately leaving out the facts that displaced persons have ret urned to their homes, that ethnic Albanians are massively giving up arms thrust on them by terrorists, and that vast quantities of humanitarian ai d are arriving to all citizens of Kosmet from all parts of Yugoslavia.

The latest reports in some German, British and American media on tens of thousands of refugees who are allegedly threatened with starvation and o pen calls for the use of force against the alleged Serb aggression on mem bers of the Albanian national minority * paint a distorted and one-sided picture of the current situation in Kosmet.

The association condemns such reporting, assessing that it has nothing t o do with the profession and provides a new stimulus to the militant aspi rations of certain countries.

It is a known fact that a certain number of foreign correspondents from Kosmet are having difficulties in publishing and broadcasting objective r eports in the media of their respective countries and are often obliged t o keep silent on certain events. That is why the association appeals to t he governments of these countries and their reporters' associations to do everything in their power to enable their colleagues objective and profe ssional work.

The association invites all accredited reporters-correspondents of forei gn media in Yugoslavia to a professional talk (round table, 1998) on repo rting from Kosmet, the statement said.

[14] DJUKANOVIC: MONTENEGRO IS FOR PEACEFUL RESOLUTION OF THE KOSMET CRISIS

Tanjug, 1998-09-17

Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic said on Thursday that Montenegro i s for a peaceful resolution of the Kosmet crisis, the prevention of terro rism and the defining of the status of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY, 1998).

Djukanovic told a press conference that Montenegro advocates a speedy so lution because the continuation of the crisis could threaten "the inter-e thnic balance and political stability of Montenegro."

Speaking about the Montenegrin Government's decision to stop the arrival of displaced persons from Kosovo, which was criticized both at home and by the representatives of international humanitarian organizations, Djuka novic said that this decision was forced because, as he said, there was a threat that the arrival of new refugees could turn Montenegro itself int o a humanitarian problem.

Djukanovic set out that "it is understandable that the entire Montenegri n public is impatient to see as soon as possible the concrete results of the promised political program as reflected by the very name of the victo rious coalition "For a Better Life". He added that "preparations have bee n made for the start of the realization of the program."

Djukanovic set out that the NATO threats of a military intervention in K osmet are being taken seriously, but added that he does not support any k ind of military action. He pointed out that he supports the active partic ipation of the international community in the resolution of the Kosovo cr isis.

Djukanovic criticized "the unsynchronized activities of the internationa l community" saying that the European Union (EU, 1998) has distanced itse lf from the Kosovo problem.

Djukanovic set out that there should be no doubts regarding the tempo of privatization in Montenegro and added that all major companies would be sold via international tenders.

Responding to questions about relations within the Yugoslav federation, Djukanovic recalled that "there exist significant advantages for Monteneg ro to live within a joint state, in Yugoslavia," but added that there are conflicting interests both in the federation "and within Montenegro itse lf."

[15] KOSOVO DISTRICT HEAD MEETS WITH U.S. OFFICIAL

Tanjug, 1998-09-17

Head of the Kosovo district Veljko Odalovic on Thursday met with head of the State Department's section for Yugoslavia Matthew Palmer and discuss ed the situation in Kosovo and Metohija.

The provincial Information Secretariat said in a statement that Odalovic had voiced dissatisfaction because the international community was still applying double standards on the Kosovo and Metohija problem, despite al l efforts by Serbia and Yugoslavia aimed at crushing terrorism and normal ising the situation in the province.

Odalovic said that Serbia was making a clear difference between terroris ts and civilians, to whom it was giving humanitarian aid and guaranteeing security.

He said that all of the temporarily displaced persons had returned to th eir homes, which they had fled because of terrorist operations.

Odalovic informed Palmer about numerous cases of kidnapping of civilians and monstrous crimes by terrorists and said that in view of this fact, t he silence of the international community and humanitarian organisations and the fact that they had not condemned the crimes in the villages of Kl ecka, Glodjani and Dasinovac was very worrying.

The meeting was also attended by the head of the U.S. Information Centre in Pristina, the statement said.

[16] MILOSAVLJEVIC: CONDITIONS ARE BEING SECURED FOR NORMAL LIFE IN KOSMET

Tanjug, 1998-09-17

The implementation is very effective of all decisions by the Serbian Gov ernment and other state bodies in Kosovo and Metohija on securing conditi ons for the normalization of life in the province, State Coordinator in K osovo and Metohija Andreja Milosavljevic told Tanjug on Thursday.

Special care is being taken of the return home of all temporarily displa ced persons, which is successful, and of giving humanitarian aid to all w ho need it, regardless of their nationality and religion, Milosavljevic s aid.

Twelve humanitarian centres, which have been opened for this purpose, ar e operating in a satisfactory way and they satisfy the needs of the local population. Their work is mostly financed by the Serbian Government, Mil osavljevic said and added that the centres were open for cooperation with all interested international humanitarian organizations. They are alread y cooperating with the UNHCR, USAID and an Italian governmental humanitar ian organization.

The Japanese Government has also voiced its readiness for cooperation in the way it regards as the most appropriate, i.e. through the UNHCR and t he International Committee of the Red Cross. The Japanese Government has already sent aid worth 2.3 million dollars to the local population, Milos avljevic said.

Humanitarian centres will operate as long as there is a need for them, i 2Ee. until damaged houses are repaired, and will secure lasting accommod ation where repairs are not possible, although the number of such cases i s small, Milosavljevic said.

Work is being done on the restoration of severed and damaged telephone a nd electric power lines, i.e. the removal of damages caused by terrorist operations.

State bodies are ready for all activities conducive to the normalization of the situation in the province and the essential thing * to ensure and guarantee peace and security of citizens and their property, Milosavljev ic said.

Commenting on the fact that people from the entire country were sending assistance to the local population every day, Milosavljevic said that the solidarity of citizens, companies and municipalities outside Kosovo and Metohija was astonishing and that their readiness to help gave hope that solutions to all problems could and had to be found.

He said that there was no alternative to co-existence in this region.

It is odd that ethnic Albanian political party leaders have not agreed t o a dialogue, Milosavljevic said and stressed the state's readiness to se cure solutions under the highest European and world standards regarding h uman, civic and national minority rights on a level which leave no room f or accusations.

We are ready to resolve problems, to discuss proposals on transitional s olutions which are supported by international factors and which represent a solid basis for talks, Milosavljevic said.

The sooner we do this, the less consequences will there be, he said and added that the number of consequences was already high and a lot of work, effort and funds should be invested in correcting them.

Allegations are not true of a humanitarian disaster and plight of civili ans, Milosavljevic said.

These deliberately fabricated stories result from the pressure by the te rrorist organization, the so-called Liberation Army of Kosovo, which is n ot achieving what it wants through military operations. On the contrary, our security forces are pushing them back and eliminating them more and m ore, Milosavljevic said.

[17] GATHERING OF DANUBIAN COUNTRIES OPENS IN BELGRADE

Tanjug, 1998-09-17

One of Yugoslavia's clear state interests is that the Danubian countries and the European Union protect the waters of the Danube and its tributar ies through coordinated efforts, Yugoslav Assistant Minister for Developm ent, Science and the Environment Slavko Bulatovic said on Thursday, openi ng a three-day international gathering on the Danube at the threshold of another millennium.

This is the 10th annual conference on Danubian cooperation, organised by the international scientific forum "The Danube * the River of Cooperatio n."

Sixty experts, 12 of whom are from Hungary, Austria, Italy, Romania, Gre ece, Germany and Argentine, participate in the conference.

Welcoming the participants, Bulatovic said that Yugoslavia was ready to develop and promote international cooperation in the field of environment protection.

The Danube is an international and trans-European river which stretches between the North and Black Seas, linking nine countries, 90 million peop le and 13 nations as well as central, southeastern and eastern Europe.

Yugoslavia supports all initiatives aimed at securing Danubian cooperati on on an equal footing, Bulatovic said and added that Yugoslavia had rati fied 52 international agreements which it wanted to realise with the inte rnational community.

However, Yugoslavia did not participate in preparing a Convention on coo peration for the protection and exploitation of the Danube, signed in Sof ia in 1994, and was not enabled to take part in its implementation, he sa id.

According to available information, the convention has not taken effect yet because it has not been ratified by a sufficient number of countries, which may be a good example that nothing in this field can be done throu gh isolated efforts.

[18] PRESIDENT OF SERBIA MILUTINOVIC RECEIVED CASPARETT

Tanjug, 1998-09-17

Serbian President Milan Milutinovic received on Thursday Gabriel Caspare tt, former minister and proven friend of the Serb people, who is in the F ederal Republic of Yugoslavia to attend the 80th anniversary of the break through of the Salonika front.

Milutinovic and Casparett evoked the traditional friendship of the Serb and French nations, strengthened by their joint victory in the First Worl d War.

Milutinovic praised Casparett's activities in the objective promotion of the truth about the Serb people at a time when they are once again subje cted to various pressures.

Casparett said that he would continue to maintain and develop such a pos ition towards Serbia and its people who have remained faithful to the her oic, democratic and freedom-loving orientations.

[19] PROTECTION OF RIGHTS AND ECONOMIC INTERESTS OF YUGOSLAV AIRLINES

Tanjug, 1998-09-17

The Serbian Ministry of Transportation and Communications considered the new situation in air traffic following the European Union decision to im pose sanctions against the Yugoslav Airlines JAT, the ministry said on Th ursday.

The ministry concluded that, in spite of the existing inter-state and in ter-company contracts, most E.U. countries adopted one-sided and unaccept able decisions which are not based on international legal regulations and which inflict huge damages on Serbian airline companies.

As a large number of countries have implemented the E.U. ban against JAT aircrafts, placing the company in a very difficult position, the Ministr y of Transportation and Communications will propose to the Serbian Govern ment to take corresponding measures to protect the rights and economic in terests of JAT and other airline companies of Serbia, the statement said.

[20] STRONG PROTEST LODGED WITH GERMAN CHARGE D'AFFAIRES

Tanjug, 1998-09-18

In the wake of repeated aggressive statements of the German Defence Mini ster Volker Ruehe, publicly threatening with German military attacks agai nst the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, the Federal Ministry of Foreign A ffairs lodged the strongest protest with the German Charge d'Affaires, Ro lf Krause. In the protest, it was emphasized that such public threats of the German Defence Minister represent an unprecedented act in the relatio ns between the two States and unmask destructive policy of support to sec essionist and terrorism in Kosovo and Metohija.

Such statements against Yugoslavia, a sovereign European country, on one hand, and the hospitality accorded by certain German circles to separati st and terrorist leaders in their territory, financial and material, on t he other * are a clear proof of destructive policy systematically advocat ed and pursued by these circles against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavi a. The Statement of Minister Ruehe, it was emphasized in the Yugoslav pro test, necessarily leads to a question * was he of the opinion that German y did not cause enough suffering and enough graves of the Serb and Monten egrin people in the 20th century and needs to inflict new injuries and su ffering at the threshold of a new millennium?

It was emphasized that such statements of the Defence Minister go in han d with the campaign pursued by the German Foreign Minister Kinkel for som e time now, by imposing an irrational and dangerous policy of sanctions a gainst Yugoslavia through the EU mechanisms. The campaign's goal is to ca use damage to the citizens of Yugoslavia and to slow down its economic an d technological development and encourage separatism and terrorism in Kos ovo and Metohija.

The Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its profound belief th at such statements and the campaign of German Ministers in the European i nstitutions do not represent only the source of danger and instability in the Balkans, threat to bilateral relations but at the same time greatly harm Germany and the German people and Europe as well.

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