Yugoslav Daily Survey, 98-09-28

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Yugoslav Daily Survey

CONTENTS

[01] FIVE POLICE RESERVISTS DIE IN MINE EXPLOSION

[02] SFOR ARRESTS WAR CRIMES SUSPECT

[03] PROFILE OF RADISIC, SERB MEMBER OF BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA PRESIDENCY

[04] RADISIC: R.S. FATE LIES IN CONSISTENT IMPLEMENTATION OF DAYTON ACCORDS

[05] NATIONALISTS WIN BOSNIAN POLLS - OSCE

[06] ETHNIC ALBANIAN TERRORISTS KILL THREE SERBIAN POLICE OFFICERS

[07] ELEVEN ETHNIC ALBANIAN TERRORISTS RECEIVE PRISON SENTENCES

[08] TERRORISTS UNDER INVESTIGATION

[09] POLICE SUCCESSFULLY CRUSH ETHNIC ALBANIAN TERRORIST GANGS IN KOSMET

[10] SERBIAN PARLIAMENT TO DISCUSS KOSOVO AND METOHIJA SITUATION ON MONDAY

[11] ATTEMPT AT STAGE-MANAGING HUMANITARIAN DISASTER IN RESNIK FAILS

[12] UN HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES ON HUMANITARIAN ORGANISATIONS' AID

[13] SERBIAN REFUGEE COMMISSIONER MORINA MEETS UNHCR HEAD OGATA

[14] SERBIAN OFFICIAL: ALLEGATIONS OF ETHNIC ALBANIAN SEPARATISTS

[15] KOSOVO DISTRICT HEAD MEETS WITH U.N. HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES

[16] KOSOVO DISTRICT HEAD MEETS WITH JAPANESE DELEGATION

[17] MILOSAVLJEVIC RECEIVES JAPANESE DELEGATION

[18] SERBIAN POLICE FIND ANOTHER FIVE BODIES OF TERRORISTS' VICTIMS

[19] MILOSAVLJEVIC MEETS WITH OGATA

[20] YUGOSLAV DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER MEETS WITH UN HIGH COMMISSIONER

[21] JOVANOVIC: NEW YORK TALKS TO HELP SPREAD TRUTH ABOUT KOSOVO AND METOHIJA

[22] YUGOSLAV FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS IRANIAN, IRAQI, GUINEAN, CUBAN COUNTERPARTS

[23] WHITE BOOK ON SERBIA'S KOSOVO-METOHIJA PRESENTED AT U.N.

[24] YUGOSLAV MINISTER BINGULAC VISITS CUBA

[25] WHITE BOOK ON ALBANIA'S SUPPORT TO ETHNIC ALBANIAN TERRORISM PRESENTED

[26] YUGOSLAV DEPUTY PREMIER: ARMY FIRMLY DEFENDS SOVEREIGNTY

[27] ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF RUGOVA'S CLOSE ASSOCIATE

[28] CONFERENCE OF BALKAN VETERANS' ORGANISATIONS ENDS

[29] YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT RECEIVES BALKAN VETERANS

[30] PROFILE OF NEWLY ELECTED SRPSKA PRESIDENT POPLASEN

[01] FIVE POLICE RESERVISTS DIE IN MINE EXPLOSION

Tanjug, 1998-09-26

Five police reservists were killed near the village of Likovac in Ko sovo and Metohija at about 5 p.m. (1500 GMT) on Friday, when their vehicle hit a mine planted by ethnic Albanian terrorists, Pristina police sources told Tanju g on Saturday. A vehicle belonging to Canadian diplomats hit a mine at the sa me place near Likovac about ten days ago.

[02] SFOR ARRESTS WAR CRIMES SUSPECT

Tanjug, 1998-09-25

The NATO-led Stabilisation Force (SFOR) for Bosnia arrested early Su nday Stevan Todorovic, indicted by the Hague-based war crimes tribunal for cri mes committed in Samac between June 13 and July 29, 1992. Todorovic was tran sferred to the Hague tribunal's prison immediately upon the arrest, said a statem ent released by NATO Secretary-General Javier Solana. The statement did not specify where Todorovic had been arrested or other details of the arrest, saying the public would be informed about it through SFOR operational commanders. T odorovic is charged with murder, inhuman acts, rape, torture, violation of war con ventions and crimes against humanity. Solana said this was yet another warning to all war crimes indictees that are still at large that they all would be tried, ur ging them to give themselves up.

[03] PROFILE OF RADISIC, SERB MEMBER OF BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA PRESIDENCY

Tanjug, 1998-09-25

The new member of the three-man Bosnia-Herzegovina presidency, Zivko Radisic, was born on Mt Kozara in 1937. Political scientist by vocation, Radisic was Mayor of Banja LUka from 1977 to 1982, and Bosnia-Herzegovina's defen ce minister in former Yugoslavia. He was top executive of the Cajavec holdin g company in Banja Luka from 1986 to 1990. He was secretary-general of the Yugoslav Chamber of Commerce when the Bosnian civil was broke out in 1992.

Leader of the Socialist Party of the (Bosnian Serb) Republika Srpska, Radisic is adviser to the Cajavec general manager. He is married, with two children, and lives in Banja Luka.

[04] RADISIC: R.S. FATE LIES IN CONSISTENT IMPLEMENTATION OF DAYTON ACCORDS

Tanjug, 1998-09-27

Newly-elected R.S. representative in Bosnia's three-man presidency Z ivko Radisic said Sunday that the fate of the Republika Srpska and Bosnia-Herz egovina lay in the consistent implementation of the Dayton peace agreement.

Speaking in a news conference in Banja Luka, Radisic said the agreem ent constituted a basis for strengthening national and state interests of Bos nia's all three peoples. Radisic said no Bosnia-Herzegovina was possible witho ut securing the equality of its two entities, the Republika Srpska and the Moslem-Croat federation, and its three peoples.

He listed as priorities and guarantees of a better future for the Re publika Srpska and Bosnia and their joining Europe unblocking the activity of com mon bodies, the consistent implementation of the Dayton accords, the respect of the equality of the Republika Srpska, the federation and all three peoples, s ecuring democratic processes that are already well underway in the Republika Srps ka and affirmation of human rights and freedoms according to models adopted in democratic countries of today. He said he had set as his goal to unblock the work of Bosnia's presidency and that he would act within the mandate prov ided for by the Dayton agreement. He also said he would do all he could to ensure that the Republika Srpska and its role in resolving the crisis be Bosnia's disting uishing feature. Referring to the setting up of R.S. authorities, Radisic said h e would try to secure efficient authorities that would continue democratic change s, saying this would enable the consistent implementation of the Dayton agre ement and ensure assistance by Europe and the rest of the world. He also said the Sloga coalition comprising the Socialist Party of the Republika Srpska, t he Serb National Alliace and the Party of Independent Social Democrats was open t o cooperation with other political parties in the entity. Commenting on th e arrest of Stevan Todorovic by SFOR in Samac early on Sunday allegedly on the cha rge of war crimes, Radisic said he had received no information about it. He sai d all should be done to restore the Hague tribunal's credibility and to put an end to politically-motivated trials. He said the time had come to put an end als o to threats with secret lists and to make the tribunal act in line with regul ations and responsibly. Thanking voters for having confidence in him, Radisic s aid the Serb, Moslem and Croat peoples would judge the presidency's work by the improvement of living conditions rather than by promises and wishes. He said the newly-elected bodies had the responsibility of continuing democratisation processes, which he said were more evident in the Republika Srpska than i n Bosnia's other parts.

[05] NATIONALISTS WIN BOSNIAN POLLS - OSCE

Tanjug, 1998-09-25

OSCE Bosnia-Herzegovina Mission Chief Robert Barry said in Sarajevo on Friday that Sept. 12-13 general elections had been dominated by nationali st parties which had scored the most votes, from Parliament to the cantons2E

Barry was speaking at a news conference, attended also by OSCE (Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe) spokesman Nicole Sh ultz. Shultz said that the Bosnian Muslim-Croat Federation's Coalition for a Un ified and Democratic Bosnia-Herzegovina, led by the Muslim Democratic Action Pa rty, won the most votes for Bosnia-Herzegovina's House of Representatives - 400,57 6. The Croatian Democratic Union is second with 180,152 votes.

From the (Bosnian Serb) Republika Srpska, the most votes for the Bosnia- Herzegovina Parliament's House of Representatives went to the Conc ord Coalition - 214,948, followed by the Serb Democratic Party - 163,436.

For the Federation's House of Representatives, the Coalition for a U nified and Democratic Bosnia-Herzegovina again won the largest number of votes - 456,387, followed by the Croatian Democratic Union - 184,569, and the Soc ial Democratic Party - 126,630.

For the Republika Srpska's parliament, the most votes went to the Se rb Democratic Party - 161,299, followed by the Coalition for a Unified and Democratic Bosnia-Herzegovina - 125,560.

The Serb Radical Party is third with 97,640 votes, and the Serb Nati onal Alliance of Biljana Plavsic, fourth with 95,840.

The other parties that made it into the Republika Srpska parliament are the Socialist party (79,253) and Dodik's Independent Social Democrats (54,073).

The Federation's nationalist parties - the Coalition for a Unified a nd Democratic Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Croatian Democratic Union - won als o at the cantonal level, in the Muslim- and Croat-dominated cantons, respectively.

International High Representative Carlos Westendorp told the news conference that the elections were successful, stressing the importance o f the election of Zivko Radisic as the Serb member of the Bosnia-Herzegovina th ree-man presidency. Westendorp said that neither the Serb Democratic Party nor t he Serb Radical Party had majority in the Republika Srpska Parliament, which was conducive to more plurality and democracy in the body's work.

[06] ETHNIC ALBANIAN TERRORISTS KILL THREE SERBIAN POLICE OFFICERS

Tanjug, 1998-09-27

Serbian police officers Veljko Miljkovic, Sreten Milic and Ljubomir Ljubomirovic were killed in an ethnic Albanian terrorist attack at the vi llage of Gornje Obrinje near Glogovac, Serbia's province of Kosovo and Metohija , at around 3.30 p.m. local time on Saturday. The police responded to the att ack by opening fire with automatic weapons and mortars, police sources told Tanj ug. Local authorities in Glogovac said that the police had eliminated the eth nic Albanian terrorists' strongholds in the villages of Gornje Obrinje and Do nje Obrinje and in the Glogovac area, killing at least ten members of the ter rorist organisation calling itself Kosovo Liberation Army.

[07] ELEVEN ETHNIC ALBANIAN TERRORISTS RECEIVE PRISON SENTENCES

Tanjug, 1998-09-25

Eleven ethnic Albanians, members of the terrorist organisation calli ng itself Kosovo Liberation Army, were sentenced on Friday to between five a nd ten years in prison. Rufki Suma, 30, and Nesim Curi, 29, were sentenced to t en years' imprisonment on the charge of plotting hostile activities and infi ltrating terrorists and weapons into Yugolsaiva.

Arif Curi, 33, was sentenced to seven years in prison, Serif Berisa, 29, to six, Amit Berisa, 46, Redzep Skreti, 26, Zekerija Skreti, 27, Fadilj B erisa, 38, Valjon Berisa, 27, and Sefki Topojani, 27, to five years in prison, w hile Afet Krieziu, 39, was acquitted. All eleven terrorists were charged wit h organising and taking part in the infiltration of more than 30 rifles and ammunition from Macedonia into Yugoslavia in May and June, 1998. Rufki S uma, Serif Berisa, Valjon Berisa and Sefki Topojani are already in prison, whi le the other seven terrorists were tried in absence.

[08] TERRORISTS UNDER INVESTIGATION

Tanjug, 1998-09-25

The Public Prosecutor of Pec has demanded from the District Court to investigate 34 ethnic Albanians from the Djakovica, Decani and Pec disctr icts on charges of terrorism, i.e. associating and conspiring to carry out hostil e actions.

In May 1998, 27 ethnic Albanians formed a sabotage-terrorist group f or their villages, within the ethnic Albanian terrorist organization, the so - called Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA). They organized several arms shipments for t he terrorists from Albania, the digging of trenches, engineering work in the villages, the setting up of hospitals, as well as military training of terrorists. They carried out a series of armed attacks on the Serbian pol ice in which a number of police officers were wounded. The majority of the susp ects are still at large. Seven persons, all from the Decani district, have been c harged with associating and conspiring to carry out hostile activities. As memb ers of sabotage-terrorist groups for their villages, they participated in the construction of strongholds where they stood guard, armed with weapons re ceived from terrorists, with the aim of opening fire on the police if they attem pt to enter these villages.

[09] POLICE SUCCESSFULLY CRUSH ETHNIC ALBANIAN TERRORIST GANGS IN KOSMET

Tanjug, 1998-09-25

Serbian Interior Ministry spokesman for the province of Kosovo-Metoh ija Col. Bozidar Filic told the Pristina-based Media Center Friday that polic e operations aimed at crushing ethnic Albanian separatist gangs on Mt. Cica vica had been successfully completed. He said that several ethnic Albanian terror ist bases had been distroyed, with several score of terrorists liqidated. Ki lled also was one of terrorist leaders Fehmi Ladrovci, who passed himself off as a local commander of the ethnic Albanians' self- styled Kosovo Liberation Ar my terrorist organization. Ladrovci had taken part in the war in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. He gained notoriety for his crimes committed in that period, said Filic. He said that Ladrovci's terrorist groups on the slopes of Mt. Cicavica and in Drenica included persons who were believed to have launch ed several terrorist atacks on the police and civilians and to have attacked a Serbian police van near the town of Glogovac in 1993, when three policeme n were killed. There were no civilian casualties in the police operations. All civilians that were in the zone during the operations are safe and return ing to their homes, Filic said.

[10] SERBIAN PARLIAMENT TO DISCUSS KOSOVO AND METOHIJA SITUATION ON MONDAY

Tanjug, 1998-09-27

The Serbian parliament will discuss on Monday the security, economic and social situation in Kosovo and Metohija as well as measures taken by the government to normalise the situation in the southern province. Thi s will be the only item on the agenda of the parliament's second early session, cal led for by the government.

Premier Mirko Marjanovic is expected to inform parliament about the measures taken by the government and ways of dealing with the issue. Par liament is expected also to adopt draft conclusions passed by the government on t he security, economic and social situation in Kosovo and Metohija. The concl usions reflect the unity of and full agreement among leading parliamentary parti es on ways of how to resolve problems in Kosovo and Metohija. Following Marjan ovic and Serbian parliament speaker Dragan Tomic's talks with officials of the Soc ialist Party of Serbia (SPS), the Serbian Radical Party (SRS), the Serbian Renew al Movement (SPO) and the Yugoslav Left (JUL), which hold most of the seats in parliament, the government said in the conclusions that ethnic Albanian separatism that is aimed at detaching Kosovo and Metohija from Serbia is the main cause of problems in the province as well as separatism that has given ri se to terrorism aimed at achieving the goal through violence and crimes. Conse quently, putting an end to and eradicating ethnic Albanian terrorism constitutes a major national and state interest. In Kosovo and Metohija, Serbia defends its territorial integrity and the state organisation based on the Serbian constitution. Serbia is taking all necessary measures to secure this and will continue doing so. This is its legitimate right and its constitutional obligation, because Kosovo and Metohija is an integral part of Serbia and this is how it is going to remain, the government said in the conclusions.

The government also proposed that parliament confirm the strong comm itment of Serbia, its citizens and bodies of power to securing in Kosovo and Met ohija as well as in the rest of Serbia the respect of the law, equality and a l ife in peace and safety of all, regardless of their ethnic or religious origin. The government said it was vital to resume substantial and unconditional dial ogue, proposing that parliament adopt a conclusion in its session stressing onc e again that the future of the Kosovo and Metohija population does not lie in eth nic, religious or cultural isolation, divisions and conflicts, but in peace, e quality, ties and co- existence. The government urged all well-meaning organisation s and citizens to help achieve the goal.

[11] ATTEMPT AT STAGE-MANAGING HUMANITARIAN DISASTER IN RESNIK FAILS

Tanjug, 1998-09-26

The security situation in the Vucitrn municipality in Kosovo and Met ohija is daily improving, Vucitrn municipal council chief Slobodan Doknic told Tanjug Sunday. The terrorist groups in the area of Mt. Cicavica have been routed , and many terrorists have been captured, Doknic said. He set out that the civ ilians who had abandoned their homes during terrorist operations were returning and taking up where they had left off. "The attempt to stage-manage a humani tarian disaster in the village of Resnik has failed. On learning that several th ousand ethnic Albanians had assembled in Resnik and talked with U.N. High Commis sioner for Refugees Sadako Ogata, we went to the village with the intention to s et up a relief centre, but we found no one there, as the alleged refugees had d ispersed right after Ogata left," Doknic said.

"We went there again today and did not find anyone," Doknic said and set out that members of the U.S. diplomatic mission had seen this for themsel ves. Doknic underscored that the police were conscientiously doing their duty, regardless of the nationality or religion of the people involved, and tha t a growing number of ethnic Albanians were turning to Serbia authorities for assistance. Doknic urged all local inhabitants who had left their homes due to terrorist operations to return, and stressed that the state guaranteed th eir full security.

[12] UN HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES ON HUMANITARIAN ORGANISATIONS' AID

Tanjug, 1998-09-26

U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Sadako Ogata said in Pristina on Saturday that humanitarian organisations could help and that the present humanitarian situation resulted from political problems. Speaking at a n ews conference after touring the village of Resnik in Kosovo and Metohija, Og ata said that people had to be helped in order to get a feeling of safety, so that they could return where they want and resume living a normal life. The coming of winter makes us concerned and humanitarian organisations will do all in t heir power to do what they can and what is best for the people, Ogata said. A sked whether there is a deadline for the resolution of humanitarian problems i n Kosovo and Metohija, Ogata said that humanitarian work had no deadlines. Speaki ng about her meeting with Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic, Ogata said that t heir talks had been long and sincere. We agreed that our priority was to help the displaced persons return to their homes and we will work on it together, Ogata said. Asked about the number of displaced persons, Ogata said that this was hard to say because the situation was changing day after day. During the news conference, Ogata never mentioned a "humanitarian disaster, " alleged by W estern media. Ogata will on Saturday meet with state organs coordinator in Koso vo and Metohija Andreja Milosavljevic and head of the Kosovo district Veljko Oda lovic. She will also meet with Ibrahim Rugova. Ogata will later leave for Monte negro.

[13] SERBIAN REFUGEE COMMISSIONER MORINA MEETS UNHCR HEAD OGATA

Tanjug, 1998-09-25

Serbian Commissioner for Refugees Bratislava Morina met Friday with U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Sadako Ogata to discuss the curren humanitarian situation in Kosmet and in the entire Federal Republic of Yu goslavia (FRY), which continues to provide for nearly 700,000 refugees from Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia.

Morina and Ogata underscored the good cooperation so far between the Serbian Commessariat for Refugees and UNHCR and said that humanitarian ai d should be continued to refugees in FRY, and additional pressure excerted on the authorities in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina to speed up the process of their return. Ogata expressed gratitude to FRY for its years-long care for the large number of refugees and added that she continually keeps reminding the representatives of the international community not to forget that FRY has the biggest number of refugees in Europe, so that funds should be funnelled f or their provision or for their permanent integration. Regarding the situation in Kosmet, Morina expressed hope that Ogata's visit would encourage the displaced to return home and that a large number of humanitarian organizations, coupled with the aid provided by the Serbian government, firms and citizens, would help in the resolution of humanitarian problems in that region. Morina set out that the international community, including UNHCR officials, should influence the leadership of the ethnic Albanian parties in Kosmet to open a dialogue wi th the authorities.

In view of Ogata's scheduled meeting with Ibrahim Rugova, Morina cal led on her to convince the leader of the ethnic Albanian minority to call on his people to return to their homes. Morain pointed out that the authorities and the security organs guarrantee safety to all citizens of Kosmet regardless of nationality. According to Morina, all refugees in Kosmet have been trans ferred from the crisis areas to Pristina, Kosovska Mitrovica and other safe part s of Kosmet, while a number have been given shelter in collective centres in S erbia or have managed to find private lodgings.

Commenting the humanitarian situation in Kosmet, Ogata said that the displaced should be taken care of as soon a possible and that, in this, U NHCR would give its support to the efforts of the authorities and other humani tarian organizations. Ogata said that the confidence building of the displaced population in the authorities is the initial and necessary step for their return, but that political dialogue on Kosmet remains the basic requirement for t he resolution of all problems. Serbian Commissioner for Refugees Bratislava Morina met UNHCR head Sadako Ogata one more time in Montenegrin capital Podgorica Sunday at her e request. Morina presented Ogata with evidence that Ogata had been misled by ethnic Albanian separatists during her visit Saturday to the displaced pe rsons in the Resnik village, in an attempt to convince her of an alleged humani tarian catastrophe and of a greater than real number of displaced persons.

Morina underlined that this was another in a series of manipulations resorted to by ethnic Albanian separatists who wish to persuade internati onal community officials and international public that the humanitarian situat ion in Serbia's southern province of Kosovo-Metohija is disastrous. The two commissioners agreed that close cooperation and exchange of information w ere needed in the future too in order to provide true information to the international public and to strengthen mutual confidence, Serbian TV repo rted.

[14] SERBIAN OFFICIAL: ALLEGATIONS OF ETHNIC ALBANIAN SEPARATISTS

Tanjug, 1998-09-27

Head of the Kosovo District Veljko Odalovic said Sunday that all eth nic Albanians allegedly displaced from villages on Mt. Cicevica, where ethnic Albanian terrorist groups had been active lately, had returned to their h omes Saturday evening. The allegedly displaced villagers were brought to the village of Resnik, near Vucitrn, Serbia's southern province of Kosovo- Metohija, i n an attempt to convince the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Sadako Ogata of the existence of a humanitarian catastrophe in the province. Their absence wa s witnessed by diplomatic observers who visited Resnik Sunday morning, Odal ovic told the Pristina-based Media Center. This was another failed attempt of ethnic Albanian separatists to misinform the foreign public and humanitarian organizations of the situation in Kosovo- Metohija, Odalovic said. State institutions and humanitarian organizations are doing everything in their power to resolve the existing humanitarian problems as quickly as possible, and have provided aid necessary to normalize living conditions in the areas where ethnic Albanian terrorists and extremists had caused conflicts, Odalovic sai. O dalovic expressed hope that international organizations would realize that ethnic Albanian separatists were spreading false reports on Kosovo-Metohija in o rder to help defeated terrorist groups gain time.

[15] KOSOVO DISTRICT HEAD MEETS WITH U.N. HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES

Tanjug, 1998-09-26

Kosovo district head Veljko Odalovic met in Pristina on Saturday wit h U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Sadako Ogata. The provincial Information Secretariat said in a statement that Ogata had thanked state organs representatives in Kosovo and Metohija for their cooperation with UNHCR representatives, which enabled this mission to carry out its mandate as successfully as possible. Odalovic informed Ogata about the present situ ation in Serbia's southern province and state's measures aimed at normalising t he situation in the areas in which ethnic Albanian separatists' terrorist ga ngs had operated. Ogata was informed about humanitarian problems and ways in whi ch the state, governmental, non- governmental and humanitarian organisations were resolving them. As a positive example, Odalovic quoted the normalisat ion of the situation in the municipalities of Djakovica, Pec and Decane, where the s ituation was normalising through humanitarian centres, local security and other me asures, after the crushing of terrorist gangs.

Odalovic said that a number of temporarily displaced civilians, who had been in the open at one point, returned home through this engagement and that efforts would continue aimed at giving humanitarian aid to all who need i t.

Terrorists have moved their operations to another area, to Mt Cicavi ca and surrounding villages, in an another attempt to allege a humanitarian disa ster. Terrorists tried to manipulate the local civilians in this area. However, the state will do all in its power to isolate terrorists from civilians and t o guarantee security and humanitarian aid to civilians, Odalovic said. He said that the state would continue its fight against terrorism through very en ergetic and legal means.

Both sides agreed that it was necessary to continue and improve coop eration with humanitarian organisations.

Because of frequent manipulations with the number of displaced perso ns done by some organisations for political purposes, Odalovic demanded that this number be determined as objectively as possible through joint efforts, condition s be created for giving humanitarian aid to all who need it and the abuse be p revented of objective humanitarian problems for political purposes.

[16] KOSOVO DISTRICT HEAD MEETS WITH JAPANESE DELEGATION

Tanjug, 1998-09-26

Kosovo district head Veljko Odalovic on Saturday met with a Japanese Foreign Ministry delegation, headed by deputy director-general of the Eur opean and Oceanian affairs bureau Yutaka Himura.

The provincial Information Secretariat said in a statement that the Japanese delegation had visited Kosovo and Metohija in order to get infor mation about the political aspect of the situation and to get a first-hand insig ht into the gravity of the humanitarian problem in the province. Himura said tha t the Japanese government had sent assistance to refugees and temporarily displ aced persons in Yugoslavia through international humanitarian organisations an d that it was now investigating possibilities for further despatches of aid. Od alovic thanked the Japanese government for its help and said that humanitarian a id was welcome when it was sincere. But these days, the humanitarian situation i s politicalised, at a time when state organs are making huge efforts aimed at normalising the situation and an additional, unfair and unprincipled pres sure is being put on Yugoslavia and Serbia under the disguise of alleged humanita rian care, with a wish to justify both the adoption of the U.N. Security Coucn icl resolution and further threats by Western power-wielders.

There is no humanitarian disaster, Odalovic said and added that the state was taking measures and activities through 14 humanitarian centres aimed at assisting all who need help and making other efforts aimed at normalising the situation in Kosovo and Metohija. Odalovic said that the majority of terr orist gangs had been crushed through an efficacious intervention of state organ s and that the state would eradicate terrorism using legal means.

[17] MILOSAVLJEVIC RECEIVES JAPANESE DELEGATION

Tanjug, 1998-09-26

State organs coordinator in Kosovo and Metohija Andreja Milosavljevi c on Saturday received a delegation of the Japanese Foreign Ministry, headed b y deputy director-general of the European and Oceanian affairs bureau Yutaka Himur a. The Japanese delegation was especially interested in the humanitarian situati on in Kosovo and Metohija, the provincial Information Secretariat said in a sta tement. Milosavljevic informed the Japanese delegation that the situation in Koso vo and Metohija was normalising. As for the return of temporarily displaced pers ons, good results have been achieved and they would have been even better if t he terrorists had not taken special propaganda and repressive measures again st ethnic Albanian civilians, in an attempt to prevent their return and down play the achieved results.

The Japanese delegation informed Milosavljevic that the Japanese gov ernment had granted a 2.3-million-dollars' worth of humanitarian assistance until the end of the year and that it was ready to increase this amount if necessary.

Milosavljevic said that humanitarian aid was distributed equally to all citizens and that this was under special care and adequate control, the s tatement said.

[18] SERBIAN POLICE FIND ANOTHER FIVE BODIES OF TERRORISTS' VICTIMS

Tanjug, 1998-09-25

Serbian police have found another five bodies of civilians killed by ethnic Albanian terrorists in the region of Glodjani, Djakovica municipal author ities told Tanjug on Friday. The bodies were found in a channel supplying the Radonjicko Jezero lake with water from the Decanska Bistrica River. The number of people killed at Glodjani has thus raised to 39. Search parties are st ill looking for other bodies in the channel and one can only speculate about the number of bodies at the bottom of the lake. The bodies will be identifie d in Djakovica.

[19] MILOSAVLJEVIC MEETS WITH OGATA

Tanjug, 1998-09-26

State organs coordinator in Kosovo and Metohija Andreja Milosavljevi c on Saturday met with U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Sadako Ogata, who i s in a visit to Kosovo and Metohija, the provincial Information Secretariat said in a statement. The statement said that Ogata was interested in the humani tarian aspect of the situation in Kosovo and Metohija, especially the fate and s tatus of people in the village of Resnik on the foot of Mt Cicavica and that sh e had urged the securing of all necessary conditions for an unimpeded return ho me of all temporarily displaced persons.

She said she was satisfied with cooperation between the state organs and the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees. Milosavljevic confirmed reports that there were refugees in Resnik who were in the open, but that this resulte d from the fact that terrorists from the so-called KLA were holding them under s iege and preventing their return to their villages. They are doing this in order t o overdramatise the situation and downplay state organs' efforts aimed at e nsuring the return home of temporarily displaced persons. Milosavljevic said tha t all necessary measures would be taken aimed at finding solutions for the retu rn of these people to their homes as soon as possible. He informed Ogata about all measures aimed at speeding up the return of all displaced persons and sai d that more than 100,000 people had returned to ther homes. Work is being done o n fulfilling all necessary conditions for the realisation of these issues.

[20] YUGOSLAV DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER MEETS WITH UN HIGH COMMISSIONER

Tanjug, 1998-09-26

Yugoslav Deputy Prime Minister Nikola Sainovic received in Djakovica on Saturday U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Sadako Ogata, at the end of her visit to Kosovo and Metohija. Sainovic informed Ogata about the work of humanitarian centres which can be used by all citizens, regardless of the ir nationality or religion. Humanitarian centres, like other state organs' moves, have contributed to the return home of all temporarily displaced persons from the territory of the Djakovica municipality, Sainovic said. Djakovica munici pal council head Momcilo Stanojevic informed Ogata about the work of local gu ards in villages around Djakovica. It was said that after the local guards had be en set up, fear from new terrorist attacks reduced and this had influenced the restoration of trust in the state organs. Ogata agreed that these were m ajor steps in the restoration of confidence and said that the same should be d one in other parts of Kosovo and Metohija.

[21] JOVANOVIC: NEW YORK TALKS TO HELP SPREAD TRUTH ABOUT KOSOVO AND METOHIJA

Tanjug, 1998-09-27

Talks with about 30 foreign ministers attending the session of the UN. General Assembly will contribute to a more correct attitude to and better understanding of and information about the true state of affairs in Kosov o and Metohija, Yugoslav Foreign Minister Zivadin Jovanovic, who is visiting Ne w York, has said. Speaking for the Yugoslav Tanjug news agency and Serbian Radio and Television, Jovanovic said that the meetings with foreign ministers, head s of delegations and representatives of international organisations had focuse d on the further development and promotion of Yugoslavia's relations with other co untries, its status in the United Nations and other international organisations an d bodies and the situation in Serbia's southern province of Kosovo and Metohija. Jovanovic said the officials he had met with had voiced readiness for fur ther promotion of relations with Yugoslavia. He said it had been stressed in t he talks that there was no reason whatsoever why Yugoslavia should be prevented fr om joining international organisations and bodies, saying certain measures w ere already being taken. He said differences existed as to whether the organ isations including the United Nations, the Organisation for Security and Cooperati on in Europe (OSCE) and the Council of Europe were ready to meet the request of universality, saying Yugoslavia's presence in these organisations was in their interest. He said a refusal to allow Yugoslavia to join these organisatio ns undermined their credibility and was harmful to them. The meetings were also an opportunity to explain in detail the latest developments in Kosovo and Me tohija and to draw attention to ethnic Albanian separatism as a general threat, he said adding that they had been also an opportunity to stress that dialogue was vital for a political solution to the issue. He said the need had been stresse d for fighting decisively all backing ethnic Albanian terrorism the way he said it was done in other European countries and the United States.

He said some of the officials he had met with had not been informed about the improvement of the situation and positive developments in Kosovo and Metohija or about efforts made to fully normalise the situation in the province. H e also said some of them could not understand the true reasons for a failure to hold dialogue.

Jovanovic also said the U.N. Security Council had not taken all fact s into account in passing the recent resolution on Kosovo and Metohija. He said it was shocking that the Security Council had been making reference to unreliabl e figures concerning the humanitarian situation in the province, disregardi ng the fact that the state delegation had been urging dialogue on the issue from the very start. He said it was clear that no other solution than political w as possible, saying it had been underlined in the meetings that all who want ed a political solution to be found to the Kosovo and Metohija issue should ba ck Serbia's and Yugoslavia's efforts and not ethnic Albanian terrorists.

He also said that the threat coming from the chaos in Albania and th e fact that ethnic Albanian terrorists were being infiltrated into Kosovo and Me tohija from that country's territory were often disregarded.

[22] YUGOSLAV FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS IRANIAN, IRAQI, GUINEAN, CUBAN COUNTERPARTS

Tanjug, 1998-09-26

Yugoslav Foreign Minister Zivadin Jovanovic met his Iranian, Iraqi, Guinean and Cuban counterparts Friday in New York on the sidelines of the UN Gene ral Assembly. The meeting Jovanovic held with Iraqi Foreign Minister Mohamme d Said Al-Sahaf focused on the friendly relations between Yugoslavia and Iraq an d on the developments in south-eastern Europe and the Gulf regions. Jovanovic and Al-Sahaf pointed to the need for respecting the UN Charter and other international documents and laws, especially those referring to the princ iples of sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries. Underlining that all world problems must be resolved in a peaceful manner and by political mea ns, the two ministers expressed their joint views on the harmful effects of sanct ions which are counterproductive and cause great suffering to the population.

Sanctions constitute a violation of fundamental human rights, Jovanovic and Al-Sahaf underlined. Jovanovic and Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Karaz i noted that bilateral relations were developing well and expressed readiness to intensify them further in the future. Karazi endorsed Yugoslavia's stanc e on the need for a political dialogue in order to resolve problems in Serbia's so uthern province of Kosovo-Metohija. The dialogue between a state delegation and ethnic Albanian political parties must continue in order to ensure a solution th at would guarantee the equality of all citizens, ethnic minorities and religions, he said. Karazi also pointed to the importance of the current improvement and normalization of the situation in Kosovo-Metohija, and underlined that international factors and organizations, including the Islamic Conference , should understand and present the situation in Serbia's province in an objective manner. Jovanovic and Guinean Foreign Minister Lamin Kumara discussed the prospec ts of intensifying the traditionally close bilateral ties. Guinea attaches a g reat importance to its relations with Yugoslavia and supports Yugoslavia's sov ereignty and territorial integrity. Guinea also strongly condemns secessionism, wh ich constitutes a great danger for all regions, such as Africa, Kumara said. Guinea strongly advocates support to Yugoslavia in international organizations s uch as the Organization of African Unity, the Islamic Conference and the Nonalig ned Movement, Kumara said. Jovanovic and Cuban Foreign Minister Roberto Roba ina noted that relations between Yugoslavia and Cuba were developing well and that their economic cooperation would be intensified through the activities of the joint economic committee, and their political relations through the conta cts planned for a near future. The two ministers reaffirmed the principled s tances of the two countries that international relations, peace and stability in the world can be built successfully only through full abidance by the UN Char ter and the principles of equality, sovereignty and territorial integrity of coun tries.

Any discrimination of states is counterproductive and unacceptable i n any form, especially sanctions, isolation and embargoes, which constitute vio lations of human rights, the ministers said. Jovanovic and Robaina underlined th at the universality of the United Nations and other international organizations constituted a pre-condition for their successful and creative role in the contemporary world.

[23] WHITE BOOK ON SERBIA'S KOSOVO-METOHIJA PRESENTED AT U.N.

Tanjug, 1998-09-25

A White Book on the Yugoslav republic of Serbia's province of Kosovo- Metohija was presented at U.N. headquarters in New York on Friday. Speaking at a news conference, Yugoslav U.N. Mission Chief Vladislav Jova novic said that the White Book contained documented proof about ethnic Albanian terrorist activity in Kosovo-Metohija and in Albania. The book gives an insight into the true state of affairs concerning the Kosovo-Metohija problem and its history and background, and is a valuable source of information and a tru e eye-opener, according to Jovanovic.

He spoke about the influence and involvement of Albania in terrorist operations in Kosovo-Metohija, the training of terrorists in Albania and their infiltration into Yugoslav territory. He stressed that Tirana had been t he one to recognise the illegitimate and self-proclaimed ethnic Albanian "Republ ic of Kosovo," in flagrant violation of international law and the provisions of the U.N. Charter. Paradoxically, the world and bodies such as the Organisati on for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) had never condemned this action of Albania, although it clearly denoted its support for separatism and, late r, terrorism, he said. Albania, he added, had offered its territory for the training and infiltration of terrorists, setting up terrorist training ca mps in the north for ethnic Albanians from Kosovo-Metohija and from other countr ies and for Mujaheddin from Afghanistan, Bosnia, etc. There are foreign mercenar ies even from some European countries, and some of them have been caught, accordin g to Jovanovic. He said that Albanian Prime Minister Fatos Nano had admitted the existence of terrorist training camps in the north of the country, but ha d put the blame for them on former President Sali Berisha. Nevertheless, Alban ia remained a centre of international terrorism that is hitting not only at Yugoslavia, but at other countries as well, Jovanovic said. There are ab out 5,000 terrorists at present being trained in bases in Albania, which Alba nian authorities are doing nothing to stop, he specified.

The terrorists are being sent as the army of the non-existent "Repub lic of Kosovo" to fight for Kosovo-Metohija's detachment from Serbia and Yugosla via and annexation to Albania, he explained. In illustration of the brutality of the terrorists, he said that make-shift ovens had recently been discovered in some parts of Kosovo-Metohija where terrorists had been burning their victims.

Also, he added, the terrorist were brutally murdering civilians, mostly Serbs, but also members of the other nationalities, including the Albanian minority. In answer to reporters' questions, he said that Serbia and Yugoslavia were determin ed to resume dialogue to end the crisis, but that ethnic Albanian leaders were refusing talks, aware that talks could not effect Kosovo-Metohija's independence. He further said the U.N. Security Council's Wednesday resolution on Kosovo-M etohija was based on a series of untruths and incorrect suppositions designed to create a false picture of some humanitarian disaster in Kosovo-Metohija and so p rovoke an intervention.

[24] YUGOSLAV MINISTER BINGULAC VISITS CUBA

Tanjug, 1998-09-26

Yugoslav Minister Zoran Bingulac discussed in Havana Saturday with C uban Deputy Prime Ministrer Jose Ramon Fernandez possibilities for the promoti on of economic, cultural and sports ties between the two traditionally friendly countries, a Yugoslav government statement said. The two officials conde mned terrorism and separatism in Serbia's southern province of Kosovo and Meto hija and underscored that problems in the province were an internal affair of Serb ia and Yugoslavia. During the stay in Cuba, Minister Bingulac met with ranking representatives of the Cuban government and state institutions. A protoc ol on sports cooperation between Yugoslavia and Cuba was signed during the visi t.

[25] WHITE BOOK ON ALBANIA'S SUPPORT TO ETHNIC ALBANIAN TERRORISM PRESENTED

Tanjug, 1998-09-25

A book of documents on Albania's continual and open support to the separatist and terrorist movement in Kosovo and Metohija was presented at Belgrade's Institute for International Politics and Economy on Friday. T he white book, entitled "Terrorism in Kosovo and Metohija and Albania", was publis hed by the Yugoslav Foreign Ministry and it comprises stands and documents by et hnic Albanian officials, international diplomatic correspondence and authentic evidence of the financial, diplomatic, propaganda and military assistance arriving to the terrorist movement in Kosovo and Metohija from or via Alb ania. "This publication unequivocally shows that the epicentre of the region's instability does not lie in Kosovo and Metohija, but in Albania," Assista nt Foreign Minister Zlatan Kikic said. He said that Albania today was the w orld's greatest haven of terrorists, including Islamic and fundamentalist terror ists. Speaking about the fact that Albania is the only country to recognise the so-called republic of Kosovo and that it has even "exchanged" diplomatic representatives with ethnic Albanians in Kosovo and Metohija, Kikic said that this country was fully responsible for acts which directly iolated intern ational law and jeopardised peace and stability in the Balkans.

Terrorists are recruited and trained in cooperation with the Albania n armed forces in Albania's territory, in the Albanian Army garrisons in Durres a nd Dajta as well as the camps in Tropoje, Barjam Curri and Has and transferred to the Yugoslav territory, which this publication documents in detail. Kikic sa id that terrorism in Kosovo and Metohija was defeated and that competent state or gans were now investing huge efforts aimed at resolving problems regarding humanitarian assistance and restoring citizens' full security. "Serbia a nd Yugoslavia are not prepared to let their territorial integrity and sovere ignty be jeopardized," Kikic said and added that Serbia and Yugoslavia had reaf firmed their ability to resolve problems stemming from attempts to jeopardise th is right, guaranteed under international documents.

Vice President of the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) Belgrade city board Zeljko Simic, who is a publicist, said that the book warned the internati onal community that terrorism had to be fought universally instead of selectiv ely, because an open support to the idea of a greater Albania, which represent s the root of problems in Kosovo and Metohija and Albania itself, was the great est danger to peace and stability in the region. Stressing that Yugoslavia i s using legal and legitimate means to defend itself from terrorism which serves t he idea of a greater Albania, Simic said that this publication also showed Yugosl avia's stand on the necessity for establishing an unconditional dialogue with Ko sovo Albanian representatives as well as that the continuation of pressure on our country did not have ground in politics or international law. Experts on international politics also spoke about the book. Predrag Simic said that the international community should direct instruments envisaged under Article Seven of the U.N. Charter to the source of the problem, i.e. towards Albania, a nd not towards the country which is protecting its integrity.

[26] YUGOSLAV DEPUTY PREMIER: ARMY FIRMLY DEFENDS SOVEREIGNTY

Tanjug, 1998-09-26

Yugoslav Deputy Prime Minister Nikola Sainovic attended Saturday the graduation of the 51st generation of the Military Academy and of the 50th generation of the Military Technical Academy as special envoy of Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic. Sainovic congratulated the graduates on be half of President Milosevic and of the Supreme Defense Council and said that the present situation in the country demanded firmness in the defense of state sovere ignty.

It has always been a great honor to be an officer, and this is espec ially important now at the end of the 20th century, Sainovic said, and added th at the Academy graduates deserved the greatest care of the state and the nation.

Referring to the situation in Serbia's southern province of Kosovo-Metohija, Sainovic pointed to the full commitment to the defense o f sovereignty of the country. Sainovic also pointed to the political commi tment to resolve problems in Kosovo-Metohija through talks and by respecting th e equality of all citizens and ethnic communities. The Army and the police have succeded in defending sovereignty, Sainovic said and pointed to the readiness to resolve problems in the province by political means. The st ate delegation had waited 15 times in vain for representatives of ethnic Alba nian political parties to come to scheduled talks, and remains ready to talk t oday and tomorrow, Sainovic said and added that state institutions were committed to seeking a solution on the basis of Yugoslavia's and Serbia's Constitution s. This is a multi-national country whose fundamental interest lies in finding po litical and legal solutions and in resolving the issue of local self-rule which w ill take this historical fact into account.

Yugoslavia's future stability depends on this, Sainovic said and add ed that terrorism would be fought consistently to the very end. The same care wi ll be given to humanitarian activities and to care for each and every citizen in Kosovo-Metohija, Sainovic said. In this difficult time, the Yugoslav Arm y has fully shared the fate of the people, faced with limited material resource s and unproportional threats to this country, Sainovic said. The Yugoslav Army has found an honorable and firm answer to all this and will do so in the futu re too, Sainovic said. Yugoslavia's development founded on overall improvement o f economic and social standards will include the development of defensive p ower as a priority. This is the basis of the concept of Yugoslav Army development in which the new generation of officers will have the principal role to play, Sainovic said.

[27] ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF RUGOVA'S CLOSE ASSOCIATE

Tanjug, 1998-09-25

An assassination attempt was made on the life of Sabri Hamiti, 50, m ember of the Presidency of the Democratic Alliance of Kosovo, outside his house in Pristina late Thursday. Hamiti was shot three times and is in a Pristina hospital.

It is believed that the assassination attempt on Hamiti, the Preside nt of the Albanian PEN Club and a close associate of ethnic Albanian leader Ibr ahim Rugova, was executed by members of terrorist groups as a warning to moder ate forces among political representatives of ethnic Albanians in Serbia's so uthern Kosovo and Metohija province.

[28] CONFERENCE OF BALKAN VETERANS' ORGANISATIONS ENDS

Tanjug, 1998-09-26

At their first conference, which ended in Belgrade on Saturday, representatives of the Balkan veterans' organisations urged the ideals of freedom, peace and equality and creation of a just and humane society in the region and throughout the world. Participants in the conference expresse d their will to invest personal and collective efforts and contribute to the step ping up of the fight against fascism, which has recurred in some Balkan and Europ ean countries after more than 50 years. Veterans stressed that it was necess ary to prevent the retailoring of history and the attempt to rehabilitate Nazi i deology and justify the Nazi and fascist genocide in World War II. Chauvinism, separatism, anti-Semitism, xenophobia and all sorts of extremism have to be stopped, they said. An alliance of anti-fascist movements and veterans' organisations of the Balkans was set up as an independent regional organi sation.

Milo Markovic of the Yugoslav veterans' organisation became the alli ance's first president and Velko Vlkanov of Bulgaria was nominated vice president. Vlkanov will take over the alliance's presidency next year.

The conference's final document entitled an appeal for peace, unders tanding and cooperation, invites the Balkan countries' governments and parliament s as well as fighters, youth and the democratic public to invest joint efforts aimed at consolidating peace and strengthening understanding and cooperation in the region.

The Balkan countries must decisively resist all attempts by factors outside the Balkans at interfering in the internal affairs of the regional counri es and threats with the use of force, pressure and sanctions as a punishment, th e appeal said. A joint statement, unanimously adopted on Saturday, stressed the v eterans' commitment to the principles of the U.N. Charter, the Organisation for Se curity and Cooperation in Europe and the Paris Charter and pointed at the indivi sibility and interdependence of peace in the Balkans and Europe. The Balkan veter ans' organisations condemned the terrorism of ethnic Albanian separatists in K osovo and Metohija and said that peace in this part of Serbia could be achieved only through political means and on condition that ethnic Albanian extremists in Kosovo and Metohija give up their idea on the creation of a "greater Alba nia," give up terrorism and separatism and become loyal citizens of the state t hey live in.

[29] YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT RECEIVES BALKAN VETERANS

Tanjug, 1998-09-25

Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic received on Friday representatives of a conference of the Balkans veteran association, which is held in Belg rade. The delegation included presidents of veteran and anti-fascist organiatio ns from Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, Cyprus, Hungary, Republika Srpska, Serbia and Montenegro. The guests acquainted Milosevic with their mutual cooperatio n, which is not confined only to the Balkans, but includes anti-fascist movements worldwide. They said the meeting was an opportunity for examining curren international topics, in particular the trials the world is facing on the threshold of the new century, in view to development, consolidation of pe ace and affirmation of equality among states and peoples. The guests expressed sy mpathy to the people of Yugoslavia for the pressures they were under, and gave t heir wishes for success.

Milosevic thanked the guests, and said he respected their contributi ons toward the struggle for freedom throughout the world. He said the strugg le for peace, freedom, dignity and equality among peoples and nations, democracy , economic and cultural progress, openness, cooperation and ties without discrimination and the imposition of another's will, are lasting goals of civilization. Pursuit of these values is the best message a generation of veterans can pass on to new generations, Milosevic said.

[30] PROFILE OF NEWLY ELECTED SRPSKA PRESIDENT POPLASEN

Tanjug, 1998-09-25

The newly elected President of Republika Srpska Prof. Nikola Poplase n was born in 1952 in Stanisici, near Sombor, Serbia's northern province of Voj vodina. Poplasen got his Ph.D. in political science at the Sarajevo University. H e was member of the political council of the Serb Democratic Party until 1952, when the Serb Radical Party of Republika Srpska was founded and he became its pres ident. Poplasen was deputy speaker of the Srpska parliament in its last two sess ions. Poplasen lives in Banja Luka, where he teaches at the Law School. He is m arried and has three children.

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