Yugoslav Daily Survey, 98-10-08

Yugoslav Daily Survey Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

Yugoslav Daily Survey

CONTENTS

[01] YUGOSLAV PRIME MINISTER BULATOVIC RECEIVES AUSTRALIAN AMBASSADOR

[02] BULGARIA WORRIED ABOUT SERBIA'S TROUBLED KOSOVO-METOHIJA PROVINCE

[03] UKRAINIAN PARLIAMENT OPPOSES USE OF FORCE IN KOSOVO-METOHIJA

[04] GREECE FAVORS PEACEFUL SOLUTION TO KOSOVO-METOHIJA CRISIS

[05] SERGEYEV: NATO ATTACKS WOULD PREVENT POLITICAL TALKS

[06] LAVROV: SECURITY COUNCIL STATEMENT ON KOSOVO BALANCED

[07] YELTSIN DISCUSSES KOSMET WITH BLAIR

[08] IVANOV INFORMS TANG ABOUT RUSSIA'S STAND ON KOSOVO AND METOHIJA ISSUE

[09] SECURITY COUNCIL STATEMENT ON KOSOVO AND METOHIJA

[10] INTERNATIONAL RELIEF ORGANIZATIONS SATISFIED WITH COOPERATION WITH YUGOSLAVIA

[11] MARJANOVIC: ALL CONDITIONS HAVE BEEN CREATED FOR RESOLUTION OF PROBLEMS IN KOSMET

[12] SERBIAN GOVERNMENT ADOPTS OPERATIVE PROGRAM OF MEASURES

[13] PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC RECEIVES U.S. ENVOY HOLBROOKE

[14] SERBIAN PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL RECEIVES UKRAINIAN M.P.

[01] YUGOSLAV PRIME MINISTER BULATOVIC RECEIVES AUSTRALIAN AMBASSADOR

Tanjug, 1998-10-07

Yugoslav Prime Minister Momir Bulatovic on Wednesday received Australian Ambassador in Belgrade Christopher Leslie Lambe, at the Ambassador's req uest, a Government statement said.

[02] BULGARIA WORRIED ABOUT SERBIA'S TROUBLED KOSOVO-METOHIJA PROVINCE

Tanjug, 1998-10-07

The Bulgarian army will not raise its combat alert over the latest devel opments surrounding the Yugoslav Republic of Serbia's Kosovo-Metohija Pro vince, according to the First Deputy Chief of Staff on Wednesday. The Bul garian news agency BTA quotes Lt.-Gen. Zakharin Iliev as saying that the army had received no instructions to take part in any operations of U.N.- or NATO-led international forces in the Balkans.

President Petar Stoyanov, for his part, said he could not hide his conce rn about the way the situation concerning Serbia's troubled Province was developing. Stoyanov told reporters in Parliament, according to BTA, that one must keep calm, cool and collected.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Radko Vlaikov told a regular news briefing th at Bulgaria was following developments in the neighbouring Federal Republ ic of Yugoslavia with care, but was taking no action in their connection.

Vlaikov added that the Foreign Ministry would not be recalling diplomats from Belgrade for the time being.

[03] UKRAINIAN PARLIAMENT OPPOSES USE OF FORCE IN KOSOVO-METOHIJA

Tanjug, 1998-10-07

Ukraine's stance on the crisis in Serbia's Province of Kosovo and Metohi ja is identical to Russia's, Itar-TASS news agency quotes Parliament Spea ker Alexander Tkachenko as saying on Wednesday. The Ukrainian Parliament will not withdraw its call to the international community to prevent NATO from employing force in Kosovo and Metohija, Tkachenko said.

He gave the statement during a meeting with Yugoslav Ambassador in Ukrai ne Gojko Dapcevic.

Tkachenko said that Ukraine could help Yugoslavia in solving the crisis, "not just morally, but also materially."

He set out that actions of countries that call themselves "peacemakers" could lead Ukraine to reexamine his relations with them.

[04] GREECE FAVORS PEACEFUL SOLUTION TO KOSOVO-METOHIJA CRISIS

Tanjug, 1998-10-07

The crisis in Serbia's southern Province of Kosovo-Metohija must be reso lved in a peaceful manner, as diplomatic means have not been used up yet, Greek and Russian Defense ministers Akis Tsohatsopoulos and Igor Sergeye v said in a joint statement issued Wednesday in Athens.

NATO strikes on Serbs in Kosovo-Metohija would not constitute a punishme nt for Belgrade but would turn into a wider war, Sergeyev told a press co nference and pointed to Russia's firm opposition to the use of force by NATO.

Tsohatsopoulos said the US must take into account the special position of Greece as a Balkan country and a NATO member.

Prime Minister Costas Simitis said that everything must be done to avoid a conflict that would threaten peace, stability and security in the regi on. It is obvious to all that NATO strikes on Yugoslavia would cause a wi der conflict in the region and a mass flow of refugees, which would be de trimental to Greece, Simitis told PASOK MPs.

[05] SERGEYEV: NATO ATTACKS WOULD PREVENT POLITICAL TALKS

Tanjug, 1998-10-07

Russian Defence Minister Igor Sergeyev warned on Wednesday that NATO air strikes would prevent the resolution of the Kosovo problem through negoti ations.

"I believe that attacks on Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija and outside the borders of this Province, would suddenly block the way for political nego tiations," Sergeyev told the Itar-Tass news agency.

Sergeyev, who has been on a six-day visit to Greece since Monday, set ou t that during a recent visit to Belgrade he had become convinced in the d etermination of the Serbs to persist in takiong political measures but al so "if the Serbs are attacked, they will fight to the end."

He once again called on his counterparts in NATO countries to "relay on reason and wisdom before making the decision to apply force."

Expressing hope that all would hear and consider his appeal, Sergeyev un derscored that "everyone should make his own decision, and not rashly as if in a chorus."

[06] LAVROV: SECURITY COUNCIL STATEMENT ON KOSOVO BALANCED

Tanjug, 1998-10-07

Russia's permanent representative to the United Nations Sergei Lavrov sa id the press statement released following Tuesday evening's consultations of the Security Council was balanced and provided a basis for the furthe r peaceful settlement of the problem of Kosovo and Metohija.

The balance in the statement given by the Council President after the se ssion is a result of a report by the Secretary-General but also the lates t reports from Kosovo and Metohija.

These reports testify to a stronger tendency to cease armed actions and reduce troops, and that a certain improvement is felt in the humanitarian situation in this Serbian province, said Lavrov.

Lavrov said in his statement to the Itar Tas news agency that the debate had been very sharp because certan Council members had tried to impose f ormulations from which it could actually be concluded that the resolution s on Kosovo and Metohija have not been fullfiled and that the internation al community must take measures to prevent a humanitarian disaster and re store peace.

It was evident that such formulations could later be used as a basis for a NATO military action in Serbia, said Lavrov. The Russian delegation wa s strongly against them and did not allow them to be included in the stat ement, said Lavrov.

[07] YELTSIN DISCUSSES KOSMET WITH BLAIR

Tanjug, 1998-10-07

Russian President Boris Yeltsin expressed in a telephone conversation on Wednesday with British Prime Minister Tony Blair serious concern because "certain forces within NATO" continue openly urging a military action in the Balkans, Yeltsin's Press Service said in a statement. Yeltsin said t hat in case of developments "which would threaten international peace, a totally new situation would arise," the statement said. The statement set out that Yeltsin and Blair focused "primarily on Kosovo issues" and that Yeltsin informed Blair in full about the Russian leadership's efforts to reach a political solution to the conflict.

Yeltsin also informed Blair about the results of his telephone conversat ions on Kosmet over the past two days with U.N. Secretary General Kofi An nan, U.S. President Bill Clinton, French President Jacques Chirac and in- coming German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.

Yeltsin "expressed satisfaction that prevalent in these conversations wa s comprehension that the resolution of problems through peaaceful means a nd without the use of force should be the main goal of the world communit y."

Blair expressed hope that Russia's steps would result in Yugoslavia taki ng practical steps to implement the U.N. Security Council resolution, the statement said. According to Blair, this would remove all need for outsi de interference in the conflict and for the use of force. Blair said he w as ready to support the Russian position if this happened.

Yeltsin set out that Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov, who leaves fo r London on Thursday for a Contact Group meeting, would be ready for cons tructive cooperation with the British partners and the other Contact Grou p members for reaching realistic ways for the normalization of the situat ion in Kosmet.

[08] IVANOV INFORMS TANG ABOUT RUSSIA'S STAND ON KOSOVO AND METOHIJA ISSUE

Tanjug, 1998-10-07

Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov on Wednesday sent a letter to his C hinese counterpart Tang Jiaxuan informing him in detail about Russia's po sition on the issue of Serbia's southern Province of Kosovo and Metohija.

Russia's Itar-Tass news agency reported from Peking that, on receiving t he letter, China had reiterated its opposition to the use of force and th reats of military action in Kosovo and Metohija.

China urges the respect of Yugoslavia's sovereignty and territorial inte grity, being of the view that the resolution of the Kosovo and Metohija i ssue must be based on the respect of the U.N. Charter and international l aw, Itar-Tass said.

China said the international community must have a balanced approach to the resolution of the issue.

[09] SECURITY COUNCIL STATEMENT ON KOSOVO AND METOHIJA

Tanjug, 1998-10-07

After seven hours of consultations behind closed doors, the United Natio ns Security Council late on Tuesday local time released a press statement saying, among other things, that there are fewer military activities in Serbia's Kosovo and Metohija Province and that forces have withdrawn over the past few days.

The statement which was read to reporters after the session by British Ambassador Jeremy Greenstock, the current council President, also said a significant presence of Government armed forces was still felt in Kosovo and Metohija and that operations by special police continued after the ad option of Resolution 1199.

The press statement also reiterated that there was an allegedly excessiv e use of force against civilians, but this time in parallel condemned "te rrorist activities."

The Council also confirmed its determination on the sovereignty and terr itorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in the statement.

The Council urged the soonest possible renewal of negotiations, without preconditions, in order to arrive at a comprehensive political solution t o the crisis. The international community is investing efforts toward thi s end, and the sides are asked to support these efforts.

In an evident reply to the objection voiced by Secretary-General Kofi An nan himself, who admitted in his Tuesday report on Kosovo and Metohija th at he did not have first-hand information on the situation there, the Cou ncil members recommended in their statement that the secretary-general co nsider possibilities for securing direct and immediate data and insight i nto the situation in the field in future.

The Council warned against the danger of a humanitarian disaster, and em phasized the need for the sonnest possible creation of conditions for a f urther improvement of the situation.

The statement said in closing that the council expected full compliance with the demands of Resolutions 1160 and 1199.

[10] INTERNATIONAL RELIEF ORGANIZATIONS SATISFIED WITH COOPERATION WITH YUGOSLAVIA

Tanjug, 1998-10-07

Three representatives of international humanitarian organizations in Bel grade voiced satisfaction with the Yugoslav Government's readiness to con tinue cooperation with the U.N., the Red Cross and Red Crescent organizat ions at a joint news conference on Wednesday.

Spokesman for the U.N. Liaison Office Jay Carter told the press that a n ew element in the latest U.N. Security Council statement on Kosovo and Me tohija was that it did not call for urgent steps to resolve problems in t he Serbia's southern Province.

Head of the Belgrade office of the UNHCHR Barbara Davids expressed satis faction with cooperation with Yugoslavia and thanked Yugoslav Foreign Min ister Zivorad Jovanovic and Serbia Justice Minister Dragoljub Jankovic fo r pledging that the Government would guarantee the protection of relief w orkers and all foreigners in Yugoslavia.

Davids said the Belgradae UNHCHR Office had recently for the first time publicly invited private citizens and institutions in Yugoslavia to apply for grants and received as many as 120 applications, or more than in any other country.

UNHCR coordinator for lasting solutions Eduardo Arboleda spoke about hum anitarian issues in Kosovo and Metohija.

[11] MARJANOVIC: ALL CONDITIONS HAVE BEEN CREATED FOR RESOLUTION OF PROBLEMS IN KOSMET

Tanjug, 1998-10-07

The main goal of the Serbia Government is to create prospects for the de velopment of Kosovo and Metohija in the eccnomic, cultural and civilizati onal sense, Serbia Premier Mirko Marjanovic said in the Provincial capita l of Pristina on Wednesday. Addressing a session of the newly formed prov isional government of Kosovo and Metohija, Premier Marjanovic said ethnic - Albanian terrorists and separatists had been defeated and all conditions had been created for a stepped-up resolution of all other aspects of the Kosovo and Metohija issue.

"Such an approach is reflected in the setting up of the Provisional Exec utive Council. By strengthening civilian structures, we are pointing out the priority directions of our activities. And, they will precisely be re flected in the resolution of problems of Kosovo and Metohija citizens, wh ich are of the utmost importance for the securing of best possible living and working conditions," Marjanovic set out.

He said it was also necessary to create conditions for the development a nd building up of inter-ethnic confidence, political tolerance and, in ge neral, for the creation of a positive atmosphere for the resolution of pr oblems strictly by peaceful, political means, through dialogue.

"It is good that the Provisional Executive Council has included in its p riorities issues relating to the social policy, education, the municipal infrastructure, culture and economy, everything that needs to be activate d so that life in Kosovo and Metohija will be better for all who live in it," Marjanovic said.

Marjanovic said the Serbia Government of national unity would secure all necessary conditions for the Kosovo and Metohija provisional government to carry out its duties as successfully as possible in the interest of Se rbs and ethnic Albanians, of Muslims and ethnic Turks, Romanies and all o thers who live and work in the Province.

[12] SERBIAN GOVERNMENT ADOPTS OPERATIVE PROGRAM OF MEASURES

Tanjug, 1998-10-07

The Serbian Government, at its Wednesday's session chaired by Premier Mi rko Marjanovic, reviewed and adopted an operative program of measures and activities pertaining to the implementation of conclusions and decision s reached by the Serbian and Yugoslav Parliaments.

The Government fully backed the documents adopted by the two Parliaments , saying that it would continue to implement them through determined and organized efforts, the Serbian Information Ministry said in a statement.

The Serbian Government instructed all Ministries, public services and in stitutions to immediately take the most energetic steps toward increasing security and stepping up activities concerning the defense of the countr y, protection of political, social and economic stability and continuatio n of a speedy normalization of the situation in Serbia's southern Provinc e of Kosovo and Metohija.

The Government and its Ministries will give priority to an efficient car rying out of all obligations of state bodies and institutions, protection of social and economic stability, true information, punishing and preven tion of all offenses against the law.

All bodies and institutions should take steps to raise to the maximum th e level of engagement, discipline and personal and collective responsibil ity for an efficient operation and functioning of all institution of the system.

All plans will be activated and all necessary steps will be taken to hei ghten responsibility and mobility of public companies in the areas of tra nsport, power industry, telecommunications and information so as to succe ssfully meet the needs of the country and the people.

Measures that secure regular supply of staple products will continue to be consistenly implemented, while speculations on the market, smuggling a nd grey economy, as well as triggering of artificial shortages, etc. will be firmly countered and those involved in them will be strictly punished.

In the conditions when this country is being threatened with an armed ag gression, it is the duty of the media to contribute to and operate in the interest of the protection of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Serbia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

The Government insists on the strongest response to the spreading of def eatism and activities that clash with decisions taken by the Yugoslav and Serbian Parliaments, which had expressed a national unity on vital natio nal and state interests.

The Government especially requests the media not to carry or transmit pr ograms or parts of programs or reports from foreign media which are actin g against the interests of our country, spreading fear, panic and defeati sm or which are adversely affecting the people's readiness to defend the integrity of Serbia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

All illegal and irresponsible acts will be determinedly punished in line with the law. Competent state bodies are requested to enforce the law ef ficiently.

The Government stresses that the country is in a situation that requires maximum engagement, high degree of responsibility, patriotism and total discipline so as to fulfill all the obligations we are facing as a people and as a state and to defend our vital, national and state interests.

The Government passed adequate regulations aimed at implementing the ope rative program of measures and activities, the statement said.

[13] PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC RECEIVES U.S. ENVOY HOLBROOKE

Tanjug, 1998-10-07

Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic on Wednesday again received U.S. E nvoys, Ambassadors Richard Holbrooke and Christopher Hill, and members of their team.

The talk focused on efforts to overcome differences in views of the situ ation in the Yugoslav Republic of Serbia's Kosovo and Metohija Province t aken by part of international cirlces despite the true state of affairs.

It was noted in the talk that there are all prospects and conditions for the interested factors to acquire an objective insight into what is real ly happening in Kosovo and Metohija and draw their conclusions taking int o account the facts rather than unilateral and fabricated reports that ar e in the service of a media campaign against Yugoslavia. President Milose vic said that only an unambiguous support for the political process can provide a successful solution to problems in Kosovo and Metohija. He stre ssed that threats against Yugoslavia are hampering the resumption of the political process.

Taking part in the talk were also Serbian President Milan Milutinovic, Y ugoslav Foreign Minister Zivadin Jovanovic and U.S. Charge d'Affaires in Belgrade Ambassador Richard Miles.

[14] SERBIAN PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL RECEIVES UKRAINIAN M.P.

Tanjug, 1998-10-07

Head of the Serbian Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee Ratomir Vico re ceived on Wednesday Ukrainian M.P. Sergei Kiashka. It was stated that con clusions recently adopted by the Yugoslav and Serbian parliaments constit uted a secure basis for the overall normalisation and considerable improv ement of the situation in Kosovo and Metohija as well as for the provinc e's development, based on full equality of all citizens and ethnic commu nities living in this part of Serbia.

Vico and Kiashka agreed that it was vital that dialogue between the stat e delegation and representatives of ethnic Albanian parties resume in ord er to find solutions to all outstanding issues.

Vico welcomed the Ukrainian Parliament's opposition to militarist forces ' attempts to use weapons in the Balkans and its invitation to Parliament s and Governments in Europe and the rest of the world to stop these dange rous intentions.

Kiashka conveyed the Ukrainian Parliament's position that the problem of Kosovo and Metohija can be solved only through peaceful and civilised me thods and by protecting Serbia's territorial integrity.

Yugoslav Daily Survey Directory - Previous Article - Next Article