Yugoslav Daily Survey, 98-10-27

Yugoslav Daily Survey Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

Yugoslav Daily Survey

CONTENTS

[01] AID FOR REFUGEES AND DISPLACED PERSONS

[02] ODALOVIC RECEIVES EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT VICE-PRESIDENT HAARDERA

[03] CONDITIONS MUST BE CREATED FOR SCHOOLS IN KOSMET TO WORK NORMALLY

[04] KOSOVO-METOHIJA OFFICIAL RECEIVES EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT DEPUTY SPEAKER

[05] YUGOSLAVIA, LIBYA SIGN PROTOCOL ON OVERALL ECONOMIC COOPERATION

[06] SERBIAN INFORMATION MINISTRY ISSUES RESPONSE

[07] YUGOSLAV DELEGATION ATTENDS INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON WOMEN

[08] FOREIGN MINISTER JOVANOVIC: NO BASIS FOR PRESSURES AND THREATS

[09] YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL SAVOVIC CONFERS WITH MARKIDIS

[10] LIBYAN PRESIDENT GADDAFI RECEIVES YUGOSLAV DEPUTY PREMIER LILIC

[11] START OF REMOVAL OF REMAINING POLICE CHECKPOINTS

[12] ALL MAJOR EUROPEAN AIR CARRIERS RESUME RETURN FLIGHTS TO BELGRADE

[13] YUGOSLAV DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER RECEIVES BELGIAN AMBASSADOR

[14] U.S. RELIEF AID ARRIVES FOR DISPLACED PERSONS FROM KOSMET

[01] AID FOR REFUGEES AND DISPLACED PERSONS

Tanjug, 1998-10-26

Montenegrin Deputy Premier Dragisa Burzan received the newly appointed h ead of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societi es (IFRC) delegation for Montenegro Troels Mickelsen in Podgorica on Mond ay.

The high representative of the IFRC expressed the organization's readine ss to provide greater support to Montenegro in taking care of refugees an d displaced persons.

[02] ODALOVIC RECEIVES EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT VICE-PRESIDENT HAARDERA

Tanjug, 1998-10-26

The head of the Kosovo and Metohija district, Veljko Odalovic, met Monda y with the vice-president of the European Parliament, Bertal Haardera, th e provincial information secretariat has said. Haardera expressed intere st in the humanitarian aspect of the problem and ways for distributing re lief aid intended for the threatened and displaced persons.

Odalovic informed the guests about the situation in Kosovo and Metohija and the efforts of the state and its bodies in the resolution of humanita rian issues. Haardera was also told that in the region of Kosmet set up w ere 16 humanitarian centres in all areas where aid is needed and that it is distributed to all persons regardless of nationality and religion. Od alovic set out that after the signing of the Agreement, the Republic of S erbia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) are making huge effort s for its realization but, despite that, the international community is p ressuring our country, as confirmed by the new U.N. Security Council Reso lution which does not aim to stabilize the situtation in this region. In an attempt to prevent the realization of the Agreement, the terrorists ar e continuing terrorist activities by launching numerous attacks on the po lice, army and the civilians. Odalovic underscored that all activites of the state are aimed at the resolution of problems through peaceful means and a dialogue. He said that the representatives of the missions in Koso vo and Metohija will be able to see for themselves that the state bodies are ready to give their full support and maximum cooperation.

[03] CONDITIONS MUST BE CREATED FOR SCHOOLS IN KOSMET TO WORK NORMALLY

Tanjug, 1998-10-26

Conditions must as soon as possible be created for elementary and second ary schools in Kosovo and Metohija to work normally, especially in parts of the province which were affected by terrorist operations, it was set o ut at a meeting of Provincial Education Secretariat representatives and t he heads of all municipalities in the province. The meeting decided that each municipality set up a commission of experts to investigate the situ ation in the field and supply the Information Secretariat with data about the number of pupils, students, teachers, classrooms and the needed furn iture, equipment and supplies. The municipalities will also supply the P ristina office of the Serbia Construction Ministry with data about the re quired reconstruction of school buildings or possibly the building of new ones. The meeting stressed that the work must be completed as soon as p ossible so that the situation in the domain of education would be normali zed. The Serbia government will provide maximum financial backing for th e work to be completed as promptly as posisble, Serbia Assistant Educatio n Minister Milivoje Simonovic said. Member of the Kosovo and Metohija pr ovisional government in charge of education Selim Godjufi voiced convicti on that the agreement reached by Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic an d U.S. envoy Richard Holbrooke, and accepted by ethnic-Albanian leader Ib rahim Rugova would greatly help stabilize the socio-political and securit y situation in the province.

[04] KOSOVO-METOHIJA OFFICIAL RECEIVES EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT DEPUTY SPEAKER

Tanjug, 1998-10-26

President of the provisional Executive Council of the Yugoslav republic of Serbia's Kosovo-Metohija province Zoran Andjelkovic Monday received Eu ropean Parliament Deputy Speaker Bertal Jardera, who voiced interest in t he humanitarian situation in the province and the way local security was being implemented. According to a statement issued by the Kosovo-Metohij a Information Secretariat, Andjelkovic said that ethnic Albanian terroris m in the province had been defeated, which was a great encouragement to a ll those who favored peaceful political dialogue as a means of solving al l problems. He conveyed to the EP deputy speaker Serbia's stand that the agreement reached between Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic and U.S. envoy to the Balkans Richard Holbrooke should be implemented. Andjelkov ic added that a declaration adopted by the Serbian government had been wi dely supported by the international community, European fora and the Unit ed Nations, which had been reflected also in the latest U.N. Security Cou ncil resolution.

It is especailly important that it has been backed also by ethnic Albani ans, so there is a period of stability ahead of us and, therefore, we hav e decided to reduce police forces in Kosovo-Metohija, guaranteeing at the same time safety to all citizens, said Andjelkovic. He told Jardera tha t local security had been set up where necessary, saying that the securit y people were in charge of supervising the distribution of supplies and r elief aid through local humaniatarian and distribution centers. Andjelko vic said that a mission of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), including all other missions in Kosovo-Metohija was in the interest of peace and progress, which created elements of safety, in a belief that all of this would contribute to normal life in the province , adding that the multi-ethnic provisional Executive Council should contr ibute to this.

[05] YUGOSLAVIA, LIBYA SIGN PROTOCOL ON OVERALL ECONOMIC COOPERATION

Tanjug, 1998-10-26

The 13th session of the mixed Yugoslav-Libyan committe for economic, sci entific and technical cooperation ended in Tripoli Monday with the signin g of a protocol on bilateral cooperation in areas of priority. The commi ttee co-chairmen, Yugoslav Deputy Prime Minister Zoran Lilic and Libyan H ealth Minister Suleyman al-Gomari signed the document which was coordinat ed at a plenary session late Sunday. The co-chairmen agreed that the docu ment opened a new page in bilateral economic relations. In a brief state ment to Tanjug, Lilic said that, over the past three days, the way was pa ved for cooperation based on mutual interests. He said that a subcommitte e for financial issues had reached a full accord on the settlement of deb tor- creditor relations between Yugoslavia and Libya, with which problems that used to be a stumbling block to a futher development of mutually ben efitial cooperation had been solved. He said that the Yugoslav side had many reasons to be satisfied because the committee and the entire Yugosla v delegation had worked really hard and Libya, Libyan experts and committ ee members had displayed great understanding. Lilic added that every par t of the protocol should now be fully implemented. Al-Gomari said, for h is part, that Libya and Yugoslavia had traditionally friendly ties, addin g that he was convinced that the protocol on cooperation would be fully c arried out.

The mixed committee worked in plenum and in subcommittees, of which the most important ones were those for economic, financial, scientific and te chnical cooperation. As a result of efforts of the subcommittee for econ omic cooperation, the two sides fully agreed to intensify relations in th e areas of trade, energy, industry and transport. They also agreed that a ll agreements necessary for the implementation of the accord on the devel opment of comprehensive bilateral cooperation should be signed in the com ing period. The two sides agreed to sign as soon as possible an agreemen t on Yugoslav doctors and medical staff working in Libyan hospitals. They also exchanged draft agreements on cooperation in maritime traffic, tele communications and on mutual boosting and protection of investments.

The prospects of Yugoslav-Libyan economic, scientific and technical coop eration are based on traditional ties, compatible economies and regional Mediterranean linkage. To this effect, according to the delegationa' sour ces, the two sides voiced readiness to resume cooperation to the highest level as soon as possible. As a result of the work of the mixed committe e and talks Lilic had in August with Libyan President Muammar al-Gaddafi, an agreement was reached on an import of 500,000 tonnes of Libyan oil. T he first deliveries of Libyan oil to Yugoslavia are due in the next 15 da ys.

Libya, for its part, voiced interest in importing Yugoslav goods, now th at all financial problems have been resolved. Yugoslavia has made offers totalling more than one billion U.S. dollars. At the same time, various contracts worth 120 million dollars have been signed during the mixed com mittee session. A contract on the founding of the first Yugoslav-Libyan joint venture company was also signed in Tripoli Monday. The Libyan-Yugos lav trade and construction company will be dealing with construction of f acilities, especially industrial, production of construction material, dr awing up of studies and projects and import-export of commercial goods. The first such contract in the history of the Yugoslav-Libyan economic co operation was signed by Jugoimport SDPR company Director-General Jovan Ce kovic and a Libyan state-owned company represented by Ahmed Mahmud Ali. Taking part in the mixed committee session in Tripoli from Oct. 24 throug h 26 were also Yugoslav Minister of Economy Rade Filipovic, Telecommunica tions Minister Dojcilo Radojevic, Jugoimport SDPR Director-General Jovan Cekovic, National Bank of Yugoslavia Vice-Governor Zarko Trbojevic and Am bassador to Libya Radomir Bogdanovic. Lilic met Monday also with Gaddafi 's closest aide Abu Bakkar Junis.

[06] SERBIAN INFORMATION MINISTRY ISSUES RESPONSE

Tanjug, 1998-10-26

The Serbian Information Ministry has received many letters and calls by international organizations, institutions and associations concerned abou t the state of media in our country and is using the opportunity to send them a single response. A statement submitted to Tanjug reads as follows (unofficial translation): "The government of the Republic of Serbia and the Information Ministry are astonished and surprised by your exceptional interest in the legal regulations and functioning of the legal state in the sphere of media, especially in view of the entire lack of interest on your part in helping our government, country and people in averting some aggressive Western powers from implementing their 'Tomahawk' democracy o n the innocent people of Serbia and the FR Yugoslavia. "This anti-legal and anti-civilizational behaviour of these Western countries has not made you think about the observation of human rights and freedoms and element ary right to life of the Serbian people as a whole, and unfortunately, it is obvious that even the kidnapping of Serbian journalists in the territ ory of the Republic of Serbia was not worthy of more attention on your pa rt, let alone a demand sent to your political proteges in Kosovo and Meto hija to release these Serbian journalists at once. "We admit that we are thrilled by your concern, thoughts and hope that the information sphere in Serbia can be organized in a better and different way than under the l egal acts in our country, but, believe us, we too are a little concerned and surprised by double standards to which you resort in the fight for es tablishing alleged democratic relations in all parts of the world.

"You say you have condemned the draconic law on public information adopt ed by the National Assembly of Serbia, but you do not say, though we reme mber, that you never condemned the dreadful sanctions, which the countrie s from which you most frequently write these threatening letters had impo sed on our country and our people. "You have never condemned the bombing and killing of innocent civilians, who are, not accidentaly, members of the Serbian people in the Republika Srpska and you have never condemned t he fact that because of your democratic bombs charged with who knows what , Serb women give birth to sick children even today. "It is also interes ting that the most important provisions of the law on public information have been inspired by the protection of the very human rights and freedom s you talks about so much and observe so little, and that norms on respon sible information are very similar to the norms of those countries from w hich the worst accusations against us come, with the exception that the f ines for the violation of some articles of the law are not nearly as big as under your laws. If we have made a mistake here, we admit it.

"Strange are the reasons you quote as the most important for Serbian aut horities' alleged start of dealing with independent media. By the way, wh at you regard as independent media are those whose editing policy is most frequently directed against the interests of our country, you regard as independent media those who do not depend upon their state, but on your s tates. An odd term, isn't it?

"In one letter you say that these media are banned, although nobody in S erbia is doing that, because they openly speak about an alleged Serbian r epression in Kosovo and Metohija, and in another because they speak about alleged Serbian giving in, so we recommend that all of you from the most important international organizations, institutions and foreign governme nts, who have decided to condemn the new law on public information, come to one place and take a single platform on what Serbia is doing and why i t is taking certain steps in the sphere of media. "Like you, we are firm ly determined to promote free and open media in the entire world, includi ng your countries. Anyway, you yourselves are concerned about the conditi on of media in our country. There are over 2,500 public media currently r egistered in Serbia, which have the freedom truly to inform the public on all events without censorship or pressure from the state.

"Like you, we actively support bold actions by organizations of civic so cieties and media in your countries, because you express support in your letters precisely to such media in our country. "As you boast to have st epped up Serbian-language programmes of Voice of America and BBC, rest as sured that we shall also imminently be able to boast of stronger signals and contents of English-language programmes of Radio Yugoslavia, Serbian Radio-TV and some other media. "We are certain that you, as consistent d emocrats and enthusiasts in the development and flow of free information throughout the world will help us in our intentions to inform the citizen s of your countries in the simplest and cheapest way in their mother tong ue about everything that is happening in our country, but also about all the problems which they face in their countries. "The tonnes of paper wh ich you have used up to explain that Serbia is a non-democratic country a nd that, as you claim, it stifles media freedoms, prove to us and confirm the validity of the adopted law on public information by the National As sembly of the Republic of Serbia, because it is known from experience tha t you care neither about our people, nor the citizens of this country, bu t only about your own interests. "We know that you would like all media in Serbia democratically to report on alleged Serb repression and crimes in Kosovo and Metohija, to tell tales about the totalitarian Serbian regi me and the magnificent and democratic Western world, but before this happ ens you will have to try to convince us just a little bit more of the tru th of such stands and voiced allegations. "In closing, the question is w hy you were never concerned about the problems, troubles or murdered citi zens of this country and yet this law has made you so concerned. It seems to us that everyone knows the answer to this question. We have touched t he essence of the matter," the statement said.

[07] YUGOSLAV DELEGATION ATTENDS INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON WOMEN

Tanjug, 1998-10-26

Chairman of the Yugoslav Association for Inter-Balkan Cooperation of Wom en and Serbia Commissioner for Refugees Bratislava Morina heads the Yugos lav delegation to the four-day international congress on the theme "The E nvironment and Women" which opened in Nicosia Monday. The Yugoslav deleg ation includes Assistant Minister of Science, Development and Ecology Ver a Lapcevic. The congress has been organized by the Salonika-based non-go vernmental Association for Inter-Balkan cooperation of Women in cooperati on with the UNESCO Centre for Women and Peace in Balkan Countries. The c ongress was opened by Cypriot President Glavkos Clerides and addressed by Yugoslav delegation head Morina. Morina has discussed with the Cypriot presidential Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs Takis Christopoulos co operation between the two countries in matters concerning refugees and di splaced persons and other humanitarian issues.

[08] FOREIGN MINISTER JOVANOVIC: NO BASIS FOR PRESSURES AND THREATS

Tanjug, 1998-10-26

"Western countries lead a double*standard, controversial policy towards the FR of Yugoslavia. On the one hand, they use every opportunity to publ icly support the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Yugoslavia whic h is good and which is welcome. On the other hand, they put pressures to bear on Yugoslavia and even threaten with military attacks while Yugoslav ia defends its territorial integrity and sovereignty," Sinhua quotes the position of the chief Yugoslav diplomat. "In various ways, directly or in directly, these countries either support or from them comes the support t o the separatist and terrorist forces in Kosovo and Metohija. It is not j ust that in these countries financial support is collected for those who kill innocent civilians in Kosmet, miners, villagers, postmen, journalist s, policemen maintaining law and order, but various other political and o ther lobbies are in place, which in Governmental and other political stru ctures assist dangerous, illegitimate and destructive goals of separatist s and terrorists", Jovanovic said. Jovanovic assessed that "NATO and othe rs are trying to take advantage of the situation in Kosovo and Metohija t o launch new rules in the international relations, which run counter to t he fundamental principles of international legal order, with the purposes of the Charter of the United Nations. To that end, regardless of the fac t that the situation in Kosovo and Metohija essentially improved in all e lements, through media and certain international fora in which those coun tries have dominant positions the thesis of the alleged "humanitarian cat astrophe" is still being launched. On that basis they seek to prevail upo n the international public and win support for the activities and measure s lacking any basis. By its unjustified threats NATO places itself outsi de and above the basic norms of international relations, outside and abov e the Charter of the UN and the Security Council, seeking to set a preced ent in order to get a free hand to intervene wherever it pleases in the w orld.

"There is absolutely no basis for pressures and threats, particularly mi litary threats against Yugoslavia, as a sovereign European country which does not threaten any one and can resolve all its internal problems alone , in the way all other sovereign countries do. By issuing ultimatums and open threats of NATO military attacks against Yugoslavia the very foundat ions of international relations are undermined and many issues related to the future are opened up in addition to the fact that those directly enc ourage the proponents of violence, terrorism, recharting of borders and a lready seen concepts of the so called "Greater Albania", which is a true threat to peace and stability in the region.

In the interview which mostly focused on the development of the situatio n in Kosovo and Metohija, Minister Jovanovic emphasized that Yugoslavia f ulfilled the requirements of the Security Council resolutions, that since 28 September 1998 there was no longer the need to engage special anti*te rrorist forces, that only regular police units are currently present in K osovo and Metohija, that essential progress had been made and is being ma de in resolving humanitarian issues, that full freedom of movement of cit izens, public transport and foreign representatives has been ensured, tha t economic, social and all other flows have been normalized. He emphasize d that contrary to the reports of Western media, State authorities assist in, and guarantee free and safe return to displaced persons. He stated t hat so far around 100,000 displaced persons returned tot heir homes so fa r and that the Government opened a few dozens of humanitarian centres for distribution of aid in food, clothes, medicaments, construction material s.

Jovanovic pointed out that regular police forces cannot be withdrawn, th at it was out of the question, because they guarantee public peace and or der, security and protection of all citizens and their property. Who and why would be pleased to see a security vacuum, Jovanovic asked. The State delegation is ready to resume unconditional dialogue with the representa tives of political parties of Albanians in Kosmet, Jovanovic said, adding that he was hoping that the dialogue would be continued soon. He particu larly emphasized the importance of agreements reached recently between FR Y President S. Milosevic and American envoy R.Holbrooke and added that th ose who until now avoided political dialogue will find it extremely diffi cult to continue with their manoeuvring and postpone meanigful talks. In reply to a question of Chinese journalists, Jovanovic denied the possibil ity of the so called KLA participating in political process, adding that this was a terrorist organization whose place was not at the negotiating table, but in the terrorist list.

Yugoslavia advocates normal and equal relations with all countries, incl uding USA, EU countries and all others who accept us as "an independent c ountry which does not threaten any one, not interfering into anyone's aff airs, while at the same time we do not ask any one to advise us how to ar range our internal affairs," Jovanovic emphasized.

Yugoslavia is open for cooperation, it respects its international commit ments and understandably, strives for its rights and its place in the com munity of equal States and countries. It does not accept the policy of do uble standards, either in combatting separatism and terrorism or concerni ng the treatment in international organizations or in bilateral relations . Not more and not less than other States do.

[09] YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL SAVOVIC CONFERS WITH MARKIDIS

Tanjug, 1998-10-26

Chairman of the Yugoslav government commission for the enhacement of the position of women and cooperation with UNICEF Margit Savovic has conferr ed in Nicosia with Lore Markidis, secretaruy-general of the Cyprus nation al commission for UNESCO and director of the Directorate for Culture. Sa vovic and Markidis underscored the need for the intensification of the cu ltural exchange between the two traditionally friendly countries, a Yugos lav government statement said. Savovic informed Markidis about the effor ts invested by Yugoslavia to resolve the Kosovo and Metohija issue by pea ceful means. The two sides assessed that the policy of double standards should be abolished in international relations and the principle of respe ct for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries honoured. Savovic invited Markidis to visit Yugoslavia.

[10] LIBYAN PRESIDENT GADDAFI RECEIVES YUGOSLAV DEPUTY PREMIER LILIC

Tanjug, 1998-10-26

Libyan leader Moammer el Gaddafi received Monday in Tripoli Yugoslav Dep uty Prime Minister Zoran Lilic, who heads the Yugoslav delegation to the 13th session of the joint committee for economic, scientific and technica l cooperation. Lilic presented Gaddafi with a message from Yugoslav Pres ident Slobodan Milosevic. Gaddafi and Lilic endorsed the decisions taken by the joint committee and pointed to their importance for accelerating the development of economic, scientific and technical cooperation between Libya and Yugoslavia. Col. Gaddafi expressed his support to Yugoslavia' s endeavors to resolve the crisis in Serbia's southern province of Kosovo - Metohija through dialogue and by political means, and underlined that no foreign power had the right to interfere in internal affairs of sovereig n and independent states. Earlier in the day, Lilic also met General Abu Bakkar Yunis, member of the Revolution Command Council, to discuss inter national developments and to inform him of the current situation in Kosov o- Metohija and of Serbia's and Yugoslavia's endeavors to resolve all prob lems by political means and in line with international norms.

The 13th session of the joint committee ended Monday with the conclusion of a bilateral cooperation protocol covering fields to which both countr ies give priority.

[11] START OF REMOVAL OF REMAINING POLICE CHECKPOINTS

Tanjug, 1998-10-26

The Serbian Interior Ministry began on Monday morning removing the remai ning police checkpoints on the roads of Kosovo and Metohija, police sourc es in Pristina have confirmed. The removal of the remaining 20 checkpoin ts, which should be completed by this evening, is being carried out toget her with the withdrawal of a large number of police units from Kosmet to their home bases. Sources in the Serbian police claim that the police wo uld ensure safety on all roads in Kosovo and Metohija.

[12] ALL MAJOR EUROPEAN AIR CARRIERS RESUME RETURN FLIGHTS TO BELGRADE

Tanjug, 1998-10-26

Five more European air carriers have resumed return flights to Belgrade so that a total of 12 foreign airlines now maintain practically daily lin ks with the Yugoslav capital, Belgrade airport assistant general director Zvonimir Arsic told Tanjug Monday. The five, British Airways, Lufthansa , Air France, Austrian Airlines and Al Italia, are applying the winter ti metable, which will be in effect through March 27 of next year. Arsic sa id that some of the foreign air carriers were interested in introducing n ew return flights to Belgrade, and gave the example of Al Italia, which h as four weekly return flights from Milano to Belgrade and weould like to introduced two regular weekly return flights between Rome and the Yugosla v capital.

[13] YUGOSLAV DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER RECEIVES BELGIAN AMBASSADOR

Tanjug, 1998-10-26

Yugoslav Deputy Foreign Minister Zoran Novakovic received Monday the Bel gian Ambassador to Yugoslavia Joris Couvreur. Novakovic and Couvreur poi nted to the need for political dialogue at all levels aimed at better und erstanding of internal and foreign policies of both countries, in line wi th the recommendations made by Yugoslav and Belgian foreign ministers ear lier this year. Such contacts have enabled Belgium to gain more direct k nowledge and understanding of the situation in Yugoslavia and consequentl y adopt a more balanced stance in this regard.

[14] U.S. RELIEF AID ARRIVES FOR DISPLACED PERSONS FROM KOSMET

Tanjug, 1998-10-26

The Red Cross of Montenegro on Monday received relief aid from the U.S. government intended for displaced persons from Kosovo and Metohija. The aid includes 6,300 blankets and large quantities of medications and medic al materials whose value totals 117,000 dollars. The humanitarian aid, w hich arrived in Podgorica in an Anotonov 12 airplane, was presented to th e Montenegrin Red Cross representatives by the assistant director of the U.S. agency for international development USAID, Hugh Parmer.

Yugoslav Daily Survey Directory - Previous Article - Next Article