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Serbia Today 96-05-13Serbia Today DirectoryFrom: Yugoslavia <http://www.yugoslavia.com>Serbia Today13 May 1996In This Edition:* YUGOSLAV DELEGATION IN GENEVA* THE ROMANIAN PRESIDENT WILL VISIT BELGRADE* POLISH SUPPORT FOR YUGOSLAVIA* COMMON DESTINY* A MODEL OFFERING A CHANCE TO ALL* THE LIFE IN COMMON IN KOSOVO DEPENDS UPON THE ETHNIC ALBANIANS* PRECIOUS ECONOMIC AID GIVEN TO THE REPUBLIC OF SRPSKA BY BELGRADE* NEW EXTORTION* CROATS IN THE REPUBLIC OF SRPSKA* CENGIC: WE HAVE ARMS ABROAD* IRAN WAS NOT THE ONLY COUNTRY TO SEND ARMS* JASENOVAC MUST BE LEFT INTACT* LIVE BROADCAST FROM BLEIBURGCONTENTS[01] URGENT CONTINUATION OF TALKS[02] YUGOSLAV DELEGATION IN GENEVA[03] THE ROMANIAN PRESIDENT WILL VISIT BELGRADE[04] POLISH SUPPORT FOR YUGOSLAVIA[05] COMMON DESTINY[06] A MODEL OFFERING A CHANCE TO ALL[07] LIFE IN COMMON IN KOSOVO DEPENDS UPON THE ETHNIC ALBANIANS[08] PRECIOUS ECONOMIC AID GIVEN TO THE REPUBLIC OF SRPSKA BY BELGRADE[09] NEW EXTORTION[10] CROATS IN THE REPUBLIC OF SRPSKA[11] CENGIC: WE HAVE ARMS ABROAD *[12] IRAN WAS NOT THE ONLY COUNTRY TO SEND ARMS[13] JASENOVAC MUST BE LEFT INTACT[14] LIVE BROADCAST FROM BLEIBURG[01] URGENT CONTINUATION OF TALKSAt the session held Saturday and presided by Prime Minister Radoje Kontic, the Federal Government discussed the current course of the normalization of relations with the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the World Trade Organization, approved the report on the relations between FR Yugoslavia and the European Union and decided to intensify the activities for the complete re-admission of our country into these international institutions. The Government also approved the project for the harmonization of the Yugoslav legal system with the EU legislation.Concerning the activities for the normalization of the relations with international financial organizations, the Federal Government opted for an urgent continuation of talks and appointed Deputy Premier Jovan Zebic to invite the IMF and the World Bank to continue the negotiations, possibly in Belgrade. (Borba, May 13, 1996.) [02] YUGOSLAV DELEGATION IN GENEVAA Yugoslav delegation, headed by Federal Minister Mr. Tomica Raicevic, arrived in Geneva on Sunday, and will take part today in the talks of the Working Group for Humanitarian Issues in Former Yugoslavia. The meeting has been sponsored by the UNHCR, and will be chaired by High Commissioner - Ms. Sadako Ogata. High officials representing 55 countries will attend the meeting as well as the Coordinator for Civilian Issues in Bosnia - Mr. Karl Bildt, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights - Mr. Jose Ayala Laso and the UN Special Reporter for Human Rights in Former Yugoslavia - Ms. Elisabeth Renn. (Tanjug, May 13, 1996.)[03] THE ROMANIAN PRESIDENT WILL VISIT BELGRADEAccepting an official invitation extended by Yugoslav President Zoran Lilic, Romanian President Yon Iliescu will officially visit our country on May 16-18. The return visit of the Romanian President represents a further upgrade of the traditionally friendly relations between the two countries and a significant incentive for neighborly cooperation. President Iliescu's visit will mark the continuation of the dialogue on the highest level, concerning not only FR Yugoslavia and Romania but the entire region as well. President Lilic and President Iliescu will sign an Agreement on friendship, neighborly relations and cooperation between the two countries. (Tanjug, May 13, 1996.)[04] POLISH SUPPORT FOR YUGOSLAVIAMr. Radoman Bozovic - Speaker of the Federal Parliament Chamber of Citizens, state upon returning from Poland, that his visit represents a confirmation of the readiness to renew and improve the bilateral relations. He also added that the talks with the Polish President and Prime Minister were very fruitful, and that there is a positive attitude towards Yugoslavia and our efforts to implement the Dayton Agreement. Mr. Bozovic also stressed that the Polish government is prepared to endorse Yugoslavia in its reintegration into international financial institution. (Borba, May 13, 1996.)[05] COMMON DESTINYThe common destiny and coinciding interests of Belgrade and Podgorica, as well as of the administrative and economic centers in Serbia and Montenegro, represent a concrete contribution and basis for the efforts of FR Yugoslavia - in an environment of peace and stability - to pursue the objectives of employment, development and a better life for all its citizens. This is part of the statement delivered by Montenegrin President Momir Bulatovic at the opening of the manifestation "Days of Podgorica in Belgrade", where his hosts were Dr. Branislav Ivkovic - Member of the Serbian Cabinet and Mr. Nebojsa Covic - Mayor of Belgrade. (Novosti, May 12, 1996.)[06] A MODEL OFFERING A CHANCE TO ALLMr. Dragan Tomic - Coordinating Minister of the Serbian Government, said in an interview for the Novi Sad daily "Dnevnik" that the Draft Law on Privatization which will be discussed by the Federal Parliament, constitutes a new model, different from all others proposed, and intended to primarily create a strong economic structure, capable of facing global competition. According to Mr. Tomic, the prime objective was to avoid mistakes committed in other east-European countries, "... because we want to preserve the factories and their workers". This is why a model offering the firms the choice whether and when they will face privatization has been proposed. (Politika, May 13, 1996.)[07] LIFE IN COMMON IN KOSOVO DEPENDS UPON THE ETHNIC ALBANIANS"Connoisseurs of the situation in Kosovo and Metohija were not surprised by the terrorist attacks launched by Albanian extremists, who are desperately trying to step up the tension and provoke a reaction of the state," said Mr. Vojislav Zivkovic - Chairman of the Regional Board of the Socialist Party of Serbia, at the round table "TANJUG's Guest"."Their final objective is the secession of Kosovo and Metohija and the creation of greater Albania," he remarked adding that the attacks were not provoked by any action of the state bodies. "Serbia will take adequate measures to make evident the balance of forces among the ethnic Albanians, because we firmly believe that many of them want life in common and think of this country as their own, and which could greatly contribute to the stabilization of the political situation." - said Mr. Zivkovic. (Tanjug, May 12, 1996.) [08] PRECIOUS ECONOMIC AID GIVEN TO THE REPUBLIC OF SRPSKA BY BELGRADE"The Government of the Republic of Srpska is making enormous efforts to open up to the world and overcome the isolation which it currently faces, and is being greatly helped in this sense by Belgrade, i.e. Serbia and Montenegro," said Mr. Rajko Kasagic Prime Minister of the Republic of Srpska (RS).Appearing in the Radio Kragujevac "Seal of the Times" program, he reminded that the international community used double standards for the entities in Bosnia and Herzegovina - one treatment for the Moslem-Croatian Federation which received aid worth 250 millions of dollars, and a different one for the Republic of Srpska which received a minor sum for the refugees. "This is why we have decided to turn to the world and the international community, to make contacts and present the real situation." - Mr. Kasagic remarked. Reminding that numerous meetings took place last week in Banjaluka and Pale, including those with Mr. Bildt, Mr. Cornbloom, Ms. Sadako Ogata and Ms. Elizabeth Renn, The RS Premier stressed that these talks served to "...display our devotion to the Dayton Agreement." (Borba, May 13, 1996.) [09] NEW EXTORTIONIn spite of the cooperative attitude shown to the international community in the realization of the Dayton peace agreement, the Republic of Srpska still has not received any serious guarantees for the successful reconstruction of the country.On the contrary, there is a tendency to implement the peace agreement in a way that would reduce the rights granted to the Republic of Srpska in Dayton. This would prolong its economic and political isolation and create the conditions for its destabilization. The interesting thing is that there is no similar blackmail regarding the aid promised to the Moslem-Croatian Federation, regardless of the fact that Alija Izetbegovic openly told the Serbs and the international community that he is not interested in peace before he creates a unitary Bosnia and Herzegovina. These evaluations based on statements made by high officials of the Chamber of Economy of the Republic of Srpska are reported by the "Politika Ekspres" correspondent in Banjaluka. (Politika Ekspres, May 13, 1996.) [10] CROATS IN THE REPUBLIC OF SRPSKAA group of 47 Croats visited a cemetery in Serbian controlled territory in northern Bosnia - along the border with Croatia - Associated Press reports. The same news agency states that the visit was without any incidents. The Press Bureau of the American forces with IFOR also reported that this is the first time since the war started in Bosnia, that a larger group was able to cross the former front line without any protests from the other side. "This is a perfect precedent for future visits," said Commander Neil Anderson of the 4th battalion. (Novosti, May 13, 1996.)[11] CENGIC: WE HAVE ARMS ABROAD *Mr. Hassan Cengic - Deputy Defense Minister of the Moslem-Croatian Federation stated that the twin federation "...has arms abroad" that will "...soon come into the right hands", thus confirming the serious controversies with the Croatian partners."We have arms abroad, bought or donated by friendly nations, and they will soon be delivered to the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina", said Cengic in an interview for the Sarajevo daily "Dnevni Avaz". Thus Cengic confirmed indirectly that the key problem are not arms but fundamental contrasts with the Croats - the federal partners - which are doing everything possible to obstruct the creation of joint armed forces. (Politika Ekspres, May 13, 1996.) [12] IRAN WAS NOT THE ONLY COUNTRY TO SEND ARMSIran was not the only country to send arms to the Bosnian Moslems during the war in the Balkans - the same activities directly involved Turkey and several other countries such as Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Brunei, Argentina and Hungary.These facts have been revealed by the Washington Post in an article which tries to shed light on the scandal with the secret deliveries of Iranian weapons to the Bosnian Moslems. The scandal is currently at the center of attention of the US Congress. Four Congress Committees and a special investigation committee are investigating it. The same headline indicates that during 1994. closer ties were established between Croatia and Iran, not only concerning arms deliveries for the Moslems, but including a contract for the construction of four ships for Iran in Croatian ship yards. (Politika Ekspres, May 13, 1996.) [13] JASENOVAC MUST BE LEFT INTACTA delegation of the League of Serbian organizations in Zagreb, headed by Dr. Milorad Pupovac, visited the Jasenovac Memorial grounds and laid flowers on the monument to the 700.000 victims, prevalently Serbs killed in the ill- famed Ustashi camp during World War II."The Serbs do not want the Jasenovac Memorial to be transformed nor its purpose changed. These grounds should be left intact and its original function should remain - this is a memorial to the victims of Nazi and Ustashi terror. - said Mr. Pupovac adding that the Serbs were massacred in Jasenovac due to a criminal and racist policy which refused to accept ethnic variety in a country. (Politika, May 13, 1996.) [14] LIVE BROADCAST FROM BLEIBURGOn Sunday, Croatia marked the 51st anniversary of the terrible defeat of the military units of the former Independent State of Croatia (NDH) which were withdrawing north at the end of WW II and were surrounded in the Bleiburg field (Austria) and near the locality of Krizni Put, by the Yugoslav partisans. The Anniversary was sponsored by the Croatian Parliament, and the ceremony was broadcast live by the state television."Even though many thought that after Bleiburg everything was lost, we know today that we have managed to achieve what many generations of Croats dreamt of," said Croatian Parliament Speaker Vlatko Pavletic. In his speech at the ceremony he reminded that most of those present came from "the resurrected Croatian state, which stemmed from sufferance" and that the Croatian victims in Bleiburg "...are the cornerstone of the myth and reality of eternal Croatia". (Nasa Borba, May 13, 1996.) |
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