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Serbia Today 96-05-16
Serbia Today
16 May 1996
In This Edition:
* COOPERATION AGREEMENT SIGNED BETWEEN UN AND THE FR OF YUGOSLAVIA
* MEETING BETWEEN ITALIAN AND YUGOSLAV BUSINESSMEN
* HIGH DEGREE OF TOLERANCE AMONG NATIONS
* ILIESKU: I AM NOT HIDING THAT I AM A FRIEND OF SERBS
* POSITIVE SIGNALS OF KLAUS KINKEL
* PROTEST BY JEWISH VETERANS AND INMATES
* EUROPEAN SLAP ON THE FACE OF ZAGREB
* FRANCE OPPOSED TO THE ADMISSION OF CROATIA
CONTENTS
[01] COOPERATION WITH THE HAGUE TRIBUNAL IN ACCORDANCE WITH CONSTITUTION
[02] COOPERATION AGREEMENT SIGNED BETWEEN UN AND THE FR OF YUGOSLAVIA
[03] MEETING BETWEEN ITALIAN AND YUGOSLAV BUSINESSMEN
[04] HIGH DEGREE OF TOLERANCE AMONG NATIONS
[05] ILIESKU: I AM NOT HIDING THAT I AM A FRIEND OF SERBS
[06] POSITIVE SIGNALS OF KLAUS KINKEL
[07] PROTEST BY JEWISH VETERANS AND INMATES
[08] EUROPEAN SLAP ON THE FACE OF CROATIA
[09] FRANCE OPPOSED TO THE ADMISSION OF CROATIA
[01] COOPERATION WITH THE HAGUE TRIBUNAL IN ACCORDANCE WITH CONSTITUTION
Federal Government at its yesterday's session, determined basis for the
negotiations and concluding of the agreement on the opening in Belgrade of the
Liaison Bureau of the International Criminal Tribunal for Prosecution of
Persons Responsible for Serious Violation of International Humanitarian Law,
Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia. A certain cooperation has
already been established with this international tribunal and opening of the
bureau will facilitate gathering of information and evidence on crimes. Bureau
will operate in accordance with the Yugoslav Constitution and law, and the
liaison officer and officials of the Bureau will enjoy diplomatic immunity.
The direct interest of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia is for all persons
to be prosecuted who have violated the humanitarian law, regardless of their
nationality or religion. Until now the Tribunal in The Hague has raised the
largest number of indictments against Serbs, which was justified by the lack
of presence of the Liaison Bureau. (Borba, May 16, 1996)
[02] COOPERATION AGREEMENT SIGNED BETWEEN UN AND THE FR OF YUGOSLAVIA
Federal Minister Margit Savovic and special representative of UNICEF for
former Yugoslavia Thomas McDermot have signed yesterday a "Program plan of
action 1996-1998" which is actually a cooperation agreement between the UN and
the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The aim of the said cooperation, said Mr.
McDermot, is to assist the Government of the FR of Yugoslavia, non-
governmental organizations and local communities who are in charge of the care
and development of children and status of women in Yugoslavia. "We are happy
to be able to present to the world everything that Yugoslavia is doing in the
field of health care and education, for a better future and well-being of
children not only in Yugoslavia, but in the region and in the world", he said.
Otherwise, the program comprises a large-scale social action and mobilization
of all segments of society in the care, protection and development of children
and for its implementation UNICEF will provide 8.4 million US dollars.
Thanking for the assistance, Margit Savovic recalled the fact that Yugoslavia
was one of the founders of the UN Children's Fund and one of the largest
donors, but unfortunately because of the crisis caused by sanctions, it has
now become the recipient of the aid. (Politika, May 16, 1996)
[03] MEETING BETWEEN ITALIAN AND YUGOSLAV BUSINESSMEN
Italy is expecting a comprehensive business linking with the Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia. This was said yesterday in Trieste at the meeting
between the businessmen of the two countries. Deputy Prime Minister of Serbia
Svetozar Krstic and presidents of the Chambers of Economy of the Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia and Montenegro, Mihailo Milojevic and Vojin Djukic, who
are also attending this gathering, have reiterated readiness of the Yugoslav
economy for linking with the Italian one. This so far the largest and the most
important gathering of businessmen from Italy and Yugoslavia, was organized by
the Chamber of Commerce of Trieste, in cooperation with the National Institute
of Italy for International Trade and the Italian Ministries of Foreign Affairs
and Foreign Trade. Italian Institute for International Economic Affairs and
Foreign Trade has concluded through the latest expert analysis that "Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia is again returning to the center of attention of the
international economic cooperation and economic relations". (Politika ekspres,
May 16, 1996)
[04] HIGH DEGREE OF TOLERANCE AMONG NATIONS
In Vojvodina, not one single case of discrimination of citizens because
of nationality or religion was recorded. This was stated at the session of the
Commission for Inter-Ethnic Relations of the Provincial Board of the Socialist
Party of Serbia in Vojvodina. Members of national minorities before the state
and local authorities are free to use their mother tongue and alphabet.
Education and up-bringing in the pre-school institutions, primary schools and
secondary schools is also organized in Hungarian, Slovak, Rumanian, Ruthenian
languages. In the field of university education at the departments for these
languages students are educated, and there are also lectors (editors) for
nurturing of these languages, tradition and cultural life of national
minorities. There is a broadly developed publishing activity in the minority
languages, which is significantly contributing to the development of authentic
arts, culture and scientific creation of minorities in Vojvodina. Further to
the information and political newspapers in the minority languages, Radio-
Television Serbia studio in Novi Sad broadcasts programs in seven languages,
and from 26 local stations 17 of them are broadcasting programs in one or more
languages of national minorities. All this, together with other advantages,
has contributed to the stability of inter-ethnic relations in Vojvodina, to a
high degree of tolerance and mutual respect and understanding. (Politika
ekspres, May 16, 1996)
[05] ILIESKU: I AM NOT HIDING THAT I AM A FRIEND OF SERBS
On the eve of his arrival on a three-day official visit to Yugoslavia
President of Romania Jon Iliesku received Yugoslav correspondents from
Bucharest and talked with them about the forthcoming meetings with the
Yugoslav officials and signing of the Yugoslav-Rumanian basic political and
inter-governmental agreement on friendship and good neighborly relations over
the next twenty years. "We have earlier discussed joint preparations for the
period after the termination of war, for revival and a comprehensive
development of our relations", said President Iliesku and underlined that the
focus of talks will be questions of instigation of development of bilateral
economic relations. Iliesku pointed out that between Romania and Yugoslavia
there is a favorable political and friendly climate, and added: "I was never
hiding that I am linked with Serbia and Montenegro with the feelings of
friendship". (Politika, May 16, 1996)
[06] POSITIVE SIGNALS OF KLAUS KINKEL
Prior to his arrival today to Belgrade, chief of the German diplomacy
Klaus Kinkel has sent several "positive signals" through which he obviously
wishes to create a favorable climate for the important talks which are
awaiting him with the President of Serbian Slobodan Milosevic and the Federal
Minster of Foreign Affairs Milan Milutinovic. "Serbia must again find its
place in Europe", said Kinkel in his interview published by the "General
Anzeiger" of Bonn. Kinkel is pointing out that "this visit will serve one
purpose: to an accelerated and a consistent implementation of the Dayton
Agreement", and is adding that his visit to Belgrade "is the part of politics
agreed in the European Union and in the Contact Group for Bosnia". (Tanjug,
May 16, 1996)
[07] PROTEST BY JEWISH VETERANS AND INMATES
In Belgrade the annual assembly was held of the Section of Veterans and
Inmates of the Jewish community in Belgrade. Their delegation will travel next
weekend to Gradina, for the memorial to the victims of the Ustashi genocide,
from where they will send a protest to the Croat authorities for the intention
in the Memorial Complex of Jasenovac to bury also the killers of many
unfortunates, mostly Serbs and Jews. It was also decided to submit a request
to UNESCO for the international protection of the entire memorial complex of
Jasenovac. In the report of the past president of the Section Alexander
Demajo, it is said that the Section has sent an appeal of warning to the
Jewish and related organizations in the world drawing their attention to the
tragedy of Serbs in the NDH (Independent State of Croatia), requesting that
the assessment of the root of problems arising in former Yugoslavia be
approached with better understanding and without bias. There was also a
reaction on the attempt by the Croat authorities at the International
Conference on Human Rights in Vienna for Serbs to be presented as anti-
Semites, with the thesis that Ustashi regime was saving Jews, while Serbs were
destroying them, while the truth is exactly the opposite. (Politika, May 16,
1996)
[08] EUROPEAN SLAP ON THE FACE OF CROATIA
The decision of the Council of Ministers of the European Union to
deleted from the agenda the admission of Croatia into the Council of Europe
did not come as a surprise, but it was a disappointment for the Croat public.
It is obviously a question of the European political slap on the face of
Croatia, i.e. on its present government, and Croatia will remain remembered as
the first and so far the only country whose admission in the Council of Europe
was recommended by the European Assembly but the decision was postponed by the
Council because of the behaviors of Croatia which is completly opposed to what
is requested of a European country. Leaders of the European countries have
finally become sick and tired of Croatia promising one thing and verbally
taking obligation and pledge, while in practice doing little or even nothing
and thus in a way pulling the leg of Europe and playing tricks on it. In this
fact is to be found the reply why now the EU Council of Ministers is demanding
a precise timetable according to which Croatia is to fulfil already undertaken
obligations as a precondition for its admission into the Council of Europe,
i.e. as a proof that by its behavior it really belongs among the European
countries. (Politika, May 16, 1996)
[09] FRANCE OPPOSED TO THE ADMISSION OF CROATIA
France is of the view that Croatia can not become a member of the
Council of Europe for as long as it violates human rights and democratic
principles. This was stated yesterday in the French Ministry of Foreign
Affairs. Croatia is being reproached for the violation of rights of Serbian
population and for the secessionist ambitions of the Bosnian Croats, who are
having the support of the regime of Franjo Tudjman. France at the ministerial
meeting of the European Union two days ago in Brussels, together with the
other EU member-countries, opposed the admission of Croatia into the Council
of Europe because of its "strange democracy", as has the German Foreign
Minister Kinkel qualified the government in Zagreb. (Borba, May 16, 1996)
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