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Serbia Today, 97-04-10Serbia Today Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Yugoslavia <http://www.yugoslavia.com>Serbia TodayCONTENTS
[01] MEASURES FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF CAPITAL PROJECTSAt the cabinet session chaired by Prime Minister Mirko Marjanovic, the Serbian Government discussed and adopted two important documents regulating the construction of capital infrastructure projects in Serbia this year. The program for the construction, reconstruction, and maintenance of water supply installations in Serbia in 1997, envisages the continuation of building water supply systems in the Republic of Serbia, with the objective to satisfy the growing demand for drinking water, ensure adequate protection from floods and river ice and suitable systems for irrigation and prevention of erosion. By passing the decision on consent for the construction project regarding highway segments in Serbia in 1997, the Government has ensured all the necessary conditions for the continuation of the construction of the Yugoslav road network. In discussing the current questions concerning agriculture, the Government adopted two major measures ensuring better conditions for the sowing and incitement for cattle breeding.Serbia Today, 1997-04-10 ; Politika, 1997-04-10[02] BULLETIN SUPPLEMENT AN ATTEMPT TO INTERNATIONALIZE KOSOVO AND METOHIJAFor the past three days in New York, Serbian opposition representatives have been sitting at the same table with officials of various groups of ethnic Albanians from Kosovo and Metohija, under the watchful eye of State Department officials, and taking part in talks that constitute an attempt to internationalize the question of Kosovo and Metohija and to disintegrate Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.The so-called "round table", ending today, has formally been organized with the sponsorship of a private organization called "National Relations Project" and the Carnegie Foundation, which are - as it is well known - the extended arm of the US Administration, as the presence and direct participation of US officials in the talks on KosMet best confirmed. Even though - for obvious reasons - Serbian opposition leaders persistently tried to prove that this is merely an informal meeting which should help the two sides to get "better acquainted", it is perfectly clear that such an explanation is just a feeble attempt to cloud the true character of the "round table" on Albanian-Serbian relations in Kosovo and Metohija, which had all the attributes of a conference for remodeling the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The leaders of the "Zajedno" coalition, did what they obviously believe is the only way for them to rise to power. In fact, they asked the aid of a foreign country - the only remaining super-power in the world, so that they might somehow gain power in their country. For such a favor, involving a deep and direct US involvement in the internal affairs of FR Yugoslavia, the "Zajedno" coalition to give something in return. This time Kosovo and Metohija was the stake. The American side - following its well-know pragmatic approach - offered a "package deal" linking the visit of the leaders of the "Zajedno" opposition coalition and their talks with US officials to their non-negotiable participation at the New York "round table", planned as the first step towards the internationalization of the question of Kosovo and Metohija. After meeting with State Secretary Madlene Albright - who informed them that the US is fully supporting the democratic process in Serbia, and appealing to Washington for even stronger pressure on the current Serbian administration to make it "give in", in the second part of their US visit, coalition leaders were given and accepted the role of a direct participant in talks behind closed doors on the reshaping of FR Y territory and jeopardizing its territorial integrity. They were openly informed about the stands of the ethnic Albanian representatives, namely that they have decided to secede from Serbia and FR Yugoslavia. Ethnic Albanians from Kosovo and Metohija were given the chance - this time officially and in direct talks taking place in foreign territory - to talk about secession without risk of being called separatists. They openly stated that their goal is "independent Kosovo" and that they will not renounce to it. Clearly their task was to use the New York talks to open a process that will lead to the secession of KosMet. In realizing their secessionist goal, coinciding with the objectives and efforts of several foreign factors - to continue the disintegration of states in our region - ethnic Albanians used the Serbian opposition. It is quite clear that such a choice was made various political groups of the Albanian minority in Kosovo and Metohija estimated that the Serbian opposition is the force that can make their job easier - among other things by creating an unstable situation in Serbia. Such evaluations are based, on clear indications that the opposition determined to topple the existing government in the country, will not hesitate to betray national interests if needed. The participation of Serbian opposition representatives - in particular of "Zajedno" leaders - granted the necessary legitimacy to the so-called "round table" used to discuss issues that it was not entitled (let alone well-intentioned) to review. Circles close to the organizers of the meeting revealed with surprise that the Serbian opposition was occasionally astonished by the "harsh" stands voiced by the Albanian side. It seems that they deemed normal to discuss in foreign land the issue of Kosovo and Metohija - a purely internal question of Serbia and FR Yugoslavia - under the patronage of a foreign power and with those parties that displayed complete readiness to satisfy the demands of powerful America, at the price of selling out national interests of the Serbian people. Serbia Today, 1997-04-10 ; Tanjug, 1997-04-10[03] LIQUIDATION LISTS - THE LATEST PRESSURE ON THE SERBSAs April 13th draws near, the day when the Serbs from the Srem-Baranja Region are to go to the ballots and thus definitely confirm that they will stay on in Croatia, a growing number of omens and messages are coming from other parts of Croatia with the aim to undermine the determination of the Serbs to stay. One of the latest examples is the sentence of the so-called "Ustasha Croatian Armed Formation" court. The liquidation list submitted to various media including those in the Srem-Baranja Region and FR Yugoslavia, contains the names of 11 reputable Serbs, politicians and Serbian administration officials, and even the UN Transition Administrator Jacques Klein. According to the sentence faxed to the press, the death sentence has been passed for all these people by the court martial in Livno "for acts against the Croatian state and people", and they are to be liquidated by July 15th this year. The "execution date" coincides with the end of the UNTAES mandate.Serbia Today, 1997-04-10 ; Vecernje Novosti, 1997-04-10[04] UNTAES ACCEPTED THE DEMANDS MADE BY THE VUKOVAR ASSEMBLYMr. Philip Arnold - Spokesman o the UN Transition Administration in Eastern Slavonija stated that the UN accepted the demands put forth two days ago by the Assembly of the Srem-Baranja Region. "What the Regional Assembly asked, fully coincides with what we want - that as many people having the right to vote should use this democratic right," Mr. Arnold said. He also remarked that the UN will extend the deadline for registration of voters until the very start of the elections in Croatia due on April 13th. All the civilians from the Region, that have not yet received their documents, should take them in one of the document bureaus set up in the Region, before April 13th. Mr. Arnold specified that there are some 14.000 such cases. Refugees that arrived in the Region before January 15th 1996, and having Croatian personal documents, but not included in voting lists are merely to register before the elections, specified Mr. Arnold. "We believe that we have solved all legitimate problems regarding the difficult task of issuing 120-130 thousand citizenship certificates and personal ID cards", the UNTAES spokesman observed.Serbia Today, 1997-04-10 ; Politika, 1997-04-10[05] YUGOSLAVIA IS NOT A CONFLICT COUNTRYJudging by the speech delivered yesterday at the Palace of Nations in Geneva by the head of the Dutch delegation - Mr. Peter Van Vulften, the European Union does not consider Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to be a conflict country as far as the respect of human rights are concerned. The Dutch official spoke on behalf of EU at the annual session of the UN Human Rights Committee. As Mr. Vulften said, in the EU grouping of countries and regions - compiled according to human rights criteria, FR Yugoslavia has been included in the third group encompassing pluralistic and transition countries, whilst the first group of conflict countries includes Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Part of the statement delivered by the Dutch diplomat - concerning FR Yugoslavia, leads to the conclusion that the existence of democracy in Yugoslavia is not denied, but a speedy evolution of democratization is suggested. No objection has either been made to the existence of autonomy of Kosovo and Metohija within Yugoslavia, but a greater degree of autonomy is insisted upon for this province within the Yugoslav framework.Serbia Today, 1997-04-10 ; Borba, 1997-04-10[06] "BELGRADE" RAILROADS AND "VALDUNES" AGREEMENTYesterday at the Belgrade Railroad Co. a business and technology cooperation agreement has been signed with one of the most reputable world producers of railroad car wheels and axles, the French "Valdunes" company. The contract, worth some 80 million French Francs, will provide Belgrade Railroads with a stable long-term supply of best quality wheels for passenger cars, boxcars, locomotives and motorized trains, based on industrial cooperation, expert counseling, technology transfer and joint investments. Welcoming the business partners and guests from France, Mr. Milomir Minic - Chairman of the Managing Board of the Belgrade Railroads, stressed that "this contract constitutes only the first step towards the future cooperation between the two companies, which will have major bearing not only for Yugoslavia, but for the entire Balkan region". Mr. Minic stressed that the plans involve the creation of a joint investment company which will build a modern railroad industry in Yugoslavia, linking it to the European railroad industry, and thus capable of covering the needs of the entire Balkan market and further afield. He also added that the contract will greatly help the expansion of production capacities of subcontracting firms and ancillary industries.Serbia Today, 1997-04-10 ; Borba, 1997-04-10[07] JOINT SCIENTIFIC PROJECTS MIGHT BE FORMEDYesterday, Serbian Minister of Science and Technology - Academy Member Dusan Kanazir received Prof. Akiro Nagashima - Vice President of the KEO University from Japan, currently visiting Belgrade as guest of the "Vinca" Nuclear Physics Institute. Academician Kanazir informed the illustrious guest about the scientific and technological policy in Serbia and FR Yugoslavia, stressing that Prof. Nagashima's visit is well timed, because Japanese experience in nuclear physics is precious to our country. During the talks it has been stressed that joint scientific projects might be formed linking developed Eastern and Western countries and having multiple importance, because it would allow young researchers and scientists to evolve professionally and study abroad, while developed countries would have a chance of using the intellectual potential from FR Yugoslavia. During his stay in Belgrade, Prof. Nagashima held a lecture on Japanese science policy.Serbia Today, 1997-04-10 ; Politika, 1997-04-10[08] NO REARRANGEMENT OF SERBIAThe Kosovo and Metohija Executive board of the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS), assumed the stand that the so-called "round table" on KosMet, currently taking place in New York behind closed doors, does not represent an informal meeting, but rather one which is highly binding all those taking part in it. The statement issued by the Executive Board, expresses amazement due to the fact that representatives of Serbian opposition parties are actually partaking in the disintegration of FR Yugoslavia. The leadership of socialists from Kosovo and Metohija believe that this constitutes a specific treason and that - in exchange for US support at the forthcoming elections - opposition leaders have given away Kosovo. SPS believes that Kosovo and Metohija represents a quintessential state and national issue which must be discussed in Serbia and in accordance with the Serbian Constitution - stresses the same statement.Serbia Today, 1997-04-10 ; Borba, 1997-04-10Serbia Today Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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