Tanjug Daily News Review, 96-05-30

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From: Tanjug, Yugoslavia, via Serbian Unity Congress <http://www.suc.org/>

May 30, 1996
NEWS AGENCY - TANJUG
DAILY NEWS REVIEW

CONTENTS

[01] YUGOSLAV PRIME MINISTER'S LETTER TO EU COMMISSION PRESIDENT

[02] ITALY TO GIVE 5.5 BILLION LIRE IN AID FOR REFUGEES IN YUGOSLAVIA

[03] SLOVENIAN BISHOP CRITICIZES THE POPE

[04] HOLBROOKE: FOREIGN PRESENCE IN BOSNIA WILL BE NEEDED AFTER DECEMBER

[05] COUNCIL OF EUROPE AGAIN DELAYS CROATIA'S MEMBERSHIP

[06] CLINTON APPOINTS SKLAR COORDINATOR OF BOSNIA CIVILIAN ISSUES

[07] NETHERLANDS URGES EXTENSION OF U.S. PRESENCE IN BOSNIA

[08] U.S. COMPANY TO TRAIN AND EQUIP BOSNIAN MUSLIM ARMY

[09] BRIDGE BETWEEN REPUBLIKA SRPSKA AND FEDERATION TERRITORY BLOWN UP

[10] TIME FOR AGREEMENT

[11] NEW ROUND OF TALKS ON SUCCESSION OF YUGOSLAV PROPERTY

[12] YUGOSLAV PRIME MINISTER ON PRIVATIZATION

[13] UNHCR ENVOY IN PALE

[14] YUGOSLAV PRIME MINISTER: PEACE AND NORMALIZATN OF RELATIONS WITH

[15] YUGOSLAVIA ACCUSES CROATIA OF VIOLATING DAYTON ACCORD

[16] PREMIER KONTIC ON COOPERATION WITH FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLICS

[17] SECURITY COUNCIL ASKS YUGOSLAVIA TO WORK MORE WITH WAR CRIME TRIBUNAL

[18] YUGOSLAVIA INSISTS ON SEPARATE TALKS ON ASSETS DIVISION, CONTINUITY

[19] TENSION MOUNTS BETWEEN MUSLIMS, CROATS IN CENTRAL BOSNIA

[20] YUGOSLAV, RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRIES SIGN COOPERATION PROTOCOL

[21] YUGOSLAVIA HONOURS DAYTON ACCORDS, SAY RUSSIAN, YUGOSLAV MINISTERS

[22] THE HAGUE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL INDICTS BOSNIAN CROAT

[23] CONTACT GROUP ON FORMER YUGOSLAVIA TO MEET IN BERLIN ON JUNE 4

[24] ARMS SHIPMENT CIRCLE CLOSES AROUND AMBASSADOR GALBRAITH

[25] BOSNIA: MUSLIMS CLAIM THEIR RIGHTS ARE DENIED BY CROATS IN JAJCE

[26] 'BLACK LISTED' OPPONENTS OF REGIME IN CROATIA

[27] WAR AND UNDERWORLD IN BOSNIA

[28] NEW ROUND OF TALKS ON SUCCESSION OF YUGOSLAV PROPERTY

[01] YUGOSLAV PRIME MINISTER'S LETTER TO EU COMMISSION PRESIDENT

the press service of the yugoslav foreign ministry said in a statement on wednesday that the letter contained yugoslavia's proposals for its rejoining an assistance programme for transition countries (phare) and a normalization of relations and cooperation between f.r. yugoslavia and the european union.

[02] ITALY TO GIVE 5.5 BILLION LIRE IN AID FOR REFUGEES IN YUGOSLAVIA

serbian refugee commissioner bratislava morina, who received paolini in belgrade, thanked the italian government for its understanding for the problems and requirements of the about 700,000 refugees in the federal republic of yugoslavia.

paolini said that part of the aid would be used to purchase food for the refugees and the rest for financing refugee centres reconstruction programs.

[03] SLOVENIAN BISHOP CRITICIZES THE POPE

in an interview to the latest edition of the ljubljana weekly mladina, dr. grmic, one of the few public critics of clerical-catholicism in slovenia, said the pope's visit to slovenia from may 17-19 had been 'one-sidedly ideologically politicized.'

the pope in his speeches 'presented only negative incidents in more recent history. he mentioned only the communist revolution and violence, and one-sidedly assessed the post-war period,' the bishop said.

grmic warned that 'one-sidedness does not contribute to reconciliation.'

two-million-strong slovenia, once the most developed republic of the former yugoslav six-member federation, seceded following a 10-day war against the former yugoslav people's army (jna).

in hours-long speeches at official mass services in ljubljana, postojna, and maribor in the presence of cardinals other church dignitaries from practically all of europe, slovenian officials and about 250,000 catholics, the pope blamed the era of socialism for the biggest evils of the modern world, civil wars and crushing the church.

socialist revolutions stopped the development of freedoms, stoked fratricidal wars, and plunged europe into the chaos of backwardness, ignoring the norms of catholicism, he said.

critics of the pope's speech blame him for proclaiming martyrs even those who had cooperated with occupying forces, of having tried to requalify slovenia's national liberation struggle in world war two into a civil and fratricidal war, thus denying its capture by nazi germany and fascist italy.

ahead of the pope's visit, the slovenian national party and slovenian evangelists asked him to apologize to the slovenian people for 'crimes committed by the catholic church against slovenian people.'

[04] HOLBROOKE: FOREIGN PRESENCE IN BOSNIA WILL BE NEEDED AFTER DECEMBER

associated press news agency quoted holbrooke as saying that the view, expressed at a news conference at the u.s. embassy in stockholm, sweden, was his own personal opinion.

he said he expected the current international mission to bosnia to end as scheduled by the end of the year, but that 'some form of international presence in 1997 is necessary'.

'i very much assume and hope that the u.s. will be part of that presence,' said holbrooke, who left the u.s. administration earlier this year.

he said that the exact form of the international presence could be determined only after bosnian elections, expected to be held in september.

[05] COUNCIL OF EUROPE AGAIN DELAYS CROATIA'S MEMBERSHIP

the parliamentary assembly had recommended in april that croatia accede to the council of europe on condition that it honour obligations accepted by its president franjo tudjman, news agencies said.

just days later, the tudjman government vetoed the election of a zagreb mayor from among the opposition's ranks and took repressive action against the independent media.

croatia has also refused to extradite war crime suspects to the hague-based international tribunal for war crimes in former yugoslavia, the report said.

the parliamentary assembly's political committee recommended on monday that the assembly delay croatia's membership until zagreb has met the obligations assumed.

the council of europe's ministerial committee will, at its meeting on june 3-6, draw up a list of conditions for croatia to meet in full before its application for membership is considered.

[06] CLINTON APPOINTS SKLAR COORDINATOR OF BOSNIA CIVILIAN ISSUES

in a statement read wednesday by white house spokesman mike mccurry, clinton said high priority must be given at this point to making the peace irreversible by accelarating efforts to rebuild political and aconomic fabric of bosnian society.

sklar will coordinate activity of all u.s. civilian agencies participating in the reconstruction of bosnia-herzegovina. he will be in charge of humanitarian assistance, economic recovery, repatriation of refugees and preparation of elections.

the united states has pledged 200 million dollars to assist this year's economic recovery of bosnia-herzegovina, which is only the first of the three equal instalments it is to contribute in the next three yers.

[07] NETHERLANDS URGES EXTENSION OF U.S. PRESENCE IN BOSNIA

addressing a news conference late wednesday after talks with u.s. secretary of state warren christopher and other u.s. officials, van mierlo welcomed a softening of the u.s. insistence that u.s. troops would be pulled out after one year, reuters said.

van mierlo said it was most likely that the monitoring task of the nato-led implmentation force (ifor) would not be completed by the end of the year. he said, 'so if that is the case a certain military force should stay there.'

[08] U.S. COMPANY TO TRAIN AND EQUIP BOSNIAN MUSLIM ARMY

the company, military professional resources inc., founded by a former u.s. officer, will not sign the contract until all iranians and other foreign mercenaries who fought on the side of the muslims in the bosnian war left the country.

u.s. officials said they expected the remaining foreign forces to leave bosnia shortly, news agencies have said.

state department spokesman nicholas burns said mpri was chosen after 17 weeks of negotiation. the value of the contract was not stated, but u.s. officials said the cost of the 'train-and equip' program would be about e700-800 million.

retired army maj.-gen. vernon lewis set up the company in 1987 to sell military know-how.

burns said bosnia's selection of a primary contractor was an 'important step toward the establishment of a stable military balance in the region.'

he said the u.s. government had not interfered in the choice of a contractor, and that its role was limited to offering technical assistance and monitoring the talks to make sure the contract was consistent with u.s. policy.

[09] BRIDGE BETWEEN REPUBLIKA SRPSKA AND FEDERATION TERRITORY BLOWN UP

gourmelon said the bridge was situated in krstac, near bjeljina in northeastern bosnia, news agencies report.

the incident occurred in the zone patrolled by russian forces serving in the peace implementation force (ifor).

[10] TIME FOR AGREEMENT

researcher zoran lutovac said this in his recent study called 'national movement of kosovo albanians' presented at a recent meeting on parties and party systems in post-communist countries. the belgrade meeting was organized by the yugoslav association for political sciences and the faculty of political sciences.

lutovac said that it would be a risky step for the international community to recognize kosovo's independence because that would mean a violation of the principle applied in recognizing new states within their previous republican borders. such a move may provoke a series of separatist requests by minority communities in multi-ethnic states, in western europe and elsewhere.

the international community maintains that the 'kosovo knot' cannot be cut without serbia. lutovac said that the sovereignty of states had been internationalized in the field of human rights. if yugoslavia wants to rejoin the organization for security and cooperaiton in europe it must apply european and world standards in the field of human rights, he added.

concerning the leaders of kosovo ethnic albanians, they must understand that separatism cannot resist the will of the international community, borba said.

the international community has proposed an autonomy for kosovo as a basis for a possible political compromise. an autonomy is neither the right of a minority nor the obligation of a state. the international community can only recommend the creation of an autonomy but it is usually part of a political agreement in the state, lutovac said.

a strong separatist movement of ethnic albanians has been active in the southern serbian province of kosovo, which is predominantly inhabited by ethnic albanians. the movement seeks secession from serbia and merger with neighbouring albania.

[11] NEW ROUND OF TALKS ON SUCCESSION OF YUGOSLAV PROPERTY

ljubljana, may 30 (tanjug) - a new round of talks on succession of the former yugoslavia, started in ljubljana on may 27 and to be continued in belgrade on may 31 by international mediator sir arthur watts, could mean a more just course in the search for a solution to a very significant problem for all the states that emerged in the territory of the former yugoslav federation.

a departure from the current more political than economic and historically-based support to the concept imposed by the secessionist republics, headed by slovenia, is becoming clear.

the fact that slovenia in the past months launched a diplomatic offensive abroad, and a strong campaign at home in supoport of their position on the division of the property of the former common state, confirms that their demands are shaken.

compromises are not excluded between belgrade and zagreb, which is ljubljana's greatest fear.

that is why the slovenian political top is nervously repeating that slovenia and croatia are firmly united in their demands for succession.

watts's choice of slovenia as the first stop in the new round of getting acquainted with positions on division of property is no coincidence. as an experienced negotiator, expert for legal-economic problems of this kind, watts is starting from the most extreme and in reality the hardest acceptable claims.

slovenia's concern over the possible change of tone in future talks is evident from the statement made by the head of its delegation for succession miran mejak that they are 'especially interested in the position of official belgrade'.

watts was informed about proposals for the the process of succession, in the past weeks in brussels, by the delegations of all the states that emerged in the territory of the former yugoslavia.

the slovenian delegation, which has many allies and informers in brussels, suspects that belgrade in its conacts so far with watts has presented more argumentation, or that in future talks it will persevere in its demands.

the slovenian political leadership assesses that the total property of the former yugoslavia is worth around 92 billion dollars. slovenia is demanding 16.5 percent.

the slovenian authorities, especially president milan kucan and prime minister janez drnovsek, are persistent that despite the onesided secession, slovenia has a right to succession.

the slovenian delegation is also claiming a part of the foreign reserves, the gold of the former state, despite the fact that its origin is well known - it dates back to the kingdom of yugoslavia, whose coffers were filled mostly, to a far greater extent anybody else, by serbia.

slovenes want to chose some of the buildings of former yugoslav consular-diplomatic representations across the world. they do not want to renounce anything else 'that is not in the economic shere', first and foremost the archives and the cultural wealth.

[12] YUGOSLAV PRIME MINISTER ON PRIVATIZATION

kontic told the participants of the 34th international conference on journalists, who met in the montenegrin adriatic resort milocer, that 'over the part two years the social product rose by six percent, and that even better results are forcast because the market and the foreign currency rates are stable and total monetary and budget stability are maintained.'

yugoslavia is using previously preserved market elements to develop a new economic system, in keeping with the regulations of the developped e.u. countries, kontic said.

'federal laws are in the process of being adopted in the sphere of privatization and the structural adapting of the economy, with all foreign investors being given full national treatment,' kontic said. end mi/bk/mb

[13] UNHCR ENVOY IN PALE

after the meeting, klickovic said that he had informed petersen of the readiness of the government of the republika srpska, the serb entity in bosnia-herzegovina, to fully implement the peace accords.

concerning annex 7 of the dayton peace accord on repatriation of refugees and freedom of movement, klickovic said that they had agreed on the need for more time to prepare its implementation, klickovic said, adding that there must reciprocity must be applied in the freedom of movement so as to guarantee a higher level of security.

the introduction of regular bus lines under the guise of freedom of movement is a breach of the dayton accord and the serb side cannot agree to that, klickovic said.

the first bus from banjaluka, the largest town in the rs, tuesday left for zenica, a town in the muslim-croat federation, the other bosnian entity, in the organization of the unhcr.

the opening of the line was announced ten days ago following a visit by unhcr head sadako ogata who said that other bus lines would be opened soon.

peterson agreed with klickovic that prior to repatriating refugees it was necessary to build confidence and praised the rs for its readiness to work with the unhcr in organizing visits by displaced persons because it was a first step towards making their return possible.

[14] YUGOSLAV PRIME MINISTER: PEACE AND NORMALIZATN OF RELATIONS WITH

adressing the participants of the conference of journalists in the montenegrin adriatic resort milocer, kontic said in belgrade that the application of sanctions in international relations is an unacceptable instrument for the resolution of conflicts and an expression of powerlessness and inability to reach corresponding political solutions.

'in the case of the federal republic of yugoslavia it is clear that the sanctions were totally counterproductive and that the hardest hit were the most defenceless people, kontic said. he said that the sanctions had slowed down the initiated democratic processes and enabled the surfacing of militant and extemist powers, which had found root in the social poverty caused by the international blockade of yugoslavia.

according to kontic, the main advocates of the sanctions now admit that a civil war had been fought in bosnia-herzegovina, rather than an aggression by yugoslavia, and that belgrade had supported all five proposed peace agreements for this ex-yugoslav republic because these documents 'gave peace a chance.'

kontic said that some external factors are even now threatening to reimpose the sanctions in an attempt to use this kind of pressure to realize their special aims. this could seriously threaten peace, especially since most frequently in question are solely internal yugoslav problems, kontic said. end mi/bk/mb

[15] YUGOSLAVIA ACCUSES CROATIA OF VIOLATING DAYTON ACCORD

the government commission of the f.r. yugoslavia discussed on wednesday the implementation of a cooperation protocol signed with the croatian commission for detained and missing persons in zagreb on april 17.

the yugoslav government commission determined that the cooperation protocol was not being implemented, the yugoslav ministry of information said in a statement.

the yugoslav commission said that only 302 persons out of the total number of detainees in croatian prisons were being visited by the international committee of the red cross (icrc) while it was positively known that there were many prisoners who had not been registered by the icrc.

croatia is thus flagrantly violating the geneva conventions and the dayton peace accord and failing to honour an obligation it assumed by signing the cooperation protocol to free all those who were captured and those whom it holds against their will under its authority, the statement said.

the commission criticized croatia for failing to meet a single obligation from the protocol while the federal republic of yugoslavia has released all detainees.

[16] PREMIER KONTIC ON COOPERATION WITH FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLICS

addressing wednesday in belgrade the participants of the 34th international meeting of journalists held earlier in montenegrin sea resort of milocer, kontic said singificant results were achieved in relations with macedonia, as the two countries have concluded an agreement on normalization of relatioins and raised their diplomatic relations to the rank of ambassadors.

as regards croatia, resumption of economic cooperation in transports, telecommunications and reactivating the oil pipeline are underway, but important problems still hinder the establishment of full relations - the status of the prevlaka peninsula and croatia's refusal to recognize the federal republic of yugoslavia as the state ensuring the continuity of the former federation, kontic said.

prevlaka is a strategic peninsula on the border between fry and croatia and was placed under the control of u.n. peacekeepers in 1992.

kontic recalled that fry had recognized slovenia's statehood aready in 1992, but that the ljubljana authorities rejected this recognition at the time. slovenia recognized fry only last year, but not its continuity.

in line with the dayton accord, fry has recognized bosnia-herzegovina 'territorially' but a final recognition will depend on resolving several important pending issues regarding elections and the establishment of legitimate administration bodies, kontic said, noting that talks were underway on the establishment of diplomatic and economic relations.

referring to cooperation with the international tribunal for war crimes in the former yugoslavia, kontic said yugoslavia would duly comply with its commitments stemming from the dayton accord, and would firmly support all endeavors to establish the responsibility of all suspects of war crimes and of violations of humanitarian law.

fry had had reservations concerning the tribunal as it wants a universal court which would punish war criminals and not limit its activities to a specific territory or period, kontic said, noting that fry had prepared as many as seven reports on war crimes that the tribunal had not duly taken into account.

kontic said that cooperation with the tribunal was intensifying, as demonstrated by the forthcoming opening of a tribunal's office in belgrade.

[17] SECURITY COUNCIL ASKS YUGOSLAVIA TO WORK MORE WITH WAR CRIME TRIBUNAL

a press statement read out by council president for may amassador kin huasan of china on tuesday night stressed that this cooperation was of importance to the futher development of good relations between the federal republic of yugoslavia and the international community.

this is the second presidential statement issued by the council in may on the subject of cooperation between the federal republic of yugoslavia and the hague-based tribunal.

both statements were issued at the request of tribunal president antonio cassese.

presidential statements do not have the binding force of a resolution.

[18] YUGOSLAVIA INSISTS ON SEPARATE TALKS ON ASSETS DIVISION, CONTINUITY

this position was taken at a joint session on wednesday of the governmental commissions on relations with international financial organisations and on monitoring the peace implementation task forces.

the commissions discussed preparations for yugoslavia's talks with the paris club of creditors called for june 4 in paris, a government statement said.

talks with the paris club are among the yugoslav government's foreign and economic policy priorities aimed at a speedy normalization of relations with international financial, economic and commercial institutions and organizations, the statement said.

the yugoslav delegation will approach the talks with international financial bodies with a coordinated, well-organized and united platform, in line with the platform adopted by the yugoslav government, the statement said.

[19] TENSION MOUNTS BETWEEN MUSLIMS, CROATS IN CENTRAL BOSNIA

bosnian croat radio herceg-bosna said that talks on freeing the prisoners had been held during the day between top muslim and croat officials, but had ended without issue.

muslim police arrested on saturday six troops of the bosnian croat 3rd guards brigade for no reason at all, as they were unarmed going to their regular duties in the kiseljak garrison west of sarajevo, the radio said.

meanwhile, muslim radio sarajevo has said that a car with two muslim soldiers disappeared in croat-held kiseljak on friday, may 24, which the croat side is denying.

croatian radio reporting from divided mostar, southern bosnia, has quoted military sources as saying that muslim troops in fojnica are on parade in full army gear and are carrying weapons with long barrels, which is contrary to the dayton accord provisions.

[20] YUGOSLAV, RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRIES SIGN COOPERATION PROTOCOL

speaking to reporters after the signing ceremony, the two ministers agreed that their talks today had been substantial, friendly and important to future bilateral relations.

before signing the protocol, primakov met with yugoslav prime minister radoje kontic.

primakov arrived in belgrade earlier in the day on a two-day official visit to the federal republic of yugoslavia.

[21] YUGOSLAVIA HONOURS DAYTON ACCORDS, SAY RUSSIAN, YUGOSLAV MINISTERS

milutinovic and primakov stressed that the implementation of the accord is prerequisite for lasting peace and stability in former yugoslavia and the balkans as a whole.

primakov arrived in belgrade earlier on wednesday on a two-day official visit to the federal republic of yugoslavia.

the balkan region is an integral part of europe and stability in all of europe is inseparable from peace and stability in the balkans, in was said during the milutinovic-primakov talk.

the development of overall relations between yugoslavia and russia to date was assessed as positive and as being based on friendship, equality, mutual respect and mutual interest.

primakov expressed russia's support for yugoslavia's efforts to take its rightful place in all international political and financial organisations and forums.

the two ministers said that the world must accord absolutely equal treatment to both entities in bosnia-herzegovina -- the (bosnian serb state) republika srpska and the muslim-croat federation -- if the peace process is to succeed.

this is necessary in all stages of the implementation of the peace accord, including the process of economic reconstruction, they added.

both milutinovic and primakov believe that preparations for elections in bosnia-herzegovina have priority and that their holding as scheduled is essential for the success of the peace accord.

the beginning of the implementation of the accord on the srem-barania region was described as positive and support given to the u.n. transitional administration (untaes) in the region.

stressing the exceptionally great problems in the accommodation of the 700,000 refugees in the federal republic of yugoslavia, milutinovic paid tribute to russia for its humanitarian aid for the refugees in yugoslavia.

he further stressed that russia has been and remains one of yugoslavia's biggest economic partners.

milutinovic and primakov urged the raising of bilateral scientific, technical and cultural cooperation on a level where it should be on a par with the traditional cultural and spiritual ties and historical closeness between the yugoslav and russian peoples.

[22] THE HAGUE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL INDICTS BOSNIAN CROAT

erdemovic is charged with involvement, as a member of the bosnian serb army, in the murder of a number of bosnian muslims from the eastern town of srebrenica on or about july 16, 1995.

he was arrested by yugoslav authoritites on march 2 after admitting to the daily le figaro of paris to his involvement in the murders of muslims, and has since been extradited to the tribunal.

the tribunal, which had requsted the extradition, will open public hearings into the case on friday, may 31.

[23] CONTACT GROUP ON FORMER YUGOSLAVIA TO MEET IN BERLIN ON JUNE 4

the foreign ministers of russia, the united states, great britain, france and germany will discuss the bosnian peace process, kinkel said, but did not elaborate.

he added that the meeting would be attended by the european 'troika' -- current european union president italy, former president spain and next president ireland.

the international community's high representative for bosnia carl bildt will also attend, according to kinkel.

[24] ARMS SHIPMENT CIRCLE CLOSES AROUND AMBASSADOR GALBRAITH

washington, may 30 (tanjug) - the affair of secret iranian arms shipments to bosnian muslims closes around u.s. ambassador in zagreb peter galbraith who not only played chief mediator, but appears to have done more than washington had required of him.

galbraith on thursday addresses congress. in an earlier address he said washington had approved of secret arms shipments, as stated also by other officials in the administration.

the new york times quoted sources in the administration and the cia to the effect that galbraith had been so active and had demonstrated such initiative that he clashed bitterly with the head of the cia post in zagreb.

galbraith took over his post as the first u.s. ambassador to croatia in the summer of 1993, becoming next spring the chief mediator in secret arms shipments from iran to muslims in bosnia, in violation of a u.n. arms embargo.

arms shipments had been arriving in bosnia before, but they increased considerably when he took his post.

this induced croatian president franjo tudjman to ask galbraith of washington's view on the shipments and was told he would have a reply the following day.

galbraith asked for instructions from the state department and the white house. the reply was that there were no instructions. galbraith conveyed this to tudjman.

but what does this mean, asked tudjman.

pay attention to what we have not told you, said galbraith, but tudjman failed still to understand.

several days later tudjman met the then u.s. envoy for the balkans charles redman and asked him for an explanation.

it means we do not oppose it, said redman.

congress will focus attention on galbraith's role in the operation and why he clashed with the cia.

the new york times said the head of cia's post in zagreb, galbraith's old acquaintance, suspected something was cooking.

the cia chief then began informing headquarters of the goings-on in zagreb, what the ambassador was doing, the extent of his involvement in the operation and violation of the embargo.

it appears the white house and state department had concealed the arms operation from the cia.

[25] BOSNIA: MUSLIMS CLAIM THEIR RIGHTS ARE DENIED BY CROATS IN JAJCE

muslims in jajce are denied human, political and national rights and they are not allowed to work, the source said adding that only seven muslims had been allowed to work in jajce.

a representative of muslim refugees from jajce accused bosnian croat authorities of systematically blocking a return of muslims to jajce, a town which was predominantly populated by muslims before the war.

another example of constant animosity in the muslim-croat federation can be found in another report by the muslim radio. the radio said on thursday that for the third time in a month, bosnian croat members of the vares town council boycotted its session. the council was supposed to elect joint muslim-croat bodies.

the session had been convened by the international arbitrator for the muslim-croat federation.

the town of vares, central bosnia, was predominantly inhabited by croats before the war but muslim forces seized the town in 1993 and expelled 6,000 croats.

the helsinki committee for bosnia said that about 600 croats who had returned to vares were deprived of all rights and that they were even prevented from receiving humanitarian aid.

vares is among many municipalities in the muslim-croat federation where the constitution of the muslim-croat federation is not being applied despite many rulings by international mediators and arbitrators, the muslim radio in sarajevo and the croat radio of herceg-bosna report.

the radio of herceg-bosna, the bosnian croat state, said that the muslim fundamentalist leadership in vares refused to recognize the results of the 1990 multi-party elections on the basis of which joint muslim-croat bodies should be set up.

after one-year fierce fighting, muslims and croats agreed in washington in march 1994, under strong u.s. pressure, to set up a joint federation. the federation, however, remains a dead letter.

[26] 'BLACK LISTED' OPPONENTS OF REGIME IN CROATIA

the text, main story in the latest issue of globus published tuesday as a special edition, brought on the latest lawsuit announced on the same day by hdz.

lawsuits based on slander that are piling up in croatian courts are a sure sign that political relations are deteriorating, or that things are moving toward a finale in the form of elections for the city assembly and for presidential elections to be held next year, politika said.

globus said that opposition politicians should be discredited in the media close to hdz, as was the recent attempt of the zagreb daily vjesnik that declared ivan zvonimir cicak (president of the croatian branch of the helsinki committee) a collaborator of the former yugoslav secret police - udba, while he was still in high school.

it is considered in the zagreb weekly that similar documents, of doubtful authenticity, will soon be published with the names of other prominent opposition poilticians (drazen budisa, vlado gotovac, stipe mesic, ivica racan, zdravko tomc).

croatian opposition cricles assess that that the contested lists have two purposes. on the one hand they should intimidate leading opposition politicians, and on the other create circumstances for individual violence against persons who have different political views.

an 'informed' interlocutor of globus said that the social situation in croatia was very difficult and that 'black lists' are supposed to show to frustrated and deprived citizens that opposition politicians were allegedly responsible for the situation.

at any moment, he said, some war veterans who have nowhere to live can take pot shots at opposition leaders, considering them to be responsible for all their problems. black lists create psychological preconditions for street terror.

that such thinking is not unfounded, politika said, is clear from the rising number of threats against opposition leaders lately, confirmed by themselves recently in public.

[27] WAR AND UNDERWORLD IN BOSNIA

the belgrade daily politika said on thursday that criminals had particularly focused on illegal trade in weapons, drugs and human organs, contraband and terrorism.

it is believed that criminals filled their pockets with billions of dollars by smuggling arms to bosnia-herzegovina over the past few year.

at the same time, the underworld did not neglect drug trafficking although weapons were the most popular.

the slovenian police recently arrested two bosnian citizens heading for germany and seized a total of 11 kg of heroin.

despite animosity and mutual eliminationns, the war and arms smuggling, brought croatian and muslim war profiteers closer and they even cooperated. official croatian authorities are growingly often pointing to dangers which may come as a result of ties between drug trafficking and state terrorism. the source of all ills is neighbouring herceg-bosna, that is the muslim-croat federation.

a croatian mp has even said that tanks were guarding cannabis plantations in herceg-bosnia, the territory of the croatian community in bosnia.

in drug trafficking, the nouveaux riches in western herzegovina fill their pockets with over 200 million dollars per year. their activities cover a wide range of things -- money laundering, falsifications, bribery for university diplomas (whose price is put at five thousand german marks while ten thousand german marks are necessary for a phd title) driving licenses and every other possible document.

politika said that profiteers could also be found among bosnian serbs but that they differed from their croatian and muslim colleagues. the bosnian serbs made profit by smuggling natural resources, primarily wood, flour and other supplies badly needed and paid at exorbitant prices by the other side, the paper said.

[28] NEW ROUND OF TALKS ON SUCCESSION OF YUGOSLAV PROPERTY

ljubljana, may 30 (tanjug) - a new round of talks on succession of the former yugoslavia, started in ljubljana on may 27 and to be continued in belgrade on may 31 by international mediator sir arthur watts, could mean a more just course in the search for a solution to a very significant problem for all the states that emerged in the territory of the former yugoslav federation.

a departure from the current more political than economic and historically-based support to the concept imposed by the secessionist republics, headed by slovenia, is becoming clear.

the fact that slovenia in the past months launched a diplomatic offensive abroad, and a strong campaign at home in supoport of their position on the division of the property of the former common state, confirms that their demands are shaken.

compromises are not excluded between belgrade and zagreb, which is ljubljana's greatest fear.

that is why the slovenian political top is nervously repeating that slovenia and croatia are firmly united in their demands for succession.

watts's choice of slovenia as the first stop in the new round of getting acquainted with positions on division of property is no coincidence. as an experienced negotiator, expert for legal-economic problems of this kind, watts is starting from the most extreme and in reality the hardest acceptable claims.

slovenia's concern over the possible change of tone in future talks is evident from the statement made by the head of its delegation for succession miran mejak that they are 'especially interested in the position of official belgrade'.

watts was informed about proposals for the the process of succession, in the past weeks in brussels, by the delegations of all the states that emerged in the territory of the former yugoslavia.

the slovenian delegation, which has many allies and informers in brussels, suspects that belgrade in its conacts so far with watts has presented more argumentation, or that in future talks it will persevere in its demands.

the slovenian political leadership assesses that the total property of the former yugoslavia is worth around 92 billion dollars. slovenia is demanding 16.5 percent.

the slovenian authorities, especially president milan kucan and prime minister janez drnovsek, are persistent that despite the onesided secession, slovenia has a right to succession.

the slovenian delegation is also claiming a part of the foreign reserves, the gold of the former state, despite the fact that its origin is well known - it dates back to the kingdom of yugoslavia, whose coffers were filled mostly, to a far greater extent anybody else, by serbia.

slovenes want to chose some of the buildings of former yugoslav consular-diplomatic representations across the world. they do not want to renounce anything else 'that is not in the economic shere', first and foremost the archives and the cultural wealth.

Copyright © Tanjug, Yugoslavia, 1996

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