Tanjug Daily News Review, 96-06-21

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

Jun 21, 1996
NEWS AGENCY - TANJUG
DAILY NEWS REVIEW

CONTENTS

[01] RESIDENCES CHOSEN FOR SERBIAN PRESIDENT, PREMIER

[02] FRANCE CALLS ON CROATIA TO EXERT PRESSURE ON CROATS IN BOSNIA

[03] POLITICAL PARTIES IN SERBIA HARSHLY CONDEMN TERRORISM IN KOSOVO

[04] ALL WAR CRIMINALS IN EX-YUGOSLAVIA SHOULD BE PUNISHED

[05] YUGOSLAV NATIONAL BANK PLANS TO GRANT CHEAP CREDITS TO EXPORTERS

[06] MINISTER: FAVORABLE CONDITIONS FOR FOREIGN INVESTMENTS IN YUGOSLAVIA

[07] YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT GIVES POSITIVE ASSESSMENT TO TALKS WITH IMF

[08] DEMILITARIZATION OF SERB REGION IN CROATIA ENDS

[09] OSCE FOR HOLDING OF BOSNIA ELECTIONS BY SEPTEMBER 14

[10] CRISIS IN MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION

[11] U.S. REPUBLICANS DEMAND EXPLANATION OF BOSNIA PLANS

[12] CROATIA STARTS TO GIVE AWAY SERB PROPERTY

[13] SUZAN MANUEL: PARTITION OF BOSNIA INTO THREE PARTS MOST PROBABLE

[14] BOSNIAN CROATS SEEK NEW DELINEATION OF MUNICIPAL BOUNDARIES

[15] DEMILITARIZATION OF SERB REGION COMPLETED, SAYS U.N. ADMINISTRATOR

[16] EUROPEAN UNION PROTESTS WITH CROATIA OVER HERCEG-BOSNA

[17] FRANCE DISPLEASED WITH SITUATION IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA

[01] RESIDENCES CHOSEN FOR SERBIAN PRESIDENT, PREMIER

according to a serbian government act, the president and the premier can use the residences only to perform their duties and live there.

the government said that the yugoslav republic of serbia was also the owner of another villa in belgrade, two villas in the town of smederevo, about 40 km southeast of belgrade, two villas in the town of topola, about 60 km south of belgrade, one villa in vorovo and one villa in the vrnjacka banja spa, about 130 km south of belgrade.

under the new regulation, the residences can be used by officials and persons who represent serbia under authority of the relevant organ and on the basis of a written request, which is decided upon by the serbian government's secretary-general.

[02] FRANCE CALLS ON CROATIA TO EXERT PRESSURE ON CROATS IN BOSNIA

paris said the act clashed with the dayton peace accords reached late last year and expected the authorities in zagreb strongly to influence the bosnian croats to reexamine their decision, said french foreign ministry spokesman jacques rummelhardt.

rummerlhardt told reporters that the peace accords, though recognizing the existence of three communities in bosnia, provided for the state of bosnia-herzegovina to comprise only two entities - the muslim-croat federation and republika srpska.

muslim officials in the electoral commisson in kiseljak, near sarajevo, left their job in the commission, as the croat authorities would not allow the opening of an office for the registration of voters in the part of kiseljak inhabited by a muslim majority, the muslim radio sarajevo has said.

they said they were dissatisfied with the muslim representation in the electoral commisson and the fact that an official of the ruling croatian democratic union (hdz) was in the electoral commisson, which was against regulations.

[03] POLITICAL PARTIES IN SERBIA HARSHLY CONDEMN TERRORISM IN KOSOVO

two serbian policemen were killed and one was injured in two armed attacks in the towns of podujevo and kosovska mitrovica in northern kosovo on sunday and monday nights.

ratko krsmanovic, an official of the league of communists - the movement for yugoslavia, condemned the attacks and said the solution to the problem in kosovo was much more simple than the west had been led to believe.

krsmanovic told a press conference on thursday that all peoples in kosovo should get rid of their nationalist leaders, which, he said, called for a lot of new energy and tolerance.

top party official selim berisa said the terrorist actions in kosovo were not only the product of ethnic albanian separatists, but had been 'nurtured by all those who took part directly or indirectly in the break-up of the former yugoslavia.'

berisa said all the peoples in kosovo would have to realize finally that terrorism was a threat to all people, especially to those from whom it stemmed.

new democracy spokeswoman rebeka srbinovic said the party was dissatisfied over the tragic events in kosovo and called for urgent dialogue as 'the only way to solve the problem in kosovo.'

[04] ALL WAR CRIMINALS IN EX-YUGOSLAVIA SHOULD BE PUNISHED

a prague daily published on friday a letter addressed by dolecek to tribunal chief prosecutor richard goldsone in which he said that the tribunal was neglecting a basic principle in law -- to listen to the other side of the story.

dolecek said that the serbs were a priori treated as war criminals which was confirmed by the fact that so few muslim and croats had been indicted.

[05] YUGOSLAV NATIONAL BANK PLANS TO GRANT CHEAP CREDITS TO EXPORTERS

the credits would be used to finance the production of goods for export, the daily said,

yugoslav bankers polled by the daily said that the measure was monetary neutral and would not cause inflation since buyers would be expected to pledge payment on exporters' bank accounts in yugoslavia within 120 days.

[06] MINISTER: FAVORABLE CONDITIONS FOR FOREIGN INVESTMENTS IN YUGOSLAVIA

the adoption of a bill on free zones 'created conditions more favorable than in other countries which will enable the entry of capital into our country (yugoslavia) and the reintegration of the yugoslav economy and the development of major potentials in serbia and yugoslavia,' bingulac said, speaking in the town of kovin about 10 km east of belgrade.

bingulac laid a foundation stone in the customs-free zone of kovin for the first object of the yugoslav firm termoelektra in this zone, which will manufacture measuring and regulation equipment which yugoslavia now imports.

termoelektra director ljubomir davidovic said the 2,000 square meter facility would be completed by the end of the year.

termoelektra is investing 2.5 million german marks into the new facilities and equipmnent.

[07] YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT GIVES POSITIVE ASSESSMENT TO TALKS WITH IMF

a delegation, headed by belgrade university professor oskar kovac, met with the international monetary fund in geneva on june 13-14. another delegation, headed by yugoslav deputy finance minister dragutin vucinic, met with the paris club in paris on june 4.

at a session presided by prime minister radoje kontic, the yugoslav government adopted reports on the talks, the yugoslav information secretariat said in a statement.

the government said that the talks with the imf had been held in a constructive atmosphere and that significant progress had been made in the talks on legal and other issues connected with the regulation of yugoslavia's relations with the imf.

the government said that intensive contacts and talks with imf representatives should continue in order to prepare for talks on coordinating acts which are needed in order to normalize bilateral relations.

the government also said that the talks with the paris club represented a good step in the mutual informing and preparation of talks on the contractual regulation of the consolidation of yugoslavia's debt with creditor governments.

the government described as important that yugoslavia's stand to divide the resolution of economic from political issues was supported in the talks.

the government also adopted a report on talks which yugoslav assistant trade minister borislav vukovic had in geneva, where he delivered kontic's letter on the regulation of yugoslavia's membership in the world trade organization to the wto director general.

the government said that competent ministries should intensify diplomatic and political action in order to secure support to this demand, the statement said.

[08] DEMILITARIZATION OF SERB REGION IN CROATIA ENDS

the demilitarization of the serb region of eastern slavonia, baranja and western srem officially started on may 21 and should have ended in 30 days.

the demilitarization deadlines were determined on the basis of an agreement which representatives of regional serbs and croatian authorities signed in november 1995 and u.n. security council resolution 1037.

under the serb-croatian agreement, the region -- the only part of the former republic of serb krajina which the croatian army has not occupied -- was placed under a one-year u.n. transitional administration. this period can be extended for another year.

head of the serb slavonia-baranja corps headquarters col. slobodan antonic said that untaes administrator jacques klein would inform the u.n. security council about the fact the demilitarization had ended at noon on thursday.

antonic stressed the correctness of untaes members during the demilitarization and said that u.n, representatives had accepted the proposal that 'personal weapons which people keep at home should not be touched, i.e. that houses should not be searched.'

the demilitarization included heavy weapons -- artillery and tanks.

antonic ruled out the possibility of croatia's conventional military action in the region and said that the deployment of the untaes military part made it possible to monitor all, even the smallest croatian operations.

[09] OSCE FOR HOLDING OF BOSNIA ELECTIONS BY SEPTEMBER 14

cotti, who is also swiss foreign minister, told reporters that the final decision on the date of the elections would be disclosed on june 25, after his visit to sarajevo and banja luka.

cotti participated in the meeting of osce 'troika' -- the former, current and future osce presidents -- with the osce permanent council.

thirty-three of the 55 members of the osce permanent council voted for the holding of elections according to the schedule, it was said at the news briefing at osce headquarters.

although the conditions for the holding of free and fair elections in bosnia-herzegovina are not ideal, because the complete freedom of movement was not established and there was only a limited approach to the media, osce representatives said that elections would still be an important step in the stabilization of peace in bosnia-herzegovina.

[10] CRISIS IN MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION

paris, june 21 (tanjug) - the crisis within the muslim-croat federation is the most serious threat to the dayton accord, french authorities and french media maintain.

there is a clear reason for that: the two ethnic communities have opposite strategic interests and no political will to live together in a 'federal marriage'.

paris had already said in the past that the federation was 'an artificial creation of u.s. diplomacy' but was an important part embodied in the dayton agreement and a project of a multi-ethnic bosnian state which is fervently advocated by france.

french officials say that bosnian croats have not relinquished the republic of herceg-bosna and that zagreb is benevolent towards the sessecionist ambitions which, the paris daily liberation said, are creating a greater croatia.

alija izetbegovic's camp favours the creation of a small muslim state, the paper said.

izetbegovic's party is viewed as a sheer nationalistic movement which imposes absolutist and hegemonist rule and puts muslim interests above any ethnic reconciliation.

the federation crisis is grave, all the more given that there are no signs that herceg-bosna will be abolished. that is the main point in a report by the french international radio from sarajevo which said that the process of partition of bosnia along ethnic borders was fully advancing.

the paris daily le monde said that nobody wanted a renewal of fighting but that the warlords carried on with their policy of hatred and ethnic separation.

the latest developments in ethnic relations within the military federation are an indication that the bosnian croats do not want to live together with the muslims, the paris daily le figaro said.

croats do not recognize the existence of a multi-ethnic bosnia or a two-partner federation. the paris press said that 53 percent of mostar croats had obtained croatian nationality and passport.

paris is concerned because it maintains that the peace process is facing grave difficultires. that has prompted french president jacques chirac, with the support of german chancellor helmut kohl, to call for an extraordinary meeting of the contact group in the next few days.

[11] U.S. REPUBLICANS DEMAND EXPLANATION OF BOSNIA PLANS

chairman of the house of representatives newt gingrich, a republican from georgia, and another five congressmen, on thursday evening sent a letter to the president, asking him to say when the u.s. troops will be withdrawn from bosnia-herzegovina.

he told reporters that he feared the original mandate of the military mission in bosnia had already suffered a deviation.

gingrich reacted to a recent statement by pentagon chief william pery, who twice announced a possibility of extending the mission of u.s. troops in bosnia beyond the december 20 deadline.

if nato decides to do so, the united states will not be absent from the new mission in the balkans, perry said.

neither a decision on extending the mission has been made, nor the u.s. troops will stay in the balkans after december 20, said pentagon spokesman kenneth bacon.

it is believed that clinton is now avoiding to tackle the problem in public because of the election campaign, seeing the issue as too delicate at the moment, but that the situation will be very much different if he wins in the november 5 election.

the republicans now claim that the administration has breached its promise to spend one and a half billion dollars at the utmost on the operation. they now expect it to cost some three billion dollars.

[12] CROATIA STARTS TO GIVE AWAY SERB PROPERTY

the law on 'areas placed under special care of the state' relates to all serb areas in croatia and the croatian government decision could be seen as an act provoking a new war in the balkans, the paper said.

the territory of what was the republic of serb krajina is now divided into two zones. the first one includes places in the border area and the second all other krajina settlements.

the first zone includes towns and villages formed by serb border forces five centuries ago to stand as a bulwark agains the turkish empire and they have never had significant croat communities, the paper said.

the group also includes settlements in eastern slavonia and baranja where serbs and croats have lived side by side. the question of those settlements is expected to be tackled later, when eastern slavonia and baranja are reintegrated into croatia.

the region is now placed under a one-year u.n. provisional administration.

the other group mostly consists of serb settlements that the croatian government finds particularly important for croatia's security, such as places in western slavonia and the zone of dubrovnik, the paper said.

[13] SUZAN MANUEL: PARTITION OF BOSNIA INTO THREE PARTS MOST PROBABLE

in an interview carried by the paper on thursday, manuel said that basic human rights, such as freedom of movement, free media and right to assembly were being violated in bosnia.

i think that a division of bosnia into three parts is most probable, although the leaders of the peoples signed something else, manuel said.

speaking about the situation in the muslim-croat federation (and constant animosity between croats and muslims), she said that it was a direct threat to the dayton peace agreement and a clear indication that the federation stood no chances.

concerning eastern slavonia, baranja and western srem, she said that over 90 percent of heavy weaponry had been removed from this serb area under u.n. transitional administration. the area is located between croatia and the federal republic of yugoslavia.

manuel said that serbs in croatia had raised the issue of their autonomy because of flagrant violations of human rights by croatian authorities in krajina, witnessed by international observers.

it is not likely that croatian authorities will grant autonomy to serbs in croatia, manuel said, adding that she did not know what the alternative was.

she said that the situation was further complicated by the obvious opposition of croatian authorities to having serb majority population in any part of its territory.

a consistent implementation of the peace accords is a basis for resolving the crisis in the former yugoslavia and the establishment of lasting peace in the region.

[14] BOSNIAN CROATS SEEK NEW DELINEATION OF MUNICIPAL BOUNDARIES

the election headquarters of the croat republic of herceg-bosna said in a statement carried by croatian radio that the croat side refused to accept the existing boundaries between municipalities because they had been drawn while the territory was a part of the former yugoslavia.

the radio quoted head of the herceg-bosna election headquarters stjepan pranjic as saying that the new organization of local self-rule should enable the exercizing of the constitutional right to a community's own language, education, information and culture.

he announced participation of the ruling bosnian croat party, the croatian democratic union (hdz), both on the federal and the cantonal level in the autumn elections, but said there were no conditions for its participation in the local election.

[15] DEMILITARIZATION OF SERB REGION COMPLETED, SAYS U.N. ADMINISTRATOR

talking at a press conference for more than 60 serb and croat journalists, klein specified that all tanks, artillery and multiple-rocket launchers had been removed.

praizing representatives of the serb and croat armies, generals dusan loncar and djuro decak, klein said that control in the demilitarized zone will last until june 27, when the commander of the military component of the u.n. transitional authority in eastern slavonia (untaes), belgian general joseph schoups, will sign a document on the definite ending of the process.

the demilitarization of the serbian region of eastern slavonia, baranja amnd west srem officially started on may 21.

the deadlines for demilitarization were fixed on the basis of the agreement signed by the end of last year by representatives of local serbs and the authorities in zagreb and u.n. security council resolution 1037.

on the basis of that agreement this serb region, the only part of the former republic of serb krajina that was not occupied by the croatian army, was placed at the beginning of 1996 under a one-year u.n. transitional administration with the possibility of extending it for one more year.

[16] EUROPEAN UNION PROTESTS WITH CROATIA OVER HERCEG-BOSNA

the italian foreign ministry in an announcement made public in rome said that the e.u. had expressed profound concern over the reactivation of the government of the self-styled herceg-bosna, populated by local croats, in the territory of the muslim-croat federation in bosnia and herzegovina (bih).

such an initiative accounts for an open violation of the dayton accords made last year, the e.u. chair country pointed out.

the hrhb was proclaimed by croats in 1992 in the bih territories which they believe theirs by tradition and ethnically.

the muslim-croat federation was formed in march, 1994, under strong pressure by the u.s. on the two ethnic communities to end their 14-month-old conflicts in central and southwestern parts of the bih.

the e.u. had called the croatian government to act adequately with croats in the southwestern bih city of mostar, urging them to cooperate fully as regards the peace process and the holding of elections in the city they share with muslims.

the government in zagreb is under obligation to ensure the implementation of both tasks, says the italian foreign ministry in the conclusion of its note.

[17] FRANCE DISPLEASED WITH SITUATION IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA

paris, june 21 (tanjug) - the french government on friday expressed dissatisfaction that actions by hardline leading officials in all three ethnic communities in bosnia-herzegovina were jeopardizing the success of the peace process in bosnia.

the peace process in bosnia-herzegovina is in a stalemate, said french government circles. they expressed doubt, however, that the current ceasefire could truly become a stable peace.

paris is especially displeased with the confirmation of local croats that they intend to carry out their idea of a so-called republic of herzeg-bosna, a croat state in bosnia-herzegovina which is closely tied to neighboring croatia.

this prevents the guarantee of peace and realization of the dayton project on a multi-ethnic bosnia-herzegovina, an official paris government representative said.

croats in bosnia-herzegovina last saturday formed a new government of the croat republic of herzeg-bosna, which met with very negative reactions from their federal partners, the muslims, but also from other countries all over the world.

the bosnian croat stand is directly contrary to the peace treaty, the spokesman said, specifying that only republika srpska, the serb entity, and the croat-muslim federation cound exist in bosnia-herzegovina.

the re-establishment of herzeg-bosna is impermissible, he said.

the croat state in bosnia-herzegovina was formed in the summer of 1992 in territory which bosnian croats claim as their alleged historic lands.

since its founding, it has been under the full influence of zagreb, croatian laws apply in its territory, and the croatian currency, the kuna, is the means of payment.

paris is not pleased either with the united states decision to start pulling out its troops from bosnia-herzegovina already next week. u.s. forces account for one-third of the peace implementation force (ifor) deployed in bosnia-herzegovina under the dayton peace accords.

next week, 2,000 u.s. troops are to leave the town of lukavac near tuzla in northeastern bosnia-herzegovina for the territory of croatia.

Copyright © Tanjug, Yugoslavia, 1996

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