Yugoslav Daily Survey 96-01-22

Yugoslav Daily Survey Directory

From: ddc@nyquist.bellcore.com (D.D. Chukurov)

22 January 1996

CONTENTS

[A] FROM THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA

[01] YUGOSLAVIA PROPOSES RESTORATION OF TIES WITH EUROPEAN UNION

[02] YUGOSLAVIA'S WISH TO REJOIN WTO WELCOMED

[03] BRITAIN FAVORS YUGOSLAVIA'S REINTEGRATION TO INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY

[04] UNHCR KNOWS HOW MUSLIM REFUGEES ARE TREATED IN YUGOSLAVIA

[05] YUGOSLAV AIRLINES CAN APPLY FOR RESUMPTION OF FLIGHTS TO U.S.

[B] REPUBLIKA SRPSKA

[06] CROATIAN DELEGATION VISITS REPUBLIKA SRPSKA

[07] SERBS SUPPORT PEACE ACCORD, MUSLIMS THREATEN IT

[08] MORE THAN 900 IMPRISONED BOSNIAN SERBS STILL AWAIT EXCHANGE

[C] BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

[09] ICRC: ONLY 218 OF 900 BOSNIAN PRISONERS RELEASED ACCORDING TO PLAN

[D] FROM FOREIGN PRESS

[10] LE MONDE: PEACE IN BOSNIA IS STILL FRAGILE

[A] FROM THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA

[01] YUGOSLAVIA PROPOSES RESTORATION OF TIES WITH EUROPEAN UNION

In a letter to President of the European Union Commission Jacques Santer, Kontic proposed restoration of all forms of cooperation and ties between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the E.U.

One of the foreign policy priorities of Yugoslavia as a European and Mediterranean country is to become a part of an integrated Europe as early as possible, the Yugoslav Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Yugoslavia is confident that the E.U., and its member-states individually, will judge adequately Yugoslavia's peaceful and constructive policy, the statement said.

It said that a full normalization of diplomatic relations between Yugoslavia and the E.U. was expected.

The statement expressed a wish for the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the E.U. to restore ties on the basis of an agreement signed between the former Yugoslav federation and the European Community back in 1980, so that the process of Yugoslavia's integration in European institutions could start.

[02] YUGOSLAVIA'S WISH TO REJOIN WTO WELCOMED

Yugoslavia must accomplish two tasks in order to negotiate its reintegration in WTO (former GATT).

First, it must undertake measures at federal and republican levels to coordinate regulations in force in Yugoslavia with world trade rules, and must also carry out bilateral negotiations with individual WTOo members on tariff concessions, Vukovic said. Official negotiations on Yugoslavia's status in WTO can start immediately after the full lifting of sanctions, he added.

The duration of the negotiations will depend on Yugoslavia's preparedness - i.e. the degree to which its regulations will be coordinated with world trade rules defined in the WTO multilateral agreement, Vukovic explained.

Yugoslavia was a GATT member since 1966, but its membership was suspended in September 1993. It was therefore unable to attend the final Uruguay round negotiations or to sign agreements and decisions adopted at that time.

[03] BRITAIN FAVORS YUGOSLAVIA'S REINTEGRATION TO INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY

Milosevic's sincerity, energy and consistency in the implementation of the peace accord have made London urge most strongly a normalization of relations between Yugoslavia and the European Union, Roberts told Radio Kragujevac.

He said Britain wanted to see how Yugoslavia, together with its neighbors, played a constructive role in recovering political stability and economic prosperity in the former Yugoslavia. Roberts said the international community should not favor any former Yugoslav republic and set out that London called for equal relations and treatment for every one of the former Yugoslav republics.

[04] UNHCR KNOWS HOW MUSLIM REFUGEES ARE TREATED IN YUGOSLAVIA

Referring to reports by some Western media and statements of several of the Muslims who were later granted asylum in some European countries that they had been treated badly and even harrassed in refugee centers Mitrovo Polje on Mt. Goc and Slivovica near Uzice in Serbia, Morina said the two centers were supplied from the very first day with food by UNHCR and with medicines by ICRC.ICRC representatives also visited regularly the Muslim refugees and enabled them to send messages to their families, she said.

The statement of UNHCR representative that some food shipments had not reached Mitrovo Polje is unfounded, Morina said, as Muslim refugees are visited by UNHCR and ICRC representatives whenever they wish.

Those who were granted asylum in Ireland said Wednesday they had been inhumanly and ill treated in Serbia. They should be reminded that Serbia had welcomed them when their lives were in danger. It is not up to Alija Izetbegovic to grant them amnesty, Morina said. Out of the 796 Muslims who arrived in Serbia from Srebrenica and Zepa last August, 75 have meanwhile left - 24 to Ireland, 50 to United States and one to Sweden. UNHCR continues seeking asylum for the others.

[05] YUGOSLAV AIRLINES CAN APPLY FOR RESUMPTION OF FLIGHTS TO U.S.

[B] REPUBLIKA SRPSKA

[06] CROATIAN DELEGATION VISITS REPUBLIKA SRPSKA

They discussed the freedom of movement of citizens in the two states' territories, the reopening of the bridge on the Sava river near Gradiska and the free movement of goods, capital and passengers, the modalities for which are to be worked out by competent ministries, Kasagic said.

Lang said that following the cessation of hostilities, issues crucial for the people on both sides must now be resolved. He pointed to the need for restoring communications, reunifying families, exchanging visits, ensuring personal safety regardless of national, religious or other considerations, and restoring economic ties.

The abolition of compulsory work in Republika Srpska as a concrete measure for promoting human rights was hailed, as well as the action 'let's save a life' for the protection of Serbs in Croatia, who live in the former UNPA North, South an West, and the forming of a human rights committee in Republika Srpska.

Support was lent for equality of all citizens, regardless of faith, nationality and political convictions, and freedom of movement, especially for purposes of family reunions, medical treatment, funerals... and free passage via all communications to humanitarian convoys whatever their modes of transportation.

The release of all prisoners was set out as a necessary condition for the implementation of the peace agreement.

The Bosnian Serb delegation will receive oil supplies, gasoline, heating oil and mineral fertilizers, and Croatia will be supplied with iron ore from Ljubija mine for its ironworks in Sisak.

[07] SERBS SUPPORT PEACE ACCORD, MUSLIMS THREATEN IT

'We are willing to exchange all POWs, but the Muslim Government will not accept this until all missing persons are found, which is in contradiction to the Ddayton and Paris accords', Kasagic told Radio Kragujevac.

He said Special U.N. Rapporteur for Human Rights Elisabeth Rehn would from Feb. 4-8 visit Bosnia and had requested a visit to Srebrenica and Prijedor. The Bosnian Serb authorities will permit Rehn to visit Srebrenica, Prijedor and Ljubija mine, just as we allowed her to visit Prijedor and Novi Grad on a previous visit, said Kasagic.

He said Rehn had asked to visit Sanski Most where Muslims are holding a large number of Serb prisoners, but the Muslim Government refused to grant permission.

[08] MORE THAN 900 IMPRISONED BOSNIAN SERBS STILL AWAIT EXCHANGE

Head of the Bosnian Serb Prisoner Exchange Committee Dragan Bulajic said Republika Srpska demanded the unconditional release of 550 Serbs held in muslim jails.

He said Serbs were being held in Muslim jails in Tuzla that had not been visited by the ICRC, in Zenica and Travnik and in Bihac. There are Serbs in jail Silos in Tarcin near Sarajevo and in jails in Sarajevo, he said.

Republika Srpska demands the release of 210 registered and 150 unregistered Serbs from prisons in Croatia.

Bulajic said the Serb side was prepared to release the remaining 180 Muslims and Croats upon receiving the ICRC program for a unilateral and simultaneous release.

[C] BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

[09] ICRC: ONLY 218 OF 900 BOSNIAN PRISONERS RELEASED ACCORDING TO PLAN

[D] FROM FOREIGN PRESS

[10] LE MONDE: PEACE IN BOSNIA IS STILL FRAGILE

The peace is fragile primarily because the Mostar crisis clearly shows that a Muslim-Croat Federation which Washington views as so crucial to the peace, is non-existant, said Le Monde. Croat nationalists are striving to sabotage the dual federation by rejecting a united Mostar, which is under a two-year administration by the European Union until July.

'The task is not easy. The Dayton accord divides Bosnia into two constitutional communities, while there are three territories controlled by three armies,' said the daily. There is the Bosnian Serb Republika Srpska, but not a Muslim-Croat Federation, as the Muslims and Croat nationalists have separate governments, their own armies, and their Federal Government is an illusion, said the daily.

'War will reignite unless the problems of Sarajevo and Mostar are resolved. The Americans must therefore apply their law in the Balkans with full force,' said Le Monde.