Yugoslav Daily Survey 96-01-30

Yugoslav Daily Survey Directory

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

CONTENTS

[A] FROM THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA

[01] YUGOSLAV-SLOVAK TALKS

[02] RANKING SLOVAK DELEGATION HAS TALKS IN BELGRADE

[03] PRESIDENT OF SERBIA MILOSEVIC RECEIVES SLOVAK PREMIER

[04] SLOVAK PRIME MINISTER MECIAR VISITS YUGOSLAV PARLIAMENT

[05] PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC RECEIVES OSCE CHAIRMAN

[06] OSCE PRESIDENT SAYS TALKS WITH SERBIA'S MILOSEVIC WERE EXHAUSTIVE

[07] DEPUTY YUGOSLAV FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS WITH OSCE PRESIDENT

[B] REPUBLIKA SRPSKA

[08] MUSLIMS AND CROATS HAVE NOT RELEASED ALL PRISONERS

[A] FROM THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA

[01] YUGOSLAV-SLOVAK TALKS

The talks were focused on possible forms of cooperation in the agriculture and food industry, energy, building, chemical and pharmaceutical industries, transportation, trade, textile industry and joint ventures in the military-economic domain and tourism.

Kontic said that no obstacles stood anymore in the way of broad and productive cooperation between Yugoslavia and the Slovak Republic, which was expected soon to cover all domains.

He said the annual value of the bilateral trade was expected soon to reach 400 million dollars, or the level recorded prior to the introduction of the international sanctions against yugoslavia in May 1992.

Kontic said two delegations agreed to abolish visas for diplomatic and business passports as a first step towards definite abolishing of all visas between the two countries.

Kontic said Yugoslavia expected Slovakia to actively support its reintegration in the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and other institutions.

Kontic supported the idea of creating a free trade zone between the Baltic, the Black Sea and the Adriatic, adding that in view of the good prospects for bilateral cooperation in agriculture and industry, Yugoslavia and Slovakia can set an even more ambitious goal than the 400 million dollar annual trade exchange.

Meciar welcomed the establishment of peace, the suspension of anti-Yugoslav sanctions and Yugoslavia's reintegration in international institutions, noting that annual bilateral trade exchange under sanctions had amounted to 20 million dollars.

The Yugoslav side stressed its satisfaction with the constructive attitude maintained by Bratislava towards Belgrade througout the duration of the sanctions.

The two sides discussed the texts of Agreements on Inter-State and Inter-Departmental Cooperation, to be signed on Tuesday or in the near future. The agreements are aimed at stimulating and guaranteeing capital investments and avoiding dual taxation between Yugoslavia and the Slovak Republic.

The two delegations adjusted the texts of Agreements on Trade and Cooperation in Culture, Education and Sport.

[02] RANKING SLOVAK DELEGATION HAS TALKS IN BELGRADE

Yugoslav Vice Premier and Economy Minister Nikola Sainovic and Slovak Vice Premier Sergei Kozik agreed that all inter-state agreements of importance to economic cooperation between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Slovakia should be signed by mid-1996.

Yugoslav Minister in charge of minority rights Margit Savovic and Slovak Vice Premier Josef Kalman noted that the Slovak minority in Yugoslavia enjoyed all rights in keeping with the highest international standards.

Yugoslav Minister of Transport and Communications Zoran Karaicic met with secretary of state in the Slovak Ministry of Transport and Communications Dezider Szabo and with him discussed bilateral cooperation in all areas of transport.

[03] PRESIDENT OF SERBIA MILOSEVIC RECEIVES SLOVAK PREMIER

Milosevic and Meciar voiced the desire for the economic cooperation level to be regained at the soonest.

It was indicated that, in addition to conventional commodity exchange and joint production, special significance went to the association and joint marketing by economic partners of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Slovakia in the west and in the 'third world' countries.

What is of special significance for Yugoslavia is the establishment of cooperation with the Central European Free Trade Association (CEFTA), currently chaired by Slovakia. It was noted that the two countries had a great interest in encouraging cooperation in the field of transport, agriculture, fuel and power, chemical and pharmaceutical industries, civil engineering, iron and steel and non-ferrous industries, tourist trade, trade, and others.

It was pointed out at the meeting that the presence and life of the Slovak national minority in Serbia was strengthening and enriching the friendly relations and cooperation between Yugoslavia and Slovakia.

It was stressed at the talk that official Belgrade was highly appreciating Slovakia's activity and its support to the peace process in the Balkans, as well as its readiness to help the reintegration of Yugoslavia into international institutions, beginning by the United Nations, via the OSCE to the Central European Initiative, the Danubian cooperation and other forms of inter-state association.

[04] SLOVAK PRIME MINISTER MECIAR VISITS YUGOSLAV PARLIAMENT

Bozovic expressed hope that the agreements to be signed by the Yugoslav and Slovak Governments would open the way for all-round cooperation. Bozovic said the resolution of minority issues was a civilizational and not ideological matter, and that minorities in Yugoslavia had equal rights as others and a full freedom of communication with their mother countries.

Bozovic pointed up the need for intensifying parliamentary cooperation between the two countries.

Meciar said his country urged Yugoslavia's quick reintegration into all international organizations and institutions. He said the Slovak Republic was interested in the promotion of cooperation between the two countries in all domains, and underscored the need for a long-term programme of the bilateral economic cooperation.

Meciar said he was pleased with the position of the Slovak minority in Yugoslavia.

[05] PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC RECEIVES OSCE CHAIRMAN

[06] OSCE PRESIDENT SAYS TALKS WITH SERBIA'S MILOSEVIC WERE EXHAUSTIVE

The question of Bosnia is the OSCE's most important mandate, given under the Bosnia peace accord, Cotti said.

He added that the Organisation would try to create the best possible conditions and framework for this most important job on its agenda, and prepare free and democratic elections as soon as possible.

Cotti said that his talks with Milosevic had related also to the status of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in the OSCE.

There is still no unanimous agreement among the OSCE members to Yugoslavia's return to the Organisation, but there is certainly a wish to include it again in its work, Cotti said.

He said that his talks with Milosevic had touched briefly also on the question of the southern Serbian province of Kosovo-Metohija. Cotti voiced the belief that this problem should be dealt with inside Yugoslavia.

He described relations between Switzerland and Yugoslavia as excellent and said he felt that his visit would help consolidate bilateral cooperation.

Cotti said that he had not discussed with Milosevic the status of Serb Sarajevo in any great detail. He expressed the belief that Serbs should stay on in their parts of the city as an essential prerequisite for the multi-ethnic solution envisaged under the Bosnia peace accord.

[07] DEPUTY YUGOSLAV FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS WITH OSCE PRESIDENT

Bulajic informed Cotti about the activities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in the peace process and in dealing with the crisis in former Yugoslavia, the Yugoslav Foreign Ministry said.

Bulajic and Cotti discussed also issues of bilateral relations and how to promote them.

[B] REPUBLIKA SRPSKA

[08] MUSLIMS AND CROATS HAVE NOT RELEASED ALL PRISONERS

During a meeting with family members of the missings Kasagic said that another 950 Serb soldiers were reported missing and 250 were held in prisons in Croatia.

'The release of all prisoners and fulfilment of all committments under the Dayton accord are a condition for all our further talks with the Croat and Muslim sides,' Kasagic said and added that the Serb side was forced to condition its cooperation because it had met all its committments undertaken under the accord signed in Dayton.