Yugoslav Daily Survey 96-04-08

Yugoslav Daily Survey Directory

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

8 April 1996

CONTENTS

[A] YUGOSLAVIA - MACEDONIA

[01] COMMUNIQUE: ON THE SIGNING OF THE AGREEMENT ON THE REGULATION OF RELATIONS AND THE PROMOTION OF COOPERATION BETWEEN THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA AND THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA

[02] STATEMENT BY MR. MILAN MILUTINOVIC, FEDERAL MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA

[B] YUGOSLAVIA - U.S.

[03] SERBIAN PRESIDENT CONVEYS CONDOLENCES ON DEATH OF U.S. SECRETARY

[04] MONTENEGRIN PRESIDENT EXPRESSES CONDOLENCES TO U.S. GOVERNMENT

[C] MEETINGS OF PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATIONS

[05] KOREA AND CHINA PRIZE YUGOSLAVIA'S PEACE POLICY

[D] REPUBLIKA SRPSKA

[06] SERBS SUBMIT DOCUMENTATION WITH WAR CRIMES CHARGES AGAINST 16 PERSONS

[07] ANOTHER GRAVE CONTAINING MASSACRED SERBS FOUND

[08] THE HAGUE TRIBUNAL REPRESENTATIVE APPLIES DOUBLE STANDARDS

[E] FROM FOREIGN PRESS

[09] CLINTON APPROVES IRAN'S SECRET ARMS DELIVERIES TO MOSLEMS

[F] YUGOSLAVIA - HISTORY

[10] 55TH ANNIVERSARY OF GERMAN BOMBING OF BELGRADE

[A] YUGOSLAVIA - MACEDONIA

[01] COMMUNIQUE: ON THE SIGNING OF THE AGREEMENT ON THE REGULATION OF RELATIONS AND THE PROMOTION OF COOPERATION BETWEEN THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA AND THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA

By this act, the two sides expressed the deepest interests of their peoples to live in peace, mutual understanding and good-neighbourliness. The FR of Yugoslavia and the Republic of Macedonia render in this way an important contribution to the strengthening of the peace process, as well as to the building of confidence, stability and good-neighbourliness in the Balkans and Europe.

By the signing of this Agreement, the FR of Yugoslavia and the Republic of Macedonia establish full diplomatic relations at the level of Ambassadors and create conditions for a comprehensive development of mutual relations and cooperation.

The two countries agreed to build their relations on the principles of equality, non-interference in internal affairs, respect for sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, in accordance with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the document of the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe.

The Republic of Macedonia accepted the State continuity and international legal personality of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. An agreement was also achieved that the FR of Yugoslavia and the Republic of Macedonia solve the question of the succession of the previous Yugoslavia by agreement.

Particular emphasis was placed on the interest of the two countries in strengthening and intensifying economic cooperation in all fields. It was agreed to begin immediate negotiations on concluding an agreement on economic cooperation and trade, aimed at developing comprehensive and mutually beneficial economic and trade relations. The two sides will solve by agreement, on the basis of reciprocity, also the question of physical persons and legal entities.

Agreement was reached on the promotion of road, rail and air traffic, of PTT and other communications, as well as on mutual restraint from imposing any impediments to the movement of people and goods between the two countries. Cooperation has been envisaged in the field of health, preservation and protection of the environment and, in particular, in the elimination of all forms of transboundary pollution and the coordination of strategies and programmes for regional and international cooperation in the field of the protection of the environment.

The Agreement provides for the protection of the Serbs in the Republic of Macedonia, as well as the Macedonians in the FR of Yugoslavia, preservation and maintenance of monuments of the culture and historical heritage of the two peoples, which will be a subject of separate agreements.

The two sides agreed to set up a joint, diplomatic-expert Commission that will prepare a draft international agreement with a textual description of the extension of the common State border.

It was mutually assessed that, following the signing of this important document, the FR of Yugoslavia and the Republic of Macedonia enter a period of a dynamic development of relations and cooperation, on the basis of traditional friendship, good-neighbourliness and mutual interests.

[02] STATEMENT BY MR. MILAN MILUTINOVIC, FEDERAL MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA

Mr. Minister,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

By today's solemn act of the signing of the Agreement on the regulation of relations and the promotion of cooperation between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Republic of Macedonia we have completed a very important job. In doing so, we have laid firm foundations for a future development of relations between our countries. I am confident that these relations have a great future considering the spiritual closeness of our peoples and numerous common and identical interests.

By signing this, for both countries important document, we are opening the door to a successful development of Yugoslav-Macedonian relations and comprehensive cooperation. It is our joint orientation to build our mutual relations on the principles of equality, non-interference, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as on mutual interests. These are, no doubt, the principle that give Yugoslav-Macedonian relations a lasting and long-term character.

I am convinced that, in this way, we also contribute to the strengthening of the peace process in the region of the previous Yugoslavia and, by the same token, to the stability, good-neighbourliness and confidence in the entire region. In a word, by this act the FR of Yugoslavia and the Republic of Macedonia render an important contribution to the consolidation of peace in the Balkans and Europe.

By this Agreement, the Republic of Macedonia honours the State continuity of the Federal Republic of Macedonia, which for us is a matter of principle and, for the Republic of Macedonia, an important option. Besides, we have agreed to solve the question of the succession of the previous Yugoslavia by agreement, whereby the quest for a final solution of this complex problem is facilitated.

In the period ahead of us, it is necessary that, by common efforts, we achieve the goals that we have set ourselves. Primarily I have in mind the task that, by opening Embassies, we now achieve full diplomatic relations and create conditions in that way for a broad mutual communication. Besides, it is necessary that we establish intensive dialogue and contacts , not only on the inter-State level, but also between economic, scientific, cultural and other entities of the two countries. From these contacts we expect to create a contractual and other framework for a dynamic development of all forms of cooperation. We attach special importance to the development of economic, traffic, scientific and cultural cooperation, considering the advantages deriving from the traditional closeness, mutual orientation and links between our peoples.

I am confident that, by this important act, we have ushered in a new period in the development of relations between the FR of Yugoslavia and the Republic of Macedonia and our peoples. We have laid the foundation for the development of good-neighbourliness, friendship and all-round cooperation on a lasting basis.

[B] YUGOSLAVIA - U.S.

[03] SERBIAN PRESIDENT CONVEYS CONDOLENCES ON DEATH OF U.S. SECRETARY

The senators expressed special interest in the implementation of the Bosnia peace agreement and the most important aspects of the political situation in the region, the Serbian presidential cabinet said in a statement. The promotion of the Yugoslav - U.S. relations was also reviewed.

The U.S. delegation which met with Milosevic consisted of South Dakota senator Thomas Daschle (democrat), Utah senator Orrin Hatch (republican) and Nevada senator Harry Reid (democrat).

The talks were also attended by Yugoslav Foreign Minister Milan Milutinovic.

[04] MONTENEGRIN PRESIDENT EXPRESSES CONDOLENCES TO U.S. GOVERNMENT

Bulatovic sent the condolences through the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade, said a statement released by the presidential office Friday.

[C] MEETINGS OF PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATIONS

[05] KOREA AND CHINA PRIZE YUGOSLAVIA'S PEACE POLICY

The President of the Supreme People's Assembly of DPR Korea Yang Hyong Sop and the Vice-President of the Chinese Congress Vang Handin expressed support to Yugoslavia's peace policy and the realization of the Dayton agreement for Bosnia with the aim of achieving a permanent stabilization of the situation in the territory of the former Yugoslavia.

The representatives of both countries said they would uphold Yugoslavia's speedy return into the international community and all international organizations.

Talks with parliamentarians of both countries underscored that the very good friendly relations should also be used for expanding cooperation in the sphere of economy and elsewhere.

[D] REPUBLIKA SRPSKA

[06] SERBS SUBMIT DOCUMENTATION WITH WAR CRIMES CHARGES AGAINST 16 PERSONS

The documentation will be submitted to the Tribunal for the War Crimes in the former Yugoslavia in the Hague, whose officials will establish the validity of the accusations and initiate legal proceedings against those persons for whom there is evidence that they perpetrated war crimes.

The Croat and Muslim side have not met their obligations because there remain 19 Serb prisoners in Croat and Muslim prisons in the territory of the Federation, Bulajic said, adding that the International Committee of the Red Cross had registered the Serb prisoners - 12 in a Croatian prison in Rodoc in Mostar and 7 Serbs held by Muslims.

Bulajic said that cooperation with international community officials would continue because there remained many Serb prisoners in Croatia who had not been registered.

[07] ANOTHER GRAVE CONTAINING MASSACRED SERBS FOUND

Representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross and the islamic religious community Jusuf Dedic and Hamzalija Kapetanovic were present during the exhumation.

Last week 181 bodies were exhumed from two mass graves in Mrkonjic Grad. Out of this number 89 bodies were identified. Most of them had been killed by a 'blow on the head with a blunt object' according to Yugoslav pathologist Zoran Stankovic who headed the forensic experts' team.

[08] THE HAGUE TRIBUNAL REPRESENTATIVE APPLIES DOUBLE STANDARDS

John Gerns was present as the representative of the Tribunal during the first two days (March 30 and 31) of the exhumation of Serbs from the mass grave in Mrkonjic Grad.

Gerns refused to make any remarks on the mass grave in Mrkonjic Grad explaining that only two men were authorised to issue statements in the name of the Tribunal and that he was not one of them. However, this did not prevent him from speaking on the cable news network on Friday about alleged serb crimes in Srebrenica, Eastern Bosnia.

An example contrary to this was provided by the head of the International Police Task Force in Mrkonjic Grad Oleg Tarasov. He told Reuters that what he had seen in the orthodox cemetery in Mrkonjic Grad was a genocide of civilians because there were many women and elderly among the exhumed bodies.

[E] FROM FOREIGN PRESS

[09] CLINTON APPROVES IRAN'S SECRET ARMS DELIVERIES TO MOSLEMS

It has been known that large quantities of arms were secretly delivered to Bosnian Moslems via Croatia. What has not been known, however, is that the White House and the State Department had given the green light for the deliveries and that Clinton had been involved in it, the paper quoted administration and U.S. intelligence sources whose names it did not give.

The paper said not even CIA had known about the White House decision to approve the deliveries. CIA found out about it later on, through satellite photographs and different channels.

Asked on the matter by a paper's reporter, White House spokesman Mike Mccurry said these were old tales, and said the U.S. Government had neither violated domestic laws nor the U.N. Security Council resolution banning arms deliveries to the former Yugoslavia.

The paper said Clinton had meanwhile been acting contrary to the resolution and the Washington position that Iran be completely isolated because it supports terrorism. Even at this point, Clinton insists on the position. The Clinton administration has repeatedly warned Bosnian Moslem leader Alija Izetbegovic that it will not tolerate his military and intelligence ties with Iran and that it will deny him economic and military assistance if he does not sever the ties.

The Los Angeles Times said that, in 1994 and 1995, Iran had delivered thousands of tonnes of arms to Bosnian Moslems via Croatia, with Clinton approving the whole action. The paper also said arrangements for secret arms deliveries had been made in agreement with Croatian President Franjo Tudjman.

[F] YUGOSLAVIA - HISTORY

[10] 55TH ANNIVERSARY OF GERMAN BOMBING OF BELGRADE

About 2,270 people out of Belgrade's pre-war 370,000-strong population were killed in the April 6-12 bombing. Like on many previous occasions in Belgrade's 2,000-year history, the enemy gave vent to its anger on Belgrade because the Serb people would not agree to slavery and treason. The bombing, which marked the beginning of Germany's war against the small unyielding Balkan country, was an act of retaliation because the Yugoslav army and people rejected a pact between the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and Germany.

On the night between March 26 and 27, 1941, the Yugoslav Army carried out a coup and on March 27, Yugoslav patriots organized mass demonstrations in Belgrade in opposition to the pact.

The coup thwarted Hitler's plans for attacking the Soviet Union and on the same day, the Wehrmacht operational headquarters decided to invade Yugoslavia.

According to German statisticians, 484 bombers threw 360 tonnes of bombs. About 700 buildings, including the central post office and the railway station, were destroyed and 1,700 buildings were damaged in the bombing. The total of 350,000 books were destroyed in a fire which broke out after a bomb hit the national library. During the 11-day April war, 136 Yugoslav pilots were killed and 80 German aircraft were downed.