Yugoslav Daily Survey, 96-11-01

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From: Yugoslavia <http://www.yugoslavia.com>

CONTENTS

[01] PRESIDENT LILIC SAYS YUGOSLAVIA TAKES SURE STRIDES INTO EUROPE

[02] YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT ON COOPERATION WITH NEIGHBOURING AND OTHER COUNTRIES

[03] YUGOSLAV-RUSSIAN INTER-GOVERNMENTAL COMMITTEE ENDS ITS SESSION

[04] YUGOSLAVIA INSISTS THAT THE MISSING PERSONS PROBLEM BE RESOLVED

[05] ELECTION SILENCE IN YUGOSLAVIA STARTS ON THURSDAY MIDNIGHT

[06] YUGOSLAV VICE PREMIER EXPECTS SPEEDY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN 1997

[07] PROMOTION OF MONTENEGRO'S ECONOMIC POTENTIALS

[08] KRAJISNIK MEETS WITH ADM. LOPEZ AND BILDT

[09] TORCHING OF SERB HOUSES IN THE MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION

[01] PRESIDENT LILIC SAYS YUGOSLAVIA TAKES SURE STRIDES INTO EUROPE

In the final years of the crisis, we pursued a successful foreign policy and preserved peace in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Lilic said, meeting with local businessmen in the town of Kladovo on the Danube, in the East of the Yugoslav Republic of Serbia. Now, the most important thing is economic recovery, he added.

Lilic said that, a year ago today, Yugoslavia's delegation headed by Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic had left for Dayton, Ohio, USA, for talks which resulted in the November 21. Peace Accords which 'absolutely brought recognition to Yugoslavia's peace policy.' The Accords secured peace and stability not only for the territory of former Yugoslavia, but for the Balkan region and Europe as a whole, Lilic said.

He said he hoped that peace and stability would hold in Bosnia-Herzegovina, adding that this could not be achieved without an active participation of the FRY. 'There would never have been the Republika Srpska if our (Yugoslav) delegation had not gone to Dayton,' Lilic added.

'This is why we have the right to ask of those elected in the Republika Srpska and in Bosnia-Herzegovina to make sure that the peace and stability are maintained,' he said. He added that the FRY strove to fully participate in integration processes and cooperation both with states of the former Yugoslavia and with Europe as a whole.

Lilic promised that the Government would provide a legislative ambience that would create conditions for a swift economic development.

[02] YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT ON COOPERATION WITH NEIGHBOURING AND OTHER COUNTRIES

This was assessed by the Federal Government at a Session in Belgrade on Thursday, when it accepted a report on dr. Kontic's visit to Slovakia, said a statement by the Yugoslav Information Secretariat.

Slovakia paid tribute to Yugoslavia for its contribution to the Peace Process and stabilization of the situation in the Region, the statement said. Slovakia expressed emphatic support to Yugoslavia's speedy reintegration into the International Community. Joint interest was expressed in the development of comprehensive economic, trade and financial relations, the statement said.

At the Session, the Government also discussed and accepted a report on talks between Yugoslav Foreign Minister Milan Milutinovic and Croatian Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Mate Granic in Zagreb on October 29. It was assessed that the talks had been open, comprehensive and constructive, and that they had covered all vital issues of mutual interest.

The Yugoslav Government said it was the joint stand that good Yugoslav-Croatian relations, based on equality and good-neighbourliness, were of vital importance for lasting peace, socio-economic progress, and stability in the entire Region.

The Government also considered future activities in connection with the Agreement on normalization of relations which was signed in Belgrade in August, activities which will give new impetus to the dynamics and promotion of Yugoslav-Croatian relations.

[03] YUGOSLAV-RUSSIAN INTER-GOVERNMENTAL COMMITTEE ENDS ITS SESSION

The documents were signed by the two states' Inter-Governmental Committee for trade, economic, scientific and technical cooperation that has just ended its 2nd Session, a Yugoslav Government statement said.

The documents regulate cooperation in the field of agriculture, plant quarantine and protection, and in the veterinary sphere, according to the statement.

The Inter-Governmental Committee discussed also trade and economic cooperation and the possibility of promoting cooperation in individual industrial branches and in the finance and banking sector.

The Session, chaired by Yugoslav Minister of Trade Djordje Siradovic, reviewed also the question of Russia's participation in the economic recovery of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

The Russian delegation was headed by Committee co-Chairman Andrei Georgievich Shapovalyants, Deputy Economy Minister.

The body gave positive marks to the enhancement of legislation for bilateral cooperation which in turn has helped develop bilateral trade in goods and services over the past period. However, notwithstanding this, possibilities are far from exhausted for developing commodity trade, it added.

Both sides said that the necessary conditions had been created for the two countries' businessmen to expand trade and economic cooperation with respect for market laws. This, they said, should be done through more advanced forms of cooperation and joint ventures, by setting up joint-stock companies and banks.

The Committee coordinated and initialled a Memorandum on liberalising trade between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Russia, and recommended to the two countries' competent bodies to apply the Inter-Governmental Accord on setting up a Free Trade Zone.

Siradovic described the initialling of the Memorandum as the central event of the Session, saying it proved the two countries' orientation towards free trade. He said that the document would help increase further the volume of bilateral trade, which was already rising by the day, and would prove Yugoslavia's commitment to liberalising its trade with the whole world.

[04] YUGOSLAVIA INSISTS THAT THE MISSING PERSONS PROBLEM BE RESOLVED

Yugoslavia insists that the missing persons problem be resolved on the level of the entire former Yugoslavia, said Todorovic. He said the names of 732 persons who had gone missing from June 25, 1992, when the war in Slovenia broke out, had been delivered to Croatia, regardless of their nationality.

We have searched in particular for the whereabouts of 57 persons, some of whom we believe to be living, and for the remains of 123 soldiers of the Former Yugoslav People's Army known to have been killed in Croatia.

'A Protocol on cooperation, signed in April, binds Croatia to inform us on the whereabouts of 2,500 persons that went missing in the military operations 'Blitz' and 'Storm' in May and August last year,' said Todorovic.

Todorovic said Croatia asked about 2,065 persons it claimed had gone missing in Vukovar, while Yugoslavia's list comprised 1,105 persons, of whom 770 had been identified.

The Commission has through talks procured the release of 530 persons so far, and another 2,100 persons from the U.N. Protection Force barracks in Knin after operation 'Storm.' Another 86 persons have been granted amnesty in Croatia, whereas more than 130 are still in prison, according to Croatia.

Todorovic said the two sides discussed social security, pensions to beneficiaries in Yugoslavia and Croatia, cooperation in health care, pharmacology, medicine, eradication of contagious diseases, protection of the environment, and the production and trafficking of narcotics. He said Croatia had accepted Yugoslavia's proposals related to social issues and the payment of pensions, so that representatives of competent organs would meet next week in Zagreb to discuss these issues. 'We think these issues are a priority in normalizing relations between Yugoslavia and Croatia, especially considering the large number of refugee pensioners,' said Todorovic.

[05] ELECTION SILENCE IN YUGOSLAVIA STARTS ON THURSDAY MIDNIGHT

Following two-month intensive election activities, an electorate of 7,597 504 will cast their votes for the deputies for the Yugoslav Parliament's Chamber of Citizens (Lower House). Serbia has 7,149 179 voters, and Montenegro 448, 325.

A total of 812 candidates will compete for the 138 seats in the Chamber of Citizens. There are 607 candidates for the 108 seats for Serbia, and 205 candidates for the 30 seats for Montenegro.

The electorate will simultaneously vote for deputies in the Local Government, in Serbia for deputies in the Parliament of its Northern Vojvodina Province, and in Montenegro for the Republican Parliament.

Serbia has 29 Election Districts, of which four in the Yugoslav and Serbian capital, Belgrade, where the majority of voters are located - 1, 286 602. Montenegro has seven Election Districts with the majority of voters in its capital Podgorica - 116, 127.

Election Lists were submitted by 32 parties, seven coalitions and nine groups of citizens. In Montenegro, 20 political parties and coalitions are taking part in the elections.

In the 36 Election Districts in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, polling stations will be opened from 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.

According to the Law on the Election of Federal Deputies, 48 hours before the start of the voting the media is forbidden to report on election activities and programs of those who have submitted the Lists and the candidates from these Lists. The media is also banned from broadcasting election commercials and slogans, and parties from organizing rallies. The election silence also prohibits public estimates of the election results.

Under the Law, the counting of the votes will start on Sunday evening after 8 p.m. The Election Board must bring the ballot boxes to the Election Committee 18 hours at the latest after the closure of the polling stations.

The Election Committees in the 36 election districts should dispatch the voting results to the Federal Election Committee 72 hours after the closure of the polling stations at the latest, and this Committee must announce the final results within the next 24 hours. The final results will be published in the Official Gazette of Yugoslavia.

According to the Law, deputy mandates are distributed according to the number of votes received. Only those Election Lists which received at least 5% of the total number of votes cast in an Election District, can participate in the distribution of mandates.

The person who submitted the Election List will distribute the mandates to the candidates from his List, with one-third of the mandates going to the candidates according to their sequence on the List, and two thirds to candidates chosen by the submitter.

F.R. YUGOSLAVIA - ECONOMY

[06] YUGOSLAV VICE PREMIER EXPECTS SPEEDY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN 1997

Zebic told Tanjug that Yugoslavia was open to foreign trade after the lifting of the sanctions, but that its return to the foreign markets was hampered by the lack of working assets and unregulated relations with the World Trade Organisation and regional economic integrations. This is why Yugoslavia still does not enjoy the privileges and facilities which these organisations grant to other states, he added.

Zebic said that the main characteristic of the economic policy in 1997 will be the preservation of the dinar's stability and gradual reduction of prices. He said that the national currency had remained stable this year, but that the inflation rate would amount to 90% in comparison with 1995, meaning that this had to be corrected next year.

'Our commitment for doing so is to keep the exchange rate at 3.3 dinars for one German mark and simultaneously reduce prices by 1.2% a month,' Zebic said.

He said that half of the production was planned to be exported next year. Systemic measures will continue stimulating foreign capital investments in order to secure their safety and a free transfer of capital and profit, while improving conditions for foreign investments, Zebic said.

[07] PROMOTION OF MONTENEGRO'S ECONOMIC POTENTIALS

Djukanovic said this in an opening speech at the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, promoting Montenegro's potentials to British businessmen.

British Ambassador in Belgrade Ivor Roberts laid out the most important aspects of economic cooperation with Yugoslavia, particularly Montenegro. Roberts said Yugoslavia was potentially one of the most important markets in Southern and Central Europe. He said Britain and Yugoslavia had already established business ties, and added that mutual consultations between businessmen are intensive.

In the first seven months of this year, said Roberts, British and Yugoslav companies marketed goods worth 15 million pounds, mainly industrial equipment, electronic goods, and chemical and medical products. However, this falls far short of Montenegro's potential, said Roberts. He cited the example of Germany, whose exports to Yugoslavia from January to August amounted to 200 million dollars.

Roberts said he saw British and Yugoslav companies cooperating most closely on third markets, where Yugoslavia has achieved remarkable results, he said.

The Montenegrin delegation continues its visit to Britain on Friday with a number of meetings with directors of british companies and financial institutions. Djukanovic met with Assistant Foreign Secretary Nicholas Bonsor and senior officials at the Trade and Industry Secretariat.

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

[08] KRAJISNIK MEETS WITH ADM. LOPEZ AND BILDT

Krajisnik thanked Adm. Lopez for his efforts towards preserving peace between Republika Srpska and the Muslim-Croat Federation.

Lopez expressed satisfaction with the cooperation and progress that had been made in Republika Srpska and the Federation since the signing of the Dayton Peace Accords late last year.

Krajisnik also met with International High Representative for Bosnia Carl Bildt to discuss the agenda of Friday's Bosnian Presidency Session. Krajisnik said he and Bildt discussed and coordinated the Constitution of the Council of Ministers, its modes of work and decision-making.

He accused the Muslims of abusing the freedom of movement, arresting Serb civilians on charges of alleged war crimes, without any proof. Krajisnik said such actions heightened belligerent tensions that could have undesirable consequences.

[09] TORCHING OF SERB HOUSES IN THE MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION

Roberts specified that the torched houses were in the villages of Ljeskovica, Srdica and Poljice, and that 20 other houses were torched in the village of Zupica on October 26. An investigation has been launched into these incidents.

Roberts said a new report had been made on the destruction of houses in four muslim villages in Republika Srpska, but did not elaborate.

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