Yugoslav Daily Survey, 96-11-13

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

CONTENTS

[01] MILOSEVIC RECEIVES KORNBLUM

[02] KORNBLUM: VERY GOOD DIALOGUE BETWEEN SERBIA, US

[03] MARK STANBERG ARRIVES IN YUGOSLAVIA

[04] ECONOMIC CONFERENCE ON MIDDLE EAST OPENS IN CAIRO

[05] YUGOSLAV EXPORTS INCREASED IN OCTOBER 17.7

[06] GERMAN BANKS WILLING TO FINANCE EXCHANGE WITH YUGOSLAVIA

[07] NEW ROUND OF TALKS BEGINS ON DIVISION OF FORMER YUGOSLAVIA PROPERTY

[08] YUGOSLAV DEPUTY PREMIER LAYS CORNERSTONE FOR SERB SARAJEVO

[09] BOSNIAN PRESIDENCY STILL WITHOUT AGREEMENT ON MINISTERIAL COUNCIL

[10] U.S. AMBASSADOR: CROATIA DOES LITTLE TO ENABLE SERBS TO RETURN

[01] MILOSEVIC RECEIVES KORNBLUM

Milosevic and Kornblum concluded that in the past year, since the reaching of the Dayton Agreement, much had been done for its implementation because a stable peace has been achieved in the territory of Bosnia-Herzegovina and a normal life established in both entities (Muslim-Croat Federation and Republika Srpska).

The joint efforts and the overall activities for the comprehensive normalization of relations between the Balkan states and peoples, undoubtadly represent a huge contribution to the strengthening of peace and stability, and the creation of the necessary conditions for the renewal of trust and cooperation on the basis of equality and mutual interests.

Milosevic and Kornblum underscored the importance of stimulating economic cooperation between the Balkan countries and peoples, and their equal involvement in modern integration processes.

The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia is developping comprehensive relations and cooperation both with its neighbors and with other countries in the world, it was said.

The talks were also attended by Federal Foreign Minister Milan Milutinovic and the Charges d'Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade, Richard Miles.

[02] KORNBLUM: VERY GOOD DIALOGUE BETWEEN SERBIA, US

Now that a difficult period in Yugoslav history has ended, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and other parts of the (former) Yugoslavia are moving towards a more harmonious situation, based on openness, democracy and rights for all, Kornblum said.

Kornblum noted that his meeting with Milosevic formed part of regular exchange of views and that the agenda included several issues regarding the implementation of the Dayton Agreement.

[03] MARK STANBERG ARRIVES IN YUGOSLAVIA

The Yugoslav Commission pointed to some cases where there was no reason for Croatia to delay providing information about missing or imprisoned people. The families of the missing deserve the greatest attention since they expect definite truth about their beloved ones, the statement said.

[04] ECONOMIC CONFERENCE ON MIDDLE EAST OPENS IN CAIRO

Over 3,500 businessmen and government representatives from 92 countries, and delegates from a number of international financial institutions are taking part in the Conference, whose starting point is the assumption that business agreements between former enemies could help revive the Middle East peace process.

At the invitation of the Egyptian Government, attending the Conference is a delegation of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Radoslav Bulajic.

[05] YUGOSLAV EXPORTS INCREASED IN OCTOBER 17.7

In the first ten months this year, Yugoslav exports earned 1.425 billion dollars or 11.1 percent more than in the same period last year, the Director of the Yugoslav Institute of Statistics said. Imports by Yugoslav firms in October totaled 347.4 million dollars, up 31.2 percent compared to the same month last year, but also down 11 percent compared to imports in September this year.

Summing up imports in the first ten months, the Director of the Federal Institute of Statistics said that the value of imports totaled 3.131 billion dollars, up 46.9 percent compared to the same period last year. Imports still include a high proportion of raw materials and semi-finished goods. Almost two thirds of imports account for this kind of goods and that, according to Zivkovic, should enhance the growth of industrial production in the country in the last quarter.

The Director of the Federal Institute of Statistics said that Yugoslav exports from January to October increased by 159 percent compared to the same period last year, totaling 576 million dollars. Imports from those countries in the same period increased by 71.9 percent and totaled 1.649 billion dollars.

On the whole, Yugoslav firms in the first ten months exported most of their products to the Italian market. Following are the Russian Federation and Germany. At the same time, most imports came from Germany. Following are Italy, the Russian Federation and France. Yugoslavia's biggest trade partner in the first ten months this year is Germany, with whom trade in both directions is worth 490 million dollars. Following very closely is Italy with whom trade totaled 488 milion dollars, Zivkovic said.

[06] GERMAN BANKS WILLING TO FINANCE EXCHANGE WITH YUGOSLAVIA

This 'business bridge' should enable the increased marketing of Yugoslav goods on the huge German market because Yugoslavia's imports from Germany are two-three-fold its exports there.

The Berlin meeting also aimed to present the economic potentials and results of the market transformation of the countries of Southeastern Europe.

Besides the Yugoslavs, present in Berlin were delegations from Bulgaria, Romania, Macedonia, Moldavia, Slovenia, Albania, the Muslim-Croat Federation and Croatia.

[07] NEW ROUND OF TALKS BEGINS ON DIVISION OF FORMER YUGOSLAVIA PROPERTY

It became evident already at the beginning of today's talks that experts on the Yugoslav team and representatives of the other state shold different views on the essential problem of economic succession to the former common state.

Yugoslav negotiators rejected, with documented arguments, a thesis launched by the Croatian delegation that a 1971 law and the 1974 former Yugoslavia Constitution practically completed the division of state property among the republics of that time.

Yugoslav representatives gave many examples to substantiate the existence of such property, and presented evidence of joint investments made after the dates given by the Croatian delegates.

Although this issue was not specifically listed on the agenda, at the insistence of Yugoslav delegation head Kosta Mihajlovic, it served to open a debate on defining state property. According to the Yugoslav stands, this is of vital importance for the entire problem of succession and its resolving.

Representatives of the other countries, however, insisted that the debate cover not the essence but details, only those details, in fact, included in the inventory of common property made earlier, which they said were not at issue.

Mihajlovic, a member of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, and the other experts of the Yugoslav delegation, Oskar Kovac, Dragana Gnjatovic and Vladan Kutlesic, maintained that such an approach would serve only to further hinder efforts by the international community to secure a successful settlement of the question of the Yugoslav economic succession.

A statement made by the Yugoslav Government made a strong impression at today's meeting.

Yugoslav delegates announced the Government had adopted a decision that all citizens of the former federation who are now citizens of newly-formed states in the territory of former Yugoslavia, should be allowed access to archives and personal files, and be issued documents or authorized copies necessary for regulating their status and rights in their new states.

This action, as it was pointed out here, presents an expression of the good will of the Yugoslav Government, but also its expectations that the other successor states to the former Yugoslav federation would enable Yugoslav citizens the same treatment.

Furthermore, as set out today, this action is not in any way connected to the debate on archives which is on the agenda of tomnorrow's negotiations.

[08] YUGOSLAV DEPUTY PREMIER LAYS CORNERSTONE FOR SERB SARAJEVO

Yugoslavia is participating in the works with 107 million German marks.

The years of war are past and today marks a new page in history, new homes for Serb Sarajevo, said Sainovic. He said the construction of new homes confirmed a wish for the settlement of refugees in Yugoslavia and Europe.

[09] BOSNIAN PRESIDENCY STILL WITHOUT AGREEMENT ON MINISTERIAL COUNCIL

Discussions that lasted several hours did not make headway in bringing closer the positions of the Croat and Muslim side, who want a Government made up of a Prime Minister and five Ministers, and the Serb side that has proposed a Prime Minister and two Ministers.

It has been agreed that a working group continues discussions about the composition of the Ministerial Council. The Presidency has adopted, with members of the Council for the Implementation of the Dayton Agreement, a platform for the Paris Conference on November 14. Full agreement has not been reached on important issues, and Presidency members are expected to elaborate on them in Paris.

Presidency members will attempt in Paris to coordinate their positions on the Ministerial Council and other joint institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

[10] U.S. AMBASSADOR: CROATIA DOES LITTLE TO ENABLE SERBS TO RETURN

Galbraith said that the Serbs in Croatia must enjoy the same rights as the Croats, including freedom of religion, the right to speak their own language and teach their children their own national culture and history.

He said that, first and fore most, the Serbs in Croatia, as well as the Serb refugees in Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, must have the right to return to their homes and to a life in safety.

He said that the main purpose of the Agreement was to give protection to the people in the region and safeguard their human rights. Also, he added, they must have the right to the restoration of their illegally confiscated property and compensation for that which could not be returned.

Galbraith said that Croats, Hungarians and other nations had the right to return to East Slavonia, Baranya and West Srem, just as those who had settled there from other parts of Croatia had the right to remain, enjoying the same rights, including the right to vote.

He urged the Serbs and Croatians to reconciliation, saying that an international Commission had been set up to oversee the implementation of the 1995 Agreement. The Commission is composed of representatives of Russia, the U.S., France, Great Britain, the U.N., the E.U., the OSCE and the Council of Europe. The main duty of the Commission, according to Galbraith, was to monitor the implementation of those provisions of the agreement that regulate human rights practices, investigate alleged human rights abuses and make appropriate recommendations.

Speaking after the ceremony, the Region's Premier Vojislav Stanimirovic said that the two sides must be reconciled sooner or later, just as after every war, adding that this largely depended on Croatia. Stanimirovic stressed that the Serb side remained firm on its position that the mandate of UNTAES should be extended by another year, as provided for under the Agreement.

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