Yugoslav Daily Survey, 97-02-24

Yugoslav Daily Survey Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

Yugoslav Daily Survey

CONTENTS

[01] OPENING UP OF STATE MEDIA WE WILL GUARANTEE FREEDOM OF THE PRESS

[02] JOVANOVIC: FULL RESUMPTION OF YUGOSLAV RELATIONS WITH ARAB COUNTRIES

[03] THE FEDERAL MINISTRY FOR FOREING AFFAIRS - STATEMENT

[01] OPENING UP OF STATE MEDIA WE WILL GUARANTEE FREEDOM OF THE PRESS

Milentijevic said that the draft law would be the result of a dialogue with all political parties and registered media.

'The new law should remove some loopholes and ambiguities existing in the law adopted in 1990. What we must do is to take the most liberal law in west European countries and adapt it to our conditions,' Milentijevic said.

She also announced the easing of state control over the Serbian Radio and Television (RTS) to enable it to reflect 'the rather complex political life in Serbia.'

'The moves in that direction (by the Information Ministry) will go much more firmly and quickly ... and for this I have the full support of President Slobodan Milosevic and Premier Marjanovic,' Milentijevic said.

'I got together with President Milosevic, whom I deeply respect, and we talked for two hours. I am absolutely certain that he will steer Serbia in the direction of democratization in the area of economy - that means privatization and market economy, and in the area of politics - this means much more dialogue with the opposition.'

Milentijevic underscored Serbia's wish to improve relations with the United States and the entire international community with the aim of integrating Serbia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia into the international community and to maintain peace, stability and democratic development in the Balkans. (Tanjug, February 23, 1997)

Serbian Information Minister Radmila Milentijevic said there was significant freedom of the press in Serbia.

In an interview to the BBC English language service, she said that in Serbia there were many more opposition papers than pro-government ones. There are also several privately-owned opposition radio stations, she said.

However, she said the existing law will be changed and improved on the model of the most liberal media laws in Europe. Freedom of the press will be guaranteed unequivocally, said Radmila Milentijevic.

Asked if the handing over of the Belgrade City Assembly to the opposition was a humiliation for President Slobodan Milosevic and his Socialist Party, she said absolutely not. For the socialists as a party, she said, that is a loss but for Milosevic absolutely not. He is the President of Serbia, elected by the citizens of Serbia and his role in the electoral process was only to speed up the final decision who won, said Radmila Milentijevic.

Speaking about mass protests in Belgrade, Milentijevic said that the western press had exaggerated the number of participants.

Pressure from the world, especially the United States, Germany and EU was greater. Milentijevic said that her impression was that since the beginning of disputes, President Milosevic had stood for a final decision to be made by the courts.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-02-24 ; Tanjug, 1997-02-23

[02] JOVANOVIC: FULL RESUMPTION OF YUGOSLAV RELATIONS WITH ARAB COUNTRIES

Underscoring that all international factors have said that the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia had given the biggest contribution to the peace process, Jovanovic expressed hope in the speedy and full resumption of relations and cooperation in the coming period at the levels existing for decades between Yugoslavia and the Arab countries.

Jovanovic stated that Yugoslavia is actively engaged in renewing its friendly links in the Arab world and with the aim of establishing relations of full trust and cooperation.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-02-24 ; Tanjug, 1997-02-23

[03] THE FEDERAL MINISTRY FOR FOREING AFFAIRS - STATEMENT

Angolan Deputy Foreign Minister transmitted a personal message of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Angola, Mr. Valencio de Moura, to the Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Milan Milutinovic.

Cordial and open talks addressed major issues of interest for the two countries as well as further development of their traditionally friendly relations.

It was emphasized in particular that the strengthening of peace and stability in southern Africa and in the Balkans, to which both countries make an active contribution, opens up wide possibilities for the promotion of all aspects of cooperation, particularly economic cooperation.

In the past experiences and significant results achieved so far, particularly in the long*term forms of economic country, Yugoslavia and Angola perceive a sold foundation for a new kind of relations based on traditional political understanding, business cooperation and mutual benefit.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-02-24 ; Tanjug, 1997-02-21

Yugoslav Daily Survey Directory - Previous Article - Next Article