Yugoslav Daily Survey, 97-02-28

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

Yugoslav Daily Survey

CONTENTS

[01] CROATIA PRESENTS TO UNTAES LIST OF 175 SUSPECTED WAR CRIMINALS

[02] NORWAY ABOUT ALBANIANS ASYLUM SEEKERS FROM KOSOVO

[03] TWENTY CRIME SUSPECTS ARRESTED IN MOSTAR

[04] BELGRADE-BASED ASSOCIATION OF SERBS FROM CROATIA SENDS LETTER TO REHN

[05] IS KRAJINA FORGOTTEN

[06] SERBIAN VICE PREMIER RECEIVES KPMG DIRECTORS

[07] MINISTER SIRADOVIC RECEIVED A SRI LANKAN DELEGATION

[08] STEFANOVIC: WE EXPECT A GOVERNMENT WITH EUROPEAN ORIENTATION

[09] PRIME MINISTER KONTIC WITH ND ON THE COMPOSITION OF THE NEW FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

[10] U.N. ADMINISTRATOR KLEIN WILL SET DATE OF LOCAL ELECTIONS

[01] CROATIA PRESENTS TO UNTAES LIST OF 175 SUSPECTED WAR CRIMINALS

In connection with 'rumours about the appearance of a new and very long list' of war-crime suspects in the region, the statement said the list presented to Klein was final and there would be no other.

The Croatian government 'absolutely denies the existence of such a document' and assesses the rumours as an 'attempt at making the local population restive with a view to slowing down or halting the process of the (region's) peaceful reintegration,' according to the statement.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-02-28 ; Tanjug, 1997-02-27

[02] NORWAY ABOUT ALBANIANS ASYLUM SEEKERS FROM KOSOVO

Norwegian asylum policy has been very liberal towards the Kosovo Albanians, as noted in the report with a remark that the reasons given by 95 per cent of the asylum seekers from Kosovo to describe their position and situation in Kosovo cannot be taken for granted.

It was established in most out of 4000 cases in six different countries not only in Norway, their allegations on violence, arrests and torture by the Serbian authorities were untrue, said a representative of the Ministry of Justice.

The authors of this report have visited Kosovo on many occasions and had talks with both Albanians and Serbs, as well as with the representatives of the Serbian authorities, embassies of western countries, former Yugoslav diplomats, lawyers, of Council for Human Rights and the American Information Centre in Kosovo.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-02-28 ; Tanjug, 1997-02-27

[03] TWENTY CRIME SUSPECTS ARRESTED IN MOSTAR

In an interview to Sarajevo daily 'Dnevni Avaz', Steiner said he did not know whether Croat policemen who had fired on a group of Muslims on February 10, killing one and wounding 34, were among the arrested, but underlined that strong demands for their arrest would be made and that their freedom of movement would be restricted and their travel to Europe banned.

Steiner said the time had come for a decisive action against crime, as the Muslim-Croat Federation was in a profound crisis.

If the situation in Mostar develops the way it was requested following the Mostar incident, things could move in a positive direction in other places in the Federation too, Steiner said.

The international community will allow no compromise regarding the investigation of the Mostar incident, he added.

Steiner denied press speculations regarding his succession to High Representative Carl Bildt and said he was not a candidate for the post and had no intention of succeeding to Bildt as he had his own task to accomplish and was waiting for instructions.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-02-28 ; Tanjug, 1997-02-27

[04] BELGRADE-BASED ASSOCIATION OF SERBS FROM CROATIA SENDS LETTER TO REHN

We are particularly concerned over the developments in East Slavonia, Baranja and West Srem, where a dramatic situation threatens to effect new exoduses of Serbs, which you, yourself, have learned in direct contacts with the local population, the letter sent to Rehn said.

The situaton is characterized by an overall insecurity and mounting apprehension and uncertainty because Croatian authorities continue, in the presence of the UNTAES, to resort to threats and pressures in an effort to drive out Serbs from the region, the letter said.

Croatian media conduct an intensive propaganda campaign, in which leading Croatian officials participate, the Association set out.

It said the situation was a consequence of Croatia's persistent efforts not to implement the Erdut Agreement, encouraged by the ineffective and delayed actions on the part of the U.N. Security Council and other international factors.

Energetic measures are not taken against Croatia, let alone sanctions which would compel it to honour the assumed obligations, the letter set out.

The Association said U.N. rapporteur Rehn was fully aware of how Croatian authorities were fulfilling the assumed obligations and what a big discrepancy existed between their declarations and actions.

The fearful people rightly demonstrate and demand their rights, convinced, following the tragic experiences of Serbs who have stayed in Krajina, that Croatian authorities will carry out their genocidal intentions and the people will not be protected, the letter said.

The Association called on Rehn to urge the U.N. Security Council and Secretary-General to put her reports on the Council's agenda as soon as possible and urgently to take decisions which would be binding for Croatia and whose flouting would mean the imposition of sanctions.

The Association asked the U.N. human-rights rapporteur to call for a consistent implementation of the Erdut Agreement, the enabling of the population of the East Slavonia, Baranja and West Srem region to vote in the upcoming elections, the elimination of all administrative restrictions in the issue of citizenship certificates, the security of citizens, the prevention of all forms of threats and pressures, and a consistent implementation of the Croatian Amnesty Law.

It is high time that the U.N. Security Council and the European Union make Croatia carry out the decisions on a peaceful reintegration of the region of East Slavonia, Baranja and West Srem and enable an unimpeded return or Serbs to Croatia, the letter said.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-02-28 ; Tanjug, 1997-02-27

[05] IS KRAJINA FORGOTTEN

Informed circles in Geneva say there are two reasons for the restraint. First, Serb refugees from Krajina, are completely ignored by the Croatian government statement.

The second reason is the statement made by US ambassador Peter Galbraith, particularly his assessment that Croatia could be expelled from the Council of Europe because of the lootings, attacks and intimidation against Serbs in Krajina.

The latest process of issuing Croatian citizenship papers in the region of Eastern Slavonia, Baranya and Western Srem, Geneva circles assess, is Zagreb's way of avoiding the obligation to create conditions for the mass return of Serb refugees to Krajina. What would elections in Croatia look like if more than 250,000 Serb refugees from Krajina, who left after Croatia's military intervention, do not take part in them.

It is expected that the problem of return of Serb refugees will be one of the most impoortant points on the agenda of the upcoming 53rd Annual Session of the UN Commission for human rights to be held in Geneva from March 10 to April 18.

The issue will be discussed at the session by the special human rights rapporteur in the former Yugoslavia, Elisabeth Rehn. She has already drawn up a working draft of the report and 'Tanjug' is now able to reveal one of the conclusions concerning Serb refugees from Krajina, even though the document has not yet been made public.

Rehn said that lootings and attacks on Serbs in Krajina and on Serb property had not ceased. She refers also to Zagreb's official claims that so far in Krajina almost 13,000 Serb refugees have returned and concludes, on the basis of numerous information provided by international organizations and observers, that the fact is simply not true, and that the number of returnees was much lower.

Elisabeth Rehn said she has understanding for the efforts made by Croatia for providing shelter for Croatian refugees and displaced persons, but cautioned that their settlement in Krajina, without a parallel return of Serb refugees, will change the ethnic profile of the entire region.

After her latest mission, both to Eastern Slavonia and Krajina, Rehn said at a news conferenace in Geneva she was afraid the international community had 'forgotten Krajina.' Rehn is expected to make concrete proposals at the upcoming session of the Commission for human rights for the return of Serb refugees.

For the time being, it is pointed out in Geneve, only FR of Yugoslavia has not forgotten Serbs from Krajina, 250,000 of them, who found refuge in FRY.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-02-28 ; Tanjug, 1997-02-27

[06] SERBIAN VICE PREMIER RECEIVES KPMG DIRECTORS

Vice Premier Nedeljko Sipovac and Minister for economic and ownership transformation Milan Beko informed KPMG directors Otto Szabo and Istvan Pakozsdy about the Government's commitment to make radical structural economic changes, a Government statement said.

Sipovac and Beko added that the Government was determined also to start privatisation, so as to activate to the maximum the country's economic potential and raise the much-needed capital, the statement said.

This should also help along a speedy integration of Serbia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in international commercial and financial institutions, it added.

Szabo and Pakozsdy, for their part, briefed the Serbian side about the company's activities on the world market, according to the statement.

They added that the KPMG was interested in participating in Serbia's structural and ownership reforms through various forms of business cooperation, and would make concrete offers to this end, the statement said.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-02-28 ; Tanjug, 1997-02-27

[07] MINISTER SIRADOVIC RECEIVED A SRI LANKAN DELEGATION

Siradovic expressed great gratitude to the people and the Government of Sri Lanka for their principled endeavours that the Yugoslav crisis be resolved peacefully and justly, according to the Federal Secretariat for Information.

The talks focused primarily on the restoration of economic relations between Yugoslavia and Sri Lanka. In that connection, Wickramaralne said that Sri Lanka would support the return of our country into the World Trade Organization and other international economic institutions.

Both sides assessed that the economic relations between Yugoslavia and Sri Lanka may be best promoted through joint ventures and access to third markets. Sri Lanka is interested in the opening of free customs or consignment warehouses in the territory of our country to market the consumer goods from this friendly country to other markets.

As for the Yugoslav goods, Sri Lanka is interested in agricultural machinery and equipment, furniture and civil*engineering equipment.

It was agreed to activate the work of the Joint Committee for Trade and Scientific and Technical Cooperation as soon as possible and make preparations for the signing of the Agreement on the protection of investments and avoidance of double taxation.

It was greed to acknowledge the validity of the Trade Agreement between Yugoslavia and Sri Lanka, the Statement said.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-02-28 ; Tanjug, 1997-02-28

[08] STEFANOVIC: WE EXPECT A GOVERNMENT WITH EUROPEAN ORIENTATION

In his statement to the press in the Palace of the Federation, Stefanovic said that the ND also expected the new government to effect a fast and efficient reintegration of the FRY in all international economic and political institutions. By political institutions, among other things, we understand the Partnership for Peace and that is one of the ways to return to the international community, Stefanovic said.

According to him, ND will also require the new Government to undertake radical, fast comprehensive reforms of the country, particularly in the field of economy, which primarily implies the privatization, development of market economy and the liberalization of economic relations.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-02-28 ; Tanjug, 1997-02-28

[09] PRIME MINISTER KONTIC WITH ND ON THE COMPOSITION OF THE NEW FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

In the talks with the President of the club of deputies of New Democracy in the Federal Parliament, Miroslav Stefanovic, Prime Minister Kontic highlighted the strategic orientation of the programme of the new Federal Government. These are primarily the questions related to the creation of a modern democratic, social state based on the rule of law, fast reintegration of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in international community, modern market*oriented economy and enhancement of the standard and social position of the citizens, said the mandator.

Dr. Kontic also emphasized new organization and methods of work of the future Federal Government. He underlined that he will set up a coalition majority Government, composed of skilful and competent members, said the statement of the Federal Secretariat for Information.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-02-28 ; Tanjug, 1997-02-28

[10] U.N. ADMINISTRATOR KLEIN WILL SET DATE OF LOCAL ELECTIONS

Croatia insists that the local elections be held on April 13, the same day as nation-wide elections.

Spokesman Arnold said the scheduling of the local elections in the U.N. administered region would depend on whether the necessary conditions had been created, above all on whether the Croatian government had fulfilled its obligations.

He stressed that the date of the local elections could be set only by the UNTAES.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-02-28 ; Tanjug, 1997-02-27

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