Yugoslav Daily Survey, 97-03-03

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

Yugoslav Daily Survey

CONTENTS

[01] YUGOSLAV PREMIER-DESIGNATE MEETS WITH SERBIAN RADICAL PARTY OFFICIALS

[02] 70,000 SERBS BANISHED FROM CENTRAL SLAVONIJA IN 1991

[03] BOSNIAN SERB OFFICIALS RECEIVE FOREIGN DIPLOMATIC MISSION CHIEFS BOSNIAN SERB OFFICIAL SEES ACCORD WITH YUGOSLAVIA AS GOOD FOR PEACE

[04] JOVANOVIC: SPECIAL TIES ACCORD WITH BOSNIAN SERBS IS HISTORIC

[05] RUSSIAN MEDIA ON FRY-RS AGREEMENT

[06] YUGOSLAV PRIME MINISTER KONTIC CONFERS WITH SRI LANKA TRADE MINISTER

[01] YUGOSLAV PREMIER-DESIGNATE MEETS WITH SERBIAN RADICAL PARTY OFFICIALS

Speaking with Serbian Radical Party deputy WHIP in the Yugoslav Parliament Maja Gojkovic, Kontic said that the new Government's strategic programme goals would be in the interest of all citizens and not any individual political party, the Yugoslav Information Secretariat said in a statement.

Kontic said that the constituting of the Federal State as a modern, democratic, legal and social federation was the first of the future Government's four strategic programme goals.

In this context, he stressed a further systemic and institutional constituting of the federation in keeping with the Yugoslav Constitution, construction of a legal state, corruption and crime prevention, strengthening of Yugoslavia as a democratic state of equal citizens according to modern international norms, Yugoslavia's security position in Europe, transformation of the Yugoslav Army and reforms in the State administration.

The other strategic goal is Yugoslavia's reintegration into the international community, Kontic said and added that without it there could be no progress and prosperity in the country.

Kontic described the creation of a modern market economy, open to competition and positive influences of the world trade as the third part of the new Government's programme.

All this should help reach the fourth strategic goal - the improvement of living standards and social security. Speaking about this goal, Kontic stressed the Government's plans for creating conditions for the opening of new jobs and reduction of the unemployment rate.

Kontic also spoke about the plans for the promotion of the future Government's work, the statement said.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-03-03 ; Tanjug, 1997-02-28

[02] 70,000 SERBS BANISHED FROM CENTRAL SLAVONIJA IN 1991

The 'Hrvatska Levica' paper said in its January issue that the report claims that in question was ethnic cleansing carried out by the official Croatian authorities, regular army and special police units in the area of Grubisko Polje, Daruvar, Slavonska Pozega, Psunj, Papuk and a number of villages in the Nova Gradiska district where, with the exception of minor provocations and disputes with the village guards, there were no war operations.

According to the 'Povratak Kuci' data, the Croatian police and army remained in the region until the arrival of U.N. Protection Force (UNPROFOR) in late 1991 before which they burned and razed 183 villages.

These 'operations' torched all public buildings, destroyed the entire infrastructure, including transformer stations, health and veterinary stations, schools, monuments and churches.

The Serb population from this region was forced to flee the region in early 1992 and seek sanctuary in Eastern Slavonija, Baranja and Western Srem, where they remain until today.

The report claims that the Croatian media are trying to mystify the reasons of the Serb flight to Eastern Slavonija describing it as 'voluntary.'

The truth is that the Serbs are unable to return home within the process of 'the peaceful reintegration of Eastern Slavonija and Baranja' because their villages and most of their property has been destroyed.

The ethnic cleansing action in Central Slavonija in late 1991 was followed by violence, killings and mass human rights violations, all of which are confirmed by numerous witnesses.

Thus, for example, the witnesses claim that in the area of Slavonska Pozega razed and torched were 30 villages, in the town of Pozega itself mined and destroyed were 20 houses owned by Serbs, while the Croatian authorities illegally seized the houses or apartments of 11 Serbs.

The file on Central Slavonija also contains data on the destruction of all major World War Two monuments in the Pozega area.

Also toppled were monuments, genuine works of art, to the victims of the fascist and ustasha terror in Kamenska, Slobostina, the WW II partizan cemetery in Lestat and in Docici a big mosaic by famous Croatian painter Edo Murtic.

Cultural and memorial centres and schools were also destroyed in Kamenska, Strijezevica, Mijaca, Slobostina, Jeminovac, Snjegavici, Psikovci, Kujnik, Koprivna and Vucjak Cecavski.

All data from the file refers only to the Pozega region.

However, it is said that 'the expulsion of the Serb people from that region in late 1991 was more extensive and destructive and the number of victims and burned villages and homes much greater.'

'Povratak Kuci' published in late January a General Report on the violation of human rights and other rights of Serbs who still remain in Croatia.

According to the report, only about 2,000 Serbs returned to Krajina by October 1996. Their return is not easy since it is subject to approval by the Croatian Government's Bureau for displaced persons and refugees 'in keeping with procedures not recorded anywhere.' The number of requests submitted to the Bureau also remains unknown 'because the public is not informed about this, nor is it possible to obtain permission to see these requests.'

The report says that in the region of Krajina, Croats from other regions and from Bosnia were moved into many Serb houses.

All Serbs expelled after operation 'Storm', have had their residence rights abolished by the Law on apartment leasing and renting in liberated areas. Private property has been put under temporary administration in keeping with the Law on the provisional taking over and management of certain property.

The report warns that the Croatian authorities have failed to introduce any security measures in Krajina or, where they have done so, these measures are insufficient thus enabling the continuation of burglaries and the harassment of the remaining Serb population.

All this was pointed out by special U.N. human rights rapporteur Elizabeth Rehn during her latest visit to Krajina and Eastern Slavonija.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-03-03 ; Tanjug, 1997-02-28

[03] BOSNIAN SERB OFFICIALS RECEIVE FOREIGN DIPLOMATIC MISSION CHIEFS BOSNIAN SERB OFFICIAL SEES ACCORD WITH YUGOSLAVIA AS GOOD FOR PEACE

Bosnia-Herzegovina Presidency member from the Republika Srpska Momcilo Krajisnik and Republika Srpska Parliament Speaker Dragan Kalinic received U.S. Charge d'Affaires Michael Palmley and British Charge d'Affaires Ian Mash.

During the evening, Krajisnik and Kalinic received also in separate visits ambassadors Yves Gaudel of France, Yakov Gerassimov of Russia and Johannes Preizinger of Germany.

Krajisnik and Kalinic briefed their partners in talks about the Agreement on special relations between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Republika Srpska which was signed in Belgrade on Friday.

During the meetings, the Bosnian Serb officials stressed that the aim of the Agreement was to promote cooperation in the region and to contribute to peace, stability, understanding and equality with other nations.

They explained that this should strengthen democracy, freedom and respect for human rights in the best interests of the Republika Srpska and the FR of Yugoslavia, which fully reflected the word and spirit of the Dayton Accord.

These relations were being established for the purpose of ensuring prosperity for the people and stable development conditions, a statement released from Krajisnik's Cabinet said. (Tanjug, Pale, March 1)

A Bosnian Serb official said on Saturday that Friday's Accord on special ties between the (Bosnian Serb) Republika Srpska and FR of Yugoslavia would help stabilize peace and speed along reconstruction and development throughout former Yugoslavia.

Republika Srpska Parliament Speaker Dragan Kalinic said in Pale that the Agreement which established special parallel relations with the FRY was not aimed against any third party nor did it negate the existence of Bosnia- Herzegovina.

Kalinic said that the Agreement, signed in Belgrade, was based on the Dayton Accord and incorporated all aspects of that Accord touching on political, legal and economic cooperation.

He further said that the Agreement had been inspired, among others, by the Washington Accord of March 1994 which set up special ties between Croatia and the Bosnian Muslim-Croat Federation.

Kalinic said he hoped that this opened scope for reaching similar bilateral agreements with all countries that have emerged on the territory of former Yugoslavia, and that this was a tendency that the international community would support and stimulate.

He said the Agreement reflected the strategic interest of the Serbs on either side of the river Drina to establish quality cultural, economic and other special ties.

Kalinic said he was sure the Agreement would bring peace and a feeling of confidence to the future generations in the Republika Srpska and the FRY.

He further said he hoped that the Bosnian Serb Parliament, aware of all aspects of the Belgrade Agreement, would endorse the document at its next session.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-03-03 ; Tanjug, 1997-03-01

[04] JOVANOVIC: SPECIAL TIES ACCORD WITH BOSNIAN SERBS IS HISTORIC

Assistant Foreign Minister Zivadin Jovanovic said the 'positive effects of the Agreement on special parallel relations between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) and the Republika Srpska (RS) will be felt in different areas of life and development, present and future.'

'Contributing to the balanced relations in the region the Agreement will have a positive impact also on stabilising the Peace Process, to which Yugoslavia has been giving priority and contributing from the start, which is recognised and highly appreciated by all international factors,' Jovanovic said.

Jovanovic was speaking for 'Tanjug' and for Serbian Radio and Television, where he was a guest on a morning talk show.

He said that the Agreement has its roots in the deep and lasting interests and long-term goals and aspirations of both the FRY and the RS to develop close ties and relations in all fields, to stabilize peace, enhance development and reconstruction.

They aim to develop and strengthen all-round ties, from culture, education, the economy, infra-structural links, the market, non-governmental humanitarian institutions and social organisations, to sport, science and technology, parliaments and all other institutions, he said. These ties, he added, reflect the nature and wealth of particular relations between parts of the same nation.

Jovanovic stressed that the Agreement is the foundation for lasting future relations on which to build a whole system of special agreements in various spheres.

Speaking about the title of the Agreement, he said that the 'title is essentially clear and reflects the nature of relations between two parts of the same nation.'

The term 'special' denotes relations and ties between the two parts of the Serbian nation, stemming from the shared language, culture, history and aspirations of the Serbs on either side of the Drina river to live in peace and stability and develop on an equal footing with the other nations in the region and in Europe,' Jovanovic said.

The term 'parallel relations' corresponds to 'relations that the Bosnian Muslim-Croat Federation has already established with the Republic of Croatia,' Jovanovic explained.

It is well known, he said, that both during the Dayton Conference and since the signing of the Dayton Accord, the Muslim-Croat Federation and Croatia have signed agreements on confederal relations, military cooperation, joint command, the common market and others.

'They are parallel relations also because the FRY is at the same time developing relations with Bosnia-Herzegovina as a union of two equal Entities (the Republika Srpska and the Muslim-Croat Federation),' Jovanovic said.

'These relations have been in the ascendant particularly since the Paris Declaration of (Serbian) President Slobodan Milosevic and (Bosnia- Herzegovina Presidency) President Alija Izetbegovic of last October', Jovanovic added.

Jovanovic said that the Agreement has its legal basis in the Constitutions of the FR of Yugoslavia, the Republika Srpska and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

He quoted article 8. of the present Agreement which reaffirms respect of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Bosnia-Herzegovina, and the ratification by Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Jovanovic further said that the Constitution of Bosnia-Herzegovina envisages for both Entities to have equal rights to develop 'special parallel relations with neighbouring countries.'

He stressed that the legal basis of Friday's Belgrade Agreement was provided for in the Dayton Peace Accord.

The Muslim-Croat Federation and Croatia have availed themselves of these possibilities earlier, while the FRY has meanwhile been developing certain relations and cooperation in practise, Jovanovic said.

Now, he added, after elections in Bosnia-Herzegovina and the setting up of legal bodies of power in the Republika Srpska and in Bosnia-Herzegovina, all the necessary conditions have been created for signing the Agreement.

Vast scope for forging ties is to be found in the economic field, which is only logical, in view of the interest in rebuilding the Republika Srpska and all of Bosnia-Herzegovina, and in rebuilding, modernising and expanding all across-border ties, Jovanovic said.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-03-03 ; Tanjug, 1997-03-01

[05] RUSSIAN MEDIA ON FRY-RS AGREEMENT

Reporting that the document was signed by Yugoslav President Zoran Lilic and the Bosnia-Herzegovina Presidency member from Republika Srpska Momcilo Krajisnik, ITAR-TASS underlined that the ceremony marking the signing of the Agreement was attended also by Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic and Montenegrin President Momir Bulatovic.

By signing the Dayton Agreement, Republika Srpska got the right to establish special parallel relations with Yugoslavia. In line with the Dayton Agreement, the international community had to recognize the sovereignty of Republika Srpska and grant it equal status as that of the Muslim-Croat Federation in Bosnia, the Russian media said.

The Agreement on special relations in no way affects the territorial integrity of the Union of Bosnia-Herzegovina, the media noted.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-03-03 ; Tanjug, 1997-02-28

[06] YUGOSLAV PRIME MINISTER KONTIC CONFERS WITH SRI LANKA TRADE MINISTER

Prime Minister Kontic noted that the traditional friendship between the two countries had been reaffirmed in the past period. He pointed out to the existence of significant possibilities for the two economies to renew, expand and promote their cooperation and undertake joint ventures in third countries.

Minister Vikramaratne conveyed his Government's readiness to support Yugoslavia's reintegration into the international community - its political, financial, trade and other organizations and institutions - without any additional conditions, the statement said.

The Sri Lanka Minister expressed his country's interest in expanding economic relations with Yugoslavia, especially in the pharmaceutical industry, and the use of the off-shore zone in Montenegro and the customs- free zones in Serbia for the development of higher forms of cooperation.

Kontic invited Sri Lanka Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike to visit Yugoslavia.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-03-03 ; Tanjug, 1997-02-28

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