Yugoslav Daily Survey, 97-03-11

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

Yugoslav Daily Survey

CONTENTS

[01] YUGOSLAV MINISTER RECEIVES DUTCH AMBASSADOR

[02] INFORMATION MINISTER - ABSOLUTE FREEDOM OF THE PRESS

[03] BOSNIAN PRESIDENCY TO RULE ON YUGOSLAV-BOSNIAN SERB ACCORD LATER

[04] YUGOSLAV OFFICIAL RECEIVES SPANISH AMBASSADOR IN BELGRADE

[01] YUGOSLAV MINISTER RECEIVES DUTCH AMBASSADOR

The two parties agreed that Yugoslavia's economic blockade had damaged economic relations between them. Both sides said they wished bilateral trade would reach the level it had before the Yugoslav crisis broke out in 1991.

It was agreed that experts draw up a draft accord on avoiding double taxation and protecting investments.

Ambassador Sizoo said a business delegation was preparing to visit Yugoslavia soon, to reestablish business ties.

Minister Siradovic said Yugoslavia's absolute priority was to have preferential trade status restored in the E.U. and be included in programs for scientific and technical assistance and cooperation, to which end he asked the Netherlands for aid.

Sizoo said the request would be put on the agenda of the March 24 ministerial meeting, and added he hoped it would be resolved positively, as the Netherlands would chair the meeting.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-03-11 ; Tanjug, 1997-03-10

[02] INFORMATION MINISTER - ABSOLUTE FREEDOM OF THE PRESS

Serbian Information Minister Radmila Milentijevic said that the law was against any form of censorship, was based on anti-monopolistic provisions and was drawn up as a step towards deregulation.

Milentijevic urged all political parties, concerned organizations, associations, media and journalists to contribute their proposals and suggestions and thus take part in drawing up the final version of the law.

The working version is based on Serbia's Constitution, the resolutions of the European Ministerial Conference on Media Policies held in 1994 in Prague and on France's and Italy's experience.

With this law, we want to join Europe on the basis of the principles of their laws on public information, as we are an integral part of Europe and of the democratic world, Milentijevic said. She added the draft included a set of provisions on protecting and ensuring the freedom of public information. To this effect, the creation of an independent body - a republican committeee for the protection of the freedom of public information - has been proposed to monitor the implementation of the law and the behaviour of the media in a legal framework. The committee should comprise a chairman and 14 members. The chairman and eight members are to be appointed by the Serbian Parliament in proportion to represented political parties, and the remaining members are to be appointed one each by the president of the republic, the Government, the Serbian Academy of Arts antd Sciences, the Universities, and the press associations and unions.

Referring to the anti-monopolistic provisions, Milentijevic said their goal was to protect the private media sector from individuals and institutions in conditions of privatization in the field of public information.

According to the working version, a single individual or organization cannot own more than 20 or 15 percent respectively of all dailies published in serbia, or broadcast radio or television programs covering more that 25 percent of its entire population.

Explaining provisions about financial and other foreign aid for publishing papers, or broadcasting radio-television programs, Radmila Milentijevic said that the owner of the media was obligated to inform about it the competent body, that the funds be used for that specific purpose and that accounts be kept.

The working version specifies that financial and other foreign aid be indicated on every copy of newspaper, or magazine and in the credit titles at the beginning and end of every radio or television program broadcats by cable or by satellite.

In the field of journalist responsibility, Minister Radmila Milentijevic said that the law does not provide for sanctions, but that the responsibility of journalists will be regulated by a code of behaviour, which remains to be defined by them and their associations. The code will be a law of professionalism, professional behaviour, in other words a law of rights and responsbilities in journalism, said Milentijevic.

Once again calling on the public in Serbia to take part in the dialogue about the new law on public information, which will be at the 'level of European laws', Radmila Milentijevic said that the Ministry was open to proposals, suggestions, analysis and critical remarks, which will help give definite and concrete form to this exceptionally important law, acceptable to all.

Pointing out that dialogue is very important, she said that the Ministry of Information wants to hear the voice of all of Serbia, before the draft law is taken into parliamentary procedure.

Milentijevic expressed her belief that Milosevic's decisive and resolute position was to lead Serbia towards further democratisation, in the economic and political sphere and in the field of public information.

Radmila Milentijevic said other two key laws would also be presented soon, on privatization and local self-rule.

Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Ratko Markovic said that the law on public information regulates an aspect of human and civil rights. The law should protect the right from state interference, and, at the same time, ensure that it does not deny other human and civil rights, he said. The law on public information must not be influenced by the dictate of pressure of current political forces. Its authors cannot be exclusively political parties, Markovic said.

According to him, the law should regulate permanently the issue of public information. By defining the working version of the law on information, the Government is performing a duty from its constitutional competency, Markovic specified, calling on the Parliament and its committees, the public, associations and political parties to take part in the dialogue.

Referring to the division of prerogatives between the federal state and member-republics Markovic said that according to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, the federal law on public information regulates only the public information system, while republican law makers are in charge of the details.

Markovic said that a whole series of republican laws would in an ear future be coordinated with Serbia's Constitution of 1990 in an essential sense, not only formally, including the law on information.

He noted that the federal law on the foundations of the public information system adopted seven years ago was based on the 1974 constitution which has not been in force for a long time now.

Serbian Minister Without Portfolio Ratomir Vico said that the working version of the law on public information contained regulations and standards of European and world media.

Commenting the proposed ownership percentage, Vico said such practice was common everywhere in the world, and noted that television in France and Italy is owned by the state and that the proposed percentages were aimed at preventing media monopoly.

Answering questions about the dispute between Serbian Radio and Television (RTS) and BK Telecom Television, Radmila Milentijevic said it was an internal issue between the two companies, a problem of business relations.

Asked about the provision binding media owners to disclose in a conspicuous place any sources of foreign funding, Milentijevic said this meant that the same yardstick would be applied to all public information institutions. The only reason for this provision is to let the public know the sources of funding of all media. This should not be a secret, she said and added that this was common practice everywhere in the world.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-03-11 ; Tanjug, 1997-03-10

[03] BOSNIAN PRESIDENCY TO RULE ON YUGOSLAV-BOSNIAN SERB ACCORD LATER

The body further decided that agreements in the exclusive jurisdiction of Bosnia-Herzegovina should in future be signed according to a procedure agreed earlier. In the case of accords regulating obligations of the two entities - the Republika Srpska and the Muslim-Croat Federation - they will be signed by the Presidency member competent for the respective entity and by the entity's authorised representative, it was decided.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-03-11 ; Tanjug, 1997-03-10

[04] YUGOSLAV OFFICIAL RECEIVES SPANISH AMBASSADOR IN BELGRADE

Stojiljkovic said he expected bilateral trade to reach 30 million dollars by the end of 1997, which is double the amount in 1996. Yugoslavia's trade with Spain amounted to 63 million dollars before the international community imposed economic sanctions in May 1992, Stojiljkovic said.

Stojoljkovic said that Spain, as the member of the E.U. could assist Yugoslavia's return to international monetary and trade institutions. He stressed that Yugoslav laws, especially with regard to foreign and mixed investments, were in line with European standards.

Stojiljkovic said that successful Yugoslav companies such as Viskoza, Tigar, Metalac, C-Market, Aastava, IMT, Ikarbus and 14. Oktobar had struck deals with Spanish firms. He said mixed companies should be set up in order to appear more efficiently on third markets. Joint appearance in South America, the former Soviet Union, China and the Balkans, where Yugoslav firms are well established, should be a priority, Stojiljkovic said.

Perez Gomez said a Spanish business delegation would be visiting Yugoslavia in May, and added that Madrid, which was among the first to normalize relations with Yugoslvia, was willing to cooperate with Belgrade.

Perez Gomes said the possibility of Spanish companies taking part in the privatization of Yugoslavia's telecommunications system should be discussed.

Cooperation in building infrastructure and public works could be of mutual benefit, he said and added that Spain's experience was that such works could not be carried out without mutual cooperation and international business ties.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-03-11 ; Tanjug, 1997-03-10

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