Yugoslav Daily Survey, 97-04-04

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

Yugoslav Daily Survey

CONTENTS

[01] YUGOSLAV ASSEMBLY OFFICIAL RECEIVES MOLDAVIAN FOREIGN MINISTER

[02] SASSON: SERBS AND JEWS ARE TRUE FRIENDS

[03] KOSOVO AND METOHIJA CAN BE DISCUSSED ONLY IN YUGOSLAVIA, SAYS SPS

[04] YUGOSLAV FOREIGN TRADE MINISTER RECEIVES RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR

[05] FEDERAL VICE-PRIME MINISTER RECEIVES GREEK AMBASSADOR

[06] KLEIN SUPPORTS DUAL CITIZENSHIP BETWEEN CROATIA AND YUGOSLAVIA

[07] YUGOSLAV, CROATIAN EXPERT GROUPS DISCUSS ACCORDS

[08] ITALY DONATES LIBRARY TO NIKSIC COLLEGE

[09] ITALIAN COUNCIL PRESENTS LIBRARY TO KOTOR

[10] YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT LILIC RECEIVES MOLDAVIAN FOREIGN MINISTER POPOV

[01] YUGOSLAV ASSEMBLY OFFICIAL RECEIVES MOLDAVIAN FOREIGN MINISTER

The talks were held in Federal Parliament and the two sides agreed that it was necessary further to promote bilateral relationsin the areas of the economy, culture, and humanitarian activities. The ratification of several prepared agreements in the Yugoslav and Moldavian Parliaments will open new possibilities for cooperation between the two states, it was heard.

Bogdanovic said difficulties in the region of the Balkans, the international blockade, and the war in its vicinity had affected Yugoslavia's economy. Yugoslavia is determined to maintain good-neighbour relations, peace in the region, and cooperation with states in Europe and the world, he said.

Bogdanovic informed Popov about the legislative activities of the Federal Assembly and invited Moldavian Mps to visit Yugoslavia.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-04-04 ; Tanjug, 1997-04-03

[02] SASSON: SERBS AND JEWS ARE TRUE FRIENDS

Sasson, the first Israeli Ambassador to be appointed to Belgrade in three decades, said that Serbs also had very warm feelings for Jews, wherever they might be, in the U.S., Russia or any other country. The fact that this is not only a friendship between Israel and Serbia but between Serbs and Jews as entire peoples gives a much wider dimension to bilateral relations, he said.

Speaking of his impressions after he arrived in Belgrade last January, Sasson said he was astonished at first as he had not en aware of the importance the Jewish community used to have and still has in this country. He added he was also impressed with the level of education of Jews in Yugoslavia.

Little used to be known in Israel about Yugoslavia and about the life of its Jewish community. Like elsewere in the world, the Israeli public used to be informed about Yugoslavia only by world television networks such as CNN, Sasson said and added that Israelis were astonished at his first reports from Yugoslavia.

It is precisely for the sake of presenting an image of Yugoslavia different from the one carried by world electronic media that the mission of the Israeli Ambassador in Yugoslavia is not only diplomatic but moral too, Sasson said and added he had to report truthfully and correctly what he had seen and experienced in Yugoslavia so that its image in Israel could be corrected.

Referring to the satanization of Serbs by world media and some Jewish intellectuals and journalists in Paris, New York and Washington, such as Henry Levy who openly supports (Bosnian Muslim) Fundamentalist Alija Izetbegovic, Sasson said Yugoslav public would be surprised to learn to what extent left-wing intellectuals in world capitals criticized Israel and Israelis.

One of them is Henrick Roulon, a Jew and renowned correspondent of Le Monde specializing in Middle East issues, who had never written a positive word about Israel, Sasson said.

At the most critical time for the Serbs, Israel took a stand in their favor and Knesset Speaker Sevarvan expressed support to them when addressing the Parliament, the Ambassador said.

Sasson expressed conviction that Yugoslavia would shortly reintegrate world financial organizations and institutions and would be granted credits to stabilize its economy.

He warned however that the internal situation in Yugoslavia had already postponed its reintegration in world institutions by at least six or seven months.

Israel does not have much influence on the world financial institutions in which the U.S., Germany, Britain, France and Japan are the major decision- makers, and Israel also depends on these institutions, Sasson said.

It is precisely due to this dependence that Israel and Yugoslavia can establish mutually beneficial cooperation, he underlined.

Referring to international hypocrisy in relation to Israel and Yugoslavia, Sasson said double yardsticks were being used also in relation to some other countres. This has become a practice of some countries and their policies which are not based on their long-term interests but rather on day- to-day needs. Nothing else exists except immediate interests, Sasson said.

The so-called New World Order is in fact a regression to the pre-World War II international situation, Sasson said and added that the U.S. seems to have understood quickly that it cannot keep balance throughout the world and has thus now given up the idea of being the world policeman.

As the system based on a balance of forces between two superpowers was abandoned in favor of the old regional balance of power, the regions are now mutually maintaining a balance in international relations, Sasson said and added that the Balkan region has already had to face a problem of establishing regional balance that must bedone with or without U.S. help.

It would be better if the Balkans could do this without U.S. aid, the Ambassador said, underlining that alghough the U.S. is unable to maintain peace in all regions, it will certainly not give up its role of super power and world leader.

Referring to Israeli-Croatian relations, Sasson said that Israel had made it clear that it would not establish diplomatic relations with Croatia and wishes to have no contact with its President Franjo Tudjman, as it does not accept any playing with history as Tudjman had done in his book on the plight of Jews, Serbs and Romanies in the Jasenovac concentration camp (during World War II). There can be no clearer stance than that taken by Israel towards Tudjman and Croatia's attitude to historical truths, he said.

Referring to Israel's relations with the Arabs, Sasson said Israel would never give up Jerusalem as it is a strategic and Biblical city. National consensus exists on this issue he said and added there was no historical justification for the Islam's claims on Jerusalem.

As for christians, the situation is different, they have their right as the Christian religion was born from Judaism, the Ambassador said.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-04-04 ; Tanjug, 1997-04-03

[03] KOSOVO AND METOHIJA CAN BE DISCUSSED ONLY IN YUGOSLAVIA, SAYS SPS

The talks are set for New York on April 7-10 and representatives of the Albanian national minority and certain political parties from Belgrade will take part. The talks were organized at the initiative of the the U.S. organization Project for National Relations.

Dacic said Kosovo and Metohija was an indivisible part of Serbia and that all issues concerning the realization of minority rights in this southern Province must be treated as the country's internal affairs. The SPS believes any internationalization of this issue is unnecessary and damaging because it will not contribute to a normalization of the situation in Kosovo and Metohija, he said.

The issue of Kosovo and Metohija is not the non-existence, but the non- realization of all rights and freedoms of the Albanian national minority under the influnce of separatist leaders, Dacic specified.

Commenting speculation in certain media that the SPS had allegedly not decided about whether it would take part in the New York talks, Dacic said the party had replied to the U.S. organization already on March 21. The SPS letter sent at that time said the essence of the party policy in Kosovo and Metohija, as in the entire territory of Yugoslavia, is full civil and national equality in keeping with the principles of the peaceful co- existence of all citizens, and development within Serbia and Yugoslavia, and against any form of secession.

Considering Kosovo and Metohija as an indivisible part of Serbia and Yugoslavia, the SPS gives its support to initiatives by state organs for normalization in all areas of social life in Kosovo and Metohija, the letter said.

Evidence of this is the reached agreement on a normalization of the school system in Kosovo and Metohija signed by Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic and Ibrahim Rugova, said the SPS letter.

Expressing once again openness for dialogue on the realization of freedoms, rights, and responsibilities enjoyed by the Albanian national minority under the Serbian and Yugoslav Constitutions, the SPS believes such talks can be held only in the country with full respect of its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, said the letter to the U.S. organization which was signed by SPS Spokesman Dacic.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-04-04 ; Tanjug, 1997-04-03

[04] YUGOSLAV FOREIGN TRADE MINISTER RECEIVES RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR

Vukovic and Kotov discussed the promotion of economic relations between the two countries. Discussed were the main cooperation issues which will be considered by the inter-government Yugoslav-Russian Committee for trade, economic, scientific and technical cooperation at its forthcoming session on Moscow where a Memorandum on the liberalization of mutual trade will be signed.

Agreed was that Yugoslav and russian experts previously meet in Belgrade to discuss and coordinate issues and solutions of joint interest for their two countries - the ways and conditions of trade and the setting up of the so- called joint companies.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-04-04 ; Tanjug, 1997-04-03

[05] FEDERAL VICE-PRIME MINISTER RECEIVES GREEK AMBASSADOR

Both sides expressed readiness for the comprehensive promotion and expansion of cooperation between their two countries which should be accompanied by concrete projects.

Vlasopoulos underscored his country's interest in investing in the Yugoslav infrastructure.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-04-04 ; Tanjug, 1997-04-03

[06] KLEIN SUPPORTS DUAL CITIZENSHIP BETWEEN CROATIA AND YUGOSLAVIA

Speaking about forthcoming local elections in the region, Klein said that serious people were doing everything to make the elections successful, beginning reconciliation and a better future.

He said the harsh protests by Serbs in Vukovar on Sunday were an unfortunate incident and added that that was not the stand of 99 percent of people in the Region.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-04-04 ; Tanjug, 1997-04-03

[07] YUGOSLAV, CROATIAN EXPERT GROUPS DISCUSS ACCORDS

The groups resume work on Friday.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-04-04 ; Tanjug, 1997-04-03

[08] ITALY DONATES LIBRARY TO NIKSIC COLLEGE

The gift symbolized Italy's wish to develop further its traditionally good relations with Montenegro and Yugoslavia, he noted.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-04-04 ; Tanjug, 1997-04-03

[09] ITALIAN COUNCIL PRESENTS LIBRARY TO KOTOR

Kotor Mayor Branko Ivanovic expressed satisfaction that the gift was made to Kotor since it has been included in UNESCO's list of world culture and natural heritage. Ivanovic said he hoped that more extensive cooperation with Italy would be established and underscored the successful cooperation with the city of Barleta.

Both sides stated a wish for the promotion of cooperation in the sphere of culture and expressed satisfaction over the participation of Italian artists at the traditional Yugoslav Festival of Children's Theatres, held in Kotor every year from July 2-10.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-04-04 ; Tanjug, 1997-04-03

[10] YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT LILIC RECEIVES MOLDAVIAN FOREIGN MINISTER POPOV

Lilic and Popov focused on the promotion of cooperation, especially in the economic sphere within the bilateral, subregional and regional frameworks.

Popov described Wednesday's talks as very successful and concrete. He said that this would considerably promote relations between the two countries, whose traditional friendship has so far not been sufficiently used to strengthen economic and other ties. Popov added that Moldavia pays much attention to relations with its neighbors in all forms of integrations in Europe, and views the Balkans as a very close region.

Lilic underscored that the two countries are experiencing similar transition and privatization processes and that Yugoslavia's priorities are economic revival and its full reintegration into the international community. The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) has invested much efforts to achieve a high degree of normalization of relations with the former Yugoslav republics. FRY's aim is to be both a regional integration factor and to fully aid European integrations by its contribution to the stability of the Balkans. The agreement with Republika Srpska was recently signed with this in mind.

Good-neighborly relations and successful cooperation are a condition of stability and prosperity of all states and peoples in this part of Europe, Lilic said. Yugoslavia, just like Moldavia is open to all forms of European integrations, including that in the Danube basin, Black Sea, Seci, which it deems as very important. Weview all these integration processes as a step closer to the E.U. and we believe that we should resume our place in the OSCE, Lilic said.

Lilic sent his sincere greetings to Moldavian President Petar Luchanski and accepted his invitation to come to Moldavia as this will be an opportunity for signing a dozen interstate agreements in the sphere of the economy, transport and culture. This will lift the administrative barriers to more comprehensive cooperation and be yet another manifestation of the friendship between the two countries which have never had any disputes, he said.

The talks were attended by Moldavian Ambassador to Yugoslavia, Mikhai Koshkodan, and Yugoslavia's Ambassador in Moldavia, Gojko Dapcevic, as well as Assistant Federal Foreign Minister Zivadin Jovanovic.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-04-04 ; Tanjug, 1997-04-03

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