Yugoslav Daily Survey, 97-04-22

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

Yugoslav Daily Survey

CONTENTS

[01] GREECE READY TO PROMOTE COOPERATION WITH MONTENEGRO

[02] MONTENEGRIN GOVERNMENT URGES LIBERALISATION OF FOREIGN TRADE

[03] YUGOSLAV MINISTER VUKOVIC RECEIVES IRANIAN CHARGE D'AFFAIRES HEDAYAT

[04] YUGOSLAV DEPUTY PREMIER DJUNIC RECEIVED GERMAN AMBASSADOR GRUEBER

[05] KLEIN: SUCCESSFUL ELECTIONS ARE A HISTORIC MILESTONE

[06] MORINA RECEIVED DELEGATION OF THE SAVE THE CHILDREN ORGANIZATION

[07] YUGOSLAV PRIME MINISTER KONTIC RECEIVED POLISH AMBASSADOR DOBROWA

[08] MILOSEVIC RECEIVES U.N. ADMINISTRATOR KLEIN

[01] GREECE READY TO PROMOTE COOPERATION WITH MONTENEGRO

Reviewing a report on Djukanovic's visit to Athens, the Government stressed the significance of the support given to the realisation of 40 million dollars' worth commodity credit and the signing of a Protocol with Greek banks on loans for the Montenegrin economy.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-04-22 ; Tanjug, 1997-04-21

[02] MONTENEGRIN GOVERNMENT URGES LIBERALISATION OF FOREIGN TRADE

The Government held a session in the Montenegrin capital of Podgorica to discuss ways and means of stimulating domestic export, a statement said.

It was noted that, in the transitional period until export and import had been fully liberalised, the procedure at the Yugoslav Federal level for approving export and import quotas should be made to suit the Montenegrin economy's specific interests.

This meant that the specific needs of the Montenegrin economy must be taken into account in defining, at the Federal level, this Yugoslav Republic's participation in the overall annual export and import quotas, the statement said.

The Government said that special heed must be paid to ties with Bulgaria, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Italy, Russia, Ukraine and other countries, including the former Yugoslav republics, if Montenegrin firms were to be successful on foreign markets.

It said that the Federal Government and the National Bank of Yugoslavia (Central Bank) must stimulate export-oriented production by making adequate changes in the economic policy and giving facilities for export.

It stressed also the need for applying the ISO 9000 quality standard, so as to make domestic goods competitive on the world market.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-04-22 ; Tanjug, 1997-04-21

[03] YUGOSLAV MINISTER VUKOVIC RECEIVES IRANIAN CHARGE D'AFFAIRES HEDAYAT

The two sides discussed the renewal and promotion of economic cooperation between the two states. They agreed to prepare a session of the Yugoslav- Iranian Inter-Governmental Commission for Trade and Economic Cooperation, to be held in Teheran, at which the frameworks for the balancing of economic relations between the two countries are to be defined.

Possibilities for the participation of Yugoslav companies in the Teheran International Fair and for the organizing of an Iranian Economic Exposition in Belgrade were also discussed, the statement said.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-04-22 ; Tanjug, 1997-04-21

[04] YUGOSLAV DEPUTY PREMIER DJUNIC RECEIVED GERMAN AMBASSADOR GRUEBER

Deputy Prime Minister Djunic acquainted Grueber with the Yugoslav concept of economic reforms, based on an open market economy, one compatible with the economies of the European Union, and coupled with the creation and maintaining of a transparent institutional framework.

Djunic set out that Yugoslavia was determined to pursue reforms, which he said would doubtlessly positively reflect on the country's reintegration into the international community, the statement said.

The Yugoslav official stressed that international assistance, including from Germany, was needed for the planned reforms.

Ambassador Grueber expressed understanding for the Yugoslav Government's commitment to reforms, and agreed that the reform processes could not successfully be carried out without some assistance.

The German Ambassador pointed up possibilities for the establishing of some specific contacts between Germany and Yugoslavia. He said his country was interested in developing economic cooperation with Yugoslavia, but noted that some political conditions still stood in the way of the establishment of full cooperation between the two countries, the Government statement said.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-04-22 ; Tanjug, 1997-04-21

[05] KLEIN: SUCCESSFUL ELECTIONS ARE A HISTORIC MILESTONE

The elections are a new phase in the integration process and mark a beginning of acceptance of new authorities in the region, both Serb and Croatian in accordance with election results. They represent a victory for reconciliation and new life, Klein said.

The elections also mark a successful ending of the UNTAES mandate, whose 17, 000 troops represented for the past 18 months a barrier to a direct danger of Croatian Armed Forces to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Klein added.

Regardless of many political and technical difficulties, the elections have taken place without incident and all sides showed determination to ensure their success. Definite results will probably be made public on Tuesday by 3 p.m., Klein said.

Not a single ballot box (there were 126,533 valid papers) came out without UN control, Klein stressed.

It is to be regretted that some refugees had not applied for Croatian identity papers and that Croatian authorities did not supply the ballot papers on time, but corrective measures were taken to resolve difficulties on time, Klein said.

Referring to the UNTAES tasks in the coming few months, Klein said they would include the establishment of 'soft' borders with Yugoslavia, demilitarization in 15 km strips on both sides of the border and the return of refugees.

Asked how the return would be organized, Klein said he had met one month ago in Geneva the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Sadako Ogata and later also Croatian President Franjo Tudjman.

A Working Group has been set up to draw up a plan for the return by April 25. The international community will not agree to a mono-ethnic repatriation, Klein said and added he personally wished to see all - Serbs, Hungarians and Croats - return to their homes.

Dual citizenship is a key issue according to Klein, as about 20,000 people in the region did not vote, which means that they had no identity papers at all and that they were uncertain about their future.

Six more offices for issuing identity papers will be opened in the region so that all inhabitants can be issued documents within two months, he said.

The so-called 'soft' borders are another key issue as about 20,000 people cross the border daily to get to work, visit relatives or work their fields, he said.

Klein said he had discussed this issue with Serbian President Milosevic and Croatian President Tudjman who both supported his idea and added that relevant ministries will be in charge of drawing up precise plans.

Klein denied reports by some media that Croatian kuna would be the sole currency in the region after May 15.

Referring to a possible extension of the UNTAES mandate, Klein said it was due to end on July 15 and that once election results are verified, a proposal on the future mandate will be made by the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

In the coming period, priority should be given to the region's integration in the Croatian post and telecommunications network, taking care that employees do not lose their jobs, and to the creation of a joint police force, Klein said.

Klein said President Tudjman had told him that he would like to receive, as soon as possible, the ministers to be chosen by the people after the elections. The Croatian Ministry of Justice has agreed to allow all 60 Serb lawyers in the region to remain, and talks are under way on the composition of the region's police force, which should comprise 700 Serbs and 100 Hungarians, Slovaks and others, Klein said.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-04-22 ; Tanjug, 1997-04-21

[06] MORINA RECEIVED DELEGATION OF THE SAVE THE CHILDREN ORGANIZATION

Guests were interested in the work of the newly-formed Ministry for Family Care, especially programs concerning the protection of refugee families and children refugees without parents, as well as possibilities for their integration into their environment.

Morina informed guests in detail about different forms of refugee family protection, especially of children refugees in our country, stressing that the means for realizing these programs are far from sufficient.

Even in such difficult conditions, not a single right of children refugees has been denied, though the sanctions of the international community have impoverished our economy and drastically affected the standard of living of the entire population, especially of refugees.

Speaking at the Ministry for Family Care, Morina said she expected full cooperation from international organizations, especially UNICEF and humanitarian organizations, as well as on the bilateral level with other ministries, so that positive experiences from the world would be more successfully applied in our country, the statement said.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-04-22 ; Tanjug, 1997-04-21

[07] YUGOSLAV PRIME MINISTER KONTIC RECEIVED POLISH AMBASSADOR DOBROWA

In a friendly talk, the two sides voiced satisfaction with the upturn of Yugoslav-Polish relations, especially in the domain of inter-state regulations.

The two traditionally friendly countries are implementing 25 inter-state agreements, and are soon to sign agreements on the avoidance of dual taxation, and the development of agriculture and transportation.

The two sides pointed up a visible improvement also in trade, but noted that the existing level of economic and trade relations fell short of the actual possibilities and needs of the two countries and was far below the level recorded in the period preceding the implementation of international sanctions against Yugoslavia.

The renewal and promotion of long-term production cooperation between the two in many ways compatible economies, the renewal of cooperation in the banking and financial area, and joint ventures on third markets are needed if the actual potentials are to be put to use, the statement said.

Kontic accepted an invitation from Polish Prime Minister Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz to pay an official working visit to Poland in June, the statement said.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-04-22 ; Tanjug, 1997-04-21

[08] MILOSEVIC RECEIVES U.N. ADMINISTRATOR KLEIN

The statement said that, despite quite a number of obstacles, the residents in the region had manifested a high degree of democratic awareness rendering possible with their votes the election of legal authorities and showing determination to secure their equality, freedom and lasting presence in the region.

Yugoslavia has largely contributed to the creation of conditions for the consistent and full implementation of an agreement reached between Croatian authorities and representatives of Serbs in the region in mid-November 1995, continually backing the process of stabilisation in the region, the statement said.

The statement said expectation had been voiced that the U.N. Transitional Administration in Eastern Slavonia (UNTAES) and Klein would continue acting in line with their mandate and the agreement.

Present was also Yugoslav Foreign Minister Milan Milutinovic.

Yugoslav Daily Survey, 1997-04-22 ; Tanjug, 1997-04-21

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