Yugoslav Daily Survey, 97-09-29

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Yugoslav Daily Survey

CONTENTS

[01] YUGOSLAV MINISTER MILUTINOVIC MEETS WITH PRIMAKOV, KISSINGER

[02] YUGOSLAVIA TO TAKE PART IN CONFERENCE ON ECONOMIC COOPERATION

[03] U.S. MEDIA ON AGREEMENT FOR RS

[04] UNICEF-FRY: ENCOURAGING PROMISE

[05] CONTACT GROUP MINISTERIAL MEETING IN NEW YORK

[06] STABLE PRICES, STABLE DINAR, OUTPUT GROWTH TO CHARACTERISE 1997

[07] LILIC AND SESELJ IN RUNOFF

[08] YUGOSLAV FOREIGN MINISTER ON AGREEMENT FOR REPUBLIKA SRPSKA

[09] SRPSKA PRESIDENT: SERB PEOPLE'S FUTURE LIES IN BELGRADE AGREEMENT

[10] SIGNING OF AGREEMENT - NEW POSITIVE ELEMENT, PRIMAKOV SAID

[11] AGREEMENT ON RESOLUTION OF R.S. CRISIS

[12] YUGOSLAVIA READY TO INCREASE BUSINESS COOPERATION WITH JORDAN

[13] OGATA: INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY SHOULD CONTINUE AID FOR REFUGEES

[14] KRAJISNIK SAYS REPUBLIKA SRPSKA WILL REMAIN UNITED

[15] YUGOSLAV FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS COUNTERPARTS

[16] PLAVSIC PRAISES ROLE OF YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC

[01] YUGOSLAV MINISTER MILUTINOVIC MEETS WITH PRIMAKOV, KISSINGER

Tanjug, 1997-09-25

Yugoslav Foreign Minister Milan Milutinovic met in New York on Thursday with Russian Foreign Minister Yevgeny Primakov. During their friendly talk, Milutinovic and Primakov devoted special attention to the further promotion of bilateral cooperation, especially economic. They discussed also topical international questions, specifically the civilian implementation of the Dayton Peace Accord.

Primakov welcomed an agreement, which was signed in Belgrade on Wednesday, for settling the crisis in the (Bosnian Serb) Republika Srpska, and paid tribute to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia for effecting it. He said that the Yugoslav-mediated agreement was a major step in the direction of a positive development of the situation in the region.

The talk brought to light a high degree of concord on all questions discussed, and confirmed a readiness further to intensify contacts, with a view to making joint efforts to solve topical problems, especially in the Balkan region.

Milutinovic met on Thursday also with former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, who is still a prominent public and political figure in the United States. During a frank and cordial talk, the two sides discussed numerous topical problems in international relations. Special stress was laid on the international community's interest in stabilising the situation in the Balkan region.

Kissinger said he was closely following the development of the situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina and the whole region, and especially efforts being made by Yugoslavia for implementing the peace accord and securing regional peace and stability. He informed Milutinovic about the activities and efforts he was making to present the true picture of the Balkan developments to the U.S. public.

Another in a series of Milutinovic's contacts with the Foreign Ministers of a number of countries at U.N. Headquarters in New York was a meeting with his Hungarian colleague Laszlo Kovacs on Thursday, with whom he discussed current political affairs. Kovacs gave positive marks to the role of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in creating stability in the region. Satisfaction was expressed with the development of bilateral relations in all fields, and especially economic.

Milutinovic and Kovacs discussed also plans for numerous bilateral agreements which are to make a concrete contribution to the promotion of relations between the two friendly neighbouring states.

Satisfaction was expressed with the position of either country's minorities in the other country, and a series of meetings arranged between officials of the two ministries.

The Hungarian side expressed hope that the premier of the Yugoslav Republic of Serbia, Mirko Marjanovic, would soon visit Budapest, as a contribution to the the efforts to promote all forms of cooperation, especially economic.

Milutinovic invited Kovacs to visit Belgrade, and the invitation was accepted with pleasure.

Later on Thursday, Milutinovic is scheduled to meet with Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos, Spain's Abel Matutes, and the Ministers of Iran and Turkey, Kamal Harazi and Ismail Tsema, respectively.

[02] YUGOSLAVIA TO TAKE PART IN CONFERENCE ON ECONOMIC COOPERATION

Tanjug, 1997-09-25

The 2nd International Conference on Cooperation and Development of Mediterranean countries will start in the Greek town of Kozani on Friday. A Yugoslav delegation, headed by Yugoslav Deputy Prime Minister Vojin Djukanovic, will participate in the three-day Conference, the Yugoslav Government said in a statement.

Delegations from Albania, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Egypt, France, Lebanon, Libya, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Morocco, Romania, Russia, Slovenia, Spain, Syria, Tunisia, Ukraine and Yugoslavia have confirmed their arrival.

The conference is aimed at reviewing possibilities for promoting cooperation primarily among Mediterranean countries.

The participants are expected to focus on development policies and E.U. regulations, Mediterranean countries' economic and investment policies, possibilities for joint investments, privatisation processes, banks' role and general legal and tax regulations which are important for foreign investments.

The participants will be addressed by Yugoslav delegation head Djukanovic.

In view of the importance of Yugoslavia's reintegration in all world economic processes, the Conference will make an opportunity for directly informing a large number of countries about the goals and dynamics of Yugoslav economic reforms.

The Conference will also make it possible to inform representatives of Mediterranean and E.U. countries about Yugoslavia's economic and systemic laws, especially those referring to foreign investments, functioning of the financial market and privatisation process, the statement said.

[03] U.S. MEDIA ON AGREEMENT FOR RS

Tanjug, 1997-09-25

U.S. media reported about the Agreement reached on Wednesday between Biljana Plavsic and Momcilo Krajisnik in Belgrade, saying that the meeting was held and an agreement reached thanks to Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic.

The Washington Post pointed to the importance of President Milosevic's initiative for overcoming the crisis in Republika Srpska (RS) and said that the Yugoslav head of state was the most influential political figure in the region. The Washington Post further said that the agreement for calling parliamentary, presidential elections, and for the president of RS in the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, was an important step for the future of RS which was formed as an entity by the Dayton Peace Agreement.

The Washington Post assessed that the agreement signed in Belgrade, in the presence of President Milosevic, should calm down the tense situation in RS which, the daily said, has lately on several occasions been extremely volatile. The calming down of the situation will help reach an agreement on cooperation in the media space which was often the cause of quarrels and splits between the two parties.

[04] UNICEF-FRY: ENCOURAGING PROMISE

Tanjug, 1997-09-25

UNICEF Director for Europe, John Donahue, said here on Thursday in talks with Serbian Minister for the Family Bratislava Morina, that this organization would coutinue its programs for the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Donahue positively assessed the efforts of Serbian and Yugolsav authorities in the protection of children. He underscored that these efforts should receive high praise in view of the period in which they were carried out, especially during the difficult sanctions.

Morina is on a two-day working visit to Geneva in the double role as the Commissioner for refugees of the Republic of Serbia and as republican Family Minister. The visit was organized to coincide with the time when the biggest international organizations, located in Geneva, are preparing programs for next year.

The visit aims to obtain assurances that key organizations, such as UNHCR, UNICEF, the International Organization for Migrations and others, will continue sending humanitarian aid to Yugoslavia next year for refugees or protecting children.

Morina informed Doanhue about the republican Family Ministry program for the realization of the Yugoslav action plan for children by the year 2000. These programs focus on the health care of mothers and children, food, education, promotion of the family's role in the mobilization of the society and for the more adequate protection of children.

Morina called on UNICEF to continue programs aimed at Yugoslav children, including refugee children.

Promises received on Wednesday during Morina's talks with UN High Commissioner for Refugees Sadako Ogata, and those made today, are encouraging and represent a signal that the international community is ready to help within its powers those who the most threatened in Yugoslavia.

[05] CONTACT GROUP MINISTERIAL MEETING IN NEW YORK

Tanjug, 1997-09-25

The Contact Group for Bosnia, at a meeting on Wednesday in New York, reiterated the resolution of member countries to establish lasting peace in Bosnia. A statement released after the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the United States, Russia, France, Germany, Great Britain and Italy sent a warning to all those delaying the realization of the Dayton Peace Agreement, and at the same promised support and help to all those who help its implementation.

The Contact Group hailed the progress made since the ministerial meeting in Sintra and called for the further implementation of the provisions of the Sintra declaration.

The statement expressed satisfaction with the recently held local elections in Bosnia and at the same time called on everyone to respect voting results. It also called for support for the formation of local bodies of power, repeating the warning that severe measures will be taken against those who do not respect election results.

The statement then paid tribute to OSCE mission chief in Bosnia Robert Frowick for monitoring successfully the elections, and also to SFOR, the Unite Nations and IPTF.

Referring to the situation in Republika Srpska, the statement called on OSCE Standing Council, which meets in Vienna on Thursday, to monitor the upcoming parliamentary elections in Republika Srpska.

The statement said OSCE should take upon itself to also monitor elections scheduled to be held in RS later, in accordance with the constitution and on the basis of the agreement achieved in Belgrade on Wednesday.

The Contact Group statement also voiced concern over corruption and organized crime in Bosnia which, it said, have affected negatively the implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement.

The Contact Group, it said, is also concerned by insufficient cooperation with the Hague Tribunal.

The Contact Group said that the process of implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement would again be under consideration in Bonn on December 9, 10, at a meeting of the council for the implementation of the peace agreement.

[06] STABLE PRICES, STABLE DINAR, OUTPUT GROWTH TO CHARACTERISE 1997

Tanjug, 1997-09-25

This year will be characterised by stable prices, output growth and success in preventing the depreciation of the dinar, national currency, by increasing Yugoslavia's hard currency reserves, experts of Belgrade's economic institute said on Thursday.

Stable prices are a great success of the country's economic policy, which is also indicated by the fact that the price growth has been zero over the past five months, the experts said briefing a regular monthly news conference about the state and prospects of the country's economy.

Professor Miroljub Labus said good results should be maintained, saying the relative stability of prices should remain a major goal of the country's economic policy.

The experts said such trends in the sector of prices had mainly been brought about by a drop in prices of agricultural produce over the past three months, which had also caused a five-percent drop in food costs in August.

This year's rate of inflation should not exceed 20 percent and will be much below the last year's 58.7 percent, they said.

Labus said output growth was continuing and would amount to about 7.5 percent in the January-September period and to about 7 percent at the end of the year.

An increase in the country's hard currency reserves over the past three months will be sufficient to preserve the dinar from depreciation, forecasted by some foriegn investors, he said.

As regards the macroeconomic situation, the experts said the country's monetary policy had expanded causing great changes in the division of gross domestic product.

This is the consequence of a record-high monthly increase in public spending and wages and salaries in August which does not correspond to the trend of gross domestic product. This has resulted in certain disruptions in the domestic economy, Labus said.

According to estimates, gross domestic product allows for monthly public spending of between 3.3 and 3.5 billion dinars and exceeding the sum would lead to inflation. A net amount of 1.8 billion dinars should not be exceeded in paying wages and salaries.

[07] LILIC AND SESELJ IN RUNOFF

Tanjug, 1997-09-25

Serbian presidential candidates Zoran Lilic of the joint leftist list Socialist Party of Serbia-Yugoslav Left-New Democracy-Slobodan Milosevic and Vojislav Seselj of the Serbian Radical Party will be in the runoff on Oct 5, Republican Elections Commission President Balsa Govedarica said on Thursday.

Govedarica told a press conference that, under the elections law, the second round of voting must be held because no candidate won the majority vote on Sept 21.

According to the official results, the joint leftist list won 110 seats in Republican Parliament, the Serbian Radical Party 82, the Serbian Renewal Movement 45, the Coalition Vojvodina and the Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians-Jozef Kasa four seats each. The "List for Sandzak - Dr Sulejman Ugljanin" won three seats, and one seat each went to the democratic coalition Presevo-Bujanovac and the coalition Democratic Alternative- Peasants' Party of Serbia and Pensioners' Party of Serbia.

[08] YUGOSLAV FOREIGN MINISTER ON AGREEMENT FOR REPUBLIKA SRPSKA

Tanjug, 1997-09-25

Yugoslav Foreign Minister Milan Milutinovic said on Thursday that an agreement between Republika Srpska officials, signed in the presence of Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic, was welcomed with great interest at the UN Headquarters in New York. Milutinovic said the Agreement, signed between Momcilo Krajisnik and Biljana Plavsic in Belgrade on Wednesday, was especially welcomed with great interest and approval by all members of the Contact Group on the former Yugoslavia.

"I have personally communicated the agreement to virtually all Contact Group ministers, who welcomed it with relief, saying this was a great step ahead in the strengthening of peace and stability in Bosnia-Herzegovina and especially in the Republika Srpska," Milutinovic told Serbian Radio Television.

"All of them said this was something that was naturally expected and stressed the major role of President Milosevic, who has once again shown that he is the most committed to the implementation of the Dayton Peace Accords and to carrying out all its provisions and peace in that territory, said Milutinovic.

[09] SRPSKA PRESIDENT: SERB PEOPLE'S FUTURE LIES IN BELGRADE AGREEMENT

Tanjug, 1997-09-25

The Agreement reached on Wednesday on resolving the political crisis in Republika Srpska is in the interest of Srpska and the Serb people in general, Srpska President Biljana Plavsic told the press on her arrival in Banja Luka on Thursday. The Agreement is also the result of general endeavors to find the best solution for the Serb people within the framework of the Dayton Agreement, Plavsic said in a statement carried by Serbian TV.

Underlining the importance of the role and contribution of Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic to this effect, Plavsic said that Milosevic's endeavors for reaching a truce were very constructive thanks to his determination to have the crisis in Republika Srpska resolved by democratic means through elections.

The press conference in Banja Luka was also attended by Serbia's State Security Service head Jovica Stanisic, who pointed to the importance of the Agreement and described the conflict within Republika Srpska police as more serious and dangerous than the conflict among Serb politicians. The conflict within Republika Srpska police could lead to serious consequences and divisions among the Serb people and might obstruct the implementation of the Dayton Agreement, he explained.

Stanisic strongly denied allegations that Serbia's security forces, especially the State Security Service, had been involved in Republika Srpska state and security affairs. The allegations were made by forces which wish to create further misunderstandings in the region. These forces have already caused much harm to the implementation of the Dayton Agreement, which must be carried out in the interest of the Serb people, Stanisic said.

[10] SIGNING OF AGREEMENT - NEW POSITIVE ELEMENT, PRIMAKOV SAID

Tanjug, 1997-09-25

Russian Foreign Minister Yevgeni Primakov has said that the Agreement signed in Belgrade by Biljana Plavsic and Momcilo Krajisnik is an important new element in the resolution of the entire situation in Bosnia. The Itar- Tass news agency said that Primakov, speaking to the press following Wednesday's Contact Group meeting in New York, said that the signing of the Belgrade Agreement "introduces new elements into the situation and that this should be stressed as a positive moment."

Primakov went into the details of the Agreement, as did Thursday's Russian media.

Both Primakov and the media underscored that the two sides pledged to do everything for the peaceful resolution of the problems and that they had agreed on "certain democratic moments in the application of the mass media."

Primakov told the journalists that the Contact Group had adopted Russia's stand on relations towards mass media in Bosnia. He set out that "it is necessary to do everything possible to curb those media which have a destructive influence on the situation and sometimes undermine the possibilities for regulation and call for actions against the international forces."

Primakov also warned that Russia is opposed to the "application of force - either from the ground or air" against these mass media or their infrastructure. Primakov underscored that, in this respect, Russia has a "firm position" and that this is why "the Contact Group's joint statement does not mention the use of force."

[11] AGREEMENT ON RESOLUTION OF R.S. CRISIS

Tanjug, 1997-09-24

Republika Srpska President Biljana Plavsic and President from the Republika Srpska in Bosnia's three-man Presidency Momcilo Krajisnik met on Wednesday with Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic to define steps in defusing the Republic of Srpska crisis and in the consistent implementation of the Dayton Peace Accords.

Agreement was reached on following issues:

1) Both parties will take all necessary measures to end every confrontation that leads to the division of the Republika Srpska. Unity of the Republika Srpska is in the vital interest of the Serb people in the Republika Srpska and of all its citizens. All other partial and party interests must be subordinated to this interest.

2) Political confrontation that has triggered the crisis in the Republika Srpska can only be settled in a democratic manner, through the people's will to be expressed in elections for parliament, President of the Republika Srpska and President from the Republika Srpska in the Presidency of Bosnia-Herzegovina, as follows: a) elections for parliament, to be monitored by the OSCE, will be held in keeping with the law of the Republika Srpska on Saturday, November 15, 1997 and, b) elections for president of the Republika Srpska and president from the Republika Srpska in the Presidency of Bosnia-Herzegovina will be held on December 7, 1997. The newly-elected parliament will appoint at its first session a commission that will organise elections for president of the Republika Srpska and president from the Republika Srpska in the Presidency of Bosnia- Herzegovina.

3) President Biljana Plavsic and President Momcilo Krajisnik agree that the unified media environment of the Republika Srpska and free access to media by all participants in elections is vital for their being held in a democratic manner. They agreed that news programmes be broadcast daily from studios in Pale and Banja Luka alternately.

Belgrade, September 24, 1997.

The Agreement was signed by Republika Srpska President Biljana Plavsic, President from the Republika Srpska in the Presidency of Bosnia-Herzegovina Momcilo Krajisnik and Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic who confirmed that the Agreement was reached in his presence.

[12] YUGOSLAVIA READY TO INCREASE BUSINESS COOPERATION WITH JORDAN

Tanjug, 1997-09-24

Yugoslav companies are ready to increase economic cooperation with Jordan and other Arab countries, Yugoslav Economy Minister has told the Jordan daily Al-Asvak in an interview. Filipovic said that talks were being held on the conclusion of new economic arrangements in the interest of both traditionally friendly countries. Filipovic said that all obstacles to a broader Yugoslav-Jordanian economic cooperation had been removed.

He said that the sanctions against Yugoslavia had incurred a direct loss of 70 billion dollars and indirect loss of 120 billion dollars to the country.

The Yugoslav Government works on restoring economic cooperation with Jordan and other Arab countries to the level registered in the late 1980s. It is realistic to expect that this will be achieved between the years 2000 and 2005, Filipovic said.

[13] OGATA: INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY SHOULD CONTINUE AID FOR REFUGEES

Tanjug, 1997-09-24

U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Sadako Ogata said the international community should pursue aid programs for refugees in FR Yugoslavia.

Ogata met in Geneva today with the Serbian Commissioner for Refugees Bratislava Morina. In a lengthy talk opinions were exchanged about all aspects of the problem of approximately 700,000 refugees in Yugoslavia.

Bratislava Morina informed in detail the High Commisisoner about the current exceptionally difficult situation of refugees. She drew special attention to the negative effects of not fulfilling obligations undertaken by the international community under Dayton, and in view of a lasting solution to the problem of refugees.

Also stressed was the important role of UNHCR as coordinator in charge of supervising and implementing parts of the Dayton Accord relating to the repatriation of refugees or their eventual integration.

Morina said Yugoslavia hopes and expects from the international community to fulfill its commitments and pursue indispensable programs of humanitarian aid until a lasting solution to the problem of refugees. It is unacceptable, it was assessed, that humanitarian programs are conditioned by various political and other reasons.

Sadako Ogata said the facts she heard today from the Serbian Commissioner for refugees were realistic and expressed hope that Yugoslav positions, arguments and proposals will be taken into considertaion by the international community.

Preparations are already underway in Geneva for the realization of the humanitarian program for next year. Ogata expressed a readiness to make efforts personally to secure the continuation of humanitarian aid for refugees in FR Yugoslavia. She said that at the same time the process of repatariation and local integration should be stepped up.

Bratislava Morina met in Geneva with the high officials of the international organization for migrations, with whom she talked about programs for providing shelter for refugees in third countries.

[14] KRAJISNIK SAYS REPUBLIKA SRPSKA WILL REMAIN UNITED

Tanjug, 1997-09-24

The Republika Srpska member of the Bosnia-Herzegovina Presidency, Momcilo Krajisnik, said late on Wednesday that he was satisfied with an Agreement signed in Belgrade earlier in the day.

Bosnian Serb media quoted Krajisnik as saying after signing the Agreement with Republika Srpska President Biljana Plavsic, whose signing was largely due to the efforts of Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic, that the Republika Srpska had won and that it would remain united.

Krajisnik said the Agreement was the result of a political compromise. He also said that elections would be held and that the people would express their will in them.

[15] YUGOSLAV FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS COUNTERPARTS

Tanjug, 1997-09-24

Yugoslav Foreign Minister Milan Milutinovic continued on Wednesday at the UN headquarters in New York a series of meetings with his counterparts.

Milutinovic met on Wednesday morning the Italian Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini to discuss bilateral cooperation, the situation in the region and the peace process. Dini reiterated Italy's full support to a speedy and full reintegration of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in the international community, and expressed readiness to help achieve this goal. The two Ministers agreed to meet again in a near future to promote bilateral relations.

On Tuesday afternoon, Milutinovic had met Foreign Office head Robin Cook, German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel and Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic. Cook, Kinkel and Granic expressed their appreciation of Yugoslavia's contribution to peace, stability and cooperation in the region and their interest in developing bilateral relations.

Milutinovic and Cook exchanged views on the implementation of the Dayton Agreement with a partcular emphasis on its civilian aspect, and on the situation in both Bosnian entities. They also discussed bilateral cooperation and its future development and underlined that bilateral contacts should be intensified.

The meeting between Milutinovic and Kinkel also focused on issues regarding the implementation of the Dayton Agreement and bilateral relations. Milutinovic explained Yugoslavia's stances on these issues. The two Ministers agreed to continue their dialogue soon in order to improve bilateral cooperation and resolve issues of bilateral and general interest.

The meeting between Milutinovic and Granic focused on the activities aimed at resolving bilateral issues.

Milutinovic is in New York on the occasion of the UN General Assembly session. He is expected to meet representatives of several other countries later in the day.

[16] PLAVSIC PRAISES ROLE OF YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC

Tanjug, 1997-09-24

Republika Srpska President Biljana Plavsic hailed a meeting with Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic on Wednesday as very successful.

After meeting Milosevic in Belgrade, where Plavsic and Bosnian Serb Presidency member Momcilo Krajisnik signed an Accord on a settlement to the crisis in Republika Srpska, Plavsic said Milosevic had "set out good proposals for resolving the problems in Republika Srpska."

The role of President Milosevic was big and I think we will resolve the situation by the parliamentary elections in November, said Plavsic.

She said some solutions were given to stabilize the Republika Srpska.

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