Yugoslav Daily Survey, 97-09-30

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Yugoslav Daily Survey

CONTENTS

[01] YUGOSLAVIA URGES PEACE, STABLE DEVELOPMENT AND GOOD-NEIGHBOURLY RELATIONS

[02] REPUBLIKA SRPSKA PRESIDENT ON RESOLVING POLITICAL CRISIS

[03] KRAJISNIK EXPRESSES BELIEF THAT AGREEMENT WILL BE RESPECTED

[04] KRAJISNIK AND KLEIN DISCUSS DAYTON AGREEMENT IMPLEMENTATION

[05] OSCE WILL MONITOR ELECTIONS IN REPUBLIKA SRPSKA

[06] UN OFFICIAL: BOSNIAN SERB AUTHORITIES MAKE CRUCIAL STEP TOWARDS PEACE

[07] PRESIDENTS OF RUSSIA AND FRANCE ISSUE JOINT STATEMENT ON BOSNIA

[08] YUGOSLAVIA WANTS FRIENDSHIP WITH ARAB COUNTRIES

[09] FOREIGN MINISTER MILUTINOVIC: WE HAVE REACHED SERIES OF CONCRETE ACCORDS

[10] FRY DELEGATE ADDRESSED THE CONFERENCE OF MEDITERRANEAN COUNTRIES

[11] YUGOSLAV FOREIGN MINISTER'S BILATERAL CONTACTS IN NEW YORK

[12] LILIC AND SESELJ IN RUNOFF

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

[14] CONTACT GROUP MINISTERIAL MEETING IN NEW YORK

[15] YUGOSLAV MINISTER MILUTINOVIC MEETS WITH PRIMAKOV, KISSINGER

[16] UNICEF-FRY: ENCOURAGING PROMISE

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

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

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

[20] YUGOSLAV FOREIGN MINISTER ON AGREEMENT FOR REPUBLIKA SRPSKA

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

[01] YUGOSLAVIA URGES PEACE, STABLE DEVELOPMENT AND GOOD-NEIGHBOURLY RELATIONS

Tanjug, 1997-09-27

Peace, stable development, good-neighbourly relations and all-round cooperation in the region are Yugoslavia's strategic commitments, Speaker of the Yugoslav Parliament's Chamber of Republics Srdja Bozovic said on Saturday at a ceremony at the Army of Yugoslavia Centre of Military Academies.

All well-meaning people at home and abroad know well that the FRY never proclaims any country or people beforehand as hostile or a potential aggressor, Bozovic said at the commencement of the senior classes of the Army of Yugoslavia's military academies.

"Peace, stable development, good-neighbourly relations and all-round cooperation in the region are our strategic commitments. That is why we rightly expect to have a more secure and better future. I sincerely hope that equality-based political, economic and cultural ties will at last be restored in the region in the interest of all peoples and states in the Balkans," the Yugoslav official stressed.

"The normalization of relations with old and new neighbours is the best guarantee of peace, progress and the Yugoslavia's faster inclusion in regional, European and world integration processes," Bozovic said and emphasised that was one of Yugoslavia's basic foreign-policy goals. Bozovic set out that Yugoslavia had renewed and intensified relations and cooperation with a large number of countries and international organizations thanks to its consistent policy aimed at achieving and maintaining peace. He emphasised that alongside of working for peace and cooperation among all nations, Yugoslavia must bear in mind that the "rivalry of European and world centres of power for the preservation of the existing and winning of new spheres of influence poses an objective threat to security and peace."

Bozovic said Yugoslavia insisted that the right to freedom be universal, that it be equal for all citizens and all peoples. "We highly appreciate the efforts and determination of the international community to back with its influence the hither to signed peace agreements, but we must always remember that the attitude of political centres of power and of the immediate and wider military environment toward our country primarily depends on our internal stability," Speaker Bozovic stressed.

"Consistent efforts for a peaceful resolution of all conflicts and constructive and mutually useful cooperation with all important international subjects do not eliminate the need for our state to develop and strengthen its own armed forces," Bozovic said.

"With its strength and the unity of its senior commanding personnel, our Army has helped prevent the war from spilling over onto the territory of the FR of Yugoslavia and has been an important factor of the country's overall stability. The success is all the greater since the tasks were performed with very limited material and financial resources," Speaker of the Yugoslav Parliament's Chamber of Republics Bozovic set out.

[02] REPUBLIKA SRPSKA PRESIDENT ON RESOLVING POLITICAL CRISIS

Tanjug, 1997-09-27

The people are happy with the manner in which the internal crisis in Republika Srpska is being resolved, and this is why it was worth it to go to Belgrade, to talk for five hours and to reach a good agreement enabling things to move in the right direction, Republika Srpska President Biljana Plavsic said on Saturday evening. In an interview to the Srpska TV from the Banja Luka studio, Plavsic said that the Serb people deserved to watch the same TV programs throughout Republika Srpska, in line with the Belgrade agreement. Plavsic urged the people to wait peacefully for the parliamentary elections, adding she saw the future Parliament as a body in which no party would have absolute majority and which will act under the rule of law. A division of Republika Srpska is out of the question, Plavsic said. The Dayton Agreement provides international guarantees for the continuous existence of Republika Srpska, Plavsic said.

[03] KRAJISNIK EXPRESSES BELIEF THAT AGREEMENT WILL BE RESPECTED

Tanjug, 1997-09-26

Guarantees that the Belgrade agreement will succeed are the signatures of Republika Srpska President Biljana Plavsic, Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic and my own, RS representative in the Bosnia-Herzegovina Presidency, Momcilo Krajisnik has said. He told the Serbian Television's political program Vidik that he would inform the RS Government and National Assembly about the details of the agreement. If the agreement is not respected, this would be a catastrophe, Krajisnik said and expressed readiness to do everything possible to secure its success. He expressed belief that Plavsic would also do the same and that the Contact Group would respect the agreement and dates of the elections to enable the people to decide on the overcoming of the crisis in RS.

The agreement has been signed, the dates of the elections have been set and if one of the sides decided not to agree to the holding of the elections, that person would lose his credibility with the people, Krajisnik said. He said that for him there is the National Assembly and that this is where the decision of self-dissolution should be made in order to enable the holding of the parliamentary elections.

"Whether the presidential elections are held, depends on Plavsic, while the elections for the RS President within the Bosnia-Herzegovina Presidency depends on me, because if we want these elections, then both of us have to resign," Krajisnik said. According to him, the new elections will resolve the issues of the police, Government and the current controversies, since it cannot be allowed for this situation to last as it leads to the division of RS."

"If there are problems with the elections, Plavsic and I agreed to contact each other and not to allow problems to escalate. The elections will result in a clear cut situation and bring a better future to RS and its people," Krajisnik said.

[04] KRAJISNIK AND KLEIN DISCUSS DAYTON AGREEMENT IMPLEMENTATION

Tanjug, 1997-09-27

The Republika Srpska member of the Bosnia-Herzegovina Presidency Momcilo Krajisnik and Assistant High Representative of the international community Jacques Klein discussed on Saturday in Pale the progress of the implementation of the Dayton Agreement. The three-hour meeting focused on several issues regarding the Agreement, including the laws on citizenship and travel documents, the design of banknotes and clarifying the position of Republika Srpska and its representatives in joint Bosnian institutions, Krajisnik said. Many of those issues can be resolved by holding similar meetings, Krajisnik said, and added that Republika Srpska wished to implement the Dayton Agreement. Krajisnik noted that he and Klein had resolved together the problem in Banja Luka and that such good cooperation was in the interest of peace and of the implementation of the Dayton Agreement. Klein described his meeting with Krajisnik as constructive and said that the latter had informed him of the Serb stances on several issues that should be resolved shortly. Joint endeavours will be pursued, Klein said and expressed hope that views on various issues would be coordinated, leading to definite solutions by next week.

The international community is determined to ensure the successful implementation of the Dayton Agreement, Klein said.

[05] OSCE WILL MONITOR ELECTIONS IN REPUBLIKA SRPSKA

Tanjug, 1997-09-26

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) decided on Friday after two days of deliberations to monitor the forthcoming parliamentary and presidential elections in Republika Srpska. The OSCE Standing Council agreed to monitor the parliamentary elections in Republika Srpska and any subsequent elections, a statement issued in Vienna says. Republika Srpska President Biljana Plavsic and Srpska member of the Bosnian Presidency Momcilo Krajisnik reached on Wednesday in Belgrade an agreement on resolving the crisis in Republika Srpska, with the mediation of Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic. In line with the agreement, parliamentary elections in Republika Srpska are scheduled for November 15 and the presidential election for December 7. The foreign ministers of the member- states of the Contact Group (US, Russia, France, Britain and Germany) recommended a few days ago in New York that elections in Republika Srpska should be monitored by the OSCE.

[06] UN OFFICIAL: BOSNIAN SERB AUTHORITIES MAKE CRUCIAL STEP TOWARDS PEACE

Tanjug, 1997-09-26

Republika Srpska authorities have reached an agreement with the UN mission to Bosnia on an urgent restructuring of the Bosnian Serb police, UN Secretary-General's special envoy Ambassador Kai Aide said on Friday. In a statement communicated to Tanjug, Aide said that the agreement was reached after the UN mission to Bosnia-Herzegovina had forwarded documents containing principles and guidelines of restructuring the Republika Srpska police force.

Aide said that Republika Srpska President Biljana Plavsic and Prime Minister Gojko Klickovic had given their unconditional consent to the UN mission. He also said that the agreement was seen as an important step ahead in the implementation of the Dayton Peace Accords, following several- month talks. Once the reform agreement is implemented, the Republika Srpska police will represent a major contribution to a greater stability in the territory that had been dominated by tension over the past few months, said Aide.

According to the statement, both Aide and the International Police Task Force Commissioner Manfred Seitner praised the Republika Srpska authorities' decision to take this crucial step towards securing peace and democracy in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Under the reconstruction programme, the Republika Srpska should have a 8, 500-strong police force, which is in line with Article 1. Annex 11 of the General Framework Agreement, urging UN assistance in setting up police forces that will operate in keeping with the internationally-recognized standards, said Aide.

Aide also said that the reconstruction aimed to coordinate activities of the Republika Srpska police with democratic principles of police work, which the Bosnian Serb state accepted. He said that the UN mission to Bosnia-Herzegovina would provide training and step up its support for the reconstruction of the Republika Srpska police.

[07] PRESIDENTS OF RUSSIA AND FRANCE ISSUE JOINT STATEMENT ON BOSNIA

Tanjug, 1997-09-26

President Boris Yeltsin of Russia and President Jacques Chirac of France on Friday expressed concern about the latest developments in Bosnia, saying the crisis in the Republika Srpska must be defused in a democratic manner. In a joint statement on Bosnia, issued after a meeting at Moscow's Kremlin, Yeltsin and Chirac said their states were ready to continue cooperation in the region within the Bosnia multinational force. They stressed that their countries would make a joint effort on the bilateral level as well as within the five-nation 'Contact Group' for Bosnia and other international bodies to help fully implement an agreement signed in Paris on December 14, 1995. The statement said Moscow and Paris treated all parties in Bosnia equally. It called on them to fulfil their obligations, especially as regards the functioning of common bodies of power, and to form local councils once returns of local elections held on September 13-14 were released. The statement said the crisis in the Republika Srpska must be resolved through elections, calling on Republika Srpska authorities to implement an agreement to this effect reached on September 24.

[08] YUGOSLAVIA WANTS FRIENDSHIP WITH ARAB COUNTRIES

Tanjug, 1997-09-27

"Yugoslavia is open to cooperation with the rest of the world and is committed to resuming the good and friendly relations it has had in the past with Jordan and other Arab countries," Yugoslav Information Secretary Goran Matic said in an interview published in the Jordanian daily "Al Aswaq".

In the interview given to the prestigious daily's special reporter in Belgrade, Minister Matic set out that Yugoslavia and Jordan were linked by traditionally friendly ties developed over decades.

Commenting the media coverage in Yugoslavia of the recent elections in Serbia, Matic said some newspapers had violated the profession's ethics, and underscored that the elections had shown that a political program implemented by a party was that party's best propaganda. The Jordanian daily gave prominence also to Secretary Matic's idea about an international code for the protection of journalists.

[09] FOREIGN MINISTER MILUTINOVIC: WE HAVE REACHED SERIES OF CONCRETE ACCORDS

Tanjug, 1997-09-27

Yugoslav Foreign Minister Milan Milutinovic told Tanjug in New York Friday evening that he was very pleased with a series of bilateral contacts he had with quite a number of his counterparts, who are also in New York for the U.N. General Assembly session. "They were very intensive contacts and were held in a very good atmosphere. We found quite a few common points and reached quite a few political accords, very concrete ones," Minister Milutinovic said.

"The U.N. are not a place for in-depth talks, but for political talks," Milutinovic set out. He said the contacts were used to define the directions of further bilateral cooperation, especially with countries with which Yugoslavia would not be able to have top-level contacts this year. The Yugoslav chief diplomat described as very important his meetings with the Contact Group ministers. "I have had meetings with representatives of all Contact Group members and of the European Union, and I have met also with ministers of far-away countries with which we are to achieve closer cooperation this year. We are discussing it now," Minister Milutinovic said. Milutinovic also singled out his meeting with the Albanian Foreign Minister, and noted that it was only natural that the meeting, the first of its kind after several decades, had taken place at the U.N. He stressed that his talks in New York had been focused on the situation in the Balkans, especially the implementation of the Dayton Agreement in Bosnia- Herzegovina. "A good part of the talks was devoted to that too, Yugoslavia being a co-author and guarantor of the Dayton Agreement," the Yugoslav Minister said. Milutinovic set out that, as opposed to the previous General Assembly session, at which the sanctions against Yugoslavia were also formally lifted, matters of cooperation were in the forefront now.

[10] FRY DELEGATE ADDRESSED THE CONFERENCE OF MEDITERRANEAN COUNTRIES

Tanjug, 1997-09-26

Addressing the the 2nd International Conference on economic cooperation and development of Mediterranean countries which was held in Kozani, Greece, Yugoslav Deputy Prime Minister Vojin Djukanovic said it was of vital importance to Yugoslavia to be taking part in the Conference on equal footing, saying this had enabled the country to contribute to the promotion of cooperation in the region of the Mediterranean Sea, the Balkans and the Black Sea. Djukanovic, who headed the Yugoslav delegation to the Conference, said that, in keeping with its commitment to a speedy reintegration into the world economy, Yugoslavia had begun implementing radical reforms and had undertaken ownership transformation. He said bringing into accord the country's regulations with those of the European Union, had made the country an attractive partner for foreign investment, joint ventures and joint appearance on third markets. Calling on foreign partners and investors to visit Yugoslavia and find about its business and investment potential, Djunic said 200 lucrative projects were waiting for prospective foreign investors to be carried out.

[11] YUGOSLAV FOREIGN MINISTER'S BILATERAL CONTACTS IN NEW YORK

Tanjug, 1997-09-27

Continuing a series of meetings with foreign ministers participating in the U.N. General Assembly session in New York, Yugoslav Foreign Minister Milan Milutinovic on Thursday met with his Greek, Spanish, Iranian and Turkish counterparts. In all meetings, interest was expressed in the promotion and upgrading of bilateral relations. The ministers discussed the international situation, primarily the implementation of the civilian aspect of the Dayton Peace Accords for Bosnia-Herzegovina. In a cordial and open meeting with Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos, Greece's support was confirmed to Yugoslavia's activities aimed at strengthening peace, security and cooperation in the region. The ministers also discussed concrete issues in the field of bilateral cooperation, placing special stress on economic issues.

The Milutinovic-Pangalos meeting was part of a continual dialogue on all levels, aimed at a further promotion of cooperation between the two traditionally friendly countries. Spanish Foreign Minister Abel Matutes stressed Yugoslavia's positive role in the recent holding of local elections in Bosnia and the importance of its role in the reaching of an agreement on settling the crisis in the Republika Srpska. In addition to the implementation of the Peace Agreement on Bosnia-Herzegovina, the two ministers also discussed the promotion of the Spanish-Yugoslav cooperation. Bilateral cooperation and possibilities for its promotion were also a topic of a meeting between Milutinovic and Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Harazi, who also discussed topical international issues. In a meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, both sides showed their interest in peace, security and stability in the Balkans. They also discussed regional activities and stressed the importance of cooperation among Balkan countries.

Milutinovic on Thursday also met with Russian Foreign Minister Yevgeni Primakov. Primakov welcomed the agreement on settling the crisis in the Republika Srpska, signed in Belgrade on Wednesday and praised Yugoslavia's role in its reaching. The agreement represents a significant step towards a positive development of the situation in the region, Primakov said. Milutinovic also met with Hungarian Foreign Minister Laszlo Kovacs. Promotion of overall relations was emphasised, especially those in the sphere of economy and the two ministers also reviewed plans for the conclusion of a number of bilateral agreements. The Yugoslav foreign minister on Thursday also met with Former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. Yugoslav Foreign Minister Milan Milutinovic and UN Security Council President Bill Richardson have discussed implementation of the civilian aspects of the Dayton Accord, security, stability and peace in the Balkans. As part of his encounters with a number of foreign ministers at the United Nations, Milutinovic met late on Friday with his Guinean counterpart Lamnin Kamara. The two ministers discussed bilateral cooperation, with special attention on science and technology, and agreed on joint preparation of a concrete program for boosting ties. Talks included the Non-aligned Movement, and the reactivating of Yugoslavia, a founding member, in its activities. Guinea supports Yugoslavia's full engagement in the activities of the Non-aligned Movement, said Kamara. Milutinovic engaged in a friendly conversation with New York rabbi Arthur Sneider, and met with other notable personalities.

[12] 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.

[13] 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.

[14] 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.

[15] 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.

[16] 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.

[17] 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.

[18] 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.

[19] 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.

[20] 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.

[21] 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."

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