Yugoslav Daily Survey, 97-10-22

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

Yugoslav Daily Survey

CONTENTS

[01] MINISTER MILUTINOVIC CONFERS WITH PERES

[02] YUGOSLAV BUSINESS DELEGATION VISITS EGYPT

[03] RECORD INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION IN SEPTEMBER

[04] SERBIAN MINISTER SAYS MONETARY POLICY GEARS TO A STABLE DINAR

[05] KRAJISNIK AND FROWICK DISCUSS POLLS

[06] ARBITRATION COMMISSION ON BRCKO TO PASS ITS DECISION BY MARCH 15, 1998

[07] MINISTER MILUTINOVIC ATTENDS OPENING OF THE CENTRE FOR PEACE

[08] YUGOSLAV BUSINESS DELEGATION VISITS PEKING

[09] SERBIAN INFORMATION MINISTER RECEIVED XINHUA DELEGATION

[10] VOJNOVIC CONFERS WITH U.S. AMBASSADOR GALBRAITH

[11] CONTACT GROUP URGES BOSNIAN LEADERS TO SECURE UNBIASED REPORTING

[12] YUGOSLAV REPRESENTATIVES AT WORLD PETROLEUM CONGRESS

[13] KRAJISNIK: PROBLEM OF RS TV MUST BE RESOLVED SPEEDILY

[14] MONTENEGRIN ELECTORAL COMMISSION ISSUES STATEMENT

[15] YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC RECEIVED KAI EIDE

[16] YUGOSLAV FOREIGN MINISTER ARRIVES IN TEL AVIV

[17] MINISTER VUKOVIC ON A VISIT TO CHINA

[18] KRAJISNIK MET WITH BRCKO ARBITRATOR OWEN

[19] MINISTER MISKOVIC ON SUCCESSFUL REALIZATION OF ECONOMIC POLICY

[20] XINHUA DELEGATION VISITS SERBIAN JOURNALISTS' ASSOCIATION

[01] MINISTER MILUTINOVIC CONFERS WITH PERES

Tanjug, 1997-10-20

Yugoslav Foreign Minister Milan Milutinovic met in Tel Aviv on Monday morning with prominent Israeli statesman, former Prime Minister and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shimon Peres.

Milutinovic and Peres conferred on the realization of the peace process in the Balkans and Middle East and possibilities for the essential promotion of relations between the FR of Yugoslavia and Israel and their peoples.

Milutinovic, who is on a two-day visit to Israel, will meet on Tuesday with President Ezer Weizmann and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Before today's meeting with Peres, at whose invitation he is in Israel, Milutinovic attended a wreath-laying ceremony at a monument in central Tel Aviv, where an Israeli extremist killed former Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, two years ago.

The commemoration was attended by more than 100 statesmen from all over the world. Their joint message was that the peace process in the Middle East cannot be halted.

[02] YUGOSLAV BUSINESS DELEGATION VISITS EGYPT

Tanjug, 1997-10-20

A delegation of Yugoslav businessmen, headed by Yugoslav Chamber of Commerce President Mihailo Milojevic, arrived in Cairo on Monday, at the invitation of President of Egypt's Federation of Trade Chambers, Mahmoud El- Arabia.

Milojevic and the delegation are to discuss the promotion and diversification of economic cooperation with partners in Egypt's Chamber of Trade and Industry and members of Cairo's and Alexandria's business associations.

The delegation is also to visit Yugoslav-Egyptian companies that co*produce cars and tractors, the industrial zone and a fair of products that Egypt exports.

The delegation, including representatives of the Serbian and Belgrade Chambers of Commerce and managers of the "Zastava", "Jugoauto", "Yumco", "Jastrebac", "Jugoexport" and "Invest-import" companies, "Jugobanka" and "Autobanka", and others, has received a warm welcome and is in the focus of local media attention.

[03] RECORD INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION IN SEPTEMBER

Tanjug, 1997-10-20

The Serbian Government Central Coordination Team for the recovery of the economy reviewed on Monday current economic activities, the Information Ministry has announced.

The meeting was chaired by Dragan Tomic - Minister Coordinator and President of the Central Coordination Team.

The Central Coordination Team pointed especially to the fact that in the past month a record level of industrial production and exports has been registered in Serbia in the last four years. A double digit industrial production growth rate of 13.1% has been registered compared to September last year.

Exports in the first three quarters this year totalled 1,565 million dollars, an increase of 27% compared to the same period last year, while the industrial product exports increased 40%. At the same time, imports increased 18%. Especially important is that production material and equipment account for over 80% of imports.

A detailed analysis has shown that production and export growth will be even more marked in thelast quarter this year. That is the reason why the Central Coordination Team has asked from all those who obtained export credits from the Development Fund to ensure their servicing and to repay the funds on time so that they can be reinvested into production.

It was also agreed to hold, in the shortest possible time, a session of business coordination teams attended by the directors of enterprises which have obtained credits so as to review the issue.

The Central Coordination Team assessed that the results achieved so far and the stability of production conditions are a realistic basis for the further growth of economic activities.

The further implementation of reforms, new measures and systemic solutions will create preconditions for maintaining next year the achieved momentum, of an industrial production growth of at least 10% and exports of 30% as compared to 1997, and achieve once again the highest rate of economic growth in Europe, the statement said.

[04] SERBIAN MINISTER SAYS MONETARY POLICY GEARS TO A STABLE DINAR

Tanjug, 1997-10-20

Serbian Minister Coordinator Dragan Tomic said on Monday evening that the Government would continue to pursue a monetary policy geared to a further stability of the national currency and production growth.

In a statement to Serbian Radio Television (RTS) prime time news programme, Tomic described as groundless some economists' claims that a devaluation of the dinar and rise in the inflation rate by the end of the year were imminent.

"I do not see a reason for speculation about price increases, when the production is rising, stocks piles are diminishing, sales contracts already exist for the current production and a major drop in fixed costs is expected to bring about lower prices", Tomic said.

"As for the dinar exchange rate, I believe that, if foreign currency reserves are rising, devaluation stands no chance, and all other things account for attempts to trigger destabilization for other reasons", he added.

Tomic said that economic trends to-date clearly indicated that money supply had not jeopardized the stability of the dinar. He said that export credits should not destabilize an economy and a currency.

[05] KRAJISNIK AND FROWICK DISCUSS POLLS

Tanjug, 1997-10-20

The (Bosnian Serb) Republika Srpska's member of Bosnia-Herzegovina's Presidency Momcilo Krajisnik received in Pale late on Monday the Chief of Mission of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Robert Frowick.

At the meeting, attended also by OSCE Ambassadors Vladimir Kuznetsov and Richard Elerkmann, the two sides discussed preparations for upcoming parliamentary elections in the Republika Srpska, the media and election rules.

Krajisnik said after the meeting that, under the Belgrade accord of September 1997, presidential and parliamentary elections were closely linked. He said that Republika Srpska President Biljana Plavsic had jeopardised the holding of presidential elections, adding that his partners in talks on Monday had tried to find a compromise solution.

He further said he was not happy about the position of the International Community's High Representative Carlos Westendorp, who had unlawfully seized Bosnian Serb Television transmitters and turned them over to President Plavsic.

Krajisnik said this had been done in order to help new forces take over power. This was a game both unfair and at odds with the laws of the Republika Srpska and the Dayton Accord, he said.

OSCE Mission Chief Frowick described his meeting with Krajisnik and his aides as good, adding it had related to parliamentary elections, scheduled to be held on November 23.

Frowick said that, under the Dayton Accord, the OSCE had been invited to help the parties exercise the freedom of speech, i.e., present their programmes in the election campaign.

[06] ARBITRATION COMMISSION ON BRCKO TO PASS ITS DECISION BY MARCH 15, 1998

Tanjug, 1997-10-20

The International Arbitration Commission on Brcko met on Monday afternoon to discuss issues of procedure and Court of Arbitration's future activities towards passing a final decision on the status of Brcko, the Republika Srpska Deputy Foreign Minister told Tanjug's correspondent.

Radomir Lukic said that deadlines had been set for the parties involved to submit to the Court their respective reports on the situation in Brcko, stating whether provisions of the Dayton Peace Accords and arbitrational decisions had been implemented and orders of Brcko's international Supervisor obeyed.

Lukic said that the Muslim-Croat Federation was to make its first submission on December 1, 1997, and that the Republika Srpska was due to reply by December 31, 1997. He also said that both sides were to make more submissions by January 25, 1998, covering all the developments taking place in the meantime.

An about ten-day-long hearing was scheduled to take place in Vienna on February 5, 1998, to establish evidence, after which the Court is to review and analyze the submitted reports and pass its final decision, he said.

According to an earlier decision by US mediator Robert Owen, the deadline for the final ruling on the status of Brcko is March 15, 1998, at the latest, said Lukic.

Also comprising the Bosnian Serb delegation were Republika Srpska Vice- President Dragoljub Mirjanic, Brcko Mayor Miodrag Pajic and attorney Nikola Kostic.

In February 1997, the International Arbitration Commission decided that Brcko should remain under Bosnian Serb control for another year, appointing as the town's Supervisor US diplomat Robert Farrand.

[07] MINISTER MILUTINOVIC ATTENDS OPENING OF THE CENTRE FOR PEACE

Tanjug, 1997-10-20

Yugoslav Foreign Minister Milan Milutinovic attended on Monday the opening of the Peres Centre for Peace in Tel Aviv, established by Israeli politician and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shimon Peres.

The Peres Centre for Peace will work towards promoting trust and all forms of cooperation between Israel and the Arab states, it was heard at the opening ceremony, which was attended by more than one hundred prominent figures from the world over.

Guests at the ceremony were greeted by Israeli President Ezer Weizmann.

The Board of Directors of the Centre will include Warren Christopher, John Major, Mikhail Gorbachev, Felipe Gonzalez, Javier Solana, Jimmy Carter, Vaclav Havel and Lionel Jospin.

Before meeting with Weizmann and Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Tuesday to discuss Yugoslav-Israeli relations and current international issues, Milutinovic will address a seminar at the Peres Centre on challenges to peace at the turn of the century. He will speak on the subject of peace talks directed at strengthening long-term common interests.

Also on Tuesday, Milutinovic is scheduled to meet with a delegation of an Association of Jews from former Yugoslavia, and to visit and lay a wreath at the Museum of the Holocaust.

[08] YUGOSLAV BUSINESS DELEGATION VISITS PEKING

Tanjug, 1997-10-20

A Yugoslav delegation, headed by Minister of Foreign Trade Borislav Vukovic, held talks in Peking on Monday with Deputy Chinese Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Chen Xinhua.

Chen co-chairs the two countries' Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation.

During the three-hour talks, the two sides examined concrete cooperation projects and the realisation of conclusions of the Commission's second session, held in Belgrade in late March 1997. Vukovic and Chen noted that the conclusions were being implemented satisfactorily.

They expressed readiness of their respective ministries to give maximum support to the establishment of contacts between companies in the two countries and to concrete cooperation projects that were about to be implemented.

The talks were attended by Yugoslav Ambassador to China Slobodan Unkovic, as well as by numerous businessmen from both countries.

Vukovic met on Monday also with Deputy Minister of Machine-Building Industry Shao Quihui, and with Guo Shuyan, Director of the biggest capital investment project in China.

[09] SERBIAN INFORMATION MINISTER RECEIVED XINHUA DELEGATION

Tanjug, 1997-10-18

Serbian Information Minister Radmila Milentijevic received on Saturday a three-member delegation of the Chinese news agency Xinhua headed by its Deputy Director and Editor-in-Chief Nan Zhenzhong, the Information Ministry announced.

The Chinese journalists are visiting Belgrade at the invitation of the Yugoslav news agency Tanjug.

Milentijevic said she was happy with the interest expressed by her guests in learning about the political, economic and cultural situation in Serbia, and informed them of the Serbian media situation and the degree of democratization achieved in the sector.

She especially focused on the Bill on public information being discussed by the Serbian Parliament. The draft is a result of a wide consensus and guarantees the freedom of the press and right of citizens to protection from misinformation and libel or slander, she said.

The meeting was attended by the Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to the FR of Yugoslavia Zhu Ankang and Tanjug Director Zoran Jevdjovic.

Both countries need and wish to develop organized exchange of information, it was underlined during the meeting.

[10] VOJNOVIC CONFERS WITH U.S. AMBASSADOR GALBRAITH

Tanjug, 1997-10-18

The situation in the U.N. protected Region of Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and West Srem (UNTAES) is extremely complex, regardless of some positive changes in the behaviour of Croatian authorities, Chairman of the Region's Joint Council of Municipalities Milos Vojnovic said on Saturday.

Vojnovic said after a meeting with U.S. Ambassador to Croatia Peter Galbraith that the talk was useful. He told the press that he had once again drawn attention to a whole range of problems in the Region, especially those relating to education, the judiciary, and local media.

Vojnovic said Galbraith viewed the situation from the position of his own country, for whom he set out it was of the utmost importance that the UNTAES mission succeed, even if only formally.

Ambassador Galbraith told the news conference that positive changes were evident in the Region, and pointed out Croatian Government's positive efforts, above all those invested through the Program of Reconciliation and in the area of education.

The U.S. Ambassador said the Region would fully open to the rest of Croatia on November 3, and emphasized that the Transitional Police would check the vehicles entering the Region so as to prevent the illegal entry of weapons.

Galbraith said the move should not effect any changes in the regime on the border toward Yugoslavia. The U.S. diplomat was unable to say how Serb refugees and displaced persons would cross the border since their documents carried their former addresses in Western Slavonia, Banija, Lika, Kordun and Northern Dalmatia.

[11] CONTACT GROUP URGES BOSNIAN LEADERS TO SECURE UNBIASED REPORTING

Tanjug, 1997-10-17

Representatives of the Contact Group for Bosnia met on Friday to discuss the role of media ahead of coming parliamentary elections in Bosnia, strongly urging officials of all three Bosnian peoples to secure unbiased reporting and equal participation of all political factors.

The Contact Group, comprised of the United States, Russia, Great Britain, France and Germany, called for the setting up of a new Board of Directors of the Bosnian Serb Radio Television (SRT) and the appointment of a new SRT Director.

A statement released after the meeting said these changes should guarantee new rules of conduct for journalists and other media employees. The statement also said that a clear reply was expected from Republika Srpska authorities.

US Special Envoy to Bosnia Robert Gelbard most explicitly urged that the current SRT Board of Directors be replaced, saying that SRT reporters reneged on their promise and were mostly using their broadcasts to incite ethnic and political conflicts.

International community's High Representative for Bosnia Carlos Westendorp said that European standards and unbiased reporting should be introduced throughout Bosnia as soon as possible.

According to the Contact Group representatives, an obvious headway had been made in Bosnia.

Gelbard said that Bosnia was on the right track of consolidating the democratic and economic systems and implementing the Dayton Peace Accords.

[12] YUGOSLAV REPRESENTATIVES AT WORLD PETROLEUM CONGRESS

Tanjug, 1997-10-17

The 15th World Petroleum Congress, attended by over 5,000 participants from 91 countries, including the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, has closed. The Yugoslav delegation was headed by Serbian Energy and Mining Minister Srboljub Stankovic.

In Peking Stankovic met with Chinese President Jiang Zemin and Prime Minister Li Peng. The Yugoslav delegation was also received by Peking Mayor Jia Dinglin.

The Yugoslav delegation also had an important meeting with the management of the Chinese National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) and its Vice-President Zhang Hong.

The Yugoslav delegation and CNPC confirmed mutual interest for developing cooperation. The Chinese side expressed great interest in the initiative that Yugoslav firms are included in the project for the exploitation of oil in Kazakhstan which was recently approved to CNPC.

The Yugoslav delegation also had numerous meetings with the delegations of different countries attending the Congress.

[13] KRAJISNIK: PROBLEM OF RS TV MUST BE RESOLVED SPEEDILY

Tanjug, 1997-10-18

The Bosnia-Herzegovina Presidency member from Republika Srpska Momcilo Krajisnik on Saturday wrote to the High Representative of the international community for Bosnia Carlos Westendorp, the member-states of the Contact Group and the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General Kai Eide, proposing a speedy solution to the problem of RS TV.

Krajisnik pointed to the need for initiating a dialogue between Republika Srpska TV representatives and representatives of the international community in order to reach agreement on a free and fair access of all concerned parties to the media, bearing in mind especially the forthcoming elections in Republika Srpska.

Krajisnik also wrote to Srpska President Biljana Plavsic urging immediate compliance with the provisions of the Belgrade agreement and a continuation of alternate broadcasts from the RS TV studios in Pale and Banja Luka.

[14] MONTENEGRIN ELECTORAL COMMISSION ISSUES STATEMENT

Tanjug, 1997-10-20

The Montenegrin Electoral Commission said on Monday that Milo Djukanovic had won more votes than Momir Bulatovic at the Sunday run-off presidential elections, according to unofficial results.

After counting the ballots of 93% of the electorate it was established that Djukanovic won 165,330 and Bulatovic 158,624 votes.

A total of 327,188 voters cast their ballots in the second round of presidential elections. More than 3,000 ballots were not valid.

[15] YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC RECEIVED KAI EIDE

Tanjug, 1997-10-17

Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic received on Friday the Special U.N. Envoy for Bosnia-Herzegovina Kai Eide.

Milosevic and Eide focused on current issues in the implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement in the territory of Bosnia-Herzegovina.

They said that efforts of all factors engaged in the peace process should be directed towards the realization in full and lasting protection of peace and stability, which primarily implies the equality of the entities and the creation of conditions for the speedy and balanced economic development. In this way, with the stimulation of economic and other forms of cooperation, it is possible to secure the establishing of mutual trust and prospects for the normal and prosperous life of citizens in this region.

It was emphasized that the U.N. mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina is carrying out important tasks in the civilian part of the peace agreement. In view of the joint interest that the peace process is carried out without any delays, Yugoslavia will continue supporting the realization of the Dayton Agreement with the aim of achieving a lasting peace with the consistent fulfilment of the role of the international factors.

[16] YUGOSLAV FOREIGN MINISTER ARRIVES IN TEL AVIV

Tanjug, 1997-10-20

Yugoslav Foreign Minister Milan Milutinovic arrived on Sunday on a two-day visit to Tel Aviv, where he will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Ezer Weizmann.

The talks are expected to focus on the Yugoslav-Israeli relations and topical international issues. Milutinovic will first meet with former Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres, the founder of the Peace Centre, which will be opened in Tel Aviv on Monday. The opening ceremony will be attended by officials from more than 100 countries.

The Yugoslav Foreign Minister will on Tuesday deliver a speech on peace talks aimed at strengthening common long-term interests, within a Seminar on the challenges of peace ahead of the year 2000, which will be organised at the Centre.

Milutinovic will lay a wreath at the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Jerusalem, and will meet with representatives of Jews from the former Yugoslavia and the Yugoslav Honourary Consul to Israel.

[17] MINISTER VUKOVIC ON A VISIT TO CHINA

Tanjug, 1997-10-19

Yugoslav Minister for Foreign Trade Borislav Vukovic arrived on a working visit to China on Sunday.

During the visit, Vukovic will meet with senior officials of the Chinese Ministry for Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, the Ministry of the Chemical Industry, and the Ministry of Machine-building Industries. The Yugoslav Minister will also confer with top officials of the major Chinese corporations SINOCHEM and CNCCC, as well as the leaders of the corporation in charge of the project "Three Gorges." The Minister is accompanied by a group of Yugoslav businessmen and economic experts.

[18] KRAJISNIK MET WITH BRCKO ARBITRATOR OWEN

Tanjug, 1997-10-17

Republika Srpska representative in Bosnia's three-man Presidency Momcilo Krajisnik received in Pale on Friday international arbitrator for Brcko Roberts Owen.

Also present was R.S. representative in the Brcko arbitration process Radomir Lukic who told reporters that the meeting had been held ahead of a Conference on the implementation of the Dayton Peace Accords and arbitration over Brcko, opening in Vienna on Monday.

Lukic said the meeting had touched also on procedural issues within the arbitration process, saying every party involved in the process had the right to request, between December 1997 and February 1998, that a decision taken be changed.

He said Owen expected requests for the change of a decision and that he was preparing for the arbitration.

Owen declined comment on the meeting.

[19] MINISTER MISKOVIC ON SUCCESSFUL REALIZATION OF ECONOMIC POLICY

Tanjug, 1997-10-19

The basic goals of the economic policy for this year are being realized successfully and they will probably not be changed in the plans for next year, Yugoslav Internal Trade Minister Milorad Miskovic said at a panel organized by Tanjug.

"Prices and the rate of exchange are very stable. The rate of inflation so far is about 3%. In the first two weeks of October, retail prices went up 0.5-1%. All this indicates that Yugoslavia will close the year with an inflation of under 4%. This will place our economy among the very stable ones, especially with respect to countries in transition are concerned," Miskovic said.

Miskovic said he did not see any economic reason for prices to increase any further by the year's end. The Federal Government, moreover, is doing its utmost to re*examine customs tariffs and fiscal burdens on the economy to enable it to get its production and export in full swing, he said.

Miskovic said that, viewed economically, there had been no real reason for the current increase in the black market rate of exchange. That rate is, finally, peripheral to the gyro and official rates, he said.

The changes in that market were caused by the psychological effect regarding the elections in Serbia and the increased money mass, he said.

Both the federal and republican governments will try to return this rate to the pre-October level with economic measures - primarily withdrawals of surplus money mass and making available hard currency for free purchase through commercial banks.

One of the main tasks of the monetary-credit policy for the year 1998 will be to maintain the stable rate of exchange of the dinar at this year's level, he said.

At the initiative of the Chambers of Commerce of Yugoslavia and Serbia, a re*examination of customs tariffs is under way, he said. The idea is to reduce customs on raw materials and semi-products which are lacking or insufficient in the country in order to increase the competitiveness of domestic goods on the home and world markets.

This year's increase of industrial production will not reach the planned 13.9%, but will probably be recorded at 8-9%, he said.

The domestic market is very stable regarding articles and prices. The year has been a good one, so that there can be no surprises in the agriculture- food department, either, said Miskovic.

[20] XINHUA DELEGATION VISITS SERBIAN JOURNALISTS' ASSOCIATION

Tanjug, 1997-10-19

Delegation of the Chinese news agency Xinhua, headed by its Deputy Director and Editor-in-Chief Nan Zhenzhong, met on Sunday representatives of the Serbian Journalists' Association headed by its President Milorad Komrakov.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the Yugoslav news agency Tanjug, host to the Chinese delegation during its visit to the FR of Yugoslavia.

Nan, who is also Vice-President of the Chinese Journalists' Association, said that Serbian media were reporting objectively on reforms under way in the People's Republic of China and that Chinese journalists were reporting in a truthful and unbiased manner on the developments in the former and present Yugoslavia both today and during the period of anti-Yugoslav sanctions.

Nan especially pointed to the character and the strength of the Serbian people in preserving its independence and overcoming all difficulties.

Komrakov informed the Chinese delegation of the activities of his Association in protecting the rights of journalists and on its tasks as envisaged by the proposed Bill on public information.

Both sides pointed to the need for expanding the cooperation between the two Associations, and Nan invited the Serbian Association to send a delegation to visit China soon.

Representatives of the Serbian Association expressed readiness to sign a Protocol on cooperation and friendship with the Chinese Association during the visit.

The Xinhua delegation ended on Sunday afternoon its four-day visit to Belgrade and left for China.

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