Yugoslav Daily Survey, 97-10-24

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Yugoslav Daily Survey

CONTENTS

[01] MINISTER MILUTINOVIC MEETS WITH WEIZMANN

[02] MINISTER MILUTINOVIC: DAYTON AGREEMENT REPRESENTS THE BASIS OF PEACE

[03] YUGOSLAVIA AND CROATIA SIGN AGREEMENT ON NORMALISATION OF RAIL TRANSPORT

[04] KOSTADINOVIC: RAIL LINK WITH CROATIA WILL BOOST ECONOMIC COOPERATION

[05] RUSSIA FOR EQUAL APPROACH TO ALL SIDES IN REPUBLIKA SRPSKA

[06] REPUBLIKA SRPSKA POLICE INVESTIGATES EXPLOSION IN BIJELJINA

[07] SERB TELEVISION DOES NOT BROADCAST FROM THE PALE STUDIO

[08] BULATOVIC'S CAMPAIGN STAFF COMPLAINS OF NUMEROUS ELECTION MANIPULATIONS

[09] U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL CALLS ON CROATIA TO OBSERVE AGREEMENT

[10] MINISTER VUKOVIC MEETS WITH CHINESE FOREIGN TRADE MINISTER WU JI

[11] MINISTER MILUTINOVIC: SUCCESSFUL VISIT TO ISRAEL

[12] MINISTER VUKOVIC MEETS WITH CHINESE VICE PREMIER LI

[13] PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN SERBIA SET FOR DECEMBER 7

[14] MONTENEGRIN ELECTORAL COMMISSION ANNOUNCES ELECTION RESULTS

[15] YUGOSLAVIA AND MACEDONIA SIGN AGREEMENT ON STANDARDISATION

[16] BULATOVIC ALLEGES DJUKANOVIC SNATCHED VICTORY BY FORCE

[17] BULATOVIC COMPLAINS OF IRREGULARITIES AND ABUSES OF ELECTION PROCESS

[18] YUGOSLAV BUSINESS DELEGATION VISITS PEKING

[19] RECORD INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION IN SEPTEMBER

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

[21] KRAJISNIK AND FROWICK DISCUSS POLLS

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

[23] MINISTER MILUTINOVIC CONFERS WITH PERES

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

[25] YUGOSLAV BUSINESS DELEGATION VISITS EGYPT

[26] MINISTER MISKOVIC ON SUCCESSFUL REALIZATION OF ECONOMIC POLICY

[27] SERBIAN INFORMATION MINISTER RECEIVED XINHUA DELEGATION

[28] MINISTER VUKOVIC ON A VISIT TO CHINA

[29] YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC RECEIVED KAI EIDE

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

[01] MINISTER MILUTINOVIC MEETS WITH WEIZMANN

Tanjug, 1997-10-21

Yugoslav Foreign Minister Milan Milutinovic met in Jerusalem with Israeli President Ezer Weizmann to discuss current international topics and Yugoslav-Israeli relations.

Milutinovic and Weizmann considered the current situation in the Middle East and the Balkans and concluded that good-neighbourly cooperation, mutual tolerance and peace aspirations are the necessary conditions for the successful realization of the peace processes in both regions.

Weizmann and Milutinovic noted that the Yugoslav-Israeli relations are good and friendly. They emphasized their mutual wish and readiness for their comprehensive promotion in all spheres, especially in the economic sphere.

[02] MINISTER MILUTINOVIC: DAYTON AGREEMENT REPRESENTS THE BASIS OF PEACE

Tanjug, 1997-10-21

Yugoslav Foreign Minister Milan Milutinovic said in the International Peace Centre that, for the FR of Yugoslavia, the Dayton Agreement represents the basis of peace in the Balkans and of European stability and cooperation.

As the signatory of the Dayton Agreement, Yugoslavia is fulfilling all obligations and giving a significant contribution to the stabilization of the situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina and the process of strengthening trust and cooperation in the region, Milutinovic told a Seminar on peace challenges at the end of the century.

Milutinovic said that Yugoslavia, in the interest of stability in the Balkans, urges the normalization and the complete development of relations with the former Yugoslav republics and that it had launched a number of initiatives in this respect.

The strengthening of these relations was and remains the priority of the Yugoslav policy of peace, stability and good-neighbourly relations, Milutinovic said. He recalled that Yugoslavia has supported U.S. and E.U. initiatives on regional cooperation in southeast Europe.

Openness of borders and comprehensive cooperation are, in our view, the only way for removing the division of the Balkans into interest spheres as this has always been the reason of instability and conflicts, Milutinovic said. He set out that this is the condition for the inclusion of the Balkan region into all European integration processes.

Milutinovic said that Yugoslavia firmly believes that the future of southeast Europe should be determined by the long term and joint interests of its nations and citizens and that Europe and the world should give their strong political and material support to this.

Hailing the opening of the Peres Peace Centre, which will primarily urge confidence building and the strengthening of trust between Israel and the Arab countries, Milutinovic said that past experiences in the resolution of the Middle East crisis show that successful can only be the path which unites joint interests through negotiations.

After the ceremony, the Yugoslav Foreign Minister also visited the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Jerusalem.

[03] YUGOSLAVIA AND CROATIA SIGN AGREEMENT ON NORMALISATION OF RAIL TRANSPORT

Tanjug, 1997-10-21

Officials of Yugoslav and Croatian railways signed on Tuesday an Agreement on the normalisation of rail transport on border lines between Sid and Tovarnik, and Bogojevo and Erdut.

The agreement was signed by Svetolik Kostadinovic, Director General of the Association of Yugoslav Railways, and Marjan Klaric, Director General of Croatian Railways. The agreement will go into force on November 11, 1997.

Two scheduled trains will run from Vinkovci on the border line linking Sid and Tovarnik and passengers will change trains at Sid for further destinations. Two trains will run also on the line liking Bogojevo and Erdut, with passengers changing trains at Bogojevo.

The agreement envisages that one regular train and, if necessary, one special train will transport goods between Sid and Vinkovci.

The signing of the agreement will greatly contribute to the positive development of Yugoslav-Croatian relations and will help further stabilise the situation and create conditions for the development of other forms of cooperation.

[04] KOSTADINOVIC: RAIL LINK WITH CROATIA WILL BOOST ECONOMIC COOPERATION

Tanjug, 1997-10-21

The Agreement on the normalisation of rail transport between Yugoslavia and Croatia will boost economic activities and improve links between the people living both in the region and elsewhere in Europe, Svetolik Kostadinovic, Director General of the Association of Yugoslav Railways, said on Tuesday.

Kostadinovic told Tanjug that the signing of the agreement earlier in the day and the normalisation of transport had created conditions for re- activating this major European route and for transport of goods and passengers between western and southern Europe and further on to the Middle East.

"In this way, it will be possible for Yugoslavia to increase trade and resume economic relations both with Croatia and west European countries," said Kostadinovic. He said the route was important also to Europe, saying this was confirmed at a recent Pan-European Ministerial Conference on Transport in Helsinki when the route was defined as Corridor Ten.

"Consequently, favourable conditions will be created for a speedier development of this rail link within the corridor in the foreseeable future, " he said.

Kostadinovic said that, as of next year, new trains would be introduced on the Belgrade-Zurich and the Belgrade-Munich lines that would run according to a new timetable.

He said transit transport would also be boosted, saying that about 300,000 tons of goods would be transported from Italy, Switzerland and France to southeastern Europe via the Tovarnik-Sid border line already next year.

"The agreement confirms that Yugoslavia is being re-affirmed as the central country in the region situated on major European arteries running to southeastern Europe and the Middle East," he concluded.

[05] RUSSIA FOR EQUAL APPROACH TO ALL SIDES IN REPUBLIKA SRPSKA

Tanjug, 1997-10-21

Russia on Tuesday warned that it was necessary to secure equal access to radio and TV stations to all parties during the election campaign in Republika Srpska.

Speaking at a press conference on Moscow, official Foreign Ministry Spokesman Gennady Tarasov also appealed to international representatives in Bosnia to take an equal stand toward all interested sides in Republika Srpska.

He said the realization and coordination of deadlines for parliamentary and later other elections in Republika Srpska were the rational democratic path to overcome the political crisis in the Republic and secure the normal functioning of its constitutional institutions.

Such an assessment pertains to the recently reached agreement between rival political forces of Bosnian Serbs on the realization of parliamentary elections on November 23, Tarasov said.

He also said it was encouraging that practical preparations for the upcoming elections had begun without delay and that all major parties, including the Serb Democratic Party, had been registered within the set deadline.

Tarasov called on all political forces and their followers to demonstrate the responsibility and high activity in the election campaign which, he said, was so important for Republika Srpska.

He especially emphasized how necessary it was for the campaign to pass in a fair struggle and a peaceful atmosphere, without any use of force.

[06] REPUBLIKA SRPSKA POLICE INVESTIGATES EXPLOSION IN BIJELJINA

Tanjug, 1997-10-21

The Republika Srpska Interior Ministry said on Tuesday that extensive activities were under way to discover the perpetrators of the terrorist act on Monday, when the Srpska Radio Television (SRT) transmitter in Bijeljina was completely destroyed.

The police statement said the diversion was carried out under instructions of the breakaway illegal Interior Ministry leadership of Banja Luka, with help and cooperation of their followers in Bijeljina.

The perpetrators are individuals who until recently held prominent posts in state organs and the leadership of the Serb Democratic Party, and who are now doing their utmost to try to prove the inability of these authorities to function, having chosen the other option, the statement said.

The diversion in Bijeljina is again meant to be an appeal for help to the international Stabilization Force (SFOR) and the International Police Force (IPTF), who will, under the pretext of the alleged inability and inefficiency of the Republika Srpska Police, try to seize this institution, as they had done on a number of occasions so far, the Republika Srpska Interior Ministry statement said.

[07] SERB TELEVISION DOES NOT BROADCAST FROM THE PALE STUDIO

Tanjug, 1997-10-21

The channel over which the Serb Radio-Television studio in Pale used to broadcast its programs has for the past three days been broadcasting only a message to the viewers from the office of the High Representative of the international community.

The message, shown in written form on the screen and read by an announcer, says that at the request of the Office of the High Representative, SFOR troops carried out on October 18 a technical inspection of the transmitter at Veliki Zep and discovered that unidentified Republika Srpska citizens had sabotaged the transmitter. Broadcasts of the Serb RTV from the Banja Luka studio will be resumed as soon as possible, the message says.

After a 15-day strike in protest against a ban on the broadcasts of programs from the studio in Pale and the takeover of transmitters by SFOR, employees of the Pale studio resumed work and broadcast programs for two days over the Veliki Zep transmitter. The broadcasts were banned by the High Representative on October 18.

[08] BULATOVIC'S CAMPAIGN STAFF COMPLAINS OF NUMEROUS ELECTION MANIPULATIONS

Tanjug, 1997-10-21

Montenegrin presidential candidate Momir Bulatovic's campaign staff on Tuesday sent a letter to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) observer mission to Montenegro's presidential elections, complaining of numerous irregularities in Sunday's run*off.

Bulatovic's campaign staff reported a large number of irregularities, infringements of the law, manipulations and abuse, which most seriously jeopardized the regularity of the elections.

The staff complained against the failure to secure general conditions for holding regular elections and numerous violations, saying there is irrefutable evidence that the still unofficial returns did not reflect the free will of the Montenegrin electorate.

No elections based on breaking the law and violating people's constitutionally guaranteed rights and on abuse of power in the state bodies, especially the police, and violation of people's freedom to express their will in the elections, can be declared regular in any country, said the letter signed by Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) Vice-President and Yugoslav Parliament's Upper House Speaker Srdja Bozovic.

By means of pressure and an unprecedented media blockade, the free expression of people's will was so threatened in these elections that they have been unlawfully arrested and deprived of their rights to work, free speech and free press, the letter said.

[09] U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL CALLS ON CROATIA TO OBSERVE AGREEMENT

Tanjug, 1997-10-21

The Croatian Government has not fulfilled its obligations regarding some aspects of the Basic Agreement on Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Srem, said the Security Council Presidential Statement adopted on Monday.

The statement supported the assessment of U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan that Croatia had to fulfil its obligations set out in the agreement as soon as possible.

The Croatian Government must immediately put an end to the media campaign against ethnic groups and urgently remove all administrative and other obstacles to the return of refugees and displaced persons.

All this must be realised as soon as possible in order to fulfil conditions for ending the U.N. Transitional Administration of the region, the statement said.

The U.N. Security Council believes that the same number of international civilian police and military observers should remain in Eastern Slavonia until the end of the UNTAES mission.

The statement voiced concern because Zagreb had not fulfilled its obligations, but it also praised some progress Croatia had made until now. It mentioned Croatia's good cooperation with the Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in The Hague.

The Serb population of the region was called upon to participate in the reintegration more actively.

The U.N. Security Council said that all local governments in the region, especially in Vukovar, must start functioning normally at once.

The statement said that Croatia had enough time to fulfil its obligations until January 15, when it should restore control over the Srem-Baranja region. The U.N. Security Council will closely follow and discuss the entire situation in early December, when the U.N. Secretary-General will submit another report.

[10] MINISTER VUKOVIC MEETS WITH CHINESE FOREIGN TRADE MINISTER WU JI

Tanjug, 1997-10-21

Chinese Foreign Trade Minister Wu Ji talked with the Yugoslav Foreign Trade Minister Borislav Vukovic who is heading a delegation of Yugoslav businessmen on a visit to that country, the Chinese agency Xinhua reported. Wu Ji urged the intensification of cooperation with Yugoslavia and voiced satisfaction with the speedy recovery and development of Chinese-Yugoslav trade.

As an example of successful bilateral cooperation, Wu Ji cited the exchange of experts, joint projects and the establishment of contacts between the firms of the two countries. Wu also stressed that the economies of the two countries were complementary, which increases chances for successful economic cooperation.

Wu Ji stressed that businessmen from the two countries should develop cooperation in accordance with the principles and rules of market economy.

The Chinese agency quoted Vukovic as saying that the FR of Yugoslavia attaches great importance to economic cooperation with the People's Republic of China, because it has a direct effect on improving the standard of living in Yugoslavia. He stressed that China's membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO) will contribute not only to the development of the Chinese economy, but also to the development of the world economy in general.

[11] MINISTER MILUTINOVIC: SUCCESSFUL VISIT TO ISRAEL

Tanjug, 1997-10-21

Yugoslav Foreign Minister Milan Milutinovic said he was very happy with the results of his two-day visit to Israel during which he met President Ezer Weizmann and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The talks focused on the two countries' readiness to continue developing bilateral relations, Milutinovic said, underlining that his visit was the first of a Yugoslav Foreign Minister to Israel since its creation.

Noting that the appointment of ambassadors to Belgrade and Tel Aviv has finalized the process of normalizing bilateral relations, Milutinovic underlined that the relations would continue developing in a spirit of friendship between the two countries.

Both countries have reaffirmed their intention to promote all forms of cooperation, especially as regards economy, by intensifying trade, business contacts and higher forms of cooperation, Milutinovic said.

In order to ensure the stability of bilateral cooperation, it was agreed to accelerate the drawing up of several important inter-state agreements - on encouraging and protecting investments, avoidance of double taxation, air traffic and cooperation in agriculture, the Minister said.

Taking into account that Yugoslavia and Israel are both countries of the eastern Mediterranean region, they should establish better coordination in the process of regional cooperation, by intensifying economic cooperation between European states on one hand and the states of northern Africa and the Middle East on the other, Milutinovic said. In this regard, it was underlined that Yugoslavia should formally join the process, keeping in mind especially its contribution as a Balkan state to the overall stability and cooperation in the Mediterranean, he noted.

The Israeli leaders highly appreciated Yugoslavia's contribution to the establishment of peace in the region and its role in the successful implementation of peace agreements, Milutinovic said.

In this regard, the Israeli leaders pointed to the need for Yugoslavia's full reintegration into international organizations and institutions in line with the interests and needs of the entire international community, the Minister said.

Referring to the peace process in the Middle East, Milutinovic said he hoped that all sides would pursue patiently their endeavours in the search for lasting peace and cooperation.

In this regard, Milutinovic said he expected that the Shimon Peres Center for Peace, whose opening he attended, would make an outstanding contribution to the realization of the ideals to which the people of the region aspire.

[12] MINISTER VUKOVIC MEETS WITH CHINESE VICE PREMIER LI

Tanjug, 1997-10-21

Visiting Yugoslav Minister of Foreign Trade Borislav Vukovic was received in Beijing by Chinese Vice Premier Li Lanqing. During the ensuing friendly talk, the two sides expressed pleasure at the successful speedy resumption and development of bilateral economic cooperation.

Li, who is a permanent member of the Chinese Communist Party Politburo, expressed the Chinese leadership's full support for the development of the two countries' economic relations, as an important part of their excellent overall relations.

Vukovic also met with Deputy Minister of the Chemical Industry Li Yongwu, and discussed with him current cooperation in this field and prospects for its expansion.

In the evening, Vukovic met with Chairman of the Sinocham Oil Corporation Zheng Dunxun. The two sides discussed the implementation of an arrangement between Sinocham and Yugoslavia's NIS Jugopetrol, which is the backbone of the two countries' economic cooperation, and upheld its further implementation.

[13] PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN SERBIA SET FOR DECEMBER 7

Tanjug, 1997-10-21

Serbian Assembly Speaker Dragan Tomic scheduled the presidential election in the Republic for December 7. Under the decision, activities related to the election will begin on October 22.

The presidential election will be conducted by election authorities in keeping with the provisions of the Law on Election of President of the Republic, the released statement said.

[14] MONTENEGRIN ELECTORAL COMMISSION ANNOUNCES ELECTION RESULTS

Tanjug, 1997-10-21

Despite numerous grave irregularities in the election process, which have been documented by the campaign staff of presidential candidate Momir Bulatovic, the Montenegrin Central Electoral Commission announced at a news conference in Podgorica, late on Tuesday, that Milo Djukanovic has won the October 19 presidential run*off in this Yugoslav republic.

According to the Commission's figures, Djukanovic received 174,745 votes, as against Bulatovic's 169,257.

The Montenegrin electorate numbers 470,491 voters.

The Central Electoral Commission did not specify the number of votes cast, saying only that there were 344,002 valid ballots.

The Commission representatives said they had turned down two complaints lodged by the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) headed by Momir Bulatovic. The one related to the composition of boards of invigilators was dismissed as untimely, and the other concerning voters' registers, was dismissed on the grounds that the Commission was not competent to deal with it. The Commission took the decisions with 6 ayes and 3 nays.

[15] YUGOSLAVIA AND MACEDONIA SIGN AGREEMENT ON STANDARDISATION

Tanjug, 1997-10-21

The Yugoslav Standardisation Bureau and Macedonia's Standardisation and Meteorology Bureau signed in Skopje on October 17 an Agreement on cooperation in the domain, the Yugoslav Information Secretariat said on Tuesday.

The agreement was signed by Bogic Scepanovic, Director of the Yugoslav Standardisation Bureau, and Risto Josifovski, Director of the Macedonian Standardisation and Meteorology Bureau. It was signed within the implementation of a Trade Agreement that the Yugoslav and Macedonian governments signed on September 4, 1996, and is in keeping with Article 7. of the Agreement on the normalisation of relations between Yugoslavia and Macedonia.

[16] BULATOVIC ALLEGES DJUKANOVIC SNATCHED VICTORY BY FORCE

Tanjug, 1997-10-21

Candidate of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) for President of Montenegro Momir Bulatovic said on Tuesday that the "results of the presidential run*off could not and should not be recognised, as the polls were held in irregular and undemocratic conditions."

"Facts established to date make it clear that there was an unprecedented swindle with the votes" in the Sunday polls, said Bulatovic. He was speaking to about 10,000 protesters gathered outside the Presidency Building in the Montenegrin capital of Podgorica.

He stressed that the state apparatus, media and police had helped his rival Milo Djukanovic win the votes. However, Bulatovic added, this election robbery which had prevented the people from freely expressing their will, just like any other robbery, could not go unpunished in Montenegro, nor would the election results won in this way be accepted by the people.

He informed the assembled multitude about the view expressed at the Tuesday session of the DPS Main Board that there was clear evidence of election fraud.

He said that the Main Board had decided to request an annulment of the results, and that it was making an effort to keep the indignation of the people within democratic bounds. He therefore asked the protesters to be dignified in their future gatherings, which would begin every day at 3 p.m. outside the Presidency Building, so that their demands for truth, justice and civic freedom should conform to the modern democratic principles.

"Our election victory has been snatched away from us by force," he said, stressing that this was why the elections were not over yet, and that only the people in a democratic way could decide who should have the right to govern the state. This must not and shall not be decided by force, pressure and blackmail, according to Bulatovic.

Numerous facts were quoted at the rally about flagrant violations of the law in the run*off polls perpetrated in order to give an advantage to Milo Djukanovic. The facts are listed in an official complaint against the irregularities, filed by the DPS with the monitors of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

[17] BULATOVIC COMPLAINS OF IRREGULARITIES AND ABUSES OF ELECTION PROCESS

Tanjug, 1997-10-21

Candidate in the presidential election in Montenegro, outgoing President Momir Bulatovic, proposed to the Republican Electoral Commission to refrain from making public the final results of the run*off election.

Bulatovic said in a public statement that activities had been undertaken with republican institutions to prove irregularities and abuses that had been observed during the election process.

"We hope that the other side too, which verbally and formally favours the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, will accept our proposal to include federal institutions, such as the Yugoslav Supreme Court and the Yugoslav Constitutional Court, in the endeavours to resolve the problem by ruling whether the law had been respected in Montenegro", Bulatovic said.

All foreign Embassies in Yugoslavia have been informed of the irregularities during the election, Bulatovic said and invited international institutions to send their representatives to determine the truth in an objective and unbiased manner.

[18] 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.

[19] 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.

[20] 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.

[21] 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.

[22] 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.

[23] 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.

[24] 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.

[25] 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.

[26] 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.

[27] 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.

[28] 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.

[29] 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.

[30] 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.

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