Yugoslav Daily Survey, 98-01-12

Yugoslav Daily Survey Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

Yugoslav Daily Survey

CONTENTS

[01] YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT SESSION - STATEMENT

[02] SUPREME DEFENSE COUNCIL HOLDS SESSION

[03] TRANSPORTATION WILL NOT HINDER EXPORT OF COMMODITIES

[04] FOR THE PROVISIONAL FINANCING OF FRY - 2.423 BILLION DINARS

[05] YUGOSLAV OFFICIAL, FRENCH AMBASSADOR, DISCUSS COOPERATION

[06] MILUTINOVIC NO LONGER PERFORMS THE DUTIES OF FEDERAL MINISTER

[07] FOREIGN PARTNERS INTERESTED IN INVESTING IN TOURISM IN SERBIA

[08] BELGRADE, CONAKRY FAIRS SIGN COOPERATION ACCORD

[09] ANNAN PROPOSES EXTENTION OF U.N. MISSION ON PREVLAKA PROMONTORY

[10] UNTAES WALKER SAYS INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE REMAINS IN SREM-BARANYA

[11] PRESIDENT MILUTINOVIC RECEIVES WILLIAM WALKER

[12] YUGOSLAVIA TAKES PART IN UTRECHT TOURIST EXCHANGE

[01] YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT SESSION - STATEMENT

Tanjug, 1998-01-08

The Yugoslav Government at its session on Thursday, presided over by Prime Minister Radoje Kontic, drafted a law on ratifying Accords with the Russian Federation on military-technical cooperation and with Jordan on cooperation in the fields of health and medicine, the Yugoslav Information Secretariat said. The Accord on military-technical cooperation with the Russian Federation was signed on December 3, 1997, during the visit of Yugoslav Prime Minisrter Radoje Kontiuc to Moscow. The ratifying of the Accord in Yugoslav Parliament, will create conditions for cooperation between FR Yugoslavia and the Russian Federation in the development, production and marketing of armaments and military technology, conversion of the military industry, and joint activitis on third markets. The Government also reviewed the implications of the suspension of autonomous trade measures by the European Union. Confirming the commitment of Yugoslavia to further normalize economic and overall relations with the European Union, the Governmemnt charged competent bodies with proposing concrete measures for increasing exports, also on European Union markets. In accordance with international norms and the Yugoslav legislation, the Government adopted a decision on criteria for assessing the security of nuclear facilities. The platform was determined for conducting negotiations and concluding an agreement with the Government of the Republic of India on avoiding double taxation. The Yugoslav delegation at these negotiations, due to be held in Belgrade January 12-16, will be headed by Yugoslav Finance Deputy Minister Miodrag Bulatovic, the statement said.

[02] SUPREME DEFENSE COUNCIL HOLDS SESSION

Tanjug, 1998-01-08

A session of the Supreme Defense Council was held in Belgrade on Thursday, presided over by the President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Slobodan Milosevic, the President's Military Cabinet said. The Council reviewed at its session today current issues of financing the Yugoslav Army and the Yugoslav Ministry of Defense. The Supreme Defense Council also reviewed other issues from its constitutional competency. Taking part in the work of the session was Serbian President Milan Milutinovic, Montenegrin President Momir Bulatovic, Yugoslav Prime Minister Radoje Kongic, Yugoslav Defense Minister Pavle Bulatovic, Yugoslav Army Chief of Staff General Momcilo Perisic, and the Secretary of the Supreme Defense Council, General Slavoljub Susic, the statement said.

[03] TRANSPORTATION WILL NOT HINDER EXPORT OF COMMODITIES

Tanjug, 1998-01-08

Transportation will not hinder the export of Yugoslav commodities this year, members of the Yugoslav Chamber of Commerce Board for transport and communications said on Thursday. Goods are conveyed from Yugoslavia to western Europe mainly by road. However, it has become increasingly difficult to obtain international license for road transportation. Part of the commodities must be transported by rail or water. Some members of the Board proposed that a scientific study be made to adapt transportation to meet the demands of western Europe. This mode calls for combining means of transportation, with goods going directly from factories to trucks, and thence to tankers, to be conveyed by rail or water.

Part of the cargo is directed, for environmental reasons, to the huck-pack rail system, or the river and sea RO-RO system. Other members of the Board see no reason for any previous preparations and urge that the new mode be put into effect immediately.

[04] FOR THE PROVISIONAL FINANCING OF FRY - 2.423 BILLION DINARS

Tanjug, 1998-01-08

A Decree on the provisional financing of FR Yugoslavia, published in the latest issue of the Official Gazette, provides for setting aside 2.423 billion dinars for financing the federal state from January till March this year. The Government issued the Decree on the last day of last year, as the Bill on the Federal Budget for 1998 was not passed in the Chamber of the Republics of Yugoslav Parliament. The Chamber of Citizens endorsed on December 29, 1997 the proposed 9.693 billion dinar Budget. The operating procedure of the Chamber of Citizens provides that the Federal Budget for next year should be passed by the end of the fall session at the latest, or by December 31, and if that does not happen, the activities of the FRY are financed until the passing of the new budget, under the Constitution, in accordance with last year's budget.

The Chamber of the Republics did not convene till the end of last year, because the Serbian Parliament has not yet appointed the 20 deputies who will represent it there. The budget for this year has to be endorsed by both Chambers of Parliament in order to be passed. According to the Decree on the provisional financing of the FRY, the greatest revenue in the next three months - 1.3 billion dinars - should be obtained from taxes on the turnover of goods and services and from the excise tax, or from real sources. The revenu from other taxes will be almost 209 million dinars, from customs duties and other import duties 750 million dinars, and the revenue of federal bodies and organizations and revenues obtained on the basis of federal laws - 162.5 million dinars.

[05] YUGOSLAV OFFICIAL, FRENCH AMBASSADOR, DISCUSS COOPERATION

Tanjug, 1998-01-08

President of the Yugoslav Chamber of Commerce Mihajlo Milojevic and French Ambassador in Belgrade Stanislas Filliol on Thursday conferred about promoting bilateral economic cooperation and boosting trade. Milojevic said the Chamber welcomed the entrance of French investment, technology and capital in Yugoslavia. He said it would be good if the automobile industries Zastava and Peugeot came to a concrete deal on a joint project. That would affect the defining of a customs policy, and have a positive impact on overall business ties, he said. Milojevic said French companies could take part in the process of privatization, primarily in the electric, machine and textile industries. He said those foreign partners who put in technology, capital and production programs in Yugoslavia should have an advantage over those who only wished to sell their products on the Yugoslav market. Ambassador Filliol said Peugeot and Zastava had been negotiating on establishing cooperation and added that French manufacturers were interested most particularly in stable conditions for business deals and a clear customs policy. Filliol singled out a potential investment by Lafarge in the cement factory in Beocin. He said Lafarge was prepared to spend money on the factory, without sacking redundancies. Instead, Lafarge would employ them in small firms linked to the factory that it would also set up. He said the financially powerful Seita was interested in cooperating with Yugoslav tobacco companies. In order to promote economic ties, said Filliol, it is important that the embassies in Paris and Belgade reduce visa procedures. He said the French Embassy had put in much effort to facilitate the issuing of visas, not only to Yugoslav businessmen, but to all people in Yugoslavia.

[06] MILUTINOVIC NO LONGER PERFORMS THE DUTIES OF FEDERAL MINISTER

Tanjug, 1998-01-08

Yugoslav Prime Minister Radoje Kontic said in a session on December 31 that the newly-elected president of Serbia could no longer carry out the duties of Foreign Minister. Milan Milutinovic informed Kontic on December 29 that he was unable under the Constitution to carry out any other function during the duration of his mandate as President of the Republic, said a statement released by the Information Secretariat.

[07] FOREIGN PARTNERS INTERESTED IN INVESTING IN TOURISM IN SERBIA

Tanjug, 1998-01-08

Meetings were held on Thursday in the Serbian Ministry of Tourism with delegations of businessmen from Italy and Great Britain, the Serbian Ministry of Tourism said. Serbian Tourism Deputy Minister Radisav Stankovic informed guests about the possibilities of tourism and Serbia's commitment to develop tourism.

Guests from Italy were especially interested in investing in hotels, especially in Vrnjacka Banja and on Zlatibor, while the group of experts from Great Britain showed an interest in investing in the development of mountain tourism.

[08] BELGRADE, CONAKRY FAIRS SIGN COOPERATION ACCORD

Tanjug, 1998-01-06

The fairs in Belgrade and the Guinean capital Conakry have established cooperation under an Accord signed by their Directors Sinisa Zaric and Abdourahmane Sano, respectively. The Accord envisages for promoting cooperation in organising international fairs, which should help expand economic ties between the two friendly nations. The signing of the document in Conakry on December 29 was attended by the Guinean Ministers of Trade and Agriculture, Madikaba Kamare and Mamadou Diallo, and by Yugoslav Ambassador Slobodan Rakovic. Belgrade Fair Director Zaric was received by Guinean Prime Minister Sidi Toure, who said on the occasion he hoped that the historically good bilateral relations would continue to develop, and described the Accord as a concrete step in this direction.

[09] ANNAN PROPOSES EXTENTION OF U.N. MISSION ON PREVLAKA PROMONTORY

Tanjug, 1998-01-06

U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan proposed on Monday that military observers within the U.N. mission on Prevlaka promontory remain there another six months - till July 15. In a letter to the Security Council, the Secretary General assessed that the situation on Prevlaka was stable since a U.N. mission of 28 military observers was sent to the area in February 1996. Since than the mandate of the UNMOP mission has been extended several times, each time for six months. The last resolution on the mandate of the observer mission on Prevlaka till January 15, 1998 was adopted in July last year. Annan said that in the past period there were no serious incidents on Prevlaka, but that there have been violations of the demilitarization zone. As examples of minor violations, the Secretary General cited the intrusion of trawlers into the so-called "yellow zone", while he described as much more serious incidents the occasional intrusion of Croatian police boats into the same zone. The Croatian authorities also continued, despite U.N. warnings, to allow the entry and movement of civilians, and also of journalists into the northern part of the demilitarized zone, which Annan called unauthorized. The Secretary General cited examples of barring the free movement of U.N. mission membres and said that the Croatian side on a number of occasions denied access to U.N. observers into the northern part of the demilitarization zone, and into some parts of the southern zone. Annan reminded that the task of the U.N. mission on Prevlaka is to preserve a stable situation until the two sides find a solution by way of dialogue within the Agreement on the normalization of relations. Annan assessed that the two sides still have a different approach to the problem - Croatia says it is a security issue, while for the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Annan said, it is a territorial issue. The Yugoslav and Croatian sides are still expressing a readiness to look for a solution although the process, Annan said, has not yet started. That is why the U.N. mission should remain in the region. The Security Council is due to review the issue of Prevlaka and the proposal of extending the U.N. mission made by Annan.

[10] UNTAES WALKER SAYS INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE REMAINS IN SREM-BARANYA

Tanjug, 1998-01-06

The Chief of the U.N. Transitional Administration in the Srem-Baranya Region (UNTAES) said in Belgrade on Tuesday that the expiry of the UNTAES mandate on Jan. 15 did not mean the end of international presence in the region. The Administrator, Ambassador William Walker, told a news conference that the U.N. civilian police, as well as officials o the OSCE, would stay on in the region after the end of the UNTAES mandate. In this way, the international community would still be very much present in the region to supervise the Croatian Government in carrying out its obligations, said Walker, who was in Belgrade on a farewell visit. Walker said that his Tuesday talk with Serbian President Milan Milutinovic had related to the situation in the Srem-Baranya region prior to the expiry of the UNTAES mandate and to some other questions which were still outstanding. He said that, although there was heightened concern among the Serb population in the region, there was no evidence of a massive exodus of Serb families. He further said he had drawn Milutinovic's attention to the fact that the Serb community in the Srem-Baranya region was beginning to organise itself politically and was becoming a political force to be reckoned with. Answering questions about trials of Serbs being held in Croatian courts contrary to the Croatian Amnesty Law, he said that the United Nations was closely monitoring all such trials. He denied claims that a large number of trials was in progress, saying that there were some 25 such cases to his knowledge.

[11] PRESIDENT MILUTINOVIC RECEIVES WILLIAM WALKER

Tanjug, 1998-01-06

Serbian President Milan Milutinovic received on Tuesday in a farewell visit the U.N. Transitional Administrator for the Srem-Baranja region, Ambassador William Walker. Talks dealt with the situation in the Srem-Baranja region and the UNTAES mission which will end on January 15 this year. Ambassador Walker was given credit for his personal contribution to the implementation of the UNTAES mission. It was assessed, however, that some issues from the Serb-Croatian Accord from the late 1995 remain to be solved with a view to creating conditions for the full protection of human and civil rights. That is why the international community has the obligation and responsibility to continue, after the completion of the UNTAES mission, to efficienty control and follow the implementation of the Serb-Croatian Agreement and the commitments undertaken by Croatia.

[12] YUGOSLAVIA TAKES PART IN UTRECHT TOURIST EXCHANGE

Tanjug, 1998-01-06

Yugoslavia is displaying its tourist offer at an international tourist exchange which opened in Utrecht, the Netherlands, on Tuesday. Displaying at the exchange, to close on Jan. 11, are 110 countries. It is expected to be visited by 200,000 people, making it one of the largest and most important tourist fairs in Europe. The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia is represented by the Tourist organisations of its republics Serbia and Montenegro and by Yugoslav Airlines JAT. The opening ceremony was attended by Yugoslav Ambassador to the Netherlands Milan Grubic. Yugoslavia's presence at the Utrecht exchange is important in view of the Netherlands market's importance and the number of Dutch tourists visiting Yugoslavia, and should help speed up the return of Serbian and Montenegrin tourism to the international tourist market.

Yugoslav Daily Survey Directory - Previous Article - Next Article