Yugoslav Daily Survey, 98-02-13

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

Yugoslav Daily Survey

CONTENTS

[01] FOREIGN MINISTER ZIVADIN JOVANOVIC TO VISIT ITALY

[02] PRO MUSLIM PARTY BLOC - ARBITRATION DECISION ON BRCKO

[03] BRCKO ARBITRATION COMMISSION ENDS HEARINGS IN VIENNA

[04] THERE WAS NO REASON FOR CALLING OFF SESSION OF BOSNIA GOVERNMENT

[05] U.S. HOLOCAUST COMMEMORATION COUNCIL AND YUGOSLAV ARCHIVES SIGN AGREEMENT

[06] MONTENEGRIN PREMIER RECEIVED THE PROSECUTOR OF THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL

[07] MONTENEGRIN PARLIAMENT PASSED THE INFORMATION LAW

[08] YUGOSLAV ARMY REFUTES STATEMENTS ON ALLEGED MOBILIZATION

[09] YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT PROPOSES CUTS IN IMPORT TARIFFS

[10] NEW GULF CONFLICT WOULD HAVE UNFORESEEABLE CONSEQUENCES

[11] YUGOSLAV-CROATIAN COMMISSION MEETS

[12] UNREALISTIC DEMANDS OF ETHNIC ALBANIAN EXTREMISTS IN KOSOVO

[13] YUGOSLAV PARLIAMENT DELEGATION VISITS MACEDONIA

[01] FOREIGN MINISTER ZIVADIN JOVANOVIC TO VISIT ITALY

Tanjug, 1998-02-12

Yugoslav Foreign Minister Zivadin Jovanovic will visit Italy on Friday, February 13, at the invitation of Italian Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini.

The two ministers are expected to review joint activities with a view to further promoting and developing relations and cooperation between the two neighbouring, friendly countries.

[02] PRO MUSLIM PARTY BLOC - ARBITRATION DECISION ON BRCKO

Tanjug, 1998-02-12

The Coalition for Integral and Democratic Bosnia-Herzegovina, headed by the Muslim Democratic Action Party (HDZ), has warned the international community that it will withdraw its support of the Republika Srpska Government of Premier Milorad Dodik if the International Arbitration Commission for Brcko rules in favour of Republika Srpska.

The pro-Muslim four-party bloc said in a statement published in the Sarajevo press Thursday that its Deputies would withdraw their support of the Dodik Government at the first session of the Republika Srpska Assembly should the arbitration turn out to be negative for the Muslim-Croat Federation.

The warning is viewed by observers as the latest in a series of the Muslim side's pressures on the international community concerning Brcko.

Sarajevo political circles and radio and TV stations severely criticized the statement as a possible trump card for the Serb entity.

[03] BRCKO ARBITRATION COMMISSION ENDS HEARINGS IN VIENNA

Tanjug, 1998-02-12

The Vienna-based International Arbitration Tribunal for Brcko closed its eight-day hearings on Thursday, ahead of making a final decision on the future status of the strategic region.

After hearings of three Bosnian Serb witnesses, Republika Srpska Vice- President Dragoljub Mirjanic said in his testimony that the election of the new Parliament and Government able to implement and respect the Dayton Peace Accords, were the results of democratic processes launched in the Serb entity of Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Mirjanic later told Tanjug that Brcko Supervisor Robert Farrand of the United States had also confirmed before the Vienna Commission that the Republika Srpska had fulfilled all its obligations under the interim arbitration decision on Brcko.

[04] THERE WAS NO REASON FOR CALLING OFF SESSION OF BOSNIA GOVERNMENT

Tanjug, 1998-02-12

Co-Chairman of the Bosnia-Herzegovina Council of Ministers from Republika Srpska Boro Bosic said on Thursday that the cancelling of the Council's session because the Ministers from the Muslim-Croat Federation failed to show up was an illustration of how things should not be done.

The Ministers of the Muslim-Croat entity explained their absence with security reasons.

The Federation officials should be punished so that this would not happen again, especially since the security measures were at a very high level, Council of Ministers Co-Chairman Bosic said.

He noted that the behaviour of the Office of the international community's High Representative was also indicative, and specified that the Office staff wanted the session to be postponed instead of enabling it to be held by eliminating possible problems.

[05] U.S. HOLOCAUST COMMEMORATION COUNCIL AND YUGOSLAV ARCHIVES SIGN AGREEMENT

Tanjug, 1998-02-12

The U.S. Holocaust Commemoration Council and the Yugoslav Archives signed on Thursday an Agreement on cooperation in research work and recording archival material.

The Agreement, signed by the Council's Director Brewster Chamberlain, Yugoslav Archives Director Jovan Popovic and head of Belgrade's Military and Historical Institute Col. Slavko Vukcevic, provides also for the exchange of copies of documents on the Nazi occupation of and the holocaust in Yugoslavia.

Both sides agreed to take part in the research and microfilming of documents and other material kept by the Yugoslav Archives on the Nazi genocide against Jews, Serbs, Gypsies and other Yugoslav citizens.

The Agreement will be in force for the next ten years after which period it can be extended if the two sides agree to do so. The Agreement will be implemented in keeping with the two countries' respective laws and regulations.

[06] MONTENEGRIN PREMIER RECEIVED THE PROSECUTOR OF THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL

Tanjug, 1998-02-13

Montenegrin Prime Minister Filip Vujanovic received on Thursday the Chief Prosecutor of the International War Crimes Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia Louise Arbour.

Vujanovic and Arbour pointed to the need for full cooperation with the Tribunal, a statement issued by the Premier's cabinet says.

Vujanovic informed Arbour that several war crimes suspects had already been tried in Montenegro and that four persons received maximum prison sentences. Court proceedings are also under way against suspects of a war crime against civilian population - the abduction of a group of train passengers in Strpci.

Vujanovic expressed hope that the good cooperation between the Tribunal and the Montenegrin State Prosecutor would continue in the future, the statement says.

[07] MONTENEGRIN PARLIAMENT PASSED THE INFORMATION LAW

Tanjug, 1998-02-12

The Montenegrin Parliament adopted on Thursday the Law on Information, drafted by a multi-party expert team that is to prepare laws and regulations for early parliamentary elections to be held in the Yugoslav republic by late May.

Parliament had adopted a document to this end late last year but the then Montenegrin President Momir Bulatovic rejected to ratify it proposing numerous amendments to it.

Some of the amendments, mainly those coinciding with proposals by Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) officials, are included in the new law which was adopted with the majority vote. The law does not contain, however, the section referring to the ban on distribution of newspapers in certain cases.

Moreover, the law provides for the setting up of a Committee for the media that is to be made up of equal number of representatives of all parliamentary parties. The Committee is to appoint and dismiss editors-in- chief in media founded by the republic or local authorities.

The law also makes it possible for foreign nationals to set up media in Montenegro.

The Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) led by Momir Bulatovic made a number of objections to the law, mainly regarding the structure of the Committee for the media which, according to DPS deputies, does not reflect the balance of power in Parliament.

[08] YUGOSLAV ARMY REFUTES STATEMENTS ON ALLEGED MOBILIZATION

Tanjug, 1998-02-12

The Army of Yugoslavia "is not mobilizing conscripts in any part of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia," said a statement released on Thursday by the Press Service of the Army of Yugoslavia General Staff. The statement was released in connection with repeated and unfounded statements of officials of some political parties that conscripts in Serbia's northern province of Vojvodina are allegedly being mobilized and sent to Serbia's southern province of Kosovo and Metohija.

The Army of Yugoslavia categorically denied the statements and said they were ill-meant and totally unfounded fabrications. All possible activities in connection with conscripts are part of the regular and planned activities of territorial military bodies, commands and units of the Army of Yugoslavia, the statement said.

[09] YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT PROPOSES CUTS IN IMPORT TARIFFS

Tanjug, 1998-02-12

The Yugoslav Government adopted on Thursday the final texts of bills calling for significant cuts in import tariffs for equipment, raw materials and semi-manufactures, with a view to creating more favourable conditions for the activities and development of the national economy, a government statement said.

The bills also envisage adjustment to the World Trade Organization rules of a gradual lowering of import tariffs by the year 2002. Under the bills, import tariffs are to be cut from the current 16% percent to 13.45%.

The Yugoslav Government defined the positions for Foreign Minister Zivadin Jovanovic's talks with his Italian counterpart, Lamberto Dini, in Rome on February 13, and with French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine in Paris on February 18.

The Government adopted the final text of a bill on the ratification of the agreement signed with Romania on cooperation of customs authorities and the prevention of violations of customs regulations.

It adopted also the positions for talks with Ghana on the avoidance of dual taxation and the stimulation and protection of investments, in Belgrade February 16-18.

The Government adopted also the principles for the talks to be held with South Africa in Pretoria February 16-20 on the employment of Yugoslav citizens in that country.

The Government assessed that its February 7 decision to exempt from the exit tax Yugoslav citizens who hold border passes issued under the agreement signed with Croatia on border-region traffic has significantly improved conditions for unimpeded communication between the border-region populations in the two countries, which the Government said was in the interest of the attainment of "soft borders."

The Yugoslav Government gave a green light for the opening of a Greek Consulate General in the Montenegro capital of Podgorica.

[10] NEW GULF CONFLICT WOULD HAVE UNFORESEEABLE CONSEQUENCES

Tanjug, 1998-02-12

The development of the crisis in the Gulf, which threatens to turn into a new armed conflict, with unforeseeable consequences, is followed with great concern in Yugoslavia.

With a view to preventing a further unfavourable course of events, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia appeals to all sides to resolve the existing disputes and differences peacefully, by diplomatic means, in the interest of the countries of the region and also of peace and stability in the world.

[11] YUGOSLAV-CROATIAN COMMISSION MEETS

Tanjug, 1998-02-12

The Yugoslav-Croatian Commission for implementation of Article 7 of the Agreement on normalizing relations between Yugoslavia and Croatia meets on Friday, said a statement issued by the Information Secretariat on Thursday.

The Commission is due to examine a draft accord on compensation of destroyed, damaged or missing property belonging to refugees and displaced persons. The two sides will discuss conditions for an organized return of refugees, and procedures for real estate trade of refugees in Yugoslavia and Yugoslav citizens who own property in Croatia.

[12] UNREALISTIC DEMANDS OF ETHNIC ALBANIAN EXTREMISTS IN KOSOVO

Tanjug, 1998-02-12

A delegation of the Yugoslav Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee headed by its President Ljubisa Ristic, on a visit to Macedonia, held on Thursday in Skopje separate meetings with the Macedonian Parliament Speaker Tito Petkovski and its Foreign Affairs Committee President Ilinka Mitreva.

The Yugoslav delegation, which also comprises Ivica Dacic, Cedomir Mirkovic, Dragisa Pesic and the Yugoslav Ambassador to Macedonia Zoran Janackovic, also met Macedonian Foreign Minister Blagoje Handziski.

Ristic told Tanjug following the meetings that Macedonia was ready to back Yugoslavia's endeavours for integration in international institutions, as this would be in the interest of the entire region.

Referring to bilateral relations, Ristic said they were developing to the satisfaction of both countries in accordance with the guidelines given by Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic and Macedonian President Kiro Gligorov at their meeting last summer in Cyprus.

The talks also focused on the problem of terrorism in Serbia's southern province of Kosovo-Metohija which can cause much trouble in the region.

Both sides share the view that the extremist demands of ethnic Albanians in Kosovo, including the creation of a republic of Kosovo and the province's secession from Yugoslavia, have their roots in historical delusions, Ristic said.

Sporadic problems between Yugoslavia and Macedonia, including the issue of succession raised by Macedonia, should be resolved by an agreement acceptable to both countries, Ristic said.

Neither Macedonia nor Yugoslavia wish to interfere in the affairs of other states, and neither country will allow others to interfere in their own affairs, Ristic said.

Petkovski told the Yugoslav delegation that his country would be very glad to have President Milosevic visit Macedonia.

Both countries have good reason to be happy with their trade so far, but there are considerable untapped potentials for its further development which will be the focus of future talks, it was noted during the meetings.

Both sides pointed to the role of some of their media which is detrimental to the development of bilateral relations, and noted that their sensationalist reporting can easily be countered by meetings of Yugoslav and Macedonian officials.

Macedonian parliamentarians accepted an invitation to visit Belgrade soon, to help in the development of good-neighbourly relations. Yugoslavia will also be invited to take part in the southeastern European inter- parliamentary dialogue to be held next summer in Ohrid, Macedonia.

Ristic and Mitrova will give a joint press conference at the end of the visit.

[13] YUGOSLAV PARLIAMENT DELEGATION VISITS MACEDONIA

Tanjug, 1998-02-12

A delegation of the Yugoslav Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee began on Thursday a two-day visit to Macedonia with a meeting with Macedonian Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee President Ilinko Mitrev.

This is the first visit of the Yugoslav parliamentary delegation to Macedonia since the two countries have established diplomatic relations.

Committee President Ljubisa Ristic, who heads the delegation, said he expected the visit would mark the beginning of intensive cooperation between the two parliaments, that would deepen the two countries' friendly relations.

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