Yugoslav Daily Survey, 98-02-20

Yugoslav Daily Survey Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

Yugoslav Daily Survey

CONTENTS

[01] SERBIAN PRESIDENT NOMINATES MIRKO MARJANOVIC AS PREMIER-DESIGNATE

[02] POSSIBILITIES FOR ECONOMIC COOPERATION WITH ITALY

[03] GREAT BRITAIN DOES NOT SUPPORT VIOLENCE

[04] OSCE: KOSOVO AND METOHIJA ONLY IN FRY - AGAINST BORDER CHANGES

[05] FOREIGN MINISTER JOVANOVIC-RFI: KOSMET ALBANIANS ENJOY ALL THE RIGHTS

[06] MILUTINOVIC INFORMS PARLIAMENT OF CHOICE OF PREMIER DESIGNATE

[07] YUGOSLAV INFORMATION SECRETARY ON MEDIA BOOM IN YUGOSLAVIA

[08] JOVANOVIC, MATUTES MEETING

[09] FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S STATEMENT

[10] MILES: NORMALIZATION OF TRADE WITH YUGOSLAVIA SOON

[11] TERRORISTS KILL SERBIAN STATE SECURITY OFFICER

[12] YUGOSLAV FOREIGN MINISTER VISITS MADRID

[01] SERBIAN PRESIDENT NOMINATES MIRKO MARJANOVIC AS PREMIER-DESIGNATE

Tanjug, 1998-02-19

Serbian President Milan Milutinovic has nominated Mirko Marjanovic as premier-designate, the Serbian Presidential Office said in a statement. Marjanovic, who has been successful as the head of the Government of national unity, guarantees the implementation of social and economic reforms supported by all Serbian parliamentary parties in the recent elections, the statement said.

[02] POSSIBILITIES FOR ECONOMIC COOPERATION WITH ITALY

Tanjug, 1998-02-19

Italian Ambassador to Yugoslavia Ricardo Sessa discussed possibilities for economic cooperation between Italy and Serbia's southern province of Kosovo and Metohija (Kosmet) at the pronvincial chambre of commerce in Pristina on Thursday, the second day of his visit to this town. Foreign ministers Jovanovic and Dini recently conferred in Rome on the improvement of bilateral economic cooperation between Yugoslavia and Italy, and agreed there were vast possibilities for developing cooperation with the economy of Kosovo and Metohija, Ambassador Sessa said. Pointing out that Italy was especially interested in the privatization process, Sessa said there were many departments in Kosovo and Metohija which were interesting to Italian businessmen and small and medium-sized Italian companies. T hese were preliminary talks. A team of experts of the Italian Institute for Economic Cooperation with the Belgrade Embassy will soon visit the Provincial Chambre of Commerce for talks with the local businessmen and an analysis of concrete possibilities for economic cooperation. Kosovo and Metohija Chambre of Commerce President Obrad Jankovic informed the Italian Ambassador about the economic potential of this part of Serbia, underscoring that the value of foreign trade between Kosmet and Italy stood at 18.5 million dollars last year. Exports to Italy were worth 8.3 million and imports from Italy were worth 10.2 million dollars. The ever improving good political relations between Italy and Yugoslavia indicate the further strengthening of business cooperation as well, Jankovic said.

[03] GREAT BRITAIN DOES NOT SUPPORT VIOLENCE

Tanjug, 1998-02-19

Britain's Deputy Mission Head in Yugoslavia, David Landsman, and Mission First Secretary Jullian Braithwaite visited on Thursday the Provincial Information Secretariat in Pristina and conferred with Secretary Bosko Drobnjak. Since Landsman is in Kosovo and Metohija for the first time, Drobnjak informed him in detil about the situation in this Province. It was announced that Landsman and Braithwaite conveyed the British Government's concern over the situation in Kosovo and Metohija and its position that it does not support any form of violence aimed at realizing political goals. Drobnjak set out that the terrorist actions had greatly upset the population and that the further escalation of conflicts would stir up the Serbs and Montenegrins to move out of this region. Drobnjak underscored that the state would curb terrorism by all means at its disposal in accordance with the law and the world norms for which it expects understanding from the international community. Both sides concluded once again that problems in Kosovo and Metohija should be resolved solely through a dialogue. Regarding the Education Agreement, it was said that it is necesary to make additional efforts to speed up its realization.

[04] OSCE: KOSOVO AND METOHIJA ONLY IN FRY - AGAINST BORDER CHANGES

Tanjug, 1998-02-19

The issue of Kosovo and Metohija can be resolved only within the current borders of FR Yugoslavia, Austrian Foreign Minister Wolfganf Schuessel said in Veinna on Thursday. Schuessel said at a press conference, following talks with Polish Foreign Minister and Cahirman of the OSCE Bronislaw Geremek, that the international community opposes any border changes in the region. Schuessel said an OSCE delegation should be sent to Kosmet and a permanent European Union mission established in Pristina. Geremek warned about the allegedly "very dramatic situation" in the southern Serbian province. He did not rule out the "possibility of the outbreak of armed conflict", without specifying, however, who could provoke such a conflict. Geremek repeated the well-known argument that "Europe is very concerned about the radicalization of the situation" and that OSCE's task was to pursue "preventive diplomacy" to prevent eventual breaking out of armed conflicts in Kosmet.

[05] FOREIGN MINISTER JOVANOVIC-RFI: KOSMET ALBANIANS ENJOY ALL THE RIGHTS

Tanjug, 1998-02-19

Yugoslav Foreign Minister Zivadin Jovanovic has told Radio France International (RFI) that all questions linked to Kosmet are the affair of the Republic of Serbia and that there is no reason for concern that anything would be done there outside constitutional institutions and frameworks. Jovanovic said that the Albanian national minority in Kosmet has all the rights enjoyed by the members of all other minorities in our country - Hungarians, Romanians, Bulgarians, Ruthenians and others. "It is a totally different matter that, under pressure by certain separatist leaders in Kosovo and Metohija, a part of the Albanian population abstains from using these rights," Jovanovic said. He added that the separatist leaders, with the aim of realizing their political goals, are blackmailing a part of their people and excerting strong pressure on them.

I believe that in Kosovo and Metohija, contrary to some impressions and interpretations, there is no evidence about the violation of human and civil rights. The problem is that all members of the Albanian national minority are not using the right to vote at elections, the right to participate in political life and in public political democratic institutions, Jovanovic said. "On the other hand, the problem is that some leaders in Kosovo and Metohija are urging secession and, based on this, are encouraging separatism in Kosmet." Jovanovic set out that "it should be clear that there can be no double standards in treating separatist tendencies and terrorism in all parts of Europe or the world." "Terrorism and separatism in any part of Europe are equally dangerous for the entire continent. This is why it not possible, on one hand, to proclaim as a principle that the state will apply all the means at its disposal to combat terrorism and separatism, while, on the other, demand talks about granting a special status or some kind of ideas," he said. Jovanovic said that the "solution lies in the respect of Serbia, of its full integrity and sovereignty, and in the resolution of all issues of the further development of Serbia's southern province in keeping with the Serbian Constitution and legal order." Responding to a question about the planned visit by the Foreign Ministers of Germany and France to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY), Jovanovic said that this country is interested in the promotion of political dialogue with these countries at such a high level as that of foreign minister. "We have always received with hospitality all representatives of France and Germany who arrive with constructive ideas and approaches to development," Jovanovic said and added that this applies equally to bilateral relations and regional issues essential to peace and stability.

[06] MILUTINOVIC INFORMS PARLIAMENT OF CHOICE OF PREMIER DESIGNATE

Tanjug, 1998-02-19

Serbian President Milan Milutinovic on Thursday sent a letter to the Serbian Parliament, informing it he was proposing Mirko Marjanovic, the current prime minister, for the office of prime minister on the grounds of Art. 83 of the Serbian constitution. In the letter, which was distributed to deputies of the new parliament composition, Milutinovic said he believed Marjanovic would continue to place all his abilities in the service of the further economic and social rebirth of Serbia, as he had done so far in the capacity of head of the government of national unity. Milutinovic said he expected the government proposed by the prime minister designate to win the support of the Serbian Parliament. Such support would be an expression of national unity and the wish of all those political parties in Parliament which proposed at the recent consultations the orientation to realize national and state interests, as well as economic and social reforms, which will secure Serbia's further peaceful and stable development.

[07] YUGOSLAV INFORMATION SECRETARY ON MEDIA BOOM IN YUGOSLAVIA

Tanjug, 1998-02-19

Yugoslav Information Secretary Goran Matic told the Thursday issue of the Belgrade daily Borba in an interview that Yugoslavia had undergone a "real media boom" in the past few years. As an illustration, Matic said that in 1994 Yugoslavia had had just six dailies and that in 1998 it had 24, two of them in Hungarian and three others in Albanian. Also, in addition to the state news agency, five private ones have been set up, "let alone the number of periodicals," Matic said and added that Yugoslavia had undergone a boom of electronic media unparallelled in Europe and that it had 700 radio and TV stations. This development is accompanied by a series of problems, Matic said and added that there were no legal limitations in the field of press and that everyone could engage in these activities. As for the electronic media, the only limitation is the distribution of frequencies which are a matter of international agreements, but this causes problems since the majority of owners of radio and TV stations operate without being granted frequences by the state, to which the country is bound by a number of international conventions, Matic said. He said that the latest Yugoslav Telecommunications Ministry bid was an attempt to put order in this sphere. Matic said that nobody would be denied this right if they fulfiled the basic technical conditions, i.e. that there was no mention of the stifling of mostly privately-owned media. Speaking about the media's editing policies, Matic said that the majority of media were in the service of "some political circles in the country and abroad" who had set them up "in a wish to put our country on a completely different track." Speaking about media warfare, Matic said that since the early 1990s, world's influential PR agencies had been "paid to satanise Yugoslavia and the Serbian people, which can be seen in written documents."

[08] JOVANOVIC, MATUTES MEETING

Tanjug, 1998-02-19

Spain believes that the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia should have a place in all international organizations and instituions and lends full support to its reintegration, it was said in Madrid Thursday in a meeting Yugoslav Foreign Minister Zivorad Jovanovic held with Spanish Foreign Minister Abel Matutes, Radio-Television Serbia correspondent said. In the talks, marking the beginning of the official part of Jovanovic's visit to Spain, a mutual readiness and interest were expressed for the further development of bilateral relaitons in all fields, notably in the economic sphere. Possibilities for the promotion of cooperation between Yugoslavia and the European Union were reviewed, as well as the issue of restoring to the FRY trade facilities, with a view to stabilizing the situation in the region of Southeastern Europe.

Talking to reporters, Minister Jovanovic said he was satisfied with the important talks he held and pointed to Madrid's support for the efforts made by Yugoslavia. Minister Matutes expressed appreciation for the role of Yugoslavia and of President Milosevic in the peace process and for the stability of the region, Jovanovic said.

[09] FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S STATEMENT

Tanjug, 1998-02-19

The Federal Government, presided over by Prime Minister Radoje Kontic, decided that Yugoslav Foreign Trade Minister Borislav Vukovic will represent Yugoslavia at the Crans-Montana Economic Summit Forum due to be held in Monacco, February 27-28. Minister Vukovic will have at this important international summit useful meetings with representatives of developed countries for regulating the status of Yugoslavia in regional and subregional institutions and the World Trade Organization. The Government determined the basis for the participation of the Yugoslav delegation and for the talks of Yugoslav Foreign Trade Minister Borislav Vujovic on the promotion of the Yugoslav economy and tourism in Belgium and Luxemburg, March 2-6. The basis was approved for the conclusion of an accord between the Governments of Yugoslavia and Germany on river transport, and the Yugoslav draft accord. The basis was also determined for concluding a program of cooperation with Ukraine in the field of education and culture for the period till the year 2000. Talks on the conclusion of the document will be held in Belgrade February 23-27. The Government also determined the basis for the conclusion of an agreement on scientific, technical and technological cooperation with Mexico and Cuba. The government reviewed proposed measures and activities for the promotion of exports in 1998 prepared by the Yugoslav Foreign Trade Ministry, and the measures proposed by the Yugoslav Trade Ministry for suppressing the grey economy. Competent departments have been charged with the preparations for the adoption of the drafted proposals.

[10] MILES: NORMALIZATION OF TRADE WITH YUGOSLAVIA SOON

Tanjug, 1998-02-19

Charge d'Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade Richard Miles, who is on Thursday visiting the southern Serbian municipality of Pirot, announced the imminent opening of the U.S. market to unhindered trade between the United States and Yugoslavia, and emphasized the expressed U.S. interest in the situation and problems in Yugoslavia. He told a press conference in Pirot that the objective of his visit to certain Serbian towns was better to get acquainted with the life and problems of the local population.

Miles today visited the Nis regional museum and the Tigar tyre industry. This giant has had an ongoing joint investment project with Goodrich Tyres of the United States for 24 years, but Tigar's property in the United States has been frozen since international sanctions were imposed against Yugoslavia, and the Tigar-Americas joint company cannot operate.

[11] TERRORISTS KILL SERBIAN STATE SECURITY OFFICER

Tanjug, 1998-02-19

Three unidentified ethnic Albanians launched a terrorist attack on Serbian police officers near the village of Luzani in the Kosovo-Metohija's Podujevo municipality on Thursday afternoon, the Serbian Interior Ministry Press Office said in a statement. The statement said that, at 3.30 p.m. local time, the terrorists ambushed the police officers, killing Nebojsa Cvejic, 34, who was member of the state security service.

[12] YUGOSLAV FOREIGN MINISTER VISITS MADRID

Tanjug, 1998-02-19

Official talks between Yugoslav Foreign Minister Zivadin Jovanovic and his Spanish counterpart Abel Matutez will start in Madrid on Thursday. Jovanovic late on Wednesday arrived in Madrid from an official visit to Paris. Madrid highly appreciates Yugoslavia's role in the peace process and stabilisation of the situation in the former Yugoslavia. The visit to Madrid will also be an occasion to determine possibilities for intensifying economic ties between the two countries, in which both sides are interested and for which they are ready. Jovanovic will meet with Spanish MPs and other Spanish Foreign Ministry officials.

Yugoslav Daily Survey Directory - Previous Article - Next Article