Yugoslav Daily Survey, 98-03-09

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Yugoslav Daily Survey

CONTENTS

[01] YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC RECEIVED GREEK MINISTER PANGALOS

[02] FOREIGN DIPLOMATS VISITED KOSOVO

[03] LEGITIMATE RIGHT TO DEAL WITH TERRORISM

[04] KOSMET OFFICIALS CONFERRED WITH ITALIAN AMBASSADOR

[05] MINISTER LAZIC: SERBIA WILL DECISIVELY RECKON WITH TERRORISTS

[06] TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER ENDED HIS VISIT TO BELGRADE

[07] YUGOSLAV FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER

[08] YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC RECEIVED TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER CEM

[09] GREEK MINISTER PANGALOS CONFERRED WITH DRASKOVIC

[10] MONTENEGRIN PRESIDENT DJUKANOVIC MET WITH GREEK MINISTER PANGALOS

[11] OFFICIAL STATEMENT BY THE FEDERAL MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS MR. ZIVADIN JOVANOVIC AFTER HIS TALKS WITH THE GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER THEODOROS PANGALOS, ON 6 MARCH 1998 IN BELGRADE

[12] MINISTER PANGALOS: GREECE CONDEMNS SEPARATISM AND TERRORISM

[13] PANGALOS: GREECE FOR INVIOLABILITY OF BORDERS

[14] FOREIGN DIPLOMATS VISITED KOSOVO

[15] SERBIAN PRESIDENT MILUTINOVIC RECEIVED GREEK MINISTER PANGALOS

[16] YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC RECEIVED GREEK MINISTER PANGALOS

[17] MINISTER LAZIC: SERBIA WILL DECISIVELY RECKON WITH TERRORISTS

[18] LEGITIMATE RIGHT TO DEAL WITH TERRORISM

[19] KOSMET OFFICIALS CONFERRED WITH ITALIAN AMBASSADOR

[20] YUGOSLAV FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER

[21] YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC RECEIVED TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER CEM

[22] TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER ENDED HIS VISIT TO BELGRADE

[23] GREEK MINISTER PANGALOS CONFERRED WITH DRASKOVIC

[24] MONTENEGRIN PRESIDENT DJUKANOVIC MET WITH GREEK MINISTER PANGALOS

[25] MINISTER PANGALOS: GREECE CONDEMNS SEPARATISM AND TERRORISM

[26] OFFICIAL STATEMENT BY THE FEDERAL MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS MR. ZIVADIN JOVANOVIC AFTER HIS TALKS WITH THE GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER THEODOROS PANGALOS, ON 6 MARCH 1998 IN BELGRADE

[27] PANGALOS: GREECE FOR INVIOLABILITY OF BORDERS

[28] SERBIAN PRESIDENT MILUTINOVIC RECEIVED GREEK MINISTER PANGALOS

[01] YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC RECEIVED GREEK MINISTER PANGALOS

Tanjug, 1998-03-06

Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic received Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos in Belgrade on Friday.

The talks covered issues concerning the further successful development of bilateral relations between Yugoslavia and Greece, regional stability and cooperation, as well as other topics of common interest.

It was agreed that the two countries were realizing continued, stable, and comprehensive cooperation, based on mutual needs and interests, as well as mutual confidence, equality and traditional friendship.

Yugoslav Foreign Minister Zivadin Jovanovic and Greek Ambassador in Belgrade Panayotis Vlasopoulos also took part in the talks.

[02] FOREIGN DIPLOMATS VISITED KOSOVO

Tanjug, 1998-03-08

Head of the State Security Service Department for Serbia's southern province of Kosovo-Metohija David Gajic said on Sunday that the situation in the province was calm but remained complex.

Ethnic Albanian leaders must understand that problems can not be resolved through terrorism, Gajic told diplomats from about 40 countries, mainly ambassadors and charge's d'affaires accredited in Yugoslavia, whose visit to Kosovo Sunday was organized by the Yugoslav Foreign Ministry.

During the visit to Donje Prekaze village where the home and base of terrorist gang leader Adem Jasari were located, Gajic told the diplomats that Serbian police had urged all civilians during the clashes with the terrorists to leave the zone of fighting. Those who wished to be evacuated were given police protection, Gajic said.

Gajic pointed to nearby houses from which no fire had been opened on the police, showing that those houses were undamaged.

Answering a question by a Libyan diplomat, Gajic said that some of the participants in terrorist actions were arrested, and added that the majority of terrorists had undergone military training in Albania and training for terrorist actions and diversions in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and other countries.

The gang led by Jasari was the most extremist ethnic Albanian group, Gajic said, and added that other gangs were based in Ovcarevo, Jablanica and elsewhere.

Gajic said that Jasari had been a fanatic, who sacrificed his own family and killed his own brother's child who wished to surrender to the police.

Answering a Palestinian diplomat, Gajic said that Jasari's gang had used various foreign- and Albanian-made weapons, bombs and hand grenades in the clashes.

Answering a Greek diplomat, Gajic said that some of Jasari's gang members each had about a dozen murders on record.

Explaining the police presence in the area, Gajic said they were there to protect the visiting diplomats, and explained that the population of the Drenica area, notorious for its anti-Yugoslav and separatist attitude, harboured a number of terrorists.

The goals of police actions were to protect the civilian population and to confront the terrorists who had provoked the clashes, Gajic said.

The terrorists have funds and bank accounts abroad for the purchase of arms, Gajic said and noted that foreign police authorities, especially in western Europe, had been informed of this and of the activities of ethnic Albanian terrorists in some European countries.

Serbia's police force comprises some ethnic Albanians, whose names - like those of other ethnic Albanians loyal to Yugoslavia - are on the murder lists of terrorist organizations.

The foreign diplomats visited the Jasari family compound and the houses of Adem and Said Jasari, as well as a nearby bunker used as a weapons cache.

Reporters of foreign media accredited in Yugoslavia also visited the area on Sunday.

[03] LEGITIMATE RIGHT TO DEAL WITH TERRORISM

Tanjug, 1998-03-06

The ambassadors of member-countries of the Contact Group, headed by British Ambassador Joseph Brian Donnelly, conferred in Pristina on Friday with Kosovo District Deputy Chief Veljko Odalovic and Provincial Information Secretary Bosko Drobnjak.

A statement by the Information Secretariat of Serbia's southern province of Kosovo and Metohija said the ambassadors first expressed their great concern over the situation in Kosovo and Metohija and possibilities for further escalation.

After hearing a detailed report about the latest developments in the field, the ambassadors indicated it was the legitimate right of a country to fight terrorism with due respect for international norms which are applied by all civilized countries forced to deal with terrorism.

It was agreed that the only way out of this situation was to make strong efforts to set up dialogue, and the earliest possible realization of the agreement on education, as the first step toward a normalization of relations in these lands, the Secretariat's statement said.

[04] KOSMET OFFICIALS CONFERRED WITH ITALIAN AMBASSADOR

Tanjug, 1998-03-06

Deputy Chief of the Kosovo District Veljko Odalovic and Kosovo and Metohija Secretary for Information Bosko Drobnjak conferred on Friday with Italian Ambassador in Belgrade Ricardo Sessa.

A released statement on the talks said that concern was expressed over the complex situation in Serbia's southern province.

Ambassador Sessa set out that only an immediate and strong political initiative by both sides could ease tensions which he said were gravid with tragic consequences.

The Italian Ambassador said that negotiations should begin immediately and the talks should create conditions for all citizens in the province to live side by side and in peace. Ambassador Sessa specified that the immediate implementation of the Accord on Education, earlier signed by President Slobodan Milosevic and ethnic-Albanian leader Ibrahim Rugova, must be the first step in that direction, the released statement said.

Ambassador Sessa stressed the importance of securing the necessary conditions for objective media coverage so that the international public would be informed about the actual situation in the field.

[05] MINISTER LAZIC: SERBIA WILL DECISIVELY RECKON WITH TERRORISTS

Tanjug, 1998-03-06

Serbian Minister without portfolio Djuro Lazic, who is in charge of Serbia's southern province of Kosovo and Metohija, said that Serbian state authorities would reckon with terrorists in the same fashion as other states dealt with the problem.

"Serbia, as a state ruled by law, is obliged to defend peace and the security of citizens, regardless of their faith and nationality, through the implementation of laws and by all permissible methods and will do so very decisively," Lazic said in an interview to Tanjug.

Minister Lazic gave the interview in connection with the terrorist operations of ethnic-Albanian separatists in Kosovo and Metohija, operations spurred by the ethnic-Albanian separatist leadership and also some foreign factors whose goal is the political and overall destabilization of Serbia.

Lazic said that what was clearly involved in Kosovo and Metohija was terrorism of gangs of bandits which ambushed, maltreated and killed innocent people. He said it was well that the world, itself, had come to realize that what was at work was classic terrorism and banditry.

"Our authorities must promptly bring the terrorists to justice, as demanded by Serbs, Montenegrins and also honest ethnic Albanians who want to live in peace and freedom," Lazic said.

Commenting the fact that leaders of ethnic-Albanian political parties insisted during their visits abroad on the so-called Kosovo issue, Minister Lazic stressed that the status of Kosovo and Metohija was clearly defined in Serbia's Constitution.

"Kosovo and Metohija is part of the state of Serbia and it has never belonged to anybody else nor will it," Lazic underlined. He said that the rights of the Albanian national minority were regulated at the beginning of Serbia's Constitution under the provision which specified that the Republic of Serbia was a state of all citizens living in it.

"Therefore, members of nations and of all nationalities have equal rights. The aim of the strivings and activities of ethnic-Albanian parties in Kosovo and Metohija is not the exercise of those rights but secessionism and separatism," Minister Lazic stressed.

Lazic said Serbia never denied the right of national minorities to schooling, and enabled all children to attend school normally, and the same is done today.

In the case of the ethnic Albanian national minority, their separatist leadership is abusing the issue of education. Serbia, just as every civilized country, wants a single education system and a single education program, while separatists want their classes in the Albanian language to be held according to the program from Albania or the so-called Republic of Kosovo, the Serbian Minister said.

He explained that the Group "three plus three" was working on the implementation of the agreement on education signed by President Slobodan Milosevic and Ibrahim Rugova, adding that, "however, our delegation must try to harmonize classes in the Albanian language with the education system of the Republic of Serbia."

We are in favour of talks about all pending issues if there are any, but we will never accept talks leading to separatism, Lazic said.

In connection with the demonstrations of representatives of the Albanian national minority, Lazic said that they are only a screen for classical separatism of ethnic Albanian parties in Kosmet.

"They hope to form a parallel university, and that is a step towards separatism. At Pristina University all students have the right to education in accordance with the education program of the Republic of Serbia and it is not true that at Pristina University there are no members of the Albanian national minority. There are ethnic Albanians among professors and among students, and there is a Department of Albanology, Lazic said. Reminding that "no country in the world endorses parallelism on a national basis at their universities," he said that was a position which will remain unchanged in the future.

In the past so-called student demonstrations, he said, there were so many old men among the demonstrators that they can hardly be called student demonstrations.

The Serbian Minister in charge of Kosmet said in the same interview that in Kosmet one of the key tasks is to secure peace and stability as well as efforts for a speedier development of that part of Serbia.

[06] TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER ENDED HIS VISIT TO BELGRADE

Tanjug, 1998-03-08

Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem described his talks on Sunday in Belgrade with Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic and Foreign Minister Zivadin Jovanovic as very cordial and constructive.

Turkey advocates peaceful coexistence in (Serbia's southern province of) Kosovo-Metohija within the legal borders of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Cem told the press at the airport at the end of his one-day visit to Yugoslavia.

Cem added he had told President Milosevic that Turkey expected a speedy pacification of the situation in Kosovo. The first step to this end would be to resolve the eduction issue, Cem said and advocated a gradual resolving of all other issues too.

Cem said he and his Yugoslav counterpart Jovanovic had discussed cooperation in the Balkans and southeastern Europe and the development of bilateral relations and especially economic cooperation.

Turkey will host the forthcoming Balkan Summit, Cem said and added that preparations for the conference were also discussed.

The Turkish Minister described his visit to Belgrade as useful.

[07] YUGOSLAV FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER

Tanjug, 1998-03-08

Yugoslav Foreign Minister Zivadin Jovanovic and his Turkish counterpart Ismail Cem discussed on Sunday in Belgrade bilateral, regional and international issues of joint interest, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Both countries wish to accelerate the development of bilateral relations on the basis of equality, mutual benefit and non-interference in internal affairs, it was noted during the meeting.

Yugoslavia and Turkey will pursue their dialogue in political and economic spheres, and have agreed on the need for encouraging bilateral and regional cooperation in trade, investments, development of traffic and other infrastructures, science and technology.

New inter-state agreements will be drawn up and signed to facilitate such cooperation, it was agreed at the meeting.

Both countries also intend to develop multilateral regional cooperation in the Balkans and the Black Sea region.

The Yugoslav officials informed the Turkish delegation of their views and the first results of the development of a free trade zone on the basis of bilateral agreements among the region's countries. This will contribute to the accelerated development of regional and national potentials, economic development and the participation of the region's countries in European integration processes, it was noted during the meeting.

Both sides pointed to the importance of implementing the decisions taken by the participants of the Crete Summit, to which a forthcoming Summit to be held in Turkey this year would make a significant contribution.

Yugoslavia and Turkey will also cooperate bilaterally and with other partners in the region in preparing the Summit and other regional conferences, the statement says.

[08] YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC RECEIVED TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER CEM

Tanjug, 1998-03-08

Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic received on Sunday Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and his host, Yugoslav Foreign Minister Zivadin Jovanovic.

The talk covered the development of bilateral relations between Yugoslavia and Turkey, the situation in the region and other topical issues of joint interest.

Both sides expressed interest in the intensification of bilateral and regional cooperation, as an important condition for the consolidation of peace and political stability in southeastern Europe.

It was established that political dialogue between the two countries could doubtlessly help the attainment of that goal and secure the promotion of mutual understanding. A further affirmation of the equality and openness of the Balkan countries and peoples is particularly important for stable relations and a successful building of confidence in the region. The expansion of economic ties is a firm interest of economic partners and also a common orientation of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Turkey, which are committed to stimulating unhampered processes of the establishment of economic links among countries of southeastern Europe in keeping with the Crete Statement.

As far as problems in Kosovo and Metohija are concerned, in which the Turkish Minister showed an interest in the talk, President Milosevic stressed that those problems could be resolved solely in Serbia on the basis of and within the frameworks of its own Constitution and laws, which includes measures for an efficacious suppression of the activities of ethnic-Albanian terrorists taken by the state authorities in charge.

It was set out that non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries was an unavoidable condition for a successful development of bilateral and overall international relations. The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia is categorically opposed to any attempt at the internationalization of the domestic issues of others.

[09] GREEK MINISTER PANGALOS CONFERRED WITH DRASKOVIC

Tanjug, 1998-03-06

Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos talked in Belgrade on Friday with Serbian Renewal Movement (SPO) President Vuk Draskovic, the SPO Information Service said.

The Greek Foreign Minister lent full support to the territorial integrity of Serbia and condemned the terrorism of ethnic Albanian extremists, and the demands for an independent Kosovo, the statement said.

Minister Pangalos said he believed that very soon in Kosovo and Metohija firearms will give way to democratic dialogue between the political representatives of Serbs and Albanians.

Draskovic said that ethnic Albanian terrorists do not represent Albanians in Kosovo and Metohija and that the international community must draw a clear line between terrorists and Kosovo Albanians.

Terrorists, Draskovic said, have no rights but ethnic Albanians have all individual and collective rights, in accordance with the democratic standards of Europe and within Serbia.

[10] MONTENEGRIN PRESIDENT DJUKANOVIC MET WITH GREEK MINISTER PANGALOS

Tanjug, 1998-03-06

Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos met Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic in Podgorica on Friday as part of his visit to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

Pangalos and Djukanovic addressed the press after a friendly and constructive talk that focused on economic cooperation and current problems in Serbia's southern province of Kosovo-Metohija.

Pangalos said he shared closely similar views with Djukanovic. He also said Greece was ready to assist Yugoslavia, as well as Montenegro as its federal unit, in its efforts to reintegrate into the international community and overcome other problems.

He said that the Greek and Yugoslav peoples had traditionally friendly ties. He also said that the Greek Government would promote economic cooperation with Montenegro by extending credits for the modernization of its economy. Pangalos said that the amount of the credit would be agreed upon in Athens on March 18.

I have agreed with President Djukanovic that it is necessary to preserve the territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Any placing into question of borders in the Balkan region could create great danger. Terrorism and violence are an unacceptable method of resolving the problem of Kosovo, he said.

We have worked systematically on Yugoslavia's reintegration into the international community and we shall continue to do so. However, we need new ideas and initiatives to change the psychological climate in the international community, Pangalos said.

Djukanovic said, for his part, that he had urged Pangalos that Greece's overall efforts towards Yugoslavia's return to the international community include assistance in the implementation of Montenegro's specific projects and interests, which were impossible to achieve within Yugoslavia's current relations with the international community.

We have agreed that it is necessary that Serbia and its state bodies launch a serious and comprehensive political initiative that will contribute to stopping violence in Kosovo and trying to resolve the issue in a constructive manner so as to preserve the territorial integrity of Serbia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in the interest of preserving minority rights both in Kosovo-Metohija and within Yugoslavia as a whole and also in the interest of an overall democratic and economic prosperity of Serbia and Yugoslavia, Djukanovic said.

Pangalos also said that a Greek Consular Office would be opened in Montenegro in 1998.

[11] OFFICIAL STATEMENT BY THE FEDERAL MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS MR. ZIVADIN JOVANOVIC AFTER HIS TALKS WITH THE GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER THEODOROS PANGALOS, ON 6 MARCH 1998 IN BELGRADE

Tanjug, 1998-03-06

Today's visit of our friend Minister for Foreign Affairs of Greece Theodoros Pangalos to the FR of Yugoslavia reaffirms the importance that the two friendly countries attach to the continuity of fruitful political dialogue.

In our talks, were discussed in detail the situation and perspectives of our overall relations and cooperation in the most important fields. We both assessed that those relations and cooperation develop in positive direction in the spirit of traditional friendship, mutual trust and on the basis of mutual interests. Comprehensive bilateral cooperation as well as cooperation at broader regional level represent at the same time an important factor of peace, stability and accelerated social*economic development in the Balkans, in South*Eastern Europe.

We have assessed as positive the development of political dialogue and noted that this year we shall have important reciprocal visits at the State, Government, Parliamentary and other levels in both directions.

Particular attention was devoted to economic cooperation which was mutually assessed as good and dynamic. We also noted that there is much more room for its further development which we shall jointly endeavour to use more efficiently in the forthcoming period. Trade exchange in the past year totalled US $ 300 million. It is realistic that in this year it will be increased by 30%. The two countries are interested in resolving along the way some concrete outstanding issues, particularly to have barriers and limitations eliminated, especially those existing at the level of the European Union and impede the expansion of the Yugoslav exports.

We assessed as particulary important that long*term forms of economic cooperation and direct investment are being increased at an accelerated pace, as well as direct investment of Greek companies in the Yugoslav economy, infrastructure, communications, hydro*electric power supply, health*care and services. The new already concluded long*term arrangements of the Yugoslav and Greek companies are valued at over US $ 1.7 billion. It clearly indicates steady increase of our economic cooperation.

We have also discussed regional cooperation and the peace process. We agreed that in the future as well, with joint efforts we shall strengthen and encourage regional Balkan and Mediterranean cooperation as well as cooperation in South*Eastern Europe. We emphasized major importance of the summit of the Heads of State and Governments of the countries of South*Eastern Europe in the Crete as well as of the Crete Declaration as a basis for broadening and institutionalization of this cooperation. We shall be actively engaged in the preparation for the next summit and Ministerial and other meetings which will deal concretely with the Crete conclusions. Both sides believe that the cooperation contributes to the consolidation of peace and stability, activating human and economic resources and thereby to the region's faster inclusion in the European integration processes.

We have reaffirmed our commitment to further efforts for the stabilization of the peace process based on the Dayton/Paris peace agreement in which Yugoslavia shall continue to play a crucial role. Of utmost importance is our commitment to constant promotion of good*neighbourly relations, cross*border integration and cooperation of countries of the region on the basis of full mutual respect, non*interference into internal affairs and mutual interests. We have affirmed our openness and interest in equal participating in the realization of the Royamount, SECI and other regional initiatives.

I am confident that my today's discussion with Mr. Pangalos will further encourage the development of mutually beneficially cooperation between Yugoslavia and Greece.

[12] MINISTER PANGALOS: GREECE CONDEMNS SEPARATISM AND TERRORISM

Tanjug, 1998-03-06

Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos said on Friday that his country condemned separatism and terrorism and that it urged the preservation of the nation-states in the Balkans and opposed the changing of current state borders.

Pangalos, who arrived in Yugoslavia early on Friday, conveyed his country's stand on developments in Serbia's southern province of Kosovo and Metohija at a joint news conference after meeting with his Yugoslav counterpart Zivadin Jovanovic.

Pangalos said Greece urged the respect of human rights and the freedom of expressing political views, taking the view that these values should be preserved everywhere.

Pangalos said Greece's stand was that a solution should be based on these principles. He said he had informed Jovanovic about Greece's readiness to help, if possibilities were found to establish contacts or launch an initiative in order to ease tensions.

He said Greece had not offered to mediate, saying it only discussed the issue in an attempt to help.

He said Greece encouraged all moderate elements on the political scene of Kosovo and Metohija opposing extremists.

Pangalos said Greece would continue to urge Yugoslavia's integration into the international community, saying Yugoslavia had to be granted its place in the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the Council of Europe and the United Nations.

Referring to the development of good*neighbourly relations, Pangalos said 200,000 Yugoslavs had visited Greece last year, saying the country expected about 300,000 Yugoslav tourists this year. He also said about 20,000 Yugoslav citizens would soon be granted work or residence permits.

[13] PANGALOS: GREECE FOR INVIOLABILITY OF BORDERS

Tanjug, 1998-03-06

Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos said on Friday that it had been agreed in talks with Serbian President Milan Milutinovic that relations between Greece and Yugoslavia were very good.

In a statement to reporters following these talks, Pangalos pointed out that bilateral cooperation between the two countries, including the economic, was constantly being promoted.

Pangalos also said they had exchanged views on peace in the Balkans, the promotion of stability and democratic institutions.

Speaking about the developments in Kosovo, Pangalos reiterated that Greece was against any form of separatism and for inviolability of borders.

Greece believes in the possibility that each community develop its own identity, Pangalos said, adding that Greece urged respect of human rights.

On the grounds of these two principles Greece believes all people of good will should cooperate with each other, Pangalos concluded.

[14] FOREIGN DIPLOMATS VISITED KOSOVO

Tanjug, 1998-03-08

Head of the State Security Service Department for Serbia's southern province of Kosovo-Metohija David Gajic said on Sunday that the situation in the province was calm but remained complex.

Ethnic Albanian leaders must understand that problems can not be resolved through terrorism, Gajic told diplomats from about 40 countries, mainly ambassadors and charge's d'affaires accredited in Yugoslavia, whose visit to Kosovo Sunday was organized by the Yugoslav Foreign Ministry.

During the visit to Donje Prekaze village where the home and base of terrorist gang leader Adem Jasari were located, Gajic told the diplomats that Serbian police had urged all civilians during the clashes with the terrorists to leave the zone of fighting. Those who wished to be evacuated were given police protection, Gajic said.

Gajic pointed to nearby houses from which no fire had been opened on the police, showing that those houses were undamaged.

Answering a question by a Libyan diplomat, Gajic said that some of the participants in terrorist actions were arrested, and added that the majority of terrorists had undergone military training in Albania and training for terrorist actions and diversions in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and other countries.

The gang led by Jasari was the most extremist ethnic Albanian group, Gajic said, and added that other gangs were based in Ovcarevo, Jablanica and elsewhere.

Gajic said that Jasari had been a fanatic, who sacrificed his own family and killed his own brother's child who wished to surrender to the police.

Answering a Palestinian diplomat, Gajic said that Jasari's gang had used various foreign- and Albanian-made weapons, bombs and hand grenades in the clashes.

Answering a Greek diplomat, Gajic said that some of Jasari's gang members each had about a dozen murders on record.

Explaining the police presence in the area, Gajic said they were there to protect the visiting diplomats, and explained that the population of the Drenica area, notorious for its anti-Yugoslav and separatist attitude, harboured a number of terrorists.

The goals of police actions were to protect the civilian population and to confront the terrorists who had provoked the clashes, Gajic said.

The terrorists have funds and bank accounts abroad for the purchase of arms, Gajic said and noted that foreign police authorities, especially in western Europe, had been informed of this and of the activities of ethnic Albanian terrorists in some European countries.

Serbia's police force comprises some ethnic Albanians, whose names - like those of other ethnic Albanians loyal to Yugoslavia - are on the murder lists of terrorist organizations.

The foreign diplomats visited the Jasari family compound and the houses of Adem and Said Jasari, as well as a nearby bunker used as a weapons cache.

Reporters of foreign media accredited in Yugoslavia also visited the area on Sunday.

[15] SERBIAN PRESIDENT MILUTINOVIC RECEIVED GREEK MINISTER PANGALOS

Tanjug, 1998-03-06

Serbian President Milan Milutinovic on Friday received Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos who was visiting Yugoslavia.

In a cordial atmosphere and in the spirit of lasting friendly ties between Serbia and Greece, the two sides stressed the common interest in further strengthening and promoting overall cooperation, in particular in the economy, through direct contacts between economic subjects, said a statement released by the office of the Serbian President.

It was agreed that there were good conditions for the further development and promotion of cooperation in traffic, agriculture, mining and the food industry, and even greater trade and enhancing cooperation with new forms, such as capital investments in economic, primarily infrastructure objects.

It was indicated that there were vast possibilities to develop cultural, scientific, tourist and sports ties which should constantly enhance relations between the two peoples.

[16] YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC RECEIVED GREEK MINISTER PANGALOS

Tanjug, 1998-03-06

Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic received Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos in Belgrade on Friday.

The talks covered issues concerning the further successful development of bilateral relations between Yugoslavia and Greece, regional stability and cooperation, as well as other topics of common interest.

It was agreed that the two countries were realizing continued, stable, and comprehensive cooperation, based on mutual needs and interests, as well as mutual confidence, equality and traditional friendship.

Yugoslav Foreign Minister Zivadin Jovanovic and Greek Ambassador in Belgrade Panayotis Vlasopoulos also took part in the talks.

[17] MINISTER LAZIC: SERBIA WILL DECISIVELY RECKON WITH TERRORISTS

Tanjug, 1998-03-06

Serbian Minister without portfolio Djuro Lazic, who is in charge of Serbia's southern province of Kosovo and Metohija, said that Serbian state authorities would reckon with terrorists in the same fashion as other states dealt with the problem.

"Serbia, as a state ruled by law, is obliged to defend peace and the security of citizens, regardless of their faith and nationality, through the implementation of laws and by all permissible methods and will do so very decisively," Lazic said in an interview to Tanjug.

Minister Lazic gave the interview in connection with the terrorist operations of ethnic-Albanian separatists in Kosovo and Metohija, operations spurred by the ethnic-Albanian separatist leadership and also some foreign factors whose goal is the political and overall destabilization of Serbia.

Lazic said that what was clearly involved in Kosovo and Metohija was terrorism of gangs of bandits which ambushed, maltreated and killed innocent people. He said it was well that the world, itself, had come to realize that what was at work was classic terrorism and banditry.

"Our authorities must promptly bring the terrorists to justice, as demanded by Serbs, Montenegrins and also honest ethnic Albanians who want to live in peace and freedom," Lazic said.

Commenting the fact that leaders of ethnic-Albanian political parties insisted during their visits abroad on the so-called Kosovo issue, Minister Lazic stressed that the status of Kosovo and Metohija was clearly defined in Serbia's Constitution.

"Kosovo and Metohija is part of the state of Serbia and it has never belonged to anybody else nor will it," Lazic underlined. He said that the rights of the Albanian national minority were regulated at the beginning of Serbia's Constitution under the provision which specified that the Republic of Serbia was a state of all citizens living in it.

"Therefore, members of nations and of all nationalities have equal rights. The aim of the strivings and activities of ethnic-Albanian parties in Kosovo and Metohija is not the exercise of those rights but secessionism and separatism," Minister Lazic stressed.

Lazic said Serbia never denied the right of national minorities to schooling, and enabled all children to attend school normally, and the same is done today.

In the case of the ethnic Albanian national minority, their separatist leadership is abusing the issue of education. Serbia, just as every civilized country, wants a single education system and a single education program, while separatists want their classes in the Albanian language to be held according to the program from Albania or the so-called Republic of Kosovo, the Serbian Minister said.

He explained that the Group "three plus three" was working on the implementation of the agreement on education signed by President Slobodan Milosevic and Ibrahim Rugova, adding that, "however, our delegation must try to harmonize classes in the Albanian language with the education system of the Republic of Serbia."

We are in favour of talks about all pending issues if there are any, but we will never accept talks leading to separatism, Lazic said.

In connection with the demonstrations of representatives of the Albanian national minority, Lazic said that they are only a screen for classical separatism of ethnic Albanian parties in Kosmet.

"They hope to form a parallel university, and that is a step towards separatism. At Pristina University all students have the right to education in accordance with the education program of the Republic of Serbia and it is not true that at Pristina University there are no members of the Albanian national minority. There are ethnic Albanians among professors and among students, and there is a Department of Albanology, Lazic said. Reminding that "no country in the world endorses parallelism on a national basis at their universities," he said that was a position which will remain unchanged in the future.

In the past so-called student demonstrations, he said, there were so many old men among the demonstrators that they can hardly be called student demonstrations.

The Serbian Minister in charge of Kosmet said in the same interview that in Kosmet one of the key tasks is to secure peace and stability as well as efforts for a speedier development of that part of Serbia.

[18] LEGITIMATE RIGHT TO DEAL WITH TERRORISM

Tanjug, 1998-03-06

The ambassadors of member-countries of the Contact Group, headed by British Ambassador Joseph Brian Donnelly, conferred in Pristina on Friday with Kosovo District Deputy Chief Veljko Odalovic and Provincial Information Secretary Bosko Drobnjak.

A statement by the Information Secretariat of Serbia's southern province of Kosovo and Metohija said the ambassadors first expressed their great concern over the situation in Kosovo and Metohija and possibilities for further escalation.

After hearing a detailed report about the latest developments in the field, the ambassadors indicated it was the legitimate right of a country to fight terrorism with due respect for international norms which are applied by all civilized countries forced to deal with terrorism.

It was agreed that the only way out of this situation was to make strong efforts to set up dialogue, and the earliest possible realization of the agreement on education, as the first step toward a normalization of relations in these lands, the Secretariat's statement said.

[19] KOSMET OFFICIALS CONFERRED WITH ITALIAN AMBASSADOR

Tanjug, 1998-03-06

Deputy Chief of the Kosovo District Veljko Odalovic and Kosovo and Metohija Secretary for Information Bosko Drobnjak conferred on Friday with Italian Ambassador in Belgrade Ricardo Sessa.

A released statement on the talks said that concern was expressed over the complex situation in Serbia's southern province.

Ambassador Sessa set out that only an immediate and strong political initiative by both sides could ease tensions which he said were gravid with tragic consequences.

The Italian Ambassador said that negotiations should begin immediately and the talks should create conditions for all citizens in the province to live side by side and in peace. Ambassador Sessa specified that the immediate implementation of the Accord on Education, earlier signed by President Slobodan Milosevic and ethnic-Albanian leader Ibrahim Rugova, must be the first step in that direction, the released statement said.

Ambassador Sessa stressed the importance of securing the necessary conditions for objective media coverage so that the international public would be informed about the actual situation in the field.

[20] YUGOSLAV FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER

Tanjug, 1998-03-08

Yugoslav Foreign Minister Zivadin Jovanovic and his Turkish counterpart Ismail Cem discussed on Sunday in Belgrade bilateral, regional and international issues of joint interest, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Both countries wish to accelerate the development of bilateral relations on the basis of equality, mutual benefit and non-interference in internal affairs, it was noted during the meeting.

Yugoslavia and Turkey will pursue their dialogue in political and economic spheres, and have agreed on the need for encouraging bilateral and regional cooperation in trade, investments, development of traffic and other infrastructures, science and technology.

New inter-state agreements will be drawn up and signed to facilitate such cooperation, it was agreed at the meeting.

Both countries also intend to develop multilateral regional cooperation in the Balkans and the Black Sea region.

The Yugoslav officials informed the Turkish delegation of their views and the first results of the development of a free trade zone on the basis of bilateral agreements among the region's countries. This will contribute to the accelerated development of regional and national potentials, economic development and the participation of the region's countries in European integration processes, it was noted during the meeting.

Both sides pointed to the importance of implementing the decisions taken by the participants of the Crete Summit, to which a forthcoming Summit to be held in Turkey this year would make a significant contribution.

Yugoslavia and Turkey will also cooperate bilaterally and with other partners in the region in preparing the Summit and other regional conferences, the statement says.

[21] YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC RECEIVED TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER CEM

Tanjug, 1998-03-08

Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic received on Sunday Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and his host, Yugoslav Foreign Minister Zivadin Jovanovic.

The talk covered the development of bilateral relations between Yugoslavia and Turkey, the situation in the region and other topical issues of joint interest.

Both sides expressed interest in the intensification of bilateral and regional cooperation, as an important condition for the consolidation of peace and political stability in southeastern Europe.

It was established that political dialogue between the two countries could doubtlessly help the attainment of that goal and secure the promotion of mutual understanding. A further affirmation of the equality and openness of the Balkan countries and peoples is particularly important for stable relations and a successful building of confidence in the region. The expansion of economic ties is a firm interest of economic partners and also a common orientation of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Turkey, which are committed to stimulating unhampered processes of the establishment of economic links among countries of southeastern Europe in keeping with the Crete Statement.

As far as problems in Kosovo and Metohija are concerned, in which the Turkish Minister showed an interest in the talk, President Milosevic stressed that those problems could be resolved solely in Serbia on the basis of and within the frameworks of its own Constitution and laws, which includes measures for an efficacious suppression of the activities of ethnic-Albanian terrorists taken by the state authorities in charge.

It was set out that non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries was an unavoidable condition for a successful development of bilateral and overall international relations. The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia is categorically opposed to any attempt at the internationalization of the domestic issues of others.

[22] TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER ENDED HIS VISIT TO BELGRADE

Tanjug, 1998-03-08

Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem described his talks on Sunday in Belgrade with Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic and Foreign Minister Zivadin Jovanovic as very cordial and constructive.

Turkey advocates peaceful coexistence in (Serbia's southern province of) Kosovo-Metohija within the legal borders of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Cem told the press at the airport at the end of his one-day visit to Yugoslavia.

Cem added he had told President Milosevic that Turkey expected a speedy pacification of the situation in Kosovo. The first step to this end would be to resolve the eduction issue, Cem said and advocated a gradual resolving of all other issues too.

Cem said he and his Yugoslav counterpart Jovanovic had discussed cooperation in the Balkans and southeastern Europe and the development of bilateral relations and especially economic cooperation.

Turkey will host the forthcoming Balkan Summit, Cem said and added that preparations for the conference were also discussed.

The Turkish Minister described his visit to Belgrade as useful.

[23] GREEK MINISTER PANGALOS CONFERRED WITH DRASKOVIC

Tanjug, 1998-03-06

Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos talked in Belgrade on Friday with Serbian Renewal Movement (SPO) President Vuk Draskovic, the SPO Information Service said.

The Greek Foreign Minister lent full support to the territorial integrity of Serbia and condemned the terrorism of ethnic Albanian extremists, and the demands for an independent Kosovo, the statement said.

Minister Pangalos said he believed that very soon in Kosovo and Metohija firearms will give way to democratic dialogue between the political representatives of Serbs and Albanians.

Draskovic said that ethnic Albanian terrorists do not represent Albanians in Kosovo and Metohija and that the international community must draw a clear line between terrorists and Kosovo Albanians.

Terrorists, Draskovic said, have no rights but ethnic Albanians have all individual and collective rights, in accordance with the democratic standards of Europe and within Serbia.

[24] MONTENEGRIN PRESIDENT DJUKANOVIC MET WITH GREEK MINISTER PANGALOS

Tanjug, 1998-03-06

Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos met Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic in Podgorica on Friday as part of his visit to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

Pangalos and Djukanovic addressed the press after a friendly and constructive talk that focused on economic cooperation and current problems in Serbia's southern province of Kosovo-Metohija.

Pangalos said he shared closely similar views with Djukanovic. He also said Greece was ready to assist Yugoslavia, as well as Montenegro as its federal unit, in its efforts to reintegrate into the international community and overcome other problems.

He said that the Greek and Yugoslav peoples had traditionally friendly ties. He also said that the Greek Government would promote economic cooperation with Montenegro by extending credits for the modernization of its economy. Pangalos said that the amount of the credit would be agreed upon in Athens on March 18.

I have agreed with President Djukanovic that it is necessary to preserve the territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Any placing into question of borders in the Balkan region could create great danger. Terrorism and violence are an unacceptable method of resolving the problem of Kosovo, he said.

We have worked systematically on Yugoslavia's reintegration into the international community and we shall continue to do so. However, we need new ideas and initiatives to change the psychological climate in the international community, Pangalos said.

Djukanovic said, for his part, that he had urged Pangalos that Greece's overall efforts towards Yugoslavia's return to the international community include assistance in the implementation of Montenegro's specific projects and interests, which were impossible to achieve within Yugoslavia's current relations with the international community.

We have agreed that it is necessary that Serbia and its state bodies launch a serious and comprehensive political initiative that will contribute to stopping violence in Kosovo and trying to resolve the issue in a constructive manner so as to preserve the territorial integrity of Serbia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in the interest of preserving minority rights both in Kosovo-Metohija and within Yugoslavia as a whole and also in the interest of an overall democratic and economic prosperity of Serbia and Yugoslavia, Djukanovic said.

Pangalos also said that a Greek Consular Office would be opened in Montenegro in 1998.

[25] MINISTER PANGALOS: GREECE CONDEMNS SEPARATISM AND TERRORISM

Tanjug, 1998-03-06

Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos said on Friday that his country condemned separatism and terrorism and that it urged the preservation of the nation-states in the Balkans and opposed the changing of current state borders.

Pangalos, who arrived in Yugoslavia early on Friday, conveyed his country's stand on developments in Serbia's southern province of Kosovo and Metohija at a joint news conference after meeting with his Yugoslav counterpart Zivadin Jovanovic.

Pangalos said Greece urged the respect of human rights and the freedom of expressing political views, taking the view that these values should be preserved everywhere.

Pangalos said Greece's stand was that a solution should be based on these principles. He said he had informed Jovanovic about Greece's readiness to help, if possibilities were found to establish contacts or launch an initiative in order to ease tensions.

He said Greece had not offered to mediate, saying it only discussed the issue in an attempt to help.

He said Greece encouraged all moderate elements on the political scene of Kosovo and Metohija opposing extremists.

Pangalos said Greece would continue to urge Yugoslavia's integration into the international community, saying Yugoslavia had to be granted its place in the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the Council of Europe and the United Nations.

Referring to the development of good*neighbourly relations, Pangalos said 200,000 Yugoslavs had visited Greece last year, saying the country expected about 300,000 Yugoslav tourists this year. He also said about 20,000 Yugoslav citizens would soon be granted work or residence permits.

[26] OFFICIAL STATEMENT BY THE FEDERAL MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS MR. ZIVADIN JOVANOVIC AFTER HIS TALKS WITH THE GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER THEODOROS PANGALOS, ON 6 MARCH 1998 IN BELGRADE

Tanjug, 1998-03-06

Today's visit of our friend Minister for Foreign Affairs of Greece Theodoros Pangalos to the FR of Yugoslavia reaffirms the importance that the two friendly countries attach to the continuity of fruitful political dialogue.

In our talks, were discussed in detail the situation and perspectives of our overall relations and cooperation in the most important fields. We both assessed that those relations and cooperation develop in positive direction in the spirit of traditional friendship, mutual trust and on the basis of mutual interests. Comprehensive bilateral cooperation as well as cooperation at broader regional level represent at the same time an important factor of peace, stability and accelerated social*economic development in the Balkans, in South*Eastern Europe.

We have assessed as positive the development of political dialogue and noted that this year we shall have important reciprocal visits at the State, Government, Parliamentary and other levels in both directions.

Particular attention was devoted to economic cooperation which was mutually assessed as good and dynamic. We also noted that there is much more room for its further development which we shall jointly endeavour to use more efficiently in the forthcoming period. Trade exchange in the past year totalled US $ 300 million. It is realistic that in this year it will be increased by 30%. The two countries are interested in resolving along the way some concrete outstanding issues, particularly to have barriers and limitations eliminated, especially those existing at the level of the European Union and impede the expansion of the Yugoslav exports.

We assessed as particulary important that long*term forms of economic cooperation and direct investment are being increased at an accelerated pace, as well as direct investment of Greek companies in the Yugoslav economy, infrastructure, communications, hydro*electric power supply, health*care and services. The new already concluded long*term arrangements of the Yugoslav and Greek companies are valued at over US $ 1.7 billion. It clearly indicates steady increase of our economic cooperation.

We have also discussed regional cooperation and the peace process. We agreed that in the future as well, with joint efforts we shall strengthen and encourage regional Balkan and Mediterranean cooperation as well as cooperation in South*Eastern Europe. We emphasized major importance of the summit of the Heads of State and Governments of the countries of South*Eastern Europe in the Crete as well as of the Crete Declaration as a basis for broadening and institutionalization of this cooperation. We shall be actively engaged in the preparation for the next summit and Ministerial and other meetings which will deal concretely with the Crete conclusions. Both sides believe that the cooperation contributes to the consolidation of peace and stability, activating human and economic resources and thereby to the region's faster inclusion in the European integration processes.

We have reaffirmed our commitment to further efforts for the stabilization of the peace process based on the Dayton/Paris peace agreement in which Yugoslavia shall continue to play a crucial role. Of utmost importance is our commitment to constant promotion of good*neighbourly relations, cross*border integration and cooperation of countries of the region on the basis of full mutual respect, non*interference into internal affairs and mutual interests. We have affirmed our openness and interest in equal participating in the realization of the Royamount, SECI and other regional initiatives.

I am confident that my today's discussion with Mr. Pangalos will further encourage the development of mutually beneficially cooperation between Yugoslavia and Greece.

[27] PANGALOS: GREECE FOR INVIOLABILITY OF BORDERS

Tanjug, 1998-03-06

Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos said on Friday that it had been agreed in talks with Serbian President Milan Milutinovic that relations between Greece and Yugoslavia were very good.

In a statement to reporters following these talks, Pangalos pointed out that bilateral cooperation between the two countries, including the economic, was constantly being promoted.

Pangalos also said they had exchanged views on peace in the Balkans, the promotion of stability and democratic institutions.

Speaking about the developments in Kosovo, Pangalos reiterated that Greece was against any form of separatism and for inviolability of borders.

Greece believes in the possibility that each community develop its own identity, Pangalos said, adding that Greece urged respect of human rights.

On the grounds of these two principles Greece believes all people of good will should cooperate with each other, Pangalos concluded.

[28] SERBIAN PRESIDENT MILUTINOVIC RECEIVED GREEK MINISTER PANGALOS

Tanjug, 1998-03-06

Serbian President Milan Milutinovic on Friday received Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos who was visiting Yugoslavia.

In a cordial atmosphere and in the spirit of lasting friendly ties between Serbia and Greece, the two sides stressed the common interest in further strengthening and promoting overall cooperation, in particular in the economy, through direct contacts between economic subjects, said a statement released by the office of the Serbian President.

It was agreed that there were good conditions for the further development and promotion of cooperation in traffic, agriculture, mining and the food industry, and even greater trade and enhancing cooperation with new forms, such as capital investments in economic, primarily infrastructure objects.

It was indicated that there were vast possibilities to develop cultural, scientific, tourist and sports ties which should constantly enhance relations between the two peoples.

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