Yugoslav Daily Survey, 98-05-14

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

Yugoslav Daily Survey

CONTENTS

[01] TERRORISTS AMBUSH A POLICE PATROL

[02] PREMIER DODIK SAYS HIS GOVERNMENT HAS MET ITS OBLIGATIONS

[03] HOLBROOKE AND GELBARD MEET WITH BOSNIAN SERB OFFICIALS

[04] CONFIRMATION OF SERBIA'S AND YUGOSLAVIA'S PRINCIPLED POLICY

[05] SERBIAN PRESIDENT MILUTINOVIC RECEIVED INTERIOR MINISTRY DELEGATION

[06] KRAJISNIK CONFERRED WITH U.S. DIPLOMATS

[07] DEMACI ACCUSES RUGOVA OF CAPITULATING TO THE ENEMY

[08] MOSCOW WELCOMES THE ANNOUNCED MEETING

[09] FRANCE WELCOMES AGREEMENT ON THE FORTHCOMING MEETING

[10] PRESIDENT CLINTON IS ENCOURAGED BY LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

[11] YUGOSLAV FOREIGN MINISTER VISITS NETHERLANDS

[12] PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC RECEIVED A DELEGATION OF INTERIOR AFFAIRS AND SECURITY SERVICES

[13] PROPOSAL FOR A VOTE OF NO-CONFIDENCE TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

[14] POLICEMAN WAS WOUNDED IN A TERRORIST ATTACK

[01] TERRORISTS AMBUSH A POLICE PATROL

Tanjug, 1998-05-13

A police patrol was ambushed at Rakosan on the Pec-Kosovska Mitrovica road in Kosovo and Metohija around 1 a.m. local time on Wednesday. The patrol fired back and, according to police sources, suffered no casualties.

[02] PREMIER DODIK SAYS HIS GOVERNMENT HAS MET ITS OBLIGATIONS

Tanjug, 1998-05-13

Republika Srpska Premier Milorad Dodik told the Assembly in Banjaluka on Wednesday that his government had met the obligations set in its programme. In a report on the government's first 100 days in office, Premier Dodik said that state institutions were now acting in a uniform fashion, the Dayton agreement was consistently implemented, efforts were invested for the affirmation of Republika Srpska, and an anti-crime battle was waged. Dodik told the Assembly that efforts for the improvement of the Bosnian Serb entity's international position and its reconstruction would continue.

He said his government would continue to work for a consistent implementation of the supplementary arbitration decision on the Brcko area and expressed hope that the town of Brcko would remain in Republika Srpska. Dodik assessed as positive the recent conference of aid donors in Brussels, which has secured 1.25 billion dollars for the reconstruction of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

[03] HOLBROOKE AND GELBARD MEET WITH BOSNIAN SERB OFFICIALS

Tanjug, 1998-05-13

Republika Srpska President Biljana Plavsic and Prime Minister Milorad Dodik received on Wednesday special U.S. envoys Robert Gelbard and Richard Holbrooke. Talks focused on the future of Bosnia's Serb entity, economic recovery and forthcoming elections. After the talks, Plavsic said she hoped the people would know when the elections came if their living had improved. Holbrooke spoke about the importance of an accord on the beginning of negotiations for a solution to the problem of Serbia's province of Kosovo and Metohija. Holbrooke, the author of the Bosnia peace accord, signed in Dayton, Ohio, in 1995, said political circumstances in the Serb republic had improved since his visit last year, and added that the new leadership, headed by Plavsic and Dodik, was determined on consistent implementation of the accord. He said that respect for the Republika Srpska had increased in the world, testifying to which is last week's donors' conference in Brussels, which had extended support to the entity and allotted funds for its reconstruction and development, said Holbrooke. In talks in Sarajevo with Bosnian federation leaders Alija Izetbegovic and Kresimir Zubak on the situation in Bosnia, Holbrooke said he had insisted on the return of refugees. He laid emphasis on the elections, scheduled for September 12 and 13, and said the people would decide whether to vote for the past or the future. Gelbard hailed the Bosnian Serb Government for its insistence on implementation of the Dayton accord, which he said was the reason for Bosnia's progress. He said the United States would soon send 100 million dollars to help the Serb entity. Dodik thanked the U.S. delegation for the help it had offered the Republika Srpska, and added that the Brussels conference had only required that the Dayton accord be honoured, which the Republika Srpska had pledged to do.

[04] CONFIRMATION OF SERBIA'S AND YUGOSLAVIA'S PRINCIPLED POLICY

Tanjug, 1998-05-13

U.S. special envoy Richard Holbrooke told a news conference on Wednesday after meeting with Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic that a dialogue on Kosovo and Metohija would soon open without any preconditions or foreign mediation. Holbrooke's statement is a confirmation of the correctness of the principled policy urged by the Serbian and Yugoslav leadership since the outbreak of the crisis in Serbia's southern province. Holbrooke said that the leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo Ibrahim Rugova would arrive in Belgrade on May 15 for talks with President Milosevic. The Milosevic-Rugova talks are only the initial step towards the political resolution of the Kosovo and Metohija issue. The two sides have agreed that these talks would be followed by a series of meetings between ethnic Albanian representatives and a Serbian Government delegation within a week. In these meetings, political solutions are to be found through direct dialogue and without any preconditions or foreign mediation to all outstanding issues burdening the situation in the province. Milosevic told Holbrooke in a meeting late on Tuesday that he had invited Rugova to Belgrade in order to cut short unnecessary hesitation which is damaging to everybody. The Milosevic-Rugova talks are to be followed by regular meetings in Pristina, centre of Kosovo and Metohija. Holbrooke confirmed at the news conference that regular meetings would be held in Pristina. He said the resolution of the Kosovo and Metohija issue should guarantee civil and human rights to all living in the province as well as prosperity for all on the footing of equality. He said the entire population of that ancient region with a rich history had the right to live in their homes, in concord and without fear or persecution. U.S. representatives said they hoped the coming talks in Belgrade and meetings in Pristina would lead to positive results, which Holbrooke said would make it possible for the United States and the rest of the world to back Yugoslavia's full integration into the international community and its institutions. The importance was stressed of the Belgrade talks, about which Holbrooke will inform the United States and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and heads of state or government taking part in a G-8 summit in Birmingham, England, next week. The U.S. representatives said it was vital that a meeting of the six-nation Contact Group be held early next week to review the latest developments in Kosovo and Metohija now that direct dialogue without any preconditions is about to open. The Contact Group is expected to review measures it adopted at previous meetings. According to statements issued after the meetings, the measures are to remain in force until the opening of dialogue on the Kosovo and Metohija issue.

[05] SERBIAN PRESIDENT MILUTINOVIC RECEIVED INTERIOR MINISTRY DELEGATION

Tanjug, 1998-05-13

Serbian President Milan Milutinovic received on Wednesday a delegation of the Serbian Interior Ministry, headed by Minister Vlajko Stojiljkovic, on the occasion of National Security Day, May 13. Milutinovic wished the ministry staff and services a happy holiday and paid them tribute for their professionalism, courage and determination in the defence of the constitutional order, territorial integrity, peace and security of Serbia and its people. In the present complex security situation, the Serbian Interior Ministry had been successfully discharging its legal duties and obligations in the protection of the state border, public law and order, traffic safety and fire protection, Milutinovic said. He stressed the importance of the fight against crime and the contribution made by the Interior Ministry to this fight. He praised the determination and readiness of the Ministry to continue taking enhanced measures and actions for still more efficaciously combatting crime in all its forms and for protecting the people and their property. He gave support and due praise to the Interior Ministry officials for their determination, courage and readiness to wage an uncompromising battle against terrorists in Serbia's southern province of Kosovo and Metohija. He stressed that Serbia was taking all legal measures, as was usual in the world, to fight firmly and effectively the terrorist gangs of the separatist movement in Kosovo and Metohija. He condemned as unacceptable efforts that are being made to put an equation mark between terrorism and the legitimate action of the police to suppress it and protect the people against terrorism. Milutinovic said he was pleased that the Serbian state today had a highly professional security force which was the best guarantee that the most complex security jobs would be discharged professionally, competently and lawfully. The people of Serbia were well aware of this and had confidence in the members of the Interior Ministry, he added. He wished the Interior Ministry staff success in their future work. He added that he was sure that they would remain professional, efficacious and responsible in the discharge of their legal duties of securing the constitutional order and strengthening the security and peace of the state and peaceful conditions of life and work for the people.

[06] KRAJISNIK CONFERRED WITH U.S. DIPLOMATS

Tanjug, 1998-05-13

Republika Srpska member of the three-man Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Momcilo Krajisnik met in Banjaluka with U.S. envoy on the Balkans Robert Gelbard and Richard Holbrooke, one of the architects of the Dayton peace accords. Krajisnik said after what he described as an unexpected meeting which lasted for about half an hour that there was an exchange of information and stands relating to the U.S. diplomats' visit to Yugoslavia. Krajisnik said that the talk also focused on the coming elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republika Srpska and on control of elections aimed at preventing irregularities. He said that the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the implementation of the Dayton peace accords had also been discussed.

[07] DEMACI ACCUSES RUGOVA OF CAPITULATING TO THE ENEMY

Tanjug, 1998-05-13

Leader of the Parliamentary Party of Kosovo Adem Demaci has accused ethnic Albanian leader Ibrahim Rugova of capitulation after the latter consented to meet with Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic without international mediation. Demaci said Rugova had made a "fatal mistake" and "de facto accepted Milosevic's proposal for an autonomy for Kosovo," television station Studio B reported on Wednesday. Yugoslavia and the world reacted favourably to Milosevic's invitation for the talks, scheduled for Friday, to bring about an end to the problem in Kosovo and Metohija. The move has been described as an important step toward a peaceful solution to the problem of Kosovo.

Reactions from the world said the forthcoming talks paved the way to Yugoslavia's full integration into the international community.

[08] MOSCOW WELCOMES THE ANNOUNCED MEETING

Tanjug, 1998-05-13

Moscow on Wednesday welcomed the announced meeting between Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic and Ibrahim Rugova, saying it would pave the way to Yugoslavia's full integration into the international community.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said it welcomed the agreement reached between Milosevic and Rugova to meet in Belgrade on May 15 with the aim of starting the negotiating process without any preconditions. The statement said this was a very important step toward the peaceful settling of the Kosovo problem. The upcoming talks in Belgrade present a serious contribution by Russia and other members of the international community in the regulation of the Kosovo issue, the statement said. Russia is still ready to provide friendly cooperation in settling this complex problem which is of vital importance for the peoples of Yugoslavia, said the Ministry statement. Russian Foreign Minister Yevgeni Primakov said on Wednesday that Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic's call to Ibrahim Rugova and his agreement to come to Belgrade for talks is "a start which gives rise to hope." Primakov said that Russia "greets warmly" the start of the dialogue on Kosmet and that the talks on the resolution of the Kosovo problem will also continue later on.

"This is a big achievement," he said and added that the start of the dialogue on Kosovo is what the Contact Group urged. "The fact that Rugova will come to Belgrade to meet with Milosevic is a beginning which gives rise to hope," Primakov said.

[09] FRANCE WELCOMES AGREEMENT ON THE FORTHCOMING MEETING

Tanjug, 1998-05-13

France welcomed on Wednesday the agreement reached on a meeting between Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic and ethnic Albanian leader Ibrahim Rugova scheduled for Friday, May 15, in Belgrade. This is good news, Spokesperson of the French Foreign Ministry Anne Gazaud-Secret said, noting that the Contact Group, of which France is a member, had insisted from the very beginning on holding talks on Kosovo and Metohija without pre- conditions.

France hopes that the meeting between President Milosevic and Rugova will pave the way for a true political dialogue between Serbs and ethnic Albanians, she said. France and the Contact Group have always advocated a political solution to the Kosovo and Metohija crisis as it is vital for both sides to give priority to dialogue without which no solution for Kosovo has any chance of success, the Spokesperson said.

[10] PRESIDENT CLINTON IS ENCOURAGED BY LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

Tanjug, 1998-05-13

United States President Bill Clinton said in Berlin on Wednesday, where he is on a two-day visit on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the so- called Berlin air bridge, that he was encouraged with the latest developments regarding Kosovo and Metohija (Kosmet). Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic and Ibrahim Rugova have agreed to meet in Belgrade on May 15 to discuss the problem of Serbia's southern province of Kosmet. Clinton said they should bear in mind the difficult road ahead, but that they were encouraged by the fact that the process had begun. This is the first step toward settling a very dangerous conflict which threatens to spread to neighbouring countries and destabilize the region, said Clinton, adding that the participants in the dialogue were facing a complex challenge.

[11] YUGOSLAV FOREIGN MINISTER VISITS NETHERLANDS

Tanjug, 1998-05-13

Yugoslav Foreign Minister Zivadin Jovanovic arrived in The Hague on Wednesday for an official visit at the invitation of his Dutch counterpart Hans Van Mirlo. Jovanovic is due to meet on Thursday with his host, Parliament Upper House Speaker Korthals Altes and leading Liberal Party leader Fritz Bolkenstein. Talks will cover promotion of bilateral cooperation, in particular trade, and possibilities for development of relations and cooperation between Yugoslavia and the European Union, the peace process and relations in southeastern Europe.

[12] PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC RECEIVED A DELEGATION OF INTERIOR AFFAIRS AND SECURITY SERVICES

Tanjug, 1998-05-13

Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic received on Wednesday, on the occasion of Security Day, a delegation of interior affairs and security headed by Federal Minister of Interior Affairs Zoran Sokolovic and head of the Yugoslav Army Security Services, General Aleksandar Dimitrijevic. Milosevic praised the members of the interior affairs and security services for their responsible fulfilment of tasks and contribution to the preservation and protection of freedom, security of citizens and of our country. Underscoring the importance of their efficient engagement, President Milosevic wished all members of the interior affairs and security services success in their future work. Also present were Federal Defense Minister Pavle Bulatovic and Yugoslav Army Chief of General Staff, General Momcilo Perisic.

[13] PROPOSAL FOR A VOTE OF NO-CONFIDENCE TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

Tanjug, 1998-05-13

The Yugoslav Parliament received on Wednesday a proposal for a vote of no- confidence to the Federal Government signed by 28 deputies from the Chamber of Citizens and 20 from the Chamber of Republics. The proposal states that Federal Prime Minister Radoje Kontic "is not capable of adequately organizing and heading the activities of the Federal Government, especially the masses of economic, social and political problems in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) and the new challenges on the international scene." The deputies who signed the proposal quoted Article 104 of the Yugoslav Constitution and articles 202 and 203 of the regulations of the Chamber of Citizens and the Chamber of Republics.

[14] POLICEMAN WAS WOUNDED IN A TERRORIST ATTACK

Tanjug, 1998-05-13

Policeman Ranko Nedeljkovic, 33, was lightly wounded at around 10 a.m. local time Wednesday, when a large group of ethnic-Albanian terrorists attacked the police check-point in the village of Dolac, near Klina, in Kosovo and Metohija. Nedeljkovic, who was wounded in the arm, will undergo surgery at the Pec hospital. The attack was repelled and a search is under way for the terrorists, according to police sources.

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