Yugoslav Daily Survey, 98-07-06

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Yugoslav Daily Survey

CONTENTS

[01] PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC RECEIVED U.S. DELEGATION

[02] YUGOSLAVIA OPENS A GENERAL CONSULATE IN SHANGHAI

[03] YUGOSLAV PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION TO TAKE PART IN AN OSCE MEETING

[04] YUGOSLAV FOREIGN MINISTRY DELEGATION MEETS OSCE OFFICIALS

[05] FOREIGN MINISTER JOVANOVIC RECEIVES ITALIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY POLITICAL DI RECTOR

[06] ETHNIC ALBANIAN TERRORISTS RECEIVE FINANCIAL AID VIA THE INTERNET

[07] SERB HOUSES ATTACKED IN THE VILLAGE OF BELICA

[08] ARMED ETHNIC ALBANIANS ABDUCT THREE SERBS

[09] ONE ETHNIC-ALBANIAN TERRORISTS KILLED IN A BORDER CLASH

[10] TERRORISTS ATTACK VILLAGE MOVLJANE

[11] DINI: DEMANDS FOR KOSMET INDEPENDENCE ARE UNREALISTIC

[12] ODALOVIC CONFERRED WITH GERMAN AMBASSADOR

[13] DIPLOMATS' VISIT TO KOSMET IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALIZE THE TRUTH

[14] HOLBROOK ROUNDS UP TALKS WITH ETHNIC ALBANIAN REPRESENTATIVES

[15] ANOTHER TERRORIST ATTACK ON A SERB VILLAGE

[16] HOLBROOKE AND AFANASYEVSKI * STATEMENTS

[17] HOLBROOKE MET WITH ETHNIC ALBANIAN LEADERS

[18] AFANASYEVSKI * STATEMENT

[19] PRESIDENT CLINTON: KOSMET CRISIS SHOULD BE RESOLVED THROUGH DIALOGUE

[20] PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC RECEIVED RUSSIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER AFANASYEVSKI

[21] HOLBROOKE: TALKS WITH PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC HAVE BEEN BENEFICIAL

[22] YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT RECEIVED U.S. AMBASSADOR TO U.N.

[01] PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC RECEIVED U.S. DELEGATION

Tanjug, 1998-07-04

Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic and Serbian President Milan Milutinovic received on Friday evening a U.S. delegation, headed by Ambas sador Richard Holbrooke. The talks focused on issues pertaining to the politic al situation in the region. It was underscored that there is no alternative to a peaceful solution to the Kosovo and Metohija problems through a political process, which means that the initiated dialogue between the government delegation and the representatives of the political parties of ethnic Alb anians from Kosovo and Metohija should immediately be resumed. It was also said that terrorist actions should not and will not be tolerated and that the overc oming of problems and the tensions created, undoubtedly requires the halting of threats and pressures on the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The talks were also attended by Federal Foreign Minister Zivadin Jovanovi c.

[02] YUGOSLAVIA OPENS A GENERAL CONSULATE IN SHANGHAI

Tanjug, 1998-07-03

The Yugoslav General Consulate was formally opened in Shanghai on Friday by Yugoslav Foreign Ministry Secretary-General Radovan Matovic and First Deputy Mayor of Shanghai Tsuo Huanchen.

Addressing the numerous guests, Yugoslav Ambassador to China Slobodan Unkovic underscored the great importance the General Consulate will have for the further expansion of economic and other forms of cooperation between the two countries. Matovic, too, pointed out to the friendship, mutual acknowledg ement and understanding between the two peoples and countries, and said it was in the mutual interest of the two countries to continue expanding and promoting their all-round cooperation. "The visit of FRY President Slobodan Milosevic to China in November 1997 and the signed Joint Declaration on Friendship and Coope ration between the two countries opened new prospects for long-term friendly cooperation," Matovic said. Ms. Tsuo said that cooperation between China and Yugoslavia showed that distance need not be an obstacle. "The frequent m eetings at the highest state level have deepened the mutual confidence and opened prospects for the further development of mutual cooperation in many areas ," she said.

Ms. Tsuo conveyed greetings from the Shanghai Mayor for President Mi losevic and his best wishes for a successful development of friendly relations be tween China and Yugoslavia. The Yugoslav General Consulate in Shanghai will co ver also the neighbouring provinces Zhejiang, Gansu and Anhui.

[03] YUGOSLAV PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION TO TAKE PART IN AN OSCE MEETING

Tanjug, 1998-07-05

A Yugoslav parliamentary delegation headed by Ljubisa Ristic, Lower Houses Foreign Policy Committee Chairman, leaves on Monday for Copenhagen to tak e part in the session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Secu rity and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). The Yugoslav delegation comprises Slobodan Krapovic, member of the Lower Houses Committee for Work, Health, Social S ecurity and the Environment, Milan Bozic, member of the Upper Houses Committee fo r Foreign Policy and Foreign Economic Relations, Bozidar Vucurovic, member of the Upper House Committee for Defense and Security, Dusan Maksic, Secretary o f the Lower House Committee for Foreign Policy, Branko Brankovic, Ambassador an d Head of the Section for Multilateral Cooperation in the Yugoslav Foreign Minis try and Jelisaveta Tulic, Director of the Directorate for OSCE in the Yugoslav Fo reign Ministry. The Yugoslav delegation is taking part in the OSCE session for the first time since 1992, at the invitation of OSCE Parliamentary Assembly C hairman Javier Ruperes.

[04] YUGOSLAV FOREIGN MINISTRY DELEGATION MEETS OSCE OFFICIALS

Tanjug, 1998-07-03

Delegations of the Yugoslav Foreign Ministry headed by Assistant For eign Minister Ambassador Branko Brankovic, and of the Organization for Securit y and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) headed by Ambassador Jerzy Novak of the Poli sh Foreign Ministry met on Friday in Belgrade. The meeting was held at the initiative of Yugoslav Foreign Minister Zivadin Jovanovic and of OSCE Cha irman, Polish Foreign Minister Bronislaw Geremek. The talk focused on restoring Yugoslavia's membership in the OSCE and on restoring an OSCE mission in S erbia's southern province of Kosovo and Metohija. The meeting was held in a frank atmosphere and the participants agreed to pursue the talks shortly.

[05] FOREIGN MINISTER JOVANOVIC RECEIVES ITALIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY POLITICAL DI RECTOR

Tanjug, 1998-07-03

Yugoslav Foreign Minister Zivadin Jovanovic received on Friday the Political Director in the Italian Foreign Ministry Guiseppe Baldoci, and with him discussed the promotion of Yugoslav-Italian relations and the situation i n the region. During the talks, attended also by the Italian Ambassador Riccar do Sessa, it was underscored that the bilateral cooperation, based on the tr adition of goodneighbourly ties and mutual interests, was successfully developing and that the two countries were committed to strengthening and diversifying i t still further. The Italian delegation was informed about the concept of peacef ul resolution of all issues in Serbia's southern province of Kosovo and Meto hija by honouring Serbia's and Yugoslavia's territorial integrity and internation al standards for human and minority rights.

[06] ETHNIC ALBANIAN TERRORISTS RECEIVE FINANCIAL AID VIA THE INTERNET

Tanjug, 1998-07-03

The U.S. envoy Richard Holbrooke said that the fact that the terrorist Kosovo Liberation Army receives financial aid from abroad comes as no sur prise, as the KLA has a site on the Internet with a list of accounts into which donations can be paid. Serbian radio and television said in a report on Friday that the list of accounts, where donations from followers in Germany, Swi tzerland and Denmark had been pouring in, was nearly five pages long. There is a form through which to access the list of sponsors. The homepage shows notorious terrorist Adem Jasar, and other photographs of terrorist activities.

[07] SERB HOUSES ATTACKED IN THE VILLAGE OF BELICA

Tanjug, 1998-07-05

A group of armed ethnic Albanians attacked on Sunday around 16:00 Se rbian houses in the village of Belica, near Istok, Pristina*based Media Centre said. The attackers opened fire from automatic guns. Serbs from the village ret urned fire, and a police unit came to their aid. There were no casualties among the villagers or policemen.

[08] ARMED ETHNIC ALBANIANS ABDUCT THREE SERBS

Tanjug, 1998-07-05

Groups of armed ethnic Albanians abducted three Serbs, males, near the villages of Movljane and Recane, the Suva Reka municipality in Kosovo and Metohija, around 7 p.m. local time on Saturday. The three - Krsta Jevtic (19), and Dejan Jevtic (19), both of Movljane, and Stanko Stankovic (48), of Recane, were abducted while grazing cattle, the Media Centre in Pristina quoted Suva Reka municipal authorities as saying. Groups of armed ethnic Albanians have abducted over 60 Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija in the past two months, the Media Centre said.

[09] ONE ETHNIC-ALBANIAN TERRORISTS KILLED IN A BORDER CLASH

Tanjug, 1998-07-05

The corpse of a killed terrorist was found when the area of the Kosa re post on the Yugoslav border towards Albania was searched after the border troo ps on Saturday morning routed a larger group of terrorists who tried illegally to cross into Yugoslavia, the Army of Yugoslavia (VJ) said on Sunday. A statement released by the Third Army Command said that the search produced also six 60mm mortars, four 40mm hand-held rocket launchers, three machine-guns, four German-made 7.9mmm M-1898 rifles, one automatic and 52 semi-automatic rif les, 80 defensive hand grenades, over 22,200 7.62 mm and 14.5 mm bullets, a large r number of cartridge belts, ammunition boxes, frames for automatic rifles, Swedis h-made combat knapsacks, and a German- made summer camouflage shirt.

[10] TERRORISTS ATTACK VILLAGE MOVLJANE

Tanjug, 1998-07-04

A group of ethnic Albanian terrorists attacked on Saturday around 11:00 the village Movljane in the municipality of Suva Reka, where around 20 Serbia n families are living, Pristina*based Media Centre said. On the road betwee n that village and Recani, strong groups of armed ethnic Albanians attacked a po lice unit which set out to help the attacked villagers. The terrorists used ma chine guns, rocket launched grenades and automatic guns. The police returned fi re and the attackers fled. The police found near the village trenches, bunkers, tents and a large quantity of arms left behind by the extremists, Pristina Medi a Centre has learned from the municipal authorities in Suva Reka.

[11] DINI: DEMANDS FOR KOSMET INDEPENDENCE ARE UNREALISTIC

Tanjug, 1998-07-04

Italian Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini said late Friday that Serbia's southern province of Kosovo and Metohija "can only get autonomy," and the international community would back only initiatives along that line. The Italian news agency ANSA quoted Minister Dini as saying that the demands for the independence of Kosovo and Metohija were "totally unrealistic." Dini sai d the demands "lead to a larger-scale conflict," and urged an end to the clashe s and the resumption of a constructive dialogue. The peace process "should be b ased on realism," Minister Dini underscored.

[12] ODALOVIC CONFERRED WITH GERMAN AMBASSADOR

Tanjug, 1998-07-04

Head of the Kosovo district Veljko Odalovic held talks on Saturday w ith the German Ambassador in Belgrade Wilfred Gruber. In the talks it was said t hat the Milosevic-Yeltsin statement was being consistently implemented and that i n that respect the state of Serbia and FR Yugoslavia are doing their utmost to r esolve the situation in Kosovo and Metohija by peaceful means, the provincial Information Secretariat said. The offer for talks, made by President Mil osevic to the leaders of ethnic Albanian political parties, is a confirmation of the consistent policy of Slobodan Milosevic to resolve problems in Kosovo and Metohija by dialogue and without violence. That is why it is very importa nt for the international community to influence positively the leaders of ethnic Albanian political parties to accept dialogue without conditions as the r ight and only way for resolving problems in the southern province, the statement s aid.

Odalovic emphasized that the Contact Group should, at the meeting sc heduled for July 8, clearly and unequivocally condemn terrorism and thus contribu te to the easing of tensions and trace the way for the peaceful resolution of p roblems in Kosovo and Metohija.

[13] DIPLOMATS' VISIT TO KOSMET IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALIZE THE TRUTH

Tanjug, 1998-07-05

Yugoslav Information Secretary Goran Matic said on Sunday that he wa s satisfied that diplomats accredited in Belgrade were ready to observe the real situation in Kosovo and Metohija in their upcoming visit and tour of the province.

"Diplomats accredited in Belgrade are highly respected guests in our country and so far in official and private contacts with our institutions and citizens they have been convinced in the cordiality with which they are w elcomed" Matic told Tanjug, expressing hope that this would also be the case in Ko sovo and Metohija. Information Secretary Matic said that the upcoming visit of di plomats to Kosovo and Metohija was an opportunity to convince themselves once aga in what was the real situation in that Serbian province and to see for themselves on the spot the real truth. Truth has often been subject to manipulation by many foreign media and that is why we believe foreign diplomats are ready to see for themselves the real state of affairs, he added. Goran Matic also express ed hope that during this visit there will be enough space to perceive all those e ssential processes in Kosovo and Metohija for which representatives of the authori ties in Serbia and Yugoslavia have urged for in the past months and years, which is - that political dialogue and a peaceful and political settlement of proble ms in Kosovo and Metohija are the basis for the future in that part of Serbia.

Yugoslavia has always contributed to an open and free exchange of information in all fields, Matic said pointing out that foreign diplomats accredited in Belgrade have been able to acquaint themselves, in visits t o the institutions of the system, to different parts of Yugoslavia and also in talks with citizens everywhere and in every place, with the basic guidelines of development of the society. Matic said that informing by the world media was often based on propaganda and various economic and political interests, a nd not on the real state of affairs, and that was also because, lately, assessme nts in Western administrations about circumstances in Kosovo and Metohija have b ecome dissonant.

Nothing is being hidden from the public in Kosovo, Matic said, point ing out however that for many it is extremely important to hide the truth about K osovo and Metohija. "The truth is that for hundreds of years Serbs have been m oving from Kosovo under perfidious pressure, and the ethnic cleansing acquired radical forms in terrorism supported by foreign factors, as was the case in World War II and other occasions, and today," Matic said. The Yugoslav Information Se cretary said he believed that the upcoming visit of diplomats accredited in Belgr ade will be further evidence of the openness of our country and its desire for cooperation with the world in all fields, on an equal footing.

[14] HOLBROOK ROUNDS UP TALKS WITH ETHNIC ALBANIAN REPRESENTATIVES

Tanjug, 1998-07-05

U.S. envoy Richard Holbrooke met for the second time on Sunday with the leader of the ethnic-Albanian Democratic League of Kosovo (DSK) Ibrahim R ugova. The meeting, which lasted an hour and half, was preceded by a joint meeti ng Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Nikolai Afanasyevski and Holbrooke and ai des had with Rugova at the DSK headquarters. Holbrooke told reporters after his meeting with Rugova that very intensive talks had been rounded up in Pristina and that the Russian diplomat and he would return to Belgrade for more talks with Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic. Holbrooke said he and Afanasyevs ki had focused great attention in the Sunday talks on operational details of the diplomatic observer mission in Kosovo and Metohija, which he said would s tart Monday. Holbrooke told the press that Rugova would resume the quest for a broader foundation for his goal, which the U.S. envoy said was a negotiat ed peaceful solution to the Kosovo and Metohija problem, which had the U.S. support. Before meeting for the second time with Rugova on Sunday, the U.S. delega tion again briefly met with leader of the Albanian Democratic Movement Redzep Cosja, his deputy Hidajet Hiseni, and vice president of the Parliamentary Party Bajram Kosumi.

The meeting, held at the U.S. Information Centre, was attended also by members of Rugova's negotiating team Veton Suroi and Bljerim Salja, with whom Holbrooke stayed somewhat longer in conference. No statements were made a fter the meeting which was held behind closed doors and was not attended by the Ru ssian delegation.

[15] ANOTHER TERRORIST ATTACK ON A SERB VILLAGE

Tanjug, 1998-07-03

A large group of ethnic Albanian terrorists attacked on Friday at 1:30 p.m. a police post near Rakos, between the villages of Leocin and Padaliste, Serbia's southern province of Kosovo and Metohija, using automatic weapons and portable launchers. After one hour of firing, the terrorists withdrew to the Dreni s area. There were no casualties in the attack, police sources said.

[16] HOLBROOKE AND AFANASYEVSKI * STATEMENTS

Tanjug, 1998-07-05

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Nikolai Afanasyevski and U.S. envoy Richard Holbrooke said in Pristina on Sunday, following talks with the leader of the Democratic Alliance of Kosovo (DSK), Ibrahim Rugova, that they came to Ko smet together, as representatives of the Contact Group, to seek a peaceful sol ution to the Kosovo crisis. The three gave statements to the press before th e DSK seat in Pristina.

"We have joint aims for the resolution of the Kosovo problems," Holb rooke said. He added that the initial talks focused on how much authority the monitoring mission in Kosmet, which would start on Monday, would have.

"Russian, American, British and other ambassadors will start the sy mbolic patrolling, and these patrols will turn into a routine integrated interna tional effort," Holbrooke said. He recalled that the arrival of this mission is the result of an agreement between the presidents of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and of Russia, Slobodan Milosevic and Boris Yeltsin. Afanasye vski confirmed that his arrival in Kosovo together with Holbrooke has only one aim - to combine efforts for reaching a peaceful solution to the Kosovo problem . "We believe that now, as never before, there exists a chance for renewing the unconditional dialogue," Afanasyevski said. "We attach great importance to the improvement of inter*ethnic relations in Kosovo. As presidents Milosevic and Yeltsin said, of primary importance is to secure stability, peace and sec urity in the region," he said. Both Holbrooke and Afanasyevski expressed s upport to Rugova as "the leading figure" in the Albanian political life in Kosov o.

Holbrooke said he supported Rugova's "efforts for reaching a peacefu l, non- violent solution to the conflict in Kosovo," and Afanasyevski set out that Rugova is "the main political figure" in the efforts to resolve the crisi s through peaceful means. Rugova expressed satisfaction with the start of the monitoring mission in Kosovo. He said: "We call on the armed groups of A lbanians in the field and on local political activists and the population to show hospitality to the monitors and to enable them to do their jobs normally. " Rugova added that this is "a very important step towards a peaceful solut ion of the Kosovo problem."

[17] HOLBROOKE MET WITH ETHNIC ALBANIAN LEADERS

Tanjug, 1998-07-04

U.S. envoy Richard Holbrooke said on Saturday, after meeting with le aders of ethnic-Albanian political parties in Serbia's southern province of Kos ovo and Metohija, that the U.S. wanted a peaceful resolution of the conflict in t he province. Hoolbroke made the statement to reporters outside the headquar ters of the ethnic-Albanian Democratic League of Kosovo (DSK) after meeting three times with DSK leader Ibrahim Rugova and separately conferring with Adem Demaci , leader of the ethnic-Albanian Parliamentary Party, and Redzep Cojsa, leader of t he newly formed Albanian Democratic Movement (ADP). Hoolbroke said he had held in tensive talks with his ethnic-Albanian partners in talks.

The U.S. envoy told the press that he had met with representatives of practically all ethnic-Albanian political parties and factors in Kosovo a nd Metohija and that agreement had been reached on discussed issues.

Holbrooke said the U.S. believed that the solution to the problem of Kosovo and Metohija must be peaceful.

He said that his country did not "support or encourage in any way ac tion by security or military forces or violent means to solve these problems."

While Holbrooke spoke to the press, Rugova stood next to him. The U.S. envoy in conclusion addressed the DSK leader saying, "Dr. Rugova, we honour you fo r your commitment for a peaceful solution, and we reaffirm our support to you an d our intention to work closely with you." Rugova thanked the U.S. for the s upport and urged its even greater engagement in the quest of a solution to the p roblems in the province.

[18] AFANASYEVSKI * STATEMENT

Tanjug, 1998-07-05

Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic and Russian Deputy Foreign Min ister Nikolai Afanasyevski confirmed during talks mutual interest for a peacefu l solution to the Kosovo problems through negotiations, the Russian diploma t has said. President Milosevic is attached to the Moscow statement and is implementing in detail everything agreed on June 16 during his meeting wi th President Boris Yeltsin, Afanasyevski told journalists in Belgrade. The Itar-Tass news agency quoted Afanasyevski as saying that his meeting with U.S. envoy Richard Holbrooke in Belgrade confirmed that Russia and the United States have similar positions regarding the resolution of the situation in Koso vo and Metohija.

According to Afanasyevski, both diplomats intend to closely cooperat e in the resuming of the dialogue between Belgrade and the leaders of the Kosm et Albanian political parties.

Afanasyevski set out that there remain differences between the Russi an and U.S. diplomacy on whether the terrorist organization, the so-called "Koso vo Liberation Army" (KLA) can participate in the negotiating process.

While Holbrooke maintains that the positions "of all real political forces of Kosovo" should be taken into consideration in the regulation of the co nflict, Afanasyevski said that "there can be no negotiation" with armed units whi ch are trying to achieve the independence of Kosovo through military means, and by who killing teachers, postmen and their own compatriots. Afanasyevski said t hat the aim of his visit to Pristina with Holbrooke is "the implementation of the joint Russian-U.S. position" in the resolution of the Kosovo crisis and the strengthening of the positions of those Albanian politicians, primarily R ugova, who urge a peaceful solution of problems.

[19] PRESIDENT CLINTON: KOSMET CRISIS SHOULD BE RESOLVED THROUGH DIALOGUE

Tanjug, 1998-07-03

U.S. President Bill Clinton said on Friday that the crisis in Serb's southern province of Kosovo and Metohija could be solved through talks on ly, saying the parties concerned should resolve the issue through dialogue.

Addressing a news conference in Hong Kong Clinton said diplomatic efforts to find a solution to the issue continued. He commented on Yugoslavia's responsibility in the matter, criticising ethnic Albanians for their unwillingness to open dialogue. He stressed the need for the resumption of dialogue between the two sides, saying, however, that no option in dealing with the Kosovo and Metohija issue should be ruled out. Briefing reporters in Washington late on Thursday, State Department spokesman James Rubin also put emphasis on diplomatic efforts, reiterating that the efforts would be ste pped up in the next few weeks.

Rubin also said the diplomatic efforts were aimed at finding a political solution to the Kosovo and Metohija issue.

[20] PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC RECEIVED RUSSIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER AFANASYEVSKI

Tanjug, 1998-07-04

Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic received on Saturday afternoon Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Nikolai Afanasyevski, who has arrived in Belgrade. In the talks, information was exchanged about the political re solution of problems in Kosovo and Metohija, and about issues of interest for the successful development of Yugoslav-Russian relations and cooperation. Ru ssia supports the efforts made by state bodies in FR Yugoslavia and Serbia for a peaceful solution and the calming of tensions in Kosovo and Metohija. A m utual belief was expressed that adequate solutions should be found through a po litical process, in the interest of all citizens and all national communities liv ing in the region.

FR Yugoslavia and Russia are determined in their efforts that the on e- sided approaches of a number of international factors with respect to problems in Kosovo and Metohija should give way to the principled approach set out in the joint statement of the presidents of Yugoslavia and of Russia. Also taki ng part in the talks were Yugoslav Foreign Minister Zivadin Jovanovic and Russian Ambassador in FR Yugoslavia Yuri Kotov.

[21] HOLBROOKE: TALKS WITH PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC HAVE BEEN BENEFICIAL

Tanjug, 1998-07-06

Talks with President Slobodan Milosevic have been beneficial, U.S. Ambassador to the UN Richard Holbrooke said on Sunday, adding that the Yu goslav President was in favour of continuation of negotiations. Holbrooke sai d the final meeting with President Milosevic had ended three days of intensive talks, to be continued through shuttle diplomacy which is of crucial importance for a peaceful solution to the problem of Kosovo and Metohija, he said. Holbroo ke said he was returning to Washington to report about his visits to Belgrade and Pristina to Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and President Bill Clin ton. U.S. Ambassador Christopher Hill would report to the Contact Group in Bon n and continue the mission, which had made no progress, he said, but had not be en unsuccessful. Holbrooke said the talks with ethnic Albanian representativ es in Pristina had clarified many questions. We support Ibrahim Rugova as the chief leader of Kosovo Albanians, because he urges a peaceful solution which is essential to us, Holbrooke said. Asked about the different approaches to ward solving the Kosovo question, between the United States and Russia, in reg ard to a statement by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Nikolai Afanasyevski that there was no talking with those who killed civilians loyal to Serbia, Holbrooke said he was unable to comment on statements made in his absence. During our me eting together with Rugova, and a press conference in Pristina, said Holbrooke, Afanasyevski and I spoke in one voice, from the standpoint that Kosovo wa s part of Yugoslavia, that a peaceful solution was essential, and that Rugova wa s the chief leader in Kosovo with whom we all held talks, Holbrooke said. He reiterated the stance that the United States called for certain changes i n the current status of Serbia's Kosovo and Metohija province, within the internationally recognized borders of Yugoslavia. Asked about the abduct ion of civilians in the province, Holbrooke said that was unacceptable, regardle ss of the culprit and motives and circumstances.

[22] YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT RECEIVED U.S. AMBASSADOR TO U.N.

Tanjug, 1998-07-06

Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic received on Sunday evening U.S Ambassador to the United Nations Richard Holbrooke at the conclusion of h is visit to Yugoslavia. It was agreed that a detailed and useful exchange of opini on had taken place on current issues pertaining to stability in the region. Participating in the talks were Deputy Prime Minister Nikola Sainovic and Foreign Minister Zivadin Jovanovic.

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