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Serbia Today 96-04-11
11 April 1996
In This Edition
A ROAD OPENED FOR EU RECOGNITION OF YUGOSLAVIA
ALL LINKS WITH TEHERAN TO BE SUSPENDED
KLEIN: IF SERBS SHOULD GO - WE HAVE FAILED
CONTENTS
[01] A ROAD OPENED FOR EU RECOGNITION OF YUGOSLAVIA
[02] LETTER OF MALCOLM RIFKIND TO THE YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT
[03] SOON FULL DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH BELGIUM
[04] ECONOMIC DELEGATION OF ITALY VISITS THE GOVERNMENT OF SERBIA
[05] DISPUTABLE PARTICIPATION OF SERBS AT THE BRUSSELS CONFERENCE
[06] ALL LINKS WITH TEHERAN TO BE SUSPENDED
[07] THREATS IN FRONT OF POLICE
[08] CROAT NOTE OF PROTEST TO THE GOVERNMENT OF BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA
[09] KLEIN: IF SERBS SHOULD GO - WE HAVE FAILED
[01] A ROAD OPENED FOR EU RECOGNITION OF YUGOSLAVIA
European Union has announced that "the road is opened" for
recognition of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia after full
normalization of the diplomatic relations between Belgrade and
Skopje. Mutual recognition of Belgrade and Skopje, European
Union has earlier made as a precondition for the return of its
ambassadors to the capital of the FR of Yugoslavia, from where
they were withdrawn at the time of introduction of the
international sanctions against the FR of Yugoslavia in May
1992. Presidency, in the name of the European Union, is
appreciating the agreement which has been signed by the
authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, on normalization of bilateral
relations and establishment of diplomatic relations at the
ambassadorial level, reads the communique. This development,
which is considered important by the European Union, is a
significant contribution to peace and stability in the region of
former Yugoslavia and is opening the road for the EU
member-countries, in accordance with their corresponding
internal procedures, to recognize the Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia as one of the states successors of the SFR of
Yugoslavia. (Politika, April 11, 1996)
[02] LETTER OF MALCOLM RIFKIND TO THE YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT
Charge d'affaires of Great Britain in Belgrade Tony Cromby
submitted today in the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, an
official letter by the State Secretary Malcolm Rifkind,
informing the Yugoslav Government that the British Government is
recognizing the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia as an independent
and sovereign state and is elevating the rank of its until now
diplomatic representation to the ambassadorial level. In the
letter it is also underlined that the British Government
considers all the previous agreements and treaties signed
between the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and
the United Kingdom to be still in force and valid in the
relations between the United Kingdom and the Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia. State Secretary Rifkind at the same time has sent
the best wishes of the people of Great Britain to the people of
the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. (Politika, April 11, 1996)
[03] SOON FULL DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH BELGIUM
Belgium shall soon renew full diplomatic relations with the
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. This was confirmed in the
Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Brussels. At the same
time, it was also confirmed that the chief of diplomacy of the
Kingdom of Belgium Eric Derait will come on an official visit to
Belgrade on April 17 and 18, 1996. In the sources of the Belgian
Ministry satisfaction is expressed because of the announced
normalization which is, as it is emphasized, in the interest of
both countries, and also in the interest of peace and stability
in Europe and in the world. (Politika, April 11, 1996)
[04] ECONOMIC DELEGATION OF ITALY VISITS THE GOVERNMENT OF SERBIA
Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia Slobodan Babic,
with the Minister of Industry Oskar Fodor and the Minister of
Private Entrepreneurship Radoje Djukic, received economic
delegation of Italy headed by Danilo Longi, President of the
Alliance of the Italian Chambers of Economy, which is now
visiting our country. It was mutually stated that after the
agreement between the FR of Yugoslavia and Macedonia, all
conditions are fulfilled for all the EU member-countries to
recognize the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and to promote with
it their relations and cooperation, where Italy can offer a
significant contribution, as the country presiding over the
European Union. Special interest was expressed for the appraisal
of all the possibilities for extending of the economic
cooperation through joint ventures, establishment of mixed
companies, joint production and placement on the third markets.
Representatives of the Veneto Province have expressed special
interest in the regional linking with the economy of Serbia,
emphasizing that the degree of private initiative and
entrepreneurship is opening important opportunities for this.
(Politika, April 11, 1996)
[05] DISPUTABLE PARTICIPATION OF SERBS AT THE BRUSSELS CONFERENCE
Serbs will be invited to participate at the Conference on
economic assistance to Bosnia to be held on April 12 and 13,
1996 in Brussels. This was announced in Sarajevo by the high
representative of the international community for civilian
affairs in Bosnia, Carl Bildt. Serbs have "in full fulfilled"
conditions for participation at the Conference by the release of
all the prisoners of war, and they will be invited to
participate at the Brussels gathering.
Prime Minister of the Republic of Srpska Rajko Kasagic stated
that the representatives of the Republic of Srpska can not
participate at the Donors Conference in Brussels under the name
"delegation of Bosnia-Herzegovina", reports SRNA news agency.
"There are two entities: Republic of Srpska and the
Bosnian-Herzegovian Federation and the only link between them is
the Joint Intermediary Commission. Therefore, if the
representatives of the Republic of Srpska Government are to go
to Brussels, we are asking for a separate representation and an
equal treatment with the Federation, which has been granted to
us by the Dayton agreement", underlined Prime Minister Kasagic.
(Politika, April 11, 1996)
[06] ALL LINKS WITH TEHERAN TO BE SUSPENDED
Clinton Administration has yet once again warned the government
in Sarajevo to suspend all the relations with Teheran and refuse
the Iranian military and economic aid, because Iran in Bosnia
has no other interests but to infiltrate itself in the European
continent and start with "instigating terrorist actions" there.
"Government of Iran is not interested in helping Bosnian people
live a better life. They are interested in infiltrating
themselves in the Balkans, so that they may continue from there
with instigation of terrorism in Europe", stated the White House
spokesman Mike McCarry. It is stated in Washington D.C. that the
U.S. Administration has asked from the government in Sarajevo to
refuse the offered assistance of Iran in the amount of 100
million US dollars. McCarry rejected the suggestion of the
reporters that Washington will find it now more difficult to
make such a demand on Sarajevo, when it is well known that
Clinton Administration during the war in Bosnia has given its
silent consent for the arms to the delivered from Iran to Bosnia
by clandestine channels. (Politika ekspres, April 11, 1996)
[07] THREATS IN FRONT OF POLICE
Attorney-at-law Igor Pantelic, defense attorney of the Republic
of Srpska Army Colonel Aleksa Krsmanovic, and a three-member
crew of "Vecernje novosti" newspaper, escaped lynching yesterday
in the very center of Sarajevo. Although they were escorted by
the IFOR, they were sped by the police of the Muslim-Croat
Federation "for identity check". Checking of their identity
lasted some 45 minutes and during that time a number of
bystanders attracted by the Belgrade car plates, was growing as
well as their aggression. The worst was avoided thanks to Chris
Guy, political advisor to Carl Bildt, who arrived on the site at
the call from the IFOR officers. At the suggestion of the
escorts, Pantelic and the crew of reporters returned to Pale.
(Vecernje novosti, April 11, 1996)
[08] CROAT NOTE OF PROTEST TO THE GOVERNMENT OF BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA
The news that the Croat police in Senj has arrested a group of
citizens of Bosnia-Herzegovina on suspicion that they have come
for purpose of perpetrating terrorist attacks, is so far the
most serious confirmation of the growing tensions in the
Muslim-Croat relations. This is also illustrated by the note of
protest which Croatia has sent to the government of Bosnia-
Herzegovina. There are still no new official information about
all this, but it is unofficially reported that the persons
arrested had arms and explosives hidden in the territory of
Croatia. In the investigation center of the District Court of
Rijeka, it is pointed out that "there is no ambiguity that it
was a preparation and planning of the acts of state terrorism",
which is directly indicating at the possible involvement of the
corresponding bodies of Bosnia-Herzegovina. It is claimed with
considerable certainty in Croatia that the discovered group had
the task of making an assassination attempt at Fikret Abdic, who
is now in Opatija and is preparing for the forthcoming elections
in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The opinion in Croatia is that this event
shows that the internal Muslim disputes are now transferred on
to the territory of Croatia and is casting a serious shadow on
the relations between Zagreb and Sarajevo. (Borba, April 11,
1996)
[09] KLEIN: IF SERBS SHOULD GO - WE HAVE FAILED
"If Serbs should leave this area - we shall consider our mission
as failure", stated for the reporters the UN Administrator for
the Srem and Baranja Region, the U.S. diplomate Jacques Klein.
At the press conference at Klis airport near Vukovar, which was
attended also by the reporters from Croatia, Klein added that he
will do his utmost for this area to remain multi- ethnic, as it
was before the war. He called upon all the media, by their
impartial approach, to contribute to the success of the UN peace
mission in this region. According to him, everything is ready
for the reopening of the highway Belgrade-Zagreb until the end
of this month, and mines are being cleared from the railway line
Sid-Vinkovci, so along this line soon there could be two trains
operating daily. Klein denied that there are some lists for the
arrest of Serbs, accused of the alleged war crimes, announcing
that he will insist with the Croat authorities to regulate soon
the question of abolition. (Politika ekspres, April 11, 1996) .
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