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Serbia Today 96-08-29Serbia Today Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Yugoslavia <http://www.yugoslavia.com>Serbia Today29 August 1996CONTENTS
[01] MOMENTUM OF ECONOMIC DIPLOMACYVisits of economic delegation of former Bosnia-Herzegovina to our country and the return visit of the Yugoslav businessmen, efforts to establish free trade zone between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Macedonia, deals of "Zastava" in Egypt and Macedonia, jobs with business people from China, announcement of banking cooperation between Yugoslavia and Romania and of the visit of the economic team of Bundestag to our country and numerous meetings and talks of similar nature - are the indicators of high interest of foreigners for the renewal of economic cooperation with the local companies and the proof that Yugoslavia still remains an important economic factor in Europe. Milan Njegomir, Secretary for Foreign Economic Relations of the Chamber of Economy of Serbia, while recalling the major role which our country had in the development of economic relations between the East and the West, concludes that our until recently business partners did not reorient themselves to other markets. The renewal of economic relations is also intensified because Yugoslavia is an unavoidable partner due to its geographic location. Professor of the Faculty of Economics of Belgrade Dr. Jurij Bajec is emphasizing several reasons for which the foreign business partners are now speedily reviving the interrupted links with Yugoslavia. First of all, Yugoslavia as a medium-size European country is a very important market. Its economy, after the war environment and sanctions, is now experiencing fast expansion and economic recovery, which is attractive for foreign investments. Then there is a fact that Yugoslavia must exchange 50 percent of its production with abroad, which is making it an open country. Regardless of the four-year suspension of economic links, foreign partners did not forget that cooperation with our economy was very intensive and successful. And finally, says Bajec, Europe is interested in the development of our infrastructure because of its own best interests. Chamber of Economy of Yugoslavia, according to its Vice President Danilo Perovic, even during sanctions has preserved numerous links with foreign partners, so that the contacts are now normally continuing. In this, foreigners are no longer talking of market research but of the concrete projects which they wish to realize here, says Perovic. (Politika, August 29, 1996)[02] DECREE ON THE RETURN TO THE IMFAt today's extraordinary session of both Chambers of the Federal Parliament (Assembly), the greatest attention is focused on the debate on activities undertaken by the Federal Government for normalization of the relations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the other financial institutions. On the basis of the talks held so far with the IMF representatives and its constitutional competencies, Federal Government has passed and submitted to the deputies the Decree on Membership of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in the International Monetary Fund and the other international financial institutions. Through this document the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia consents to the membership in these organizations on conditions and under terms as prescribed in the decision of the Board of Executive Directors of the IMF of the year 1992. (Borba, August 29, 1996)[03] UNITED STATES MAKE CONCESSIONS TO MUSLIMSThe postponement of the elections for municipal assemblies in the Republic of Srpska and the Bosnia-Herzegovina Federation until some 'better times', is qualified as yet another concession made by the United States to the Muslim side. This is the general view of all the relevant political structures and leaders of parties, without any exceptions, in the Republic of Srpska. The Alliance for Peace and Progress is surprised with this move by Robert Frowick and his explanation that it is the case of "irregularities in the registration of Serbian voters". "We are of the view that transferring of exclusive responsibility on the Serbian side is not only a concession to the pretentious demands of the Muslim side, but also an attempt to provoke the political parties in the Republic of Srpska to renounce on the elections in full", reads the communique of the Alliance. Slobodan Kovac, representative of the Republic of Srpska in the electoral commission, comments that it is a question of a very important decision with unforeseeable consequences. "I do not see any reason for the postponement of the elections. No where else in the world did it happen that the elections are being postponed in the finishing stage of the electoral campaign. Those who are doing that are realizing some of their own interests, and not the interests of the people who is in favor of the elections", says Dr. Mico Carevic, president of the League of Communists - Movement for Yugoslavia of the Republic of Srpska. Djordje Latinovic from the Main Electoral Headquarters of the League for Peace and Progress is underlining that in the background of the postponement of the elections are bad relations between the opposition and power in Bosnia-Herzegovina Federation and misunderstandings between the Croats and Muslims in the Federation. (Borba, August 29, 1996)[04] O.S.C.E. HEADQUARTERS EXPLAINS ROBERT FROWICK'S MOVEFrom the headquarters of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (O.S.C.E.) in Vienna, the official communique was issued of the American diplomate Robert Frowick, President of the Electoral Commission for Bosnia, on the occasion of the decision to postpone the local elections. This communique in its main point significantly differs from the interpretation of this decision launched by the western media. Namely, Frowick not with one single word is blaming Serbs for the postponement, while all the media in the West are unison in the claims that he has actually proclaimed Serbs as guilty for the postponement of the local elections. In the Frowick's communique it is stated that he has personally made this decision on the basis of the Dayton Agreement. In it it is written that the elections at the local level will be held together with the general elections "if feasible". The electoral rules say that all the voters have the right to decide where they will vote, but that the voters are "seriously jeopardized' in exercising this right at the local level. Frowick is stating as the example Brcko and Srebrenica, but also Bugojno, Mostar, Bihac, Stolac and many other towns "in all the parts of the country", contrary to the propaganda machinery mentioning only Brcko and Srebrenica. (Politika ekspres, August 29, 1996)[05] A BLOW TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITYThe agreed dynamics of the implementation of the Dayton Agreement is now being brought under a question mark by postponement of the local elections in Bosnia-Herzegovina, comments London. Although the postponement is not in contradiction with the Dayton Agreement, which prescribes that the local elections are to be held if possible, such a step is nevertheless, a serious blow to the Bosnian policy of the international community, writes "The Guardian". "The Daily Telegraph" states that the postponement was mostly done under the pressure by the Muslim Party of Democratic Action which is threatening to boycott the elections. What is not clear, however, is whether this party will continue with its threats in spite of the postponement. (Borba, August 29, 1996)[06] SECRET SDA POLICE IS ALSO TERRORIZING MUSLIMSIt is not a secret that the Party of Democratic Action has even in 1991/1992 established terrorist groups for harassment of political opponents of Alija Izetbegovic, but it was now revealed that these extremists are still very active. In the Dayton Agreement it was explicitly demanded of the Government in Sarajevo to disband the Agency for Information and Documentation (AID), i.e. its secret police, formed in fact from those terrorist groups in which there is a large number of mujjahedins from the Islamic countries. According to the finds of the American intelligence officers, AID under the command of Afghanistan mujjahedins, is still active and is actually now preparing the "HesbAllah" strategy for attacks on the US soldiers within the IFOR. Secret police of the leading Muslim party in Bosnia-Herzegovina is in charge also of terrorizing and intimidation of "hesitant" Muslims who are thinking that war in these areas is over. Through special methods, mostly threats of assassination, they are told that war is only suspended, and that soon thousands of Muslim volunteers will arrive from all over the world in order to achieve the basic target for which the war had actually started - the creation of an Islamic state in the Balkans. In the future war, "the hesitant" Muslims, those opposed to war, are to find themselves on the front battle lines, promises the secret police. (Politika ekspres, August 29, 1996)[07] CRIME WITHOUT PUNISHMENTPresident of the Serbian National Party in Zagreb Milan Djukic, stated that "genocide was committed against Serbs in Croatia". While speaking at the press conference in Zagreb, Djukic said that "because of the national and religious hatred and intolerance one minority community was dislocated and exiled", and that its remaining members are exposed to terror and plunder of their property. Djukic stated the fact that after last-year's action of the Croat Army in Krajina, 917 Serbs have been killed and as yet no one has been punished for this crime. The survival of Serbs in their homes is in the worst way being prevented, and the official authorities at the same time are opening bidding for inhabiting these same areas with Croats. While welcoming the Agreement on Normalization of the Relations between the FR of Yugoslavia and Croatia, Djukic said that the Croat authorities must protect Serbs and must punish those spreading terror, because only in this way there can be a true normalization. (Politika, August 29, 1996)[08] ISLAM FLOODS SLOVENIA"In Our Own Faith, on Our Own Land - SDA for Bosnia-Herzegovina" - reads the text on the posters for the electoral campaign in Bosnia-Herzegovina which have flooded Slovenia. It is not a mistake, but it is the spirit of the leading Muslim party of Bosnia-Herzegovina which has practically inundated the Slovenian towns in which Muslims are living and working. At the same time, when the Slovenian police is prohibiting the rally of five opposition parties from Bosnia-Herzegovina from being held in Ljubljana, the activists of Izetbegovic's Party of Democratic Action (SDA) are freely conducting their pre-electoral campaign in Slovenia. Double standards of Slovenian authorities towards activities of the political parties from the other states have surprised even the Slovenian public and media. Matjaz Gerlanc, leader of the extremist party the Slovenian National Right, who has become 'famous' so far for his forcible actions against "southerners" in Slovenia, has broadened the polemics on the question of unlawful activities of the Muslim faithful in Slovenia. He stated the data that in Ljubljana, Celje and Velenje, for quite some time now, the Muslim places of worship are operating, in large buildings transformed into mosques. At their opening several thousands of faithful had gathered. Activists of the SDA are acting as a branch office of the Izetbegovic's party from Sarajevo, and they are not hiding their intention in Velenje, where there is a large concentration of Muslims, to legalize their work. If they should succeed in doing so, Muslim party shall certainly win at the local elections, and then no one can prevent them from building the first official Slovenian mosque. "Ministry of Foreign Affairs is obstructing the work of Slovenian national parties, while Muslims are creating a Muslim Slovenia", says Gerlanc. In Ljubljana, suspicions are being openly voiced that this is all the fault of the Slovenian government which has been corrupted by Muslim capital. (Vecernje novosti, August 29, 1996)[09] WHO IS DESTROYING THE DAYTON AGREEMENT?On August 27, OSCE made public its decision to postpone the local elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Instead on September 14th, they will take place in April or May 1997. The decision has been justified by the lack of freedom of movement, obstruction of opposition electoral activities, and manipulation and biasing of voters that have fled from their homes.Numerous logical and significant questions come to mind in this regard. September 14th was the date set for elections on five levels in the new, Dayton defined, state structure in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Why are the problems listed by Ambassador Frowick to justify the postponement of municipal elections relevant only for local elections and not for parliamentary and presidential elections in both entities (Republic of Srpska and Moslem- Croatian Federation) and entire Bosnia? On August 20th, Bosnian Moslem leader - Mr. Izetbegovic, presented the international community with yet another of his frequent ultimatums: unless the elections n Bosnia and Herzegovina are postponed because of "Serbian manipulations and violence against voters", his Democratic Action Party (SDA) will boycott the entire electoral procedure. Formally OSCE rejected his ultimatum. Still, isn't it true that the statement issued only six days later by Mr. Frowick represents partial consent? Several ancillary statements made by US officials and commentaries broadcast by Voice of America - affirming Izetbegovic's allegations about new Serbian maneuvers that deserve harsh reactions - indicate that the author of the Islamic Declaration did not gratuitously present his ultimatum, but was rather prompted indirectly or inspired to do so. Are the freedom of movement, the return of displaced persons, inter- ethnic trust and democratic atmosphere any better in the Moslem-Croatian Federation than between the Federation and the Republic of Srpska? Maybe the situation and the electoral farce in Mostar should also be ascribed to the Serbs - even though they have been chased out of the town years ago? What is the probable objective - for there must be one - of the postponement of the local elections? According to statements and expectations in Sarajevo (now frequently echoed by Voice of America) preparations are being made - as Izetbegovic already publicly announced in Sarajevo, Gorazde and on other occasions - for the a political and military offensive in the spring destined to "liberate the Moslem cities that the Chetniks seized and the international community assigned to the Serbs." The geographic map dividing Bosnia and Herzegovina into two entities in a 49:51 ratio - representing the foundation of the Dayton/Paris peace arrangements, is now frequently and directly being opposed and rejected by Islamic fundamentalists and their foreign (Mujahedin supporting) allies. Are the postponed municipal elections expected to alter, or at least question the Dayton Agreement foundations in order to satisfy the increasingly aggressive demands by the Moslem side - that can not be realized under the present conditions? D. Milic, political analyst Serbia Today Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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