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Serbia Today, 97-04-11Serbia Today Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Yugoslavia <http://www.yugoslavia.com>Serbia TodayCONTENTS
[01] YUGOSLAV OBSERVERS AT THE ELECTIONS IN SBRReacting to the invitation made by the UN Transition Administrator Jacques Klein, FR Yugoslavia will send 15 observers to the elections in the Srem- Baranja Region (SBR), due on April 13th this year. The decision has been made yesterday at the Federal Government session chaired by Prime Minister Radoje Kontic. During the session it has been observed that the elections in the Srem-Baranja Region represent a key element for the enactment of the Erdut Agreement and that the invitation for the presence of Yugoslav observers constitutes yet another acknowledgment of the role played by Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in building peace, security and cooperation in the region.Serbia Today, 1997-04-11 ; Borba, 1997-04-11[02] UN FINDS PERSISTING PERSECUTION OF SERBS IN CROATIAPersecution of Serbs persists in reconguered former rebel areas of Croatia and could provoke an exodus from a final Serb enclave due to rejoin the country soon, the UN human rights reporter said on Tuesday.At least 25.000 Serbs unreconciled with the pending return of Croatian state authority in Eastern Slavonia, now United nations protectorate, are expected to flee to Serbia before peaceful reintegration is completed in July. But, international monitors believe many more of the roughly 120.000 Serbs in the enclave might leave too if they think Croatian promises of extensive minority rights, made under Western pressure, will not be respected. Elisabeth Rehn, the UN chief human rights investigator, said continued harassment of Serbs in former separatist regions retaken by Croatian army in 1995 was doing nothing to build the confidence of Serbs in Eastern Slavonia. As the most drastic examples... (there are) cases of beating of several citizens of Serb ethnic origin in Okucani (and) harassment and setting on fire the houses of (refugee) Serb - in the Knin area she said Rehn, in a statement released by her Geneva Office, said she had written on Monday to Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic to express her concern about human rights abuses in former rebel zones in March and early this month. A foreign Ministry spokesman said on Tuesday Rehn`s letter had not arrived and there would be no comment before that. Croatia has been repeatedly rebuked in UN Security Council resolutions over maltreatment of minority Serbs. The government of nationalist president Franjo Tudjman has blamed incidents on random thuggery which had been curbed. Human-rights monitors say Croatian police, soldiers and officials have often been involved in or turned a blind eye to violence, hoping to scare leftover Serbs into fleeing and deter refugees, most now in Serbia form coming back. Rehn said she stressed in the letter that Croatia`s current treatment of minorities including returning displaced Serbs would have a big impact on Eastern Slavonia`s fate. I believe the present pattern of abuse of human rights may provoke a new ethnically motivated exodus of the Serb population, a remind the authorities that the credibility of the intentions of the Republic of Croatia are at stake. Regional elections will be held in Eastern Slavonia on Sunday to pave the way for reintroduction of Croatian state institutions, with minority guarantees for Serbs by July 15. I remind the Croatian government that it publicly declared its willingness to respect the right to return of all refugees and displaced regardless of ethnic origin, said Rehn. According to the reports of (my) field staff as well as local NGO`s (Non- governmental aid agencies and international organizations monitoring the situation, measures taken up to date are absolutely inadequate to the situation - especially the return of Croatian citizens of Serb origin. Rehn also criticized what she said was tendentious reporting by Croatian state media hindering efforts at reconciliation between Croatians and Serbs. Serbia Today, 1997-04-11 ; Tanjug, 1997-04-08[03] BULLETIN SUPPLEMENT: WHAT IS IN STORE FOR THE SERBS IN THE SREM- BARANJA REGION?As April 13th draws near, and with it the elections in the Srem-Baranja Region which will test - for the first time since the end of the conflict in this former Yugoslav republic - the civic equality of the Serbs in Croatia, the list of premeditated provocations by the Croatian side grows longer.The threats made to all prominent Serbian figures in the Srem-Baranja Region (SBR) by a phantom Ustasha organisation, including the UN Administrator Jacques Klein, merely completes the atmosphere of high tension already exasperated by the incident in Vukovar during the promotion of the Croatian Democratic Community (HDZ) held in the "Dunav" Hotel, the postponement of a similar scenario in Ilok, the beatings of several Serbs in Western Slavonija, the recent unjustified arrests of legitimate Serbian representatives in Zagreb... Confirmation that these were not mere coincidences can be also found in the latest report prepared by Ms. Elisabeth Wren who relied on pure facts to unveil the persevering Croatian policy regarding the Serbs. It is not difficult to concllude that the purpose of all these moves prior to the elections in SBR is to increase the fears and doubts of the local Serbs about what they should do. International mediators of the reconciliation between Serbs and Croats are now realising that the Croatian side, in spite of all public statements and declarations, can not "digest" any form of civic equality of the Serbian population. Thanks to the Croatian Serbophobia and the determination of the international mediators to succeed in their peaceful reintegration experiment, we are now witnessing a contradicting atmosphere before the elections, in which those that are to gain the most are making the greatest problems, while the others that will loose much are displaying great will to cooperate and political wisdom. It comes as no surprise that the responsible international factors accepted on various occasions the demands made by the Serbian side in the Region, determined to satisfy the basic purpose of the elections: the broadest possible response of the Serbian population, regardless of the date they arrived into the Region and whether they managed to complete the procedure for obtaining Croatian documents. It has been agreed to extend the deadline for the registration of voters and obtaining documents up to the elections day, and Belgrade is expected to provide a formula for the twin citizenship option. Such a development partially buffers the plans of the Croatian side to intimidate the voters and provides a realistic framework for finding an answer about the fate of the Serbs after the reintegration into the Republic of Croatia. This is why a referendum has been recently organised for the Serbs in the Region to determine whether they are in favour of a single county structure. Although it is clear that the extremely high percentage of those that would prefer to live in a united administrative territory has no political bearing - at least in the near future - it is also obvious that this move was intended to inform the international community and the current Croatian authorities about the state of mind of the population in the Region. In future the Croatian authorities will have to bear in mind this stand of the Serbian population, which is probably the greatest achievement of the recent referendum. Still, when a line is drawn and realistic calculations are made about what is the best thing to do, there are no doubts that for a great majority of the people living in the Region, staying on is the most acceptable option. Their determination to continue their life under the new rule and in a new country is stronger than the feeling of insecurity. The latest surveys show that the locals anticipate that the Croatian side will maintain its incident-crating attitude, but only by going to the ballots and sticking together can the Serbs survive and overcome the first days of "new life". Whenever possible, compromise and peaceful solutions should be used, and when an incident concerning civic discrimination does occur, it should be internationalised to the maximum extent. Going to the elections represents the first step in building up the civic status of the Serbs in the Srem- Baranja Region and their inauguration as an equal-righted part of the Croatian population, which will need the protection of the international community for a very long time. Serbia Today, 1997-04-11 ; Politika, 1997-04-11[04] THIS YEAR 63 WATER SUPPLY PROJECTS WILL BE COMPLETEDThis year, Serbia will invest about 370 million dinars for the construction and reconstruction of 140 waterworks plants and installations. The program - adopted two days ago by the Serbian Government - envisages the completion of 63 installations by the end of the year, 19 being water-supply plants. According to Mr. Jovan Babovic - Minister of Agriculture, Waters and Forestry - the realization of these projects having a strategic importance for our country, will ensure a better supply of potable water for the population in the cities and villages, as well as sufficient quantities of water required by processing plants, bearing in mind a balanced regional distribution of such investments. Priority has been given to the construction of water-supply installations, protection from floods and preservation of water quality. 92 million dinars will be invested in water- supply projects, most of the funds being allocated for the completion of projects that have already been initiated. Presently, three dams and artificial lakes are being built in Serbia, and some 700 million dinars are needed to complete them. The Republic of Serbia will also invest 31,5 million dinars in 36 projects for the preservation of water quality and waste water processing.Serbia Today, 1997-04-11 ; Politika, 1997-04-11[05] EXPORTS HAVE GROWN 37.9 PER CENT IN THE FIRST TRIMESTER"In the first three months of this year, Yugoslav exports have grown 37.9% compared to the same period last year - reaching 454 million dollars" - said the Director of the Federal Statistics Institute - Mr. Milovan Zivkovic. He also remarked that this is a positive result adding that Yugoslav products have been sold in over 90 countries, primarily in Italy - with a trade volume of 49 million dollars. In the past three months goods worth 947 million dollars have been sold abroad, marking a 25% increase compared to the same period last year. Most of the foreign trade was directed to European countries (about 85%), the principal partners being - besides Italy - Germany, the Russian Federation and the Republic of Macedonia. The Republic of Srpska - within Bosnia and Herzegovina was also one of the significant partners in the past period. In the past trimester a trade volume of 136 million dollars was reached.Serbia Today, 1997-04-11 ; Politika, 1997-04-11[06] SERBIAN RADIO STATIONS ASSOCIATION COMMENTS THE NEW MEDIA LAWSpeaking at the assembly of the Serbian Radio Stations Association - Minister of Information - Prof. Dr. Radmila Milentijevic illustrated the new Law on Public Information and stressed: "The second version of the Law on Information contains - contrary to our initial plan - more regulations than the first one, but these were insisted upon by the parties that took part in the public debate and we had to honor them." "In preparing the new law we assumed de-regulation as the basic principle, together with the freedom of the journalists and the right of the people to receive complete and professional information - according to the European model, and suppressing at the same time any possibility of monopoly in this important sphere of the social environment" - said the Minister. She also remarked that the article on the creation of the Council for the Protection of Public Expression represents "an European democratic creation, which will help the freedom of public expression in our society". The parties that were involved in the debate remarked that the second version of the Law represents a sound legal project, but insisted on a more precise definition of a local radio-station and its rights to link up to networks, as well as a clear definition of the founder of a broadcasting station including his rights and duties.Serbia Today, 1997-04-11 ; Vecernje Novosti, 1997-04-11[07] FEDERAL PARTNERS ARE CONCEALING CRIMESThe authorities of the Croatian Community of Herzeg-Bosnia rejected all the demands made by the Moslem side to reveal the truth about the fate of 12 Moslem soldiers, that the Croatian Defense Council forces captures almost four years ago - Moslem media observe. The parents and relatives of the 12 missing Moslem soldiers, arrested in Mostar in May 1993, asked the Co- Chairman of the Ministerial Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina - Mr. Harris Silajdzic, to help them discover the truth. Mr. Silajdzic has also been informed about the sites of crimes in western Croatian Herzegovina - hiding the truth about many missing Moslems but still inaccessible for investigation. At the same time, Croatian media have reported that Moslem authorities never revealed the truth about the fate of 26 Croatian intellectuals that the Moslem troops captured in the summer of 1993. They were detained in a camp set up on a football field, and in October 1993 they were transferred to an unknown location.Serbia Today, 1997-04-11 ; Ekspres, 1997-04-11[08] VOTE FOR BROADER RIGHTSAfter meeting with the UN Transition Administrator Jacques Klein in Vukovar yesterday, The President of the Regional Administration - Dr. Vojislav Stanimirovic remarked: "The elections will be held with or without us. Therefore, we must use this chance, and all the people currently living in the Region should register and vote, according to the Erdut Agreement. In the elections we must secure the absolute majority in the municipalities and cities, and this is now our task, our only political hope. We have to use this opportunity, because it is the only one that will allow us to continue living here. Should the Serbs secure the absolute majority, then the Council of Municipalities will be able to carry out its task." Dr. Stanimirovic invited all the people in the Region, as well as those that lived in the Region before 1991 and refugees that possess Croatian documents or have applied for documents, to massively go o the polling stations. Mr. Goran Hadzic said that the Serbian delegation asked Gen. Klein "to provide firm guaranties for the survival of the people in the Region." General Klein stressed that during his mandate - and afterwards when international observers come - no one shall be arrested or harassed, and assured us that our people shall be able to stay on" - said Mr. Hadzic. He also appealed to all to take Croatian documents and vote, so that "relying on what strength we have left our people may win the elections and stay here."Serbia Today, 1997-04-11 ; Politika, 1997-04-11[09] MASSIVE RESPONSE OF THE VOTERS IS MOST IMPORTANTFederal Foreign Minister Milan Milutinovic received yesterday the President of the Srem-Baranja Region - Mr. Goran Hadzic, who informed him about the preparations for the forthcoming elections, organized by UNTAES and the UN Transition Administrator - Gen. Jacques Klein. During the talks it has been stressed that UNTAES has the responsibility to ensure the necessary conditions for just elections, and especially to warrant the participation of all people living in the Region - according to the Erdut Agreement. A positive role will also be played by concrete measures and preparations for the forming of councils of Serbian municipalities, as well as those that will insure the permanent presence of international representatives in the Region after the transition period expires. The need for a massive presence at the ballots has been particularly stressed, since this will be decisive in forming local administrative bodies and the council of Serbian municipalities, and help the lasting and equitable presence of Serbs in the Region. During the talks the importance of providing the option of twin citizenship has been underscored, especially due to the fact that the Transition Administrator and the international community endorse this idea. FR Yugoslavia is ready and willing to settle this issue in the best possible way, either in the form of a bilateral agreement with the Republic of Croatia - and FRY has already advanced an initiative in this sense - or with suitable modification and amendment of the existing Yugoslav legislation.Serbia Today, 1997-04-11 ; Borba, 1997-04-11[10] TIME TO ESTABLISH DIPLOMATIC RELATIONSFederal Foreign Minister Milan Milutinovic sent the Draft Proposal for establishing diplomatic relations between FR Yugoslavia and Bosnia and Herzegovina to the members of the Bosnian Presidency - Alija Izetbegovic, Momcilo Krajisnik and Kresimir Zubak, and to his colleague at the Bosnian Foreign Ministry - Jadranko Prlic. The draft document is based on the Paris Statement made by presidents Slobodan Milosevic and Alija Izetbegovic on October 3rd last year.Serbia Today, 1997-04-11 ; Borba, 1997-04-11Serbia Today Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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