Yugoslav Daily Survey 96-02-16

Yugoslav Daily Survey Directory

From: [email protected] (D.D. Chukurov)

16 February 1996

CONTENTS

[A] FROM THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA

[01] MILOSEVIC, WESTENDORP SAY PEACE IN BOSNIA INDISPENSABLE

[02] MILUTINOVIC-WESTENDORP: EQUAL TREATMENT OF ALL SIDES IN BOSNIA INDISPENSABLE

[03] YUGOSLAVIA, SPAIN TO NORMALIZE RELATIONS VERY SOON

[04] YUGOSLAV-SPANISH TALKS ON PROMOTION OF ECONOMIC COOPERATION

[05] YUGOSLAVIA, SLOVAKIA AGREE TO SIGN NEW INTER-STATE AGREEMENT

[B] REPUBLIKA SRPSKA

[06] BOSNIAN SERB REPUBLIC CALLS FOR RELEASE OF ITS OFFICERS

[07] REPUBLIKA SRPSKA FULFILLS ITS OBLIGATIONS FROM DAYTON AGREEMENT

[A] FROM THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA

[01] MILOSEVIC, WESTENDORP SAY PEACE IN BOSNIA INDISPENSABLE

Milosevic and Westendorp said the implementation of the peace agreement would eliminate one of the most dangerous crisis-spots in Europe, a statement released by the Presidential Office said.

Both sides underscored their great interest in the strengthening of the mutual ties, with focus on a continuous high-level political dialogue.

Milosevic and Westendorp devoted the greatest attention to the further development of the bilateral relations. The statement said the Spanish Foreign Minister's visit opened genuine prospects for the advancement of cooperation in the economic, cultural, scientific-technical, sports and other domains in which mutually useful results had been recorded in the past.

Emphasis was placed on the importance of the strengthening of peace and stability in the Balkans, in which the joint efforts of Yugoslavia and international factors to consolidate the political situation in the region has a priority, the statement said. The stepping up of the process of reconstruction of the war-affected regions is of outstanding importance for the attainment of that goal, the statement said.

Both sides expressed the conviction that Yugoslavia's equality-based participation in the United Nations and other international organizations would be renewed soon, and its diplomatic relations fully normalized and raised to the highest level.

The talk was attended also by Yugoslav Foreign Minister Milan Milutinovic and Spanish Charge d'Affaires in Belgrade Jose Bordallo.

[02] MILUTINOVIC-WESTENDORP: EQUAL TREATMENT OF ALL SIDES IN BOSNIA INDISPENSABLE

The importance of the consistent implementation of all the provisions of the Dayton peace agreement, the timely holding of elections in the two entitites and the need for far greater humanitarian aid for refugees was stressed at the talks.It was said at the talks that Spain is expected to support the speedy normalization of relations between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the European Union and OSCE, which is in the interest of peace and integrationist processes in the Balkans and in Europe, the statement said. The two ministers paid special attention to bilateral relations. They agreed there were possibilities for further development of political dialogue, economic ties, scientific-technical cooperation and in the fields of culture and education, tourism, and in air and naval traffic.

The two Ministers said they believed that the development of bilateral relations and of versatile cooperation will be furthered by the upgrading of diplomatic missions in the two coutries, which is expected in the near future.

[03] YUGOSLAVIA, SPAIN TO NORMALIZE RELATIONS VERY SOON

Milutinovic told reporters he was very satisfied with Spain's support during the peace process and its attitude towards the crisis in the former Yugoslavia.He said Westendorp had promised Spain's support to the reintegration of Yugoslavia into the international community and international institutions.

The meetings between the two Ministers and between Spanish and Yugoslav top officials focused on bilateral relations and topical issues concerning the implementation of the bosnia peace agreement, explained Milutinovic. He said that the possibility of signing a number of important bilateral agreements, especially in the economic sphere, was also discussed.

Westendorp said his arrival in Yugoslavia, together with a large group of Spanish reporters and businessmen, was ample proof of Spain's interest in the region. He also said that Spain wanted to cooperate with Yugoslavia in the implementation of the peace process and in many other fields.

Westendorp said he hoped that the two countries would also cooperate within the European Union, which Yugoslavia would join soon and which Spain would fully support. He said that both sides expressed belief in the talks that the Bosnia peace process would be consolidated and that current difficulties would be overcome in the near future. Spain maintains that Yugoslavia's peace efforts are evident and that time has come for raising the level of Spanish-Yugoslav diplomatic relations to the ambassadorial level, he added.

[04] YUGOSLAV-SPANISH TALKS ON PROMOTION OF ECONOMIC COOPERATION

Ruiz Ligero agreed that a EU discriminatory stand towards Yugoslavia was unfounded and pledged to advocate that the European Union, pending a EU-Yugoslav agreement, applies facilities for Yugoslav goods, similarly to other states which have emerged from the former Yugoslavia.

Siradovic and Ruiz Ligero discussed prospects for cooperation between Yugoslav and Spanish firms on their and third markets. It was agreed that the renewal of comprehensive trade, banking and insurance ties would be in the interest of both sides, said Siradovic.It was also agreed during the talks that good conditions existed for promoting cooperation in the metal-working and food-processing industries, agriculture, the iron and steel, shipbuilding, timber and chemical industries, he added. In view of Spain's growing investments abroad, the Yugoslav side said it was interested in taking part in projects in both countries and in joint appearances on third markets, said Siradovic.

[05] YUGOSLAVIA, SLOVAKIA AGREE TO SIGN NEW INTER-STATE AGREEMENT

The agreement was reached after three-day talks between the two delegations, headed by Yugoslav Deputy Minister of Labour, Health and Social Welfare Maksim Korac and the Head of the Division for Foreign Relations at the Slovak Ministry of Labour, Family and Social Affairs, Miloslav Hetes.

The two sides would apply a Convention on Social Security, signed by the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia and the Czechoslovak Republic in 1957.

[B] REPUBLIKA SRPSKA

[06] BOSNIAN SERB REPUBLIC CALLS FOR RELEASE OF ITS OFFICERS

[07] REPUBLIKA SRPSKA FULFILLS ITS OBLIGATIONS FROM DAYTON AGREEMENT

Dragic said the biggest problem in the iplementation of the Dayton agreement was the part dealing with the freedom of movement. He said representatives of the international community were urging Serbs to remain in the parts of Sarajevo which were to be handed over to the Muslim-Croat Federation, but the situation in the field was not such at all.