Yugoslav Daily Survey 96-03-12

Yugoslav Daily Survey Directory

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

12 March 1996

CONTENTS

[A] YUGOSLAVIA - CROATIA

[01] PRESS RELEASE ON THE TALKS BETWEEN YUGOSLAV FOREIGN MINISTER MILAN MILUTINOVIC AND CROATIAN VICE PRIME MINISTER AND FOREIGN MINISTER MATE GRANIC

[02] STATEMENT BY THE FEDERAL MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE FR OF YUGOSLAVIA, MILAN MILUTINOVIC

[B] YUGOSLAVIA - BULGARIA

[03] PARLIAMENTARY COOPERATION AS BASIS OF SUCCESSFUL BILATERAL RELATIONS

[C] BOSNIA - MUJAHEDDIN

[04] ALLAH'S WARRIORS STILL IN BOSNIA

[05] CROATS PREVENT RETURN OF KRAJINA SERBS

[A] YUGOSLAVIA - CROATIA

[01] PRESS RELEASE ON THE TALKS BETWEEN YUGOSLAV FOREIGN MINISTER MILAN MILUTINOVIC AND CROATIAN VICE PRIME MINISTER AND FOREIGN MINISTER MATE GRANIC

(Zagreb, March 11)

Yugoslavia, Milan Milutinovic, and the Vice Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the Republic of Croatia, Mate Granic, conducted wide-ranging talks in Zagreb today on the questions of interest for the promotion of the peace process and for normalization of relations. The visit was a continuation of contacts and political dialogue conducted during the recent visit of Foreign Minister Granic to the FR of Yugoslavia.

In the talks conducted in a constructive atmosphere, the two sides expressed interest and readiness to proceed towards a full normalization of relations, well aware of the importance that it has for the further consolidation of the peace process, for peace and stability in the region.

The two sides expressed readiness for cooperation between the FR of Yugoslavia and the Republic of Croatia with other international partners in the realization of the Peace Agreement for Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the Basic Agreement on the Srem-Baranja Region. It was assessed that it is most important to speed up the implementation of the civilian aspects of the Peace Agreement for Bosnia and, in particular, to ensure as soon as possible the conditions for holding free and democratic elections as envisaged by the established timetable. It was also pointed out that it was important to begin a speedy economic recovery and reconstruction of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which has not only economic but also political importance.

The two sides voiced full respect for the principle of equal treatment of all sides in the process of the implementation of the Peace Agreement. The recovery and reconstruction of the war devastated areas, the creation of conditions for a normal life of people and the return of refugees will render a powerful contribution to peace if they are realized without political conditions and with equal treatment of all sides. As far as the Srem-Baranja region is concerned, it was pointed out that it was necessary to implement the Basic Agreement of 12 November 1995 and Security Council resolution 1037 of 15 January 1996 fully and consistently. It was underlined that it was important to complete UNTAES as soon as possible and to begin the functioning of the transitional administration as a guarantor of an unimpeded evolvement of the transitional period and the equality of all inhabitants of the region. Both sides rendered their full support to the United Nations Transitional Administration and its Administrator Jean Jacques Klein.

The question of Prevlaka was also considered, as well as the exit of the Republic of Srpska to the sea. The Yugoslav side voiced its view that these outstanding issues should be solved in the spirit of good-neighbourly relations and on the basis of previous agreements. Pending a final solution, i.e. until the FR of Yugoslavia and the Republic of Croatia reach an agreement in accordance with Security Council resolution 1038 of 15 January 1996, on a solution which would solve their differences related to the problem of Prevlaka peacefully, the United Nations security regime, established by the Joint Declarations of the President of the FR of Yugoslavia and the President of the Republic of Croatia of 30 September and 20 October 1992 and Security Council resolution 779 of 6 October 1992, will continue in force.

A number of agreements was reached in the talks which, paying due respect to mutual interests, solve important concrete questions. Agreements were signed on the re-opening of the oil pipe line, resumption of rail and air traffic and the establishment of telecommunication links and some postal services. It was agreed in principle to re-open the Belgrade-Zagreb motorway, the modalities of the realization of this agreement to be worked out in detail in the nearest future.

It was agreed to expand the competence of the Bureau of the Government of the FR of Yugoslavia in Zagreb and the Office of the Government of the Republic of Croatia in Belgrade for the purpose of carrying out certain consular functions. In this way the two sides have met the needs of everyday life and the interests of the citizens of either side, in particular a great number of Serbian refugees in the FR of Yugoslavia and the solution of their status and other questions. The reached agreements are based on international conventions and customs and, no doubt, provide a new quality to the competence of the missions of the two Governments in Belgrade and Zagreb, even though this does not prejudice the question of the formal normalization of relations between the two countries.

As far as other open questions are concerned the two sides reiterated their readiness to continue expert negotiations in order to reach mutually acceptable solutions as soon as possible.

The Yugoslav side pledged its support for a full protection of human and civil rights of Serbs in Croatia. In particular it stressed the need to create conditions for an unimpeded and safe return of all Serbian expellees and refugees from Krajina and Western Slavonia. The principle of free will and the choice of residence for all refugees must be universally respected. Particular emphasis was placed on guaranteeing the rights to Serbian expellees and refugees, as well as to the citizens of the FR of Yugoslavia possessing property in the territory of Croatia, to dispose of their property. The Yugoslav side handed over an Aide Memoire containing proposals to solve this very important question.

The hitherto activities and concrete results of the work of the Commissions of the two Governments on humanitarian issues and missing persons have been assessed as positive and the continuation of their work without politicizing and on the agreed basis was supported. An agreed Protocol on the further cooperation of the Commissions will be signed soon.

Participating in the talks were Federal Minister for Transport and Communications Dr. Zoran R. Vujovic and senior officials of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the FR of Yugoslavia and, on the Croatian side, Zeljko Luzavec, Minister of Shipping, Transport and Communications of the Republic of Croatia and senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Croatia.

The Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Milan Milutinovic, was also received by the President of the Republic of Croatia, Dr. Franjo Tudjman. Their talks covered the basic aspects of Yugoslav-Croatian relations at this moment of time. It was confirmed that these relations were of great importance for a further progress of the peace process and the consolidation of peace and security in the region. It was mutually noted that, in the interest of future and good-neighbourliness, the two sides should invest greater efforts in building mutual confidence and in solving outstanding issues of common interest through agreements.

During his visit to Zagreb, Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs Milan Milutinovic received in the Bureau of the Government of the FR of Yugoslavia the representatives of Serbs in Croatia and conducted with them lengthy and meaningful talks.

[02] STATEMENT BY THE FEDERAL MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE FR OF YUGOSLAVIA, MILAN MILUTINOVIC

(Zagreb, March 11)

Minister Mate Granic and I have conducted open and very meaningful talks. They covered practically all questions which are the common preoccupation of the FR of Yugoslavia and the Republic of Croatia at this moment of time. Our talks today constitute a continuation and an intensification of the political dialogue that we recently conducted in Belgrade and then in Rome.

Also on this occasion we voiced our common preoccupation to overcome the obstacles standing in the way of full normalization of relations. In doing so, we proceeded from the importance that the normalization of Yugoslav-Croatian relations objectively has for a further promotion of peace process, for peace and comprehensive security not only in this part of Europe. Together we accepted to proceed to this end goal - normalization of relations - through a gradual and pragmatic solution of outstanding questions. We exchange views on the implementation of the Peace Agreement for Bosnia and Herzegovina and assessed that it was necessary to continue a consistent implementation of all what had been agreed in Dayton and at the recent Conference in Rome. In particular, we pointed to the need for equal treatment of all parties in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the involvement, without delay, of responsible international factors in the preparation and holding of elections and recovery and reconstruction as priority tasks.

As far as the Srem-Baranja region is concerned, we supported a full and consistent implementation of the Basic Agreement and expressed our full support to, and confidence in, the Transitional Administrator, Mr. Jean- Jacques Klein, and the Region's Transitional Administration. We believe that the implementation of the Agreement will evolve normally, that all the Region's refugees and inhabitants will be equal as provided for by the Agreement and that this will render a contribution to stabilization in a broader area.

We spoke of the question of Prevlaka, as well as of the exit of the Republic of Srpska to the sea. Our position is that outstanding questions should be solved in the spirit of good-neighbourly relations and the agreements reached thus far. However, in the period pending a final solution, i.e. until the FR of Yugoslavia and the Republic of Croatia reach an agreement in accordance with Security Council resolution 1038 of 15 January 1996 on a solution that would solve their differences related to the problem of Prevlaka, the United Nations security regime established by the Joint Declarations of the President of the FR of Yugoslavia and the President of the Republic of Croatia of 30 September and 20 October 1992 and Security Council resolution 779 of 6 October 1992, will continue in force.

We devoted special attention to a speedy solution of the return of Serbian expellees and refugees from Western Slavonia and Krajina, as well as to the protection of their property rights. We pledged our support to a full protection of civil and human rights of Serbs in Croatia. Our agenda also included the question of the property of the Yugoslav citizens in Croatia. We voiced our positions in this connection in the Aide Memoire which we handed over to the Croatian side.

We reached concrete agreement on regulating some very important questions from the field of transport. We reached an agreement on the re- opening of the oil pipe line, temporary establishment of rail and air traffic, coordination of area flight control centres in Belgrade and Zagreb and on the establishment of telecommunication links and certain postal services. Agreement in principle was reached on the opening of the Belgrade-Zagreb motorway, the modalities of the implementation of which will be worked out in greater detail in the nearest future.

An important concrete result is also the document that Minister Granic and I signed to the effect that, in addition to the present consular functions, the Bureau of the Government of the FR of Yugoslavia in Zagreb and the Office of the Government of the Republic of Croatia in Belgrade will carry out important consular functions such as the issuance of passports and visas, protection of the interests of our nationals, physical persons and legal entities, etc. These are very important questions imposed on us by everyday life and the interests of the citizens of our two countries.

The talks were characterized by our common desire to achieve progress in our mutual relations, an effort to find solutions which will satisfy the interests of both sides, and the interests of lasting peace and stability in our common environment. These questions, as is known, are neither easy nor simple. That is why we have jointly opted for the step-by-step method and I can say that we have succeeded in solving some questions on this basis and in bringing closer our positions on some other questions.

We assess the visit as important and useful. It has shown that we have entered a period of intensive contacts and dialogue which are of interest for both sides. We reached also concrete results which have immediate benefit for the citizens of the two countries. They are the basis for a further progress in the solution of the remaining outstanding questions.

[B] YUGOSLAVIA - BULGARIA

[03] PARLIAMENTARY COOPERATION AS BASIS OF SUCCESSFUL BILATERAL RELATIONS

This assessment is borne out also by the recently signed agreement on the two countries' economic cooperation in agriculture and transport, it was agreed by Bozovic and Bulgarian MPs headed by their President Academician Blagovest Sendov, the Yugoslav Parliament Information Service said in an announcement.

The announcement said that Bozovic and Sendov pointed out the significance of the Dayton agreement, stressing that a just and lasting peace in this region was an important factor of stability throughout Europe.

Yugoslavia's return to international organizations and institutions is of vital importance for Yugoslavia and the entire Balkans, Bozovic assessed. In this regard, said Sendov, Bulgaria will see to it to help a quicker reintegration of Yugoslavia into the international community in keeping with the endeavours to 'Europeanize the Balkans as a whole' in the interest of all the countries in the region.

[C] BOSNIA - MUJAHEDDIN

[04] ALLAH'S WARRIORS STILL IN BOSNIA

The U.S. administration said on Friday that 200 out of a few thousand mujaheddin had remained in Bosnia. Under the Dayton agreement, the Muslim Sarajevo government had to send all mujaheddin home by Jan. 15.

The U.S. administration is extremely concerned about the mujaheddin presence in Bosnia, fearing that they would retaliate against U.S. troops in Bosnia.

Some mujaheddin, who were granted Bosnian citizenship, work in the Muslim army or civil services, others are diplomats in the recently opened Iranian Embassy in Sarajevo and still others, who are illegally in Bosnia, engage in intelligence and terrorist activities.

'We have not come to go as soon as the Americans come. We live at a time when islam will rule. Bosnia belongs to the Muslims and we have to defend it,' said leader of a group of mujaheddin in the central Bosnian town of Zenica Abu Salim of Algeria, publicist and retired Yugoslav Colonel Stojan Jovic told Tanjug.

Muslim extremists believe that 'islamic fighters should defend every Muslim country, regardless of where it is,' Jovic said.

The islamic conference held in Khartoum last year said that jihad had to spread to the west and that Bosnia was a stepping stone to Europe. The Conference decided that mujaheddin activities in Bosnia would be coordinated by a headquarters in Teheran.

Muslim countries sent experienced saboteurs and terrorists to Bosnia, but Iran was the only one to send a regular military unit - the 2,000 - strong 7th revolutionary guard brigade, which was based in Zenica, Jovic said.

Mujaheddin units, including 40 terrorists sent by the Egyptian fundamentalist organization Muslim Brotherhood, were deployed in Zenica, Konjic and Kakanj in central Bosnia and Tesanj in northern Bosnia.

The units were trained in centres in the villages of Mehuric near Busovaca in central Bosnia, Pazaric near Sarajevo and Bistricak, north of Zenica, Jovic said.

Mujaheddin were the backbone of elite reconnaissance and saboteur units, Jovic said and added that they formed special units, the so-called Muslim Defence Force, reinforced by about 1,000 local volunteers who had undergone religious and military training.

Mujaheddin became instructors for special actions, intelligence officers, religious commissioners and quite often commanders of tactical units, Jovic said.

Mujaheddin left a bloody trail behind them. They carried out a large number of sabotage operations, infiltrating into Serb units. They also attacked civilian population and tortured and mutilated Serb troops and civilians with unparalleled brutality.

They had no prisoners of war, committing ritual killings of the 'non-believers,' Jovic said, mentioning a photo of a mujaheddin holding three severed heads of Serb troops near Tesanj, which was published all over the world.

[05] CROATS PREVENT RETURN OF KRAJINA SERBS

Around 30,000 Krajina Serbs have officially sought to return to their homes, the Slovenian paper said invoking data by international organizations, the Serb National Party in Croatia, and diplomats' statements.

To halt the return of expelled Krajina Serbs, the Croatian police and administration in Krajina even directly pressurize and threaten those few Serbs remaining there after the Croatian army captured the area, the paper said.