Yugoslav Daily Survey, 97-10-08

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Yugoslav Daily Survey

CONTENTS

[01] SERBIAN OPPOSITION LEADERS MEET GELBARD

[02] YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT RECEIVES U.S. ENVOY

[03] GELBARD - STATEMENT OSCE.

[04] PRELIMINARY RESULTS

[05] SESSION OF A YUGOSLAV-IRANIAN COMMISSION

[06] MOMIR BULATOVIC WINS GREATEST NUMBER OF VOTES

[07] SERBIAN PREMIER RECEIVES SIEMENS VICE PRESIDENT

[08] YUGOSLAV - GERMAN COOPERATION IN AIRCRAFT INDUSTRY

[09] BILJANA PLAVSIC MET WITH GELBARD

[10] IN CROATIA 186 SERBS KILLED OUTSIDE COMBAT OPERATIONS

[11] US DEFENSE SECRETARY SAYS PRESSURE YIELDS RESULTS

[12] GELBARD DEMANDED FROM TUDJMAN FULFILMENT OF THE ERDUT AGREEMENT

[13] SERBIAN RADIO AND TELEVISION STAFF ON STRIKE

[14] KRAJISNIK MET WITH GELBARD

[15] KRAJISNIK: UNJUSTIFIED PRESENCE OF SFOR AT SERB TELEVISION TRANSMITTERS

[16] GELBARD TALKS WITH IZETBEGOVIC

[17] YUGOSLAVIA AND EGYPT INITIAL AGREEMENT ON AIR TRANSPORT

[18] WORLD BANK EXPERTS SERBIA'S PRIVATISATION MODEL AMONG BEST IN EAST EUROPE

[19] PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE BULATOVIC: I SEE MONTENEGRO FIRMLY IN YUGOSLAVIA

[20] MARJANOVIC: AFTER ELECTIONS, SPEEDY STEPS INTO REFORMS

[21] PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE SESELJ HOPES TO WIN

[22] YUGOSLAV DELEGATION AT ENVIRONMENTAL CONFERENCE IN BUDAPEST

[23] GOOD TURNOUT IN MONTENEGRO

[24] PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE DJUKANOVIC: SPEEDY WAY OUT OF THE CRISIS

[25] WELCH: ELECTIONS PASSED QUIETLY, REGULARLY AND WITHOUT ANY DIFFICULTIES

[26] YUGOSLAV DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER REJECTS POSSIBILITY OF DINAR BEING DEVALUED

[27] TOMIC: WE EXPECT ZORAN LILIC TO WIN

[28] PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE LILIC: AFTER ELECTIONS WE WILL TURN TO WORK

[29] YUGOSLAV RED CROSS PRESIDENT VISITS AMMAN

[30] MILOSEVIC: SUPPORT TO POLICY OF PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT

[01] SERBIAN OPPOSITION LEADERS MEET GELBARD

Tanjug, 1997-10-06

The leaders of Serbia's opposition Democratic Party (DS) and Civic Alliance (GSS) said on Monday they might join in the next presidential election if it should be called in this Yugoslav Republic. "This is not final, but there is an indication that this might happen," GSS leader Vesna Pesic said.

Pesic and DS leader Zoran Djindjic were talking to reporters after meeting with special U.S. envoy Robert Gelbard behind closed doors at the U.S. residence in Belgrade.

Gelbard has had separate meetings with individual Serbian opposition and ethnic Albanian leaders, viz. Pesic, Djindjic, Student Political Club leader Cedomir Antic and ethnic Albanian student leaders Bujar Dugoli, Driton Lajici and Albin Kurti.

Before Pesic and Djindjic, the U.S. residence was visited by Vice Presidents of the Democratic Alliance of Kosovo Hidajet Hiseni and Fehmi Agani, and leader of the Parliamentary Party of Kosovo Adem Demaci.

[02] YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT RECEIVES U.S. ENVOY

Tanjug, 1997-10-06

Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic on Monday received special U.S. envoy in charge of the implementation of the Dayton Agreement Robert Gelbard.

The meeting focused on the consolidation of peace and stabilisation of the situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina and other important issues of mutual interest.

Developments were assessed as positive regarding the September 13-14 local elections in Bosnia-Herzegovina as well as the coming parliamentary and presidential elections in the Republika Srpska, whose success might settle the political crisis in this entity.

Milosevic said that all political factors in the Republika Srpska were committed to the consistent implementation of the Dayton Agreement, which called for the affirmation of equality of both entities and all three nations in Bosnia-Herzegovina as well as the international community's unbiased treatment.

It is especially important in this view to find solutions to open issues through agreements and cooperation between organs and institutions, and the engaged international factors.

The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia will continue to make an active contribution to the successful unfolding of the peace process and the strengthening of regional stability, firmly urging openness, equality and the realisation of joint interests as the basis on which processes of primarily economic and cultural linking among the regional states and nations could be affirmed.

The talks were also attended by Yugoslav Foreign Minister Milan Milutinovic and U.S. Charge d'Affaires in Belgrade Richard Miles.

[03] GELBARD - STATEMENT OSCE.

Tanjug, 1997-10-06

"The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and its President Slobodan Milosevic guarantee the implementation of the Dayton Agreement", the special envoy of the US President to the Balkans Robert Gelbard said on Monday at a press conference.

This was also underlined in the statement issued following the recent meeting of the Contact Group, Gelbard said.

Gelbard added that his meeting on Monday with President Milosevic had focused, like all their previous meetings, on the peace process in Bosnia and the situation in Yugoslavia.

"President Milosevic has played a constructive role in contacts with political figures from Republika Srpska in the past few months", Gelbard said, pointing to the help provided by President Milosevic in reaching an agreement on the reconstruction of police forces in Srpska, which he described as a very important step.

"President Milosevic has exercised his constructive influence as regards several other issues", Gelbard said.

"Things in Republika Srpska are moving in the right direction, as political life and pluralism are growing stronger", Gelbard said.

"The results of local elections clearly show that Serb Democratic Party (SDS) which, the US believes, did not play a constructive role in implementing the Dayton agreement, has suffered a loss and that the party headed by Srpska President Biljana Plavsic would do well if it were to participate in the forthcoming elections", Gelbard said.

"The US has started providing economic aid to Republika Srpska", Gelbard said, noting that Washington supports all who support Dayton and would be ready to help those communities and political groups in Republika Srpska which in its opinion support the Dayton process.

Gelbard said the principal reason for his visit was to hear the views of the signatories of the Belgrade Agreement, whose conclusion had come as a surprise to the US.

The US and the other members of the Contact Group strongly approve of the forthcoming parliamentary elections in Srpska, Gelbard said and added that the elections would be monitored by the

Referring to the presidential election in Srpska - mechanisms, deadlines, legal aspects - Gelbard said his mission was to talk to all three parties to the Belgrade Agreement before the US takes a definite stance on that important issue.

Gelbard especially spoke of the need for cooperation with the War Crimes Tribunal, and said that the decision of ten Croats to go to trial in The Hague was a positive development.

Asked whether the US Administration would cooperate with the Serbian Radical Party Leader Vojislav Seselj if he were to win the presidential election in Serbia, Gelbard said this would not be possible, as Seselj was "anti-democratic and a fascist" and had recently incited troubles in Brcko.

The US is well aware of Seselj's political views, Gelbard said and added that "Seselj represents worsening polarization, backwardness, darkness".

[04] PRELIMINARY RESULTS

Tanjug, 1997-10-06

The October 6 second round of the presidential election in Serbia has not succeeded, since not more than 50 percent of the electorate turned out, according to the first preliminary results announced on Monday by Election Commission Secretary Nebojsa Rodic.

The Election Commission official told a news conference that, according to the complete results for 16 of the 29 electoral units and the partially processed returns for the remaining 13 units, 3,211,022 voters had turned out in the second round of the presidential election.

Rodic said that 96,000 ballots had been found to be invalid.

He told the press that, according to the first preliminary results, Serbian Radical Party (SRS) candidate Vojislav Seselj had carried off 49.98 percent of votes, and candidate of the left coalition Socialist Party of Serbia - Yugoslav Left - New Democracy Zoran Lilic 46.99 percent.

Rodic said that the final results of the second round of the presidential election in Serbia would be announced on Thursday.

[05] SESSION OF A YUGOSLAV-IRANIAN COMMISSION

Tanjug, 1997-10-06

The 10th session of a mixed Yugoslav-Iranian Commission for economic cooperation is being held in Teheran.

The Yugoslav delegation is headed by Yugoslav Foreign Trade Minister Borislav Vukovic and the Iranian delegation by Minister of Economy and Finance Hossein Hamazi. The Yugoslav delegation comprises also a number of businessmen.

The two delegations focused on the results achieved so far in the area of bilateral economic cooperation and discussed also future cooperation prospects.

Vukovic also had several meetings with other Iranian officials in Teheran, the Yugoslav Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

[06] MOMIR BULATOVIC WINS GREATEST NUMBER OF VOTES

Tanjug, 1997-10-06

Presidential candidate at the elections in Montenegro Momir Bulatovic is in the lead with 147,609 votes, and his main rival Milo Djukanovic 145,337, the Republican Election Commission said at a news conference at 13.00 hours, noting that the results were partial.

The Commission has not yet determined official results.

The elections have been cancelled at two polling stations in the municipality of Bar - Veliki Ostros and Arbasin, because more ballots were counted than registered voters, he said.

At the presidential elections in Montenegro, 311,084 voters have voted. There were 306,486 valid ballots. The electorate in Montenegro is 460,568. Under electoral law, if none of the presidential candidates obtains a 50 percent support, a run-off is held for the two leading candidates.

[07] SERBIAN PREMIER RECEIVES SIEMENS VICE PRESIDENT

Tanjug, 1997-10-06

Serbian Premier Mirko Marjanovic on Monday received Siemens Vice President Lotar Plehwe, who informed him about the company's long-term plans for cooperation with the Public Company of PTT Traffic Serbia and other Serbian partners.

A Serbian Government statement quoted Plehwe as saying that Siemens would soon open its regional centre for eastern Europe in Belgrade. The Serbian PTT company and Siemens also plan to install over one million telephone lines and other equipment in Serbian exchanges by the end of 1998.

Marjanovic said that the Serbian Government's economic policy measures and consistent implementation of reforms had secured a stable economic climate and that the legislation was completed relating to the introduction of a modern market-oriented economy, whose basis is completely compatible with the economic systems of industrialised countries.

This has resulted in an increased foreign partners' interest in investments in Yugoslavia. The Serbian Government especially supports the investments which transfer modern technologies and ensure an adequate engagement of domestic production capacities and experts.

[08] YUGOSLAV - GERMAN COOPERATION IN AIRCRAFT INDUSTRY

Tanjug, 1997-10-06

Yugoslav Chamber of Commerce President Mihailo Milojevic and Yugoslav aircraft industry representatives on Monday met with German Chamber of Commerce's Aircraft and Satellite Industry Association Head Hans Eberhard Birke and discussed the establishing of cooperation in the aircraft industry.

Milojevic invited German companies to cooperate with Yugoslav firms in this field and stressed that the Yugoslav economy, as a whole, was interested in the participation of foreign companies in the domestic production.

He said that the Yugoslav economy was market-oriented and that no barriers existed in attracting foreign capital and technologies, which may arrive in the country in different forms - from the setting up of independent companies to investments in Yugoslav firms.

Birke described the talks as the first step in the future long-term successful cooperation between the two countries' companies in the field of aircraft industry.

Birke said that improved trade and economic cooperation helped achieve better political understanding between the two countries and invited Yugoslav companies in the field of aircraft industry to participate in the international fair of aircraft industry in Munich in May 1998.

[09] BILJANA PLAVSIC MET WITH GELBARD

Tanjug, 1997-10-04

Republika Srpska (RS) President Biljana Plavsic received on Saturday U.S. special envoy Robert Gelbard, Bosnian Serb Agency SRNA reported.

Plavsic and Gelbard reviewed the situation after SFOR forcibly took control over television transmitters in RS, preventing Serb Radio-Television broadcasts from Pale.

[10] IN CROATIA 186 SERBS KILLED OUTSIDE COMBAT OPERATIONS

Tanjug, 1997-10-04

Croatia's Serbian Democratic Forum (SDF) has prepared a report on incidents and forms of violations of human and national rights of Serbs in Croatia from 1991 until 1995 which shows that 186 Serbs were killed during this period outside combat operations.

The Zagreb paper 'Globus' started an exclusive publication of parts of this report, which is based on SDF sources, reports by international humanitarian organizations (especially the letter sent by Helsinki Watch to Croatian President Franjo Tudjman on 13. February 1992, which describes in detail violence against Serbs), but also on part of the Croatian press which reported about crimes against Serbs from 1991 until 1995.

The SDF report is in two parts. The first part is called "Synthesis" and gives a systematic account of crimes and examples of discrimination against Serbs (murders, disappearances, anti-Serb media campaigns), and the second part "Addenda" gives exclusive documents on crimes against Serbs.

The first part of the SDF report published in 'Globus' first describes the blowing up of the house of the Radosavljevic family in Daruvar on 25. February 1992, when the parents, Radovan and Jovanka, and their children aged 14 and 10 were killed.

The report then focuses on Gospic and crimes committed by the notorious special unit of Tomislav Mercep, whose actions even Croatian Parliament Vice-President Vladimir Seks recently called serious war crimes.

[11] US DEFENSE SECRETARY SAYS PRESSURE YIELDS RESULTS

Tanjug, 1997-10-04

The United States is satisfied with the effects of repeated ultimatums to withdraw its troops from Bosnia-Herzegovina in June 1998. US media quoted US Defense Secretary William Cohen as making this statement after touring US troops deployed within the Bosnia peace Stabilization Force (SFOR) in Tuzla.

Cohen said that setting the deadline for the troop withdrawal had undoubtedly yielded positive results, as things started getting on faster. The pressure should continue, said Cohen, adding that no decision had been made yet as to whether the international force would stay in Bosnia after June 1998.

The issue was also on the agenda of a NATO ministerial meeting in Maastricht early last week. Although no official stand or final decision has been taken, US sources claim that NATO found increasingly acceptable the idea of setting up a smaller-size mission to Bosnia to be called DFOR (Deterrence Force).

In Maastricht, Cohen announced that the decision on the future mission to Bosnia should be made in February 1998.

During his Saturday visit, Cohen praised the about 10,000-strong US force currently deployed in Bosnia for doing an excellent job.

Cohen said that economic aid to the Muslim-Croat Federation in Bosnia was one of the key goals of the international community in the future. He added that, in that case, the assistance should be extended to the Republika Srpska, as well.

[12] GELBARD DEMANDED FROM TUDJMAN FULFILMENT OF THE ERDUT AGREEMENT

Tanjug, 1997-10-04

The U.S. President's special envoy Robert Gelbard warned Croatian President Franjo Tudjman on Friday, in Zagreb, that Croatia must fulfil the Erdut Agreement on Eastern Slavonija.

The statement was made on Friday evening in Washington by State Department Spokesman James Rubin who said that Gelbard and Tudjman discussed steps for the further implementation of the Erdut Agreement.

A much stronger warning was sent to Croatia last week from the U.N. Security Council which said in a Presidential Statement that the Croatian Government must fulfil its obligations towards the Serbs in Eastern Slavonija. This primarily means the lifting of administrative and legal barriers for the return of refugees, the return of property and guarantees thereof and the creation of conditions for economic development. The Security Council resolutely warned about the possibility of extending the U.N. transitional rule even after January 15, 1998.

[13] SERBIAN RADIO AND TELEVISION STAFF ON STRIKE

Tanjug, 1997-10-04

The employees of the Serbian Radio and Television (SRT) in Pale went on a general strike on Saturday in protest against SFOR's seizure of its transmitters and the prevention of SRT broadcasts from Pale. The decision to go on strike was made on Friday at a staff meeting.

The Serbian Radio continued broadcasts from Banja Luka instead from Pale, although, according to the Belgrade agreement, the day program should be broadcasted from the studio in Pale.

The upheaval came on Wednesday after SFOR took control over SRT transmitters.

On strike are the studios in Pale, Bijeljina, the Information and Technical Centre in Trebinje and all correspondents, including the on in Belgrade. The strikers are expressing their protest by day-long programs broadcast via loudspeakers in Pale.

A program called "Slobodno" (Free) is transmitted for visitors, passers-by and all well-wishers. During the night and morning several thousand signatures, from citizens of Pale and their guests who support the free broadcasting of programs, have been gathered.

[14] KRAJISNIK MET WITH GELBARD

Tanjug, 1997-10-05

Republika Srpska (RS) President in the Bosnia-Herzegovina Presidency, Momcilo Krajisnik, met on Sunday with the U.S. envoy for the Balkans, Robert Gelbard.

After almost three-hour talks, Gelbard said that they discussed major issues, such as the media and joint institutions in Bosnia-Herzegovina. He said that they also discussed the Belgrade agreement and that he had asked Krajisnik about his views on the agreement on overcoming the political crisis in RS and the holding of the parliamentary and presidential elections.

He said that he had also discussed this with RS President Biljana Plavsic in Banja Luka on Saturday.

Gelbard recalled that the U.S. Government supports the parliamentary elections in RS and that there remain questions about the presidential elections, i.e. their legality, since the time between the two will be short.

Gelbard said that his Government would consult with the governments of the Contact Group members in order to take a final stand on the Belgrade agreement and the presidential elections.

Regarding the status of the Serbian Radio and Television (SRT), whose staff went on a general strike on Saturday (studio in Pale, IT centre Trebinje, studio in Bijeljina and correspondents from Trebinje to Doboj), Gelbard said that the status of SRT, studio Pale, would change only after a correction of the program and after it stops broadcasting threats and giving a distorted picture of the international community.

He added that he had proposed to the High Representative for Bosnia- Herzegovina Carlos Westendorp to set up a Media Committee which will, based on conclusions from Sintra, Portugal, come up with standards for the operation of the electronic media and issue licences.

Gelbard described as slow the advancement in the work of joint institutions in Bosnia-Herzegovina and added that two years since the signing of the Dayton agreement, there is still no single passport, one flag, one Citizenship Law and no political will to resolve all these issues.

[15] KRAJISNIK: UNJUSTIFIED PRESENCE OF SFOR AT SERB TELEVISION TRANSMITTERS

Tanjug, 1997-10-05

Republika Srpska (RS) President in the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Momcilo Krajisnik, said he conveyed to the U.S. envoy for the Balkans Robert Gelbard that the presence of SFOR troops at Serb Radio-Television (SRT) transmitters could not be justified in any way.

We want to have good relations with SFOR and the international community and no-one has the right to confront SFOR troops with the Serbian people, or to deepen the rifts between the eastern and western parts of RS, or to break the agreement from Belgrade, Krajisnik said at a public panel, organized within the action "Freedom" by SRT workers, who went on general strike on Saturday.

Krajisnik said he conveyed to Gelbard the problems that arose for failing to respect a part of the Belgrade agreement about the work of the media in RS and for not respecting the agreement on broadcasting a one-hour program about the international community on the SRT program, which he had earlier signed with General Erik Shinseki.

Indicating he had suggested two solutions for resolving the situation, Krajisnik said that one was the liberation of SRT transmitters, for the normalization of the situation and securing the freedom of the media in RS which would be placed in the service of the implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement.

His second proposal was to link up transmitters so that programs can be broadcast at the same time from two SRT studios - in Banjaluka and in Serb Sarajevo. That, Krajisnik said, would be overseen by a Commission which would be formed with the High Representative's Office.

Expressing hope that current problems with SRT will be resolved, he supported the SRT staff, pointing out that journalists and the editorial policy must be free.

Krajisnik assessed that the media, especially in the western part of RS, is misused against the RS authorities and that the international community had violated the mandate, whether the journalists had made mistakes or not. Problems, Krajisnik said, must be resolved by dialogue, and not by tanks.

[16] GELBARD TALKS WITH IZETBEGOVIC

Tanjug, 1997-10-05

U.S. special envoy Robert Gelbard talked on Sunday afternoon with the Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Alija Izetbegovic.

Sarajevo media reported that talks dealt with the implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement, especially the possibility of international forces staying on in Bosnia and Herzegovina after the expiry of the mandate by the middle of next year. They also talked about the return of refugees, the establishment of a railway network in Bosnia and Herzegovina and about the port of Ploce.

[17] YUGOSLAVIA AND EGYPT INITIAL AGREEMENT ON AIR TRANSPORT

Tanjug, 1997-10-03

Yugoslav Transport and Communications Ministry Secretary Zoran Karaicic and Deputy Director of the Egyptian Civilian Air Force Authorities Mohamed Nadeem Riad initialled in Belgrade on Friday an Agreement on air transport.

The agreement determines the rights and obligations of the signatories, transporters and other subjects in the two countries' air transports in a modern way.

The signing of the agreement is expected to take place soon. It was said that the agreement should help promote air transport and overall economic processes.

After the initialling Riad said that the agreement would help further link and improve ties and communications between the two countries. It will also help improve the transport of passengers and goods and cooperation in all fields.

"The talks that led to this agreement were held between friends and this is why there was understanding regarding all issues. Air transport is undoubtedly the main and necessary mode of transport and both countries' competent authorities would do all in their power to promote cooperation in this field, both by increasing the number of flights and by introducing charter flights in order to exchange cultural, commercial and educational achievements with the goal of prosperity", Riad said.

On behalf of the Yugoslav side, Karaicic thanked the Egyptian delegation for their rational and reasonable approach during the making of the agreement and said that it gave wider possibilities in transport cooperation and communication.

He said that the agreement offered a possibility for further cooperation in the field of economy, culture and science as well as an opportunity for rapprochement between the two countries.

Karaicic described as very good that the agreement had been initialled only one day after newly appointed Egyptian Ambassador in Belgrade Hani Abdel Khallaf had presented his credentials to Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic.

[18] WORLD BANK EXPERTS SERBIA'S PRIVATISATION MODEL AMONG BEST IN EAST EUROPE

Tanjug, 1997-10-03

World Bank experts have described the Serbian Law on ownership transformation as one of the best privatisation models in Eastern Europe, according to participants in a two-day Symposium that ended here on Friday. The symposium, organised by the Serbian Chamber of Commerce ahead of the implementation of the Serbian Privatisation Law, rallied some 50 businessmen, bankers, lawyers and officials of regional chambers of commerce in Serbia.

They and architects of the law discussed outstanding issues concerning the law and its implementation which is regarded to be a major step in undertaking reforms.

At the close of the Symposium, the businessmen visited leading companies in the area of Vranje, southern Serbia, as well as small, house-based factories which are believed to be the most successful model of privatisation carried out within the Simpo company.

[19] PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE BULATOVIC: I SEE MONTENEGRO FIRMLY IN YUGOSLAVIA

Tanjug, 1997-10-05

Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) presidential candidate Momir Bulatovic said after casting his ballot in Podgorica on Sunday that he expected presidential elections in Montenegro to go off in a correct and democratic atmosphere.

"Since there are only two serious candidates, I do not think, theoretically, that the second round of elections will be necessary," said Bulatovic. He also said he was convinced that he would win the voters' support.

"If I win, I see Montenegro firmly in the F.R. of Yugoslavia as an equal unit that will develop its economic and democratic potentials. I am completely satisfied with Montenegro's current position in the Federation. There is not a single instance of the federal state's blocking any project or initiative by Montenegro and, in addition to this, there are constitutional mechanisms that fully protect its equality," said Bulatovic.

He said he hoped that early parliamentary elections would be called soon, "because, an imbroglio in Montenegro's political structure is so big that the presidential elections can be the first rather than the only step towards stabilization."

Answering to numerous reporter questions, Bulatovic said that "there is absolutely no reason for re-examining the relation with the Socialist Party of Serbia, considering the fact that the political balance of power in the Federal Parliament has not changed nor will it change in the near future."

To a Croatian television reporter's question of how he would treat the issue of Prevlaka if he won the elections, Bulatovic said, "Prevlaka has, regrettably, been used to internal political purposes both in Croatia and here. It is a very serious political problem, which we shall solve on the basis of an agreement on normalizing relations, but no essential talks on the issue have yet taken place. The current status is the one that suits the F.R. of Yugoslavia and I presume, Croatia, as well, since an extension of the UN mandate in the area has been accepted."

[20] MARJANOVIC: AFTER ELECTIONS, SPEEDY STEPS INTO REFORMS

Tanjug, 1997-10-05

Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Marjanovic said today he expected the candidate of the left, Zoran Lilic, to win the run-off presidential elections in Serbia. "After the elections, the Serbian Government will continue to work on reform programs after having stabilized the economy as a whole", Marjanovic said in a short statement to reporters after voting.

"We will now take speedier steps into reforms, especially after the adoption of the key law on ownership transformation," Marjanovic said.

[21] PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE SESELJ HOPES TO WIN

Tanjug, 1997-10-05

Serbian Radical party (SRS) President and the party's candidate for president of Serbia, Vojislav Seselj, said he hoped he would be successful at the elections and that Serbia will turn to its own interests. "A SRS victory would mean that Serbia will no longer serve anyone else's interests", he said and added that the radicals would fight for the preservation of the joint state of Serbia and Montenegro.

"There will be problems, differences, political conflicts, but I am certain that this will not call into question the survival of the joint state," Seselj said after voting in Belgrade.

Repeating that he expected victory, he said he believed that in performing the duties of President of the Republic he would not be impeded by the President of Yugoslavia, as their constitutional competencies are clearly defined.

Seselj said that autonomous provinces in Serbia should be abolished and that conditions had to be created for the rule of law on the entire territory of Kosovo and Metohija.

He said he was against "any kind of normalization of relations with Croatia, until the entire territory of the occupied Serb Krajina is returned," adding that for the realization of that goal "no method will be ruled out in advance."

Speaking about Bosnia and Herzegovina, Seselj said that "Bosnia as a state does not exist."

"We have Republika Srpska, the Muslim-Croat Federation and an improvised state creation called the Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Such a state never existed anywhere in the world, and so it cannot in the Balkans either, " Seselj said.

[22] YUGOSLAV DELEGATION AT ENVIRONMENTAL CONFERENCE IN BUDAPEST

Tanjug, 1997-10-03

The Parliamentary Conference on Legislation in the field of the environment and industrial safety adopted in Budapest on Friday a declaration pointing at the need for more engagement in protecting and improving the environment.

Head of the Yugoslav Parliamentary Delegation Milisav Cutovic, who chairs the Yugoslav Parliament's Lower House Committee for labour, health and the environment, spoke about some Yugoslav experiences and activities in this field, the Yugoslav Parliament said in a statement.

Cutovic said that Yugoslavia had no doubt that a strong economy and a healthy environment were directly linked and that the protection and improvement of the environment, along with the economic development, social justice and democracy, represented one of the most important issues.

Cutovic stressed the importance of prevention in the field of environment protection, which is especially important to Yugoslavia, and said that Yugoslavia had ratified 51 international conventions in this field.

Participants in the Conference, which rallied parliamentary representatives from 25 European countries and numerous experts, discussed the implementation of a Convention on the effects of industrial disasters beyond national borders. The Yugoslav delegation head announced that the Yugoslav Parliament was expected to ratify this Convention soon.

Praising the organisers of the Conference, Cutovic stressed the huge importance of international cooperation in this field and the need to put to the fore the promotion of bilateral cooperation primarily between neighbours.

[23] GOOD TURNOUT IN MONTENEGRO

Tanjug, 1997-10-05

Presidential elections in Montenegro ended on Sunday at 8 p.m. and unofficial statements by the Republican Elections Commission show that about 63 percent of the electorate went to the polls by 7 p.m. Commission Spokesman Zeko Ilic said there were no official objections regarding the regularity of the elections.

The Montenegrin Republican Elections Commission announced the preliminary results of Sunday's presidential elections after 23:00 hrs local time. Commission Spokesman Nikola Ilic said 23.3 percent of the ballots had been processed, or 71,300, and that there had been 70,390 valid ones.

Presidential candidate, republican Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic won 35, 643 votes, while current republican President Momir Bulatovic won 31,587 votes.

Meanwhile, preliminary results obtained at the election headquarters of the current Montenegrin President show that, according to figures from about 40 percent of the polling stations, Bulatovic is in the lead.

[24] PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE DJUKANOVIC: SPEEDY WAY OUT OF THE CRISIS

Tanjug, 1997-10-05

Montenegrin Prime Minister and presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Socialists Milo Djukanovic said he expected the elections will proceed in a democratic and fair atmosphere and will bring about a speedy and democratic way our of the crisis for Montenegro.

After voting in Podgorica, Djukanovic said he believed that the elections would definitely confirm the firm determination of Montenegro to continue on the road of democracy and reforms.

"I am certain that Montenegro will chose well, wisely and in its interest this time and that it will in that way help and be an incentive for the FRY to return soon there where its place should be. And that is in the middle of European and world developments," Djukanovic said.

He said he believed that Montenegro "by realizing the program of democratic reform" would succeed to secure a higher standard of living and greater democratic freedom.

[25] WELCH: ELECTIONS PASSED QUIETLY, REGULARLY AND WITHOUT ANY DIFFICULTIES

Tanjug, 1997-10-05

OSCE observer mission head Anthony Welch said on Sunday initial reports showed that the Serbian presidential run*off had passed regularly and without any difficulties.

Welch said it was too early for a definite assessment of the second round because all observer reports had not come in yet, but that the general impression was that everything had been quiet and regular at polling stations.

"OSCE teams will now focus on vote counting and collection of ballots", he said in a statement to Serbian Radio Television (RTS), pointing out that the most important part of the work would come after polling stations closed.

Welch said the observer mission in the second round had excellent cooperation with representatives of the authorities at all levels. He said all questions had been answered and that cooperation was continuing. "Members of the observer mission are very satisfied with the work that has been done and have pointed out the mission itself was quite successful. Many international observers were in Serbia and they did their job well", he said.

OSCE observers visited a number of polling stations in Belgrade, Kraljevo, Sombor, Krusevac, in Kosovo and Metohija, and in the region of Raska, pointing out that the second round of presidential elections in Serbia had proceeded in a fair and democratic atmosphere.

[26] YUGOSLAV DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER REJECTS POSSIBILITY OF DINAR BEING DEVALUED

Tanjug, 1997-10-03

Yugoslav Deputy Prime Minister Danko Djunic on Friday denied reports that the dinar, national currency, would be devalued.

Djunic, who is attending a Symposium of businessmen on ownership transformation in Serbia, held in Vranjska Banja, told reporters that the country's stable economic and monetary policy would make it possible to achieve again the exchange rate of 3.4 dinars to the German mark.

Djunic said the latest increase in the value of the German mark on the black market exchange rate had resulted from more money being in circulation as well as from pressures of political nature before the releasing of returns of Serbia's recent elections.

He said it was a fact that more money was in circulation but said that money was backed by hard currency acquired by selling the Telecom company.

Commenting on political reasons for all that happening on the black market exchange rate, he said fluctuations of this kind were not uncommon for market economies. He said the election of U.S. president also caused a change in the exchange rate of the dollar, although that change was never as great as a change in the exchange rate of the dinar.

Djunic said he expected the National Bank of Yugoslavia to withdraw a certain amount of money from circulation, saying this would result in the stabilisation of the national currency.

[27] TOMIC: WE EXPECT ZORAN LILIC TO WIN

Tanjug, 1997-10-05

Serbian Acting President and Parliament Speaker Dragan Tomic said he expected the candidate of the joint SPS-JUL-ND-Slobodan Milosevic ticket Zoran Lilic to win the presidential run-off elections in Serbia. If the first condition is met, that over 50 percent of voters turn out, Zoran Lilic is sure to win," he told reporters, after voting.

Tomic specified he expected that condition will be met "regardless of the announced abstination" of certain political parties, "as the citizens understand the importance of exercising their democratic right to vote."

[28] PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE LILIC: AFTER ELECTIONS WE WILL TURN TO WORK

Tanjug, 1997-10-05

Zoran Lilic, presidential candidate of the joint SPS-JUL-ND-Slobodan Milosevic ticket said he expected that Serbia would elect in the run-off elections a new president, as "that serves the interests of Serbia and its citizens."

"I think it indispensable to end today," Lilic said adding that the road would thus be opened for the constitution of a government and parliament and turning to "what can only provide for our livelihood - to work and everything that represents an improvement for our people, Serbia and FR Yugoslavia.

"Everything else does not serve the interests of Serbia, or of its citizens, " Lilic said.

Referring to the presidential elections in Montenegro, Lilic said he believed that the will of the Montenegrin people would be respected and that a new president would be elected who, he said, "in cooperation with the presidents of FR Yugoslavia and of Serbia would work to serve the interests of the Federation."

[29] YUGOSLAV RED CROSS PRESIDENT VISITS AMMAN

Tanjug, 1997-10-04

Yugoslav Red Cross President Radovan Mijanovic met with International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) Vice- President and Jordanian Red Crescent President Mohammad al Haddid in Amman on Saturday.

It was heard, at a cordial and friendly meeting, that Jordan and Yugoslavia were facing similar big humanitarian problems, which called for stepping up cooperation on both bilateral and international levels.

Al Haddid said that the IFRC and other international humanitarian organizations had to continue their intensive engagement in removing the effects of the crisis in the territory of the former Yugoslavia.

Al Haddid and Mijanovic also discussed in detail the IFRC activities and focused on preparations for the upcoming important IFRC meetings at which a new leadership was to be elected.

Mijanovic also toured several Jordanian Red Crescent facilities.

[30] MILOSEVIC: SUPPORT TO POLICY OF PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT

Tanjug, 1997-10-05

Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic on Sunday morning expressed hope in a good response of the citizens at the elections and in the victory of the candidate of the united list Socialist Party of Serbia-Yugoslav Left-New Democracy-Slobodan Milosevic.

"I hope that numerous citizens will vote at the elections and will support the candidate of the united list Zoran Lilic, i.e. the policy of peace and development," Milosevic told journalists at the polling station in Belgrade where he cast his vote.

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