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Yugoslav Daily Survey, 98-05-18Yugoslav Daily Survey Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Yugoslavia <http://www.yugoslavia.com>Yugoslav Daily SurveyCONTENTS
[01] PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC RECEIVED GREEK PASOK LEADERTanjug, 1998-05-15President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Slobodan Milosevic received on Friday the visiting former Greek foreign minister Karolos Papoulias. President Milosevic said he was happy to meet once again with Mr. Papoulias, Yugoslavia's eminent friend and a leader of the Panhellenic Socialist Movement PASOK. The cordial meeting focused on Yugoslavia's and Greece's activities aimed at intensifying bilateral cooperation. The stable and friendly bilateral relations are a model and incentive for the development of open regional cooperation, founded on equality, among countries and peoples in southeastern Europe, it was noted during the meeting. The talk also focused on current developments and on the consolidation of stability and integration processes in the region. The meeting was attended also by Yugoslav Foreign Minister Zivadin Jovanovic and Greek Ambassador to Yugoslavia Panayotis Vlassopoulos. [02] YUGOSLAV DELEGATION ABOUT THE CONFERENCE ON THE DANUBIAN REGIONTanjug, 1998-05-16The members of the Yugoslav delegation said on Saturday that they were very pleased with their activities at a two-day Conference on the Danubian region, which ended in the Austrian capital on Saturday evening. The conference was primarily devoted to economic issues. Members of the Yugoslav delegation took part in the work of the conference working groups for infrastructure, transportation, tourism, entrepreneurship and ecology. Opening the conference, Austrian Chancellor Viktor Klima and Foreign Minister Wolfgang Schuessel underscored the importance of cooperation among countries at different levels of economic development for European integration processes. The conference brought together about 200 representatives of 11 Danubian countries and seven other countries interested in cooperation with the Danubian region. [03] SWISS AID TO REFUGEES IN YUGOSLAVIA CONTINUESTanjug, 1998-05-15Serbian Commissioner for Refugees Bratislava Morina talked on Friday with a delegation of the Swiss Confederation for Humanitarian Aid in Disasters (SDR), headed by its Director Charles Raedersdorf. Morina informed SDR representatives about the grave humanitarian situation in Serbia, pointing out that because conditions for a large scale return of refugees did not exist yet the biggest problem was to provide shelter for refugees or find possibilities for their local integration. In that respect, Morina said that in the most difficult position were refugees in Kosovo*Metohija whose provisional shelters are schools from where they have to move to make possible the return of ethnic Albanian school children, in accordance with the reached agreement. Morina informed SDR representatives that local municipalities in Kosmet, but also in the territory of all of Serbia, offer plots and infrastructure for building residential areas, and that the Serbian Government was ready to give facilities in its possession to be adapted for refugees. Raedersdorf said that the Swiss Government's humanitarian organization will continue in Serbia and Montenegro with the realization of existing programs for building new residential areas in cooperation with the UNHCR, and to finance a network of legal offices for giving legal advice to refugees. He also said that cooperation with the Serbian Commissariat will be intensified with a view to finding lasting solutions for refugees in Serbia. Taking part in the talks also was SDR official for Europe, Asia and America Tony Frisch, Swiss Embassy Counsellor in Belgrade Lorenzo Amberg and SDR Belgrade office representatives Richard Maranta and Santi Vege. [04] THE MEETING OF DIRECTORS OF SOUTHEASTERN EUROPEAN RAILWAYS ENDS IN BELGRADETanjug, 1998-05-15Faster and better transportation of more passengers and goods in trains which are clean and on time is the priority task in the coming period of development, Yugoslav Railways (JZ) Director General Svetolik Kostadinovic said on Friday at the close of a meeting of directors of railways of southeastern Europe. Directors General of the Southeastern European Railways Group (SERG) adopted at a two-day meeting in Belgrade a document on strategic directions for the development of railway traffic in this region and a map of the railway network with existing lines and new ones which will be built for high-speed trains, Kostadinovic told a press conference held following the meeting. The adopted document envisages the modernization of existing and construction of new railways and infrastructure, the introduction of comfortable international trains, Intercity and Eurocity, which will enable better transportation at competitive prices, with shorter delays at borders and simpler border and customs formalities and better service information. The meeting was attended by all SERG members, Directors General of the railways of Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey, Greece and Yugoslavia, with the exception of the Director of the sixth member, the Albanian railways, who telegrammed that he regretted being unable to attend. Representatives of the Moldavian railways attended as observers, and a representative of railways of the East-West Department UIC Marek Ronchkevich was invited as a guest. [05] SERBIAN DEPUTY PREMIER RECEIVED GERMAN MPTanjug, 1998-05-15Serbian Deputy Premier Dragan Tomic received on Friday member of the German Parliament and the Bundestag Foreign Affairs Committee Josef Vosen, said a statement issued by the Information Ministry. Tomic said that the accord reached in a meeting today between the Yugoslav President and the ethnic Albanian leader for direct dialogue and a peaceful solution to the problem of Kosovo and Metohija paved the way for removal of sanctions and Yugoslavia's return to all international organizations and institutions. Tomic said he hoped Germany would support Yugoslavia's efforts and justified demands for the return to all international organizations and institutions, which would facilitate and accelerate the implementation of joint economic aims. Tomic acquainted the guest with economic tendencies in Serbia, with the increasing industrial growth and rise in exports, as a result of rapid implementation of current reform processes. Trade with Germany has been reviving since 1996. Both sides agreed there were diverse possibilities for enhancing ties, the statement said. [06] TALKS WITH THE LONDON CLUB TO BE RESUMED LATER THIS MONTHTanjug, 1998-05-15We expect that the so-called outer wall of sanctions against Yugoslavia will be completely or at least substantially removed by the end of the year, and that our country will become an equal member of international financial institutions and organizations, primarily the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, Yugoslav National Bank Governor Dusan Vlatkovic told a press conference on Friday. Deputy Governor Zarko Trbojevic told the press conference that the London Club of creditor banks had asked Yugoslavia to resume talks and that the request was being considered by the federal Government and the National Bank. It can be expected that the talks will continue later this month, Trbojevic announced. Trbojevic said there were no changes at this time regarding Yugoslavia's membership on the IMF, as the country's status in that international institution had not been regulated yet. However, following the recent 11th general review of quotas of member- states, in which Yugoslavia was included, the amount of Yugoslavia's special drawing rights established under the 9th review was increased by 39.44%, bringing it from 335.4 million to 467.7 million special drawing rights, said Trbojevic. This would amount to 632 million U.S. dollars which we will be able to use when we regulate our status in the IMF, he said. Asked by reporters if Yugoslavia's platform for the talks with creditors and international financial institutions and organizations would be changed, Governor Vlatkovic said the talks would primarily be oriented at settling the problem of debts, to make the set rate and instalments bearable for the nation's exhausted economy. One of the essential preconditions for including and adapting our economy to global processes is a reform of the fiscal and tax system, ownership transformation, and structural changes, Vlatkovic said. [07] YUGOSLAV MINISTER ZELENOVIC RETURNS FROM CHINATanjug, 1998-05-17Yugoslavia and China have significant human and economic potentials for the advancement of mutual scientific cooperation for which they also have a political framework in the signed Declaration on Friendship and Cooperation, Yugoslav Minister of Science, Development and Ecology Jagos Zelenovic told Tanjug on his return from China. Minister Zelenovic, who participated in the second session of the Yugoslav- Chinese Commission for Scientific and Technical Cooperation in Beijing May 4-9, said that the meeting had produced agreement on the carrying out of 15 new Yugoslav and 9 Chinese projects. Zelenovic specified that the 15 Yugoslav projects involved the improvement of the production and processing of maize, fruits, vegetables, sunflower and medicinal herbs, the improvement of livestock production, the diagnosing and treatment of liver cancer, and the genetic improvement of olives. He said the agreed Chinese projects involved computer technology, the use of water springs, the improvement and processing of sunflower, maize, and soybean, and the development of marine crops in Montenegro. Minister Zelenovic said the session of the Mixed Commission had been a continuation of highly developed and productive relations between the two countries in science. He pointed out that Yugoslavia's scientific-technical cooperation with China had a long tradition and was given high priority, and that China was on the whole one of Yugoslavia's major partners. [08] SAINOVIC: DJERDAP IS A BRIDGE OF YUGOSLAV-ROMANIAN FRIENDSHIPTanjug, 1998-05-16Federal Vice Prime Minister Nikola Sainovic underscored on Saturday, on the occasion of putting into operation of an additional installation of the hydroelectric plant Djerdap II, the huge importance of joint Yugoslav- Romanian economic projects. Greeting the representatives of the Romanian Government, Sainovic set out that "the comprehensive power of Djerdap is an unbreakable bridge of friendship between the two peoples." Sainovic stressed that the economic development of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) and Romania greatly depends on the power sphere and that putting into operation one of the two 27 Megawatt installations, shows that the energy sector is a priority in the development of both countries. Speaking about the current developments in Yugoslavia, Sainovic said that the internal policy is symbolized by the equal position of all the citizens of this country and that the just initiated dialogue is not a mere meeting between two delegations. "It an atmosphere of understanding for the resolution of problems within the country," he said. Yugoslavia's economic policy is based on monetary stability, reforms and the economic linking up with the world, Sainovic said. "This is the real place from which we should call on the developed European and other countries to step up economic cooperation with Yugoslavia in the way already implemented with Romania," Sainovic said. [09] CONVENTION IS CONFIRMATION OF LASTING ROMANIAN-YUGOSLAV FRIENDSHIPTanjug, 1998-05-16Federal Economy Minister Rade Filipovic and State Secretary in the Romanian Industry Ministry, Nicolae Staikulesku, signed in Turnu Severin, Romania, on Saturday a Convention on the exploitation and maintenance of the hydro- and navigation system Djerdap I and Djerdap II. After the signing, Filipovic said that the Convention marks the lasting orientation of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) for comprehensive cooperation with friendly Romania. Underscoring that the preparation of this document lasted a long time, Filipovic said it pinpoints the new modalities in the exploitation procedures, modernization and revitalization of the equipment of the Djerdap hydroelectric power plant. Staikulesku said that the Convention represents the continued cooperation between the two countries. He said that, from the economic aspect, the joint exploitation of Djerdap has an exceptionally big economic importance for both countries. The Convention also includes the preventing of harmful effects caused by ice or excessive water levels, defence from deposits in the artificial lakes and the manner of crossing the Yugoslav-Romanian border in case of construction, exploitation and maintenance of Djerdap I and II. [10] TERRORISTS OPEN FIRE ON SECURITY GUARDS OF VOLUJAK MINETanjug, 1998-05-17Unidentified attackers opened fire from automatic guns on the security guards of the Volujak mine near Klina on Sunday morning, the Pristina Media Centre has said. The security guards returned fire and the attackers dispersed, a statement said. Miloje Djuricic, wounded in the village of Grabnica near Klina, was transferred to the Pec hospital for surgery. Doctors say his condition remains critical. Djuricic was shot around noon while he was working in the field near his home. This is the second attack on the Djuricic family in the past 1.5 months. The first was when a grenade damaged the roof of their home. Neighbours claim that both attacks were carried out by groups of ethnic Albanian terrorists who committed several attacks on police and civilians in that area. [11] ANOTHER POLICEMAN WOUNDED IN A TERRORIST ATTACKTanjug, 1998-05-17A policeman was wounded in an armed attack staged by a group of ethnic Albanians on the Pristina-Pec road at Klina, near the village of Iglarevo, Kosovo and Metohija, at 8:20 a.m. local time Sunday, said the Media Centre based in the provincial capital of Pristina. The wounded policeman has been hospitalized in Pec and his life is not in danger, according to doctors. The policeman was wounded when a larger group of ethnic-Albanian terrorists fired from automatic weapons at a police vehicle with four policemen on regular duty, according to police sources. The policemen fired back and, according to unofficial sources quoted by the Media Centre, the attackers suffered quite a few casualties. [12] SERB ZARKO SPASIC HAS BEEN KIDNAPPEDTanjug, 1998-05-15Zarko Spasic, a worker at the Belacevac mines in Serbia's southern province of Kosovo and Metohija (Kosmet) disappeared late on Thursday, the Pristina Media Centre said on Friday. Spasic left the mines in a jeep at about 10 p.m. local time for Slatina to bring in workers and was not seen since. Police are working on the case. The Obilic municipal authorities most strongly condemned the act by ethnic Albanian terrorists who they said kidnapped Spasic on the part of the road from Belacevac to Janjine Vode, near Obilic. A statement released after a joint session of the Obilic Municipal Board and the Town Board of the Socialist Party of Serbia said the attack on a man doing his job indicates the brutality and goals of the separatist movement, the Tanjug correspondent said. "Albanian separatists and terrorists can not scare*off the Serb and Montenegrin peoples from holy Serb lands, which the state of Serbia and the Serb people will defend," said the statement. At about Friday noon, a large group of ethnic Albanian terrorists ambushed a police patrol on the road Pec-Kosovska Mitrovica, between the villages Rudnik and Rakos. Police successfully fought off the attack and dispersed the terrorists, Tanjug learned at the police station in Pec. The Media Centre said that automatic fire was opened at a police checkpoint near the village of Rakos, near Srbica in Drenica, at about 10 p.m. local time on Thursday. Police fired back, and there were no casualties, said the centre. At the same time, fire was also opened at a police checkpoint in Cikoloza, municipality of Istok. A grenade launcher was fired from the neighbouring village of Padaliste and also fire from automatic weapons. There were no casualties, the police fired back. [13] SERBIAN POLICE AND FAMILIES ARE TARGETS OF ETHNIC ALBANIAN TERRORISTTanjug, 1998-05-15A large group of ethnic Albanian terrorists opened fire with automatic weapons on a police checkpoint at Rakos on the Pec-Kosovska Mitrovica route, Serbia's province of Kosovo and Metohija, at around 10 p.m. local time on Thursday. The police responded to the attack sustaining no losses, police sources told Tanjug. At around 6 p.m. local time on Thursday, another group of ethnic Albanian terrorists opened fire with automatic weapons on the houses belonging to the Nedovic, Cvetkovic, Boricic and Vojinovic families in the village of Kpuz, near Klina. These are the only Serb families left in the village. The houses sustained considerable damage but no one was hurt in the attack, Tanjug learned at the police precinct in Klina. [14] VEDRINE: IMPORTANT FIRST STEP TOWARDS THE RESOLUTION OF A CRISIS THROUGH TALKSTanjug, 1998-05-16The Friday meeting between Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic and the leader of ethnic Albanians in Kosovo and Metohija Ibrahim Rugova has been assessed by official Paris as an important first step towards the resolution of the crisis in Serbia's southern province through negotiations. A French Foreign Ministry Spokesman quoted French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine as saying in Skopje that the announcement of the Milosevic-Rugova meeting had given rise to hope for negotiations between the two sides. Minister Vedrine welcomed President Milosevic's personal engagement and said it had been indispensable, and also welcomed "the sense of responsibility displayed by Rugova by agreeing to the meeting in Belgrade." It is the first step which needs to be followed by others. We will continue to work in the Contact Group for genuine negotiations conducive to essential autonomy "of Kosovo and Metohija", Minister Vedrine was quoted as saying. [15] PRODI: BELGRADE MEETING IS A BASIS FOR DIALOGUETanjug, 1998-05-16The meeting between Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic and leader of ethnic Albanians in Kosovo and Metohija "has laid the foundations of the methodology of the future talks between the two sides...which is what the Contact Group wanted," the Italian news agency ANSA quoted Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi as saying in Birmingham after the first working day of the G8 summit. Prime Minister Prodi said that the summit participants had received with satisfaction the successful outcome of the first meeting between President Milosevic and Rugova and expressed hope that the road of dialogue and negotiations on a peaceful solution to the crisis in Serbia's southern province would continue to be pursued. Prodi noted that the positive development had made the discussion on Kosovo and Metohija the easiest at the G8 summit. [16] MILES: START OF DIALOGUE ON KOSOVO AND METOHIJA IS A GOOD SIGNTanjug, 1998-05-16Head of the U.S. mission in Yugoslavia Richard Miles told the Voice of America on Friday that the held meeting between Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic and the leader of ethnic Albanians in Kosovo and Metohija was a very important event. Miles said that U.S. envoys Richard Holbrooke and Robert Gelbard and officials of the European Union, the OSCE and some other international organizations had helped bring about the talks between the Serbian side and the Albanian minority in Serbia's southern province. He said that a euphoria would be a mistake since the essential issue and vast differences in views and interpretations of the existing situation remained. Miles said that much needed to be done but that the initial step had been taken and was a good sign. The U.S. official said his country was happy to be able to welcome the taking of positive steps and would continue doing everything possible to back the initiated positive trend. [17] RUSSIA WELCOMED THE START OF A DIALOGUE ON KOSMETTanjug, 1998-05-16Russia on Saturday greeted the meeting between Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic and the representative of the Kosmet Albanians, Ibrahim Rugova, describing it as "an important first step aimed towards a political solution of the Kosovo issue." The Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement underscoring Russia's readiness to continue contributing to the resolution of the Kosmet problem through peaceful means on the basis of the generally accepted principles of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the U.N. Charter. The Russian Foreign Ministry said that the start of the dialogue is the result "of the careful work of the international community and the joint efforts of the Contact Group members, including Russia." The statement set out that the meeting in Belgrade was conducted within the efforts for the establishing of a direct dialogue and the search for ways to resolve the Kosmet problems. The statement said that, starting from May 22, regular consultations between the two sides' delegations would be held in Pristina. [18] RUGOVA: THE MEETING WITH PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC IS A FIRST STEP TOWARDS SETTLING THE KOSMET ISSUETanjug, 1998-05-15Ethnic Albanian leader Ibrahim Rugova said in Belgrade on Friday that his meeting with Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic had been held in a climate of understanding and tolerance, and had been unconditional, each side stating its views. Rugova, leader of ethnic Albanians in Serbia's province of Kosovo and Metohija, said he believed that his meeting with President Milosevic earlier in the day had been a first step towards settling the Kosovo and Metohija issue. Speaking at a news conference in Belgrade's Hayat Regency Hotel, Rugova said they had agreed that working groups should be set up and should begin work on Friday. He went on to say that there was an inclination to settle the question of Kosovo, and specified they had discussed also the current security situation in the province. He thanked the United States, specifically Ambassadors Robert Gelbard and Richard Holbrooke, as well as the "Contact Group", for having been instrumental in bringing about his meeting with Milosevic. After answering two brief questions, Rugova left the news conference, leaving behind Veton Suroj, member of his five-man team, to answer reporters' questions. Suroj said that the meeting with Milosevic had been the first step towards recognising the problem of Kosovo, and was important to future negotiations. Expressing cautious optimism about the future, Suroj said there were serious and profound differences in views on the Kosovo reality, specifically the human rights issue. He reiterated Rugova's statement that the two sides had agreed that the talks should be unconditional, and warned that further violence in the province could jeopardise the negotiations. Suroj refused to answer questions about the infiltration of terrorists from neighbouring Albania into Kosovo and Metohija, saying this had not been mentioned in Friday's talks. After the meeting with President Milosevic, Rugova's team went to the U.S. Ambassador's residence, where they met with diplomats from the "Contact Group" states (Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, the United States). Catholic "St. Egidio" community representative Msgr. Vicenzo Paglia also attended. [19] YELTSIN AND CLINTON WELCOME START OF DIALOGUE ON KOSMETTanjug, 1998-05-17The Presidents of Russia and the United States, Boris Yeltsin and Bill Clinton, discussed on Sunday in Birmingham the situation in Kosmet and welcomed the start of the dialogue between Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic and the representative of the Kosmet Albanians, Ibrahim Rugova, the Russian Press Secretary Sergei Yastrzhembski said. Both Presidents believe that the talks represent an important step in the right direction and urge their continuation with the aim of finding a political solution to the crisis, Yastrzhembski said. Yeltsin and Clinton met after the end of the G-8 summit in Birmingham. Yastrzhembski said that Russia views as "useful and important" that a "small U.S. contingent" remains in Macedonia. According to him, the Russian and U.S. Presidents agreed that the presence of this contingent is "so far necessary". The U.S. troops are in Macedonia with a United Nations mandate. [20] RISTIC CONFERRED WITH PAPOULIASTanjug, 1998-05-15Yugoslav Parliament Lower House Foreign Relations Committee President Ljubisa Ristic talked on Friday in the Yugoslav Parliament with Greek Parliament Foreign Relations Committee member and deputy Karolos Papoulias, former Greek foreign minister. It was jointly assessed that the meeting held today between Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic and Ibrahim Rugova was of exceptional importance for the future of all the peoples in the Balkans. It was emphasized that the principled stand of President Milosevic and of all state institutions was that Kosovo and Metohija is an internal issue, and assessed that it signified the return of a principled policy in international relations in the resolution of crises inside states. In that context, Papoulias agreed with the assessment that the opening of a dialogue had "greater significance than the Dayton Agreement" because all issues of dispute inside certain states and regions should be resolved by the interested parties, without mediation and interference. Underlining that the long-term strategy of Yugoslavia in international relations was also parliamentarian cooperation, Ristic said that it was the best way to overcome problems, establish good inter-parliamentarian and state relations in the region and elsewhere, without the interference of the great powers. "Yugoslavia's priority is full reintegration into the international community," Ristic said. "Greece will continue to firmly support proposals for the return and participation of Yugoslavia in European organizations," Papoulias said, specifying that it was the position of all Greek political parties. Papoulias said that Greece supported the principle of unchangeable borders, condemned and rejected all attempts of secession, adding that Greece within the "European family" had repeatedly condemned all forms of terrorism, because it, he said, represented the realization of "somebody's war plans." Papoulias said that inter*Balkan cooperation was of great importance and that full unity could not be achieved without the inclusion of the Balkans into Europe. [21] MINISTER TODOROVIC HAS PRESENTED TO "ST. EGIDIO" A DECISION AUTHORIZING THE USE OF FACULTIESTanjug, 1998-05-15Serbian Education Minister Jovo Todorovic presented "St. Egidio" community representative Monsignor Vincenzo Paglia a decision in writing authorizing the community the use of the facilities of the faculties of technical sciences in Pristina, the Education Ministry said on Friday. The decision "sets conditions for the building of technical faculties of Pristina to be used for the implementation of the agreed interim measures for the realization of the Agreement on a normalization of the education system in Kosovo and Metohija," said the ministry statement. [22] SERBIAN PRESIDENT MILUTINOVIC RECEIVED GREEK PASOK LEADERTanjug, 1998-05-15Serbian President Milan Milutinovic received on Friday Karolos Papoulias, member of the leadership of the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK), Greek Parliament member and former foreign minister, the President's Cabinet said in a statement. Milutinovic and Papoulias discussed the future development of the good and friendly relations between Serbia and Greece, the statement said. [23] FOREIGN MINISTER JOVANOVIC RECEIVED GREEK PASOK LEADERTanjug, 1998-05-15Yugoslav Foreign Minister Zivadin Jovanovic received on Friday the former Greek foreign minister and member of the parliamentary Foreign Policy Committee Karolos Papoulias. The talk focused on the importance of the traditionally friendly relations, trust and solidarity between the two peoples for the positive developments in the region. Yugoslavia and Greece will continue developing their all-round cooperation based on their historical experience and rich tradition, to their mutual benefit and in order to contribute to regional peace, stability and cooperation, it was underlined during he meeting. Jovanovic and Papoulias also discussed the development and prospects of multilateral regional cooperation in southeastern Europe following the Crete Summit. Yugoslavia and Greece share the view that stability in the region depends on the constant progress of good-neighbourly cooperation and trust among Balkan states, they said. Papoulias endorsed Yugoslavia's endeavours for admission into the Council of Europe that Greece chairs until next November, and for the normalization of its status in all other European institutions. The meeting was attended also by the Greek Ambassador to Yugoslavia Panayotis Vlassopoulos. Yugoslav Daily Survey Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |