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Serbia Today 96-02-29
29 February 1996
In This Edition
SERBIA IN A NEW CENTURY
INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS ON THE DRINA WITHDRAWN
EVIDENCE OF CRIMES AGAINST SERBS BY MOSLEM LEADERS
CONTENTS
[01] FRY AND RUSSIA HAVE THE INTEREST TO EXPAND THE ECONOMIC COOPERATION
[02] THE PEACE PROCESS IS EVOLVING WELL
[03] SERBIA IN A NEW CENTURY
[04] INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS ON THE DRINA WITHDRAWN
[05] ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF SERBIAN DETERMINATION
[06] FINALLY AN EQUITABLE POSITION FOR THE REPUBLIC OF SRPSKA
[07] THE REQUEST FOR THE RELEASE OF GENERAL DJUKIC HAS BEEN REJECTED
[08] EVIDENCE OF CRIMES AGAINST SERBS BY MOSLEM LEADERS
[09] THE FEDERATION - A TEST GROUND FOR TWO STATES
[01] FRY AND RUSSIA HAVE THE INTEREST TO EXPAND THE ECONOMIC COOPERATION
Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic met yesterday with
the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Nikolai Afanasyevski
and the newly appointed Russian Federation Ambassador to
Yugoslavia - Mr. Mihailovich Kotov. During the talks
about the current issues involving the further
successful development of the bilateral relations
between FRY and Russia, it has been stressed that the
two countries attribute great importance to the
enhancement of the comprehensive mutual cooperation,
which particularly involves the already successful
business cooperation. According to President Milosevic,
Yugoslavia and Russia have mutual interest to raise the
economic cooperation to the level before the
international embargo, with the prospective of constant
expansion. (Politika, February 29, 1996)
[02] THE PEACE PROCESS IS EVOLVING WELL
Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic met with UN
Secretary General Special Envoy Koffi Anan before his
departure from Yugoslavia. During the meeting it has
been stressed that the peace process is evolving well,
with a prospective for a speedy and comprehensive
consolidation of the political situation in the Balkan
region. Mr. Milosevic acknowledged the UN efforts and
stressed the importance of full coordination of the
actions of the international community for the
normalization of life, and especially the economic
renewal of the region where the civil war raged - as a
precondition for strengthening peace and the creation of
stable, neighborly relations among the nations and the
countries in the region. Both sides underscored that the
removal of the imposed obstacles for the unobstructed
evolution of economic relations, the cultural and
economic integration of the Balkan countries will be
quickened. (Politika, February 29, 1996)
[03] SERBIA IN A NEW CENTURY
At the 3rd Congress of the Socialist Party of Serbia,
beginning in Belgrade on March 2nd, 1850 delegates will
elect the new party leadership and adopt the document
called "Serbia 2000 - A Step into the New Century". The
congress document includes a vision for the development
of the country and reconfirms the basic orientation of
the SPS for a democratic, free, economically and
spiritually rich society, the equality of all men,
social justice, solidarity and peace among states and
nations. The congress document also defines the basic
political objectives of the Socialist Party , and sets
the bases for economic growth, cultural prosperity and
international affirmation of Serbia at the threshold of
the new century, now that the war is over and the
sanctions have been suspended. The Socialist see the
future of Serbia as a modern European country, with a
democratic political system, market economy and equality
of all forms of ownership, developed science and
culture, free and responsible information. More than 60
foreign delegations from 50 countries already confirmed
their presence at the SPS congress, and 110 news
agencies and media representatives have been accredited
- a third of them being from abroad. (Vecernje Novosti,
February 29, 1996)
[04] INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS ON THE DRINA WITHDRAWN
ICFY observers along the border between Yugoslavia and
the Republic of Srpska (RS) have been withdrawn - stated
Mr. Abel Zele - Spokesman of the ICFY Mission in
Belgrade. After the UN Security Council decision to
suspend the sanctions against RS, the presence of
observers has been revoked - Mr. Zele said and added
that the border regime regarding RS is now fully under
the authority of FR Yugoslavia. Yesterday, the Yugoslav
Government abolished the economic blockade of RS -
introduced on August 4th 1994. The decision has become
effective Tuesday night. (Politika, February 29, 1996)
[05] ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF SERBIAN DETERMINATION
British analysts believe that the suspension of
sanctions against the Republic of Srpska (RS) represents
another step towards peace and a confirmation of the
determination of the Serbian side to fully honor the
Dayton Agreement. London circles stress that the formal
conditions already existed, but that the suspension of
sanctions is the direct result of the recent meeting in
Rome. It marks a negotiating achievement of the Serbian
side headed by President Milosevic. In spite of all
media and political manipulations which preceded the
session of the UN Security Council - and significantly
obstructed the decision, the international community
finally had to acknowledge that the Serbian side is
keeping its commitments - the same sources say. In spite
of such public recognition of the fact that the Serbian
side is abiding by the Agreement, part of the
international community is still involved in a campaign
against the Serbs. Currently the most powerful lever
within such a policy is the Hague Tribunal. According to
British reporters, yesterday's public hearing against
the former leader of Krayina Serbs - Milan Martic,
seemed like a farce. Representatives of the Croatian
Government appeared in the Hague as witnesses, in spite
of the fact that they themselves were involved in the
massacre of at least 2000 Serbs in the offensive in
Western Slavonija which took place at same time as the
crimes allegedly committed by Martic. These officials
are not on trial but have called as "chief witnesses".
(Borba, February 29, 1996)
[06] FINALLY AN EQUITABLE POSITION FOR THE REPUBLIC OF SRPSKA
Circles in Athens remark that the UN Security Council
decision to suspend the sanctions against the Republic
of Srpska, represent a step towards the consolidation of
peace and the stabilization of the situation in Bosnia.
With this decision, the Republic of Srpska has been
finally been placed in level field conditions compared
to the Moslem-Croatian Federation. Greek newspapers also
remark that until now, the international community had a
strongly biased approach to the two entities in Bosnia.
According to "Elephterotypia" such partiality was most
strongly sensed in the humanitarian and economic
spheres. The fact that international humanitarian and
other organizations failed their duty in Bosnia is
confirmed by the absence of a mission of the World
Health Organization in the Republic of Srpska although
there are five others in the remaining part of Bosnia.
(Borba, February 29, 1996)
[07] THE REQUEST FOR THE RELEASE OF GENERAL DJUKIC HAS BEEN REJECTED
The Hague Tribunal for Crimes of War Committed in Former
Yugoslavia rejected the demand for the release of
Colonel General Djordje Djukic - of the Republic of
Srpska Army (BSA). The demand has been submitted by Gen.
Djukic's attorneys - Mr. Milan Vujin and Toma Fila, on
the grounds of lack of evidence, court procedure errors
and the illegal arrest of Bosnian Serb officers by the
Moslem authorities. The defense attorneys asked that
protective custody expiring today be revoked, whilst the
prosecutor - Mr. Goldstone asked that the detention be
prolonged to allow the gathering of new evidence on
crimes of war allegedly committed by general Djukic and
colonel Krsmanovic. According to observers, the partial
decision of the Tribunal - i.e. its indecision to assume
a stand on the demand presented by gen. Djukic's
attorneys, clearly reveals the political background of
the arrest of BSA and their extradition to the Hague
Tribunal. (Politika, February 29, 1996)
[08] EVIDENCE OF CRIMES AGAINST SERBS BY MOSLEM LEADERS
In the past several days in Temisoara four teams of the
Hague Tribunal, gathered evidence on crimes committed in
Moslem jails in Konjic, Mt. Igman and Sarajevo. About 30
Bosnian Serbs that were imprisoned in these camps
between September 1992 and January 1995, testified and
provided concrete evidence about the criminal behavior
of at least 150 officials of the Moslem Government,
including Alija Izetbegovic who was personally present
to the tortures of Serbs on at least three occasions.
Out of 1.200 inmates, including juveniles, women and
elderly, many did not survive the tortures. These
witnesses also confirmed that the international
community knew about these camps from the very beginning
- including the Red Cross, UNPROFOR and the Security
Council - but closed their eyes to the truth. Former
inmates stressed that they expect the Hague Tribunal to
react swiftly to their depositions and to take actions
against criminals whose names are now known. "If nothing
is done after these testimonies, we will know that the
Hague Tribunal is nothing but a political instrument
formed to seek culprits only among the Serbs." - said
the witnesses interviewed by investigators in Temisoara.
(Vecernje Novosti, February 29, 1996)
[09] THE FEDERATION - A TEST GROUND FOR TWO STATES
Mr. Harris Silajdjic - former Prime Minister of the
Moslem Government in Sarajevo - stated in an interview
for the London Guardian that the Moslem- Croatian
Federation in Bosnia has no future. He stressed his
pessimism and affirmed that the Federation is nothing
but a test-ground for the creation of two separate and
ethnically pure states - a Croatian and a Moslem one.
According to Silajdzic, his former political Party - the
Moslem Democratic Action Party (SDA) - actually plans to
create an "Islamic mini-state" which will be radically
Moslem. Commenting the exodus of the Serbs from
Sarajevo, Silajdzic accused the Bosnian Serb leadership
and his ex party that refused to offer guarantees of
safety to the Serbs. (Ekspres, February 29, 1996)
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