YDS 11/16

Yugoslav Daily Survey Directory

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

16 NOVEMBER 1995 YDS-1017

C O N T E N T S :

DAYTON - TALKS - BURNS: BOSNIA TALKS HAVE REACHED BREAKING POINT

FROM THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA - YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT'S ECONOMIC COUNCIL FOR LIBERALIZATION OF ECONOMIC SYSTEM - YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT ADOPTS REPORT ON WAR CRIMES IN FORMER YUGOSLAVIA - MONTENEGRIN DELEGATION'S VISIT TO UNITED STATES SUCCESSFUL

SANCTIONS AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA - SECURITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZATION FOR GAS SUPPLIES TO YUGOSLAVIA RECEIVED IN MOSCOW - FUEL OIL FROM RUSSIA EN ROUTE FOR BELGRADE

THE SREM-BARANJA REGION - SECURITY COUNCIL DRAFTS FIRST RESOLUTION ON MULTINATIONAL FORCE FOR EASTERN SLAVONIA

FROM CROATIA - CROATIAN PRESIDENT PROMOTES WAR CRIMES SUSPECT - U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT CRITICIZES TUDJMAN - SENTENCING OF SERBS WHO BELIEVED CROATIAN PRESIDENT'S PROMISES OF ABOLITION IF THEY SURRENDER

FORMER BOSNIA - HERZEGOVINA - ANOTHER ROAD IN SARAJEVO REGION REOPENED - 465,000 SERBS FORCED TO LEAVE SERB KRAJINA AND MORTHWESTERN BOSNIA

EUROPEAN UNION - FORMER YUGOSLAVIA - ARSENIS: E.U. MISTAKES CAUSE OF CRISIS IN FORMER YUGOSLAVIA

FROM FOREIGN PRESS - ASTONISHMENT ABOUT APPOINTMENT OF WAR CRIMINAL TO HIGH POSITION

BURNS: BOSNIA TALKS HAVE REACHED BREAKING POINT New York, Nov. 15 (Tanjug) - The Dayton talks have reached breaking point when it must be decided if there will be war or peace in Bosnia, State Department Spokesman Nicholas Burns said Wednesday. The negotiators must realize the talks cannot go on for months or years, he said. There is a moment when fundamental decisions must be made and that moment is now - today, tomorrow, or possibly by the weekend, he said. Burns held a briefing with the press in Washington after his return from Dayton where he had accompanied Secretary of State Warren Christopher. Christopher spent 14 hours in Dayton in a number of meetings with the heads of the three negotiating delegations - Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic, Croatian President Franjo Tudjman, and Bosnian Muslim Leader Alija Izetbegovic. Christopher is not disappointed with the course of the talks so far, Burns told reporters. The talks continue and there is no crisis, he said. There are efforts to arrive at peace in Dayton, but no wishes to force anyone to accept it, he said. Christopher, who has meanwhile gone to Japan, is ready to return to Dayton, said Burns.

FROM THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA

YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT'S ECONOMIC COUNCIL FOR LIBERALIZATION OF ECONOMIC SYSTEM Belgrade, Nov. 15 (Tanjug) - Members of the Yugoslav Government's Economic Council on Wednesday stressed the necessity of a further liberalization of the economic system in the field of foreign investments, foreign trade, foreign exchange transactions, tariffs and free zones. The Council reviewed laws regulating foreign economic relations in the context of creating an open market economy in the period after the lifting of the international economic sanctions against Yugoslavia, the Federal Information Secretariat said in a statement. The existing laws should be revised and coordinated with the criteria in the world economy, especially those of the International Monetary Fund, the World Trade Organization and the European Union, the Council members said. The Council believes that it is necessary to liberalize the foreign trade and foreign exchange regime and that foreign trade limitations should be reduced to a minimum. Compensation transactions should be given up and the level of tariff and other barriers should be reduced, the Council members said. Long-term foreign investments should be greatly stimulated, primarily in the form of joint investments, the Council members said and added that limitations on foreign investments should be reduced.

YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT ADOPTS REPORT ON WAR CRIMES IN FORMER YUGOSLAVIA Belgrade, Nov. 15 (Tanjug) - The Yugoslav Government adopted Wednesday the sixth report of the Federal Committee for collecting data on war crimes in the former Yugoslavia which will be forwarded to the U.N. The Federal Information Secretariat said the report contained proof about deliberate killings of civilians, arrestees and prisoners of war, inhumane treatment of civilians, murders of the wounded and the ill, practices of ethnic cleansing, hostage taking and setting up of detention camps. The report also contains documents on the deliberate destruction of civilian facilities, churches, cemetaries, cultural and historical monuments. The report elaborates 178 cases of violation of international humanitarian conventions and international laws of war since the beginning of the conflict in the former Yugoslavia. There are 40 cases of deliberate killings of civilians, 20 cases of inhumane killings of arrestees and pow's, 18 cases of inhumane treatment of civilians, and 56 cases of inhumane treatment of arrestees and pow's. Furthermore, 10 cases of deliberate killings and inhumane treatment of the wounded and the ill, five cases of hostage taking and setting up of detention camps, six cases of destruction of civilian facilities of no military importance, three of destruction of temples and cemeteries, and 20 cases of ethnic cleansing. The Federal Committee has relevant documentation in support of each of the said cases. The report said that the data collected so far spoke volumes about the Croatian Government top bodies planning and practicing ethnic cleansing in areas where Serbs had been either the majority or the minority and in fact committing genocide of Serbs. The Information Secretariat said it had recorded an increased interest of Yugoslav non-governmental organizations and local diplomatic offices in the Federal Government's reports on war crimes in the former Yugoslavia.

MONTENEGRIN DELEGATION'S VISIT TO UNITED STATES SUCCESSFUL Podgorica, Nov. 15 (Tanjug) - Montenegrin Premier Milo Djukanovic said on Wednesday that an idea to deploy a force to monitor the Bosnia peace agreement via the Montenegrin port of Bar had been discussed with ranking U.S. Administration and Congress officials. This issue was derived from the support to the Bosnia peaceprocess, Djukanovic told a news conference. Speaker of the Montenegrin legislature Svetozar Marovic spoke at the same news conference about the activities of a delegation that had visited the U.S. on Nov. 5-13 at the invitation of a group of congressmen. The Premier said this did not imply that NATO would be deployed in Montenegro, but only that Yugoslavia's biggest Adriatic port would be used for the transport of personnel and equipment needed for the successful realization of the Bosnia peace implementation mission. 'This is an important politicial dimension of our verbal and strong support to the peace process for Bosnia-Herezgovina and a very good commercial deal for out port, which has not been working for three years because of the international embargo,' Djukanovic said. Djukanovic and Marovic described the Montenegrin delegation's visit to the U.S. as very successful and said that the Adriatic promontory of Prevlaka, on the border with Croatia, had been discussed in the talks with U.S. officials. 'The question was stressed to inform the collocutors in detail about the promontory's specific qualities and its importance for peace in the region,' the Montenegrin leaders said.

SANCTIONS AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA

SECURITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZATION FOR GAS SUPPLIES TO YUGOSLAVIA RECEIVED IN MOSCOW Moscow, Nov. 15 (Tanjug) - The authorization of the Security Council Sanctions Committee for gas supplies to Yugoslavia was received Wednesday by Russian Foreign Ministry, and nothing prevents any longer the immediate shipment of this humanitarian aid. Without this document, humanitarian deliveries of natural gas from Russia authorized by the Sanctions Committee a few days ago could not start. According to information provided by Russian Foreign Ministry, Russia will supply Yugoslavia with 186 million cubic meters of gas a month in line with this authorization. Russian company Gazprom was immediately informed that the authorization was received in Moscow in order to take the necessary measures for the shipment, Tanjug has learned from well-informed diplomatic sources. A Foreign Ministry Spokesman appealed to the Security Council to respond favorably also to Yugoslavia's request for wheat exports in order to pay for humanitarian fuel imports.

FUEL OIL FROM RUSSIA EN ROUTE FOR BELGRADE Sofia, Nov. 15 (Tanjug) - The Russian motor boat 'Natali' sailed out of the Bulgarian port of Vidin with 300 tons of mazut on Wednesday afternoon with Belgrade as its destination, after it was examined by a Western European Union team in charge of monitoring the international embargo against Yugoslavia. The fuel oil is to meet the humanitarian needs of Serb refugees in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The port authorities and WEU organs said Russia had received permission from the U.N. Sanctions Committee to deliver 6,000 tons of mazut and about 4,600 tons of coal to Yugoslavia for humanitarian purposes. The fuel will be transported via the Danube.

THE SREM-BARANJA REGION

SECURITY COUNCIL DRAFTS FIRST RESOLUTION ON MULTINATIONAL FORCE FOR EASTERN SLAVONIA Belgrade, Nov. 16 (Tanjug) - U.N. Security Council Wednesday revealed the first draft of a resolution on the engagement of multinational force in the Srem-Baranja region (Sector East), predominantly populated by Serbs. The text of the first document, however, does not specify who would directly command some 4,000 troops, Reuters reported. The draft resolution endorses the Security Council's role in the realization of the agreement signed on Sunday by the representatives of the Croatian Government and the Serbs in the Srem-Baranja region, the only one of the formerly four U.N.-protected territories that Croatia had not occupied. The draft urges U.N. Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali to maintain contacts with the negotiating teams. The Security Council calls in the document on the Croatian Government and the Serbs in the Srem-Baranja region to refrain from undertaking any military or other measures that could threaten the agreement reached. According to U.N. diplomatic sources, up to 4,000 troops were expected to be deployed in the region. This contingent would likely also include 1,500 Russian and Belgian troops already stationed there.

FROM CROATIA

CROATIAN PRESIDENT PROMOTES WAR CRIMES SUSPECT Belgrade, Nov. 15 (Tanjug) - The Hague-based International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia is not very concerned over the fact that Croatian President Franjo Tudjman appointed Tihomir Blaskic, who is accused of war crimes, inspector at the Croatian Army Inspectorate, Tribunal Spokesman Christian Chartier was quoted as saying. The Agence France Presse quoted Chartier as saying that Blaskic's appointment did not rule out the possibility of his being arrested some day. His arrest would thus only be facilitated, he added. In any case, this does not change the suspect's or the Tribunal's position in the least, Chartier said. According to Chartier, Croatian authorities promised to cooperate with the tribunal, coordinate their laws with international demands and make it possible for the Tribunal to examine the suspects and take them to the Hague. Chartier said that if Croatian authorities did not extradite Blaskic, the Tribunal would inform the U.N. Security Council, which would take care of it.

U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT CRITICIZES TUDJMAN New York, Nov. 15 (Tanjug) - The State Department on Wednesday evening strongly criticized the decision by Croatian President Franjo Tudjman to promote Gen.Tihomir Blaskic (a Bosnian Croat military commander) who was indicted by the International War Crimes Tribunal in the Hague two days ago. 'The U.S. strongly criticizes the decision by the Croatian Government and the Croatian President to promote an individual, Gen.Blaskic who was indicted by the U.N. War Crimes Tribunal two days ago,' State Department Spokesman Nicholas Burns told a briefing. He said such a decision by President Tudjman was in direct contrast with Croatia's obligations to cooperate with the Hague Tribunal and in general with the international community in persecuting persons who have committed war crimes in the territory of former Yugoslavia. 'We are raising today this case directly with the Croatian delegation (to the Dayton peace talks on Bosnia),' he said.

SENTENCING OF SERBS WHO BELIEVED CROATIAN PRESIDENT'S PROMISES OF ABOLITION IF THEY SURRENDER Zagreb, Nov. 14 (Tanjug) - After a very brief trial the Croatian Military Court from Karlovac, in session in Gospic, passed sentences against thirteen Serbs, who were charged with 'armed rebellion against the Republic of Croatia.' Milan Bubanj, Nikola Banjekav, Stevo Rakic, Jovo Sorak and Bogdan Ognjenovic have been sentenced to four and a half years in prison. Radomir Cvijanovic, Milan Studen, Stevo Rakic and Branko Stakic were sentenced to two to two and a half years in prison. Stevo Rapaic and Bozo Vlaisavljevic were sentenced to three years in prison. The sentenced Serbs, most of them over fifty years old, said at the trial that they surrendered to the Croatian authorities believing that they would be guaranteed abolition. Such guarantees were made personally by Croatian President Franjo Tudjman to Serbs from the Western, Southern and Northern parts of the Republic of Serb Krajina (RSK) in May and in August, when the Croatian Army carried out aggressions on those parts of RSK, state of Serbs in the former Yugoslav republic of Croatia.

FORMER BOSNIA - HERZEGOVINA

ANOTHER ROAD IN SARAJEVO REGION REOPENED Belgrade, Nov. 15 (Tanjug) - The UNPROFOR reopened Wednesday one more road in the Sarajevo region as part of the efforts to restore the freedom of movement in and around the capital of the former Yugoslav republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina. The road, connecting the Serb settlements of Ilidza and Nedzarici with Lukavica, was formally opened by French UNPROFOR Commander in Sarajevo Brigadier Gen.Jean-Rene Bachelet, news agencies reported. The road will in the beginning be open for U.N. military and humanitarian convoys, while civilians will also be able to use it soon.

465,000 SERBS FORCED TO LEAVE SERB KRAJINA AND MORTHWESTERN BOSNIA Banjaluka, Nov. 15 (Tanjug) - Close to 465,000 Serbs were during 1995 forced to abandon their homes in the Republic of Serb Krajina and the Bosnian Serb state Republika Srpska, the joint Bosnian Serb and Serb Krajina Refugee Crisis Staff has said. About 260,000 Krajina Serbs fled their ancestral homes in May and August this year at the time of the Croatian offensive on the western, southern and eastern parts of the Republic of Serb Krajina. In Republika Srpska there remain 22,000 refugees, while the others have found refuge in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. During September's combined Muslim-Croat offensive, supported by the regular Croatian Army, on northwestern Republika Srpska, about 205,000 Serbs fled the region. Of this figure, about 23,000 found refuge in Yugoslavia, and the reminder in other parts of Republika Srpska. The Refugee Crisis Staff said that in the two exodusses from Serb Krajina and Republika Srpska, which were unprecedented in the history of the Serb nation, 306 people, including three children, had died or were killed either by the Muslim-Croat bombardment of refugee columns or as a result of several-day efforts to reach liberated territory, sometimes even by horse-drawn wagons. The Refugee Crisis Staff said that there still remain refugees living in very difficult conditions, including 3,000 children. The Refugee Centre in Slapovici near Srebrenica, eastern Republika Srpska, on Wednesday had to turn back refugees because it is currently providing accomodation for 3,000 people, which by 20 percent exceeds its capacities, said the head of the local Refugee Crisis Staff Stanko Rakic. The situation is very grave in the Clinical Centre of Banja Luka, the biggest city in Republika Srpska, in whose vicinity about 170,000 refugees have been given accomodation. There is no heating in the Clinical Centre due to a lack of heating oil and surgical instruments cannot be sterilized, the Centre's Head Dr. Branislav Lolic said on Wednesday.

EUROPEAN UNION - FORMER YUGOSLAVIA

ARSENIS: E.U. MISTAKES CAUSE OF CRISIS IN FORMER YUGOSLAVIA Madrid, Nov. 15 (Tanjug) - Greek Defense Minister Gerasimos Arsenis said that E.U. was largely to blame for the crisis in the former Yugoslavia. The crisis was due mainly to the error committed by the E.U. which allowed the dismemberment of the former Yugoslavia, Arsenis said in an interview to the Spanish El Pais daily Wednesday. Arsenis, who attended the meeting of the West European Union Council meeting in Madrid on November 13 and 14 along with 53 other Defense and Foreign Ministers, said that peace in the Balkans was possible, adding that once peace returns, the region must be seen as a stage for economic development. The threats facing Europe today come from Islamic fundamentalism in northern Africa and the Middle East, which must be fought with economic development and a structure of collective security in the Mediterranean, he said. The most serious threat to Europe today comes from the inability of governments on its periphery to face free market competition, the population explosion in those countries and the growth of Islamic fundamentalism which uses inexperienced youths and works against order and democratic institutions, he pointed out. Arsenis noted that it was precisely the combination of these factors that created the explosive situation that must be faced without delay.

FROM FOREIGN PRESS

ASTONISHMENT ABOUT APPOINTMENT OF WAR CRIMINAL TO HIGH POSITION Rome, Nov. 15 (Tanjug) - Rome Media were astonished about the news that Croatian President Franjo Tudjman has appointed Tihomir Blaskic to a position of responsibility only a day after the Hague-based International Criminal Court for the former Yugoslavia accused him of crimes against humanity. The daily La Repubblica said that Blaskic and President of the ruling Bosnian Croat party, the Croatian Democratic Union, Dario Kordic were among the highest ranking Bosnian Croats who had committed brutal crimes in central Bosnia in the fighting between Muslims and Croats two years ago, when Croats often used Muslim children, elderly and ill people as human shield. The daily said that by bringing the charges also against the Croats, the injustice was rectified to some extent.