JOURNAL DE BELGRADE - Samedi 7 octobre, 12 heures
Belgrade Journal – Saturday, October 07, 2000, noon
The 12 months ahead will decide the fate of Yugoslavia
MICHEL COLLON
The big news took place last night. All the international media spoke of
it. Milosevic recognized the victory of Kostunica in the presidential
voting.
Then there is that news they're not reporting but which could turn out
to
be still more important for the eight crucial months ahead. The attempt
of
the opposition to seduce certain Montenegrin parliamentary
representatives
to form a new governing majority failed.
While it still has to be confirmed, the next Yugoslav government should
be
composed of the Milosevic's party, the SPS (Socialist Party of Serbia),
its
traditional ally the YUL (Yugoslav United Left) and the Montenegrin
deputies of the SNP lead by Momir Bulatovic.
Will we be then in a situation of dual power? No, because the legal
powers
of the president are less important than those of the Yugoslav
government,
and still less important than those of the Serb government, which has
responsibility for the largest part of the governmental budget.
Kostunica president and Milosevic prime minister?
Kostunica president and Milosevic prime minister? This surrealist
scenario
that we had envisaged a few days ago, this scenario would be
Washington's
nightmare. And that's why the West is in the process of doing all to
definitively eliminate Milosevic and his party from political life.
Since I've been in Belgrade, I've looked at BBC, CNN and a
German
broadcast. All present a caricatured image of an entire people united
against a dictator. Reality is different. Milosevic retains an important
base of support – the opposition is not contesting the results of the
parliamentary elections – and what exists is a country divided in two
camps, after months of pressures and enormous campaigns from the
outside.
As I wrote earlier, the opposition leaders have looked to create
a
"Bucharest syndrome." Milosevic has done all he could to avoid falling
into
this trap. He waited in a war of attrition, a war of nerves, as he did
during the preceding confrontations unleashed by the opposition in 1991
and
1996-1997, which he was able to survive. "In any case, we didn't want to
send the army and provoke a bloodbath," government officials told me.
Wouldn't he have been better off recognizing immediately
Kostunica's
victory. Many people, even those in his camp, believe this. "The people
believe that he was trying to maneuver and they didn't like that," Ivana
explained to me, though she was someone who voted for Milosevic.
But to the Kostunica camp, we could ask another question: Why
did they
refuse the second round of the elections when it seemed certain they
would
win? We think that Washington and the opposition leaders were trying to
bring about the "Bucharest syndrome" in order to definitively eliminate
Milosevic from the political scene.
But is only Milosevic involved in all this? No. It concerns an entire
current of Yugoslav society, which is resisting the takeover by the
multinational corporations. On November 17, 1998, the official British
news
agency Reuter mentioned a poll of 300 companies that stated that
"privatization raises no enthusiasm in Serbia, the workers fear massive
layoffs. No new companies have been privatized since the new
privatization
law was adopted a month ago.
Besides, the desire to eliminate Milosevic does not involve Yugoslavia
alone. Why is Milosevic Washington's chosen target?
"Because he symbolizes resistance to the New World Order and he could
give
the wrong ideas to other forces in the Balkans," answered Ljliljana, an
official in a ministry. "In Washington's eyes, Milosevic is a dangerous
virus and could contaminate the Balkans."
Clinton and the demonization of the Serbs
At present, Kostunica is faced with two problems. The first one
immediately: The burning of parliament was not understood or approved by
his own supporters. "Even NATO spared this symbol," people said here
angrily. "Hitler had burned the Reichstag as a provocation before the
Second World War. And RTS television had been bombed by NATO, leaving 16
victims. The memories of this are still fresh. It's infuriating."
Second problem: the burdensome congratulations from the United States.
Yesterday, I heard Bill Clinton's speech. Its substance: "This victory
is
ours, it is the outcome of U.S. combat over the last 10 years. We
stopped
Milosevic from continuing the attack on Croatia, Bosnia and other
countries. With the demonstration in Belgrade, we ended for good the
threat
from a person who is responsible for hundreds of thousands of victims."
What? Milosevic killed so many people? Alone? Clinton should be assured
that no Serb thinks about it this way. Practically all continue to
believe
that their country had been attacked by the great powers that supported
extremists like Tudjman [Croatia] and Izetbegovic [Bosnia] and who
showed
themselves unjustly against Serbs. Certain of them – and this includes
those among those who voted for the opposition – even criticize
Milosevic
for not having been firm enough and not having fought to the end.
This discourse by Clinton is a continuation of the policy of demonizing
the
Serbs, who are presented as monsters, because it is evident that if
there
were "hundreds of thousands of victims," a large number of Serbs are
criminals, and the witch-hunt will begin with all the selectivity and
arbitrariness of which Washington is capable.
Besides, Washington has no intention of giving justice to the Serbs. For
example in Kosovo, Bernard Kouchner just announced that he would have to
remain there for a generation and that U.S. troops would stay there
"without doubt for 10 years." (Washington Times, September 30)
Even under Kostunica, the Serbs won't be able to enjoy peace, because
the
U.S. needs a situation where a permanent "low-intensity" conflict
exists.
This situation permits them to maintain tension in a region, and
pressure
against a country. To believe that the USA is in Kosovo to re-establish
peace and help the Albanians, that's like believing that Hitler had
occupied Czechoslovakia because of his love for the Sudeten German
minority. Pretexts, pretexts. … The only thing that matters to the great
powers is to occupy strategic regions.
The 12 months ahead, before the elections in Serbia, will be decisive.
Will
Yugoslavia become a colony of the International Monetary Fund and NATO?
If
they want to JOURNAL DE BELGRADE - Samedi 7 octobre, 12 heures
Belgrade Journal – Saturday, October 07, 2000, noon
The 12 months ahead will decide the fate of Yugoslavia
MICHEL COLLON
The big news took place last night. All the international media spoke of
it. Milosevic recognized the victory of Kostunica in the presidential
voting.
Then there is that news they're not reporting but which could turn out
to
be still more important for the eight crucial months ahead. The attempt
of
the opposition to seduce certain Montenegrin parliamentary
representatives
to form a new governing majority failed.
While it still has to be confirmed, the next Yugoslav government should
be
composed of the Milosevic's party, the SPS (Socialist Party of Serbia),
its
traditional ally the YUL (Yugoslav United Left) and the Montenegrin
deputies of the SNP lead by Momir Bulatovic.
Will we be then in a situation of dual power? No, because the legal
powers
of the president are less important than those of the Yugoslav
government,
and still less important than those of the Serb government, which has
responsibility for the largest part of the governmental budget.
Kostunica president and Milosevic prime minister?
Kostunica president and Milosevic prime minister? This surrealist
scenario
that we had envisaged a few days ago, this scenario would be
Washington's
nightmare. And that's why the West is in the process of doing all to
definitively eliminate Milosevic and his party from political life.
Since I've been in Belgrade, I've looked at BBC, CNN and a
German
broadcast. All present a caricatured image of an entire people united
against a dictator. Reality is different. Milosevic retains an important
base of support – the opposition is not contesting the results of the
parliamentary elections – and what exists is a country divided in two
camps, after months of pressures and enormous campaigns from the
outside.
As I wrote earlier, the opposition leaders have looked to create
a
"Bucharest syndrome." Milosevic has done all he could to avoid falling
into
this trap. He waited in a war of attrition, a war of nerves, as he did
during the preceding confrontations unleashed by the opposition in 1991
and
1996-1997, which he was able to survive. "In any case, we didn't want to
send the army and provoke a bloodbath," government officials told me.
Wouldn't he have been better off recognizing immediately
Kostunica's
victory. Many people, even those in his camp, believe this. "The people
believe that he was trying to maneuver and they didn't like that," Ivana
explained to me, though she was someone who voted for Milosevic.
But to the Kostunica camp, we could ask another question: Why
did they
refuse the second round of the elections when it seemed certain they
would
win? We think that Washington and the opposition leaders were trying to
bring about the "Bucharest syndrome" in order to definitively eliminate
Milosevic from the political scene.
But is only Milosevic involved in all this? No. It concerns an entire
current of Yugoslav society, which is resisting the takeover by the
multinational corporations. On November 17, 1998, the official British
news
agency Reuter mentioned a poll of 300 companies that stated that
"privatization raises no enthusiasm in Serbia, the workers fear massive
layoffs. No new companies have been privatized since the new
privatization
law was adopted a month ago.
Besides, the desire to eliminate Milosevic does not involve Yugoslavia
alone. Why is Milosevic Washington's chosen target?
"Because he symbolizes resistance to the New World Order and he could
give
the wrong ideas to other forces in the Balkans," answered Ljliljana, an
official in a ministry. "In Washington's eyes, Milosevic is a dangerous
virus and could contaminate the Balkans."
Clinton and the demonization of the Serbs
At present, Kostunica is faced with two problems. The first one
immediately: The burning of parliament was not understood or approved by
his own supporters. "Even NATO spared this symbol," people said here
angrily. "Hitler had burned the Reichstag as a provocation before the
Second World War. And RTS television had been bombed by NATO, leaving 16
victims. The memories of this are still fresh. It's infuriating."
Second problem: the burdensome congratulations from the United States.
Yesterday, I heard Bill Clinton's speech. Its substance: "This victory
is
ours, it is the outcome of U.S. combat over the last 10 years. We
stopped
Milosevic from continuing the attack on Croatia, Bosnia and other
countries. With the demonstration in Belgrade, we ended for good the
threat
from a person who is responsible for hundreds of thousands of victims."
What? Milosevic killed so many people? Alone? Clinton should be assured
that no Serb thinks about it this way. Practically all continue to
believe
that their country had been attacked by the great powers that supported
extremists like Tudjman [Croatia] and Izetbegovic [Bosnia] and who
showed
themselves unjustly against Serbs. Certain of them – and this includes
those among those who voted for the opposition – even criticize
Milosevic
for not having been firm enough and not having fought to the end.
This discourse by Clinton is a continuation of the policy of demonizing
the
Serbs, who are presented as monsters, because it is evident that if
there
were "hundreds of thousands of victims," a large number of Serbs are
criminals, and the witch-hunt will begin with all the selectivity and
arbitrariness of which Washington is capable.
Besides, Washington has no intention of giving justice to the Serbs. For
example in Kosovo, Bernard Kouchner just announced that he would have to
remain there for a generation and that U.S. troops would stay there
"without doubt for 10 years." (Washington Times, September 30)
Even under Kostunica, the Serbs won't be able to enjoy peace, because
the
U.S. needs a situation where a permanent "low-intensity" conflict
exists.
This situation permits them to maintain tension in a region, and
pressure
against a country. To believe that the USA is in Kosovo to re-establish
peace and help the Albanians, that's like believing that Hitler had
occupied Czechoslovakia because of his love for the Sudeten German
minority. Pretexts, pretexts. … The only thing that matters to the great
powers is to occupy strategic regions.
The 12 months ahead, before the elections in Serbia, will be decisive.
Will
Yugoslavia become a colony of the International Monetary Fund and NATO?
If
they want to reverse the current electoral tendencies – especially among
the youth – Milosevic and his allies will have to promote a still more
socially conscious policy, an ever firmer struggle against privileges.
And
a strategy of communication more effective toward the youths. But the
progressive forces of the entire world will also have a role to play to
unmask the actions of Washington behind these elections that were not
truly
free.
---
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA
FEDERAL MINISTRY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
YUGOSLAV DAILY SURVEY
BELGRADE, 10 October 2000 No. 3214
C O N T E N T S :
FROM THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA
-KOSTUNICA: YUGOSLAV CONSTITUTION PREVENTS KOSOVO'S INDEPENDENCE
-SERBIA TO HOLD PARLIAMENTARY POLLS ON DEC 17
-SERBIAN PARLIAMENT PASSES NEW LAW ON ELECTIONS
-DOS PROPOSES ECONOMIST LABUS FOR NEW YUGOSLAV PRIME MINISTER
-SNP READY TO TALK ABOUT NEW YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT
-DJUKANOVIC: GOVERNMENT OF EXPERTS IN YUGOSLAVIA WOULD DO LEAST HARM
-YUGOSLAV ARMY PROVED IT IS AN ARMY OF THE PEOPLE
-SERBIAN CHURCH LEADER LEAVES FOR VIENNA
YUGOSLAVIASERBIAMINISTERRESIGNATION
-SERBIAN MINISTER JANJIC RESIGNS
-SERBIAN HEALTH MINISTER RESIGNS
-SERBIAN MINISTER OF TOURISM RESIGNS
YUGOSLAVIAFRANCE
-FRANCE'S VEDRINE ARRIVES IN BELGRADE
-KOSTUNICA CONFERS WITH VEDRINE
-CHIRAC'S PARTY OPPOSES EXTRADITION OF MILOSEVIC TO HAGUE TRIBUNAL
YUGOSLAVIAPOLAND
-YUGOSLAVIA'S KOSTUNICA CONGRATULATES POLAND'S KWASNIEWSKI
YUGOSLAVIA - RUSSIA
-RUSSIA RETAINED POSITIONS IN YUGOSLAVIA STATE DUMA OFFICIAL
YUGOSLAVIA - CZECHOSLOVAKIA
-CZECH HAVEL SAYS SERBIA TAKES DEMOCRATIC ROAD
YUGOSLAVIA - ITALY
-ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER TO VISIT BELGRADE THURSDAY
YUGOSLAVIA - ROMANIA
-ROMANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER ARRIVES IN YUGOSLAVIA
YUGOSLAVIA -NATO
-CHANGES IN YUGOSLAVIA WELLFOUNDED HOPE
-NATO MINISTERS WELCOME DEMOCRATIC CHANGES IN YUGOSLAVIA
YUGOSLAVIASANCTIONSLIFTING
-EU LIFTS ANTIYUGOSLAV SANCTIONS
-EU WELCOMES ELECTION OF VOJISLAV KOSTUNICA AS NEW YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT
-FISCHER: E.U. LIFTS ALL MAIN SANCTIONS AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA
-WASHINGTON LIKELY TO FOLLOW E.U.LEAD, LIFT ANTIYUGOSLAV SANCTIONS
-DINI: SANCTIONS' LIFTING SHOWS SUPPORT FOR BELGRADE
-CROATIA: LIFTING OF ANTIYUGOSLAV SANCTIONS BY E.U. PREMATURE
-PROSPECTS FOR RECOVERY OF YUGOSLAV ECONOMY
YUGOSLAVIADUTCHRELEASE
-FOUR DUTCHMEN RELEASED FROM INVESTIGATIVE PRISON
KOSTUNICA: YUGOSLAV CONSTITUTION PREVENTS
KOSOVO'S INDEPENDENCE
PARIS, Oct 10 (Tanjug) Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica
has
told French television that the Yugoslav Constitution does not allow for
the possibility of independence for either Kosovo or Montenegro.
"As for independence for Kosovo and Montenego, which you speak
about, let me put it this way: our Yugoslav Constitution does not allow
for
independence for Kosovo or for independence for Montenegro, because
these
two elements make up the state, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia",
Kostunica told TF1 television.
In the interview quoted also by the Agence France Presse (AFP),
he
told all those "who hope or dream" about independence, such as ethnic
"Albanian separatists", that independence is "impossible because there
is
the U.N. Security Council's Resolution 1244 which guarantees the
territorial integrity and sovereignty of the FRY.
"The question of Kosovo should be settled within the framework
of
this resolution and not according to the demands and wishes of certain
ethnic Albanian leaders, especially those separatistminded".
The implementation of Resolution 1244 on Kosovo "will permit
the
situation in the region to become stabilised, and this stability is
absolutely necessary to us in the current chaotic situation" in that
province, he added.
"The resolution will bring peace and stability to Kosovo from
the
moment it is properly implemented, especially to the Serb refugees", he
stressed.
SERBIA TO HOLD PARLIAMENTARY POLLS ON DEC 17
BELGRADE, Oct 10 (Tanjug) Serbia's leading parliamentary
parties
and the Democratic Opposition of Serbia (DOS) agreed on Monday to call
early parliamentary elections for Dec 17, and the formal decision is to
be
taken within days.
The early polls had originally been announced for Dec 19, but
the
date was subsequently moved ahead, so Serbs would not have to vote on a
Tuesday and the feast day of St. Nicholas, celebrated by many as their
patron saint.
SERBIAN PARLIAMENT PASSES NEW LAW ON ELECTIONS
BELGRADE, Oct 9 (Tanjug). The Serbian parliament adopted Monday
a
new law on the election of deputies, proposed by the Serbian Radical
Party
(SRS).
Presenting the proposal, Tomislav Nikolic (SRS) said that
Serbia
should from now on be a single constituency and that a republican
electoral
commission should be created, comprising 16 permanent members to be
appointed by the republican parliament at the proposal of party clubs.
The commission must provide election materials to all within
five
days of the scheduling of elections.
Electoral lists must be endorsed by signatures of support by
the
citizens, which must first be certified in court.
Army troops will no longer vote in their barracks but at the
closest polling stations.
Polling stations will be opened for at least 100 and at most
2,500
voters.
The present regulations that a party needs to win at least 5
percent of the votes in order to enter parliament and that a sum equal
to
one thousand average wages should be earmarked for financing the
participants' campaigns have been retained.
The Serbian parliamentary parties reached agreement Monday with
Serbian President Milan Milutinovic to hold early parliamentary
elections
on December 17.
DOS PROPOSES ECONOMIST LABUS FOR NEW YUGOSLAV PRIME MINISTER
BELGRADE, Oct 10 (Tanjug) The Democratic Opposition of Serbia
(DOS) proposes that the new Yugoslav government be made of experts, also
naming G17 Plus Chief Executive Miroljub Labus as a candidate for the
office of prime minister, a DOS leader and Democratic Party chief Zoran
Djindjic said on Tuesday.
Speaking at a press conference at Belgrade's Media Centre,
Djindjic said that neither Montenegro's Democratic Socialist Party, nor
President of Montenegro Milo Djukanovic have any objections to forming a
government of experts.
Commenting on the probable lineup of the new government,
Djindjic
quoted Djukanovic as saying he would not oppose any government proposed
by
DOS.
Labus said he was in a very delicate situation, as neither the
Serbian nor the Yugoslav governments were currently functioning.
"Through a series of circumstances, I am acting prime minister
with a great responsibility," Labus said, adding that he was willing to
do
this for another week, after which officials of the responsible
institutions should take over.
(...)
SERBIAN MINISTER JANJIC RESIGNS
BELGRADE, Oct 10 (Tanjug) Serbia's Minister of High Education
Jevrem Janjic resigned on Tuesday, pleading moral reasons.
The text of the resignation, submitted to the Serbian Assembly
(parliament) president, a copy of which has been forwarded by the
ministry
to TANJUG, says:
"After the Serbian Assembly's refusal to put the law on the
University on the agenda, and in solidarity with the chancellors and
deans
who have resigned and with other colleagues and students, I feel a moral
obligation to resign as minister of high education."
SERBIAN HEALTH MINISTER RESIGNS
BELGRADE, Oct 10 (Tanjug) Serbian Minister of Health Milovan
Bojic said late on Monday he had submitted resignations both as minister
of
health and as vicepremier of this Yugoslav republic.
In an unsigned statement faxed to TANJUG on ministry letterhead
paper, Bojic said he had joined the government with "the best of
intentions
and a sincere wish to keep KosovoMetohija and the sovereignty of the
country".
He added he had tried over the past three months as minister of
health to help surmount the severe crisis in the national health care
system.
Bojic gave no reasons for the resignation.
SERBIAN MINISTER OF TOURISM RESIGNS
BELGRADE, Oct 10 (Tanjug) Serbia's Minister of Tourism
Slobodan
Cerovic resigned irrevocably on Tuesday.
In his letter of resignation submitted to Premier Mirko
Marjanovic, a copy of which has been forwarded to TANJUG, Cerovic said:
"Please accept my irrevocable resignation to the post of
minister
of tourism in the government of the Republic of Serbia. Thank you for
your
cooperation".
(...)
YUGOSLAVIAFRANCE
FRANCE'S VEDRINE ARRIVES IN BELGRADE
BELGRADE, Oct 10 (Tanjug) French Foreign Minister Hubert
Vedrine,
current chairman of the European Union's Ministerial Council, arrived in
Belgrade on Tuesday, where he is expected to meet with Yugoslav
President
Vojislav Kostunica.
At Belgrade Airport, Vedrine was welcomed by Deputy Foreign
Minister Zoran Novakvoic.
Vedrine is to be brief Kostunica on the E.U. Council's decision
taken in Luxembourg on Monday to lift oil and flight bans against
Yugoslavia and on financial assistance that Europe plans to render
Yugoslavia.
He will also formally invite Kostunica to attend the E.U.
summit
in Biarritz, France, on Oct. 1314.
TANJUG learns from sources close to the president that Vedrine
will be leaving Yugoslavia in the afternoon.
KOSTUNICA CONFERS WITH VEDRINE
BELGRADE, Oct 10 (Tanjug) Democratic processes in Serbia and
its
return to Europe have been substantially facilitated by the fact that
France chairs the European Union (E.U.), Yugoslav President Vojislav
Kostunica said after talks with French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine
in
Belgrade on Tuesday.
"It seems providence itself sent us our old friends the French
to
help us," Kostunica said, adding that yesterday's E.U. decision to lift
the
sanctions against Yugoslavia made room for establishing relations with
international financial institutions and enabled Yugoslavia's
rapprochement
to its political, economic and cultural neighbourhood Europe.
Kostunica told reporters his talks with Vedrine had been open,
constructive and comprehensive, and underscored that they had discussed
many issues such as Kosovo and Metohija, future cooperation and help
from
the international community and E.U. to Yugoslavia.
Speaking about Kosovo and Metohija, Kostunica and Vedrine urged
respect for international laws inherent in U.N. Security Council
Resolution
1244.
Vedrine said yesterday's decision by the E.U. immediately to
lift
sanctions was "Europe's response to the courage of the Serb people" and
that Europe had made an entire list of proposals for possible
cooperation
between Yugoslavia and the E.U. and the world, with the objective to
help
and strengthen democratic changes in Yugoslavia and support its
reconciliation with its neighbours.
Vedrine informed reporters that Kostunica had accepted an
official
invitation by French President Jacques Chirac to take part in the work
of
the E.U. summit in Biarritz on Oct 1314.
(...)
YUGOSLAVIA - ITALY
ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER TO VISIT BELGRADE THURSDAY
ROME, Oct 10 (Tanjug) Italian Prime Minister Giuliano Amato
will
visit on Thursday Belgrade, where he will meet with the new president of
Yugoslavia, Vojislav Kostunica, it was confirmed to Tanjug on Tuesday in
Rome.
The meeting with President Kostunica was announced on Tuesday
personally by Prime Minister Amato in Bern, the Italian news agency Ansa
reported.
Amato said that the objective of his visit was to personally
congratulate the new president of Yugoslavia his electoral success.
Election changes in Yugoslavia are a confirmation, Amato
assessed,
of a new political path that is a precondition for cooperation between
Italy and the European Union with the new Yugoslavia, and that is an
additional reason for the upcoming visit. The Italian prime
minister
said it was necessary to establish a completely new bilateral
cooperation
that would no longer be based on expressions of joy and congratulations,
but should have concrete financial support. Italy will also take part in
those activities, but the international community must take part in
solving
the problem of reconstruction and economicfinancial renewal of
Yugoslavia,
Amato said.
YUGOSLAVIA -NATO
CHANGES IN YUGOSLAVIA WELLFOUNDED HOPE
LONDON, Oct 10 (Tanjug) Democratic changes in Yugoslavia give
rise to a wellfounded hope that the entire region will start stable
reforms, said on Tuesday NATO defense ministers at an informal meeting
in
the English town of Birmingham.
NATO, it was said, lends support to those changes and to new
Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica, but it was noted that the
Alliance
did not know him still enough.
NATO Secretary General George Robertson in his introductory
speech
assessed that the events last week in Yugoslavia were truly historical
and
that everyone who wishes well the country must now help for the created
prospects to become reality.
It is still, however, too early, Robertson said, to say what
would
be the consequences of the change in Yugoslavia for the overall security
situation in the Balkans and on the territory of the former SFRY. In
that
light he indicated that for the time being there would be no charges in
NATO's presence in Kosovo and Metohija and in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
NATO ministers, it was announced, assess that the greatest
problem
could be KosovoMetohija where Albanian separatists are alarmed by the
changes in Belgrade.
At the summit in Birmimgham, also discussed are future NATO
contacts with the new Yugoslav government although, it has been learnt,
the
prevailing conviction is that the Alliance should mainly stand aside and
leave those contacts up to the European UNion.
The mood among the Serbs, it is recalled, is not favourable for
NATO because of last year's bombing.
NATO MINISTERS WELCOME DEMOCRATIC CHANGES IN YUGOSLAVIA
BRUSSELS, Oct 10 (Tanjug) NATO defense ministers welcomed the
democratic changes in Yugoslavia at a meeting in Birmingham on Tuesday,
but
NATO SecretaryGeneral George Robertson said it was too soon to precisely
determine how the changes in Yugoslavia would affect the entire region.
NATO does not intend to withdraw troops from the Balkans,
Robertson told the session, underscoring that the election defeat of
former
Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic provided vast possibilities to the
international community.
In his speech, a copy of which was distributed to reporters at
the
NATO Brussels headquarters, Robertson reiterated that the KFOR and SFOR
would remain in Kosovo and Metohija and Bosnia, respectively, as long as
necessary, and that they would continue to present the foundation of
stability in the region.
Robertson said the events of last week could be described as
historic, but that the most important challenge for all those who wish
well
to Yugoslavia at this time was to turn the hope of reforms into reality.
The international community must do everything in its power to
help the Yugoslav people become a true partner of the EuroAtlantic
community, Robertson said, since it considers southeastern Europe and
countries from the territory of the former Yugoslavia of great
importance.
YUGOSLAVIASANCTIONSLIFTING
EU LIFTS ANTIYUGOSLAV SANCTIONS
BRUSSELS, Oct 9 (Tanjug). The European Union lifted Monday the
oil
embargo and the (already suspended) ban on civilian air traffic against
Yugoslavia, paving the way for removing all economic and political
obstacles to Yugoslavia's reintegration in the international community
and
European processes.
The EU foreign ministers decided at their session in Luxemburg
that Yugoslavia should be enabled to use the funds from the program for
Balkan recovery.
The EU ministerial council took this decision two days after
Vojislav Kostunica was sworn in as new Yugoslav president, thus
honouring
the EU commitment to initiate the process of lifting sanctions as soon
as
democratic changes start in Yugoslavia.
This, they said, is the first step towards Yugoslavia's
reintegration in Europe, following changes in the country in line with
the
will of the people.
The ministers lifted all sanctions in force since 1998, except
those concerning former president Slobodan Milosevic and his close
aides.
The removal of financial sanctions will follow shortly, in the
second phase of Yugoslavia's integration in the recovery program.
The ministers also discussed granting of emergency humanitarian
aid to Yugoslavia in order to remove the effects of sanctions introduced
two years ago over the KosovoMetohija crisis.
This should be followed by emergency EU measures for the
reconstruction of economic infrastructure as envisaged by the
Stabilization
Pact for southeastern Europe. In the EU budget for this year, about 240
million euros were earmarked for that purpose, that should be released
following a relevant decision of EU ministers.
EU WELCOMES ELECTION OF VOJISLAV KOSTUNICA AS NEW YUGOSLAV
PRESIDENT
BRUSSELS, Oct 9 (Tanjug). The European Union foreign ministers
adopted Monday in Luxemburg a special declaration on Yugoslavia, hailing
the election of Vojislav Kostunica as Yugoslavia's president,
underlining
that by voting for him, the people of Yugoslavia had chosen democracy
and
Europe.
In line with its commitments made before the Yugoslav
elections,
the EU Council consequently decided to radically change its policy
towards
Yugoslavia.
The Council will address an official invitation to Kostunica to
attend the summit of the European Union and Balkan states scheduled for
November 24 in Zagreb.
The EU also decided to lift all antiYugoslav sanctions in force
since 1998, except those concerning former Yugoslav president Slobodan
Milosevic and his close aides.
The EU Council proposed Monday to Yugoslavia an accord on
stabilization and integration which would give this country a privileged
and preferred treatment in its relations with the EU, French Foreign
Minister Hubert Vedrine said. He was chairing the EU ministerial meeting
which lifted the antiYugoslav sanctions.
That accord paves the way for Yugoslavia's integration in the
EU,
Vedrine said, adding at a press conference that Yugoslavia would have
its
place in the Balkan Stabilization Pact which envisages considerable
financial aid to countries in southeastern Europe.
FISCHER: E.U. LIFTS ALL MAIN SANCTIONS AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA
BRUSSELS, Oct 9 (Tanjug) German Foreign Minister Jozef Fischer
said in Luxembourg on Monday that European Union (E.U.) foreign
ministers
had lifted all the main sanctions against Yugoslavia.
Fischer said after a session of the E.U. Council that only
measures affecting former Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic and
individuals who were his closest allies remain in force.
The German Foreign Minister said the Council had reached full
accord on lifting the sanctions. Certain details concerning the concrete
decisions will be further discusssed, Fischer said.
WASHINGTON LIKELY TO FOLLOW E.U.LEAD, LIFT ANTIYUGOSLAV
SANCTIONS
NEW YORK, Oct 10 (Tanjug) The United States will probably
follow
the European Union's lead in lifting antiYugoslav oil and flight bans
over
the coming days, it was confirmed in Washington late on Monday.
National Security Council spokesman Philip Crowley said he
expected the United States to take "comparable steps in the coming days"
to
the European Union.
Washington's statement came after Monday's decision by the
European Union to lift its oil and flight bans against Yugoslavia in the
wake of diplomatic changes in the country.
Crowley said he could not be sure how far Washington's steps
would
coincide with those of the European Union, but added that sanctions
which
could be lifted to improve the life of the people swiftly would be
concentrated on.
DINI: SANCTIONS' LIFTING SHOWS SUPPORT FOR BELGRADE
ROME, Oct 10 (Tanjug) Italian Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini
said
on Tuesday that the European Union's lifting of antiYugoslav sanctions
was
a clear sign of support for the new political course steered by
Belgrade.
Dini warned, however, that the giving of necessary economic aid
to
democratic Serbia must not affect the Union's efforts for the
Mediterranean
countries.
The lifting of the antiYugoslav oil ban is described by the
Italian press as a gift from the European Union to Yugoslavia's new
President Vojislav Kostunica.
CROATIA: LIFTING OF ANTIYUGOSLAV SANCTIONS BY E.U. PREMATURE
ZAGREB, Oct 10 (Tanjug) The European Union (E.U.) decision to
lift the main sanctions against Yugoslavia was so far received less than
enthusiastically only in Croatian political circles and media, who
described the move as expected but premature, and even euphoric.
Commentaries pointed out, and seemingly even expressed the
desire
that the current favour of the international community toward Serbia
would
wan because of its refusal to cooperate with The Hague tribunal.
Certain media expressed deep disappointment at the lifting of
these sanctions and, generally, at the new stand of the international
community toward Serbia. The commentator of the Zagreb daily Jutarnji
list
on Tuesday concluded with obvious disappointment that "it is an unusual
and
idiotic feeling these days to be a Croat" when one sees the world's
favouritism toward Serbia.
PROSPECTS FOR RECOVERY OF YUGOSLAV ECONOMY
LONDON, Oct 10 (Tanjug) The European Union (E.U.) decision to
lift sanctions, including a ban on trade and business with Yugoslav
companies, opens up good prospects for the recovery of that country and
the
entire region, Michael Taylor of London's Economist Intelligence Unit
told
the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on Tuesday.
Yugoslavia's recovery is very important for the entire region,
primarily because of traffic links. It is the fastest and cheapest route
to
western Europe for Yugoslavia's neighbours, he said.
Yugoslavia will doubtless be a very important partner to the
E.U.
in future. In addition to German and Greek investors, who have already
said
they would continue as quickly as possible where they had left off in
1998,
when the E.U. sanctions were further tightened, British companies have
also
shown interest in entering the Yugoslav market.
Nigel Peters, the director of the British Consulting Bureau
said,
according to the BBC, that business in connection with the renewal of
power
facilities and oil refineries destroyed in the NATO air strikes against
Yugoslavia in the spring of 1999 are currently in the focus of
attention.
This requires government support and that is why talks will be
held at the foreign and trade ministries this week, he said. British
experts should visit Belgrade as soon as possible and see on the spot
what
needs to be done, since it is of key importance for the British industry
to
join in major projects at the very beginning, Peters said.
YUGOSLAVIADUTCHRELEASE
FOUR DUTCHMEN RELEASED FROM INVESTIGATIVE PRISON
BELGRADE, Oct 9 (Tanjug) The investigative judge cancelled
detention for four Dutchmen suspected of preparing the assassination of
former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic and they were released from
investigative prison in Belgrade on Monday around 15.00.
The four Dutchmen Bas van Schaik, Jeroen van Iersel, Sander
Zeitsen and Godfried de Rie were arrested in July this year on the
border
of Serbia with KosovoMetohija.
According to one of their lawyers, Zoran Jovanovic, the
Dutchmen
were released "after the prosecutor concluded there was not enough
evidence
to continue the process."
The four Dutchmen, it was said immediately after their arrest,
had
in their possession maps, knives, cameras and uniforms.
Immediately after the arrest, RadioTelevision Serbia showed
their
taped confessions, but the arrested later denied they intended to
assassinate Milosevic, and said their initial confessions had bee made
under duress.
Belgrade Journal – Saturday, October 07, 2000, noon
The 12 months ahead will decide the fate of Yugoslavia
MICHEL COLLON
The big news took place last night. All the international media spoke of
it. Milosevic recognized the victory of Kostunica in the presidential
voting.
Then there is that news they're not reporting but which could turn out
to
be still more important for the eight crucial months ahead. The attempt
of
the opposition to seduce certain Montenegrin parliamentary
representatives
to form a new governing majority failed.
While it still has to be confirmed, the next Yugoslav government should
be
composed of the Milosevic's party, the SPS (Socialist Party of Serbia),
its
traditional ally the YUL (Yugoslav United Left) and the Montenegrin
deputies of the SNP lead by Momir Bulatovic.
Will we be then in a situation of dual power? No, because the legal
powers
of the president are less important than those of the Yugoslav
government,
and still less important than those of the Serb government, which has
responsibility for the largest part of the governmental budget.
Kostunica president and Milosevic prime minister?
Kostunica president and Milosevic prime minister? This surrealist
scenario
that we had envisaged a few days ago, this scenario would be
Washington's
nightmare. And that's why the West is in the process of doing all to
definitively eliminate Milosevic and his party from political life.
Since I've been in Belgrade, I've looked at BBC, CNN and a
German
broadcast. All present a caricatured image of an entire people united
against a dictator. Reality is different. Milosevic retains an important
base of support – the opposition is not contesting the results of the
parliamentary elections – and what exists is a country divided in two
camps, after months of pressures and enormous campaigns from the
outside.
As I wrote earlier, the opposition leaders have looked to create
a
"Bucharest syndrome." Milosevic has done all he could to avoid falling
into
this trap. He waited in a war of attrition, a war of nerves, as he did
during the preceding confrontations unleashed by the opposition in 1991
and
1996-1997, which he was able to survive. "In any case, we didn't want to
send the army and provoke a bloodbath," government officials told me.
Wouldn't he have been better off recognizing immediately
Kostunica's
victory. Many people, even those in his camp, believe this. "The people
believe that he was trying to maneuver and they didn't like that," Ivana
explained to me, though she was someone who voted for Milosevic.
But to the Kostunica camp, we could ask another question: Why
did they
refuse the second round of the elections when it seemed certain they
would
win? We think that Washington and the opposition leaders were trying to
bring about the "Bucharest syndrome" in order to definitively eliminate
Milosevic from the political scene.
But is only Milosevic involved in all this? No. It concerns an entire
current of Yugoslav society, which is resisting the takeover by the
multinational corporations. On November 17, 1998, the official British
news
agency Reuter mentioned a poll of 300 companies that stated that
"privatization raises no enthusiasm in Serbia, the workers fear massive
layoffs. No new companies have been privatized since the new
privatization
law was adopted a month ago.
Besides, the desire to eliminate Milosevic does not involve Yugoslavia
alone. Why is Milosevic Washington's chosen target?
"Because he symbolizes resistance to the New World Order and he could
give
the wrong ideas to other forces in the Balkans," answered Ljliljana, an
official in a ministry. "In Washington's eyes, Milosevic is a dangerous
virus and could contaminate the Balkans."
Clinton and the demonization of the Serbs
At present, Kostunica is faced with two problems. The first one
immediately: The burning of parliament was not understood or approved by
his own supporters. "Even NATO spared this symbol," people said here
angrily. "Hitler had burned the Reichstag as a provocation before the
Second World War. And RTS television had been bombed by NATO, leaving 16
victims. The memories of this are still fresh. It's infuriating."
Second problem: the burdensome congratulations from the United States.
Yesterday, I heard Bill Clinton's speech. Its substance: "This victory
is
ours, it is the outcome of U.S. combat over the last 10 years. We
stopped
Milosevic from continuing the attack on Croatia, Bosnia and other
countries. With the demonstration in Belgrade, we ended for good the
threat
from a person who is responsible for hundreds of thousands of victims."
What? Milosevic killed so many people? Alone? Clinton should be assured
that no Serb thinks about it this way. Practically all continue to
believe
that their country had been attacked by the great powers that supported
extremists like Tudjman [Croatia] and Izetbegovic [Bosnia] and who
showed
themselves unjustly against Serbs. Certain of them – and this includes
those among those who voted for the opposition – even criticize
Milosevic
for not having been firm enough and not having fought to the end.
This discourse by Clinton is a continuation of the policy of demonizing
the
Serbs, who are presented as monsters, because it is evident that if
there
were "hundreds of thousands of victims," a large number of Serbs are
criminals, and the witch-hunt will begin with all the selectivity and
arbitrariness of which Washington is capable.
Besides, Washington has no intention of giving justice to the Serbs. For
example in Kosovo, Bernard Kouchner just announced that he would have to
remain there for a generation and that U.S. troops would stay there
"without doubt for 10 years." (Washington Times, September 30)
Even under Kostunica, the Serbs won't be able to enjoy peace, because
the
U.S. needs a situation where a permanent "low-intensity" conflict
exists.
This situation permits them to maintain tension in a region, and
pressure
against a country. To believe that the USA is in Kosovo to re-establish
peace and help the Albanians, that's like believing that Hitler had
occupied Czechoslovakia because of his love for the Sudeten German
minority. Pretexts, pretexts. … The only thing that matters to the great
powers is to occupy strategic regions.
The 12 months ahead, before the elections in Serbia, will be decisive.
Will
Yugoslavia become a colony of the International Monetary Fund and NATO?
If
they want to JOURNAL DE BELGRADE - Samedi 7 octobre, 12 heures
Belgrade Journal – Saturday, October 07, 2000, noon
The 12 months ahead will decide the fate of Yugoslavia
MICHEL COLLON
The big news took place last night. All the international media spoke of
it. Milosevic recognized the victory of Kostunica in the presidential
voting.
Then there is that news they're not reporting but which could turn out
to
be still more important for the eight crucial months ahead. The attempt
of
the opposition to seduce certain Montenegrin parliamentary
representatives
to form a new governing majority failed.
While it still has to be confirmed, the next Yugoslav government should
be
composed of the Milosevic's party, the SPS (Socialist Party of Serbia),
its
traditional ally the YUL (Yugoslav United Left) and the Montenegrin
deputies of the SNP lead by Momir Bulatovic.
Will we be then in a situation of dual power? No, because the legal
powers
of the president are less important than those of the Yugoslav
government,
and still less important than those of the Serb government, which has
responsibility for the largest part of the governmental budget.
Kostunica president and Milosevic prime minister?
Kostunica president and Milosevic prime minister? This surrealist
scenario
that we had envisaged a few days ago, this scenario would be
Washington's
nightmare. And that's why the West is in the process of doing all to
definitively eliminate Milosevic and his party from political life.
Since I've been in Belgrade, I've looked at BBC, CNN and a
German
broadcast. All present a caricatured image of an entire people united
against a dictator. Reality is different. Milosevic retains an important
base of support – the opposition is not contesting the results of the
parliamentary elections – and what exists is a country divided in two
camps, after months of pressures and enormous campaigns from the
outside.
As I wrote earlier, the opposition leaders have looked to create
a
"Bucharest syndrome." Milosevic has done all he could to avoid falling
into
this trap. He waited in a war of attrition, a war of nerves, as he did
during the preceding confrontations unleashed by the opposition in 1991
and
1996-1997, which he was able to survive. "In any case, we didn't want to
send the army and provoke a bloodbath," government officials told me.
Wouldn't he have been better off recognizing immediately
Kostunica's
victory. Many people, even those in his camp, believe this. "The people
believe that he was trying to maneuver and they didn't like that," Ivana
explained to me, though she was someone who voted for Milosevic.
But to the Kostunica camp, we could ask another question: Why
did they
refuse the second round of the elections when it seemed certain they
would
win? We think that Washington and the opposition leaders were trying to
bring about the "Bucharest syndrome" in order to definitively eliminate
Milosevic from the political scene.
But is only Milosevic involved in all this? No. It concerns an entire
current of Yugoslav society, which is resisting the takeover by the
multinational corporations. On November 17, 1998, the official British
news
agency Reuter mentioned a poll of 300 companies that stated that
"privatization raises no enthusiasm in Serbia, the workers fear massive
layoffs. No new companies have been privatized since the new
privatization
law was adopted a month ago.
Besides, the desire to eliminate Milosevic does not involve Yugoslavia
alone. Why is Milosevic Washington's chosen target?
"Because he symbolizes resistance to the New World Order and he could
give
the wrong ideas to other forces in the Balkans," answered Ljliljana, an
official in a ministry. "In Washington's eyes, Milosevic is a dangerous
virus and could contaminate the Balkans."
Clinton and the demonization of the Serbs
At present, Kostunica is faced with two problems. The first one
immediately: The burning of parliament was not understood or approved by
his own supporters. "Even NATO spared this symbol," people said here
angrily. "Hitler had burned the Reichstag as a provocation before the
Second World War. And RTS television had been bombed by NATO, leaving 16
victims. The memories of this are still fresh. It's infuriating."
Second problem: the burdensome congratulations from the United States.
Yesterday, I heard Bill Clinton's speech. Its substance: "This victory
is
ours, it is the outcome of U.S. combat over the last 10 years. We
stopped
Milosevic from continuing the attack on Croatia, Bosnia and other
countries. With the demonstration in Belgrade, we ended for good the
threat
from a person who is responsible for hundreds of thousands of victims."
What? Milosevic killed so many people? Alone? Clinton should be assured
that no Serb thinks about it this way. Practically all continue to
believe
that their country had been attacked by the great powers that supported
extremists like Tudjman [Croatia] and Izetbegovic [Bosnia] and who
showed
themselves unjustly against Serbs. Certain of them – and this includes
those among those who voted for the opposition – even criticize
Milosevic
for not having been firm enough and not having fought to the end.
This discourse by Clinton is a continuation of the policy of demonizing
the
Serbs, who are presented as monsters, because it is evident that if
there
were "hundreds of thousands of victims," a large number of Serbs are
criminals, and the witch-hunt will begin with all the selectivity and
arbitrariness of which Washington is capable.
Besides, Washington has no intention of giving justice to the Serbs. For
example in Kosovo, Bernard Kouchner just announced that he would have to
remain there for a generation and that U.S. troops would stay there
"without doubt for 10 years." (Washington Times, September 30)
Even under Kostunica, the Serbs won't be able to enjoy peace, because
the
U.S. needs a situation where a permanent "low-intensity" conflict
exists.
This situation permits them to maintain tension in a region, and
pressure
against a country. To believe that the USA is in Kosovo to re-establish
peace and help the Albanians, that's like believing that Hitler had
occupied Czechoslovakia because of his love for the Sudeten German
minority. Pretexts, pretexts. … The only thing that matters to the great
powers is to occupy strategic regions.
The 12 months ahead, before the elections in Serbia, will be decisive.
Will
Yugoslavia become a colony of the International Monetary Fund and NATO?
If
they want to reverse the current electoral tendencies – especially among
the youth – Milosevic and his allies will have to promote a still more
socially conscious policy, an ever firmer struggle against privileges.
And
a strategy of communication more effective toward the youths. But the
progressive forces of the entire world will also have a role to play to
unmask the actions of Washington behind these elections that were not
truly
free.
---
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA
FEDERAL MINISTRY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
YUGOSLAV DAILY SURVEY
BELGRADE, 10 October 2000 No. 3214
C O N T E N T S :
FROM THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA
-KOSTUNICA: YUGOSLAV CONSTITUTION PREVENTS KOSOVO'S INDEPENDENCE
-SERBIA TO HOLD PARLIAMENTARY POLLS ON DEC 17
-SERBIAN PARLIAMENT PASSES NEW LAW ON ELECTIONS
-DOS PROPOSES ECONOMIST LABUS FOR NEW YUGOSLAV PRIME MINISTER
-SNP READY TO TALK ABOUT NEW YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT
-DJUKANOVIC: GOVERNMENT OF EXPERTS IN YUGOSLAVIA WOULD DO LEAST HARM
-YUGOSLAV ARMY PROVED IT IS AN ARMY OF THE PEOPLE
-SERBIAN CHURCH LEADER LEAVES FOR VIENNA
YUGOSLAVIASERBIAMINISTERRESIGNATION
-SERBIAN MINISTER JANJIC RESIGNS
-SERBIAN HEALTH MINISTER RESIGNS
-SERBIAN MINISTER OF TOURISM RESIGNS
YUGOSLAVIAFRANCE
-FRANCE'S VEDRINE ARRIVES IN BELGRADE
-KOSTUNICA CONFERS WITH VEDRINE
-CHIRAC'S PARTY OPPOSES EXTRADITION OF MILOSEVIC TO HAGUE TRIBUNAL
YUGOSLAVIAPOLAND
-YUGOSLAVIA'S KOSTUNICA CONGRATULATES POLAND'S KWASNIEWSKI
YUGOSLAVIA - RUSSIA
-RUSSIA RETAINED POSITIONS IN YUGOSLAVIA STATE DUMA OFFICIAL
YUGOSLAVIA - CZECHOSLOVAKIA
-CZECH HAVEL SAYS SERBIA TAKES DEMOCRATIC ROAD
YUGOSLAVIA - ITALY
-ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER TO VISIT BELGRADE THURSDAY
YUGOSLAVIA - ROMANIA
-ROMANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER ARRIVES IN YUGOSLAVIA
YUGOSLAVIA -NATO
-CHANGES IN YUGOSLAVIA WELLFOUNDED HOPE
-NATO MINISTERS WELCOME DEMOCRATIC CHANGES IN YUGOSLAVIA
YUGOSLAVIASANCTIONSLIFTING
-EU LIFTS ANTIYUGOSLAV SANCTIONS
-EU WELCOMES ELECTION OF VOJISLAV KOSTUNICA AS NEW YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT
-FISCHER: E.U. LIFTS ALL MAIN SANCTIONS AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA
-WASHINGTON LIKELY TO FOLLOW E.U.LEAD, LIFT ANTIYUGOSLAV SANCTIONS
-DINI: SANCTIONS' LIFTING SHOWS SUPPORT FOR BELGRADE
-CROATIA: LIFTING OF ANTIYUGOSLAV SANCTIONS BY E.U. PREMATURE
-PROSPECTS FOR RECOVERY OF YUGOSLAV ECONOMY
YUGOSLAVIADUTCHRELEASE
-FOUR DUTCHMEN RELEASED FROM INVESTIGATIVE PRISON
KOSTUNICA: YUGOSLAV CONSTITUTION PREVENTS
KOSOVO'S INDEPENDENCE
PARIS, Oct 10 (Tanjug) Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica
has
told French television that the Yugoslav Constitution does not allow for
the possibility of independence for either Kosovo or Montenegro.
"As for independence for Kosovo and Montenego, which you speak
about, let me put it this way: our Yugoslav Constitution does not allow
for
independence for Kosovo or for independence for Montenegro, because
these
two elements make up the state, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia",
Kostunica told TF1 television.
In the interview quoted also by the Agence France Presse (AFP),
he
told all those "who hope or dream" about independence, such as ethnic
"Albanian separatists", that independence is "impossible because there
is
the U.N. Security Council's Resolution 1244 which guarantees the
territorial integrity and sovereignty of the FRY.
"The question of Kosovo should be settled within the framework
of
this resolution and not according to the demands and wishes of certain
ethnic Albanian leaders, especially those separatistminded".
The implementation of Resolution 1244 on Kosovo "will permit
the
situation in the region to become stabilised, and this stability is
absolutely necessary to us in the current chaotic situation" in that
province, he added.
"The resolution will bring peace and stability to Kosovo from
the
moment it is properly implemented, especially to the Serb refugees", he
stressed.
SERBIA TO HOLD PARLIAMENTARY POLLS ON DEC 17
BELGRADE, Oct 10 (Tanjug) Serbia's leading parliamentary
parties
and the Democratic Opposition of Serbia (DOS) agreed on Monday to call
early parliamentary elections for Dec 17, and the formal decision is to
be
taken within days.
The early polls had originally been announced for Dec 19, but
the
date was subsequently moved ahead, so Serbs would not have to vote on a
Tuesday and the feast day of St. Nicholas, celebrated by many as their
patron saint.
SERBIAN PARLIAMENT PASSES NEW LAW ON ELECTIONS
BELGRADE, Oct 9 (Tanjug). The Serbian parliament adopted Monday
a
new law on the election of deputies, proposed by the Serbian Radical
Party
(SRS).
Presenting the proposal, Tomislav Nikolic (SRS) said that
Serbia
should from now on be a single constituency and that a republican
electoral
commission should be created, comprising 16 permanent members to be
appointed by the republican parliament at the proposal of party clubs.
The commission must provide election materials to all within
five
days of the scheduling of elections.
Electoral lists must be endorsed by signatures of support by
the
citizens, which must first be certified in court.
Army troops will no longer vote in their barracks but at the
closest polling stations.
Polling stations will be opened for at least 100 and at most
2,500
voters.
The present regulations that a party needs to win at least 5
percent of the votes in order to enter parliament and that a sum equal
to
one thousand average wages should be earmarked for financing the
participants' campaigns have been retained.
The Serbian parliamentary parties reached agreement Monday with
Serbian President Milan Milutinovic to hold early parliamentary
elections
on December 17.
DOS PROPOSES ECONOMIST LABUS FOR NEW YUGOSLAV PRIME MINISTER
BELGRADE, Oct 10 (Tanjug) The Democratic Opposition of Serbia
(DOS) proposes that the new Yugoslav government be made of experts, also
naming G17 Plus Chief Executive Miroljub Labus as a candidate for the
office of prime minister, a DOS leader and Democratic Party chief Zoran
Djindjic said on Tuesday.
Speaking at a press conference at Belgrade's Media Centre,
Djindjic said that neither Montenegro's Democratic Socialist Party, nor
President of Montenegro Milo Djukanovic have any objections to forming a
government of experts.
Commenting on the probable lineup of the new government,
Djindjic
quoted Djukanovic as saying he would not oppose any government proposed
by
DOS.
Labus said he was in a very delicate situation, as neither the
Serbian nor the Yugoslav governments were currently functioning.
"Through a series of circumstances, I am acting prime minister
with a great responsibility," Labus said, adding that he was willing to
do
this for another week, after which officials of the responsible
institutions should take over.
(...)
SERBIAN MINISTER JANJIC RESIGNS
BELGRADE, Oct 10 (Tanjug) Serbia's Minister of High Education
Jevrem Janjic resigned on Tuesday, pleading moral reasons.
The text of the resignation, submitted to the Serbian Assembly
(parliament) president, a copy of which has been forwarded by the
ministry
to TANJUG, says:
"After the Serbian Assembly's refusal to put the law on the
University on the agenda, and in solidarity with the chancellors and
deans
who have resigned and with other colleagues and students, I feel a moral
obligation to resign as minister of high education."
SERBIAN HEALTH MINISTER RESIGNS
BELGRADE, Oct 10 (Tanjug) Serbian Minister of Health Milovan
Bojic said late on Monday he had submitted resignations both as minister
of
health and as vicepremier of this Yugoslav republic.
In an unsigned statement faxed to TANJUG on ministry letterhead
paper, Bojic said he had joined the government with "the best of
intentions
and a sincere wish to keep KosovoMetohija and the sovereignty of the
country".
He added he had tried over the past three months as minister of
health to help surmount the severe crisis in the national health care
system.
Bojic gave no reasons for the resignation.
SERBIAN MINISTER OF TOURISM RESIGNS
BELGRADE, Oct 10 (Tanjug) Serbia's Minister of Tourism
Slobodan
Cerovic resigned irrevocably on Tuesday.
In his letter of resignation submitted to Premier Mirko
Marjanovic, a copy of which has been forwarded to TANJUG, Cerovic said:
"Please accept my irrevocable resignation to the post of
minister
of tourism in the government of the Republic of Serbia. Thank you for
your
cooperation".
(...)
YUGOSLAVIAFRANCE
FRANCE'S VEDRINE ARRIVES IN BELGRADE
BELGRADE, Oct 10 (Tanjug) French Foreign Minister Hubert
Vedrine,
current chairman of the European Union's Ministerial Council, arrived in
Belgrade on Tuesday, where he is expected to meet with Yugoslav
President
Vojislav Kostunica.
At Belgrade Airport, Vedrine was welcomed by Deputy Foreign
Minister Zoran Novakvoic.
Vedrine is to be brief Kostunica on the E.U. Council's decision
taken in Luxembourg on Monday to lift oil and flight bans against
Yugoslavia and on financial assistance that Europe plans to render
Yugoslavia.
He will also formally invite Kostunica to attend the E.U.
summit
in Biarritz, France, on Oct. 1314.
TANJUG learns from sources close to the president that Vedrine
will be leaving Yugoslavia in the afternoon.
KOSTUNICA CONFERS WITH VEDRINE
BELGRADE, Oct 10 (Tanjug) Democratic processes in Serbia and
its
return to Europe have been substantially facilitated by the fact that
France chairs the European Union (E.U.), Yugoslav President Vojislav
Kostunica said after talks with French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine
in
Belgrade on Tuesday.
"It seems providence itself sent us our old friends the French
to
help us," Kostunica said, adding that yesterday's E.U. decision to lift
the
sanctions against Yugoslavia made room for establishing relations with
international financial institutions and enabled Yugoslavia's
rapprochement
to its political, economic and cultural neighbourhood Europe.
Kostunica told reporters his talks with Vedrine had been open,
constructive and comprehensive, and underscored that they had discussed
many issues such as Kosovo and Metohija, future cooperation and help
from
the international community and E.U. to Yugoslavia.
Speaking about Kosovo and Metohija, Kostunica and Vedrine urged
respect for international laws inherent in U.N. Security Council
Resolution
1244.
Vedrine said yesterday's decision by the E.U. immediately to
lift
sanctions was "Europe's response to the courage of the Serb people" and
that Europe had made an entire list of proposals for possible
cooperation
between Yugoslavia and the E.U. and the world, with the objective to
help
and strengthen democratic changes in Yugoslavia and support its
reconciliation with its neighbours.
Vedrine informed reporters that Kostunica had accepted an
official
invitation by French President Jacques Chirac to take part in the work
of
the E.U. summit in Biarritz on Oct 1314.
(...)
YUGOSLAVIA - ITALY
ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER TO VISIT BELGRADE THURSDAY
ROME, Oct 10 (Tanjug) Italian Prime Minister Giuliano Amato
will
visit on Thursday Belgrade, where he will meet with the new president of
Yugoslavia, Vojislav Kostunica, it was confirmed to Tanjug on Tuesday in
Rome.
The meeting with President Kostunica was announced on Tuesday
personally by Prime Minister Amato in Bern, the Italian news agency Ansa
reported.
Amato said that the objective of his visit was to personally
congratulate the new president of Yugoslavia his electoral success.
Election changes in Yugoslavia are a confirmation, Amato
assessed,
of a new political path that is a precondition for cooperation between
Italy and the European Union with the new Yugoslavia, and that is an
additional reason for the upcoming visit. The Italian prime
minister
said it was necessary to establish a completely new bilateral
cooperation
that would no longer be based on expressions of joy and congratulations,
but should have concrete financial support. Italy will also take part in
those activities, but the international community must take part in
solving
the problem of reconstruction and economicfinancial renewal of
Yugoslavia,
Amato said.
YUGOSLAVIA -NATO
CHANGES IN YUGOSLAVIA WELLFOUNDED HOPE
LONDON, Oct 10 (Tanjug) Democratic changes in Yugoslavia give
rise to a wellfounded hope that the entire region will start stable
reforms, said on Tuesday NATO defense ministers at an informal meeting
in
the English town of Birmingham.
NATO, it was said, lends support to those changes and to new
Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica, but it was noted that the
Alliance
did not know him still enough.
NATO Secretary General George Robertson in his introductory
speech
assessed that the events last week in Yugoslavia were truly historical
and
that everyone who wishes well the country must now help for the created
prospects to become reality.
It is still, however, too early, Robertson said, to say what
would
be the consequences of the change in Yugoslavia for the overall security
situation in the Balkans and on the territory of the former SFRY. In
that
light he indicated that for the time being there would be no charges in
NATO's presence in Kosovo and Metohija and in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
NATO ministers, it was announced, assess that the greatest
problem
could be KosovoMetohija where Albanian separatists are alarmed by the
changes in Belgrade.
At the summit in Birmimgham, also discussed are future NATO
contacts with the new Yugoslav government although, it has been learnt,
the
prevailing conviction is that the Alliance should mainly stand aside and
leave those contacts up to the European UNion.
The mood among the Serbs, it is recalled, is not favourable for
NATO because of last year's bombing.
NATO MINISTERS WELCOME DEMOCRATIC CHANGES IN YUGOSLAVIA
BRUSSELS, Oct 10 (Tanjug) NATO defense ministers welcomed the
democratic changes in Yugoslavia at a meeting in Birmingham on Tuesday,
but
NATO SecretaryGeneral George Robertson said it was too soon to precisely
determine how the changes in Yugoslavia would affect the entire region.
NATO does not intend to withdraw troops from the Balkans,
Robertson told the session, underscoring that the election defeat of
former
Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic provided vast possibilities to the
international community.
In his speech, a copy of which was distributed to reporters at
the
NATO Brussels headquarters, Robertson reiterated that the KFOR and SFOR
would remain in Kosovo and Metohija and Bosnia, respectively, as long as
necessary, and that they would continue to present the foundation of
stability in the region.
Robertson said the events of last week could be described as
historic, but that the most important challenge for all those who wish
well
to Yugoslavia at this time was to turn the hope of reforms into reality.
The international community must do everything in its power to
help the Yugoslav people become a true partner of the EuroAtlantic
community, Robertson said, since it considers southeastern Europe and
countries from the territory of the former Yugoslavia of great
importance.
YUGOSLAVIASANCTIONSLIFTING
EU LIFTS ANTIYUGOSLAV SANCTIONS
BRUSSELS, Oct 9 (Tanjug). The European Union lifted Monday the
oil
embargo and the (already suspended) ban on civilian air traffic against
Yugoslavia, paving the way for removing all economic and political
obstacles to Yugoslavia's reintegration in the international community
and
European processes.
The EU foreign ministers decided at their session in Luxemburg
that Yugoslavia should be enabled to use the funds from the program for
Balkan recovery.
The EU ministerial council took this decision two days after
Vojislav Kostunica was sworn in as new Yugoslav president, thus
honouring
the EU commitment to initiate the process of lifting sanctions as soon
as
democratic changes start in Yugoslavia.
This, they said, is the first step towards Yugoslavia's
reintegration in Europe, following changes in the country in line with
the
will of the people.
The ministers lifted all sanctions in force since 1998, except
those concerning former president Slobodan Milosevic and his close
aides.
The removal of financial sanctions will follow shortly, in the
second phase of Yugoslavia's integration in the recovery program.
The ministers also discussed granting of emergency humanitarian
aid to Yugoslavia in order to remove the effects of sanctions introduced
two years ago over the KosovoMetohija crisis.
This should be followed by emergency EU measures for the
reconstruction of economic infrastructure as envisaged by the
Stabilization
Pact for southeastern Europe. In the EU budget for this year, about 240
million euros were earmarked for that purpose, that should be released
following a relevant decision of EU ministers.
EU WELCOMES ELECTION OF VOJISLAV KOSTUNICA AS NEW YUGOSLAV
PRESIDENT
BRUSSELS, Oct 9 (Tanjug). The European Union foreign ministers
adopted Monday in Luxemburg a special declaration on Yugoslavia, hailing
the election of Vojislav Kostunica as Yugoslavia's president,
underlining
that by voting for him, the people of Yugoslavia had chosen democracy
and
Europe.
In line with its commitments made before the Yugoslav
elections,
the EU Council consequently decided to radically change its policy
towards
Yugoslavia.
The Council will address an official invitation to Kostunica to
attend the summit of the European Union and Balkan states scheduled for
November 24 in Zagreb.
The EU also decided to lift all antiYugoslav sanctions in force
since 1998, except those concerning former Yugoslav president Slobodan
Milosevic and his close aides.
The EU Council proposed Monday to Yugoslavia an accord on
stabilization and integration which would give this country a privileged
and preferred treatment in its relations with the EU, French Foreign
Minister Hubert Vedrine said. He was chairing the EU ministerial meeting
which lifted the antiYugoslav sanctions.
That accord paves the way for Yugoslavia's integration in the
EU,
Vedrine said, adding at a press conference that Yugoslavia would have
its
place in the Balkan Stabilization Pact which envisages considerable
financial aid to countries in southeastern Europe.
FISCHER: E.U. LIFTS ALL MAIN SANCTIONS AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA
BRUSSELS, Oct 9 (Tanjug) German Foreign Minister Jozef Fischer
said in Luxembourg on Monday that European Union (E.U.) foreign
ministers
had lifted all the main sanctions against Yugoslavia.
Fischer said after a session of the E.U. Council that only
measures affecting former Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic and
individuals who were his closest allies remain in force.
The German Foreign Minister said the Council had reached full
accord on lifting the sanctions. Certain details concerning the concrete
decisions will be further discusssed, Fischer said.
WASHINGTON LIKELY TO FOLLOW E.U.LEAD, LIFT ANTIYUGOSLAV
SANCTIONS
NEW YORK, Oct 10 (Tanjug) The United States will probably
follow
the European Union's lead in lifting antiYugoslav oil and flight bans
over
the coming days, it was confirmed in Washington late on Monday.
National Security Council spokesman Philip Crowley said he
expected the United States to take "comparable steps in the coming days"
to
the European Union.
Washington's statement came after Monday's decision by the
European Union to lift its oil and flight bans against Yugoslavia in the
wake of diplomatic changes in the country.
Crowley said he could not be sure how far Washington's steps
would
coincide with those of the European Union, but added that sanctions
which
could be lifted to improve the life of the people swiftly would be
concentrated on.
DINI: SANCTIONS' LIFTING SHOWS SUPPORT FOR BELGRADE
ROME, Oct 10 (Tanjug) Italian Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini
said
on Tuesday that the European Union's lifting of antiYugoslav sanctions
was
a clear sign of support for the new political course steered by
Belgrade.
Dini warned, however, that the giving of necessary economic aid
to
democratic Serbia must not affect the Union's efforts for the
Mediterranean
countries.
The lifting of the antiYugoslav oil ban is described by the
Italian press as a gift from the European Union to Yugoslavia's new
President Vojislav Kostunica.
CROATIA: LIFTING OF ANTIYUGOSLAV SANCTIONS BY E.U. PREMATURE
ZAGREB, Oct 10 (Tanjug) The European Union (E.U.) decision to
lift the main sanctions against Yugoslavia was so far received less than
enthusiastically only in Croatian political circles and media, who
described the move as expected but premature, and even euphoric.
Commentaries pointed out, and seemingly even expressed the
desire
that the current favour of the international community toward Serbia
would
wan because of its refusal to cooperate with The Hague tribunal.
Certain media expressed deep disappointment at the lifting of
these sanctions and, generally, at the new stand of the international
community toward Serbia. The commentator of the Zagreb daily Jutarnji
list
on Tuesday concluded with obvious disappointment that "it is an unusual
and
idiotic feeling these days to be a Croat" when one sees the world's
favouritism toward Serbia.
PROSPECTS FOR RECOVERY OF YUGOSLAV ECONOMY
LONDON, Oct 10 (Tanjug) The European Union (E.U.) decision to
lift sanctions, including a ban on trade and business with Yugoslav
companies, opens up good prospects for the recovery of that country and
the
entire region, Michael Taylor of London's Economist Intelligence Unit
told
the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on Tuesday.
Yugoslavia's recovery is very important for the entire region,
primarily because of traffic links. It is the fastest and cheapest route
to
western Europe for Yugoslavia's neighbours, he said.
Yugoslavia will doubtless be a very important partner to the
E.U.
in future. In addition to German and Greek investors, who have already
said
they would continue as quickly as possible where they had left off in
1998,
when the E.U. sanctions were further tightened, British companies have
also
shown interest in entering the Yugoslav market.
Nigel Peters, the director of the British Consulting Bureau
said,
according to the BBC, that business in connection with the renewal of
power
facilities and oil refineries destroyed in the NATO air strikes against
Yugoslavia in the spring of 1999 are currently in the focus of
attention.
This requires government support and that is why talks will be
held at the foreign and trade ministries this week, he said. British
experts should visit Belgrade as soon as possible and see on the spot
what
needs to be done, since it is of key importance for the British industry
to
join in major projects at the very beginning, Peters said.
YUGOSLAVIADUTCHRELEASE
FOUR DUTCHMEN RELEASED FROM INVESTIGATIVE PRISON
BELGRADE, Oct 9 (Tanjug) The investigative judge cancelled
detention for four Dutchmen suspected of preparing the assassination of
former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic and they were released from
investigative prison in Belgrade on Monday around 15.00.
The four Dutchmen Bas van Schaik, Jeroen van Iersel, Sander
Zeitsen and Godfried de Rie were arrested in July this year on the
border
of Serbia with KosovoMetohija.
According to one of their lawyers, Zoran Jovanovic, the
Dutchmen
were released "after the prosecutor concluded there was not enough
evidence
to continue the process."
The four Dutchmen, it was said immediately after their arrest,
had
in their possession maps, knives, cameras and uniforms.
Immediately after the arrest, RadioTelevision Serbia showed
their
taped confessions, but the arrested later denied they intended to
assassinate Milosevic, and said their initial confessions had bee made
under duress.