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Serbia Today, 97-01-31
Serbia Today
CONTENTS
[01] LILIC: A TEST OF PATRIOTISM
[02] BULLETIN SUPPLEMENT: IZETBEGOVIC AND DEMOCRACY
[03] AVOIDING ANOTHER EXODUS OF THE SERBS
[04] "WHITE BULLETIN" ON FOREIGN TRADE RELATIONS 25TH "FESTIVAL OF
FESTIVALS" OPENS TODAY ETHNO - PROGRAM TO LEARN ABOUT THE MOTHER COUNTRY
URANIUM-AMMO IN HADZICI
[05] OWNERSHIP TRANSFORMATION MUST BE CONTINUED
[06] YUGOSLAV-MACEDONIAN COOPERATION IN TRANSPORTS
[01] LILIC: A TEST OF PATRIOTISM
"All responsible people in this country are now faced with an exam
involving responsibility, patriotism, and no one has the right to stay deaf
and dumb in this situation of growing tensions. Power is gained or lost
through elections, and it is enacted through state institutions - at the
service of the people and this is how it must be. We all have the
obligation, and especially the ruling party in Serbia, to make special
efforts to settle the problems in a legitimate way, to reduce tension, to
provide a solution. The dissatisfied part of opposition must accept this
formula so that the remaining controversies might be solved the only way
admissible in democracy and within the institutions everyone is invoking -
namely through dialogue." This was stated yesterday at a press conference
by Federal President Zoran Lilic after his visit to the Command of the 2nd
Army Zone in Podgorica. Speaking about the problems that surfaced after the
second round of elections in Serbia, President Lilic remarked: "Due to
inadequate election laws in the Republic of Serbia, and also due to
dishonorable behavior of given individuals, we are now faced with a
situation in a number of constituencies where these individuals helped
generate growing political tension in Serbia. Undoubtedly, Serbia will find
the strength to bring into the clear the responsibility of these people and
take adequate measures." "Our strategic objectives are peace in FRY,
freedom, economic reconstruction, stability, unity and integrity of the
federal state. These goals require that we rise above all party and
individual interests. This is why it is indispensable that the most
important political parties, be that the ruling one or opposition parties,
immediately seek and find a political solution to overcome and solve the
controversies - stressed President Lilic in Podgorica.
Serbia Today, 1997-01-31 ; Politika, 1997-01-31
[02] BULLETIN SUPPLEMENT: IZETBEGOVIC AND DEMOCRACY
To which extent is the notion of democracy questionable in the United
States - the country that claims to be the champion of this political
heritage, is probably best illustrated by the fact that the American Center
for Democracy gave its annual award to Alija Izetbegovic - current
President of Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina - for "outstanding
leadership under extremely difficult circumstances".
Could it be possible that the award committee ignores or forgets
Izetbegovic's radical-Islamic stands expressed in his well-known manifesto
"Islamic Declaration" characterized by exclusiveness, aggressiveness and
intolerance that can not be related to the principles of democracy. It is a
notorious fact that Mr. Izetbegovic advocates - both theoretically and in
practice - the most radical fundamentalist wing in the Islamic world, and
that during the civil war in Bosnia and Herzegovina he principally relied
on aid from the Saudi Court, Iranian Ayatollahs, and other similar regimes
famous for their totalitarianism and lack of elementary democracy.
"Successful leadership" has been acknowledged to a man that acting
illegally proclaimed himself president of B&H and has been trying to rule
the country in the past several years without any respect for the interests
of the other two nations in Bosnia. Even some Moslem leaders have refused
to recognize his office. The credibility of this award will certainly not
be enhanced by the fact that Izetbegovic - together with his closest
collaborators - has been the mastermind and instigator of numerous mass
terrorist attacks (initially ascribed to the Serbs), that were organized
and carried out by Bosnian Moslems as independent sources subsequently
confirmed. It is also important that the award has been given to a person
that is currently being tried in absence by the Banjaluka Court for war
crimes against Serbs during the civil war. The Croatian side is about to
start a similar process for crimes of war committed by Izetbegovic against
Bosnian Croats.
The confused evaluation of Izetbegovic's activities is also illustrated by
information coming from Washington to the effect that the US Administration
is slowly abandoning the policy of unconditioned support to Izetbegovic -
primarily due to his Islamic radicalism and the refusal to terminate his
"special relations" with fundamentalists - and considering the more
moderate and West-oriented Haris Silajdzic as a potential future leader of
the Bosnian Moslems.
Serbia Today, 1997-01-31 ; Tanjug, 1997-01-31
[03] AVOIDING ANOTHER EXODUS OF THE SERBS
During his meeting with the papal nuncio Francesco Monteriso, Mr. Momcilo
Krajisnik - representative of the Republic of Srpska in the Presidency of
Bosnia and Herzegovina - indicated the possibility of the Holy See acting
as and intermediary with the Republic of Croatia in settling the problem of
the Serbs in Eastern Slavonija, in order to prevent another exodus and
protect the rights of the Serbs. Mr. Krajisnik stressed that the
implementation of the right of integral territory, autonomy, political
administration and special ties of Eastern Slavonija Serbs with the
Republic of Srpska and FR Yugoslavia would be a sufficient incentive for
them to stay and thus avoid the exodus. Acting as a mediator, the Holy See
would greatly improve the undermined trust between Orthodox and Catholics
throughout former Yugoslavia - reads the statement issued after the
meeting. The same communique indicates that an appeal has been made for the
immediate release of all prisoners still being held in Croatia and the
Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Serbia Today, 1997-01-31 ; Ekspres Politika, 1997-01-31
[04] "WHITE BULLETIN" ON FOREIGN TRADE RELATIONS 25TH "FESTIVAL OF
FESTIVALS" OPENS TODAY ETHNO - PROGRAM TO LEARN ABOUT THE MOTHER COUNTRY
URANIUM-AMMO IN HADZICI
Yesterday, the Belgrade Foreign Trade Institute promoted its latest edition
- "White Bulletin" on trade relations with foreign countries which will be
published monthly. The study reveals the basic characteristics of last
year's trade and illustrates the various elements obstructing the increase
of Yugoslav exports. According to experts, the basic obstacles for an
increase of exports this year are the uncertain financing of foreign trade
deficit, the unsettled status of Yugoslavia in the World Trade Organization
(making our goods 10-12 percent more expensive on foreign markets), the
undefined status of FR Yugoslavia in international financial institutions.
According to Federal Statistics Institute data, used in the bulletin, most
of the Yugoslav exports last year were directed towards transition
countries (54,2 %),followed by developed countries (40,4%), the smallest
share being to developing countries (5,3%). The most important Yugoslav
foreign trade partners were Germany (trade volume 670 million dollars),
followed by Italy (616 million dollars trade volume). (Politika, January 31,
1997)
The 25th edition of FEST - the "Festival of Festivals" - opens this evening
in Belgrade. A short documentary by Mica Milosevic will remind the public
about the history of this film festival. The film officially opening the
manifestation is "Secrets and Lies" directed by Michael Lee - last years
"Golden Palm" winner in Cannes. Mr. Milutin Colic - one of the FEST
founders and member of the Festival Council, said that right from the start,
this manifestation had a very clear concept - to inform the public about
the latest trends in the world of cinema. The public always supported this
orientation, which is best confirmed by the fact that the tickets for 53
films from 21 countries have been immediately sold out. (Ekspres Politika,
January 31, 1997)
According to the curriculum of the Yugoslav Supplementary school in Serbian
- realized through the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Serbia, the
first of four groups of children from the educational center in Sancte
Gallen in Switzerland is currently attending a course on Mt. Kopaonik. Mr.
Dragan Acimovic, their teacher, says that this is a prototype for an ethno-
program which will be offered not only to children living in Switzerland
but all over Western Europe. Along with the direct contact with their
country of origin, and with its cultural and historical heritage, the
children will have a chance to become friends with children from various
parts of Serbia. (Politika, January 31, 1997)
The mystery concerning the use of banned radioactive and toxic NATO
ammunition in Bosnia is slowly being unraveled. After an epidemic of
strange symptoms and alterations registered in people, animals and plants,
competent Republic of Srpska institutions and experts initiated an
investigation and published the first results. It is now certain that
during the bombing of the ordnance center in Hadzici and of the near-by
villages, carried out by NATO planes, radio active missiles APIPGU-14/B,
containing uranium, were used. In case of direct hits, the victim suffers
serious damage of tissue, and if the wound is not lethal, the radiation
causes dermatologic, renal and other serious lesions culminating with
death. NATO tested weaponry banned by international conventions in a number
of other localities in Bosnia. This indicates that Serbs were deliberately
shelled with radioactive bombs. Since similar symptoms have been registered
not only among local Serbs, but also among Dutch soldiers that were
deployed in the vicinity of the bombing sites in the Republic of Srpska,
the Dutch Army is conducting an investigation regarding their poisoning.
Another investigation is being carried out by the British General HQ
because the English have been directly accused of using the banned
ammunition.
Serbia Today, 1997-01-31 ; Vecernje Novosti, 1997-01-31
[05] OWNERSHIP TRANSFORMATION MUST BE CONTINUED
We have to continue with the privatization of socially owned property, but
we will not make a sale nor can we expect to quickly complete this complex
task - in 6 months as some parties affirm." - said Mr. Branislav Vujinovic -
Chairman of the Belgrade Chamber of economy at a meeting about the
experiences in the privatization of the Yugoslav companies - held yesterday
in the Yugoslav Chamber of Economy. At the end of last year, there were
200.370 private companies and 188.596 shops in Yugoslavia, this being
almost 80 per cent of all registered firms in our country. Compared to the
situation at the end of 1991, the number of private firms has increased
four times. The Chairman of the Montenegrin Chamber of Economy - Dr. Vojin
Djukanovic - observed, that in Montenegro the first phase of privatization
has been completed and that this process is viewed as a way out of the
crisis. Reviewing the results of privatization in Serbia, Ms. Nada
Mijailovic, Director of the Serbian Agency for the Evaluation of Capital
Value, remarked that between 1990. and 1994. some 45% of all socially owned
companies have initiated the ownership transformation process.
Serbia Today, 1997-01-31 ; Politika, 1997-01-31
[06] YUGOSLAV-MACEDONIAN COOPERATION IN TRANSPORTS
Federal Minister of Transports and Communications - Dr. Zoran Vujovic,
received Mr. Boris Causevski - Under Secretary of the Macedonian Ministry
of transport, heading a state delegation visiting Yugoslavia. It has been
remarked that the cooperation in the transport sector gave a major
contribution to the enhancement of the overall bilateral cooperation
between FR Yugoslavia and Macedonia. It has been stressed that there are
major possibilities to further improve the relations in this area, and that
concrete agreements and contracts will be made in this sense. Due to the
great interest for cooperation in Balkan transports, it has been agreed
that Yugoslavia and Macedonia will jointly define a strategy regarding
Europe and other parts of the world. The two states have the identical
interest to ensure a large flow of goods and passengers in both directions
and with reduced costs, and they will, therefore, strive to liberalize to
the maximum the bilateral transport conditions.
Serbia Today, 1997-01-31 ; Borba, 1997-01-31
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