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YUGOSLAVIA WANTS GOOD RELATIONS WITH NEIGHBOURS - FOREIGN MINISTER
Yugoslav Foreign Minister Zivadin Jovanovic said in an interview to Romanian daily Jurnalul National that Yugoslavia wanted good relations with neighbouring countries, based on mutual respect.
As for Romania, Yugoslavia advocates relations based on traditional friendship, but is disappointed with the role played by the Romanian government during the NATO aggression last spring, Jovanovic said.
It is simply hard to believe that harming Yugoslavia was in the Romanian government's interest, Jovanovic said.
The help provided by Romania to NATO during its aggression on Yugoslavia was somewhat useful to NATO, but not to Bucharest or to Romania's honour, Jovanovic said.
Yugoslavia has not changed its policy and does not intend to do so, Jovanovic said, noting that bilateral relations were now frozen due to Romania's participation in pressures against Belgrade and its support to the NATO aggression.
Jovanovic expressed hope that Bucharest would in the future have a more rational approach to understanding between neighbours, mutual respect and non-interference in Yugoslavia's internal affairs.
This is in the interest of both countries and peoples, as well as of the entire region, he said.
Jovanovic also spoke of the causes and goals of the NATO aggression on Yugoslavia.
Jurnalul National had strongly criticized the brutal NATO assault on Yugoslavia and expressed open support to the Serb people.
ILLEGAL STEP BY OSCE, VLADISLAV JOVANOVIC SAYS
The decision of the organizers and of the Secretariat of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) not to invite Yugoslavia to the summit in Istanbul is contrary to the operating principles that are binding for the organization, Yugoslav head of mission to the UN Ambassador Vladislav Jovanovic told British radio BBC.
"Yugoslavia is a member of OSCE, and its previous suspension had also been in violation of OSCE principles," Jovanovic said.
He recalled that in 1992, the formula of "consensus minus one" was made up in OSCE to find a way to suspend the activities of Yugoslavia in that organization.
"Our position is that only the reactivating of our membership in the Organization can lead to further successes, both of OSCE in our territory and to overcoming the problems we have with that organization," the Yugoslav ambassador said.
The Yugoslav head of mission to the UN said that OSCE had devalued itself greatly by renouncing its independence and by agreeing to be an instrument in the hands of NATO countries, particularly of the United States.
"What those countries decide OSCE carries out, when Yugoslavia is involved."
"The decision not to invite Yugoslavia to the summit, and to invite parts of Yugoslavia and individuals from Yugoslavia, is a form of legal suicide which OSCE is committing because it, as its name says, is a an organization of sovereign states in Europe and not an organization of provinces of those states, even less of individuals, whatever the role or importance they might have. Such an approach is completely illegal and politically detrimental," Jovanovic said when asked about the invitation of Czech President Vaclav Havel to some representatives of the Serbian opposition and to Montenegrin President to come to Istanbul.
KOSOVO ALBANIANS PROMISE SERBS FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT
Serbs, ethnic Albanians and Gypsies again met in Orahovac on Wednesday, with the presence of UNMIK representatives, to discuss greater security for Serbs who have been living in this Kosovo and Metohija town for several months now surrounded by barricades manned by ethnic Albanian extremists, radio amateurs of this southern Serbian province said late Wednesday.
After a fierce debate and great pressure from mediators of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), ethnic Albanians pledged to guarantee freedom of movement to Serbs on the route Orahovac-Velika Hoca, mostly to enable secondary school students to attend classes which should start soon.
The Kosovo Albanians promised to guarantee Serbs security also in the area of the Christian Orthodox cemetary, as the Serbs had been forced these past months to bury their dead in the churchyard.
It was also agreed that all Serbs can work their fields, regardless of their location, and it was decided to establish a regular bus line from Orahovac to Serbia proper. The ethnic Albanians promised that passengers would not be abused or stoned.
Serbs were reserved about the signing of this document on easing ethnic tensions, as the ethnic Albanians had agreed to these demands only after very strong pressure from the UNMIK representatives.
UNMIK CHIEF KOUCHNER CONTINUES VIOLATING RESOLUTION 1244
The UN civilian mission in Serbia's Kosovo-Metohija province (UNMIK) set up Wednesday a Banking and Payments Authority for Kosovo (BPK) having central bank prerogatives, in another violation of the relevant UN Security Council Resolution 1244.
The BPK will issue licenses and regulate banking operations in the province.
As Kosovo-Metohija remains a Yugoslav province, UNMIK had to avoid naming the BPK a central bank, AP said in its report.
The Resolution 1244 does not empower UNMIK chief Bernard Kouchner to take decisions separating Kosovo-Metohija from Serbia's and Yugoslavia's financial, judiciary, telecommunications, postal or other systems
The BPK will be headed by former US chief banking inspector Jimmy Barton. Its initial capital will be 5 million German marks (2.64 dollars).
DONORS PLEDGE AID, BUT SITUATION IN KOSOVO DETERIORATING
The 2nd donor conference for Serbia's Kosovo and Metohija province ended in Brussels on Wednesday after participants pledged to earmark over a billion dollars for the reconstruction of the province, the meeting organizers said on Thursday.
The organizers, including representatives of the World Bank (W.B.) and European Commission (E.U.), failed to mention the perpetrators who caused material damage or the extremely unfavourable social-political situation resulting from the NATO aggression and the selective implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1244 on the southern Serbian province.
Priority needs for Kosovo's reconstruction, according to expert analyses, have been estimated at 1.1 billion dollars, and 2.3 billion should be invested by the end of the year 2003.
It has been proven so far, however, that far greater funds are spent on maintaining the military and civilian UN missions which have failed in their elementary task - to protect the rights of provincial citizens - than is in fact being invested in the reconstruction of Kosovo's economy.
UN High Representative for Kosovo and Metohija Bernard Kouchner reiterated that much more money was required for the salaries of mission members.
How can violence in Kosovo and Metohija be reduced if there are no funds, aid or investments, Kouchner asked while organizing a one-national pro-Albanian administration with over 65,000 employees.
The E.U. has so far earmarked only 36 million dollars to help the public sector in Kosovo and Metohija and the recovery of a certain number of economic objects. This is part of the overall package of about 500 million euros to be earmarked from the E.U. budget for Kosovo's reconstruction next year, commission sources said.
After promises to send a billion euros every year over the next three years to Kosovo and Metohija, the E.U. included in its draft budget for next year hardly half the pledged sum - 500 million euros.
GOOD CHANCES FOR SIGNING A EUROPEAN SECURITY CHARTER - YELTSIN
Russian President Boris Yeltsin said Wednesday in Istanbul that there were good chances for signing a European security charter at the OSCE summit, provided it is presented in the same form as it has been drawn up.
Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov also said that the charter had been worked out to such a degree that it could be realistically expected to be signed Thursday.
The Russian delegation is ready to take part in finalizing the remaining formulations during the night, if other participants do not come up with some "surprises", Ivanov said.
Russia is not ready for "surprises", Ivanov said.
OSCE WILL SEEK ACCEPTABLE FORMULAS - RUSSIAN OFFICIAL
President of the Russian State Duma committee for international issues Vladimir Lukin said Wednesday in Istanbul that he expected the forthcoming OSCE summit to reach an understanding regarding Serbia's Kosovo-Metohija province and northern Caucasus.
An acceptable formula is being sought, Lukin said quoted by Russian media.
Western states want the OSCE summit to adopt an appeal concerning Chechnya, while Russia considers this can be done, provided an appeal regarding Kosovo-Metohija is also adopted.
There is a real chance for signing a charter on European security at the summit, Lukin said.
Noting that the US wants that document to include a view that the OSCE is not a leading organization, Lukin said this would be impossible.
YELTSIN AT OSCE SUMMIT CONDEMNS NATO AGGRESSION AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA
Russian President Boris Yeltsin strongly condemned in Istanbul Thursday interference in the affairs of our states under the pretext of protection of human rights, citing as an example NATO's aggression on Yugoslavia.
Russian news agencies reported, Yeltsin, who repudiated calls for "humanitarian interference" in the internal affairs of others in a speech at the OSCE summit, specifically said that outside interference had negative and "disproportionate" consequences.
"All we need to do is to recall NATO's aggression, led by the United States, against Yugoslavia," he said.
Reports from Istanbul said U.S. President Bill Clinton reacted to that part of Yeltsin's speech by saying that he could not agreed with the assessment of comrade Boris.
Yeltsin said in his speech he was confident that the realization of peace and security in Europe would be possible if it is based on partnership on an equal footing, mutual confidence and on what Europeans have achieved so far.
"I underline - what we Europeans have done on our continent," the Russian President added, apparently alluding to U.S. attempts to break up the unity of European countries.
Yeltsin firmly rejected the criticism leveled at Russia by Western countries because of its actions in Chechnya and confirmed that there will be no negotiations with "bandits and killers."
"Stability and security in Europe cannot be reviewed without Russia and you do not have the right to criticize Russia because of Chechnya," Yeltsin told the leaders of OSCE member countries.
Confirming the readiness of Russia for cooperation within OSCE, Yeltsin stressed the need for "dialogue and mutual respect", and not admonitions and moralizing and insisted that the Charter for European Security be signed today because the Russian delegation was returning tomorrow to Moscow.
Several minutes before Yeltsin's speech, OSCE chairman, Norwegian Foreign Minister Knut Vollebaek said that experts consider that all differences had been overcome over the formulation of joint positions, and proposed that the signing of the Charter be postponed.
MONTENEGRIN PARLIAMENT ADOPTS PROPERTY BILL
The Montenegrin Parliament on Wednesday passed a law on property of this Yugoslav republic, which envisages that state property be administered by the Montenegrin government and local authorities.
The law specifies that land, forests, waters, the coast, seabed, mineral resources, broadcasting frequencies, air space, airports, railways, roads and other goods of public interest should become state property.
The deputies of the opposition Socialist People's Party (SNP) had strongly criticized the law as giving to the Montenegrin government too wide powers, while the opposition Liberal Alliance took the position that the law could not be implemented without first carrying out denationalisation.
The parliament requested the government to draw up a denationalisation bill by the end of the year.
The parliament also initiated a debate on a bill on expropriation, which will continue Thursday.
MONTENEGRIN LAW ON AMNESTY IN FLAGRANT VIOLATION OF YUGOSLAV CONSTITUTION AND LAWS, BULATOVIC SAYS
The law on amnesty for draftees from the territory of Montenegro for committing the criminal act of dodging military service during NATO's aggression last spring, represents a flagrant violation of the Constitution of FR Yugoslavia, of federal laws on defense and on the Yugoslav Army, as well as of the Constitution of Montenegro, said Thursday in a special statement for Tanjug Yugoslav Defense Minister Pavle Bulatovic.
From the constitutional and legal aspect the mock-law does not constitute an obstacle for military judicial bodies to perform their duties, in conformity with the Constitution of FR Yugoslavia and federal laws, Bulatovic said.
He added that only the Yugoslav federal parliament has the authority to grant amnesty for criminal acts under federal laws, and that no one has the right to prevent citizens from fighting against an enemy who has attacked the country.
According to Bulatovic, the Montenegrin law on amnesty also has ethical deficiencies, because it grants amnesty to those who refused to be drafted on moral grounds while neglecting the ethics of 65,000 citizens of Montenegro who have responded to the call to defend their country from NATO aggressors.
NATO-RUSSIAN COUNCIL MEETS IN SESSION
NATO and Russia are ready to cooperate closely in order to protect members of minority communities in Serbia's Kosovo and Metohija province toward the establishment of a multiethnic society - this is the most important point of a brief statement released after a session of the NATO-Russia Permanent Council which was held at ambassadorial level in Brussels on Wednesday.
At Russia's request, the agenda covered only cooperation within international peace forces in Bosnia-Herzegovina (SFOR) and Kosovo and Metohija (KFOR).
NATO and Russia reiterated their determination closely to cooperate in Kosovo and Metohija so as to ensure protection of minorities.
After freezing official relations with NATO because of the alliance's aggression on Yugoslavia last spring, Russia reduced contacts to issues of cooperation within international forces in the Balkans. Moscow refuses to discuss any other issues which NATO officials wish to impose, such as military strategy, conventional arms, or matters of security in Europe.
Russia believes it is not necessary at this time to de-freeze relations with the alliance since "NATO is not ready to talk seriously about security issues in Europe," as Russian Gen. Leonid Ivashov said recently.
OVER 15,000 TAKE PART IN ANTI-AMERICAN DEMONSTRATIONS
Over 15,000 people took part in Athens Wednesday evening in anti-American demonstrations to mark November 17 when in 1973 at the Polythecnic School started a rebellion against the military government of Gen. Papadopoulos, whose regime enjoyed the strong support of the U.S. administration at the time.
In the demonstrations, besides students and supporters of leftist political parties, took part a large number of citizens, which is interpreted by a strong anti-American sentiment in anticipation of the first visit of U.S. President Bill Clinton to Greece, scheduled for November 19.
Demonstrators carried banners with strong anti-American messages such as: Clinton get out of Greece, NATO and Americans go home, Balkan to the Balkans...
Demonstrators also carried U.S. flags with swastikas, many of which were burned.
Anti-American demonstrations in Athens ended without incidents by the delivery of a petition to U.S. Embassy representatives.
BILL CLINTON DUE TO ARRIVE IN SOFIA SUNDAY EVENING
U.S. President Bill Clinton will visit Bulgaria at the invitation of the Bulgarian head of state Petar Stojanov November 21-23, it was officially stated in Sofia Wednesday evening.
This is the first visit by the U.S. president to Bulgaria.
Clinton will meet with Bulgarian President Stojanov and with Prime Minister Ivan Kostov.
Clinton is due to pay a short visit to the Bulgarian parliament and to speak at a rally outside the church Alexander Nevski in Sofia.
The visit to Sofia is part of Clinton's Mediterranean tour that started two days ago in Turkey, during which he is to visit also Greece, Italy and Macedonia.
YUGOSLAV POLICE ARREST INTERNATIONAL GROUP OF HIJACKERS, MURDERERS
An organized international group of criminals, who operated in several European countries, hijacking trucks and buses and killing the drivers, have been arrested in Yugoslavia, a Serbia Interior Ministry official told the press Wednesday.
Daniel Medek, 25, a Slovak citizen, Vlastimil Nekl, 39, a Czech citizen, Boban Milosevic, 33, a Yugoslav citizen who resides in Trencin, Slovakia, and Pero Cuckovic, 27, a Yugoslav citizen, were arrested on Nov. 12.
Another member of the group, Andrei Mazan, 26, a Slovak citizen, is at large.
Head of the Serbia Interior Ministry Criminal Police Department, Gen. Dragan Ilic said that the group had been arrested after several months of joint efforts by the Serbia Criminal Police, the Yugoslav Interior Ministry and the Slovak and Austrian police.
SERBIAN JOURNALISTS PROTEST WITH UN MISSION IN KOSOVO AND METOHIJA
The Association of Journalists of Serbia (UNS) protested strongly on Wednesday over the conduct of the UN Civilian Mission in Kosovo and Metohija (UNMIK) in the sphere of informing charging it of preventing in the most drastic way the work of Serbian-language media.
The sole Serbian-language paper with a 55-year tradition, Jedinstvo, was evicted from the Press Centre in Pristina, for example, while the business facilities from which all property belonging to Panorama and Jedinstvo was looted, were handed over the newly-founded Albanian-language Dardanija Press and the School for Journalists, also in Albanian.
According to UNS, instead of creating the necessary conditions, with the aid of UNMIK, for the work of Jedinstvo and enabling the unimpeded work of this paper, in conditions when the lives and property of journalists are not safe and after they have been evicted from their apartments in Pristina, Serbian-language papers are seriously being threatened and the freedom of information is being prevented in this part of Serbia and Yugoslavia.
Such conduct, as well as the jamming of radio and television signals from the other parts of Serbia, are proof more that UNMIK does not intend to secure equal conditions for the information of all inhabitants of Kosovo and Metohija, but intends to completely reject the basic principles of the UN Charter and to grossly violate UN Security Council Resolution 1244 on Kosovo and Metohija.