THE HAGUE COURT'S INDICTMENT OF MILOSEVIC UNLAWFUL, FATAL KOSTUNICA
BELGRADE, October 7 (Tanjug) Yugoslav PresidentElect Vojislav
Kostunica said late on Friday he saw no reason for cooperation with the war
crimes court for the former Yugoslavia and dismissed its indictment of
Slobodan Milosevic as unlawful and even fatal.
Speaking for Serbian state Radio and Television (RTS), Kostunica
said that, of all the problems and troubles facing Yugoslavia, he hardly
thought that the Haguebased tribunal should come "first on the list" for
consideration.
He opined that the tribunal would within some time and for many
reasons become history, as the result of the way in which it had worked,
and because its existence was being called in question even from inside.
He noted that, some months ago, the question had been broached
whether those responsible for crimes committed in Yugoslavia at the time of
NATO's air strikes could be tried at the Hague.
He explained that an international organisation, Human Rights
Watch, had clearly identified a number of civilian killings in Yugoslavia
"that could be brought home to parts of the NATO structures.
"When War Crimes Court Prosecutor Carla del Ponte tells you that
there is no ground for criminal prosecution in this case, then the
Prosecutor herself calls in question the entire Court", he said,
The added that similar instances of the court itself calling in
question its legitimity were numerous.
YUGOSLAV PARLIAMENT'S CHAMBER OF REPUBLICS BEGINS CONSTITUTIVE SESSION
BELGRADE, October 7 (Tanjug) The constitutive session of the
Chamber of Republics of the Yugoslav parliament began in Belgrade on
Saturday afternoon with the task of verifying the mandates of the new MPs.
The oldest MP on the new composition, Socialist People's Party
(SNP) of Montenegro deputy Mihailo Cetkovic opened the session, which was
attended by outgoing Chamber President Srdja Bozovic.
The Chamber set up a Verification Committee which should make a
report which will serve as the basis for the Chamber's verification of the
new mandates. The upper house will resume work after a 20minute break.
It is expected that the lower house, the Chamber of Citizens, will
also begin a constitutive session this evening.
After the separate sessions end work, the chambers will hold a
joint session at which newly elected Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica
will be sworn in.
YUGOSLAV ARMY SAYS CONDITIONS MET FOR WORKING WITH NEW PRESIDENT
BELGRADE, October 7 (Tanjug) The Yugoslav Army Command said late
on Friday the announcement of the final results of Yugoslavia's September
24 presidential election "has created the legal conditions for establishing
functional relations with the new Yugoslav president".
The Yugoslav Constitutional Court announced on October 6 that
Vojislav Kostunica won the September 24 presidential vote, which created
the necessary legal conditions for establishing functional relations with
the new president of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
With its action in connection with recognising the new president
of the F.R.Y., the Yugoslav Army has proven that it is consistent on its
publicly proclaimed positions, the Army statement said.
"Members of the Army of Yugoslavia consistently adhere to all
constitutional provisions and laws which regulate the question of military
defence of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
"The Army of Yugoslavia is united and unwavering in its efforts to
remain a cohesive force in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
"The Army of Yugoslavia respects the will of the people expressed
in the free and democratic elections, and the procedures and solutions
resulting from the specific features of the multiparty system.
"The Army of Yugoslavia defends and shall continue to defend the
interests of the people of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, as well as
the independence, territorial integrity, sovereignty and constitutional
system of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
"The Army of Yugoslavia shall not change its attitude to the
institution of president of Yugoslavia in the capacity as supreme commander
of the armed forces, or to any other competent institutions of state
administration.
"The Army of Yugoslavia protects the borders of the federation and
remains a factor of stability and peace on the territory of the Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia.
"The Army of Yugoslavia makes no change in its proclaimed
positions, and remains consistent in its efforts to discharge its defence
function.
"After the inauguration of the presidentelect, the military
leadership shall, as before, discharge its constitutional obligations
professionally and honourably, and shall do everything to continue, with
the help of state institutions, the process of its own reorganisation and
modernisation", the statement said.
MONTENEGRIN PREMIER VOWS TO SAFEGUARD STATE, EQUALITY
PODGORICA, October 7 (Tanjug) Montenegro's Premier has said he
believes that Yugoslav PresidentElect Vojislav Kostunica will keep his
election promise and work for a democratic accord between the Yugoslav
federal units Serbia and Montenegro.
Filip Vujanovic is quoted by Podgorica's Pobjeda newspaper on
Saturday as saying for BosniaHerzegovina independent television that
Montenegro wants to protect its statehood, the autonomy of the Montenegrin
nation and the equality of its people.
Vujanovic added he expected Kostunica to "carry out in
communication with Montenegro what was agreed at Sveti Stefan (ahead of
Sept. 24 polls) in a meeting between Montenegro's ruling coalition
(Democratic Party of Socialists, National Party, Social Democratic Party)
and the Serbian opposition".
E.U. OFFICIAL: VACANT SEAT ON STABILITY PACT WAITING FOR YUGOSLAVIA
SKOPJE, October 7 (Tanjug) European Union (E.U.) coordinator for
implementing the Pact on the stabilization of southeastern Europe Bodo
Hombach of Germany arrived on a twoday visit to Macedonia on Saturday and
said in Skopje that he would submit concrete proposals on aid for
Yugoslavia to the E.U. Council of Ministers on Monday.
The sanctions against Yugoslavia will be lifted already on Monday,
Hombach confirmed in a talk with reporters after today's meeting in Skopje
with Prime Minister Ljupco Georgievski.
"A vacant seat is waiting for Yugoslavia at the Pact for
stability," he said, as well as in other European institutions from which
it has been absent for years.
Hombach underscored that democratic Yugoslavia has serious tasks
ahead, but that Europe will help it. This will not be done to the detriment
of other countries of southeastern Europe, he added, which have joined the
Pact for stability and which also need help.
Plans about financial assistance for Serbia already exist, and the
E.U. and financial institutions will join in their realization, Hombach said.
Georgievski confirmed to reporters that the main subject at
today's talks with Hombach had been aid to Yugoslavia and its inclusion in
European integration processes.
Hombach will be received by Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski
in Ohrid on Sunday.
YUGOSLAVIA'S KOSTUNICA, MILOSEVIC MEET
BELGRADE, October 7 (Tanjug) Yugoslavia's PresidentElect Vojislav
Kostunica said late of Friday he had met earlier in the day with his
predecessor Slobodan Milosevic.
"The meeting was important from the point of view of normal
relations between the incoming and outgoing presidents", Kostunica told
Serbian state Radio and Television (RTS), describing as "positive that the
communication took place".
The meeting shows that the transfer of power will be peaceful,
according to Kostunica, who said he had explained to Milosevic that "power,
once lost, is not lost forever".
He said Milosevic had not congratulated him on his victory, however.
OUTGOING PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC CONGRATULATES SUCCESSOR KOSTUNICA
BELGRADE, October 7 (Tanjug) Outgoing Yugoslav President Slobodan
Milosevic said late on Friday he had received official information that
challenger Vojislav Kostunica had won the September 24 presidential
election, and congratulated him on his victory.
The ruling was made by the Yugoslav Constitutional Court, which is
competent under the Constitution to decide on such matters, and the ruling
must be respected, Milosevic said, speaking for YuInfo television.
"I wish to thank all those who placed their trust in me and voted
for me in this election, but I thank also all those who did not vote for
me, because they have lifted from my shoulders a heavy burden of
responsibility that has been weighing me down for ten years.
"As for my party, it will be a very powerful opposition force. I
have always said that a party can never show its strength and its qualities
unless it is in opposition for a while, because the time in opposition
allows it to unburden itself of the opportunists.
"I am sure that the time ahead will be of great use in this
respect both to the Socialist Party of Serbia and to the Yugoslav Left, and
I am sure that it will strengthen them so greatly as to allow them to win
the next election very convincingly.
"Because of the feeling of great relief at the removal of the huge
burden of responsibility that I have carried for a full decade, I plan to
take a short rest, to spend more time with my family, especially with my
grandson Marko.
"Afterwards, I shall continue, first of all, to strengthen my
party so that it should, together with the forces that stand with it, in
the life of Yugoslav society, make a great contribution to the country's
further development, as they had done at the time of national defence, of
postaggression reconstruction and now, in these early development steps,
which have been so successful.
"I congratulate Mr Kostunica on his electoral victory and wish all
people of Yugoslavia success in the term of office of the new president",
Milosevic said.
SERBIAN PARLIAMENT TO HOLD SESSION MONDAY
BELGRADE, October 6 (Tanjug). Serbian parliament Speaker Dragan
Tomic has convened for Monday the first meeting of the second regular
parliament session, the parliamentary press service said.
The agenda includes:
A draft parliamentary statement on the election of Yugoslavia's
president proposed by the Serbian Renewal Movement (SPO),
A proposal to create a parliamentary inquiry board to investigate
the death of four high SPO officials on October. 3 last year, presented by
SPO,
A noconfidence motion for Serbian Minister of the Interior Vlajko
Stojiljkovic presented by the Serbian Radical Party (SRS),
A proposal to abrogate the law on public information presented by
SRS,
A bill on Serbia's RadioTelevision proposed by SRS,
A bill on creating a public publishing and broadcasting company
Politika AD presented by SRS,
A bill on privatization presented by SRS.
YUGOSLAV NATIONAL BANK GOVERNOR HALTS
SELLING HARD CURRENCY AND CREDITS FROM PRIMARY ISSUE
BELGRADE, October 6 (Tanjug) Yugoslav National Bank (NBJ)
Governor Dusan Vlatkovic sent a letter to Yugoslav President Vojislav
Kostunica on Friday to inform him that he has taken all the necessary
measures to ensure the functioning of NBJ, and that he has halted the
selling of hard currency and the granting of credits for any purpose from
primary issue until further notice, a statement issued by the Democratic
Opposition of Serbia (DOS) said on Friday.
Vlatkovic said in the letter that he has taken all measures in
conformity with his legal and constitutional prerogatives in order to
ensure that NBJ functions are carried out. He added that keeping in mind
the new situation in the country and the NBJ prerogatives, he was halting
the selling of hard currency and the granting of credits for any purpose
from primary issue until further notice.
He noted that he would submit a report on the NBJ activities to
the Yugoslav president and parliament, and added that if the NBJ or his own
work were unsatisfactory, he would offer his resignation, the statement says.
The statement was issued after Vlatkovic met Miroljub Labus and
Dusan Mihajlovic, envoys of President Kostunica.
MONTENEGRIN DJUKANOVIC PLEASED, NOT EUPHORIC AT YUGOSLAV POWER CHANGE
NIKSIC, October 7 (Tanjug) Montenegro's President Milo Djukanovic
said late on Friday that this Yugoslav republic "is today prepared to
discuss each separate specific solution for surmounting problems" in
relations with the other Yugoslav republic, Serbia.
Djukanovic said in Niksic, central Montenegro, that Yugoslavia's
PresidentElect Vojislav Kostunica could be a partner in the talks only as
"a representative of new democratic thought in Serbia", not in his capacity
as Yugoslav president.
Djukanovic went on to comment on Montenegro's attitude to the
Supreme Defence Council and the Army of Yugoslavia. He said Montenegro was
"very much interested in a transitional Defence Council" being constituted
as soon as possible and "the Yugoslav army being placed under civilian
administration as soon as possible, to avoid the possibility of its misuse".
Commenting on the power transfer in Belgrade, he said this was "no
cause for euphoria in Montenegro, but it is a cause for satisfaction,
because this outcome in Serbia has removed the threat of war to Montenegro".
Speaking about Yugoslavia's outgoing Prime Minister Momir
Bulatovic, a Montenegrin, Djukanovic said Montenegro had learned from the
example of Bulatovic that "a traitor must never again hold the helm of
Montenegro."
MILOSEVIC'S PLACE IS NO LONGER IN SERBIA MONTENEGRIN PEOPLE'S PARTY
PODGORICA, October 6 (Tanjug) President of the Montenegrin
People's Party (NSCG), one of the parties in the ruling coalition in
Montenegro, Dragan Soc said Friday that Serbia has shown its true,
historic, face by legalizing the victory of Vojislav Kostunica in the
presidential election. This has paved the way for putting the relations
between Serbia and Montenegro in order in a peaceful, patient and
democratic manner, and for their full integration into a democratic
community, Soc said.
MILOSEVIC INTENDS TO PLAY IMPORTANT POLITICAL ROLE IVANOV
BELGRADE, October 6 (Tanjug) Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov
said that the outgoing Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic had told him
he intended to continue playing an important role in Yugoslavia's political
life as the leader of the largest political party in the country.
Asked at a press conference at the Russian embassy in Belgrade
whether Milosevic's statement meant a recognition of Kostunica's victory,
Ivanov said he was only reporting what he had heard and that it was not up
to him to interpret what Milosevic had meant.
The political forces in Yugoslavia are able to resolve the present
difficulties by themselves and need no mediators, Ivanov said.
Ivanov noted that he met Friday with Yugoslav Presidentelect
Vojislav Kostunica, Milosevic and Foreign Minister Zivadin Jovanovic, and
that he had paid a courtesy visit to Patriarch Pavle of the Serbian
Orthodox Church.
Ivanov did not wish to say where his meeting with Milosevic was held.
THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA - FOREIGN REACTIONS
COUNCIL OF EUROPE MINISTERS SUPPORT YUGOSLAVIA'S KOSTUNICA
ROME, October 7 (Tanjug) The Council of Europe's committee of
foreign ministers on Friday gave full support to Yugoslavia's
PresidentElect Vojislav Kostunica.
Committee Chairman Lamberto Dini of Italy said the Committee fully
supported actions being taken by PresidentElect Kostunica.
The committee invited the civilian and military authorities in
Yugoslavia to cooperate in the establishment of the new administration
elected in the polls of September 24, Dini added.
The Council of Europe committee of foreign ministers invited
Yugoslavia to join the European family of nations, and expressed
willingness to consider new prospects of cooperation between the European
Council and that country.
EU TO LIFT OIL EMBARGO AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA ON MONDAY
BRUSSELS, October 6 (Tanjug) The foreign ministers of the
European Union memberstates will, at their Monday session in Luxemburg,
lift the oil embargo against Yugoslavia and definitely lift the ban on
civilian air traffic.
EU spokesman said in Brussels that there were no differences among
the ministers in regard to these two issues and that a decision by
consensus was expected.
The European Commission (EC) will submit to the ministerial
council meeting in Luxemburg an official proposal for the lifting of the
oil embargo, imposed on Yugoslavia last year over the crisis in Serbia's
KosovoMetohija province.
If the ministers agree, the embargo will be lifted within a few
days of the official announcement of the decision.
The same procedure applies to the complete lifting of the ban on
civilian flights, which was suspended last April.
As for the lifting of other sanctions the financial embargo and
the ban on granting visas to a number of individuals close to the Slobodan
Milosevic's regime considerable differences exist among EU members. Their
lifting will consequently be postponed until the memberstates reach agreement.
The arms embargo will remain in force, as it is under the
authority of the UN, not the EU.
Contacts with Belgrade will be resumed shortly and an exchange of
highlevel delegations is expected, EU sources said.
The EC has endorsed the proposal that a mission should travel to
Belgrade as soon as possible to assess Serbia's needs of funding, the EC
spokesman said Friday. The mission will comprise representatives of
the EU and several international organizations.
In an earlier decision, the sum of 240 million euros was earmarked
for aid to Yugoslavia from the EU budget. The funds should be released
after the EU and european Parliament take a decision to that effect on the
basis of the mission's report.
BRITISH PRIME MINISTER CONGRATULATES YUGOSLAVIA'S NEW PRESIDENT
BELGRADE, October 6 (Tanjug) British Prime Minister Tony Blair
addressed on Friday a message of congratulations to Yugoslavia's newly
elected president Vojislav Kostunica.
"I welcome the prospect of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
reentering the European mainstream and I will lend my full support to that
goal. As a starting point, I expect the European Union to move quickly to
respond to your call for a lifting of sanctions", Blair said in the message
a copy of which was made available to Tanjug.
SCHUESSEL: WE ARE OBLIGED TO HELP YUGOSLAVIA
ZAGREB, October 6 (Tanjug) We are obliged to help Yugoslavia in
normalizing the situation, Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel said in
Zagreb on Friday, saying he was certain that Slobodan Milosevic was toppled
and that the new Yugoslav president would be sworn in.
After talks with Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan, Schuessel
appealed for restraint from violence in Yugoslavia. He said he hoped
Milosevic would not resort to force in order to stay in power.
Racan said Croatia was interested in its neighbors being
democratic countries and that it supports the creation of a democratic
Serbia. Croatia will confirm this interest through its policy, he said.
During today's visit to Croatia, Schuessel is to meet with
President Stjepan Mesic and parliament President Zlatko Tomcic.
ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER: ANTIYUGOSLAV SANCTIONS TO BE LIFTED AS OF MONDAY
ROME, October 6 (Tanjug) The European Union sanctions against
Yugoslavia will be lifted gradually as of Monday, October. 9, Italian Prime
Minister Giuliano Amato said on Friday.
The EU ministers will meet in Luxemburg on Monday and will first
lift the oil embargo. This will be followed by the lifting of the financial
sanctions and by preparations for closer ties and cooperation between
Yugoslavia and Europe, Amato said.
The election of Vojislav Kostunica as president of Yugoslavia has
drastically changed the overall picture and prospects of relations between
the EU and Yugoslavia, Amato said.
MACEDONIAN PRESIDENT CONGRATULATES KOSTUNICA
SKOPJE, October 6 (Tanjug) Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski
said on Friday in Bitolj, south Macedonia, that he congratulates newly
elected Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica, the new government, all the
democratic opposition and the Yugoslav people on their victory.
According to the statement issued in his cabinet in Skopje, the
historical events in Yugoslavia have become obvious and the Yugoslav
people's wish for freedom and democracy was stronger than all attempts at
deceiving the will of the people.
Trajkovski added that he wants a peaceful transition of power in
Yugoslavia and its reintegration into Europe. He also wants to develop
friendly ties between Macedonia and Yugoslavia.
The new realities open vast possibilities for future development
and the improvement of the bilateral friendly relations between the two
states and their peoples, said Trajkovski.
BOSNIAHERZEGOVINA FOREIGN MINISTRY SUPPORTS KOSTUNICA
SARAJEVO, October 6 (Tanjug) The Foreign Ministry of Bosnia and
Herzegovina said in Sarajevo on Friday that the country "fully supports the
newlyelected president of FR Yugoslavia, Vojislav Kostunica, and expects
the legal procedure of his appointment satisifed."
"About the authorities in Belgrade, Bosnia and Herzegovina will
judge by their acts and their relationship towards Bosnia and Herzegovina,"
the statement said and also that it expected from the new authorities to
comply with the Dayton peace agreement and the decisions of other
international conferences about the situation in the region and the
organization of relations between BosniaHerzegovina and FR Yugoslavia.
In that respect Bosnia and Herzegovina is ready to immediately
establish diplomatic relations with FR Yugoslavia without any conditions as
provided by the Dayton agreement and the conclusions of the international
conference in Sintra.
The Foreign Ministry also proposed that soon after the formation
of the new government in Belgrade, an exchange of visits takes place
between the two countries on the ministerial level.
In connection with the situation in FR Yugoslavia, the foreign
minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Jadranko Prlic, sent on Friday a
message to Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou in which he made the
initiative that in the next few days be organized a meeting of the
representatives of countries neighbouring FR Yugoslavia to extend support
to the new authorities in Belgrade and review the situation that arose
after the elections in that country the statement said.
FROM THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA
DEMOCRATIC AUTHORITIES BEGIN TO CREATE YUGOSLAVIA'S KOSTUNICA
BELGRADE, October 6 (Tanjug) Yugoslavia's PresidentElect Vojislav
Kostunica said late on Thursday he had taken his first steps with the
creation of a new democratic authority in Serbia, which the people had
voted into power on September 24. Kostunica said on Serbian state Radio and
Television (RTS) he was referring to the constituting of the Yugoslav
federal parliament, whose deputies were assembling, and to the City
Council, which had been constituted and would make sure all municipal
services were functioning properly, to the wellbeing of the Belgraders.
Expressing pleasure that the vision of Serbia he had cherished for
years was coming to pass, he said this was of a normal democratically
organised state, without internal tension, without disputes, with a normal
relationship between the government and opposition.
"The worst of it is that we have for years lived in a country
where there has been no proper communication between those representing the
government and those representing the opposition, as though it had been
easier to talk to the whole world, as though, in the case of Slobodan
Milosevic, it had been easier to negotiate at Dayton, Ohio, to reach
accords with Richard Holbrooke, like the one of October. 13, 1998, as
though it had been easier to agree to the Kumanovo capitulation, consent to
the deployment of foreign troops to Kosovo, while at the same time
demonstrating total incapacity with a section of one's own nation that
thought differently", Kostunica said.
Stressing that he is "president of state, president of all people,
one who must rise above party interests and reconcile all interests,"
Kostnica said there had been none of this in this country and that the
president of Yugoslavia had represented neither all the people, nor both
federal units.
He stressed that democracy must be the foundation of a state,
which was the image that Serbia was beginning to project, and added that
the RTS would be open both to the positions of those who won the elections
and to all other voices in Serbia.
People belonging to the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS), the
Yugoslav Left (JUL), the Serbian Radical Party (SRS), must be given space
on state television, which must not serve the interests of one party, but
reflect the mood of the people, he said.
He urged a democratic state, without internal tension, with
normalised relations with other states, noting that this would not be easy
because "among those countries there are those that have gravely sinned
against us."
"These are countries that bombed Yugoslavia last year, which is a
crime and destruction that we cannot forgive, but we cannot live out of the
world, we must adjust to it, while placing high value on our national
dignity and national interests", he said.
He said it was to be expected that the European Union, when it
meets on Monday, will lift sanctions against Yugoslavia, because the
country has set out down the road of democracy.
Lifting of the sanctions and resumption of relations with
international financial institutions will make it possible for the money
that has been draining out of the country to start flowing back in, where
the role of the expatriates interested in investing in the homeland will be
important, according to Kostunica.
"The country's recovery after the lifting of the sanctions will be
swift, because the circumstances we have been living in have been very
difficult", he said, adding that Yugoslavia would immediately be
incorporated in the Southeast Europe Stabilisation Pact, as a way for the
NATO states to repay, in one form, some of the damage they have caused.
Kostunica described as positive the reconstruction of
NATOdestroyed facilities, adding, however, that this has not been the
achievement of one party, but of the people.
He announced a more radical, more widespread reconstruction of the
country, whose chief characteristic would be that it would not be the feat
of any one party.
There must be no revanchism, he reiterated, stressing that he had
given his word there would be no retaliation, and that the people must
learn to live with political differences.
He said many details in the work of the Haguebased tribunal for
the former Yugoslavia made it a shameful institution, adding it was a
political rather than a legal institutions, and in fact not a court at all.
This is not an international, but an American court, under the
control of the U.S. Administration, a weapon for achieving its influence in
this region, according to Kostunica.
He said there could be no cooperation with the Hague court in the
matter of extradition of Yugoslav citizens.
He said that Yugoslavia's new premier must be designated in line
with the Constitution, which dictates that, when the president is from one
federal unit, the prime minister must be from the other.
In this case, the post must be offered to the strongest party in
Montenegro, which is the Socialist People's Party (SNP), and to the person
capable of reconciling the two confronted halves of Montenegro, Kostunica
explained.
He said he would work towards calling new free elections for the
federal parliament within a year and a half, and for drawing up very soon a
new Constitution acceptable to both Yugoslav federal units Serbia and
Montenegro.
KOSTUNICA: SERBIA IS ABLE TO ACHIEVE ITS FREEDOM BY ITSELF
BELGRADE, October 5 (Tanjug). Yugoslav Presidentelect Vojislav
Kostunica told a crowd of several hundred thousand people in central
Belgrade Thursday evening that he was proud to see the people of Serbia
show their trust in him by electing him president of the Federal Republic
of Yugoslavia.
Kostunica said he won the election thanks to the fundamental
principles of democracy, in which people exercise their free will, even
under very difficult circumstances in which the Sep. 24 elections were held.
He underlined that the claims of the leftist coalition that the
new authorities were a NATO spearhead were entirely false.
"We need neither Moscow nor Washington. Serbia is able to achieve
its freedom by itself, and your presence here in such numbers is proof of
this", he said.
Recalling that he had been saying at all preelection rallies
throughout Serbia that peace must prevail in Serbia and in its relations
with Montenegro, Kostunica promised that Serbia would be ruled by law only
and that there would be no more violence or theft.
"We shall defend Serbia with our own weapons with truth against
their lies, with nonviolence against their use of force", Kostunica said in
reference to the regime of Slobodan Milosevic. Serbia is the heart and
the shield of Europe, it is the most European part of Europe, but without
Slobodan Milosevic, he stressed.
"There must be no more sanctions against this country", Kostunica
said.
Responding to cries from the crowd calling for a march on Dedinje,
elite residential district of Belgrade where Milosevic has his residence,
Kostunica resolutely said: "We shall not march on Dedinje, it is not our
place. We are here at the parliament, a true system institution where the
people have brought us and where we shall fight our battles".
Kostunica then urged all those present to stay together and
expressed hope that more people would come to the area between the three
parliaments Yugoslav, Serbian and Belgrade to peacefully defend the
election victory.
G17PLUS APPEALS FOR RETURN OF ARMS TAKEN FROM POLICE
BELGRADE, October 5 (Tanjug). The independent thinktank G17plus
urged Thursday evening all persons who have taken arms from police stations
to bring them to the Belgrade city council.
G17plus Coordinator Predrag Markovic visited Tanjug in the evening
and asked the agency to carry the appeal, in order to prevent any unwanted
incidents.
Markovic also urged people celebrating in the streets not to loot
shops or damage any other property.
YUGOSLAVIA SERBIA MINERS
SERBIAN COALMINERS END STRIKE
LAZAREVAC, October 5 (Tanjug). The miners of the openpit coal mine
Kolubara will not allow the Obrenovac thermoelectric power plant near
Belgrade to stop, member of the strike committee Radoslav Jovanovic told
Tanjug Thursday evening.
The Obrenovac plant will have enough coal for minimum power
generation tomorrow (Friday) Jovanovic said.
Jovanovic was unable to say when the plant will be able to operate
at full capacity, but noted that the strike committee will meet early
Friday to discuss details on resuming production at full capacity.
Underlining that the only demand of the miners was the recognition
of the voters' will at the Sep. 24 presidential and federal elections,
Jovanovic said that all miners were present at their jobs and that the
equipment stood ready to be used.
The Kolubara miners went on strike one week ago, and power cuts
started throughout Serbia two days later.
YUGOSLAVIA - ARMY, POLICE
YUGOSLAV ARMY CONTINUES REGULAR ACTIVITIES
BELGRADE, October 6 (Tanjug) The Yugoslav Army's Combined Chiefs
of Staff ended session early on Friday without releasing a statement, which
sources close to the army command interpret as indicating that the army
will remain committed to its often repeated position that it will act
within its constitutional competence.
TANJUG learns that the army will act only in case of direct
threats to military facilities, personnel and materiel.
According to TANJUG correspondents' reports, no troop movements
have been noticed in any part of the country. According to them, the army
is on Friday morning engaged on its regular duties, training and securing
of the state borders.
BELGRADE POLICE CHIEF SAYS POLICE WILL NOT INTERVENE AGAINST PEOPLE
BELGRADE, October 6 (Tanjug) Belgrade Police Chief Branko Djuric
has offered assurances to the Democratic Opposition of Serbia (DOS) that
the police will not intervene against people demonstrating in the streets
of the capital.
According to sources close to DOS, Djuric said the security forces
would intervene only in case of drastic disruptions of public law and order
and threats to property.
E.U.'S SOLANA SAYS ANTIYUGOSLAV SANCTIONS TO BE LIFTED AS OF MONDAY
BRUSSELS, October 6 (Tanjug) The European Union will start
lifting sanctions against Yugoslavia as of Monday, when the foreign
ministers of the fifteen E.U. nations are meeting in Luxemburg, according
to E.U. chief foreign policy representative Javier Solana.
Solana told BBC Radio the ministerial meeting was called for
Monday, and the lifting of the sanctions would begin as of that day. He
explained this was a clear signal of a willingness to open new relations
with democratic Yugoslavia, adding the lifting of the sanctions was a
matter of days.
French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine, whose country holds the
E.U. rotating presidency, said late Thursday he would be setting in motion
the necessary procedure for the decision to lift the sanctions to be made
on Monday.
FISCHER SUPPORTS FRANCE'S PROPOSAL FOR LIFTING OF SANCTIONS
BERLIN, October 6 (Tanjug) German Foreign Minister Joseph Fischer
said in Berlin on Friday that Germany supports France's proposal that in
Luxembourg on Monday be discussed the speedy lifting of sanctions against
Serbia.
"Serbia must be accepted with wide open hands into the family of
European countries, because its people said so clearly NO to dictatorship,"
Fischer said.
Fischer repeated on Friday he hoped that, just as 11 years ago in
Eastern Germany, the peaceful revolution in Belgrade will also be conducted
without bloodshed.
The German news agency DPA said in that connection it seemed that
will be case, and carried as urgent a statement to Tanjug by an unnamed
source in the Yugoslav Army that the army had no intention to prevent the
implementation of the will of citizens of Yugoslavia.
CROATIA FOLLOWS YUGOSLAV CHANGES WITH APPROVAL
ZAGREB, October 6 (Tanjug) Croatia, where Belgrade developments
have received unprecedented publicity, is following with approval the
political changes in Yugoslavia and recognises the victory of Vojislav
Kostunica in September 24 presidential election.
Commenting on the Belgrade developments, Croatian President
Stjepan Mesic said that "the events rocking Serbia, where the people, led
by the opposition, have started dismantling the institutions of the regime,
were to be expected."
Mesic said the Yugoslav situation could resolve itself also in the
worst possible way, and that whether or not the "Romanian scenario" is
acted out would depend, in his view, on the army.
He believes it would be "best for Milosevic to go, and for the
winners of the elections to offer a solution to the Serbian people".
The Croatian government, too, has made itself heard in connection
with the Yugoslav developments, expressing conviction that the developments
signal "the end of the undemocratic regime of Slobodan Milosevic" and the
beginning of a normalisation in Serbia.
MACEDONIAN GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS DEMOCRATIC CHANGES IN YUGOSLAVIA
SKOPJE, October 6 (Tanjug) Democracy won a victory in Yugoslavia
on Thursday, according to Macedonia's foreign minister on Friday.
In a brief statement for state television, Aleksandar Dimitrov
said Macedonia had been urging a democratic settlement of all problems in
Serbia and Yugoslavia, which was what happened on Thursday.
The most important thing now was to keep the peace and avoid
further bloodshed, he added.
According to local media, President Boris Trajkovski has launched
an initiative for heads of state of Southeast Europe to sign a declaration
supporting Kostunica's electoral victory.
Trajkovski explained Macedonia was acting in its capacity as
president of an association of Southeast European nations.
According to sources in Skopje, all Southeast European nations
have upheld Trajkovski's initiative, with the exception of the Romanian
government, which has not responded.
ALBANIA DOES NOT CHANGE POSITION ON SERBIAN KOSOVO PROVINCE
LONDON, October 6 (Tanjug) Albania's foreign minister said on
Friday that Albania would not be changing its position on the Kosovo issue
in the wake of the electoral victory of the Democratic Opposition of Serbia
(DOS).
Pascal Milo told the BBC the issue of Kosovo was vitally important
to Albanians, and that Tirana would not be changing its position on it.
Since the U.N. Security Council's Resolution 1244 provides for
giving Kosovo a wide autonomy, Milo urges that Albanians in the province be
allowed to decide about their status in a referendum.
He went on to say he believed that democratic Serbia would change
its attitude to Kosovo and hoped that Vojislav Kostunica, despite being a
nationalist, would be realistic and understand that Kosovo was a closed
chapter to Serbia now.
===
Bollettino di controinformazione del
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fatti circolare per il loro contenuto informativo al solo scopo di
segnalazione e commento ("for fair use only")
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BELGRADE, October 7 (Tanjug) Yugoslav PresidentElect Vojislav
Kostunica said late on Friday he saw no reason for cooperation with the war
crimes court for the former Yugoslavia and dismissed its indictment of
Slobodan Milosevic as unlawful and even fatal.
Speaking for Serbian state Radio and Television (RTS), Kostunica
said that, of all the problems and troubles facing Yugoslavia, he hardly
thought that the Haguebased tribunal should come "first on the list" for
consideration.
He opined that the tribunal would within some time and for many
reasons become history, as the result of the way in which it had worked,
and because its existence was being called in question even from inside.
He noted that, some months ago, the question had been broached
whether those responsible for crimes committed in Yugoslavia at the time of
NATO's air strikes could be tried at the Hague.
He explained that an international organisation, Human Rights
Watch, had clearly identified a number of civilian killings in Yugoslavia
"that could be brought home to parts of the NATO structures.
"When War Crimes Court Prosecutor Carla del Ponte tells you that
there is no ground for criminal prosecution in this case, then the
Prosecutor herself calls in question the entire Court", he said,
The added that similar instances of the court itself calling in
question its legitimity were numerous.
YUGOSLAV PARLIAMENT'S CHAMBER OF REPUBLICS BEGINS CONSTITUTIVE SESSION
BELGRADE, October 7 (Tanjug) The constitutive session of the
Chamber of Republics of the Yugoslav parliament began in Belgrade on
Saturday afternoon with the task of verifying the mandates of the new MPs.
The oldest MP on the new composition, Socialist People's Party
(SNP) of Montenegro deputy Mihailo Cetkovic opened the session, which was
attended by outgoing Chamber President Srdja Bozovic.
The Chamber set up a Verification Committee which should make a
report which will serve as the basis for the Chamber's verification of the
new mandates. The upper house will resume work after a 20minute break.
It is expected that the lower house, the Chamber of Citizens, will
also begin a constitutive session this evening.
After the separate sessions end work, the chambers will hold a
joint session at which newly elected Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica
will be sworn in.
YUGOSLAV ARMY SAYS CONDITIONS MET FOR WORKING WITH NEW PRESIDENT
BELGRADE, October 7 (Tanjug) The Yugoslav Army Command said late
on Friday the announcement of the final results of Yugoslavia's September
24 presidential election "has created the legal conditions for establishing
functional relations with the new Yugoslav president".
The Yugoslav Constitutional Court announced on October 6 that
Vojislav Kostunica won the September 24 presidential vote, which created
the necessary legal conditions for establishing functional relations with
the new president of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
With its action in connection with recognising the new president
of the F.R.Y., the Yugoslav Army has proven that it is consistent on its
publicly proclaimed positions, the Army statement said.
"Members of the Army of Yugoslavia consistently adhere to all
constitutional provisions and laws which regulate the question of military
defence of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
"The Army of Yugoslavia is united and unwavering in its efforts to
remain a cohesive force in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
"The Army of Yugoslavia respects the will of the people expressed
in the free and democratic elections, and the procedures and solutions
resulting from the specific features of the multiparty system.
"The Army of Yugoslavia defends and shall continue to defend the
interests of the people of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, as well as
the independence, territorial integrity, sovereignty and constitutional
system of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
"The Army of Yugoslavia shall not change its attitude to the
institution of president of Yugoslavia in the capacity as supreme commander
of the armed forces, or to any other competent institutions of state
administration.
"The Army of Yugoslavia protects the borders of the federation and
remains a factor of stability and peace on the territory of the Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia.
"The Army of Yugoslavia makes no change in its proclaimed
positions, and remains consistent in its efforts to discharge its defence
function.
"After the inauguration of the presidentelect, the military
leadership shall, as before, discharge its constitutional obligations
professionally and honourably, and shall do everything to continue, with
the help of state institutions, the process of its own reorganisation and
modernisation", the statement said.
MONTENEGRIN PREMIER VOWS TO SAFEGUARD STATE, EQUALITY
PODGORICA, October 7 (Tanjug) Montenegro's Premier has said he
believes that Yugoslav PresidentElect Vojislav Kostunica will keep his
election promise and work for a democratic accord between the Yugoslav
federal units Serbia and Montenegro.
Filip Vujanovic is quoted by Podgorica's Pobjeda newspaper on
Saturday as saying for BosniaHerzegovina independent television that
Montenegro wants to protect its statehood, the autonomy of the Montenegrin
nation and the equality of its people.
Vujanovic added he expected Kostunica to "carry out in
communication with Montenegro what was agreed at Sveti Stefan (ahead of
Sept. 24 polls) in a meeting between Montenegro's ruling coalition
(Democratic Party of Socialists, National Party, Social Democratic Party)
and the Serbian opposition".
E.U. OFFICIAL: VACANT SEAT ON STABILITY PACT WAITING FOR YUGOSLAVIA
SKOPJE, October 7 (Tanjug) European Union (E.U.) coordinator for
implementing the Pact on the stabilization of southeastern Europe Bodo
Hombach of Germany arrived on a twoday visit to Macedonia on Saturday and
said in Skopje that he would submit concrete proposals on aid for
Yugoslavia to the E.U. Council of Ministers on Monday.
The sanctions against Yugoslavia will be lifted already on Monday,
Hombach confirmed in a talk with reporters after today's meeting in Skopje
with Prime Minister Ljupco Georgievski.
"A vacant seat is waiting for Yugoslavia at the Pact for
stability," he said, as well as in other European institutions from which
it has been absent for years.
Hombach underscored that democratic Yugoslavia has serious tasks
ahead, but that Europe will help it. This will not be done to the detriment
of other countries of southeastern Europe, he added, which have joined the
Pact for stability and which also need help.
Plans about financial assistance for Serbia already exist, and the
E.U. and financial institutions will join in their realization, Hombach said.
Georgievski confirmed to reporters that the main subject at
today's talks with Hombach had been aid to Yugoslavia and its inclusion in
European integration processes.
Hombach will be received by Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski
in Ohrid on Sunday.
YUGOSLAVIA'S KOSTUNICA, MILOSEVIC MEET
BELGRADE, October 7 (Tanjug) Yugoslavia's PresidentElect Vojislav
Kostunica said late of Friday he had met earlier in the day with his
predecessor Slobodan Milosevic.
"The meeting was important from the point of view of normal
relations between the incoming and outgoing presidents", Kostunica told
Serbian state Radio and Television (RTS), describing as "positive that the
communication took place".
The meeting shows that the transfer of power will be peaceful,
according to Kostunica, who said he had explained to Milosevic that "power,
once lost, is not lost forever".
He said Milosevic had not congratulated him on his victory, however.
OUTGOING PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC CONGRATULATES SUCCESSOR KOSTUNICA
BELGRADE, October 7 (Tanjug) Outgoing Yugoslav President Slobodan
Milosevic said late on Friday he had received official information that
challenger Vojislav Kostunica had won the September 24 presidential
election, and congratulated him on his victory.
The ruling was made by the Yugoslav Constitutional Court, which is
competent under the Constitution to decide on such matters, and the ruling
must be respected, Milosevic said, speaking for YuInfo television.
"I wish to thank all those who placed their trust in me and voted
for me in this election, but I thank also all those who did not vote for
me, because they have lifted from my shoulders a heavy burden of
responsibility that has been weighing me down for ten years.
"As for my party, it will be a very powerful opposition force. I
have always said that a party can never show its strength and its qualities
unless it is in opposition for a while, because the time in opposition
allows it to unburden itself of the opportunists.
"I am sure that the time ahead will be of great use in this
respect both to the Socialist Party of Serbia and to the Yugoslav Left, and
I am sure that it will strengthen them so greatly as to allow them to win
the next election very convincingly.
"Because of the feeling of great relief at the removal of the huge
burden of responsibility that I have carried for a full decade, I plan to
take a short rest, to spend more time with my family, especially with my
grandson Marko.
"Afterwards, I shall continue, first of all, to strengthen my
party so that it should, together with the forces that stand with it, in
the life of Yugoslav society, make a great contribution to the country's
further development, as they had done at the time of national defence, of
postaggression reconstruction and now, in these early development steps,
which have been so successful.
"I congratulate Mr Kostunica on his electoral victory and wish all
people of Yugoslavia success in the term of office of the new president",
Milosevic said.
SERBIAN PARLIAMENT TO HOLD SESSION MONDAY
BELGRADE, October 6 (Tanjug). Serbian parliament Speaker Dragan
Tomic has convened for Monday the first meeting of the second regular
parliament session, the parliamentary press service said.
The agenda includes:
A draft parliamentary statement on the election of Yugoslavia's
president proposed by the Serbian Renewal Movement (SPO),
A proposal to create a parliamentary inquiry board to investigate
the death of four high SPO officials on October. 3 last year, presented by
SPO,
A noconfidence motion for Serbian Minister of the Interior Vlajko
Stojiljkovic presented by the Serbian Radical Party (SRS),
A proposal to abrogate the law on public information presented by
SRS,
A bill on Serbia's RadioTelevision proposed by SRS,
A bill on creating a public publishing and broadcasting company
Politika AD presented by SRS,
A bill on privatization presented by SRS.
YUGOSLAV NATIONAL BANK GOVERNOR HALTS
SELLING HARD CURRENCY AND CREDITS FROM PRIMARY ISSUE
BELGRADE, October 6 (Tanjug) Yugoslav National Bank (NBJ)
Governor Dusan Vlatkovic sent a letter to Yugoslav President Vojislav
Kostunica on Friday to inform him that he has taken all the necessary
measures to ensure the functioning of NBJ, and that he has halted the
selling of hard currency and the granting of credits for any purpose from
primary issue until further notice, a statement issued by the Democratic
Opposition of Serbia (DOS) said on Friday.
Vlatkovic said in the letter that he has taken all measures in
conformity with his legal and constitutional prerogatives in order to
ensure that NBJ functions are carried out. He added that keeping in mind
the new situation in the country and the NBJ prerogatives, he was halting
the selling of hard currency and the granting of credits for any purpose
from primary issue until further notice.
He noted that he would submit a report on the NBJ activities to
the Yugoslav president and parliament, and added that if the NBJ or his own
work were unsatisfactory, he would offer his resignation, the statement says.
The statement was issued after Vlatkovic met Miroljub Labus and
Dusan Mihajlovic, envoys of President Kostunica.
MONTENEGRIN DJUKANOVIC PLEASED, NOT EUPHORIC AT YUGOSLAV POWER CHANGE
NIKSIC, October 7 (Tanjug) Montenegro's President Milo Djukanovic
said late on Friday that this Yugoslav republic "is today prepared to
discuss each separate specific solution for surmounting problems" in
relations with the other Yugoslav republic, Serbia.
Djukanovic said in Niksic, central Montenegro, that Yugoslavia's
PresidentElect Vojislav Kostunica could be a partner in the talks only as
"a representative of new democratic thought in Serbia", not in his capacity
as Yugoslav president.
Djukanovic went on to comment on Montenegro's attitude to the
Supreme Defence Council and the Army of Yugoslavia. He said Montenegro was
"very much interested in a transitional Defence Council" being constituted
as soon as possible and "the Yugoslav army being placed under civilian
administration as soon as possible, to avoid the possibility of its misuse".
Commenting on the power transfer in Belgrade, he said this was "no
cause for euphoria in Montenegro, but it is a cause for satisfaction,
because this outcome in Serbia has removed the threat of war to Montenegro".
Speaking about Yugoslavia's outgoing Prime Minister Momir
Bulatovic, a Montenegrin, Djukanovic said Montenegro had learned from the
example of Bulatovic that "a traitor must never again hold the helm of
Montenegro."
MILOSEVIC'S PLACE IS NO LONGER IN SERBIA MONTENEGRIN PEOPLE'S PARTY
PODGORICA, October 6 (Tanjug) President of the Montenegrin
People's Party (NSCG), one of the parties in the ruling coalition in
Montenegro, Dragan Soc said Friday that Serbia has shown its true,
historic, face by legalizing the victory of Vojislav Kostunica in the
presidential election. This has paved the way for putting the relations
between Serbia and Montenegro in order in a peaceful, patient and
democratic manner, and for their full integration into a democratic
community, Soc said.
MILOSEVIC INTENDS TO PLAY IMPORTANT POLITICAL ROLE IVANOV
BELGRADE, October 6 (Tanjug) Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov
said that the outgoing Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic had told him
he intended to continue playing an important role in Yugoslavia's political
life as the leader of the largest political party in the country.
Asked at a press conference at the Russian embassy in Belgrade
whether Milosevic's statement meant a recognition of Kostunica's victory,
Ivanov said he was only reporting what he had heard and that it was not up
to him to interpret what Milosevic had meant.
The political forces in Yugoslavia are able to resolve the present
difficulties by themselves and need no mediators, Ivanov said.
Ivanov noted that he met Friday with Yugoslav Presidentelect
Vojislav Kostunica, Milosevic and Foreign Minister Zivadin Jovanovic, and
that he had paid a courtesy visit to Patriarch Pavle of the Serbian
Orthodox Church.
Ivanov did not wish to say where his meeting with Milosevic was held.
THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA - FOREIGN REACTIONS
COUNCIL OF EUROPE MINISTERS SUPPORT YUGOSLAVIA'S KOSTUNICA
ROME, October 7 (Tanjug) The Council of Europe's committee of
foreign ministers on Friday gave full support to Yugoslavia's
PresidentElect Vojislav Kostunica.
Committee Chairman Lamberto Dini of Italy said the Committee fully
supported actions being taken by PresidentElect Kostunica.
The committee invited the civilian and military authorities in
Yugoslavia to cooperate in the establishment of the new administration
elected in the polls of September 24, Dini added.
The Council of Europe committee of foreign ministers invited
Yugoslavia to join the European family of nations, and expressed
willingness to consider new prospects of cooperation between the European
Council and that country.
EU TO LIFT OIL EMBARGO AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA ON MONDAY
BRUSSELS, October 6 (Tanjug) The foreign ministers of the
European Union memberstates will, at their Monday session in Luxemburg,
lift the oil embargo against Yugoslavia and definitely lift the ban on
civilian air traffic.
EU spokesman said in Brussels that there were no differences among
the ministers in regard to these two issues and that a decision by
consensus was expected.
The European Commission (EC) will submit to the ministerial
council meeting in Luxemburg an official proposal for the lifting of the
oil embargo, imposed on Yugoslavia last year over the crisis in Serbia's
KosovoMetohija province.
If the ministers agree, the embargo will be lifted within a few
days of the official announcement of the decision.
The same procedure applies to the complete lifting of the ban on
civilian flights, which was suspended last April.
As for the lifting of other sanctions the financial embargo and
the ban on granting visas to a number of individuals close to the Slobodan
Milosevic's regime considerable differences exist among EU members. Their
lifting will consequently be postponed until the memberstates reach agreement.
The arms embargo will remain in force, as it is under the
authority of the UN, not the EU.
Contacts with Belgrade will be resumed shortly and an exchange of
highlevel delegations is expected, EU sources said.
The EC has endorsed the proposal that a mission should travel to
Belgrade as soon as possible to assess Serbia's needs of funding, the EC
spokesman said Friday. The mission will comprise representatives of
the EU and several international organizations.
In an earlier decision, the sum of 240 million euros was earmarked
for aid to Yugoslavia from the EU budget. The funds should be released
after the EU and european Parliament take a decision to that effect on the
basis of the mission's report.
BRITISH PRIME MINISTER CONGRATULATES YUGOSLAVIA'S NEW PRESIDENT
BELGRADE, October 6 (Tanjug) British Prime Minister Tony Blair
addressed on Friday a message of congratulations to Yugoslavia's newly
elected president Vojislav Kostunica.
"I welcome the prospect of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
reentering the European mainstream and I will lend my full support to that
goal. As a starting point, I expect the European Union to move quickly to
respond to your call for a lifting of sanctions", Blair said in the message
a copy of which was made available to Tanjug.
SCHUESSEL: WE ARE OBLIGED TO HELP YUGOSLAVIA
ZAGREB, October 6 (Tanjug) We are obliged to help Yugoslavia in
normalizing the situation, Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel said in
Zagreb on Friday, saying he was certain that Slobodan Milosevic was toppled
and that the new Yugoslav president would be sworn in.
After talks with Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan, Schuessel
appealed for restraint from violence in Yugoslavia. He said he hoped
Milosevic would not resort to force in order to stay in power.
Racan said Croatia was interested in its neighbors being
democratic countries and that it supports the creation of a democratic
Serbia. Croatia will confirm this interest through its policy, he said.
During today's visit to Croatia, Schuessel is to meet with
President Stjepan Mesic and parliament President Zlatko Tomcic.
ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER: ANTIYUGOSLAV SANCTIONS TO BE LIFTED AS OF MONDAY
ROME, October 6 (Tanjug) The European Union sanctions against
Yugoslavia will be lifted gradually as of Monday, October. 9, Italian Prime
Minister Giuliano Amato said on Friday.
The EU ministers will meet in Luxemburg on Monday and will first
lift the oil embargo. This will be followed by the lifting of the financial
sanctions and by preparations for closer ties and cooperation between
Yugoslavia and Europe, Amato said.
The election of Vojislav Kostunica as president of Yugoslavia has
drastically changed the overall picture and prospects of relations between
the EU and Yugoslavia, Amato said.
MACEDONIAN PRESIDENT CONGRATULATES KOSTUNICA
SKOPJE, October 6 (Tanjug) Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski
said on Friday in Bitolj, south Macedonia, that he congratulates newly
elected Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica, the new government, all the
democratic opposition and the Yugoslav people on their victory.
According to the statement issued in his cabinet in Skopje, the
historical events in Yugoslavia have become obvious and the Yugoslav
people's wish for freedom and democracy was stronger than all attempts at
deceiving the will of the people.
Trajkovski added that he wants a peaceful transition of power in
Yugoslavia and its reintegration into Europe. He also wants to develop
friendly ties between Macedonia and Yugoslavia.
The new realities open vast possibilities for future development
and the improvement of the bilateral friendly relations between the two
states and their peoples, said Trajkovski.
BOSNIAHERZEGOVINA FOREIGN MINISTRY SUPPORTS KOSTUNICA
SARAJEVO, October 6 (Tanjug) The Foreign Ministry of Bosnia and
Herzegovina said in Sarajevo on Friday that the country "fully supports the
newlyelected president of FR Yugoslavia, Vojislav Kostunica, and expects
the legal procedure of his appointment satisifed."
"About the authorities in Belgrade, Bosnia and Herzegovina will
judge by their acts and their relationship towards Bosnia and Herzegovina,"
the statement said and also that it expected from the new authorities to
comply with the Dayton peace agreement and the decisions of other
international conferences about the situation in the region and the
organization of relations between BosniaHerzegovina and FR Yugoslavia.
In that respect Bosnia and Herzegovina is ready to immediately
establish diplomatic relations with FR Yugoslavia without any conditions as
provided by the Dayton agreement and the conclusions of the international
conference in Sintra.
The Foreign Ministry also proposed that soon after the formation
of the new government in Belgrade, an exchange of visits takes place
between the two countries on the ministerial level.
In connection with the situation in FR Yugoslavia, the foreign
minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Jadranko Prlic, sent on Friday a
message to Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou in which he made the
initiative that in the next few days be organized a meeting of the
representatives of countries neighbouring FR Yugoslavia to extend support
to the new authorities in Belgrade and review the situation that arose
after the elections in that country the statement said.
FROM THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA
DEMOCRATIC AUTHORITIES BEGIN TO CREATE YUGOSLAVIA'S KOSTUNICA
BELGRADE, October 6 (Tanjug) Yugoslavia's PresidentElect Vojislav
Kostunica said late on Thursday he had taken his first steps with the
creation of a new democratic authority in Serbia, which the people had
voted into power on September 24. Kostunica said on Serbian state Radio and
Television (RTS) he was referring to the constituting of the Yugoslav
federal parliament, whose deputies were assembling, and to the City
Council, which had been constituted and would make sure all municipal
services were functioning properly, to the wellbeing of the Belgraders.
Expressing pleasure that the vision of Serbia he had cherished for
years was coming to pass, he said this was of a normal democratically
organised state, without internal tension, without disputes, with a normal
relationship between the government and opposition.
"The worst of it is that we have for years lived in a country
where there has been no proper communication between those representing the
government and those representing the opposition, as though it had been
easier to talk to the whole world, as though, in the case of Slobodan
Milosevic, it had been easier to negotiate at Dayton, Ohio, to reach
accords with Richard Holbrooke, like the one of October. 13, 1998, as
though it had been easier to agree to the Kumanovo capitulation, consent to
the deployment of foreign troops to Kosovo, while at the same time
demonstrating total incapacity with a section of one's own nation that
thought differently", Kostunica said.
Stressing that he is "president of state, president of all people,
one who must rise above party interests and reconcile all interests,"
Kostnica said there had been none of this in this country and that the
president of Yugoslavia had represented neither all the people, nor both
federal units.
He stressed that democracy must be the foundation of a state,
which was the image that Serbia was beginning to project, and added that
the RTS would be open both to the positions of those who won the elections
and to all other voices in Serbia.
People belonging to the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS), the
Yugoslav Left (JUL), the Serbian Radical Party (SRS), must be given space
on state television, which must not serve the interests of one party, but
reflect the mood of the people, he said.
He urged a democratic state, without internal tension, with
normalised relations with other states, noting that this would not be easy
because "among those countries there are those that have gravely sinned
against us."
"These are countries that bombed Yugoslavia last year, which is a
crime and destruction that we cannot forgive, but we cannot live out of the
world, we must adjust to it, while placing high value on our national
dignity and national interests", he said.
He said it was to be expected that the European Union, when it
meets on Monday, will lift sanctions against Yugoslavia, because the
country has set out down the road of democracy.
Lifting of the sanctions and resumption of relations with
international financial institutions will make it possible for the money
that has been draining out of the country to start flowing back in, where
the role of the expatriates interested in investing in the homeland will be
important, according to Kostunica.
"The country's recovery after the lifting of the sanctions will be
swift, because the circumstances we have been living in have been very
difficult", he said, adding that Yugoslavia would immediately be
incorporated in the Southeast Europe Stabilisation Pact, as a way for the
NATO states to repay, in one form, some of the damage they have caused.
Kostunica described as positive the reconstruction of
NATOdestroyed facilities, adding, however, that this has not been the
achievement of one party, but of the people.
He announced a more radical, more widespread reconstruction of the
country, whose chief characteristic would be that it would not be the feat
of any one party.
There must be no revanchism, he reiterated, stressing that he had
given his word there would be no retaliation, and that the people must
learn to live with political differences.
He said many details in the work of the Haguebased tribunal for
the former Yugoslavia made it a shameful institution, adding it was a
political rather than a legal institutions, and in fact not a court at all.
This is not an international, but an American court, under the
control of the U.S. Administration, a weapon for achieving its influence in
this region, according to Kostunica.
He said there could be no cooperation with the Hague court in the
matter of extradition of Yugoslav citizens.
He said that Yugoslavia's new premier must be designated in line
with the Constitution, which dictates that, when the president is from one
federal unit, the prime minister must be from the other.
In this case, the post must be offered to the strongest party in
Montenegro, which is the Socialist People's Party (SNP), and to the person
capable of reconciling the two confronted halves of Montenegro, Kostunica
explained.
He said he would work towards calling new free elections for the
federal parliament within a year and a half, and for drawing up very soon a
new Constitution acceptable to both Yugoslav federal units Serbia and
Montenegro.
KOSTUNICA: SERBIA IS ABLE TO ACHIEVE ITS FREEDOM BY ITSELF
BELGRADE, October 5 (Tanjug). Yugoslav Presidentelect Vojislav
Kostunica told a crowd of several hundred thousand people in central
Belgrade Thursday evening that he was proud to see the people of Serbia
show their trust in him by electing him president of the Federal Republic
of Yugoslavia.
Kostunica said he won the election thanks to the fundamental
principles of democracy, in which people exercise their free will, even
under very difficult circumstances in which the Sep. 24 elections were held.
He underlined that the claims of the leftist coalition that the
new authorities were a NATO spearhead were entirely false.
"We need neither Moscow nor Washington. Serbia is able to achieve
its freedom by itself, and your presence here in such numbers is proof of
this", he said.
Recalling that he had been saying at all preelection rallies
throughout Serbia that peace must prevail in Serbia and in its relations
with Montenegro, Kostunica promised that Serbia would be ruled by law only
and that there would be no more violence or theft.
"We shall defend Serbia with our own weapons with truth against
their lies, with nonviolence against their use of force", Kostunica said in
reference to the regime of Slobodan Milosevic. Serbia is the heart and
the shield of Europe, it is the most European part of Europe, but without
Slobodan Milosevic, he stressed.
"There must be no more sanctions against this country", Kostunica
said.
Responding to cries from the crowd calling for a march on Dedinje,
elite residential district of Belgrade where Milosevic has his residence,
Kostunica resolutely said: "We shall not march on Dedinje, it is not our
place. We are here at the parliament, a true system institution where the
people have brought us and where we shall fight our battles".
Kostunica then urged all those present to stay together and
expressed hope that more people would come to the area between the three
parliaments Yugoslav, Serbian and Belgrade to peacefully defend the
election victory.
G17PLUS APPEALS FOR RETURN OF ARMS TAKEN FROM POLICE
BELGRADE, October 5 (Tanjug). The independent thinktank G17plus
urged Thursday evening all persons who have taken arms from police stations
to bring them to the Belgrade city council.
G17plus Coordinator Predrag Markovic visited Tanjug in the evening
and asked the agency to carry the appeal, in order to prevent any unwanted
incidents.
Markovic also urged people celebrating in the streets not to loot
shops or damage any other property.
YUGOSLAVIA SERBIA MINERS
SERBIAN COALMINERS END STRIKE
LAZAREVAC, October 5 (Tanjug). The miners of the openpit coal mine
Kolubara will not allow the Obrenovac thermoelectric power plant near
Belgrade to stop, member of the strike committee Radoslav Jovanovic told
Tanjug Thursday evening.
The Obrenovac plant will have enough coal for minimum power
generation tomorrow (Friday) Jovanovic said.
Jovanovic was unable to say when the plant will be able to operate
at full capacity, but noted that the strike committee will meet early
Friday to discuss details on resuming production at full capacity.
Underlining that the only demand of the miners was the recognition
of the voters' will at the Sep. 24 presidential and federal elections,
Jovanovic said that all miners were present at their jobs and that the
equipment stood ready to be used.
The Kolubara miners went on strike one week ago, and power cuts
started throughout Serbia two days later.
YUGOSLAVIA - ARMY, POLICE
YUGOSLAV ARMY CONTINUES REGULAR ACTIVITIES
BELGRADE, October 6 (Tanjug) The Yugoslav Army's Combined Chiefs
of Staff ended session early on Friday without releasing a statement, which
sources close to the army command interpret as indicating that the army
will remain committed to its often repeated position that it will act
within its constitutional competence.
TANJUG learns that the army will act only in case of direct
threats to military facilities, personnel and materiel.
According to TANJUG correspondents' reports, no troop movements
have been noticed in any part of the country. According to them, the army
is on Friday morning engaged on its regular duties, training and securing
of the state borders.
BELGRADE POLICE CHIEF SAYS POLICE WILL NOT INTERVENE AGAINST PEOPLE
BELGRADE, October 6 (Tanjug) Belgrade Police Chief Branko Djuric
has offered assurances to the Democratic Opposition of Serbia (DOS) that
the police will not intervene against people demonstrating in the streets
of the capital.
According to sources close to DOS, Djuric said the security forces
would intervene only in case of drastic disruptions of public law and order
and threats to property.
E.U.'S SOLANA SAYS ANTIYUGOSLAV SANCTIONS TO BE LIFTED AS OF MONDAY
BRUSSELS, October 6 (Tanjug) The European Union will start
lifting sanctions against Yugoslavia as of Monday, when the foreign
ministers of the fifteen E.U. nations are meeting in Luxemburg, according
to E.U. chief foreign policy representative Javier Solana.
Solana told BBC Radio the ministerial meeting was called for
Monday, and the lifting of the sanctions would begin as of that day. He
explained this was a clear signal of a willingness to open new relations
with democratic Yugoslavia, adding the lifting of the sanctions was a
matter of days.
French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine, whose country holds the
E.U. rotating presidency, said late Thursday he would be setting in motion
the necessary procedure for the decision to lift the sanctions to be made
on Monday.
FISCHER SUPPORTS FRANCE'S PROPOSAL FOR LIFTING OF SANCTIONS
BERLIN, October 6 (Tanjug) German Foreign Minister Joseph Fischer
said in Berlin on Friday that Germany supports France's proposal that in
Luxembourg on Monday be discussed the speedy lifting of sanctions against
Serbia.
"Serbia must be accepted with wide open hands into the family of
European countries, because its people said so clearly NO to dictatorship,"
Fischer said.
Fischer repeated on Friday he hoped that, just as 11 years ago in
Eastern Germany, the peaceful revolution in Belgrade will also be conducted
without bloodshed.
The German news agency DPA said in that connection it seemed that
will be case, and carried as urgent a statement to Tanjug by an unnamed
source in the Yugoslav Army that the army had no intention to prevent the
implementation of the will of citizens of Yugoslavia.
CROATIA FOLLOWS YUGOSLAV CHANGES WITH APPROVAL
ZAGREB, October 6 (Tanjug) Croatia, where Belgrade developments
have received unprecedented publicity, is following with approval the
political changes in Yugoslavia and recognises the victory of Vojislav
Kostunica in September 24 presidential election.
Commenting on the Belgrade developments, Croatian President
Stjepan Mesic said that "the events rocking Serbia, where the people, led
by the opposition, have started dismantling the institutions of the regime,
were to be expected."
Mesic said the Yugoslav situation could resolve itself also in the
worst possible way, and that whether or not the "Romanian scenario" is
acted out would depend, in his view, on the army.
He believes it would be "best for Milosevic to go, and for the
winners of the elections to offer a solution to the Serbian people".
The Croatian government, too, has made itself heard in connection
with the Yugoslav developments, expressing conviction that the developments
signal "the end of the undemocratic regime of Slobodan Milosevic" and the
beginning of a normalisation in Serbia.
MACEDONIAN GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS DEMOCRATIC CHANGES IN YUGOSLAVIA
SKOPJE, October 6 (Tanjug) Democracy won a victory in Yugoslavia
on Thursday, according to Macedonia's foreign minister on Friday.
In a brief statement for state television, Aleksandar Dimitrov
said Macedonia had been urging a democratic settlement of all problems in
Serbia and Yugoslavia, which was what happened on Thursday.
The most important thing now was to keep the peace and avoid
further bloodshed, he added.
According to local media, President Boris Trajkovski has launched
an initiative for heads of state of Southeast Europe to sign a declaration
supporting Kostunica's electoral victory.
Trajkovski explained Macedonia was acting in its capacity as
president of an association of Southeast European nations.
According to sources in Skopje, all Southeast European nations
have upheld Trajkovski's initiative, with the exception of the Romanian
government, which has not responded.
ALBANIA DOES NOT CHANGE POSITION ON SERBIAN KOSOVO PROVINCE
LONDON, October 6 (Tanjug) Albania's foreign minister said on
Friday that Albania would not be changing its position on the Kosovo issue
in the wake of the electoral victory of the Democratic Opposition of Serbia
(DOS).
Pascal Milo told the BBC the issue of Kosovo was vitally important
to Albanians, and that Tirana would not be changing its position on it.
Since the U.N. Security Council's Resolution 1244 provides for
giving Kosovo a wide autonomy, Milo urges that Albanians in the province be
allowed to decide about their status in a referendum.
He went on to say he believed that democratic Serbia would change
its attitude to Kosovo and hoped that Vojislav Kostunica, despite being a
nationalist, would be realistic and understand that Kosovo was a closed
chapter to Serbia now.
===
Bollettino di controinformazione del
Coordinamento Nazionale "La Jugoslavia Vivra'"
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