*** SELEZIONE NOTIZIE TANJUG 28/11-11/12/2000 ***

NOTA: le notizie sono poste in ordine cronologico. Il titolo
italiano e' a cura del CRJ - crj@...

E' MLADJAN DJINKIC, UOMO DEL G17 E dell'FMI, IL NUOVO
GOVERNATORE DELLA BANCA CENTRALE JUGOSLAVA

YUGOSLAV PARLIAMENT APPOINTS MLADJAN DINKIC AS CENTRAL BANK
GOVERNOR
BELGRADE, November 28 (Tanjug) The Yugoslav Parliament
appointed
on Tuesday Mladjan Dinkic as Yugoslav National (central) Bank Governor,
as
proposed by Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica.
GOVERNOR DINKIC WILL BE REPLACED IF
HE FAILS TO HONOUR AGREEMENTS - PRIME MINISTER
BELGRADE, November 29 (Tanjug) Yugoslav National Bank Governor

Mladjan Dinkic will be replaced if he fails to respect the coalition
agreement and to accept the already officially agreed proposal of the
Socialist People's Party (SNP) of Montenegro that his deputy be Vuk
Ognjanovic, Yugoslav Prime Minister Zoran Zizic said late on Tuesday.
After a Federal Parliament session was interrupted, Zizic told
reporters that he was surprised at "Dinkic's obstinate behaviour" and
that
the Democratic Opposition of Serbia (DOS) was "acting extremely
correctly"
and demanding the agreement be honoured, contrary to the newlyappointed
National Bank governor.
"Dinkic has not been authorized to throw spokes into the wheels
of
agreements and the coalition agreement, since perhaps some of the DOS
ministers are not to my liking either, and yet I have given them
departments in my government," Zizic said.
Up to the very moment of his appointment, Dinkic had never
objected to the SNP candidate for deputy governor, Zizic said. "We
cannot
resort to tricks," he said.
GOVERNOR DINKIC ON YUGOSLAV NATIONAL BANK PRIORITIES
BELGRADE, November 29 (Tanjug) Yugoslav National Bank Governor

Mladjan Dinkic said in the Federal Parliament on Tuesday that the main
tasks of the Bank in the next 100 days would be to maintain a stable
rate
of exchange of the dinar and the further strengthening of the national
hard
currency reserves.
Addressing MPs after his appointment to office, Dinkic also
marked
as a priority the introduction of the full convertibility of the dinar
in
ongoing transactions. This will mean that the hard currency black market

will be eliminated and all exchange business operations will be
conducted
legally, he explained.
He listed the meeting of outstanding responsibilities regarding

hard currency savings accounts of citizens as the very next obligation
of
the central bank.
Dinkic said the bank would also complete negotiations with the
International Monetary Fund and renew Yugoslavia's membership in this
institution.
"The next step of the Yugoslav National Bank will be to
establish
payment operations between Serbia and Montenegro, which will be carried
out
in coordination with the federal and republican governments," he said.
The National Bank will then focus on a reform of the banking
system, Dinkic said.
DINKIC ECONOMICS FACULTY ASSISTANT, G17 PLUS EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR
BELGRADE, November 29 (Tanjug) Yugoslav National Bank
Governor Mladjan Dinkic, appointed to this office at a Federal
Parliament
session on Tuesday, is an assistant at the Faculty of Economics of the
University of Belgrade and the Executive Director of G17 Plus.
Dinkic, 36, was born in Belgrade, where he was graduated from
the
Faculty of Economics and acquired a Master's Degree in 1993.
His main areas of research are inflation and financial black
markets, public sector deficits and macroeconomic consequences, and
measuring the efficiency of the use of resources, it was announced in
Dinkic's profile distributed to reporters ahead of the parliament
session
on Tuesday.
Dinkic took part in many seminars abroad and special courses.
He
has published three books in his area of research..

L'OSCE GARANTIRA' CHE LE ELEZIONI DEL 23/12 IN SERBIA
SI SVOLGANO REGOLARMENTE (CIOE' CHE ABBIANO IL RISULTATO
CHE DESIDERANO BRUXELLES E WASHINGTON)

OSCE TO MONITOR PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN SERBIA
BELGRADE, November 28 (Tanjug) The OSCE has set up an observer

mission for the parliamentary elections in Serbia on December 23,
mission
chief Nikolai Vulchanov told the press on Tuesday.
Thanking the Serbian electoral commission for accrediting the
OSCE
mission speedily and efficiently, he said that his mission, whose
activity
will be limited to the electoral period, would comprise over 150
observers
on election day, and that it would act separately from other OSCE
missions
and offices in the region.
The observer mission of the OSCE Bureau for Democratic
Institutions and Human Rights was set up at the proposal by Yugoslav
President Vojislav Kostunica, and will be present at polling stations
during the voting and vote counting, after which its members will issue
reports, Vulchanov said.
Noting that the mission will not be empowered to control the
elections, Vulchanov said its activity will be based on impartiality and

noninterference in the electoral process.

IL DOS A LUBIANA AD IMPARARE LA DEMOCRAZIA OCCIDENTALE

DOS DELEGATION ENDS VISIT TO LJUBLJANA
LJUBLJANA, November 29 (Tanjug) A Democratic Opposition of
Serbia
(DOS) leader and Democratic Party (DS) President Zoran Djindjic and
Slovenian Foreign Minister Lojze Peterle have met in Ljubljana and
welcomed
the start of the normalization of relations between Yugoslavia and
Slovenia.
Peterle and Djindjic also agreed that the issue ok succession
and
property should be resolved as soon as possible, and that bilateral
economic cooperation be stepped up.
The DOS delegation ended a oneday visit to Slovenia late on
Tuesday after the talks with Peterle. The visit took place at the
invitation of Slovenian President Milan Kucan.
The DOS delegation, headed by Djindjic, conferred previously
with
Slovenian MP Borut Pahor, the Parliament's Foreign Policy Committee
President Jelko Kacin, Slovenian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
President
Joska Cuk, and candidate for Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel.

LA RUSSIA CHIEDE CHE VENGA TOLTO L'EMBARGO
SULLE FORNITURE DI ARMI

RUSSIA SEEKS LIFTING OF ARMS EMBARGO ON YUGOSLAVIA
NEW YORK, Nov 30 (Tanjug) Russia has submitted a draft
resolution
to the United Nations, proposing the lifting of the 1998 arms embargo on

Yugoslavia, excepting Kosovo and Metohija province, where new unrests
broke
out over the past few days.
The draft resolution welcomes efforts by the new Belgrade
leadership to promote the process of reconciliation and stability in the

region, and indicates that all conditions have been met for the lifting
of
the embargo on Yugoslav arms imports. The reasons for the further
implementation of this embargo have been outdated by the latest
developments, Russia said.
Russia proposes that the embargo be lifted for the Yugoslav
government, but that the ban on sales and deliveries of arms and
ammunition
to others than the Yugoslav authorities, implying Kosovo Albanians,
remain
in force.
Russian deputy permanent representative to the U.N. Gennady
Gatilov said the maintaining of the arms embargo against Yugoslavia
under
the current conditions was not justified and was in fact
counterproductive.
Its lifting would be a sign of confidence in the Yugoslav leadership and
of
support to its efforts toward a democratic transition, he said.
The British and French ambassadors to the U.N. said during
consultations on this proposal on Wednesday that they did not believe
this
was the right time to lift the ban, especially in view of the upcoming
parliamentary elections in Serbia on Dec 23, sources on the Security
Council have said.

LA CINA SEMPRE MOLTO ATTIVA NELLA RF DI JUGOSLAVIA

PEKING PLACES GREAT IMPORTANCE ON TANG'S VISIT TO BELGRADE
PEKING, Nov 30 (Tanjug) China places great importance on the
upcoming visit of Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan to Yugoslavia on

Dec 24, and expects that the visit will lay good foundations for the
successful development of ChineseYugoslav relations in the new century,
it
was officially announced in Peking on Thursday.
Minister Tang's visit to Yugoslavia presents an important
diplomatic activity by China in the year 2000, and at the same time is a

major event in ChineseYugoslav relations, a Chinese Foreign Ministry
representative told Tanjug.
Tang will visit Yugoslavia at the invitation of Yugoslav
Foreign
Minister Goran Svilanovic.
China hopes that the visit will promote mutual understanding,
deepen mutual trust, and stoke cooperation between the two sides, the
official said.
This will be yet another step in the development of the
traditionally friendly relations between China and Yugoslavia and the
peoples of the two countries, said the ministry representative.

DE MICHELIS PIU' A SINISTRA DI BERTINOTTI SULLE SECESSIONI JUGOSLAVE

DE MICHELIS: SERBIA WITHOUT NEGATIVE NATIONAL CHARGE
ROME, Nov 30 (Tanjug) Vojislav Kostunica is a miracle that has

happened and the developments in Serbia are completely different in
nature
from everything that happened in eastern Europe over the past tenodd
years,
former Italian foreign minister Gianni De Michelis has said at a meeting
in
Rome.
This was a clearly expressed wish of a people for democratic
changes, without the negative national charge which was so
characteristic
of the previous developments in the entire region, he said.
Speaking at the promotion of the latest issue of the Limes
review
on the subject "The Balkans without Milosevic," De Michelis reiterated
his
stand that Europe had made a mistake 10 years ago when it failed to
support
the former Yugoslavia.
According to De Michelis, it was the interest of Italy and the
United States that Yugoslavia remain united, but Germany, Austria and
the
Vatican exerted extremely strong pressure by supporting the secessions
of
Croatia and Slovenia.

IN MONTENEGRO SI FARA' IL REFERENDUM PER LA SECESSIONE

DJUKANOVIC: MONTENEGRO WILL HOLD REFERENDUM ON ITS STATUS
PODGORICA, November 30 (Tanjug) Montenegro's president vowed
on
Thursday he would win for "the people of Montenegro the opportunity to
say
in a democratic way what kind of state they want".
Milo Djukanovic said in this Yugoslav republic's capital
Podgorica
he would be swayed by neither political nor media attacks on him, which
he
said were persisting in (the other Yugoslav republic) Serbia even after
recent political changes in Belgrade.
Speaking at a regular news conference, Djukanovic described as
"textbook treason" the conduct of the leadership of Montenegro's
opposition
Socialist People's Party (SNP), which is a coalition partner in the
Yugoslav Federal Government.
"Under the guise of Yugoslavism, they (SNP leaders) are
fighting
against their own state, and this is something few in the world can be
made
to understand", he said.
Speaking of redefining relations between Montenegro and Serbia,
he
said organising their relations on the basis of international
recognition
for each "would in no way mean severing the manifold and powerful ties
existing between Montenegro and Serbia".
He said it was possible to hold referendums simultaneously in
both
Montenegro and Serbia, if their leaders should first manage to agree on
their relations or, failing such an agreement, holding a referendum only
in
Montenegro.
He said he would not shy, either, from early parliamentary
elections, if Montenegro's ruling coalition should be placed in a
position
where it would not be stable enough to govern.
He denied allegations that the current Montenegrin government
and
its project for future relations with Serbia do not have the backing of
the
international community.
"What the international community is insisting on, and justly,
is
that political activity should be transparent and unfold in a democratic

climate", he said.

AIUTI DAL GIAPPONE

JAPAN APPROVES 4.3MLDLR AID FOR YUGOSLAVIA'S AGRICULTURE
TOKYO, December 1 (Tanjug) The Japanese government on Friday
announced that it has approved aid worth 4.3 million dollars to
Yugoslavia
for securing fertilizers.
The aid is part of a total of 10 million dollars which Japan
decided to send to Yugoslavia in October, when Yugoslav President
Vojislav
Kostunica came to power, the Japanese Foreign Ministry specified.
The Japanese government decided to defreeze official aid for
development and approve this sum for fertilizers, at the request of the
Yugoslav authorities, so that the country could preserve the support of
the
people through the elimination of food problems, the Ministry statement
said.

ANCHE L'ALBANIA ADESSO DISPONIBILE A RIALLACCIARE RELAZIONI
DIPLOMATICHE

MILO FOR RENEWAL OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BETWEEN ALBANIA AND
YUGOSLAVIA
ATHENS, December 2 (Tanjug) Albanian Foreign Minister Pascal
Milo
on Saturday urged the establishment of diplomatic relations between
Albania
and Yugoslavia.
Milo presented his stand at an international meeting on
Albanians
as a majority and minority in the Balkans which is under way in Athens
behind closed doors, Tanjug learned.
Milo said they had received with sympathies the democratic
changes
in Yugoslavia and were looking forward to positive signals in connection

with the renewal of diplomatic relations between Belgrade and Tirana.

LA PARTE MUSULMANA IN BOSNIA OSTACOLA IL RISTABILIMENTO
DI RELAZIONI DIPLOMATICHE CON LA RF DI JUGOSLAVIA?

RADISIC FOR IMMEDIATE ESTABLISHMENT OF RELATIONS BETWEEN
BOSNIAHERZEGOVINA AND YUGOSLAVIA
SARAJEVO, December 2 (Tanjug) BosniaHerzegovina Presidency
Chairman Zivko Radisic has urged that a Protocol on establishing
diplomatic
relations between BosniaHerzegovina and Yugoslavia be signed already
next
week.
In a statement for Sarajevo's television OBN, Radisic said that
he
would otherwise call an emergency session of the threemember Presidency
and
put the topic on its agenda.
"We expected the Protocol to be signed already at the Zagreb
summit, but this did not happen because of minor understatements urged
by
the Bosniak side," he said.
Radisic proposed that "all outstanding issues be placed in a
special annex or a statement."

ANCHE LA FRANCIA CHIEDE SIA TOLTO L'EMBARGO SULLE ARMI

FRANCE URGES LIFTING ANTIYUGOSLAV ARMS BAN
PARIS, December 1 (Tanjug) France supports Belgrade's new
democratic orientation, and sees the planned lifting of the antiYugoslav

arms ban as part of a process for its reintegration in the international

community, a French foreign ministry source said on Friday.
Ministry spokesman Francois Rivasseau told Tanjug consultations

were in progress on lifting the ban on arms sales to Yugoslavia, and
that
France, which holds the E.U. rotating presidency in this term, supports
this process.
Speaking about ethnic Albanian terrorist operations in southern

Serbia, Rivasseau said the unnatural situation, characterised by the
presence of terrorist gangs in the buffer zone, should be ended as soon
as
possible.
According to him, the international force KFor has adopted
certain
measures, such as an information campaign, in an effort to draw
attention
to the criminal nature of the operations of the terrorist gangs and
their
negative political effects.
He said the international administration of KosovoMetohija was
stimulating direct contacts of Serbian and Yugoslav authorities with the

ethnic Albanian population in the buffer zone.
He added KFor and the Serbian police were intensifying contacts
in
order better to coordinate their actions in the demilitarised zone and
help
KFor do its duty, such as providing security and inviolability of the
province's boundary with the rest of Serbia.

IL FONDO MONETARIO INTERNAZIONALE ACCOGLIE LA RFJ -
MA PRIMA VUOLE INDIETRO I SOLDI PRESTATI A STROZZO

YUGOSLAVIA FACING SPEEDY RETURN TO IMF
NEW YORK, December 2 (Tanjug) Sources at the International
Monetary Fund (IMF) have said talks on Yugoslavia's return to this
financial institution were proceeding well and that a decision would
soon
be made on a creditbridge for Yugoslavia meeting its old debts and for
opening doors to further cooperation.
A possible creditbridge has been discussed and things are
moving
ahead, IMF chief representative Tom Dawson said in Washington on Friday.
He
added, however, that he could not specify yet when this would be on the
IMF
Board agenda.
Yugoslavia was expelled from the IMF in 1992 and from the World

Bank in 1993 because of its policy at that time under the leadership of
former president Slobodan Milosevic, and its refusal to meet its
obligations.
Yugoslavia's old debt to the IMF amounts to 128 million
dollars,
and the IMF's readiness to approve a creditbridge opens doors to a
speedy
return.

RELAZIONI BILATERALI RF JUGOSLAVIA - CINA

PRESIDENT KOSTUNICA RECEIVED CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER
BELGRADE, December 2 (Tanjug) Yugoslav President Vojislav
Kostunica received in Belgrade on Saturday Chinese Foreign Minister Tang

Jiaxuan, who is on a twoday official visit to Yugoslavia.
Tang conveyed cordial greetings from Chinese President Jiang
Zemin, who was among the first to congratulate Kostunica on his election

victory and inauguration, said a statement released by the president's
office.
In lengthy friendly talks, both sides expressed readiness for
the
further promotion of bilateral relations in the areas of politics,
economy,
culture, and others.
Tang expressed China's support to the process of Yugoslavia's
speedy inclusion into all international institutions and forums, and
respect for the country's territorial integrity and sovereignty.
The minister especially stressed support to Yugoslavia's
efforts
to resolve the problem of Kosovo and Metohija province by peaceful means

and on democratic principles, with the consistent implementation of U.N.

Security Council Resolution 1244.
Kostunica expressed gratitude for China's support and
understanding in the efforts toward democratization and the economic and

political reconstruction of Yugoslavia.
Underscoring that Yugoslavia, as a European country, is
oriented
toward developing relations with European integrations and countries,
Kostunica underscored that it is Yugoslavia's strategic determination to

develop close ties with China, because of the traditional friendship,
and
also the increasingly important role of China in international
relations.
Tang conveyed President Zemin's invitation to President
Kostunica
to visit China at the earliest opportunity. The invitation was accepted
with pleasure.
Yugoslav Foreign Minister Goran Svilanovic also took part in
the
talks.
YUGOSLAV PRIME MINISTER RECEIVED CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER
BELGRADE, December 3 (Tanjug) Yugoslav Prime Minister Zoran
Zizic
and Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan confirmed late on Saturday
that
Yugoslavia and China are very interested in continuing and deepening
both
bilateral cooperation and cooperation in the area of international
activities.
This cooperation should proceed on the principles of opposition
to
a unipolar world, urging the preservation of national sovereignty and
integrity, and equal cooperation on the principles of mutual confidence
and
noninterference in the internal affairs of others, a federal government
statement said.
Zizic thanked Tang for the help provided by the Chinese people
and
state during the difficult times for Yugoslavia the sanctions and the
1999
NATO air strikes campaign, and which they are still providing.
The prime minister said he especially appreciates China's
continued support to the preservation of Yugoslavia's sovereignty and
territorial integrity, the strong condemnation of the military
aggression,
and the active urging for a peaceful settlement of problems in Kosovo
and
Metohija, with full respect for U.N. Security Council Resolution 1244.
Pointing out that Tang is the first foreign minister of a
nonEuropean country to visit Yugoslavia following the internal political

changes and the redefinition of its foreign policy priorities, Zizic
said
this also indicated the extreme importance of continued good relations
with
China, as a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, within
Yugoslavia's overall foreign policy.
Zizic reiterated the Yugoslav stand that Taiwan is an
inalienable
part of Chinese territory and that the Peking government is the only
legal
and legitimate government of China. Yugoslavia will not establish
official
relations with Taiwan, nor will it provide support to Taiwan's
membership
in any international political organization, Zizic said.
Tang expressed support to Yugoslavia's just struggle to
preserve
its territorial integrity and sovereignty, and said he was certain
relations between Serbia and Montenegro would be resolved, as Zizic also

underscored, through patient talks and in a satisfactory manner, the
Information Secretariat statement said.
Tang conveyed the pleasure of the Chinese government at the
successful foreign policy activities of Yugoslavia and the improved
relations with neighbouring countries and the big powers. He stressed
that
China believes Yugoslavia will now have an even more important role in
the
Balkans and that it will contribute to the preservation of regional
stability.
Prime Minister Zizic extended an invitation to his Chinese
counterpart Zhu Rongju to visit Yugoslavia.
NEW PATHWAYS FOR COOPERATION BETWEEN YUGOSLAVIA AND CHINA
BELGRADE, December 3 (Tanjug) Yugoslav Deputy Premier and
Foreign
Trade Minister Miroljub Labus on Sunday received Chinese Foreign
Minister
Tang Jiaxuan, and conferred with him on new pathways for cooperation and

the great prospects for developing economic, trade and financial
relations
between the two countries, a federal government statement said.
Tang presented the concept of the development of future mutual
economictrade relations, which includes continued work on already begun
joint projects, stimulation of businessmen to develop flexible and
mutually
beneficial cooperation, and a search for new areas of cooperation.
Labus underscored as very encouraging China's support and good
faith in its stand in relation to the grave economic position of
Yugoslavia
and the need to resolve outstanding problems connected to Yugoslavia's
economyrelated debts to that country. Labus expressed great satisfaction

with Tang's proposal on the promotion, development and deepening of
bilateral economic ties, the Federal Secretariat of Information said.
Full accord was reached on the stand that the Yugoslav and
Chinese
governments will support all concrete agreements between experts and
economic partners so that mutual trade, with the joint efforts by both
sides, would preserve an upward trend, the statement said.
CHINESE SUPPORT TO DEMOCRATIC CHANGES IN YUGOSLAVIA
BELGRADE, December 2 (Tanjug) Yugoslav Foreign Minister Goran
Svilanovic said in Belgrade late on Saturday that the visit of Chinese
Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan presents support to Yugoslavia's
democratic
changes and its efforts to become an equal and respected member of the
international community.
Addressing reporters together with Tang after their meeting,
Svilanovic expressed China's determined support to the defense of
Yugoslavia's territorial integrity and the principles inherent in the
U.N.
Charter. He said Yugoslavia deeply appreciates China's support in the
difficult days of the NATO air strikes and Yugoslavia's isolation.
The YugoslavChinese dialogue, as well as Yugoslavia's contacts
with the west and Russia, show that Yugoslavia is ready to promote and
strengthen longbuilt friendships with other states, and that it is able
to
keep all friends and make new ones, Svilanovic said.
Tang expressed satisfaction that he was in Yugoslavia in the
conditions of nice changes and gradual stabilization. He said China
absolutely respects the choice of the people and that it had never
interfered in the internal affairs of other countries.
Underscoring that China is ready to promote political and
economic
relations with Yugoslavia on the principles of peaceful coexistence,
mutual
respect of sovereignty and territorial integrity, equality and
noninterference in internal affairs, Tang said he was certain relations
between China and Yugoslavia would become even better. Tang said he
believed Yugoslavia, as one of the most important countries in the
Balkans,
would play a bigger role in the achievement of stability, peace and
progress.
The Chinese minister invited his Yugoslav counterpart to pay an

official visit to China at a mutually agreeable time period.
CHINA'S STAND IN PRINCIPLE FRIENDSHIP WITH YUGOSLAVIA
BELGRADE, December 3 (Tanjug) Chinese Foreign Ministry
spokesman
Zhu Bangzao said in Belgrade late on Saturday that former Yugoslav
president Slobodan Milosevic had made efforts toward the development of
relations between China and Yugoslavia, but that China's friendship with

Yugoslavia is that country's stand in principle, regardless of the past
or
present.
Speaking at a press briefing, Zhu pointed out that the
traditional
friendship between the two countries includes the time when Milosevic
was
in power, and underscored that China respects the choice of the Yugoslav

people and remains determined to preserve and develop good relations.
This also confirms China's resolve to help in Yugoslavia's
reconstruction, he said, and as an expression of friendship, announced
Peking's decision to send 20 million yuan (about two million dollars) as
a
gift to Yugoslavia.
He qualified as irresponsible certain rumours about the poor
quality of Chinese medicines imported to Yugoslavia, and pointed out
that
such claims can only hurt the Chinese people.
Medicines arrive in Yugoslavia both as Chinese aid and as legal

imports, and none of the Yugoslav importers had ever had any remarks
concerning their quality, Zhu said.
Asked if talks between Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan
and
Yugoslav officials had also covered the status of the many Chinese
citizens
present in Yugoslavia, Zhu said they had not particularly dwelt on this
issue. Chinese citizens in Yugoslavia are primarily engaged in trade,
and
it is their wish to contribute to economic cooperation between the two
countries, he said.
China demands that its citizens respect the local laws in
Yugoslavia and is opposed to illegal arrivals, Zhu said. Cooperation
should
be stepped up on fighting such activities, he said.

IL 23 DICEMBRE ELEZIONI POLITICHE IN SERBIA

COMMISSION DETERMINES POLLING STATIONS FOR SERBIAN ELECTIONS
BELGRADE, December 2 (Tanjug) The Republican Electoral
Commission
met in session on Saturday and decided about polling stations in Serbia
for
the parliamentary elections set for December 23, the Serbian
parliament's
Press Service said.
The Commission determined the number and seat of polling
stations
where at least 100 and not more than 2,500 voters can cast their
ballots.
The decision coordinated polling stations in Kosovo and
Metohija
province (currently under U.N. control) where unhindered and safe voting

will be secured.
The Commission session was attended by representatives of the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the home
observer organization, the Center for Free Elections and Democracy
(CESiD)
of Belgrade.

PRESSIONI DAL CONSIGLIO D'EUROPA PER UN PROCESSO
POLITICO A SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC

COUNCIL OF EUROPE WILL OFFER LEGAL ADVISORY SERVICE TO
YUGOSLAVIA
BELGRADE, December 5 (Tanjug) Former Yugoslav president
Slobodan
Milosevic must be taken to justice, Council of Europe Secretary General
Walter Schwimmer told the press Tuesday in Belgrade, without stating
whether his trial should be held in The Hague or in Serbia.
Asked whether the attitude of new Yugoslav authorities towards
The
Hague war crimes tribunal would slow down or perhaps hinder Yugoslavia's

integration in the Council of Europe, Schwimmer said he expected from
Belgrade only cooperation with the tribunal.
Yugoslavia was committed to this cooperation when it was
admitted
to the UN and must honour this commitment, he said.
Schwimmer did not wish to say whether Milosevic should be
extradited to The Hague tribunal, but affirmed that he must go on trial.

Schwimmer described as very successful his talks Tuesday with
Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica, Yugoslav parliament Chamber of
Citizens (lower house) Speaker Dragoljub Micunovic and several Yugoslav
ministers, and said that Yugoslavia might be admitted to the Council of
Europe in the first half of 2002.
Prior to admission, Yugoslavia's legislation must be
coordinated
with the Council's standards and the relations between the Yugoslav
federation, Serbia and Montenegro must be clearly defined, Schwimmer
said,
offering advisory services of the Venice Commission, the Council's
specialized legal expert body.
Underlining that the situation in the UNadministered
KosovoMetohija province will not be a condition for Yugoslavia's
admission
to the Council of Europe, Schwimmer expressed concern with the latest
developments in southern Serbia caused by the raids of ethnic Albanian
terrorists in the Presevo valley. KFor could help pacify the situation
by
preventing any infiltrations of extremists into Serbia proper in the
future, he said.
A Council of Europe office will be opened in Belgrade by the
beginning of February, Schwimmer said. The Council of Europe has 41
memberstates and is considered as a filter for admission to the European

Union.

CAMBIO UFFICIALE CON IL MARCO: 30 A 1

YUGOSLAV PARLIAMENT TO REVIEW SOUTHERN SERBIA SITUATION
BELGRADE, December 5 (Tanjug) The Yugoslav government on
Tuesday
recommended to Parliament, when it convenes on Thursday, to devote
itself
solely to the situation and escalation of terrorism in southern Serbia,
according to a government statement.
Heavily armed ethnic Albanian extremists from Serbia's U.N.
administered KosovoMetohija province are raiding southern Serbian
municipalities, said the statement, released from the cabinet session,
chaired by Prime Minister Zoran Zizic.
The cabinet reviewed a comprehensive report on the situation
since
the incursion of ethnic Albanian terrorist gangs from KosovoMetohija and

their operations against Serbian police. The report will be forwarded to

Parliament.
In view of the serious violations of U.N. Resolution 1244 and
the
Kumanovo MilitaryTechnical Accord, the government requested the U.N.
Security Council that the matter be put again on the agenda, that the
ethnic Albanian terrorists withdraw from the buffer zone and that the
international force KFor fulfil its obligations.
The situation would then be settled in a peaceful manner and
conditions created for the return of displaced people and for normal
life
to be resumed in this part of Serbia and Yugoslavia, the government
said.
The government approved a statement on Yugoslavia's economic
policy, listing financial stability and the protection of the people in
the
lowest income brackets as priorities over the coming months.
It reviewed and approved the report of the Yugoslav delegation
which discussed terms with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for
regulating Yugoslavia's IMF membership and fundamentals for an economic
programme for the first quarter of 2001, which might get IMF backing.
The cabinet decided to make official the exchange rate of the
dinar of 30 dinars to the deutsche mark.
In view of the central bank's increased hardcurrency reserves
over
the past months, the government scrapped a special import duty, the
obligatory payment of a part of export earnings to the central bank, and
a
special stimulation for selling hard currency to the banks.
In line with the government's policy of taking an active and
full
part in integration processes in the world and Europe, it decided to
step
up talks on Yugoslavia's membership in the World Trade Organisation
(WTO)
and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), the statement said.
DEPUTY PREMIER LABUS: YUGOSLAVIA LEGALIZES MARKET EXCHANGE RATE

BELGRADE, December 5 (Tanjug) Yugoslav Deputy Prime Minister
and
Foreign Trade Minister Miroljub Labus said Tuesday that the new official

exchange rate of 30 dinars to the German mark, which comes into force at

midnight, constitutes a legalization of the market rate and encourages
transparency in all financial and market transactions.
There will be no privileges as regards the purchase of foreign
exchange and Yugoslavia now practically has internal convertibility of
its
currency, Labus said after a government session.
The European Union has allowed taxfree imports of 95 percent of

Yugoslav products, Labus noted.
The government has taken all the necessary decisions for
Yugoslavia's admission to the International Monetary Fund by the end of
the
year, Labus said.
Noting that he had asked the IMF board of directors to postpone

regulating Yugoslavia's status by two weeks and that the board agreed,
Labus said the admission should take place by December. 25.
The government has also adopted a statement on the economic
policy
in 2001, giving priority to stable exchange rate and to protecting the
poorest citizens.
The GNP growth next year should be 10 percent, inflation should
be
reduced speedily and the budget should be funded from real sources,
Labus
said.

RAPPORTI BILATERALI CON L'IRAQ

YUGOSLAVIRAQI TRADE SHOULD BE STEPPED UP
BELGRADE, December 6 (Tanjug) Businessmen of Yugoslavia and
Iraq
should in the best possible way take advantage of the possibility to
increase foreign trade through the program "Oil for Food," it was
concluded
on Wednesday in talks between Yugoslav Deputy Premier and Foreign Trade
Minister Miroljub Labus and Iraqi Ambassador in Belgrade Sami Sadoun.
A federal government statement said the officials had
considered
bilateral cooperation so far and described it as successful and
beneficial.
Special emphasis was placed on a consideration of the achieved level of
economic cooperation between the two countries through the United
Nations
program "Oil for Food."
Overall bilateral cooperation following the lifting of the
economic sanctions against Iraq has an important future in all areas. It

should continue to be based on mutual interests, respect, and the
traditional friendship of the two countries, the sides said.
It was agreed that the next session of the YugoslavIraqi mixed
committee for economic and technical cooperation should be held in
Baghdad
in the first quarter of 2001.

SARA' LA B.E.R.S. A COSTRUIRE LE INFRASTRUTTURE DEI "CORRIDOI"?

YUGOSLAV TRANSPORTATION MINISTER WITH EBRD DIRECTOR
BELGRADE, December 5 (Tanjug) In the talks on Tuesday of
Yugoslav
Transportation Minister Zoran Sami and the director of the European Bank

for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) for the Western Balkans Henry
Russel, were reviewed priority investments of mutual interest, the
Yugoslav
information secretariat said.
For that purpose, it was announced, an EBRD expert team is
expected to arrive in Yugoslavia at the beginning of next year to
determine
the state of traffic infrastructure, along with Yugoslav transportation
experts.
Sami pointed out that, after a tenyear blockade, huge
investments
were needed in traffic infrastructure. He also underlined that the
policy
of traffic development must be conformed to the global economic policy
of
Yugoslavia and that within it can be found profitable investment
priorities, the Yugoslav information secretariat said.

IL FONDO MONETARIO INTERNAZIONALE PONE CONDIZIONI

IMF SAYS YUGOSLAV MEMBERSHIP DEPENDS ON BELGRADE
LONDON, December 5 (Tanjug) The International Monetary Fund
(IMF)
expects Yugoslavia to return to the IMF fold, but this will depend
primarily on the economic programme of the government in Belgrade,
according to an IMF official in London on Tuesday.
Speaking in a Serbianlanguage BBC radio programme, IMF Director

for international relations Thomas Dawson said the IMF had indeed
received
a letter from the Yugoslav government asking for a postponement of
membership talks until December 31.
The talks, originally planned for December 14, have been
postponed
because the Yugoslav government has not prepared an economic programme,
and
this has nothing to do with problems about appointing a central bank
governor and his aides, according to Dawson.
The IMF director refuted claims that, if it misses the December

deadline, Yugoslavia will have to wait for IMF membership until June.
The IMF could set up more talks in a few weeks after the New
Year,
because there are no firm deadlines, and everything depends on when the
Yugoslav government will have prepared the necessary economic programme,
he
stressed.

COLLOQUI POST-JUGOSLAVI

CONTINUATION OF TALKS ON DIVISION OF PROPERTY OF FORMER
YUGOSLAVIA
BELGRADE, December 7 (Tanjug) At a session on Wednesday
evening
the Yugoslav government concluded that it is necessary to initiate the
continuation of talks within the Group for Succession on the principle
of
the respect of the legitimate interests of the country, the just
distribution of property and equal treatment of all states successors of

the former Yugoslavia.
The federal government approved the start of talks on the
distribution of the property of the former Yugoslavia in the
International
Bank for settlement in Basel on the basis of the criteria for the
division
of property adopted by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and
accepted
by the previous federal government and parliament. Yugoslav Central Bank

Governor Mladjan Dinkic was empowered to implement these decisions.
The federal government was informed about the realization of
the
Russian state loan to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia for financing
the
deliveries of Russian equipment, goods and services, in keeping with the

1997 agreement. The federal government also adopted an annex to this
agreement, with the aim of securing the continuity of natural gas
deliveries from the Russian Federation and unimpeded functioning of the
Yugoslav economy and heating grid during the winter. This annex will be
signed on December 9, the federal Information Secretariat said.
The federal government discussed and adopted a number of
reports
and bases for the participation of Yugoslav government delegations at
international and bilateral meetings in the coming period.
The federal government also heard an information about the
forthcoming visit by federal Foreign Minister Goran Svilanovic to
Slovenia
on December 9 and the text of the agreement between the Yugoslav and
Slovenian governments on the establishment of diplomatic relations, to
be
signed in Ljubljana. Under this agreement Slovenia will be able to open
a
general consulate in Podgorica whose operations will cover Montenegro,
while the location of the Yugoslav consulate in Slovenia will be
determined
at a later date.
The federal government adopted a number of cadre solutions
which
include the release of former deputy federal ministers and other federal

government officials. Milorad Ivanovic was appointed as the general
secretary of the federal government, Vuko Domazetovic as federal
secretary
for science and development and Mirko Petrovic as federal secretary for
legislature, the statement said.

LA RF DI JUGOSLAVIA RINGRAZIA IL VATICANO

YUGOSLAV MINISTER RECEIVED APOSTOLIC NUNCIO
BELGRADE, December 7 (Tanjug) Yugoslav Minister for Religious
Affairs Bogoljub Siljakovic received in Belgrade on Thursday Apostolic
Nuncio to Yugoslavia Msgr. Eugenio Sbarbaro.
Siljakovic thanked Sbarbaro for the Holy See's humanitarian
assistance and Christian attitude of opposition to last year's NATO air
strikes on Yugoslavia.
Yugoslavia is open to cooperation and dialogue on all
questions,
and welcomes all support and help in dealing with its national and
international problems, according to Siljakovic.
Sbarbaro, in turn, expressed good will to extend to Yugoslavia
the
necessary cooperation and help, stressing he had become convinced in his

many contacts of an openness to dialogue from all aspects.

LO SLOGAN DI DJINDJIC PRIMO MINISTRO DELLA SERBIA:
"RISTABILIRE L'ORDINE".

AGREEMENT ON NEW SERBIAN GOVERNMENT
BELGRADE, December 7 (Tanjug) One of the leaders of the
Democratic Opposition of Serbia (DOS), Zoran Djindjic, who is also the
DOS
candidate for Serbian premier, said on Wednesday evening that agreement
in
general had been reached on the composition of the republican government
if
DOS wins the majority at the December 23 parliamentary elections.
Djindjic, who is also the president of the Democratic Party
(DS),
told a press conference that the first item on the agenda of the meeting
of
all DOS leaders was the program of the government, the second cadre
solutions and the third the program for the DOS election campaign.
According to Djindjic, the most important part of the talks,
also
attended by Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica, focused on the
priorities of the new government.
Djindjic said that the new Serbian democratic government, the
first after 50-60 years, will have five priorities and will act under
the
slogan of establishing order in Serbia.
Djindjic underscored that the concept of the new government
would
include "a combination of a politicalleadership and operativeexpertise."

He said that the vicepremiers will be DOS leaders who will
"form a
consensus on major political issues" while the ministers will be
operative "people who will carry out the changes in the society."

RAPPORTI BILATERALI RFJ-BIH

BOSNIAHERZEGOVINA FOR CONDITIONAL DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH
YUGOSLAVIA
SARAJEVO, December 7 (Tanjug) The BosniaHerzegovina presidency

made a decision in Sarajevo on Thursday on the establishment of
diplomatic
relations with FR Yugoslavia on condition that Yugoslavia agrees to
rephrasing a part of the draft protocol.
The threemember presidency unanimously accepted changes of the
protocol text on diplomatic relations, because the Bosnian Muslim side
opposed the earlier version that implied that by establishing diplomatic

relations Bosnia and Herzegovina would retract the suit filed against
Yugoslavia, which according to their position had committed a military

aggression against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The text of the new sentence adopted by the presidency says
that
the establishment of diplomatic relations "will enable Bosnia and
Herzegovina and FR Yugoslavia to make decisive steps to expedite
succession
solutions, individual accountability for war crimes, and the solution of

disputes between them."
Spokesman for the presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Boris
Kolundzija said after the session that the "presidency of Bosnia and
Herzegovina stressed that changes of that sentence were in no way
related
to the current charges filed by Bosnia and Herzegovina against
Yugoslavia
with The Hague tribunal. He said that now "the position of FR Yugoslavia

should be expected."

TRATTARE CON L'ESTERO E' PIU' FACILE CHE FAR POLITICA IN CASA

PRESIDENT KOSTUNICA FINDS DEALING WITH WORLD EASER THAN AT HOME

BELGRADE, December 8 (Tanjug) Relations between Montenegro and

Serbia should be settled to mutual satisfaction, respecting the will of
the
people, and the Yugoslav army must return to KosovoMetohija,
Yugoslavia's
president is quoted on Friday as saying.
Vojislav Kostunica said in an exclusive interview with
Belgrade's
Glas Javnosti newspaper that Yugoslavia's return to the world and
regulation of relations with the international community had gone off
easier than expected.
According to Kostunica, there are three sets of problems at
home:
"a grave socioeconomic situation, the KosovoMetohija problem with the
tendency of the unmasked (ethnic Albanian) terrorism spilling over into
southern Serbia, and the matter of regulating relations between Serbia
and
Montenegro in the existing common state."
The easiest of solution should be the matter of relations
between
Serbia and Montenegro, by sounding out the will of the people in both
federal units, and adopting a new constitution, Kostunica said.
"The existing constitution must be discarded, and a new one
must
reflect in a sensitive way the sentiments of statehood of Serbia and
Montenegro", he added.
He said the world was beginning to change its perception of the

Serbs and nonAlbanians, and there was now talk of antiSerb crimes,
violations of U.N. Resolution 1244, ethnic Albanian terrorist raids on
the
buffer zone between Kosovo and the rest of Serbia.
"The important thing is that Yugoslavia has not allowed itself
to
be provoked by ethnic Albanian terrorists and their foreign mentors," he
said.
"Our police must return to the buffer zone, and the Yugoslav
army
must go back to Kosovo, in line with Resolution 1244," Kostunica said,
adding that "this is just a matter of time."

LA SVIZZERA COME TRAMITE VERSO IL FMI

YUGOSLAVIA WILL JOIN INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL ORGANIZATIONS
THROUGH
SWITZERLAND
BELGRADE, December 7 (Tanjug) The Yugoslav government decided
that Yugoslavia will become a member of Swiss Constituency in
international
financial institutions, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World

Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Tanjug
learned on Thursday from Yugoslav government sources.
Switzerland will represent the interests of Yugoslavia in the
decisionmaking bodies in these major international financial
organizations,
the same sources said.
Yugoslavia could become an IMF member by the end of this year,
after which the doors of all other financial institutions will be opened
to
it, Yugoslav Deputy Premier and Foreign Trade Minister Miroljub Labus
said
recently.
Yugoslavia's admission to these organizations is necessary for
mobilisation of longterm funds for development aid and restoring the
confidence of both foreign and domestic investors in the Yugoslav
market..

LA RFJ E' POTENZIALMENTE UN MEMBRO DELLA UE

EU LEADERS SAY YUGOSLAVIA IS POTENTIAL EU MEMBER
PARIS, December 8 (Tanjug) Leaders of the 15 European Union
nations hailed recent democratic changes in Yugoslavia and Croatia, and
said the two countries are potential members of the Union, said draft
conclusions of the EU summit in Nice, France, published on Friday.
The document, released on the second day of the threeday EU
conference, said the two countries are offered "a clear prospect of (EU)

accession, indissolubly linked to progress in regional cooperation".
"Regional democracy, reconciliation and cooperation, based on
respect for international obligations on the one hand and the
rapprochement
of each of these countries with the EU on the other, together form a
whole," the document said.

VERSO IL RISTABILIMENTO DELLE RELAZIONI DIPLOMATICHE?

BOSNIA AND YUGOSLAVIA TO ESTABLISH DIPLOMATIC TIES ON FRIDAY
WEEK
SARAJEVO, December 8 (Tanjug) Foreign Ministers Jadranko Prlic
of
BosniaHerzegovina and Goran Svilanovic of Yugoslavia are expected to
sign a
protocol establishing diplomatic relations in Belgrade on December 15, a

statement released in Sarajevo said on Friday.
The BosniaHerzegovina foreign ministry's statement said the
meeting between the two foreign ministers had been agreed in the wake of

positive reactions to the BosniaHerzegovina Presidency's decision to
establish diplomatic relations with Yugoslavia.
Prlic will be meeting in Belgrade also with Yugoslav President
Vojislav Kostunica, Prime Minister Zoran Zizic and with Zoran Djindjic,
a
leader in the Democratic Opposition of Serbia (DOS) bloc.
BOSNIAN SERB PRESIDENT URGES FORGING DIPLOMATIC TIES WITH
BELGRADE
BELGRADE, Dec 11 (Tanjug) It is very important that diplomatic

ties between BosniaHerzegovina and Yugoslavia should be established, the

presidentelect of (Bosnian Serb) Republika Srpska is quoted on Monday as

saying.
"We say it loud and clear today we need diplomatic ties with
Yugoslavia," the Belgrade Borba newspaper quotes Mirko Sarovic as
saying.
Sarovic said this would lay the groundwork for exercising all
other rights under the Dayton Accord, viz. special parallel relations
between Republika Srpska and Yugoslavia.
Diplomatic relations between Yugoslavia and BosniaHerzegovina
would be the prime mover for all future relations, economic in
particular,
according to Sarovic.
He said political relations, too, should be picked up, in order
to
regulate such matters as dual citizenship, for instance.

KOSTUNICA A ROMA

YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT IN ITALY
ROME, Dec 11 (Tanjug) Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica
arrived in Rome on Monday, on a oneday official visit to Italy.
At Rome's Ciampini Airport, Kostunica was welcomed, on behalf
of
the Italian president, by chief of protocol Giuseppe Balboni, and on
behalf
of the Holy See, by Msgr. Laboa.
The busy programme of the visit begins with Kostunica's meeting

with President Carlo Aseglio Ciampi, to be followed by meetings with
Prime
Minister Giuliano Amato and Lower House Speaker Luciano Violante.
Monday's talks are expected in Rome to be devoted to expanding
bilateral cooperation and Italy's substantial support for Yugoslavia's
incorporation in all international institutions.
In the afternoon, Kostunica is expected to address the lower
house
of the Italian parliament, and is scheduled to be received briefly in
audience by Pope John Paul II.
Kostunica arrived in Rome accompanied by Foreign Minister Goran

Svilanovic who, as announced in Rome, is to sign several interstate
accords
in the economic area with his opposite number Lamberto Dini.
YUGOSLAV AND ITALIAN PRESIDENTS MEET IN ROME
ROME, Dec. 11 (Tanjug) Italy will back Yugoslavia both
economically and politically, and support compliance with U.N Security
Council Resolution 1244 on KosovoMetohija, Italian President Carlo
Azeglio
Ciampi said in talks on Monday with Yugoslav President Vojislav
Kostunica.
Kostunica arrived in an oneday official visit to Rome early
today
and around noon met with his host Ciampi.
The Yugoslav president thanked Ciampi for Rome's help to the
new
Yugoslav
authorities, and voiced hope in the continuation of the traditional
friendship between the two countries.
During the afternoon Kostunica is expected to meet with Italian

Prime Minister Guliano Amati.
After the talks, Yugoslav Foreign Minister Goran Svilanovic and

his Italian counterpart Lamberto Dini will sign four bilateral
agreements.

LE LEADERSHIP NAZIONALISTE VERSO LA SPARTIZIONE DELLE
SPOGLIE DELLA REPUBBLICA FEDERATIVA SOCIALISTA DI JUGOSLAVIA

SUCCESSION TALKS ON DEC. 18 19 IN BRUSSLES
BELGRADE, Dec. 10 (Tanjug) The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
is
ready to participate in the succession talks to be held on Dec. 18 19
in
Brussles, Yugoslav VicePrime Minister Miroljub Labus has said.
Labus, who is also federal minister for foreign trade, told
Sunday's issue of Belgrade daily Politika that the federal government
would
form a committee for succession and then adopt a platform on the
division
on the property of the former Yugoslavia.
With the new state policy we want to show that we want to make
up
as soon as possible what was previously neglected so that we are no
longer
those who are stopping things from getting done, Labus said explaining
why
the new federal government wants the continuation of the succession
talks.
"It remains with the partners whether they will accept this.
However, I believe that the reactions will be positive," Labus set out.
Labus stated that in the Basel bank it will be necessary to
divide
not only the gold, as people believe, but also the 8,000 shares, of
which
each is worth 2,500 gold francs weighing 0.29 grams each, as well as a
part
of the foreign currency reserves deposited in this bank's vaults and the

gold belonging to the former Yugoslavia.
Labus explained that the gold of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia will

not be divided in the bank in Basel, rather the gold acquired after 1948

and which was left after the second Yugoslavia.
The gold Serbia brought to the Kingdom of Yugoslavia will be
discussed during the division of the reminder of the property, Labus
said.

IL CONSIGLIO D'EUROPA VEZZEGGIA LE MINORANZE JUGOSLAVE

YUGOSLAV MINORITIES MINISTER MEETS WITH COUNCIL OF EUROPE
REPRESENTATIVES
BELGRADE, Dec. 11 (Tanjug) Yugoslav minister for national and
ethnic communities, Rasim Ljajic, received on Monday the Council of
Europe's Human Rights Director, Pierre Henri Hubert, and his advisor
Hanna
Junker, who offered help in the affirmation and protection of human
rights
to enable Yugoslavia to speedily join the family of European countries,
the
federal Information Secretariat has said.
Hubert hailed the setting up of the federal ministry for
national
and ethnic communities as an important sign of a comprehensive
democratic
process in Yugoslavia.
Ljajic underscored the need for Yugoslavia to be admitted into
the
Council of Europe, which is one of the oldest European institutions, but

also into all other international organizations and institutions which
would help this country overcome the period of economic and political
isolation as fast as possible.
This would create better conditions for the practical
realization
of the human rights of minorities, ethnic communities and all
individuals
regardless of nationality, religion, political orientation and cultural
identity, Ljajic stated.
Ljajic and Hubert agreed that Yugoslav and foreign human rights

experts should met in January to discuss the national, religious,
social,
political and cultural aspects of minorities. They also agreed to work
together on the coordination of Yugoslav laws and regulations in this
sphere with those of the Council of Europe.

CHI PAGA ALLA RUSSIA PER IL COMBUSTIBILE?

NEGOTIATIONS ON SUPPLY OF RUSSIAN GAS TO YUGOSLAVIA
MOSCOW, Dec 8 (Tanjug) A working group of Yugoslav experts
arrived in Moscow Friday to negotiate with Russian officials the
financing
of the export of Russian gas to Yugoslavia until the end of this year
and
in 2001.
Head of the Yugoslav delegation, Serbian Minister of Energy and

Mining Srboljub Antic, told Tanjug that the delegation would endeavour
to
draw up a contract on the supply of gas next year and on resolving all
problems on deliveries by the end of December.
The delegation will also try to lay the bases for regulating
the
debt situation between Russia and Yugoslavia, Antic said.
Yugoslav experts will insist on the need for increasing the
daily
deliveries to the earlier agreed 4.17 million cubic meters. Gazprom is
currently delivering 3 million cubic meters per day.
Yugoslavia intends to import 2.8 billion cubic meters of gas
from
Russia next year.
The problem of paying for gas imports from Russia might be
linked
in a way to the pledging conference on Yugoslavia, Antic said.
Yugoslav and Russian experts will also discuss the modalities
of
payment for gas Yugoslavia imported over the past five years.
SERBIAN OIL CO NIS TO TAKE OVER RUSSIAN GAS IMPORTS AS OF 2001
BELGRADE, Dec 11 (Tanjug) Serbia's minister of mining and
industry said on Monday this Yugoslav republic was as of Sunday again
getting 4.2 million cubic metres of Russian gas a day.
Srboljub Antic told TANJUG it had been agreed in last week's
expertlevel talks in Moscow that Serbia's Oil Company NIS and Russia's
Gazprom take over Russian gas deliveries to Serbia as of the year 2001.
According to Antic, a NIS team will be travelling to Russia
again
on Thursday to negotiate the details, since a new contract needs to be
signed and prices and quantities agreed for next year.
He went on to say last week's talks had touched also on ways
and
means of paying Serbia's debt to the Russian oil company.
"Basically, we were very close to agreeing exact figures
concerning this debt. Some things still remain to be cleared up, and
this
is another reason for Thursday's trip.
"These are still expertlevel talks and I cannot give a precise
figure for the debt, but it is certainly very high", he said.