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PRESS CUT - Croatian Press News in English	

September 25, 1998


* CROATIA

1. SLOVENE ARE STILL NOT LEAVING SVETA GERA
2. BRIDGE CONNECTING ZUPANJA & ORASJE ALMOST FINISHED
3. EU WELCOMES PLOCE AGREEMENT
4. PRIME MINISTER MATESA IN PORTUGAL
5. SHE RECOGNISED HER HUSBANDS SEVEN KILLERS
6. HEY, HEY - CIBONA!
7. A VISIT TO BELGRADE WOULD NOT BE COMPLETE WITHOUT BEING ATTACKED!
8. CROATIA ONE STEP CLOSER TO WORLD HANDBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
9. MAVROVIC IS READY TO WIN WBC HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE

* BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

10. ORUCEVIC: CARITAS SHOULD USE INFLUENCE TO HELP RETURN
11. GELBARD NOT OPTIMISTIC
12. AIDS SYMPOSIUM CLOSES
13. MAK DIZDARS FAMILY SEEKING DAMAGES

* YUGOSLAVIA

14. NATO PREPARED FOR AIR STRIKES IN KOSOVO
15. COUNCIL OF EUROPE SUPPORTS CONFERENCE ON KOSOVO
16. FRY REQUESTS MEMBERSHIP TO COUNCIL OF EUROPE AS NEW COUNTRY?!



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* CROATIA

1. Vlado Zagorac, Slovenci (jos) ne odlaze sa svete Gere, Vecernji list,
September  25, 1998, Back Page.
SLOVENE ARE STILL NOT LEAVING SVETA GERA

LJUBLJANA - Croatian-Slovene relations mentioned during the Current Affairs
Hour at the Croatian National Parliament, "upset the Slovene public" and
spurred the foreign ministry to calm things down with the appropriate
statement centring on the Piran Bay and Sveta Gera.

The statement says that the it is still too early to seek a solution to the
jurisdiction problem of the Piran Bay through international arbitration.
Further, it would not correspond with the Mokrice agreements reached by the
foreign ministers of Croatia and Slovenia. It was agreed that the
co-chairpersons of the mixed diplomatic commission on borders first
exchange letters with proposals for solving this situation both for land
and sea borders. Alternate solutions would be sought only if both sides
conclude that the border problems cannot be solved through settlement.

Within the framework of open questions on the final borderline, its
direction at Sveta Gera should also be determined. But that is not the only
area on which Croatia and Slovenia have to jointly agree. Joint agreements
will be a basis for land exchanges between the two countries. In relation,
Slovenia made it clear that there are no talks with Croatia about giving up
any land at any locations. It was emphasised that further talks on
bilateral questions are a basis for bettering relations between the two
countries. According to Slovenia, a meeting between foreign ministers
Granic and Frlec scheduled in New York is to continue achieving the Mokrice
agreement goals.

***

2. Z.Z, N.T., Opet mostom od Zupanje do Orasja, Vecernji list, September
25, 1998, p. 5.
BRIDGE CONNECTING ZUPANJA & ORASJE ALMOST FINISHED

ZUPANJA - The last of 23 segments of the bridge between Zupanja and Orasje
were put into place yesterday. The mounting of the 304-metre long bridge
centre is part of a bride construction plan over the Sava River.

After 14 months of work by the Djuro Djakovic company from Slavonski Brod,
the submerged portions of the bridge, which were not damaged during the
war, have been reconnected, and now the Sava River can be crossed at
exactly the same location it was seven years ago.

There was an appropriate ceremony at the middle of the bridge with high
ranking officials form Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, such as the
heads of Vukovar Srijem and Posavina counties. There were also
representatives from public companies and many other guests.

The significance of the renewal of the bridge from a traffic and business
point of view, was emphasised by the B-H Presidential Advisor, Franjo
Greguric, as well as ambassadors Darinko Bago and Hasan Muratovic. They
reminded all present that this was the first of six renewed bridges over
the Sava River that were destroyed during the recent war.

The bridge centre was completed 10 days ahead of schedule. All that is left
is the mounting of bearings and passing mechanisms, as well as setting up
sidewalks, fences and putting down asphalt on the 774-metre bridge. All
work on the bridge should be finished by December 1.

***

3. Hina, EU pozdravlja sporazum o Plocama, Vjesnik, September 25, 1998,
Front Page.
EU WELCOMES PLOCE AGREEMENT

VIENNA - The European Union welcomes the recent initialling of the
agreements between the Republic of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina
concerning the Ploce Port and Neum. The EU praised this event as an
important step for Croatia and B&H  and the beginning of a new era of
political and economic co-operation. This was announced on Wednesday in
Vienna, the current chair-country of the EU. The EU contends the agreement,
reached after a long period of talks, will be economically useful for both
countries and the region as a whole.

***

4. T.P., Croatian Information Centre - Zagreb, September 25, 1998.
PRIME MINISTER MATESA IN PORTUGAL

LISBON - Prime Minister Zlatko Matesa left for a three-day working visit to
Portugal Thursday. While there, he will be visiting the World Exposition
Expo 98, which will be closing September 30. The Croatian exhibit was
one of the more successful ones at this auspicious event. Matesa will meet
with his Portuguese colleague Antonio Manuel de Oliveira Guterres on Friday.

***

5. Stjepan Tomic, Prepoznala sedmoricu ubojica svoga muza?, Vjesnik,
September 25, 1998, p. 16.
SHE RECOGNISED HER HUSBANDS SEVEN KILLERS

VINKOVCI - A woman from Lipovaca reported the murder of her husband, Ivan
Kunc, on Wednesday according to the Vukovar Srijem Police Chief of
Criminology, Tomislav Ilic.

Kunc was killed September 10, by seven men dressed in former Yugoslav Army
uniforms with long piped firearms. The seven individuals, six from Lipovaca
and one from B&H, kidnapped Kunc from his home, and took him to the towns
Catholic cemetery. They then shot him several times. His wife and family
buried him the next day.

One of the assailants was arrested on Wednesday and is at the
Investigations Department of the Vukovar County Court.

***

6. T.P., Croatian Information Centre - Zagreb, September 25, 1998.
HEY, HEY - CIBONA!

BELGRADE - Yesterday was a historic game in Belgrade between Red Star and
Cibona, because it was the first post-war match up of the leading Belgrade
and Zagreb teams in a major sport.

The last game played between Red Star and a major club from Zagreb was in
1990, when Red Star fans in Zagreb began a major brawl with Dinamo (now
Croatia), which many call the beginning of the war. The photo of Croatian
National team captain, Zvonimir Boban, who was playing for Dinamo at that
time, fighting back against Yugoslav police in protection of Dinamo fans
became a symbol of bravery throughout the years of the war.

Finally, Red Star and Cibona tipped off against each other last night in
the first game of the B Group of the Euroleague.

The Pioneer Sports Hall was devoid of fans last night, as Red Star was
penalised by FIBA because one of its fans attacked a referee during last
years finals in the Radivoj Korac Cup. From the first whistle Cibona took
the initiative and lead. The game was close, but Cibona managed to win by a
field goal - 69:66 (31:31). The top scorer of the game was Cibonas Kenneth
Atkins with 26 points.

***

7. T.P., Croatian Information Centre - Zagreb, September 25, 1998.
A VISIT TO BELGRADE WOULD NOT BE COMPLETE WITHOUT BEING ATTACKED!

BELGRADE - A serious incident occurred after the first game of the
Euroleague B Group in which Cibona defeated Red Star  69:66 in Belgrade. As
is usual for Belgrade fans, especially if Red Star or Partizan loses to a
Croatian team, the team busses were attacked. This time it was a stoning
incident, as the team bus was leaving the sports hall. A very large group
of Red Star fans showed their poor sportsmanship by throwing large pieces
of concrete at the two Cibona busses heading for the teams hotel. Two bus
windows were broken and Cibonas international acquisition, American Evric
Grey, was injured in the eye and leg from the broken glass. A similar thing
happened last year, after Cibona beat Partizan in Belgrade. The team was
escorted to the border with increased security and there were no more
incidents reported. It seems that Belgrade just would not be the same if
there were no attacks against Croatian athletes!

***

8. T.P., Croatian Information Centre - Zagreb, September 25, 1998.
CROATIA ONE STEP CLOSER TO WORLD HANDBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

KARLOVAC - Last night in Karlovac the Croatian National Handball Team
played its first qualifier for the 1999 World Handball Championship to be
held in Egypt. They defeated a very strong Belorus team 32:28 (17:14).
Croatias top scorers were Bilic, Mikulic, Dzomba and Cavar, all with 7
goals, while the top scorer of the game was excellent the Belorus forward
Parasenko with 10 goals.

***

9. T.P., Croatian Information Centre - Zagreb, September 25, 1998.
MAVROVIC IS READY TO WIN WBC HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE

UNCASVILLE - Saturday night will be the night Croatian professional boxer
Zeljko Mavrovic has been waiting for, for a long time. He will finally
strap on the gloves to challenge WBC world heavyweight champion Lennox
Lewis for his belt. This fight was postponed a number of times by Lewis
team, but Mavrovic persevered and will be defending the honour of European
boxing in Uncasville on Saturday night.

The match is scheduled to start at approximately 4:00 (CET) on the night
between Saturday and Sunday.

***


* BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

10. J.C., Croatian Information Centre - Sarajevo, September 25, 1998.
ORUCEVIC: CARITAS SHOULD USE INFLUENCE TO HELP RETURN

MOSTAR - The mayor of Mostar, Safet Orucevic, is calling on Caritas B&H to
help Croats return to east Mostar. In a letter to Caritas Director Bosiljko
Rajic, Orucevic also asks the charitable organisation to become involved in
the renewal of Croatian homes and religious buildings.

Orucevic writes that Caritass help in the matter, regardless of the
amount, is of utmost importance, because of the organisations reputation.
Croats, he writes, would view it as honest support for return, as well as
progress.

***

11. J.C., Croatian Information Centre - Sarajevo, September 25, 1998.
GELBARD NOT OPTIMISTIC

SARAJEVO - Special US envoy Robert Gelbard is not optimistic when it comes
to Nikola Poplasen who, according to unofficial estimates, has won the
Presidency of the Serbian entity, Republika Srpska.

"His history, that of the Serbian Radicals and his friend Vojislav Seselj
do not give me a reason to be optimistic," said Gelbard at a press
conference yesterday.

Gelbard conceded that Poplasen has publicly and privately said he supports
Dayton. "However, one thing I have learned in the Balkans: people often
make promises, but rarely keep them."

He went on to say that promises do not interest the U.S. - results do. In
so far as Poplasen fulfils his obligations, the USA, international
community and RS citizens will be happy. Moreover, Poplasen, should he win,
 must keep in mind there will be new elections next year. People have shown
signs of taking the elections seriously and putting thought into their
choices.

"A win by Poplasen is the exception, not the rule."

Gelbard emphasised that the U.S. will continue to seriously and
aggressively work on Daytons implementation. There will be no revisions
and only those who support the accord will get help.

"The elections have demonstrated progress in building pluralism," said
Gelbard, "and a trend in which one can see the peoples support for those
implementing Dayton. The elections have also shown the fall in popularity
of the Serbian Democratic Party and Momcilo Krajisnik."

He added that he met with the Croatian Democratic Union leader, Ante
Jelavic, and was encouraged by Jelavics promises.

At that point, Gelbard reminded journalists that there are no official
election numbers yet. As to whether hes seen any of the results: "No, I am
economist, not an engineer!"

***

12. J.C., Croatian Information Centre - Sarajevo, September 25, 1998.
AIDS SYMPOSIUM CLOSES

NEUM - The first international symposium on AIDS closed yesterday. There
were some 200 participants from 12 Mediterranean countries at the event
which focused on AIDS in southern Europe.

As far as there successor states to Yugoslavia are concerned, there are 1
to 2 cases of AIDS for every 100,000 people. This is ten times less than in
more developed areas of the world. Still, the number of HIV cases is
rising. An intensive education campaign is necessary to avoid the
catastrophe of the former USSR, where there are 80 - 100 cases of HIV for
every 100,000 people.

Several conclusions were drawn up at the symposium. One of them is that a
preventative education campaign in the less developed countries of southern
Europe be helped by the wealthier ones, such as Italy, France and Spain.
Education about the illness must  be intensified in schools and supported
by education ministries. In concert with World AIDS Day (December 1),
pamphlets about the disease will be distributed in all languages of Bosnia
and Herzegovina.

Religion is also an important influence in combating the problem according
to participants. As such, religious communities will have to become more
active in education campaigns.

Finally, it was decided that a centre for co-ordination for educating
people of southern Europe on AIDS be opened in Sarajevo. Sister centres
will be opened in Zagreb, Ljubljana, Pristina, Tirana and Skoplje. Similar
centres are already open in Paris, Madrid,  Milan and Rome.

***

13. J.C., Croatian Information Centre - Sarajevo, September 25, 1998.
MAK DIZDARS FAMILY SEEKING DAMAGES

SARAJEVO - Poet Mehmed Mak Dizdars family is seeking damages from the B&H
Central Bank , because Dizdars image appears on the 10 convertible mark
bill without their permission.

When the likeness  of famous people are used on banknotes, it is customary
for their heirs or the "owners" of the image to either be compensated or to
negotiate an agreement for free usage. There is a time limit on how long
someone can own and image. This one of the reasons why money bills tend to
have images of people without heirs or of people where the image ownership
period has run out.

How the Central Bank will respond to the Dizdars is still unknown. The case
could be settled in court. A settlement in favour of the family would also
open the door for similar claims from the families of Mesa Selimovic or
Nikola Sop, whose images are also used on the convertible marks.

***


* YUGOSLAVIA

14. T.P., Croatian Information Centre - Zagreb, September 25, 1998.
NATO PREPARED FOR AIR STRIKES IN KOSOVO

VILAMOURI - NATO took its first official step Thursday in preparing for a
military intervention in Kosovo if FR Yugoslavia refuses to abide by the UN
demand for the violence to stop.

"A few moments ago the NATO Council agreed to issue a warning before
action, which means increasing battle readiness for possible limited air
strikes or strikes in a number of phases," stated NATO Secretary General
Javier Solana on Thursday. He added the use of force still demands further
NATO decisions, but that this was an important political signal that NATO
is ready if necessary.

NATO ambassadors passed the decision at a special meeting in Vilamouri,
Portugal, in lieu of an unofficial foreign ministers meeting of the
alliance. British Defence Minister George Robertson said the time has come
for NATO to "get its ammunition ready" to end the conflict in Kosovo.
Robertson emphasised that Great Britain and the U.S. "stand firmly united"
in the decision to force obedience from Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic.

Serbian President Milan Milutinovic was outraged at the UN resolution, and
said in Pristina that Serbia will defend itself should NATO forces attack
its territory. Milutinovic contends the violence in Kosovo is an internal
matter of FRY and Serbia, hence NATO intervention would be considered an
act of aggression.

***

15. Hina, Vijece Europe za konferenciju o Kosovu, Vjesnik, September 25,
1998, Front Page.
COUNCIL OF EUROPE SUPPORTS CONFERENCE ON KOSOVO

STRASBURG - The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe condemned
Thursdays military operations against civilians in Kosovo. It demanded
Yugoslav authorities immediately stop violating human rights, and expressed
support for a political solution rather than an armed NATO operation.

The members of the assembly requested a conference on the future status of
Kosovo. All relevant parties would participate at this conference. The
Assembly feels a new political status with more autonomy for Kosovo would
have to be established within the framework of FR Yugoslavia.

***

16. T.P., Croatian Information Centre - Zagreb, September 25, 1998.
FRY REQUESTS MEMBERSHIP TO COUNCIL OF EUROPE AS NEW COUNTRY?!

BELGRADE - The head of the permanent Greek delegation to the European
Council, Dimitris Konstas, told the Athenian newspaper Ta Nea on
Wednesday that FR Yugoslavia "forfeited its political continuity with the
former SFRY(in March) by requesting acceptance to the European Council as a
new country." The March 18 request from Belgrade allegedly caused a great
deal of confusion, because it did not actually request continuity. However,
the Athenian newspaper made it clear this is Konstas personal opinion.





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