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PRESS CUT - Croatian Press News in English	
September 28, 1998

INDEX
=====

CROATIA

1. POPE COMES WITH WISHES OF FORGIVENESS AND RECONCILIATION
2. MONTENEGRO INTERESTED IN ADRIATIC HIGHWAY
3. UNHCR ASSISTS RENEWAL OF SERBIAN HOMES WITHOUT FORMAL AGREEMENTS
4. MAVROVIC GOES THE DISTANCE
5. CROATIA RUNNING AWAY WITH SOCCER TITLE?
6. CROATIA REMAINS IN GROUP I OF EURO-ASIAN DAVIS CUP DIVISION
7. CROATIA FIRST IN GROUP 5 FOR WORLD HANDBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

8. RADISIC WILL BE NEXT IN CHARGE
9. CROATS VISIT THEIR HOMES IN BUGOJNO
10. CROATS BLOCK SERBIAN RETURN
11. US DEFENCE SECRETARY VISITS SARAJEVO
12. SFOR ARRESTS TODOROVIC

YUGOSLAVIA

13. BAD TIMING FOR ESTABLISHING CROATIAN DEPARTMENT AT RADIO SUBOTICA


Todays Exchange Rates: http://www.hic.hr/turizam/tecaj/
Todays Weather Report: http://www.hic.hr/turizam/prognoza/

Help build the church in Tivat! Visit: http://www.hic.hr/tivat

Everything you want to know about the Papal visit to Croatia:
   http://www.papa.hr (in Croatian)
   http://www.pope.hr (in Engish)


***

CROATIA


1. Hina, Einaudi: Papa dolazi sa zeljom za oprostom i pomirbom, Vjesnik,
September 28, 1998, p. 7.
POPE COMES WITH WISHES OF FORGIVENESS AND RECONCILIATION

ZAGREB - Apostolic Nuncio in Croatia Giulio Einaudi has said that the Pope
is coming to Croatia with wishes for forgiveness and reconciliation.

"I believe the second visit of the Holy Father to Croatia will be
confirmation of what he had said in your country during his first visit in
September 1994: he desires forgiveness and reconciliation, along with the
respect of Christian principles," reported Croatian Radio and Television
(HRT).

Saying that the Pope is coming to Croatia as the head of a religious body,
Einaudi emphasised that the Pope will send a message encouraging Christian
hope and mutual love to Croatia, Catholic believers and all people of good
will.

"This is valid for religious, social and political levels, because faith
inspires human behaviour in society. The Pope will send a message to the
entire Croatian nation on moral principles; principles which should be
followed for correct coexistence, social harmony, and for people to be able
to live together," announced Einaudi.

***

2. Hina, Crna Gora zainteresirana za izgradnju jadranske magistrale,
Vjesnik, September 28, 1998, p. 2.
MONTENEGRO INTERESTED IN ADRIATIC HIGHWAY

PODGORICA - Montenegro is very interested in building an Adriatic highway,
which would span from Trieste through Rijeka, Split and Dubrovnik to
Montenegro, Albania and Greece. This would be one of the most important
roadways connecting the west and east.

According to the statement of the Montenegrin Minister of Traffic and
Maritime Affairs, Jusuf Kalamperovic, this highway has already been drawn
into Montenegrin zoning plans and its construction depends on when Croatia
will begin constructing its part, as well as when Albania will build its
highway to its borders with Greece and Macedonia.

"I believe the accelerated activities of Croatia related to the
construction of the Zagreb - Dubrovnik highway will lead to an increase in
the interest of the European Union to participate in the loan programs for
the Adriatic highway," said Kalamperovic.

***

3. J. Kliskovic, UNHCR pomogao obnovu srpskih kuca bez dogovora s
hrvatskim vlastima, Vjesnik, September 28, 1998, p. 5.
UNHCR ASSISTS RENEWAL OF SERBIAN HOMES WITHOUT FORMAL AGREEMENTS

SIBENIK - The UNHCR has delivered a report on its activities in this region
to the Administrative Department for Renewal and Development as promised a
month ago.

At a session held in Knin last month, local authorities were surprised to
learn that the UNHCR had begun renewing Serbian homes of lesser category
damages without their knowledge. The Sibenik - Knin Deputy County Prefect,
Mladen Abramac, was one of those present at the meeting.

"I was flabbergasted when I heard the UNHCR is assisting in the renewal of
20 Serbian homes in the Drnis area," he said. "We had absolutely no idea
that it was happening. Such a move by the UNHCR is very damaging to the
government return program, in spite of the fact they claim their actions
are humanitarian. There are precise instructions describing exactly how war
damaged homes are to be repaired. The UNHCR has caused us a lot of
confusion for now we have to check whether any of those it assisted
received any financial assistance from us. The Croatian government put
together a very good return plan, in which no displaced or evicted person
is to be left on the street. This is why we are now surprised with the
UNHCRs behaviour, which promised to provide the names of those it assisted
and the value of this assistance."

Over the last few days the UNHCR has kept their promise and delivered, to
the Administrative Department for Renewal and Development, a list of who
was assisted and for how much. The report shows that 193 Serbian homes in
the Sibenik - Knin area are in question, with damages ranging from category
ratings I - III. The recipients of financial assistance for renewal are
listed as well. But, the amounts of the aid are not cited.

"After receiving the UNHCR report, we will cross reference with our
data-bank to see if any of the individuals who received UNHCR assistance
received any government loan or donor aid," said the head of the
Administrative Department for Renewal and Development, Vinko Bulat. He told
us the UNHCR signed an international contract with the Croatian government,
which obligates the UNHCR to report all of its activities in the field to
local authorities.

"The administrative department will check in the upcoming days whether any
of the 193 individuals who received financial aid from this international
organisation received any loans or donations before, and what figures are
involved," said Bulat. He added that it would be difficult to check if the
individuals received a satisfactory amount of money for the category of
damage of their homes, as the UNHCR report is incomplete - missing the
damage category and the amount of assistance granted.

The government allots 5.5 thousand Croatian kunas for Category I., 15,000
for Category II., and 22,000 for Category III. damages by law.

***

4. T. P., Croatian Information Centre - Zagreb, September 28,1998.
MAVROVIC GOES THE DISTANCE

UNCASVILLE - Croatian professional heavyweight boxer Zeljko Mavrovic
unsuccessfully challenged the reigning WBC World Heavy Weight Champion
Lennox Lewis form Great Britain on Saturday night. The fight was fairly
even, though the champion had the upper hand through most of the 12 rounds
of fighting. Mavrovic seriously threatened to knock down (out) Lewis at the
end of round 7, but the champion managed to hold on and was saved by the
bell. Mavrovic has nothing to be ashamed of. Lewis said after the fight
that Zeljko gave him a real run for his money and that he was not sure how
the judges would vote. Mavrovic said that Lewis was the better fighter that
night and that he (Lewis) gave him a good beating. Mavrovic is expected to
return to Zagreb Tuesday.

***

5. T. P., Croatian Information Centre - Zagreb, September 28, 1998.
CROATIA RUNNING AWAY WITH SOCCER TITLE?

ZAGREB - All but one game has been played in the seventh round of the first
division of Croatian national soccer league. The soccer team, "Croatia"
defeated Slaven Belupo at their away game by a score of 1:0, while
second-place Hajduk lost their away game in Zagreb 3:1 against Zagreb. This
has caused Croatia to break away from Hajduk in the standings by five
points. Here are the scores of the seventh round of play: Zagreb - Hajduk
3:1; Sl. Belupo - Croatia 0:1; Mladost 127 - Osijek 1:4; Varteks -
Zadarkomerc 2:1; Rijeka - Sibenik 3:1; Cibalia - H. Dragovoljac (29.09.98).

The standings after seven rounds of First Division action are as follows:
Croatia - 19; Hajduk - 14; Osijek - 14; Rijeka - 14; Zadarkomerc - 11; H.
Dragovoljac - 9 (-1); Zagreb - 8; Sl. Belupo - 7; Varteks  - 7; Mladost 127
- 4; Sibenik - 4; Cibalia - 2(-1).

***

6. T. P., Croatian Information Centre - Zagreb, September 28, 1998.
CROATIA REMAINS IN GROUP I OF EURO-ASIAN DAVIS CUP DIVISION

OSLO - There were no more doubts after the first match on the last day of
competition. Croatia defeated Norway 3:2, and so remains a member of Group
I in the Euro-Asian Davis Cup Division. Ivan Ljubicic played the match of
his life, as he brought Croatia the victory by defeating Christian Ruud 3:0
(6:1, 6:1, 6:3).

***

7. T. P., Croatian Information Centre - Zagreb, September 28, 1998.
CROATIA FIRST IN GROUP 5 FOR WORLD HANDBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

MINSK - Croatia squeaked by Belorus 26:25 in a nail-biting finish in the
return qualification of Group 5 for the 1999 World Handball Championship.
The game see-sawed between Croatian and Belorus leads. However, in the
final minute, Croatia was up one and Belorus had the last attack. Lucky for
Croatia, they missed and Croatia won both valuable points. The other return
game between Austria and Slovenia ended 21:21. The standings in Group 5 are
as follows: Croatia - 4; Slovenia - 3; Austria - 1; Belorus - 0. The
championship will be held in Egypt.

***

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA


8. J. C., Croatian Information Centre - Sarajevo, September 28, 1998.
RADISIC WILL BE NEXT IN CHARGE

SARAJEVO - The election results are finally in and they say that Zivko
Radisic of the Sloga Coalition will be the next Presidency Chairperson in
Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H).

Within the next four years, he will be succeeded by Ante Jelavic (Croatian
Democratic Union (HDZ) B-H) and then Alija Izetbegovic (Coalition for a
Whole and Democratic (KCD) B-H). This scheme for the rotational Presidency
follows the Election Rules and Regulations, which say that the next
Presidency Chairperson must be a Serb, followed by a Croat and then a
Bosniak-Muslim.

Of the three Presidency members, Izetbegovic received the most votes at
511,309. Radisic was second with 360,286 and Jelavic third with 189,408.

The OSCE finally announced the numbers Friday evening, but emphasised that
they are not official until the Provisional Election Commission certifies
them.

Voter turn-out this year was 70 per cent, meaning 1.9 million people out of
an eligible 2.7 million cast a ballot. The OSCE mission head Robert Barry
assessed the turnout as positive even though it was lower than the expected
75 to 80 per cent.

"Before the election many thought there would be voter fatigue and that
people just would not be interested in the elections," said Barry. "In
reality, I think its more a question of politician fatigue at having to go
out and campaign, than it is voter fatigue."

He went on to say that the results demonstrate an erosion in support for
nationalistic parties. Those elected in 1996 - the SDA (Democratic Action
Party), SDS (Serbian Democratic Party), HDZ and SRS (Serbian Radical Party)
- lost a certain percentage in the parliamentary and presidential votes,
with the exception of Izetbegovic whose personal support rose to 87 per
cent from 80.

Barrys assessment of nationalistic parties is contradicted by the election
of Nikola Poplasen (SRS-SDS Coalition) as President of the Bosnian Serbian
entity Republika Srpska. In fact, many in the country were hoping against
Poplasens win, as he has publicly supported the idea of a "Greater Serbia"
and RS separation from B-H. Poplasen won with 324,033 votes, while Biljana
Plavsic, whom the international community supported, lost with 286,914 votes.

Commenting on Poplesens election, High Representative Carlos Westendorp
said, "We must judge people according to action, not words or what they
think. If (Poplasen) has said he will support Dayton, he will have our
support."

He did add that any public official who does not work towards
implementation of the Dayton accords will not receive help from the
international community. Further, though he would only use it as a last
resort, he does have the power to remove any such person.

On the that note, Westendorp also discussed Momcilo Krajisnik (SDS), the
outgoing Serbian member of the B-H Presidency.

"Now, there will be better co-operation between the international community
and the B-H Presidency. The Serbian member will be Radisic of the RS Social
Democrats, and not Momcilo Krajisnik, with whom co-operation was impossible."

The elections were for all levels of government this year. This includes
the B-H Parliament, the B-H Federation entity parliament and the RS
National Assembly.

Regarding the B-H Parliament, the KCD won the most seats from the
Federation entity with 455,403 votes, the HDZ B-H came in second with
187,152, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) third with 137,990, and the
Social Democrats fourth with 28,740. This translates to 13 seats for the
KCD, 6 for the HDZ B-H, 4 for the SDP and 1 for the Social Democrats. The
remaining 4 seats of the B-H Federation have yet to be determined.

Meanwhile, Sloga is sending the most representatives from the RS as it
garnered 214,498 votes, followed by the SDS with 163,436 votes, the KCD
with 128,277 votes, the SRS 119,026 and so on.

Most of the seats in the Federation parliament go to the KCD (69), followed
by the HDZ B-H (29). As for the RS National Assembly, the SDS and the SRS
won the most seats (33), followed by Sloga (31).

Detailed election results can be found on http://www.oscebih.org

Source of Votes:

Regular	- 1 475 104 (78.96%)
Absentee - 109 579 (5.87%)
Mail-in - 126 743	   (6.78%)
Croatia/FRY - 43 827 (2.35%)

Tendered Ballots

Total received - 188 675
Total rejected - 75 829 (40.19%)
� not in register - 54 476 - (28.9%)
� citizenship unconfirmed - 769 (0.4%)
� duplicate by mail - 1 885 (1.0%)
� duplicate tendered - 5 830 (3.1%)
� wrong entity - 8 442 (4.5%)
� incomplete information	 - 4 457 (2.4%)

***

9. J. C., Croatian Information Centre - Sarajevo, September 28, 1998.
CROATS VISIT THEIR HOMES IN BUGOJNO

BUGOJNO - About 50 Croatians visited their homes in Bugojno Friday with the
help of the American Refugee Committee. Those who visited are temporarily
living in Makarska, Croatia.

The potential returnees spoke with the municipal mayor Ljuban Vidovic, as
well as other local officials. Information on reconstruction and renewal
projects were presented during the meetings. The projects foresee the
renewal of 31 homes by the B-H housing authority, 40 by the Red Cross and
20 by ARC. Similarly, the International Refugee Committee and the Danish
Red Cross will renew 125 and 185 apartments respectively.

So far, 2147 requests for return have been made according to the municipal
centre for return.

***

10. J. C., Croatian Information Centre - Sarajevo, September 28, 1998.
CROATS BLOCK SERBIAN RETURN

MOSTAR - Several hundred Croats stopped an attempt by 15 Serbian families
to return to their homes in Rastani near Mostar Saturday. Specifically,
they blocked the road in west Mostar with buses, trucks and cars.

Deputy Mostar Mayor Ivan Prskalo was among the Croatians, as were three
other municipal officials. He said on local radio that Croats were for
return, but only if organised and agreed upon. This return attempt was not
made in agreement with municipal authorities, and thats why the blockade
was put up.

With the help of SFOR, the families went to Kovacine, from where they will
return to eastern Herzegovina.

New meetings between Serbian representatives and the international
community have been scheduled for Wednesday. The returnees will demand
secure return conditions within 15 days whether or not Croatian leaders agree.

***

11. J. C., Croatian Information Centre - Sarajevo, September 28, 1998.
US DEFENCE SECRETARY VISITS SARAJEVO

SARAJEVO - US Defence Secretary William Cohen was on a one-day visit to B&H
Sunday.

He said, "The U.S. is prepared to support any elected official so long as
he or she respects the Dayton accords, not only with words, but with action."

Cohen added that Sarajevo represents problems and progress in Dayton. The
city has shown that life can resume. "But, Sarajevo is still not the
multiethnic, cosmopolitan city it was. We must have greater progress in
refugee return and rebuilding trust. Thus, we must speed up the civilian
component of Dayton."

He confirmed that SFOR participant countries are looking forward to the day
when troops will be further reduced and their job handed over to civilian
institutions.

While in Sarajevo, Cohen met with SFOR officials, international agency
representatives and government officials. He also visited the SFOR special
unit for civil unrest and the Hebrew cemetery.

***

12. J. C., Croatian Information Centre - Sarajevo, September 28, 1998.
SFOR ARRESTS TODOROVIC

SARAJEVO - American SFOR troops arrested Stevan Todorovic, 41,  for war
crimes Sunday morning. They have transported him from northern Bosnia to
The Hague Tribunal, and his trial should begin immediately.

The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) has
indicted Todorovic for war crimes committed between 13 June 1992 and 29
July 1992, while serving as Police Chief in Bosanski Samac. According to a
statement by NATO Secretary-general Javier Solana, "Todorovic is accused of
wilful killing and murder, wilfully causing great suffering, cruel
treatment, inhumane acts, inhumane treatment, rape and torture, violations
of the laws or customs of war, grave breaches, and crimes against humanity."

Todorovic, also known as Stiv, Stevo and Monstrum, was named police chief
after Serbian forces overtook Bosanski Samac. He belonged to a group of
five indictees which ran a prison camp occupied mostly by Croats and
Bosniak- Muslims. At the same time they are accused of ethnic cleansing and
plundering. Of the five, three - Milan Simic, Simo Zaric and Miroslav Tadic
- turned themselves in last February. They were the first Bosnian Serbs to
do so. Blagoje Simic still remains at large.

"This action by SFOR serves as yet another warning to all those indicted
for war crimes who are still at large that they will not escape justice. I
advise them to surrender immediately to the ICTY," said Solana.

***

YUGOSLAVIA


13. Hina, Vucic: Hrvatska redakcija Radio Subotice neprimjerena trenutku,
Vjesnik, September 28, 1998, p. 2.
BAD TIMING FOR ESTABLISHING CROATIAN DEPARTMENT AT RADIO SUBOTICA

BELGRADE - Serbian Information Minister Aleksandar Vucic said the
establishment of a Croatian department at Radio Subotica is in "bad timing".

"According to the constitution, everybody has the right to speak however
they like and call their language whatever they like," said Vucic at a
Saturday press conference in Subotica. Still, he said, that nobody speaks
ijekavian (Croatian dialect) in that region. "They mostly speak Serbian."

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