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PRESS CUT - Croatian Press News in English	

October 5, 1998


* TOP STORY

POPES SPEECH AT THE SPLIT AIRPORT - OCTOBER 4, 1998.
THE ARCHBISHOP'S ADDRESS IN SOLIN
SPEECH IN SOLIN DELIVERED BY POPE JOHN PAUL II - OCTOBER 4, 1998
POPES SPEECH TO CROATIAN BISHOPS IN SPLIT - OCTOBER 4, 1998

* CROATIA

TRADE & INVESTMENTS OPPORTUNITIES IN CROATIA
1. YUGOSLAVIA - IRELAND GAME CANCELLED
2. CROATIA CONTINUES TO LEAD PREMIER DIVISION
3. BADEL IS WELL ON ITS WAY TO THE HANDBALL CHAMPIONS CUP

* ICTY

4. SECURITY COUNCIL PRESSURES FOR WAR CRIMINAL EXTRADITION FROM FRY TO HAGUE

* BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

5. SFOR DEMAND FOR PERMANENT REMOVAL OF HVO GENERALS
6. SPECIAL ANTI-TERRORIST SQUADS FOR HERZEGOVINA?!
7. HDZ B&H CONDEMNS VIOLENCE
8. ELECTIONS ARE OVER, NOW ITS TIME TO ROLL UP THE SLEEVES
9. PRLIC: NEED TO LEARN FROM EXPERIENCE
10. EARTHQUAKE SHAKES UP SARAJEVO
11. CORIC RESIGNS FROM INTERIOR MINISTRY POST IN HERZEGOVINA NERETVA COUNTY
12. DEMANDING APOLOGY FOR THREATS

* YUGOSLAVIA

13. RUSSIAN MINISTERS VISIT MILOSEVIC, WAR ATMOSPHERE ON TV
14. EU ABANDONS SHIP IN BELGRADE


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***


* TOP STORY

POPES SPEECH AT THE SPLIT AIRPORT - OCTOBER 4, 1998.

Mr President,
Representatives of the Government,
Dear Brother Bishops,
Brothers and Sisters,

1. I have reached the end of my Pastoral Visit to your beautiful country.
The moment of departure has arrived. I give thanks to God for these three
days spent in Croatia, in the exercise of my Petrine ministry. I am
grateful to the Churches of Zagreb and Split-Makarska which have welcomed
me, and to the whole Church which is in this country for the affection it
has shown me. I thank the President of the Republic, the Head of the
Government and the civil and military authorities, who have spared no
efforts to ensure that this Visit would proceed in the best possible way.
Many people have worked to bring this about and I thank all of them.

Before leaving your country and departing from you, I would like to address
a heartfelt greeting to everyone: to families, parishes, Dioceses,
religious communities, movements and ecclesiastic associations. The images
of so many of the faithful of all ages, and especially the young, are
imprinted in my memory: in Zagreb, Marija Bistrica, Znjan in Split and in
Solin: crowds of people who have demonstrated their faith and rejoiced in
full harmony of minds and hearts.

2. In Croatia, I have been able to meet a Church which is full of life,
rich in enthusiasm and energy, despite the adversities and abuses of power
which she has suffered; a Church which is looking for new forms of witness
to Christ and his Gospel, to respond fully to the challenges of the present
moment.
Countless are those in these lands who, from the earliest centuries, have
borne witness to Christ in their daily lives; many have even faced the test
of martyrdom for the sake of Christ. You are the heirs of this glorious
multitude of saints, the majority of whom are known to God alone. I have
seen your joy when I proclaimed Blessed Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac: the
honour accorded to him redounds in some way on all of you. It is right that
you should be proud of this. But, it is also right that you should feel
committed to being worthy of this heritage, which honours you but also
challenges you.

May this rich patrimony of faith, and that of other European peoples,
become the common heritage of the entire Continent, so that the peoples
living in it may rediscover in Christianity that spiritual unity and
impulse which in past centuries inspired a true flourishing of works of
thought and artistic masterpieces of absolute value for the whole of humanity.

3. My stay among you has enabled me to experience at first hand the
recovery achieved in the past few years. I have seen a society which
desires to build its present and future on solid democratic foundations, in
complete fidelity to its own history, which is permeated by Christianity,
in order to take its rightful place in the assembly of the other European
Nations. With joy I recognise that yours is a country which, having
recovered freedom and overcome the sad vicissitudes of war, is now
reconstructing itself and renewing itself materially and spiritually with
keen determination.

I call on men and women of good will throughout the world not to forget the
tragedies suffered by these peoples in the course of history, and
especially in our own century. May there be no lack of the concrete and
generous help which individuals and families need in order to live in
freedom and equality, with the dignity of active members of the human
family. Europe has set out on a new stage of its journey towards unity and
growth. In order for joy to be complete, no one must be forgotten on the
path which leads to the common European house.

For her own part, Croatia must show great patience, wisdom, a willingness
to make sacrifices and generous solidarity in order to overcome
definitively the present post-war phase and attain the noble goals to which
she aspires. Much has already been achieved and we now see the results. The
difficulties which remain should discourage no one.

4. Your Nation is endowed with the resources needed to overcome adversity
and you especially, citizens of Croatia, possess the talents which are
indispensable in order to meet the challenges of the present moment. With
the commitment of everyone, it will be possible to carry forward the
difficult process of making society and its civil institutions more
democratic. Democracy comes at a high price; the money to pay for it is
minted from the noble metal of honesty, reasonableness, respect for others,
the spirit of sacrifice, and patience. To claim that it can be bought with
a different currency is to run the risk of bankruptcy.

After long years of dictatorship and the terrible experiences of violence
which the peoples of this region have undergone, it is now necessary to
make every effort to construct a democracy based on the moral values
inscribed in the very nature of the human being.

By assisting the efforts of the social classes and political groupings, the
Church will not fail to make her own specific contribution, especially by
offering her social doctrine and making available her own structures for
the education of the younger generation. She exhorts the faithful to work
together in an effective way, as they have done from the beginning, in the
present process of developing democratic institutions in the vast spheres
of the social, cultural, political and economic life of the country, thus
promoting the harmonious development of the whole of Croatian society.

5. Dear Brothers and Sisters, I return to Rome carrying in my heart many
beautiful impressions of this Visit. They will accompany me in the prayers
I shall offer on your behalf, for the sick and the old, for your children
and for all your People.

May God grant Croatia peace, harmony and a persevering commitment to the
common good!
Dear Croatian people, may God bless you! May the Virgin Mary, Advocata
Croatiae, fidelissima Mater, watch over your present and future! I entrust
to her all your plans for freedom and progress in solidarity; all your
hopes and your commitment to human and religious values.
God bless Croatia!

***

THE ARCHBISHOP'S ADDRESS IN SOLIN

Holy Father!

I greet you with a special feeling on this holy Solin (Salonitanian) soil
and on this, Our Lady's Island. This ground has been made holy from ancient
Christian times because it was sanctified by the blood of so many
Christians who were led by their bishop St. Domnius. The faith which the
early Christians witnessed to and died for was quickly accepted by our
ancestors soon after their migration into these parts, that especially goes
for Solin and this Island of Our Lady. It was around this island on the
River Jadro that our ancestors began to be baptised. We call it the Jadro
because it is our Croatian Jordan. It was on this island that our good
Queen Jelena, who is remembered for her holy life, built the first church
in Croatia that was consecrated to the Mother of God. The 1000 year
anniversary from the time of the building of that church and the
commemoration of the twelve centuries of our baptism was celebrated in 1976.

We were supposed to have celebrated this anniversary in 1941 but the Second
World War thwarted our attempt. For the celebration in 1941 an operetta,
titled "Hrvati narod sv. Petra" (Croatians, a nation of St. Peter) was
composed in our seminary in Split. You will soon hear a small excerpt from
the operetta.
For the celebration of the above mentioned two jubilees we chose the year
1976 because it was the 1000 year commemoration of the death of Queen
Jelena. She was the mother of the poor and needy and the builder of this
pre-sanctuary of Our Lady. On that occasion among the bishops and cardinals
who honoured us with their presence was your predecessor Pope John Paul I
the then Patriarch of Venice and I am informed that you also would have
been there had you not been held up by urgent duties. Had you been there,
my predecessor Msgr. Frane Franic would have greeted you as the Archbishop
of Cracow and I would be greeting you today as the Roman bishop, Peter's
successor.

Before you are mainly young people with their religious teachers and school
teachers, just as are members of the spiritual movements in the Church.
Here are boarders from the small seminaries of Split, Sinj, (Zadar?). Here
are students of theology from Split, Makarska and from the missionary
seminary "Redemptoris Mater" in Pula. Here are representatives from all of
the minor seminaries and faculties of theology in Croatia. Here are
students from the Theological Catehetical Institute. Here are Franciscan
and Jesuit novices, and novices from the various congregations of nuns.
Here are also members of various movements, such as the: neo-Catecumens,
folklorists, crusaders, FRAMA (Franciscan Youth), MI, Peace - A Drop of
Goodness, etc. Here are thousands upon thousands of students from High
Schools and Universities who want to hear you speak.

Gathered around you the living Peter and Mother Mary in this original
Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Island, just as the apostles once did in
Jerusalem, in this year of the Holy Spirit, we pray that we all, especially
the young, taken hold of by a power above so that we will be able to, in
words and by deeds, witness the Gospel to the generation from which we have
sprung. Gifted by various charisms, but sealed, led and united by the same
Holy Spirit they will by able to give a wonderful witness.

In the name of all those present, and the entire nation which is united in
the spirit with us, I cry out to you Holy Father: Welcome to this holy
Christian and Croatian soil. Your arrival here, your prayer and your
blessing will make this soil even more holier, more dearer and more
attractive to every believing heart.

And this our dear original sanctuary of Our Lady, which guards the memories
of our Christian and national sacred traditions, and which has seen and
remembered in its long history so many wonderful people and has been
engraved by their names, will remember and engrave in letters of gold the
name of its greatest visitor to date, Pope John Paul II. Holy Father in the
name of all those present I ask you to, teach us, encourage us, bless us.

***

SPEECH IN SOLIN DELIVERED BY POPE JOHN PAUL II - OCTOBER 4, 1998

Dear Brothers and Sisters!

1. "The Holy Spirit will come upon you and you will be my witnesses" (Acts
1:8). These words which Christ spoke before returning to the Father have
been chosen as the motto of my Pastoral Visit which is now nearing its end.
They are words which have resounded here since apostolic times; and still
today they retain all their force thanks to the working of the Holy Spirit
in the hearts of the men and women of Croatia.

I have come here to Solin after raising the martyr Alojzije Stepinac to the
honours of the Altar, at the shrine of Marija Bistrica yesterday. By means
of this apostolic journey I have wished to mark the link between your
peoples places of faith and devotion, recalling the witness which you as a
people have borne to Christ from the first centuries down to our own days.

We are gathered here beneath the gaze of the Our Lady of the Isle, beneath
the gaze of the Madonna of the great Croatian Baptismal Vow, at the first
Marian Shrine on Croatian soil. We are gathered in the place which
preserves important memories of the faith reaching back into the distant
history of your people. This place has a unique position in the history of
Croatian Catholics and the Croatian nation. Here is the wellspring of your
identity; here are your deep Christian roots. This is the place which bears
witness to the faithfulness of the Catholics of this region to Christ and
to the Church.

2. I thank most sincerely the Metropolitan Archbishop Ante Juric for his
kind words of welcome. I greet Cardinal Franjo Kuharic and Cardinal Vinko
Puljic, together with my other Brothers in the Episcopate, the clergy, the
men and women Religious, the teachers, the representatives of Ecclesiastic
Associations and Movements, and above all the young people whom I see here
in great numbers.
Dear friends, I wish to offer you a word of hope, and invite you to remain
open, in the Church, to the prompting of the Holy Spirit, in order to bear
effective witness to Christ, each of you in the context of your own life
and work. "You have been anointed by the Holy One and you all have
knowledge....you know the truth" (1 Jn 2:20-21).

Blessed Alojzije Stepinac offered an extraordinary example of Christian
witness. He fulfilled the mission of spreading the Gospel by suffering for
the Church, and he sealed his message of faith with his death. He preferred
prison to freedom, in order to defend the freedom and the unity of the
Church. He had no fear of chains, lest the word of the Gospel be chained.

3. Dear members of Ecclesiastic associations and movements, the lay
faithful have a distinctive place in the Church. Because of the Baptism
they have received, they are called to share in the Churchs one, universal
mission (cf. Lumen Gentium, 33, 38; Apostolicam Actuositatem, 3), each
according to the gifts received. It is necessary therefore to foster a
healthy pluralism of types of association, shunning all exclusivism, in
order to give room to the charisms which the Holy Spirit distributes
unceasingly in the Church for the building of the Kingdom of God and for
the good of humanity.

The Church in Croatia places great hopes in you. "Do not quench the Spirit"
(cf 1 Thess 5:19). The charism that you have received has been given to you
for the good of all, so that all may develop as in a healthy and living
body (cf. 1 Cor 12:12-17; Rm 12:4-5). "We have different gifts according to
the grace given to each of us" (Rm 12:6).

The special task of the lay Ecclesiastic movements and associations is to
promote and sustain the communion of the Church under the guidance of the
Bishop, who is "the visible principle and foundation of the unity of each
particular Church" (Lumen Gentium, 22). There is no ecclesiastic communion
unless there is communion with the Bishop: "Episcopo attendite, ut et Deus
vobis attendat" (Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Letter to Polycarp, 6, 1: Funk
1, 250).

4. Dear teachers, to you is entrusted the splendid mission of educating the
young, by becoming examples and guides for them. You know that every
educational programme must be rich in spiritual, human and cultural values,
if it is to attain its proper goal. As I said recently, "a school cannot
limit itself to offering young people insights in the different branches of
knowledge; it must also help them to seek the meaning of life in the right
direction" (Angelus, 13 September 1998).

To invest in the formation of the younger generation is to invest in the
future of the Church and the nation. Without a sound formation of the
younger generation there can be no reassuring prospects for the future of
either the local Church or the Nation. The shape and direction of the
future depend in large part upon you educators. The Second Vatican Council
declares: "The future of humanity is placed in the hands of those who can
transmit to the generations of tomorrow reasons to live and to hope"
(Gaudium et Spes, 31).

Young people need the witness of a love that is capable of self-sacrifice
and of patience that perseveres with trust. May love and patience be your
strongest arguments. May you always find your inspiration in the divine
pedagogy of Christ Jesus, who teaches us through his Gospel.
In urging you to give the best of yourselves to the fulfilment of your
duty, I cannot fail to express the hope that society will make good use of
your professional commitment and recognise it for what it is. On behalf of
the Church, I wish to express to you deep appreciation for your valued
service in a field as delicate and decisive as the formation of those
setting out on lifes journey.

5. A special word is due to you, dear catechists and teachers of religion.
In schools and parishes, you are called upon to help the younger generation
to know Christ, to be able to follow him and bear witness to him. You are
called to help the young to take their place in the Church and society, and
to overcome, in the light of the Gospel, the difficulties which they meet
on their way to human and spiritual maturity.
In proposing to the young reasons for living and hoping, the catechist is
called to offer them a deeper and clearer knowledge of God and of the
history of salvation, which culminated in the Death and Resurrection of
Jesus Christ. The central focus of all that the catechist and teacher of
religion does is found in the proclamation of the Word of God, in the
effort to stir up faith and bring it to maturity. Catechesis and religious
instruction must be that opportunity for witness which will establish
between teacher and student a true and deep contact, capable of fostering
faith.

6. It remains for me to say one more word, the last but perhaps the most
important of all. It is directed to you, dear young people. It is a brief
word, but it is essential. It is this: Jesus Christ is "the Way, and the
Truth, and the Life" (cf. Jn 14:6). He never lets anyone down; and he is
the best friend of the young. Allow yourselves to be conquered by him (cf.
Phil 3:12), so that you may lead a truly meaningful life, as actors in a
marvellous and splendid adventure, filled with love of God and neighbour
(cf. Mt 22:37-40).
The future is in your hands: your own future, but also the future of the
Church and the Nation. In the years ahead, you will have to face great
responsibilities. You will be able to tackle your future tasks if you
prepare yourselves properly now, with the help of your families, the Church
and your educational centres.
Learn to find your proper place in the Church and in society, by generously
accepting the responsibilities entrusted to you now in the family and
outside of it. This is the best way to prepare yourselves for the tasks of
tomorrow. Never forget that anything in your lives which is not in tune
with Gods plan for the human person is doomed sooner or later to failure.
It is only with God and in God that people can find complete fulfilment and
attain the fullness to which they tend from the depths of their hearts.

One of your poets has written: "Felix, qui semper vitae bene computat usum"
(M. Maruli_, Carmen de Doctrina Domini Nostri Iesu Christi Pendentis in
Cruce, v. 77). It is vital to choose true values, not those which pass, to
choose genuine truth, not half-truths and pseudo-truths. Do not trust those
who promise you easy solutions. Nothing great can be built without sacrifice.

7. It is time to say farewell. A final greeting to you all, especially to
you, the people of Solin: be proud of the treasures of faith which history
has entrusted to you. Guard them jealously.
I would like to take my leave of you by quoting the words of Blessed
Alojzije Stepinac: "You would be unworthy of the names of your forefathers
if you agreed to be separated from the rock upon which Christ has built the
Church" (Testament, 1957).

I commend you all to the one who according to the flesh was Mother of the
Word made man for our salvation. From this first of her shrines on Croatian
soil, may Our Lady of the Isle watch over you, your families and your
Nation, and may she sustain you in your witness to Christ in the new
millennium which is now so near!

My blessing to you all!

Praised be Jesus and Mary!

***

POPES SPEECH TO CROATIAN BISHOPS IN SPLIT - OCTOBER 4, 1998

Dear Brothers in the Episcopate!

1. I am happy to meet with you after yesterdays beatification, at Marija
Bistrica, of that watchful and courageous Pastor of this land, Alojzije
Stepinac. I greet each of you cordially and I thank you for the brave
witness offered so steadfastly to the universal Church and to the world,
especially during the tragedy which recently struck this region.

Through you, I wish to send my heartfelt and affectionate greeting to the
priests and deacons who share with you the apostolic burdens from day to
day. With the same fervour I wish to express my appreciation of the
evangelical witness offered daily by the men and women religious and by all
who have given their lives to the service of their brothers and sisters.

Continue with courage your ministry to that portion of the People of God
for which you have been appointed priests, pastors and teachers, in
communion with the Successor of Peter. I urge you to persevere in imitating
all those who, following the Good Shepherd, have offered their lives for
Christs flock and have worked to build the unity of the Church, as did the
Blessed Alojzije Stepinac.

2. The communion of all believers is the clearly declared will of our
Redeemer. It is the essential element of every apostolate and the
foundation of all evangelisation. May God grant you "to live in such
harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you
may with one voice" (Rm 15:5-6) glorify him, building his Kingdom among
your people. The Church in Croatia needs to strengthen communion between
all its different parts, in order to attain the goals which beckon in the
present climate of freedom and democracy.

Initiatives designed to promote genuine collaboration among the various
sectors of the Church have all my encouragement, and I exhort everyone to
grow more ardent, in openness to communion and obedience to the Pastors.
This will benefit the entire Christian community. The ability to work
together, with respect for the legitimate demands of each, will not fail to
produce abundant fruits of faith, hope and love, and will at the same time
be a great witness to everyone of unity in Christ.

Dear Brother Bishops, "the Church is formed by the people united to their
Bishop and by the flock which remains faithful to their shepherd" (Saint
Cyprian, Epist. 66, 8: CSEL 3, 2, 733). I wish to encourage you therefore
in your daily commitment to consolidate that communion in the Church at all
levels, striving to ensure that clergy and faithful are dedicated to the
teaching of the Apostles and to the brotherhood, to the breaking of bread
and to prayer (cf. Acts 2:42). Always remain united among yourselves, in
communion with the Bishop of Rome and with the other members of the College
of Bishops, in particular with those in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

3. The chief task facing your Churches in this moment of history is the
renewed proclamation of the Gospel of Christ in every sector of society. It
is a task which requires the mobilisation of all the Churchs active
forces: Bishops, priests, religious and lay faithful.

In recent decades, your country, like other parts of Eastern Europe, has
suffered the tragedy produced by atheistic materialism. Today, in the new
democratic climate, it is necessary to give strong support to the new
evangelisation, so that the human person, the family and society as a whole
will not be harmed and fall into the trap of consumerism and hedonism.
There is a need to proclaim and bear witness to the values which make life
authentic and joyful, satisfying the human heart and filling it with hope
of the inheritance prepared by God for his children. The Church in Croatia,
therefore, is called to rediscover her own religious and cultural roots in
order serenely and confidently to cross the threshold of the new Millennium
which is now so near.

A further boost to the new evangelisation in todays climate will also come
from ecumenical dialogue with the other Churches and Christian communities.
In harmony with the teaching of the Second Vatican Council. Do not tire in
your vigorous efforts to promote a dialogue of this kind in the hope of
coming one day to a common witness to Christ before the world. At the same
time, create opportunities for interreligious dialogue, with a view to
eliminating needless misunderstandings and fostering mutual respect and
co-operation in the service of the human family.

All of this must be accompanied by intense prayer and by an active and
committed sharing in the sacramental life of the Church  especially the
Eucharist  by individuals, families and the entire community.

In this time of great shifts and changes, Croatia needs men and women with
a living faith, who can bear witness to the love of God for man, and who
are prepared to devote their energies to the service of the Gospel. Your
nation needs apostles who will go among the people bearing the Good News;
Croatia needs prayerful souls who ceaselessly sing the praises of the Most
Holy Trinity and raise petitions to "God our Saviour, who wills that all be
saved and come to the knowledge of the truth" (cf. 1 Tm 2:4).
Your nation also needs lay faithful who are committed to spreading the
Gospel in the fields of culture and politics. It is the task of the laity
to imbue the world in which they work with the Spirit of Christ for the
good of society as a whole.

4. In order to respond to these needs in an appropriate way, it is
necessary to give special attention to the formation of priests, of
religious and of all who labour in the Lords vineyard, just as it is to
foster an effective pastoral strategy for promoting vocations.

Priests are expected to be genuine, well-integrated and joyful witnesses to
Christ and his Gospel, in keeping with the commitments made at the moment
of Ordination. Apostolic zeal and pastoral activity must be nourished and
sustained by prayer and reflection, so that the priest can first live what
he proclaims in word and celebrates daily in the Sacred Mysteries and in
the Liturgy of Praise. In this context, the gift of self in celibacy will
be for every priest a sign of his unreserved attachment to the plan of the
heavenly Father, a plan which the priest makes his own in operative charity
and constant communion with Christ the Good Shepherd. The priests
spirituality will be enriched by various devotions and pious practices such
as regular confession, meditation, Eucharistic adoration, the Stations of
the Cross and the recitation of the Rosary.

It is also the Bishops task to support men and women religious in their
total dedication to the Lord, encouraging them to live generously the
charism of the Institute to which they belong and to work always in
communion with the particular and universal Church.

5. It is necessary then to find the right ways to help the people of our
time to understand and accept Gods great plan for humanity. People today
need to know and make their own the dignity which God has graciously given
them; God who has created them in his own image and likeness (cf. Gen
1:26-27), and has redeemed them by the blood of Christ (cf. Rev 5:9).

In your pastoral activity, the "domestic church" of the family has a
special place because "the future of the world and the Church passes
through the family" (Familiaris Consortio, 75). Families will be able to
respond to the challenges and the threats of the contemporary world insofar
as they are open to God, living "the mystery of unity and fruitful love
which unites Christ and the Church" (Lumen Gentium, 11). A family in which
"the parents are for their children the first proclaimers of faith by word
and example" (ibid.) will successfully fulfil its mission in todays world,
becoming a place of faith and love after the example of the Holy Family of
Nazareth.

People today need a clear understanding of the nature and vocation of the
family. Never grow weary, therefore, of making known the Christian view of
marriage and the family. In the light of Gods word, be aware of what needs
to be done in the present circumstances. Let it be your concern and the
concern of your priests, with the assistance of expert and properly trained
persons, to promote intense and sound pastoral care of the family, in which
ample space is given to the defence of life according to the teachings of
the Magisterium (cf. Familiaris Consortio, 36). In this respect you must
ensure that pastoral workers receive sound training so that they can
respond readily to the expectations of engaged and married couples. Be
close to families in difficulty, families threatened as communities of
love, life and faith, families beset by social and economic problems, or
afflicted by suffering.

Nor should the pastoral care of young people be forgotten. The future
belongs to them; and well trained young people will be able to build good
families, and good families will bring up their children well.
The pastoral care of families, especially as it involves young people, is
clearly way of building the future of the Church and of civil society. The
promotion of the dignity of the person and of the family, respect for the
right to life, which is especially threatened today, together with the
defence of the weakest elements of society, must have a special place in
your apostolic concerns, all to "give a soul" to modern Croatia.

Faced with the spread of the "culture of death", which appears above all in
the practice of abortion and the growing acceptance of euthanasia, there is
a need to advance a new "culture of life". To this end, there is need of
pastoral initiatives designed to help the men and women of our time to
rediscover the profound meaning of life, not only of young and healthy
life, but also of life when it is struck by illness. Gods word is the true
and definitive answer to such questions.
The defence of life is part of the Churchs mission. In fact, "God,
infinitely perfect and blessed in himself, in a plan of sheer goodness
freely created man to make him share in his own blessed life. For this
reason, at every time and in every place, God draws close to man"
(Catechism of the Catholic Church,
1). Today no less than yesterday our brothers and sisters need to know
Christ, the One sent by the Father, who has sown in the human heart a seed
of new and immortal life, the life of Gods children. Pastoral activity in
this area must highlight the order which God has placed in man and in the
whole of creation.

6. Dear Brother Bishops, I trust that the Churches over which you preside
may always be guided by the Holy Spirit, and may act in accord with his
prompting. Together with you, I invoke the protection of the Most Holy
Mother of God, Queen of Croatia, and the intercession of all the Saints and
Beatified of this region.

With these sentiments, I cordially impart to you, to the clergy, to the men
and women religious and to all the faithful of your Dioceses my Apostolic
Blessing.

>From Split, 4 October in the year 1998, the twentieth of my Pontificate.

IOANNES PAULUS PP. II

***


* CROATIA

TRADE & INVESTMENTS OPPORTUNITIES IN CROATIA
For immediate release!

'Trade & Investments Opportunities in Croatia' * conference takes place on
Thursday, October 22, 1998 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Long Beach
Hilton Hotel (Two World Trade Centre, Long Beach, CA 90831).

The conference is sponsored by the Consulate General of the Republic of
Croatia, World Trade Centre Association, Long Beach - Los Angeles, Los
Angeles Office of International Trade, Croatian National Association and
Croatian American Chamber of Commerce of Southern California.

Speakers from Croatia include representatives of the Croatian Investment
Promotion Agency, Croatian Privatisation Fund, Croatian National Bank,
Office for Restructuring & Economics of State-Owned Enterprises, Faculty of
Economics at the University of Zagreb, Croatian Chamber of Economy, Zagreb
Stock Exchange, Croatian Real Estate Exchange and Croatian National Tourist
Office, as well as private American and Croatian companies already
operating in Croatia.


*   CROATIA DAYS IN CALIFORNIA

The conference is one of several events taking place October 22-28 to
illustrate and solidify the many ties between California and Croatia. Other
events include: 'Trade and Investments Opportunities in Croatia' conference
on October 27 at the Santa Clara Marriott Hotel, a gala-dinner with concert
and art exhibition by Croatian artists on October 24 at St. Anthony's Hall
in Los Angeles as well as a gala-dinner on October 28 at Mariani's Inn &
Restaurant in Santa Clara.



A  G  E  N  D  A
=============

08:30 a.m. 	Registration


09:00 a.m.	Welcome

(In Long Beach:)

Miso Munivrana, Consul-General
Croatian Consulate-General  in Los Angeles

Joe Brajevich, President
Croatian American Chamber of Commerce of Southern California (Moderator)
		
Leo Majich, President
Croatian National Association

Vence Baugham, Director of Trade Development
W.T.C Association of Los Angeles - Long Beach and Trade Manager of Los
Angeles Office of International Trade
		
Rudy Svorinich, Jr., Councilman, District 15
City of Los Angeles

Don Knabe, Supervisor, District 4
County of Los Angeles

Michael D. Antonovich, Supervisor, District 5
County of Los Angeles

(In Santa Clara:)

Miso Munivrana, Consul-General
Croatian Consulate-General in Los Angeles

Bozidar Orlovic, President
Croatian American Chamber of Commerce of Northern California (Moderator)

Cantwell Walsh, President
Bay Area World Trade Centre Association

Miomir Zuzul, Ambassador of the
Republic of Croatia to the United States


09:30 a.m.	USA  -  Croatia

U.S. - Croatia Bilateral Economic Relations
Aleksandar Heina, Economic Counsellor Croatian Embassy, Washington, DC

Economic Outlook for Croatia
Katja Gattin, Economist, Research Department
Croatian National Bank


10:15 a.m.	Doing Business in Croatia

Legal Framework
Branko Vukmir, General Advisor
Croatian Investment Promotion Agency

Taxes, Customs & Other Cost
Accounting & Auditing
Branislav Vrtacnik, Director
Deloitte & Touche - Croatia

Software Industry in Croatia
Mario Griffith, AMDO-SOFT Owner

Mag Instrument Foundation Experience,
Plans and Model for Investments in Croatia
Velibor Krasic, Member of the Managing Board
Mag Instrument Foundation


11:45 a.m.	Privatisation in Croatia

Privatisation
Ante Sango, Vice President
Croatian Privatisation Fund

Privatisation of Public Enterprises
Dunja Vidosevic, Head of Office for Restructuring
and Economics of State-Owned Enterprises  (ORESE)


12:30 p.m.	L u n c h e o n

Keynote Address


02:00 p.m.  	Trade & Investment Opportunities in Croatia

Investment Opportunities
Vanja Kalogjera, Executive Director
Croatian Investment Promotion Agency

Agribusiness, Food and Other Industries
Branko Gracanin, Advisor to the President
Croatian Chamber of Economy

Tourism Related Opportunities
Boris Vukonic, Dean
Faculty of Economics, University of Zagreb

Investments in Croatian Tourism
Mike Babic, Deputy Director & General Manager
Croatian National Tourist Office, NJ  (Invited)

Financial Markets -
Portfolio Investments, Banking
Zeljko Kardum, Public Relations
Zagreb Stock Exchange (ZSE)

Real Estate Investments
Vlatko Dubravica, Chairman of the Board
Croatian Real Estate Exchange

		
04:30 p.m. 	Networking & One-on-one Meetings
and October 23,
by appointment.

*

For details and additional information please contact Mr. Felix S. Duhovic
at (310) 477-1009 ext.12, fax: (310) 477-1866, e-mail: CroConLA@aol.com.


Matko Brljevic, First Consul
Public & Cultural Affairs
Consulate General of the Republic of Croatia
Los Angeles

***

1. Milovan Nedeljkov, Otkazuje se utakmica Jugoslavija - Irska, Vecernji
list, October 5, 1998, Back Page.
YUGOSLAVIA - IRELAND GAME CANCELLED

BELGRADE - After the cancellation of the game between England and FRY,
which was supposed to be played on November 18, there is a high probability
that the qualifier for the 2000 European Championship between FR Yugoslavia
and Ireland will be cancelled as well. Due to the situation in Kosovo, the
Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) will probably cancel this
Saturdays game in Belgrade.

Ireland recommended its citizens immediately leave Yugoslavia due to
possible NATO air strikes. It seems a substantial part of diplomatic
personnel have already left the Yugoslav capital. It is expected that the
question of to bomb or not to bomb will be answered this Wednesday, after
which it will be known whether FRY will be allowed to participate in the
qualifications for the 2000 European Championship.

UEFA has already cancelled the game between Albania and Greece, which was
supposed to be played this past weekend because of "political unrest,"
hence it is expected, especially in Ireland, that the Yugoslavia - Ireland
game will also be scrubbed.

***

2. T.P., Croatian Information Centre - Zagreb, October 5, 1998.
CROATIA CONTINUES TO LEAD PREMIER DIVISION

ZAGREB - The best soccer teams in Croatia played the eighth round of the
First Division this past weekend. Croatia is firmly in first place after
defeating Varteks 2:0. Hajduk is right behind them, as they also registered
three points by beating Osijek as the visiting 0:1. Here are the rest of
the scores of Croatian Premier Division action:
Sibenik - Zagreb 			2:2
Zadarkomerc - Rijeka 		0:1
H. Dragovoljac - Slaven Belupo 	0:0
Mladost 127 - Cibalia 		0:0

The Standings after 8 rounds are:

Croatia			22
Hajduk				17
Rijeka				16
Osijek			-1	11
H.  Dragovoljac		11
Zadarkomerc			11
Zagreb			-1	9
Sl. Belupo			8
Varteks			8
Mladost 127			5
Sibenik			5
Cibalia			4

The next round will be played on October 18, as this coming week will see
two Croatian National Team qualifiers for the 2000 European Championship.
Here are the pairs: Cibalia - Osijek, Sl. Belupo - Mladost 127, Varteks -
H. Dragovoljac, Rijeka - Croatia, Zagreb - Zadarkomerc, Hajduk - Sibenik.

***

3. T.P., Croatian Information Centre - Zagreb, October 5, 1998.
BADEL IS WELL ON ITS WAY TO THE HANDBALL CHAMPIONS CUP

ZAGREB - Badel 1862 Zagreb registered a high victory in the first leg of
their qualifier for the European Handball Champions Cup. The were the
visiting team in Austria and defeated Sparkasse by a score of 32:21
(16:13). Saracevic lead the way with 10 goals. The return game will be next
week, but it is expected to be a formality, as the difference in quality is
just too big.

***


* ICTY

4. Sanja Despot, Novi pritisak na izrucenje vukovarske trojke Haagu,
Jutarnji list, October 4, 1998, p. 5.
SECURITY COUNCIL PRESSURES FOR WAR CRIMINAL EXTRADITION FROM FRY TO HAGUE

NEW YORK - "I ask of you. I beg of you  to help us. My opinion is clear -
the obligations of FRY toward us must be implemented," appealed ICTY
President Gabrielle Kirk McDonald to the UN Security Council on Friday.

The indictments against Veselin Sljivancanin, Miroslav Radic and Mile
Mrksic were issued on November 7, 1995 for suspicion of murdering 260
unarmed civilians after the fall of Vukovar in 1991. A warrant for their
arrests was sent to the Yugoslav government because it is believed that
they are on its territory. The court council determined in April 1996 that
it is the fault of the Yugoslav authorities that they are still not on
trial, said McDonald.

The court council ordered the Yugoslav authorities on December 19, 1997, to
deliver the indictments to the three individuals. FRY did not comply.

"Almost seven years have passed since the victims families have lost their
dearest, and these three are still at large with absolutely no signs FRY
intends to change its attitude. This can no longer be ignored. The FRY
disobedience toward the ICTY has to be dealt with once and for all. I
demand you allow no country to stand in the way of fulfilling the mandate
you gave us," said McDonald.

ICTY investigations in Kosovo are in vain if there will be no changes,
concluded McDonald, as did Chief prosecutor Louise Arbour back in
September. The result of their appeals is another presidential statement
expressing disappointment with FRY for not complying. But SC intends to
take no concrete actions. McDonald was disappointed. She told journalists
the SC could have at least passed a more firm resolution.

The Vukovar trio were the only accused who were to answer for war crimes in
Vukovar before the ICTY, before the arrest of Slavko Dokmanovic. It is
thought that his arrest actually aimed for the apprehension of the Vukovar
trio. But, Dokmanovics case was separated from the rest as pressure
against Belgrade remained fruitless. His suicide has made it impossible for
even one, symbolic punishment for the crimes committed in Vukovar.

Of the trio, Mrksic, at the time a general of the Yugoslav Army, retired
after Storm. Radic became a businessman. Sljivancanin, for his merits in
Vukovar, was promoted to lieutenant colonel and is currently lecturing at a
military academy in Belgrade. Last summer he publicly celebrated Arkan
after a CNN special program.

However, the fact that Milosevics moods change is evident by the arrest
and extradition of Stevan Todorovic alias monster to the ICTY. Serb
mercenaries caught Todorovic in Zvornik. They were to receive 40,000 DM for
his arrest and delivery to SFOR troops in B&H, according to attorney
Fila. Though they have not been paid, Fila said, at least the Yugoslav
authorities gave the green light for the arrest operation to be carried out.

***


* BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

5. Croatian Radio Herceg-Bosna, News at 21.00, October 4, 1998.
SFOR DEMAND FOR PERMANENT REMOVAL OF HVO GENERALS

SARAJEVO - The chief commander for SFOR, general Eric Shinseki, has
requested the permanent removal of two HVO generals, Stanko Sopta and Ilija
Rasic, from any commanding post in the Federal B&H Army and that they
immediately be dismissed from the armed forces altogether. In a statement
issued to the HINA News Agency, SFOR Sarajevo spokesperson Glenn
Chamberlaine stated that this demand was set as it has been substantiated,
beyond doubt, that the two senior HVO officers were involved in the
pre-election campaign, hence interfering in the political process. "Such
behaviour is unallowable and in breach of legislative provisions which
define the role of the army in democratic society. We expect this demand
for their permanent dismissal from office and the army to be executed
without delay," Chamberlaine said.

The situation on the territory of Capljina today, after the tense last
couple of days, is calm. Three detonations were registered in the village
of Alagici, near Stolac, Glenn Chamberlaine stated at a press conference.
According to him, the explosions occurred at about 5:30 (CET) this morning
and damaged a previously damaged house owned by Bosniaks. The house at the
moment of the explosion was empty and no casualties were reported.

***

6. Croatian Radio Herceg-Bosna, News at 21.00, October 4, 1998.
SPECIAL ANTI-TERRORIST SQUADS FOR HERZEGOVINA?!

SARAJEVO - The B&H Federal minister for the interior, Mehmed Zilic, has
brought down a decision on the deployment of special anti-terrorist police
squads in the Herzegovina Neretva county. According to information which
was broadcast today on Sarajevo radio, this decision comes as a consequence
of the recent incidents in that county, which more or less jeopardise the
agreements on and the adoption of plans for the return of refugees and
displaced persons to their pre-war homes. According to this source, the
federal police minister has resolved to deploy an anti-terrorist police
squad in the headquarters of the Herzegovina Neretva County Ministry of the
Interior as of tomorrow, October 5. Members of this squad will immediately
start working on the opened investigations on all terrorist cases
registered to date in this county.

***

7. Croatian Radio Herceg-Bosna, News at 21.00, October 4, 1998.
HDZ B&H CONDEMNS VIOLENCE

CAPLJINA - The Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia & Herzegovina, (HDZ
B&H), decisively condemns the violence aimed at Bosniak returnees in the
village of Tasovcici, near Capljina, and wishes to express its sincere
sympathy to the family of the late Adem Muminagic. Expressing regret that
it had to come to this tragic incident, the HDZ B&H will urge the competent
county instruments and institutions to identify the perpetrators of this
crime and bring them to justice. The HDZ B&H stresses in their press
release that the return of Bosniaks to the village of Tasovcici near
Capljina and the violent reopening of the main Mostar - Ploce road, which
was executed by SFOR Italian Carabinieri troops on Thursday, which "have
agitated the Croatian population in the municipality of Capljina and the
Croatian displaced persons from Central Bosnia, who came to this region
when expelled by Bosniaks from their homes." In Capljinas case, the press
release goes on to state, the correctness of HDZ B&H policy has been
confirmed in that concrete return plans have to be made and brought at the
highest state level in accordance with Annex 7 of the Dayton Peace Accord,
the Sarajevo and Banja Luka declarations and the county return plans, which
is in accordance with all the above mentioned agreements all displaced
persons return to their homes. In this manner the security conditions would
be ensured and all other necessary preconditions for the dignified and safe
return of all displaced persons, emphasised the HDZ B&H statement.

The HDZ B&H expresses its readiness to consistently implement Annex 7 of
the Dayton Peace Accord according to the same criteria and measures for all
three nations in B&H and condemns all violent behaviour and the use of
force, which was exhibited these days by the special SFOR troops against
the unarmed Croatian displaced persons, mainly women, children and disabled
Homeland War veterans, the press release from the HDZ B&H Public Relations
Office states.

***

8. J.C., Croatian Information Centre - Sarajevo, September 5, 1998.
ELECTIONS ARE OVER, NOW ITS TIME TO ROLL UP THE SLEEVES

SARAJEVO - The results of the recent elections clearly demonstrate that
Bosnia and Hezegovina has taken another significant step forward in
democratisation and pluralism said Robert Barry, OSCE mission head, Friday.

"It is significant that Croatian parties now have mandates in the Republika
Srpska and that Serbian parties have seats in places like Canton 10, which
up to now was a mono-party canton," said Barry at a late afternoon press
conference.

He was referring to the fact that the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ B&H)
and the New Croat Initiative (NHI) have each won one seat in the Serbian
entitys National Assembly and seats in several of its municipalities.
Similarly, the RS Social Democrats won two seats in the assembly of Canton
10 or Tomislavgrad/Livno.

Barry also has positive expectations for the B&H House of Representatives.
By his assessment, the House has more viable parties now and as such will
be able to function better. "That is, the House of Representatives will now
be able to get on with passing necessary legislation."

The party with the most seats in the B&H House is the Coalition for a Whole
and Democratic B&H (KCD) with 17 seats or 40 percent of the vote. In fact,
the KCD is the strongest party overall, not to mention the strongest
Bosniak-Muslim party. It garnered 49% of the vote (68 seats) in the B&H
Federation House of Representatives and 19% (15 seats) in the RS National
Assembly (making it second there). It also won most of the seats in many
cantons and municipalities.

A distant second in the B&H House is the HDZ B&H, with 14 percent of the
vote or 6 seats. It is also the second strongest party in the B&H
Federation House, where it won 20% of the vote, thus giving it 28 seats out
of a possible 140. The HDZ B&H did well in canton and municipal races, as
well. It greatly outperformed the NHI in most places, which was considered
its biggest contender. However, there are the exceptions of Usora, Tuzla,
Zenica - Doboj and Sarajevo, where the HDZ B&H and NHI have equal seats or
differ by one or two. This could be a function of demographics, as the
Croatian population in these places is small.

There is a three-way tie for third place in the B&H House amongst the
Social Democratic Party (SDP), the Serbian Democratic Party (SDS) and Sloga
Coalition. Each won 4 seats or 10 percent of the vote.

The SDS won most of the seats in the RS National Assembly (19 or 24
percent); the KCD came in second as mentioned; the Serbian National
Federation (SNS), Biljana Plavsics party, third (12 or 14 percent); the
Serbian Radical Party (SRS), Nikola Poplasens party, fourth (11 or 13
percent); and the Socialist Party fifth (10 or 12 percent).

With only 12 percent separating the top party from the fifth, no party in
the Assembly has an overwhelming majority. This means no party has blocking
power, which Barry takes as a sign of increased democracy in the RS.

One thing that was not very democratic though, was the complete disregard
for election rules in Foca and Srbinje. As such, the PEC has decided to
annul 1,600 votes from the area. This annulment has no effect on seat
allocation or candidate approval said Barry.

Who will take the parliamentary seats was also announced Friday, though
there have been some adjustments. For example, the candidates list
reflects the removal of the HDZ B&H candidates. Adjustments were also made
to provide for the election rule stipulating that at least three of the top
ten candidates must be female. Barry said there were also about six cases
where candidates have been elected in B&H, but hold elected office in
Croatia. Those candidates will either have to resign from their Croatian
office or not accept their B&H election.

Similarly, military personnel are not permitted to hold elected office in
B&H, nor are police officers in the RS. These candidates have been removed
from candidate lists, as well.

"We believe all such cases have been resolved," said Barry, "but it is
possible some have been missed. If so, these people will have to withdraw
from office as have those already found."

All these adjustments, said Barry, have had no significant effect on
election results or seat allocation. Furthermore, all complaints and
appeals sent to the Election Appeals Sub-Committee have been adjudicated.

Now that the 1998 election cycle has closed, Barry said he expects elected
officials to respect democratic principles and institution formation. This
includes power-sharing. He also expects the governments to be more
responsible to the voters.

"The voters have sent a message to the leaders of B&H," said Barry. "It is
Get on with the issues important to me; act responsibly; make decisions
for yourselves and dont wait for the international community to do so; and
stop looking for excuses in the past for not being responsible now. Those
who understand this will succeed now and in 2000."

***

9. J.C., Croatian Information Centre - Sarajevo, September 3, 1998.
PRLIC: NEED TO LEARN FROM EXPERIENCE

NEW YORK - Jadranko Prlic said he is satisfied that the recent elections in
B&H went by without incident. The B&H Foreign Affairs Minister made the
comment last Thursday, while addressing the fifty-third General Assembly of
the UN.

"A new chapter in the political life of B&H is beginning," he said. He
added that with the full involvement of all parties, B&H can develop into a
modern country based on law, parliamentary democracy, respect for human
rights and a market economy.

He also discussed the tragedy in Kosovo and its influence on B&H. Prlic
stated B&H will suggest the General Assembly consider a document titled
Humanitarian Action Possibilities in Crisis Situations.

"The goal is not to repeat current efforts, but to compliment experience
and raise awareness of  the need to adapt international norms and practices
with new realities to a higher level," pointed out Prlic.

***

10. J.C., Croatian Information Centre - Sarajevo, September 3, 1998.
EARTHQUAKE SHAKES UP SARAJEVO

SARAJEVO - An earthquake measuring 2.7 on the Richter scale rumbled through
the city Friday morning at 6:55 (CET).

The mild quake was centred 16 kilometres east of Sarajevo and was the third
one felt in B&H last week. A stronger one (approx. 5 on the Richter scale)
centred in Serbia last Wednesday was felt throughout north-eastern Bosnia.

Seismic activity is a regular occurrence, but earthquakes are felt more
readily in B&H because the earths core is thin there (30 to 40
kilometres). The National Seismology Office, says there are two or three
earthquakes registered daily within a 20 kilometre radius. However, they
are low intensity and rarely felt.

***

11. J.C., Croatian Information Centre - Sarajevo, September 5, 1998.
CORIC RESIGNS FROM INTERIOR MINISTRY POST IN HERZEGOVINA NERETVA COUNTY

Mostar - The minister of Interior Affairs for Herzegovina Neretva County,
Valentin Coric, immediately resigned from his post following the tragic
events in Tasovcici, where one Bosniak-Muslim returnee was killed and three
more injured  on Friday.

There is no comment from Coric, but national Interior Affairs Minister
Mehmed Zilic has said he asked for Corics resignation a year ago when
similar events happened. "The situation must be finally cleared up and
cleaned up."

Zilic has met with Martin Garrod, the OHR regional head, about increasing
security in the county.

***

12. J.C., Croatian Information Centre - Sarajevo, September 4, 1998.
U.S. DEMANDING APOLOGY FOR THREATS

BANJA LUKA - The United States was hurt by comments that it was out to
change the election results in Bosnia and Herzegovina said Robert Gelbard,
special presidential envoy, Saturday.

"I dont hear those same people complaining now," said Gelbard, "and I hope
to hear an apology from someone from the Radical party for the threats they
made." Gelbard made this statement after meeting with the Serbian entitys
(Republika Srpska) newly elected President Nikola Poplasen, B&H Presidency
member Zivko Radisic and RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik.

Gelbard said the U.S. is particularly interested in what Poplasen plans on
doing, particularly regarding his past statements. As such, it will pay
close attention.

"We are very concerned about the threats (Vojislav) Seselj made two days
ago aimed at the international community," said Gelbard. "I want to make it
clear that there would be grave consequences after any action or threats to
the citizens of the United States or any other country."

Threats, said Gelbard, are not viewed as empty words. Should Poplasen and
his Radical party not make a public denunciation of the threats, it will be
taken as a sign of support for Seseljs words, and appropriate action will
be taken.

Asked whether the U.S. plans on isolating Poplasen, Gelbard said no. In
fact, there was hope that relations with Poplasen will be constructive. A
lack of co-operation with the international community will have
consequences though.

"We tried to work with the SDS (Serbian Democratic Party) in the past and
we saw what results they brought the RS," said Gelbard. "There is a reason
the RS did not receive financial help."

As for the situation in Kosovo, the potential bombing of  FR Yugoslavia and
the resulting effect on the RS, Gelbard said that the question dealt with
two countries.

"We are not anti-Serb, but pro-Serb. However, we are also for democracy."

He continued that proof of the pro-Serb sentiment was the help given the RS
when it co-operated. The world wants to help the RSs democratically
elected government.

The world however does not want to help Serbia, said Gelbard, whose
economic situation is catastrophic.

***


* YUGOSLAVIA

13. Hina, Ruski ministri kod Milosevica, na televiziji ratnicki ugodja,
Vjesnik, October 5, 1998, Front Page.
RUSSIAN MINISTERS VISIT MILOSEVIC, WAR ATMOSPHERE ON TV

BELGRADE - Russian Foreign Affairs and Defence ministers, Igor Ivanov and
Igor Sergejev, travelled to Belgrade to speak with Yugoslav President
Slobodan Milosevic about "accelerating the finding a peaceful solution to
the Kosovo crisis." This was announced in Moscow. They agreed that "force
is not the solution for the Kosovo crisis," and "its use could negatively
reflect on the situation in the Balkans," said a Russian spokesperson. The
ministers came unannounced and relayed the message from Boris Yeltsin to
Milosevic.

After this meeting, the Supreme military advisory council concluded that in
the case of a NATO attack, FRY would "defend itself by any means at its
disposal." Before airing this conclusion, state TV broadcast patriotic
music and a movie about the army.

***

14. T.P., Croatian Information Centre - Zagreb, October 5, 1998.
EU ABANDONS SHIP IN BELGRADE

BELGRADE - The European Union mission in Belgrade pulled almost all of its
personnel out of FR Yugoslavia, according to reports in the Belgrade daily
Dnevni telegraf. Mission spokesperson John White would not confirm this
report, but the only EU personnel left in Belgrade are lower ranking clerks
responsible for technical duties and FRY citizens.

The above mentioned daily also reported that the governments of the United
States, Great Britain, Holland, Spain, Germany, Belgium and Ireland have
called for their citizens to leave Yugoslav territory. However, diplomats
are not leaving for the time being.




~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Croatian Information Centre      Tel:   385 1 / 611 5116
Trg Stjepana Radica 3            Fax:   385 1 / 455 0700
10,000 Zagreb                 E-Mail:   hicnews@hic.hr
REPUBLIC OF CROATIA              Web:   http://www.hic.hr/news

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~