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PRESS CUT - Croatian Press News in English	

October 7, 1998


* CROATIA

1. DEATH THREATS AGAINST POPE
2. ARGENTINA ALLOWS NADA SAKIC EXTRADITION TO CROATIA
3. PORGES & DRAGONJA ON KRSKO SOLUTION?
4. APOLOGY TO CROATIAN AMBASSADOR TO MACEDONIA
5. SHORTER ROAD ROUTE TO DUBROVNIK
6. SPLIT CLOBBERS MLEKARA KUNIN
7. BASKETBALL WEDNESDAY IN CROATIA

* BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

8. NEW B&H PRESIDENCY TO MEET WITH INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES TOMORROW
9. BISHOPS PALACE IN MOSTAR CONDEMNS ALL VIOLENCE
10. HVIDRA: INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY BLAMES CROATS FOR EVERYTHING
11. EU FOREIGN MINISTERS: VOTERS TURN BACK ON NATIONALIST PARTIES
12. HERZEGOVINA NERETVA COUNTY POLICE CHIEF RESIGNS
13. VETERAN BACKPAY CERTIFICATES ALLOTTED 7 BILLION DM

* YUGOSLAVIA

14. SERBIA & MONTENEGRO - EVER FURTHER APART
15. LATEST ON POSSIBLE NATO ACTION
16. ANNAN HAS NO CONCRETE INFORMATION ON KOSOVO CRISIS
17. BELORUS OFFERS MILITARY ASSISTANCE TO MILOSEVIC



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***


* CROATIA

1. T.P., Croatian Information Centre - Zagreb, October 7, 1998.
DEATH THREATS AGAINST POPE

ZAGREB - The Interior Ministry says police were only following orders when
they physically prevented accredited journalists to enter Znjan to cover
the Papal mass. Meanwhile, a number of journalist association have demanded
Minister Penics resignation.

Among other things, a ministry statement notes that before the Papal visit
to Croatia, it had received 12 death threats against the Pope and another
three while he was actually in Croatia. The anonymous threats included the
placement of concealed bombs, prepared terrorist groups, as well as snipers.

As far as the journalists are concerned, the release contends that the
police were following very strict orders and could not allow anyone to
enter the premises after the Pope had arrived, and was safely at the altar.
Moreover, the initial mistake occurred in the press centre. Police had
warned journalists they may not be able to enter Znjan if arrived late,
which they did.

All in all, not a single accident or other incident occurred, except for
the one at Znjan, which indicates the high level of police organisation,
concludes the press release.

***

2. S.P., Odobreno izrucenje Nade Sakic Hrvatskoj, Vecernji list, October
7, 1998, Back Page.
ARGENTINA ALLOWS NADA SAKIC EXTRADITION TO CROATIA

BUENOS AIRES - The Argentine Foreign Affairs Ministry has ordered
extradition of Nada Esperanza Tambic de Bilanovic Sakic to Croatia. The
Croatian embassy was officially notified yesterday. The order came from the
ministrys legal affairs department, signed by Foreign Minister Guido Di
Tella, according to the embassy Charges d Affairs Ivo Radovcic.

Sakic will probably travel to Croatia through a third country, like her
husband Dinko. Permission to do so must now be sought from that country,
which the Croatian Ministry Interior, i.e. Croatian Interpol, must do. The
process will probably take two to three weeks. It is believed that Nada
Sakic will be extradited by the end of October.

***

3. Z. Cezar, Porges i Dragonja o rjesenju Krskog?, Vecernji list, October
7, 1998, p. 6.
PORGES & DRAGONJA ON KRSKO SOLUTION?

ZAGREB - Two meetings were recently held between Croatian and Slovene
representatives to try and solve the dispute about the Krsko Nuclear Power
Plant (NEK). For now, there has been no substantial progress!

Will there be any turn for the better? There have been unsuccessful
meetings and almost half of the deadlines set at the Mokrice meeting on
August 25 have gone by. The three-month time-out is ticking away.
Apparently, there could be a meeting between the Croatian and Slovene
finance ministers, Porges and Dragonja this Thursday, to try to end the
stalemate.

The importance of an international agreement on the NEK is not at doubt,
however, there have been varying reactions - from the possibility of
dividing the debts to putting this dispute into the unsolved questions
bag of affairs. A lot depends on the cancellation of the Slovenian decision
to transform the NEK into a public company, which is to blame for the
current situation. Disputed questions included the price of electricity,
investing into steam generators and simulators. The questions have divided
the two sides and only a gradual solution is possible. Of course, the
Croatia has set a priority of reintroducing the NEK into the Croatian
electrical network.

Croatia sent Slovenia its proposal for an international agreement back in
April, which tried to solve the NEK problem, but there has been no official
reply. Instead, Slovenia passed the mentioned decision and concluded
Croatia was no longer a co-founder of the NEK, which practically means that
Croatia is no longer an owner. Slovene building expenses of the NEK were
put into NEK expenses at the very beginning, while Croatian expenses
remained in the HEP (Croatian Hydro). This was one of the reasons for
quoting Croatian debts at one point as being 200 million DM.

Offers have been made for an international auditing company to examine the
NEK books for the last 10 years. This is also a disputed point, as the
right auditor still has not been found. Moreover, it will probably remain a
disputed point, particularly in relation to the auditing procedure.

***

4. Boris Pop Djorcev, Isprika hrvatskom veleposlaniku, Vecernji list,
October 7, 1998, Back Page.
APOLOGY TO CROATIAN AMBASSADOR TO MACEDONIA

SKOPJE - The editor-in-chief of the private Macedonian TV station A1, Aco
Kabranov, apologised to the Croatian ambassador to Macedonia, Vitomir
Lasic, for the "unbecoming intonation" of a report about the beatification
ceremony of the Blessed Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac. This TV station
reported Pope John Paul II declared a war criminal a saint, spicing up
their report with inserts of scenes from nazi death camps.

Lasic lodged a strong protest, stating that Croatians consider the Blessed
Alojzije Stepinac to be a saint and martyr and that this decision by the
Holy Father has also made this the official policy of the Roman Catholic
Church.

"Through its biased, unbecoming and shocking reporting, Television A1
insulted not only the Croatian people, rather Catholics and religious
people all over the world," writes Lasic.

In his apology, Kabranov emphasised that the "author of the report made a
statement is his personal view point on a theme about which he is poorly
informed. His report is based on supposition, hence TV A1 wishes to
apologise to its viewers."

The apology was aired two nights ago during the prime time news broadcast.

***

5. T.P., Croatian Information Centre - Zagreb, October 7, 1998.
SHORTER ROAD ROUTE TO DUBROVNIK

DUBROVNIK - President Franjo Tudjman will ceremoniously mark the beginning
of bridge building over the Ombla River near Dubrovnik on Friday, as
announced yesterday by the manager of the Dubrovnik office of Croatian
Roads, Dominik Brigovic.

"This event was supposed to take place September 21, and then moved to
October 7. However, this second postponement is due to presidential
obligations, not technical difficulties." During the ceremony, a probe
containing a parchment certificate, a Croatian coin and a copy of a
newspaper from that day, will be lowered into on of the posts.

The project is worth 36.9 million DEM. The Ombla bridge will be built by
Croatian companies and a German one called Walter Bau. The bridge will be
484 metres long, 50 metres high, 13 metres wide with two lanes and
sidewalks on each side. It is expected to be complete by August 2001.

***

6. T.P., Croatian Information Centre - Zagreb, October 7, 1998.
SPLIT CLOBBERS MLEKARA KUNIN

NOVI JICIN - Split completely outclassed the Czech team, winning 113:71
(55:35) in the B Group of the Raimond Saporto Cup. Tvrdic was the top
scorer of the game with 29 points. The Split game was quick and aggressive,
which did not agree with the slower Czech players and the Split team did
not have a single player whose shots were off. The whole team
participated in filling-up the Czech basket.

***

7. T.P., Croatian Information Centre - Zagreb, October 7, 1998.
BASKETBALL WEDNESDAY IN CROATIA

ZAGREB - Tonight is the night basketball takes the limelight away from
soccer, as all the European basketball competitions will be in full swing.
There are two games especially important for Croatia. The first is a
Euroleague Group C game in Zadar against CSKA Moscow. For Zadar it is a do
or die game, as they have lost their first two games in the Euroleague
(Ulker from Turkey and Kinder from Italy). Coach Jusup stressed that he
does not care who the opponent is, a victory is imperative.

The other highlighted game will be the first European game of the season
for Benston (Zagreb), as they will be playing a Group J game in the Radivoj
Korac Cup against Borac from Banja Luka. This will be the first game
between a Croatian team and a team from the Serbian entity in Bosnia and
Herzegovina. Borac is also the first Republika Srpska team to play an
official game in Croatia.

The other games tonight will be: ToPo (Helsinki) - Zagreb in Group D of the
Saporto Cup; Papagos (Athens) - Zrinjevac (Zagreb) in Group K of the Korac
Cup;

Tomorrow Cibona will be playing the Greek champion Panathinaikos in their
Euroleague third round Group B match up. The Greek team is the most
expensive basketball team in Europe and is favourite to win the overall
crown. However, Cibona has other ideas


***


* BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

8. Croatian Radio Herceg-Bosna, News at 21.00, October 6, 1998.
NEW B&H PRESIDENCY TO MEET WITH INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES TOMORROW

SARAJEVO - Members of the Executive Committee of the Council for the
implementation of the Dayton Peace Accord will be meeting in Sarajevo
tomorrow with newly elected members to the B&H Presidency, OHR Spokesperson
Rida Attarashani announced at todays Sarajevo press conference. Prior to
tomorrows meeting with the B&H Presidency, the Committee will meet with
High Representative Carlos Westendorp. The OHR spokesperson did not reveal
any further details on tomorrows meeting nor did he specify what the
agenda will be. The final meeting of the out-going Zubak - Izetbegovic -
Krajisnik B&H Presidency was held in Sarajevo today.

***

9. Croatian Radio Herceg-Bosna, News at 21.00, October 6, 1998.
BISHOPS PALACE IN MOSTAR CONDEMNS ALL VIOLENCE

MOSTAR - The bishops palace in Mostar condemned the recent events in
Tasovcici in a press release which was signed on behalf of the Catholic
Information Office in Mostar by father Zeljko Majic. The press release states:

"Expressing our regret and horror regarding the tragic events in Tasovcici
near Capljina, where one Muslim lost his life and two were injured, the
Bishops Palace in Mostar condemns this violent crime and simultaneously
appeals to all authorities to officially establish security conditions for
all citizens in this region. The occurrence in Tasovcici is not a unique in
Bosnia & Herzegovina. The memories of the murders of 8 Croats in the
Central Bosnia County as well as of Serbs in the Herceg-Bosna County are
still vivid, whereas nobody is even trying to return to Republika Srpska,"
the press release states. "The sad fact that so many murders could happen
is, in itself, to be condemned and the perpetrators of these crimes are
still unidentified. It is also pitiful that special forces violently charge
at children and women, as if they themselves were to blame for the
violation of their human rights and moral dignity. The Bishops Palace
condemns the use of force, appeals for the just and sensible settlement of
all disputes, and supports the right to a peaceful and safe return of all
displaced persons, as well as the option to remain where they desire.

***

10. Croatian Radio Herceg-Bosna, News at 21.00, October 6, 1998.
HVIDRA: INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY BLAMES CROATS FOR EVERYTHING

MOSTAR - On account of the recent events in Tasovcici near Capljina, when
SFOR special troops used force to disperse unarmed Croatian civilians
protesting on the main road M-17, the HVIDRA central office for
Herceg-Bosnia released the following statement today:

"Until when will the international community support the murder of Croats
and orders in contradiction to the Constitution and Dayton Peace Accord,
blaming Croats for everything," the HVIDRA representatives ask in their
protest note. Members of the headquarters also sent word that they will not
allow the dismissal of general Stanko Sopta and Ilija Rasic, which was
requested by the international community. They demand representatives from
the international community respect the Dayton Peace Accord, as well as
having general Shinseki dismissed along with all those responsible for the
attack on women and children in Tasovcici.

The Sarajevo HVIDRA branch also expressed its support for generals Stanko
Sopta and Ilija Rasic, whose dismissal was requested by SFOR commander,
Erik Shinseki. "We, the disabled war veterans of the Sarajevo county HVIDRA
organisation cannot sit back and indifferently watch the international
communitys discrimination, which is ever more aggressively forcing the
status of third-class citizens on Croatians in B&H. We, HVIDRA members,
find the dismissal of Croatian military commanders, who found themselves
holding those posts thanks to the trust and will of the Croatian nation,
from the armed forces to be immoral and politically unacceptable, and hence
give our full support to HVO generals Stanko Sopta and Ilija Rasic," it
says in the statement released by the Sarajevo HVIDRA organisation.

***

11. Croatian Radio Herceg-Bosna, News at 21.00, October 6, 1998.
EU FOREIGN MINISTERS: VOTERS TURN BACK ON NATIONALIST PARTIES

LUXEMBOURG - Yesterday in Luxembourg, EU foreign ministers praised the high
percentage of participation and the peaceful conduct of the elections held
in B&H on September 12 and 13.

The ministers concluded that the voters are prepared to turn their backs on
the nationalist parties and consider this to be vital for the establishment
of democracy in Bosnia & Herzegovina.

The EU heads of diplomacy reiterated the importance of applying the
agreements from Dayton and Paris and expressed their wish that the newly
elected government representatives will co-operate in a constructive manner
to achieve this objective.

***

12. Croatian Radio Herceg-Bosna, News at 21.00, October 6, 1998.
HERZEGOVINA NERETVA COUNTY POLICE CHIEF RESIGNS

MOSTAR - Minister of the Interior of the Herzegovina Neretva County
Valentin Coric stated in Mostar today that his written resignation was sent
to the highest officials in the county government and that he expects the
final decision on his resignation to come from the County Assembly. He
explained that he resigned due to the recent events in Capljina and Stolac
and the general deterioration of the security situation in the county, but
also, as he put it, due to the numerous oversights in the county ministry
relating to the return of displaced persons and the behaviour of municipal
heads in the places of return.

He added that he will continue to conduct his present duties till further
notice, but that he certainly will not serve as minister for another mandate.

***

13. J.C., Croatian Information Centre - Sarajevo, October 7, 1998.
VETERAN BACKPAY CERTIFICATES ALLOTTED 7 BILLION DM

SARAJEVO - The B&H Federation government certified that the sum of Republic
of B&H Army, HVO and police back-pay certificates will be 7 billion German
Marks.

The government says the sum has been calculated into all privatisation
plans and included in Annex VI of the World Banks conclusions on Bosnia
and Herzegovina released last year. However, it did not clearly state if
the World Bank has agreed to the amount. According to World Bank estimates,
the pay-out sum for unpaid wages of soldiers and police officers should not
be more than 6 billion marks.

The government has obligated the Defence Ministry to implement its decision
within 45 days. That is, the ministry must verify individual military
certificates and submit the list to the Unitary Citizens Account (public
account). At the same time, the ministry will have to adjust its planned
sum for the certificates, which was 9 billion marks.

This whole process has taken an exceedingly long time. The problem is a
double standard - one restrictive and one stimulative - said Sakib
Mahmuljina, Deputy Defence Minister.

"Documentation of HVO (Croatian Defence Council) members was obviously
stimulative in principle, because it seems everyone received one of their
certificates, while the Republic of B&H Army had clearer parameters for
handing out certificates."

Now, the problem is to equalise the situation, said Mahmuljin, which is
more of a political than technical question. As such, the solution will be
difficult. The HVO has submitted claims of a 200,000 people strong army.
According to Mahmuljins calculations this is impossible as the 1991 census
says there were 760,000 Croatians in B&H. Half of that number were women,
leaving 180,000 men.

Meanwhile, he estimates that Republic of B&H Army membership can be
reduced, at most, by 5,000 men, which is negligible considering the final
numbers.

***


* YUGOSLAVIA

14. T.P., Croatian Information Centre - Zagreb, October 7, 1998.
SERBIA & MONTENEGRO - EVER FURTHER APART

PODGORICA - Montenegrin President Mile Djukanovic was slated to make a
televised address on October 5, to explain his differences with Belgrade
over Kosovo. His supporters will not attend the special session of the
federal legislature that same day. The Belgrade authorities rejected a key
Montenegrin demand that opening a border crossing between Montenegro and
Croatia at Debeli Brijeg be included on the agenda of the next round of
Yugoslav - Croatian talks, according to the daily Pobjeda. A day before
that, Yugoslav Premier Momir Bulatovic, who is a loyal Milosevic supporter
and Djukanovic's arch-rival, sent his wife and children to Bulgaria,
according to that same daily. The pro- Djukanovic paper added "the man who
did nothing to help resolve the crisis in Kosovo knows how to protect
himself and his family, leaving the people to bear the consequences of the
flawed policy (of Milosevic)." Djukanovic, in his television appearance,
condemned those FRY political forces which irresponsibly call for a war
against the whole world, which is destined for failure. "Every form of
heroics in defiance of the whole world is adventurous and President
Milosevic has to immediately begin respecting all points in the UN Security
Council resolution on Kosovo," stated Djukanovic in his TV address to the
nation. He also emphasised that 20 elected Montenegrin representatives were
not invited to yesterdays session of the FRY National Assembly, adding
that Montenegro cannot tolerate such insults and will not accept any
decisions passed by the assembly.

***

15. T.P., Croatian Information Centre - Zagreb, October 6, 1998.
LATEST ON POSSIBLE NATO ACTION

ATHENS, TIRANA, BELGRADE - Following a Saturday meeting in Delphi, Greek
Prime Minister Kostas Simitis said that he and Bulgarian President Petar
Stoyanov, along with Romanian President Emil Constantinescu, agreed that
NATO air strikes "are not the best solution" for the Kosovo problem.
Simitis added that he made the same point in telephone calls to French
Prime Minister Lionel Jospin, Italy's Romano Prodi, and German Chancellor -
designate Gerhard Schroeder.

A day earlier in the Macedonian capital of Skopje President Kiro Gligorov
and his Turkish counterpart, Suleyman Demirel, agreed that the Kosovo
question should be resolved through diplomacy and "within the
internationally recognised Yugoslav borders." Demirel added that his
country is prepared and would participate in any NATO air strikes, though
he hopes military intervention will not be necessary. Gligorov stated that
"the Macedonian government will make a decision" if NATO asks for its support.

Albanian Foreign Minister Paskal Milo told the UN General Assembly on
October 2, that the Hague - based International Criminal Tribunal for the
former Yugoslavia (ICTY) should investigate Milosevic. Milo accused the
Yugoslav leader of ordering "the implementation of...an ethnic cleansing
policy against Albanians under the pretext of combating... terrorism." Milo
repeated Albania's position that the international community should
intervene militarily in Kosovo. He stressed that "the peaceful means
applied by the international community so far have failed." He added that
"we risk having another, wider conflict" if the international community
takes no action. Milo said that Albania is "in favour of an immediate end
of the conflict and...negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina,
with...international mediation." The minister added that a solution should
respect "the will of the Albanians for self-determination
and...international conventions banning the change of borders through
violence." Furthermore, Milo stated that Albania is prepared to offer its
support in possible NATO air strikes, as was the case with the recent
military exercises, where Albania provided airport facilities, medical
infrastructure, and training areas for NATO troops.

The Albanian Interior Ministry issued a statement accusing Serbian forces
of attacking a border post in the village of Pogaj, in the northern Has
Mountains, two times on Friday. It said there were no casualties and only
slight damage, however, the statements added that the attacks were "a
continuation of previous provocative incidents committed by the Serbian
military machine, which is faced with a probable NATO attack and is trying
to get Albania involved."

Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic told U.S. special envoys Richard
Holbrooke and Christopher Hill in Belgrade on Monday that NATO air strikes
against Serbia would be a "criminal act." Milosevic added that the
international community should "contribute to the revival of the political
process instead of resorting to pressure and threats." He repeated his
assertion that the authorities in Kosovo ended their crackdown one week
ago, a view with which Holbrooke publicly disagreed. The Yugoslav leader
added that the U.S. position on Kosovo amounts to "support for Albanian
terrorists." The following day, Holbrooke and Hill went to Pristina for
meetings with Kosovo leaders. Observers suggested that the two diplomats
now face several days of shuttle diplomacy between Belgrade and Pristina in
an effort to persuade the two sides to accept an interim settlement.
However, an early morning statement by Holbrooke put across the severity of
the situation. "The situation in the Balkans has never been worse," stated
a distraught Holbrooke, adding that the possibility of NATO air strikes has
never been closer.

***

16. T.P., Croatian Information Centre - Zagreb, October 7, 1998.
ANNAN HAS NO CONCRETE INFORMATION ON KOSOVO CRISIS

NEW YORK - The impatiently awaited report of UN Secretary General Kofi
Annan to the UN Security Council, which was his obligation from that body
form their September resolution, did not provide any special or new
information, in fact, Annan stated he had no means to confirm whether or
not Belgrade is respecting the UN SC resolution on Kosovo and left that
decision to be made by the SC, itself. All Annan did say was that it is
definite that Yugoslav forces were to blame for most of the crimes in
Kosovo, which is similar to "other Balkan conflicts in the recent past."

***

17. T.P., Croatian Information Centre - Zagreb, October 7, 1998.
BELORUS OFFERS MILITARY ASSISTANCE TO MILOSEVIC

MOSCOW - On Tuesday Belorus Premier Aleksandar Lukasenko stated his country
is prepared to send FR Yugoslavia all forms of assistance, including arms
shipments and equipment. "We will unconditionally send all forms of support
and assistance to Yugoslavia if it will require the help of their Slavic
brothers," promised Lukasenko.







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