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PRESS CUT - Croatian Press News in English	

October 23, 1998


* CROATIA

1. SINDICIC WAITING IN JAIL
2. BODIES THROWN IN WELL WITH EXPLOSIVES AND GARBAGE
3. ALONG THE DANUBE TO EUROPE
4. PORGES: CROATIAN - SLOVENIAN CO-OPERATION
5. CROATIA DAYS IN CALIFORNIA
6. VARTEKS DOWN BY ONE, BUT NOT WORRIED
7. CIBONA LOOSES AGAIN
8. ZADAR STOPS GERMANS

* BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

9. BOSNIAKS STALLING SPECIAL RELATIONS NEGOTIATIONS
10. CRACKDOWN ON ORGANISED CRIME
11. HOUSE OF PEOPLES MUST REPRESENT THE PEOPLE
12. VOGOSCA LOSES OPEN CITY STATUS
13. KOSOVO REFUGEES IN SARAJEVO
14. GELBARD MEETS WITH JELAVIC
15. POLICE ARBITRARILY DETAINED TV CREW DURING ELECTIONS
16. SHINSEKI HANDED OVER COMMAND TODAY

* YUGOSLAVIA

17. RUSSIANS OPPOSE NATO ACTIVITY IN KOSOVO
18. SLOVENE OFFICERS VACATIONING IN UCK

* NEIGHBOURHOOD NEWS

19. OPPOSITION WINS FIRST ROUND IN MACEDONIAN ELECTIONS




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***


* CROATIA

1. Zeljko Toth, Sindicic ceka u zatvoru, Vecernji list, October 23, 1998,
Back Page.
SINDICIC WAITING IN JAIL

PERTH - The sentence for Yugoslavian assassin Vinko Sindicic ended
yesterday, after 10 years behind bars in Scotland for the assassination of
Croatian political emigrant Nikola Stedulj. He was jailed in a high level
penitentiary in Perth,  50 kilometres north of Edinburgh. Sindicic has been
kept in detention until British Minister for Scotland Donald Dewar decided
on the extradition request by the Croatian Justice Ministry. Croatia
requested his extradition based on the suspicion he murdered Bruno Busic in
Paris in 1978.

Dewar should confirm the result of last weeks process at the Edinburgh
District Court by next week. During the process, Sindicic stated he is not
opposed to being extradited, which practically makes the  process a mere
formality.

Transfer of Scottish prisoners usually takes place at 8 in the morning, but
this time the large doors of the prison were closed, only opening for
employees to enter the premises. Sindicic remains in this prison,
disappointed he was not at least moved to a lower security facility.

The BBC 2 showed a documentary on Vinko Sindicic last night, but only in
Scotland and in the Gaelic language. He is deemed to be the "last relic of
the former European order" by the Western media and the only apprehended
state assassin from the former communist system in Europe,.

***

2. M. Maric, Ubijeni bacani u bunar s eksplozivom i otpadom, Vecernji
list, October 23, 1998, p. 6.
BODIES THROWN IN WELL WITH EXPLOSIVES AND GARBAGE

ERDUT - After the recent discovery of a mass grave near Celije, yesterday
another one was found in Erdut. It is in the backyard of a house in a well.
Clearing of the area took a number of days, and then exhumations of those
killed in 1991 began.

This is the 106th mass grave found according to Lieutenant Colonel Ivan
Grujic, president of the Government Commission for Detained and Missing
Persons. Apparently the existence of this grave has been common knowledge
for several years, but its location remained a mystery. The remains of six
people were exhumed from a depth of 30 metres.

"Exhumations from this grave are very difficult because we first had to
remove a lot of garbage and explosives. Digging is also hindered by various
fumes, hence it is hard to predict how long this operation will take to
complete," stated Grujic. He added that representatives of the ICTY and the
European Union are monitoring the exhumations .

***

3. S.Herek, Dunavom u Europu, Vecernji list, October 23, 1998, p. 13.
ALONG THE DANUBE TO EUROPE

VIENNA - According to the statement from the Vienna office of the United
Nations, as of yesterday the ratified (international) Convention on the
Maritime Regime of the Danube River and its Protection came into effect.
The signatories of this convention are Austria, Germany, Czech Republic,
Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Romania and the Republic of Croatia.

The Danube convention was passed in the aim of uniting Danube region
countries in administration, utilisation and maintenance of the most
important European river route.

The ratification of this convention means obligations for Croatia, as well
as certain benefits. Primarily this pertains to active participation in
maintaining and administering to the Danube River sailable routes and
environmental protection of the river.

As a full member of the Danube convention, Croatia will have to adjust its
legislative and administrational practices in the coming days to European
standards for environmental protection, which is a prerequisite to getting
loans from European financial institutions.

This is why the main task and a strategic priority for Croatia will be to
motivate development. The  protection of maritime routes (especially the
construction of the Port of Vukovar) is essential. Preparing for traffic
changes in the next century and joining the united European market (joining
Euro-Atlantic integration) lie ahead for Croatia, as does as shifting the
basis of economic, political and traffic trends (including river routes)
from the western parts of Europe toward the central and eastern parts.

***

4. Hina, Porges na Bledu o suradnji RH i Slovenije, Vjesnik, October 23,
1998, Front Page.
PORGES: CROATIAN - SLOVENIAN CO-OPERATION

LJUBLJANA - Croatian Economics Minister Nenad Porges told Slovene business
people on Thursday he is confident that there is a lot of potential for
co-operation between Croatia and Slovenia. This is significant considering
some of those present feel co-operation is stagnating, especially because
of the signed Free Trade Agreement.

Porges also participated at a roundtable discussion on Slovenian-Croatian
co-operation. He mentioned the work of Koncar and Litostroj in the renewal
of the Soca Hydroelectric Plant as an example of good co-operation and said
that there is good potential for co-operation in the field of
pharmaceutical industry, as well.

Porges told roundtable participants that Croatia is a hostage in some cases
of the regional policies of Brussels and this kind of policy could be very
risky. Motivating economic co-operation between the two countries,
according to Porges, should be sought in the reality of Croatia, rather
than in individual perceptions.

***

5. Hina, Poceli Hrvtaski dani u Kaliforniji, Vjesnik, October 23, 1998,
Front Page.
CROATIA DAYS IN CALIFORNIA

LOS ANGELES - Croatia Days opened in the prestigious California town of
Long Beach, near Los Angeles on Thursday. The economic event, which will be
moving to San Francisco next week, aims to acquaint business people on the
west coast with the economic potential of Croatia. Croatia Days was
officially opened by the Croatian General Consul in L.A., Miso Munivrana,
and the executive manger of the Croatian Investment Promotion Agency
(HAPU), Vanja Kalogjera. The United States is represented by the
co-organiser of the event, the Association of World Trade Centres. The Los
Angeles International Trade Office and the American Chamber of Commerce are
also involved.

The Croatian organisations participating in the Croatia Days are: HAPU,
Privatisation Fund, Ministry of Tourism, Croatian National Bank, Croatian
Chamber of Commerce, Faculty of Economics  and stock markets.

***

6. T.P., Croatian Information Centre - Zagreb, October 23, 1998.
VARTEKS DOWN BY ONE, BUT NOT WORRIED

HEERENVEEN - Varteks played the first leg of the second round of UEFA Cup
Winners Cup action in Holland against Heerenveen last night. They went into
the game hoping to tie or at least score one goal, which is exactly what
they did. Heerenveen defeated them 2:1 (0:0). Varteks played the game
showing no respect for their hosts, attacking just as much as the Dutch
did. This paid off, as neither team had the advantage going into the
dressing rooms at halftime.

In the second half the Dutch seemed to be a different team, as they were
much faster and more aggressive. This resulted in their 57th minute lead.
Denis De Nooijer scored from close range after receiving a pass from
Houttin. Varteks goalie Solomun could do nothing to stop the shot. Varteks
tied up the game in the 63rd minute with an excellent free kick by Miljenko
Mumlek from 17 metres out. His shot was precisely aimed at the top right
hand corner and that is right where the ball went. Heerenveen goaltender
Vonk did not even see the ball! In the dying minutes of the game,
Heerenveen scored with a rocket shot by Hansme 25 metres away from Mumleks
net. The Varteks goalie, again, was not able to stop this superb and
powerful shot.

The return match will be in two weeks and Varteks is confident it will be
able to make up the goal deficit, as Heerenveen is not any better or worse
than Varteks.

***

7. T.P., Croatian Information Centre - Zagreb, October 23, 1998.
CIBONA LOOSES AGAIN

TEL AVIV - Cibona lost to its host, Maccabi, by a score of 76:57 (32:25)
last night, in the fifth round of the Euroleague. This was not such a good
coaching debut for Mihovil Nakic, who took over the job from Aleksandar
Petrovic, who resigned earlier this week. The top scorer of the game was
Maccabis Katash with 20 points, while the best Cibona player was Gray with
11 baskets. The other two games in this group were: Manresa- Crvena Zvezda
74:59 and Panathinaikos - EFES Pilsen 77:63.

Here are the Group B standings:

Panathinaikos		+66	10
EFES Pilsen		+25	9
TDK Manresa		+12	8
Cibona			-54	6
Maccabi		-12	5
Crvena Zvezda		-37	3

***

8. T.P., Croatian Information Centre - Zagreb, October 23, 1998.
ZADAR STOPS GERMANS

BERLIN - In the 5th round of Group C in the Euroleague, Zadar travelled to
Berlin and defeated their host ALBA Berlin, 85:78 (35:28). This was Zadars
second Euroleague victory, but it is still very close to the bottom of its
group. The top scorer of the game was Zadars Ruzic with 26 baskets. Here
are the results of the other two Group C games: CSKA Moscow - Olympiakos
75:81, Kinder - Ulker 66:49. After five rounds of play, here are the Group
C standings:

Kinder		+56	9
Olympiakos	+15	9
Ulker		+9	8
CSKA Moscow	-4	7
Zadar		-23	7
ALBA Berlin	-53	5

***


* BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

9. Croatian Radio Herceg-Bosna, News at 21.00, October 22, 1998.
BOSNIAKS STALLING SPECIAL RELATIONS NEGOTIATIONS

ZAGREB - The negotiations between the Republic of Croatia and the Bosnia &
Herzegovina Federation on the Special Relations Agreement, which were to be
held in Zagreb today, fell through. The reason for this was because the
Bosniak part of the delegation from the B&H Federation did not show up, as
they had requested a postponement of the negotiations at the last minute,
according to the Croatian Foreign Ministry. After the Bosniak
representatives had confirmed, on several occasions, last week and this
week their readiness to meet at the Foreign Ministry in Zagreb to continue
negotiations on the Special Relations Agreement, the surprise cancellation
of the negotiations was received last night from the Federal president,
Ejup Ganic. He justified the cancellation with the need to "unify the
positions within the Federal delegation," leaving open the possibility of
rescheduling the negotiations for next week, the Croatian ambassador to
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Darinko Bago, told journalists today.

***

10. Croatian Radio Herceg-Bosna, News at 21.00, October 22, 1998.
CRACKDOWN ON ORGANISED CRIME

SARAJEVO - The black-market ring is much more serious than was first
assessed and is assuming larger dimensions, stated the head of the EU
Office for Assistance in Conducting Customs and Fiscal Policy (CAFAO),
Allan Jensen, regarding the crackdown which began over six months ago by
joint customs authorities from the Federation of B&H and  Republika Srpska.

According to the information we have, the two entity governments have
arrested 42 persons who have been involved in the large black-market ring,
among whom are not only truck drivers who have imported goods into B&H
without paying customs duties. Forty trucks have been confiscated, Jensen
said, adding that 32 people were arrested in the B&H Federation and 10 in
the Bosnian Serb entity. Seven of those arrested are Croatian citizens.

The head of CAFAO emphasised that the whole operation was conducted by the
customs administrations in both entities in conjunction with the Financial
Police and the Ministry for the Interior. He refuted newspaper headlines
which allege that the arrested drivers were maltreated, stressing that the
authorities in both entities are conducting their duties at a high
professional level.

Jensen also stressed that it has also been uncovered in the last couple of
weeks that during the last six months 1,500 parcels - not 900 as had been
estimated earlier - have crossed the border without payment of customs
duties and taxes.

He warned the crackdown on organised crime is just beginning and that the
assistance of the customs authorities in the Republic of Croatia, which has
not yet been requested, will be necessary for the complete sanction of all
those involved in it.

During the course of the ongoing investigation, evidence has been
discovered of a second separate black-market ring, involving four trucks.
They trucks have already been confiscated.

***

11. J. C., Croatian Information Centre - Sarajevo, October 23, 1998.
HOUSE OF PEOPLES MUST REPRESENT THE PEOPLE

SARAJEVO  - High Representative Carlos Westendorp has sent a letter to the
presidents of the Social Democratic Action and Croatian Democratic Union
parties, Alija Izetbegovic and Ante Jelavic respectively, emphasising that
the House of People's, both at entity and state level, must truly represent
the will of the people.

The House of People's at both levels are not composed of individual party
candidates, but representatives from the voting districts. In the case of
the B&H Federation entity, the districts are the cantons, while at state
level, they are the entities.

Westendorp writes in his letter that the selection of House representatives
in the B&H Federation must not only satisfy the correct number of
Croatians, Bosniak-Muslims and others (as stipulated in its
Constitution), but it must also be proportional to party representation
within the cantons.

"Taking into account that the House of People's is responsible for passing
laws, it must also represent the political parties and coalitions elected
to the 10 cantons," writes Westendorp. "It would be unacceptable that one
party that has secured six or seven cantonal seats has none in the House of
People's."

As such, Westendorp calls on Jelavic and Izetbegovic to take over the
co-ordination of solving the problem. He also wants the final list of
representatives to the House to be agreed upon by October 4. Should they
not do so, other measures will be taken.

Meanwhile, the OSCE has already confirmed the House allocation. The
Federation Constitution requires 30 Croats, 30 Bosniak-Muslims and 14
others. As such, the Coalition for a Whole B&H will have 29
representatives, the Croatian Democratic Union 22, the Social Democratic
Party 10, the Socialdemocrats 4, the New Croatian Initiative 3, and the
National Democratic Union, Croatian Party of Rights, the RS Socialist Party
and the RS Socialdemocrats will each have 1.

***

12. J. C., Croatian Information Centre - Sarajevo, October 23, 1998.
VOGOSCA LOSES OPEN CITY STATUS

SARAJEVO - The UN High Commission for Refugees has revoked Vogoscas open
city status said Wendy Rappeport, UNHCR spokesperson, at a press conference
yesterday. Vogosca, which was proclaimed an open city August 3, 1997, is
the first city to lose its status.

"The reason for the action is because the local authorities have been
unsuccessful in solving property issues in Vogosca," said Rappeport. "We
gave them 7 cases to solve in May, which they did after heavy pressure.
Afterwards we gave them 30 more cases, which would allow minorities to
return. However, the authorities did not solve the issues."

Rappeport added that the Vogosca authorities were given 115 cases to solve.
Only 30 percent have been, but worse yet, only 17 cases were solved between
May and September. The Vogosca government has received several written
letters asking them to enable minorities to return. However, they have
shown no will to do so.

"The UNHCR had no choice but to revoke the open city status," said
Rappeport. "This is an important measure in protecting the credibility of
the open city program."

This year, said Rappeport, 41 Croats and 55 Serbs have returned to Vogosca.
Before the war, there were 8843 Serbs and 1074 Croats living in the
municipality.

Meanwhile, Vogoscas mayor Muhamed Kozdara, said authorities have not
received any official declaration from the UNHCR on the matter. He added
that 148 minority families have returned to the municipality, equalling 550
people.

"The UNHCR does not want to acknowledge a renovated house that remains
empty," said Kozdara.

***

13. J. C., Croatian Information Centre - Sarajevo, October 23, 1998.
KOSOVO REFUGEES IN SARAJEVO

SARAJEVO - UNHCR is disappointed that the Sarajevo canton government has
still not permitted Kosovo refugees use of 200 beds in a building not far
from the airport, said spokesperson Wendy Rappeport. The UNHCR has already
paid for the use of these beds.

"We insist that they do this, because it would be an interim solution that
would free up the Coca Cola factory, where the refugees currently are,"
said Rappeport.

She went on to say that Sarajevos authorities are not doing enough to help
Kosovo refugees, nor have they given a satisfactory reason for denying the
beds.

As of yesterday, 240 Albanians from Kosovo currently in the factory will be
resettled to transit centres in the Hadzici area, said Rappeport. In
agreement with the Federation Ministry of Social Affairs, 60 refugees will
be moved to Kljuc, 100 to Zenica, 50 to Nova Bila and 30 to Tuzla. Shelter
for 400 refugees is being built in Rakovica as well.

The UNHCR has registration for 4536 Kosovo refugees in Sarajevo.
Additionally, 1224 are registered in Bihac, Mostar, Tuzla and Zenica.
However, not all refugees register with the UNHCR. As such, it estimates
there are between 10 and 12 thousand refugees throughout Bosnia and
Herzegovina, said Rappeport.

***

14. J. C., Croatian Information Centre - Sarajevo, October 23, 1998.
GELBARD MEETS WITH JELAVIC

SARAJEVO - B&H Presidency member Ante Jelavic met with US Special Envoy
Robert Gelbard for the first time yesterday since being elected to office.

The meeting was held at the Croatian Democratic Union offices in strict
secrecy. However, afterwards Gelbard did say that a spectrum of topics were
discussed, including joint institutions and internal affairs. More
importantly, the two discussed relations between the international
community and Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

There was also talk about Jelavics recent speech in Capljina, which
angered some. Gelbard though, did not wish to say exactly what was said.

In the end, Gelbard described the meeting as diplomatically successful.

***

15. J. C., Croatian Information Centre - Sarajevo, October 23, 1998.
POLICE ARBITRARILY DETAINED TV CREW DURING ELECTIONS

SARAJEVO - The Media Expert Commission has determined that Banski Dvor
security arbitrarily detained the RTV-B&H television crew during election
weekend - effectively restricting the journalists' freedom of movement and
expression, said OSCE spokesperson Nicole Szulc yesterday.

A three-person TV-B&H crew was filming the Republika Srpska Presidential
Building in Banski Dvor on September 13, from a protected median in the
middle of the street that usually has a fence around it. Banski Dvor
security asked the crew to leave. When it did not, security detained the
crew at the local police station. The local police were inadvertently
involved in the detention because the Banski Dvor security maintain an
office in the local police station.

While investigating, the MEC observed that the police did not recognise
their actions as an arbitrary detention inconsistent with international
standards said Szulc.

"The most disturbing part of this case is that both the security and police
did not understand the gravity of detaining working journalists.
International standards protect journalists' freedom of movement and
expression and any infringement on that right is extremely grave,
particularly during a national election."

The MEC is now working with the UN IPTF Commissioner, Richard Monk, to
develop and distribute guidelines for all police officers in
Bosnia-Herzegovina, outlining media rights and police responsibilities.

The MEC investigation, which concluded on October 14, included interviews
and public statements from Republika Srpska Interior Minister Milovan
Stankovic, The RTV-BiH news crew, the Chief of the Public Security Centre,
Milan Sutilovic, and Sreto Anicic, the Chief of Security for Banski Dvor.
The MEC also took testimony from an UN-IPTF human rights investigator.

***

16. J. C., Croatian Information Centre - Sarajevo, October 23, 1998.
SHINSEKI HANDED OVER COMMAND TODAY

SARAJEVO - A Change of Command ceremony took place this morning to mark the
handover of SFOR authority from Gen. Eric Shinseki to Gen. Montgomery Meigs.

Attending the ceremony were several international community and local
officials, including NATO Secretary-General Javier Solana and SACEUR
Commander Gen. Wesley Clark.

Solana will also meet with the new B&H Presidency members today.

***


* YUGOSLAVIA

17. T.P., Croatian Information Centre - Zagreb, October 23, 1998.
RUSSIANS OPPOSE NATO ACTIVITY IN KOSOVO

MOSCOW - Russian diplomats continue to object to what they perceive as NATO
interference in affairs more appropriate for the OSCE. Russian diplomatic
sources hold that Russia will not take part in the air monitoring of Kosovo
as long as the NATO decision to put its forces on high alert for a strike
in Yugoslavia remains in force. The sources claimed that they were taken
aback by statements made by U.S. diplomats that NATO forces stationed
outside Kosovo will be available to assist in the rapid evacuation of
monitors. They pointed out that Yugoslav authorities have already agreed to
provide security for the observers and assist them with evacuation. They
emphasised that the OSCE, rather than NATO, must provide for security for
the observer mission.

***

18. T.P., Croatian Information Centre - Zagreb, October 23, 1998.
SLOVENE OFFICERS VACATIONING IN UCK

LJUBLJANA - According to reports in the largest Slovene daily Delo,
officers and ensigns of the Slovenian Army are involved in combat
operations of the Kosovo Liberation Army (UCK). The newspaper claims that
the said Slovenian citizens, employed in the Slovenian Armed Forces, also
have Yugoslav citizenship. They found their place in the UCK without the
knowledge of the Slovenian Army, during their vacation time.

***


* NEIGHBOURHOOD NEWS

19. T.P., Croatian Information Centre - Zagreb, October 23, 1998.
OPPOSITION WINS FIRST ROUND IN MACEDONIAN ELECTIONS

SKOPJE - The coalition of the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary
Organisation (VMRO-DPMNE) and the Democratic Alternative (DA) won 15 out of
the 35 legislative seats at stake in the October 18 elections, according to
the final official returns released on Wednesday. The governing Social
Democrats took 10 seats and the coalition of the two largest ethnic
Albanian parties eight. The Liberals, who represent the interests of some
members of the business community and of the ethnic Vlach population, took
two seats. Observers suggested that in the second round on November 1,
which will decide 85 seats, the opposition coalition will likely maintain
its lead and attract the support of smaller parties. The key question is
which parties, if any, will join VMRO and DA in a coalition government.







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