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PRESS CUT - Croatian Press News in English	

October 26, 1998


* CROATIA

1. WIESENTHAL WANTS PROPERTY RETURN FOR JEWS UP TO SIXTH GENERATION
2. CROATIA & IRAN SIGN CULTURAL CO-OPERATION AGREEMENT
3. WAR VETERANS INSURED CROATIAN FLAG RESPECTED
4. ARCHBISHOP BOZANIC IN PERTH
5. CROATIA RAINS GOALS ON ZAGREB
6. LEGEND OF CROATIAN TAKES OVER CROATIA BENCH
7. HOP! HOP! JANICA!

* BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

8. WAR CRIMINAL DAYS ARE NUMBERED
9. HDZ SELECTS FEDERATION PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE
10. TRAVNIK STILL HAS A LONG WAY TO GO

* YUGOSLAVIA

11. NATO CLOCK TICKING AWAY FOR MILOSEVIC
12. SERBS 'STABILISING' KOSOVO
13. DJUKANOVIC COUNTS OUT INDEPENDENCE



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***

* CROATIA

1. Goran Borkovic, Wiesenthal trazi povrat imovine Zidovima do sestog
koljena, Vjesnik, October 26, 1998, p. 5.
WIESENTHAL WANTS PROPERTY RETURN FOR JEWS UP TO SIXTH GENERATION

ZAGREB - Based on the request of Simon Wiesenthal, the European Parliament
will initiate an investigation on the Croatian law on denationalisation,
which does not recognise Jews the right of confiscated property return.

Wiesenthals request was first reported by the Jerusalem Post. European
papers picked up the issue soon after, as European countries other than
Croatia, such as Switzerland, Germany, Austria, France and Italy, have to
deal with this problem as well.

Before WW II, Jews owned 668 factories, restaurant/cafes and workshops in
Zagreb alone. Everything was confiscated in 1941 based on the racist laws
of the Independent State of Croatia (NDH). Other property like apartment
buildings, land, gold and money can be added to this long list.

Croatia attempted to solve the problem with its Law on Denationalisation,
which allows for Jews who remained in Croatia to get back their confiscated
property. However, some Jews fled to other countries to avoid Nazi
persecution, while many others were killed in WW II.

Wiesenthal is requesting everyones property be returned, regardless of
where they are now. This is associated with the debate on inheritance, as
only children have the right to inheritance according to Croatian law.
Siblings and grandchildren have no inheritance rights. On the other hand,
Jewish organisations refer to international law, being that most legal
owners and their direct descendants are dead. Many conventions that have
been adopted by the Croatian National Parliament, allow for inheritance up
to the sixth generation. Therefore, those who do have a right to the return
of their properties are scattered all over the world, probably unaware of
their rich forefathers.

To see how large the money involved is, one just has to look at the
locations where Jews had their businesses in Zagreb. For example, where
todays NAMA (large Croatian department store) stands on the main
downtown street Ilica, there used to be a department store belonging to
Kaestner & Oehler. In fact, almost all Ilica shops were owned by Jews. The
same is true for other streets in the very heart of Zagreb, including the
central Jelacic Square.

Over the last few years, European countries have been searching for a model
to return or compensate Jews for their confiscated property. The unsettled
matter of confiscated property during the NDH has been transferred to
present day Croatia, which has to find a satisfactory solution for all
interested sides.

According to Sead Tabakovic, who is in charge of the property return
process on behalf of the Jewish community in Zagreb, only three buildings
have entered the property return process and they should be returned to
their rightful owners.

***

2. Hina, Potpisan hrvatsko - iranski sporazum o kulturnoj suradnji,
Vjesnik, October 26, 1998, p. 2.
CROATIA & IRAN SIGN CULTURAL CO-OPERATION AGREEMENT

TEHERAN - On Sunday in the capital of Iran, the Croatian Minster of
Culture, Mr. Bozo Biskupic, signed a cultural, educational and scientific
co-operation agreement between the Republic of Croatia and the Islamic
Republic of Iran. This is the first such agreement between these two
countries.

The agreement was signed on behalf of the Iranians by cultural and Islamic
direction minister, Ayatollah Mohadzerani.

Minister Biskupic stated that this agreement entails the creation of a good
foundation for quality co-operation in the fields of culture, education and
science, which will contribute to, among other things, the establishment of
economic, political and other relations between Croatia and Iran. Biskupic
emphasised that Croatia considers co-operation with Iran very important,
particularly for the protection and restoration of cultural monuments.

The Croatian minister pointed out that some concrete projects have been
agreed upon with the Iranian side. One of the leading Iranian groups will
be visiting Dubrovnik and Iranian animators will be participating at the
Zagreb Festival of Animated Film. Likewise, Croatia will soon be presenting
itself with a graphics exhibit to the Teheran public.

The Iranian minister was satisfied with the agreement and stated that Iran
and Croatia had mutual cultural and historic interests and that good
relations between the two countries has existed since Iran recognised
Croatia over six years ago.

Minister Biskupic also met with the First Vice-president of Iran, Hasan
Habibi, and with the Vice-president of the Iranian Parliament, Hasan
Rouhani. He will also be visiting the cities of Siraz and Isfahan during
his stay in Iran.

***

3. T.P., Croatian Information Centre - Zagreb, October 26, 1998.
WAR VETERANS INSURED CROATIAN FLAG RESPECTED

ILOK - Two days ago in Vukovar a flag with Serbian markings was first taken
down from the Workers Hall in the Vukovar settlement of Borovo Naselje,
after which it was again raised during the intonation of the Croatian
anthem, but it was the same size and at the same height as the Croatian
flag. The participants refused to begin their congress until this was done.
The president of the Association of Croatian Defenders and Volunteers of
the Homeland War (UHBDDR), Branko Borkovic Mladi Jastreb, wrote an open
letter to the president of Croatia, Dr. Franjo Tudjman. In the letter he
informs Tudjman that the UHBDDR held their fifth congress in Vukovar, where
they "insured the Croatian flag in accordance to the Croatian Constitution
is respected
 As our president and supreme commander you can have complete
confidence in your defenders and volunteers," the letter stated.

***

4. IKA, Nadbiskup Bozanic u Perthu, Vecernji list, October 26, 1998, p. 4.
ARCHBISHOP BOZANIC IN PERTH

PERTH - The Archbishop of Zagreb, Msgr. Josip Bozanic, continued his five
week visit to Australia and New Zealand in Perth, where he met with the
Croatian Catholic mission in this western Australian city. During mass in
St. Marys Cathedral in Perth, where a large number of the Croatian
Catholic community witnessed Archbishop Bozanic administer the sacrament of
Confirmation to 39 young candidates. Today Msgr. Bozanic will be travel to
Melbourne, where he will be conducting spiritual exercises with the clergy
working in the Catholic missions in Australia and New Zealand.

***

5. T.P., Croatian Information Centre - Zagreb, October 26, 1998.
CROATIA RAINS GOALS ON ZAGREB

ZAGREB - The tenth round of the Croatian Premier Division is almost over,
as all games but one have been played. There were two derby matches played:
one in Zagreb between cross town rivals Croatia and Zagreb and the other in
the Adriatic derby between Hajduk and Zadarkomerc. The weather in Zagreb
was rainy, but that did not stop the storm of goals scored by the Croatian
champion. Mujcins hat-trick led Croatia to a 4:0 whooping of Zagreb. The
coastal derby ended in a 1:1 deadlock. Zadarkomerc took the lead with a
Krstulovic goal in the first half and Hajduk came back at 40 minute mark
with a Skoko goal from a crowd in the Zadarkomerc goal crease. Hajduk did
not manage to take advantage of being one player up from the 72nd minute,
after Spanic was rightfully ejected. Here are all the scores and the
current standings after the tenth round of action:

Osijek - Sibenik 4:0, Zadarkomerc - Hajduk 1:1, Croatia - Zagreb 4:0,
Hrvatski Dragovoljac - Rijeka 1:0, Mladost 127 - Varteks (to be played
October 27), Cibalia - Slaven Belupo 1:0.

Croatia		-1	25
Hajduk				21
Osijek				17
Rijeka			-1	16
Hrv. Dragovoljac		14
Zadarkomerc			12
Zagreb				12
Sl. Belupo			11
Varteks		-1	11
Cibalia			10
Mladost 127		-1	5
Sibenik			5

Here are the pairs for round 11 of Croatian Premier Division action to be
played October 31:

Slaven Belupo - Osijek, Varteks - Cibalia, Rijeka - Mladost 127, Zagreb -
Hrvatski Dragovoljac, Hajduk - Croatia, Sibenik - Zadarkomerc.

***

6. T.P., Croatian Information Centre - Zagreb, October 26, 1998.
LEGEND OF CROATIAN TAKES OVER CROATIA BENCH

ZAGREB - After being eliminated from Croatia Cup competition and playing
three rounds of the UEFA Champions League without scoring a single goal,
the management of Croatia decided it was time to sack coach Zlatko Cico
Kranjcar. The new coach is legendary Dinamo captain Velimir Zeko Zajec.
This continues Croatias series of having former Dinamo greats at their
helm, as Kranjcar also took over from Marijan Vlak, who is currently
coaching in Slaven Belupo. Zeko will take over the Croatia bench as of
Monday and hopes to have better results in the Champions League, but is
realistic and does not expect miracles.

In any case, something had to change and it did: Viduka was sold to Glasgow
Celtic and Zajec was named the new coach. Also, lets not to forget that
Croatian international Adrian Kozniku has signed a preliminary contract
with Croatia. All of this should shake up Croatias ranks and hopefully
produce better results, both in the Croatian league and the Champions League.

***

7. T.P., Croatian Information Centre - Zagreb, October 26, 1998.
HOP! HOP! JANICA!

SOELDEN - "HOP! HOP! HOP!" is the traditional cheer fans yell out at skiers
racing for world cup points. The skiing season opened this passed weekend
in Soelden, Austria, with the mens and ladies giant slalom. The Croatian
men did not do that well, but a real surprise happened among the ladies! In
her second career race, Zagrebs own Janica Kostelic finished a spectacular
12th place. In fact, her good finish was so unexpected that the U.S.
satellite news television station, CNN, announced she was from Slovenia. In
the first race, starting 54th, Janica finished 21st. In her second run she
was 4th, placing her 12th overall. She will not travel to the next few
races in the white circus of North America, but expects to race her heart
out at the true beginning of the European skiing season in Val d Isere in
December.

***


* BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

8. J.C., Croatian information centre - Sarajevo, October 26, 1998.
WAR CRIMINAL DAYS ARE NUMBERED

SARAJEVO - Continuing the war by other means will soon end said Gen. Erik
Shinseki at the SFOR Change of Command ceremony Friday.

"Your days are numbered," said Shinseki to those in Bosnia and Herzegovina
who would prefer not to see peace. He added that he will remember B&H with
a little unease.

"We let some of you obstruct a quicker return to a normal life, as well as
the return of refugees, which the signatories of Dayton agreed to on behalf
of the people of B&H," he explained.

After 15 months of service, Shinseki handed over SFOR command to Gen.
Montgomery Meigs. This is Meigs second time tour of service in B&H. The
first time, he commanded Multinational Division North.

Also present at the ceremony were NATO European Commander Wesley Clark and
NATO Deputy Secretary General Sergio Balanzino.

After Shinseki handed over the SFOR flag to Meigs, Balancino presented
Shinseki with a NATO service medal.

Meanwhile, Clark congratulated Shinseki on a job well done. He also said
that 40 percent of indicted war criminals are in the Hague awaiting trial
largely thanks to SFOR. As for B&H itself, Clark stated that "Bosnia and
Herzegovina is at a crossroads, because the road to democracy is in its
hands."

Clark also spoke about the outstanding issue of Gen. Stanko Sopta. Shinseki
demanded that Sopta be discharged from the Croatian Defence Council (HVO)
of the B&H Federation Army by October 1, for insubordination and
involvement in the recent elections. This, however, did not happen and
there were reports that Sopta would join the Croatian Army.

"I spoke to Croatian President Tudjman about the matter and we came to a
satisfactory conclusion," said Clark. "More about this will be discussed
with Ante Jelavic (Croatian B&H Presidency member), so that all sides have
a chance to comment."

***

9. J.C., Croatian information centre - Sarajevo, October 26, 1998.
HDZ SELECTS FEDERATION PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE

JAJCE - The Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) of B&H has decided to propose
Ivo Andric Luzanski be the next president of the B&H Federation.

Additionally, the HDZ head council will also nominate Dragan Covic as
deputy prime minister and minister of finance, again for the Federation.
Stjepan Mikic will be B&H Presidency member Ante Jelavics chief of staff.
However, not all other ministerial nominees and governmental positions were
decided at Saturdays meeting.

The HDZ B&H confirmed its representatives in the Federation House of
Peoples, as well as its nominees for municipal functions at the county level.

The party has also decided to respect High Representative Carlos
Westendorps request that government officials who were removed from office
not be given new governmental duties. However, the HDZ B&H is against
synchronising the entity constitutions with the national one, claiming that
would go against the Dayton accords. Furthermore, the HDZ B&H contends that
political matters should not be dealt with in the courts anyway.

The HDZ has also decided to support the memorandum on reconstruction the
Radio and Television B&H, i.e. that two national channels be created and
that at least two programs from Croatias state television be broadcast.

***

10. J.C., Croatian information centre - Sarajevo, October 26, 1998
TRAVNIK STILL HAS A LONG WAY TO GO

TRAVNIK - Things in Travnik County are quieting down, it seems. It was
declared an open city by the UNHCR two weeks ago and the regular
interethnic squabbles, blockage of effective functioning of the joint
police force and problems Croatian returnees face there are decreasing.

Deputy High Representative Hanns Schumacher has cited several changes: the
B&H secret service (AID) has moved out of the police station, the Catholic
School Centre has opened in the archdiocese high school and Croats are
beginning to return to the village in the Bukovica area.

The OHR office and the UNHCR have also promised to keep monitoring the
situation, particularly the work of the county government. They also
contend that more illegal tenants have been evicted in Travink than
anywhere else in the Central Bosnia County, even more than in the whole of
the Serbian entity, Republika Srpska.

Tomislav Rajic, however, is not impressed. Rajic is the chairperson of the
county council in exile. He signed the open city certificate along with
Besim Halilovic, Travnik mayor, and admits that there are daily evictions
of illegal tenants. But, that does not mean only displaced people or
refugees are coming back. A portion of those apartments belong to people
who never left Travnik.

So far, 3,500 Croats have returned to Travnik. Without downplaying the
positive developments that have happened recently, Rajic emphasises that
the return has not been nearly as quick as was foreseen by the agreement
signed last May between Croatian and Bosniak representatives with the help
of international mediator Christian Schwarz Schilling. Specifically, some
10,000 more Croats and 7,000 Serbs are supposed to return to Travnik.
Unfortunately, because support to return is low, many are selling their
properties and leaving to live in other parts of the country, Croatia or
some third country.

Rajic also criticises the county government for not including Croats in
their decisions. In Croatian villages, such as Guca Gora, parcels of land
have been handed out for construction, without consultation of those who
own property there.

***


* YUGOSLAVIA

11. T. P., Croatian Information Centre - Zagreb, October 26, 1998.
NATO CLOCK TICKING AWAY FOR MILOSEVIC

BELGRADE, BRUSSELS, WASHINGTON - Marathon talks between the Balkan
Butcher and NATO officials were held Saturday, Sunday and it is expected
that today will be no exception. The NATO ACTORD is to expire tomorrow at
6:00 (CET), unless something changes. NATO European Commander Gen. Wesley
Clark refused to comment the results of his Sunday talks with Milosevic.

Meanwhile, the UN Security Council adopted a new resolution on Kosovo,
where it is expected Belgrade completely co-operates with the OSCE mission
in Kosovo and NATO, which also applies to the Kosovo Albanians. The
resolution was adopted despite abstinence from voting by Russia and China,
reminding Serbia that part of the deal with the international community
also included the return of all refugees to their homes and complete
co-operation with the ICTY.

"Serbia has withdrawn some units from Kosovo, but that is hardly enough
considering the obligations it has to fulfil by Tuesday," stated US
Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. She also mentioned that NATO air
strikes would be considered if the international community is not satisfied
with the situation in the field. Kosovo Albanian leader Ibrahim Rugova
commented on the latest UN SC resolution by saying that it is a
disappointment to Kosovo Albanians and fears it will not contribute much to
change the situation in the field.

***

12. T. P., Croatian Information Centre - Zagreb, October 26, 1998.
SERBS 'STABILISING' KOSOVO

PRISTINA, BELGRADE - According to Reuters reports, "Large numbers of troops
and police have not budged" from Kosovo, in spite of Serbian claims that
Belgrade has withdrawn its forces. The US Ambassador to Macedonia,
Christopher Hill, who is Washington's chief envoy to Kosovo, stated "we're
not satisfied with the level of compliance." An unidentified diplomat added
that "we definitely still see a large paramilitary police presence as well
as a Yugoslav army one." On the other hand, the pro-government daily
Vecernje novosti wrote that Belgrade has kept its word to withdraw, but
added that Serbian forces are still "securing settlements that have been
Albanian terrorist strongholds and will continue to do so until the
situation is completely stabilised." In Pristina, shadow state President
Ibrahim Rugova stated that Serbian troops have still not withdrawn form
Kosovo as per the Milosevic - Holbrooke agreement, adding that NATO should
maintain its threat of air strikes and keep up the pressure on the Belgrade
government."

***

13. T. P., Croatian Information Centre - Zagreb, October 26, 1998.
DJUKANOVIC COUNTS OUT INDEPENDENCE

PODGORICA - Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic stated that Montenegro is
best off by remaining in the Yugoslav federation. He added that to declare
independence would open the small mountainous republic to "numerous
internal problems and the ambitions of its neighbours". Djukanovic
emphasised that Yugoslavia has a change in policies masterminded by
President Slobodan Milosevic. Djukanovic describes Milosevics methods and
policies as undemocratic and detrimental to Montenegro's political and
economic interests.







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