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PRESS CUT - Croatian Press News in English	

September 24, 1998


* CROATIA

1. NO MORE INSURANCE GREEN CARD NEEDED TO DRIVE TO EU COUNTRIES
2. PHARE PROGRAM TO BE UNFROZEN
3. I DONT KNOW WHAT POSITION SAKIC HAD
4. BLASKIC CASE: TELEGRAM OF SUPPORT
5. HEBRANG: NEW TIMES CALL FOR NEW PEOPLE
6. POPE IS A MOUSE CLICK AWAY!
7. CIBONA BEGINS ITS EUROLEAGUE COMPETITION AGAINST RED STAR FROM BELGRADE
8. CROATIA BEGINS ITS WORLD HANDBALL CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFICATIONS

* BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

9. SFOR AND ICTY TAKE VITEZ CITY HALL
10. ELECTION RESULTS TOMORROW
 MAYBE
11. VITEZ RESIDENTS BLOCKADE BROUGHT DOWN
12. SEARCHERS DISAPPOINTED - NO HARD EVIDENCE TAKEN
13. ICTY EXERCISE - SUPERFLUOUS AND UNNECESSARY
14. FOLEY: FORMULA FOR SEAT ALLOCATION COMPLICATED
15. CONTACT GROUP TO MEET IN LONDON NEXT WEEK
16. TERRORISM AND CRIME GIVEN GREEN LIGHT IN CENTRAL BOSNIA

* YUGOSLAVIA

17. UN RESOLUTION ALLOWS FOR USE OF FORCE IN KOSOVO
18. YUGOSLAV & SERBIAN OFFICIALS DEFIANT
19. SKOPJE OFFICIAL SAYS UCK IN MACEDONIA
20. AIR STRIKES OR PEACE MAKING FORCES?
21. TIGHTER BORDER CONTROL IN SLOVENIA



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* CROATIA

1. R.Iv., Od iduce godine u zemlje EU-a bez zelene karte, Vecernji list,
September 24, 1998, p. 3.
NO MORE INSURANCE GREEN CARD NEEDED TO DRIVE TO EU COUNTRIES

ZAGREB - Drivers with Croatian license plates will no longer need to show
their green insurance cards to cross the borders of Hungary, the Czech
Republic, Slovenia, Switzerland and European Union members as of January 1,
1999. This is because the Croatian Insurance Office (HUO) has been accepted
into the Multilateral Guarantee Agreement (MGA), i.e. the international
insurance system of the EU, as announced during an HUO press conference
yesterday.

This also means that the signatory countries of the MGA will not need green
cards to cross Croatian borders either. According to the MGA, license
plates from signatory countries are enough to prove the existence of
automobile accident insurance, and all claims are guaranteed by the
national insurance offices.

"In an insurance sense, Croatias acceptance into the system of cancelling
green card controls is akin to it being accepted into the European Union."
said Marijan Curkovic, president of the HUO Administration Board. "I am
convinced the cancelling of green card controls at the entrances to Croatia
countries will help our tourism, especially in decreasing the crowds at
borders."

HUO admittance into this system is a tribute to Croatian insurance
companies, saying they have been upholding their obligations toward foreign
insurance partners.

"It should be stressed that as of the beginning of 1999, our drivers will
no longer have to have their green cards checked when entering the EU,
Slovenia, Hungary, Czech Republic and Switzerland. But that does not mean
the green card itself, which we will continue to issue our drivers, will no
longer be needed," said Curkovic. "This is why we recommend drivers take
their green cards with them when going to these countries to avoid any
unnecessary hassles in case of an accident. Namely, if there should be an
accident, it might happen that local police might check the registration
and insurance of the vehicle, even if they should not be doing so."

Cancelling the control of green cards for foreign vehicles from MGA member
countries entering Croatia should additionally make our drivers happier,
because there will no longer be problems getting payment for accidents
caused by foreigners. That is to say that if an accident is caused by a
foreign driver who does not have a green card, his car will be considered
uninsured in Croatia up to January 1, 1999, hence such drivers, until that
date, do not have to pay for damages through their insurance.

***

2. Vladimir Goss, Odmrzavanje programa PHARE, September 24, 1998, p. 12.
PHARE PROGRAM TO BE UNFROZEN

NEW YORK - The Vice-president of the Government and Minister for Foreign
Affairs of the Republic of Croatia, Mate Granic, had a number of bilateral
meetings yesterday in New York. Granic is there to participate in the
fifty-third session of the United Nations General Assembly,.

Granic met with representatives of neighbouring countries, such as Zivadin
Jovanovic, the Foreign Minister of FR Yugoslavia. Granic emphasised that
the normalisation of relations is progressing and the most important
matters, such as Prevlaka, border marking and succession, are being
approached.

There were also meetings with a series of European Union ministers related
to Croatia coming closer to the EU. The key questions were the EU presence
at the Donors Conference for Development and the unfreezing of the PHARE
Program. There was talk of the implementation of the Return and Welfare
Plan for Displaced Persons, Refugees and Migrants, as well as interest in
the HRT (state television) and election laws.

Granic said there will be series of meetings with ministers of Security
Council members, that is, China and Russia. Of particular importance is the
Monday meeting with US State Secretary Madeleine Albright, especially in
regards to the Dayton Accords. Talks with ministers Kinkel and Schuessel
(Germany and Austria) will relate to Croatian integration in the EU.

The theme of global economic crises was also a discussed at these meetings,
especially with the Chinese minister of external affairs. No country is
immune, including Croatia. For Croatia this means a firm banking and
general economic system, concluded Granic.

***

3. A.F., Tkalec: Ne znam koja je bila Sakiceva funkcija, Vjesnik,
September 24, 1998, p. 5.
I DONT KNOW WHAT POSITION SAKIC HAD

ZAGREB - In the investigative procedure against Dinko Sakic, witness
Dragutin Tkalec gave his testimony yesterday. Tkalec is a senior citizen
who worked in the Zagreb City Hall from 1939 to 1947. Tkalec did  not have
any particular knowledge of Sakic, except that he had various positions
between 1942 and 1944 at prison camp, but he did not know what these
positions were.

Tkalec was not in prison camp, but he said he knew the commander of the
prison camp on Savska Street (Zagreb), whence he received information about
a prison camp.

Further information was obtained by Tkalec from his sister, Stefica, who
was the personal secretary of Dr. Macek, who told him the actual reason for
prison camps was to clear the field of rebels against the Independent State
of Croatia (NDH).

***

4. Hina, Brzojav i prilog obrani, Vecernji list, September 24, 1998, p. 6.
BLASKIC CASE: TELEGRAM OF SUPPORT

THE HAGUE - At the trial against HVO Gen. Tihomir Blaskic, defence attorney
Anto Nobilo introduced into evidence the diary of an Ahmici resident
yesterday.

An entry for April 11, 1993, states a telegram arrived directing the B&H
Army to enter "first degree battle readiness".

Yesterday was also the last day of Col. Ivan Zekos testimony, who said he
never saw the diary, but knows the HVO deciphered a telegram for the B&H
Army Third Corpus on April 10 with the above content.

The defence emphasised that this proves that the five days before conflict
in the Lasva valley broke out the "B&H Army was in a state of battle
readiness." Meanwhile, the prosecution contended the HVO attacked the
completely unprepared B&H Army.

***

5. Goranka Juresko, Hebrang: Ustrajavam na promjenama dvaju mojih
pomocnika, jer novo vrijeme trazi nove ljude, Vjesnik, September 24, 1998,
p. 7.
HEBRANG: NEW TIMES CALL FOR NEW PEOPLE

ZAGREB - The following is an excerpt from an interview with Croatian
Defence Minister Dr. Andrija Hebrang.

A resignation waiting in the drawer of Defence Minister Andrija Hebrang

not seeing eye to eye with President Franjo Tudjman
 internal party power
struggles
 allegations he is Americas man
 These are all Croatian
tabloid stories from the past three months, but Minister Hebrang has not
issued a single disclaimer, interview, or even a statement. Of course, this
has let imaginations run even more wildly. Finally, after three months of
silence, he is speaking out on what has been and what will be in the
Defence Ministry, army headquarters and in internal HDZ [Croatian
Democratic Union] relations.

� Why was the silence of the defence minister so long-lasting, in spite of
the fact that the public has been impatiently waiting for answers?

There is not a single defence minister in the world who makes regular
appearances like a minister of foreign affairs or minister of health. This
is because there is much more work to be done in the defence ministry, and
much of it is not for public consumption. After taking up my position, I
have given two interviews and made plans, which I said clearly before the
Croatian National Parliament when they voted in my favour. I think there
was no call for a lot of talking, rather there was a lot of work to be
done. Now it is time to present some first successful steps. In other
words, I will speak when at least a part of what has been planned is
achieved, hence this period of silence, as far as I am concerned, has been
completely justified.

� Still there were some articles in the press, public talk and questions
for which an answer from you was expected. That did not happen. Why?

Over these past five months, I have had so much work to do that I did not
have time to follow the press, much less react to their writing.

� The public did want to know the truth about your alleged resignation and
decision not to tender it?

When a project is being implemented, one also has the right to resign or be
replaced. I took over the Defence Ministry at a crucial moment: when it was
the most successful Croatian ministry because it won a war. After its
wartime organisation, the Defence Ministry had to transform into a
peacetime organisation. The Defence Ministry was under constant political
scrutiny, unfortunately not only from the friends of Croatia and its Army.
The problem is multileveled and it has to be solved in a way that above all
ensures the Croatian Army keeps its dignity. However, that is not a simple
task, as many are trying to frame this most sensitive state sector, thus
attempting to cause an unravelling of Croatian policies. Naturally, this
cannot be permitted, because the Croatian Army is being guarded by the
watchful eye of its supreme commander, defence minister and headquarters
commander. In this kind of organisation, the supreme commander determines
policy, organisation and all other events in the armed forces; while we who
implement these policies (defence minister and headquarters commander) are
often subject to attacks. I am aware of the fact that to uphold state
policies also means that the entire Croatian Army organisation has to
gradually and wisely be changed.

� Are you not limited by the fact that during this reorganisation you are
not able to appoint or replace personnel?

I have to make it clear that I have the support of the president of this
country and the supreme commander of the armed forces, who gave his
approval for the reorganisation plan. This is why I decided to begin its
execution, for which I did not only set the methods of changes, but also
set deadlines for them. It can not be expected that all colleagues will get
used to the new way of working and the deadlines. This is why, during the
first three months of my new duties, I took an inventory of the
personnel, and proposed the president make some changes. Of course, the
defence minister proposes and the president of the Republic of Croatia
makes the decisions. These changes can be neither sudden nor forced, rather
they have to be gradual. Time does not mean much at the moment. It is far
more necessary to implement the program that has been set. Still, it should
be stressed that I will remain steadfast in my demands and nothing will
make me retract them, because the personnel changes are directed towards
fulfilling the set plans.

� What has been done during your five-month mandate in the Ministry of
Defence?

Along with my colleagues, I tried to implement as much as possible from my
proposed program over these first five months. We performed a complete
analysis of the situation in both the ministry and Croatian Army HQ. We
established a program, brought it into synch with material and political
capabilities, and began to carry it out. To be concrete, in the first five
months we put together a financial plan for this year and re-balanced the
funding of all parts of the Defence Ministry and Croatian Army HQ. We paid
all ministry debts up to 1998. This is very important because I want this
ministry to be exemplary in all ways, as it has been from its establishment
and during the Homeland War. Aside from that, we created a development plan
in accordance to financial possibilities and technical needs of the
profession, and began to work on a five-year plan.

� Listening to your reconciling tone, it can only be said that there seems
to be an idyllic state in the HDZ. Is the situation idyllic or not?

An idyllic situation is present in the HDZ in the sense of a joint fight
for the best possible quality Croatian state. However, to expect an idyllic
situation in a large political party like the HDZ can only be the thoughts
of a naive politician and person. When a party gathers so many people, like
the HDZ did for creating the Croatian state, there will be differences of
opinion the moment the time comes for choosing the directions. However,
these differences are smaller than in other far smaller parties. There is
absolutely no danger that these differences would lead to a rift in the
party, as there have been in other parties, which are not essential for the
survival of the HDZ or for the viewpoint on Croatia.

� Are they important for one to keep his or her position?

A conflict of interests in politics is a motive and mover as far a I am
concerned. If there is positive competition, then they should be supported
and motivated.

� What if accusation and ordered texts are in question?

Then there be condemnation of such actions. If it is proven that the
Croatian Intelligence Service (SIS) was working against certain officials
of the HDZ, rest assured there will be an investigation.

� Can an SIS investigation prove anything, taking into account that it
would be conducted by those who allegedly took part in such dirty work?
Namely, over these last few days a former SIS employee publicly said that
there were some illegal things happening there.

There is no danger to the work of the service as a whole, because the
entire SIS certainly did not take part in such activities. It is clear that
in every intelligence service there could be some people of varying
outlooks of the world, and that they try to use their positions to
discredit others. Of course, such individuals will be removed from their
jobs. However, one must not come to the wrong conclusions on the entire SIS
because of certain individuals. In so far as an organisation like that
would become a means in the hands of one person or interest groups, then
very energetic steps should be taken to change the situation. However,
proof is needed for such allegations, rather than false accusations and
deep analysis.

� What is your relationship like with President Dr. Franjo Tudjman, as in
the last while it has been said that you argue with each other more than
co-operate?

My relationship with him has always been the same - he is the president and
my superior - hence my relationship can only be as it would be with a
superior. Moreover, ministry his authority is greater than in others in
this state and this is a place where strict adherence to rank is necessary
for the system to function. On the other hand, if the question is meant to
inquire whether I have a different vision than the president, then it
should be said that the defence minister can make proposals. If his
proposal is not accepted, he will change his train of thought and
concentrate on something else. What I support is a high level of
discipline, respect and nurturing the tradition of the Croatian Army in the
Homeland War and this image must not be compromised.

� Apparently your political career has been rocked, as President Tudjman
holds it against you that you are an American man?

Andrija Hebrang is just as much an American man as he is Russian or
Albanian. If he had wanted to be anybodys man, he could have had a much
more comfortable life than the one he had and has. Andrija Hebrang has only
one goal in life: to be and stay a Croatian man, and support the policies
that guarantee Croatian survival, as well as its development into a country
of rights, democracy, and a member of Europe and the world. Croatian policy
has to be constant, while taking into account the interests of world
superpowers. However, it is good to accept those goals of global politics
that are in synch with our own. Of course, there is a big difference in the
dynamics of achieving this process and in the methods to get there. I feel
we are the ones who have to subordinate the dynamics of change and to
determine the goals of our destiny. In that context, all reflection on
Hebrang as an American man or anyone elses man are a figment of peoples
imaginations.

� Will Andrija Hebrang continue to be the Croatian Defence Minister?

Whether or not Andrija Hebrang remains defence minister depends of the
President of the Republic of Croatia, Dr. Franjo Tudjman, who appointed him
to that position. It depends on Andrija Hebrang and his estimates as to
whether his plan is being implemented as he promised in the Croatian
National Parliament and to the Croatian people. If either of these two
components is missing, then I will no longer be the minister of defence.

***

6. T.P., Croatian Information Centre - Zagreb, September 24, 1998.
POPE IS A MOUSE CLICK AWAY!

ZAGREB - Over 15,000 people have accessed the Internet pages dedicated to
the Papal visit October 2 - 4 to Croatia in the last twenty days.

The addresses of the pages are www.papa.hr (Croatian language) and
www.pope.hr (English language). Three organisation have joined forces to
create Internet pages full of insight and information on this second visit
of the Pope to a country that is less than a decade old, though Croatians
have been a nation since the seventh century. The Croatian Bishops
Conference, CARnet and the Croatian Information Centre have put their heads
together and are working hard to allow an average of 1,500 people from 50
countries to surf the Pope every day.

What can be found on the Papanet? To start with, all the details of the
complete program of the three day Papal visit to Croatia, including the
schedule for Eucharistic celebrations and where the Pope will be and when.
There are daily news updates from sources, including HINA and IKA (Catholic
Information Agency), as well as up to date and precise instructions on how
to get where you want to get to celebrate mass with Pope John Paul II.

Aside from anything and everything about the Papal visit, the Papanet
also includes facts and details about the life and times of Cardinal
Alojzije Stepinac, as well as biographic details about the Pope himself.
During the visit, the Pope will be beatifying Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac at
the Shrine of the Virgin Mary in Marija Bistrica. There is also a full
length feature film produced by Jakov Sedlar about Cardinal Alojzije
Stepinac, not to mention numerous links which will take the surfer to
more places about anything to do with the Papal visit, beatification of
Cardinal Stepinac, as well as general facts and news about Croatia on the
Croatian Information Centre pages (www.hic.hr).

***

7. T.P., Croatian Information Centre - Zagreb, September 24, 1998.
CIBONA BEGINS ITS EUROLEAGUE COMPETITION AGAINST RED STAR FROM BELGRADE

BELGRADE, ZAGREB - Tonight will mark the first post-war match up between
two top teams from Zagreb and Belgrade in top level sports. Red Star from
Belgrade will play host to Zagrebs Cibona in their first game in the
basketball Euroleague in the B Group. At first glance, this will seem to
promise a Serbian hell for Cibona, but this is not so, in fact Cibona has
the advantage, as Red Star will have no supporters because of their penalty
from FIBA from last years incident with a referee during an international
game. The game will tip off at 20:30 (CET).

***

8. T.P., Croatian Information Centre - Zagreb, September 24, 1998.
CROATIA BEGINS ITS WORLD HANDBALL CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFICATIONS

KARLOVAC - Tonight at 18:00 (CET) in Karlovac, Croatia will be playing its
first game of the first round of qualification play for the 1999 Mens
World Handball Championship in Egypt. Their opponents will be the very
strong Bjelorus national team. The referees of the game will be the very
well known Hungarian referees Jeno Klusco and Tivadar Lekrinski.

***


* BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

9. J.C., Croatian Information Centre - Sarajevo, September 24, 1998.
SFOR AND ICTY TAKE VITEZ CITY HALL

VITEZ - SFOR soldiers blocked the entrance to Vitez City Hall and the
Travnik Department of Defence (also in Vitez) yesterday morning.

SFOR explained its actions with a leaflet stating the following: "ICTY
officials are on the premises to collect evidence related to people
indicted for war crimes. Evidence collection is important to the fair trial
of those accused."

The leaflet also cautions citizens to not disturb investigators, as well as
reminding them that ICTY work is a part of Dayton and that SFOR will do all
that is necessary to help the ICTYs work.

***

10. J.C., Croatian Information Centre  - Sarajevo, September 24, 1998.
ELECTION RESULTS TOMORROW
 MAYBE

SARAJEVO - There has been another delay in announcing election results and
this time no one is sure when they will be announced.

"There might be a press conference (to announce election results) tomorrow,
or there might not," said the OSCE today.

According to previous OSCE announcements, results were expected Wednesday
or Thursday. However, because of a computer network problem, they were
delayed to Friday. Now, they may not even be announced then. OSCE
Spokesperson Nicole Szulc says the problem is related to power failures
that naturally disabled computers. When computers lose power, they also
lose data. There have been several power failures in the last while, says
Szulc, so that slowed down verification of tendered ballots, seeing as so
much data had to be re-entered. This, in turn, slowed down the counting as
a whole.

The election result announcements are not really off schedule. Since polls
were opened, the OSCE has been saying final results would be announced some
10 to 12 days after the polls closed.

The frustration is in the unsurity, which seems to be increasing. However,
there isnt much anyone can do, but wait.

***

11. J.C., Croatian Information Centre  Sarajevo, September 24, 1998.
VITEZ RESIDENTS BLOCKADE BROUGHT DOWN

VITEZ - Residents of the village of Gacice listened yesterday, as OHR
officials tried to convince them that Croat refugees and displaced people
will be able to return to the Bukovica and Brajkovice villages. The OHR
visit followed the Tuesday removal of a two-day blockade erected by residents.

"Deputy High Representative Hans Schumacher is carefully keeping his eye on
the area and the idea that a conference on return in Central Bosnia be
organised," stated Gerald Knaus of the OHR after a meeting with Gacice
representatives, as well as county and B&H Federation officials. "What we
need now is patience from refugees and local governments."

Gacice residents put up the blockade Monday morning to protest several
things, including the return of 25 Bosniak Moslem returnees September 8.
Furthermore, residents are dissatisfied with an agreement for the return of
35 Croat families in the Travnik village of Bukovica, which should take
place on October 10. Additionally, they insist that they be assured fresh
drinking water, as promised on September 7. Finally, they want seven
Bosniaks whom they claim committed atrocities against local Croats to be
prohibited from returning.

"The international community will not be belittled by the protesters
actions," stated Jason Taylor of the Reconstruction and Return Task Force.
"Municipal and cantonal governments are responsible for ensuring safety and
they will be responsible for their actions. Moreover, we are confident that
those 36 families will be able to return to Bukovica by October 10."

As for Bosniaks and Croats in Gacice, Taylor said the RRTF is confident
that work to the waterworks are taking place and that other help is also
being offered. Furthermore, work will go faster if the residents co-operate
with the RRTF instead of putting up barricades.

Meanwhile, Vitez Mayor Ivo Garic said entry and exit into the village must
be arranged. This means that the 25 Bosniak families can stay and that
workers and visitors must register their coming and going during the day
and leave at night after work is finished. "This is something the IPTF and
local police must control." Garic also said that he is not responsible for
the list of seven undesirables mentioned earlier.

"We agreed that a list of people who would arouse too much tension not
return in the first phases. Instead, people who would most likely have less
problems coming back should be first," said Garic. "I think this is
reasonable, as those people would help create a climate for others to return.

***

12. Croatian Radio Herceg-Bosna, News at 21.00, September 23, 1998.
SEARCHERS DISAPPOINTED - NO HARD EVIDENCE TAKEN

MOSTAR - After a several hour search of the HVO building in Mostar the
investigators of the International Tribunal in the Hague (ICTY) removed 4
boxes of materials, one computer and a map from the building. The
investigators of the ICTY did not wish to comment todays search. Similar
activities were conducted in the Defence Administration Office in Siroki
Brijeg. According to eyewitnesses, the court investigators from the Hague
arrived unannounced at 8:30 (CET) and instead of the leaving the HVO
building at 13:00 (CET), they left at 14:45, after conducting a six hour
search. Eyewitnesses claim the investigators had left the HVO building
"disappointed" and without "hard evidence". The ICTY investigators were
accompanied by special SFOR forces during the whole time of the search.

***

13. Croatian Radio Herceg-Bosna, News at 21.00, September 23, 1998.
ICTY EXERCISE - SUPERFLUOUS AND UNNECESSARY

On the basis of the court order issued by the International Criminal
Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, representatives of the ICTY assisted by
strong SFOR forces had conducted an unannounced search of several buildings
on the territory of the Federation belonging to the Federal Defence Ministry.
The above mentioned searches were conducted in the former Croatian Republic
of Herceg-Bosna Defence Ministry building, the Travnik Defence
Administration Building, the Vitez and Siroki Brijeg defence administration
offices, whereby the representatives from the Tribunal confiscated certain
equipment and documentation.

We believe that todays exercise was superfluous and unnecessary, as the
Federal Defence Ministry is, as it has proven on countless occasions, open
to co-operation and prepared to implement its duties specified by the
Dayton Peace Accord, was stated in a Ministry of Defence of the B&H
Federation press release issued on the occasion of the ICTY unannounced
spot searches.

***

14. Croatian Radio Herceg-Bosna, News at 21.00, September 23, 1998.
FOLEY: FORMULA FOR SEAT ALLOCATION COMPLICATED

SARAJEVO - The results of the general elections, which were held in B&H on
September 12 and 13, will be announced tomorrow, the spokesperson for the
OSCE mission in Sarajevo, Dardan Gashi, said in a statement released to
HINA. Although the official election results have been eagerly anticipated
for the past ten days, the information to be released tomorrow will only
relate to the total votes won by the parties and candidates, but not the
number of representatives or seats won in the state and entity parliaments.
This information is expected to be released after the Interim Elections
Committee officials confirms the regularity and results of this years
elections.

At a press conference in Mostar, David Foley, the Head of the Regional OSCE
Office in Mostar, said that the parties will have a 72 hour period for
appeals after the counting is completed. The Election Sub-committee will
consider all appeals and the final results will be confirmed by the
official sub-committee. As Foley stressed, the formula for the allocation
of seats will be very complicated.

"The High Representative will fully accept the democratically elected
leaders, under the condition that they adhere to their promises, above all
and to the total implementation of the Dayton Peace Accord," stated Sir
Martin Garrod, the Head of the Regional OHR Office in Mostar.

***

15. Croatian Radio Herceg-Bosna, News at 21.00, September 23, 1998.
CONTACT GROUP TO MEET IN LONDON NEXT WEEK

LONDON - Members of the International Contact Group will be meeting in
London next week in order to discuss the results of the B&H elections,
according to Reuters. The meeting, which will be attended by
representatives from the USA, Great Britain, Germany, Italy, France and
Russia, is expected to be held October 1. Members of the Contact Group will
discuss the election results in B&H, which are expected this week and
consider the post-election strategy which is to be implemented by the
international community.

***

16. Croatian Radio Herceg-Bosna, News at 21.00, September 23, 1998.
TERRORISM AND CRIME GIVEN GREEN LIGHT IN CENTRAL BOSNIA

TRAVNIK - Unless serious legal steps are not taken on the national level
concerning the normalisation of the security situation in the Central
Bosnian County, the recent series of very serious crimes could continue and
reach dramatic proportions. This is part of Todays New Croat Initiative
(NHI) press release.

Such an assessment, the press release states, is confirmed by last weeks
events: Igor Sikiric and Mario Prusac were killed in Nova Bila and
Busovaca, the magistrate court judge, Mirjana Grubesic, was physically
abused during a crime scene investigation in Busovaca, an explosive device
was detonated in Uskoplje, the family home of police inspector Niko Papic
was attacked in Nova Bila, a petrol station was robbed, Franjo Livancic was
mugged in Vitez and vehicles from the international community, particularly
from the UNHCR, are constantly being stolen. After a series of murders of
Croatian returnees in Travnik, for which the perpetrators are still unknown
and particularly the murder of two Croat police officers in that city,
organised terrorism and crime have been given the green light by the
citizens and have become an everyday thing, the NHI press release concludes.

***


* YUGOSLAVIA

17. T.P., Croatian Information Centre - Zagreb, September 24, 1998.
UN RESOLUTION ALLOWS FOR USE OF FORCE IN KOSOVO

NEW YORK - Yesterday, the United Nations Security Council adopted a
resolution on Kosovo, where the use of force is sanctioned, in as much as
regional security is threatened. The resolution was supported by 14 out of
15 SC members, including Russia. China decided to abstain from the voting.
According to Article 7 of the UN Charter, member countries may use force in
so far as there is a threat to regional peace and security. This resolution
is meant to up the pressure against Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic,
who continues to readily earn his nickname of the Balkan butcher, as his
police action in Kosovo continues to claim lives and cause an ever more
serious situation with refugees and displaced persons in the region. The
resolution also foresees the possibility the "Council will examine further
measures to take for keeping the peace and stability in the region" if no
political solution can be found.

***

18. T.P., Croatian Information Centre - Zagreb, September 24, 1998.
YUGOSLAV & SERBIAN OFFICIALS DEFIANT

BELGRADE, NEW YORK -  Yugoslav Foreign Minister Zivadin Jovanovic described
the UN resolution as "groundless" and "counterproductive," according to
Tanjug reports. Jovanovic said the crisis in Kosovo cannot be settled "with
force." Serbian President Milan Milutinovic stated in Pristina that
"terrorists and their foreign helpers and supporters are mistaken if they
believe that they can violate the integrity of our country without having
to suffer the consequences." He said the Yugoslav army has acted
"honourably, responsibly, and professionally." Milutinovic also accused
Albania of training and arming terrorists to fight in Kosovo. Meanwhile,
heavy fighting continues in Kosovo's central Drenica region and in the
northwest of the province. Both sides reported casualties, although numbers
were unconfirmed by independent sources.

***

19. T.P., Croatian Information Centre - Zagreb, September 24, 1998.
SKOPJE OFFICIAL SAYS UCK IN MACEDONIA

SKOPJE - Head of Macedonian intelligence Vlado Popovski stated that there
are members of the Kosovo Liberation Army (UCK) in Macedonia. According to
AFP, Popovski admitted the UCK has an "infrastructure in Macedonia," but
that he does not think it will be active, as "the situation in this country
is much better than in Kosovo or Albania." He added that ethnic Albanian
parties take part in the civic and political institutions of Macedonia.
Popovski pointed out the greatest threat to Macedonia would be posed by the
smuggling of weapons into the country from Albania or a large influx of
ethnic Albanian refugees from Kosovo.

***

20. R.I., Zracni udari ili mirovne snage, Vecernji list, September 24,
1998, p. 12.
AIR STRIKES OR PEACE MAKING FORCES?

WASHINGTON - The United States is putting a lot of pressure on their NATO
allies to begin a new level of preparations for a possible military
operation in Kosovo. This was stated at a Tuesday press conference at the
Pentagon.

U.S. Defence Minister William Cohen could request the support of other
defence ministers from NATO member countries at the meeting today and
tomorrow in Villamoura (Portugal), according to Pentagon Spokesperson Kevin
Bacon.

Bacon clarified some points about the nature of the possible military
operation. "If there will be a cease fire agreement reached, we will
supervise its implementation." NATO currently has two plans for action in
Kosovo, added Bacon. According to him, one entails air strikes, while the
other would be a peace making ground mission, which would have the task of
supervising a possible cease fire.

"The next step for NATO is to issue a warning before action. This would
be an official warning before actual action is taken, suggesting to member
countries to begin preparations for what they have obligated themselves to
do in the possible NATO plan. The warning before action still has not
taken effect, but it is the next step and I expect NATO to take it," stated
the pentagon spokesperson.

The direct threat of a humanitarian catastrophe is currently the biggest
problem in Kosovo and is the "most important guideline" in the talks for
planning a possible Kosovo operation, concluded Bacon.

***

21. Hina, Ostrije na Granicama, Vecernji list, September 24, 1998, p. 12.
TIGHTER BORDER CONTROL IN SLOVENIA

LJUBLJANA - Yesterday the Slovene police announced it would step up its
border control in order to prevent the entry of individuals who are using
its territory to go to Western Europe. In the coming months the border
police on the border with Italy will be sent to the borders with Hungary
and Croatia to decrease the number of illegal border crossings of mostly
perpetrated by Yugoslav citizens, especially from Kosovo. Yesterday, near
Trebnje, the police uncovered 21 illegal passengers from Kosovo hidden in a
domestic (Slovene) tractor trailer.




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