Software Vault: The Diamond Collection/The Diamond Collection (Software Vault)(Digital Impact).ISO/cdr14/yugonot2.zip/CROA9502.TXT

Text File | 1995-02-01 | 19KB | 447 lines

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FOREIGN PRESS BUREAU ZAGREB DAILY BULLETIN

25th January 1995.



ZAGREB, CROATIA A meeting of the Croatian National Security and
Defence Council was held last night in Zagreb, in which members
of the Council deliberated on the statements of concern and
requests from the European Union and the United States that
Croatia reconsiders its decision to terminate the UNPROFOR
mandate. The Council unanimously upheld the decision, but is
willing to consider international monitoring of Croatia's
reintegration of the occupied areas.

The statement in regards to the termination of the UNPROFOR
mandate in Croatia will be one of the first discussion points in
today's session of the House of Representatives of the Croatian
Parliament. In yesterday's session of Parliament the statement
was given overall support, with Croatian Foreign Minister Mate
Granic stating that the decision would not be reversed.



UNPA SECTOR WEST, CROATIA According to UNPROFOR spokesperson for
Sector West, Serbs from Croatia's occupied territories have
refused to begin the de-mining of the railroad tracks and the
pipeline of the Sumetlica water works which supplies the town of
Pakrac. The project to repair the railroad track and the
pipeline was scheduled to begin last week and is part of the
economic agreement signed by the Serbs and Croatian authorities.



SLAVONSKI BROD, CROATIA Serb forces in occupied parts of
Bosanska Posavina last night opened fire on Slavonski Brod.
According to local police, Serbs opened machine gun fire from
the direction of the demolished bridge over River Sava and
Brodsko Polje near Bosanski Brod. Croatian boarder police near
Poloj and Zbjeg were also fired upon. No casualties were
reported.



SARAJEVO, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA The member states of the Contact
Group have not changed their stance for the resolution of the
crisis in BosniaHerzegovina. Ambassador Charles Thomas, the US
representative for the Contact Group, announced in Sarajevo that
the member states firmly uphold the proposed peace plan for B-H.
In a short statement made after a meeting with Ejup Ganic, the
Vice President of the Bosnian Federation, Mr Thomas stressed
that it is necessary to uphold the current cease-fire if the
peace process is to continue. Mr Thomas did not respond when
asked how long the Contact Group was willing to wait for the
Bosnian Serbs to accept the proposed peace plan.



TUZLA, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA The United Nations has decided to open
the Tuzla airport for UNPROFOR humanitarian purposes as of 1st
February. The decision follows the Bosnian Government's request
of 17th of this month that UNPROFOR re-open the airport by 1st
February or unconditionally evacuate the airport by 1st March.
The Tuzla airport, officially opened by the UN in March 1994 to
bring in humanitarian aid for the region, was immediately closed
due to Serb bombing. Bosnian Serb forces are positioned only a
few kilometres from the runway.



FRONTLINES, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA According to HVO sources, it was
relatively peaceful on the Orasje-Bosanski Samac front. Serbs
opened sporadic light arms fire on the eastern section of the
front. Last night Serb forces targeted defence positions to the
east from the direction of Lepnica and to the west from Batkusa.



GENEVA, SWITZERLAND The conclusion of yesterday's meeting in
Geneva between UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros Ghali and UN
Special Envoys Yasushi Akashi, Thorvald Stoltenberg and Kofi
Anan are expected later today. Statements are expected on the
continuation of the peace talks in Bosnia-Herzegovina under the
patronage of the Contact Group, the situation in Croatia in
light of the termination of the UNPROFOR mandate, and the
possible effects of the Croatian decision on UN forces in
Bosnia-Herzegovina.



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FOREIGN PRESS BUREAU ZAGREB DAILY BULLETIN

26th January 1995.



ZAGREB, CROATIA Croatian President Franjo Tudjman yesterday
received peace mediator Lord David Owen. Prior to this Lord Owen
held talks with the Croatian President's Chief-of-Staff and
Croatian Government negotiator with local Serbs, Mr Hrvoje
Sarinic. After their meeting Mr Sarinic announced that the
Adriatic pipeline running through UNPA Sector North would be
opened today. The pipeline extends from the Omisalj refinery
towards Sisak and then onwards to Hungary, Austria, Slovakia and
the Czech Republic.

The statement in regards to the UNPROFOR termination will once
again take front seat at discussions of today's session of the
Croatian House of Representatives. The session will continue
until tomorrow with various new legislations expected to be
passed.

A meeting to discuss some of the new initiatives proposed by the
Contact Group for Bosnia-Herzegovina was held in Zagreb
yesterday between Croatian Government officials Miomir Zuzul and
Bosiljko Misetic and Bosnian Prime Minister Haris Silajdzic.
During their discussions it was concluded that the Contact
Group's new initiatives were unacceptable to both the Croatian
and Bosnian side. It was proposed that a trilateral meeting be
organised between Croatia, the United States and the Bosnian
Federation.



KNIN, CROATIA According to UNPROFOR spokesperson for UNPA Sector
South Alun Roberts, ongoing meetings between Croatian Government
representatives and Serbs from Croatia's UNPAs are scheduled to
resume tomorrow in Knin. Mr Roberts stated that the talks would
focus on the opening of the railway lines from Zagreb through
occupied Okucani, Slavonski Brod, Tovarnik and Mirkovac, and
from Zagreb to Split via occupied Knin.



SARAJEVO, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA The newly appointed UNPROFOR
commander for B-H General Rupert Smith arrived in Sarajevo this
morning. Upon his arrival General Smith said that the main task
of the peacekeepers in the coming months was the delivery of
humanitarian aid to the people of Bosnia-Herzegovina. He
stressed that the UN troops will continue working on their task
of achieving a lasting peace, based on the current four month
cease-fire agreement. Later today General Smith is to be
received by Bosnian President Alija Izetbegovic.



FRONTLINES, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA Bosnian Serbs once again breached
the cessation of hostilities agreement on the Orasje-Bosanski
Samac front yesterday. Reports confirm sporadic firing of heavy
artillery on HVO defence lines. There were no reports of
casualties.

Forces loyal to Fikret Abdic and Serbs from Croatia's occupied
areas have again attacked the Bosnian Army defence lines from
the directions of Zeljava-Bihac and from Velika Kladusa towards
Pecigrad and Vrnograc. Radio Sarajevo reports that the Bosnian
Army is resisting the onslaught.



THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS The 16 ambassadors of the NATO Council
met yesterday and called on the organisation's military leaders
to modify the existing plan for the UNPROFOR withdrawal from
BosniaHerzegovina. They specified that the plan is to include
the withdrawal of UNPROFOR personnel from Croatia. The Council
also agreed on initiating contact with Croatian authorities in
order to receive permission for the use of Croatian harbours and
airports with regards to the withdrawal of UNPROFOR.



AVIANO, ITALY According to the Italian coastguard reports, a US
F-16 fighter jet plunged into the Adriatic sea this morning. The
jet, accompanied by another two jets, took off from the Aviano
airbase and did not return from the mission. It is still
uncertain whether the pilot ejected from the aircraft.



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FOREIGN PRESS BUREAU ZAGREB DAILY BULLETIN

27th January 1995.



ZAGREB, CROATIA A new Croatian ministry was officially
inaugurated yesterday. The Ministry of Development and
Reconstruction and its new minister, Mr Jure Radic will be
responsible for the development of national and strategic
programmes for Croatia.

The Croatian Parliament's House of Representatives today
officially adopted the declaration on ending the UNPROFOR
mandate in Croatia on March 31st.

Croatian Prime Minister Nikica Valentic today at a press
conference proposed five new ministers and a Deputy Culture
Minister for his cabinet. Zagreb County Prefect Ivica Gazi is
the new Agriculture and Forestry Minister, while Deputy Labour
and Social Welfare Minister Joso Skara now becomes Labour and
Social Welfare Minister. Deputy Mayor of Zagreb Marina
Matulovic-Dropulic now has the portfolio for Building, Housing
and Environment. President of the Privatisation Fund Ivan Penic
moves on to the portfolio of Privatisation Minister. The head of
the Government Office for Displaced People and Refugees,
Adalbert Rebic, now becomes a Minister without a portfolio, and
Zagreb Attorney Miro Crnja is the new Deputy Culture Minister.
The new portfolios are expected to be approved henceforth by the
Croatian President Franjo Tudjman and by members of parliament.

The European Commissioner for Humanitarian and Social Affairs,
Mrs Ema Bonino today arrived for a tour of Croatia and
Bosnia-Herzegovina. To date, the European Commission has given
the largest amount of humanitarian aid to Croatia and
Bosnia-Herzegovina. In total 1 billion 250 million US dollars of
aid has been donated.



SISAK, CROATIA The first quantities of oil have arrived at the
Sisak terminal via the Adriatic oil pipeline. According to head
expert at the Sisak terminal, Antun Bobetko, all is going
according to plan.



SARAJEVO, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA A three day commemoration for the
defence of Sarajevo began today. Today marks the 1000th  day
since the tragedy of war engulfed Sarajevo. Guests are expected
to arrive by UN planes from all corners of the world to pay
homage to the citizens of Sarajevo for their determination and
suffering. In a special statement to commemorate the day, UN
Secretary General Boutros Boutros- Ghali expressed his
solidarity with and sympathy for the people of Sarajevo. Mr
Ghali reasserted his commitment and that of the United Nations
to continue in all efforts to alleviate the plight of those
affected by war and to bring a peaceful

settlement to the conflict.



FRONTLINES, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA In a joint counter offensive, the
Bosnian Army and HVO forces liberated the village of Bugar in
the Bihac enclave, 20 kilometres north-east of Bihac town.





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FOREIGN PRESS BUREAU ZAGREB DAILY BULLETIN

30th January 1995.



ZAGREB, CROATIA President Tudjman received yesterday a
delegation of the Croatian International Youth Congress led by
their President Pavo Gagulic. The delegation, comprised of
second generation Croatians living in Europe and overseas,
briefed the President on the Congress projects in Croatian
communities abroad. One of the main goals is to stimulate young
Croatians to return to their homeland and bring with them their
knowledge and skills. The delegation welcomed the proposal to
form a Ministry of Immigration and gave their support to the
President's decision  to terminate the UNPROFOR mandate. The
President emphasised the importance of Croatia's demographic
recovery, pointing out that the return of young people to the
homeland is of high strategic significance for Croatia.

German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel arrives in Zagreb today and
then heads for Sarajevo. Mr Kinkel announced that he is against
Bosnian President Alija Izetbegovic's proposal for an ultimatum
for the Bosnian Serbs. The Minister rejects any talks of
differences within the Contact Group, and announced that any
such proposal would halt the continuing work in trying to find a
peaceful agreement for Bosnia-Herzegovina.

President Tudjman this morning received the Z-4 Ambassadors,
Leonid Kerestedijanc of the Russian Federation, Peter Galbraith
of the United States, ICFY Ambassadors Geert Ahrens and Alfredo
Matacotta Cordella, joined by the French Ambassador Jean-Jacques
Gaillarde representing the EU Presidency. Commenting on the Z-4
draft plan, the Croatian President said that Croatia would
consider the positive elements that it contains regarding the
re-establishment of Croatia's sovereignty in the whole of its
territory, the return of refugees and local autonomy for the
ethnic Serb minority. Talking to the Z-4 ambassadors, the
Croatian President stressed Croatia's full support for a
peaceful resolution based on the Croatian constitution and laws,
the UN Security Council and General Assembly resolutions
regarding Croatia's occupied territories, as well as the
normalisation of Croatian-Serb relations. President Tudjman
added that Croatia will not accept anything not in line with its
constitution and international conventions on the rights of
ethnic communities or minorities.



FRONTLINES, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA Cease-fire violations continue in
West Bosnia. Fierce clashes between the Bosnian Army, Fikret
Abdic's forces and Serbs from Croatia's occupied territories
have been reported in the vicinity of Velika Kladusa overnight
and yesterday. At least 1 000 impacts were reported in the area,
with the hardest hit being Mala Kladusa and Velika Kladusa.
According to UNPROFOR, the frontline seems to be moving to the
west. UNPROFOR spokesperson Jerry Coward stated that there were
some indications pointing to the possible evacuation of some 25
000 to 30 000 civilians from Velika Kladusa, most of whom had
already spent some time at the refugee camps in Batnoga and
Turanj. The situation in Bihac was somewhat calmer, but
cease-fire violations were reported.



UNPROFOR sources also reported three detonations in the Sarajevo
area on Sunday although they were unable to confirm who was
responsible.





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FOREIGN PRESS BUREAU ZAGREB DAILY BULLETIN

31st January 1995.



ZAGREB, CROATIA President Tudjman yesterday received the Z-4
ambassadors. The Z-4 draft plan for Croatia was presented to the
Croatian President by the French Ambassador in Zagreb
Jean-Jacques Gaillarde. President Tudjman said that Croatia
received the draft plan and will take it into consideration,
especially the positive parts it contains. These are thought to
be the establishment of Croatian sovereignty over its whole
territory, the return of the displaced persons and the local
self-government for the Serb ethnic community or minority.

Ambassador Geert Ahrens stated on behalf of the Z-4 group of
ambassadors that the Serb representatives in Knin rejected the
draft plan for the reintegration of the occupied Croatian
territories. Mr Ahrens added that the Serb representatives
believed that their acceptance of the proposed text would at the
same time represent the acceptance of negotiations on its
improvement and implementation.

Emma Bonino, the European Commissioner for Humanitarian and
Social Affairs, speaking at a press conference at Zagreb airport
yesterday, expressed her satisfaction with the results of her
visit to Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Mrs Bonino explained
the purpose of her visit was to give encouragement and support
to humanitarian workers, to evaluate their effectiveness, their
limitations and further possibilities in the deployment of aid.
The European Commission's Office for Humanitarian Affairs has
donated 330 million US dollars aid to former Yugoslavia in the
past year. In addition, a further 193 million US dollars has
been approved for the first six months of this year.

The European Bank for Renewal and Reconstruction has approved a
10 year loan of 228,700,000 Croatian kunas for the
reconstruction of the Croatian electrical network. The loan will
be used to repair electricity networks in waraffected areas,
stabilise financial management and to introduce institutional
reforms in the energetics field.

The Minister of Development and Reconstruction Jure Radic
received yesterday the newly appointed head of the EU Observers
in Zagreb, Albert Turot. Minister Radic informed Ambassador
Turot of the views of the Croatian authorities on the
indivisibility of Croatia. Mr Radic also spoke of plans for
reconstruction and development of areas under Croatian control
as well as those currently occupied by the Serbs.

Croatian President Franjo Tudjman today received the German
Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel. The two discussed the UNPROFOR
mandate in Croatia and the present situation in the federation
of Bosnia-Herzegovina and the city of Mostar. Mr Kinkel also met
with UN Special Envoy Yasushi Akashi and then left for Sarajevo
for meetings with Bosnian President Alija Izetbegovic and
Bosnian Federation President Kresimir Zubak.



FRONTLINES, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA The general alert was put into
effect early yesterday evening following fierce Serb artillery
attacks on the Livno region. Reports on casualties and material
damage were as yet not available.

Bosnian Serb forces initiated fierce attacks against HVO
positions and civilian targets on the Orasje-Bosanski Samac
front in the past 24 hours. No casualties were reported.

The Dutch Defence Minister announced yesterday that Muslim
soldiers have detained some 100 Dutch UNPROFOR troops in the
south-west of the Srebrenica enclave. The Dutch UN battalion
commander Lt. Colonel Karemans, who is responsible for the
security of Srebrenica, is currently negotiating with the
Muslims to release the UNPROFOR soldiers and thus enable them to
continue their work in the area.



GENEVA, SWITZERLAND The annual conference of the Commission for
Human Rights will today continue its session, which began
yesterday in Geneva. The conference will last six weeks with 50
fully pledged members and 90 observer nations participating,
including Croatia. Croatian Foreign  Minister Mate Granic is
expected to present Croatian points of view in regards to human
rights, while a general resolution in regards to the abuse of
human rights in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina is also expected
to be accepted by the Commission.



WASHINGTON, USA US Vice President Al Gore yesterday meet with
Bosnian Prime Minister Haris Silajdzic in Washington. Mr Gore
once again confirmed American support for the territorial
integrity of the Bosnian state and the Contact Group peace plan.
Both statesmen meanwhile expressed their deep dissatisfaction
with the constant refusals of the Bosnian Serbs to accept the
initiatives of the Contact Group. Mr Silajdzic sought a three
month ultimatum for the Bosnian Serbs to accept the peace plan,
in which case a refusal would would bring about the lifting of
the arms embargo for the Bosnian Government.

Talking about the Z-4 peace plan, the US State Department
spokesperson Christine Shelly said that the aim of the peace
plan was to re-establish Croatia's sovereignty over the whole of
its territory with significant autonomy for areas with a Serb
majority. Ms Shelly added that full Croatian authority would be
re-established in Sectors East and West, while Sectors North and
South would become self-governing regions.