Protests in Serbia Archive
Odraz B92 Daily News Service

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      ODRAZ B92, Belgrade                             Daily News Service

      Odraz B92 vesti (by 10 PM), April 9, 1997

      E-mail: odrazb92@b92.opennet.org, beograd@siicom.com
   5  WWW:    http://www.siicom.com/odrazb/, http://www.opennet.org/b92/
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      All texts are Copyright 1997 Radio B92. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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      C O N T E N T S
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      NEWS BY 10 PM

        New York Kosovo Dialogue Ends  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  21
        Zajedno Rift . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  56
        Ustasa Organisation Passes Sentences . . . . . . . . . . . .  70
  15    Serbs Urged to Vote  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  77
        Tudjman Brags  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  87
        New US Envoy for Former Yugoslavia . . . . . . . . . . . . .  95

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      NEWS BY 10 PM
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      NEW YORK KOSOVO DIALOGUE ENDS

      The New York conference on Kosovo ended on Wednesday. Both Serb
      and Albanian participates expressed satisfaction with the
      discussions, although nothing concrete was resolved.

  25  The coordinator of the local Ethnic Relations Forum, Dusan Janjic,
      said that the dialogue had been a valuable first step.

      Mr Janjic said that the most important achievement of the
      conference had been that the two sides had made each other's
      acquaintance. He added that the talks had also agreed on the
  30  principles which would allow further dialogue to occur. Mr Janjic
      stressed that any further discussions must include Serbia's ruling
      Socialist Party, which had been pressing for the talks since 1995.

      Kosovo Albanian leader Adem Demaci, speaking to Radio B92, also
      expressed satisfaction with the round table.

  35  Mr Demaci said the talks had achieved more than he had expected.
      He emphasised that the parties had not been there to make
      decisions, as they had no authority to do that. But he said that
      the atmosphere which had been created for further discussion was a
      very positive outcome. Mr Demaci said that both parties were
  40  sincere and open with each other and that this frank entente would
      be important in redirecting the attitude of Kosovans themselves.

      Serbian Renewal Movement leader Vuk Draskovic, who left the
      conference without explanation before it was finished, said on
      Wednesday that the discussions had been held in a democratic
  45  atmosphere. He stressed however that the positions of the two
      sides remained very different.

      A statement issued by the Kosovo branch of the ruling Socialist
      Party of Serbia on Wednesday said that the New York round table
      had not been informal talks but had been binding on all
  50  participants. The Socialists described the participation of
      opposition parties in the dialogue as treason to the country,
      saying that opposition leaders were seeking US assistance for the
      forthcoming elections in Serbia. The statement claimed that the
      talks were aimed at redrawing the borders of Serbia and
  55  Yugoslavia.


      ZAJEDNO RIFT

      Serbian Renewal Movement leader Vuk Draskovic on Wednesday
      expressed surprise at reports that Democratic Party leader Zoran
      Djindjic had said that the Zajedno coalition could break up. Mr
  60  Draskovic said that Dr Djindjic would have to wise up, and that he
      would demand an explanation on Thursday for these statements

      Meanwhile, the vice-president of Mr Draskovic's party, Milan
      Konmenic, also said on Wednesday that the matter of Mr Draskovic's
      nomination for the Serbian Presidency, which has sparked the row,
  65  was not final. Mr Komnenic added that relations within Zajedno
      were sound and excting, and that the clash between the two leaders
      was healthy competition rather than any kind of fever. He added
      that the coalition faced dirty political games and the players
      must dirty their boots on a muddy pitch.


  70  USTASA ORGANISATION PASSES SENTENCES

      An organisation presenting itself as the Ustasa Croat Armed Troops
      has proclaimed sentences of death on UNTAES chief Jacques Klein
      and eleven local Serbs. The list of those condemned has been sent
      to Mr Klein, local Serb leader Vojislav Stanimirovic and several
  75  others. The note said that the death sentences will be carried out
      at the residences of those ``sentenced'' by July 15 at the latest.


      SERBS URGED TO VOTE

      Serbs from Eastern Slavonia, due to revert soon to Croatian rule,
      stressed on Wednesday that their participation and victory in next
  80  week's local elections was essential for their survival in the
      region.

      Local Serb leader Vojislav Stanimirovic urged all Serbs to obtain
      Croatian citizenship papers, which would qualify them to vote. Mr
      Stanimirovic said that if all Serbs registered by Saturday, it
  85  would be possible to obtain an absolute majority in the cities and
      municipalities


      TUDJMAN BRAGS

      Croatia lost 57,829 soldiers, either killed or missing in action,
      during the wars of 1991--1996, Croatian President Franjo Tudjman
  90  said on Tuesday. Mr Tudjman, who was speaking at the opening of
      the Maslenicki Bridge, said that the medals awarded to Croat
      soldiers were a token of the Croatian Army's inflicting defeats on
      the Serbs such as they had not seen since their defeat in Kosovo
      in 1389.


  95  NEW US ENVOY FOR FORMER YUGOSLAVIA

      The US Embassy in Sarajevo announced on Wednesday that Robert
      Gilbard will replace John Kornblum as the US Special Envoy for the
      former Yugoslavia.

      Prepared by: Marija Milosavljevic
 100  Edited by: Steve Agnew

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      ODRAZ B92, Belgrade                             Daily News Service
      E-mail: odrazb92@b92.opennet.org, beograd@siicom.com
      WWW:    http://www.siicom.com/odrazb/, http://www.opennet.org/b92/
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