"Today we are faced with the first consequences of the constitutional
changes and the first application of the Montenegrin Parliament's
resolution, which consists in Montenegro's non adoption of the electoral
legislation, which is the consequence of the illegitimate constitution
change. We shall consider these acts illegitimate and we shall do nothing to
provide for their application on the territory of Montenegro."
Dragan Soc, Montenegro's Justice Minister
Quoted by Pobjeda daily, July 25 -- Podgorica
"Montenegro will not recognize the constitutional changes nor any other
moves that might follow, so, accordingly, the federal elections as well. We
will not participate in the elections and that will be a reason for starting
a crisis in Montenegro, but we do not recognize federal laws...Montenegro is
a state and its refusal to take part in the elections cannot be seen the
same way as the Serbian opposition's attitude. In case the opposition in
Serbia has a candidate, we will support him."
Miodrag Vukovic, advisor to President Milo Djukanovic
Quoted by V.I.P. Daily News Report, July 26 -- Podgorica
"The rulers, knowing that they cannot break the will of the people to save
the joint state with Serbia, are making new attacks on Serbia now. Their
activities are aimed at creating resistance against Serbia and Yugoslavia so
that they can implement their policy of destabilizing the federal state.
They were given this task by foreign powers. Under the pretext of
democratization in Yugoslavia, the Montenegrin rulers are searching for new
allies in their game of destroying the legal and legitimate president of
Yugoslavia, Slobodan Milosevic, to enable foreigners to rule here instead of
respecting the will of their own people."
Zoran Babic, secretary, JUL main committee speaking in Herceg Novi
Quoted by Tanjug state press agency (Belgrade), July 14 - Herceg Novi
"I say to Milosevic: Beware, look what happened the last time you made a
wrong judgement...The international community will not accept that Milosevic
engage in any action which could bring about the downfall of a man elected
by the Montenegrin people...One of the lessons from Kosovo is not to reveal
your cards too far in advance."
Lord George Robertson, NATO's Secretary General
Quoted by Agence France Presse, July 27 -- Paris
"The Yugoslav Army is trying to impose order in a unitary state called
Serbia. The closing of the border in Bozaj is an irresponsible act when we
are trying to preserve civic peace. It is obvious that the threat of war is
the only method Belgrade is prepared to use in dealing with Montenegro. We
do not want war and, despite their intentions, we will preserve peace."
Dragisa Burzan, Deputy Prime Minister of Montenegro
Quoted by Vijesti daily, July 27 -- Podgorica
"With respect to the international community, I believe we should seriously
accept the warning that the referendum can create an internal conflicting
situation, which would be abused by the regime of Slobodan Milosevic for
inciting a new crisis point in Montenegro. This is why I believe no hasty
decisions should be made - we have economic sovereignty and our own
diplomatic service, through the Resolution of the Montenegrin Parliament we
have obtained normative sovereignty and I do not believe a referendum is of
such significance to make us swiftly adopt risky decisions."
Filip Vujanovic, Prime Minister of Montenegro
Quoted by Vijesti daily, July 27 -- Podgorica
"In Montenegro, which I have visited twice in the last few months, we are
determined to make a stand. We are using all the means at our disposal
imaginatively and visibly, and have dramatically increased the scale of our
assistance in recent weeks to help the democratically elected government
cope with enormous pressure from Belgrade. Working closely with the US, the
other major donor in Montenegro, we are, I hope, demonstrating that we have
learned the lessons of recent years, by working to prevent a potential
crisis."
Chris Patten, European Commissioner for External Relations,
Speech in London, July 7
"I need to know who I am, to be free from this confusion...Why are we
pretending? Why wait? We have already separated."
Marija, 27-year-old filmmaker
Quoted by IWPR Balkan Crisis Report, July 25 -- Budva
IN THIS MONTENEGRO WATCH:
-- Presidential elections announced for Sept. 24
-- PM: ruling coalition won't take part in FRY elections
-- Vukovic: Federal elections "a trap" for democracy
-- Soc: "Non-binding, illegitimate election laws"
-- Vujanovic: No decision on referendum
-- Milosevic "wants us to leave"
-- Economic blockade stepped up
-- VJ fires on Montenegrin police boat
-- Economy minister: Incident not an accident
-- VJ chief visits second army again
-- VJ eases border closure, keeps controls
-- Army draws pistol on press photographer
-- Burzan: VJ no longer legitimate authority...
-- ...Vujanovic disagrees
-- Djukanovic to meet Milosevic?
-- SNP-DPS to begin dialogue?
-- Clans again warn against independence
-- Robertson: "NATO is watching"
-- Clinton, Schroder: "Milosevic tried to undermine Montenegro"
-- Djukanovic promises middle course in Paris, Berlin
-- Podgorica devalues dinar
-- Average monthly wage up
POLITICAL PARTIES & LEADERS:
Montenegro's Ruling Coalition
DPS- Party of Socialists (Milo Djukanovic, Montenegro's President)
NS - Democratic People's Party of Montenegro (Dragan Soc, president)
SDP - Social Democratic Party of Montenegro (Zarko Rakcevic, president)
Other Political Parties
DUA -Democratic Union of Albanians (Fuad Nimani, president)
DSS -Democratic Alliance of Albanians (Mehmet Bardhi, president)
LSCG -Liberal Alliance of Montenegro (Miodrag Zivkovic, president)
Montenegro's Opposition
SNP-Socialist People's Party of Montenegro (Momir Bulatovic, FRY PM)
SNS-Serb People's Party (Zelidrag Nikcevic, president)
NKPJ-New Communist Party of Yugoslavia (Branko Kitanovic, president)
Serbia's Ruling Coalition
JUL - Yugoslav United Left (Mira Markovic, president)
SPS -Serbian Socialist Party (Slobodan Milosevic, FRY President)
SRS - Serbian Radical Party (Vojislav Seselj, Serbia's Deputy PM)
VJ - Yugoslav National Army
I. SEPTEMBER ELECTIONS
PRESIDENTIAL/FRY/LOCAL ELECTIONS ANNOUNCED
***"Yugoslav parliamentary and presidential elections have been scheduled
for September 24 along with local elections in Serbia on the same day. The
elections for Chamber of Citizens, the lower house of Yugoslav parliament,
will be held in the 26 new districts under a plan adopted recently by
Parliament, instead of the previous 29 districts, while Montenegro remains a
single election district. Voters in Serbia will again vote for 108 members
of the lower house, while voters in Montenegro will elect 30 members to the
138-seat lower house, while 20 members each will be elected from the two
Yugoslav republics, Serbia and Montenegro, to the 40-seat Chamber of
Republics, or upper house of the Yugoslav parliament. Parliament appointed
members of the federal election commission on July 25 without a single
representative from the Montenegrin judiciary among them. Federal court
chief justice Borivoje Vukicevic was appointed as the chairman of the
commission... Candidates for Yugoslav president must collect at least 25,000
signatures of voters in order to qualify to run for the country's highest
office." (BETA independent news agency-Belgrade, July 28)
***"Asked what position on the federal elections he expected the Montenegrin
leadership to take, Nikola Sainovic [FRY deputy prime minister and senior
SPS official] said that federal elections are called and conducted by the
competent bodies of the FRY and that the authorities in the constituent
republics had no jurisdiction over holding the elections. 'We don't expect
the executive bodies of Montenegro to invent a new executive post concerning
the federal elections,' said Sainovic." (V.I.P. Daily News Report-Belgrade,
July 28)
PM: RULING COALITION WON'T TAKE PART IN FRY ELECTIONS
***"Montenegrin Premier Filip Vujanovic reiterated that the ruling
coalition, For a Better Life, will not take part in the federal elections.
'The coalition which constitutes the Montenegrin authorities has no reason
whatsoever to take part in the elections, because it would contribute to
strengthening and maintaining Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic's rule,'
Montenegrin media quoted Vujanovic as saying on July 27. The Montenegrin
media also quoted the Democratic Party of Socialists' senior official
Miodrag Vukovic as saying that Montenegro 'cannot take a joint stance
together with the Serb opposition on the issue of federal elections' and
that the talks about that issue 'are unnecessary at this moment.'" (BETA
news agency, July 28)
VUKOVIC: FEDERAL ELECTIONS "A TRAP FOR DEMOCRACY"
*** "President of the Democratic Party of Socialists Executive Board and
Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic's legal advisor Miodrag Vukovic [said]
'Montenegro will not recognize the constitutional changes nor any other
moves that might follow, so, accordingly, the federal elections as well. We
will not participate in the elections and that will be a reason for starting
a crisis in Montenegro, but we do not recognize federal laws...Montenegro is
a state and its refusal to take part in the elections cannot be seen the
same way as the Serbian opposition's attitude. In case the opposition in
Serbia has a candidate, we will support him. We all have the same task and
that is to free Serbia from the disaster called dictatorship, which leads
into new sufferings. The Serbian opposition is faced with the fact that the
Serbian Renewal Movement..., whose non-participation in the elections
weakens the optimism that a major democratic change could happen, is against
the elections. There are some structures in Montenegro that wish the crisis
in Montenegro to end with a conflict, illegal conduct opposed to the will of
the citizens, and these structures are personified by the regime in Belgrade
and its Montenegrin satellites. On the other hand, with the help of the
international community, Serbia and Montenegro are the bearers of the idea
that this crisis be dealt with in a peaceful and democratic manner.' "
(V.I.P. Daily News Report, July 26)
***"Miodrag Vukovic, has expressed the opinion that federal elections could
be 'a trap for democracy in Montenegro and for the democratic opposition in
Serbia', the independent Belgrade media report. 'If they (Montenegro and
the opposition in Serbia) do not run in the alleged federal elections, ones
that will not be slated in Kosovo, and from which Kosovo will be excluded,
are they running the risk of being accused by the regime in Belgrade of
being accomplices to Kosovo's amputation from Serbia and Yugoslavia...Could
it perhaps be that right are those who claim that this is possibly (Yugoslav
President Slobodan) Milosevic's morbid plan to get rid of Kosovo, and
knowing this, the international community is not reacting, since this is
making the situation in Kosovo easier for it', he wrote." (V.I.P. Daily News
Report, July 25)
SOC: "NON-BINDING, ILLEGITIMATE ELECTION LAWS"
***"Montenegrin Justice Minister Dragan Soc told [Radio Montenegro]: 'Today
we see the first result of the amendments to the constitution and the first
instance of the implementation of our assembly's resolution, which says that
we do not accept the election laws which are the product of the things I
have already mentioned. We shall deem these laws non binding and, it goes
without saying, we shall do nothing to implement them in the Montenegrin
territory. This is the view of both the government and the assembly...The
way things are done in Belgrade, unfortunately - and the Socialist People's
Party [SNP] is unfortunately part of this. The SNP was not prepared to offer
at the federal level what it demanded here in Montenegro, i.e. at least a
political agreement about the laws. So we have an illegitimate package of
election laws, which aims to enable Slobodan Milosevic to be re-elected as
president and to give him new powers. Everything else is of lesser
importance. We have a completely undemocratic, illegitimate and illegal
procedure in which the laws are adopted." (Radio Montenegro, July 27)
***"The elections scheduled for September 24 will undoubtedly be irregular,
said former Constitutional Court judge Slobodan Vucetic, Belgrade's
electronic media report on Thursday. Vucetic said that even the way in which
the elections had been called constituted a violation of the FRY
Constitution. 'Article 2 of the Constitutional Law on the Implementation of
the Constitutional Amendments - and the Constitutional Law was passed on the
same day as the constitutional amendments, July 6 - says expressly that the
tenure of the Yugoslav president would last until its end, as provided by
Article 97 of the Constitution, which means four years, or until July next
year. In other words, he has again, as always, violated the Constitution and
the law,' said Vucetic. Vucetic said that no one should have any doubts that
these elections will be entirely undemocratic and unfair and fraught with
all the machinations used in the past. He said that these machinations
included various voting roll irregularities, double voting, double voting
registers and court changes of election results.... Montenegrin President's
advisor and President of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) Executive
Board Miodrag Vukovic stated Thursday that DPS and its coalition partners
People's Party (NS) and Social-democracy (SDP) will not take part in the
up-coming federal elections, reports Thursday Radio B2 92 on its web site.
'I see no reason for DPS to change its stand taken in the Montenegrin
Parliament Resolution. There should be no participation in the elections
which will not be recognized by the international community, for, among
other things, persons indicted for war crimes are taking part in them', said
Vukovic. Vukovic judges that 'the aim of the elections, scheduled in
accordance with recent constitutional and political violence, is to set
absolutism and dictatorship in concrete, which will only extend their
political existence. Montenegro, on the other hand, wishes for the fast
recovery of the momentarily badly contusioned Serbian alternative political
scene, its standing up, uniting, and becoming stronger in order to free
Serbia from dictatorship in some near future', stated Vukovic." (V.I.P.
Daily News Report, July 28)
DRASKOVIC: NO FEDERAL ELECTIONS WITHOUT MONTENEGRO
***"Serbian Renewal Movement leader Vuk Draskovic said on July 27 that
unless 'official Montenegro' participated in up-coming federal elections,
his party would also not participate. In that case, they would not be
federal elections, but a dangerous provocation towards ruining the current
common state of Montenegro and Serbia and producing countless incidents with
negative consequences, Draskovic told BETA over the phone from Budva, where
he is currently staying." (BETA news agency, July 28)
II. BELGRADE-PODGORICA RELATIONS
VUJANOVIC: NO DECISION ON REFERENDUM
***"Prime Minister Vujanovic [said]: I think the very idea of a military
coup in Montenegro is meaningless. Montenegro has its state, democratically
elected authorities. Any kind of military coup would be meaningless, both
from the perspective of the internal context and the international
community. The citizens of Montenegro should be the ones who decide on
their future and the authors of a possible military dictatorship or coup
should not create this future....We have not yet made a decision how we
shall position ourselves as a state in relation to the election in terms of
the possibility that they are held in Montenegro. I think it is too early
to make a decision on this issue. It is certain that we shall not
participate in them, and for the rest we shall see what decision we reach.
After everything, which has happened in Montenegro recently, are we any
closes to the holding of a referendum? I believe that those citizens of
Montenegro who are informed of the policies brought by the current
government know that the decision on the referendum is based on an
assessment of both domestic and international components. Given the
domestic context, we are in a position where we have to think about a
referendum to be held then when it is made possible for the democratic
majority to be present in as significant a number as possible, and that the
minority which looses at the referendum accepts this in a democratic
fashion." (Vijesti daily quoted by MNNews, July 27)
MILOSEVIC "WANTS US TO LEAVE"
***" 'The ratio between Serbs and Montenegrins is 17:1,' says Miko Zivkovic,
leader of the Liberal Party. 'Equality of parliamentary members at a Federal
level is key. Otherwise, how can 600,000 Montenegrins ever be equal to 10
million Serbs?' But Zivkovic does not see a more serious threat in the
changes; he thinks that Milosevic is simply sending a signal to Djukanovic
not to run in federal elections expected later this year. 'He is trying to
cordon Serbia off as a way of consolidating his power base. He doesn't want
Montenegro around as a destabilizing factor. In fact, he wants us to leave,'
he says." (IWPR Balkan Crisis Report, July 25)
LSCG: INDEPENDENCE "ONLY WAY"
***" 'Independence is the only way for Montenegrins to achieve a better
quality of life,' LSCG [Liberal Alliance] leader Miroslav Vickovic told AFP.
But he warned that a referendum could be 'very dangerous and a 'source of
serious conflicts' unless it was properly organized. He added that
'consensus must be reached to define our future because the divisions are
obvious and could get worse if (reformist, pro-Western) President Milo
Djukanovic does not very quickly begin dialogue with all the parties in
Montenegro... The mayor of Herceg Novi, a built-up town of about 40,000
inhabitants, situated on the bay of Kotor only a few kilometers (miles) from
the Croatian border, rejects any talk of Montenegrin independence. Djuro
Cetkovic, of the pro-Belgrade Socialist People's Party (SNP), argues that a
stand-alone Montenegro 'will not be viable, and a large sections of its
population rejects such future because of the links that unite it with
Serbia: religion, culture, tradition and interdependent economy." (Agence
France Presse, July 15)
ECONOMIC BLOCKADE STEPPED UP
***"Serbian customs officers at the Kolovrat border crossing [between Serbia
and Montenegro] today turned back all lorries transporting food for
Montenegro...The Prijepolje barrier is again firmly in place and since
yesterday food cannot be delivered from Serbia to Montenegro. Instead of
Kolovrat, the border barrier is now set up in Brodarevo, which is some 20 km
closer to Montenegro. Side by side, the traffic police and Serbian trade
inspectors and customs officers are now controlling the flow of goods and
passengers between Serbia and Montenegro. Lorries loaded with food from
Serbia bound to Montenegro are being stopped in Brodarevo or Prijepolje and
turned back. This time round we are again not allowed to use our cameras in
Brodarevo...On the Montenegrin side, we were told that since this morning no
lorries have been allowed into Montenegro. This time even mineral water and
chocolate are not allowed through, even though these products were entering
Montenegro without any problems after the break-up of trade and payment
transactions between the two federal units. As for lorries loaded with
building material that Serbia exports through the port of Bar, there were no
problems for them to cross the Serbian-Montenegrin border. It seems that
everything can go through except food." (TV Crna Gora-Podgorica, July 27) "A
police blockade at the Brodarevo in Serbia checkpoint has again been
tightened considerably for goods transported from Serbia to Montenegro, Beta
has learned from several sources in the area. Thirty-five trucks loaded with
various types of brick were parked in Brodarevo parking lots yesterday
afternoon, including two trucks of beer intended for the Sveti Stefan
private enterprise in Bijelo Polje. Beta sources claim that the Serbian
police have demanded that all drivers obtain 'different papers' because they
are being told that the documents issued by the Serbian Trade Ministry are
no longer valid. The drivers declined to comment what were the new documents
in question. An owner of a trade company in Bijelo Polje, who has for years
been buying sweets from Bambi factory in Pozarevac east of Belgrade, said
that trucks with 20 tonnes of goods were parked in the factory courtyard.
These trucks could not leave because, as he said, the factory had been
notified that the documents of the Serbian Trade Ministry were no longer
valid and that they should wait for the documents by some other authority.
Mile Kalezic, owner of Amigo enterprise in Bijelo Polje, told Beta that he
could not get hold of his goods for two months now. He bought the goods in
Becej and these were stored in Nova Varos because 'each new control requires
a new document' and he no longer knows what sort of a document and from whom
he should seek." (Beta news agency, July 27)
***"Since Saturday night [22 July], control at the Serbian Interior Ministry
checkpoint, which was erected some time ago on the inter-republic border
above the Pljevlja [northern Montenegro] village of Vijenac, has been
stepped up once more to the extent that the police are not even letting
lorries carrying food through to the Pljevlja municipality. Early yesterday
morning a lorry carrying fresh vegetables from Sumadija [central Serbia] to
the market in Pljevlja was turned back from the checkpoint to Serbia, so the
supply of vegetables in Pljevlja is practically reduced to the remaining
stock from last week until new deliveries from southern Montenegro arrive.
The poor supply of vegetables has caused market prices to increase. Due to
the border blockade, Pljevlja residents were forced to buy tomatoes and
peppers, as well as other vegetables of poor quality, at higher prices than
usual." (Vijesti daily, July 27)
VJ FIRES ON MONTENEGRIN POLICE BOAT
***"The crew of a military patrol boat on Lake Skadar on Saturday [July 22]
fired several shots at a police speedboat. More serious consequences as a
result of this incident were avoided by pure chance, 'Vijesti' has learnt
from the Montenegrin Interior Ministry. The police speedboat with a
three-member crew was attacked around 0930 [0730 gmt] during a regular
patrol of the lake, some 1.5 kilometres from the Albanian border. The
speedboat was shot at with 12.7mm bullets from the army patrol boat around
four kilometres away. A bullet hit the front of the speedboat, and then the
policemen heard another shot and stopped the boat. The soldiers on the army
boat later justified their action by saying that they could not see what
kind of boat it was and that they had not been notified of its passage. The
police crew began the patrol of the lake around 0830. Before the attack, a
Gazelle military helicopter flew over the speedboat several times. A few
fishermen, who happened to be in the vicinity of the police speedboat, saw
the attack." (Vijesti daily, July27)
ECONOMY MINISTER: INCIDENT NOT AN ACCIDENT
***"Montenegrin Economy Minister Vojin Djukanovic has said that Saturday's
incident on Lake Skadar, when a [Yugoslav Army] military patrol fired at a
speedboat carrying members of the Montenegrin police, was not an accident.
He said that Slobodan Milosevic and [Yugoslav Prime Minister] Momir
Bulatovic were continuing with their constant pressure and attempts to
destabilize Montenegro. Djukanovic said that the army's increased control at
the Bozaj border crossing represented 'the continuation of the Yugoslav
Army's unconstitutional behaviour and its decision to openly side with the
regime in Belgrade. Montenegro will conduct its own policies and no-one will
tell it what to do, not even Milosevic's guard,' he concluded." (SRNA news
agency-Bijeljina, July 27)
VJ: POLICE "PROVIDE PROTECTION FOR SMUGGLERS"
***"The Command of the Yugoslav Army's (VJ) Navy denied reports in the
Montenegrin media about a recent attack on a Montenegrin police speedboat by
a VJ vessel, Politika reports on Wednesday. 'As this event is used to mount
constant attacks on the VJ, we want to state the fact that at around 9.45 am
on July 22, 2000 a speedboat was stopped three and a half kilometers inside
the border belt of the FRY's territorial waters, and only subsequent
inspection showed that it belonged to the Montenegrin police because it was
bore no insignia or the FRY flag'. The VJ statement says that 'the behavior
of the Montenegrin police was unacceptable and provocative even though they
knew they were violating the border regime and were moving through the
border belt unannounced and in an inappropriate vessel'. According to the
Navy Command, Montenegrin police speedboats 'provide physical protection for
smugglers' speedboats flowing in and out of the Port of Bar, risking
conflicts with VJ boats securing the state border'. The statement says that
'the Montenegrin public understands who does and who does not observe the
laws of the FRY and Montenegro when it comes to securing the state border at
sea, on the lakes and on the land for the purpose of preventing unlawful
activity in that part of the FRY's territory.' " (V.I.P. Weekly Economic
Bulletin, July 27)
VJ EASES BORDER CLOSURE, KEEPS CONTROLS
***"The Yugoslav army eased its self-styled visa control Tuesday on
Albanians traveling to Montenegro...but retained a border checkpoint set up
over the weekend. On Sunday, the army erected a checkpoint near the Bozaj
border crossing between Yugoslavia and Albania, and began turning back
Albanians trying to enter Montenegro without visas from Yugoslav
authorities. The border has since remained almost completely closed to all
commercial traffic. By Tuesday morning, the soldiers manning the checkpoint
were no longer demanding Albanian passengers have visas in their passports,
but continued searching all cars and buses entering Montenegro. Reporters
near the Bozaj crossing witnessed a handful of cars passing the army
inspection, but a bus of Albanians destined for the Montenegrin coastal
resort of Ulcinj was ordered back by the army. Albania's foreign ministry
protested Monday to Yugoslav authorities, calling the move a border closure
and arguing the decision underscores Belgrade's intention to keep tensions
high in the region." (Associated Press, July 25) "The military police
prevented only Albanian citizens from entering into Montenegro under the
justification that they do not have a visa which can only be issued in the
FRY embassy in Tirana which is closed, following the breakdown of diplomatic
relations between the two countries. Yugoslav citizens, humanitarian aid
workers and foreigners with a transit visa passed through the military
checkpoint. The VJ captain the Vijesti journalist spoke to said that these
measure are the simple implementation of policies on the visa regime with
Albania, which are regulated through the Constitution and laws of
Yugoslavia." (Vijesti daily quoted by MNNews, July 25)
ARMY DRAWS PISTOL ON PRESS PHOTOGRAPHER
***"At the military checkpoint installed close to the Bozaj border an
incident took place, which, luckily, had no serious consequences. One of
the members of the Yugoslav army drew out his pistol on the Pobjeda
journalist, because his colleague was taking a photograph of the checkpoint.
The soldier ran after the Pobjeda car with a pistol in his hand, but did not
manage to catch them up, and so the journalists fled." (Vijesti daily quoted
by MNNews, July 25)
VJ CHIEF VISITS SECOND ARMY AGAIN
"Yugoslav Army chief of staff Colonel-General Nebojsa Pavkovic visited the
command and Second Army units in Novi Pazar, Prijepolje and the
Sjenica-Pester plateau, the general staff announced on July 27. It was
announced that Pavkovic together with his associates and escorted by the
Second army commander, Colonel General Milorad Obradovic, was present during
the maneuvers of these commands and units. Pavkovic said he was pleased with
the results achieved at the maneuvers by members of these commands and
units. He praised and awarded a certain number of soldiers and officers,
and highly graded the situation with the morale and readiness for the
defense of the country of this Yugoslav army's strategic group." (BETA news
agency, July 28)
PAVKOVIC TOURS BASES IN MONTENEGRO
***"Yugoslav Army (VJ) chief of General Staff, Col-Gen Nebojsa Pavkovic and
his aides toured the zone of responsibility for the 2nd Army [headquartered
in Podgorica], the Navy, and a portion of the Yugoslav Air Force and Air
Defense, the Yugoslav Army press service has reported. A meeting of the
colleagues of the chief of General Staff in its expanded makeup was held on
the premises of the 2nd Army Command in Podgorica. Commanders of strategic
groups, whose troops are situated on these territories also participated in
the meeting, the statement points out. They reviewed combat readiness of
these commands and units and issued concrete tasks in realization of planned
activities in the coming period. Top army officers, headed by the chief of
General Staff, informed the professional Yugoslav Army soldiers about the
current situation in the Yugoslav Army and the main lines of its future
development." (Tanjug state press agency, July 14)
VILLAGERS BLOCK ROAD IN PROTEST OF VJ BLOCKADE
***"Montenegrins in a village near the border with Bosnia are blockading a
road in the area in protest against the Yugoslav army's closure of the route
to traffic from Montenegro, local media said on Thursday. Villagers of
Toljevina in western Montenegro erected a stone barricade two days ago in
protest against the army's month-long blockade of a road leading to
Republika Srpska, the Serb entity in Bosnia, Podgorica pro-government daily
Vijesti said. 'The army checkpoint not far from here towards the border
crossing of Biteljica has existed since 1991 and that is OK. But a month ago
they (the army) blocked the road with stones,' it quoted Mirko Djedovic from
Gornje Crkvice village as saying. 'Even that was not enough, so they put up
another stone blockade 15 days ago,' he added. 'Neighbors relatives' friends
and we have woods and land on the other side of the border. Our hay is
rotting there because we cannot bring it back,' Djedovic said. He said after
numerous requests for free passage to be restored were ignored, the
villagers organized their own blockade. 'If we can't go there, then they
can't come here.' Tensions rose when the army sent in a truckload of
soldiers to remove the rocks from the road two days ago. Vijesti quoted a
villager as saying an army officer ordered the soldiers to line up with
their weapons at the ready when villagers staged a sit-in on their stone
barricades. The incident ended peacefully after an exchange of insults,
followed by negotiations, which included the police. But villagers said they
would not remove their barricade until the road was reopened. Djedovic said
the army explained the blockade as necessary, citing 'some kind of threat
from Republika Srpska' and cross-border smuggling. The report could not be
independently confirmed." (Reuters, July 13)
***"The mayor of Niksic, Milorad Drljevic, has said that the tense situation
created in the border area of Niksic municipality [central Montenegro] after
the Yugoslav Army blocked the road to Bileca [Bosnian Serb Republic] will be
overcome. During the talks with senior army officials, it was agreed that
the Montenegrin Interior Ministry should issue the inhabitants of the border
area laissez passers, so that they can cross into the Serb Republic,
Drljevic said." (FoNet news agency, July 22)
KARADZIC ON RS-MONTENEGRO BORDER?
***"Bosnia's most wanted war-crimes suspect, former Bosnian Serb war-time
leader Radovan Karadzic, is hiding in a mountain on the border between
Bosnia and Montenegro, a Sarajevo daily reported Tuesday. Karadzic is hiding
in the Vucevo Mountain, 70 kilometers (43 miles) southeast of Sarajevo,
where he travels around in a 'luxurious car followed by a truck with ten to
15 people,' Dnevni Avaz daily said quoting unnamed sources. The Vucevo
Mountain is on the border with Montenegro, some 45 kilometers (28 miles)
from the village of Petnjica where Karadzic was born...Recent press reports
in Sarajevo claimed that Karadzic was hiding near the eastern Bosnian town
of Foca, 20 kilometers (12 miles) north of the Vucevo Mountain. However, an
analyst from the International Crisis Group (ICG), James Lyon, and said in
June that Karadzic had also been making frequent visits to Serbia." (Agence
France Presse, July 25)
BURZAN: VJ NO LONGER LEGITIMATE AUTHORITY...
***" 'The Yugoslav Army (VJ) is attempting to establish order in the unitary
stated called Serbia. Closing down the Bozaj border crossing is an
irresponsible act with respect to the safeguarding of peace. It is clear
that Belgrade has only one way of talking with Podgorica and this is through
threatening with a war. We do not want one, and despite their intentions we
shall safeguard the peace', said deputy prime minister of the Montenegrin
government, Dragisa Burzan in response to the latest provocations of the VJ
involving the closure of the border with Albania. By doing so, the VJ have
violated the agreement between Montenegro and Albania on the liberalization
of the circulation of people and goods. Concluding that the VJ has fully
entered into the sphere of the political, and by doing so revealed its
intentions, Burzan said that the VJ can no longer be considered a legitimate
authority in Montenegro. 'The VJ is imposing pressure on its own citizens
and it is clear that its intervention can only lead to chaos, and not to a
'successful mission in the service of the great dictator', argued Burzan. 'I
appeal to all the officers to refrain from taking action with is contrary to
the laws. It is their duty to reject carrying out such orders. Military
controls installed at border crossings are not compatible to the law', said
Burzan. He added that the officers who reject to carry out orders, which
violate the law, shall contributed to maintaining peace and shall secure
their personal moral integrity. Instigating tensions in Montenegro, is
according to Burzan, not only opposed to their responsibility as citizens,
but also to the function they are expected to carry out." (Vijesti daily
quoted by MNNews, July 25)
...VUJANOVIC DISAGREES
"[Interviewer:] 'Do you agree with the publicly stated view of some
politicians that the Yugoslav Army can no longer be seen a legitimate
authority in Montenegro?' [Prime Minister Filip Vujanovic:] 'I do not agree
with such a view. I believe the VJ should be perceived as the Army of all
citizens, and that one part of the officer personnel which is susceptible to
being exploited should be told that such exploitation is recognizable and
shall be prevented." (Vijesti daily quoted by MNNews, July 27)
BELGRADE AGREES TO CHINESE CONSULATE IN PODGORICA
***"The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia has given its consent to the opening
of the consulate of the People's Republic of China in Podgorica, the Federal
Ministry of Information has announced. The consulate will 'facilitate the
further improvement of cooperation with friendly China, whose citizens live
and work in Montenegro'. The consent was given 'on the basis of an agreement
between the two governments, in line with which the Yugoslav consulate was
opened in Shanghai.' " (FoNet independent news agency, July 14)
DJUKANOVIC TO MEET MILOSEVIC?
***"FRY President Slobodan Milosevic will most probably, within the next ten
or so days invite Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic to Belgrade for
talks, reported the Belgrade non-governmental media on Saturday, citing the
Nezavisne Novine daily of Banjaluka, in Republika Srpska. Saturday's Danas,
however, cites Djukanovic's advisor Miodrag Vukovic who immediately denied
any possibility of such a meeting taking place. Quoting sources close to the
Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) leadership, the Nezavisne Novine states that
'Milosevic will propose only one topic of discussion: the survival of the
Yugoslav federation'. 'It is quite possible that the Milosevic-Djukanovic
meeting will be held under the guise of a meeting of the republican
presidents with the federal president. It is, therefore possible that
Serbian President Milan Milutinovic will take part in the talks as well',
the Nezavisne Novine writes." (V.I.P. Daily News Report, July 25)
***"Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic has told the Belgrade-based daily
Glas Javnosti that he would definitely accept an invitation to attend
tete-a-tete talks with Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic, with the topic
being defined prior to the meeting. Milosevic is still the president of the
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia FRY, Djukanovic recalled...Over the past
decade, the third Yugoslavia has shown a complete lack of promise and it is
incompatible with Montenegrin interests, Djukanovic said and added that this
was why the independence project, promoted by the Liberal Alliance of
Montenegro, was a realistic option today. He said that Montenegro was still
an integral part of the federal state despite the fact that Milosevic was
constantly pushing it out with his policy. Djukanovic expressed his doubts
regarding the Serbian oppositions' chance of an election victory." (Radio
B2-92, July 17) "The two men have not met for more than 18 months and
relations between Serbia and Montenegro took another sour turn a week ago
when the Montenegrin parliament rejected changes to the Yugoslav
constitution pushed through by Milosevic's allies." (Reuters, July 17)
III. INTERNAL TENSIONS
SNP-DPS TO BEGIN DIALOGUE?
***"The ruling, pro-Western, coalition in Yugoslavia's smaller republic,
Montenegro, said it would open dialogue with rival hard-liners loyal to
federal President Slobodan Milosevic to try resolve disputes in the
crumbling federation. Svetozar Marovic, the speaker in Montenegro's
parliament, said the republic's ruling Democratic Party of Socialists may
open talks soon with the Socialist People's Party about under what
conditions Montenegro may stay allied with Serbia or become independent. 'If
they really want talks, we'll talk ... we offer that the talks start as
early as next week,' Marovic said, responding to a recent offer from the
rival camp." (Associated Press, July 15) "The SNP, the main, pro-Milosevic
opposition movement in Montenegro, has also demanded the start of a
'dialogue' with Djukanovic's Democratic Party of Socialists. For Predrag
Bulatovic, the SNP top official, independence can not be imposed 'except by
force,' on an electorate which is largely hostile towards the issue.
Djukanovic's top advisor Miodrag Vukovic confirmed this reality: 60 percent
of the Montenegrins were in favor of existing links with Serbia, while 40
percent support independence, he said. For pro-independence partisans,
Djukanovic and his party should reshuffle its program, which does not favor
the independence of Montenegro, but a 'modernization' of relations between
Belgrade and Podgorica." (Agence France Presse, July 15)
*** "President of the Democratic Party of Socialists Executive Board and
Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic's legal advisor Miodrag Vukovic [said]
'Talks between representatives of Montenegrin parties must be held on the
level of party deputies, but cannot end with an agreement between the
parties. They must end in the Parliament, the place in which final decisions
are made. One must have in mind that SNP [Socialist People's Party] is
neither an authentic nor an autonomous party. It does, however, have a
significant part of the electorate, unfortunately, of a not very modern and
emancipated one. The organizing and bringing to life of archaic and parish
Tribal parliaments is proof of this. Our reality is somewhat different.' "
(V.I.P. Daily News Report, July 26)
SNP MEMBER PROTESTS BELGRADE "EXPLOITATIONS"
***"Dragan Koprivica, a representative in the Montenegrin Parliament and a
member of the Main Board of the Socialist People's Party (SNP) has supported
the position taken by the Montenegrin University, which has sharply
protested against the violations on the FRY Constitution and the
exploitations of the federal bodies at the expense of Montenegro. In an
interview with Radio Free Europe, Dr Koprivica who is also a professor at
the Social Science Faculty in Niksic said that his view as a professor and
as a politician does not differ from the position taken by the University.
Dr. Koprivica said that it would be ridiculous for him to dispute the
position adopted by the University at which he lectures and added: 'If the
announcement by the University is carefully read it is clear that the
University supports the resolution of the problems caused by the
constitutional changes through democratic means and through the calming down
of political tensions. Therefore, in this context, my view, as a university
professor and as a politician is not different from this view', said
Professor Koprivica. He also expressed 'deep conviction that the opposition
in Serbia and the governing coalition in Montenegro shall participate in the
federal elections and that 'this is exactly what can contribute to the
lowering of tensions in FRY.' " (Vijesti daily quoted by MNNews, July 27)
JUL MEETS IN HERCEG NOVI
***"A meeting of the JUL coordinating body has been held in Herceg Novi. The
topic of the meeting was the current political, economic and security
situation in Montenegro, it was stated at the JUL headquarters in Podgorica.
The upcoming JUL activities in Montenegro were discussed too, as well as the
implementation of the 'JUL in July' event. Zoran Babic, secretary of the JUL
main committee, presided over the meeting, which was also dedicated to the
organization and election of a coordinator for the JUL regional and communal
committees in Montenegro." [see top quote for Babic speech] (Tanjug state
press agency, July 14)CLANS AGAIN WARN AGAINST INDEPENDENCE
***"A news conference was held today by an organization, which calls itself
the council of clans' assemblies. As is customary for their statements, they
again warned the citizens of Montenegro not to follow the path of state
independence: [Milovan Rasovic, secretary of the Council of People's
Assemblies of Montenegro said:] 'The strategy of destroying the unity of a
state-building nation and offending the religious feelings of the Orthodox
people in Montenegro carries a risk of serious consequences which could
threaten Montenegro's future. Attempts to decide on the legal status of
Montenegro as a state -with unprecedented pressure and support from profaned
international organizations, using the votes of homogenized national
minorities which have always fought against Montenegro's statehood and its
community with Serbia - cannot be accepted and will receive an adequate
response from the people who want to defend their state.' " (TV Crna
Gora-Podgorica, July 21)
CRISIS "POLARIZING SOCIETY"
***"The ties which bind the two republics are too intricate ever to be
unrevealed, sixty-year-old Andja argues, plus she doubts whether Montenegro
could ever survive on its own. Anxious that her world could soon fragment,
she supports the Socialist Peoples Party, SNP, of Yugoslav Prime Minister,
Momir Bulatovic, and vents her anger against villagers who think
otherwise...Montenegrin society is rapidly polarizing between these two
positions, with Momir Bulatovic's supporters enlisting in the reserve units
of the Yugoslav Army, while young men who favor independence are hastily
joining Montenegrin reserve police units, which fall under the direct
command of Milo Djukanovic...Pro-independence Montenegrins are incensed by
what they see as another of Milosevic's attempts to consolidate his power
base and marginalize Montenegro. 'I think that Montenegro should go its own
way. The only way I could support the union between Montenegro and Serbia
would be to call it Monte Serbia,' jokes twenty-four-year old Sandra, a
student from Podgorica. Many Montenegrins perceive the constitutional
reforms as the latest proof that Montenegro can never be an equal partner in
Yugoslavia." (IWPR Balkan Crisis Report, July 25)
WAR BY REMOTE CONTROL?
***"Local analysts agree that Milosevic wouldn't need to send in the
Yugoslav Army to block independence. With opposing forces in place on the
ground, he could provoke bloodshed by remote control from Belgrade.
However, just like their counterparts in Croatia and Bosnia before them,
ordinary Montenegrins seem blissfully unaware that they may be on the brink
of a conflict. As August beckons, most are thinking of a long hot summer by
the sea and want to postpone all thought of Yugoslav politics till the
autumn." (IWPR Balkan Crisis Report, July 25)
FRY & MONTENEGRO REFUSE TO REGISTER SANDZAK PARTY
***"The Bosnian Democratic Party of Sandzak has said that the Federal
Justice Ministry has refused to register the party because of its name. The
statement said the ministry had asked that the name be changed because
'there are no Bosnians (Muslims) on its (Yugoslav) territory and there is no
territorial unit called Sandzak'. The statement added that Montenegro had
also refused to register the party, explaining that Sandzak stretched across
both republics and that the party should be registered at federal level. The
statement said such decisions by the two ministries showed that both the
federal and Montenegrin governments 'have the same attitude where Bosnians
and Sandzak are concerned, regardless of the current political debate'. The
Serbian Justice Ministry had registered the party in 1996, the statement
said." (FoNet news agency, July 14)
IV. INTERNATIONAL
ROBERTSON: "NATO IS WATCHING"
***"NATO is watching not only in Kosovo, but in Montenegro as well. The
Djukanovic government is committed to democratic practice, ethnic tolerance,
and co-operation with Montenegro's neighbours and the international
community. On the contrary, Milosevic's past adventures have only brought
disaster and decline to Serbia. NATO has already shown its determination and
strength of will, and that is something President Milosevic should always
keep in mind." (statement, Lord George Robertson, NATO Secretary General,
July 27) " 'The situation in Montenegro is very worrying,' George Robertson,
secretary-general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, said in Paris
on Thursday after meeting with French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin. 'I again
repeat my warning to President Milosevic not to make mistakes that he has
made in the past and not to continue to undermine the elected government of
Montenegro, ' Robertson added." (Los Angeles Times, July 28)
CLINTON, SCHRODER: "MILOSEVIC TRIED TO UNDERMINE MONTENEGRO"
***"US President Bill Clinton and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder on
Friday hailed the progress made in the Balkans a year after they launched a
stability pact there but warned that Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic
remains a regional threat...'In his effort to cling to power, Slobodan
Milosevic has launched an assault against Yugoslavia's constitution and
tried to undermine the democratic development of Montenegro, ' they warned."
(Agence France Presse, July)
DJUKANOVIC PROMISES MIDDLE COURSE IN PARIS, BERLIN
***"German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer said in Berlin on 25 July that
his government supports moves by Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic aimed
at promoting democracy and market reforms. Fischer did not, however, make
any concrete promises of assistance for his guest. For his part, Djukanovic
pledged to avoid provoking Milosevic or doing anything that could lead to a
new conflict." (RFE/RL Newsline, July 26) "The message to Montenegrin
President Milo Djukanovic from his hosts in Berlin, German Chancellor
Gerhard Schroeder and Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer, was that Germany
will continue to give strong political and economic support to democratic
authorities in Montenegro... [Djukanovic:] 'Montenegro has convincingly
demonstrated consistency and continuity of its state policy. This not only
shows prudence and tolerance of our state policy, but also determination not
to accept the humiliation of Montenegro by the Belgrade regime. I would like
to say sincerely that Montenegro will not take any steps which might provoke
a fresh war in the Balkans, but also to underline that we have no intention
of giving up or making compromises on democratization, economic reforms and
on opening up Montenegro to European and transatlantic integration. In any
case, Montenegro will be a democratic, multiethnic European state, with or
without Serbia. It is of utmost importance that Montenegro should now be
given support by the European structures. During our last talks in April, I
told Mr Fischer that now was the right time for diplomacy, as to avoid a
situation whereby talks between the defence ministers would be more
appropriate then talks between foreign ministers." (Radio Montenegro, July
27)
***"[French Foreign Minister Hubert] Védrine expressed his solidarity with
and support for President Djukanovic and Montenegro following Milosevic's
constitutional maneuvering. He commended the firmness and wisdom of the
Montenegrin president's policy. The minister assured his guest that we will
continue this policy throughout our presidency of the Union and will remain
in close contact with President Djukanovic in the next few weeks. The
minister also confirmed that Mr. Djukanovic would be invited to the
EU-Balkans summit in Zagreb in November." (French Foreign Ministry
spokesperson, July 27) "The government in Paris has offered unreserved
support to the Montenegrin authorities in their efforts to resist attempts
by Milosevic's regime and his supporters to destabilize Montenegro...An
explosive situation - that is how the current state of relations between
Serbia and Montenegro is called in Europe - is the reason for [Montenegrin
President] Milo Djukanovic's visit to Berlin and Paris today. The
Montenegrin president had one-hour talks with French Foreign Minister Hubert
Vedrine at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. After the talks behind
closed doors, the Montenegrin president and the French foreign minister
addressed journalists. [Djukanovic:] '...It is very important that we have
received relevant support from the EU and the international community as a
whole for the implementation of such a state policy. I am convinced that
France will continue to offer support - on bilateral basis and as the
country holding the current presidency of the EU - to our project of the
democratization and economic development of Montenegro.' " (TV Crna Gora,
July 27)
DJUKANOVIC: CLOSE TO WORLD BANK, EIB "PARTNERSHIPS"
***" 'Montenegro is close to being accepted as a partner of the European
Investment Bank and the World Bank. The road to enabling Montenegro,
despite the fact that it is part of Yugoslavia, access to international
financial organizations in order to finance its development projects
effectively, has nearly been agreed. Until then, the only realistic assets
can come from the privatization of Jugopetrol, The Tobacco Company and The
Telekom through which fresh cash can be obtained for new investments. It is
necessary to carefully decide which package of shares from the few large
companies should be entered into the foreign market, but it is also
illogical to have buyers, but to continue to struggle with cash at the state
level', said president Djukanovic during his visit to Jugopetrol centered
around the privatization of this company. The General Director of
Jugopetrol, Nikola Dragomanovic, proposed that the state remains the
dominant owner after privatization. 'Jugopetrol contributes to one third of
the state budget through taxes. Its value is not high in terms of existing
capacities, but is high in the market which is to continually increase,
because of the geographical position of Montenegro, especially if the
planned highways are built', said Dragomanovic. The Jugopetrol General
Director proposed that the price of oil is determined by a new methodology
which will be linked to the price of unrefined oil on the international
market, and that small-scale consumers who consume around 20 liters per
month are protected at the expense of large consumers." (Vijesti daily
quoted by MNNews, July 25)
***"We are now providing 55 million euros to Montenegro this year, 20
million euros for infrastructure and institution building, 20 million euros
in budgetary assistance to help pay pensions and social welfare payments, 10
million euros in food security and 5 million euros in humanitarian
assistance. These are sizeable sums for a community of 600,000 people but
justified to assist, as I believe they are doing, in stabilising the
situation." (speech, Chris Patten, European Commissioner for External
Relations, July 7-London)
MONTENEGRO CHALLENGES FRY AT UN
***"Montenegro has informed the UN Security Council of its tense relations
with Serbia, following constitutional changes adopted by allies of Yugoslav
President Slobodan Milosevic, a daily reported Saturday. The Montenegrin
government passed to the UN top body the documents, adopted by its
parliament, which harshly accused its senior partner in the Yugoslav
federation, Serbia, of attempts to provoke a civil war. One of the two
documents was the resolution adopted by the Montenegrin parliament on July
9, which had rejected the changes, adopted by Milosevic's allies in
Belgrade, which have seriously downgraded the position of Montenegro...The
other document, sent to the UN through Slovenia's mission in the world
organization, insisted that certain Yugoslav institutions, notably the army
and the police, 'do not hesitate from attempts to provoke internal
conflicts... which might lead to a civil war.' The reformist government of
Montenegro accused Belgrade of trying to 'economically exhaust' the
republic, in a bid to 'destabilize it on the political level' and to
'overthrow its democratically-elected authorities.' It insisted that
Montenegrin representatives were excluded from the 1999 negotiations over
the Kosovo crisis, whose failure led to NATO bombing campaign on Yugoslavia.
And Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic had not been invited to the
sessions of the top Yugoslav defense body, the supreme defense council,
which 'has made decisions in his absence,' the document said. The Yugoslav
Army has, sometimes, also been trying to deprive the Montenegrin authorities
of their 'prerogatives,' the document said. It also insisted that the
officials representing Montenegro in the joint bodies -- members of
pro-Milosevic parties in the republic -- were 'illegally elected.' " (Agence
France Presse, July 16)
SLOVENIA HELPS MONTENEGRO LOBBY U.N. FOR STATUS
***"From his one-bedroom apartment in midtown Manhattan, Zeljko Perovic has
begun a campaign to give Montenegro a greater voice at the United Nations,
setting up a one-man 'mission' and getting himself invited to U.N.
meetings...Montenegro has no independent legal status at the United Nations.
Montenegro and Serbia are represented together by Belgrade's U.N.
mission...Montenegro is seeking to increase its own diplomatic visibility
and garner support for its pro-Western cause. 'We have to protect our
interests,' said Perovic...Montenegro is finding support in its campaign
from the four former republics that separated from Belgrade in the early
1990s: Slovenia, Croatia, Macedonia and Bosnia-Herzegovina...Slovenia's
deputy U.N. ambassador, Samuel Zbogar, said Friday that his government had
decided to help Montenegro gain greater visibility at the United Nations
because Belgrade wasn't representing its interests here. That support
includes circulating letters to U.N. ambassadors on behalf of Montenegro and
inviting Perovic and other Montenegrin officials to the United Nations as
'guests' of the Slovene mission...'They are the democratic light in
Yugoslavia and you have to support that,' Zbogar said in an interview.
Yugoslavia's representative at the United Nations, Vladislav Jovanovic, has
bitterly complained about what he calls Slovenia's interference in Yugoslav
internal affairs. He has also dismissed Montenegro's quest for official, or
even unofficial, recognition at the organization. 'Parts of member states
are not entitled to have any official or semi-official mission within the
U.N. The appearance of one person claiming to represent Montenegro in the
U.N. is totally private business and doesn't have anything to do with the
U.N. membership,' he said in an interview. Indeed, as a part of Yugoslavia,
Montenegro cannot be recognized as an independent U.N. member state. It
probably couldn't even get 'observer' status, which has been granted to
entities such as the Palestine Liberation Organization...Zbogar and Perovic
said they were looking into ways to allow Montenegro to have some type of
other accreditation at the United Nations - or at least be given the same
type of access as Belgrade's U.N. representatives...The United States,
Britain and the four former Yugoslav republics have demanded that Belgrade
apply for membership as a new country. Belgrade has so far refused, arguing
that the independence of its republics didn't affect the 'continuity' of the
country. Last month, U.S. Ambassador Richard Holbrooke raised Yugoslavia's
disputed status as one reason for limiting its access to U.N. meetings. He
successfully got the Security Council to block Jovanovic from participating
in a council debate on the Balkans, primarily on grounds that Milosevic and
other key leaders have been indicted for war crimes. Montenegro's foreign
minister, Branko Lukovac, attended the Security Council debate as a guest of
Slovenia, Zbogar said." (Associated Press, July 15)
BERLIN: REQUEST FOR UN STATUS "UNREALISTIC"
***"Berlin supports the Montenegrin Government's efforts to present its
positions before the UN, but the Foreign Ministry reminds that, only
recently, with Slovenian's help, Montenegro was given a chance to explain
its stands before the UN Security Council. As the sources from the German
Foreign Ministry claim, Berlin has in mind 'the fact that Montenegro is only
a part of a state, and not an independent state'. Based on that, it was
found in Berlin that any requests and efforts to formally define
Montenegro's status with UN are unrealistic." (V.I.P. Daily News Report,
July 20)
VUJANOVIC RECEIVES AUSTRALIAN AMBASSADOR
***"The Montenegrin premier Filip Vujanovic received yesterday in Podgorica
Mr. Charles Stewart, the ambassador of Australia in FRY. The ambassador
Stewart showed the interest for the actual political and economical
situation in Montenegro, and he emphasized the full readiness of the
Australian embassy to support the reforms in Montenegro. The Montenegrin
Premier informed the Australian ambassador with the economical and social
situation in Montenegro. 'Bilateral cooperation should certainly be improved
since Australia is highly developed industrial country where the numerous
Montenegrin Diaspora exist. The Montenegrin minister of foreign affairs
Branko Lukovac also received Ambassador Stewart." (Pobjeda daily quoted by
MNNews, July 25)
COE OFFICIAL IN PODGORICA
***"The President's adviser for foreign policy Milan Rocen received the
special representative of the Council of Europe secretary general in
Montenegro Eva Tomic. They mutually emphasized the significance of the
presence of the Council of Europe in Montenegro and the significance of
establishing the firmer relations between Podgorica and Strasbourg in
realizing the projects of reforms and democratization. Eva Tomic informed
that the Secretary General of the Council of Europe Walter Schwimmer would
visit Montenegro. They also talked about the actual political situation in
Montenegro and relations within the Yugoslav federation." (Pobjeda daily
quoted by MNNews, July 25)
V. REGIONAL RELATIONS
MACEDONIA TO OPEN CONSULAR OFFICE IN PODGORICA
***"The letter by which the intent of the Macedonian government is approved
arrived last week in the Macedonian Foreign Affairs Ministry. Since there
already is a government decision to open an office in Podgorica and now
Belgrade has given the 'green light', the procedure for opening the
consulate can start. The procedure starts after a representative of the
Macedonian government contacts the government of Montenegro.
Sources...expect by the end of this month an official Macedonian
representative to leave for Podgorica. Then follows coordination with the
Montenegrin government that should provide a location for the consulate.
With this permit, issued by the Yugoslav government, we hope public
speculations will stop that the opening of our consulate in Podgorica would
deteriorate the relations between Macedonia and Yugoslavia." (MIC news
bulletin-Skopje, July 20)
HEAD OF SLOVENIA'S MISSION NAMED
***"The Slovene Foreign Ministry has appointed Stefan Cigoj, an
undersecretary at this ministry, head of the Slovene cultural and
information centre in Montenegro. Slovene Foreign Minister Alojz Petrel
confirmed at a news conference today that Cigoj would take up the post on
1st September. Cigoj was a professional diplomat for many years in former
Yugoslavia and the Yugoslav ambassador to the Vatican. Since Slovenia's
independence, he has been an undersecretary at the Foreign Ministry. In
Slovenia he is considered one of the leading experts on southeastern Europe.
Montenegro has had an office for promotion of cooperation with Slovenia in
Ljubljana for some time now. The office is headed by Branko Perovic, former
Montenegrin foreign minister." (Beta news agency, July 27)
MONTENEGRO SUPPORTS AUTONOMY FOR VOJVODINA
***"The Montenegrin government have expressed their support for the proposed
special status of the northern Serbian region of Vojvodina, chairman of the
Vojvodina Coalition Dragan Veselinov told B2-92 today. Veselinov said that
Montenegrin officials had agreed that in a future constitution, Vojvodina
must have the status of federal autonomy, within both Serbia and
Yugoslavia." (Radio B2-92, July 15)
VI. ECONOMY
PODGORICA DEVALUES DINAR
***"From today, the official exchange rate of the German mark in relation to
the dinar in Montenegro is 25 dinars to one German mark. The adjustment of
the exchange rate from 24 to 25 dinars to one German mark has taken place
due to the increased amount of dinars which are entering Montenegro through
known channels, the vice-governor of the Montenegrin National Bank, Milojica
Dakic, said explaining the Monetary Council's decision." (Radio
Montenegro-Podgorica, July 25) "The level of the money supply and trends on
the interbank market were cited as reasons for changing the exchange rate.
According to figures revealed by the National Bank of Montenegro, the total
money supply in hard currency in the accounts of the Montenegrin banks until
July 20 amounted to about 91 million deutschemarks, while the dinar supply
totaled about 15 million dinars." (V.I.P. Daily News Report, July 26)
DINARS ONLY 5% OF MONEY SUPPLY
***"Milojica Dakic, vice-governor of the National Bank of Montenegro, said
that Yugoslav dinars now account for only 1 percent of all the money in bank
accounts in Montenegro and for 5 percent of the entire money supply, Vijesti
reports on Friday. 'The shares of dinars and deutschemarks in the money
supply change daily, but one can say that there is 80 deutschemarks million
in Montenegro now controlled by the National Bank of Montenegro. To this sum
we should add the cash owned by citizens, which is estimated at 50 million
deutschemarks. The dinar money supply in bank accounts amounts to about 90
million, which equals 2.5 million deutschemarks, while there is about 12
million dinars in cash in circulation,' said Dakic. He added that dinars
could easily be converted into foreign currency if the dinar were to be
officially withdrawn from circulation because there are few dinars in
circulation now, but he said that this is primarily a political question,
i.e. that it is up to the Montenegrin authorities to reach such a decision.
Dakic said that the share of dinars is at the lowest level since November
last year, when the dual-currency system was officially introduced in
Montenegro." (V.I.P.Weekly Economic Bulletin-Belgrade, July 20)
AVERAGE MONTHLY WAGE UP
***"The average net wage in Montenegro in June was 189 deutschemarks,
Montenegro's Bureau of Statistics reports, according to Podgorica papers.
The average June wage was 157 deutschemarks in the production sector and 250
deutschemarks in the service sector. The real wages of workers in June were
0.6 percent higher. Compared to May, net wages were 0.5 percent higher - 9.6
percent in the production sector and 0.4 percent in the service sector. The
average net wage in Montenegro in the period January-June was 176 - 145
deutschemarks in the production sector and 241 deutschemarks in the service
sector." (V.I.P.Weekly Economic Bulletin, July 20)
