PRESS CONFERENCE SPONSORED BY FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA
Press Briefing
PRESS CONFERENCE SPONSORED BY FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA
19960911
FOR INFORMATION OF UNITED NATIONS SECRETARIAT ONLY
(SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO)
The time had come to lift international sanctions against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) and allow it to again continue its work with international organizations -- the United Nations in particular, Momir Bulatovic, President of the Republic of Montenegro, told correspondents this morning.
In a Headquarters press conference sponsored by the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro), President Bulatovic stressed that the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia had significantly contributed to the adoption and implementation of the peace agreement; it was now time to complete in good faith the process of normalization between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the other republics of the former Yugoslavia. He expressed optimism that all the former Yugoslav republics had "come out of the tunnel" and were now faced with the prospects of the promotion of democracy and economic development.
When asked if the solution to the problem of the Prevlaka peninsula should involve demilitarization or an exchange of territory, Mr. Bulatovic stated that the United Nations had achieved a very important objective in the area. The 28 unarmed monitors had helped create and preserve stability in a very sensitive region. The international monitors should remain in the region and the existing system of security should remain in force until the issue was resolved through negotiations. He hoped that negotiations would be successful as part of the overall normalization of relations with Croatia.
To a follow-up question about the specifics of resolving the Prevlaka situation, he went on to say that the peninsula should belong to the State which was the traditional national background for it. Croatia had never had sovereignty over that region. It had always been a strategic point and the location of military bases. In the dispute, the opinion of just one side was not the only factor. It was preferable for both sides to have an exchange which answered the interests of both States.
To what extent did Montenegro give support to the dream of Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic for a "Greater Serbia"? asked one correspondent. President Bulatovic said Montenegro did not find itself in the news about the bloodshed in the former Yugoslavia. It pursued a silent policy which led to compromise. He noted that Elisabeth Rehn, Special Rapporteur for the Human Rights Commission, following her visit to Montenegro, had stated that the situation of human rights there was better than anywhere in the region.
Bulatovic Press Conference - 2 - 11 September 1996
Montenegro's objective was to live peacefully with the Republic of Serbia in the federation. It had long favoured normalization of relations between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the neighbouring States, the promotion of democracy and peaceful solutions to all disputes.
He was then asked if it made sense for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to extend the Implementation Force (IFOR) for another two years. He replied that the presence of IFOR in Bosnia and Herzegovina was desirable, particularly at the present time, when the newly elected authorities should be stabilized. It could be said that there was no need for so many IFOR personnel, but that was an IFOR military decision. The decision to extend IFOR was based on a need to stabilize the political situation in the region.
To a query about whether fair elections were possible in Bosnia and Herzegovina, he responded by saying that the forthcoming elections were very useful and would mark the first phase of the overall stabilization of the State. Great efforts would still be required to continue the process of political stabilization. The advantages of holding the elections outweighed the problems; it was an important first step.
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