BELGRADE MEDIA COMMENT ON CROATIAN PRESIDENT'S VISIT

BELGRADE, Sept 9 (Hina) - Reporting about Croatian President Stjepan Mesic's first official visit to Serbia and Montenegro, scheduled for Wednesday, the Belgrade media have highlighted Mesic's statement given to Serbian correspondents a few days ago that he would push for permanent cancellation of visa requirements for citizens of Serbia and Montenegro. #L# The press also carries yesterday's statement by Serbia and Montenegro's Foreign Minister Goran Svilanovic that he "very much appreciates Mesic's visit to Belgrade, which will be a good opportunity to openly discuss all issues", and his estimate that relations between the two countries had visibly advanced since the Milosevic regime was toppled in October 2000. The Belgrade-based daily "Danas" carries a statement by Mesic's foreign policy advisor, Tomislav Car, that the visit to Belgrade "has primarily political connotations", and should contribute to creating "a better atmosphere for the settlement of open issues". The local media report that tomorrow's talks will also address minority issues, succession to the former Yugoslavia, the restitution of registers of births, marriages and deaths, property-rights relations, transport corridors, river navigation, etc. The "Glas javnosti" daily announces Mesic's visit in an article on a dispute between the Croatian oil company INA and Serbia's "Beopetrol", headlined "INA In Belgrade Without Mesic". Some Belgrade media on Monday reported that Mesic would be heading a delegation including INA representatives, while Tuesday's issue of Glas javnosti quotes officials of the Serbian economy and privatisation ministry as saying that a meeting between INA officials and Minister Aleksandar Vlahovic has not been scheduled yet. This has been confirmed by the head of INA's public relations office, Josip Gojak, who has also stated that INA will not give up efforts to settle the dispute in accordance with the law. Croatian sources have said that Mesic will be accompanied only by state officials. (hina) rml