ZAGREB/VIENNA, May 24 (Hina) - Although it is still uncertain if talks on succession to the former Yugoslavia, which are being held in Vienna, will result in a concrete agreement, it is believed the delegations of five former Yugoslav
republics could reach agreement on some issues after two weeks of talks. Sources in the Croatian delegation say no agreement has been reached on any succession issue from the agenda of the Vienna talks, however, the delegations are still negotiating intensively. The Vienna talks started on May 14 and should be wrapped up by May 25. What underpins hopes that agreement will be reached is the fact that the international community, which mediates in the talks, is determined to bring the problem of succession to the former Yugoslav federation closer to a solution, after a number of fruitless years. The delegations participating in the talks are aware that stalling is of no use to any si
ZAGREB/VIENNA, May 24 (Hina) - Although it is still uncertain if
talks on succession to the former Yugoslavia, which are being held
in Vienna, will result in a concrete agreement, it is believed the
delegations of five former Yugoslav republics could reach
agreement on some issues after two weeks of talks.
Sources in the Croatian delegation say no agreement has been
reached on any succession issue from the agenda of the Vienna talks,
however, the delegations are still negotiating intensively.
The Vienna talks started on May 14 and should be wrapped up by May
25.
What underpins hopes that agreement will be reached is the fact that
the international community, which mediates in the talks, is
determined to bring the problem of succession to the former
Yugoslav federation closer to a solution, after a number of
fruitless years. The delegations participating in the talks are
aware that stalling is of no use to any side, however, reaching a
final agreement is made difficult by some delegations which are
insisting on solutions which are unacceptable to other
delegations.
Croatian representatives, which are led by Bozo Marendic,
expressed hope before the start of the talks that the delegations
could reach a consensus on the text of a General Agreement on
Succession, which is defined as a political-legal framework for the
adoption of solutions to some succession segments. These solutions
would subsequently be regulated with annexes.
Marendic was also optimistic regarding the division of archive
materials, an agreement on acquired (including ownership) rights
and, partially, regarding the division of real estate.
The agenda of the talks, set by international mediator Arthur
Watts, also includes pensions, intellectual property and assets
and liabilities of former Yugoslavia, with currency reserves being
the most sensitive issue. Last month's talks in Brussels resulted,
after years of obstruction on Yugoslavia's part, in the first
concrete agreement on the division of property from the Basel-based
Bank for International Settlements.
At the end of the talks, on Friday, Watts will hold a news conference
but since the delegations are still negotiating very intensively,
the exact time of the news conference is still not known.
(hina) rml