SARAJEVO TO HELP BOSNIA-YUGO RELATIONS SARAJEVO, Oct 21 (Hina) - Bosnian Foreign Minister Jadranko Prlic told Hina on Saturday Yugoslavia's new President Vojislav Kostunica would "most probably" visit Sarajevo on Sunday as part of his
private visit to the country. "This is the time for a new beginning and for giving a chance," Prlic said, adding private visits "as a rule, are used for meetings of a political nature." Tomorrow morning, Kostunica is to attend the reburial of Jovan Ducic, a Serb poet whose remains have been brought from the United States, in the southern-most Bosnian Serb town of Trebinje. "A variety of comments may be expected in connection with this visit to Bosnia at this pre-electoral time," said Prlic, but added he personally believed Kostunica's visit would be useful for future Bosnia-Yugoslavia relations and settling numerous open issues. Asked if Kostunica had decided to visit Sarajevo after meeting High Re
SARAJEVO, Oct 21 (Hina) - Bosnian Foreign Minister Jadranko Prlic
told Hina on Saturday Yugoslavia's new President Vojislav
Kostunica would "most probably" visit Sarajevo on Sunday as part of
his private visit to the country.
"This is the time for a new beginning and for giving a chance," Prlic
said, adding private visits "as a rule, are used for meetings of a
political nature."
Tomorrow morning, Kostunica is to attend the reburial of Jovan
Ducic, a Serb poet whose remains have been brought from the United
States, in the southern-most Bosnian Serb town of Trebinje.
"A variety of comments may be expected in connection with this visit
to Bosnia at this pre-electoral time," said Prlic, but added he
personally believed Kostunica's visit would be useful for future
Bosnia-Yugoslavia relations and settling numerous open issues.
Asked if Kostunica had decided to visit Sarajevo after meeting High
Representative for Bosnia Wolfgang Petrisch yesterday, Prlic said
the HR did play a certain role, but that the credit should go to
Jacques Klein, the chief of the United Nations Mission to Bosnia.
"Ambassador Jacques Klein's role was of key importance," he said.
Yugoslavia's new president himself today notified Prlic he would
arrive in Trebinje, saying it should be seen exclusively as a
"private attendance of a religious and cultural event."
"I have no intention of turning it into a political manifestation,"
Kostunica wrote in a letter. He reiterated willingness to engage in
improving Yugoslavia-Bosnia relations, primarily the
establishment of diplomatic relations.
"I hope this letter eliminates certain doubts which, contrary to my
wishes, arose in connection with this trip," wrote Kostunica in the
letter evidently wanting to explain that he recognised Bosnia as a
state and its institutions.
Bosnia's foreign minister answered immediately, saying he "with
understanding and hope took notice of the willingness to establish
diplomatic relations as soon as possible and settle open issues in
line with the Dayton accord."
Prlic pointed out, however, that Kostunica's trip to Trebinje
nevertheless left some open issues and doubts hanging.
(hina) ha