Issue Number 65, Vol. 4 August 31, 1998

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IN THIS ISSUE:

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-Monitor,Nezavisni and AIM on the most recent developments in the Kosovo conflict


-Danas on the Contact Group Kosovo autonomy proposals


-Danas on the Montenegrin views on the Kosovo autonomy


-Monitor on the current key political events in Albania


-Nezavisna Svetlost on the situation in the local mediain Republika Srpska and closing down of the SRNA news agency


-AIM on the conflict among the Bosnian Croats


-AIM on the misuse of appartments by the SDA party in Sarajevo


-AIM on the new political groupings among the Croatian opposition.

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Editorial


It seems that one phase of the conflict in Kosovo has been concluded in mid-August, when the Serbian security forces took over the control of the town of Junik, near the Albanian border. This strategic post was considered the last KLA stronghold.

Independent media from the region of former Yugoslavia, as well as the independent analysts whom we quote in this issue, have seen this speedy action of deblocking of roads and shrinking of KLA-held territory, in a more cautious light, and not only as a success of Serbian security forces and Serbian politics. But, this KLA defeat caused a division within its ranks, particularly between the military and the political wing, which has switched the balance from KLA towards classic political parties in Kosovo.

Particular attention of the political circles and the media has been given to the newest initiative of the Contact Group, dealing with “Autonomy +” of Kosovo, which is supposed to serve as a basis for negotiations between the conflicting sides.

In Montenegro, besides the serious humanitarian crisis caused by a large number of Kosovo refugees, the main attention of the political parties is focused on the discussion of the status of Kosovo in relation of the position of Montnegro in the Yugoslav federation.

The forthcoming elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina are being viewed through three streams of events; in Republika Srspka, it is the conflict between the governing coalition of Biljana Plavsic and Milorad Dodik and the SDS of Momicilo Krajisnik, reflected through the conflict concerning the media in Republika Srpska; among the Bosnian Croats it is another conflict - the one between the ruling HDZ headed by Ante Jelavic and the newly formed renegade party of Kresimir Zubak; in the Muslim part of the federation it is the scandal concerning the use of apartments of exiles by the SDA officials and those close to this party.

In Croatia, the most interesting event deals with speculations about the new coalition between two largest opposition parties, HSLS and SDP which have come up with its “Split agreement.