President Slobodan Milosevic of the Republic of Serbia paid a one-day visit to Kosovo and Metohija on 25 June 1997. He was greeted at Prictina's Slatina airport by the highest officials of Kosovo and Metohija. Immediately upon his arrival at the airport, President Milosevic proceeded to King Milutin's Square in downtown Prictina where he addressed about 20,000 people from Prictina and elsewhere. Following a brief welcoming speech delivered by the Mayor of Prictina, Ducan Simic, President Milosevic took the floor and said: -
I'm very glad that I was given the opportunity to visit Prictina and some other towns of Kosovo and Metohija today, and I would like to thank you on behalf of my associates and in my own name for your cordial welcome, good wishes and warm greetings - said Milosevic and received a big applause. He continued by saying: - Our country has come out of its, I would say, most difficult crisis in its more recent history and greatest possible pressures applied to a country, so that it is now in a phase of intensive economic recovery paralleled by intensive reforms aimed at creating the conditions for modern, speeded-up development, higher employment, risen earnings and living standards and improvement of our economy and society as a whole, and for allowing it to catch up with the most developed countries of Europe by the end of this decade. In view of the fact that we have well-conceived programmes and very good and big material and intellectual potentialities, I am sure that this part of Serbia will make a significant contribution to that end, given its labour and natural resources, bearing in mind the fact that this town precisely has, I would say, one of the most reputable universities in the Balkans. I am hoping that these resources will contribute to a faster development of this part of Serbia, because it has to hurry up in order to reach the average rate of development in Serbia, since it is lagging considerably behind other parts of our Republic.
In view of its resources and capabilities precisely, Kosovo doesn't necessarily have to be poor, it doesn't have to be backward. On the contrary. In view of its available resources, Kosovo can become developed and I am sure that it is capable of and prepared for that, subject to a big effort put in not only by the people living here, but also that put in by and with the appropriate assistance of our whole republic. You can be sure that such assistance will not be lacking. -
Let me say a few more words about something which is, I am very sure, very well known to every citizen of Kosovo and Metohija, as well as to all citizens of Serbia. You know very well that the word Kosovo is often mentioned in connection with the pressures to which our country is subjected. In that context, I want to say that a policy of ethnic equality should prevail in this province, that the spirit of tolerance should prevail, that everything characterising a humane democratic society should prevail, and that under no pressure will we give up even an inch of Kosovo and Metohija. There has never been, nor will there ever be any talk on that subject. Neither have there ever been any doubts about that policy. We have accomplished everything you have talked about a few moments ago in pointing out the merits of the policy we have been conducting, because we lived in harmony and conducted a single policy in Serbia.
The greatest evil and hazard for this people, not only here, but also everywhere else they live, has always been the Serbian discord, manifest from the Battle of Kosovo onwards, throughout our history. I think that time has come for all those who wish their country and their people good to join forces in pursuit of the objectives we had set to ourselves concerning reforms and the country's development, and I think that this town, this district and Kosovo and Metohija as a whole should make their full contribution. In that respect, I wish you a lot of success and good co-operation with other parts of Serbia. All the best - concluded President Milosevic.
The citizens attending the rally carried posters with inscriptions such as the following ones: "Sloba - Yugoslavia", "Let's go on", "Slobo at the head of Yugoslavia", "Slobodan the President of Yugoslavia", "Move people into Kosovo", "Kosmet is the soul of security and heart of Serbia", "Sloba we love you", "Welcome Sloba", "Unified Serbia", "Peace, democracy and free Serbia", "Serbia and Montenegro - Yugoslavia"... State to Serve as a Good Example.
Before attending the rally in downtown Prictina, President Milosevic visited the Office of the Head of Prictina District, where he talked with representatives of the Republic Government, heads of several municipalities of Kosovo, as well as managers of major industrial systems. On that occasion, he said: -
You think that you are working more and better, but the results of such work are yet to be seen. As for the activity of government agencies, there shouldn't be any difference between this and other districts of Serbia. Therefore, everything has to be done in a lawful manner particularly in Kosovo because the likelihood of discrimination is greater there than in other parts of the Republic - several times greater at that. Our state must serve as an example of how government agencies should operate and we must be up to European standards in the respect. -
He stressed once again the necessity "of not only improving the activity of government agencies, but also of there being no discrimination in that activity". In speaking about the prospects of economic development of Kosovo and Metohija, Slobodan Milosevic said that this province has huge advantages over other parts of the country as far as economic development is concerned. -
The agricultural production, which has been showing a great viability in the past, has been degraded. However, with the exception of the viability of private farmers, Kosovo's agricultural sector has not scored the expected results. However, enormous importance is attached to the revival of the agricultural sector and development of the electric power industry. That is why I am hoping that a project involving the erection of two 240 MW thermal power stations will be started up soon. It is an absurdity that although Prictina lies on top of a coal field, it is being heated using heavy heating oil. I am hoping that you will finish this year the project you have started up and that Prictina will be heated using the sources available to it locally.-
At the end of these talks, President Milosevic said that the Provincial Development Directorate will be set up in Prictina soon, thus making a contribution to quicker development of Kosovo and Metohija.
Assistance Towards the Construction of the University Staff Housing Complex
Veljko Odalovic, Deputy Head of Prictina District, briefed the President on the activity of government agencies in Kosovo and Metohija and said that despite difficulties posed to economic development, the industries are well on their way towards eliminating them and improving this province's stability. Odalovic informed President Milosevic about the good performance shown by the security, judicial and other government agencies. In his talk with the President, Deputy Director General of the Electric Power Industry of Serbia, Petar Kostic, pointed at the big advantages of Kosovo and Metohija in the development of this branch. President Slobodan Milosevic visited also the University Staff Housing Complex building site, where the Prictina University is building, with the unselfish assistance of Serbian industries, 476 dwellings for the teachers and associates of all of the 14 Prictina University departments. Radivoje Papovic, President of the Prictina University, informed President Milosevic that the families of 68 members of the teaching staff have moved into the three wings built last year and that 478 more members of teaching staff are awaiting accommodation in this complex. According to Papovic, they altogether account for 95% of the total number of newly appointed University teachers and associates. He added that 14,500 students of the Prictina University are from places outside Kosovo and Metohija, which is why this university has acquired an all-Yugoslav character.
President Milosevic promised Papovic financial assistance towards completion of this housing complex and said that he is glad that an end has been put in that university to long-standing ignorance, incompetence and corruption. Having toured the University Staff Housing Complex, President Milosevic paid a visit to the Gra~anica Monastery, en route to Gnjilane. He was greeted in front of this monastery by a large group of locals. On the route from Prictina to Gnjilane, the column of cars stopped for a short while, giving President Milosevic an opportunity to speak to the gathered people. In front of the Graanica Monastery, which was built in 1310 and is preparing for the celebration of St.Vitus' Day, President Milosevic was given gifts - a painting and a goblin. He was given these gifts by the 68-year old Desanka Arsic as a token of gratitude to Milosevic for what he has done for this region, for the people of Kosovo and Metohija, as she told a Tanjug correspondent. Desanka Arsic said that the Kosovo Maiden goblin is the work of her daughter and that the painting depicting the Graanica Monastery was her personal gift to President Milosevic. Milosevic thanked her for the gifts and Desanka Arsic wished him a long life and good health. Major Reforms The citizens of Gnjilane and places in its neighbourhood served the traditional bread and salt to President Milosevic, and they carried many flags and posters with inscriptions such as: "Slobo the Serb, Kosovo is with you". "Kosovo and Metohija in Serbia for ever", "Milosevic for President of the FR of Yugoslavia"... -
I wish success to this district and Kosovo as a whole in the big job we have all taken on, to achieve a quick economic recovery and carry out major reforms which should lead us to better relations, circumstances and development, to a highly developed and successful country, which should be the case with our country at the end of this century - said Milosevic in Gnjilane.
In his address to a large number of citizens who had welcomed him excitedly at Prince Lazar's Square, the President of Serbia said: -
This is a district whose industries operated throughout the long-lived Yugoslav crisis. Neither has its agricultural sector been degraded too much. This is a markedly agricultural district and one of the five most important ones in Kosovo. I want to tell you that with regard to economic recovery and revival of the agricultural sector, as well as industrial development, we are going to take strong action towards improving the situation in the both areas which are of great importance for the development of this district, Kosovo and Serbia as a whole. In view of this district's advantages, I am hoping that already this year, you will be able to begin investing on a larger scale towards economic recovery, particularly in the field of livestock raising and hopefully, also in the industrial sector. I am expecting of you and all other citizens of this district to make a big contribution to the recovery of our economy and development of our country - said Milosevic.
After that, the President and some federal and republic government officials paid a visit to Jugoterm, a radiator and air-conditioning equipment factory in Gnjilane. Jugoterm's managing director, Milorad Durlevic, spoke to them about the good performance shown by this factory and placed an emphasis on its successful co-operation with Sartid of Smederevo. The co-ordinating minister in the Government of Serbia, Dragan Tomic, said that Jugoterm's expansion can be expected to take place parallel to the revival of housing construction.
Slobodan Milosevic said that he is sure that Jugoterm's refrigeration equipment will substitute the imported one because in addition to being of good quality, it is also cheaper. On that occasion, \ura Lazic, a minister in the Government of Serbia and local Socialist Party chairman, gave to President Milosevic the unique St.Vitus' Day Golden Plaque on behalf of the Gnjilane Municipality Assembly. He took the opportunity to thank President Milosevic for "everything he had done towards restoring peace and security in Kosovo". President Milosevic also visited the IBG Storage Battery Factory where he was briefed on its performance by its director Slavoljub Vujovic.
After Gnjilane, the President was hosted for a short while in the Municipality of [trpce, where he was welcomed by a large number of local citizens. In addressing the citizens, President Milosevic said:
- I am particularly pleased to see that there are many children here, which shows that this municipality is developing successfully and that it has a good future. It is beyond any doubt that we were not mistaken in forming a municipality here several years ago. That has made it possible for people in this district to express their interests more fully and to set the courses and objectives of development. Several successful plants have been erected here in the last few years and by the fact that this district was proclaimed a national park, a basis was created for a very intensive development of tourism and agriculture, which backs up tourism. In the next few months, we will have a complete development programme for this district, which should become one of the most attractive tourist districts in our country, a district in which thanks to agricultural development, people will not be leaving the villages and more children will be born.
On the road from Gnjilane to Prizren, the column of motorcars was stopped at several places by the locals who carried flags and posters. In the village of Partec, President Milosevic had a brief talk with Srboljub Mitrovic, a farmer, and in Vitina, he spoke with children. President Milosevic visited the Saint Archangels' Monastery near Prizren, where he was briefed about its restoration by Mihajlo Zivgarevic, chairman of the committee for this monastery's restoration, and Branislava Furjanovic, Head of Prizren District. President Milosevic was greeted in downtown Prizren by a large number of citizens headed by Ljubica Stefanovic, President of the Municipal Assembly, who delivered a welcoming speech. President Milosevic then addressed the gathered people and said: -
Citizens of Prizren, I am glad to be able to visit this old town and address all of you. I am sure that all of you want our reforms and programmes, our recovery, to be successful for the benefit of all citizens of our country. That is why I want to say precisely at this place and in this town what I think to be the most important. I say in this town because Serbs, Albanians, Muslims, Turks, Gypsies and others live in it in large numbers. That is why I think that this town and this district should serve as a good example of implementation of the policy of ethnic equality which will allow all people to live on equal terms and under humane conditions, in an atmosphere of mutual understanding conductive to the coexistence of all citizens. I'm sure that this is the sole key to living in this town and this district, and I would say, also the sole key to a successful life of any developed, civilised and progressive country at the end of the 20th century. - There can be no civilised, progressive and developed life - stressed the President - in a country like Serbia in which a wide variety of ethnic groups lives, if the policy of ethnic equality is not conducted consistently and fully. We are conducting that policy. We want it to get established so that basic progress can be made by all citizens, all families and all towns. Prizren should serve as an example of the implementation of such policy.
Resources should be Put to Good Use - I know what difficulties this district has experienced under sanctions and pressures, at the time of poverty. We are now implementing a big programme of recovery of the whole Serbia and I think that this part of Serbia, whose development level is far below the country's average, should be given appropriate assistance, which I'm sure it will get. I am also sure that you, citizens of Prizren, will manage to put the available resources to good use, which particularly goes for the most important ones: the human resources - concluded President Milosevic.
President Milosevic then toured the Progress Filament Factory. The manager of this factory, Miroslav Vu~kovic, briefed him on the operating results achieved by it. Slobodan Milosevic said that all employees in the textile industry who are on forced leave, should return to work soon. This will produce important social welfare impacts, although it will also contribute to the boosting of output and to overall progress. During his brief stay in \akovica, President Milosevic had a talk with Tun Kacnjeti, a farmer. Kacnjeti said that the best portion of local population earns its living by farming. Although farmers are having difficulties, their output is increasing from one year to another. He added that he is expecting a record-beating wheat harvest this year.
Construction of Nic-Prictina-Podgorica Road to Begin Next Year
President Milosevic arrived in Pec at 16:30 hours. Although this wasn't included in the programme of stay, he walked a hundred or so metres cheered by several thousand citizens of Pec and other places in Metohija. After helping himself to the offered traditional bread and salt, he addressed the citizens gathered in the central square of Pec, in front of the municipal assembly building. This is what he said on that occasion:
- I'm very glad to be able to greet you in this beautiful town in the heart of Metohija and to wish you a lot of success in this year of reforms of importance for the whole country, economic development, recovery, at a time when we are planning and making big steps towards changing life for the better. I'm sure that this district and town will make a big contribution to the effort being made by whole Serbia. I want to tell you a piece of news which is remarkably important for this town and district, as well as for other places. Namely, we are going to start up next year the construction of a motorway from Nic to the Coast of Montenegro, via Prictina, Pec, ^akor and Podgorica.
You will recollect that the President of Montenegro, Momir Bulatovic, and I discussed this matter several months ago, when we decided that it should be started from the northern section, the construction of which is already under way, from the Hungarian border to Feketici, and that the construction of this section, which is of enormous importance for whole Montenegro, Metohija, Kosovo, Southern Serbia and Serbia as a whole. I am sure that all citizens and families of Pec and Metohija will make their contribution to the development of this town and district, and that this town will serve as a good example of development, prosperity of the Metohija plain and our people. I wish you all a lot of success. Cheers!
Having delivered his address, President Milosevic talked with officials of Pec District in the Metohija Hotel. Jovo Popovic, Head of Pec District, briefed him on local economic developments. President Milosevic stressed that more care should be shown in this district for what brings people together, not what keeps them apart.
- In the reforms we are making, in the job we are committed to, we have an opportunity to mobilise and rally all creative forces in the country. I believe that you will benefit the most if you achieve a high degree of unity, both here and Metohija as a whole - said President Milosevic.
President Milosevic announced that the Government of the Republic of Serbia will shortly form a directorate for underdeveloped regions with head office in Prictina, so that the chief developmental objectives of this part of Serbia will be set in the course of summer. - I believe that you will make a very big contribution to that and I wish you a lot of success - said President Milosevic. President Milosevic was welcomed on behalf of the citizens of Pec and this part of Metohija by Dr Miladin Ivanovic, the Mayor of Pec and member of parliament, who also presented to the President the Charter of Honorary Pec Citizenship. That was the last event in President Milosevic's one-day visit to Kosovo and Metohija.
Z.Zejneli M.Laketic B.Radivojca P.Pacic POLITIKA, 26 June 1997