Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, February 22, 1991 TAG: 9102220719
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-4 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: SARAJEVO, YUGOSLAVIA LENGTH: Short
The stakes at the fifth round of talks since January were raised after lawmakers in Croatia and Slovenia, Yugoslavia's most prosperous and most Western-oriented republics, passed resolutions this week formalizing secession plans.
They also gave their laws precedence over federal legislation.
The meeting was held today in this capital of the central, multi-ethnic republic of Bosnia-Heregovina. The last meeting in the national and Serbian capital Belgrade was marred by a Communist-orchestrated rally against Croatia, which boycotted the session, and a walkout by Slovenia.
"We must give up fruitless . . . quarrels about federation or confederation and concentrate instead on concrete issues," said Macedonian President Kiro Gligorov before today's meeting.
He said leaders should focus on ensuring a successful market economy, dividing federal and republican responsibilities in the fields of defense, foreign policy and respect of human rights.
To keep Slovenia and Croatia within Yugoslavia, Macedonia would propose the "dislocation" of some federal institutions and ministries to republican capitals, to limit the centralization of power in Belgrade, Gligorov said.
by CNB