SERBIA: NIS: E-U AID

Описание: (7 Dec 1999) Serbo-Croat/Nat

Trucks carrying fuel funded by the European Union have arrived in the Yugoslav city of Nis, after Belgrade authorities delayed the convoy's arrival for almost two weeks.

The E-U is funding aid to the cities of Nis and Pirot, two places run by opponents of Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic.

It's a scheme aimed at bolstering the Serbian opposition by helping dozens of Serbian municipalities they control.

The 14 trucks waited here at the Nis Airport Tuesday for final customs clearance from Belgrade authorities.

The city of Nis is one of two main opposition strongholds in Serbia, and the E-U is keen to send both areas help to bolster their battle against Milosevic.

Some of the trucks were to proceed to the opposition-run city of Pirot once further customs formalities ended.

It's part of an E-U programme called "Energy for Democracy" that aims to undermine Milosevic's authority by giving support to his political opponents.

One of them, the mayor of Nis, was on hand for the convoy's arrival, and said he hoped Yugoslavia's authorities would "come to their senses" and cut the customs procedure to a minimum for future shipments.

SOUNDBITE: (Serbian)
"I am glad that Nis and Pirot will receive this oil for heating and I am glad that the possibility opens for other cities to get heating oil as well. I am only sorry that Milosevic is still trying to prevent the return of Serbia into Europe and the return of Europe to Serbia."
SUPER CAPTION: Zoran Zivkovic, Nis Mayor

The shipment of 350 tonnes of heating oil had been kept at Yugoslavia's border with Macedonia since November 24, despite protests both at home and abroad.

Authorities cited alleged breaches of legal procedure as the reason for not allowing the oil into the country.

Accusing Milosevic's government of politically motivated moves, the E-U last week decided to return the shipment to Macedonia.

But the Yugoslav government refused to allow the shipment out of the country unless the E-U first paid parking fees of 60 U-S dollars per truck per day, or close to 12-thousand U-S dollars in total.

It's not clear why Serb authorities relented, but temperatures in Yugoslavia are continuing to plunge as the winter months set in.

E-U officials say they hope to make the shipments a regular thing, a move expected to win them further support from the residents of Nis and Pirot.

Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter:   / ap_archive  
Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​
Instagram:   / apnews  


You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...