EU builds bridges with Yugoslavia

Yugoslavia needs EU support after the bombing

EU aid could be pouring into Yugoslavia within days to repair damage done by Nato planes during the Kosovo conflict.

Sanctions

Oil embargo lifted

Ban on flights removed

Visa ban remains

Suspension from international organisations remains

The move was announced by French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine after a meeting with new Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica.

Nato, including France, bombed Yugoslavia for 78 days last year to force Slobodan Milosevic to pull out troops from the province after months of war crimes against the majority Kosovo Albanians.

Mr Vedrine said the aid would help rebuild bridges over the Danube destroyed by Nato bombs last year and clear away debris which has been blocking river traffic.

He is the first senior official from a country that took part in the bombing campaign to visit Belgrade since the end of the Kosovo conflict.

Western countries are rushing to repair ties with Belgrade, which plummeted during Mr Milosevic's rule.

Refugees 'must return'

The EU's executive Commission proposed earlier this year to set aside 2.3 billion euros ($2 billion) in aid over the next six years in case Mr Milosevic was deposed.

Democratic changes in (Yugoslavia) can only have a positive effect in Kosovo

Hubert Vedrine

Mr Kostunica, who took over from Mr Milosevic following a popular uprising last week, said he hoped Yugoslavia would one day join the European Union.

And he did not think the "difficult" situation in Kosovo would harm international ties.

Mr Kostunica repeated that he supported the UN's presence in Kosovo and the aim of establishing extensive autonomy for Kosovo within Yugoslavia.

Hubert Vedrine: Dialogue in Belgrade

But he also called for the return of Serbs and other non-Albanians to their homes, in line with UN resolutions.

Serbs have continued to flee their homes since international forces took control of the province.

"Kosovo can be secure again only if the refugees return," said Mr Kostunica.

Embargo lifted

Details of the EU's aid packages are likely to be revealed at an EU summit in Biarritz at the end of the week, to which Mr Kostunica has been invited.

Foreign ministers appear to have quietly dropped demands that aid be conditional on Mr Milosevic being handed over to the International War Crimes Tribunal at The Hague.

On Monday, EU foreign ministers agreed to lift an oil embargo against Yugoslavia, imposed over its brutal crackdown against Kosovo Albanians.

In addition, moves have started to include Yugoslavia in the Balkan Stability Pact, launched last year by the major powers to help rebuild south-eastern Europe after a decade of War.

Pact co-ordinator Bodo Hombach will visit Belgrade on Wednesday to discuss Yugoslavia's admission to the programme.

Kostunica boost

Mr Kostunica refused to be drawn on questions about the future of Mr Milosevic.

He said that reconstruction and improving Belgrade's relations with Europe were more important to him now, and that the future of Mr Milosevic would depend on the Serb people and on Western leaders who in the past chose to do business with him.

On Monday, Mr Kostunica's position was further strengthened when the federal prime minister, Momir Bulatovic - a key Milosevic ally - resigned.

Kostunica: Resignations have strengthened his position

In a further blow to Mr Milosevic the powerful Serbian Interior Minister Vlajko Stojiljkovic - an indicted war criminal - also resigned at a session of the Serbian parliament.

In addition, the Serbian parliament, a power base for the supporters of Mr Milosevic, is to be dissolved with fresh elections provisionally called for 19 December.

There has been no new word on the whereabouts of the ousted president himself, following his television address in Belgrade on Friday.

On Monday Mr Milosevic's son Marko was turned back as he attempted to enter China, which had been seen as a possible bolthole for the family.

However, Russian journalists said he was not seen disembarking from the return flight from Beijing to Moscow.