Around the World

EU to lift sanctions against Yugoslavia

BRUSSELS, Belgium -The 15-nation European Union voted unanimously yesterday to start lifting sanctions against Yugoslavia, deciding to reward it's new democratic government immediately and to put off questions of whether former President Slobodan Milosevic might be sent abroad to face war crimes charges.

EU foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg agreed to remove an embargo on oil deliveries and a ban on commercial air travel to Yugoslavia, but they maintained a freeze on Belgrade government assets, and a selective ban on visas, to guard against any attempts by Milosevic or his associates to leave the country with stolen wealth.

The ministers said they were prepared to welcome a Yugoslavia run by newly inaugurated President Vojislav Kostunica back into the mainstream of European nations, and they dangled the promise of $2 billion in aid over the next seven years to help rebuild the country's economy, which was severely damaged by NATO bombing during last year's Kosovo war.

In a significant concession, the ministers indicated they would not seek to link the release of reconstruction aid to the early extradition of Milosevic to stand trial on war crimes charges before an international tribunal in The Hague.

Germany to soon ban neo-Nazi party

BERLIN - Intent on standing against neo-Nazis, Germany's top law enforcement official said yesterday there is enough evidence to seek a ban on a far-right party accused of fanning racial hatred blamed for recent attacks on foreigners and other minorities.

Interior Minister Otto Schily cited growing support for the move after meeting with the three German states who endorsed the government's drive to have the National Democratic Party declared unconstitutional.