EASTERN EUROPEAN INTELLIGENCER

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79B00864A001200020035-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 9, 2006
• Sequence Number: 35
• Publication Date: November 3, 1972
• Content Type: STUDY

Approved For fe 2006/O WA 01200020035-9
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#206 EASTERN EUROPEAN INTELLIGENCER OCI #1001/72
3 Nov. 1972
Belgrade Concerned About Anti-Slovene Demonstrations in Austria
A month ago, the Austrian government placed bilingual
(German and Slovene) road signs in areas with large Slovene
minorities. Angry German citizens, however, tore down the
signs and in several emotional meetings with national and
local leaders have demonstrated their continuing opposition
to replacing the signs. The Yugoslav press has called the
demonstrations "anti-Slovene and anti-Yugoslav" and have
also raised the level of vituperation by labeling the demon-
strations as Nazi inspired.
The Yugoslav government has filed "a categorical demarche"
with Vienna in which Belgrade demanded the replacement of
signs, the suppression of anti-Slovene organizations in
Austria,and safeguarding of the full exercise of the Slovene
minority's rights already stipulated in a state treaty. These
demands strain Vienna's attempt to resolve the problem through
negotiation and compromise.
The Yugoslav presidential council on foreign affairs met
yesterday and all indications are that Belgrade is going
to keep up the pressure on the issue. Acting Foreign Minister
Jaksa Petric told a meeting of Slovene officials on the same
day that Belgrade may have to "internationalize" the situation,
presumably by taking the violations of the treaty to the UN or25X1
other international bodies. Such a move would be unfortunate
because the bilingual sign issue is virtually the only problem
marring relations between Austria and Yugoslavia.
Approved For Release 2006/0 / . T ffl FRIM98,,4 A001200020035-9