‘Friendly’ meeting in Belgrade

Press, 29 December 1988, Page 10

‘Friendly’ meeting in Belgrade

NZPA-AFP Belgrade Francis Millne, the new Australian Ambassador to Yugoslavia, has presented his credentials to President Raif Dizdarevic, the Tanjug news agency said. The meeting came only weeks after a diplomatic row between the countries sparked by the shooting of a 15-year-old Croatian demonstrator at the Yugoslav consulate in Sydney on November 27. Tanjug said the meeting between Mr Millne and President Dizdarevic was “friendly.” Mr Millne arrived in Belgrade in the middle of the row, which reached a peak on December 2 When the Australian Government ordered the closing of the Sydney consulate and the expulsion of its staff after the consul refused to hand over the security guard who allegedly shot and wounded the boy. Belgrade retaliated by ordering out three Australian diplomats. Diplomatic circles had earlier said Yugoslav authorities might delay accepting Mr Millne’s letters of credential. The fact that the ceremony had not been delayed indicated that Belgrade did not want to extend the row, they said.