11.   Serbia was the dominant republic before Yugoslavia broke up, spinning off Bosnia, Croatia, Macedonia and Slovenia, and leaving Serbia and Montenegro as a rump state.

12.   He will also discuss the political and economic situation in the rump state of Serbia and Montenegro, they said.

13.   If the Serbs accept, they are promised an end to international sanctions against the rump Yugoslav state of Serbia and Montenegro.

14.   Belgrade had said it would recognize the other states only if the Serbia-Montenegro rump state was declared the sole inheritor of Yugoslavia.

15.   Bosnia and the rump state recognised each other last November while negotiating the Dayton peace accords but have made no further diplomatic advances since then.

16.   But the comeback of the Slavs, now comprising the rump state of Serbia and Montenegro, was the most heartwarming story.

17.   The rump Yugoslav state and Croatia pressed ahead Wednesday with last-minute negotiations to meet a deadline for bilateral recognition by the end of the week.

18.   The rump Yugoslav state Monday adopted an outline agreement on recognising the former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia, the Tanjug news agency said.

19.   Meanwhile, the former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia and the rump Yugoslav state comprising Serbia and Montenegro formally established diplomatic ties at a ceremony in Belgrade.

20.   On Wednesday he is to travel on to Sarajevo before continuing to Belgrade, the capital of the rump Yugoslav state.