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OMRI Daily Digest, Vol. 2, No. 128, 96-07-02
From: Open Media Research Institute <http://www.omri.cz>
Vol. 2, No. 128, 2 July 1996
CONTENTS
[A] TRANSCAUCASIA AND CENTRAL ASIA
[01] EUROPEAN PARLIAMENTARIANS TOUR TRANSCAUCASUS CAPITALS.
[02] RIGHT MONOPOLIZES TURKISH TIES TO CENTRAL ASIA.
[03] NIYAZOV ON RUSSIAN ELECTIONS, STATE ORDERS.
[04] OPPOSITION DEMOCRATS WIN BIG IN MONGOLIAN ELECTIONS.
[B] SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE
[05] KARADZIC NOMINATED FOR BOSNIAN SERB PRESIDENCY...
[07] NATIONALISTS WIN MOSTAR ELECTIONS.
[08] U.S. DOES NOT RULE OUT SANCTIONS IF KARADZIC STAYS IN OFFICE.
[09] MACEDONIAN ALBANIAN GROUPS ORGANIZE PROTEST RALLY.
[10] INFECTED CATTLE TO BE SLAUGHTERED IN MACEDONIA.
[11] U.S. FIRST LADY IN ROMANIA.
[12] SIGNING OF MOLDOVAN-DNIESTER PACT POSTPONED.
[13] MORE PRICE HIKES IN BULGARIA.
[14] BULGARIAN POLITICAL UPDATE.
[15] NEW ALBANIAN PARLIAMENT CONVENES.
[A] TRANSCAUCASIA AND CENTRAL ASIA
[01] EUROPEAN PARLIAMENTARIANS TOUR TRANSCAUCASUS CAPITALS.
Antonios Tracatelis, the head of a European Parliament delegation, told a
press conference in Yerevan at the end of a tour of Transcaucasus capitals
that a joint commission will be established to supervise implementation of the
cooperation and partnership agreement signed between Armenia and the EU, ITAR-
TASS reported on 1 July. Tracatelis expressed the hope that a fair solution
could be found to the Karabakh conflict which was the subject of discussion in
all three capitals. -- Liz Fuller
[02] RIGHT MONOPOLIZES TURKISH TIES TO CENTRAL ASIA.
Turkey's ultranationalists and religious right are well organized and
represented in the Turkophone republics of Central Asia and Azerbaijan,
according to parliamentarian Ahmet Ketenci, Cumhuriyet reported on 1 July.
The center-left deputy said three groups are active in Azerbaijan: those
connected with the pan-Turkist MHP (National Action Party of Alparslan Turkes),
the Islamist RP (Welfare Party of now Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan) and
those linked with Imam Fetullah Gulen (a controversial cleric also known as
Fetullah Hoca, who is involved in establishing dozens of middle schools in the
former Soviet Union and the Balkans). -- Lowell Bezanis
[03] NIYAZOV ON RUSSIAN ELECTIONS, STATE ORDERS.
Turkmenistan's President Saparmurad Niyazov has adopted a neutral posture on
Russia's presidential election, according to a 30 June RIA agency report
monitored by the BBC. Niyazov made it clear that Ashgabat seeks "good-
neighborly" relations with Moscow whoever is elected president. He also
pointed out that the two countries "don't have a single disputed or vague
issue" between them. Meanwhile, on 28 June Niyazov decreed that private
farmers are no longer required to sell their produce to the state at regulated
prices, ITAR-TASS reported on 30 June. The BBC monitored report indicated that
"strategic" types of produce (food, grain, and cotton) may only be sold on the
domestic market while others may be exported. The ruling applies only to
agricultural produce grown outside the state sector. -- Lowell Bezanis
[04] OPPOSITION DEMOCRATS WIN BIG IN MONGOLIAN ELECTIONS.
The 30 June elections to the Mongolian parliament, the Great Hural, proved a
surprise as the Democratic Union (DU) Coalition took 50 of 76 seats, Western
media reported. The Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP), which had
been in power since 1921 and still consisted of former communists, was
expected to maintain its majority in the Hural, but inflation and unemployment
persuaded voters to opt for change. The MPRP took 70 of the 76 seats in the
1992 elections. Among a field of 304 candidates the DU hoped simply to get 23
seats, enough for veto power. Former US Secretary of State James Baker was an
observer at the elections and said Mongolia will be seen as having
"successfully embraced democracy," according to AFP. Voter turnout was high at
87.3 %.-- Bruce Pannier
[B] SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE
[05] KARADZIC NOMINATED FOR BOSNIAN SERB PRESIDENCY...
The pre-election convention of the governing Serbian Democratic Party (SDS)
has endorsed incumbent President Radovan Karadzic for another term. The first
time he was elected by the parliament, not by a direct vote. It is unclear
whether Karadzic has accepted, international media reported from Pale on 1
July. He is an indicted war criminal, and the Dayton agreement bans such
individuals from public life. Speaking of Karadzic's candidacy, the
international community's High Representative Carl Bildt said: "That will be
an interesting development, we'll see if that happens." The latest move of the
SDS seems to be another attempt by the Bosnian Serbs to defy the international
community and test the limits of its patience. Pale is also under pressure
from Serbia to regulate its controversial leader to the sidelines. Washington
and its allies insist that Karadzic resign, leave public life, and face
charges in The Hague. -- Patrick Moore
..[06] .AND RALLIES THE SERBS.
The Bosnian Serb leader, who was reelected SDS president on 29 June, gave a
major televised address to the party's executive committee on 1 July, Reuters
reported. He stressed a now-familiar theme to his electorate, namely that his
fight is theirs as well: "The international community is pressuring me not
only to resign but not to engage in party business, not to support our
candidates. Their opponent therefore is not Radovan Karadzic, their opponent
is the Serbian Democratic Party. Their opponent is the Serb people.... They
know that the people are determined to have their own country and oppose any
forced mixing with others...That is why they will try everything so that the
SDS does not win." -- Patrick Moore
[07] NATIONALISTS WIN MOSTAR ELECTIONS.
The List for a United Mostar, led by east Mostar mayor Safet Orucevic, gained
48% of the vote in the recent municipal elections, while the Croatian
Democratic Community of west Mostar mayor Mijo Brajkovic received some 45%,
Oslobodjenje reported on 2 July. AFP, however, quoted an EU official who did
not want to be named as suggesting that the ballot was fraudulent. "My
impression is that everything has already been agreed," he commented. The 37-
member City Council will be comprised of 16 Muslims and Croats each and five
members of other nationalities. The election outcome confirms the nationalist
polarization in the city and gives little hope for reconciliation. -- Fabian
Schmidt
[08] U.S. DOES NOT RULE OUT SANCTIONS IF KARADZIC STAYS IN OFFICE.
State Department spokesman Nicholas Burns on 1 July said that Washington
will advocate reimposing sanctions if Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic
remains in office, Reuters reported. Burns, however, stressed that Washington
will not press for an embargo to be reimplemented in the near future. "I
wouldn't want to lead you to believe that that's something that we're going to
exercise today," he commented. Meanwhile, a high-ranking delegation of Bosnian
Serbs, including Republika Srpska parliamentary speaker Momcilo Krajisnik, met
with Slobodan Milosevic in Belgrade on 1 July, Nasa Borba reported. It
is unclear whether the meeting was linked to Karadzic's continued maneuvering
to retain power in the republic. -- Stan Markotich
[09] MACEDONIAN ALBANIAN GROUPS ORGANIZE PROTEST RALLY.
Seven ethnic Albanian organizations have called for a rally in Tetovo on 4
July following the decision last week to reduce the sentences of Fadil
Sulejmani, dean of the illegal Tetovo University, and other Albanian activists,
Macedonian media reported. Sulejmani's supporters had been hoping that the
sentences would be dropped altogether. Instead, his sentence was shortened to
one year. Others sentenced include university professor Milaim Fejziu and
former leader of the Party of Democratic Prosperity (PPD) Nevzat Halili.
Sulejmani had earlier charged the PPD, which is represented in the parliament,
with failing to support the interests of ethnic Albanians in Macedonia and of
Tetovo University. Meanwhile, Serbian police have arrested Kosovar writer Agim
Vinca because he had a three-year-old Albanian stamp in his passport. Before
early 1996, Kosovars were prohibited from traveling to Albania. -- Fabian
Schmidt
[10] INFECTED CATTLE TO BE SLAUGHTERED IN MACEDONIA.
The Macedonian government on 1 July ordered that some 1,000 cattle infected
with hoof-and-mouth disease be slaughtered, Nova Makedonija and Western
media reported. It appealed to the EU to supply vaccines for the remaining
cattle. The disease, which can affect humans, is believed to have come from
Albania. Six villages near Skopje and a village in the Titov Veles region are
mainly affected. Some 80 cows and 100 sheep have been killed near Kumanovo, in
northern Macedonia, for fear that they might be infected. Skopje has tightened
border controls with Albania and rump Yugoslavia has imposed restrictions on
goods from Macedonia. One of three border crossings between Macedonia and rump
Yugoslavia has been closed for all traffic and another for freight transports.
-- Stefan Krause
[11] U.S. FIRST LADY IN ROMANIA.
Hillary Clinton arrived in Bucharest on 1 July on the first leg of a tour
through seven Eastern and Central European countries, Romanian and Western
media reported. Addressing some 3,000 people at Revolution Square in downtown
Bucharest, she said the U.S. supports "the courageous efforts under way in
Romania to build a new and lasting democracy." Members of the crowd chanted
slogans directed against President Ion Iliescu and in support of exiled King
Michael. The First Lady visited a pediatric AIDS clinic, a primary school, and
a nursery school but called off a visit to the Kretzulescu church in protest
at the intolerant attitude of the Romanian Orthodox Church toward Jehovah's
Witnesses. She was also received by Iliescu at the presidential residence.
Before leaving Romania on 2 July, she is expected to meet with representatives
of non-governmental organizations. -- Dan Ionescu
[12] SIGNING OF MOLDOVAN-DNIESTER PACT POSTPONED.
An adviser to Moldovan President Mircea Snegur on 1 July said the signing in
Moscow of a memorandum on normalizing Moldovan-Dniester relations has been
postponed until after the second round of the Russian presidential elections.
Infotag quoted the adviser as saying that Snegur, Igor Smirnov, president of
the self-proclaimed "Dniester republic," and Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma
all canceled their trip to Moscow at the last moment. The memorandum was
initialed on 28 June following talks brokered by Russian Deputy Foreign
Minister Boris Pastukhov and other Russian, Ukrainian, and OSCE officials. --
Dan Ionescu
[13] MORE PRICE HIKES IN BULGARIA.
The government on 1 July raised electricity prices by an average of 118% and
telephone and postal rates by some 40%, Pari reported. The new prices take
effect immediately. The government also pegged electricity, heating, and coal
prices to inflation and the U.S. dollar. It discussed raising the minimum
monthly salary from 3,040 leva ($19.4) to 4,000 leva on 1 July and 6,000 leva
on 1 October. Other issues on the agenda were adjustments for employees to
compensate for inflation and additional benefits for the socially needy.
Meanwhile, the big trade unions called for protests against the latest price
hikes and announced a wave of strikes. Miners went on a one-day nationwide
strike on 2 July to protest the imminent closing of four mines, Trud
reported. -- Stefan Krause
[14] BULGARIAN POLITICAL UPDATE.
The Foreign Ministry on 1 July announced it will recall Ambassador to Albania
Stefan Naumov and initiate legal proceedings against him, Reuters reported.
Naumov has been accused by employees at the Tirana embassy of issuing them
with death threats (see ). An investigation conducted by the Foreign Ministry
substantiated these charges and concluded that Naumov harmed Bulgarian state
interests and failed to fulfill his basic duties, a ministry spokesman said.
President Zhelyu Zhelev must approve Naumov's dismissal. Naumov has denied all
allegations and is expected to stay in Tirana, where he has strong personal
ties. In other news, a national convention of dissident clergy under Metropolitan Pimen has opened in Sofia, Standart reported. On the agenda is whether to break away from the official Bulgarian Orthodox Church, headed by Patriarch Maksim. -- Stefan Krause
[15] NEW ALBANIAN PARLIAMENT CONVENES.
Addressing the new Albanian parliament at its inaugural session on 1 July,
President Sali Berisha called on the Socialist opposition to take up their 10
seats in the 140-member legislature, Reuters reported. The Socialists and
several other parties that were represented in the previous parliament have
boycotted the new legislature, claiming the recent elections were fraudulent.
Only Socialist Sali Rexhepi has said he will defy his party's policy and take
up his seat. Berisha charged the opposition with seeking to "destabilize
Albanian democracy and to tread upon Albania's sovereignty." International
monitors, however, have confirmed irregularities in the ballot; and Western
diplomats, including from the U.S., refused to attend the parliamentary
opening ceremony. The new legislature is composed of 122 Democrats, three
Republicans, two members of Balli Kombetar, and three members of the Human
Rights Party. -- Fabian Schmidt
Compiled by Steve Kettle and Jan Cleave
News and information as of 1200 CET
This material was reprinted with permission of the Open Media
Research Institute, a nonprofit organization with research offices in
Prague, Czech Republic.
For more information on OMRI publications please write to info@omri.cz.
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