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OMRI Daily Digest, Vol. 2, No. 147, 96-07-31
From: Open Media Research Institute <http://www.omri.cz>
Vol. 2, No. 147, 31 July 1996
CONTENTS
[A] TRANSCAUCASIA AND CENTRAL ASIA
[01] CONFUSION SURROUNDS ABKHAZ TALKS.
[02] ARMENIAN BANKS IN CRISIS.
[03] BAKU DEMONSTRATORS DISPERSED.
[04] FOOD RIOT REPORTED IN TAJIK CITY.
[05] DEMONSTRATION OVER LIVING CONDITIONS IN KAZAKHSTAN.
[B] SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE
[06] REFUGEE CAMP FOR BOSNIAN MUSLIMS TO BE CLOSED IN CROATIA.
[07] BOSNIAN OPPOSITION ACCUSES RULING PARTY OF UNFAIR PLAY.
[08] UPDATE ON FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT IN BOSNIA.
[09] CROATIAN PREMIER CALLS FOR ELECTIONS IN EASTERN SLAVONIA.
[10] CENTRIST UNION FOUNDED IN ROMANIA.
[11] TOP ROMANIAN DIPLOMATS SUMMONED TO BUCHAREST.
[12] BULGARIA ANNOUNCES ANTI-CRIME MEASURES.
[13] BRITISH DEFENSE SECRETARY IN BULGARIA.
[14] ALBANIAN OPPOSITION LAYS DOWN CONDITIONS FOR PARTICIPATING IN LOCAL
ELECTIONS.
[15] FOUR ALBANIANS ON TRIAL FOR REVIVING COMMUNIST PARTY.
[A] TRANSCAUCASIA AND CENTRAL ASIA
[01] CONFUSION SURROUNDS ABKHAZ TALKS.
The virtual news blackout imposed on the UN/Russian-mediated talks in Moscow
between Georgian and Abkhaz representatives on renewing the mandate of the
Russian peacekeeping force in Abkhazia continues to give rise to unverifiable
rumors. ITAR-TASS on 29 July again reported that a compromise had been reached
on the peacekeeper issue. Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze similarly
stated on 29 July during his weekly radio broadcast that some progress had
been made. BGI on 30 July quoted Georgian Foreign Minister Irakli
Menagharishvili as confirming that Shevardnadze had met on several occasions
with his Abkhaz counterpart Vladislav Ardzinba but failed to reach an
agreement; Shevardnadze's press secretary Vakhtang Abashidze had told RTR on
19 July that no meeting between the two presidents had taken place. On 30 July
Noyan Tapan cited Caucasus Press as reporting that the Moscow talks have been
suspended indefinitely at the initiative of the Russian mediator, Deputy
Foreign Minister Boris Pastukhov. -- Liz Fuller
[02] ARMENIAN BANKS IN CRISIS.
The deputy chairman of the Central Bank, Armen Darbinyan, told a conference in
Yerevan on 30 July that up to one-third of Armenia's 36 banks may close over
the next year, Noyan Tapan reported. The banks are owed a total of 20 billion
drams ($48 million) and have authorized capital of only 5.5 billion drams ($13
million). Speaking on 27 July, the president of the Armenian Banks Association,
Tigran Sarkissyan, had urged the government not to go ahead with its plan to
remove privileges for foreign investors, since this would choke off the inflow
of private investment. -- Peter Rutland
[03] BAKU DEMONSTRATORS DISPERSED.
A group of demonstrators in front of the Russian embassy in Baku on 26 July
was broken up by baton-wielding police, Noyan Tapan reported as monitored by
the BBC. The demonstration, organized by 10 youth groups, was protesting the
police actions in Moscow which in the name of fighting crime and terrorism are
often targeting "persons of Caucasian nationality." (See .) -- Peter
Rutland
[04] FOOD RIOT REPORTED IN TAJIK CITY.
Five people were killed and 11 injured when a riot broke out over food prices
on 30 July in the eastern Tajik city of Khorog, according to the opposition's
Radio Voice of Free Tajikistan as monitored by the BBC. The trouble apparently
began when a shipment of meat, which has been a scarce commodity in the city
recently, arrived and a dispute developed over pricing and distributing it.
Three of those killed were policemen. -- Bruce Pannier
[05] DEMONSTRATION OVER LIVING CONDITIONS IN KAZAKHSTAN.
Some 2,000 people gathered in the southern city of Zhanatas on 28 July to
protest living conditions, Kazakh Television First Channel reported as
monitored by the BBC. The demonstrators also demanded the resignation of the
head of the city administration and the formation of a special commission to
correct the "ruinous social and economic situation in the city." Those at the
illegal rally said they would meet again on 11 August if their demands were
been met. -- Bruce Pannier
[B] SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE
[06] REFUGEE CAMP FOR BOSNIAN MUSLIMS TO BE CLOSED IN CROATIA.
The Croatian government has set 31 July as the deadline for 2,000 Bosnian
Muslim refugees to leave the Kuplensko camp, Onasa reported. They have been
given the choice to move to other refugee camps in Croatia, to go to a third
country, or to return to Bosnia. The refugees are the last of the 20,000
followers of the Muslim kingpin Fikret Abdic who fled to Croatia last year
when Bosnian army forces pushed them out of Velika Kladusa, their stronghold
in northwestern Bosnia. Most of the refugees have already returned to their
homes in Bosnia, but those who remain in Croatia fear political persecution if
they return. UN spokesman Alexander Ivanko supported this fear, saying that
the bridge blast on 29 July near Velika Kladusa may have been "an attempt to
prevent refugees from the camp returning [to Bosnia]," AFP reported. -- Daria
Sito Sucic
[07] BOSNIAN OPPOSITION ACCUSES RULING PARTY OF UNFAIR PLAY.
Bosnian opposition parties have accused the ruling Muslim Party of Democratic
Action (SDA) of replacing the managers of state-run companies in Tuzla with
party candidates, AFP reported on 29 July. In the first prewar elections,
Tuzla was the only town in Bosnia-Herzegovina where national parties did not
win a mandate. It remains the only town where the SDA is not the dominant
party. Opposition spokesman Jasmin Imamovic said the state has the right to
administer the companies but only in accordance with federal law. -- Daria
Sito Sucic
[08] UPDATE ON FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT IN BOSNIA.
A Serbian mob armed with iron bars, sticks, and stones have attacked a UN bus
carrying passengers from the Bosnian Federation, AFP reported on 30 July.
UNHCR spokesman Kris Janowski said the attack, which took place in the Serbian
stronghold of Banja Luka, was "clearly orchestrated" by the Bosnian Serb
authorities. He added that the UN was holding Serbian Premier Gojko Klickovic
"personally responsible" for the safety of passengers and drivers in the
Republika Srpska. In other news, the first train since the beginning of war in
April 1992 set out on 30 July from Sarajevo via Mostar to the port of Ploce,
on the Adriatic coast, Oslobodjenje reported. Bosnian President Alija
Izetbegovic said the renewed rail link to the sea marked "the second lifting
of the Sarajevo siege," identifying a tunnel dug three years ago under the
city's airport as the first one. -- Daria Sito Sucic
[09] CROATIAN PREMIER CALLS FOR ELECTIONS IN EASTERN SLAVONIA.
Zlatko Matesa on 30 July said he will send a letter to Jacques Klein, head of
the UN Transitional Administration in Eastern Slavonia (UNTAES), demanding
that local elections be held in the last Serb-held enclave of eastern Slavonia,
Croatian radio reported on 30 July. The elections are the last condition to be
met before Zagreb can take over jurisdiction and the UN depart from the
enclave. Reuters quoted Matesa as saying there is "not a single important
reason not to hold the elections in December." Meanwhile, Foreign Minister
Mate Granic, during his visit to Rome on 29-30 July, met with his Italian
counterpart, Lamberto Dini to discuss taxation policies, tourism, and minority
rights. Dini said the meeting was constructive and that Italy will support
Croatian efforts to become a member of the Council of Europe. -- Stan
Markotich
[10] CENTRIST UNION FOUNDED IN ROMANIA.
The Democratic Agrarian Party, the Ecological Movement, and the Humanist Party
on 30 July signed a protocol founding a National Centrist Union (UNC), Radio
Bucharest reported. The document stresses that the parties' complementary
platforms facilitate the setting up of the new alliance, whose goals and
structure will be determined following further negotiations. The union plans
to nominate a joint candidate for this autumn's presidential elections and
will welcome the membership of groups with similar political leanings. -- Dan
Ionescu
[11] TOP ROMANIAN DIPLOMATS SUMMONED TO BUCHAREST.
Heads of Romania's diplomatic missions, consular offices, and cultural centers
attended a conference in Bucharest on 29-30 July to discuss the country's
policy for joining European and Euro-Atlantic structures. Radio Bucharest
reported. Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu, who presided over the meeting,
described integration with the West as Romania's "strategic" foreign policy
goal, noting that the present period was "crucial" for achieving that goal.
President Ion Iliescu also addressed the participants, saying that Romania's
image abroad has improved over the last year but should be further
"consolidated" by stressing both the country's internal stability and its
contribution to regional stability. -- Dan Ionescu
[12] BULGARIA ANNOUNCES ANTI-CRIME MEASURES.
The Interior Ministry on 30 July announced a package of measures to fight crime
and terrorism, Reuters and Bulgarian newspapers reported. Security is to be
stepped up at airports, ports, railroad and bus stations, border crossings,
important public buildings, and key strategic installations. The ministry will
also tighten control over the production, transport, storage, and sales of
arms, ammunition, explosives, and poisonous substances. It noted that there
were 173 bombings in Bulgaria last year and 92 in the first half of 1996,
adding that foreign criminal organizations might use Bulgaria as a transit
route for illegal arms trade. Opposition deputies said they support the
package, adding that they conform with existing legislation. -- Stefan
Krause
[13] BRITISH DEFENSE SECRETARY IN BULGARIA.
Michael Portillo, arriving in Sofia on 30 July for a two-day visit, met with
his Bulgarian counterpart, Dimitar Pavlov, Prime Minister Zhan Videnov, and
Foreign Minister Georgi Pirinski, Bulgarian and Western media reported. After
those talks, Portillo commented that Bulgaria's "special relationship" with
Russia could contribute to European security and build a bridge between the
West and Moscow. He told Trud that it is entirely in Bulgaria's hands
whether it wants to join NATO. Bulgarian politicians are divided over this
issue. -- Stefan Krause
[14] ALBANIAN OPPOSITION LAYS DOWN CONDITIONS FOR PARTICIPATING IN LOCAL
ELECTIONS.
Nine opposition parties on 30 July said they will participate in the October
local elections only if the ballot is free and fair, international media
reported. In a joint statement, the groups called for an improved local
election law, international monitoring, equal TV air time, and a review of the
genocide law, which bans many opposition from political office until 2002. The
groups also demanded that the ruling Democratic Party immediately start a
dialogue with the opposition to discuss early parliamentary elections. Other
demands included an independent judiciary, free electronic media, civilian
control over the police and secret service, a neutral presidency, and
independent local government. Finally, the opposition groups proposed that a
constituent assembly be elected to draft a new constitution. A basic law
drafted by the Democrats was rejected in a 1994 referendum. -- Stefan Krause
[15] FOUR ALBANIANS ON TRIAL FOR REVIVING COMMUNIST PARTY.
Four Albanians have gone on trial on charges of founding a communist party and
conspiring to overthrow the government, Reuters reported on 30 July. Three of
the accused said they had attempted to create a communist party but denied
they had supported violence or anti-constitutional measures. The fourth
refused to comment. All four face up to five years in prison if convicted. The
prosecution claims that they tried to establish contact with communist parties
and associations abroad, including the Cuban government, while the secret
police says it possesses incriminating faxes sent by the four to the Cuban
embassy in Rome. The Albanian parliament declared all communist organizations
illegal in July 1992. -- Stefan Krause
Compiled by Victor Gomez 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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