Visit the American Hellenic Media Project (AHMP) Homepage Read the Convention Relating to the Regime of the Straits (24 July 1923) Read the Convention Relating to the Regime of the Straits (24 July 1923)
HR-Net - Hellenic Resources Network Compact version
Today's Suggestion
Read The "Macedonian Question" (by Maria Nystazopoulou-Pelekidou)
HomeAbout HR-NetNewsWeb SitesDocumentsOnline HelpUsage InformationContact us
Tuesday, 5 November 2024
 
News
  Latest News (All)
     From Greece
     From Cyprus
     From Europe
     From Balkans
     From Turkey
     From USA
  Announcements
  World Press
  News Archives
Web Sites
  Hosted
  Mirrored
  Interesting Nodes
Documents
  Special Topics
  Treaties, Conventions
  Constitutions
  U.S. Agencies
  Cyprus Problem
  Other
Services
  Personal NewsPaper
  Greek Fonts
  Tools
  F.A.Q.
 

OMRI Daily Digest, Vol. 2, No. 149, 96-08-02

Open Media Research Institute: Daily Digest Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: Open Media Research Institute <http://www.omri.cz>

Vol. 2, No. 149, 2 August 1996


CONTENTS

[A] TRANSCAUCASIA AND CENTRAL ASIA

  • [01] KVIRAYA DENIES ALLEGING RUSSIAN INVOLVEMENT IN WOODRUFF MURDER.
  • [02] ARMENIAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE WITHDRAWS.
  • [03] AZERBAIJAN PROTESTS ARRESTS.
  • [04] KYRGYZSTAN AND IRAN SIGN ECONOMIC AGREEMENTS.

  • [B] SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE

  • [05] KORNBLUM DECLARES ABOLITION OF HERCEG-BOSNA.
  • [06] REBEL CROATIAN SERBS THREATEN TERRORIST CAMPAIGNS.
  • [07] UN SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS UN MANDATE IN CROATIA.
  • [08] 208 SUICIDES IN SARAJEVO SINCE OUTBREAK OF WAR.
  • [09] BELGRADE HINDERS REGISTRATION OF REFUGEE VOTERS.
  • [10] MONTENEGRIN ELECTION UPDATE.
  • [11] ROMANIAN REFINERY WORKERS STAGE WARNING STRIKE.
  • [12] ROMANIAN POLITICAL UPDATE.
  • [13] BULGARIAN PRESIDENT VETOES MEDIA LAW.
  • [14] BULGARIA TIGHTENS FOREIGN CURRENCY REGIME.
  • [15] ALBANIAN INDEPENDENT DAILY GRANTED LOAN.

  • [A] TRANSCAUCASIA AND CENTRAL ASIA

    [01] KVIRAYA DENIES ALLEGING RUSSIAN INVOLVEMENT IN WOODRUFF MURDER.

    Georgian Minister for National Security Shota Kviraya on 1 August denied ever having claimed that the murder in August 1993 near Tbilisi of U.S. diplomat Fred Woodruff was instigated by Russian intelligence, ITAR-TASS reported. Kviraya said that a statement to this effect attributed to him, which was circulated on 25 July by Noyan Tapan, was aimed at undermining relations between the Russian and Georgian security services. -- Liz Fuller

    [02] ARMENIAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE WITHDRAWS.

    Businessman Yuri Mkrtchyan, one of10 candidates who announced their intention to contest the 22 September Armenian presidential election, has withdrawn, protesting that the pre-election campaign is "unfair and immoral", Noyan Tapan reported on 1 August. Other candidates and opposition political organizations have repeatedly claimed that the electoral law, although apparently democratic, gives an unfair advantage to incumbent Levon Ter-Petrossyan, who is seeking reelection. -- Liz Fuller

    [03] AZERBAIJAN PROTESTS ARRESTS.

    First Deputy Prime Minister Abbas Abbasov and Azerbaijani ambassador to Russia Ramiz Rzayev met Russian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksei Bolshakov and Nationalities Minister Vyacheslav Mikhailov to discuss the recent wave of arrests of Caucasians in Moscow, Turan reported on 30 July, as monitored by the BBC. Some 4,000 Azerbaijani citizens have been arrested over the past week. Bolshakov also talked to Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev by phone, trying to reassure him that the operations were not targetting Azerbaijanis. -- Peter Rutland

    [04] KYRGYZSTAN AND IRAN SIGN ECONOMIC AGREEMENTS.

    In a sign of further cooperation between their countries, Kyrgyz Prime Minister Apas Jumagulov and Iranian Vice President Hasan Habibi on 31 July signed several economic accords, according to Kyrgyz Television First Channel monitored by the BBC. The agreements include mutual investment protection, cooperation in industry, and trade and transportation. Among the first fruits of industrial cooperation will be the establishment of a factory in the northern Kyrgyz city of Tokmak to produce minibuses and later automobiles. The accord on trade and transportation allows direct air links between Bishkek and Tehran, and Bishkek and Meshhed. Kyrgyzstan will receive 200,000-300,000 tons of crude oil beginning in 1997 and in turn will export meat to Iran. -- Bruce Pannier

    [B] SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE

    [05] KORNBLUM DECLARES ABOLITION OF HERCEG-BOSNA.

    U.S. envoy for Bosnia-Herzegovina John Kornblum on 31 July announced that Bosnian Muslim and Croat officials have agreed to end the existence of Herceg- Bosna, Onasa reported on 1 August. Following talks with Croats in Mostar, Kornblum said the Croatian side expressed willingness to stop obstructing reunification of the town. Meanwhile, Bozo Raic, president of the ruling Croatian Democratic Community (HDZ), on 1 August appealed to Alija Izetbegovic, head of the Muslim ruling Party of Democratic Action (SDA), to organize a brainstorming session to discuss ways to improve the running of the Bosnian Federation. -- Daria Sito Sucic

    [06] REBEL CROATIAN SERBS THREATEN TERRORIST CAMPAIGNS.

    Rebel Croatian Serbs have pledged to conduct a campaign of terror against Croatia in response to Croatian authorities' reclaiming the so-called Krajina region following the August 1995 military campaign. The self-proclaimed Krajina Liberation Army--in a fax published by the Belgrade daily Dnevni telegraf on 1 August and also sent to former Krajina Serb leader Milan Martic and Croatian refugee groups throughout the former Yugoslavia--says that Croatia's victory will be celebrated "henceforth in [Croatian] blood wherever [Croats] gather." It also aims to wage a terror campaign against "Serbian traitors." The group has taken responsibility for the bombing on 26 July of Croatia's largest agricultural and military equipment production plant. The explosion caused extensive damage to the facility. -- Stan Markotich

    [07] UN SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS UN MANDATE IN CROATIA.

    The UN Security Council on 30 July extended the mandate of 100 UN military monitors (UNTAES) in eastern Slavonia,--the last Serb-held part of Croatia-- for another six months, Hina reported. UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros Ghali, in a report to the Security Council on the implementation of the UNTAES mandate, underscored the necessity for military monitors to remain in the area in order to strengthen that mandate following the demilitarization of eastern Slavonia, Baranja, and Western Srijem. -- Daria Sito Sucic

    [08] 208 SUICIDES IN SARAJEVO SINCE OUTBREAK OF WAR.

    The Sarajevo police force says it registered 208 cases of suicide in Sarajevo between April 1992 and June 1996, Onasa reported on 1 August. Of those, 86 cases were reported in the Bosnian Federation during the past six months. Ninety-seven of those who committed suicide were over 50 and nine under 18. -- Daria Sito Sucic

    [09] BELGRADE HINDERS REGISTRATION OF REFUGEE VOTERS.

    The Helsinki Committee on Human Rights has said that three refugees from Sarajevo have alleged that Belgrade authorities barred them from registering for the 14 September Bosnian elections, Onasa reported on 31 July. Beta says that the three refugees were prevented from registering to vote in the towns from where they came. There are a growing number of reports that Belgrade officials are increasingly reluctant to provide registration forms to refugees whose home in Bosnia is now under Bosnian government or Federation control. Instead, those officials are pressuring refugees to accept voter registration in the Bosnian Serb-controlled Republika Srpska. Meanwhile, Onasa reported that rump Yugoslav authorities have officially extended the period in which refugees can register to vote until 4 August. -- Stan Markotich

    [10] MONTENEGRIN ELECTION UPDATE.

    Following the expiry of the 30 July deadline, a total of 33 political parties and formations had registered to run in Montenegro's republican elections, scheduled for the fall, Montena-fax reported. Voters will elect 71 parliamentary deputies in 14 districts through a proportional representation system. Before recent controversial changes to the election law, Montenegro had only a single constituency and a legislature composed of 85 deputies. -- Stan Markotich

    [11] ROMANIAN REFINERY WORKERS STAGE WARNING STRIKE.

    Some 40,000 workers from state-run oil refineries on 1 August staged a two- hour warning strike to demand job security and higher pay, Radio Bucharest reported. The workers, whose average monthly wage, amounts to 380,000 lei ($120) are pressing for a 25% increase. Many fear they will lose their jobs, since the refineries are currently operating at only 30% of their capacity. The oil-processing industry has registered a deficit of 700 billion lei (some $225 million) so far this year. The strikers have accused the government of keeping the prices of oil products low, despite increasing costs of imported oil. They have also threatened to launch a general strike on 7 August if heir demands are not met. The government has responded to their protest by announcing that a National Oil Company will be set up to supervise the sector. -- Dan Ionescu

    [12] ROMANIAN POLITICAL UPDATE.

    The National Liberal Party led by Radu Campeanu and "The Ecologists" party on 1 August signed a protocol establishing a National Liberal-Ecologist Alliance, Radio Bucharest reported. The alliance will nominate a candidate for the November presidential election on 7 August. The recently created National Liberal Alliance has said it will nominate its presidential candidate on 11 August. Observers of the Romanian political arena believe that the alliance's candidate will be Nicolae Manolescu, chairman of the Civic Alliance Party. In a separate development, the National Liberal Party led by Mircea Ionescu- Quintus has announced it will set up a commission to negotiate its merger with the National Liberal Party-Democratic Convention. -- Dan Ionescu

    [13] BULGARIAN PRESIDENT VETOES MEDIA LAW.

    Zhelyu Zhelev on 1 August returned the recently adopted media law to the parliament for further debate, 24 chasa reported. Zhelev said he objects to the Radio and TV Law in general as well as certain provisions. One of the most disputed provisions is the creation of a National Radio and TV Council to oversee media operations and elect the director-generals of state radio and TV. That body will also be empowered to cancel programs and suspend licenses. Seven members will be appointed by the parliament and two each by the president and the government. Zhelev also said the composition of the council endangers objective coverage of state institutions by both private and state- run media, noting that under the constitution they should be free and autonomous institutions. If Zhelev's objections are overruled, he can ask the Constitutional Court to rule on the law. -- Stefan Krause

    [14] BULGARIA TIGHTENS FOREIGN CURRENCY REGIME.

    A decree dated 31 July, published in a special issue of Darzhaven vestnik, tightens the country's foreign exchange regime, Pari reported on 2 August. The move contradicts a 16 July Supreme Court ruling liberalizing that regime by allowing domestic trade in foreign currency. The decree lists 14 instances in which such currency may be exported via the banking system, including to import goods and to repay debts. Exporting foreign currency for investments abroad must be approved by the national bank and Finance Ministry. Meanwhile, in a poll published in Pari on 2 August, 76.5% of the respondents said the situation in Bulgaria will worsen, while only 3.7% said it will improve. --

    Michael Wyzan and Stefan Krause

    [15] ALBANIAN INDEPENDENT DAILY GRANTED LOAN.

    The Media Development Loan Fund has granted Koha Jone a $135,000 loan to help it avoid insolvency, international agencies reported on 1 August. The credit comes with annual interest rate of 2% and is due for repayment in April 1997. High printing expenses and debts forced Koha Jone to close down for some days in July. As part of the agreement, the owners of Koha Jone pledged to restructure the daily to boost its efficiency. Other Albanian newspapers strongly criticized the loan, saying it damages free competition. In protest, they printed a blank page on 26 July. -- 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.


    Open Media Research Institute: Daily Digest Directory - Previous Article - Next Article
    Back to Top
    Copyright © 1995-2023 HR-Net (Hellenic Resources Network). An HRI Project.
    All Rights Reserved.

    HTML by the HR-Net Group / Hellenic Resources Institute, Inc.
    omri2html v1.00b run on Friday, 2 August 1996 - 11:22:39