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OMRI: Daily Digest, Vol. 2, No. 247, 96-12-31
From: Open Media Research Institute <http://www.omri.cz>
Vol. 2, No. 247, 31 December 1996
CONTENTS
[A] TRANSCAUCASIA AND CENTRAL ASIA
[01] GEORGIAN UPDATE
[02] ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER ON RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA
[03] ANOTHER FRENCH COMPANY TO PARTICIPATE IN AZERBAIJANI OIL CONTRACT
[04] RUSSIAN ACTIVIST IN KAZAKSTAN RECEIVES SUSPENDED SENTENCE
[05] UZBEK PARLIAMENT ADOPTS 1997 BUDGET
[06] TURKMENISTAN CUTS GAS DEALS WITH TURKEY, IRAN
[B] SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE
[07] FEDERAL YUGOSLAV ARMY REJECTS POLITICAL ROLE
[08] DRASKOVIC CALLS ON MONTE-NEGRO TO TAKE ACTION
[09] EU ADMINISTRATION OF MOSTAR ENDS
[10] BOSNIA'S NEW CENTRAL GOVERNMENT NAMED
[11] CROATIAN LOCAL ELECTIONS SCHEDULED FOR MARCH
[12] ROMANIAN PREMIER ON ECONOMIC SITUATION
[13] MOLDOVAN PRESIDENT-ELECT IN BUCHAREST
[14] BULGARIAN PRESIDENT STARTS CONSULTATIONS ON NEW GOVERNMENT
[15] NEW BUGGING SCANDAL IN BULGARIA
[16] ALBANIAN SOCIALISTS DEMAND RELEASE OF NANO
[17] ALBANIAN POET-PRIEST REBURIED IN SHKODER
[A] TRANSCAUCASIA AND CENTRAL ASIA
[01] GEORGIAN UPDATE
Georgian, Russian, and Abkhaz representatives met in Sochi on 23-24
December to discuss the impasse over the 250,000 refugees from Abkhazia
living in Georgia, ITAR-TASS reported. Abkhazian Foreign Minister
Konstantin Ozgan said the return of the refugees could not be discussed
until the economic sanctions on Abkhazia enforced by Russia had been
lifted. Meanwhile, torrential rains and snowfalls in Georgia destroyed 50
bridges and closed many roads, killing 10 people, ITAR-TASS reported on 31
December. The Georgian Military Highway which leads to North Ossetiya has
been blocked since 25 December. Three hundred people were trapped in the
Rotskii tunnel, among whom two premature babies were born. -- Peter Rutland
[02] ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER ON RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA
Armen Sarkisyan said he agreed with Russian officials in Moscow on 28
December on the construction of a pipeline to run from Russia to Turkey via
Armenia, ITAR-TASS and RFE/RL reported on 30 December. Sarkisyan described
the move as "politically important." He added that Russian Prime Minister
Viktor Chernomyrdin described the current state of Armenian-Russian ties as
"unsatisfactory for the strategic partners in the region." The two leaders
agreed to restore the railway connection (which has been broken off since
1992 as a result of the Azerbaijani blockade and the war in Abkhazia)
between Armenia and Russia. -- Emil Danielyan
[03] ANOTHER FRENCH COMPANY TO PARTICIPATE IN AZERBAIJANI OIL CONTRACT
The French oil company Total will participate in an international
consortium, led by the French group Elf, to develop the Lenkoran Deniz and
Talish Deniz shelf deposits in the southern part of Azerbaijan's sector of
the Caspian Sea, AFP reported on 27 December, citing Interfax. A
representative of the Azerbaijani state oil company SOCAR, which has a 25%
stake in the project, said that the German Denimex firm and the U.S. Mobil
group are also likely to get involved in the $2 billion deal. The project
is the latest in a series of multibillion-dollar oil contracts that
Azerbaijan has signed with the world's leading oil companies in recent
years. -- Emil Danielyan
[04] RUSSIAN ACTIVIST IN KAZAKSTAN RECEIVES SUSPENDED SENTENCE
The Medeo regional court gave Nina Sidorova, the former leader of
Kazakstan's Russian Center, a suspended sentence of two years in prison,
RFE/RL reported on 25 December. Sidorova was found guilty of insulting and
physically harming law enforcement officers while they were performing
their duties and insulting the court. The Russian press has been highly
critical of the court proceedings, arguing that they were biased against
Sidorova because she is Russian. -- Bruce Pannier
[05] UZBEK PARLIAMENT ADOPTS 1997 BUDGET
The Uzbek parliament on 27 December approved the state budget for 1997,
according to ITAR-TASS. The budget deficit for 1997 is set at 26.8 billion
som ($515 million), or 3% of GDP. Revenue will be 124 billion som and
expenditure 150 billion. Uzbek President Islam Karimov claims annual
inflation will drop from 60% in 1996 to below 27% in 1997. At a conference
of journalists and diplomats in Tashkent on 27 December, Karimov observed
that industrial output had risen by 6% while foreign trade turnover was at
$8.3 billion, an increase of 40% from 1995. Uzbekistan turned out 60 metric
tons of gold in 1996 and its gold and hard currency reserves grew to $1.5
billion. He also said about 47% of budget revenue in 1996 went to social
programs and a mere 4.3% was spent on defense. -- Bruce Pannier
[06] TURKMENISTAN CUTS GAS DEALS WITH TURKEY, IRAN
The oil ministers of Turkmenistan, Turkey, and Iran met in the Iranian
capital, Tehran, on 29 December and agreed to a deal to bring Turkmen and
Iranian gas to Europe via Turkey, IRNA and Reuters reported. The new deal
revives a 1995 plan on a pipeline project that was scrapped due to
financial problems and U.S. pressure on Turkey aimed at dissuading it from
dealing with Iran. The first gas between Iran and Turkey is expected to
flow in 1998. -- Bruce Pannier
[B] SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE
[07] FEDERAL YUGOSLAV ARMY REJECTS POLITICAL ROLE
Chief-of-Staff Gen. Momcilo Perisic, attending a New Year's reception on
30 December, repeated his earlier position that the army will ensure the
"stability" of the country, but he gave no details. He also issued a
statement saying that "the chief-of-staff and the army as a whole are
unanimous about fulfilling to the letter their set tasks. Any other
interpretation of the army's role does not reflect its official position,"
international media reported. The remarks are in response to a reported
declaration by some officers or units in support of the anti-government
demonstrators (see OMRI Daily Digest, 30 December 1996). Perisic did not,
however, express backing for President Slobodan Milosevic, who relies on
his 120,000-strong police force rather than on the army for support. It is
unclear if Milosevic can count on the military to help enforce a state of
emergency, which the opposition says he plans to declare. The army helped
crush protests in 1991. -- Patrick Moore
[08] DRASKOVIC CALLS ON MONTE-NEGRO TO TAKE ACTION
The Montenegrin parliament passed a resolution expressing concern over
continuing tensions in Serbia, AFP reported on 30 December. The text is
weaker than an original opposition proposal but nonetheless reflects
Montenegro's interest in seeing the full return of federal Yugoslavia to
international political and economic life. The small republic relies
heavily on shipping and tourism. Serbian opposition leader Vuk Draskovic,
however, called on Montenegro to go beyond words: "We don't care about your
telegrams and letters. If you want to help us, withdraw your deputies from
the Yugoslav parliament until the recognition of the results of the
November 17 municipal elections, withdraw your representatives from the
Yugoslav government, show that you are for a democratic Serbia." Meanwhile,
riot police in Belgrade confined "several thousand" protesters in bitter
cold weather to the central pedestrian zone, Nasa Borba reported on 31
December. -- Patrick Moore
[09] EU ADMINISTRATION OF MOSTAR ENDS
The European Union's mandate in Mostar expires today, but the city is as
divided now as it was 17 months ago, when the EU arrived there, AFP
reports. Mostar remains split between Muslims in the eastern half and
Croats in the western half. EU spokesman Dragan Gasic, striking an
optimistic note, said that a lot has been done toward reconstruction and
that peace has been politically restored in Mostar. Croats, however, have
continued throughout 1996 to expel Muslims from their part of the
city. Mostar Mayor Ivan Prskalo, a Croat, criticized Muslim "terrorist
acts" following an incident on 29 December in which two Croats were robbed,
stripped naked, and beaten up in the Muslim half of the city. The EU
administration in Mostar will be replaced by the Office of the High
Representative Carl Bildt. Former EU envoy Sir Martin Garrod will stay on
in Mostar to head the mission. -- Daria Sito Sucic
[10] BOSNIA'S NEW CENTRAL GOVERNMENT NAMED
Bosnia's three-man presidency on 30 December agreed that the first session
of parliament will take place on 3 January, international media
reported. This will be the first peace-time session of the Bosnian
parliament, which has not convened earlier because of maneuvering and
stalling by former, mainly Serbian rivals. The parliament is expected to
confirm the presidency's nominations for the central government--which
consists of the foreign affairs, foreign trade, and communication
portfolios. One post each has been given to Bosnia's Muslim, Croatian, and
Serbian communities. Meanwhile, joint Bosnian premiers Haris Silajdzic and
Boro Bosic have sealed a power-sharing agreement and agreed on the lineup
of the cabinet. Silajdzic and Bosic are to rotate the chairmanship of the
Council of Ministers on a weekly basis, AFP reported on 30 December. --
Daria Sito Sucic
[11] CROATIAN LOCAL ELECTIONS SCHEDULED FOR MARCH
Croatian Deputy Prime Minister Ivica Kostovic on 30 December announced that
local elections will be held on 16 March throughout the country, including
Serb-held eastern Slavonia, Novi List reported. His statement followed a
meeting between President Franjo Tudjman and UN administrator for eastern
Slavonia Jacques Klein at which agreement was reached on election
procedures and details. One major bone of contention was who would be
eligible to vote in eastern Slavonia, the last Serb-held region. While tens
of thousands of Croats fled the region when it was captured by Serbs in
1991, a similar number of Serbian refugees have moved in. -- Daria Sito
Sucic
[12] ROMANIAN PREMIER ON ECONOMIC SITUATION
Victor Ciorbea, in a televised address on 30 December, described Romania's
economic situation as "a lot more serious than I would have thought" before
taking office. He accused the former government of having concealed the
truth and not taken the necessary measures to redress the
situation. Ciorbea said inflation was about three times higher and the
budget deficit five to six times higher than the figures agreed on with the
IMF in 1996. He noted that elections had given Romania "international
credibility," but economic credibility must also be forthcoming. The recent
increase in fuel prices was aimed at achieving that goal, Ciorbea said. He
also promised that the "tough measures" ahead would be accompanied by
"adequate social protection" for the needy. -- Michael Shafir
[13] MOLDOVAN PRESIDENT-ELECT IN BUCHAREST
Petru Lucinschi, paying an unofficial visit to Bucharest on 30 December,
was received by Romanian President Emil Constantinescu. The two leaders
agreed to increase economic cooperation, but Lucinschi ruled out a formal
merger of their countries. Radio Bucharest reported Lucinschi as saying
that despite their "common history, language, and culture," there were
other aspects that must be taken into account. He added that "integration"
would take the form of the two states' joint effort to integrate into "a
united Europe". Constantinescu said he and Lucinschi had agreed on measures
that should entrench bilateral relations in a new "economic reality."
Plans to establish free trade zones and build bridges over the River Prut
were discussed. Reuters cited Lucinschi as saying no progress has been made
on the pending basic treaty between the two countries. "We still have to
work on it," he noted. -- Michael Shafir
[14] BULGARIAN PRESIDENT STARTS CONSULTATIONS ON NEW GOVERNMENT
Zhelyu Zhelev on 30 December asked the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) to
form a new cabinet to succeed the government of Zhan Videnov, who resigned
last week, RFE/RL and Bulgarian media reported. The BSP is the strongest
party in the current parliament. After meeting with Zhelev, BSP Chairman
Georgi Parvanov and BSP caucus leader Krasimir Premyanov said they hoped to
present a new government by 10 January. Zhelev will also consult with other
political parties. In an address broadcast by state TV and radio on 29
December, Zhelev again called for a presidential republic. He added that he
would have dismissed Videnov long ago if he had had the power to do
so. Meanwhile, the opposition announced it will hold a rally for early
elections on 3 January. -- Stefan Krause
[15] NEW BUGGING SCANDAL IN BULGARIA
Union of Democratic Forces (SDS) Chairman Ivan Kostov on 29 December handed
Interior Minister Nikolay Dobrev a tape of illegally recorded conversations
held separately by Kostov, Dobrev, and former Prime Minister Zhan Videnov,
Bulgarian media reported. Kostov refused to reveal how he came to be in
possession of the tape. According to Kontinent, the conversations were
recorded by "forces in the Interior Ministry" who had acted on their own
initiative. Dobrev ordered that the tape be examined by three independent
experts within 10 days. Observers close to the BSP say that an unnamed
economic group organized the bugging in an attempt to prevent Dobrev from
becoming prime minister, Trud noted on 31 December. Following the November
presidential elections, Kostov had claimed the SDS headquarters were
bugged. When the government resigned on 28 December, he announced that
Videnov and Dobrev were among those politicians whose conversations had
been listened to. -- Maria Koinova in Sofia.
[16] ALBANIAN SOCIALISTS DEMAND RELEASE OF NANO
The Socialist Party on 30 December said that President Sali Berisha's offer
to reduce the jail sentence of Socialist leader Fatos Nano by six months
was inadequate, Albanian media reported. The offer was made within the
framework of Berisha's New Year amnesty of 102 prisoners. Reuters quotes
Socialist leader Namik Dokle as saying that "if [Berisha] is not going to
free him, then he may as well not cut his sentence." The 43-year-old Nano
was jailed for 12 years in 1994 on charges of embezzlement during his
short- lived premiership in 1991. The Socialists, however, argue that he is
being held as a political prisoner. Following various amnesties, he has
about 16 months left to serve. International human rights groups have
raised doubts over the legality of Nano's trial. -- Fabian Schmidt
[17] ALBANIAN POET-PRIEST REBURIED IN SHKODER
The remains of Gjergj Fishta have been reburied in the Franciscan church of
Shkoder in a commemorative mass, ATSH reported on 29 December. Fishta, who
lived from 1871 to 1940, belonged to the Franciscan order in Shkoder. In
Mirdita, he introduced Albanian as the language of instruction, rather than
Italian. He is also considered one of the greatest poets of the Albanian
"national renaissance." After Albanian independence in 1913, he became a
publisher and later a parliamentary deputy. During the communist period,
Fishta's works were outlawed. His remains went missing in 1967 when the
Franciscan monastery in Shkoder was destroyed. They were found recently
during reconstruction of the building. -- Fabian Schmidt
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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