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RFE/RL Newsline, Vol. 3, No. 140, 99-07-21Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty: Newsline Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty <http://www.rferl.org>RFE/RL NEWSLINEVol. 3, No. 140, 21 July 1999CONTENTS[A] TRANSCAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA
[B] SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE
[C] END NOTE
[A] TRANSCAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA[01] AZERBAIJAN'S ALIEV WELCOMES TALKS WITH KOCHARIANAzerbaijani President Heidar Aliev on 19 July told U.S.Ambassador to Baku Stanley Escudero that he felt his 16 July meeting with Armenian President Robert Kocharian was "very significant," even though the two sides remained far apart, Turan news agency reported on 20 July. "I feel we are both trying to understand each other, and I want this to yield results and bring peace," Aliev said. PG [02] AZERBAIJANI OFFICIALS MOVE AGAINST OPPOSITIONDuring thelast few days, the Baku authorities have moved against several opposition figures and groups. On 20 July, the trial of Geyrat Party chairman Ashraf Mekdiyev on charges of insulting President Aliev continued, Turan reported. On 19 July, Baku police prevented United Azerbaijan Movement leader Ashdar Tagizade from flying to Switzerland. And on 18 July, officials in Ganja prevented Democratic Party of Azerbaijan (DPA) activists from holding a meeting by briefly detaining 10 DPA members, Baku's "525 Gazet" reported on 20 July. PG [03] IRANIAN ENVOY REFUSES BAKU POSTAbdulnaser Himmati, whowas recently named Tehran's ambassador to Azerbaijan, has refused to take up his position, "525 gazet" reported on 20 July. An ethnic Azerbaijani from Iran's Hamadan, Himmati reportedly cited personal reasons. This is the second time an Iranian appointee to Baku has refused to serve there; the first was in 1994. Meanwhile, Azerbaijan's Space television reported that various Azerbaijani opposition groups have picked the Iranian embassy in Baku to protest what they say is Iranian repression of ethnic Azerbaijanis in Iran. PG [04] GEORGIAN ANGER AT LEBED COMMENTS GROWSRevaz Adamia, thechairman of the Georgian parliament's Defense Committee, sharply criticized Aleksandr Lebed, the governor of Russia's Krasnoyarsk Krai, for his comments in Ajaria (see "RFE/RL Newsline, 19 July 1990), Prime News reported on 20 July. Part of the reason for this reflects Tbilisi's concern about unsettled conditions in that region, the Georgian news agency reported. PG [05] KAZAKHSTAN POLICE ARREST SUNNI FAITHFULThe authoritiesarrested 70 people in Zhambul region on 19 July, Kazakh Khabar television reported on 20 July. Originally suspected of being Wahhabis or escaped prisoners, those arrested proved to be Sunni Muslims, a group permitted by Kazakhstan's legislation. PG [06] FIRST CENSUS RESULTS IN KYRGYZSTANThe Kyrgyzstanauthorities on 20 July released the first results of a census conducted there last spring, Interfax reported. The country's population now stands at 4.856 million, up 13 percent since 1989. Final results from this first post- independence count are to be released by the end of the year. PG [07] TAJIKISTAN BANS CARRYING ARMS IN PUBLICThe Tajikgovernment and the United Tajik Opposition on 17 July agreed to ban carrying arms in public, Interfax reported on 20 July. The Russian news agency said the order seems to have had an effect almost immediately in Dushanbe. PG [08] NIYAZOV RENAMES TURKMENISTAN CITYOn 19 July, PresidentSaparmurad Niyazov renamed Chardzhou Turkmenabad, Interfax reported. He said he took this step to ensure that the names in the country reflect its rebirth. PG [09] NO AFGHAN ACCORD AT TASHKENT TALKSTwo days of talks inTashkent between Afghan factions and the six countries supporting a peace effort there have ended without significant progress. The meeting concluded with a declaration that a military solution is impossible and that there must be further talks, Interfax reported on 20 July. PG [B] SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE[10] UCK DISARMAMENT ON SCHEDULE...KFOR commander General SirMike Jackson inspected an arms collection site of the Kosova Liberation Army (UCK) in Isnic on 20 July, together with UCK commander Agim Ceku, an RFE/RL correspondent reported from Prishtina. That day marked the deadline for the first phase of the UCK's disarmament plan. According to the plan, which guerrilla leader Hashim Thaci signed and presented to NATO 30 days earlier, by now the UCK was to have turned in all its heavy weapons and 30 percent of its small arms. At the storage site are, among other things, heavy machine guns, anti-tank rockets, a Chinese multi- barreled anti-aircraft gun, several other arms, and about 2 million rounds of ammunition. Most of the arms originated from the Yugoslav Army. There are a total of 19 collection sites throughout Kosova. FS [11] ...BUT VIOLATIONS OF AGREEMENT CONTINUEKFOR spokesmanLouis Garneau said in Prishtina on 20 July that KFOR soldiers have arrested 13 men in UCK uniforms in Mihalic and confiscated an unspecified number of arms, an RFE/RL correspondent reported. Despite these violations of the demilitarization agreement, UCK commander Ceku told Reuters in Isnic that "I am sure I have control of the UCK units." FS [12] UNMIK LAUNCHES POLICE RECRUITMENTThe UN Mission in Kosovo(UNMIK) opened an office for the recruitment of police for the planned UN-trained force for the province in Prishtina on 20 July. UCK commander Ceku told General Jackson in Isnic that about 4,000 former UCK soldiers will apply for positions in the force, Reuters reported. FS [13] BELGRADE WANTS TO RETURN SOME PERSONNEL TO KOSOVAYugoslavPrime Minister Momir Bulatovic said in a letter to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on 20 July that international peacekeepers and the UN-sponsored civilian authority "do not have sufficient strength to ensure the full security of Kosova's borders, population, and property." Bulatovic asked Annan to allow an unspecified number of Yugoslav soldiers, police, and customs officials to return to the province soon, RFE/RL's South Slavic Service reported. Under the June peace agreement on Kosova, Belgrade will be allowed to send a limited number of forces to guard the frontiers and Serbian cultural monuments but only when the UN agrees. PM [14] SERBIAN POLICE ARRESTED IN KOSOVAA NATO spokesman said inPrishtina on 20 July that peacekeepers arrested four Serbian policemen in eastern Kosova near the border with Serbia. The four were armed with automatic weapons. The June peace agreement bans Serbian paramilitary police from the province. PM [15] ANNAN CALLS FOR RESTORING BASIC SERVICESThe UN secretary-general said in Vienna on 20 July that the UN's mission will be on the ground [in Kosova] at least for several years but the reconstruction of [the province and the region]...will take at least 10 years." He added that "even if one were to limit assistance to Yugoslavia for example to only humanitarian assistance, one should define humanitarian aid in broad enough terms to allow assistance to go to repairs of electrical systems, water supplies, and hospitals." Annan stressed that Kosova's remaining Serbs might leave if basic infrastructure is not restored. PM [16] TWO KEY SERVICES RETURN TO KOSOVAAn RFE/RL South SlavicService correspondent reported from Prishtina on 20 July that KFOR troops have restarted a key power plant nearby. It employs 850 persons, of whom 600 are ethnic Albanians and 250 ethnic Serbs. Elsewhere, the Albanian-language daily "Rilindja" resumed publication in Prishtina after an interruption of nine years. Serbian authorities closed the daily in 1990. It continued to publish in Zofingen, Switzerland, and Tirana. FS [17] POOR CONDITIONS FOR SERBIAN REFUGEESA spokesman for theUNHCR said in Belgrade on 20 July that an unspecified number of Serbian refugees from Kosova live in poor conditions in Kragujevac, Kraljevo, and other cities. Many refugees charge that the Serbian authorities mistreat them in the hope of forcing them to return to Kosova. PM [18] MORE REPORTS OF TUBERCULOSISThe UNHCR officials noted inBelgrade on 20 July that an unspecified number of cases of tuberculosis have emerged among the 7,500 Roma in a makeshift refugee camp near Podgorica. Observers note that tuberculosis never disappeared from the former Yugoslavia, despite great efforts by communist-era health authorities to eradicate it. There have been increasing reports of cases of tuberculosis in much of the former Yugoslavia in recent years, particularly in those areas affected by war or by deteriorating economic and social conditions. PM [19] SERBIAN MINISTER REOPENS BRIDGEPrime Minister MirkoMarjanovic reopened the bridge over the Danube at Beska near Novi Sad on 20 July. He told a crowd of several hundred persons, some of whom carried portraits of Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic, that Serbia "has once again become a major European transportation link." The bridge sustained only minor damage during NATO's recent bombing campaign. PM [20] BELGRADE BARS MONTENEGRIN STUDENTSThe Serbian Ministry ofEducation said in a statement on 20 July that students from Montenegro will no longer be allowed to register at Belgrade University, RFE/RL's South Slavic Service reported. Observers note that most Montenegrin students seeking a higher education have traditionally sought admission to Belgrade University. In Belgrade, Serbian Education Ministry officials said that priority for university admissions will go to soldiers and their families. PM [21] MONTENEGRO TO GIVE BELGRADE DEADLINE?Vojin Djukanovic, whoheads the governing Democratic Party of Socialists, said that the Montenegrin government "will probably" give the Belgrade authorities until "the beginning of September" to respond to Montenegrin proposals to change the federal system, RFE/RL's South Slavic Service reported from Belgrade on 20 July. PM [22] ALBANIA, GREECE PLEDGE COOPERATION TO FIGHT CRIMEAlbanianPublic Order Minister Spartak Poci and his Greek counterpart, Mikhailis Khrisokhoidhis, pledged in Ioannina on 20 July to increase cooperation in fighting crime, AP reported. The ministers agreed to increase border patrols to prevent illegal immigrants from entering Greece (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 20 July 1999). Poci agreed to provide Greek police with information on convicted Albanian criminals, including fingerprints, photographs, and official records. Khrisokhoidhis said he will assist the Albanian police force by providing training, computers, weapons, and other equipment. To facilitate the exchange of information, police officials in northern Greece and southern Albania will hold weekly meetings. Khrisokhoidhis said that document checks and expulsions of illegal immigrants will continue, but he promised that immigrants who have obtained temporary residence and work permits in Greece will not be affected. FS [23] ALBANIAN SYNOD SAYS ORTHODOX CHURCHES IN SARANDAVANDALIZEDThe Holy Synod of Albania's Orthodox Church issued a statement on 20 July saying that unknown persons burned one church, vandalized another, and burned icons in a third during June and July in the Saranda region, Reuters reported. The statement says: "We appeal for an end to these acts and ask the authorities to take the necessary measures to stop this dangerous and unprecedented escalation, which spoils Albania's image in this critical historical period.... We raise our voice not only to defend our churches and monasteries but also the religious harmony and the peaceful coexistence characteristic of our country." FS [24] WESTENDORP SACKS MAYORA spokesman for the internationalcommunity's Carlos Westendorp said in Sarajevo on 20 July that Westendorp has "suspended from office" Sanski Most Mayor Mehmed Alagic (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 12 July 1999). Bosnian media have recently linked Alagic to abuse of office and corruption. He has denied the charges and insisted that he will continue in office. PM [25] ARBOUR TO CHARGE CROATIA WITH 'NON-COMPLIANCE'LouiseArbour, who is the Hague-based war crimes tribunal's chief prosecutor, said on 20 July in Zagreb that she will report to the UN Security Council that Croatia is not cooperating with the court. Croatian officials had refused her request for extradition of two Bosnian Croat war crime suspects and the transfer of a quantity of documents regarding mistreatment of Serbs in Croatia between 1991 and 1995 (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 20 July 1999). She charged that Zagreb's behavior toward the tribunal differs little from that of Belgrade, which does not recognize the court's authority, AP reported. Arbour noted that Croatian officials have nonetheless given the tribunal "excellent" cooperation in investigating Serbian atrocities in Croatia. She said that this "proves that it's very much a matter of a political will of what kind of support the tribunal will receive. When it's deemed desirable to do so, there are very few impediments" from Zagreb. PM [26] EU URGES CROATIA TO DEMOCRATIZEFinnish Foreign MinisterTarja Halonen, who holds the rotating EU chair, told Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic in Brussels on 20 July that Croatia must promote democratization, reform its electoral law, and allow the return of ethnic Serbian refugees if it wants closer integration with the EU. PM [27] U.S. HELPS DEFEND CROATIAN JOURNALISTSA spokesman for theU.S. embassy in Zagreb said on 20 July that the embassy has donated $100,000 to the Journalist Association's Legal Defense Fund to help pay lawyers' fees and court costs. Most of the 500 lawsuits filed against journalists in recent years have been filed by government officials, their associates, or their families, AP reported. The government has used lawsuits and any resulting fines to intimidate critical journalists and to try to bankrupt independent periodicals. PM [28] ROMANIAN PRESIDENT INTERVENES IN 'GENERALS' CONTROVERSYEmil Constantinescu on 20 July said that allegations thatthe Supreme Court was influenced by "political considerations" in sentencing Generals Victor Stanculescu and Mihai Chitac are "grave" and constitute negations of the "independence of the judiciary at its highest levels." Those who make such allegations, Constantinescu said, must produce proof. He added that the sentence could not be regarded as "one passed on the army as a whole." Finding out the truth about the 1989 revolution, he continued, "must exclude any idea of collective guilt" and should not "affect the army's honor and prestige," RFE/RL's Bucharest bureau reported. Prime Minster Radu Vasile said the sentence has "provoked a sense of restlessness in the army," which is "counterproductive at a time [the army] is undergoing reform." MS [29] ROMANIA'S CIVIC ALLIANCE MOVEMENT TO SUPPORT CIORBEA?Valerian Stan, deputy chairman of the Civic AllianceMovement, said on 20 July that the movement might back former Prime Minister Victor Ciorbea's National Christian Democratic Alliance in the 2000 parliamentary elections. He said the formation set up by the former premier in April has adopted "many ideas and principles backed by the Civic Alliance," adding that Ciorbea is "a reliable politician." On 17 July, the alliance's National Council decided that the alliance will not re-join the Democratic Convention of Romania as long as the convention fails to promote "legislation leading to society's moral cleansing." MS [30] IMF DELEGATION VISITS MOLDOVARichard Haas, head of an IMFdelegation currently visiting Moldova, said on 20 July that during talks with members of the cabinet and the National Bank, agreement was reached on a program that is to be implemented in the second half of this year, ITAR-TASS reported. The IMF delegation is reviewing the implementation of an IMF-Moldovan memorandum during the first half of the year. Haas said that if the review is positive, Moldova will receive a $35 million loan from the fund and a $20 million loan from the World Bank this year. MS [31] BULGARIAN DEFENSE MINISTER IN U.S.After meeting withBulgarian Defense Minister Georgi Ananiev in Washington on 20 July, U.S. Defense Secretary William Cohen told journalists that he has handed his guest a U.S.-developed "action plan" to help guide Bulgarian military reforms as the country prepares for eventual NATO membership. Cohen said that the plan recommends Bulgaria focus on improving training and the life quality of soldiers. It also urges measures to improve logistics, command and control, and communication. A senior U.S. defense official said that the guidelines call for Bulgaria's military force to be reduced to 45,000 troops from the present 100,000, AFP reported. The two ministers also discussed the situation in the Balkans. Ananiev noted that Bulgaria and other countries in the region have suffered heavy economic losses from the war in Yugoslavia. MS [32] BULGARIAN ETHNIC TURKISH LEADER CALLS FOR 'MODEL OFMODERATE NATIONALISM'Ahmed Dogan, leader of the ethnic Turkish Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) and co- chairman of the Liberal Democratic Union (LDS), has called for a "model of moderate nationalism" in Bulgaria, BTA reported on 20 July. Addressing a forum on liberalism, Dogan said nationalism has been "toned down" in Bulgaria but this has created a "political vacuum that could be filled by forces of aggressive nationalism, such as skinheads." He said that the two main political forces in the country, the Union of Democratic Forces and the Socialist Party, are not taking the opportunity to "use the ethnic card" in local elections scheduled for the fall. He also regretted that his own DPS has shed many of its nationalist features as a result of its LDS membership. MS [C] END NOTE[33] MEDIA TENSIONS IN THE CZECH REPUBLICby Victor GomezCzech Prime Minister Milos Zeman would like to have better relations with the media. At least that's what he said after a group of journalists wrote an open letter publicly accusing him of worsening those ties. A recent slew of remarks by Zeman has made it hard for anyone to disagree with those journalists. Furthermore, the conflict between the current minority government and the majority of the country's media has accelerated to a fever pitch, just as the government has introduced a new press bill and proposed changes to the status of the Council for Radio and Television Broadcasting. Obviously, relations between politicians and the media are often somewhat tense in a democracy, but the situation in the Czech Republic has become particularly difficult in the past few months. Anyone who thought that the Zeman administration could not possibly alienate the press as much as the government of former Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus has been forced to reconsider. Rarely has the relationship between the Czech press and government been as poisoned as it is now. While Klaus was well known for his put-downs of reporters and his infamous statement about journalists being the "enemy of the people," Zeman has more than matched him. In his characteristically outspoken style, the current prime minister has dismissed journalists as "idiots" and "simpletons" and commented that "the number of idiots per square meter is by far the highest among Czech journalists." Not content, however, to restrict his comments to insults, Zeman has also engaged in concrete accusations of corruption. For example, he recently charged a journalist with having accepted money from the energy company CEZ in exchange for writing articles supporting the completion of the Temelin nuclear power plant. Recently, Zeman even offered an explanation for his attitude toward journalists. He said he decided to "destroy" Czech journalists with "fire and sword" after what he described as an attempt by "Lidove noviny" to politicize his son's attempted suicide. In any case, regardless of the motivation for his actions, Zeman's sweeping and aggressive attacks on the press have done little to help his party cultivate a favorable media image. In this poisoned atmosphere, the government has introduced a press bill that has had many of the country's journalists up in arms. The bill, which recently passed in its first reading in parliament, has been severely criticized in the media for two reasons. First, it would allow any citizen to bring charges against a newspaper for spreading hatred aimed at any group on the basis of its race, nationality, or religion. If accepted by a court, such a complaint could lead to a newspaper being fined or even suspended from publication for one year. Opponents of this provision argue existing laws already enable charges to be brought against any editor or reporter suspected of spreading racial hatred. In addition, they argue that the provision could be used by politicians against newspapers that are too critical of them or their policies. However, most of the bill's opponents have focused their ire on another provision of the draft law. According to that provision, readers would have the right to respond to any article that has harmed their reputation. Newspapers would be required to publish responses written by the reader even if the facts in the original article were correct. The government argues that its press bill is in line with similar laws in Western Europe. However, the bill is much vaguer than media laws in other countries where the right to respond exists. In Germany, for example, responses from readers must be strictly factual. In contrast, the Czech press bill would effectively enable readers to include their personal opinions as well as other commentary. Oddly enough, even members of Zemanės party have admitted that parliament will have to amend the bill during the second reading. Even more surprisingly, considering his own disdain for journalists, Klaus himself has come out against the bill. Another focus of tension is the proposal to change the laws governing public Czech Television and Czech Radio. Several politicians have argued that the parliament's role in overseeing and supervising the Council for Czech Television should be increased. While all parties concerned insist that they do not want to cast doubt on the publicly owned broadcaster's independence, it is no secret that some politicians are not happy with the manner in which their parties have been covered on the stations. For example, at a recent meeting of the Council for Czech Television, deputies from Klaus's Civic Democratic Party reportedly criticized the council for not granting their party enough air time. Once again the government's behavior has aggravated the situation, with journalists complaining that Culture Minister Pavel Dostal did not seek enough input from broadcasters in preparing the new regulations. These disputes illustrate the current tensions between the Czech Republic's journalists and politicians. On the one hand, it is true that Czech journalism is still marked by a high degree of partisanship and lack of professionalism. Key stories are often based on dark statements by shadowy "unnamed sources" or else blatantly reflect the political biases of the reporter. On the other hand, many Czech politicians make little effort to hide their aversion for journalists or their desire to have their views given precedence in the media. Zeman's slanderous comments about reporters indicate that he himself is not above damaging the reputations of journalists. These are questions of professionalism and political culture. No amount of laws will be able to resolve the problem of journalistic professionalism and establish a climate of professional responsibility between journalists and politicians. 21-07-99 Reprinted with permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
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