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RFE/RL Newsline, Vol. 4, No. 38, 00-02-23Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty: Newsline Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty <http://www.rferl.org>RFE/RL NEWSLINEVol. 4, No. 38, 23 February 2000CONTENTS[A] TRANSCAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA
[B] SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE
[C] END NOTE
[A] TRANSCAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA[01] LAWYER AGAIN INSISTS ARMENIAN PRESIDENTIAL AIDE NOT INVOLVEDIN PARLIAMENT SHOOTINGSRuben Sahakian told RFE/RL's Yerevan bureau on 21 February that he will demand that the investigation into Armenian presidential aide Aleksan Harutiunian's possible involvement in the 27 October Armenian parliament shootings be transferred from the Military Prosecutor-General to the Office of the Prosecutor-General. Sahakian said he is convinced Harutiunian is innocent and that the Military Prosecutor-General has no evidence to substantiate its charges against him. He said he will appeal a court decision to extend by two months Harutiunian's pre- trial detention (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 11 February 2000). France's Ambassador to Armenia Michel Legras on 22 February said he doubts that Harutiunian is guilty. Legras added that he cannot comprehend demands for the resignation of President Robert Kocharian, given that the latter "has acted in accordance with the law and not interfered with the work of the parliament and government." LF [02] GEORGIAN PRESIDENT VENTURES INTO LION'S DENEduardShevardnadze traveled on 22 February to Adjaria as part of his presidential election campaign tour of Georgia's regions, Caucasus Press reported. Following his talks with Adjar Supreme Council chairman Aslan Abashidze, known as the Lion of Adjaria, Shevardnadze said that agreement was reached on defining the division of power between the Adjar Republic and the central Georgian government. The lack of a clear ruling has compounded tensions between Tbilisi and Adjaria. Shevardnadze said the draft agreement will be submitted to the Georgian parliament in the next few days. Abashidze termed the talks useful, adding that he and Shevardnadze had discussed neither the threat by the Revival Union, which Abashidze heads, to boycott the presidential poll nor charges that Adjaria has withheld millions of lari it should have transferred to the central budget. LF [03] RUSSIAN MINISTER DISCUSSES ENERGY COOPERATION IN KAZAKHSTANVisiting Astana on 21-22 February, Russian Fuel and EnergyMinister Viktor Kalyuzhnyi discussed bilateral cooperation in the energy sector with Prime Minister Qasymzhomart Toqaev and President Nursultan Nazarbaev, Russian agencies reported. Toqaev said after those talks that the Caspian Pipeline Consortium is "a national priority" for his country and the most feasible of all export pipeline options. Kalyuzhnyi told journalists that Russia may raise the current 9.5 million ton ceiling on exports of Kazakh crude via the Atyrau-Samara pipeline, whose throughput capacity will be increased to 15 million tons by the end of this year. Also discussed were the prospects for creating an energy union of which Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Belarus, and possibly Ukraine would be members, according to "Kommersant-Daily" on 23 February. Those states would coordinate a schedule for the supply and demand of oil, gas, coal, and electricity. LF [04] OSCE REGISTERS FLAWS IN KYRGYZ POLL...In a statementreleased on 22 February, the OSCE characterized the 20 February Kyrgyz parliamentary elections as "not in full compliance with OSCE commitments," AP reported. The statement noted interference in the election campaign by public prosecutors, the exclusion of major opposition parties, attempts by some candidates to bribe voters, and cases of multiple voting or pressure on voters to cast their ballot for a specific candidate. LF [05] ...AS OPPOSITION FEARS FRAUDKyrgyz Central ElectoralCommission spokeswoman Vera Orenburgina said in Bishkek on 22 February that the results of voting in single-mandate districts may not be released for up to two weeks because of delays in bringing protocols from remote mountain villages to the capital, RFE/RL's Bishkek bureau reported. Opposition politicians attribute the anticipated delay to the authorities' intention to falsify the final returns. Also on 22 February, Emil Aliev, who coordinated the election campaign of candidates from the opposition Ar-Namys party, told RFE/RL that according to election observers, the party's chairman, Feliks Kulov, polled 52.2 percent in a single- mandate district in Talas Oblast but the local election commission forged the final protocol to give Kulov less than the 50 percent minimum for a first-round win. Aliev said Kulov's representatives were barred from observing the vote count. LF [06] TAJIK OPPOSITION LEADER ACCUSES PRESIDENT OF VIOLATINGELECTION AGREEMENTIslamic Renaissance Party chairman Said Abdullo Nuri has written to President Imomali Rakhmonov, UN special representatives Ivo Petrov, and OSCE representative Marin Bukhoara complaining that the president has violated the protocol the two men signed on 5 November 1999, "Nezavisimaya gazeta" reported on 23 February (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 8 November 1999). That protocol detailed procedures for the parliamentary election campaign. Nuri claimed that in 25 single-mandate constituencies representatives of his party have been excluded from local election commissions in violation of a Central Electoral Commission ruling. Nuri appealed to the UN and OSCE representatives to help prevent "violations of the law and of the rights of individual citizens and political parties." On 21 February, Asia Plus-Blitz quoted a spokesman for the Central Electoral Commission as saying that body has not received any complaints from candidates or registered any violations of election campaign procedure. LF [B] SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE[07] MACEDONIA PUTS FORCES ON HIGHER ALERTA Macedonian armyspokesman told AP on 23 February that the "combat readiness of our Kumanovo Corps has been increased by one notch, which means the soldiers and officers of this part of the army have intensified their guard and monitoring." He added that the Macedonian authorities are concerned that ethnic tensions in Kosova could spill over into Macedonia. Approximately 23 percent of Macedonia's population is ethnic Albanian. One of the two largest ethnic Albanian parties is part of the governing coalition. Macedonia took in tens of thousands of Kosovar refugees during the 1999 conflict, but the violence did not spill over into Macedonia. PM [08] KFOR CARRIES OUT ARMS SEARCH IN MITROVICAU.S., British, andFrench troops launched a previously unannounced search for weapons in mainly Serbian northern Mitrovica on 23 February. KFOR spokesmen said that the purpose of the exercise was not only to collect illegal weapons but also to demonstrate that U.S. and other NATO troops are free to move where and when they please. The soldiers arrested eight people for illegal arms possession and confiscated a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, several rifles, several grenades, and an unspecified quantity of ammunition, AP reported. When some 300 U.S. paratroopers marched past a cafe frequented by Serbian hard-liners, some of the Serbian cafe patrons jeered, but there was no violence. KFOR spokesmen said that the troops were welcomed in the ethnically mixed Little Bosnia neighborhood. The troops returned to the mainly Albanian south of the city later in the morning. PM [09] RUBIN BLAMES MILOSEVIC FOR MITROVICA VIOLENCEU.S. StateDepartment spokesman James Rubin told a Washington press conference on 22 February that "we continue to call upon all parties to cease violent acts and confrontations and seek a political solution to legitimate grievances." The spokesman stressed that Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic has been "trying to keep things as tense as possible. We have reason to believe that Milosevic is trying to stir up the pot because he benefits from ethnic tensions." Referring to a build-up of Serbian forces on the Serbian side of the frontier with Kosova, Rubin said: "We are monitoring that situation very, very closely. And we certainly would be prepared to respond if Serbian forces made the grave mistake of trying to interfere with KFOR operations." On 23 February in Belgrade, General Vladimir Lazarevic said the only increase in forces in southern Serbia was that of police to patrol the Macedonian frontier, AP reported. PM [10] THACI SLAMS SERBIAN SECRET SERVICESHashim Thaci, who headsthe Kosovar Albanian Party for Democratic Progress, said in Prishtina on 23 February that "the authorities in Belgrade are responsible for the latest developments in Kosovska Mitrovica." He specifically blamed "the Serbian secret services" for the unrest, RFE/RL's South Slavic Service reported. In the Serbian capital, Yugoslav Information Minister Goran Matic said that "Albanian terrorists" and not Belgrade are to blame. PM [11] ARTEMIJE URGES WORLD TO HEED MODERATESSerbian OrthodoxArchbishop Artemije, who is one of the main political leaders of the Kosova Serbs, said at the UN in New York on 21 February that it is necessary to break "the spiral of violence" in the province. He added that a "peaceful new beginning" is necessary to build a multiethnic and democratic Kosova, RFE/RL's South Slavic Service reported. The archbishop blamed "Albanian extremists and the Belgrade autocratic regime" for the current conflict, "Vesti" noted on 23 February. The Kosova problem has existed "for centuries, but it will most likely be solved in our time," Artemije said. He added that "all cities" in Kosova have been "ethnically cleansed" of Serbs and that the 100,000 Serbs remaining in the province face an uncertain future. PM [12] FRANCE'S RICHARD CALLS FOR CLEAR GOALS...Speaking inWashington on 22 February, French Defense Minister Alain Richard said that the international community must clearly define its goals for securing peace in Kosova, RFE/RL's South Slavic Service reported. He added that the international community should make clear "in the course of the year" what the province's future political status will be. This will involve broad autonomy "in relation to Belgrade" but will stop short of independence, he said. In Paris, Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine blamed what he called extremists on either side for the recent violence. PM [13] ...WHILE INTERIOR MINISTER REJECTS KOUCHNER'S COMPLAINTInterior Minister Jean-Pierre Chevenement told the NationalAssembly on 22 February that France is fulfilling its commitments to send police to the province but that only 37 of 137 French volunteers have been approved by the Kosova UN administration, Reuters reported. "An extra 30 or 40 policemen would not make any difference in the current situation," he added. Bernard Kouchner, who heads the UN's civilian administration and is a French former cabinet minister, has criticized many countries for promising to send police to Kosova but not doing so. PM [14] MACEDONIAN PRESIDENT BLASTS MILOSEVICSpeaking in Tallinn,Boris Trajkovski said on 22 February that "there will be no stability in Montenegro or [Kosova] as long as Milosevic remains in power. When he is replaced, we will see a stabilizing of the situation," RFE/RL's South Slavic Service reported. PM [15] MONTENEGRIN MINISTER SAYS YUGOSLAV ARMY TAKING POLITICALROLEEconomics Minister Vojin Djukanovic said in Podgorica on 22 February that the Yugoslav Army is supporting "propaganda machinery from Serbia in Montenegro" by providing its equipment to broadcast pro-Milosevic television programs to the mountainous republic. PM [16] BOSNIAN SERB SOCIALIST LEADER WANTS PARTY TO STAY INGOVERNMENTZivko Radisic, who is the ethnic Serbian member of the Bosnian joint presidency and chair of the Socialist Party, said in Banja Luka on 22 February that officials from his party will remain in the government even though the party has left the governing coalition (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 22 February 2000). He denied that splits have emerged in his party over the question of remaining in government, "Oslobodjenje" reported. PM [17] NEW ROMANIAN COALITION CRISIS AVERTED?The leaders ofRomania's ruling coalition are meeting with Prime Minister Mugur Isarescu on 23 February to enlist his support for an agreement reached the previous day on how to resolve the "Babiuc crisis." Isarescu on 22 February rejected a demand by the Democratic Party that he should dismiss Defense Minister Victor Babiuc, saying it is a matter for the coalition leadership to deal with. As a result, Democratic Party parliamentary deputies walked out of the debates in the parliament, and party deputy chairman Traian Basescu, who is also transportation minister, said the coalition "cannot last longer than two weeks." Basescu also attacked President Emil Constantinescu and National Liberal Party Deputy Chairman Valeriu Stoica, saying they are "interfering in the affairs of the Democratic Party" through "Balkan-like manipulations." MS [18] ROMANIA LAUNCHES PROBE INTO CYANIDE SPILL INCIDENTTheProsecutor-General's Office on 22 February launched a criminal investigation into the Australian-Romanian Aurul gold-mining company, which is suspected of having caused the cyanide spill that resulted in widespread river pollution, RFE/RL's Bucharest bureau reported. Also on 22 February, Australian experts arrived in Romania to investigate the cause of the spill. MS [19] GAZPROM AGAIN THREATENS TO CUT MOLDOVA'S SUPPLIES OFFPrimeMinister Dumitru Braghis on 22 February told national television that Gazprom has warned Moldova it will cut off gas supplies if Chisinau fails to pay its outstanding debt by 25 February, Infotag reported. Gazprom said that during the first 45 days of 2000, Moldova received deliveries worth $17.6 million but paid only $3.4 million. The debt for supplies in 1999 stands at $190 million. Earlier this month, the two sides agreed on the restructuring of the 1999 debt. Braghis also said the 2000 budget cannot accommodate any increase in expenditure but if the parliament passes the privatization laws agreed with the IMF, revenues are expected to total some $200 million. However, deputy parliamentary chairman Vadim Mishin said his Party of Moldovan Communists will continue opposing the privatization of the tobacco and wine industries. MS [20] LIBYA ACCUSES BULGARIANS OF CONSPIRACY AGAINST NATIONALSECURITYLibya is charging five Bulgarian nurses and one doctor with conspiracy against its national security, AP reported on 22 February, citing Bulgarian state radio. The six have been held in custody for one year. A Foreign Ministry official told the radio that the six are accused of having willfully infected 393 Libya children in a Benghazi hospital with the HIV virus. The trial is scheduled for 28 February and the daily "Sega" says the prosecutor is demanding the death penalty. Foreign Minister Nadezhda Mihailova on 22 February urged her Libyan counterpart, Omar el-Muntasser, to ensure that the six are granted a "fair, impartial and transparent trial." Libya has not issued a visa to a Bulgarian lawyer whom the defendants' relatives have hired. MS [C] END NOTE[21] RUSSIAN OLIGARCHS' PRE-ELECTION ASSET GRABby Julie A. CorwinNot content with winning seats in Russia's national legislature last December, two of Russia's best-known "oligarchs," LogoVAZ head Boris Berezovskii and Sibneft head Roman Abramovich, appear to be extending their influence to other sectors of the Russian economy and other Russian regions. This month, LogoVAZ and Sibneft revealed they are in the process of acquiring controlling interests in two of Russia's largest aluminum smelters, Bratsk and Krasnoyarsk. It was also announced that LogoVAZ has acquired a controlling interest in the Novokuznetsk Metallurgical Combine in Kemerovo Oblast. With these acquisitions, the Berezovskii/Abramovich tandem will have control over an estimated 60-70 percent of Russia's aluminum industry or some 10-20 percent of the world aluminum market. Aluminum is one of Russia's most lucrative industries and, like the oil and gas sector, provides a steady flow of hard currency from exports. The timing of Berezovskii/Abramovich's moves, just before the 26 March presidential elections, has caused some analysts to conclude the duo is engaging in a last-minute asset grab before acting President Vladimir Putin is elected. While the prospect of a hand at Russia's helm stronger than former President Boris Yeltsin's shaky grip could be speeding the oligarchs' efforts, the aluminum acquisitions might be more accurately seen as part of a longer-term, two-track strategy to expand their influence not just economically--but also politically--across Russia Consider their role in past gubernatorial elections. Berezovskii played a highly publicized part in the April 1998 election of Krasnoyarsk Krai Governor Aleksandr Lebed. Almost two years later, that investment appears to be paying off for Lebed as well as Berezovskii. On 20 February, the board of Krasnoyarsk Aluminum voted to exclude Chairman Anatolii Bykov, a prominent foe of Lebed, from its ranks. "Segodnya" reported on 19 February that Abramovich is trying to persuade Bykov to sell him his shares in Krasnoyarsk Aluminum. Within the last six months, governors close to Berezovskii and Abramovich were elected in Omsk and Novosibirsk Oblasts. Just two months before the elections, Omsk Governor Leonid Polezhaev hailed the positive role played by Sibneft in its home region, telling an audience in Chukotka that the company had helped pay off the region's 500 million ruble ($17.4 million) debt to its pensioners. Polezhaev's re-election for another four years should ensure that Sibneft continues to enjoy a favorable environment in which to operate. Meanwhile, the 9 January 2000 election of Novosibirsk Mayor Viktor Tolokonskii to the office of governor may lay the groundwork for extending Berezovskii's economic influence into that region. Novosibirsk Oblast is home to Novosibirsk Electrorod factory, Russia's largest producer of electrorods for the aluminum and metallurgical industry. When incumbent Novosibirsk Governor Vitalii Mukha lost his post, Mukha's plans to reorganize the company and merge it with a new, partly foreign-owned firm fell by the wayside. Judging by LogoVAZ's acquisition of an interest in Novokuznetsk, Kemerovo is apparently another region that excites Berezovskii's interest. However, he has not yet won over Kemerovo Governor Aman Tuleev, since that regional head continues to fight for control over the factory. Just recently, Tuleev won a legal battle in the struggle for control over that plant when a local court extended external management of the company for another six months. The two men may be able to accommodate each other in some way. Tuleev, who is nominally a Communist, is perhaps best known for his pragmatism, having supported a number of the pro-Kremlin bloc Unity's candidates in the State Duma elections, despite appearing as number four on the Communists' list. In the meantime, Berezovskii continues applying pressure on Tuleev in the newspapers he controls. For example, "Kommersant- Daily" alleged on 16 February that Tuleev is receiving financial support for his presidential bid from the Kremlin. After Kemerovo, Berezovskii's next stop might be Samara Oblast, where incumbent Governor Konstantin Titov is up for re-election in December 2000. In that region, Berezovskii reportedly supports Samara Mayor Georgii Limanskii. Samara boasts one of Russia's strongest economies. And while Limanskii may have Berezovskii's support, he may no longer have the Kremlin's. In November, Unity head and Emergencies Minister Sergei Shoigu came to Samara and blessed Limanskii's effort to form the regional branch of Unity. However, AvtoVAZ Chairman Vladimir Kadannikov and his supporters three months later held a founding congress for its branch of Unity, electing Kadannikov leader of the Unity branch. According to "Kommersant-Daily" on 22 February, the presidential administration reportedly agreed to Kadannikov's selection. Exactly how the Kremlin--and specifically acting President Putin--views Berezovskii/Abramovich's political and business activities is unclear. The Kremlin, at least, would have Russian voters believe that its relationship with the duo is very remote: Putin has never publicly acknowledged any link with either oligarch, and in a recent question-and- answer session with readers of "Komsomolskaya pravda," he promised to make sure that Berezovskii and Abramovich answer for the legal consequences of their actions, should any criminal activity be found. As a presidential candidate, no matter how comfortable his lead, Putin would be ill-advised to speak warmly of Berezovskii, a figure universally loathed by Russia's voting public. The federal Anti-Monopoly Ministry has said it will make a decision on the oligarchs' recent moves in the aluminum market around 7 March. Most likely the ministry will find a good reason to delay an announcement for another two or three weeks. And Putin's real attitude toward Berezovskii/Abramovich may not become clear until after 26 March--and the place to watch may not be Moscow but much farther east, in Siberia and along the Volga. 23-02-00 Reprinted with permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
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