RFE/RL Newsline, Vol. 4, No. 73, 00-04-12

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty: Newsline Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty <http://www.rferl.org>

RFE/RL NEWSLINE

Vol. 4, No. 73, 12 April 2000

CONTENTS

[A] TRANSCAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA

[01] KARABAKH JOURNALISTS PROTEST COLLEAGUE'S ARREST

[02] AZERBAIJAN PROTESTS ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN WAR GAMES

[03] AZERBAIJAN OPPOSITION PARTY GRANTED PERMISSION FOR BAKU DEMO

[04] TWO AZERBAIJAN OPPOSITION PARTIES SIGN COOPERATION AGREEMENT

[05] SON OF EXTRADITED LOCAL AZERBAIJANI POLICE CHIEF ACCUSES

[06] DEFEATED GEORGIAN PRESIDENTIAL CHALLENGER CLAIMS FRAUD

[07] KAZAKHSTAN'S PREMIER CRITICIZES APPROACH TO PRIVATIZATION

[08] KAZAKHSTAN'S COMMUNIST PARTY JOINS CALLS FOR POLITICAL REFORM

[09] KYRGYZ OPPOSITION PARTY LEADER ENDS HUNGER STRIKE

[B] SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE

[10] SLAIN SERBIAN JOURNALIST HONORED

[11] SERBIAN PRIVATE WEEKLY FINED FOR 'LIBEL'

[12] NOVI SAD BROADCASTER APPEALS FOR HELP

[13] IS MILOSEVIC SEEKING PRETEXT FOR CRACKDOWN?

[14] MILOSEVIC MOVES TO SECURE POWER

[15] U.S. DENIES REPORT OF RENEWED TIES TO BELGRADE

[16] KOSOVA SERBS RETURN TO UN COUNCIL

[17] NATIONALISTS BUILDING LEAD IN BOSNIAN ELECTION RETURNS

[18] DODIK RULES OUT COALITION WITH KARADZIC PARTY

[19] KUCAN TO ANNOUNCE RESULTS OF TALKS

[20] CROATIAN LEADERS FIGHT OVER SECRET SERVICES

[21] ROMANIAN PRESIDENT PROMISES AID FOR FLOODS

[22] MOLDOVAN PARLIAMENT PASSES 2000 BUDGET

[23] MOLDOVAN COURT SAYS PARLIAMENT MUST RESPECT REQUEST FOR

[24] BULGARIAN WORKERS STAGE ROADBLOCK ON KEY HIGHWAY

[C] END NOTE

[25] DOUBTS REMAIN OVER UKRAINE'S 16 APRIL REFERENDUM

[A] TRANSCAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA

[01] KARABAKH JOURNALISTS PROTEST COLLEAGUE'S ARREST

leading journalists from the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh

Republic has issued a statement condemning the arrest of Vahram

Agadjanian, a journalist with the Karabakh opposition newspaper

"Tasnerort nahang," Noyan Tapan reported on 12 April. Agadjanian

was taken into custody shortly after the abortive 22 March

attempt to assassinate the enclave's president, Arkadii Ghukasian

(see "RFE/RL Newsline," 30 March 2000). He has been charged with

"defamation" for an article published in November 1999 that

harshly criticized Karabakh Premier Anushavan Danielian, RFE/RL's

Stepanakert correspondent reported on 10 April. LF

[02] AZERBAIJAN PROTESTS ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN WAR GAMES

issued in Baku on 11 April, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry

implied that the joint maneuvers conducted in Armenia late last

month were intended as preparation for military action against

Azerbaijan, Turan reported (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 29 March and 3

April 2000). The statement noted that one of the stated

objectives of the maneuvers was to improve the performance of

both countries' troops in wooded and mountainous terrain. Baku

regards the conduct of such exercises as a destabilizing factor

in the South Caucasus and as undermining confidence between

Armenia and Azerbaijan as well as the 1994 cease-fire, the

statement continued. The statement termed the exercises counter

to Russia's professed policy of furthering stability and security

in the South Caucasus. It urged Moscow to suspend such exercises

until a final solution to the Karabakh conflict is reached. LF

[03] AZERBAIJAN OPPOSITION PARTY GRANTED PERMISSION FOR BAKU DEMO

opposition Azerbaijan Popular Front Party for permission to

convene a picket in the capital on 13 April, Turan reported. The

action is intended to protest the eviction of the party from its

Baku headquarters in 1994 and to demand either the return of

those premises or a new office in the capital. LF

[04] TWO AZERBAIJAN OPPOSITION PARTIES SIGN COOPERATION AGREEMENT

and Democratic Party of Azerbaijan co-chairman Ilyas Ismailov

signed an agreement in Baku on 11 April pledging to coordinate

their efforts to end by constitutional means the present

"authoritarian" and "anti-national" regime, Turan reported (see

"RFE/RL Caucasus Report," Vol. 3, No.13, 31 March 2000). They

also vowed to liberate the Azerbaijani territories currently

occupied by Armenian forces. The two parties will try to

consolidate all democratic forces to contend jointly the

parliamentary elections due in November. LF

[05] SON OF EXTRADITED LOCAL AZERBAIJANI POLICE CHIEF ACCUSES

Yuksel Efendiev, whose father, Natig, was expedited

from Turkey to Azerbaijan in January, has appealed to the

Azerbaijani leadership to desist from what he terms the

systematic persecution of all male members of his family, Turan

reported (see "RFE/RL Caucasus Report," Vol. 3, No. 4, 28 January

2000). Natig Efendiev's brother was sentenced in 1998 to three-

and-a-half years in jail, and his cousin was arrested in 1996.

All other male members of the family are either in hiding or have

left Azerbaijan. Natig Efendiev was dismissed from his post as

police chief of the city of Gyanja in September 1996, after his

patron, parliamentary speaker Rasul Guliev, had lost his post.

Both men subsequently left Azerbaijan. LF

[06] DEFEATED GEORGIAN PRESIDENTIAL CHALLENGER CLAIMS FRAUD

Patiashvili, who according to official data placed second in the

9 April Georgian presidential poll with 17 percent of the vote,

has rejected that figure, Reuters reported on 11 April.

Patiashvili claimed that the vote tally was systematically

falsified, with the authorities adding 300-500 votes for

incumbent Eduard Shevardnadze at every polling station. He said

his supporters are collecting evidence of that falsification,

which he will submit to the OSCE and the Council of Europe. Also

on 11 April, "Dilis gazeti" quoted Georgian Socialist Party

leader Vakhtang Rcheulishvili as saying that the participation in

the poll of both Patiashvili and Adjar Supreme Council Chairman

Aslan Abashidze gave rise to major tensions within the opposition

Batumi Alliance, of which both men are leading members. Abashidze

withdrew his candidacy on 8 April. LF

[07] KAZAKHSTAN'S PREMIER CRITICIZES APPROACH TO PRIVATIZATION

Toqaev called for an investigation into the activities of the

previous heads of the Finance Ministry's State Property and

Privatization Committee, Interfax reported. Stressing that there

can be no question of re-nationalizing already privatized

enterprises, Toqaev nonetheless expressed concern at the

"erosion" of state property, which he said "must be curbed." He

added that "the most sophisticated approaches," including psuedo-

bankruptcy and deliberate undervaluation, are being used to

undertake the "robbery" of the country's industrial base. On two

earlier occasions this year, Toqaev had called for expediting the

privatization of state-owned companies, including two oil

companies and several metallurgical giants (see "RFE/RL

Newsline," 10 February 2000). LF

[08] KAZAKHSTAN'S COMMUNIST PARTY JOINS CALLS FOR POLITICAL REFORM

conference in Almaty on 11 April that his party has proposed

abolishing the presidency and establishing a parliamentary

republic in Kazakhstan, Interfax reported. Abdildin also

advocated that beginning in 2000, local governors should be

elected, rather than appointed by the country's leadership. He

added that the constitution should be amended to prevent regional

governors adopting what he termed "separatist policies." LF

[09] KYRGYZ OPPOSITION PARTY LEADER ENDS HUNGER STRIKE

Security Ministry spokesman Talant Razzakov said in Bishkek on 11

April that at the insistence of ministry doctors, detained

opposition Ar-Namys party chairman Feliks Kulov ended on 10 April

the hunger strike he had begun 17 days earlier, RFE/RL's bureau

in the Kyrgyz capital reported. Kulov has been charged with

embezzlement and abuse of office when he headed the Security

Ministry in 1996-1998. Meanwhile some 100 protesters continued

their picket in central Bishkek to demand Kulov's release. On 11

April, a second leading member of Ar-Namys, Omurbek Subanaliev,

said in Bishkek that the party will participate in the planned

round-table discussion between the opposition and the Kyrgyz

leadership if that discussion is held under the aegis of the

OSCE, but not if it is organized by the presidential

administration. LF

[B] SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE

[10] SLAIN SERBIAN JOURNALIST HONORED

human rights activists held several meetings in Belgrade on 11

April to mark the first anniversary of the killing of publisher

Slavko Curuvija (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 10 April 2000). At the

site of the murder, friends and colleagues of Curuvija unveiled a

memorial plaque, which read that he was "killed for his tough and

critical words" against the regime of Yugoslav President Slobodan

Milosevic, whom he had once supported. A friend of Curuvija's

said at the meeting that the late journalist "was not killed; he

was executed," "Vesti" reported. Serbian Deputy Prime Minister

Vojislav Seselj called Curuvija a "criminal," according to

"Danas." The authorities have remained silent on the killing. PM

[11] SERBIAN PRIVATE WEEKLY FINED FOR 'LIBEL'

series of actions against the private media, a Belgrade court

fined "Vreme" $8,000 at the black market rate on 11 April (see

"RFE/RL Newsline," 10 April 2000) The staff of the weekly learned

of the case less than 24 hours earlier, Reuters reported. Serbian

Culture Minister Zeljko Simic brought the suit after the magazine

wrote that he had fired the director of the National Theater.

Simic said that it was the government that ordered the sacking.

The minister added: "I wanted to make those journalists aware of

the legal framework they are working in here." PM

[12] NOVI SAD BROADCASTER APPEALS FOR HELP

private Radio 021 appealed on 11 April to other journalists for

"professional solidarity" and help in buying a new antenna so

that the radio can resume its broadcasts, RFE/RL's South Slavic

Service reported. A fire swept the offices of Radio 021 and other

non-state media the previous week (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 7 April

2000). PM

[13] IS MILOSEVIC SEEKING PRETEXT FOR CRACKDOWN?

outside the offices of Milosevic's Socialist Party offices in

Belgrade's Vracar district late on 11 April. No one was injured.

Local Socialist official Branislav Ivkovic linked the blast to a

rally by Serbian opposition parties slated for 14 April. He

called the bombing "a terrorist act by those who are an extended

hand of NATO," AP reported. A spokesman for the Democratic Party

said that the blast "leaves open the question as to who benefits

from this incident" and suggested that the "regime may be looking

for a pretext" to crack down on the opposition ahead of the

rally. Meanwhile in Novi Sad, two unidentified men beat Social

Democratic activist Radoje Cvetkov. The League of Social

Democrats of Vojvodina said in a statement that the incident

shows the authorities are resorting to "vulgar repression." The

statement added that "Milosevic's regime, with its worn-out

slogans about fighting 'traitors'..., is creating a criminalized

society in which force is the main law." PM

[14] MILOSEVIC MOVES TO SECURE POWER

passed a law whereby deputies will be elected to the upper house

of the federal legislature on a proportional basis rather than by

majority vote. The measure will enable Milosevic and his

political allies to control the Council of the Republic at the

expense of the Serbian opposition and the governing coalition in

Montenegro, RFE/RL's South Slavic Service reported. Some

observers suggested that Milosevic will now seek changes to the

Yugoslav or Serbian constitutions to enable him to remain in

office after his current term ends in 2001. PM

[15] U.S. DENIES REPORT OF RENEWED TIES TO BELGRADE

spokesman James Rubin on 11 April denied recent media reports

that Washington is seeking to renew diplomatic ties with Belgrade

(see "RFE/RL Balkan Report," 11 April 2000). Rubin stressed that

Washington-Belgrade relations will improve only after Milosevic

leaves office. PM

[16] KOSOVA SERBS RETURN TO UN COUNCIL

Kosovar Serbian moderates as an observer at the UN's interim

advisory council in Prishtina on 11 April. She stressed that her

main interest is to improve the security situation for Kosova's

Serbian minority and returning refugees. She called the meeting

"a beginning for solving problems," AP reported. Also

participating in the council session were chief UN civilian

administrator Bernard Kouchner, as well as ethnic Albanian

leaders Hashim Thaci, Ibrahim Rugova, and Rexhep Qosja. The

agenda included the return of Serbian refugees, security issues,

student elections, and regulations affecting the electronic media

as well as agriculture. Thaci called the atmosphere "very good"

and added that Serbs and Albanians must live together. PM

[17] NATIONALISTS BUILDING LEAD IN BOSNIAN ELECTION RETURNS

in Bosnia's 8 April local elections suggest that nationalist

parties are heading to victory in all areas except for several

cities and towns with Muslim majorities (see "RFE/RL Newsline,"

11 April 2000). The civic-based Social Democrats lead in only

nine areas. The Muslim nationalist Party of Democratic Action is

ahead either by itself or in a coalition in 24 areas. The Serbian

Democratic Party (SDS) leads in 34 municipalities, and the

Croatian Democratic Community in 20, RFE/RL's South Slavic

Service reported. PM

[18] DODIK RULES OUT COALITION WITH KARADZIC PARTY

11 April, Republika Srpska Prime Minister Milorad Dodik ruled out

local coalitions between his Party of Independent Social

Democrats (SNSD) and the SDS, "Vesti" reported. He stressed that

the SNSD will seek local coalitions with its current moderate

allies. He also did not rule out the possibility of local

coalitions with civic-based parties, whose support come mainly

from Muslim and Croatian voters, the daily added. PM

[19] KUCAN TO ANNOUNCE RESULTS OF TALKS

Kucan said on 11 April that he will inform the parliament by 15

April about the results of his current talks aimed at ending the

political crisis (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 11 April 2000). He

stressed that the crisis has come at a crucial time in the

process of securing Slovenia's admission to the EU and NAT.

RFE/RL's South Slavic Service reported. PM

[20] CROATIAN LEADERS FIGHT OVER SECRET SERVICES

heads one of Croatia's key intelligence services (HIS), said in

Zagreb that he wants to resign because Tomislav Karamarko, who

heads another intelligence agency (UNS), is obstructing his

attempts at making personnel changes, "Vecernji list" reported on

12 April. President Stipe Mesic, Prime Minister Ivica Racan and

parliamentary speaker Zlatko Tomcic will deal with the issue on

15 April, "Jutarnji list" added. The dispute reflects a deeper

conflict between Mesic and Racan over the control of the

intelligence agencies, "Slobodna Dalmacija" argued. Racan

believes that the government must control the services, while

Mesic argues the president must ensure that the agencies remain

independent of the government. Under the late President Franjo

Tudjman, some elements in the governing Croatian Democratic

Community used the intelligence services against their political

rivals. PM

[21] ROMANIAN PRESIDENT PROMISES AID FOR FLOODS

has said that beginning on 12 April, 6 billion lei ($305,000)

from the Solidaritatea national fund will be disbursed to the

flooded regions of western Romania, Rompres reported on 11 April.

He said other urgent measures for dealing with the flood will be

discussed at a meeting of the country's Supreme Defense Council

on 12 April. Prime Minister Mugur Isarescu said the same day that

the flood-stricken regions would receive special funds for the

construction of dams. VG

[22] MOLDOVAN PARLIAMENT PASSES 2000 BUDGET

on 11 April passed the state budget for 2000, with 58 deputies in

the 101-seat legislature backing the bill, Infotag reported. The

budget was supported by the Christian Democrats and Communists as

well as some members of the For a Democratic and Prosperous

Moldova bloc and some independent deputies, BASA-Press reported.

The budget, which anticipates a deficit of 380 million lei, was

one of the conditions set by the IMF for resuming credits to

Moldova. Prime Minister Dumitru Braghis said the vote

demonstrates Moldova's "intention to follow the path of reform

and its readiness to meet commitments undertaken before

international financial organizations and the Moldovan people."

He noted, however, that the legislature must still fulfill other

IMF conditions, including the privatization of the wine and

tobacco industries, the amendment of the law on notary services,

and the approval of the social insurance budget for this year. VG

[23] MOLDOVAN COURT SAYS PARLIAMENT MUST RESPECT REQUEST FOR

The Moldovan Constitutional Court on 11 April ruled

that the parliament must call a referendum if such a vote is

demanded by a petition of at least 200,000 citizens, Infotag and

BASA-Press reported. In so doing, the court has ruled that those

sections of the electoral law that state that the parliament can

ignore such petitions are unconstitutional. The case was launched

by President Petru Lucinschi, who wants to hold a referendum on

altering the constitution. VG

[24] BULGARIAN WORKERS STAGE ROADBLOCK ON KEY HIGHWAY

workers from the Vazov group of weapons plants staged a roadblock

on the main road linking Sofia to the Black Sea port of Burgas on

12 April, Reuters reported. The workers are demanding the payment

of wage arrears and protesting against planned job cuts.

Meanwhile, police said another key road has been blocked by

workers from a plastics factory. VG

[C] END NOTE

[25] DOUBTS REMAIN OVER UKRAINE'S 16 APRIL REFERENDUM

The Constitutional Court's 29 March resolution to strike two

questions from Ukraine's 16 April constitutional referendum

appears to have alleviated fears of an immediate introduction of

authoritarianism in the country. The court ruled that questions

on the vote of no confidence in the parliament and on the

possibility of adopting the country's constitution via a

referendum are unconstitutional. The four remaining questions

were deemed constitutional and, if approved in the plebiscite,

will be binding. The ruling, however, has not dispelled the many

other doubts, both abroad and at home, about the possible

consequences of the 16 April ballot.

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe

recommended earlier this month that President Leonid Kuchma

postpone the plebiscite until the parliament adopts a new law on

referenda. Kuchma decreed the current referendum on the basis of

a Soviet-era law that does not take into account the legal and

political realities of independent Ukraine. Second, PACE warned

Kyiv that it may seek suspension of Ukraine's membership in the

council if the referendum results are implemented by

unconstitutional means.

PACE's warning was clearly based on the suspicion than

Ukraine's Supreme Council might be reluctant to approve

constitutional amendments limiting lawmakers' rights and

prerogatives, particularly stripping them of immunity from

criminal prosecution. Even if the current parliamentary majority

unanimously supported possible constitutional amendments, it

would still be some 30 votes short of the 300 needed to change

the constitution. Thus not without reason, PACE feared that

Kuchma might seek to amend the constitution by decree, as

Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka had done in 1996,

following a constitutional referendum of a consultative nature.

Some Ukrainian commentators also point to ambiguities in the

formulation of referendum questions, which may lead to tensions

between the parliament and the president. In particular, the

questions about reducing the number of lawmakers to 300 and

introducing a bicameral parliament in Ukraine do not specify to

which entity that number applies--the parliament in its entirety

or its lower chamber. There is also no mention on the referendum

ballots of how the second chamber should be formed if Ukrainians

decide on a bicameral legislature.

Many sarcastic comments have been elicited in the Ukrainian

media by the court's decision to approve the question about

stripping lawmakers of their immunity from criminal prosecution.

The question proposes leaving in place the constitutional

formulation that Ukrainian lawmakers' immunity "is guaranteed"

but excluding the provision that people's deputies may not be

tried for criminal offenses, detained, or arrested without the

approval of the Supreme Council. How much is such "immunity"

worth if a police officer can arrest a people's deputy at any

time and under any pretext, many Ukrainian publications have

wondered.

There is also a discrepancy between the current constitution

and the court's ruling that referendum results should be binding.

According to the constitution, only the Supreme Council can

change the country's basic law. On the other hand, the Supreme

Council is a sovereign branch of power and no Ukrainian court has

the right to order the legislature to approve any laws.

Is there a way to untangle this web of contradictions? The

easiest way would be to regard the 16 April referendum as

consultative. Such an option has been suggested by PACE and would

be the best approach for Ukraine, which urgently needs political

accord following the parliament's approval of the ambitious

reformist program of Viktor Yushchenko's cabinet. Too much is at

stake now, and any further political confrontation could easily

extinguish the glimmer of hope Ukrainians perceived this year.

The worst scenario would be the parliament's refusal to

comply with the referendum (which is expected to approve at least

three of the questions) and Kuchma's possible decision to

dissolve the legislature and call for new parliamentary

elections. In such a case, the country, beleaguered by social and

economic problems, would once again be plunged into a election

campaign that might alter the balance of power but would hardly

result in any economic improvement for the pauperized population.

12-04-00

Reprinted with permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
URL: http://www.rferl.org

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty: Newsline Directory - Previous Article - Next Article