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RFE/RL Newsline, Vol. 4, No. 156, 00-08-15Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty: Newsline Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty <http://www.rferl.org>RFE/RL NEWSLINEVol. 4, No. 156, 15 August 2000CONTENTS[A] TRANSCAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA
[B] SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE
[C] END NOTE
[A] TRANSCAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA[01] ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT RENOVATEDArmenian parliamentaryofficials said on 14 August that the process of renovating the parliament building to remove bullet holes and other traces of the 27 October shootings will be completed by the end of this month, RFE/RL's Yerevan bureau reported. A new checkpoint equipped with metal detectors will also be installed. The cost of repairs is estimated at 40 million drams ($76,000). LF [02] ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, KARABAKH PRESIDENT DISCUSS PEACEPROCESSVartan Oskanian met in Stepanakert on 14 August with Arkadii Ghukasian, president of the unrecognized Nagorno- Karabakh Republic, to assess the Karabakh peace process and how the ongoing efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group to mediate a solution of the conflict could be boosted, Noyan Tapan reported. The U.S. co-chairman of the Minsk Group, Carey Cavanaugh, was quoted as telling Azerbaijan's Azertadj news agency last week in Washington that the opinion of the population of Karabakh must be taken into consideration during ongoing negotiations. Ghukasian had told Karabakh television on 3 August that the Karabakh leadership should participate in talks on a solution to the conflict, Groong reported, citing Snark. The presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan, Robert Kocharian and Heidar Aliev, are due to meet on the sidelines of the 18-19 August CIS informal summit in Crimea to resume their talks on approaches to resolving the conflict. LF [03] ARMENIA RELEASES ANOTHER AZERBAIJANI POWThe Armenianauthorities have released a 25-year-old Azerbaijani serviceman taken prisoner in 1998 after inadvertently straying onto Armenian territory, RFE/RL's Yerevan bureau reported. The man was flown to Baku on 14 August, where an Azerbaijani National Security Ministry press spokesman accused Yerevan of reneging on a promise to free two POWs, according to Turan. An Armenian National Security official had told RFE/RL that Armenia still holds another Azerbaijani prisoner. He queried Azerbaijani denials that any Armenian prisoners remain in Azerbaijani jails. LF [04] BANDITS OPEN FIRE ON GERMAN TOURISTS IN WESTERN GEORGIAUnidentified gunmen opened fire on 13 August on threeminibuses carrying German tourists in the Svaneti region of northwest Georgia, but there were no injuries, Russian agencies reported. A local police spokesman said he believes the gunmen intended to rob the tourists. A Georgian Foreign Ministry spokesman denied on 14 August that the gunmen had taken some of the tourists hostage but later released them. LF [05] GEORGIAN PRESIDENT ADVOCATES UN SECURITY COUNCIL PERMANENTMEMBERSHIP FOR GERMANY, JAPAN...Eduard Shevardnadze proposed at a press briefing in Tbilisi on 14 August that the UN Security Council should be enlarged to include Germany and Japan as permanent members, Caucasus Press reported. He argued that "such global problems as starvation and poverty cannot be solved without attracting such financially powerful countries." Germany is one of the largest donors of international aid to Georgia. LF [06] ...CALLS FOR SWIFT END TO WAR IN CHECHNYAIn his traditionalMonday radio address on 14 August, Shevardnadze expressed the hope that the conflict in Chechnya will be ended as quickly as possible, Interfax reported. Shevardnadze defended as correct Tbilisi's refusal last October to allow Russian forces to use Georgian territory to launch operations in southern Chechnya. Also on 14 August, the Georgian Foreign Ministry issued a statement accusing the Russian media of deliberately circulating erroneous reports of the presence in northern Georgia of groups of mercenaries from Afghanistan en route for Chechnya. The statement claimed such reports are part of an attempt to create an image of Georgia as "an enemy," Interfax reported. LF [07] PLANNED METING OF CASPIAN LITTORAL STATES CANCELLEDAtIran's request, which was supported by Turkmenistan, a planned meeting in Moscow of the five Caspian littoral states has been cancelled, Interfax reported on 14 August quoting unnamed Russian diplomatic sources. Over the past month, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister and special presidential representative for the Caspian Viktor Kalyuzhnyi has visited Astana, Baku, Ashgabat, and Tehran to solicit support for Russia's proposed phased approach to resolving Caspian- related problems. Kalyuzhnyi had suggested signing a convention on ecological issues and protecting the sea's biological resources before starting negotiations on the division and demarcation of national sectors of the sea. LF [08] KYRGYZ OPPOSITION LEADER CONFIRMS HE WILL RUN FOR PRESIDENTAr-Namys Party chairman Feliks Kulov told journalists inBishkek on 14 August that he will contend the 29 October presidential poll, RFE/RL's bureau in the Kyrgyz capital reported. Kulov added, however, that he doubts the poll will be free and fair. He said he plans to travel to Moscow for unofficial consultations about the elections with unnamed Russian leaders. Kulov was acquitted a week ago following a five-week trial on charges of abusing his official position when he served as national security minister in 1997-1998 (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 8 August 2000). Also on 14 August, Kyrgyzstan's National Security Minister Tashtemir Aitbaev told RFE/RL that the prosecutor at the trial has made good on his stated intention to appeal the judge's decision to acquit Kulov (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 10 August 2000). Aitbaev added that the acquittal was unfair and ignored evidence proving Kulov's guilt. LF [09] KYRGYZ, TAJIK, UZBEK OFFICIALS DISCUSS MEASURES TO COUNTERISLAMISTS...Kyrgyz, Tajik, and Uzbek government representatives have discussed the possible use of air strikes against the Islamist militants who invaded Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan last week, Kyrgyz presidential spokesman Osmonakun Ibraimov told journalists in Bishkek on 14 August. He said Uzbekistan had offered to make its airforce available for that purpose, but he noted that the three countries have not yet taken a decision on whether to use air strikes, Reuters reported. General Bolot Djanuzakov, who is the Kyrgyz Security Council secretary, said in Bishkek on 15 August that Kyrgyz troops have split the invaders into three groups and driven them back to within 1.5 kilometers of the Kyrgyz-Tajik border, ITAR-TASS reported. On 14 August, the news agency quoted an unidentified Kyrgyz Defense Ministry official as saying that another 500-700 gunmen are gathered at the Tajik- Kyrgyz border ready to enter Kyrgyzstan. The same day, General Amirqul Azimov, the secretary of the Tajik Security Council, and other Tajik government officials flew to the northern town of Khudjand, which has been selected as the joint headquarters for forces from all three countries to coordinate measures against the militants. LF [10] ...WHILE MILITANTS' AIMS REMAIN UNCLEARIbraimov also saidin Bishkek on 14 August that the invading Islamist forces included foreign mercenaries from Afghanistan, Chechnya and unnamed Arab states as well as members of the banned Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU). Ibraimov said the militants' aim is "to destabilize the whole of Central Asia," according to Interfax. But Reuters quoted an Iranian Radio broadcast, monitored by the BBC, as claiming that the militants have demanded that the Uzbek government release all imprisoned IMU members, reopen closed mosques, allow Islamic dress, and introduce Sharia law. Kyrgyz parliamentary deputy Dosbol Nur Uulu, who negotiated with IMU members to secure the release of hostages seized by the IMU in the late summer of 1999, estimated the total membership of the IMU at 6,000-7,000, according to Reuters. LF [B] SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE[11] SHARP SERBIAN REACTION TO UN TAKEOVER OF POLLUTING MININGCOMPLEXSeveral hundred "angry and confused" mainly Serbian workers gathered outside the Trepca mining complex on 15 August, AP reported. Oliver Ivanovic, who is the leader of the Serbian community in Mitrovica and a critic of Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic, said the previous day that the UN's takeover of Trepca is aimed at ousting pro-Milosevic Serbs from the plant's management, AP reported (see "RFE/RL Newsline, 14 August 2000). Novak Bijelic, whom the UN sacked as plant director, said that the "fascist takeover is aimed at destroying the company." State-run Serbian television argued that "the obvious intention [of UN chief administrator Bernard Kouchner] was to destroy Trepca, which has become a symbol of Serbian resistance." Trepca was Kosova's largest single employer until the conflict in 1999. The complex of about 40 mines produces gold, silver, lead, zinc, and cadmium. It uses antiquated technology, and pollution control devices are inadequate or nonexistent. Before Kouchner moved to shut down the complex, it produced some 200 times the level of lead pollution considered safe, Reuters reported. PM [12] TREPCA: THE START OF REORGANIZATION IN KOSOVA?William L.Nash, who is the UN's chief administrator in Mitrovica, told London's "The Guardian" of 15 August that the takeover of Trepca is the beginning of a "much broader security operation" aimed at removing Milosevic supporters from key positions in Kosova. Nash added that the UN will "change the structure of [unspecified] local municipal boards in the region over the next few days." He stressed that the UN wants "people who are interested in democracy [in key posts], and those who are not interested in democracy can go elsewhere. They can leave Kosovo in a variety of ways." PM [13] SERBIAN OPPOSITION TO LAUNCH CAMPAIGN ON 1 SEPTEMBERZoranDjindjic, who heads the Democratic Party, said in Belgrade on 14 August that opposition leaders agreed that their campaign for the 24 September local and federal elections will last only three weeks. "We do not want to burden our citizens, who are already exhausted by...long campaigns. We do not have to explain to the people how bad this regime is.... They know who we--the opposition--are, and who the others are," Reuters reported. Djindjic added that the opposition does not have enough money for a longer campaign. Djindjic and other opposition leaders agreed to run candidates in Montenegro, where the governing Democratic Socialist Party (DPS) is boycotting the vote. In Podgorica, the DPS steering committee confirmed the party leadership's earlier decision not to participate in the elections. PM [14] SERBIAN REGIME TO RUN ON TWO SLATES...Milosevic's SocialistParty of Serbia said in a statement on 14 August in Belgrade that it will field joint candidates with the United Yugoslav Left (JUL), which is led by Mira Markovic, the wife of Milosevic. JUL is a small party that is primarily the political home of die-hard communists of the older generation. Vojislav Seselj's Radicals, who are the third member of the governing coalition, will run their own candidates. A commentator from the weekly NIN told the BBC's Serbian Service that "it makes no [political] difference" that Seselj is formally running separately from Milosevic and Markovic, because "he is nothing without them." PM [15] ...CONTINUES CASES AGAINST FOREIGN CAPTIVESA Belgrademilitary court ended its initial hearing on 14 August in the cases of two British and two Canadian citizens recently arrested in Montenegro on suspicion of "terrorism" (see "RFE/RL Balkan Report," 8 August 2000). A defense lawyer told Reuters that he expects a ruling by the end of August and that the court will not continue the case. A second defense lawyer added, however, that he believes that the regime's political considerations will determine whether the case is dropped. Meanwhile in Amsterdam, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said that Dutch diplomats expect to have their first direct contact on 15 August with the four Dutch citizens arrested shortly before the Britons and Canadians. The four Dutch citizens had a court hearing at the weekend but were not represented by a lawyer, Reuters reported. PM [16] ETHNICALLY MIXED SOCCER REVIVED IN BOSNIASecretary-Generalof the Soccer Association of Bosnia-Herzegovina Munib Usanovic told Reuters on 14 August that he is pleased that the first match between a Croatian and a Muslim team since the 1992-1995 conflict took place "in the best order." The 13 August match in Mostar between the Muslim team Velez and the Croatian Zrinjski was accompanied by only minor violence, which Usanovic said "could happen at any stadium in Europe." He stressed that the general atmosphere among the teams and fans was "fine." PM [17] ROMANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER GOES FOR A SWIMIn order to drawattention to the blockage of navigation on the River Danube, Romanian Foreign Minister Petre Roman swam down that river in the company of Slovenian swimmer Martin Strel, AP reported. Although the EU has allocated up to 22 million euros ($20.5 million) to unblock the channel, which became clogged during NATO bombing last year, the river will not be navigable until spring 2001. Roman, who only recently returned from a vacation on the Black Sea and who is expected to run for president in November, said that "it was a much greater pleasure to swim in the Danube than it was to swim in the Black Sea, and I thought the water was pretty clean." PG [18] ROMANIAN ENVIRONMENT MINISTRY OFFICIAL DISMISSEDAt therequest of Environment Minister Romica Tomescu, Prime Minister Mugur Isarescu has dismissed the ministry's secretary of state, Anton Vlad, Romanian media reported on 14 August. A National Peasant Party Christian Democratic (PNTCD) member, Vlad has been accused of irregularities at the Forest Department of his home county, Bistrita-Nasaud, as well as "unsatisfactory activities" with regard to the return of farmlands and forests to their former owners. Vlad, who learned of his dismissal from journalists, said the charges are Tomescu's "concoctions" and that the minister wants to blame others for his own inactivity. PNTCD Vice Chairman Vasile Lupu, the initiator of the restitution law, said Vlad was a victim of the "mafia of the forests and left-wing parties." Although the so-called Lupu law was adopted by the parliament in July 1999, only a small portion of the forests has been returned to its rightful owners. ZsM [19] MOLDOVAN-RUSSIAN PEACEKEEPING EXERCISE ENDSThe secondMoldova-Russia peacekeeping maneuvers at the Buliboaca military facility have ended, Infotag reported on 14 August. The week-long training exercises involved 34 Russians and approximately 150 Moldovan troops. The first joint maneuvers took place in July 1999. PG [20] BULGARIAN CABINET ASKS PRESIDENT TO REPLACE INTERIOR MINISTRYCHIEF SECRETARYThe Bulgarian cabinet proposed on 14 August that Petar Stoyanov dismiss the Interior Ministry's chief secretary, General Bozhidar Popov, for his role in "Bug Gate," in which the apartment of Bulgaria's chief prosecutor as well the homes of other government officials were found to be bugged, Bulgarian Radio reported. Bulgarian Premier Ivan Kostov has already publicly called for Popov to be fired (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 10 August 2000). The decision to seek Popov's sacking was made at a cabinet meeting at which a report on the eavesdropping scandal was presented. The cabinet suggested that Popov be replaced by Slavko Bosilkov. PB [C] END NOTE[21] WILL NEW LEGISLATION EXPEDITE THE MESKHETIANS' RETURN TOGEORGIA?By Liz Fuller One of the obligations that Georgia assumed on being admitted in April 1999 as a full member of Council of Europe was to expedite the repatriation to Georgia of the Meskhetians deported by Stalin from southern Georgia to Central Asia and Kazakhstan in November 1944. Within days, between 90,000 and 100,000 Meskhetians, Kurds, and Khemshins (Armenians whose ancestors were converted to Islam) were rounded up and transported in cattle cars to Kazakhstan. Thousands of them died en route or as a result of the harsh conditions in exile. Following Nikita Khrushchev's legendary denunciation of Stalin's crimes at the CPSU's 20th congress in 1956, most of the other ethnic groups deported during World War II, including the Crimean Tatars and the Chechens and Ingush, were exonerated and allowed to return home. The Meskhetians, for reasons that remain unclear, were not, and they began lobbying the Soviet authorities for permission to do so. That process, inevitably, acquired political dimensions. Scholars and the Meskhetians alike dispute that group's origins: some consider themselves Georgians whose forebears converted to Islam when the Samtskhe-Djavakheti region of Georgia constituted part of the Ottoman Empire. Others believe they are ethnic Turks. Accordingly, the Meskhetians split into two camps. One, named Khsna ("Salvation"), united those Meskhetians who consider themselves Georgians; the other, named Vatan ("Homeland"), represents those who identified themselves as Turks. In the mid-1980s, despite protests from some members of the Georgian intelligentsia, an initiative was launched to bring Meskhetians back to Georgia, but only a few hundred succeeded in taking advantage of that opportunity, and they were hounded out of the republic a few years later by supporters of ultranationalist President Zviad Gamsakhurdia. The clashes in the summer of 1989 in Uzbekistan's Ferghana valley between Meskhetians and local Uzbeks culminated in the evacuation of nearly all of the 90,000 Meskhetians of that region. In an article published in "Nezavisimaya gazeta" in 1998, Professor Khadji-Murat Ibragimbeyli, one of the co-chairmen of the Russian Muslim organization "Nur," estimated that as of 1 January 1998, there were still 15,000 Meskhetians in Uzbekistan, some 30,000 in Kyrgyzstan, 90,000 in Kazakhstan, 70,000 in Azerbaijan, and 90,000 in the Russian Federation. Of the last-named group, some 13,500 are compactly settled in two districts of Krasnodar Krai. There they are regarded with enmity and suspicion by both the local Cossack population and the regional authorities, which refuse to grant them the right of permanent residency but encourage those who wish to do so to emigrate to Turkey. In March 1999, Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze issued a decree setting up a government commission charged with preparing by 1 October 2000 a legal framework for the voluntary return over 12 years of those Meskhetians who wish to settle permanently in Georgia. That commission has already drafted legislation that characterizes the Meskhetians as victims of political repression, rehabilitates them, and affirms their right to Georgian citizenship. But the repatriation process, which is to be funded entirely by international organizations, may nonetheless prove problematic. According to Georgian Repatriation Service head Guram Mamulia, the Georgian authorities do not have up- to-date, accurate estimates of the number of Meskhetians who want to return to Georgia. The only data available are from 1989. At that time, Mamulia said, 10,594 heads of households had filed applications to resettle in Georgia, but it is not clear how many of those still desire to do so. He predicted that only a very few Meskhetians will go to Georgia over the next two to three years because the economic situation there is so bad. Asked where the returning Meskhetians will live, Mamulia said that like all other citizens of Georgia, they are free to choose their place of residence. That response suggests that the Georgian government will not make any special effort to help the Meskhetians return to the villages in southern Georgia from which they (or their parents or grandparents) were originally deported. One of the requirements set down by the Council of Europe is that the process of integrating the returning Meskhetians into Georgian society should proceed in tandem with that of repatriation. Mamulia noted that without exception, all those Meskhetians who have returned to Georgia have adopted Georgian last names and sent their children to Georgian-language schools. Mamulia said that he does not anticipate problems in integrating the returning Meskhetians into Georgian society but admitted that the success of that process will depend on the Georgian authorities. In that context, he admitted that the main danger is indifference, insensitivity, or inefficiency on the part of bureaucrats, who, for example, may fail to provide Georgian language instruction or to assist those Meskhetians who wish to change their last names, Whether the new draft legislation will indeed pave the way for the Meskhetians' return is, however, questionable. Writing last year on the anniversary of the deportation, one Meskhetian suggested that while paying lip-service to the need for repatriation, the Georgian authorities are in fact doing little to encourage it. The author of another article has suggested that the Georgian leadership would be committing collective political suicide if it allowed the Meskhetians to return to Georgia en masse before it negotiated a solution to the Abkhaz conflict that would allow displaced Georgians to return to Abkhazia. Mamulia's admission that repatriation could prove "a destabilizing factor" could be interpreted as corroborating that hypothesis. 15-08-00 Reprinted with permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
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