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RFE/RL Newsline, Vol. 5, No. 69, 01-04-09Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty: Newsline Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty <http://www.rferl.org>RFE/RL NEWSLINEVol. 5, No. 69, 9 April 2001CONTENTS[A] TRANSCAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA
[B] SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE
[C] END NOTE
[A] TRANSCAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA[01] ARMENIAN, AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENTS END KEY WEST TALKSThe talks in Key West between Robert Kocharian, Heidar Aliev, and the U.S., French, and Russian OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs on resolving the Karabakh conflict ended as anticipated on 6 April. Kocharian's spokesman, Vahe Gabrielian, told AP on 7 April that the talks resulted in "a further narrowing of differences," but Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian said that "there are still disagreements on numerous questions," according to ITAR-TASS. Also on 7 April, U.S. representative Carey Cavanaugh told journalists that the meetings constituted "a bold and significant step forward," while his French counterpart Jean-Jacques Gaillard said "we are now much closer to peace" than before the talks began on 3 April, RFE/RL's Armenian Service reported. In a joint statement released on 7 April, the three co-chairmen said that they "are preparing a new comprehensive proposal that addresses the problems and needs identified by the presidents that require a solution to reach peace." They did not divulge details of the new proposal, which will be presented to the two presidents in Geneva in June. Turan quoted Cavanaugh as saying that both Aliev and Kocharian rejected the possibility of a military solution, and that steps have been taken to involve Iran, which is not an OSCE member, in discussions on resolving the conflict. LF[02] AZERBAIJAN DISMISSES NEW TURKMEN CLAIMS ON DISPUTED OIL FIELDIlham Aliev, the first vice president of Azerbaijan's state oil company SOCAR, told journalists in Baku on 6 April that Turkmen claims on the Kyapaz/Serdar Caspian oil field are politically motivated "nonsense," Interfax and Turan reported. Aliev said that no foreign company would sign a contract to develop that field, of which both countries claim ownership, without Baku's permission. He also noted that Turkmenistan has neither the drilling platform with which to develop the field nor undersea pipelines to transport the oil from it. On 30 March, Turkmen Deputy Prime Minister Elly Gurbanmuradov announced that Ashgabat plans to sign a contract with unnamed Western oil companies to develop the disputed deposit, which is believed to hold reserves of 100 million tons of oil. Azerbaijani officials have on several occasions proposed that the two countries jointly develop the field (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 11 August 1997 and 6 September 2000). LF[03] GEORGIA APPOINTS NEW MINISTER FOR STATE PROPERTYThe Georgian parliament on 5 April approved the candidacy of Deputy Minister of State Levan Dzneladze as privatization minister, succeeding Mikhail Ukleba, whom President Eduard Shevardnadze dismissed last month, Caucasus Press reported (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 23 March 2001). Shevardnadze had nominated Dzneladze, a former deputy minister of finance, two days earlier, commending him as "a good specialist" who would live up to public trust in him. Meeting with Georgian parliament deputies from the Abkhazeti faction that represents Georgian displaced persons from Abkhazia, Dzneladze said he will draft legislation banning what he termed the "illegal" sale to Russian investors of property in Abkhazia, Caucasus Press reported on 9 April. Dzneladze said that under that legislation, persons wishing to participate in the privatization of Abkhaz enterprises must apply to the Georgian government. The Abkhaz parliament approved on 6 April a list of enterprises subject to privatization. LF[04] CHECHEN FIGHTER APPREHENDED IN GEORGIAGeorgian police on 6 April apprehended Chechen Savaudin Abdulaev near the French embassy in Tbilisi with a fake passport in the name of a Georgian citizen, Caucasus Press and ITAR-TASS reported. He had hoped to obtain a visa to travel to France for medical treatment. The following day a district court in Tbilisi ruled that Abdulaev, who is believed to be field commander Ruslan Gelaev's deputy, be detained for three months. LF[05] DISPLACED PERSONS BLOCK HIGHWAY IN WESTERN GEORGIAEthnic Georgian displaced persons from Abkhazia blocked the main Kutaisi- Tskhaltubo highway for three hours on 6 April to protest the local authorities' failure to pay them their 14 laris ($6.8) monthly allowance for the past three months, Caucasus Press reported. The protest was triggered by the suicide the previous day of an elderly Georgian fugitive who could not afford medical treatment for a chronic condition. The Tskhaltubo authorities promised the overdue allowances will be paid. LF[06] TURKEY SEEKS TO LIMIT KAZAKH OIL TRANSIT...Over the past 10 days, Kazakh and Russian officials have criticized Turkey's warning that it may restrict or ban completely the passage through the Turkish Straits of tankers containing Kazakh oil from the Tengiz field. On 28 March, two days after the official inauguration of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) that will transport crude from Tengiz to the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiisk, Turkish State Minister Ramazan Mirzaoglu warned that the export of Kazakh oil could double the number of tankers that transit the straits each day, thereby increasing the threat to Istanbul and its population in the event of an accident or collision. LF[07] ...TRIGGERING PROTESTS IN ASTANA, MOSCOWSpeaking in Astana on 30 March, Kazakh Foreign Minister Yerlan Idrisov affirmed that the CPC will go ahead with its plans to export oil by tanker from Novorossiisk, Interfax reported. On 4 April, an official at the Moscow office of Chevron, the senior partner in the consortium developing Tengiz, denied that Tengiz oil will double the number of tankers transiting the Turkish Straits, adding that at least initially, only one tanker loaded with Tengiz crude will leave Novorossiisk every second day. Caucasus Press on 3 April quoted Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Viktor Kalyuzhnyi as saying he does not believe Ankara has the right to restrict passage through the Turkish Straits. (The 1936 Treaty of Montreux, to which Turkey is a signatory, provides for the unrestricted passage of shipping through the straits.) On 5 April, Caucasus Press quoted unnamed observers as suggesting that the Turkish warning may have been intended to pressure Kazakhstan to make a firm commitment to export Tengiz oil via the planned Baku-Ceyhan pipeline. LF[08] KYRGYZ PROSECUTORS RESUME NEW INVESTIGATION AGAINST KULOVVladislav Luzhanskii, a lawyer for imprisoned former Kyrgyz Vice President Feliks Kulov, told RFE/RL's Bishkek bureau on 5 April that the Prosecutor General's Office has revoked the National Security Service's decision to abandon a new investigation it began in January into possible abuse of office by Kulov in 1995, when he served as governor of Chu Oblast (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 22 January and 8 February 2001). Kulov was sentenced in January to seven-years imprisonment on charges of abuse of power while serving as National Security Minister in 1997-1998 (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 22 January 2001). LF[09] CRACKDOWN ON KYRGYZ OPPOSITION PRESS CONTINUESThe Uchkun publishing house refused to print the 6 April edition of the opposition newspaper "Res Publica," one day after its editor, Zamira Sadykova, hired all of the journalists from a second opposition newspaper, "Asaba," RFE/RL's Bishkek bureau reported. Publication of "Asaba" was suspended last month after the paper's owner failed to pay several fines, after which the two papers published several joint issues (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 6, 16 and 19 March 2001). On 26 March, the Kyrgyz Justice Ministry warned that no further issues of "Res Publica" would be printed unless the "Asaba" logo was removed. Sadykova gave a written pledge on 5 April to do so. On 7 April, Melis Eshimkanov, the owner of "Asaba," told RFE/RL's Bishkek bureau that the city authorities have rejected his request to hold a meeting on 13 April in support of the paper. The local council had demanded a written guarantee from Eshimkanov to pay the cost of any material damage to city property that might result from the demonstration, but refused to accept that declaration when Eshimkanov presented it on 6 April. LF[B] SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE[10] DJUKANOVIC: MONTENEGRO TO HAVE OWN ARMYPresident Milo Djukanovic said in Niksic on 8 April that Montenegro's state structure will "soon be completely overhauled," "Pobjeda" reported. He stressed that the two components now needed to complete the state "infrastructure" are an army and Defense Ministry, and control over the country's airspace and airports. Djukanovic added that Montenegrin citizens will to perform their military service in Montenegro and that the army will be defensive in nature. The president argued that the day is past that Montenegrins fight on foreign soil in wars that have nothing to do with Montenegro's national interests. PM[11] CHECK OF VOTERS' LISTS IN MONTENEGROPrime Minister Filip Vujanovic told leaders of the opposition coalition in Podgorica on 7 April that there will soon be a review of voters' lists, RFE/RL's South Slavic Service reported. The opposition claims that there are numerous irregularities in the registration lists for the 22 April parliamentary vote. PM[12] MONTENEGRIN OPPOSITION AGAINST EXTRADITION OF MILOSEVICChairman Predrag Bulatovic of the pro-Belgrade Socialist People's Party (SNP) said in Podgorica on 7 April that deputies from his party will not vote for legislation in the federal parliament aiming at legalizing the extradition of Yugoslav citizens to The Hague. He stressed that the SNP is for cooperation with the tribunal but feels that trials should take place in Yugoslavia and not abroad, RFE/RL's South Slavic Service reported. PM[13] MONTENEGRINS INDICTED FOR DUBROVNIK CRIMESSpeaking in Podgorica on 6 April, Vujanovic confirmed press reports that the authorities have received from the tribunal's chief prosecutor, Carla Del Ponte, indictments of an unspecified number of Montenegrin citizens for war crimes committed during the 1991 siege of Dubrovnik, RFE/RL's South Slavic Service reported (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 15 February 2001). PM[14] YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT PLEDGES TO RESPECT MONTENEGRIN STATEHOOD DECISIONVojislav Kostunica said in Belgrade on 8 April that "Belgrade's new authorities will behave...democratically. They will accept even something that would separate Montenegro from Serbia, even if this happened undemocratically, by [violating] the Montenegrin Constitution. We should give no one cause to say that Serbia's menacing hand is hovering over Montenegro," Reuters reported (see "RFE/RL South Slavic Report," 5 April 2001). He added that he nonetheless expects that Serbia and Montenegro will remain a single state, and that federal parliamentary elections will take place soon with the participation of all Montenegrin parties. Elsewhere, the leaders of the governing Democratic Opposition of Serbia coalition (DOS) reaffirmed their previous stand in support of a joint state of Serbia and Montenegro, RFE/RL's South Slavic Service reported. PM[15] MONTENEGRIN PARLIAMENT SPEAKER REBUFFS KOSTUNICAReferring to recent remarks by Kostunica that Serbia has more refugees than Montenegro has citizens, Svetozar Marovic said in Podgorica on 8 April that he finds Kostunica's statement puzzling. Marovic added that one can interpret Kostunica's remarks in several ways, "Pobjeda" reported. The Montenegrin speaker stressed, however, that regardless of how one understands those remarks, all Montenegrins agree that they will never become refugees and that they have their own country, which is Montenegro. PM[16] YUGOSLAV FOREIGN MINISTER CALLS FOR OWNING UP TO WAR CRIMESGoran Svilanovic said in Nis on 8 April that "we cannot allow the responsibility of those who prepared, inspired or committed [war] crimes to remain under the carpet," Reuters reported. He added that "we cannot allow anyone in the country or in the world to call our army or police criminal... [Whatever] side people fought for, they believed they were defending the greatest values of their nations. But now is the time to establish responsibility of those who inspired wars." Elsewhere, Yugoslav Interior Minister Zoran Zivkovic said that "no one is immune to transfer to [The Hague-based] court." But Yugoslav President Kostunica stressed that the court is anti-Serb. "Here you do not have justice but selective justice. And selective justice is injustice." AP reported that there are serious splits in DOS over extradition and several other issues. PM[17] SERBIAN PRESIDENT CHARGEDThe authorities in Belgrade have brought criminal charges against Serbian President Milan Milutinovic and former Yugoslav Foreign Minister Zivadin Jovanovic for abuse of office, RFE/RL's South Slavic Service reported on 6 April. PM[18] MACEDONIA, EU SIGN PIONEERING AGREEMENTMacedonian Foreign Minister Srdjan Kerim and a 31-member delegation took part in a ceremony in Luxembourg on 9 April for the signing of a Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU. Swedish Foreign Minister Anna Lindh, who currently holds EU chair, told the Macedonians: "We welcome you to the extended European family," dpa reported. PM[19] MACEDONIAN ALBANIAN LEADER WARNS OF NEED FOR CHANGEMenduh Thaci, vice president of the governing Democratic Party of the Albanians (PDSH), said on 8 April that "the constitution as it is now...is completely opposed to the multiethnic reality of Macedonia," AP reported from Skopje. "If [President Boris Trajkovski] continues to reject our demands, then the armed groups will reappear again." Thaci said that the PDSH has prepared a document comprising three demands. They are: changes in the constitution; a greater involvement of ethnic Albanians in government service; and efforts to "reintegrate into the society those Albanians who are showing alarming signs of disloyalty," which means those sympathetic to, or supportive of, the fighters of the National Liberation Army (UCK). PM[20] MACEDONIAN AUTHORITIES OFFER PROMISES, ARRESTSKerim told the government commission for Euro-Atlantic integration in Skopje on 6 April that the authorities will take unspecified measures to include more ethnic Albanians in the administration, police, and state-run media, RFE/RL's South Slavic Service reported. He added that "the intensification of the dialogue [with the Albanian minority] is not the result of shooting in the mountains but rather of the government's efforts to do more" for domestic stability. Elsewhere, police arrested some 30 ethnic Albanians for illegal arms possession in the Tetovo region. The army has moved reinforcements into the Debar area amid reports that a group of up to 30 ethnic Albanian fighters is active and seeking recruits there. PM[21] BOSNIA'S PETRITSCH BLASTS 'MOBS'The international community's High Representative Wolfgang Petritsch said in Sarajevo on 8 April that recent riots by Croats in several towns amounted to an attempt at "mob rule" that neither he nor SFOR will tolerate (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 6 April 2001). He stressed that the unrest was well organized, Reuters reported. U.S. Ambassador Thomas Miller said that behind the riots was the desire by the leaders of the hard-line Croatian Democratic Community (HDZ) to protect their illegally gained wealth, "Oslobodjenje" reported on 9 April. The rioting left 18 peacekeepers and 15 international officials injured, RFE/RL's South Slavic Service reported. It was the most serious political violence in Bosnia-Herzegovina for some time. On 7 April, SFOR troops took control of several federal army installations in various parts of Bosnia-Herzegovina "to support the federal authorities" and prevent arms from falling into the Croatian hard- liners' hands, RFE/RL's South Slavic Service reported. PM[22] CROAT VETERANS' PROTEST AGAINST SFOR FIZZLESIn Mostar, HDZ leader Ante Jelavic said on 7 April that the Croats' protests were "spontaneous." He added that the HDZ will continue to seek "self-administration," Reuters reported. In Croatia, veterans' leader Mirko Condic pledged a blockade starting at mid-day on 9 April around the SFOR base at Divulje near Split. He slammed the behavior of the international community and the Croatian government toward the HDZ and the Herzegovinian Croats. The protest lasted less than one hour, however, because of a poor turnout. Several veterans organizations have long been at political loggerheads with President Stipe Mesic and the government of Prime Minister Ivica Racan, whom the veterans accuse of belittling the legacy of the war of independence. The government and its supporters say they are exposing war crimes and ill-gotten privileges. PM[23] CROATIA, BOSNIA SIGN AGREEMENTCroatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula and his Bosnian counterpart Zlatko Lagumdzija signed an agreement in Zagreb on 6 April aimed at improving cross-border trade and traffic. They said they will "soon" sign additional agreements on property rights and will ratify an agreement on transit rights at Ploce and Neum, RFE/RL's South Slavic Service reported. PM[24] ROMANIAN PARLIAMENT BEGINS FINAL STAGE OF BUDGET DEBATESThe parliament on 7 April started the final stage of the debates on the 2001 budget, after committees ended examining the draft law, RFE/RL's Bucharest bureau reported. Prime Minister Adrian Nastase called on the lawmakers to quickly approve the law, emphasizing that its provisions "are in line with Romania's dignified integration in the EU." The opposition Hungarian Democratic Federation of Romania and the parliamentary group representing national minorities said they will back the budget. The National Liberal Party and the Democratic Party said backing depends on the acceptance of amendments that were rejected at committee-stage debates. The position of the extremist Greater Romania Party (PRM) is unclear. MS[25] ROMANIA EXTRADITES KURD TO TURKEYA Kurdish businessman sentenced in absentia to 12 1/2-years in prison in Turkey was extradited on 6 April to that country, RFE/RL's Bucharest bureau reported. Hasan Kaya's request for political asylum had been rejected on grounds that he "endangers Romanian national security," but he appealed the ruling in 1998. Romanian authorities said Kaya was engaged in collecting funds from the Kurdish minority in support of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which is banned in Turkey. Kaya went into hiding while attempting to appeal the rejection of his asylum request. Kurdish minority spokesman Mustafa Kemal Akkaya said Kaya is not a PKK member and that his extradition follows failed attempts by the Turkish Intelligence Service to recruit him as an informer. He also warned that Kurds would "act accordingly" against Romania and "hold it responsible for anything that may happen to a Kurd on its territory." MS[26] ANTONESCU ADMIRERS MERGE ORGANIZATIONSThe Marshal Ion Antonescu League and the Marshal Antonescu Foundation, both set up in 1990, have merged into a single organization, the PRM weekly "Romania mare" reported on 6 April. Iosif Constantin Dragan, a Romanian magnate with an Iron Guard past, who is honorary chairman of both organizations, has been re-elected to that position. He told the audience that a Romanian-language translation of Norman Finkelstein's controversial book "The Holocaust Industry" is under way. Deputy Senate Chairman Gheorghe Buzatu, who is one of the most prominent historians engaged in the rehabilitation campaign of Romania's Nazi-allied wartime leader and a member of the PRM, has been appointed chairman, while Radu Theodoru, possibly the most vociferous anti-Semite and Holocaust-denier in post- communist Romania, has been appointed executive chairman of the new organization. MS[27] VORONIN INAUGURATED AS MOLDOVAN PRESIDENTPresident Vladimir Voronin, addressing the parliament on the occasion of his inauguration on 7 April, harshly criticized previous administrations for having led Moldova into poverty and hopelessness, RFE/RL's Chisinau bureau reported. "Instead of the noble slogans of democracy, reform, and the rule of the law," he said, "the last 10 years were marked by alienation and destruction." Moldova has been turned into a zone of human disaster, poverty, and primitive state policy." Voronin pledge to strengthen the role of the state, since only the state can protect citizens "from racketeering and corrupt bureaucracy." He said he intends to pursue a "pragmatic" foreign policy that will respect Moldova's international obligations and at the same time improve relations with Russia, "our strategic partner," as well as with Romania and Ukraine, Moldova's neighbors. MS[28] TIRASPOL BOYCOTTS INAUGURATIONAlthough Transdniester's separatist leader was invited to attend the inauguration, he failed to do so. Transdniester "Foreign Minister" Valerii Litskay told Infotag on 7 April that the invitation received by Igor Smirnov had failed to respect "certain established practices" of the past. He explained that Moldovan leaders, when addressing Smirnov officially, use the formulation "leader of the Transdniester administration" and that the invitation failed to respect this precedent. Smirnov is nevertheless expected in Chisinau on 9 April for the opening of negotiations with Voronin. Voronin was also congratulated on his inauguration by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov. He also received congratulations from Romanian President Ion Iliescu, who expressed the hope that "the special, privileged relations" between the two countries, "which are entrenched on the identity of language, history and civilization, as well as on commitment to European democratic values," will be expanded. MS[29] OSCE MISSION CHIEF SAYS RUSSIA MUST 'HURRY' TO MEET DEADLINE...William Hill, OSCE mission chief in Chisinau, on 6 April said Russia can still meet the deadline of evacuating its heavy weapons from the Transdniester region by the end of 2001, since "there are only a few of those," but must hasten to meet the deadline set by the 1999 OSCE Istanbul summit. Hill said he was "less optimistic" on Russia meeting the 2002 deadline for withdrawing its arsenal and troops because of the opposition of the Tiraspol leadership. The OSCE does not agree with the separatists' position that the arsenal is "the affair of Russia and the Transdniester alone," but it would be "dangerous" to proceed with the withdrawal in face of opposition, he said. The least that can be done, Hill said, is to proceed to the destruction of "obsolete munitions," which pose a danger to the population, he added. MS[30] ...AND TIRASPOL SHOULD RENEW NEGOTIATIONSHill also said that the planned OSCE meeting with the participation of Moldovan, Transdniester, Russian, and Ukrainian state commission leaders on solving the Transdniester conflict could be moved from Bratislava to Chisinau and Tiraspol. Hill said that "the meeting, not the venue" is important and that now, when there is a new majority in the Moldovan parliament and a new Moldovan president, Tiraspol no longer has a reason to refuse to participate in the negotiations. He also said he has discussed with Smirnov the possibility that parleys will be resumed at the expert level, with the sides holding alternating weekly meetings in Tiraspol and Chisinau. MS[31] FORMER BULGARIAN KING LAUNCHES POLITICAL MOVEMENT...Former King Simeon II on 6 April launched a new political movement that will run in the 17 June parliamentary elections. Simeon did not say whether he intends to personally seek a seat in the legislature. The Simeon II National Movement will not be an alliance or coalition of parties, but "an alliance of individuals sharing its goals and values," the English-language daily "Monitor" reported. Simeon said the movement proposes to bring about change in Bulgaria's economic and political outlook "within 800 days," by pursuing "quick and fundamental changes in living standards through building a functioning market economy in line with EU criteria." He said corruption in politics and the economy must be "eradicated" and an end must be put to the situation where "most people live in misery, while some politicians live in inexplicable opulence." MS[32] ...AND GETS ENTHUSIASTIC RESPONSEThousands thronged to Sofia's center on 8 April to join the ranks of the new party. Police had to block traffic around the building where people come to register and those unable to get in were directed to a nearby park, where they chanted monarchist slogans, and carried Simeon's portraits and the Bulgarian flag. Inside the building, Simeon told some 600 people that "it must be clear to all that monarchy is not [on the party's] agenda. There are a lot more important priorities for the country," Reuters and AFP reported. Opinion polls show that many are eager for an alternative to the ruling Union of Democratic Forces and the opposition Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP). MS[33] BULGARIAN PARLIAMENT RATIFIES NATO MEMORANDUMThe parliament on 6 April approved, with a vote of 202 in favor and three abstentions, the memorandum signed in Brussels last month that allows NATO troops permanent "transit and temporary stationing...on Bulgaria's territory," AP reported. The BSP backed the agreement. MS[34] BULGARIA TO OPEN NINE NEW CHAPTERS IN EU NEGOTIATIONSPrime Minister Ivan Kostov, on a visit to Stockholm, told his Swedish counterpart Goran Persson that his country intends to open nine new chapters in the negotiations of the aquis communautaire, the daily "24 Chasa," cited by "Monitor," reported on 7 April. Sweden currently holds the EU chair. Kostov also said he hopes the next EU assessment will mark a positive change in the evaluation of Bulgaria's functioning market economy. MS[35] RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR PREDICTS 'NEW PHASE' IN RELATIONS WITH SOFIARussian Ambassador Vladimir Titov, in an interview with "Monitor" on 6 April, said there is "no rift" in the relations between the two countries, estimating such assessments to be "gross exaggerations." Titov said there are "differences of opinion on certain issues," but this is normal for "two countries having different policies on their road to a transition to a market economy and democracy." He said at present Bulgaria's official position is "strongly biased" [against Russia] due to the forthcoming elections, but "all political parties in Bulgaria believe that a new stage in bilateral relations will start in September this year, when there will be an official exchange of visits at the highest levels. MS[C] END NOTE[36] EU: PRODI SEEKS TO SMOOTH OVER DIFFERENCES WITH PRAGUEBy Breffni O'RourkeEuropean Union Commission President Romano Prodi, a genial, avuncular figure on a two-day visit to Prague to discuss the Czech Republic's progress toward EU accession, appeared to be using all his persuasive powers at a 5 April press conference there. His Czech hosts are unhappy with the European Union on several counts, and Prodi spoke in soothing terms, as one who seeks to calm a family argument through reason. The origins of Czech concerns are two-fold. First, the European Union is close to deciding on restrictions that would bar the free movement of labor from East to West for some years after the Czech Republic and other Eastern candidates become full EU members. That prospect vexes the Easterners, who think it would give them the status of second-class citizens in the union. The second reason is that Brussels has just assigned the Czech Republic the EU's "Category Three" risk status in regard to BSE, or mad cow disease. This means that the Czech Republic is "likely" to have a BSE risk, even if it's not confirmed. The Czechs believe they deserve a higher rating -- in which the risk is deemed "unlikely." Prodi said the Czechs are making impressive progress in their accession process, and he feels sure they will be among the first wave to join the union, in 2004. On the issue of free labor movement, Prodi called for flexibility and "delicacy." He urged Czechs to understand the "deep fears" of some EU member-states about a possible influx of labor from Eastern Europe. He meant Germany and Austria, which have both demanded a seven-year grace period before workers from the new Eastern members can come and work within their borders. Prodi said these fears must be respected. He also noted that Czechs and other East Europeans have their own deep-seated fears about rich EU citizens buying up land in their countries after expansion gets underway. But Prodi said he believes the fears on both sides are unjustified. EU Enlargement Commissioner Guenter Verheugen then said that if the EU does impose any bans on labor movement, he believes they should be reviewed after two years. He noted the situation facing the Easterners is not unique, recalling that Spain and Portugal had to wait five years after they became members before a review lifted restrictions on the movement of their workers. Verheugen said transition periods are a normal element of the accession process, and noted that the current candidate countries have themselves asked for more than 500 transition periods. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Kavan, in comments after the press conference, said the labor problem is more one of perception than reality. "None of the EU officials or politicians I have talked to claim they believe there is a real danger of a mass migration of the Czech labor force either to Austria, or Germany, or anywhere else. They all say this is not necessarily a scientific problem, this is a political-psychological problem," he said. "There are certain fears, they may be unjustified fears, but they are fears -- that's a political reality, and we have to tackle it." Czech Prime Minister Milos Zeman said jocularly that he would not mind labor movement restrictions that lasted a few seconds, weeks, or months. But it would be another matter, he added seriously, if they went on for more than 20 years -- as Joerg Haider wants. Zeman was referring to the far- right Austrian politician, whose antiforeigner views are well known. "I'm prepared to accept that some kind of transition period will be necessary in the chapter on free movement of labor as well as [the one on] free movement of capital," Kavan said in summing up the situation. "So the argument is not whether there will be a transition period, but what kind of transition period. I, of course, hope that it will be a very short one, short enough to convince the European Union countries that their fears have been unjustified." As for the other irritant between Prague and Brussels, the BSE "Category Three," Prodi sought to assure his hosts that the categorization was not meant in any way to be discriminatory and did not impose any ban on Czech exports of meat to the EU. He said it only stipulates the removal of high- risk materials -- such as spinal cords and vital organs -- from meat before it is exported. 09-04-01 Reprinted with permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
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