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RFE/RL Newsline, Vol. 5, No. 80, 01-04-25Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty: Newsline Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty <http://www.rferl.org>RFE/RL NEWSLINEVol. 5, No. 80, 25 April 2001CONTENTS[A] TRANSCAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA
[B] SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE
[C] END NOTE
[A] TRANSCAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA[01] ARMENIA MARKS 86TH ANNIVERSARY OF 'GENOCIDE'Thousand of Armenians marched in Yerevan on 24 April to mark the 86th anniversary of the deaths of some 1.5 million Armenians in the Ottoman Empire in 1915, RFE/RL's Armenian Service reported. In a written address to the nation, President Robert Kocharian said that the mass killing and deportation of Armenians then was "the greatest tragedy" in the nation's history and said that "the pursuit of an international recognition of the Armenian genocide continues to be on the foreign policy agenda of the Republic of Armenia." PG[02] ARMENIA TO INTRODUCE CHRISTIANITY COMMEMORATIVE BILLArmenian officials have announced that they will issue a special 50,000 dram banknote to commemorate the 1,700th anniversary of the adoption of Christianity as the religion of Armenia, Snark news agency reported on 24 April. PG[03] FOREIGNERS OUTEARN AZERBAIJANIS 58 TO ONEEven though average Azerbaijani monthly salaries have increased by 22 percent over the last year, foreigners working in that country earn 58 times as much as Azerbaijanis do, "Bizim Asr" reported on 24 April. Azerbaijani workers earn approximately $54 a month; foreigners earn $3,172 during the same period. PG[04] AZERBAIJANI JOURNALISTS CALL FOR RELEASE OF COLLEAGUESThe Yeni Nasil Union of Azerbaijani journalists and the Ruh Committee for the Protection of Journalists' Rights have issued a statement calling on the Azerbaijani government to release journalists detained during an opposition demonstration on 21 April, Turan reported on 23 April. Meanwhile, "Azerbaycan" on the same day denounced the opposition for holding that rally. PG[05] MORE THAN 850 UNREGISTERED MOSQUES IN AZERBAIJANAzerbaijan's ANS television station on 23 April reported that more than 850 of the 1,250 mosques in the country have not registered with the authorities and that many of them propagate Wahhabism. PG[06] GEORGIA'S CITIZENS UNION SUPPORTS SETTING UP CABINETThe main council of the ruling Union of Citizens of Georgia issued a statement on 24 April calling for the introduction of a cabinet of ministers, Caucasus Press reported. Speculation has already started over whom President Eduard Shevardnadze might appoint to the post of prime minister (see End Note below). Under existing arrangements, Shevardnadze serves as both chief of state and head of government. PG[07] RUSSIAN ECHELON WITHDRAWS FROM GEORGIAN BASEThe last major echelon of Russian forces withdrew from the Vaziani base on 24 April, Prime-News reported. Some 100 Russian soldiers will remain there until early May, Caucasus Press reported the same day. Under the terms of the 1999 Istanbul Agreement, the base is to be completely returned to Georgia by July 2001. But Russian television pointed out that Russia will retain certain limited rights at the airfield there even after the withdrawal is completed. PG[08] ANOTHER TWIST IN THE GAMSAKHURDIA CASEGeorgian television reported on 24 April that parliamentarian (21st Century) Jemal Gamakharia has called for reopening the investigation into the death of Georgia's first president, Zviad Gamsakhurdia, now that former Georgian security chief Igor Giorgadze has said on Russian television that he was involved in Gamsakhurdia's death (see "Caucasus Report," 20 April, 2001). PG[09] CENTRAL ASIAN JOURNALISTS SET UP ORGANIZATIONJournalists from across Central Asia met in Bishkek on 23 April to set up a journalists' organization, Kyrgyz-Press reported. The organization is intended to provide members with reliable information, legal advice, and instruction on journalistic practices. PG[10] SILK ROAD BOOK FAIR OPENS IN KAZAKHSTANPublishers, book-dealers, and intellectuals from Central Asia, Russia, China, and Europe arrived in Almaty for the opening of the first international "Along the Silk Road" book fair, ITAR-TASS reported on 24 April. Among activities planned for the four-day meeting is a workshop on the development of a market for textbooks in Central Asia. PG[11] ALMATY TO COMMEMORATE EASTERN TURKISTANI HEROESThe Almaty-based Mustafa Shoqay Foundation along with Uighur organizations of Kazakhstan have announced plans to hold a special seminar on 29 April in commemoration of two leaders of the Eastern Turkistan national movement who were killed by the Chinese Communists, RFE/RL's Kazakh Service reported on 24 April. PG[12] KYRGYZ GOVERNMENT ASKS TASHKENT FOR MAP OF MINEFIELDSThe Kyrgyz government on 24 April has asked the Uzbek government to provide it with a map of minefields along their common border as the first step toward their removal, Interfax reported on 24 April. PG[13] KYRGYZSTAN BUILDS ITS DEFENSESKyrgyz Defense Minister Muratbek Imanaliev said in Almaty on 24 April that Bishkek is working hard to build up its military defenses, especially in the southern part of the republic, Interfax-Kazakhstan reported. Part of that effort involves a command and general staff exercise that began on 24 April, the news agency reported. Meanwhile, visiting OSCE Secretary-General Jan Kubis told Kyrgyz officials on the same day that his organization will help Kyrgyzstan if there is an influx of Afghan refugees into the republic, ITAR-TASS reported. Meanwhile, a forum co-sponsored by the United States met in Bishkek to discuss establishing tighter controls over weapons of mass destruction and their possible transit through Central Asia, AP reported. PG[14] TAJIK PRESIDENT RETURNS FROM MOSCOWEmomali Rahmonov returned from Moscow on 24 April after meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and other Russian officials, Tajik radio reported. The two leaders discussed bilateral economic and security issues and reached agreement on all matters, Rahmonov stressed in an interview published on the same day in Moscow's "Nezavisimaya gazeta." But Sergei Prikhodko, the deputy head of the Russian presidential administration, told Interfax that the two leaders had not discussed military cooperation. PG[B] SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE[15] BRITAIN'S COOK TELLS KOSOVARS: 'MY AGENDA IS NOT INDEPENDENCE'British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook said in Prishtina on 24 April that Kosovars should think about building a multiethnic society rather than about setting up an independent state. "My agenda is not independence. What I want to see in Kosovo is a multiethnic society with self government, control of its own affairs, and with its own security and safety for all the people." He told Kosovars that UN Security Council Resolution 1244, which is the legal basis for the international community's presence in Kosova, "was not a resolution providing for the independence of Kosovo." He called on Kosovars to start establishing "some form of communication" with authorities in Belgrade to discuss bread-and-butter issues such as water and electricity supplies. Cook argued that "the time has arrived when...we must build the future on making sure that we do establish a firm bases of reconciliation between different communities," AP reported. All political parties representing Kosova's 90 percent Albanian majority want independence and nothing to do with Belgrade (see "RFE/RL Balkan Report," 23 February 2001). PM[16] COUNCIL OF EUROPE'S KAUTTO STRESSES KOSOVA ELECTIONS...Tarja Kautto of Finland, the rapporteur of the Council of Europe's Political Affairs Committee, met recently in Prishtina with ethnic Albanian leaders Ramush Haradinaj, Hashim Thaci, and Ibrahim Rugova, RFE/RL reported. Kautto said in Strasbourg on 25 April that "the three leaders gave me a bit more pessimistic picture of the economic situation, but they all agreed that the situation will, no doubt, improve after elections. In short, an enormous amount of expectation is placed on the forthcoming elections." Referring to the Serbian minority, she added: "They are equally anxious to see the elections be held...and I had the impression they were looking toward the future with great hopes, and they had a constructive approach toward the Kosovo Albanians." PM[17] ...AND NEED FOR PROGRESSKautto also said in Strasbourg on 25 April that "despite these positive expectations of those living in Kosovo, I have a feeling that a lot more remains to be done before different ethnic communities can work productively in a democratically elected parliament," RFE/RL reported. She added that "at present, the security situation is far from being satisfactory. The Kosovo Serbs live in enclaves, and their movement is extremely limited. They fear to leave these enclaves, even to carry out simple tasks, not to mention such things as going to give birth at a hospital staffed only by Kosovo Albanians." PM[18] EU WARNS MONTENEGRO AGAINST INDEPENDENCEAn EU delegation led by Swedish diplomat Sven-Olaf Petersson warned the Montenegrin leadership in Podgorica on 24 April against any "unilateral" or "hasty" moves toward independence (see "RFE/RL Newsline," "End Note," 23 April 2001). Peterson stressed that the results of the recent parliamentary election "do not provide a green light for a referendum" on independence, AFP reported. Peterson added, however, that he does not think that President Milo Djukanovic's "intention is to rush in a referendum. There is a general agreement that hasty unilateral action should be avoided," Peterson said. In Moscow, Russian Foreign Minster Igor Ivanov said that the voters failed to give the supporters of independence the clear mandate they wanted. Ivanov stressed that the important thing now is not to split an already polarized society, RFE/RL's South Slavic Service reported. PM[19] MONTENEGRO'S DJUKANOVIC DETERMINED TO MOVE TOWARD INDEPENDENCEPresident Djukanovic said in Podgorica on 24 April that there is no need for him to change his overall strategy in the wake of the parliamentary elections (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 23 and 24 April 2001). "It is the task of any responsible authority, but also of any responsible force on the political scene, to push ahead with the renewal of Montenegro's statehood," AFP reported. He stressed that his goal is Montenegro's integration into Europe, and that his means to that end is statehood, RFE/RL's South Slavic Service reported. PM[20] LOSERS IN MONTENEGRIN ELECTION TO CLAIM FRAUD?Leaders of the "Together for Yugoslavia" coalition, which narrowly lost the parliamentary election, told the EU delegation in Podgorica on 24 April that there were "certain irregularities" in the election, "Danas" reported. He added that his coalition will raise specific complaints only after making a thorough analysis of the results. The election was extensively monitored by the OSCE. PM[21] MORE OPENNESS BY YUGOSLAV ARMYThe army said in a statement in Belgrade on 24 April that it has charged 183 men regarding incidents in the 1998-1999 Kosova campaign, RFE/RL's South Slavic Service reported. The incidents involved "death, endangering life, inflicting bodily harm, or damaging the dignity, morale, and property of citizens." The statement added that an additional 62 men are under investigation. Serbian human rights activist Natasa Kandic told "The New York Times" that the statement indicates a new openness by the army but not necessarily a new attitude toward war crimes. None of the men was charged with having committed atrocities or war crimes. She added that the cases under investigation are not new, and that she does not think that the army is investigating any "serious crimes." Observers note that the cases do not include police or paramilitaries. Carla Del Ponte, who is The Hague tribunal's special prosecutor, has said that Kosova war crimes cases must be tried in The Hague because Albanian witnesses do not feel safe in Serbia or trust Serbian justice. PM[22] SERBIA FREES MORE KOSOVAR PRISONERSSome 130 Kosovars from Gjakova walked free from a prison in Nis on 25 April, Reuters reported. Serbian forces arrested them in 1999 and sentenced them to a total of 1,632 years in the largest mass trial in Yugoslav history. An additional 13 prisoners will be freed from other prisons. The Serbian Supreme Court ruled on 23 April that the evidence used against the 143 people had not been collected or assembled properly. Kosovar human rights activists have long argued that the arrests were arbitrary. Kosovar leaders have called for freedom for all Kosovars held in Serbian jails. Student activist Albin Kurti is among those still being held. PM[23] SARAJEVO HOUSING DISPUTE ENDED...Former Irish High Court Judge Diarmuid Sheridan ruled in Sarajevo on 24 April that two disputed apartment complexes in Sarajevo's Dobrinja district should come entirely under the jurisdiction of the mainly Muslim and Croat federation, RFE/RL's South Slavic Service reported. The decision means that residents now know who is responsible for providing them with basic services. An unspecified number of Serbs will have to leave their flats so that the Muslim and Croat former owners can reclaim them. Sheridan's ruling ends a bizarre situation in which the boundary lines between the federation and the Republika Srpska ran not only through the middle of apartment buildings but through individual flats. Some people's kitchens were in the federation and their bedrooms in the Republika Srpska. The situation was created by the use of insufficiently detailed maps in setting down boundary lines at the 1995 Dayton peace conference. PM[24] ...BUT NOT WITHOUT PROTESTHigh Representative Wolfgang Petritsch appealed in Sarajevo on 24 April to federal Prime Minister Alija Behmen and the Republika Srpska's Mladen Ivanic to help enforce Sheridan's decision, RFE/RL's South Slavic Service reported. Republika Srpska Deputy Prime Minister Petar Kunic said, however, that the ruling is detrimental to the interests of the Republika Srpska. Serbian protesters marched through the disputed area soon after Sheridan's decision was announced, taunting federal police with comments like "Hey, Turk, come here -- what are you afraid of?" Reuters reported at midday on 25 April that federal police had entered the disputed area "in a low-key way" and that no problems have been reported. PM[25] HERZEGOVINIAN HARD-LINERS TO RETURN TO PARLIAMENTAnte Jelavic of the Croatian Democratic Community (HDZ) told Zagreb's "Jutarnji list" of 25 April in Mostar that the HDZ still regards the federal authorities as "illegitimate." He added, however, that the HDZ deputies will soon retake their seats in the legislature, which they left nearly two months ago (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 1 and 6 March and 24 April 2001). PM[26] VERHEUGEN ENCOURAGED, WORRIED ON ROMANIAN DEVELOPMENTSEU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen told journalists in Brussels on 24 April that there are grounds for encouragement, but also reasons for concern, over Romania's development under the new government. He noted that after three years of recession in the country there are signs of economic growth. The EU is, however, still "worried" about homeless children and the situation of the Roma, as well as by possible infringements on the independence of the judiciary. Verheugen said he considers the target date of 2007 for Romania's accession to the EU as "realistic," provided plans are implemented. He said the EU will lift visa restrictions on Romanians only when conditions for doing so are met by Bucharest. Verheugen began on 25 May a two-day visit to Romania, during which he will participate in a meeting of the cabinet on accession efforts and address a joint session of the parliament. MS.[27] TIMOFTE LIKELY TO BE CLEARED BY ROMANIAN PARLIAMENTARY COMMISSIONGeorge Serban, a former deputy and the former chief of the parliamentary commission supervising the activities of the Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI) on 24 April told the commission that he has never accused Radu Timofte, the current SRI director, of having worked for the KGB. Serban said that statements he made last year regarding Timofte were concerned only with the need to "verify" allegations about Timofte's past that had appeared in newspapers and that his comments were made "under the inflamed atmosphere of the electoral campaign." Timofte has requested the commission to investigate the allegations and clear his name. Among those whom the commission heard on 24 April were the former Securitate chief, General Iulian Vlad, and former Securitate General Victor Neculicioiu, who was in charge of counterintelligence activities focused on the former communist countries. Former SRI Director Virgil Magureanu was to testify on 25 April. MS[28] ROMANIAN COMMISSION RELEASES NEW LIST OF SECURITATE-LINKED POLITICIANSThe National College for the Study of the Securitate Archives on 24 April released a second list of politicians who were either on the staff of the former communist secret police or acted as informers for it, RFE/RL's Bucharest bureau reported. Out of the 10 politicians who were Securitate officers, five are from the Greater Romania Party, four from the ruling Party of Social Democracy in Romania (including deputy Ristea Priboi) and one -- Magureanu -- from the extraparliamentary National Alliance. Other prominent names figuring on the list are those of former National Liberal Party (PNL) Senator Dan Amadeo Lazarescu and PNL member Paul Mitroi, who is currently Romania's ombudsman. Mitroi denied he had ever been a Securitate informant, saying "the mistake must stem from a coincidence of names." MS[29] ROMANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS 'ILASCU CASE' IS 'SYMBOL FOR EUROPE'...Foreign Minister Mircea Geoana, who is also the current chairman of the OSCE, on 24 April told the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg that the European Council and the OSCE must "coordinate efforts" for bringing about the liberation of Ilie Ilascu, who has been detained along with three others from his group in Tiraspol since 1992, Mediafax reported. Geoana said Bucharest is also involved in the case because Ilascu last year took up Romanian citizenship. He said the situation of Ilascu and his group has become "symbolic for Europe as well" and that he is waiting for the visit of Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin to Bucharest later this week to find out the extent to which Chisinau intends to pursue efforts for Ilascu's liberation. MS[30] ...AND SENATOR CALLS FOR ROMANIANS' AIRLIFT FROM MOLDOVADemocratic Party Senator Radu F. Alexandru said on 24 April that the Romanian authorities must start considering how to organize the evacuation from Moldova of Romanian citizens by an "air-bridge." Alexandru said those citizens are now "facing the risk of becoming hostages" of the regime of President Voronin, which might turn Moldova into "a fortress of the Russian empire" bordering on Romania. He said other states had evacuated their citizens from counties in crisis situations. MS[31] TRANSDNIESTER LEADER CRITICIZES PRIMAKOV'S FEDERALIZATION PLANSeparatist leader Igor Smirnov told journalists in Tiraspol that Yevgenii Primakov, chairman of the Russian state commission for the Transdniester conflict, did "not express the official Russian position" when he advocated federalization as a solution to the Transdniester conflict during his recent visit to Chisinau and Tiraspol. Smirnov said that a solution to the conflict "cannot be envisaged in the next 100 years," and that the Transdniestrians "continue the edification of their own independent state," RFE/RL's Chisinau bureau reported. He also said Tiraspol is ready to agree to the establishment of a Russian military base in the Transdniester region but, "I fail to see what this has to do with Moldova, since Russian troops are not stationed there." Smirnov added that the liberation of the Ilascu group imprisoned in Tiraspol can only be discussed after Chisinau "acknowledges its guilt for the 1992 aggression against the Transdniester people." MS[32] SIMEON II APPEALS BULGARIAN COURT RULING...A lawyer representing the National Movement Simeon II told Reuters on 24 April that she has launched an appeal against the refusal of the Sofia court to register the party the previous day. President Petar Stoyanov on 24 April said Bulgaria "would gain" from Simeon's participation in the elections scheduled for 17 June, and added that "the big question is in what way" the former monarch and his movement could do so. MS[33] ...WHILE OFFERED SEATS ON RULING PARTY'S LISTSThe daily "Monitor" reported that Prime Minister Ivan Kostov, currently on a visit to the U.S., told journalists accompanying him that he is ready to include movement candidates on the lists of the Union of Democratic Forces (SDS), but that the move must be approved by the SDS's other partners in the United Democratic Forces. Simeon said earlier that he would not run on any other lists except those of his own movement, but Reuters on 24 April cited him as saying he is "open to all proposals" and says he could form an electoral alliance with one of the already registered small royalist parties. MS[34] BULGARIAN DEFENSE MINISTER SAYS NATO REPORT POSITIVEDefense Minister Boiko Noev on 24 April said a NATO report on Bulgaria's fulfillment of the action plan for membership in the organization is "positive, and clearly marks our country's progress," "Monitor" reported. Noev spoke at NATO headquarters in Brussels, where he was handed the report. No other details on the report were published. A meeting of NATO ambassadors with Bulgarian officials headed by President Stoyanov to review progress toward membership is scheduled for 30 April. Noev added that Bulgaria "knows what to do, knows what our shortcomings are, and how to overcome them." He acknowledged that military reform "is difficult because of its hefty financial costs and the need to lay off valuable military staff." Noev also said the government plans to speed up cuts of redundant armaments that are costly to maintain and "add little to defense capabilities." MS[C] END NOTE[35] PAPERING OVER THE CRACKSBy Liz FullerEvents in Tbilisi over the past week have confirmed the existence of tensions both between cabinet ministers and within the ruling Union of Citizens of Georgia (SMK). But the measures proposed to address those problems are unlikely to prove effective as rival politicians continue to hone their strategies for the post-Shevardnadze era. Ever since Eduard Shevardnadze's re-election in April 2000 for a second presidential term, political commentators in Tbilisi have been looking ahead to the transition of power due in 2005 (assuming the Georgian Constitution is not amended to allow the incumbent to seek a third term). At least some possible presidential candidates in 2005 have already been identified. But at the same time, many observers in Tbilisi believe that major shifts in the political landscape will occur well before that date. Some of the most intense speculation has focused on the SMK, which Shevardnadze himself created in late 1993 as his personal power base, and on a possible fundamental restructuring of the existing balance of power between the president, the parliament, and the executive branch. At a closed-door meeting in Tbilisi on 20 April of the SMK board, which Shevardnadze attended in his capacity as chairman of that party, it was agreed that the constitution should be amended to reintroduce the post of prime minister that was abolished when the present constitution was adopted in 1995, and to amend the balance of power between the president, the executive branch, and the legislature. (At present, the president functions as head of the government.) Shevardnadze proposed on 23 April during his traditional weekly radio broadcast that the upgraded government should have "broad authorities and considerable responsibilities." The parliament will acquire the right to propose a no-confidence vote in the government, and the president will be empowered to dissolve parliament, Shevardnadze added. But he rejected as unsuited to Georgia both the Russian and Polish models, arguing instead for a uniquely Georgian variant. Both the Russian and Polish constitutions stipulate the circumstances and procedures according to which parliament may impeach the president. But Koba Davitashvili, the informal leader of the "liberals" within the SMK, argued after the 20 April session that structural changes fail to address the very real challenges the party faces. Those challenges derive, first, from the "liberals'" frustration that reforms have ground to a halt because the majority has lost interest in continuing with them; second, from repeated conflicts between cabinet ministers, who at times appear to be pursuing diametrically opposed interests; and third, from the widely held perception that corruption has permeated both the government apparatus and the SMK, and that despite his repeated vows to eradicate it, Shevardnadze is either actively protecting corrupt officials or is powerless to axe them. While liberal members of the SMK may be profoundly disquieted by the extent of corruption, until last week none had publicly questioned Shevardnadze's commitment to fighting it. Then on 16 April, "The Washington Post" quoted Vano Merabishvili, chairman of the parliament's Committee for Economic Policy, as implying that Shevardnadze condones corruption and protectionism, including by his relatives and close associates. "He's tired now... He doesn't even want to hear the word reform now. If he says he's fighting corruption and wants reform, it's only to keep the West supporting him. As a member of his party, I feel he doesn't have the political will to change anything," the paper quoted Merabishvili as saying. Observers in Tbilisi believe that Merabishvili's statements, in conjunction with the prospect of a top-level personnel reshuffle, could serve to deepen incipient tensions between two young SMK politicians who are both seen as possible future presidential candidates -- parliament speaker Zurab Zhvania and Justice Minister Mikhail Saakashvili. Zhvania, who was visiting Tehran last week, immediately issued a statement castigating Merabishvili for unethical behavior. Zhvania thus demonstratively aligned himself with Shevardnadze, at least for the time being. (Observers do not exclude the possibility that he could challenge Shevardnadze at some later date.) As for Saakashvili, even if Merabishvili were not his protege, he cannot, by virtue of his office, afford to dismiss Merabishvili's allegations out of hand. Commentators now identify Zhvania as the politician most likely to benefit from any personnel reshuffle in the near future. Former Georgian intelligence chief Irakli Batiashvili has claimed that Zhvania sees Georgia as a parliamentary republic in which he would occupy the post of premier, while Reuters on 20 April quoted Shevardnadze as naming Zhvania, together with Foreign Minister Irakli Menagharishvili and former Minister of State Niko Lekishvili, as a potential candidate for that post. But whether Zhvania, who lacks economic and administrative experience, is the most appropriate candidate is another question. Lekishvili, for his part, went on record last week as saying that, given the personal animosities between cabinet members, the entire government should resign before those differences precipitate "total collapse." Others believe that both Zhvania and Saakashvili aspire to succeed Shevardnadze as president, despite Saakashvili's protestations to the contrary. (Saakashvili is not, in fact, eligible to contest the presidency: he will not turn 35, the minimum age for registering as a presidential candidate, until December 2002.) But Elene Tevdoradze, a parliament deputy from the "liberal" minority within the SMK who knows Saakashvili well, has predicted that, if asked by supporters to launch a bid for national leadership, Saakashvili would find it difficult to refuse. She noted that it was Saakashvili's name that the demonstrators who took to the streets to protest power cuts in Tbilisi last fall were chanting. But any personnel changes may still be months away. Shevardnadze's representative to the parliament, Djoni Khetsuriani, said the process of forming a new cabinet may not get underway before the fall, while Interfax on 23 April quoted Shevardnadze as saying that the cabinet should not be changed "at the initial stage," and that pre-term parliamentary elections could be held, after which representatives of the party that wins a majority in the new legislature will form the new cabinet. Such a delay would alienate the opposition, but give potential candidates for the post of premier more time to muster support. It would not, however, augur well for the holding of free, fair, and transparent elections. 25-04-01 Reprinted with permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
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