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RFE/RL Newsline, Vol. 5, No. 119, 01-06-22Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty: Newsline Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty <http://www.rferl.org>RFE/RL NEWSLINEVol. 5, No. 119, 22 June 2001CONTENTS[A] TRANSCAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA
[B] SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE
[C] END NOTE
[A] TRANSCAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA[01] ARMENIAN OPPOSITION PARTY CRITICIZES PRESIDENT OVER PARLIAMENT SHOOTING SUSPECTS' RELEASEIn a statement released on 21 June, the Hanrapetutiun (Republic) Party headed by former Premier Aram Sargsian criticized the release on 20 June of six men charged with abetting the five gunmen who perpetrated the October 1999 Armenian parliament shootings, RFE/RL's Yerevan bureau reported. Sargsian's brother and predecessor as prime minister, Vazgen, was one of the victims of that attack. The Hanrapetutiun statement characterized the release of the six men as evidence that Armenian President Robert Kocharian is seeking "to prevent the crime from being fully solved" and repeated earlier claims that unnamed senior officials are dictating to the defendants what they should say in their testimony (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 16 May 2001). The statement further called for the resignation of Kocharian and the government headed by Aram Sargsian's successor, Andranik Markarian, arguing that they are unable to "guarantee the country's security and future or to expedite justice." LF[02] PRESIDENTIAL AIDE SAYS SOLUTION TO KARABAKH CONFLICT WILL BENEFIT ARMENIA"Aravot" on 21 June quoted President Kocharian's foreign policy aide Aleksan Harutiunian as saying that he is certain that Kocharian can resolve the problem, that doing so will not be a long, drawn-out process over "years," and that the final solution will be beneficial to Armenia. Harutiunian said a mutually acceptable settlement of the conflict can only be based on the so-called "Paris principles" agreed by Kocharian and his Azerbaijani counterpart Heidar Aliev earlier this year. He denied that those principles include an exchange of territories. LF[03] OSCE SECRETARY-GENERAL VISITS AZERBAIJANJan Kubis held talks in Baku on 21 June with Azerbaijan's President Heidar Aliev and Foreign Minister Vilayat Quliev, according to ANS TV and Turan, as cited by Groong. Both Azerbaijani officials stressed the importance of the OSCE's efforts to resolve the Karabakh conflict. The process of democratic reforms in Azerbaijan was also assessed. LF[04] AZERBAIJANI FOREIGN MINISTER DENIES DEPLOYMENT OF SPEEDBOATS WILL EXACERBATE CASPIAN TENSIONSResponding to concerns expressed in the "Tehran Times," Quliev said in Baku on 21 June that the two boats Azerbaijan will receive from the U.S. to patrol its territorial waters will not lead to armed confrontation in the Caspian, according to MPA, as cited by Groong. He noted that Turkmenistan has recently received similar, larger vessels. The first vessel was handed over in Baku on 16 June. LF[05] ADJAR LEADER ACCUSES GEORGIAN PARLIAMENT SPEAKER OF 'FASCISM'Speaking on local television on 20 June, Adjar Supreme Council Chairman Aslan Abashidze accused Georgian parliament Chairman Zurab Zhvania of leading Georgia toward fascism, Caucasus Press reported. Zhvania refrained from commenting on that accusation, but the leader of the majority Union of Citizens of Georgia (SMK) parliament faction, Revaz Adamia, on 21 June said Abashidze, who heads the opposition Revival Union, is acting on instructions from Moscow. In 1997, an Adjar official accused Zhvania of trying to recruit him in a plot to oust Abashidze (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 21 and 22 October 1997). LF[06] NEW GEORGIAN PROSECUTOR-GENERAL ESCAPES IMPEACHMENTThe Georgian parliament's commission on legal matters failed on 21 June to reach a decision on whether to launch impeachment proceedings against Prosecutor-General Gia Meparishvili, Caucasus Press reported. Parliament deputy (SMK) Koba Davitashvili had initiated a hearing on doing so after Meparishvili appointed as local prosecutors two persons who do not have the required qualifications. Meparishvili for his part refused to answer any questions put to him by the commission. Meparishvili was appointed prosecutor-general in February after his predecessor Djamlet Babalishvili resigned following a similar campaign by Davitashvili to impeach him (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 8 February 2001 and "RFE/RL Caucasus Report," Vol. 4, No. 6, 9 February, 2001). LF[07] GEORGIAN FINANCE MINISTER, NATIONAL BANK CHAIRMAN FAIL TO RESOLVE DISPUTEMeeting with President Eduard Shevardnadze on 19 June, Finance Minister Zurab Nogaideli and National Bank Chairman Irakli Managadze failed to resolve their disagreement over which institution is responsible for wage arrears to teachers, "Dilis gazeti" reported on 20 June (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 14 and 20 June 2001). Shevardnadze advised the two men to seek a ruling on the issue from the IMF. LF[08] KAZAKH OPPOSITION, FINANCE MINISTER COMMENT ON LEGALIZATION OF SHADOW CAPITALThe 16 Kazakh opposition parties aligned in the Republican Forum of Democratic Forces issued a statement in Almaty on 21 June demanding that the government make public details of all illegally exported capital brought back to Kazakhstan within the framework of the current amnesty once the deadline for doing so has expired, RFE/RL's Kazakh Service reported. They also demanded that embezzled funds be exempted from the process. Under the law legalizing the return of capital, the identity of persons bringing funds back into the country need not be divulged. Also on 21 June, Finance Minister Mazhit Esenbaev told journalists in Astana that since the amnesty began on 14 June, some 5.22 billion tenges (over $35 million) has been transferred from abroad to Kazakh banks, Interfax reported. LF[09] KYRGYZ LEGISLATURE CONTINUES TO DISCUSS CHINESE BORDER CONTROVERSYFive deputies to the Legislative Assembly (the lower chamber of the Kyrgyz parliament) said on 21 June that the 1996 border agreement and 1999 amendments to it under which Kyrgyzstan ceded some 125,00 hectares of its territory to China should be revoked, RFE/RL's Bishkek bureau reported. They also demanded that President Askar Akaev, who signed the two agreements, and Prime Minister Kurmanbek Bakiev should address parliament on the issue. But pro-government deputies including former Communist Party of Kirghizia First Secretary Turdakun Usubaliev proposed postponing further discussion of the border accords until the government submits all the relevant documentation to the parliament. The formal record that the previous parliament ratified in 1998 the 1996 agreement has disappeared. LF[10] KYRGYZ JUSTICE MINISTRY ORDERS PUBLICATION OF NEW NEWSPAPERS POSTPONEDDeputy Justice Minister Erkin Mamyrov has ordered the state publishing house Uchkun not to begin publishing any new newspapers registered within the past two months until the process of reregistering existing media outlets has been completed, RFE/RL's Bishkek bureau reported on 21 June. That process is due to end on 1 July. LF[11] KYRGYZSTAN-EU COMMISSION MEETSA session of the Kyrgyzstan-EU cooperation commission in Bishkek on 21 June focused on the macroeconomic situation and investment climate in Kyrgyzstan and draft legislation on customs, tax rates, and tourism, RFE/RL's Bishkek bureau reported. LF[12] TAJIK INTERIOR MINISTRY SEEKS TO NEUTRALIZE 'TERRORIST' GANGInterior Ministry troops armed with artillery, aircraft, and armored personnel carriers launched an offensive early on 22 June on the outskirts of Dushanbe aimed at neutralizing former field commander Rakhmon Sanginov, Reuters reported. The Interior Ministry claimed that Sanginov's men have perpetrated some 400 serious crimes including arms-trafficking and hostage- taking. It was supporters of Sanginov who took 15 local and foreign employees of a German relief agency hostage in eastern Tajikistan last week. Sanginov said he was forced to do so to draw attention to government reprisals against former opposition fighters (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 18 and 19 June 2001). LF[B] SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE[13] MACEDONIAN ARMY OFFENSIVE ENDS CEASE-FIREOn 22 June, government forces used artillery, tanks, and helicopter gunships in a dawn attack between Aracinovo and Nikustak near Skopje, AP reported. Government forces also fired at insurgents' positions near Tetovo and near Kumanovo. Macedonian army spokesman Colonel Blagoja Markovski said the sustained action was aimed at "crushing and destroying terrorists." Guerrilla leader Commander Hoxha said that there were three civilian casualties and "many" wounded near Skopje. He added: "I'm warning the government if they want war they're going to get one. We will defend ourselves." The offensive marks an end to the latest cease-fire and comes amid efforts by EU security policy chief Javier Solana to salvage a political settlement (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 21 June 2001). NATO Secretary- General Lord George Robertson has described the situation as "very close to civil war," RFE/RL reported. PM[14] ROBERTSON, U.S. OFFICIALS DISCUSS MACEDONIARobertson met with top officials in Washington on 20 and 21 June to discuss a possible U.S. role in a projected NATO mission to Macedonia to help collect arms from the rebels (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 21 June 2001). His interlocutors included: Secretary of State Colin Powell, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair Joseph Biden, and senators Richard Lugar and Chuck Hagel, "The Washington Post" reported. Powell said that he and Robertson are "hopeful" that a political solution can be reached in Macedonia, adding that the Bush administration has not yet decided whether to participate in the NATO mission and, if so, in what capacity, Reuters reported. PM[15] A LIMITED ROLE FOR THE U.S. IN MACEDONIA...An unnamed Bush administration official told "The Washington Post" of 22 June that "we're prepared to look at enablers," meaning possible U.S. logistical, intelligence, and communications support for the NATO mission to Macedonia. He added that "we see this as a good opportunity for the Europeans to mount an operation inside of NATO and with us alongside them." PM[16] ...OR A MORE ROBUST ONE?Senator Biden stressed, however, that "the bottom line is [that] without U.S. forces on the ground as part of a NATO force, the likelihood of success is diminished significantly. We're the only party trusted there," "The Washington Post" reported on 22 June. Former Balkan envoy Richard Holbrooke argued that the U.S. should be part of the NATO force because NATO's cohesion will be undermined if Washington restricts its involvement. Former Reagan administration defense official Richard Pearle recently told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that "the notion of European leadership is an oxymoron... Only the U.S...has the stature and the credibility to foster a solution. In the current case in Macedonia, I believe that without very decisive American involvement, there will be no solution," the "Financial Times" reported on 22 June. PM[17] EU TO GO AHEAD WITH DONORS CONFERENCE DESPITE SERBIA'S RECORD ON WAR CRIMESGunnar Wiegand, a spokesman for the European Commission, told reporters in Brussels on 21 June that "the preparations for the [29 June] donors conference are continuing. There is no question of postponing it. The meeting is very important to ensure the stabilization and restructuring of the Yugoslav economy." Echoing the views of Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica, Swedish diplomat Veronika Wand-Danielsson said that "to press [Belgrade] too hard [on cooperating with The Hague] would be counterproductive." The NGO Human Rights Watch has called for the conference to be postponed, citing Belgrade's failure to cooperate with The Hague-based war crimes tribunal (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 20 June 2001). The U.S., which has taken a tougher line than the EU regarding Serbia and The Hague, has not decided whether to attend the conference (see "RFE/RL Balkan Report," 5 January and 15 May 2001). PM[18] DEL PONTE CALLS FOR FIRMNESS TOWARD SERBIA OVER WAR CRIMESFollowing talks with German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer in Berlin on 21 June, Carla Del Ponte, who is The Hague tribunal's chief prosecutor, called on all members of the international community to put pressure on Serbia regarding cooperation with The Hague, RFE/RL's South Slavic Service reported. She stressed that each individual country is obliged to support the tribunal and that no one has the right to make deals at its expense. PM[19] SERBIAN POLICE SAY MASS GRAVE HOLDS REMAINS OF 800 ALBANIANSCaptain Dragan Karleusa, a police official, said in Batajnica that the mass grave of Kosovar Albanians found there may contain the remains of 800 or more people, "The Times" reported on 22 June (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 14 June 2001). Karleusa added that "there are no signs of gunshot wounds. Bones were broken, which tends to exclude suffocation. The victims' skulls were fractured. My opinion is that they were beaten to death, possibly with iron bars or hammers." PM[20] SLOVENIAN PRESIDENT RECALLS WAR OF 10 YEARS AGO...Slovenia and Croatia will soon mark the 10th anniversary of their independence from a Yugoslavia controlled by former President Slobodan Milosevic (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 19 June 2001). Slovenian President Milan Kucan told Reuters in Ljubljana on 21 June: "The most difficult moment for me was the morning when Yugoslav army tanks appeared on Slovenian streets and we had to decide whether to respond by armed defense. As soon as we decided for arms, it was clear that there would be victims. But I was encouraged by the fact that the Yugoslav army was not fighting for something right, had no real motive for hostility, and that there was no ethnic conflict in Slovenia." The Slovenian authorities mobilized well- prepared units of the Territorial Defense and successfully fought a 10-day war against Belgrade's forces. Some 64 people were killed. PM[21] ...AND DRAWS A BALANCEKucan told Reuters in Ljubljana on 21 June that "Yugoslavia was an historical anachronism [by 1991]. It was unable to establish a platform of democracy, human rights, and market economy...that would open its way to European integration... With Slovenia's independence we saved the world from yet another conflict and secured peace and security for us and others in this small part of Europe." He also recalled that "the most important moment was our admission to the United Nations [in May 1992] and the unfolding of the Slovenian flag in front of the United Nations building." PM[22] ONE MORE TERM FOR PETRITSCH IN BOSNIA...The Peace Implementation Council, which is the international body overseeing the peace in Bosnia, voted in Stockholm on 21 June to extend by one year the mandate of High Representative Wolfgang Petritsch of Austria, Reuters reported. His Sarajevo office said in a statement that the vote marks "continued full support for his untiring efforts." The statement added: "The European Union Foreign ministers are favorably inclined to the proposed candidature of Lord [Paddy] Ashdown [of the U.K.] to succeed him next year." The Swedish EU presidency ends at the end of June, at which time the chair will pass to Belgium. In a separate statement, Petritsch promised to "reaffirm his commitment to the implementation of the Dayton peace agreement and fighting extremist nationalist forces." PM[23] ...AND FOR UN MISSION TO BOSNIAThe Security Council voted unanimously in New York on 21 June to extend by one year the mandates of SFOR and the UN mission in Bosnia, RE/RL's South Slavic Service reported. That mission, which is currently headed by Jacques Klein of the U.S., deals with a variety of issues including refugee return, police work, and building government institutions. The Security Council resolution noted that "the situation in the region continues to constitute a threat to international peace and security," Reuters reported. The resolution called on member states to do more to help develop and train Bosnia's police. PM[24] MOST BOSNIANS LIVE IN POVERTYAzra Hadziahmetovic, the first woman cabinet member in Bosnia and the minister for foreign trade and economic relations, told "Dani" of 22 June that 83 percent of Bosnia's population lives below the poverty line. PM[25] ROMANIA ESCALATES CONFLICT OVER HUNGARIAN STATUS LAW...Prime Minister Adrian Nastase on 21 June told journalists that the cabinet has decided that the Hungarian Status Law "will not apply on Romanian territory." Nastase said the government has set up an interministerial commission to analyze and decide by 1 July what measures must be implemented to prevent any infringement of Romanian sovereignty through possible attempts to apply the law. Nastase said "if necessary, we shall introduce [in the existing legislation] elements that clearly establish what associations and foundations can, and what they cannot do on Romania's territory." He also said Romania is "no colony from which Hungary can recruit workforce" and "if necessary, we shall abrogate some bilateral treaties" regulating the labor movement between the two countries. He also said that in relations with the Hungarian Democratic Federation of Romania his Social Democratic Party will be guided by the principle that "national interest must prevail over any other interest." MS[26] ...AS CLUJ NATIONALIST MAYOR BROUGHT IN CHAINS TO POLICE STATIONNationalist Cluj Mayor Gheorghe Funar was brought in chains on 22 June to a police station in the town, after he refused to heed a summons to answer questions on several complaints launched against him by members of the local council. Mediafax said scuffles broke out between policemen and employees of the mayoralty. He is suspected of "abuse of office" for having locked council members out of the town hall and of "infringing public morality." The latter accusation stems from Funar's having placed one day earlier beef bones and toothpicks painted in the colors of the national flag on local councilors' tables. Funar said the gesture depicts the councilors' refusal to resign and "give up the bone," which in colloquial Romanian means "forego lucrative jobs." Against the background of the escalating conflict with Hungary, the authorities' decision to detain him may well backfire, as Funar is considered by Romanian nationalists to be the main hero in the "struggle against the Magyar hordes." MS[27] ROMANIA SUSPENDS INTERNATIONAL ADOPTIONSThe cabinet on 21 June decided to suspend international adoptions of Romanian children for one year, RFE/RL's Bucharest bureau reported. The decision follows criticism by the European Parliament's rapporteur on Romania, Baroness Emma Nicholson, that government officials are involved in lucrative moneymaking from trading with adopted children. MS[28] ROMANIAN GOVERNMENT APPROVES EMERGENCY ORDINANCE ON DECRIMINALIZING SAME-SEX RELATIONSThe cabinet on 21 June approved an emergency ordinance abrogating Article 200 in the Penal Code that penalized same-sex relations. Emergency ordinances come in force instantly and must later be approved by the parliament, which is continuing its attempts to circumvent the EU demand that the article be abrogated (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 21 June 2001). MS[29] ROMANIAN LOWER CHAMBER STRIKES FORMER KING OUT OF BILL'S BENEFICIARIESThe Chamber of Deputies on 21 June heeded the recommendation of a commission of the parliament's two chambers, and deleted the mention of former King Michel from the draft law on former heads of state entitled to an official residence and state stipends (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 21 June 2001). Premier Nastase said the law will apply to the former monarch, because he is "implicitly included" in it, even if not mentioned by name, Mediafax reported. MS[30] ROMANIAN PREMIER SAYS AGREEMENT WITH IMF FINALIZEDPremier Nastase on 22 June said that an agreement has been reached with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a new standby loan and that the IMF board of directors will approve the agreement in September, Mediafax reported. Nastase said a new round of talks is to be held in August but that those discussions will concentrate on the 2002 budget. MS[31] RESITA HUNGER STRIKE GROWINGNearly 100 workers and members of their families have joined the hunger strike in Resita and four hunger strikers were hospitalized on 21 June, Romanian Radio reported the next day (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 20 June 2001). They are protesting against the U.S. Company Noble Ventures, which owns the plant and has failed to pay wages since April. MS[32] TURKISH PRESIDENT IN ROMANIATurkish President Ahmed Necdet Sezer, on a two-day visit to Romania, on 21 June discussed with President Ion Iliescu bilateral relations and the Macedonian conflict, RFE/RL's Bucharest bureau reported. The two presidents said relations between their countries are "excellent" and bilateral trade is over $1 billion, with good chances of even further improvement. Sezer said Turkey is backing Romania's potential accession to NATO "jointly with Bulgaria." He agreed with Iliescu to coordinate their countries' efforts to enter the EU. MS[33] MOLDOVAN FOREIGN MINISTRY ON CERNOMAZ'S MEETING WITH POWELLThe Foreign Ministry on 21 June said in a press release that, at their 20 June meeting in Washington, Foreign Minister Nicolae Cernomaz and U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell discussed the possibility of a meeting between their countries' presidents, Infotag reported. The ministry said the sides are interested in "developing and accelerating relations" between them. Powell was cited as having told Cernomaz that the U.S. is ready to continue supporting economic reforms in Moldova and the country's democratic development. Powell said particular attention is being paid to the privatization problem in Moldova. Cernomaz and Powell signed an agreement on the preservation and protection of cultural assets. MS[34] MOLDOVAN FOREIGN MINISTER INTERVIEWED BY RFE/RLIn an interview with RFE/RL's Romania and Moldova Service, Cernomaz on 21 June said that during his current meetings with U.S. officials in Washington "the word communist was not pronounced even once." In response to a question, Cernomaz said the U.S. officials are not interested what party rules in Moldova but whether or not the country intends to pursue the course of reform. Cernomaz said the best description for Moldova's foreign policy is "pragmatic." Asked whether Moldova intends to join the Russia- Belarus Union, Cernomaz said: "This has been a successful electoral slogan of the party that won the elections, but whether it will be put in practice remains to be seen." He said that between Moldova and the two members of the union "is a huge territory called Ukraine" and that Chisinau is primarily interested in pursuing good relations with its immediate neighbors, "Ukraine among them." MS[35] MOLDOVAN NEGOTIATOR SAYS 'SOME PROGRESS' MADE AT VORONIN'S MEETING WITH SMIRNOVVasile Sturza, head of Moldova's negotiating team with the breakaway region, on 21 June said that "despite appearances" some progress was made at the 20 June summit between President Vladimir Voronin and separatist leader Igor Smirnov, RFE/RL's Chisinau bureau reported. Sturza said that Smirnov's positions are "moving closer" to the Moldovan positions. He said Voronin had offered Smirnov "guarantees" for Tiraspol's acceptance of an autonomous status within Moldova. Among these guarantees Sturza included the "recognition of the right of Transdniester to self-determination" and the obligation to refrain from using military means in the event of a conflict between the sides, as well as not to send troops to the Transdniester territory without the consent of its leadership. MS[36] STRASBOURG COURT TO EXAMINE COMPLAINT BY BESSARABIAN CHURCHThe European Court of Justice in Strasbourg has decided to examine the complaint by the Bessarabian Church against the Moldovan authorities' refusal to register it, Flux reported on 21 June. The court ruled on 6 June on the "admissibility" of the case and is to start hearing it on 2 October. The Bessarabian Orthodox Church is subordinated to the Bucharest Patriarchate and successive Moldovan governments have refused to register it, claiming that to do so would be to interfere in the internal affairs of the Moldovan Orthodox Church, which is subordinate to the Moscow Patriarchate. The Bessarabian Church's representative before the court, Deputy Vlad Cubreacov, said the sides can still reach an "amiable settlement" and have the hearings suspended if this occurs before 2 August. MS[37] BULGARIAN PRESIDENT, SOFIA MAYOR URGE KOSTOV TO QUITSofia Mayor Stefan Sofiyanski on 21 June urged outgoing Premier Ivan Kostov to step down as the leader of the Union of Democratic Forces (SDS), saying the move would open the way for the SDS to enter coalition talks with the National Movement Simeon II (NDSV), Reuters reported. Kostov is against a coalition, while Sofiyanski is widely tipped in the media as a possible premier in a NDSV-SDS coalition. "I respect Kostov as a man, but not as chairman of the SDS," Sofiyanski told journalists. President Petar Stoyanov said that if the SDS leadership decides Kostov has to resign, he "should introduce the new [SDS] leader and stand behind him with all his political skills," AP reported. Reuters said the SDS is "on the verge of a split." Meanwhile, President Stoyanov announced on 21 June that the newly elected parliament will convene on 5 July. MS[38] WHO VOTED FOR THE KING?According to an analysis of exit-poll results conducted by the MBMD Institute, the NDSV was supported on 17 June by all age groups and social categories, by both sexes, and by urban as well as rural residents, BTA reported. It garnered the support of 45 percent of those who in 1997 voted for the United Democratic Forces (ODS) alliance and of 28 percent of those who supported the Bulgarian Socialist Party. Only 39 percent of those who in 1997 voted for the ODS cast their ballot for the alliance in 2001. The ethnic Turkish Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) garnered in 2001 the support of two-thirds of Turkish voters and of 15 percent of the Roma who participated in the elections. Only 6 percent of those who voted for the DPS are members of the Bulgarian ethnic majority. MS[39] BULGARIAN GOVERNMENT WARNS AGAINST GROWING DANGER OF MACEDONIAN CIVIL WARThe government on 21 June said the danger of civil war in neighboring Macedonia is growing and the Defense Ministry confirmed reports that the army is conducting exercises in the vicinity of the border with that country, AP reported. "Bulgaria expresses its great anxiety that the political dialogue among the legitimate parties may be severed, and Macedonia will be faced with the prospect of a civil war," a government declaration said. The cabinet hailed the NATO decision to deploy troops in Macedonia to collect weapons of disarmed Albanian rebels if Slavic and ethnic Albanian leaders can reach an understanding and said "Bulgaria is ready to provide full support for a NATO peacekeeping operation in Macedonia." General Kiril Tzvetkov, the commander of ground troops, said an exercise being conducted by special units in the vicinity of the border with Macedonia was "routine" and denied that it has any link to the crisis in that country. MS[C] END NOTE[40] ALBANIA UNUSUALLY CALM BEFORE SUNDAY'S VOTEBy Jolyon NaegeleDespite several murders, a marketplace bombing and a low-intensity war near its border, the balloting in Albania on 24 June may mark the country's most peaceful parliamentary election since the collapse of the communist dictatorship of Ramiz Alia a decade ago. Aldrin Dalipi, a spokesman for the Central Election Commission, describes the run-up to this weekend's vote as "the best election campaign we've had yet in Albania." All 140 seats in parliament are being contested. Voters will directly elect 100 deputies to single-member constituencies from a field of 1,114 candidates. In addition, voters will also elect 40 deputies from 28 countrywide party or coalition lists. The outcome of the parliamentary elections will set the stage for parliament's election of a president next year. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) is monitoring the campaign and the election with 10 election experts, 18 long- term observers, and some 200 short-term observers. The OSCE says its monitors and observers are scrutinizing the performance of election commissions, campaign activities and their coverage in the media, electoral- zone boundaries, accuracy of voter lists, transparency of candidate nominations, and the allocation of parliamentary seats. The Brussels-based International Crisis Group (ICG), a private multinational organization, four weeks ago called on the Albanian government to "scrutinize all aspects of the electoral procedures in the ethnic Greek districts of southern Albania, especially Himara," prior to the elections. The appeal was made in an effort to ensure fairness and to avoid a repetition of the tensions that resulted from last October's local elections. ICG says local members of the Greek community in the Himara district on the Ionian coast charged that those local elections were manipulated through widespread ballot-rigging and violence. Albania, in turn, accused Greece of interference by sending several Greek parliamentarians as observers and by referring to the Himara villages as "bastions of Hellenism." In the 24 June election, the center-right opposition Union for Victory is challenging the ruling Socialist Party led by Fatos Nano. The Union for Victory is a coalition of former President Sali Berisha's Democratic Party, the Republican Party, the Movement for Legality, the Democratic Liberal Union, and the National Front. Also in the running is the center-right New Democratic Party, a coalition formed early this year out of the "Reform Movement" -- a splinter group that left the Democratic Party together with the Democratic Party of the Right and the Movement for Democracy. Berisha's former aide, Genc Pollo, is now the New Democratic Party's political secretary. Recent polls show the Socialists with a lead of only four percentage points (46 to 42 percent) over Berisha's Democrats. Nano has promised to continue along the path of close relations with NATO and the EU. But Nano's allegedly domineering tactics have alienated his coalition partners -- the Social Democratic Party, the Human Rights' Protection Party, and the Democratic Alliance -- all of which are running separately. Berisha says he will only recognize the results if the election proves to be free and fair. Analysts say that following a visit to the United States early this year, Berisha has put himself and his campaign into a less aggressive mode. But his election promises still have a familiar ring. Berisha is in fact campaigning on a platform which, if elected, he would have little chance of implementing. At the Union for Victory's first rally of the campaign four weeks ago, Berisha called for a resolution of violent conflicts in the region through peaceful dialogue and independence for Kosova. In addition, he demanded the acceleration of highway construction linking the port of Durres with Tirana and linking Albania with Kosova, Montenegro, and Macedonia. Berisha has also called for the abolition of visas to Macedonia, improved public order, and an end to corruption. All but the last two demands are largely or entirely in the hands of outside forces over which Albania has relatively little influence. Ilir Babaramo is a Tirana-based political analyst who writes for "Gazeta Shqiptare." He told RFE/RL's Albanian Service this week that most voters regard the Democrats' campaign promises of less spending and more investment and the Socialists' pledges of integration with the EU as little more than "exaggerations and fantasy. "In Albania like elsewhere, it's hard to keep campaign promises," Babaramo said. "Still, the campaign for the June 24 elections has been positive. If we compare it to previous elections, the campaign climate has been relatively calm and there has been no language of hatred. Nor have there been extremist attacks among Albania's political parties." Babaramo warns, however, that one potentially big problem is that the major parties are sponsoring some 120 candidates on independent lists, in an effort to take advantage of election rules intended to help smaller parties and independents win seats. "I think that unless the Election Commission comes up with a solution before the day Albanians cast their ballots, we will fall into a political crisis, and the two main political parties will be filing lawsuits against each other," Babaramo said. "That's because the Election Commission will declare invalid votes for independent candidates." On 21 June, an OSCE statement said: "When so-called independent candidates are known to have clear party affiliations, they simply cannot be independent." The Central Election Commission said the same day that it will put a stop to this practice, and the OSCE welcomed the move. 22-06-01 Reprinted with permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
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