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RFE/RL Newsline, Vol. 0, No. 0, 01-07-12

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

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

RFE/RL NEWSLINE

Vol. 0, No. 0, 12 July 2001


CONTENTS

[A] TRANSCAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA

  • [01] DONORS PLEDGE $620 MILLION IN AID FOR ARMENIA
  • [02] MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRMEN HOLD TALKS IN KARABAKH...
  • [03] ...EXPRESS CONCERN AT CALLS FOR NEW HOSTILITIES
  • [04] GEORGIAN GUERRILLAS MURDER FOUR ABKHAZ, TAKE SIX MORE HOSTAGE
  • [05] GEORGIAN RULING PARTY, OPPOSITION FAIL TO REACH CONSENSUS ON LOCAL ELECTIONS
  • [06] KAZAKHSTAN'S PRESIDENT URGES MORE DOMESTIC INVESTMENT IN OIL SECTOR...
  • [07] ...COMMENTS ON CAPITAL AMNESTY
  • [08] KAZAKHSTAN'S ECONOMY BOOMING
  • [09] ISRAELI MINISTER VISITS KAZAKHSTAN, KYRGYZSTAN
  • [10] KYRGYZSTAN, BELARUS SEEK TO EXPAND RELATIONS
  • [11] TAJIK-RUSSIAN ECONOMIC COMMISSION MEETS

  • [B] SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE

  • [12] MACEDONIAN GOVERNMENT ASKS OSCE FOR MORE OBSERVERS
  • [13] MACEDONIAN ALBANIANS PUT FORWARD COUNTERPROPOSAL...
  • [14] ...WHILE MEDIATORS TRY TO OVERCOME THE DEADLOCK
  • [15] GREEK-MACEDONIAN BORDER BLOCKED BY MAKPETROL TANKER TRUCKS
  • [16] BOSNIAN MASSACRE COMMEMORATION PASSES PEACEFULLY
  • [17] BOSNIAN MUSLIM GIRL SHOT DEAD
  • [18] SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS MANDATE FOR PREVLAKA
  • [19] BUDISA RESIGNS AS HEAD OF CROATIAN PARTY
  • [20] SPLIT IN SERBIAN COALITION OVER YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT MAKEUP
  • [21] KOSTUNICA: BREAKUP OF YUGOSLAV FEDERATION MEANS NEW ELECTIONS
  • [22] SERBIAN MILITARY BASE IN PRESEVO
  • [23] MONTENEGRIN OPPOSITION AGREES TO TALKS
  • [24] ROMANIAN PREMIER WELCOMES EU PARLIAMENT'S AMENDMENT ON STATUS LAW
  • [25] ROMANIAN PEASANT PARTY SANCTIONS DISSIDENTS
  • [26] ILASCU INTERVIEWED ON RFE/RL
  • [27] FORMER BULGARIAN KING TO BE PREMIER
  • [28] BULGARIA READY TO CURB ROMANY EXODUS TO NORWAY

  • [C] END NOTE

  • [29] There is no End Note today.

  • [A] TRANSCAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA

    [01] DONORS PLEDGE $620 MILLION IN AID FOR ARMENIA

    A two-day conference in Paris of donor states and organizations approved a new three-year, $620 million loan and assistance package to support economic reform in Armenia, RFE/RL's Armenian Service reported on 1 July. Most of the funds will be provided by the U.S. government, the IMF, and the World Bank. The aid is linked to the successful implementation of a three- year Armenian government program aimed at reducing poverty. Prime Minister Andranik Markarian told the conference on 10 July that his cabinet will seek to raise living standards primarily through higher rates of economic growth. He also repeated earlier pledges to crack down on endemic corruption. LF

    [02] MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRMEN HOLD TALKS IN KARABAKH...

    The French and U.S. co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group and Russian First Deputy Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Trubnikov held talks in Stepanakert on 10 July with Arkadii Ghukasian, the president of the unrecognized Nagorno- Karabakh Republic (NKR), ITAR-TASS and Mediamax reported. Ghukasian expressed confidence that talks on resolving the Karabakh conflict will continue despite "changes in the dynamics of the negotiating process." Trubnikov stressed that any solution to the conflict must be acceptable to all parties, in the first instance to the population of the unrecognized republic. "We would not like the people here to get the impression that the mediators are trying to impose solutions," he said. The NKR is not officially represented at the "Three-plus-Two" talks between the three Minsk Group co-chairs and the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan. On 11 July, the Minsk Group representatives, together with the NKR Foreign and Defense Ministers, visited the formerly predominantly Azeri-populated town of Shusha, where they noted that contrary to Azerbaijani claims, the town's mosque has not been vandalized, according to Snark, as cited by Groong. LF

    [03] ...EXPRESS CONCERN AT CALLS FOR NEW HOSTILITIES

    Later on 11 July, the Minsk Group mediators crossed in Fizuli Raion, close to the Azerbaijani border with Iran, the Line of Contact separating the Armenian and Azerbaijani forces, RFE/RL's Armenian Service reported. In a communique released as they crossed the Line of Contact, the mediators expressed concern at the fragility of the current state of "no peace, no war," and warned against "irresponsible" and "bellicose" statements and calls for a resumption of hostilities. They said such statements exacerbate tensions and increase the risk of new fighting. LF

    [04] GEORGIAN GUERRILLAS MURDER FOUR ABKHAZ, TAKE SIX MORE HOSTAGE

    A Georgian guerrilla group operating out of the Kodori gorge has murdered four Abkhaz residents of the village of Azanta in Gulripsh Raion and abducted six others, Caucasus Press reported on 12 July, quoting an official from the local Prosecutor's Office. An Abkhaz Defense Ministry official accused the Georgian intelligence service of instigating the killings. LF

    [05] GEORGIAN RULING PARTY, OPPOSITION FAIL TO REACH CONSENSUS ON LOCAL ELECTIONS

    At a session on 11 July of the parliamentary Committee for Regional Policy and Local Self-Administration, opposition representatives rejected a revised draft proposal on the principles of local government presented by the head of the presidential service for regional policy, Badri Khatidze, Prime News and Caucasus Press reported. That new draft provided for the election on the majoritarian principle of local village and town councils, elections on the proportional principle to raion councils, and the appointment by the president of regional administrators and the mayors of major cities from among the members of those councils. The opposition wants those latter positions to be elective (see "RFE/RL Newsline," Vol. 4, No. 24, 28 June 2001). LF

    [06] KAZAKHSTAN'S PRESIDENT URGES MORE DOMESTIC INVESTMENT IN OIL SECTOR...

    Addressing Kazakh businessmen in Astana on 11 July, President Nursultan Nazarbaev urged them to become "socially active" participants in major economic projects, including the development of the country's oil resources, Russian agencies reported. He said that while in the years immediately following independence in 1991 there was no alternative to inviting foreign companies to exploit major oil and gas fields, Kazakhstan's business community has now accumulated the capital required to do so. He noted that of some 200 blocks on the Caspian Sea shelf, only 18 are being developed by international consortia. LF

    [07] ...COMMENTS ON CAPITAL AMNESTY

    Nazarbaev also pledged that anyone who violates the confidentiality principles under which the current repatriation of shadow capital is proceeding will be subject to prosecution, Interfax reported. He added that the importance of the amnesty lies not so much in the sums that it is hoped will be brought back to Kazakhstan and invested in the local economy, but in breaking with dubious past practice and starting a new era in which the business community "will work in an honest and transparent way." LF

    [08] KAZAKHSTAN'S ECONOMY BOOMING

    Nazarbaev also said at the 11 July meeting that industrial production increased by 13.6 percent during the first six months of this year compared with the same period in 2000, Interfax reported. The highest growth (11.6 percent) was in the manufacturing sector. Inflation for the first half of 2001 was 3.7 percent. In Ashgabat last week, Nazarbaev said that GDP growth during the first six months of this year amounted to 11.2 percent. Annual GDP growth in 2000 was approximately 10 percent (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 16 January 2001). LF

    [09] ISRAELI MINISTER VISITS KAZAKHSTAN, KYRGYZSTAN

    Israel's Minister for Infrastructure, Avigdor Lieberman, held talks in Astana on 9 July with Kazakhstan's Prime Minister Qasymzhomart Toqaev, and also met with Kazakh businessmen, RFE/RL's Kazakh Service reported. It was announced in the course of his visit that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon will visit Kazakhstan in November. Trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Israel last year amounted to almost $17 million, or more than double the total for 1999. On 11 July, Lieberman traveled to Bishkek, where he met with Prime Minister Kurmanbek Bakiev and Foreign Minister Muratbek Imanaliev to discuss expanding trade and economic cooperation, RFE/RL's Bishkek bureau reported. LF

    [10] KYRGYZSTAN, BELARUS SEEK TO EXPAND RELATIONS

    Kyrgyzstan's President Askar Akaev met in Bishkek on 10 July with a visiting Belarusian parliamentary delegation headed by speaker Alyaksandr Vaytovich to discuss expanding both political and economic cooperation, Interfax and RFE/RL's Bishkek bureau reported. Voitovich expressed willingness to supply Kyrgyzstan with agricultural machinery and coal- mining equipment in return for raw materials for Belarus's light industry. The Belarusian delegation also met with Prime Minister Bakiev and Foreign Minister Imanaliev and with the speakers of both chambers of Kyrgyzstan's bicameral legislature. LF

    [11] TAJIK-RUSSIAN ECONOMIC COMMISSION MEETS

    Speaking in Dushanbe on 11 July, Russian Minister of Industry, Science and Technology Aleksandr Dondukov said the fifth session of the intergovernmental Tajik-Russian Economic Cooperation Commission, which ended the previous day, "surpassed all expectations," according to ITAR-TASS. Dondukov is co- chairman of that commission. The session focussed on joint ventures in the military-industrial complex, the creation of joint energy and metallurgical companies, and the possible joint exploitation of a wolfram deposit north of Dushanbe. LF

    [B] SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE

    [12] MACEDONIAN GOVERNMENT ASKS OSCE FOR MORE OBSERVERS

    The Macedonian Coordinating Body met on 10 July to discuss the security situation, the Skopje daily "Vest" reported. Tihomir Ilievski, the spokesman of this new government institution, said afterward that the government will ask the OSCE to increase the number of its observers in Macedonia. The main task of the additional OSCE observers will be to monitor the cease-fire. Harald Schenker of the OSCE mission in Skopje said it is not yet clear how many additional observers will be involved. UB

    [13] MACEDONIAN ALBANIANS PUT FORWARD COUNTERPROPOSAL...

    In response to the international community's draft document containing a legal framework for the rights of the Albanian minority in Macedonia, the Democratic Party of the Albanians (PDSH) has come forward with a rival text, Reuters reported on 11 July (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 9 and 10 July 2001). The most controversial point of the new PDSH proposal is the demand for a broad veto right for the Albanians on almost every government decision. U.S. envoy James Pardew and PDSH leader Arben Xhaferi had clashed already at earlier meeting (see "RFE/RL Balkan Report," 12 July 2001). In an attempt to explain his request for the veto right, Xhaferi said: "[The Macedonians] have an aggressive policy within my land, and I have a defensive policy." For his part, President Boris Trajkovski was "outraged" by the Albanian proposals, the discussion of which is certain to prolong the negotiations, dpa reported. UB

    [14] ...WHILE MEDIATORS TRY TO OVERCOME THE DEADLOCK

    In an effort to overcome the stalemate, the envoys of the international community are trying to find ways to bring the Albanians around to accept the proposals in the original document, the Skopje daily "Dnevnik" reported on 12 July. The paper speculates that Pardew and his European counterpart Francois Leotard might offer concessions on linguistic or other issues in return for an Albanian climb-down on political matters. According to the daily, the Macedonian side especially fears that the international community might allow the local police to be controlled by Albanian political parties. UB

    [15] GREEK-MACEDONIAN BORDER BLOCKED BY MAKPETROL TANKER TRUCKS

    Some 78 tanker trucks of the biggest Macedonian oil retailer, Makpetrol, blocked the two main border crossings with Greece at Dojran and Bogorodica, AP reported on 11 July. Makpetrol wants an end to a deal allegedly struck by the current government with the Greek oil company OKTA. In 1999, OKTA bought the largest Macedonian oil refinery. In addition, it was granted the privilege of importing crude oil at the exceptionally low customs duty of only 1 percent, while other oil importers have to pay 21 percent. Allegations that Macedonian Prime Minister Ljubco Georgievski personally profited from the deal have never been put to rest. On 1 June, Macedonia signed a trade agreement with the European Union that prohibits such special rights, and Makpetrol now wants a speedy end to OKTA's privilege. UB

    [16] BOSNIAN MASSACRE COMMEMORATION PASSES PEACEFULLY

    Some 3,000 Muslims marked the sixth anniversary of the Srebrenica massacre on 11 July at a new memorial just outside the Serb-held town, RFE/RL's South Slavic Service reported (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 11 July 2001). Reis- ul-ulema Mustafa Ceric, who heads Bosnia's Islamic religious community, said: "We come not to indict, but not to free from guilt, either." He also suggested that Bosnian Serbs risk being collectively blamed for Europe's worst massacre since World War II unless those directly responsible are tried for war crimes. PM

    [17] BOSNIAN MUSLIM GIRL SHOT DEAD

    Late on 11 July, a 16-year-old Muslim woman was fatally shot through a window in her village home near Vlasenica in eastern Bosnia, Reuters reported. Her family recently returned to the village. UN officials are investigating. This is the second attack on returnees there within two months, AP reported. A UNHCR official said: "This tragedy could have been prevented with the appropriate actions of the local authorities after the first attack." PM

    [18] SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS MANDATE FOR PREVLAKA

    The UN Security Council voted unanimously on 11 July to extend the mandate for UN military observers (UNMOP) in Croatia's Prevlaka region for a further six months, RFE/RL's South Slavic Service reported. A UN press release added: "Established in January 1996, UNMOP is currently [composed] of 27 military observers from 25 countries. In addition to monitoring the demilitarization of the area, the mission holds regular meetings with local authorities in order to strengthen liaison, reduce tensions, improve safety and security, and promote confidence between the parties." The peninsula is Croatian territory but controls access to Montenegro's Kotor Bay, which is home to Yugoslavia's only deep-water naval base. PM

    [19] BUDISA RESIGNS AS HEAD OF CROATIAN PARTY

    Drazen Budisa resigned as head of the Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS), which is the second-strongest party in the governing coalition, RFE/RL's South Slavic Service reported (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 9 July 2001). He did not give a reason, but an RFE/RL correspondent said that Budisa is unhappy with the government's decision to cooperate with The Hague-based tribunal. It is not clear whether the move is a political ploy by Budisa, who has a history of making political miscalculations and playing the gadfly. PM

    [20] SPLIT IN SERBIAN COALITION OVER YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT MAKEUP

    The two most important parties in the governing Democratic Opposition of Serbia (DOS) coalition have taken conflicting stands regarding the composition of the next Yugoslav government, RFE/RL's South Slavic Service reported on 11 July. The Democratic Party of Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic hailed a proposal by outgoing Yugoslav Deputy Prime Minister Miroljub Labus that the post of finance minister go to a Serb on the grounds that Montenegro, which does not recognize the federal government, does not give it any money. The Democratic Party of Serbia, which is headed by Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica, criticized Labus's proposal, saying that it is "too strong." Elsewhere, a spokesman for the Socialist People's Party (SNP), which is the Montenegrin coalition partner of DOS, said that his party will not be unhappy if Labus is not included in the next government, "Vesti" reported. PM

    [21] KOSTUNICA: BREAKUP OF YUGOSLAV FEDERATION MEANS NEW ELECTIONS

    Kostunica told "Politika" on 11 July that the breakup of the federation will necessitate new elections in Serbia. He added that there will "soon" be a meeting of the Supreme Defense Council to discuss, among other things, Prevlaka and the extradition of former President Slobodan Milosevic to The Hague. He stressed that he wants to hear the thoughts of the military on these issues in detail. Observers note that Djindjic appears to enjoy the support of the police, while Kostunica is close to the army leadership (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 10 July 2001). PM

    [22] SERBIAN MILITARY BASE IN PRESEVO

    Army special units and the police will soon acquire a base between Presevo and Bujanovac capable of housing 2,000 troops, RFE/RL's South Slavic Service reported on 11 July. Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Nebojsa Covic said that the base will be set up "on the standards of Western armies, modeled on KFOR." PM

    [23] MONTENEGRIN OPPOSITION AGREES TO TALKS

    The SNP has accepted the invitation of Prime Minister Filip Vujanovic for talks on the upcoming referendum on independence, RFE/RL's South Slavic Service reported on 11 July from Podgorica (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 11 July 2001). PM

    [24] ROMANIAN PREMIER WELCOMES EU PARLIAMENT'S AMENDMENT ON STATUS LAW

    Adrian Nastase on 11 July welcomed as "reasonable" the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee's amendment to the country report on Hungary, Mediafax reported (see Hungarian item above). Nastase said that in post-communist modern Europe, "good neighborly relations must be based on European principles" and added that "the ethnic line must not be over- emphasized, as demonstrated by the effects of its exaggeration, particularly in the Balkans." He said that "formulations based on economic and social discrimination on an ethnic basis cannot but create nervousness and discontent." Foreign Ministry spokesman Victor Micula on 12 July announced that Hungarian Foreign Minister Janos Martonyi, who is due to hold talks on 13 July with his counterpart Mircea Geoana, will "informally meet" Nastase as well. Hungarian media reports say Martonyi is arriving in Romania on 12 July and will also meet with Hungarian Democratic Federation of Romania Chairman Bela Marko. MS

    [25] ROMANIAN PEASANT PARTY SANCTIONS DISSIDENTS

    The leadership of the troubled National Peasant Party Christian Democratic (PNTCD) on 11 July "suspended" from party membership the leaderships of five PNTCD county branches and forbade those leaders to run for PNTCD office, Mediafax reported. The sanctions will be in force for one year. Among those suspended is former First Deputy Chairman Vasile Lupu, who is chairman of the Valcea regional PNTCD branch. That branch, together with the now-dissolved county leaderships in Iasi, Neamt, Salaj, and one of the Bucharest sectors, refused to recognize the new PNTCD leadership and called for an extraordinary PNTCD congress to be convened in August. Interim PNTCD Chairman Victor Ciorbea said 30 county branches have so far backed the new leadership and its decision to call the extraordinary congress in December. Ciorbea told journalists: "Vasile Lupu may convoke whatever congress he wishes, but not that of the PNTCD." MS

    [26] ILASCU INTERVIEWED ON RFE/RL

    Romanian Senator Ilie Ilascu on 10 July told RFE/RL that ever since his liberation from detention in Tiraspol more than two months ago he never stopped attempting to secure the liberation of the three members of his group who are still imprisoned. He said Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin and Intelligence and Security Services chief Valeriu Pasat told him he had to leave the country in order to secure the liberation of the remaining prisoners and that he was promised this would happen by 16 May at the latest. "I did not leave out of free choice," he said. Ilascu also said his death sentence in Tiraspol remains in effect and that he was warned by the Transdniester authorities before his release that the verdict will be carried out if he ever returns there. MS

    [27] FORMER BULGARIAN KING TO BE PREMIER

    Former King Simeon II on 12 July was officially nominated by his National Movement Simeon II (NDSV) to be the country's next prime minister, AP and Reuters reported. The decision to nominate "Simeon Saxe-Coburgotski" was announced by NDSV parliamentary group leader Plamen Panayotov after a meeting with President Petar Stoyanov. After the announcement was made, Simeon said: "With great emotion, but with my typical sense of responsibility, and taking into consideration the trust voters placed in me on 17 June, I accept the nomination." A special parliamentary session will be held on 24 July to approve the government's lineup. MS

    [28] BULGARIA READY TO CURB ROMANY EXODUS TO NORWAY

    Stoyan Zahariev, an Interior Ministry official, on 11 July told journalists that "it would be an act of discrimination to ban people from leaving the country on ethnic grounds" but that Bulgaria is "prepared to take back" the refugees requesting asylum in Norway "if they are expelled" and is even ready to "pay for their trip back," Reuters reported. He said that once the refugees are back in Bulgaria, under current legislation they will not be allowed to leave the country for one year. Zahariev said a handful of Bulgarian travel agencies had lured the asylum-seekers, most of whom are Roma, with false promises of job prospects and easily obtainable Norwegian work permits. Police will start investigating those travel firms, he said. Some 650 would-be refugees have arrived in Norway from Bulgaria since June. MS

    [C] END NOTE

    [29] There is no End Note today.

    12-07-01

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


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