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RFE/RL Newsline, Vol. 5, No. 133, 01-07-17
RFE/RL NEWSLINE
Vol. 5, No. 133, 17 July 2001
CONTENTS
[A] TRANSCAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA
[01] AZERBAIJANI OPPOSITION PARTY ELECTS NEW DEPUTY CHAIRMAN
[02] GEORGIAN PRESIDENT INVITES ABKHAZ TO JOIN SEARCH FOR GUERRILLAS
[03] TWO HOSTAGES RELEASED IN EASTERN GEORGIA
[04] SECOND REGIONAL ORGANIZATION BACKS GEORGIAN PARLIAMENT SPEAKER
[05] TWO KAZAKH OPPOSITIONISTS PREVENTED FROM TRAVELING TO U.S.
[06] FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN KYRGYZSTAN DROPS
[07] FORMER KYRGYZ PREMIER ELECTED STOCK EXCHANGE PRESIDENT
[08] AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL QUESTIONS TAJIK DEATH SENTENCES
[09] TAJIK ECONOMY REGISTERS 10 PERCENT GROWTH
[B] SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE
[10] MACEDONIAN ALBANIANS PREPARED TO SIGN AGREEMENT?
[11] MACEDONIAN NEWSPAPERS CLOSE DOWN
[12] KFOR ARRESTS ETHNIC ALBANIAN COMMANDER
[13] EU ACTS ON BALKAN ISSUES
[14] KOSTUNICA SAYS MASS GRAVE VICTIMS COULD BE SERBS
[15] MONTENEGRIN PARTY PICKS CANDIDATE FOR YUGOSLAV PRIME MINISTER
[16] BOSNIAN SERB LEADER WARNS ABOUT COOPERATING WITH THE HAGUE
[17] BOSNIAN MUSLIMS FIND MORE MASS GRAVES
[18] CROATIAN PRIME MINISTER NAMES GOTOVINA AS SECOND INDICTEE
[19] ROMANIAN PREMIER IN ISRAEL
[20] GREATER ROMANIA PARTY WANTS TO ABOLISH ACCESS TO SECURITATE FILES
[21] ROMANIAN PEASANTISTS CONTINUE PURGE OF DISSIDENTS
[22] PACE CALLS ON TIRASPOL TO SET ILASCU GROUP MEMBERS FREE
[23] BULGARIAN SDS REFUSES TO JOIN SIMEON'S COALITION
[24] BULGARIAN COURT STRIPS PRIVATE TV STATION OF LICENSE
[C] END NOTE
[25] There is no End Note today.
[A] TRANSCAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA
[01] AZERBAIJANI OPPOSITION PARTY ELECTS NEW DEPUTY CHAIRMAN
Meeting in Baku on 14-15 July, the Supreme Council of the opposition
Musavat Party elected one first deputy chairman and six deputy chairmen,
Turan reported. Isa Gambar remains party chairman. The deputy chairmen
include Rauf Arifoglu, the editor of the newspaper "Yeni Musavat," who has
long aspired to a prominent position within the Musavat Party (see "RFE/RL
Caucasus Report," Vol. 4, No. 19, 21 May 2001). Arifoglu was named to the
new position of deputy chairman for propaganda issues. LF
[02] GEORGIAN PRESIDENT INVITES ABKHAZ TO JOIN SEARCH FOR GUERRILLAS
In his traditional Monday radio broadcast, President Eduard Shevardnadze on
16 July expressed condolences to the families of the Abkhaz murdered last
week, Caucasus Press reported (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 12 July 2001), and
suggested that Georgian police should assist the Abkhaz authorities in
their search for the killers. Shevardnadze suggested that the killings were
deliberately timed to sabotage the planned 17 July session of the UN-
sponsored Coordinating Council to promote confidence-building measures
between the two sides. Abkhaz Prime Minister Anri Djergenia stated on 12
July that Sukhum will boycott that session to protest the killings (see
"RFE/RL Newsline," 16 July 2001). UN special envoy for the Abkhaz conflict
Dieter Boden similarly deplored the murders and the abduction of six other
Abkhaz, Interfax reported on 16 July. Boden also expressed regret at the
Abkhaz decision not to attend the planned 17 July meeting. LF
[03] TWO HOSTAGES RELEASED IN EASTERN GEORGIA
Georgian border guard Mamuka Arabuli, who was abducted and taken to the
Pankisi gorge in eastern Georgia on 12 July, was released early on 17 July
together with an elderly Georgian taken hostage one month earlier, Caucasus
Press reported. Presidential spokesman Kakha Imnadze said the two men were
freed following President Shevardnadze's 16 July radio address in which he
appealed to both Georgian and Kist (Georgian Chechen) residents of the
gorge to overcome their mutual animosity. Volunteers from elsewhere in
eastern Georgia had threatened to raid the gorge and hunt down the
kidnappers if the hostages were not released, while the Kists blamed the
abduction on Chechen refugees now encamped in the gorge. Following
Arabuli's abduction, local Georgians had taken hostage seven Kists whom
they planned to exchange for Arabuli. They freed one Kist after the two
Georgians were released, but said the release of the other six is
contingent on the release of six Georgians, two Spanish businessmen, and
one Arab entrepreneur believed to be held hostage in Pankisi by either
Kists or Chechen refugees (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 1 December 2000 and 8
June 2001). LF
[04] SECOND REGIONAL ORGANIZATION BACKS GEORGIAN PARLIAMENT SPEAKER
Georgian parliament speaker Zurab Zhvania traveled on 15 July to western
Georgia's Abasha Raion, where he was elected chairman of the local
"Abasheli" society founded six years ago, Prime News and "Rezonansi"
reported the following day. Representatives of the ruling Union of Citizens
of Georgia clashed with members of the opposition Revival Union and
displaced persons from Abkhazia who sought to protest Zhvania's meeting
with the local population, which "Rezonansi" described as resembling the
beginning of an electoral campaign. Security officials finally dispersed
the opposition activists. On 16 July, Zhvania traveled to Zugdidi where he
met with members of the "Mingrelia For A Strong Georgia" group created
earlier this month, which has expressed its support for Zhvania's
aspiration to become premier, Caucasus Press reported (see "RFE/RL Caucasus
Report," Vol. 4, No. 26, 16 July 2001). Speaking in Tbilisi the same day,
parliament deputies Djemal Gakhokidze, Elizbar Djavelidze, and Anzor
Abralava (all 21st Century) condemned Zhvania's attempt to secure regional
backing for his political ambitions. Parliament deputy speaker Vakhtang
Rcheulishvili claimed that local officials coerced residents to attend
meetings in and around Zugdidi to express support for Zhvania. He also
suggested that Zhvania's campaign to solicit backing in western Georgia was
prompted by recent allegations that he is Armenian, not Georgian, by
nationality. LF
[05] TWO KAZAKH OPPOSITIONISTS PREVENTED FROM TRAVELING TO U.S.
Amirzhan Qosanov, a leading member of the opposition Republican People's
Party of Kazakhstan, and Ermurat Bapi, the editor of the independent
newspaper "Sol-Dat," were told by security officials at Almaty airport on
15 July that the country's National Security Committee had given orders
that they were not to be allowed to board a plane leaving for the U.S.,
Interfax reported on 16 July. The two men were scheduled to testify to U.S.
Congress hearings on human rights, democratization, and freedom of speech
in Kazakhstan. LF
[06] FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN KYRGYZSTAN DROPS
Speaking at a two-day conference in northern Kyrgyzstan on 16 July,
President Askar Akaev expressed concern that the volume of foreign
investment in his country has fallen by 20 percent over the past two years,
Interfax reported. Akaev attributed that decline to excessive bureaucracy
and inadequate legislation to protect investors' interests. He said it is
hoped that foreign investment will rise from the equivalent of 9 percent of
GDP in 2000 to 17 percent in 2010, and announced the creation of a special
consultative council to promote such investment. LF
[07] FORMER KYRGYZ PREMIER ELECTED STOCK EXCHANGE PRESIDENT
Former Premier Amangeldi Muraliev was elected president of the Bishkek
stock exchange at a general meeting on 16 July, RFE/RL's bureau in the
Kyrgyz capital reported. Former stock exchange President Abdyjapar Tagaev
resigned from that post last month. As required by the Kyrgyz Constitution,
Muraliev resigned in December 2000 following Akaev's inauguration for a
further presidential term. But contrary to expectations, Akaev did not
propose him to head the new cabinet (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 12 and 22
December 2000). LF
[08] AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL QUESTIONS TAJIK DEATH SENTENCES
In a press release dated 17 July, Amnesty International (AI) expresses
concern that brothers Sherali and Dovud Nazriev, who were sentenced to
death two months ago on charges of attempting to assassinate Dushanbe Mayor
Mahmudsaid Ubaidulloev last year, are innocent (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 21
February 2000 and 14 May 2001). AI believes the men were ill-treated while
in custody and that their trial was unfair. AI also quotes an Iranian radio
station as reporting that residents of the two brothers' home town of Vanj
in the Gorno-Badashkhan Autonomous Oblast organized a demonstration on 15
July to demand their release. LF
[09] TAJIK ECONOMY REGISTERS 10 PERCENT GROWTH
Tajikistan's GDP grew by 10.7 percent in the first six months of 2001
compared with the same period last year, Interfax reported on 16 July,
quoting the State Statistics Committee. Industrial production rose by 13
percent over that time period, but agricultural output by only 3.2 percent.
LF
[B] SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE
[10] MACEDONIAN ALBANIANS PREPARED TO SIGN AGREEMENT?
An unnamed source close to President Boris Trajkovski told the private
Serbian Beta news agency that Western envoys Francois Leotard and James
Pardew have persuaded ethnic Albanian leaders to accept a draft agreement
prepared recently by international experts, dpa reported from Skopje on 17
July (see "RFE/RL Balkan Report," 13 and 17 July 2001). The source added
that what the envoys offered is "acceptable to the Macedonian side." The
document will be signed shortly. No details or independent confirmation are
available. Leotard told reporters: "You will know more tomorrow." NATO
Secretary-General Lord George Robertson said: "It is clear the process of
ending the crisis is now at a crossroads. A final result will still require
difficult decisions by all sides." On 17 July, dpa quoted Ilijaz Halimi of
the Democratic Party of the Albanians (PDSH) as saying that the Albanians
"should" sign the document. PM
[11] MACEDONIAN NEWSPAPERS CLOSE DOWN
Publishers of the daily "Makedonija Denes" and the weekly "Denes" said in
Skopje on 17 July that they have ceased publication, at least until
September, dpa reported. The publishers added that the government forced
them to shut down by using financial and "indirect political pressure"
because of the papers' independent line. "Makedonija Denes" began
publishing on 16 September 1998. PM
[12] KFOR ARRESTS ETHNIC ALBANIAN COMMANDER
Peacekeepers have arrested Ruzhdi Saramati, a regional commander of the
civilian Kosova Protection Corps (TMK) in the Prizren area, Reuters
reported on 16 July. A KFOR spokesman said: "We have substantial
information that the activities of Mr. Saramati were designed to threaten
KFOR troops and international groups." He did not elaborate. KFOR recently
suspended five TMK commanders because of their suspected links to ethnic
Albanian insurgents in Macedonia. On 15 July, peacekeepers seized more than
250 rounds of ammunition, in addition to weapons and information about an
outlawed military police group, at the home of Rexhep Selimi, who is one of
the five. PM
[13] EU ACTS ON BALKAN ISSUES
Meeting in Brussels on 17 July, EU foreign ministers agreed on a $257
million package of loans and grants to Serbia, Reuters reported (see
"RFE/RL Newsline," 11 and 16 July 2001). They denied recent charges by
Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic that aid has been slow in
forthcoming. The ministers also decided to impose travel restrictions on 38
ethnic Albanian rebels operating in or around Macedonia. As an incentive to
the Albanian leaders to be more forthcoming in talks with Leotard and
Pardew, the ministers said they will wait to assess progress in the Skopje
talks before implementing an outright travel ban on the 38, the BBC's
Serbian Service reported. The U.S. placed travel restrictions on guerrilla
leaders in June (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 28 and 29 June 2001). PM
[14] KOSTUNICA SAYS MASS GRAVE VICTIMS COULD BE SERBS
Belgrade's chief magistrate, Vida Petrovic-Skero, issued a statement on 16
July to announce "an ongoing exhumation of a large number of unidentified
bodies discovered in a second grave site near another recently investigated
grave in Batajnica, near Belgrade," AP reported. Yugoslav President
Vojislav Kostunica cautioned against assuming in what he called a
"premature and irresponsible" fashion that the victims are Albanians.
Kostunica called on the Serbian Justice Ministry and Belgrade district
court not to hand over remains to UN authorities in Kosova because the
victims could be Serbs. PM
[15] MONTENEGRIN PARTY PICKS CANDIDATE FOR YUGOSLAV PRIME MINISTER
The Steering Committee of the Socialist People's Party (SNP) agreed in
Podgorica on 16 July to nominate Yugoslav Finance Minister Dragisa Pesic as
the party's candidate for the post of federal prime minister, "Pobjeda"
reported. His election is virtually assured because the federal
constitution specifies that if the president is a Serb, the prime minister
must be a Montenegrin. PM
[16] BOSNIAN SERB LEADER WARNS ABOUT COOPERATING WITH THE HAGUE
Shortly after returning from a trip to the U.S., Republika Srpska Prime
Minister Mladen Ivanic said that Washington increasingly views the Bosnian
Serbs as "partners and not objects," "Oslobodjenje" reported on 17 July. He
added, however, that cooperation with The Hague-based tribunal is
imperative and that there could be a government crisis unless the
legislature passes a law on such cooperation. PM
[17] BOSNIAN MUSLIMS FIND MORE MASS GRAVES
A spokesman for the Commission for Missing Persons said in Sarajevo on 17
July that two mass graves have been discovered near Sanski Most, AP
reported. The graves are believed to contain the remains of some 30 Muslims
killed at the start of the 1992-1995 conflict by Serbian forces. Some 6,000
bodies have been exhumed in Bosnia since the war. An additional 20,000
people are still listed as missing. PM
[18] CROATIAN PRIME MINISTER NAMES GOTOVINA AS SECOND INDICTEE
Ivica Racan said in Zagreb on 16 July that army General Ante Gotovina is,
along with General Rahim Ademi, one of two Croatian generals indicted by
The Hague-based war crimes tribunal, Croatian Radio reported (see "RFE/RL
Newsline," 10 July 2001). Racan added that he does not know where Gotovina
is, noting that "General Gotovina [will] be served with an indictment and
arrest warrant." Ademi has said that he is willing to go to The Hague to
clear his name and has hired a lawyer. Press reports suggest that Gotovina
has gone into hiding -- perhaps in Herzegovina -- and is planning to avoid
arrest. PM
[19] ROMANIAN PREMIER IN ISRAEL
Prime Minister Adrian Nastase and Israeli Premier Ariel Sharon on 16 July
discussed bilateral, particularly economic, relations and the situation in
the Middle East, an RFE/RL correspondent reported. Nastase said Bucharest
wants to "relaunch" economic relations with Israel, which stagnated during
the last two years, and that Romania wants to "provoke" Israeli companies
to invest in high technology and telecommunications in his country. He said
Romania "does not want to interfere" with the Israeli-Palestinian parleys,
but is ready to offer "communication channels" to the two sides if asked
to. Nastase also said that Romania will "not tolerate" racial and anti-
Semitic manifestations. Sharon and Nastase also discussed the situation of
Romanian workers in Israel, whose official number is 60,000, but who are
estimated to be as many as 100,000. They agreed to have experts examine how
to ensure that those workers benefit from Israeli social security and
health insurance. MS
[20] GREATER ROMANIA PARTY WANTS TO ABOLISH ACCESS TO SECURITATE FILES
Greater Romania Party (PRM) Deputy Daniela Buruiana on 16 July announced
that the PRM will move a draft resolution to abolish the National Council
for the Study of the Securitate Archives (CNSAS), RFE/RL's Bucharest bureau
reported. She said the CNSAS is costly and "has only produced victims and
chaos." Many PRM deputies and senators, including party leader Corneliu
Vadim Tudor, are known to have either worked for the Securitate or to have
been its informants, but many of their files "disappeared" after 1989. In
other news, CNSAS Chairman Gheorghe Onisoru on 17 July said the files of 65
clergy leaders will be published by 1 September, in line with the provision
of the law. Recently, the Romanian Information Service said it will propose
that the law be amended to delete clergy leaders from the categories of
officials whose files must be made public. MS
[21] ROMANIAN PEASANTISTS CONTINUE PURGE OF DISSIDENTS
The National Steering Bureau of the National Peasant Party Christian
Democratic (PNTCD) on 16 July expelled from the party former Secretary-
General Calin Catalin Chirita and 10 other leaders of PNTCD local branches
who refuse to recognize the new party leadership's legality, RFE/RL's
Bucharest bureau reported. MS
[22] PACE CALLS ON TIRASPOL TO SET ILASCU GROUP MEMBERS FREE
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on 10 July approved a
resolution calling on the leadership in Tiraspol to liberate the three
members of the Ilie Ilascu group, RFE/RL's Chisinau bureau reported.
William Hill told journalists on 13 July that he has "no information"
concerning the intention of the separatists to do so, and added that two
members of the group have already served their sentence and their
liberation "would be a humanitarian act." MS
[23] BULGARIAN SDS REFUSES TO JOIN SIMEON'S COALITION
Union of Democratic Forces (SDS) Chairwoman Ekaterina Mihailova on 16 July
said coalition parleys with the National Movement Simeon II (NDSV) had
ended in failure because the NDSV intends to include in the new government
the ethnic Turkish Movement for Rights and Freedom (DPS), international
agencies reported. Mihailova said the SDS would have been willing to
support a minority government of the NDSV but saw "no need" to back a
coalition that includes the DPS. Local media speculate that DPS leader
Ahmed Dogan will be offered the position of deputy premier by Simeon. If
the NDSV-DPS coalition materializes, it would be the first time that an
ethnic Turkish party is directly represented in the cabinet. NDSV
parliamentary group leader Plamen Panayotov said that Mihailova has pledged
to support the future government as far as priorities like NATO and EU
accession are concerned. MS
[24] BULGARIAN COURT STRIPS PRIVATE TV STATION OF LICENSE
A high court on 13 July stripped one of Bulgaria's private TV stations of
its nationwide broadcasting license after competitors appealed against it,
AP reported. The Sofia-based Nova TV, which is owned by the Greek Antenna
Group, won a government tender to start nationwide broadcasts in November
2000, but competitors in the tender, including the Swedish Modern Times,
appealed in court, saying the tender had not been "transparent enough." The
court heeded the appeal and its decision is final. MS
[C] END NOTE
[25] There is no End Note today.
17-07-01
Reprinted with permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
URL: http://www.rferl.org
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