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RFE/RL Newsline, 01-12-18
CONTENTS
[01] RUSSIA TO UPDATE MISSILE FORCES IN REACTION TO U.S. ABM WITHDRAWAL
[02] FORMER AMBASSADOR CALLS FOR 'MINI-MARSHALL PLAN' FOR AFGHANISTAN
[03] RUSSIAN ECONOMY TO END YEAR ON A HIGH NOTE, BUT POSSIBLE DOWNTURN
[04] RUSSIAN PRESIDENT SIGNS LEGAL REFORM PACKAGE...
[05] ...SUPPORTS OIL-PRICE CORRIDOR
[06] GAZPROM PUBLICIZES ITS STRATEGY
[07] FSB CHALLENGES BEREZOVSKY TO APPEAR IN COURT...
[08] ...AS CHUBAIS SAYS BEREZOVSKY HAS LOST SENSE OF REALITY
[09] YAVLINSKY CRITICIZES RUSSIAN 'QUASI-DEMOCRACY'
[10] MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF RUSSIAN PEACEKEEPERS COMMANDER REPORTED
[11] CHAVASH INCUMBENT HANGS ON FOR THIRD TERM...
[12] ...AS KOMI PRESIDENT IS UNSEATED...
[13] ...AND ALTAI LEADER MUST COMPETE IN SECOND ROUND
[14] YELTSIN GETS CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH
[15] KOMMERSANT SLATED FOR CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP
[16] MORE NEW SENATORS SELECTED...
[17] ...AS ONE SENATOR PREDICTS EVENTUAL MERGER OF URALS REGIONS INTO
[18] CHERNOMYRDIN'S SEAT FILLED
[19] BUDDING SONGWRITER MOCKED FOR PUTIN VERSES
[20] INVESTIGATION LAUNCHED INTO RUSSIAN TROOP BEHAVIOR IN ARGUN
[21] ARMENIAN OPPOSITION LEADER MULLS BRANCHES IN RUSSIA, U.S.
[22] ARMENIAN DIASPORA ACQUIRES RIGHT TO RUN YEREVAN AIRPORT
[23] MEETING OF CASPIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTERS POSTPONED
[24] FORMER GEORGIAN JUSTICE MINISTER CREATES NEW PARLIAMENT FACTION
[25] GEORGIAN PRESIDENT DISCUSSES CASPIAN OIL, GAS TRANSIT
[26] GEORGIAN FINANCE MINISTER RULES OUT FURTHER BUDGET CUTS
[27] OSCE TO HELP GEORGIA NEUTRALIZE TOXIC ROCKET FUEL
[28] KAZAKH PRESIDENT HAILS BORDER AGREEMENT WITH KYRGYZSTAN
[29] INDEPENDENT NGOS CRITICIZE KYRGYZ LOCAL ELECTIONS
[30] KYRGYZ COURT REJECTS APPEALS BY FORMER VICE PRESIDENT'S ASSOCIATES
[31] KYRGYZSTAN'S COMMUNISTS CALL FOR REFERENDUM ON JOINING
[32] U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY VISITS UZBEKISTAN
[33] UZBEKISTAN TO BUILD AIRCRAFT FOR INDIA
[34] BELARUSIAN OFFICIALS TO GET SALARIES ONLY AFTER DISPENSING BACK
[35] BELARUSIAN-RUSSIAN BREAD WAR BREAKS OUT IN BORDER REGION
[36] BELARUSIAN TRADING HOUSES LIQUIDATED
[37] ITALY BACKS UKRAINE ON PATH TO EUROPE
[38] UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VETOES BAN ON ALCOHOL, TOBACCO ADVERTISING
[39] ESTONIAN PREMIER SEES PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN AS BIGGEST FAILURE OF
[40] LATVIA'S NEW ERA PARTY TO BE FOUNDED ON 2 FEBRUARY
[41] LATVIA BANS ANIMAL IMPORTS FROM AUSTRIA
[42] LITHUANIA SIGNS DEAL FOR PURCHASING U.S. ANTITANK WEAPONRY
[43] POLISH FOREIGN MINISTER, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE DISCUSS SECURITY
[44] WARSAW HAS NOT CHANGED ITS COURSE TOWARD MINSK
[45] CZECH GOVERNMENT SELLS TWO MAJOR UTILITIES, POSTPONES SALE OF
[46] CZECH, POLISH PRESIDENTS TALK NATO EXPANSION, RELATIONS WITH
[47] ...AND WELCOME EU CONVENTION ON FUTURE STRUCTURE OF EU
[48] PRAGUE WANTS CLEAN SLATE AHEAD OF EU AGRICULTURE TALKS...
[49] ...AND STRIVES TO CLOSE MORE CHAPTERS BEFORE MID-2002 ELECTIONS
[50] MINISTER, AUTHORITIES INSIST SUSPECTED SEPTEMBER TERRORIST MET
[51] CZECH COURT ADJOURNS TRIAL OF COMMUNIST-ERA FUNCTIONARY UNTIL END
[52] CZECH PRESIDENT HOSPITALIZED WITH PNEUMONIA
[53] RULING PARTY CHAIRMAN SAYS MOST CZECH SOCIAL DEMOCRATS FAVOR
[54] SLOVAK PARLIAMENT ANNULS GOVERNMENT'S RIGHT TO OVERRULE
[55] ...WHILE PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE COUNTERS HUNGARY'S STATUS LAW
[56] HUNGARY'S FIDESZ BACKS ANTI-TORGYAN SMALLHOLDERS
[57] HUNGARY TO INTRODUCE VISA REQUIREMENT FOR CANADIANS
[58] EXPERT COMMITTEES TO EXAMINE SERBIAN-MONTENEGRIN RELATIONS
[59] MONTENEGRIN PRESIDENT SEEKS 'EUROPEAN-STYLE UNION'
[60] TWO MORE SEATS FOR DJINDJIC IN SERBIAN PARLIAMENT
[61] VOJVODINA PARLIAMENT SEEKS RETURN OF POWERS
[62] MACEDONIAN YOUTHS CLEARED IN KILLING OF BRITISH SOLDIER
[63] MACEDONIAN DEFENSE MINISTER ANNOUNCES ARMY REFORM
[64] COOLING OFF PERIOD FOR KOSOVAR PARLIAMENT
[65] KOSOVAR SERBS LEAVE DOOR OPEN TO COALITION
[66] TWO MORE BORDER CROSSINGS OPENED BETWEEN BOSNIA AND CROATIA
[67] REFUGEES RETURN TO CROATIA
[68] EU COMMISSIONER SAYS ROMANIA HAS TO FIGHT TO JOIN EU
[69] ETHNIC HUNGARIANS TO BE PROSECUTED FOR SINGING HUNGARIAN ANTHEM
[70] ROMANIAN-HUNGARIAN NEGOTIATIONS ON STATUS LAW
[71] ROMANIAN SENATE REJECTS MOTION ON ETHNIC HUNGARIAN COUNTIES
[72] MOLDOVAN AUTHORITIES INTRODUCE MANDATORY RUSSIAN-LANGUAGE CLASSES
[73] BULGARIA TO DESTROY SS-23 MISSILES BY OCTOBER 2002
[74] BANKRUPT BULGARIAN AIRLINE TO BE REVIVED
[75] WORLD BANK CREDIT FOR BULGARIAN AGRICULTURE PROJECTS
[76] There is no End Note today.
18 December 2001
RUSSIA
[01] RUSSIA TO UPDATE MISSILE FORCES IN REACTION TO U.S. ABM WITHDRAWAL
Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov arrived in Brussels on 17 December to
attend a meeting of the Permanent Joint Council for cooperation between
NATO and Russia, and met the same day with his U.S. counterpart Donald
Rumsfeld, RIA-Novosti reported. Ivanov said that goal of his talks with
Rumsfeld was to explore the new format of U.S.-Russian relations in the
wake of Washington's decision to pull out of ABM Treaty. Early on 17
December, Ivanov told top commanders of the Strategic Missile Forces
(RVSN) that the Russian leadership will proceed with plans to reduce
and modernize those forces, according to RIA-Novosti. To this end,
Russia has already deployed 30 new IBM SS-25 missiles ("Topol-M") and
plans to deploy more. Although SS-25s constitute only a small fraction
of Russia's RVSN, they are able to overcome any antimissile shield and
can therefore guarantee Russian security for the next 25 years,
according to Ivanov. VY
[02] FORMER AMBASSADOR CALLS FOR 'MINI-MARSHALL PLAN' FOR AFGHANISTAN
In an interview with "Izvestiya" on 17 December, former Russian
Ambassador to Afghanistan and the U.S. Yulii Vorontsov declared that
Afghanistan needs a kind of "mini-Marshall plan" of a few billion
dollars. Vorontsov suggested that the U.S. and Japan could provide the
financing, while Russia "can provide the expertise and machinery."
According to Vorontsov, "the Afghans do not need computers but instead
could use the kind of mechanical plants that the Soviet Union once
built." Vorontsov also declared that the Afghans do not need any
foreign advice in forming their own government, and that "there is no
democratic society in Afghanistan and never will be." However, he
predicts that "slowly and with many complications" a balance between
the warring ethnic groups will be found, but it will be a "long and
torturous" process. The same day, Defense Minister Ivanov reiterated
the Russian government's stance that no Russian soldiers will take part
in any peacekeeping operations in Afghanistan. JAC
[03] RUSSIAN ECONOMY TO END YEAR ON A HIGH NOTE, BUT POSSIBLE DOWNTURN
LOOMS
Addressing the press club of the Russian Finance Academy on 17
December, presidential economic adviser Andrei Illarionov said the
Russian economy is experiencing the best three-year performance since
1966-1969, ITAR-TASS reported. Illarionov noted that the statistical
results for 2001 are quite favorable: GDP grew by 5.5 percent,
industrial and agricultural production by 5-6 percent, and exports
reached a record $108 million. At the same time, the population's real
incomes grew 6 percent, as wages soared by 20 percent and pensions by
23 percent. However, Illarionov warned that there are clear signs of a
slowdown in economic growth, and he expressed hope that the government
will be able to stop the impending decline and extend the run of
economic growth. JAC
[04] RUSSIAN PRESIDENT SIGNS LEGAL REFORM PACKAGE...
Speaking at a government session devoted to legal reform on 17
December, President Vladimir Putin said he will sign all bills and
amendments adopted by the Duma this year that introduce liberal
judiciary norms into Russian legal practice, ITAR-TASS reported. Putin
particularly stressed, among other things, the importance of the bills
on the introduction of jury trials and on defendants' access to lawyers
during all stages of the legal process. Finally, Putin emphasized the
role of the Constitutional Court, saying its primary task is "to
eliminate the regional laws that contradict the federal constitution."
VY
[05] ...SUPPORTS OIL-PRICE CORRIDOR
In an interview with the "Financial Times" published on 17 December,
President Putin said Russia considers as a fair oil price for both
producers and consumers a corridor ranging between $20 and $25 per
barrel. However, although Russia is not happy with the present drop in
oil prices, it has no special concerns about it, he said. Unlike some
other oil-producing countries, "for us the oil sector is important, but
it is not the only source of our profit," Putin added. VY
[06] GAZPROM PUBLICIZES ITS STRATEGY
The annual meeting of the Gazprom board of directors made public the
Russian gas monopoly's goals for 2002, Prime-TASS reported on 17
December. Those objectives include completing the major Yamal-Europe
and Blue Stream pipeline projects, intensive exploration of the gas
resources of Eastern Siberia and the Far East, and building the
infrastructure to export gas to South Asian markets. VY
[07] FSB CHALLENGES BEREZOVSKY TO APPEAR IN COURT...
Federal Security Service (FSB) spokesman Aleksandr Zdanovich said that
the recent statement made by embattled oligarch Boris Berezovsky
accusing the FSB of involvement in the explosions of apartment
buildings in 1999 in Moscow and Volgodonsk (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 17
December 2001) "is complete nonsense," ORT reported on 16 December.
Zdanovich added that the FSB will not initiate legal proceedings
against Berezovsky in a foreign court for his "absurd allegations," but
will challenge him in a domestic court if he returns to Russia. VY
[08] ...AS CHUBAIS SAYS BEREZOVSKY HAS LOST SENSE OF REALITY
Meanwhile, one of the leaders of the Union of Rightist Forces, Anatolii
Chubais, told RTR on 16 December that he is surprised by Berezovsky's
behavior. "It is striking how such a smart person as Berezovsky can so
completely lose his understanding what is going on at home after having
spent a relatively short time abroad," Chubais commented. VY
[09] YAVLINSKY CRITICIZES RUSSIAN 'QUASI-DEMOCRACY'
The political system existing in Russia is "quasi-democratic, as power
in the country is still in the hands of the Soviet elite," "Izvestiya"
quoted Yabloko leader Grigorii Yavlinsky as saying on 17 December. Many
of Putin's actions are helping to preserve the Russian state, but at
the same time they are creating an authoritarian "corporative" state,
according to Yavlinsky. The best illustration of this theory is Putin's
policy toward the mass media, and especially television, which
transformed the latter into "a holding for manipulating public
opinion." In that context, Putin's present line on an alliance with the
West is no more than tactics, just as was the policy of the Soviet
Union in the period of 1941-1945, Yavlinsky concluded. VY
[10] MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF RUSSIAN PEACEKEEPERS COMMANDER REPORTED
Major-General Vladimir Kazantsev, the former commander of the Russian
peacekeeping contingent in Kosova, has died after falling from the
window of his apartment on the eighth floor of a Moscow apartment
building, Russian news agencies reported on 17 December. A veteran of
Afghanistan and the first Chechen war, Kazantsev led the Russian
paratroopers in Kosova from 2000 to October 2001. A spokesman for the
Airborne Troops said he has no information whether Kazantsev's death
was an accident or suicide. VY
[11] CHAVASH INCUMBENT HANGS ON FOR THIRD TERM...
As expected, Chavash Republic President Nikolai Fedorov was re-elected
in presidential elections on 16 December. Fedorov collected 40.37
percent of the vote compared with 37.37 percent for his closest rival,
State Duma deputy (Communist) Valentin Shurchanov. According to
"Kommersant-Daily," urban voters favored Shurchanov, while the rural
vote went to the incumbent. In the last presidential election, Fedorov
also beat Shurchanov but by a much wider margin -- by over 21 percent
compared to just 4 percent in this race. FSB Lieutenant General
Stanislav Voronov came in third, polling some 11.8 percent of the
votes. "Izvestiya" reported on 14 December that Voronov had tried to
present himself as the Kremlin's candidate; however, in fact he did not
look like one. JAC
[12] ...AS KOMI PRESIDENT IS UNSEATED...
Vladimir Torlopov, who chairs the Komi Republic's legislature, won the
16 December presidential elections in that republic, according to
preliminary results. Incumbent President Yurii Spiridonov, who ran the
republic for last 12 years, polled some 34.99 percent of the vote
compared with Torlopov's 40.31 percent, Interfax-Northwest reported.
Almost 10 percent of voters voted against all candidates. According to
ntvru.com, the southern portion of the republic voted solidly in favor
of Torlopov, while the northern region favored Spiridonov. State Duma
deputy (Yabloko) Sergei Mitrokhin told Interfax that Yabloko was the
only party in Russia that "openly" supported Torlopov, and that Yabloko
leader Yavlinsky had traveled to the republic to campaign for Torlopov.
Both the Unity and Fatherland parties recently expressed their support
for Spiridonov (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 13 December 2001). JAC
[13] ...AND ALTAI LEADER MUST COMPETE IN SECOND ROUND
In presidential elections held on 16 December, Agrarian party leader
and State Duma deputy Mikhail Lapshin won 22.98 percent of the votes,
while incumbent Altai head Semen Zubakin polled only 15.20 percent of
the vote, according to preliminary results, ITAR-TASS reported. Neither
candidate won the more than 50 percent of the votes necessary to avoid
a second round, which will be held on 6 January, the agency reported.
According to "Kommersant-Daily" on 18 December, observers were
surprised at how poorly Altai Interior Minister Aleksandr Berdnikov
fared, garnering only 9.6 percent of the vote. Berdnikov's campaign
headquarters stressed in recent weeks that Berdnikov had the support
not only of the presidential envoy to the Siberian federal district,
Leonid Drachevskii, but also of President Putin himself. A top Unity
party official, Aleksandr Karelin, came to the republic to campaign for
Berdnikov. JAC
[14] YELTSIN GETS CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH
The director of a Berlin-based cardiology center, Roland Hetzer, issued
a statement on 17 December saying that former Russian President Boris
Yeltsin is in very good health, Reuters reported. According to Hetzer,
Yeltsin flew to Germany to seek a second opinion regarding the
condition of his heart after consulting with doctors in Moscow. Yeltsin
underwent bypass surgery five years ago. JAC
[15] KOMMERSANT SLATED FOR CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP
"Vremya novostei" reported on 17 December that the leadership of the
publishing house Kommersant is expected to be changed in the near
future. Shareholders are reportedly considering replacing Kommersant
General Director Leonid Miloslavskii, who has run the company since
1996, with Andrei Vasilev, who is editor in chief of
"Kommersant-Daily." JAC
[16] MORE NEW SENATORS SELECTED...
Legislators in Amur Oblast selected Galina Buslova, the general
director of the aviation agency Aviatrast, to be their representative
in the Federation Council, Interfax-Eurasia reported on 17 December.
Also on 17 December, deputies in Khabarovsk Krai's legislature
confirmed the selection of Viktor Ozerov as their representative to the
Federation Council, according to the agency. Ozerov was former chairman
of the krai legislature. Andrei Chirkin, first deputy governor of the
krai, will represent the krai administration in the upper legislative
house. Viktor Stepanov, former head of the Karelia Republic, was
selected to represent that region's presidential administration,
"Kommersant-Daily" reported on 15 December. JAC
[17] ...AS ONE SENATOR PREDICTS EVENTUAL MERGER OF URALS REGIONS INTO
ONE
Kurgan Oblast's representative to the Federation Council, Andrei
Vikharev, told reporters in Moscow on 17 December that he believes the
seven regions that comprise the Urals federal district are likely to
merge eventually and form a single territorial entity, ITAR-TASS
reported. Vikharev added that the unification process will be
facilitated by the recently passed bill that amended the law on the
order for adopting and establishing new federation subjects (see
"RFE/RL Russian Political Weekly," 16 December 2001). JAC
[18] CHERNOMYRDIN'S SEAT FILLED
A by-election for the State Duma seat left vacant when Viktor
Chernomyrdin became Russia's ambassador to Ukraine was held in
Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug on 16 December. According to the
preliminary results, Yamalo-Nenets First Deputy Governor Natalya
Komarova won with some 73 percent of the votes, Interfax-Eurasia
reported. Komarova competed against Yamal-region television and radio
company chief engineer Eduard Ponasyuk, and the head of the information
and programming service for the same company, Boris Pakhirko, who
received 5 percent and 3 percent of the vote respectively, according to
"Kommersant-Daily" on 18 December. JAC
[19] BUDDING SONGWRITER MOCKED FOR PUTIN VERSES
Mikhail Anishchenko, a law student/songwriter from Chelyabinsk, is
suing a journalist from the German newspaper "Tageszeitung," for
writing on 7 May that a cult of personality exulting President Putin is
emerging in Russia, ntvru.com reported on 17 December. In the article,
the journalist cited a "Song About the President" written by
Anishchenko. Anishchenko maintains that since the German article was
republished on inopressa.ru, he has become known to "hundreds of
thousands of citizens of not only in Russia, but also in Moldova,
Germany, and other countries." And as a result, he has suffered
significant moral damages and become a butt of constant jokes among his
circle of friends. JAC
[20] INVESTIGATION LAUNCHED INTO RUSSIAN TROOP BEHAVIOR IN ARGUN
Local prosecutor Rostislav Timshin admitted on 17 December that Russian
troops were guilty of looting and "tactless behavior" during the
five-day operation to neutralize a group of Chechen fighters who took
refuge in the town of Argun on 12 December, Reuters reported (see
"RFE/RL Newsline," 14 and 17 December 2001). Sergei Babkin, who heads
the local FSB branch in Chechnya, said an investigation has been
launched on the basis of complaints by local residents. Glasnost-North
Caucasus reported on 17 December that one human rights activist was
shot dead by Russian troops and a second wounded when they arrived in
the town on 13 December to investigate reports of excesses committed by
Russian forces during fighting two days earlier. That agency also said
residents are picketing the local administration building to demand the
release of some 50-60 of the town's residents detained in recent days.
LF
TRANSCAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA
[21] ARMENIAN OPPOSITION LEADER MULLS BRANCHES IN RUSSIA, U.S.
People's Party of Armenia (HZhK) Chairman Stepan Demirchian told
RFE/RL's Yerevan bureau on 17 December that his recent trips to Russia
and the U.S. served to convince him of the need to establish HZhK
branches in both countries. He said doing so would not necessarily
violate the law banning political parties in Armenia from receiving
funding from abroad. Demirchian also claimed that many representatives
of the Armenian diaspora in the U.S. are increasingly concerned both at
the scale of corruption in Armenia and that no end is in sight to the
trial of the five gunmen who shot dead eight prominent Armenian
politicians, including Demirchian's father Karen, in the Armenian
parliament in October 1999. LF
[22] ARMENIAN DIASPORA ACQUIRES RIGHT TO RUN YEREVAN AIRPORT
An Argentinean businessman of Armenian origin, Eduardo Eurnekian,
signed an agreement on 17 December with the Armenian government that
grants him the right to administer Yerevan's Zvartnots airport for a
period of 50 years, RFE/RL's Yerevan bureau reported. Eurnekian's
Aeropourtos Argentina group already runs 33 airports in South America,
and will invest at least $50 million to modernize Zvartnots, building a
new terminal and upgrading the runway and other facilities. LF
[23] MEETING OF CASPIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTERS POSTPONED
A meeting of the deputy foreign ministers of the five Caspian littoral
states scheduled to take place in Moscow on 18-19 December has been
postponed for reasons unknown, Interfax reported on 17 December,
quoting the Russian Foreign Ministry. The participants were to have
focused on efforts to reach agreement on the legal status of the sea.
LF
[24] FORMER GEORGIAN JUSTICE MINISTER CREATES NEW PARLIAMENT FACTION
Mikhail Saakashvili and nine other former members of the now defunct
Union of Citizens of Georgia parliament faction announced on 17
December the creation of a new faction named For Democratic Reforms,
Caucasus Press reported. Another deputy, Shota Zandukhadze, immediately
announced his intention of joining the new faction, the chairman of
which is Kote Kemularia. Faction members also announced on 17 December
that they will not support the candidacy of Avtandil Djorbenadze, whom
President Eduard Shevardnadze nominated earlier that day as minister of
state. LF
[25] GEORGIAN PRESIDENT DISCUSSES CASPIAN OIL, GAS TRANSIT
President Shevardnadze met in Tbilisi on 17 December with David
Woodward, president of the Azerbaijan International Operating Company
(AIOC), which currently exports its Caspian oil via the Baku-Supsa oil
pipeline. The two discussed the construction schedule for the planned
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzerum pipeline
to export natural gas from the Shakh Deniz deposit that the AIOC will
develop, Caucasus Press reported. Unlike its Azerbaijani counterpart,
the Georgian parliament has not yet ratified the interstate agreement
on the transit of gas from Shakh Deniz via Georgia, but Shevardnadze
assured Woodward that it will do so shortly. Woodward told journalists
after his talks with Shevardnadze that falling world oil prices will
not affect plans to proceed with the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, and
that if enough sponsors are found for that project, construction could
begin in June 2002, and the pipeline could be operational in 2004. LF
[26] GEORGIAN FINANCE MINISTER RULES OUT FURTHER BUDGET CUTS
Zurab Nogaideli told journalists on 17 December that the budget for
2001 will not be subjected to further cuts (see "RFE/RL Caucasus
Report," Vol. 4, No. 37, 7 November 2001), although "minor amendments"
may still prove necessary, Caucasus Press reported. He said he hopes
that the talks currently underway with IMF representatives will result
in the release of further credits worth $65 million. LF
[27] OSCE TO HELP GEORGIA NEUTRALIZE TOXIC ROCKET FUEL
OSCE, Georgian government representatives and Georgian scientists
signed an agreement in Tbilisi on 17 December under which the OSCE will
fund a program to recycle and turn into fertilizer some 450 tons of
toxic missile fuel abandoned in the west Georgian village of Meria by
Soviet troops who pulled out of Georgia in the early 1990s, Interfax
and Caucasus Press reported. LF
[28] KAZAKH PRESIDENT HAILS BORDER AGREEMENT WITH KYRGYZSTAN
Nursultan Nazarbaev told journalists in Astana on 15 December that the
treaty he signed earlier that day with his visiting Kyrgyz counterpart
Askar Akaev on delimiting the border between their respective countries
(see "RFE/RL Newsline," 17 December 2001) will help avoid any further
disputes over that issue, Interfax reported. Together with the treaty,
the two presidents also signed agreements on confidence-building in the
border zone and on guarding the border. Meanwhile in Bishkek,
government official Salamat Alamanov denied that the border treaty runs
counter to Kyrgyzstan's interests. Parliament committee Chairman
Azimbek Beknazarov had protested that the treaty requires Kyrgyzstan to
cede to Kazakhstan a district in Talas Oblast where a gold deposit is
located. LF
[29] INDEPENDENT NGOS CRITICIZE KYRGYZ LOCAL ELECTIONS
Tolekan Ismailova, who is president of the Coalitions of NGOs, said
that the local elections held in Kyrgyzstan the previous day were
unfair in that local government officials created privileged conditions
for pro-government candidates, RFE/RL's Bishkek bureau reported. She
accused the Central Election Commission of being unable to act
independently of the government. Some 1,900 candidates contested a
total of 460 posts as heads of local councils; 194 local officials were
elected, and runoffs will take place on 23 December in the remaining
266 constituencies. LF
[30] KYRGYZ COURT REJECTS APPEALS BY FORMER VICE PRESIDENT'S ASSOCIATES
Bishkek's Sverdlov district court rejected on 13 December an appeal by
Janybek Bakchiev, who served as an aide to jailed former Vice President
Feliks Kulov during the latter's tenure as national security minister
in 1997-1998, RFE/RL's Bishkek bureau reported on 16 December. Bakchiev
was sentenced in August 2000 to seven years imprisonment in a trial in
which Kulov was initially acquitted (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 8 August
2000), but the acquittal was subsequently overturned. Also rejected on
13 December was a similar appeal for clemency by former stuntman Usen
Kudaibergenov, who was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment on charges of
receiving from Kulov large sums of money that the latter had allegedly
embezzled. LF
[31] KYRGYZSTAN'S COMMUNISTS CALL FOR REFERENDUM ON JOINING
RUSSIA-BELARUS UNION STATE
Klara Adjybekova, who heads the Communist Party of Kyrgyzstan, told
RFE/RL on 17 December that her party has appealed to the Central
Election Commission for permission to begin collecting signatures in
support of a nationwide referendum on acceding to the Russia-Belarus
Union. LF
[32] U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY VISITS UZBEKISTAN
Donald Rumsfeld met with his Uzbek counterpart Kadyr Gulyamov on 16
December at the Uzbek air force base at Khanabad that currently houses
some 1,500 U.S. troops, Interfax reported on 17 December, quoting the
Uzbek Defense Ministry. The two discussed security issues and the
transport of humanitarian aid to neighboring Afghanistan. LF
[33] UZBEKISTAN TO BUILD AIRCRAFT FOR INDIA
The Indian Defense Ministry has signed a $150 million agreement with
Uzbekistan's Chkalov aviation plant to build six Il-78 refueling
aircraft, AP reported on 17 December. The plant has stood idle for
several years. LF
CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE
[34] BELARUSIAN OFFICIALS TO GET SALARIES ONLY AFTER DISPENSING BACK
WAGES
Belarusian Premier Henadz Navitski has announced that the government
has issued a decree whereby state administration officials -- from
raion-level executives up to the prime minister -- will not be paid
their salaries until they see to repaying back wages in regions or
economic sectors for which they are responsible, "Nasha svaboda"
reported on 17 December. According to the newspaper, unpaid wages
currently amount to 50 billion Belarusian rubles ($32 million), or more
than 11 percent of the monthly wage fund in the country. JM
[35] BELARUSIAN-RUSSIAN BREAD WAR BREAKS OUT IN BORDER REGION
Mahileu Oblast authorities recently lowered prices for bread in three
raions bordering on Russia: Krychau, Klimavichy, and Kastsyukovichy,
RFE/RL Belarusian Service reported on 17 December. The move was
intended to drive traders with less expensive bread from Russia's
Bransk and Smolensk Oblasts out of the local market. Russian bread
traders have since disappeared from Mahileu Oblast, but now the oblast
authorities must deal with long bread lines. The point is that the
decrease in prices for bread in the three border raions was achieved at
the expense of increased prices for bread in other raions of the
oblast, and now people in Krychau, Klimavichy, and Kastsyukovichy buy
more loaves than they previously required, and are selling the excess
bread to those living further from the border. JM
[36] BELARUSIAN TRADING HOUSES LIQUIDATED
Belarus's state concern Belresursy has ordered the liquidation of 11
trading houses in Russia in connection with their bankruptcies,
"Kommersant-Daily" reported on 18 December. The trading houses -- in
particular, in Smolensk, St. Petersburg, Rostov, Yekaterinburg, and
Kostroma -- went bankrupt because Belarusian goods have become
noncompetitive in Russia. Following an order from Belarusian President
Alyaksandr Lukashenka, Belresursy established 20 trading houses in
Russia in 1997-98. JM
[37] ITALY BACKS UKRAINE ON PATH TO EUROPE
Italian Foreign Minister Renato Ruggiero told his Ukrainian counterpart
Anatoliy Zlenko in Kyiv on 17 December that Italy will support Ukraine
in its bids to integrate into Europe and join the world's leading
economic and political alliances, AP reported. Ruggiero and Zlenko
discussed bilateral cooperation on investments, energy, transport,
tourism, and migration, as well as ways to increase the trade volume
between their states. Italy is Ukraine's second-largest trade partner
among Western European countries. Trade volume between the two states
was $948.3 million in the first nine months of 2001. JM
[38] UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VETOES BAN ON ALCOHOL, TOBACCO ADVERTISING
Leonid Kuchma has vetoed the bill passed by the parliament on 15
November that banned alcohol and tobacco advertising "on all
information carriers," Ukrainian media reported on 17 December. JM
[39] ESTONIAN PREMIER SEES PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN AS BIGGEST FAILURE OF
2001
Mart Laar told the Year 2001 in Estonian Politics forum in Tallinn on
17 December that the presidential campaign, during which, he claims,
politicians sacrificed administrative-territorial reforms, was the most
negative event of the year, ETA reported. He also expressed regret that
during the election campaign the parliament gave up on the plan to
condemn communism as an ideology. Tartu Mayor Andrus Ansip of the
Reform Party responded by saying that there was no need for
administrative-territorial reform, and that the merging of local
administrative units in Belgium and Germany resulted not in savings,
but higher administrative costs. Villu Reiljan, the chairman of the
opposition People's Union, said Laar is a hypocrite on the issue of
condemning communism. "If he really wanted to adopt this decision, he
ought to have arranged a roundtable of political parties to discuss the
matter," since there is no political force in Estonia that opposes the
move, Reiljan said. SG
[40] LATVIA'S NEW ERA PARTY TO BE FOUNDED ON 2 FEBRUARY
Former Bank of Latvia President Einars Repse announced on 17 December
that the official founding congress of the new party Jaunais laiks (New
Era) will take place on 2 February 2002, ELTA reported. He said the
preamble of the new party and its positions on education, health, and
science are being prepared. SG
[41] LATVIA BANS ANIMAL IMPORTS FROM AUSTRIA
The Latvian Food and Veterinary Service issued orders on 17 December
banning animal imports from Austria following a recently registered
case of BSE ("mad-cow disease") in that country, BNS reported. The ban
applies to imports of live sheep, goats, and cattle; their meat and
meat products; and imports of any animal fodder containing animal
protein. As a result of BSE incidences in Europe, Latvia has already
banned imports of animals from 20 countries. SG
[42] LITHUANIA SIGNS DEAL FOR PURCHASING U.S. ANTITANK WEAPONRY
Defense Minister Linas Linkevicius and Major General Bruce Scott from
the U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command signed an agreement on
17 December for Lithuania to purchase Javelin medium-range antitank
weapons systems for 38.5 million litas ($9.63 million), BNS reported.
They noted that Lithuania is the first country in Europe to purchase
the weapons. U.S. Ambassador to Lithuania John Tefft declared that
among the current NATO candidate countries, Lithuania has earned a
reputation as a country that is making progress in developing its armed
forces to meet modern Western standards, and that the weapons purchase
is another indication of Lithuania's desire to join NATO. According to
the agreement, the weaponry should reach Lithuania by 2004, but the
U.S. agreed to look into possibilities of supplying Javelin systems by
October 2002, the date by which Lithuania has made a commitment to
establish a mechanized infantry battalion at Rukla. The Javelin is a
portable weapon with a range of some 2,500 meters, and weighs 25
kilograms. SG
[43] POLISH FOREIGN MINISTER, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE DISCUSS SECURITY
ISSUES
Polish Foreign Minister Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz discussed combating
terrorism, European security, and NATO enlargement with U.S. Secretary
of State Colin Powell in Washington on 17 December, Polish media
reported. "Together with the secretary of state we expect that NATO
enlargement will take place and that the only criteria deciding about
the acceptance of further countries will be their capability of meeting
membership obligations," PAP quoted Cimoszewicz as saying. Cimoszewicz
made an offer to Powell that, as part of the antiterrorist coalition,
Poland could organize training for police from Central European
countries to help fight terrorist organizations. JM
[44] WARSAW HAS NOT CHANGED ITS COURSE TOWARD MINSK
Foreign Ministry official Stefan Meller said in the Sejm on 17 December
that there has been no change in Poland's policy toward Belarus, PAP
reported. Meller made the statement in answering a question from deputy
Michal Kaminski (Law and Justice) as to why Foreign Minister
Cimoszewicz met with his Belarusian counterpart Mikhail Khvastou during
the last OSCE summit in Bucharest and thus, according to Kaminski,
broke the international boycott of the Belarusian regime. Meller
explained that Cimoszewicz's meeting with Khvastou took place under
informal circumstances, and added that Khvastou also held informal
meetings in Bucharest with other European foreign ministers. "We cannot
officially treat Alyaksandr Lukashenka as a democratically elected
president... But our problem is that we also cannot ignore the fact
that he has real power and support of a significant portion of
Belarusian society," Meller said. JM
[45] CZECH GOVERNMENT SELLS TWO MAJOR UTILITIES, POSTPONES SALE OF
ANOTHER
The Czech cabinet approved the sale of the state natural gas monopoly
Transgas to Germany's RWE Gas A.G. on 17 December, but asked two
bidders to submit higher offers in their efforts to purchase the Czech
Republic's massive stakes in the electricity industry, agencies
reported. RWE offered 4.1 billion euros ($3.6 billion) for control of
Transgas, which is the monopoly gas importer, and eight local
distributors. In the electricity sector, ministers said they are
disappointed in the level of bids, and have asked Italy's Enel and
French Electricite de France to enter competitive negotiations on 7
January. Prime Minister Milos Zeman has said his government will accept
no less than 200 billion crowns ($5.62 billion) for the electricity
holdings, which include combined stakes in power generation,
transmission, and local distribution. The government also decided to
sell a 63 percent stake in oil and chemicals blue chip Unipetrol to a
locally based upstart, Agrofert Holding A.S. Analysts believe the Czech
utilities sales, if completed, will set new benchmarks for the region.
AH
[46] CZECH, POLISH PRESIDENTS TALK NATO EXPANSION, RELATIONS WITH
RUSSIA...
Vaclav Havel and his Polish counterpart Aleksandr Kwasniewski agree
that "[NATO] membership should be offered to the three Baltic states,
to Slovenia, and to Slovakia," Havel said after their meeting at his
chateau near Prague on 17 December, AP reported. Both presidents
emerged with a call for greater transparency and participation among
NATO members in the ongoing dialogue with Russia, news agencies
reported. Havel said some "basic" questions should "not be the subject
of dialogue between the United States and Russia only," AP added. Havel
has long been a vocal opponent of Russian membership in NATO. AH
[47] ...AND WELCOME EU CONVENTION ON FUTURE STRUCTURE OF EU
The Czech and Polish presidents also said after their meeting that the
EU Convention recently called for by member states would provide a good
opportunity for discussion of the future form of the European
community, CTK reported. Kwasniewski called last weekend's meeting in
Laeken "successful" and "a step forward," adding that the organizing of
the conference in March 2002 would contribute to a more open
relationship between the EU and aspiring members. AH
[48] PRAGUE WANTS CLEAN SLATE AHEAD OF EU AGRICULTURE TALKS...
Foreign Minister Jan Kavan said on 17 December following a Czech
government committee meeting to discuss European integration that his
country will accelerate its statistical work for the EU in order to be
well-prepared for "negotiating the sensitive question of direct
payments" in the agriculture sector, CTK reported. Ministers agreed to
provide data on the sector to the European Council by 10 January in
connection with ongoing accession talks. Kavan added that the German
position on limiting access to EU markets for new members' freight
haulers is unacceptable to Prague in the transport chapter of the
talks. AH
[49] ...AND STRIVES TO CLOSE MORE CHAPTERS BEFORE MID-2002 ELECTIONS
In the first quarter of 2002, the Czech Republic wants to close
chapters of the acquis communautaire in the transport, economic
competition, agriculture, regional policy, and financial and budgetary
rules chapters, Foreign Minister Kavan said on 17 December, according
to CTK. He conceded that some bills, including those that would help to
harmonize Czech tax legislation with the EU's, may only be submitted by
the government that will emerge from the mid-2002 elections, CTK added.
AH
[50] MINISTER, AUTHORITIES INSIST SUSPECTED SEPTEMBER TERRORIST MET
IRAQI AGENT IN PRAGUE
Czech Interior Minister Stanislav Gross responded to recent media
reports questioning whether suspected terrorist ringleader Mohammad
Atta met in Prague with an Iraqi intelligence agent on 17 December,
saying through a spokeswoman that he stands by his original account of
events. Atta and the agent in question met at least once in the Czech
capital, Gross said, based on a credible account provided by the Czech
Security Information Service. In Washington, AP reported that U.S.
officials also still believe the meeting occurred, despite a leading
Czech daily's assertion that the government lacks evidence of such an
encounter (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 14 December 2001). AH
[51] CZECH COURT ADJOURNS TRIAL OF COMMUNIST-ERA FUNCTIONARY UNTIL END
OF JANUARY
A Prague court adjourned the trial of former Czechoslovak Interior
Minister and Premier Lubomir Strougal on 18 December after at least
three witnesses failed to show up to testify, CTK reported. Two
witnesses cited illness while a third gave no reason for not appearing
before the court, which is examining abuse of power charges in
connection with the deaths of three dissidents and an alleged cover-up
in 1965. AH
[52] CZECH PRESIDENT HOSPITALIZED WITH PNEUMONIA
President Havel checked into a Prague hospital on 17 December with
pneumonia, his personal physician was quoted as saying by CTK. The
physician added that the president was feeling better on 18 December.
Havel is taking antibiotics to fight a high temperature stemming from
complications in his right lung, half of which was removed during
cancer surgery five years ago. AH
[53] RULING PARTY CHAIRMAN SAYS MOST CZECH SOCIAL DEMOCRATS FAVOR
DIRECT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS
Social Democratic Chairman and Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla
told the BBC on 17 December that most of his party supports the direct
election of the country's president. On 4 December, lawmakers rejected
a draft constitutional amendment prescribing direct presidential
elections and limiting the immunity of parliamentarians to their terms
in office. The draft was proposed by the opposition Freedom Union and
Christian Democrat parties. Social Democratic Deputy Chairman Zdenek
Skromach added that a poll inside the party indicated that up to 80
percent of members support the move, adding that direct presidential
elections could come "constitutionally and technically" in 2008, at the
earliest, CTK reported. A recent STEM poll suggested that about four in
five Czechs favor direct elections, the agency added. AH
[54] SLOVAK PARLIAMENT ANNULS GOVERNMENT'S RIGHT TO OVERRULE
REGIONS...
The parliament on 18 December voted by 59 to 30, with 19 abstentions,
to amend the law on regional administrations that was passed in July,
TASR reported. The amendment revokes the provision allowing the
government to refer back to regional parliaments all regional
administration decisions deemed to be in conflict with interests of the
state or those of other regions. JM
[55] ...WHILE PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE COUNTERS HUNGARY'S STATUS LAW
The parliamentary Foreign Relations Committee passed a resolution on 18
December expressing its unanimous opposition to Hungary's Status Law,
which provides for extending benefits to ethnic Hungarian citizens of
neighboring states, including financial support for Hungarian-language
education and employment rights in Hungary, TASR reported. The
resolution said the Status Law interferes with Slovakia's exclusive
territorial and civil jurisdiction, and is a violation of both
international law and Slovakia's legislative integrity. The committee's
resolution will now be submitted to the entire house in order to become
part of an appeal to the Hungarian parliament to amend the Status Law
in line with basic principles of international law and European
standards for protecting ethnic minorities. JM
[56] HUNGARY'S FIDESZ BACKS ANTI-TORGYAN SMALLHOLDERS
The major coalition party FIDESZ has asked one of its elderly members,
Karoly Horvath, to launch a new initiative, called the Smallholder
Movement, against Jozsef Torgyan's Independent Smallholder's Party
(FKGP), "Magyar Hirlap" reported FIDESZ Chairman Zoltan Pokorni as
saying on 17 December. Pokorni added, however, that he no longer has
faith in the new group's ability to achieve success against Torgyan's
party before the April 2002 general elections. The founders of the
movement include former FKGP parliamentary group leader Attila Bank.
Bela Horvath, a former FKGP deputy parliamentary group leader and a key
figure in the Smallholders' anti-Torgyan campaign, said he also
supports the new group. MSZ
[57] HUNGARY TO INTRODUCE VISA REQUIREMENT FOR CANADIANS
Hungary will introduce visa requirements for Canadians in early 2002,
cabinet spokesman Gabor Borokai told "Vilaggazdasag" on 17 December.
The government's decision came after Canada reintroduced visa
requirements on 5 December for Hungarians because of the large number
of unjustified Hungarian applications for asylum in Canada (see "RFE/RL
Newsline," 6 December 2001). In other news, Hungary opened a new
consular office in Berehove, Ukraine, on 17 December. Tibor Szabo, the
president of the Office for Hungarians Abroad, said the consulate's
opening is part of an effort to facilitate and strengthen links between
Hungary and ethnic Hungarians in Ukraine. MSZ
SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE
[58] EXPERT COMMITTEES TO EXAMINE SERBIAN-MONTENEGRIN RELATIONS
Top leaders from Belgrade and Podgorica met with EU mediator Javier
Solana in the Serbian capital on 17 December to discuss future
relations between Serbia and Montenegro, RFE/RL's South Slavic and
Albanian Languages Service reported (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 17 December
2001). Participants agreed to set up expert committees that will begin
work at once to examine the Serbian and Montenegrin proposals on
bilateral relations to see how much common ground there is. The experts
will draft a report before the end of February, at which time the top
leaders will meet again to examine the possibilities for joint
institutions and a continued dialogue on the basis of the committees'
findings. Solana said that he was pleased with the talks, and repeated
Brussels' view that Serbia and Montenegro should continue together as a
single state (see "RFE/RL Balkan Report," 14 December 2001). PM
[59] MONTENEGRIN PRESIDENT SEEKS 'EUROPEAN-STYLE UNION'
Djukanovic said in Belgrade on 16 December that Serbia and Montenegro
should aspire to a "European-style union" that will serve as a model
for interstate relations in the Balkans, Deutsche Welle's "Monitor"
reported. He added that there is no need for a "mediator" in the talks
between Belgrade and Podgorica. Observers note that his remarks suggest
a change in at least the packaging of long-standing Montenegrin
positions. It appears that he is calling for a relationship between
Podgorica and Belgrade on the model of the links between EU-member
countries rather than stressing independence outright. As to the
reference to mediation, he is probably trying to rule out binding
arbitration by Solana because of Brussels' firm support for Belgrade's
position. The Montenegrins have long sought a role by foreigners in the
talks in the hope that the presence of Westerners would discourage the
Serbs from bullying their smaller neighbor. PM
[60] TWO MORE SEATS FOR DJINDJIC IN SERBIAN PARLIAMENT
The small Movement for a Democratic Serbia of Deputy Prime Minister
Momcilo Perisic has given two of its legislative seats to Prime
Minister Zoran Djindjic's Democratic Party (DS) following the defection
of two of Perisic's deputies to another party, Deutsche Welle's
"Monitor" reported on 17 December. This means that the DS now has 47
deputies, as opposed to 45 for the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) of
Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica. In related news, the Serbian
parliament voted to remove an unspecified number of judges and other
judicial officials appointed under the regime of former President
Slobodan Milosevic. PM
[61] VOJVODINA PARLIAMENT SEEKS RETURN OF POWERS
The legislature in Novi Sad voted to ask the Serbian parliament to
return a number of prerogatives in the social, economic, and cultural
spheres that Milosevic took away in 1990, Deutsche Welle's "Monitor"
reported on 17 December. The Belgrade parliament has not yet voted on
the request. PM
[62] MACEDONIAN YOUTHS CLEARED IN KILLING OF BRITISH SOLDIER
The state attorney's office stopped legal proceedings against eight
youths from the village of Indzikovo near Skopje, who were accused of
having killed a British soldier on 27 August, the Skopje daily
"Dnevnik" reported on 15 December (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 27 and 28
August, and 21 September 2001). British serviceman Ian Collins died in
a Skopje hospital after his car was allegedly attacked by
stone-throwing youths on the Skopje-Veles highway. Collins suffered
serious head injuries in the incident. The youths were released after
the key witness did not identify them as the attackers. The Macedonian
authorities said there was no evidence that an attack had taken place
at all. Medical personnel who treated Collins said his injuries could
not have come from a stone. UB
[63] MACEDONIAN DEFENSE MINISTER ANNOUNCES ARMY REFORM
In an interview with a local radio station, Defense Minister Vlado
Popovski announced that the army will be "reformed" within the
following two to three months, Macedonian dailies reported on 15
December. The main reason for the move is that the army failed to
resolve the crisis at an early stage when the international community
still supported the Macedonian government's fight against the
"terrorists," Popovski said, referring to ethnic Albanian insurgents.
The reform envisages setting up two special brigades that can react
swiftly to any threat to national security. They will use the recently
acquired four Sukhoi Su-25 ground attack aircraft, 10 Mil Mi-24D
helicopter gunships, and 31 T-72 main battle tanks, dpa reported. The
reorganization also aims to improve professionalism within the army.
Asked about the high number of ethnic Albanian army members who
deserted, Popovski answered that there have been problems with
desertion among ethnic Macedonian soldiers as well. He especially
criticized the state of affairs in a special unit called the Scorpions,
who literally "overslept" the crisis by frequently calling in sick. UB
[64] COOLING OFF PERIOD FOR KOSOVAR PARLIAMENT
Nexhat Daci, the speaker of the Kosovar parliament, said in Prishtina
on 17 December that the next session will take place at an unspecified
date in January, RFE/RL's South Slavic and Albanian Languages Service
reported. The delay is aimed at enabling legislators and party leaders
to have time to reach an agreement on cooperation in the parliament or
on forming a coalition government (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 13 December
2001). PM
[65] KOSOVAR SERBS LEAVE DOOR OPEN TO COALITION
Oliver Ivanovic, one of the two Serbian members of the presidium of
Kosova's parliament, told the private Beta news agency on 15 December
that he does not rule out the Serbian Povratak (Return) deputies
entering into a coalition with an Albanian party provided that those
Albanians drop demands for independence. He added that the Serbs
"cannot imagine themselves in such a situation" as an independent
Kosova. PM
[66] TWO MORE BORDER CROSSINGS OPENED BETWEEN BOSNIA AND CROATIA
Two additional crossings to Herzegovina have been opened in southern
Croatia's Dubrovacko-Neretvanska county, RFE/RL's South Slavic and
Albanian Languages Service reported on 17 December. That same day in
Zagreb, Croatian parliament speaker Zlatko Tomcic told visiting
legislators from Bosnia's joint parliament that Croatia is interested
in improving ties with Bosnia as a state rather than with the two
entities. PM
[67] REFUGEES RETURN TO CROATIA
The Ministry for Reconstruction said in a statement on 17 December that
53,144 refugees have returned to Croatia since the beginning of 2000,
RFE/RL's South Slavic and Albanian Languages Service reported. Among
them were 28,281 Serbs. Local Serbian leaders nonetheless frequently
charge that Serbs remain subject to various forms of discrimination. PM
[68] EU COMMISSIONER SAYS ROMANIA HAS TO FIGHT TO JOIN EU
Visiting EU commissioner for enlargement Guenther Verheugen said in
Timisoara on 17 December that Romania has to fight for integration into
the EU just as it did for liberty and democracy back in 1989, Mediafax
reported. Together with Romanian Premier Adrian Nastase, Verheugen
attended a mass in memory of victims of the Timisoara uprising in
December 1989. Verheugen said he sought to demonstrate Europe's
understanding of the importance of the Romanian Revolution, arguing
that without it, "we couldn't have built in Europe a space of liberty
and dignity." The commissioner said Romania still has many unresolved
issues, but that its socioeconomic policies are evolving "in the right
direction." ZsM
[69] ETHNIC HUNGARIANS TO BE PROSECUTED FOR SINGING HUNGARIAN ANTHEM
On 17 December, Romanian Prosecutor-General Joita Tanase announced the
beginning of the prosecution process against members of the Hungarian
Democratic Federation of Romania (UDMR) for singing the Hungarian
anthem, Romanian media reported. Participants at UDMR's Council of
Representatives meeting in Targu-Mures on 15 December sang a religious
Hungarian song that is also the Hungarian anthem in protest against a
recent Romanian government ordinance that bans unauthorized singing of
other states' anthems or the exhibition of foreign symbols. Premier
Nastase said the UDMR members will be punished if it is found that they
breached on the law, but that it "shouldn't be turned into a big
problem." UDMR Chairman Bela Marko said the prosecutor-general's
measure is "a political action" against the UDMR. UDMR previously
announced it would ask for the ordinance's restrictive provisions to be
changed. ZsM
[70] ROMANIAN-HUNGARIAN NEGOTIATIONS ON STATUS LAW
Visiting Hungarian Foreign Ministry Secretary of State Zsolt Nemeth
announced in Bucharest on 17 December that by the end of the year
Romanian Premier Nastase and his Hungarian Counterpart Viktor Orban
will sign a memorandum on the Hungarian Status Law, Mediafax reported.
Nemeth discussed the issue with his Romanian counterpart Cristian
Diaconescu and said he sees "the exit from the tunnel." He added that
the memorandum will show that between the two countries "there are no
tensions, just different points of view" on the issue. ZsM
[71] ROMANIAN SENATE REJECTS MOTION ON ETHNIC HUNGARIAN COUNTIES
The Romanian Senate rejected a simple motion put forward on 17 December
by opposition parties by a vote of 72 to 50, Mediafax reported.
Representatives from the Democratic Party, National Liberal Party, and
extremist Greater Romania Party argued in initiating the motion that
the government has lost authority over the Harghita and Covasna
counties, which have ethnic Hungarian majorities. Premier Nastase
previously dismissed those allegations as a "false alarm." Hungarian
Democratic Federation of Romania Senator Zoltan Puskas said the motion
was "an attempt to destabilize the political situation in Romania." ZsM
[72] MOLDOVAN AUTHORITIES INTRODUCE MANDATORY RUSSIAN-LANGUAGE CLASSES
IN SCHOOLS
The Moldovan Education Ministry announced on 17 December the
introduction of mandatory Russian-language classes in schools beginning
next year, Flux reported. Education Minister Ilie Vancea said the
decision came as the result of parental requests and the lack of
teachers of other modern languages. However, according to Flux, Vancea
issued a decision on the issue in August 2001, but canceled it due to
parental protests. Opposition Popular Party Christian Democratic
representatives said this new measure is merely a new step in the
Communist administration's ongoing Russification process. ZsM
[73] BULGARIA TO DESTROY SS-23 MISSILES BY OCTOBER 2002
The Bulgarian parliament will decide on 18 December that the country's
SS-23 missiles are to be destroyed by 30 October 2002, the Sofia daily
"Dnevnik" reported. The draft decision on the missile destruction has
been worked out by the parliamentary commission on foreign policy,
defense, and security. "The deadline for the destruction of the
missiles is desirable, but not binding," the head of the commission,
Stanimir Ilchev, was reported as saying by the daily. Ilchev
underscored that the destruction of the missiles will not be damaging
to the Bulgarian budget, as it will be supported financially by the
U.S. State Department. He also dismissed any speculation that the SS-23
missiles will be replaced by another missile system. UB
[74] BANKRUPT BULGARIAN AIRLINE TO BE REVIVED
Balkan Air Commercial Director Christo Todorov told a press conference
on 14 December that a business plan has been adopted to revive the
bankrupt national air carrier, BTA reported. The plan was described as
a "minimum plan, which can certainly be fulfilled and attests to the
airline's potential to survive and develop." The plan includes services
to 15 destinations and is based on the assumption that the summer
season can generate enough revenue to offset winter losses. The airline
also signed charter flight agreements with three tour operators. For
2002, the airline is expected to yield some $7 million in revenues and
a $500,000 profit. UB
[75] WORLD BANK CREDIT FOR BULGARIAN AGRICULTURE PROJECTS
The World Bank is ready to provide some $80 to $100 million for two
agriculture projects, BTA reported. The credit is to be used to assist
agricultural producers, as well as to mitigate damages caused by forest
fires. It will also be used to set up a fire control and protection
system. The implementation of the project will begin in January 2002.
UB
END NOTE
[76] There is no End Note today.
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