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RFE/RL Newsline, 02-02-20
CONTENTS
[01] FORMER RUSSIAN PREMIER READY TO DEFEND MILOSEVIC
[02] PRESIDENT COULD BECOME PARTY MAN
[03] ANOTHER NOVAYA GAZETA JOURNALIST FACES THREATS
[04] IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER POSTPONES VISIT TO MOSCOW FOR 'TECHNICAL
[05] PRIME MINISTER DISCUSSES EU ISSUES WITH RUSSIAN AIRCRAFT
[06] INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS ON THE RISE IN RUSSIA
[07] RUSSIAN SUSPECTED OF SELLING ARMS TO AL-QAEDA
[08] AUDIT CHAMBER TO PROBE AUDITORS OF GAZPROM AND EES
[09] RUSSIA TAKES STEPS TO FACILITATE WTO ENTRY
[10] TRAFFICKING OF WOMEN FROM RUSSIA AND OTHER CIS STATES NUMBERS IN
[11] FSB SAYS IT EXPELLED NATO 'SPIES' FROM KALININGRAD OBLAST LAST
[12] PREMIER PROMISES TO STABILIZE SITUATION IN ULYANOVSK
[13] GOVERNOR CLAIMS PUTIN AGREED TO LET REGION REACH ITS OWN DECISION
[14] REFORM FROM BELOW FOR FORESTRY SECTOR
[15] LAMAS TOLD TO GET THE VOTE OUT?
[16] SOBCHAK REMEMBERED
[17] STEPASHIN SAYS ARMENIA IS RUSSIA'S SOLE STRATEGIC CAUCASIAN
[18] PROCEDURAL DISPUTE THWARTS DEBATE ON ARMENIAN CONSTITUTIONAL
[19] PRELIMINARY ARMENIAN CENSUS DATA PUBLISHED
[20] RUSSIAN OFFICIALS AGAIN CALL FOR JOINT ACTION AGAINST 'TERRORISTS'
[21] ...WHICH GEORGIA AGAIN DENIES IS NECESSARY
[22] ABKHAZ INTELLIGENCE SERVICE CLAIMS CHECHEN WARLORD HAS AGAIN
[23] LEGAL PROCEEDINGS BEGUN AGAINST GEORGIAN OPPOSITION POLITICIAN
[24] KIDNAPPED GEORGIAN POLICE OFFICERS RELEASED
[25] KAZAKHSTAN, RUSSIA DISCUSS ECONOMIC, MILITARY COOPERATION
[26] KYRGYZ PRESIDENT SAYS ARRESTED PARLIAMENT DEPUTY WILL RECEIVE
[27] ...AS SUPPORTERS MEET WITH HIM IN DETENTION...
[28] ...AND VILLAGERS TAKE LOCAL OFFICIALS HOSTAGE TO DEMAND HIS
[29] BOMB BLAST FOILED IN TAJIK CAPITAL
[30] UZBEKISTAN, LITHUANIA PLAN TO EXPAND COOPERATION
[31] WINTER OLYMPICS MEDAL COUNT -- PART 1 COUNTRIES
[32] BELARUSIAN PRESIDENT BLAMES ALLEGATIONS OF ILLEGAL ARMS TRADE ON
[33] ...SAYS OSCE GROUP MAY STAY IN MINSK, BUT ON NEW CONDITIONS...
[34] ...TELLS RUSSIANS HOW MUCH BELARUSIAN BREWERY COSTS
[35] BELARUSIAN YOUTH LEADER HEAVILY FINED FOR VALENTINE'S DAY MARCH
[36] POLL SAYS OUR UKRAINE, COMMUNISTS LEAD ELECTION RACE
[37] UKRAINIAN POLITICIAN ACCUSES AUTHORITIES OF OVERSTATING POPULARITY
[38] ESTONIAN GOVERNMENT STOPS 'BRAND ESTONIA' PROJECT
[39] LATVIAN-EU ASSOCIATION COUNCIL MEETS OVER INTEGRATION EFFORTS
[40] SWEDISH DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER VISITS LITHUANIA
[41] CORRECTION:
[42] POLISH GOVERNMENT APPROVES SECRET SERVICE REFORM BILL
[43] POLISH SHIPYARD WORKERS STRIKE OVER WAGES, LAYOFFS
[44] POLISH RADICAL AGRARIAN INDICTED ON SEVEN COUNTS
[45] CZECH PREMIER DENIES HAVING COMPARED ARAFAT WITH HITLER...
[46] ...AFTER TRIGGERING CRITICISM AT HOME...
[47] ...AND ABROAD
[48] CZECHS RESPONSIBLE FOR FALSE LUSTRATION CERTIFICATES MAY ESCAPE
[49] GERMAN CHANCELLOR BACKS CURRENT SLOVAK CABINET
[50] HUNGARIAN PREMIER CALLS EU PLAN ON AGRICULTURAL SUBSIDIES
[51] HUNGARIAN RADIO, TV BOARD 'ADMONISHES' PRO-MIEP STATION AGAIN
[52] MONTENEGRIN PRESIDENT BACKING DOWN ON REFERENDUM
[53] MONTENEGRIN PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT: PARLIAMENT HAS THE LAST WORD
[54] STEINER ANNOUNCES FALL LOCAL VOTE IN KOSOVA
[55] MACEDONIAN POLICE TO RETURN TO ARACINOVO
[56] NATO WARNS AGAINST MACEDONIAN RUMORMONGERING
[57] SERBIAN GOVERNING COALITION STILL WITHOUT DRAFT LAW ON THE HAGUE
[58] DIPLOMATIC TENSIONS CONTINUE BETWEEN CROATIA AND BOSNIA
[59] UN SACKS THREE BOSNIAN SERB POLICE
[60] EU COMMISSIONER WARNS AGAINST 'DOUBLE REJECTION' OF ROMANIA,
[61] ROMANIAN PREMIER IN TURKEY
[62] FORMER ROMANIAN PRESIDENT SUSPECTS HIS TELEPHONE IS BUGGED
[63] ROMANIAN EXTREMIST PARTY PLAGUED BY INTERNAL RIFT
[64] HUNGARIAN LEADER IN ROMANIA RECEIVES MAGYAR ID CARD
[65] MOLDOVAN CONSTITUTIONAL COURT OUTLAWS LOCAL ELECTIONS
[66] RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY BACKS MOLDOVAN GOVERNMENT...
[67] ...AS CHISINAU PROTESTS CONTINUE
[68] BRAGHIS ALLIANCE JOINS DEMAND FOR MOLDOVAN CABINET'S DISMISSAL
[69] MOLDOVA REFUSES TO PARTICIPATE IN OSCE TALKS WITH TRANSDNIESTER
[70] WORLD BANK WARNS MOLDOVA
[71] U.S. OFFICIAL PROMISES BULGARIA HELP AHEAD OF NATO SUMMIT
[72] BULGARIAN ROMA RIOT IN PROTEST OF POWER OUTRAGE
[73] WINTER OLYMPICS MEDAL COUNT -- PART 2 COUNTRIES
[74] There is no End Note today.
20 February 2002
RUSSIA
[01] FORMER RUSSIAN PREMIER READY TO DEFEND MILOSEVIC
Chamber of Trade and Industry head Yevgenii Primakov said he is
prepared to speak out in defense of former Yugoslav President Slobodan
Milosevic in his ongoing trial at The Hague's international war crimes
tribunal, RIA-Novosti reported on 19 February. Primakov, who was
prominent in diplomatic activity surrounding the Kosova crisis in 1999,
added that the tribunal should take in account the positive role
Milosevic played in negotiating the Dayton accords. VY
[02] PRESIDENT COULD BECOME PARTY MAN
At a meeting of the Unified Russia party on 19 February, deputy
presidential administration head Vladislav Surkov said that the law on
state service will be amended next year to allow top state officials,
such as the president, to join a political party, ITAR-TASS reported.
Surkov added that those political parties that win in the 2003 State
Duma elections will also be freed from the requirement of gathering
signatures and paying a pledge for future elections. JAC
[03] ANOTHER NOVAYA GAZETA JOURNALIST FACES THREATS
The family of State Duma deputy (Yabloko) and investigative journalist
Yurii Shchekochikhin has been placed under guard, Interfax reported on
19 February. Shchekochikin received threats following the 18 February
publication of an article in "Novaya gazeta" (No. 12) about a recent
session of the Duma's Security Committee at which Deputy
Prosecutor-General Vasilii Kolmogorov spoke. JAC
[04] IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER POSTPONES VISIT TO MOSCOW FOR 'TECHNICAL
REASONS'
Iranian Foreign Minster Kamal Kharrazi's much anticipated visit to
Moscow, initially scheduled for 19-20 February, was unexpectedly
postponed, Russian news agencies reported on 19 February. On the eve of
Kharrazi's expected visit, many leading Russian mass media reported
that the Iranian foreign minister had arrived in Moscow for bilateral
discussions. However, later the same day Foreign Ministry spokesman
Aleksandr Yakovenko announced that Kharrazi's mission was cancelled due
to "the need to work out certain questions of bilateral cooperation."
Vesti.ru commented the same day that the visit was likely postponed by
the Kremlin because it did not want to irritate the United States by
highlighting Russia's good relations with Iran. VY
[05] PRIME MINISTER DISCUSSES EU ISSUES WITH RUSSIAN AIRCRAFT
MANUFACTURERS
Speaking at a working meeting with aircraft designers of the Aviastar
company in Ulyanovsk on 19 February, Mikhail Kasyanov discussed the
recent ban the EU imposed on flights by Russian passenger planes over
EU territory (see "RFE/RL Newsline" 1 February 2002), RIA-Novosti
reported on 19 February. He called on the aircraft manufacturer to
increase production of its Tu-204 passenger jets, which comply with
environmental standards set by the EU, and offered state assistance to
the company. He also added that "the government will restructure those
aviation enterprises whose [obsolete production] is not fitted to
developing the Russian economy." VY
[06] INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS ON THE RISE IN RUSSIA
Labor Minister Aleksandr Pochinok said on 19 February that, due to
violations of labor safety regulations and negligence by management,
more Russians have died or become invalids as the result of industrial
accidents than in the wars in Afghanistan and Chechnya combined,
pravda.ru reported. According to the State Statistics Committee, some
45 percent of Russia's industrial enterprises are not in compliance
with the most basic safety regulations, which results in about 500,000
workers sustaining some degree of invalidity each year, Pochinok said.
He added that in the past few years the rate of industrial invalidity
and trauma has risen by 15-20 percent. VY
[07] RUSSIAN SUSPECTED OF SELLING ARMS TO AL-QAEDA
U.S. and Belgian security services along with Interpol suspect retired
Soviet army officer Viktor Boot of illegally supplying weapons to
Al-Qaeda cells, gazeta.ru reported on 18 February. Those services have
long been tracking Boot activities, but until recently had considered
him to be a supplier of arms to Angola, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.
However, one of Boot business partners, following his arrest in Belgium
last September, told investigators that Boot has provided weapons over
the last two years to the Al-Qaeda network via his Air Cess Liberia
company, which is based in the United Arab Emirates. If those claims
are proven, it will not be easy to arrest Boot, as he holds at least
seven different foreign passports and his current whereabouts are
unknown, gazeta.ru commented. VY
[08] AUDIT CHAMBER TO PROBE AUDITORS OF GAZPROM AND EES
Audit Chamber inspector Mikhail Beskhmelnitsyn told a press conference
in Moscow on 19 February that his agency will conduct an investigation
into the work of the Russian and foreign auditors of Gazprom, including
PricewaterhouseCoopers, Russian news agencies reported. In addition,
Beskhmelnitsyn said the agency will also look into Gazprom's mass media
holdings, as well as the regional entities of Unified Energy Systems --
particularly in regard to the transparency of the latter's activities
in the Chechen Republic. VY
[09] RUSSIA TAKES STEPS TO FACILITATE WTO ENTRY
Maksim Medvedkov, the deputy minister of Economic Development and
Trade, announced on 19 February that by mid-March the government will
make "minor adjustments" to several sectors of its economy aimed at
aiding Russia's efforts to join the World Trade Organization (WTO),
polit.ru reported. The changes will primarily affect banking,
insurance, equities, audits, telecommunications, transport, and
tourism. He added that by that date Russia will have formulated its
position on how to modify its agricultural market to meet WTO
requirements. VY
[10] TRAFFICKING OF WOMEN FROM RUSSIA AND OTHER CIS STATES NUMBERS IN
THE MILLIONS
The number of sales of girls and women for prostitution from Russia,
Ukraine, and the other post-Soviet countries reached 10 million over
the last decade, "Nezavisimaya gazeta" reported on 18 February.
According to the daily, women from the CIS are being exploited as sex
slaves in over 30 countries, particularly in Germany, Poland, Turkey,
the U.S., South Korea, Japan, the Middle East, and Latin America. The
problem is compounded by the lack of legislation in Russia and the
other CIS states that would make the trafficking of women a crime, as
the governments argue that the women themselves enter the sex industry
for financial reasons. VY
[11] FSB SAYS IT EXPELLED NATO 'SPIES' FROM KALININGRAD OBLAST LAST
YEAR
Georgii Kornilov, the head of the Kaliningrad Oblast's Federal Security
Service (FSB) Directorate, told local journalists at a press conference
on 19 February that last year his agency thwarted several spy
operations by intelligence services from NATO states, Baltic News
Service and strana.ru reported the same day. "Seven foreign citizens
were expelled as spies and entrance for them to Russia was closed,"
Kornilov added. He added that his agency together with other regional
law enforcement organizations has managed to regain control over the
oblast's economy and to expel organized crime groups from the region.
Finally, Kornilov announced that he will leave his position, as
President Vladimir Putin appointed him earlier this month as the chief
of the FSB's Transport Counterintelligence Protection department within
the central apparatus. VY
[12] PREMIER PROMISES TO STABILIZE SITUATION IN ULYANOVSK
Prime Minister Kasyanov wrapped up a visit to Ulyanovsk Oblast on 19
February, ITAR-TASS reported. Kasyanov told local reporters that the
federal government has worked out a series of measures to stabilize the
region's financial situation, strana.ru reported. According to
Kasyanov, Ulyanovsk is a region in crisis, where there are problems
with paying wages and a number of enterprises have accumulated large
debts for a variety of services including electricity. JAC
[13] GOVERNOR CLAIMS PUTIN AGREED TO LET REGION REACH ITS OWN DECISION
ON LAND SALES
An unidentified high-level source in the presidential administration
denied a recent claim by Krasnodar Krai Governor Aleksandr Tkachev that
he has won President Putin's agreement that any federal law on the
buying and selling of agricultural land would not have to be
implemented in his region, "Izvestiya" reported on 19 February.
According to the daily, following a meeting with Putin on 16 February
Tkachev said that "we agreed with the president that the law on land
will be adopted by the Federal Assembly, but it will not come into
force on the krai's territory -- unless krai authorities decide. I
insisted on this. A market for arable land should not exist in the
Kuban for the next 10 years -- let our children and grandchildren take
up this question." The anonymous Kremlin source said that such an
"agreement" is "in principle impossible and absurd." Last February,
President Putin told members of the State Council that Russia's regions
should be "given maximum freedom in setting the land problem within the
framework of the basic law" (see "RFE/RL Russian Political Weekly," 26
February 2001). JAC
[14] REFORM FROM BELOW FOR FORESTRY SECTOR
At the 22 February meeting in Syktyvkar of the Union of Forest
Industrialists and Exporters of Russia it is expected that one of the
basic themes of the discussion will be the possible creation of a
single federal department concerned with the problems of the country's
forestry sector, "Nezavisimaya gazeta" reported on 19 February.
According to the daily, the situation in the timber industry is
considered critical. The Natural Resources Ministry estimates that
Russia could receive as much as $100 billion a year from the world
timber market, but instead revenues do not top $4-5 billion and the
bulk of this money "is looted or winds up in offshore bank accounts."
Union members believe that more government regulation of the sector
would help the situation, and that the current arrangement in which the
industry answers to two ministries, the Natural Resources Ministry and
the Ministry for Industry, Science, and Technology is less than
optimal. In May 2000, President Putin eliminated the federal forestry
service as part of a reorganization of the federal government. JAC
[15] LAMAS TOLD TO GET THE VOTE OUT?
"Kommersant-Daily" reported on 19 February that leadership of the
Buddhist community in the Tuva Republic has recently become a highly
contested element because of the upcoming 17 March election for the
head of the republic. At the last extraordinary congress of the
Buddhists of Tuva, a new Xambo Lama, Khelin Lobsan Tubten, was elected
-- the third in the last two weeks. Local observers believe that
Vladimir Orus-ool, who is a local legislator and supporter of the
existing presidential administration, was behind Tubten's appointment.
In the opinion of many, according to the daily, the proteges of
Orus-ool seized power in the Buddhist community because Buddhist
priests have a "not small authority" in the republic, and the political
leanings of the new Xambo Lama could influence the vote of practicing
Buddhists. JAC
[16] SOBCHAK REMEMBERED
A number of politicians, public activists, and residents of St.
Petersburg gathered on 19 February to honor the memory of former St.
Petersburg Mayor Anatolii Sobchak, who died two years ago, ITAR-TASS
reported. According to the agency, several hundred people gathered at
Sobchak's grave, including presidential envoy to the Northwest federal
district Viktor Cherkesov. Yurii Gladkov, a deputy from St.
Petersburg's legislature, declared that each year more people gather at
Sobchak's grave as the significance of what Sobchak accomplished for
Russia is better understood. JAC
TRANSCAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA
[17] STEPASHIN SAYS ARMENIA IS RUSSIA'S SOLE STRATEGIC CAUCASIAN
PARTNER
Visiting Russian Audit Chamber head Sergei Stepashin held talks in
Yerevan on 18 February with Armenian parliament speaker Armen
Khachatrian and Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisian, and on 19 February
with Prime Minister Andranik Markarian and President Robert Kocharian,
Armenian agencies reported. Stepashin assured Khachatrian that Armenia
"was and will be Russia's only strategic partner in the South
Caucasus," Caucasus Press reported. Stepashin and Kocharian discussed
regional security issues and the prospects for expanding economic
cooperation. LF
[18] PROCEDURAL DISPUTE THWARTS DEBATE ON ARMENIAN CONSTITUTIONAL
AMENDMENTS
Debate on the alternative draft constitutional amendments jointly
authored by six opposition parties was postponed indefinitely on 19
February, RFE/RL's Yerevan bureau reported. National Democratic Party
leader Shavarsh Kocharian withdrew the bill after the majority rejected
the opposition's demand for an extended debate that would be broadcast
on state television and radio. LF
[19] PRELIMINARY ARMENIAN CENSUS DATA PUBLISHED
Armenia's National Statistics Service released on 15 February the
preliminary findings of the national census conducted in October 2001,
Noyan Tapan and RFE/RL's Yerevan bureau reported (see "RFE/RL
Newsline," 11 October 2001). The country's permanent population at that
time was 3,020,768, which means that some 950,000 people have left the
country since the last Soviet census in early 1989, according to
National Statistics Service head Stepan Mnatsakanian. LF
[20] RUSSIAN OFFICIALS AGAIN CALL FOR JOINT ACTION AGAINST 'TERRORISTS'
IN GEORGIA...
Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said in Moscow on 19 February that
Georgia's Pankisi Gorge has become "a stronghold of...international
terrorists," and that Russia has more than once offered to help Georgia
eliminate the threat they pose, ITAR-TASS reported. Defense Minister
Sergei Ivanov similarly again accused Georgia, as he did last December,
of being unable to control the Pankisi Gorge (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 21
December 2001). He said Moscow is concerned by the situation in the
gorge, as it is so close to the Russian-Georgian border. But he added
that any decision on a joint operation to apprehend the "bandits"
should be taken by the political leaderships of Russia and Georgia,
Russian agencies reported. LF
[21] ...WHICH GEORGIA AGAIN DENIES IS NECESSARY
Georgia's ambassador to Moscow, Zurab Abashidze, told Russian
journalists on 19 February that the Georgian leadership is not
currently discussing the possibility of joint military action in
Pankisi with any other country, nor is there any need for foreign
troops to participate in any such action. He added that Georgia would,
however, welcome technical assistance or intelligence information that
would facilitate such action. Abashidze said there is no evidence to
substantiate claims that Saudi terrorist Osama bin Laden may be in
Pankisi. Igor Ivanov raised that possibility on 15 February (see
"RFE/RL Newsline," 19 February 2002). Interfax on 19 February quoted
Georgian National Security Minister Valeri Khaburzania as saying that
Russian officials should produce "at least some operational data" to
substantiate their claims that bin Laden is hiding in Pankisi. Both
Khaburzania and Interior Minister Koba Narchemashvili also denied that
there is any need for a "large-scale armed operation against
terrorists" in Pankisi. Speaking in Tbilisi on 19 February, former
Georgian parliament speaker Zurab Zhvania denied that the U.S. is
planning to send troops to Pankisi, ITAR-TASS reported. LF
[22] ABKHAZ INTELLIGENCE SERVICE CLAIMS CHECHEN WARLORD HAS AGAIN
ENTERED ABKHAZIA
At some point in the past few weeks Chechen field commander Ruslan
Gelaev again entered Abkhazia from elsewhere in Georgia and is believed
to be in the Sanchar pass, Abkhaz State Security Service chief Zurab
Agumaa told Interfax on 19 February. Agumaa said Gelaev may be planning
to seize the village of Pskhu close to the border with
Karachaevo-Cherkessia. He said that it is unlikely Gelaev could have
again entered Abkhazia, as he is believed to have done with a band of
fighters last fall, without the assistance of Georgian military and
security agencies (see "RFE/RL Caucasus Report," Vol. 4, No. 34, 12
October 2001, and No. 35, 22 October 2001). Reports that Gelaev was
seriously wounded during the fighting last fall in the Kodori Gorge and
underwent medical treatment in Tbilisi have never been confirmed. Under
an agreement signed in Sukhum last month, on 20 February, joint
Abkhaz-Georgian patrols of the Kodori Gorge are to begin under the
aegis of the UN Observer Mission. LF
[23] LEGAL PROCEEDINGS BEGUN AGAINST GEORGIAN OPPOSITION POLITICIAN
The Georgian prosecutor-general has opened a case against Djemal
Gogitidze, the leader of the Revival Union parliament faction, in
connection with his allegations that Georgian Intelligence Service head
Avtandil Ioseliani is plotting the assassination of Adjar Supreme
Council Chairman Aslan Abashidze, Caucasus Press reported (see "RFE/RL
Newsline," 19 February 2002). On 18 February, President Shevardnadze
expressed his confidence in Ioseliani, whom he described as enjoying
the respect of his colleagues and the trust of the Georgian displaced
persons from Abkhazia, Caucasus Press reported. LF
[24] KIDNAPPED GEORGIAN POLICE OFFICERS RELEASED
Following "negotiations" with their abductors, the four Georgian police
officers taken hostage late on 17 February in the Pankisi Gorge were
unconditionally released late on 19 February, ITAR-TASS and Caucasus
Press reported. Georgian Interior Minister Narchemashvili identified
the kidnappers as relatives of arrested drug baron Yuri Baghatashvili.
The kidnappers apparently waived their demand that Baghatashvili be
freed in exchange for the police officers' release (see "RFE/RL
Newsline," 19 February 2002). LF
[25] KAZAKHSTAN, RUSSIA DISCUSS ECONOMIC, MILITARY COOPERATION
The sixth session of the Kazakh-Russian intergovernmental cooperation
commission took place in Moscow on 19 February, Russian agencies
reported. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Khristenko, who
co-chaired the session together with his Kazakh counterpart Karim
Massimov, said that the two countries will draft long-term agreements
on cooperation in the fuel and energy sectors, including the expansion
of Russian export pipeline capacity, Interfax reported. In addition, a
special subcommission will draft a new agreement on defense cooperation
over the next nine years. Khristenko denied that Moscow plans to stop
using the Baikonor cosmodrome, noting that the two countries have
signed an agreement on its long-term use. LF
[26] KYRGYZ PRESIDENT SAYS ARRESTED PARLIAMENT DEPUTY WILL RECEIVE
'FAIR TRIAL'...
In his first public comment on the domestic political crisis
precipitated by the arrest last month of parliament deputy Azimbek
Beknazarov, President Askar Akaev said on Kyrgyz state television on 18
February that Beknazarov will receive a fair trial, Interfax reported.
Akaev added that only a court can establish whether or not Beknazarov
is guilty, and that the nationwide protests and hunger strikes to
demand his release constitute "undemocratic" and unlawful pressure on
the country's authorities, RFE/RL's Bishkek bureau reported. On 19
February, Kyrgyzstan's Supreme Court ruled that Beknazarov's trial
should resume in the town of Kara-Suu in Djalalabad Oblast. When
proceedings began one week ago in the town of Toktogul, Beknazarov
demanded that the case be heard outside Djalalabad in order to ensure a
fair trial (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 13 February 2002). LF
[27] ...AS SUPPORTERS MEET WITH HIM IN DETENTION...
Also on 19 February, two of his fellow parliament deputies met with
Beknazarov in detention in Djalalabad, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service
reported. Beknazarov denied in the presence of two police colonels that
he has been beaten in custody, but whispered to one of the deputies
just before they left that he had in fact been mistreated (see "RFE/RL
Newsline," 19 February 2002). The two reported that Beknazarov was
limping. LF
[28] ...AND VILLAGERS TAKE LOCAL OFFICIALS HOSTAGE TO DEMAND HIS
RELEASE
Meanwhile, residents of Kara-Suu claim to have taken eight local
officials and four drivers hostage to demand an end to the beating of
Beknazarov in custody and his release, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reported
on 19 February. But a spokesman for Djalalabad Oblast Governor Sultan
Urmanaev denied on 19 February that any such hostage taking has
occurred. LF
[29] BOMB BLAST FOILED IN TAJIK CAPITAL
A homemade bomb planted in one of Dushanbe's tallest buildings failed
to explode on 19 February, Reuters and Russian media reported. Police
said the device consisted of about two kilograms of TNT with two
detonators, one of which exploded but caused no material damage. LF
[30] UZBEKISTAN, LITHUANIA PLAN TO EXPAND COOPERATION
Visiting Lithuanian Premier Algirdas Brazauskas met in Tashkent on 19
February with his Uzbek counterpart Utkir Sultanov and with parliament
speaker Erkin Khalilov, Russian media reported. The talks focused
primarily on expanding economic cooperation and trade; Lithuania
imports raw materials from Uzbekistan for its textile sector.
Brazauskas and Sultanov signed intergovernmental agreements on
encouraging and protecting investments, the prevention of dual taxation
and tax evasion, and fighting crime. LF
[31] WINTER OLYMPICS MEDAL COUNT -- PART 1 COUNTRIES
Through 19 FEBRUARY
CountryGoldSilverBronzeTotal
Russia55313
Armenia0000
Azerbaijan0000
Georgia0000
Kazakhstan0000
Kyrgyzstan0000
Tajikistan0000
Uzbekistan0000
CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE
[32] BELARUSIAN PRESIDENT BLAMES ALLEGATIONS OF ILLEGAL ARMS TRADE ON
OPPOSITION...
Belarusian Television on 19 February broadcast excerpts of an interview
given by President Alyaksandr Lukashenka to "The Wall Street Journal."
Lukashenka denied that Belarus has traded in weapons in violation of UN
sanctions, and accused the opposition of being behind the media reports
alleging that Belarus sells arms to countries supporting terrorism.
"The information [about Belarus's illegal arms trade] was thrown into
the West and your media by our opposition. Following the elections,
there was a need for some other topic, there was a need to stage a
subsequent provocation against their own state," Lukashenka said,
adding, "we have never traded in arms in violation of UN sanctions.
Never. You will not find any such fact." JM
[33] ...SAYS OSCE GROUP MAY STAY IN MINSK, BUT ON NEW CONDITIONS...
Lukashenka also said the mandate of the OSCE Advisory and Monitoring
Group in Minsk has expired, adding that either the group should leave
the country or "new conditions should be determined" for its stay in
Belarus, Belarusian Television reported. JM
[34] ...TELLS RUSSIANS HOW MUCH BELARUSIAN BREWERY COSTS
Lukashenka reportedly assured "The Wall Street Journal" that the
government is doing everything possible to create attractive conditions
for foreign investors in Belarus. Touching upon the recent move of the
Russian beer producer Baltika to withdraw its assets from the
privatization of the Krynitsa brewery in Minsk (see "RFE/RL Newsline,"
13 February 2002), Lukashenka said the Russian company has not invested
enough to obtain a controlling stake in Krynitsa. "We had a [verbal]
agreement [with Baltika] -- as soon as they invest $50 million, they
will get a controlling stake. As of today, they invested $10-15
million. It is easy to calculate how many shares they can get -- 10-15
percent. If they invest $50 million, they will get 50 percent." JM
[35] BELARUSIAN YOUTH LEADER HEAVILY FINED FOR VALENTINE'S DAY MARCH
A district court in Minsk on 19 February imposed a fine equal to 300
minimum wages ($1,800) on Youth Front leader Pavel Sevyarynets for
organizing an unauthorized march in downtown Minsk to commemorate
Valentine's Day (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 15 February 2002). Belapan
reported that such a verdict came as a surprise to both Sevyarynets and
the policemen escorting him, since all of them were convinced that he
would be given a prison sentence. Last year, Sevyarynets was jailed
four times for participating in unauthorized rallies. JM
[36] POLL SAYS OUR UKRAINE, COMMUNISTS LEAD ELECTION RACE
A poll conducted by the Ukrainian Institute of Social Studies and the
Social Monitoring Center from 7-9 February among 2,012 respondents
found that if the parliamentary election had been held at that time,
Our Ukraine led by former Premier Viktor Yushchenko would have obtained
19.7 percent of the vote, while Petro Symonenko's Communist Party would
have garnered 13.3 percent, Interfax reported on 19 February. The 4
percent voting threshold would have also been overcome by the Social
Democratic Party (United) -- with 5.6 percent of the vote; the Green
Party -- 5.6 percent; Women for the Future -- 5 percent; and For a
United Ukraine -- 4.4 percent. The groups below the 4 percent threshold
were: the Natalya Vitrenko Bloc -- with 2.9 percent of the vote; the
Yuliya Tymoshenko Bloc -- 2.5 percent; and the Socialist Party -- 2.4
percent. The reported margin of error in the poll was 2.2 percent. JM
[37] UKRAINIAN POLITICIAN ACCUSES AUTHORITIES OF OVERSTATING POPULARITY
OF PRO-PRESIDENTIAL BLOC
Yuriy Kostenko, the leader of the Ukrainian Popular Rukh, told UNIAN on
19 February that the state-controlled media have recently publicized an
intentionally overstated popularity rating of the pro-presidential bloc
For a United Ukraine by saying it is supported by more than 9 percent
of voters. According to Kostenko, real support for the bloc, as
testified by opinion surveys, is around 4 percent. Kostenko noted that
in recent years the authorities have perfected the technique of
manipulating voter behavior through publishing misleading data about
the relative popularity of various politicians. And he added: "This
time the pro-presidential bloc For a United Ukraine is an evident
example [of such manipulation in the media]. This is an attempt to
persuade voters to accept the results that will be released by the
Central Election Commission." Kostenko believes that the election law
"minimizes" the possibility of rigging a vote count by the authorities
as regards parties and blocs running in the countrywide constituency,
but admits that such a possibility exists in single-seat
constituencies. JM
[38] ESTONIAN GOVERNMENT STOPS 'BRAND ESTONIA' PROJECT
The cabinet on 19 February decided to end the Brand Estonia project of
the Enterprise Estonia Foundation, which was to cost some 40 million
kroons ($2.2 million), ETA reported. The project's purpose was to build
an easily identifiable image for the country that would help increase
exports, foreign investments, and the number of tourists to Estonia.
The proposal of Economy, Transportation, and Communications Minister
Liina Tonisson to form a marketing department at the Business
Development Foundation to fulfill this task was approved. The cabinet
set the immigration quota for 2002 at 665 persons, or 19 less than in
2001. It also allocated 1 million kroons in humanitarian aid for Afghan
refugees, and another 1.8 million kroons for donations to international
organizations and programs. SG
[39] LATVIAN-EU ASSOCIATION COUNCIL MEETS OVER INTEGRATION EFFORTS
The fifth session of the European Union's Association Council in
Brussels on 19 February praised Latvia's achievements in its bid for EU
membership, particularly noting its efforts to facilitate the
integration of noncitizens, LETA reported. Foreign Minister Indulis
Berzins headed the Latvian delegation while Spanish Foreign Minister
Josep Pique, assisted by EU commissioner for enlargement Guenter
Verheugen and Danish Foreign Ministry State Secretary Friis Arne
Petersen, led the EU delegation. The council said Latvia maintained
macroeconomic stability and showed strong growth last year, but
requires further measures to reduce unemployment and must maintain its
policy of fiscal discipline. The council also noted initiatives aimed
at amending the language requirements for candidates in the election
laws, and the commitment of the Latvian government to go on with public
administration and judicial reforms as well as with anticorruption
efforts. It looked favorably upon Latvia's progress in harmonizing its
laws with the EU acquis communautaire, but said more needs to be done
in such areas as agriculture, energy, environment, and regional policy.
SG
[40] SWEDISH DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER VISITS LITHUANIA
Lena Hjelm-Wallen discussed EU and NATO expansion and bilateral ties
with President Valdas Adamkus in Vilnius on 19 February, ELTA reported.
She said that although Sweden is not a member of NATO, it supports
Lithuania's efforts to join the Atlantic alliance. In regard to EU
agricultural policy she asserted that Sweden is opposed to the current
system of direct subsidies to farmers, as this encourages surplus
production. Hjelm-Wallen noted that all applicant countries must reform
their agriculture sectors by reducing the number of people involved in
it. Her talks with Deputy Foreign Ministers Evaldas Ignatavicius and
Rytis Martikonis primarily focused on EU enlargement. Being a member of
the executive board of the Swedish Social Democratic Party, she also
met with members of the parliament's Social Democratic faction. SG
[41] CORRECTION:
"RFE/RL Newsline" on 19 February should have read that the Czech
Republic's foreign minister, Jan Kavan, visited Riga for talks with
Latvian officials on 17-18 February, and not Tallinn for talks with
Estonian officials.
[42] POLISH GOVERNMENT APPROVES SECRET SERVICE REFORM BILL
Premier Leszek Miller's cabinet has approved a bill to reform the
country's special services, PAP reported on 19 February. Under the
proposed reform, the current State Protection Office is to be disbanded
and replaced by two bodies: an Internal Security Agency to deal with
counterintelligence activities and grave crimes, and an Intelligence
Agency to gather intelligence abroad. The two agencies are to be headed
by civilians appointed by the prime minister for three-year terms. JM
[43] POLISH SHIPYARD WORKERS STRIKE OVER WAGES, LAYOFFS
Some 500 workers in the Stocznia Gdynia SA shipyard started a sit-in
strike on 19 February to demand higher wages and to protest planned
restructuring and layoffs, Polish media reported. Production has been
paralyzed, and the management sent some 8,000 other employees on leave
until the end of this week. JM
[44] POLISH RADICAL AGRARIAN INDICTED ON SEVEN COUNTS
Warsaw prosecutors charged Self-Defense leader Andrzej Lepper on seven
counts of slander on 19 February, Polish media reported. Last November,
speaking on a local radio station, Lepper called Foreign Minister
Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz a "scoundrel" and Cimoszewicz's father a
"criminal who killed Poles." Addressing the parliament in December,
Lepper accused five prominent politicians of taking bribes and having
contacts with the mafia. Because of these pronouncements, Lepper was
stripped of the post of deputy speaker and of his parliamentary
immunity. Lepper pleaded not guilty and said the charges were
unfounded. No trial date has been set. JM
[45] CZECH PREMIER DENIES HAVING COMPARED ARAFAT WITH HITLER...
Milos Zeman denied on 19 February that in his recent interview with the
Israeli daily "Ha'aretz" he compared Palestinian Authority Chairman
Yasser Arafat with Nazi leader Adolf Hitler, international news
agencies reported. Zeman said he was "surprised" to read about the
alleged comparison, which, he explained, was based on a misquoted
statement he made while on his visit to Israel (see "RFE/RL Newsline,"
19 February 2002). MS
[46] ...AFTER TRIGGERING CRITICISM AT HOME...
President Vaclav Havel said in response to the alleged statement by
Zeman that it is "inadmissible" to take two different historical
experiences out of context and to "apply the principle of collective
guilt." Havel said Zeman's statement "might escalate Middle Eastern
tension," CTK reported. Chamber of Deputies Chairman Vaclav Klaus
called the statement "absurd" and said Zeman is doing "unprecedented
harm" to the Czech Republic." MS
[47] ...AND ABROAD
Egypt announced it has asked Zeman to postpone a visit planned for 28
February in a sign of protest against the statement, and the Arab
League issued a strongly worded protest, CTK and international agencies
reported. The European Commission initially said that this is "not the
language we expect from a future EU member," AP reported. Commission
spokesman Jean-Christophe Filori called Zeman's remarks "unhelpful,"
and said he wishes to remind Zeman that the Czech Republic has pledged
to support EU foreign policy during its membership negotiations. Later
on 19 February, Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Pique, whose country
holds the EU's rotating presidency, said he considers Zeman's
explanation "satisfactory." MS
[48] CZECHS RESPONSIBLE FOR FALSE LUSTRATION CERTIFICATES MAY ESCAPE
PUNISHMENT
Five former employees of the Interior Ministry are responsible for the
issuance of more than 100 false lustration certificates between 1991
and 1993, but they are likely to escape punishment, CTK reported on 20
February, citing the daily "Lidove noviny." The issuance of the false
certificates was announced in June 2001 by Interior Minister Stanislav
Gross. "Lidove noviny" said the five can be charged with negligence in
performing their duties, but that the offense falls under the statute
of limitations and prosecution is unlikely. MS
[49] GERMAN CHANCELLOR BACKS CURRENT SLOVAK CABINET
Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, speaking to journalists in Berlin after
discussions with Slovak Prime Minister Mikulas Dzurinda, said he
believes Slovakia will be "in the first wave" of both EU and NATO
expansion, CTK and Reuters reported. Schroeder said he does not want to
interfere in Slovakia's internal affairs, but wishes to emphasize that
the performance of the cabinet headed by Dzurinda has been "remarkable
and very good." As Schroeder's statement came in response to a question
concerning the possible return to power of former Premier Vladimir
Meciar, observers say this amounted to support for Dzurinda ahead of
the parliamentary elections this autumn. MS
[50] HUNGARIAN PREMIER CALLS EU PLAN ON AGRICULTURAL SUBSIDIES
'UNACCEPTABLE'
Viktor Orban told his Irish counterpart Bertie Ahern in Dublin on 19
February that Hungary finds "unacceptable" the European Commission's
proposal to require a 10-year transition period before giving full
agricultural subsidies to new members. Orban said Hungary's agriculture
is currently competitive with that of the EU, but such status would be
in jeopardy if the EU does not guarantee equal treatment for Hungarian
farmers once the country joins the organization. He said Hungary seeks
an ad hoc agreement that would not extend into the EU's next budget
term, which begins in 2007. According to "Magyar Nemzet," Ahern
admitted that the proposed transitional period is too long. In related
news, Hungarian deputy government spokesman Tamas Kubinyi confirmed
that the prime ministers of the four Visegrad countries -- the Czech
Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia -- will meet in Keszthely on 27
February to discuss the EU's proposed agricultural policy. He said
Hungary is probably the only one of the four that "will not give in to
the EU," and will request 100 percent subsidies, rather than the 25
percent of that given to current EU members that was proposed by the
European Commission. MSZ
[51] HUNGARIAN RADIO, TV BOARD 'ADMONISHES' PRO-MIEP STATION AGAIN
The National Radio and Television Board (ORTT) on 19 February
"admonished" Pannon Radio for its failure to report changes to its
ownership structure. The board discovered that the Istvan Bocskai
Foundation for an Open University, an organization founded by Hungarian
Justice and Life Party (MIEP) Chairman Istvan Csurka, obtained a 26
percent stake in the radio station's operator, Gido Media Ltd., in
August 2000. The Media Law bans political parties from obtaining direct
influence in a broadcaster. Gido Media's statute stipulates that
decisions can only be made with the agreement of at least 75 percent of
the owners, therefore the Bocskai Foundation's 26 percent stake gives
it veto power. The station was given 30 days to rectify the situation.
The ORTT's decision follows recent protests by some 60 leading
Hungarian musicians against what they call the station's "openly racist
and anti-Semitic tone." MIEP spokesman Bela Gyori has recently referred
to Pannon as "MIEP radio," and the ORTT declared in January that the
station promotes ideas advocated by MIEP, "Nepszabadsag" reported. MSZ
SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE
[52] MONTENEGRIN PRESIDENT BACKING DOWN ON REFERENDUM
In a further sign that he has bowed to EU pressure to remain in a joint
state with Serbia, Milo Djukanovic said in Podgorica on 19 February
that a planned referendum on independence may not take place in the
spring, AP reported (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 19 February 2002).
Djukanovic noted that he previously "believed that the first half of
the year was most suitable for the referendum, but, we heard otherwise.
We know we are not alone here...so we are willing to hear other
proposals." He added nonetheless that "Montenegro has the indisputable
right to determine its own future as all other nations and states have
had. Nobody should dare take that away from us" (see "Balkan Report,"
14 December 2001). Djukanovic was presumably alluding to the facts that
Montenegro was an independent state before 1918 and that the
international Badinter commission ruled in 1991 that all former
Yugoslav republics have the legal right to independence. Djukanovic
made the statement after meeting with OSCE chairman and Portuguese
Foreign Minister Jaime Gama. PM
[53] MONTENEGRIN PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT: PARLIAMENT HAS THE LAST WORD
Vesna Perovic, who heads the Montenegrin legislature, said in Podgorica
on 19 February that the parliament and not Djukanovic has the final say
in deciding on any document codifying relations with Serbia, Deutsche
Welle's Serbian Service reported. Miodrag Ilickovic, who is deputy
chairman of the Social Democratic Party, said that EU security chief
Javier Solana is behaving in a one-sided fashion. PM
[54] STEINER ANNOUNCES FALL LOCAL VOTE IN KOSOVA
Speaking in Prishtina on 19 February, Michael Steiner, who heads the UN
civilian administration in Kosova (UNMIK), said local elections will
take place on 21 September provided that appropriate government
structures are in place by then, RFE/RL's South Slavic and Albanian
Languages Service reported. He appealed to political leaders to
"overcome narrow party interests" and form a cabinet. He added that
Kosova will be judged on how it treats its minorities. Steiner stressed
that the province will not develop unless it promotes relations with
Tirana, Skopje, and especially Belgrade. Meanwhile in the Serbian
capital, Deputy Prime Minister Nebojsa Covic, who is Belgrade's point
man for southern Serbia and Kosova, said he will meet with Steiner on
28 February and hopes to agree on "basic principles of cooperation"
between his government and UNMIK. Observers note that Kosova's 90
percent ethnic Albanian majority wants nothing more to do with Serbia
and that signing an agreement with Belgrade cost Steiner's predecessor,
Hans Haekkerup, much of his standing with the Albanians. PM
[55] MACEDONIAN POLICE TO RETURN TO ARACINOVO
Local Albanians who had been blocking the return of police returned to
their homes in Aracinovo late on 19 February, dpa reported (see "RFE/RL
Newsline," 11 February 2002). The local people reached an agreement
with the Macedonian authorities on the deployment of the multiethnic
police force in the community near Skopje. The local police chief will
be an Albanian, and the checkpoint nearby will be manned by ethnic
Albanians and ethnic Macedonians. Tensions rose in the area earlier in
the day after a reported incident in which a Macedonian policeman
allegedly slapped an Albanian at the checkpoint, which touched off a
demonstration. Police denied the charges, saying they had detained two
Albanians for illegally cutting firewood but did not slap anyone. PM
[56] NATO WARNS AGAINST MACEDONIAN RUMORMONGERING
Alliance spokesman Craig Ratcliff said in Skopje on 19 February that
speculation by some Macedonian hard-liners that a conflict might resume
is counterproductive, AP reported (see "RFE/RL Balkan Report," 15
February 2002). He argued that "we have said repeatedly that there are
no signs of an offensive," and that rumors are "not helpful in building
the confidence of the international community and their desire to
donate money and assistance to Macedonia." PM
[57] SERBIAN GOVERNING COALITION STILL WITHOUT DRAFT LAW ON THE HAGUE
Members of the governing Democratic Opposition of Serbia (DOS)
coalition have formed a "working group" to draft a proposed law on
cooperating with The Hague-based war crimes tribunal within four days,
RFE/RL's South Slavic Service reported on 19 February. The coalition
has been promising such legislation ever since it came to power at the
end of 2000. The main stumbling block is that the Democratic Party of
Serbia of Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica favors legislation that
critics say will hinder cooperation rather than promote it. Most of the
other parties in DOS want legislation that will win approval from The
Hague in order to reduce Western pressure on Serbia and encourage
donors and investors. In related news, Serbian Prime Minister Zoran
Djindjic said he does not know where indicted war criminal General
Ratko Mladic is. PM
[58] DIPLOMATIC TENSIONS CONTINUE BETWEEN CROATIA AND BOSNIA
Bosnia has recalled its new ambassador to Croatia, Zlatko Dizdarevic,
to Sarajevo "for consultations," RFE/RL's South Slavic Service reported
on 19 February. The move came after Croatian parliament speaker Zlatko
Tomcic said that his schedule was "too full" to receive Dizdarevic.
Tomcic nonetheless found time to meet with the ambassadors of Belgrade
and Tokyo. Relations between Sarajevo and Zagreb have been strained for
some weeks because of Croatian legislation on overland transport of
fuel and fuel products (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 14 February 2002). PM
[59] UN SACKS THREE BOSNIAN SERB POLICE
The UN mission that supervises police work in Bosnia has dismissed
three Bosnian Serb policemen, Reuters reported from Sarajevo on 19
February. The three were interrogators during the 1992-1995 conflict at
various prisons mentioned in the indictment against former Yugoslav and
Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic. It is not clear whether there are
war crimes charges against the three men. Once dismissed by the UN, a
person cannot be legally employed in police work in Bosnia again. PM
[60] EU COMMISSIONER WARNS AGAINST 'DOUBLE REJECTION' OF ROMANIA,
BULGARIA
Addressing NATO's Parliamentary Assembly in Brussels on 19 February,
Guenter Verheugen, the EU's commissioner in charge of enlargement, said
he favors a "big bang" NATO expansion that would include those
countries that are not yet ready for EU membership, Reuters reported.
Verheugen said that a possible "double rejection" of Romania and
Bulgaria would "create a very difficult situation in those countries."
MS
[61] ROMANIAN PREMIER IN TURKEY
Adrian Nastase, on a one-day visit to Turkey on 19 February, held talks
with his counterpart Bulent Ecevit and with President Ahmet Necdet
Sezer, Romanian radio reported. Nastase and Ecevit signed several
agreements on economic cooperation. One of them provides for Romanian
delivery of equipment from a Brasov-based tractor manufacturer for
assembling over 1,000 tractors in Turkey in 2002, and some 40,000
tractors over the next 12 years. Nastase called on Turkish businessmen
to invest in his country, particularly in the energy sector. He
expressed his gratitude to Ecevit, who reiterated Turkey's
determination to back Romanian and Bulgarian bids for NATO membership
at the Prague summit this autumn. MS
[62] FORMER ROMANIAN PRESIDENT SUSPECTS HIS TELEPHONE IS BUGGED
Emil Constantinescu has written to Prosecutor-General Tanase Joita
asking whether telephone conversations conducted by himself, his
family, and the staff of a foundation he is heading are being
monitored, Mediafax reported on 19 February. Former presidential
counselor Zoe Petre said Joita replied that the Prosecutor-General's
Office "strictly abides by legal provisions," and that the office is
not legally allowed to make public which conversations are placed under
surveillance in line with the letter of the law. Petre said the reply
was "equivocal" and "does not deny that our telephone conversations are
being eavesdropped on." She said she wonders how the former president,
his family, and the foundation's staff could possibly "endanger
national security"-- the only reason for which the current legislation
permits telephone surveillance. MS
[63] ROMANIAN EXTREMIST PARTY PLAGUED BY INTERNAL RIFT
According to a Mediafax report on 19 February, the leadership of the
Greater Romania Party (PRM) has decided to replace parliamentary deputy
Ilie Neacsu as chairman of the Agricultural Commission in the Chamber
of Deputies with deputy Ioan Bildea. The report said the PRM is
dissatisfied that Neacsu has backed in the commission legislation
promoted by the ruling Social Democratic Party (PSD). Mediafax also
said other prominent PRM leadership members, among them parliamentary
deputies Sever Mesca and Anghel Stanciu, are likely to be disciplined
at the next PRM National Conference in March because they rallied to
Neacsu's defense. MS
[64] HUNGARIAN LEADER IN ROMANIA RECEIVES MAGYAR ID CARD
On 19 February in Cluj, Hungarian Foreign Ministry State Secretary
Zsolt Nemeth personally presented Hungarian Democratic Federation of
Romania (UDMR) Chairman Bela Marko with the Hungarian ID card Marko is
entitled to under the provisions of the Status Law, a local RFE/RL
correspondent reported. Earlier on 19 February, the opposition parties
walked out of the Chamber of Deputies in protest against the new Police
Law. The law stipulates that in localities where national minorities
make up 20 percent or more of the population, policemen who speak the
languages of those minorities must be employed in the local force. The
legislation was approved with the support of the UDMR, the PSD, and
formations representing other national minorities. MS
[65] MOLDOVAN CONSTITUTIONAL COURT OUTLAWS LOCAL ELECTIONS
The Constitutional Court ruled on 19 February that the law passed on 5
February by the parliament on holding early local elections on 7 April
is unconstitutional, RFE/RL's Bucharest bureau reported. President
Vladimir Voronin said in response that he has asked central and local
authorities, as well as political parties, to "respect" the court's
decision, since no law "can infringe on the constitution." Victor
Stepaniuc, the leader of the Party of Moldovan Communists parliamentary
group, said the decision is "surprising" but that the parliament "will
respect it." The court thus heeded an appeal against the parliament's
decision by the opposition Popular Party Christian Democratic (PPCD),
which said reducing the four-year mandate of local authority officials
elected in May 1999 is an infringement on the basic law. MS
[66] RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY BACKS MOLDOVAN GOVERNMENT...
The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on 19 February that
the ongoing demonstrations against the Moldovan government "organized
by the radical nationalist PPCD" have been accompanied "in some
instances" by "anti-Russian actions, directed against the Embassy of
the Russian Federation" in Moldova's capital city, RFE/RL's Chisinau
bureau reported. The statement said that such actions "do not promote
civil accord in the multiethnic Moldovan society," and that their
organizers "from inside the country or outside it" should "realize that
they may thereby create one more hotbed of conflict in Southeastern
Europe." MS
[67] ...AS CHISINAU PROTESTS CONTINUE
PPCD Deputy Chairman Vlad Cubreacov said in response to the Russian
statement that this is not the first time Moscow has displayed "a
hostile attitude toward Moldovan realities," but that it "is the first
time that it has done so openly," RFE/RL's Chisinau bureau reported. He
described the Russian declaration as "one made in imperial style," and
added that the PPCD "cannot but reject it." Cubreacov also said that
the Moldovan cabinet has launched "the persecution of Romanians in
Moldova" at "the orders of the Kremlin." Meanwhile, the protest
demonstrations continued in Chisinau and over 40 high schools and
elementary schools announced they are joining the "general strike"
declared by the PPCD. PPCD Chairman Iurie Rosca told the crowd: "The
time has come to save democracy and end communism once and for all." MS
[68] BRAGHIS ALLIANCE JOINS DEMAND FOR MOLDOVAN CABINET'S DISMISSAL
The parliamentary group of the Braghis Alliance demanded on 19 February
that the cabinet headed by Prime Minister Tarlev resign, RFE/RL's
Bucharest bureau reported. The group said the cabinet "has proved its
incapacity to rule." In response to a journalist's question as to
whether he would agree to return at the head of the government, Dumitru
Braghis said: "This depends on who would ask me to form one." He added
that he is not backing the PPCD's demand that President Voronin resign
as well. MS
[69] MOLDOVA REFUSES TO PARTICIPATE IN OSCE TALKS WITH TRANSDNIESTER
Moldova on 19 February said it will not send its negotiators to a new
round of talks with the separatists, planned under the sponsorship of
the OSCE in Bratislava, on 19-20 February, ITAR-TASS and Infotag
reported. The Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the resumption
of the negotiations is "senseless as long as Tiraspol rejects any
concessions." The ministry said Chisinau continues to adhere to
negotiations as the only means to solve the conflict, but that "talks
can yield concrete results only when the participants display genuine
political will and flexibility." MS
[70] WORLD BANK WARNS MOLDOVA
The World Bank representative in Chisinau, Carlos Elbirt, said on 19
February that unless Moldova abides by its obligation to implement
market reforms and scraps plans to renationalize privatized companies,
it risks losing millions of dollars in vital loans, AP reported. Elbirt
said the bank is worried about the cabinet's intention to renationalize
25 already privatized companies and to subsidize loss-producing state
farms and enterprises. Elbirt also called on the government to quickly
appoint new economy and finance ministers, saying the recent departure
of ministers Andrei Cucu and Mihai Manoli has left vacant "two of the
most critical positions in terms of reform." MS
[71] U.S. OFFICIAL PROMISES BULGARIA HELP AHEAD OF NATO SUMMIT
U.S. Permanent Representative to NATO, Ambassador R. Nicholas Burns,
met in Sofia on 19 February with President Georgi Parvanov to discuss
Bulgaria's quest to join NATO as well as military reforms, BTA
reported. Presidential adviser Zlatin Trupkov told journalists
following the meeting that Burns said the U.S. will assist Bulgaria in
reforming its military ahead of the NATO summit in Prague. Burns also
met with Prime Minister Simeon Saxecoburggotski. MS
[72] BULGARIAN ROMA RIOT IN PROTEST OF POWER OUTRAGE
Hundreds of Roma rioted in the Plodviv suburb of Stolipinovo on the
night of 18 to 19 February after the authorities cut off power to their
houses in response to unpaid electricity bills, AP and dpa reported. No
one was seriously injured, but stones were thrown at police officers,
roadblocks were set up, and there were reports on pillaged stores and
vehicles. Police sealed off the area, but did not intervene. The 35,000
Roma living in the neighborhood complain of high unemployment and
poverty. MS
[73] WINTER OLYMPICS MEDAL COUNT -- PART 2 COUNTRIES
Through 19 FEBRUARY
CountryGoldSilverBronzeTotal
Bulgaria0123
Croatia1102
Estonia1012
Czech Rep.1012
Poland0112
Belarus0011
Slovenia0011
Bosnia-Herzeg.0000
Hungary0000
Latvia0000
Lithuania0000
Macedonia0000
Moldova0000
Romania0000
Slovakia0000
Ukraine0000
Yugoslavia0000
END NOTE
[74] There is no End Note today.
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