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RFE/RL Newsline, 02-09-19
CONTENTS
[01] TWO IVANOVS IN WASHINGTON FOR SECURITY TALKS...
[02] ...AS DEFENSE MINISTER THREATENS PREEMPTIVE STRIKE ON GEORGIA...
[03] ...AND WORRIES ABOUT BALTIC STATES IN NATO
[04] ECONOMICS ADVISER CLAIMS HE CONVINCED PUTIN TO RENATIONALIZE
[05] FSB SAYS LUKOIL VICE PRESIDENT KIDNAPPED BY COMPETITORS
[06] RUSSIANS PREFER THE EURO
[07] MOSCOW HAILS KOREAN RAIL LINK
[08] 800 PRISONERS DECLARE HUNGER STRIKE
[09] WOMEN, INTELLECTUALS LOSE UNDER PUTIN...
[10] ...AS POWER 'HORIZONTAL' FORMED AT LOWER LEVELS OF FEDERAL
[11] ANTI-REFERENDUM BILL SQUEAKS BY LOWER HOUSE
[12] ANOTHER GOVERNOR MULLS LIMITS ON AGRICULTURAL IMPORTS FROM OTHER
[13] STAFF RESHUFFLED AT NATURAL RESOURCES MINISTRY
[14] FEEL LIKE GOING FOR A DRIVE?
[15] GM JOINT VENTURE IN VOLGA REGION TO PRODUCE FIRST SUV THIS MONTH
[16] TRAFFIC OFFICER SUGGESTS MINIMUM FOR OFFERINGS TO BE CONSIDERED
[17] PENZA RESIDENTS DOGGED BY ADS
[18] RUSSIAN PROSECUTOR URGES GEORGIA TO EXTRADITE CHECHEN DETAINEES
[19] SENIOR RUSSIAN OFFICIAL VISITS ARMENIA
[20] ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER ADVOCATES CRACKDOWN ON 'DANGEROUS SECTS'
[21] ARMENIAN OPPOSITION PARTIES CONDEMN PRESIDENT'S COMMENTS ON
[22] CONSTRUCTION OF AZERBAIJAN OIL-EXPORT PIPELINE BEGUN
[23] AZERBAIJAN, PAKISTAN SIGN ANOTHER DEFENSE COOPERATION AGREEMENT
[24] TWELVE CHECHENS DETAINED, ONE KILLED IN PANKISI SWEEP
[25] GEORGIAN INTELLIGENCE CHIEF ACCUSES RUSSIA OF PLANNING TO CREATE
[26] ABKHAZIA AGAIN ACCUSES GEORGIAN OFFICIAL OF LIAISING WITH CHECHEN
[27] ...AS DOES GEORGIAN GUERRILLA LEADER
[28] KAZAKH PRESIDENT CALLS FOR MORE SUPPORT FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
[29] TAJIKISTAN'S DRAFT NATIONALITY CONCEPT CRITICIZED
[30] BELARUSIAN CENTRAL BANK HEAD REJECTS RUSSIA'S SINGLE-CURRENCY
[31] ...AS IMF UNCONVINCED ON LOAN RESUMPTION AFTER CRUNCHING
[32] ...AND WORLD BANK'S BELARUS STRATEGY STALLS
[33] UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT SAYS OPPOSITION PROTESTS MAY SCARE AWAY
[34] ...AS OPPOSITION APPEALS TO WORLD LEADERS TO 'IGNORE' HIM
[35] COURTS IN KYIV PUNISH ARRESTED PROTESTERS
[36] UKRAINE HARVESTS 36.7 MILLION TONS OF GRAIN IN 2002
[37] EUROPEAN AGRICULTURE CONGRESS STARTS IN ESTONIAN CAPITAL
[38] LATVIA'S MEDICAL WORKERS HOLD ANOTHER STRIKE
[39] VISA-FREE TRAINS THROUGH LITHUANIA POSSIBLE ONLY AFTER EU ENTRY
[40] POLAND TO INTRODUCE VISAS FOR RUSSIANS DESPITE EU CONCESSION
[41] MOLDOVAN PREMIER IN POLAND
[42] TRIAL OF MAJOR GANG OPENS IN POLAND
[43] U.S., CZECH PRESIDENTS DISCUSS IRAQ, NATO EXPANSION
[44] CZECH COALITION LEADERS OFFICIALLY FEND OFF CABINET'S COLLAPSE...
[45] ...BUT FRICTION IS ONCE MORE IN THE OFFING
[46] EC SIGNALS MEASURES TO HELP CZECHS, SLOVAKS COPE WITH FLOOD
[47] 'ELECTORAL BLACKOUT' BEGINS IN SLOVAKIA...
[48] ...BUT ELECTIONEERING OVERHEATS HOURS AHEAD
[49] SLOVAKIA SETS UP HOLOCAUST VICTIMS FUND
[50] SLOVAK ROMANY ORGANIZATION SAYS JUSTICE MINISTRY VIOLATING LAW
[51] MECS COMMISSION BACKS AWAY FROM PLAN TO SUBMIT REPORT TO HUNGARIAN
[52] MACEDONIAN ELECTION LOSERS CHALLENGE ELECTION RESULTS
[53] MACEDONIAN ALBANIAN ELECTION WINNER SAYS HE DOES NOT WANT A
[54] EU STILL NOT READY FOR MACEDONIAN PEACEKEEPING
[55] DID DJINDJIC ALSO QUESTION BOSNIA'S INTEGRITY?
[56] SERBIAN ELECTION CAMPAIGN IN FULL SWING
[57] YUGOSLAVIA TO SUE ITALIAN COMPANY
[58] YUGOSLAV DELEGATION AT NATO HEADQUARTERS
[59] HARD-LINERS' PACT IN MONTENEGRO
[60] CROATIAN GOVERNMENT REPORTEDLY CONFIRMS THAT THE HAGUE WANTS
[61] CROATIAN POLICEMAN FOUND NOT GUILTY OF WAR CRIMES
[62] ROMANIAN DEFENSE MINISTER RECEIVES U.S. ASSURANCES ON NATO
[63] ROMANIA DENIES DELIVERING MILITARY EQUIPMENT TO IRAQ
[64] ROMANIAN COURT REJECTS NATIONALIST TV CHANNEL'S APPEAL
[65] TIRASPOL NEGOTIATIONS BEGIN, 'BLACKOUT' INSTITUTED ON COVERAGE
[66] BULGARIAN PARLIAMENT RATIFIES FOREIGN-DEBT SWAP
[67] IMF OFFICIAL ASSESSES BULGARIAN BUDGET
[68] FBI REPRESENTATIVE LAUDS COOPERATION WITH BULGARIA
[69] There is no End Note today.
19 September 2002
RUSSIA
[01] TWO IVANOVS IN WASHINGTON FOR SECURITY TALKS...
Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov and Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov will
begin talks in Washington on 20 September with U.S. Defense Secretary
Donald Rumsfeld and Secretary of State Colin Powell in the framework of
a joint consultative group on strategic security set up during the
Moscow summit in May, Russian news agencies reported on 19 September.
In addition to strategic stability issues, the officials will discuss
the situation concerning Iraq and some regional issues, including the
Pankisi Gorge in Georgia. Both Ivanovs will also meet with U.S.
President George W. Bush and members of Congress. VY
[02] ...AS DEFENSE MINISTER THREATENS PREEMPTIVE STRIKE ON GEORGIA...
Sergei Ivanov told journalists in Washington that Russia might launch
preemptive strikes on Georgian territory if Moscow sees a threat, RTR
reported on 19 September. "If we see bandits within 10-15 kilometers of
our border, we will not wait until they cross it but will strike
preemptively. We simply will have no other choice but to protect our
national security and the lives of our citizens," Ivanov said. He also
discussed a "security zone" along the border with Georgia that was
proposed recently by leading Russian military commanders (see "RFE/RL
Newsline," 18 September 2002). Ivanov said that such a zone could only
be created by the joint efforts of both countries manifesting the
political will to do so. He said that such a zone should be 20-45
kilometers deep depending on the local landscape and must be laid out
away from settlements in order to avoid civilian casualties. VY
[03] ...AND WORRIES ABOUT BALTIC STATES IN NATO
Defense Minister Ivanov also said that Russia is not concerned about
NATO expansion in general but is worried that the Baltic states have
not signed the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) (see
"RFE/RL Newsline," 6 February 2001 and 9 and 29 July 2002), RTR
reported. Ivanov noted that, according to this treaty, Russia took upon
itself commitments to restrict its military presence in northwestern
Europe. If, however, the Baltic States do not sign this treaty and if
they refuse to take on similar obligations after joining NATO, "it
would be stupid and laughable for Russia not to react to this," Ivanov
said. VY
[04] ECONOMICS ADVISER CLAIMS HE CONVINCED PUTIN TO RENATIONALIZE
NATURAL WEALTH
Academician Dmitrii Lvov, an economics consultant to the Russian
government and long-standing advocate of state control over
natural-resource revenues, told "Komsomolskaya pravda" on 17 September
that, under the impact of his ideas, President Vladimir Putin is
inclined to support increased state control over revenues from the
export of mineral resources. This proposal has been incorporated into
the amendments to the Mineral Resources Code drafted by deputy head of
the presidential administration Dmitrii Kozak (see "RFE/RL Newsline,"
12 September 2002). Lvov said that just 5 percent of the nation's gross
revenue is generated by labor. Twenty percent is produced by capital
and investment, and a full 75 percent is generated through the
exploitation of natural resources. He said that much of that 75 percent
is currently going directly into the pockets of a small group of
oligarchs. Lvov proposed that the state take control of these funds and
use them to finance education, health care, and housing, as well as to
reduce taxes. In Lvov's words, Putin -- who wrote his dissertation in
economics on the topic of "the rational use of natural resources" --
was very receptive to his ideas. VY
[05] FSB SAYS LUKOIL VICE PRESIDENT KIDNAPPED BY COMPETITORS
Investigators from the Federal Security Service's (FSB) Economic
Security Department said that it is most likely that a LUKoil
competitor is responsible for the 13 September kidnapping of Sergei
Kukura, the company's first vice president (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 13
and 17 September 2002), Russian news agencies reported on 19 September.
Investigators speculated that a likely motive for the kidnapping might
be a dispute over lucrative new oil-field lots from state reserves that
are expected to be distributed among oil operators soon. They said that
the recent demand for $6 million ransom was too small an amount to be
serious and was likely a ploy to drag out the situation in order to put
maximum pressure on LUKoil's leadership. VY
[06] RUSSIANS PREFER THE EURO
The euro has become the foreign currency of preference for Russians,
"Komsomolskaya pravda" reported on 18 September. The daily cited the
Central Bank in reporting that Russians are now buying about four times
as many euros as they are selling and are selling twice as many dollars
as they are buying. Russian banks are importing roughly two times as
many euros as dollars. To some extent, however, the demand for euros is
explained by the summer vacation season, although recent developments
with the euro-dollar exchange rate have also played a role. RC
[07] MOSCOW HAILS KOREAN RAIL LINK
President Putin on 18 September congratulated North and South Korea on
the establishment of a direct rail link between the two countries,
RosBalt reported. Putin hopes that the development will be the first
stage in the creation of a rail corridor across Russia from South Korea
to Europe (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 23 and 26 August 2002). In his
message, Putin said that Russia is ready to do everything possible to
work with both countries to realize the transport corridor "as quickly
as possible." RC
[08] 800 PRISONERS DECLARE HUNGER STRIKE
Nearly 800 prisoners in a pretrial detention center in Astrakhan
declared a hunger strike on 19 September to protest "unbearable
conditions" at the facility, ntvru.com reported. President Putin's
human rights ombudsman, Oleg Mironov, told Ekho Moskvy that he
considers conditions in the 285-year-old facility to be "satisfactory."
He said that he visited the jail in August and it has been improved
considerably over the last two years. "I saw the repaired cells and
they are in good condition. They have hot and cold running water,
toilets, and walls painted in light colors," Mironov said. According to
ITAR-TASS, a commission from the Astrakhan Oblast administration is
currently investigating the prisoners' complaints. RC
[09] WOMEN, INTELLECTUALS LOSE UNDER PUTIN...
In an article in "Vremya MN" on 18 September, sociologist Olga
Kryshtanovskaya characterizes the chief differences between the
country's ruling elite under President Putin and those that existed
under former President Boris Yeltsin and Soviet leaders Mikhail
Gorbachev and Leonid Brezhnev. According to Kryshtanovskaya, the
proportion of intellectuals and women in the elite has decreased, while
the numbers coming from the regions and the military have increased.
For example, at the deputy-minister level, almost 35 percent of those
appointed between 2000-02 were former military or intelligence
officials. And a number of these officials have landed in economic
ministries: there are four former military officials working as deputy
ministers at the Economic Development and Trade Ministry, three at the
Communications Ministry, and two each at the Transport, Media, Property
Relations, Justice, and Tax ministries. JAC
[10] ...AS POWER 'HORIZONTAL' FORMED AT LOWER LEVELS OF FEDERAL
MINISTRIES
Kryshtanovskaya writes that "between 2000-02 the new authorities worked
hard to create not only an administrative vertical but also an
administrative horizontal, as the highest officers in the second and
third tiers in the power structure form the country's basic cadre
reserve at all levels of political and economic administration." She
also notes that the role of the military and intelligence services in
forming not only President Putin's team but also a support group has
been "extraordinary." Putin "has managed not only to strengthen the
center, but also to create a group of bureaucrats committed to him
personally." JAC
[11] ANTI-REFERENDUM BILL SQUEAKS BY LOWER HOUSE
On the fourth attempt that day, Duma deputies on 18 September finally
approved in its first reading a bill prohibiting holding national
referendums in the 12 months prior to federal elections, Russian news
agencies reported. The vote was 304 in favor and 133 against, according
to ITAR-TASS. A vote of 300 was required since the bill is a
constitutional one. The Communist Party, which has been collecting
signatures in support of conducting a referendum on land sales and
other questions, opposed the bill (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 23 August and
12 September 2002). Communist Party leader Gennadii Zyuganov said that
he felt "ashamed to sit in the hall when such an elementary norm and
right of the electorate was violated," according to polit.ru. Zyuganov
has asked the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) to
consider this "threat to Russian democracy," ntvru.com reported on 19
September. The bill was introduced by leaders of the so-called centrist
factions -- Unity, Fatherland-All Russia, People's Deputy, and Russian
Regions -- as well as leaders from Yabloko and the Union of Rightist
Forces. The second reading might be held as soon as 20 September.
JAC/RC
[12] ANOTHER GOVERNOR MULLS LIMITS ON AGRICULTURAL IMPORTS FROM OTHER
REGIONS OF RUSSIA
Novosibirsk Oblast Governor Viktor Tolokonskii intends to raise the
question of limiting the import into his region of meat and dairy
products from other regions as well as from foreign countries at an
upcoming federal government session, Interfax-Eurasia reported on 18
September, citing the oblast administration's press service. According
to the service, the governor believes the limits might be needed to
support local agricultural prices. He also intends to raise the
possibility of the State Grain Reserve purchasing grain from the
oblast, which is expecting a harvest as large as last year's despite
unfavorable weather conditions. JAC
[13] STAFF RESHUFFLED AT NATURAL RESOURCES MINISTRY
Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov has signed an order appointing Nikolai
Tarasov as first deputy natural resources minister, "Kommersant-Daily"
reported on 18 September. Tarasov is a former mayor of the city of Orsk
in Orenburg Oblast and, more recently, headed the administration for
work with unitary enterprises and establishments within the
jurisdiction of the ministry, RIA-Novosti reported. Earlier in the
week, Kasyanov signed an order appointing Yurii Shuvaev as deputy
natural resources minister. Shuvaev is a former general director of
Ivanovoneftprodukt. JAC
[14] FEEL LIKE GOING FOR A DRIVE?
Transport Minister Sergei Frank addressed the opening of the Second
Baikal Economic Forum in Irkutsk on 17 September, Russian news agencies
reported on 18 September. Frank announced that a direct highway linking
St. Petersburg and Vladivostok will be completed in 2004, allowing
trucks to make the trip in about 10 days. Only about 400 kilometers
between Chita and Khabarovsk remain to be built out of the
9,000-kilometer highway. According to Transport Ministry official Oleg
Smolin, President Putin has ordered that the road be completed as soon
as possible. RC
[15] GM JOINT VENTURE IN VOLGA REGION TO PRODUCE FIRST SUV THIS MONTH
The first Chevrolet Niva automobile of the General Motors-AvtoVAZ joint
venture in Tolyatti is scheduled to roll off the production line on 23
September, Interfax reported on 18 September. Samara Oblast Governor
Konstantin Titov has already put in an order for the sports-utility
vehicle, and the third one has been designated for Tolyatti Mayor
Nikolai Utkin. A total of 456 of the light trucks costing $8,000 each
are expected to be produced by the end of the year. The joint venture
plans to eventually produce 60,000-75,000 vehicles annually. JAC
[16] TRAFFIC OFFICER SUGGESTS MINIMUM FOR OFFERINGS TO BE CONSIDERED
BRIBES
At a press conference in Samara's House of Journalists on 18 September,
Viktor Mitnik, deputy head of the State Directorate for Automobile
Inspections for Samara Oblast, told journalists that "50 or 100 rubles
[$1.60-$3.00] given to a traffic inspector -- this is not corruption,"
VolgaInform reported. Mitnik's remark was made in response to a
question about the possible influence of corruption on the increase in
the number of traffic accidents locally. JAC
[17] PENZA RESIDENTS DOGGED BY ADS
In the city of Penza, a homeless dog bearing the logo of LUKoil painted
on his fur can be seen running around the streets of one neighborhood,
ntvru.com reported on 18 September, citing "Molodoi leninets." The dog
was reportedly lured with pieces of sausage and then the company's name
was painted on its fur. According to the website, dogs bearing the
brand names Sony, Camel, and Dosya have also been seen on city streets.
Specialists at the oblast veterinary laboratory said that the practice
raises questions not only of ethics, but health. Chief veterinarian
Ivan Samushkin said, "Smear yourself with oil paint, walk around for a
week, and then let's see whether it affects your health or not." JAC
[18] RUSSIAN PROSECUTOR URGES GEORGIA TO EXTRADITE CHECHEN DETAINEES
Prosecutor-General Vladimir Ustinov said after an 18 August meeting in
Sochi with President Putin that Georgia has not furnished any
convincing explanation for its failure to extradite 13 Chechen fighters
detained in early August after entering Georgia illegally, Russian
agencies reported (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 5, 6, and 7 August 2002).
Acting Chechen Prosecutor Aleksandr Nikitin said on 31 August that the
men have been identified as belonging to field commander Doku Umarov's
group. Ustinov's deputy Sergei Fridinskii said in Stavropol on 14
September that Tbilisi might extradite them this week. But Interfax on
17 September quoted an official from the Georgian Prosecutor-General's
Office as saying that Tbilisi might not do so unless it receives
assurances from Russia that the men, who are charged with attempted
murder of Russian servicemen and police, will not be sentenced to
death. LF
TRANSCAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA
[19] SENIOR RUSSIAN OFFICIAL VISITS ARMENIA
Russian presidential apparatus head Aleksandr Voloshin held talks in
Yerevan on 18 September with President Robert Kocharian, focusing on
the deterioration in Russian-Georgian relations over the presence of
Chechen militants in the Pankisi Gorge, RFE/RL's Yerevan bureau
reported quoting the Armenian presidential press service. They also
discussed economic and military-technical cooperation. Voloshin himself
declined to comment to journalists. He is scheduled to met on 19
September with Armenian Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisian. LF
[20] ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER ADVOCATES CRACKDOWN ON 'DANGEROUS SECTS'
Addressing the first session of a newly created government council on
religious affairs, Andranik Markarian argued on 18 September that
preventing the spread of "dangerous sects" that threaten national
security should take priority over compliance with international human
rights commitments, including those Armenia has made to the Council of
Europe, RFE/RL's Yerevan bureau reported. Deputy Defense Minister
Lieutenant General Mikael Grigorian similarly accused those sects that
oppose compulsory military service of seeking the "disintegration and
demoralization" of Armenia's armed forces. "Defense of the homeland is
above everything," Grigorian affirmed. LF
[21] ARMENIAN OPPOSITION PARTIES CONDEMN PRESIDENT'S COMMENTS ON
ELECTION
Several Armenian opposition party leaders on 18 September criticized
President Kocharian's statement the previous day that the February 2003
presidential ballot could be decided in the first round, saving money
and precluding political tensions, if the opposition agree on a single
candidate to run against him, RFE/RL's Yerevan bureau reported (see
"RFE/RL Newsline," 18 September 2002). National Democratic Union
Chairman Vazgen Manukian told RFE/RL he fears Kocharian's statement
implies that he is prepared to resort to falsification to ensure his
re-election in the first round because he fears losing to an opposition
candidate in a possible runoff. National Accord Party Chairman Artashes
Geghamian agreed with Kocharian's reasoning that it would be easier for
him to win in the first round against a single opposition candidate.
But Arshak Sadoyan of the National Democratic Bloc parliament faction
told journalists on 18 September that the choice of a single opposition
candidate would make it more difficult for Kocharian to win outright in
the first round, according to Arminfo, as cited by Groong. LF
[22] CONSTRUCTION OF AZERBAIJAN OIL-EXPORT PIPELINE BEGUN
The groundbreaking ceremony for construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan
(BTC) oil-export pipeline took place at the Sangachal oil terminal
south of Baku on 18 September in the presence of the Azerbaijani,
Georgian, and Turkish presidents and U.S. Energy Secretary Spencer
Abraham. Former Turkish President Suleyman Demirel, who first proposed
together with then-Georgian State Council Chairman Eduard Shevardnadze
in November 1994 that the pipeline be routed via Georgia, was not
present. Speaking at the ceremony, Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer
said that the pipeline "will contribute to the improvement of regional
cooperation, to the economic recovery in Azerbaijan, Georgia, and
Turkey, and...the strengthening of political stability and democracy
and thus to peace in the region," RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service
reported. Sezer also argued that it is "very important" from the point
of view of regional cooperation that Kazakhstan commit itself to export
oil via BTC, and that both Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan agree to export
gas via the planned parallel Baku-Tbilisi-Erzerum gas-export pipeline.
Construction of BTC is planned to begin early in 2003 and to be
completed by the end of 2004, with the first oil being pumped through
the pipeline in 2005. Throughput capacity will be 50 million metric
tons per year. LF
[23] AZERBAIJAN, PAKISTAN SIGN ANOTHER DEFENSE COOPERATION AGREEMENT
A bilateral agreement on training military personnel, exchanging
experience, holding joint military exercises, and defense-industry
cooperation was signed on 17 September during a visit to Karachi by
Azerbaijan's Defense Minister Colonel General Safar Abiev, Turan
reported on 18 September (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 4 September 2002). LF
[24] TWELVE CHECHENS DETAINED, ONE KILLED IN PANKISI SWEEP
In line with Georgian President Shevardnadze's 17 September statement
that every village and every house in the Pankisi Gorge will be
searched during the ongoing antiterrorism operation, Georgian police
and special forces launched a search on 18 September of three villages,
Caucasus Press reported. Twelve Chechen men who had no documents were
detained and large quantities of arms, computer equipment, and Islamic
literature were confiscated, Interfax quoted Georgian Interior Ministry
spokesman Paata Gomelauri as saying. An unnamed Georgian Interior
Ministry source told Interfax the same day that some of the detainees
may be released. Later on 18 September, one Chechen died during a clash
with Georgian forces at a checkpoint in Pankisi when a hand grenade in
his possession exploded, Caucasus Press reported. LF
[25] GEORGIAN INTELLIGENCE CHIEF ACCUSES RUSSIA OF PLANNING TO CREATE
PRETEXT FOR CROSS-BORDER RAID
Speaking on 18 September on the independent Georgian television station
Rustavi-2, Georgian Intelligence Service head Lieutenant General
Avtandil Ioseliani said he has information that a specially trained
Chechen unit of 80 men currently in Shatoi Raion south of Grozny will
be ordered to create a diversion on the Chechen-Georgian border in
order to create a pretext for Russian forces to enter Georgia in their
pursuit, Russian news agencies reported. The previous day, Ioseliani
had said he has information that Chechen field commander Ruslan Gelaev
is hiding in Shatoi; it is not clear whether he implied that Gelaev
would lead the planned diversion. Russian Defense Ministry officials
dismissed Ioseliani's 18 September allegations as absurd and invited
him to "inspect any districts in Chechnya at any time," Interfax
reported. Also on 18 September, a spokesman for Russia's Federal
Security Service denied that Gelaev is in Chechnya, claiming he and his
men are still in Georgia, Interfax reported. Georgian National Security
Minister Khaburzania said on 4 September that Gelaev is no longer in
Georgia (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 5 September 2002). LF
[26] ABKHAZIA AGAIN ACCUSES GEORGIAN OFFICIAL OF LIAISING WITH CHECHEN
MILITANTS...
In a statement released on 18 September, the Abkhaz Defense Ministry
press service accused Kodori Gorge Governor Emzar Kvitsiani of meeting
in the Pankisi Gorge with "international terrorists" to negotiate the
transfer of Chechen fighters from Pankisi to the Kodori Gorge, Caucasus
Press reported. Abkhaz Defense Ministry General Staff Commander
Vladimir Arshba leveled similar accusations against Kvitsiani on 14
September (see "RFE/RL Newsline" 16 September 2002). The Defense
Ministry statement expressed concern at a possible new attack on Kodori
similar to that launched by Chechen militants last fall. Also on 18
September, Abkhaz Prime Minister Anri Djergenia again called for the
withdrawal of the 900-1,000 Georgian troops he claims are still in the
Kodori Gorge, Interfax reported. But in an interview with "Vremya
novostei" on 19 September, Ioseliani said that the UN observers who
patrol the gorge have not seen any Chechens there. He claimed the
Russians and Abkhaz are engaged in a troop buildup in the vicinity of
Kodori. LF
[27] ...AS DOES GEORGIAN GUERRILLA LEADER
The Georgian newspaper "Akhali taoba" on 19 September quoted Zurab
Samushia, the leader of the "White Legion" guerrilla movement, as
saying that there are currently some 1,000 Chechen fighters in various
locations in Georgia that are inaccessible to the Georgian Army, and
that both the Georgian and Russian intelligence services are aware of
their presence. Samushia claimed that senior Georgian officials
accepted huge bribes for permitting the Chechen fighters to enter
Georgia. LF
[28] KAZAKH PRESIDENT CALLS FOR MORE SUPPORT FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
Addressing a business forum in Astana on 18 September, President
Nursultan Nazarbaev urged the government to "make crucial decisions"
that would create favorable conditions for small businesses, Interfax
reported. Nazarbaev specifically called for removing restrictions in
relevant legislation, simplifying the tax procedures for small
businesses, and simplifying the procedure for registering new
businesses. He also called for a nine-month moratorium beginning next
year on inspections of small businesses by tax police. LF
[29] TAJIKISTAN'S DRAFT NATIONALITY CONCEPT CRITICIZED
Representatives of the Tajik presidential staff, political parties,
international organizations, and organizations representing ethnic
minorities attended a roundtable in Dushanbe on 18 September to discuss
the draft nationality concept prepared by the presidential staff, Asia
Plus-Blitz reported. Most minority representatives rejected the draft
and called for it to be reworked. Valerii Yushin, who heads
Tajikistan's Russian community, said the draft is devoid of specific
content and does not address such issues as education and
representation of minorities in local government bodies. Viktor Kim,
who is president of the Soviet Koreans' Association, noted that
Tajikistan still has no legislation on ethnic minorities. He also
pointed to unspecified "difficulties" in rural areas with the law on
language and argued that Russian should be designated an official
language. Islamic Revival Party Chairman Said Abdullo Nuri pointed out
that the law makes no reference to religion, which he termed an
important unifying factor. A working group was established to rework
the draft concept. LF
CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE
[30] BELARUSIAN CENTRAL BANK HEAD REJECTS RUSSIA'S SINGLE-CURRENCY
PROPOSAL
Belarusian National Bank Chairman Pyotr Prakapovich told Belarusian
Television on 18 September that Minsk does not accept Moscow's proposal
that the emission center of a single currency in the Russia-Belarus
Union be located in and controlled by Russia. Prakapovich said such a
proposal means that the Belarusian National Bank would lose its
influence on the socioeconomic processes in the country while the
country as a whole would have to give up some of its sovereignty.
Earlier the same day, Russian President Vladimir Putin categorically
rejected Minsk's idea of two banks and a joint monetary council
controlling the union's single currency (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 18
September 2002). JM
[31] ...AS IMF UNCONVINCED ON LOAN RESUMPTION AFTER CRUNCHING
NUMBERS...
International Monetary Fund (IMF) representative Thomas Richardson, who
spent the last two weeks in Belarus, told journalists in Minsk on 18
September that the IMF and the Belarusian authorities have not reached
an agreement on macroeconomic indicators that could make it possible
for the fund to renew its suspended monitoring program in Belarus or
financial support to the country, Belapan reported. According to IMF
experts, macroeconomic indicators and prognoses envisaged by the
Belarusian government -- in particular, those pertaining to foreign
investments, exports, and GDP growth -- are overoptimistic. The fund
has also failed to agree with Belarus on its budget deficit, volumes of
money disbursement, and hard-currency reserves. JM
[32] ...AND WORLD BANK'S BELARUS STRATEGY STALLS
"Since the adoption of the World Bank's Strategy of Assistance to
Belarus for 2002-04 [on 14 March 2002], the sides have not made a
single step to carry it out," World Bank representative for Belarus
Serhiy Kulyk told Belapan on 18 September. Kulyk noted that the World
Bank and the United Nations had sought to help Belarus fight
tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS: the bank intended to provide a loan for an
anti-TB/HIV/AIDS project, while the UN wanted Belarus to become
involved in donor programs of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS,
Tuberculosis, and Malaria. The Belarusian government is still
hesitating over the World Bank-assisted anti-TB/HIV/AIDS project, while
27 September is the last day to apply for grants from the Global Fund
to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. JM
[33] UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT SAYS OPPOSITION PROTESTS MAY SCARE AWAY
INVESTORS...
President Leonid Kuchma said in Odesa on 18 January that such protest
actions as that in Kyiv on 16 September (see "RFE/RL Poland, Belarus,
and Ukraine Report," 17 September 2002) may frighten away potential
investors in the country's economy, UNIAN reported. "Ukraine primarily
needs political stability. People will come to Ukraine with their
capital only if they see peace and order here," Kuchma said. The
Ukrainian president also said he does not accept protesters who put
forward "not demands, but ultimatums." JM
[34] ...AS OPPOSITION APPEALS TO WORLD LEADERS TO 'IGNORE' HIM
The Fatherland Party press service told UNIAN that an appeal to world
leaders to "ignore" President Kuchma has been sent to nearly 50
countries. The appeal, which was adopted during the 16 September
antipresidential rally in Kyiv, calls on world leaders not to make
political contacts with Kuchma "in exchange for economic and political
concessions" from him. It also urges the world's heads of state not to
invite Kuchma to international summits and official meetings. JM
[35] COURTS IN KYIV PUNISH ARRESTED PROTESTERS
Kyiv-based courts have punished the 64 people arrested after the
dismantling of a tent camp that was set up near the presidential
administration building on 17 September (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 17
September 2002), UNIAN reported on 18 September, quoting an Interior
Ministry official. Fifty-one demonstrators were jailed for terms of one
to 10 days, while the others were fined or given warnings. JM
[36] UKRAINE HARVESTS 36.7 MILLION TONS OF GRAIN IN 2002
Ukrainian farmers collected 36.7 million tons of grain this year, UNIAN
reported on 18 September, quoting Agricultural Ministry Secretary
Serhiy Melnyk. Melnyk was reporting on the 2002 harvest results to the
parliamentary Commission for Agrarian Policy and Land Relations. Melnyk
said this year's average grain yield was 2.82 tons per hectare.
Meanwhile, commission head Ivan Tomych predicted that nearly 70 percent
of Ukrainian farms and agricultural enterprises will suffer fiscal
losses in 2002. According to Tomych, the losses will be due to a fall
in domestic prices for grain, meat, and milk. In 2001, 7,320 farms and
agricultural enterprises in Ukraine were profitable (56.9 percent of
their total number), compared with 65.5 percent in 2000. JM
[37] EUROPEAN AGRICULTURE CONGRESS STARTS IN ESTONIAN CAPITAL
The 54th European Agriculture Congress focusing on "The Role of Farmers
in the New Europe" opened in Tallinn on 18 September with more than 400
foreign and 160 Estonian representatives, BNS reported. EU Agriculture,
Rural Development, and Fisheries Commissioner Franz Fischler explained
that the European Commission recommended giving farmers in new European
Union member countries in 2004 just 25 percent of the subsidies given
to farmers in current EU countries because the EU budget for 2004-06
was already adopted. He said that the reform of the EU's common
agriculture policy (CAP), which is expected to begin in 2007, will
focus on income subsidies rather than price subsidies. Gerd
Sonnenleitner, the president of the European Committee of Agricultural
Organizations, said that "Farmers are repeating that, on the one hand,
enlargement of the EU must not jeopardize CAP; while on the other hand,
agriculture must not jeopardize enlargement" and all farmers in a
united Europe must be treated equally. SG
[38] LATVIA'S MEDICAL WORKERS HOLD ANOTHER STRIKE
Dissatisfied with the results of its strikes in June and July (see
"RFE/RL Newsline," 21 June 2002 and 19 July 2002), the Latvian Health
and Social Care Employees Union conducted another one-day strike on 18
September, LETA reported. As part of the strike, 7,000 people, the
majority of whom were medical workers, marched from the union's
headquarters to a rally on Riga's Esplanade. A resolution was adopted
calling for the government to designate health care a priority and to
raise salaries for medical workers to 140 lats ($230) per month from
the current 100 lats. After their regular weekly meeting that day,
President Vaira Vike-Freiberga and Prime Minister Andris Berzins said
that the salaries of physicians and nurses will be raised in the near
future. SG
[39] VISA-FREE TRAINS THROUGH LITHUANIA POSSIBLE ONLY AFTER EU ENTRY
Commenting on the communique issued on 18 September by the European
Commission (EC) outlining possible solutions for travel between
Kaliningrad Oblast and the rest of Russia, Foreign Minister Antanas
Valionis said the next day that Lithuania will consider Russia's
proposal of allowing special visa-free fast trains to transit Lithuania
only with guarantees from the European Union that the scheme would not
impede the country's efforts to join the Schengen agreement, BNS and
ELTA reported. He also noted that EC President Romano Prodi has
affirmed that such visa-free travel would be possible only after
Lithuania becomes a member of the EU; i.e., in 2004 at the earliest.
Thus, Valionis said Lithuania will abide by its commitment to end the
current system of visa-free travel between Kaliningrad and Russia
beginning on 1 January 2003. Valionis also mentioned that the
high-speed train option would be possible only after technical
improvement of the rail line, which would cost more than $100 million.
SG
[40] POLAND TO INTRODUCE VISAS FOR RUSSIANS DESPITE EU CONCESSION
Polish Minister for European Affairs Danuta Huebne, said in Brussels on
18 September that Poland will introduce visas for all citizens of
Russia as of 1 July 2003, PAP reported. Huebner added that according to
agreements reached between Warsaw and Moscow, "all special solutions
which are to deal with the transit issue do not concern Poland." She
was commenting on the EC's proposal announced earlier the same day that
a special transit document for residents of Russia's Kaliningrad
exclave easing their freedom of movement after European Union
enlargement could serve not only for transit through Lithuania but also
through Poland or Latvia. JM
[41] MOLDOVAN PREMIER IN POLAND
Moldovan Premier Vasile Tarlev arrived in Warsaw on 18 September, the
first visit by Moldova's head of government to Poland since the two
countries established bilateral relations, Polish media reported.
Tarlev told his Polish counterpart Leszek Miller that Moldova counts on
Poland's support in pursuing privatization and wants to gain from
Poland's experience in economic and sociopolitical transformations. The
two sides signed agreements on cooperation and mutual assistance in
customs, as well as on economic, scientific, and technical cooperation
in the food and agriculture sectors. JM
[42] TRIAL OF MAJOR GANG OPENS IN POLAND
Fourteen men suspected of involvement in the so-called Pruszkow gang,
Poland's most notorious criminal group, went on trial in Warsaw on 18
September on charges including drug trafficking and illegal possession
of firearms, Polish media reported. The indictment is based on the
testimony of five other suspected criminals who gave information to
police in exchange for protection and immunity from prosecution. The
suspected members of the Pruszkow gang were arrested between 2000 and
early 2002 in Poland, Bulgaria, Mexico, and Spain. JM
[43] U.S., CZECH PRESIDENTS DISCUSS IRAQ, NATO EXPANSION
Vaclav Havel, who is paying his last visit to the United States as
Czech president, on 18 September met in Washington with U.S. President
George W. Bush. Citing White House spokesman Ari Fleischer, Reuters
reported that they discussed NATO expansion and the November NATO
summit in Prague. Fleischer also said the two presidents discussed
Iraq, but provided no details. Havel told journalists after the meeting
that he opposes unilateral U.S. military action against Iraq, even if
Baghdad does not accept the conditions of the planned U.S. Security
Council resolution, CTK reported. He said military action against Iraq
should only be carried out by a "major international coalition" in
which NATO would play an important role. He said the Czech Republic
could participate in such an international action, most likely with its
antichemical- and antibacteorological-warfare unit. Defense Minister
Jaroslav Tvrdik, who is accompanying Havel on the visit, said he agrees
with the president's views. MS
[44] CZECH COALITION LEADERS OFFICIALLY FEND OFF CABINET'S COLLAPSE...
The leaders of the three Czech coalition partners -- the Social
Democratic Party (CSSD), the Christian Democratic Union-People's Party
(KDU-CSL), and the Freedom Union-Democratic Union (US-DEU) -- on 18
September signed an agreement reached one day earlier, thus making
possible the survival of the cabinet headed by Vladimir Spidla, CTK and
international agencies reported. In Washington, President Havel
expressed satisfaction with the solution reached but called on the
coalition members to consider other measures to avoid a similar crisis
in the future, according to a CTK report. MS
[45] ...BUT FRICTION IS ONCE MORE IN THE OFFING
US-DEU acting Chairman Ivan Pilip on 18 September said in an interview
with the BBC that his party considers the planned budget deficit of
157.3 billion crowns (nearly $5.1 billion) too high and wants it
reduced, CTK reported. On the same day, the Senate refused the
government's request that two bills related to the financing of
reconstruction in the wake of flood damages be fast-tracked for debate,
CTK reported. The upper house agreed to debate under this procedure two
other bills submitted by the cabinet, however. US-DEU Senator Jan
Hadrava joined the opposition Civic Democratic Party in opposing the
government's request. The cabinet is to debate on 20 September a draft
bill replacing the bill on raising taxes that triggered last week's
crisis. Meanwhile, Vladimir Mlynar of the US-DEU told journalists on 18
September that the cabinet decided to create a new Ministry of
Information and Technology and that he will head that ministry. Until
now, Mlynar was minister without portfolio. MS
[46] EC SIGNALS MEASURES TO HELP CZECHS, SLOVAKS COPE WITH FLOOD
CONSEQUENCES
The European Commission on 18 September said it intends to loosen
conditions under which the Czech Republic and Slovakia can draw funds
from its SAPARD program to help alleviate damages caused by the August
floods, TASR reported. In addition, the commission presented its
proposal for setting up the Solidarity Fund for coping with the
consequences of natural, environmental, and technological disasters.
The proposals define such disasters as those that cause damages of more
than $1 billion, or of 0.5 percent of a country's gross domestic
product (GDP). The Solidarity Fund is to contain at least $500 million
by November and $1 billion by 2003. TASR said damage estimates in
Slovakia for the August floods are $35 million, which is less than 0.5
percent of GDP, and that Slovakia would thus not be entitled to receive
aid from the Solidarity Fund. MS
[47] 'ELECTORAL BLACKOUT' BEGINS IN SLOVAKIA...
Slovakia's electoral campaigns officially ended on 18 September, TASR
reported. In line with Slovak law, an "electoral blackout" was
instituted as of the afternoon hours, two days ahead of the 20-21
September parliamentary ballot. During the blackout, any political
campaigning is prohibited. MS
[48] ...BUT ELECTIONEERING OVERHEATS HOURS AHEAD
Alliance for New Citizens (ANO) Chairman Pavol Rusko said on 18
September during a debate on TV Markiza, of which he is co-owner, that
Smer (Direction) is financed by the same people who in the past
financed Vladimir Meciar's Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS),
TASR reported. He said Smer "is financed by people who financed the
HZDS and are today betting on a different horse" who is younger than
Meciar. Smer Chairman Robert Fico, who participated in the televised
debate alongside Prime Minister Mikulas Dzurinda, dismissed the
allegation as "nonsense" and noted that Meciar attended Rusko's wedding
and approved the licensing of TV Markiza. Dzurinda told Fico that the
Smer leader professes to admire the so-called "Third Way" of British
Prime Minister Tony Blair and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder but
is behaving more like Austrian populist Joerg Haider. MS
[49] SLOVAKIA SETS UP HOLOCAUST VICTIMS FUND
The government on 18 September approved the creation of a fund to
compensate Holocaust victims who suffered under the Slovak Nazi puppet
state during World War II, CTK and international agencies reported.
Deputy Premier Pal Csaky, who initiated the legislation, said the state
will contribute 850 million crowns ($19 million) to the fund to
compensate victims or their relatives whose property was confiscated,
to cover the social needs of elderly members of the country's Jewish
community, and to finance cultural programs. Csaky said that over 10
years, the fund will grow to some 1.5 billion crowns with accrued
interest. It will be managed by a joint committee composed of
government representatives and representatives of the Slovak Jewish
community, he said. MS
[50] SLOVAK ROMANY ORGANIZATION SAYS JUSTICE MINISTRY VIOLATING LAW
Hana Pucikova, a representative of the People Against Racism
organization, on 18 September told TASR that the Justice Ministry is
violating the law by publicizing the ethnic origins of convicted
criminals. Pucikova said that on the ministry's website there is a
special separate column on crimes committed by members of the Romany
community, adding that this violates the Constitution and international
agreements. A ministry official refused to comment but said the column
has been taken off the web page. MS
[51] MECS COMMISSION BACKS AWAY FROM PLAN TO SUBMIT REPORT TO HUNGARIAN
PARLIAMENT
Imre Mecs (Alliance of Free Democrats), the chairman of the
parliamentary commission investigating government officials'
secret-service pasts, said on 18 September that a summary on the
commission's activity will be presented to the speaker of parliament
and made public next week, Hungarian media reported. His statement
marked a change in his position, as Mecs had earlier insisted that the
full report be submitted to parliament. The same day, former Foreign
Minister Janos Martonyi and former Industry Minister Szabolcs Fazakas
examined files that the Mecs commission used to substantiate its claims
that they worked with the communist-era secret services. Fazakas said
the documents supported his earlier statement that as a foreign-trade
businessman it was his duty to provide information to Interior Ministry
bodies, and that he had no contact with domestic-security agencies.
Martonyi said that as a diplomat he turned down a request to provide
economic and trade policy information to domestic-security bodies, and
expressed surprise that a file had been kept on him. MSZ
SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE
[52] MACEDONIAN ELECTION LOSERS CHALLENGE ELECTION RESULTS
The State Election Commission (DIK) has rejected numerous complaints
against the election results that have been filed since the 15
September vote, Macedonian media reported on 19 September. The ruling
Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization (VMRO-DPMNE) and one of
its splinter groups, the "real" VMRO, have demanded a chemical analysis
of the paper and the printing ink that were used to print the ballots.
Other complaints refer to breaches of ballot secrecy, the data in the
voters lists, and the counting of the votes, DIK spokesman Zoran
Tanevski noted. He added that, "that is why we will double-check the
data included in the reports by the [regional] election commissions and
in the report by the DIK." But hard-line Interior Minister Ljube
Boskovski charged that 488,000 ballots were illegally burned in Prilep,
suggesting that his VMRO-DPMNE had been robbed of votes, dpa reported.
Fifteen armed special police "stormed" the printing house where the
ballots were burned. VMRO-DPMNE leader Ljubco Georgievski previously
accepted the elections as fair (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 16, 17, and 18
September 2002). His party won 33 seats, while the Social Democrats
took 60 out of 120 mandates. UB/PM
[53] MACEDONIAN ALBANIAN ELECTION WINNER SAYS HE DOES NOT WANT A
CABINET JOB
Ali Ahmeti, the chairman of the victorious Democratic Union for
Integration (BDI) and former political leader of the National
Liberation Army (UCK), said through a spokesman in Skopje on 18
September that he sees his future as a party leader rather than as a
government minister, AP reported. The Social Democrat-led Together for
Macedonia coalition has not formally offered posts to the BDI, but a
coalition spokesman told Reuters that "political isolation" of the
party that won two-thirds of the Albanian vote "would be a problem."
Many ethnic Macedonians, however, would strongly object to any former
UCK man sitting in the government. Observers note that one reason for
Boskovski's vehement challenge to the election results is the prospect
that the BDI might acquire control of his ministry, which he has run
like a private fiefdom for the VMRO-DPMNE. PM
[54] EU STILL NOT READY FOR MACEDONIAN PEACEKEEPING
The European Union will not be able to take over the peacekeeping
mandate of NATO's Operation Amber Fox when it ends on 26 October
because of continuing bickering between Greece and Turkey over EU use
of NATO resources, Reuters reported from Brussels on 18 September (see
"RFE/RL Balkan Report," 3 May and 9 August 2002). The news agency
quoted an unnamed "senior alliance diplomat" as saying that progress
has been made on technical issues but that the political will to close
a deal is lacking. He added that he expects that the mandate of Amber
Fox will be extended for two or three months, by which time he hopes
that Greece and Turkey can reach an agreement. PM
[55] DID DJINDJIC ALSO QUESTION BOSNIA'S INTEGRITY?
In the wake of a controversy over a recent statement by Yugoslav
President Vojislav Kostunica to the effect that he considers the
Republika Srpska's separation from Serbia to be only "temporary," the
Bosnian Foreign Ministry has also protested recent remarks by Serbian
Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic suggesting that Bosnia's borders are not
permanent, Hina reported from Sarajevo on 18 September (see "RFE/RL
Newsline," 11, 12, 13, and 16 September 2002, and "RFE/RL Balkan
Report," 30 August and 6 September 2002). Djindjic told the European
Economic Summit in Salzburg that the frontiers of some Balkan countries
do not "meet European criteria." He also linked the status of Kosova
with that of Bosnia. Bosnian Foreign Minister Zlatko Lagumdzija and
Croatian President Stipe Mesic strongly criticized Djindjic's remarks.
But a spokesman for the OSCE mission in Bosnia, Philip Henning, told
the Croatian news agency that Djindjic's statement merely reflects his
personal view and is not official policy. PM
[56] SERBIAN ELECTION CAMPAIGN IN FULL SWING
The Serbian Supreme Court ruled on 18 September that the Election
Commission must register former General Nebojsa Pavkovic as a candidate
in the 29 September Serbian presidential elections, RFE/RL's South
Slavic and Albanian Languages Service reported. The commission
previously ruled that Pavkovic had not collected enough signatures to
qualify. He is now the eleventh candidate in the race. In Pozarevac,
Kostunica said that it is important that Serbia have an outlet to the
sea. In Belgrade, the Serbian government called on Kostunica to conduct
his campaign trips at his own expense and not charge them to the state.
Reuters reported on 19 September that most Serbs are apathetic about
the vote, being disillusioned with the politicians who seem unable to
solve the pressing problems of poverty, crime, and corruption. PM
[57] YUGOSLAVIA TO SUE ITALIAN COMPANY
Serbian Communications and Telecommunications Minister Marija Raseta
Vukosavljevic said in Belgrade on 18 September that the Yugoslav
government will sue the Italian company that renovated the Ivanjica
satellite station in 1999 for shoddy workmanship, RFE/RL's South Slavic
and Albanian Languages Service reported. PM
[58] YUGOSLAV DELEGATION AT NATO HEADQUARTERS
Yugoslav Foreign Minister Goran Svilanovic and General Branko Krga, who
heads the General Staff, held talks in Brussels with NATO officials
about Belgrade's request to join the Partnership for Peace (PfP)
program, RFE/RL's South Slavic and Albanian Languages Service reported
on 19 September. The visitors were told that all indicted war criminals
on Yugoslav territory must be arrested before that country can join
PfP. There are several other issues holding up Belgrade's admission,
including the lack of transparent civilian control over the military
and the presence of possible war criminals in the officer corps. PM
[59] HARD-LINERS' PACT IN MONTENEGRO
Momir Bulatovic of the People's Socialist Party (NSS), Vojislav Seselj
of the Serbian Radical Party, and Mirjana Markovic of the United
Yugoslav Left (JUL) signed an agreement in Podgorica on 18 September to
form a coalition for the 20 October Montenegrin parliamentary
elections, RFE/RL's South Slavic and Albanian Languages Service
reported. The coalition of loyalists to former President Slobodan
Milosevic will be called the Patriotic Coalition for Yugoslavia. It is
doubtful whether the coalition will be able to surmount the electoral
hurdle of 5 percent. PM
[60] CROATIAN GOVERNMENT REPORTEDLY CONFIRMS THAT THE HAGUE WANTS
BOBETKO
An unnamed "government source" told Reuters on 19 September in Zagreb
that the war crimes tribunal has prepared a case against former General
Janko Bobetko, an ex-chief of the General Staff. The source said that
"we have not received a formal indictment [from the tribunal], but we
were asked to arrange an interview with Bobetko in the capacity of an
indictee" (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 18 September 2002). The tribunal has
refused to confirm or deny previous press reports that Bobetko has been
indicted for his role in the 1993 Medak Pocket killings of Serbian
civilians. PM
[61] CROATIAN POLICEMAN FOUND NOT GUILTY OF WAR CRIMES
The Karlovac County court ruled on 18 September that Mihajlo Hrastov
acted in self-defense when he killed 13 Serbian military prisoners in
1991 and did not commit a war crime, dpa reported. He was found not
guilty of the charges once before, but the county prosecutor demanded a
new trial. In related news, the Justice Ministry confirmed that an
investigation has been launched into charges that controversial Judge
Slavko Lozina has hidden important evidence that could have been used
in war crimes trials. The Split-based judge has made little secret of
his right-wing views. PM
[62] ROMANIAN DEFENSE MINISTER RECEIVES U.S. ASSURANCES ON NATO
MEMBERSHIP
Defense Minister Ioan Mircea Pascu, who is currently on a visit to the
United States, on 18 September met with U.S. Defense Secretary Donald
Rumsfeld and Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, as well as with
Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, Romanian Radio reported.
Pascu described the meetings as "very friendly and encouraging," and
said he received assurances that Romania can "expect a positive answer"
to its NATO membership bid at the organization's November Prague
summit. He said among the issues discussed was also the Iraqi crisis
and the Romanian military contingent's participation in Operation
Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. Pascu also met with U.S. senators and
members of the House of Representatives, as well as their staff. MS
[63] ROMANIA DENIES DELIVERING MILITARY EQUIPMENT TO IRAQ
In response to a report in the French daily "Le Parisien," a spokesman
for the Romanian Foreign Affairs Ministry cited by Romanian Radio on 18
September denied that Romania has sold Iraq spare parts for the Puma
helicopters produced in the country under French license. The spokesman
said that no military technology has been traded with Iraq after the
approval by the Security Council of its 1991 resolution No. 667 on
sanctions against that country. The spokesman described the report in
"Le Parisien" as "mere speculation," emphasizing that Romania abides
"in good faith" by all Security Council resolutions on Iraq. MS
[64] ROMANIAN COURT REJECTS NATIONALIST TV CHANNEL'S APPEAL
On 18 September, the Bucharest Court of Appeals rejected on procedural
grounds the Oglinda TV channel's appeal against the National
Audiovisual Council's (CNA) decision to revoke its license, RFE/RL's
Bucharest bureau reported (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 13 September 2002).
Supporters of the extreme nationalist channel, headed by Greater
Romania Party Senator Corneliu Vadim Tudor, the same day demonstrated
against the decision in front of the Senate and near the presidential
palace in Bucharest. Oglinda TV Director Dan Diaconescu said the
broadcasts will be resumed, "possibly from abroad," while Tudor said
that he will launch his own television station "before Christmas,"
according to the daily "Ziua." The daily also reported on 19 September
that the CNA has launched a judicial complaint against Tudor, accusing
him of having incited readers in his "Romania mare" weekly to
physically attack the council's members. The CNA members were summoned
on 18 September by Senate Cultural Commission Chairman Adrian Paunescu
to explain their decision to the commission. Media reports say the
commission, and Paunescu in particular, criticized the decision as
infringing on the freedom of expression. MS
[65] TIRASPOL NEGOTIATIONS BEGIN, 'BLACKOUT' INSTITUTED ON COVERAGE
The new round of negotiations on settling the Transdniester conflict
began in Tiraspol on 18 September and lasted late into the night,
Infotag reported. The heads of the negotiating teams and the three
mediators -- the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
(OSCE), Russia, and Ukraine -- refused to speak to journalists during
the breaks or after the talks were adjourned. OSCE mission head David
Schwartz said the sides have started what he called "the active phase"
of the negotiations, and that statements to the media could obstruct
their work. He said the media will be informed only "after concrete
results are in place." But a Moldovan diplomat told Infotag that
"before such results appear, the road is long.... This meeting...was
not significantly different from those held in Chisinau." MS
[66] BULGARIAN PARLIAMENT RATIFIES FOREIGN-DEBT SWAP
With the votes of the ruling coalition of the National Movement Simeon
II and the ethnic Turkish Movement for Rights and Freedoms, parliament
on 18 September ratified a foreign-debt exchange deal under which parts
of the country's foreign debt in "Brady bonds" will be exchanged for
U.S. dollar-denominated Eurobonds, BTA reported. Due to the lack of the
necessary quorum, the first ratification attempt failed (see "RFE/RL
Newsline," 16 September 2002). After the ratification, Finance Minister
Milen Velchev hailed the deal as "very good for Bulgaria. It fits
perfectly in the debt-management strategy and will bring about a number
of positive results [such as the] extension of the debt term and
reduction of the risk related to the fluctuation of interest rates on
the world market." UB
[67] IMF OFFICIAL ASSESSES BULGARIAN BUDGET
In Sofia on 18 September, Finance Minister Milen Velchev met with
Jerald Schiff, a division chief who represents the Bulgarian team at
the International Monetary Fund headquarters, to discuss the draft
budget for 2003, BTA reported. Schiff described the utilization of the
2002 budget as excellent, adding that there are clear indications that
the economy is doing very well. He emphasized, however, that structural
reforms should continue. The 2003 draft budget envisages 4.5 percent
inflation, 4.5 percent economic growth, a drop in the current-account
deficit of between 5-5.5 percent, and 0.7 percent budget deficit. UB
[68] FBI REPRESENTATIVE LAUDS COOPERATION WITH BULGARIA
FBI Balkans Coordinator Robert Clifford met with Interior Ministry
Chief Secretary Boyko Borisov on 18 September, mediapool.bg reported.
Clifford, who is also the legal attache of the U.S. Embassy in Athens,
lauded Bulgaria's contribution to the fight against international
terrorism and organized crime. He warned, however, that no country is
immune to terrorism and that terrorist groups use all possibilities to
build and finance their structures. Borisov handed Clifford a list of
technical equipment that the Interior Ministry hopes to be provided
with by the FBI, including helicopters, boats, and computers. Clifford
promised to forward the list to the FBI director. UB
END NOTE
[69] There is no End Note today.
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