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RFE/RL Newsline, 02-12-23
CONTENTS
[01] FOREIGN MINISTER SUMS UP FOREIGN-POLICY ACHIEVEMENTS OF 2002...
[02] ...AND ITS FAILURES...
[03] ...AND EXPERTS OFFER THEIR OWN VIEWS
[04] FOREIGN MINISTER NIXES RUSSIAN ROLE IN MILITARY ACTION AGAINST
[05] ...AS IRAQ REVERSES ITS AFFRONT TO RUSSIA
[06] GOVERNMENT RELEASES CHECHNYA CASUALTY FIGURES
[07] MILITARY INAUGURATES NEW EARLY-WARNING STATION IN BELARUS
[08] ATOMIC ENERGY MINISTRY LOOKING FOR NEW PROJECTS IN IRAN
[09] PART OF STALIN ARCHIVE DECLASSIFIED
[10] PARTY OF POWER PROMISES TO WHIP UP AN IDEOLOGY
[11] PARTIES LOSE GROUND IN REGIONAL ELECTIONS...
[12] ...AS COMMUNISTS IN FAR EAST FOLLOW KREMLIN RATHER THAN WORKERS'
[13] SPS HEAD SLAMS YABLOKO'S LEADERSHIP
[14] KREMLIN PROMISES TO VETO FOREIGN-CURRENCY BILL
[15] STUDENTS DRAW ON PUTIN FOR INSPIRATION
[16] NORTHERN GOVERNOR NO LONGER FACING CRIMINAL CHARGES
[17] VILLAGERS GO CELLULAR TO KEEP IN TOUCH WITH OUTSIDE WORLD
[18] INDEPENDENT ARMENIAN TV STATION FACES CONTINUED CLOSURE
[19] SMALL ARMENIAN OPPOSITION PARTY OFFERS SUPPORT FOR FORMER FOREIGN
[20] ARMENIAN PRESIDENT WARNS SECURITY OFFICIALS TO REFRAIN FROM
[21] AZERBAIJANI FOREIGN MINISTER REFUTES SUGGESTED TURKISH
[22] RUSSIAN OIL COMPANY TO SELL STAKE IN CASPIAN OIL FIELD
[23] GEORGIAN ANTICORRUPTION OFFICIAL CRITICIZES INTERIOR MINISTER
[24] GEORGIAN PARLIAMENTARY SPEAKER BLAMES GOVERNMENT FOR IMPASSE
[25] RUSSIAN TROOPS BEGIN PARTIAL WITHDRAWAL FROM GEORGIA TO ARMENIA
[26] TWO GEORGIANS TIED TO FAILED PRESIDENTIAL ASSASSINATION ARRESTED
[27] DISSIDENT'S WIFE SAYS KAZAKH GOVERNMENT UNDERMINING HER CAMPAIGN
[28] KAZAKH NUCLEAR CHIEF DEFENDS PLANS TO ACCEPT WASTE
[29] KYRGYZ OPPOSITION TO CHALLENGE DECREE RESTRICTING FREEDOM OF
[30] KYRGYZSTAN LAUNCHING NEW ROUND OF LARGE-SCALE PRIVATIZATION
[31] TAJIK POLITICAL PARTY REGISTERED
[32] TAJIKISTAN THREATENED BY FAMINE THIS WINTER
[33] TAJIK GUARDS REPLACE RUSSIANS ALONG CHINESE BORDER
[34] TURKMENISTAN EXPELS UZBEK AMBASSADOR
[35] POLICE ASK PUBLIC FOR INFORMATION ON PLOTTERS
[36] MORE PRO-PRESIDENTIAL DEMONSTRATIONS STAGED ACROSS TURKMENISTAN
[37] UZBEKISTAN DENIES REPORTS OF TROOP MOVEMENTS
[38] UZBEKISTAN TO BOOST WINTER ENERGY SUPPLIES TO TAJIKISTAN
[39] BELARUSIAN SOCIAL DEMOCRATS POOL EFFORTS FOR LOCAL ELECTIONS
[40] BELARUSIAN WRITER FINDS REFUGE IN CZECH REPUBLIC
[41] BELARUSIAN LAWMAKERS VISIT CONVICTED JOURNALISTS
[42] U.S. BLACKLISTS UKRAINE OVER MONEY LAUNDERING
[43] UKRAINIAN JOURNALISTS FORM NEW TRADE UNION IN ODESA
[44] LATVIAN SOCIALIST PARTY RE-ELECTS CHAIRMAN
[45] CHALLENGERS FORCE RUNOFF IN LITHUANIAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
[46] TRADITIONAL PARTIES DOMINATE LITHUANIA'S LOCAL ELECTIONS
[47] POLISH PREMIER PRESENTS REPORT ON EU ACCESSION...
[48] ...AS AMERICAN POLONIA LEADER PANS EU ENTRY
[49] CZECH PREMIER ATTACKS PREDECESSOR'S PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDACY...
[50] ...WHILE NEW OPPOSITION LEADER IS CRITICAL OF FORMER PARTY
[51] POLL SHOWS MOST CZECHS BACK OMBUDSMAN FOR PRESIDENTIAL POST
[52] NATO TO FINANCE AIRCRAFT-FUEL STORAGE IN CZECH REPUBLIC
[53] SLOVAK SUPREME COURT QUASHES SPY-CHIEF INDICTMENTS...
[54] ...AND RE-ELECTS MECIAR APPOINTEE AS CHAIRMAN
[55] SLOVAK OPPOSITION DEPUTY CHAIRMAN RENEWS ATTACK ON MECIAR
[56] SLOVAK COMMUNISTS WANT TO SPEED UP REFERENDUM ON NATO ACCESSION
[57] HUNGARIAN PREMIER SAYS RUSSIA TO REPAY ONE-THIRD OF ITS DEBT...
[58] ...AND RALLIES TO AID OF CONTROVERSIAL MUSEUM
[59] HUNGARIAN PRESIDENT DEFENDS STATUS LAW
[60] MONTENEGRIN PRESIDENTIAL VOTE FLOPS
[61] WAR CRIMES PROSECUTOR SLAMS YUGOSLAV FOREIGN MINISTER
[62] INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS WANT TO DEAL WITH ONLY ONE
[63] YUGOSLAVIA TO ALLOW NATO TO USE ITS AIRSPACE
[64] NETHERLANDS SHELVES EU TREATY WITH CROATIA
[65] BOSNIA GETS A NEW PRIME MINISTER
[66] CROATIAN VETERANS END PROTEST IN BOSNIA
[67] MACEDONIAN GOVERNMENT AND UNIONS SIGN PACT
[68] ROMANIAN PRESIDENT REITERATES OWN VERSION OF 1989 REVOLUTION
[69] ROMANIAN PREMIER: NEITHER EARLY ELECTIONS, NOR RESHUFFLE...
[70] ...BUT PRESIDENT IS UNCONVINCED
[71] ROMANIA OPENS ALL CHAPTERS IN EU NEGOTIATIONS
[72] MOLDOVAN PRESIDENT SAYS RELATIONS WITH U.S. DO NOT COME AT EXPENSE
[73] MOLDOVAN 'INITIATIVE GROUP' APPROVES QUESTIONS FOR NATO, EU
[74] MOLDOVAN PARLIAMENT DEPRIVES CONSTITUTIONAL COURT CHAIRMAN OF
[75] BULGARIAN GOVERNMENT FACES NEW BUGGING SCANDAL
[76] BULGARIA REACHES AGREEMENT WITH IMF
[77] BULGARIAN PARLIAMENT ADOPTS CONTROVERSIAL LAW ON RELIGIOUS
[78] SEVEN SOLDIERS KILLED IN HELICOPTER CRASH IN AFGHANISTAN
[79] AFGHAN MILITARY VEHICLE ATTACKED IN KANDAHAR...
[80] ...AS U.S. SOLDIERS COME UNDER ATTACK IN PROVINCES
[81] AFGHANISTAN'S NEIGHBORS SIGN NONINTERFERENCE PACT
[82] IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MISSES AFGHAN NONINTERFERENCE EVENT...
[83] ...BUT IRAN BACKS PACT
[84] U.S PRESIDENT SPEAKS ON RADIO FARDA...
[85] ...AND EXPRESSES FRIENDSHIP TOWARD IRANIAN PEOPLE
[86] SAVAK CONTINUES ITS DOMESTIC-SECURITY ACTIVITIES
[87] ISFAHAN OPINION POLL FINDS LITTLE SUPPORT FOR REVOLUTION, SYSTEM
[88] CREATION OF A 'WOMEN'S PARTY' IN IRAN UNDER WAY
[89] RUSSIAN ATOMIC ENERGY MINISTER VISITS IRAN
[90] KUWAITI MILITARY PERSONNEL VISIT IRAN
[91] SCIRI CHAIRMAN REPEATS OPPOSITION TO U.S. MILITARY ACTION
[92] IRAQ PROTESTS SEIZURE OF TUGBOAT AND CREW
[93] 'HUMAN SHIELDS' TO ARRIVE IN BAGHDAD
[94] IRAQI VICE PRESIDENT ACCUSES U.S. OF PRESSURING INSPECTORS...
[95] ...AS MORE INSPECTORS ARRIVE IN IRAQ
[96] UNMOVIC MISSILE INSPECTORS VISIT SCIENTIFIC GROUP...
[97] ...AS CHEMICAL INSPECTORS FOCUS ON ENGINEERING COMPANY...
[98] ...AND IAEA INSPECTORS BECOME LOST
[99] There is no end note today.
23 December 2002
RUSSIA
[01] FOREIGN MINISTER SUMS UP FOREIGN-POLICY ACHIEVEMENTS OF 2002...
In an appearance on an ORT talk show on 22 December, Foreign Minister
Igor Ivanov said that in 2002 Russia "seriously advanced" its relations
with the United States, the European Union, and the countries of the
Asia-Pacific region. Ivanov named the creation of the Russia-NATO
Council in May as "the most important event of the year," saying that
it gives Russia the opportunity to influence decision making within the
alliance. Ivanov rejected assertions that Russia has made too many
concessions to the United States and has adopted the role of
Washington's junior partner. He said that such steps as closing down
Russian military basis at Lourdes, Cuba, and Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam;
Russia's consent to a U.S. military presence in Central Asia; and the
Kremlin's softening attitude toward NATO expansion were all in line
with Russia's national interests. "Sometimes, Russia's national
interests not only do not contradict, but even coincide with, America's
foreign-policy objectives," Ivanov said. He added that Russia has
"objective interests" in close relations with China and India, as well
as with North and South Korea, Malaysia, and Japan. However, he said
that neither China nor India is seeking a military alliance with
Russia. VY
[02] ...AND ITS FAILURES...
In the same appearance, Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov conceded that the
Kremlin has had less success in its dealings with the countries of the
former Soviet Union. "The development of political dialogue within the
CIS in 2002 has not been satisfactory from Russia's side," he said. VY
[03] ...AND EXPERTS OFFER THEIR OWN VIEWS
Appearing on the same ORT program on 22 December, Federation Council
Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Mikhail Margelov said that for the
first time in many decades Russia has enhanced its national security
without sacrificing the lives of its soldiers. "I am absolutely certain
that if the United States had not come into Afghanistan, then we would
have had to do so ourselves in order to defend our security from the
Taliban," Margelov said. "This is like judo or the other Oriental
martial arts, in which you use the energy of your adversary to achieve
your own goals. [President Vladimir] Putin is a great master of this
art." Political analyst Andranik Migranyan said Russia halted its
campaign against NATO expansion because its position was too weak to
make any reprisal threats credible. First Deputy Chief of the General
Staff Colonel General Yurii Baluevskii said a military threat to Russia
from NATO expansion "does exist," but Moscow hopes to minimize it by
asking the Baltic States to join the Treaty on Conventional Forces in
Europe. Baluevskii also warned that Russia should not alter its
policies regarding China or antagonize that country. Otherwise, Russia
could face a serious threat from that direction. "The best policy
toward China is to have it as a friend, neighbor, and partner, but
never as an enemy," he said. VY
[04] FOREIGN MINISTER NIXES RUSSIAN ROLE IN MILITARY ACTION AGAINST
HUSSEIN...
In an appearance on ORT on 22 December, Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov
said that Russia "see no grounds to join a military coalition against
Iraq," although he said that Moscow and Washington share the goal of
eliminating Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. All other goals, he
said, are beyond the scope of United Nations resolutions on Iraq and
are outside of Russia's interests. VY
[05] ...AS IRAQ REVERSES ITS AFFRONT TO RUSSIA
Responding to a question during the same broadcast concerning Iraq's
cancellation of a contract with LUKoil to develop the West Qurna oil
field (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 13 December 2002), Foreign Minister
Ivanov said the issue emerged a couple of years ago and is not directly
linked with the present political situation. Meanwhile, the Iraqi Oil
Ministry has published a statement in which its says the contract to
develop the huge Qurna-2 oil deposit has been earmarked for Russia,
"Kommersant-Daily" and other Russian news agencies reported on 23
December. The latest Iraqi statement asks the Russian government to
give the contract to another Russian company. VY
[06] GOVERNMENT RELEASES CHECHNYA CASUALTY FIGURES
From the beginning of the current military campaign in Chechnya on 1
October 1999 to 15 December 2002, 4,705 Russian servicemen were killed
and 13,040 wounded, while 28 are still reported missing, Russian news
agencies reported on 16 December, citing the Joint Group of Federal
Forces in the North Caucasus. Of that number, 2,738 Defense Ministry
troops were killed and 6,439 wounded, with the rest of the casualties
belonging to the Interior Ministry and the Federal Security Service.
According to official statistics, 14,113 Chechen fighters were killed
during this period. VY
[07] MILITARY INAUGURATES NEW EARLY-WARNING STATION IN BELARUS
General Anatolii Perminov, commander of the Russian Space Forces,
announced that a new Volga strategic early-warning station near the
Belarusian city of Baranovichi has begun operation, regnum.ru and other
Russian news agencies reported on 21 December. The new station is
designed to replace a similar facility in Estonia that the military is
no longer able to use and will track missiles and objects in space at a
range of several thousand kilometers. VY
[08] ATOMIC ENERGY MINISTRY LOOKING FOR NEW PROJECTS IN IRAN
Atomic Energy Minister Aleksandr Rumyantsev arrived in Tehran for talks
with Iranian Vice President Qolam Reza Aqazadeh-Khoi, who is
responsible for the country's nuclear programs, iran.ru and other
Russian news agencies reported on 23 December. Rumyantsev will discuss
the technical and financial aspects of further nuclear-energy
cooperation and will try to get Tehran's agreement to ship spent
nuclear fuel to Russia for reprocessing. Rumyantsev will also inspect
the Bushehr nuclear-power plant that is being constructed by Russian
specialists, nns.ru reported on 22 December. In an interview with
RIA-Novosti on 22 December, Rumyantsev said Iran plans to construct
several new nuclear-power plants and to increase its nuclear-power
capacity by six times. Rumyantsev said the Atomic Energy Ministry hopes
to play an active role in developing these plans. VY
[09] PART OF STALIN ARCHIVE DECLASSIFIED
Speaking on 21 December on the occasion of the anniversary of the birth
of Soviet dictator Josef Stalin, Federal Archive Service head Vladimir
Kozlov announced that President Putin has authorized the transfer of
materials from Stalin's personal archive to the public domain,
"Kommersant-Daily" and other Russian news agencies reported. The
materials released include about 1,200 files, including some
correspondence with former NKVD chief Nikolai Yezhov and close Stalin
associates Vyacheslav Molotov and Lazar Kaganovich. The materials will
be kept at the Russian State Sociopolitical History Archive. A further
300 files remain classified because they allegedly contain state or
military secrets, Kozlov said. VY
[10] PARTY OF POWER PROMISES TO WHIP UP AN IDEOLOGY
At a session of Unified Russia's Central Political Council on 21
December, Chairman of the party's High Council and Interior Minister
Boris Gryzlov announced that the party's ideology will be adopted at
the party's second congress in March 2003, RIA-Novosti reported. He
added that the middle class, to which, he said, 75 percent of the
country belongs, is not satisfied with its standard of living, and the
main task of the party will be to activate the interest of this class
and to seek its support. According to "Kommersant-Daily," the party
currently has 270,442 members, but Gryzlov believes its ranks will
swell to 2 million in 2003. JAC
[11] PARTIES LOSE GROUND IN REGIONAL ELECTIONS...
Writing in "Vremya-MN" on 20 December, Aleksandr Khramchikhin of the
Institute for Political and Military Analysis argues that all the
federal-level parties -- including the Communist Party, Unified Russia,
Union of Rightist Forces (SPS), and Yabloko -- lost ground in regional
elections held during 2002. According to Khramchikhin, whenever Unified
Russia tried to challenge an incumbent governor or mayor, such as in
the Altai Republic or the city of Novgorod, it failed. Although the
majority of regional legislatures have a Unified Russia faction, not
all the deputies the party supported in the elections even bother to
join. SPS lost its mayors in Kyzyl and Vladimir and held on to only 30
seats in seven regional legislatures. JAC
[12] ...AS COMMUNISTS IN FAR EAST FOLLOW KREMLIN RATHER THAN WORKERS'
BIDDING
The Communist Party, meanwhile, has the problem of candidates or
political figures who are nominally Communist but who support Kremlin
policies, Khramchikhin writes. For example, in Kamchatka, both the
governor and the mayor of the capital, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskii, are
members of the Communist Party. However, the mayor, who is facing a
crippling labor strike by municipal workers and mounting calls for his
resignation, has defended himself by explaining that he has only been
following the orders of Moscow in his implementation of the reform of
the city's communal-housing and public-utilities sectors (see "RFE/RL
Russian Political Weekly," 18 December 2002). This is despite the fact
that the Communist Party has been outspokenly critical of the reforms.
RIA-Novosti reported on 20 December that Kamchatka Governor Mikhail
Mashkovtsev sent a letter to President Putin asking him to grant the
oblast administration the power of direct rule over the city's
finances, because the city "remains under the threat of a large-scale
crisis in the utilities and municipal-services sectors." JAC
[13] SPS HEAD SLAMS YABLOKO'S LEADERSHIP
SPS leader Boris Nemtsov told reporters on 21 December that he has
little hope for a coalition with Yabloko, lenta.ru reported. He said he
believes the "probability of such a coalition is small," because
"unfortunately, our partners are very ambitious, they think only of
themselves, [and] they do not agree." "But this is their choice; this
is their fate," he added. Nevertheless, Nemtsov expressed confidence
that even if SPS does not join forces with Yabloko for the 2003
legislative elections, SPS will improve its results. Asked whether he
would cede a leadership role in a coalition to Yabloko leader Grigorii
Yavlinskii, Nemtsov said that while the problem of leadership is an
important one, we "have suggested a procedure to resolve it." JAC
[14] KREMLIN PROMISES TO VETO FOREIGN-CURRENCY BILL
State Duma deputies approved on 20 December in their second and third
readings amendments to the law on the regulation of foreign currency
that would allow individuals to take up to $10,000 out of Russia,
RIA-Novosti reported. President Putin will veto the bill if it passes
the Federation Council in its present form, Aleksandr Kotenkov,
presidential envoy to the Duma, announced. The government had already
agreed to allow export of up $3,000 rather than the current level of
$1,500, but it is opposed to raising the ceiling to $10,000. Also on 20
December, deputies approved a bill authorizing the use of an electronic
voting system in its third and final reading (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 6
November and 16 December 2002). JAC
[15] STUDENTS DRAW ON PUTIN FOR INSPIRATION
The elementary school that President Putin attended as a boy celebrated
Secret Services Day on 20 December by having its students draw pictures
of its famous graduate and former intelligence officer, TVS reported on
20 December. According to the station, the school also celebrated
Putin's birthday on 7 October with a special concert. For the current
exhibition, one student drew Putin as a young man on his first date
with a submarine featured in the background. JAC
[16] NORTHERN GOVERNOR NO LONGER FACING CRIMINAL CHARGES
Deputy Prosecutor-General Vladimir Zubrin told journalists on 20
December that his office has suspended the criminal investigation
opened previously against Nenets Autonomous Okrug Governor Vladimir
Butov, regions.ru reported on 20 December, citing the Pskov Information
Agency (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 28 June and 2 July 2002). According to
Zubrin, Butov and his deputies and other members of his administration
figured in at least seven criminal cases, and the closure of these
cases does not mean there were no violations of the law by the okrug
administration. One of the Butov's deputies will be charged with abuse
of office, and investigations of two other officials are being turned
over to the Leningrad Oblast tax police and the okrug's Interior
Ministry. According to "Kommersant-Daily" on 21 December, three deputy
governors are the subjects of criminal investigations by the
Prosecutor-General's Office in the Northwest Federal District. JAC
[17] VILLAGERS GO CELLULAR TO KEEP IN TOUCH WITH OUTSIDE WORLD
The 11 residents of a village in Novgorod Oblast have invested in a
communal mobile phone so that they will be able to call for help in
emergencies, RIA-Novosti reported on 20 December. Previously, the
closest telephone was located in a neighboring village. The fees for
the phone will be divided among the residents, most of whom are
pensioners, and will be kept by the village medic. JAC
TRANSCAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA
[18] INDEPENDENT ARMENIAN TV STATION FACES CONTINUED CLOSURE
The director of the independent A1+ Armenian television, which has been
shut down by the authorities since April, announced on 21 December that
the station "has lost any chance" of resuming broadcasting before next
year's presidential and parliamentary elections, RFE/RL's Yerevan
bureau reported. Mesrop Movsesian made the announcement after
encountering another delay in a court action that suspended the
scheduled auction of television frequencies, which has been seen as the
only real possibility of A1+'s return to the air. The tender was
suspended by the Armenian Economic Arbitration Court after the private
Noyan Tapan television station protested its exclusion by the National
Commission on Television and Radio. RG
[19] SMALL ARMENIAN OPPOSITION PARTY OFFERS SUPPORT FOR FORMER FOREIGN
MINISTER'S PRESIDENTIAL BID
The leadership of the small National Democratic Party (AZhK) pledged on
21 December to support the candidacy of U.S.-born former Foreign
Minister Raffi Hovannisian in the upcoming presidential election,
according to RFE/RL's Yerevan bureau. The party agreed to endorse
Hovannisian if the leading opposition parties fail to agree on a single
candidate to challenge incumbent President Robert Kocharian in the 19
February contest. A serious challenge to Hovannisian's candidacy,
however, centers on his official registration as a presidential
candidate, which is contingent on a legal interpretation of his
Armenian citizenship. It was formally granted only last year, although
he has lived in the country for over a decade and has renounced his
American citizenship. The Armenian Constitution stipulates that
presidential candidates must have been Armenian nationals for the
preceding 10 years. RG
[20] ARMENIAN PRESIDENT WARNS SECURITY OFFICIALS TO REFRAIN FROM
INTERFERING IN COMING ELECTIONS
President Kocharian issued a warning to officials of the country's
National Security Ministry on 20 December advising them to refrain from
any interference or involvement with the upcoming presidential and
parliamentary elections, RFE/RL's Yerevan bureau reported. The warning
stressed that the "elections must be free, fair, and transparent, and
law-enforcement authorities' involvement in those elections must be
ruled out." Both the warning and the recent presidential decree
reorganizing the security ministries seek to overcome a legacy of overt
interference by security personnel in past elections. The opposition
continues to charge that the president will use the security forces to
intimidate voters and point to his recent appointment of Defense
Minister Serzh Sarkisian as campaign manager as evidence of this danger
RG
[21] AZERBAIJANI FOREIGN MINISTER REFUTES SUGGESTED TURKISH
NORMALIZATION OF RELATIONS WITH ARMENIA
Foreign Minister Vilayet Quliev on 20 December issued a statement
refuting recent reports suggesting that Turkey plans to normalize
relations with Armenia (see " RFE/RL Newsline," 20 December 2002),
according to ANS television. Quliev issued the statement following a
meeting with Turkish Ambassador to Azerbaijan Unal Chevikoz, adding
that he had been assured that Turkey will not extend diplomatic
relations to Armenia or lift its blockade until the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict is settled. RG
[22] RUSSIAN OIL COMPANY TO SELL STAKE IN CASPIAN OIL FIELD
Officials of Russia's LUKoil announced plans on 20 December to sell its
10 percent stake in an international consortium developing the offshore
Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli oil fields in the Caspian Sea, according to AP
and ITAR-TASS. LUKoil officials confirmed that the company intends to
sell its stake in the project to Japan's INPEX Corporation for about
$1.37 billion. The deal would effectively end any Russian role in the
development of one of the largest oil projects in the Caspian, although
its completion is conditional upon negotiations with the Azerbaijani
State Oil Company SOCAR and British Petroleum-Amoco, which heads the
consortium. RG
[23] GEORGIAN ANTICORRUPTION OFFICIAL CRITICIZES INTERIOR MINISTER
During a 21 December meeting of the Georgian National Security Council,
the head of the Anticorruption Bureau, Kakha Ugulava, criticized
Interior Minister Koba Narchemashvili for failing to implement promised
reforms in his ministry, according to the online Civil Georgia news
agency. Rejecting the interior minister's defense that his ministry
lacks sufficient funding to carry out the reforms, Ugulava charged that
the security bodies remain the "most corrupt" governmental institutions
in the country. RG
[24] GEORGIAN PARLIAMENTARY SPEAKER BLAMES GOVERNMENT FOR IMPASSE
Georgian Parliamentary speaker Nino Burjanadze criticized the
"executive government and pro-presidential factions" for hindering the
parliament's consideration of the draft 2003 state budget, according to
Civil Georgia and "The Georgian Times." The current parliamentary
session, now at the last legislative day of the 2002 calendar, remains
at an impasse since the 19 December walkout of five pro-government
factions (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 20 December 2002). The subsequent lack
of a quorum has prevented the session from considering the budget, as
well as addressing some 30 other pieces of legislation. RG
[25] RUSSIAN TROOPS BEGIN PARTIAL WITHDRAWAL FROM GEORGIA TO ARMENIA
As part of a partial withdrawal, a number of Russian troops began
arriving at the Russian base in Armenia on 20 December, according to AP
and "The Moscow Times." The Russian troops, assigned to a military
communications battalion outside of Tbilisi, are to be reassigned to
the Russian base at Gyumri, with the remainder of their unit to be
completely transferred by the end of the month. The move follows an
earlier redeployment in November 2000 when 76 Russian armored vehicles
and other equipment were sent to Armenia after being withdrawn from
Georgia. The Georgian government is seeking a complete Russian military
withdrawal, although Russia is demanding another 10 years before it
fully withdraws from its two remaining bases at Akhalkalaki and Batumi.
RG
[26] TWO GEORGIANS TIED TO FAILED PRESIDENTIAL ASSASSINATION ARRESTED
Officials of the Georgian Interior Ministry announced on 20 December
that Russian security forces have detained two Georgian citizens in
Chechnya on suspicion of involvement in the 1998 attempted
assassination of Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze, according to
RIA-Novosti. The two Georgians were captured on 19 December and have
long been sought by the Georgian authorities. They are suspected of
carrying out the February 1998 car-bomb attack, in which a presidential
bodyguard was killed. RG
[27] DISSIDENT'S WIFE SAYS KAZAKH GOVERNMENT UNDERMINING HER CAMPAIGN
FOR PARLIAMENT
In an interview with the Kazakh newspaper "Vremya" on 19 December,
Karlygash Zhakiyanova accused the regional government in Pavlodar of
staging dirty tricks to ensure her bid for a parliamentary seat fails.
Zhakiyanova, who is the wife of imprisoned opposition leader Galymzhan
Zhakiyanov, is a candidate for a vacant seat from northern Pavlodar
Oblast that will be filled in a special election on 28 December. In the
interview she complained that several local newspapers have published
identical articles under different names defaming her, while permits
for rally venues have been denied. She said government officials have
threatened members of her campaign, with the result that 17 of them
have stopped working for her. AA
[28] KAZAKH NUCLEAR CHIEF DEFENDS PLANS TO ACCEPT WASTE
Speaking at a press conference in Almaty on 20 December, the president
of Kazatomprom (Kazakh Atomic Industry), Mukhtar Zhakishev, slammed
local environmental NGOs for agitating against the government's plan to
import nuclear waste for storage on a commercial basis,
Interfax-Kazakhstan reported. Kazakh NGOs recently convened a
conference that condemned the idea (see "RFE/RL Central Asia Report,"
17 October 2002). Zhakishev on 20 December accused the activists of
being indifferent to the greater good of the country, adding that at
least 40,000 Kazakh citizens are in favor of the plan. He went on to
identify those supporters as Kazatomprom employees and their relatives.
Zhakishev said Kazakhstan needs to accept radioactive waste from abroad
as a way to earn money to clean up its own radioactive waste at home.
Experts estimate it will cost $1.2 billion to bury the 237 million tons
of nuclear waste currently in Kazakhstan. AA
[29] KYRGYZ OPPOSITION TO CHALLENGE DECREE RESTRICTING FREEDOM OF
MOVEMENT
The Movement for the Resignation of President Askar Akaev announced on
22 December that it will appeal to the Constitutional Court to overturn
a 1999 presidential decree on strengthening the passport system,
RFE/RL's Bishkek bureau reported. The opposition alleges the government
used the decree to foil plans to hold the Third National Kurultai
(citizens' gathering) on 16 November by detaining delegates trying to
attend and forcing them to return home. The decree contradicts the
spirit of the Kyrgyz Constitution by limiting freedom of movement,
opposition leader Azimbek Beknazarov charged on 22 December. The
Movement for the Resignation of President Askar Akaev said last week
that it plans to reschedule the Third Kurultai for 17 March 2003, which
is the anniversary of the fatal shootings in Aksy Raion (see "RFE/RL
Newsline," 20 December 2002). AA
[30] KYRGYZSTAN LAUNCHING NEW ROUND OF LARGE-SCALE PRIVATIZATION
A number of cash-strapped state enterprises are being put up for sale
in Kyrgyzstan, starting with an electric-lamp factory in the southern
town of Mayli-Say, which is being offered for $3.2 million but has so
far attracted no bids, Kyrgyz-Press International news agency reported
on 20 December. Other enterprises being offered for privatization, all
of them in the south, include the Haydarken mercury factory, a cotton
plant in Osh, and a semiconductor plant in Tash-Kumyr. Meanwhile a
Russian metals company from Novosibirsk is reportedly negotiating for
control of tin and tungsten mines along the southern shore of Lake
Issyk-Kul. AA
[31] TAJIK POLITICAL PARTY REGISTERED
Justice Minister Halifabobo Homidov has re-registered of the Social
Democratic Party of Tajikistan (SDPT) and presented its registration
certificate to the party's chairman, Rahmatullo Zoirov, on 20 December
at a ceremony in Dushanbe, Tajik television reported. Last month the
party sent an open letter to President Imomali Rakhmonov complaining
that its efforts to re-register after its original permit was revoked
in 1999 had been repeatedly thwarted and renewed its application (see
"RFE/RL Newsline," 20 November 2002). Hamidov on 20 December said the
SDPT's registration enriched the multiparty system and thus was a sign
of growing democracy in the country. Zoirov, in turn, promised the
party's activities will constructively serve the interests of the
people of Tajikistan. AA
[32] TAJIKISTAN THREATENED BY FAMINE THIS WINTER
In Dushanbe on 20 December, Deputy Agriculture Minister Siroge Murudov
told journalists the country faces possible famine this winter despite
an improved grain harvest over last year, AFP reported. Tajikistan
produced 700,000 tons of grain in 2002, 50 percent more than 2001 when
the country was struck by drought. But it will require 1 million more
tons to stave off starvation this winter, according to Murudov.
Meanwhile Asia Plus-Blitz reported on 20 December that the Asian
Development Bank has approved a $35 million loan to Tajikistan for its
agricultural sector. The money will be targeted mainly toward improving
irrigation systems in the country's northern Khatlon and southern Soghd
oblasts. AA
[33] TAJIK GUARDS REPLACE RUSSIANS ALONG CHINESE BORDER
Russian border troops guarding Tajikistan's frontier with China handed
over their responsibilities to Tajik soldiers of the Murghob border
guard unit on 20 December, Interfax reported. There are a total of
eight posts and a command center along the border, according to the
Tajikistan's State Border Protection Committee Chairman Abrurrakhmon
Azimov. Meanwhile, the Varorud news agency noted the same day that much
of the border area in eastern Tajikistan's Murghob Raion has been ceded
to China in an interstate agreement. The formal transfer of the
sections in question will occur after the Chinese parliament ratifies
the agreement, the news agency said. AA
[34] TURKMENISTAN EXPELS UZBEK AMBASSADOR
A statement issued by the Turkmen Foreign Ministry in Ashgabat on 21
December declared Uzbekistan's Ambassador Abdurashid Kadyrov persona
non grata "for committing acts incompatible with the status of a
diplomat" and demanded that he leave the country within 24 hours,
RFE/RL and turkmenistan.ru reported. The ministry said it made the
decision to expel Kadyrov on the basis of evidence presented by
Turkmenistan's Prosecutor-General Kurbanbibi Atajanova, who accused
Kadyrov last week of colluding in the 25 November plot to assassinate
President Saparmurat Niyazov (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 19 December 2002).
Kadyrov left Turkmenistan on 22 December, ITAR-TASS reported.
Meanwhile, the authorities denied that he had been expelled. Uzbek
Deputy Foreign Minister Ilhom Nematov insisted on 22 December that the
ambassador was being urgently recalled home for consultations, the news
agency said. AA
[35] POLICE ASK PUBLIC FOR INFORMATION ON PLOTTERS
Turkmen special services say they believe former Foreign Minister Boris
Shikhmuradov and businessman Iklym Iklymov are still in Turkmenistan
and have mounted a large manhunt, Interfax reported on 20 December.
Shikhmuradov and Iklymov, who is the brother of the exiled former
Deputy Agriculture Minister Sapar Iklymov, are accused of being the
prime organizers of the assassination bid. On 21 December, Turkmen
television called on citizens to assist in the manhunt, showing
photographs of the two men and urging viewers to report any information
about their whereabouts to the police. AA
[36] MORE PRO-PRESIDENTIAL DEMONSTRATIONS STAGED ACROSS TURKMENISTAN
Rallies demanding punishment for President Niyazov's would-be assassins
are continuing throughout the country, Turkmen television said on 20
December. In Ashgabat, presidential supporters were shown demanding by
turns that the plotters "and their children and relatives" be damned,
eliminated, exiled, jailed, or shot. Meanwhile at a rally in northern
Dashoguz Province, a woman captioned as the mother of former Dashoguz
Governor Yazgeldy Gundogdiev expressed remorse that her son is a
criminal. Gundogdyev is one of the top officials arrested last week in
connection with the assassination plot (see "RFE/RL Newsline, 19
December 2002"). AA
[37] UZBEKISTAN DENIES REPORTS OF TROOP MOVEMENTS
Armored infantry units stationed in Uzbekistan's Bukhara, Khorezm, and
Kashkadryo oblasts are being moved closer to the country's borders with
Turkmenistan, the Turkmen opposition site watan.ru reported on 20
December. The website said the redeployments mirror troop movements on
the Turkmen side, which is allegedly strengthening its borders near the
northern town of Dashoguz. On 20 December, Uzbek Deputy Foreign
Minister Ilhom Nematov refused to confirm or deny the report, saying he
possesses no information on the matter, ITAR-TASS noted. But a source
in the Uzbek Defense Ministry told Interfax the same day that it is not
taking any emergency measures to strengthen the Uzbek-Turkmen border,
although it did not rule out the possibility of intensified search
activities at frontier and customs posts. AA
[38] UZBEKISTAN TO BOOST WINTER ENERGY SUPPLIES TO TAJIKISTAN
A Tajik delegation led by Prime Minister Oqil Oqilov arrived in
Tashkent on 20 December and secured a promise that Uzbekistan will
increase deliveries of natural gas and electricity over the winter,
Tajik television reported. Between now and 1 April, Uzbekistan agreed
to supply more than 900 million cubic meters of gas and 790 million
kilowatt-hours of electricity. Tajikistan is suffering one of the
harshest winters in living memory, but there have been fears that
Uzbekistan, as in past years, might cut off gas supplies and demand
prepayment, Transitions Online noted on 19 December. Last week, Tajik
President Rakhmonov slammed his subordinates for poorly preparing for
the winter (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 18 December 2002). AA
CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE
[39] BELARUSIAN SOCIAL DEMOCRATS POOL EFFORTS FOR LOCAL ELECTIONS
The Belarusian Social Democratic Party (Popular Assembly) has formed a
joint headquarters for the March local elections with two other social
democratic parties, the Belarusian Party of Labor and the Women's Party
Hope, Belapan reported on 20 December. The offices, headed by
Belarusian Social Democratic Party (National Assembly) leader Mikalay
Statkevich, will organize joint local campaigns in support of
candidates from a coalition of these three parties called the Social
Democratic Union. The coalition slammed Belarusian authorities for
refusing to endorse a CIS convention on free and fair election
standards that was adopted at a recent CIS summit in Chisinau. "The
move once again showed the world that the Belarusian government
continues to ignore all principles relating to democratization of
society and respect for the basic political rights of citizens," the
coalition said in a statement. AM
[40] BELARUSIAN WRITER FINDS REFUGE IN CZECH REPUBLIC
Vasil Bykau, a 78-year-old Belarusian dissident writer, has been
granted permanent residence in the Czech Republic, Czech news agency
CTK reported on 20 December. Bykau has lived in Finnish and German
exile since 1998. "We are very glad that such a significant
personality, persecuted by the current Belarusian regime, has found
refuge in the Czech Republic," said Tomas Pojar of Czech NGO People in
Need. "We believe this is an important symbol of the Czech Republic's
relation toward the current Belarusian regime." Official relations
between Prague and Minsk deteriorated after Czech authorities denied a
visa to Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka, barring him from
attending the NATO summit in Prague on 21-22 November (see "RFE/RL
Newsline" 12, 13, 14, and 15 November 2002). AM
[41] BELARUSIAN LAWMAKERS VISIT CONVICTED JOURNALISTS
Valery Fralou and Syarhey Skrabets, members of the Respublika caucus in
the Chamber of Representatives, visited correctional labor colonies in
Asipovichy (Mahilyou Oblast) and Zhlobin (Homel Oblast) on 21 December,
Belapan reported. The lawmakers met there with two convicted
journalists from the Hrodna-based weekly "Pahonya" -- Mikalay Markevich
and Pavel Mazheyka, who are serving "restricted-freedom" sentences for
slandering President Lukashenka. Although the journalists are being
kept in normal conditions, the lawmakers said, their confinement is
condemnable in its effect on the press and on freedom of expression.
The representatives added that they will do everything in their power
to secure the journalists' release, as well as that of Viktar
Ivashkevich, the editor in chief of Minsk-based "Rabochy" newspaper who
is serving a similar sentence in Baranavichy (Brest Oblast). AM
[42] U.S. BLACKLISTS UKRAINE OVER MONEY LAUNDERING
The U.S. government on 20 December labeled Ukraine and the South
Pacific's independent republic of Nauru as of "concern" with respect to
money laundering under the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001, Reuters reported.
"We are telling the world clearly that these jurisdictions are bad for
business and that their financial controls cannot be trusted," U.S.
Deputy Treasury Secretary Ken Dam said in a statement. "We are serious
about ensuring that the international financial system not be abused by
money launderers, terrorist financiers and other criminals." Earlier
the same day, the Paris-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF)
announced that it is seeking "countermeasures" against Ukraine for not
enacting tough laws against money laundering (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 20
December 2002). The FATF made a similar move against Nauru in December
2001. AM
[43] UKRAINIAN JOURNALISTS FORM NEW TRADE UNION IN ODESA
Journalists from four newspapers in Ukraine's Odesa Oblast -- "Yug,"
"Slovo," "Morskie vedomosti," and "Vikna" -- established an independent
trade union on 21 December, UNIAN reported. The organization promises
to represent and protect "labor and the socioeconomic rights and
interests" of its members. The Odesa trade union is headed by Leonid
Zaslavskyy of "Yug." The group hopes to send a delegation to a
constituent congress of an umbrella group for independent journalists
in Kyiv in January. AM
[44] LATVIAN SOCIALIST PARTY RE-ELECTS CHAIRMAN
The 8th Congress of the Latvian Socialist Party in Riga re-elected
Alfreds Rubiks as party chairman in Riga on 21 December, LETA reported.
Filips Stroganovs, Martijans Bekasovs, and Sergejs Hristolubovs were
elected as his deputies. The congress made several amendments to its
statutes, one of which is a new party slogan: "Power to the people, not
the capital!" It also adopted a resolution demanding the right to hold
public office for people who were members of the Communist Party, the
early-1990s anti-independence Interfront, or similar organizations
after 13 January 1991. The congress also called for a revival of the
Latvian Communist Party, a move that would present problems within the
For Human Rights in the three-way United Latvia alliance -- since one
of it three partners, the National Harmony Party, is against such a
proposal. SG
[45] CHALLENGERS FORCE RUNOFF IN LITHUANIAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
Incumbent Valdas Adamkus was the clear winner of the Lithuanian
presidential election on 22 December with about 35 percent of the vote,
according to unofficial returns cited by ELTA. Liberal Democratic Party
(LDP) Chairman and former Prime Minister Rolandas Paksas finished
second with about 20 percent of the popular vote. If the preliminary
vote count holds up, Adamkus and Paksas will compete in a runoff
election on 5 January. Parliamentary Chairman Arturas Paulauskas was
third (8.5 percent), followed by television humorist Vytautas Serenas
(7.9 percent), Social Democratic Party (LSDP) First Deputy Chairman
Vytenis Andriukaitis (7.4 percent), and Union of Peasants and New
Democracy Union (VNDPU) Chairwoman Kazimiera Prunskiene (5.1 percent).
Although there were 17 candidates, only about 1.42 million of 2.7
million eligible voters participated -- considerably lower than the 71
percent that voted in the 1997 presidential election. SG
[46] TRADITIONAL PARTIES DOMINATE LITHUANIA'S LOCAL ELECTIONS
Together with the presidential elections, Lithuanian voters also cast
ballots to fill 1,560 deputy seats from among 10,138 candidates in 60
municipalities and raions, ELTA reported. The most successful parties
in order of seats won were: LSDP, VNDPU, Homeland Union (Conservatives
of Lithuania) [TSLK], Center Union, New Union (Social Liberals) [NSSL],
Christian Democrats, LDP, and Liberal Union. In Vilnius, a coalition of
the Liberal Union and Modern Christian Democrats finished first (29
percent), followed by the LSDP (11 percent) and TSLK (10 percent). In
the second-largest city, Kaunas, the Liberal Union was first (15
percent), followed by the TSLK (also 15 percent) and the LSDP (14
percent). The Liberal Union (26 percent) was also first in the port
city of Klaipeda, followed by the Center Union (22 percent), and the
Union of Russians (10 percent). SG
[47] POLISH PREMIER PRESENTS REPORT ON EU ACCESSION...
Polish Premier Leszek Miller on 20 December presented the Sejm with a
government report on the results of the recent EU summit in Copenhagen
(see "RFE/RL Newsline," 18 December 2002), Polish Radio reported. "We
are joining the European Union as a free, sovereign, and democratic
nation. It is our great success but also a great challenge for
everybody to protect jointly the most important values," Miller said.
Jozef Oleksy from the ruling Democratic Left Alliance congratulated the
premier on the outcome of the negotiations. Maciej Plazynski of the
opposition Civic Platform said he will encourage people to participate
in an EU referendum and cast a "yes" vote. Kazimierz Michal Ujazdowski
of the opposition Law and Justice (PiS) called the result of the
negotiations a "disaster on the part of Euro-enthusiasts" but added
that the PiS has not yet decided on a policy toward the EU referendum.
Self-Defense leader Andrzej Lepper said the EU negotiations were not
Poland's success but the European Union's. "You sold Poland and Poles
for 50 euros, which you brought for the president from Copenhagen,"
Lepper told Miller from the parliamentary rostrum. Miller called the
right-wing Lepper's pronouncement "boorish and impudent." AM
[48] ...AS AMERICAN POLONIA LEADER PANS EU ENTRY
Edward Moskal, chairman of the American Polonia Congress, said in a
statement in the Chicago-based "Dziennik Zwiazkowy" of 20 December that
the EU accord reached in Copenhagen insufficiently secures Polish
interests, Polish Radio reported on 21 December. According to Moskal,
Poland's accession might result in a loss of political and economic
sovereignty. He asserted that accession will liquidate Polish family
farms and make Poland a market and a reservoir of cheap labor for the
EU. Moskal claimed that entry to the North American Free Trade
Agreement (NAFTA) could provide an alternative to EU accession. "I feel
that there ought to be a reply by the Polish side," Senate Speaker
Longin Pastusiak commented on Moskal's statement. "We maintain contacts
with the American Polonia Congress, which is the largest Polish
organization in the world. And this [statement] has indeed particularly
hurt us." AM
[49] CZECH PREMIER ATTACKS PREDECESSOR'S PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDACY...
Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla said in an interview with the daily
"Pravo" of 21 December that his predecessor, Milos Zeman, is a "symbol
of worn-out politics," CTK reported. Reacting to Zeman's possible
presidential bid, party Chairman Spidla said it would be "politically
incorrect" for his ruling Social Democratic Party (CSSD) to "allow the
return of such people." Zeman won the CSSD primaries for the
presidential post but said he will only run if the first three rounds
of legislative voting on 15 January fail to elect a head of state. The
CSSD leadership on 18 December chose former Justice Minister Jaroslav
Bures as its presidential contender. If the president is not elected in
the first three-round contest, new candidates can be proposed for a
second, three-round ballot. Reacting to Spidla's interview,
Zeman-supporter Josef Hojdar, who is CSSD's chairman of the lower house
Economic Committee, said Spidla should have had the courage to
criticize Zeman when the former was labor minister in Zeman's cabinet,
adding that it is "unfair" of him to do so now. MS
[50] ...WHILE NEW OPPOSITION LEADER IS CRITICAL OF FORMER PARTY
CHAIRMAN KLAUS
Miroslav Topolanek, who replaced former Civic Democratic Party (ODS)
Chairman Klaus at the helm of the party earlier this month, said on 21
December that Klaus recently lost his "punch and drive," CTK reported.
He said Klaus's most serious mistake was that, under his leadership,
the ODS ceased to be a clear and comprehensible right-wing alternative
to the CSSD. MS
[51] POLL SHOWS MOST CZECHS BACK OMBUDSMAN FOR PRESIDENTIAL POST
A public-opinion poll conducted by the Institute for Public Opinion
Research shows that most Czechs want Ombudsman Otakar Motejl to win the
presidential contest, CTK reported on 20 December. Motejl is supported
by 45 percent of those questioned. He is followed by Christian
Democratic Union-People's Party candidate Petr Pithart (37 percent) and
by ODS candidate Klaus (31 percent). Zeman is backed by 25 percent,
while CSSD candidate Bures is supported by 20 percent of those
interviewed. Among registered candidates, the field is led by Pithart.
The Czech president, however, is not elected by popular vote but rather
by a joint legislative session. MS
[52] NATO TO FINANCE AIRCRAFT-FUEL STORAGE IN CZECH REPUBLIC
Members of a Czech military delegation who last week visited NATO
headquarters in Brussels on 20 December told CTK that NATO will provide
some 6 million euros ($6.1 million) for the construction of an aircraft
fuel-storage facility in Hermanuv Mestec, Eastern Bohemia. The facility
is the costliest of several projects that include the modernization of
airfields in Caslav, Eastern Bohemia, and in Namest nad Oslavou,
Southern Moravia, to enable the landing of NATO aircraft. MS
[53] SLOVAK SUPREME COURT QUASHES SPY-CHIEF INDICTMENTS...
The Supreme Court on 20 December rejected an appeal by the
Prosecutor-General's Office against a June decision of the Bratislava
Regional Court to quash the indictment of former Slovak Intelligence
Service (SIS) Director Ivan Lexa, TASR reported. The Supreme Court
affirmed a lower court decision that cited a Constitutional Court
ruling in 2001, in which Lexa's amnesty by former Premier Vladimir
Meciar was deemed valid. Lexa and 11 other people were amnestied by
Meciar while the former premier temporarily exercised some presidential
functions after President Michal Kovac's mandate expired in 1998. Lexa
was charged with masterminding the 1995 abduction of Kovac's son and
with nine other charges. The ruling Christian Democratic Movement
responded that it will try to enlist the support of at least 90
deputies to amend the constitution and eventually invalidate Meciar's
amnesty. Lexa remains in custody on fraud and other charges, and a
decision on his appeal against detention is due in early January. MS
[54] ...AND RE-ELECTS MECIAR APPOINTEE AS CHAIRMAN
The Supreme Court's Judicial Council on 20 December re-elected Stefan
Harabin chairman of the court, TASR and CTK reported. Harabin garnered
the support of 10 of the council's 18 members. He was first elected to
the position during former Premier Meciar's 1992-98 administration.
Former Justice Minister Jan Carnogursky attempted to bring about
Harabin's dismissal, but Harabin sued before the European Court of
Human Rights on grounds of discrimination and won the lawsuit. He will
now be appointed by President Rudolf Schuster to a second five-year
term that begins in February. MS
[55] SLOVAK OPPOSITION DEPUTY CHAIRMAN RENEWS ATTACK ON MECIAR
Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS) Deputy Chairman Vojtech Tkac
said on 22 December on TV Markiza that the party's current chairman,
former Premier Meciar, is "the biggest brake" on the HZDS, TASR
reported. Tkac said there is discontent within the rank-and-file and
district levels with the violation of the party's statutes,
nontransparent financing, and the performance of the leadership in
December's municipal elections. He said he intends to set up a new
party faction and that "departure from the HZDS is only an extreme
solution." Tkac added: "I am not a traitor. I neither want to be the
gravedigger of the HZDS nor the one who brings about a split. But is
its essential to change [the party's] style." MS
[56] SLOVAK COMMUNISTS WANT TO SPEED UP REFERENDUM ON NATO ACCESSION
The Communist Party of Slovakia (KSS) on 21 December said it wants
parliamentary speaker Pavol Hrusovsky to submit to the legislature next
month the 12 December KSS proposal to hold a referendum on the
country's accession to NATO, TASR reported. KSS parliamentary leader
Ivan Hopta said that if Hrusovsky fails to do so, the KSS will itself
propose a resolution. Hopta said Hrusovsky is "dragging his feet" on
the initiative by saying he will submit the proposal after receiving
the opinions of the Defense and Foreign ministries and the cabinet. MS
[57] HUNGARIAN PREMIER SAYS RUSSIA TO REPAY ONE-THIRD OF ITS DEBT...
Russia agreed on 20 December to repay $90 million to Hungary within a
month, Prime Minister Peter Medgyessy was quoted in the media as saying
upon his return from a Moscow visit on 21 December. The agreement was
reached by the two countries' Finance ministries after Medgyessy met
with President Vladimir Putin. Russia would thus settle 36 percent of
its $240 million Soviet-era debt to Hungary. The debt rose as high as
$400 million, but agreement was reached to deduct $160 million on the
basis of earlier agreements. During Medgyessy's visit, the countries
also reached a deal on the Sarospatak Library, which was taken away by
the Soviets during World War II. Medgyessy said he is hopeful the
library will return to Hungary next year. In turn, Hungary pledged to
return any Russian art treasures found in that country. Medgyessy also
met with Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov, discussing possible Russian
investments in his country and Russian participation in the
construction of a fourth subway line in Budapest (see "RFE/RL
Newsline," 20 December 2002). MS
[58] ...AND RALLIES TO AID OF CONTROVERSIAL MUSEUM
Premier Medgyessy said on 21 December that his government must provide
support to the controversial House of Terror museum in Budapest,
stressing that the facility must not be "expropriated" by any single
political force, Hungarian media reported. Medgyessy was reacting to
parliament's decision to slash the museum's budget to 180 million
forints ($780,000) from 350 million forints proposed by the government
(see "RFE/RL Newsline," 19 December 2002). Maria Schmidt, the House of
Terror's director and a former adviser to Premier Viktor Orban, said
the lower figure will only cover operating costs and the museum will no
longer be able to fund scholarly work on the Nazi and communist terror
nor stage new exhibitions. Orban has criticized the move as politically
motivated. Culture Minister Gabor Gorgey said at a joint press
conference with Schmidt on 20 December that if the museum decides to
close down as a result of the parliamentary decision, he will ask its
board of directors to resign. Schmidt said only that the board can fire
her, if it so wishes. MS
[59] HUNGARIAN PRESIDENT DEFENDS STATUS LAW
In an interview with Duna TV on 21 December, President Ferenc Madl
defended the Status Law approved at the initiative of the country's
previous government, "Nepszabadsag" and "Magyar Hirlap" reported. Madl
said every country is entitled to provide aid to citizens of other
countries who share with the kin-state an ethnic and linguistic
identity, and this must not be interpreted as an infringement on
another state's sovereignty. He added that with the accession of
Slovakia to the EU, the situation will change for ethnic Hungarians in
that country, since EU legislation prohibits any discrimination on
ethnic grounds. But ethnic Hungarians who will be left out of the
expansion might face a difficult situation for a long time yet, he
said. In related news, Romanian Radio on 21 December quoted Foreign
Minister Laszlo Kovacs as saying an agreement has been reached with
Romania on seven basic principles that should guide the planned
amendment of the Status Law. MS
SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE
[60] MONTENEGRIN PRESIDENTIAL VOTE FLOPS
Only 45.9 percent of registered voters cast their ballots in the 22
December presidential election, which required a 50 percent turnout to
be legally valid, Montenegrin Television reported. Filip Vujanovic, the
candidate of the governing coalition, led the field with 83.9 percent
of the vote. He won more votes than his coalition did in the 20 October
parliamentary vote. After Vujanovic came Dragan Hajdukovic with 5.9
percent, followed by nine other candidates. The leading opposition
parties had called for a boycott. Turnout was also adversely affected
by voter apathy and a scandal that linked some leading government
officials to trafficking in women (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 20 December
2002). When he cast his ballot, Vujanovic urged his countrymen to vote
lest Montenegro be without a head of state for the first time in its
history. Once the election commission confirms that the vote is
invalid, it will reschedule a new round in which all 11 candidates are
again eligible to run, dpa reported. If that ballot also fails, a
completely new election will be scheduled. OSCE election monitors
called on the Montenegrin authorities to drop the requirement of a 50
percent turnout for future elections to be valid. PM
[61] WAR CRIMES PROSECUTOR SLAMS YUGOSLAV FOREIGN MINISTER
Speaking in The Hague on 20 December, Carla Del Ponte, who is chief
prosecutor of the war crimes tribunal, said she "sent yesterday a
letter to the Yugoslav authorities in regard to the accused [outgoing
Serbian President Milan] Milutinovic to ensure his surrender to the
custody of the [tribunal] and his transfer to The Hague immediately
upon the expiry of his term of office" on 5 January, RFE/RL reported.
She added, however, that Goran Svilanovic, who is the "Yugoslav foreign
minister and president of the National Council for Cooperation [with
the tribunal],... refused to speak to me yesterday [precisely] on the
issue of cooperation" (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 19 December 2002). PM
[62] INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS WANT TO DEAL WITH ONLY ONE
BANK FOR SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO
RFE/RL reported from Belgrade on 20 December that unnamed officials of
the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) said those bodies
want to deal with only one institution acting as the "fiscal agent" for
external financial dealings of the future state of Serbia and
Montenegro. The officials added that they want to deal with just one
currency for that country. Montenegro has rejected Serbian demands that
Serbia's National Bank of Yugoslavia act as the new country's sole
representative in financial dealings abroad (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 20
December 2002). Serbia has the dinar as its currency, while Montenegro
uses the euro. The EU and Germany allowed Montenegro to use the German
mark as its currency, while Podgorica was defying Belgrade prior to the
fall of former President Slobodan Milosevic in October 2000. Montenegro
automatically switched to the euro in January 2002, but some voices in
Brussels have suggested that Serbia and Montenegro now need their own
common currency. Montenegro firmly rejects giving up the euro, saying
such a move would be a step backward. PM
[63] YUGOSLAVIA TO ALLOW NATO TO USE ITS AIRSPACE
The Foreign Ministry said in a statement on 20 December that Svilanovic
and NATO Secretary-General Lord George Robertson have reached an
agreement allowing the Atlantic alliance to use air routes over
Yugoslav territory, AP reported from Belgrade but did not elaborate.
The ministry called the agreement "another important step in the
rapprochement between Yugoslavia and Euro-Atlantic structures."
Yugoslavia and Bosnia are the only countries in the region that have
not yet met the requirements to join NATO's Partnership for Peace (PfP)
program. Some of their representatives have recently expressed concern
lest those two countries be left even further behind in the regional
process of Euro-Atlantic integration (see "RFE/RL Balkan Report," 8,
22, and 29 November and 6 December 2002). Bosnia lacks a unified
Defense Ministry, which is a requirement for PfP, while Yugoslavia has
yet to demonstrate cooperation with The Hague, establish civilian
control over its military, and provide a final account about its
illegal arms dealings with Iraq and some other states under a UN
embargo. PM
[64] NETHERLANDS SHELVES EU TREATY WITH CROATIA
Dutch Foreign Minister Jaap de Hoop Scheffer told the parliament in a
letter on 20 December that the government is suspending ratification of
Croatia's stabilization and association agreement with the EU because
of the affair involving former General Janko Bobetko (see "RFE/RL
Newsline," 16 October and 2 December 2002). The war crimes tribunal in
The Hague has demanded Bobetko's extradition to face charges stemming
from the killings of at least 100 ethnic Serb civilians in the Medak
Pocket in 1993. The Croatian government argues that it is cooperating
with the tribunal, but that the 83-year-old former general is too ill
to travel. Britain has also suspended ratification of the EU's
agreement with Croatia over the Bobetko affair. PM
[65] BOSNIA GETS A NEW PRIME MINISTER
The Bosnian joint Presidency named Adnan Terzic of the Muslim Party of
Democratic Action (SDA) prime minister on 20 December, international
and regional media reported. His nomination was the result of prolonged
negotiations between the SDA and the other two nationalist parties that
won the 5 October parliamentary elections, the Serbian Democratic Party
(SDS) and the Croatian Democratic Community (HDZ) (see "RFE/RL
Newsline" 21 October 2002). Sulejman Tihic, who is the Muslim member of
the Presidency, said he expects Terzic will be able to put together a
cabinet "in the next several weeks," Reuters reported. Neither the
Muslim-Croat federation nor the Republika Srpska has a new government,
although Dragan Mikerevic is prime minister-designate of the Bosnian
Serb entity (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 9 December 2002). PM
[66] CROATIAN VETERANS END PROTEST IN BOSNIA
Suada Hadzovic, who is in charge of veterans' issues for the
Muslim-Croat federation, said in Sarajevo on 20 December that back
pensions will be paid to ethnic Croat war invalids and the families of
soldiers killed in action, RFE/RL's South Slavic and Albanian Languages
Service reported. The veterans then ended their protest after blocking
roads and highways along the border with Croatia and within Bosnia for
several days (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 18 December 2002). PM
[67] MACEDONIAN GOVERNMENT AND UNIONS SIGN PACT
Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski and Vanco Muratovski, who heads the
Federation of Trade Unions in Macedonia (SSM), signed a "Social
Agreement" on 20 December, MIA news agency reported from Skopje. The
deal sets the framework for government policy in a number of areas such
as the state-pension scheme, the reform of the health system, and
economic-development policy. Crvenkovski said that by signing the pact,
the union will have more influence but also more responsibility in
overall social and economic policy. Muratovski stressed that the SSM
will make sure that the government respects the timetable set down in
the agreement. The SSM had repeatedly threatened to call a general
strike should the government fail to sign the agreement (see "RFE/RL
Newsline," 18 October 2002 and "RFE/RL Balkan Report," 6 December
2002). UB
[68] ROMANIAN PRESIDENT REITERATES OWN VERSION OF 1989 REVOLUTION
Speaking from the same television studio from which broadcasts were
televised on 22 December 1989 after communist dictator Nicolae
Ceausescu attempted to flee Bucharest, President Ion Iliescu said on 22
December that "the grand truth of the Romanian revolution is that it
was the Romanian people who overthrew the dictatorship," Mediafax
reported. Iliescu once more rejected the existence of any plot in which
he allegedly took part. He said that had such a plot existed, the lives
of hundreds killed during the uprising could have been spared. However,
he said, a plot was not possible because Romania had plunged into " a
regime of total dictatorship and total control of society, based on the
North Korean model." Under the conditions prevailing at the time,
Iliescu said, only a popular uprising aided by "the favorable
international environment" had a chance of overthrowing the
dictatorship. He said those who formed the National Salvation Front
after Ceausescu's overthrow were themselves the target of repeated
attempts to liquidate them and added, "we would also like to know who
those were who shot at us." Romania on 22 December marked the 13th
anniversary of the overthrow of the communist dictatorship. MS
[69] ROMANIAN PREMIER: NEITHER EARLY ELECTIONS, NOR RESHUFFLE...
In a speech to a joint session of Romania's bicameral parliament that
marked the anniversary of the Romanian revolution of 1989, Premier
Adrian Nastase said on 20 December that there will be neither early
elections nor a reshuffle of the cabinet in early 2003, RFE/RL's
Bucharest bureau reported. Nastase said that after consultations with
members of the cabinet, "we reached the conclusion that the best thing
is to refuel the same plane while it is airborne." He added that "we
will not have a reshuffle and we will not change the government
structure for now, in order to avoid the risk of political games at a
time when we must concentrate our attentions on concrete measures and
action" to ensure Romania's accession to NATO and its admittance to the
EU in 2007. Nastase also announced that sociologist Alin Teodorescu has
been appointed coordinator of public-administration reform. MS
[70] ...BUT PRESIDENT IS UNCONVINCED
Speaking on 21 December, President Iliescu told journalists that he
maintains his opinion that a reshuffle of the cabinet is necessary,
RFE/RL's Bucharest bureau reported. In an obviously patronizing and
critical tone, Iliescu said Premier Nastase "is 20 years younger than I
am, and while youth entails many virtues, it has its weaknesses as
well." He then added that he believes that "after reflection" the
premier will draw the right conclusions on how to proceed on the
matter. MS
[71] ROMANIA OPENS ALL CHAPTERS IN EU NEGOTIATIONS
Chief negotiator with the EU Vasile Puscas announced in Brussels on 20
December that Romania has opened the last two chapters in its
negotiations over the union's acquis communautaire. Puscas said that so
far Romania has closed 16 out of the 31 chapters and that Bucharest
continues to pursue the target of closing negotiations on all remaining
chapters by the end of 2003, or early 2004 at the latest, Romanian
Radio reported. MS
[72] MOLDOVAN PRESIDENT SAYS RELATIONS WITH U.S. DO NOT COME AT EXPENSE
OF TIES WITH 'TRADITIONAL' ALLIES
Summing up his recent visit to the United States, Vladimir Voronin told
ITAR-TASS on 21 December that his country hopes to further develop its
relations with the United States, but has no intention to reorient its
policy toward the West. "Traditionally, we have had [close] ties with
Russia, Ukraine, [and] other countries in the Commonwealth of
Independent States, and we plan to further develop these decades-old
ties in the future as well, although some forces [in Moldova] might
entertain different hopes," he said. Voronin also said the United
States has no interest in changing Chisinau's foreign-policy
priorities. He said his visit to the United States should not be
perceived as "a display of opposition to anyone," as it was intended to
demonstrate that Moldova is an independent state and to clarify its
foreign policy. Voronin said he is content with the results of the
visit, but that it is now important to ensure that the agreements he
reached with U.S. President George W. Bush are implemented in practice.
MS
[73] MOLDOVAN 'INITIATIVE GROUP' APPROVES QUESTIONS FOR NATO, EU
PLEBISCITES
On 21 December, the initiative group for holding a plebiscite on
Moldova joining the EU and NATO approved the questions the group wants
asked in a referendum, RFE/RL's Chisinau bureau reported. The group
wants the plebiscite to ask: "Are you in favor of the Republic of
Moldova joining EU?" and "Are you in favor of the Republic of Moldova
joining NATO?" Popular Party Christian Democratic Chairman Iurie Rosca
said the group's initiative is aimed not only at changing the attitude
of the country's current rulers regarding these matters, but also at
improving the West's image of Moldova and to demonstrate that the
country has the "political will" to ensure that it is not left out of
the "European circuit." MS
[74] MOLDOVAN PARLIAMENT DEPRIVES CONSTITUTIONAL COURT CHAIRMAN OF
'DECISIVE VOTE'
Parliament on 20 December passed an amendment to the Constitutional
Court Law, depriving its chairperson of the "decisive vote" in the
event of a voting deadlock, Infotag reported. Party of Moldovan
Communists (PCM) parliamentary group leader Victor Stepaniuk said the
amendment is in line with the decision the legislature made several
years ago to deprive the chamber's speaker of a similar right, since
all deputies must have equal voting power. Observers cited by Infotag
said the amendment to the Constitutional Court Law would make it
possible for the PCM to restore its control of the court, as three of
the six judges on the Constitutional Court's bench are PCM appointees.
MS
[75] BULGARIAN GOVERNMENT FACES NEW BUGGING SCANDAL
Opposition lawmaker Yordan Bakalov of the conservative Union of
Democratic Forces (SDS) on 19 December accused the Interior Ministry of
wiretapping the telephone lines of former President Petar Stoyanov,
judges, opposition legislators, and journalists, mediapool.bg reported.
Bakalov is a member of a parliamentary working group that is
investigating the wiretapping of telephone calls between Justice
Minister Anton Stankov and a policeman charged with corruption (see
"RFE/RL Newsline," 9 December 2002). According to Bakalov, documents
suggest that the Interior Ministry carried out an investigation against
a person dubbed "Gnom," who he claimed is former National Security
Service head General Atanas Atanasov. Interior Minister Georgi Petkanov
confirmed that an investigation is under way, but declined on legal
grounds to comment on the eavesdropping allegations. He dismissed
allegations that journalists' and politicians' telephones were
wiretapped. UB
[76] BULGARIA REACHES AGREEMENT WITH IMF
At a joint news conference in Sofia on 20 December, Finance Minister
Milen Velchev and Jerald Schiff, a division chief who represents the
Bulgarian team at International Monetary Fund (IMF) headquarters,
announced that the second review of Bulgaria's performance under its
standby arrangement was completed successfully, BTA reported. If the
IMF approves the report about the review, it will issue a tranche of
$32 million. Schiff said Bulgaria has made progress during the last
year by reducing unemployment, maintaining a low inflation rate, and
significantly increasing GDP growth. However, he also expressed the
IMF's concern over the slow pace of educational and health reform as
well the government's plans to set up an emergency investment fund
using money from the fiscal reserve. UB
[77] BULGARIAN PARLIAMENT ADOPTS CONTROVERSIAL LAW ON RELIGIOUS
COMMUNITIES
Parliament on 20 December adopted on second reading a controversial
draft law on religious communities, BTA reported. The new law would
replace a Stalinist law of 1949 that mainly aimed at securing the
state's influence on religious communities. "We waited for this law,
which is to end the church split, with impatience," said Bulgarian
Orthodox Church head Patriarch Maksim. Conservative politicians and
clerics have accused Maksim of being elected patriarch with the support
of the Communist Party in 1972. Parts of the Orthodox clergy and
believers left the church and elected an alternative Holy Synod headed
by Bishop Inokenti (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 20 December 2002). The
conservative opposition United Democratic Forces (ODS) announced that
it will challenge the draft law before the Constitutional Court and
plans to ask the Council of Europe and the OSCE for their opinions of
the bill. UB
SOUTHWESTERN ASIA AND THE MIDDLE EAST
[78] SEVEN SOLDIERS KILLED IN HELICOPTER CRASH IN AFGHANISTAN
Seven German soldiers belonging to the International Security
Assistance Force (ISAF) died on 21 December when their transport
helicopter crashed near the ISAF base on the outskirts of Kabul, ddp
reported the same day. The cause of the crash was unclear and
flight-security specialists from the German Defense Ministry were
heading to the crash site to investigate the incident "immediately and
completely," ddp reported. German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said
that all indications are that the crash was a "serious accident," and
it "highlighted in a particularly tragic way that the Bundeswehr
mission in Afghanistan is a serious and dangerous operation." It is
believed that the helicopter had not come under fire and one solider in
Kabul witnessed smoke coming out of the aircraft's engine before it
crashed, ddp reported. Investigators announced on 22 December that,
contrary to original reports, no civilians on the ground were killed in
the accident, Deutschlandfunk radio reported. Germany currently has
about 1,100 troops in Afghanistan (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 18 November
2002), but additional German troops are expected to join the ISAF. AT
[79] AFGHAN MILITARY VEHICLE ATTACKED IN KANDAHAR...
One Afghan solider died and three were wounded on 22 December when the
vehicle they were traveling in exploded in Kandahar, the BBC reported.
Early reports indicated that the explosion was caused either by a
remote-controlled bomb or from a bomb planted in the car, but later
reports said the vehicle was struck by a missile, the BBC reported. No
group has claimed responsibility for carrying out the attack, but
Kandahar police said they suspect the Taliban and Al-Qaeda, according
to the BBC. The attack coincided with the first anniversary of
President Hamid Karzai's inauguration. AT
[80] ...AS U.S. SOLDIERS COME UNDER ATTACK IN PROVINCES
A U.S. solider attached to the 82nd Airborne Division died in a gun
battle on 22 December in the town of Shkin, Paktika Province, and a
U.S. Special Forces soldier was wounded in an attack the same day in
Asadabad, Kunar Province, AP reported the same day. U.S. Joint Chiefs
of Staff Chairman General Richard Myers said during his visit to Bagram
airbase that while overall security is improving in the country,
eastern parts of Afghanistan are likely to remain a problem "for some
time to come." The attacks on U.S. forces occurred in areas that were
identified by 17 December UN report as housing newly established
terrorist camps in Afghanistan (see "RFE/RL Afghanistan Report," 20
December 2002). "The Independent" on 22 December cited an unidentified
U.S. intelligence officer as saying that "middle-ranking Pakistani army
officers are tipping off members" of Al-Qaeda about U.S. operations in
Afghanistan. Moreover, suicide bombers are "being recruited and trained
in eastern Pakistan," and offered $50,000 for their families if "they
carry out suicide attacks in Afghanistan, "The Independent" reported.
AT
[81] AFGHANISTAN'S NEIGHBORS SIGN NONINTERFERENCE PACT
Coinciding with President Karzai's first year in power, Afghanistan's
six neighbors (China, Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and
Uzbekistan) on 22 December signed a pact to respect Afghanistan's
sovereignty and not interfere in its internal affairs (see "RFE/RL
Newsline," 17 December 2002), "Dawn" reported the next day. "Foreign
interference has been behind more than 20 years of devastating conflict
in Afghanistan that has wrecked the country, left more than 2 million
people dead and sent millions into exile abroad," the Karachi daily
added. Representatives of the G-8, India, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the
European Union, and the Organization of the Islamic Conference also
attended the meeting, but the foreign ministers of Iran (see Iran item
below) and Uzbekistan were not present. Foreign Minister Abdullah
Abdullah said their absence was due to "technical reasons" and that the
two states fully supported the declaration, "Dawn," reported. The
Soviet Union invaded neighboring Afghanistan on 27 December 1979,
ushering in more than two decades of war in that country. During that
time most of Afghanistan's neighbors, especially Pakistan, directly
interfered in Afghanistan's internal affairs. AT
[82] IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MISSES AFGHAN NONINTERFERENCE EVENT...
Kamal Kharrazi was not in Kabul for the 22 December signing of a
noninterference pact by Afghanistan's neighbors. The Pashtu-language
broadcast of the Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran's External
Service cited the Afghan Foreign Ministry's press office as explaining
that the Iranian foreign minister did not come because of technical
problems with his flight. BS
[83] ...BUT IRAN BACKS PACT
Iranian Ambassador to Afghanistan Mohammad Ebrahim Taherian expressed
his country's satisfaction with the noninterference pact during a press
conference in Kabul on 23 December. "Iran welcomes any developments
that help strengthen peace and stability in the region," Taherian was
quoted as saying by Iranian state radio's Mashhad-based Dari-language
service. BS
[84] U.S PRESIDENT SPEAKS ON RADIO FARDA...
President George W. Bush addressed the Iranian people in remarks
broadcast on 20 December by Radio Farda, which began its broadcasts
just a few days earlier. He said the Iranian people want more news and
cultural broadcasts, because "the unelected few who control the Iranian
government continue to place severe restrictions on access to
uncensored information." That is why news, music, and cultural programs
will be transmitted to Iran "nearly 24 hours a day" and Voice of
America television broadcasts to Iran will continue. "The people of
Iran want to build a freer, more prosperous country for their children,
and live in a country that is a full partner in the international
community," Bush said. "Iranians also deserve a free press to express
themselves to help build an open, democratic, and free society." BS
[85] ...AND EXPRESSES FRIENDSHIP TOWARD IRANIAN PEOPLE
President Bush expressed U.S. friendship toward the people of Iran. "If
Iran respects its international obligations and embraces freedom and
tolerance, it will have no better friend than the United States of
America," he said. Bush expressed similar sentiments in a 12 July
statement that followed student demonstrations in Iran. He said at that
time, "As Iran's people move towards a future defined by greater
freedom, greater tolerance, they will have no better friend than the
United States of America" (see "RFE/RL Iran Report," 15 July 2002). BS
[86] SAVAK CONTINUES ITS DOMESTIC-SECURITY ACTIVITIES
Expediency Council Chairman Ayatollah Ali-Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani said
on 21 December that the sons of SAVAK personnel are active in Iranian
universities, "Iran Daily" reported the next day. SAVAK (Sazeman-i
Ettelaat va Amniyat-i Keshvar) was the National Organization for
Intelligence and Security under the Iranian monarchy and existed from
1957-79. "We don't expect the sons of SAVAKis to remain idle. Some who
themselves are against freedoms cannot deceive the people with their
slogans," Rafsanjani said. According to "Iran Daily," the hard-line
press has reported recently that SAVAK elements have penetrated the
Office for Strengthening Unity student organization. BS
[87] ISFAHAN OPINION POLL FINDS LITTLE SUPPORT FOR REVOLUTION, SYSTEM
Guardians Council member Ayatollah Ahmadi Jannati during the 20
December Friday Prayers in Tehran discussed the current trial of
individuals associated with the Ayandeh Research Institute and
described the conduct of a poll in the city of Isfahan. Jannati said
the pollsters claimed to have interviewed the families of individuals
who died in the Iran-Iraq War (who presumably would be supporters of
the system), and 85 percent of the families said they regretted the
war. Jannati interpreted this to mean that "some 85 percent of the
families of the martyrs are against our revolution." The pollsters
asked about the nuclear-power plant being built in Bushehr and the
majority of respondents said it is unnecessary. In addition, when asked
about causes of the revolution, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini was not
mentioned. Another question, according to Jannati, was "Would you
welcome a fundamental change in the [Iranian] ruling system?" In
explaining what he believes is happening, Jannati said, "Acting under
the pretext of serving the people and conducting public-opinion polls,
they are betraying the people." BS
[88] CREATION OF A 'WOMEN'S PARTY' IN IRAN UNDER WAY
Anonymous "informed sources" at the Interior Ministry have said that a
pro-reform "Women's Party" is being created, the "Entekhab" daily
newspaper reported on 22 December. The party's founders are former
hostage taker and current Vice President Masumeh Ebtekar and
parliamentarian Fariba Davudi Mohajer. Other founders are the wives of
pro-reform political activists such as Mustafa Tajzadeh of the
Mujahedin of the Islamic Revolution Organization (MIRO) and Islamic
Iran Participation Party (IIPP), Mohsen Armin of the MIRO, Mohammad
Reza Khatami of the IIPP, and Mohsen Mirdamadi of the IIPP. "Entekhab"
reported that some "political activists" believe the party would serve
as the women's branch of IIPP. Former members of the Executives of
Construction Party created the IIPP in 1998 (see "RFE/RL Iran Report,"
23 November 1998), but there currently is speculation that the IIPP
will disband. BS
[89] RUSSIAN ATOMIC ENERGY MINISTER VISITS IRAN
Russia's Atomic Energy Minister Aleksandr Rumyantsev arrived in Tehran
on 22 December to discuss the construction of the nuclear-power plant
in Bushehr and to visit the facility, according to ITAR-TASS.
Rumyantsev met with his Iranian counterpart Qolam-Reza Aqazadeh-Khoi,
who said afterward that they emphasized the need to complete the
project by the next Iranian year (which starts on 21 March 2003),
according to the official Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Rumyantsev added that they discussed the recycling and storage of spent
fuel and nuclear waste. BS
[90] KUWAITI MILITARY PERSONNEL VISIT IRAN
Kuwait Army Chief of Staff General Ali al-Mumin arrived in Tehran on 22
December for a five-day visit, Kuwait's KUNA news agency reported. The
Kuwaiti delegation's visit is the result of memorandum of understanding
signed by Kuwait's Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Sheikh
Jabir Mubarak al-Hamad al-Sabah and Iranian Defense and Armed Forces
Logistics Minister Admiral Ali Shamkhani in October (see "RFE/RL Iran
Report," 7 October 2002). The visitors are scheduled to learn about
Iranian military systems and defense industries and to visit the
Officers College. BS
[91] SCIRI CHAIRMAN REPEATS OPPOSITION TO U.S. MILITARY ACTION
Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI) Chairman
Ayatollah Mohammad Baqir al-Hakim announced in a 22 December interview
that Iraqi dissident groups prefer democratic means to warfare to bring
about regime change in their country, IRNA reported. Al-Hakim said U.S.
military action against Iraq would be disastrous for the Iraqi people.
America is determined to attack Iraq, al-Hakim said, and Islamic states
should work through the UN to reduce the casualties that might result
from U.S. strikes against Iraq. According to Tehran radio the same day,
"Ayatollah Hakim rejected the idea of a puppet government coming to
power in Iraq through direct American support." BS
[92] IRAQ PROTESTS SEIZURE OF TUGBOAT AND CREW
Foreign Minister Naji Sabri has sent a letter to UN Secretary-General
Kofi Annan protesting the seizure of an Iraqi tugboat, the Iraq News
Agency (INA) reported on 21 December. The tugboat and the pontoon it
was towing, along with four crewmembers, were seized by Kuwaiti
authorities in early December while sailing in Iraq's territorial
waters from the port of Al-Faw to the port of Khawr al-Zubayr. In his
letter, Sabri exhorted the secretary-general "to intercede to ensure
the safety of the detained Iraqi crew and to urge the State of Kuwait
authorities to release them and immediately to return the tugboat and
the pontoon," according to INA. The seizure of the boat and detention
of its crew violates international law, the UN charter, and the
agreement reached by Kuwait and Iraq at the Beirut Arab Summit,
according to the foreign minister. SH
[93] 'HUMAN SHIELDS' TO ARRIVE IN BAGHDAD
Saad Qasim Hammudi, a member of Iraq's ruling Ba'ath Party, said on 22
December that Iraq is preparing for the arrival of volunteers to form
"human shields" against possible U.S. attacks, AFP reported. The
participants of two pan-Arab conferences for solidarity with Iraq, held
recently in Cairo and Damascus, are sending volunteers to Baghdad to
act as human shields at sensitive sites that would likely be targeted
in such attacks. "Preparations are under way to house the volunteers
and deploy them at sensitive sites," Hammudi confirmed. The number of
volunteers anticipated in Baghdad was not stated. In 1990 the Iraqi
government detained Westerners for use as human shields but they were
released before the Gulf War began in 1991. During the British and U.S.
air strikes in December 1998, many Iraqis moved into President Saddam
Hussein's palaces in an attempt to protect them from attack. SH
[94] IRAQI VICE PRESIDENT ACCUSES U.S. OF PRESSURING INSPECTORS...
In an interview with Egyptian Cairo Dream2 Television on 21 December,
Vice President Taha Yasin Ramadan accused the United States of exerting
pressure on UNMOVIC Executive Chairman Hans Blix and International
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director-General Mohammad el-Baradei to
provoke Iraq. Ramadan denied the presence of 22,000 nuclear scientists
in Iraq and accused the United States "of bribing and corrupting people
and trying to make Iraqi nuclear scientists turn against their
country." He stated that the UN inspections "will succeed if the
Americans do not interfere in [inspectors'] work" and warned the United
States that Iraqis will fight if attacked, regardless of any
discrepancies in military power. Reiterating Foreign Minister Sabri's
accusation that the British government lies (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 20
December 2002), Ramadan accused British Prime Minister Tony Blair of
lying when he stated that Iraq manufactures weapons of mass
destruction. SH
[95] ...AS MORE INSPECTORS ARRIVE IN IRAQ
The total number of inspectors in Iraq increased as two new UNMOVIC
inspectors arrived in Baghdad on 19 December, the UN reported. There
are now 96 UNMOVIC inspectors and 19 IAEA inspectors in Iraq. On 20
December, a 10-member UNMOVIC chemical-inspection team visited the
Chemical Department of the Atomic Energy Organization and met with the
department head and the liaison officer to tour the department's
facilities and discuss its research, the Foreign Ministry announced.
The UN reported that an IAEA team inspected the Al-Tuwaitha Industrial
Chemical Research Center, a former nuclear complex that now conducts
non-nuclear research. The Al-Shaykhali warehouses were also visited by
an IAEA team that conducted "environmental gamma radiation surveys"
both at the warehouse for dual-use equipment from the decommissioned
nuclear program and in the surrounding area. SH
[96] UNMOVIC MISSILE INSPECTORS VISIT SCIENTIFIC GROUP...
On 22 December, an UNMOVIC missile-inspection team inspected the
Al-Battanee Center, which was described by the IAEA as "a scientific
group, which does space technology, space optics, atmospheric studies,
and remote sensing...[and] provides the telemetry systems for the
Al-Samoud missile system." A second missile team visited the Taji
Technical Battalion, a former Scud missile-dump site and storage area.
A chemical team inspected the Al-Nahrawan site, which is affiliated
with the Al-Basil Company and is a declared plant using dual-use
chemicals, while a biological team inspected the Al-Kindi Company for
the Production of Veterinary Vaccines. Al Kindi produces "a variety of
viral and bacterial veterinary vaccines." Meanwhile, IAEA teams
inspected the Mansour State Company, an electronics factory that
produces components and electrical goods for military and civilian use
as well as industrial gases. The IAEA team also visited the Farabi
Computer Center and the Tahrir Institute of Welding Technology. SH
[97] ...AS CHEMICAL INSPECTORS FOCUS ON ENGINEERING COMPANY...
An UNMOVIC chemical-inspections team met with specialists at a site
owned by the Al-Faw Engineering State Company in Baghdad on 21
December. The company specializes "in engineering works, such as the
building of bridges, paving roads, and construction," according to the
Foreign Ministry. Another group of chemical inspectors visited the
Al-Furat Chemical Industries Company, owned by the Industry Ministry
and previously inspected by an IAEA team on 10 December. The group
toured the facilities, including a plastics factory, and visited the
information center, where they examined three computers. A 22-member
UNMOVIC biological team inspected the Samirra' Pharmaceuticals Plant,
which is affiliated with the Industry Ministry. The inspectors asked
questions about changes made to the plant since 1998 and its
relationship with other research facilities. An 11-member team of
missile inspectors revisited the Al-Fida State Company, which is
affiliated with the Military Industrialization Organization (MIO) and
specializes in hydroelectric operations (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 19
December 2002). A second missile-inspection group toured facilities at
the Al-Qaqa State Company as the UNMOVIC Joint Inspection Team visited
the Al-Sumud State Company site north of Baghdad, where they examined a
foundry and some discarded iron remnants. SH
[98] ...AND IAEA INSPECTORS BECOME LOST
A group of 11 IAEA inspectors visited two sites in the Al-Taji area, 20
kilometers north of Baghdad, on 22 December, the Foreign Ministry
announced. Inspectors visited the Al-Rayah Company, "a research company
in the field of materials and metals," and the Al-Zahf al-Kabir
Company, both of which are part of the MIO. At Al-Zahf al-Kabir,
inspectors conducted a radiological survey of the site using portable
devices and took three samples of aluminum powder. A second group of
IAEA inspectors arrived at the Al-Nasr Al-Azim State Company in
Al-Dawrah, but realizing they were at the wrong site the group quickly
decamped for the Abu-Gharib area, where the Ibn-al-Walid Company is
located. Once at the correct site, inspectors met with specialists at
the company and toured the facilities, examining machinery. The IAEA
inspectors then visited the 14 Ramadan Factory, part of the State
Company for Wool Industries, located in Baghdad's Al-Kazimiyah
district. The inspectors spoke with specialists, toured workshops, and
examined machines. SH
END NOTE
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