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RFE/RL Newsline, 03-01-15
CONTENTS
[01] DEFENSE MINISTER PROPOSES THREAT-REDUCTION TREATY WITH JAPAN...
[02] ...ANALYSTS DOUBT PROGRESS ON KURILE DISPUTE
[03] MOSCOW TO BUILD TWO NUCLEAR REACTORS IN SYRIA
[04] RUSSIA, NATO SIGN ACCORD ON WEAPONS STANDARDS
[05] ELECTRICITY-SECTOR, LOCAL-GOVERNMENT REFORMS TOP THE LEGISLATIVE
[06] ...AS ABSENTEEISM AMONG DEPUTIES IS EXPECTED TO GROW
[07] INITIAL ELEMENTS OF RAILWAY REFORM SIGNED INTO LAW
[08] LUZHKOV SOUNDS THE ALARM
[09] EURASIA PARTY HEAD DECLARES AMBITIOUS ELECTION GOALS
[10] FOREIGN INVESTORS' PARADISE NOW CONSIDERED BANKRUPT?
[11] ENVOY MULLS ROLE OF COSSACKS IN SOUTHERN POLITICAL EQUATION
[12] CHECHEN LEADERS' QUARREL INTENSIFIES
[13] DEFENSE MINISTER CLAIMS CHECHEN FIGHTERS SEEKING TO OBTAIN
[14] ...AS MINISTRY SAYS CHECHEN FIGHTERS DO NOT HAVE NUCLEAR
[15] ...AND EXPERT SAYS RUSSIA DEFENSELESS AGAINST NUCLEAR TERRORISM
[16] LAWYER CLAIMS ARMENIAN TV HEAD'S KILLING LINKED TO PARLIAMENT
[17] AZERBAIJANI DEFENSE MINISTER CLAIMS ARMENIA POSES THREAT TO
[18] GEORGIAN OFFICIAL ADMITS TERRORISTS UNDERWENT TRAINING IN PANKISI
[19] FORMER SOUTH OSSETIAN PRESIDENT'S SON BEGINS HUNGER STRIKE IN
[20] DEFENDER DETAILS PROCEDURAL VIOLATIONS IN KAZAKH JOURNALIST'S
[21] KAZAKH OPPOSITION LEADER ACCUSED OF TAX EVASION
[22] MORE CRITICISM OF PLANNED KYRGYZ REFERENDUM VOICED
[23] KYRGYZ, TAJIK OFFICIALS AGREE TO REMOVE DISPUTED BORDER POSTS
[24] RUSSIA SEEKS CLARIFICATION OF TURKMEN POSITION ON DUAL CITIZENSHIP
[25] TURKMENISTAN DENIES CHARGES BROUGHT AGAINST RUSSIAN JOURNALIST
[26] MILITARY EQUIPMENT REPORTEDLY INTERCEPTED EN ROUTE FROM BELARUS TO
[27] BELARUSIAN AUTHORITIES BAN TV CAMPAIGNING AHEAD OF LOCAL VOTES
[28] BELARUSIAN PRESIDENT ENACTS LEGISLATION ON MARTIAL LAW
[29] CIS SUMMIT SLATED FOR UKRAINE IN LATE JANUARY
[30] UKRAINE POSTS ECONOMIC GROWTH OF 4.1 PERCENT
[31] ESTONIA EXTENDS MINE-CLEARING MISSION IN AFGHANISTAN
[32] ESTONIAN PARTIES AGREE: NO CHANGES IN CITIZENSHIP AND LANGUAGE
[33] LATVIAN LEADERS DIFFER OVER REORGANIZATION OF SECURITY SERVICES
[34] THREE LITHUANIAN PARTIES SIGN MERGER AGREEMENT
[35] LITHUANIAN LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY SELECTS ACTING CHAIRMAN
[36] U.S. PRESIDENT SAYS POLAND AMONG BEST EUROPEAN FRIENDS
[37] POLISH PARLIAMENT STARTS INQUIRY INTO 'RYWINGATE'
[38] KLAUS, PITHART ADVANCE TO SECOND ROUND OF CZECH PRESIDENTIAL
[39] OUTGOING CZECH PRESIDENT ADDRESSES PARLIAMENT AHEAD OF VOTE
[40] CZECH PREMIER DOWNPLAYS PARTY DISSENT OVER IRAQ
[41] CZECH FOREIGN MINISTER VISITS GERMANY
[42] CZECH SENATE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS LIFTING MEDIA MOGUL'S
[43] SLOVAK PETITION DRIVE LAUNCHED FOR NATO REFERENDUM
[44] SLOVAK PARLIAMENT APPROVES NEW STATE-TELEVISION DIRECTOR
[45] U.S. TO BEGIN TRAINING IRAQIS IN HUNGARY...
[46] ...AS IRAQIS CONTINUE TO ARRIVE AT BORDERS
[47] HUNGARY'S FIDESZ LEANS TOWARD CHRISTIAN-DEMOCRATIC MODEL FOR THE
[48] HUNGARIAN FINANCE MINISTER SAYS CONVERSION TO EURO IN THE OFFING
[49] HUNGARIAN FIRMS WIN MAJOR DOMESTIC MILITARY TENDERS
[50] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS CROATIA COULD JOIN EU IN 2007...
[51] ...URGES SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO TO SET UP THEIR JOINT STATE...
[52] ...AND GOES ON TO BOSNIA
[53] MACEDONIAN HELICOPTERS TRAIN FOR POSSIBLE WAR IN IRAQ
[54] U.S. REPORTEDLY SEEKING CLEAR END TO NATO MISSION IN MACEDONIA
[55] MACEDONIAN FOREIGN MINISTER PROMOTES ECONOMIC TIES IN MOSCOW
[56] BOSNIA TO TRY WAR CRIMINALS AT HOME
[57] MORE STRIKES IN CROATIA
[58] ALBANIAN MUSLIM LEADER SLAIN
[59] ROMANIA PURCHASES TWO BRITISH NAVY FRIGATES
[60] ROMANIAN PARLIAMENTARY SPEAKER CLARIFIES PROPOSED ELECTORAL-SYSTEM
[61] ROMANIAN JUSTICE MINISTER DISCUSSES PROPOSED PENAL CODE BILL WITH
[62] BULGARIAN SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS CHALLENGES BUDGET
[63] BULGARIAN SOCIALISTS EXPECT DIRTY CAMPAIGN IN UPCOMING LOCAL
[64] KABUL WILL NOT FORCIBLY DISARM WARLORDS
[65] AFGHAN GENERAL DOSTUM ESCAPES APPARENT ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT
[66] DISABLED AFGHANS STAGE ANOTHER PROTEST
[67] KABUL WEEKLY CONCERNED ABOUT SECURITY SITUATION
[68] AGA KHAN COMPANY TO PROVIDE MOBILE PHONES IN AFGHANISTAN
[69] IRANIAN HUMAN RIGHTS STATUS CRITICIZED
[70] COURT SUMMONS RASHT JOURNALIST
[71] BAIL SET FOR DETAINED IRANIAN POLLSTER
[72] IRANIANS TO GET NEW ID CARDS
[73] HEALTH-AWARENESS PLAN UNDER WAY IN IRAN
[74] TEHRAN MUNICIPAL COUNCIL DISSOLVED...
[75] ...POSSIBLY BECAUSE OF PARTY POLITICS
[76] SYRIAN PRESIDENT'S IRAN VISIT CANCELED...
[77] ...BUT SOMETHING IS IN THE WORKS
[78] UNMOVIC OFFICIALS HINT THAT UNDECLARED SITES IN IRAQ WILL BE
[79] ...AS UNMOVIC CHIEF SAYS INSPECTORS HAVE PLAN
[80] U.S. TO BEGIN TRAINING IRAQIS IN HUNGARY...
[81] ...AS IRAQIS CONTINUE TO ARRIVE AT BORDERS
[82] IRAQ TV REPORTS ON 12TH VISIT TO AL-QAQA STATE COMPANY
[83] MACEDONIAN HELICOPTERS TRAIN FOR POSSIBLE WAR IN IRAQ
[84] There is no End Note today.
15 January 2003
RUSSIA
[01] DEFENSE MINISTER PROPOSES THREAT-REDUCTION TREATY WITH JAPAN...
Sergei Ivanov told journalists following a 14 January meeting in Moscow
with Japanese Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba that he has proposed
signing a bilateral treaty on reducing military threats, ITAR-TASS and
other Russian news agencies reported. Ivanov also said he has invited
Japan to take part in a major Russian Far East military exercise later
this year. He noted that Russia has already concluded threat-reduction
treaties with all its Asian-Pacific neighbors except Japan and North
Korea. Ishiba told ITAR-TASS that his visit came under the framework of
the Joint Action Plan signed earlier this month by President Vladimir
Putin and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. One of the
provisions of that plan calls for "defense and law enforcement
cooperation." VY
[02] ...ANALYSTS DOUBT PROGRESS ON KURILE DISPUTE
Despite "unofficial information" prior to and during the Putin-Koizumi
talks in Moscow (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 10 and 13 January 2003) hinting
at progress toward settling the longstanding Kurile Islands dispute,
other recent indications seem to tell a different story, strana.ru
commented on 14 January. During a visit to Far East military bases in
November (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 5 and 6 November 2002), Defense
Minister Ivanov announced a major military exercise to be held in the
Far East Federal District in August, an element of which will be
simulating the defense of the Kurile Islands from foreign invasion. In
addition, President Putin recently commented in reference to the
Kuriles that Russia "has already given up enough," the website
continued. However, the website noted that although Japan wants the
islands -- which were occupied by the Soviet Union following World War
II -- returned, it is more interested in access to Siberian oil.
Russia's position is also strengthened by North Korea's recent nuclear
blackmail, a situation that causes Tokyo anxiety and that Moscow might
be able to help defuse, the website added. VY
[03] MOSCOW TO BUILD TWO NUCLEAR REACTORS IN SYRIA
Foreign Ministry spokesman Aleksandr Yakovenko announced on 14 January
that Moscow and Damascus have reached an accord under which Russia will
assist in the construction of a nuclear-power plant and a
nuclear-powered desalination plant in Syria, gazeta.ru and other
Russian news agencies reported. Although Yakovenko did not reveal the
value of the agreement, experts estimate that it could be as much as $2
billion, gazeta.ru reported. Moscow's decision to provide such
technology to Syria will no doubt irritate Israel, which has
territorial disputes with Damascus, the website commented. These
projects and other Russian initiatives in the region -- including the
actual and proposed construction of several nuclear reactors in Iran --
will mean that there will be from eight to 10 nuclear plants in the
Middle East. This will tie Israel's hands in the event that it seeks to
conduct any military operations in the region and could complicate the
Israeli-Arab conflict, gazeta.ru argued. The presidential press service
announced that President Putin was expected to meet in Moscow on 15
January with Syrian Vice President Abdul Halim Khaddam, who will bring
a special message from Syrian President Bashir Assad, RIA-Novosti
reported. It was expected the talks would focus on the Iraq conflict.
VY
[04] RUSSIA, NATO SIGN ACCORD ON WEAPONS STANDARDS
State Standards Committee (Gosstandart) Chairman Boris Aleshin and John
Clark, chairman of NATO's Group of National Directors on Codification,
have signed an agreement on the incorporation of Russia's
military-industrial complex into NATO's codification system,
"Izvestiya" reported on 13 January. "This development will open up
tremendous prospects for us in markets that were previously
impenetrable," Aleshin said. Beginning in 2004, all Russian weapons
exports will feature NATO classification. The accord was necessitated
by the fact that up to 40 percent of the arsenals of Greece and NATO
member countries in Central Europe are made up of Russian arms and
spare parts, the daily commented. VY
[05] ELECTRICITY-SECTOR, LOCAL-GOVERNMENT REFORMS TOP THE LEGISLATIVE
AGENDA...
The Duma Council met on 14 January to finalize the agenda for the
Duma's first plenary session of the spring session, Russian news
agencies reported. Representatives of the Fatherland-All Russia (OVR),
Unity, and the Union of Rightist Forces (SPS) factions all told
gazeta.ru that the package of bills reforming local administration will
be one of the lower chamber's top priorities. OVR faction leader
Vyacheslav Volodin said his group intends to introduce amendments to
the bill that will regulate the number of state officials in each
territory. He noted that the number of bureaucrats has increased from 1
million during the Soviet period to 1.3 million now, regions.ru
reported. Unity and Russian Regions plan a joint initiative to drop the
ban on state officials belonging to political parties, according to
"Vedomosti" on 14 January. The most contentious issue is likely to be
reform of the electricity sector, since "heated debates are expected
over the date for a repeat second reading of the bills," the daily
reported. JAC
[06] ...AS ABSENTEEISM AMONG DEPUTIES IS EXPECTED TO GROW
Communist Deputy Nikolai Kolomeitsev told gazeta.ru that he senses the
Duma election campaign has already started and predicted there will be
even fewer deputies in the Duma chamber than previously. According to
Kolomeitsev, there are around 50 deputies who don't even bother to come
the lower legislative chamber for their paychecks. In December,
"Gazeta" reported that Communist Party leader Gennadii Zyuganov had
ordered all Communist deputies to hold at least 300 meetings with
constituents in 2003 (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 27 December 2002). JAC
[07] INITIAL ELEMENTS OF RAILWAY REFORM SIGNED INTO LAW
President Putin on 14 January signed the law on railroad transportation
and amendments to the law on natural monopolies, RBK and Interfax
reported. Both bills are part of the government's program to reform the
railways sector. Also, on 14 January, Putin ordered the government to
take up work on the other bills related to the railways reform,
including a bill on the particularities of administering railways
property that was rejected earlier by the Federation Council, Interfax
reported. JAC
[08] LUZHKOV SOUNDS THE ALARM
At a 14 January Moscow city government session devoted to discussing
the city's anticrime program in 2003-05, Mayor Yurii Luzhkov said there
have been serious attempts to destroy vertical power in Moscow, RBK
reported. The mayor did not specify precisely who was behind these
efforts, but he added that "if these attempts are either fully or
partly realized, we will not achieve any kind of results in the
struggle against crime." According to Luzhkov, only strong local
authority can solve the problem of security in the capital. In 2003,
the city plans to spend 835 million rubles ($26 million) on terrorism
prevention and security. An additional 5.31 billion rubles will be
allocated for the city's law enforcement agencies and another 449
million rubles for improving the "material and technical base" of the
city police. JAC
[09] EURASIA PARTY HEAD DECLARES AMBITIOUS ELECTION GOALS
The Eurasia Party and the Union of Patriots of Russia (EP-SPR) plan to
head a broad leftist coalition in this year's Duma elections, the
chairman of the presidium of the party's political council,
Abdul-Vakhed Niyazov, told RosBalt on 14 January. According to Niyazov,
the EP-SPR has 102,000 members and will receive the support of 12-14
percent of the electorate. At one of the party's first meetings in
2001, Niyazov said the party seeks to promote the Eurasian ideology,
which "must become the basis for integration processes and for the
creation of a new union in place of the former USSR" (see "RFE/RL
Newsline," 20 June 2001). Niyazov, a State Duma deputy, was expelled
from the Unity faction in March 2001 after angering the party's
leadership by expressing support for radical opposition groups in
Turkey and making unauthorized statements on Unity's behalf. JAC
[10] FOREIGN INVESTORS' PARADISE NOW CONSIDERED BANKRUPT?
The city of Novgorod is essentially bankrupt, with debts amounted to 67
percent of its revenues, "Nezavisimaya gazeta" reported on 14 January.
If the local-government reform currently pending in the Duma were
already enacted, then external administration over the city's finances
would have to be introduced. Although the oblast has long enjoyed a
favorable reputation among investors, foreign investment in the region
overall fell by 41 percent last year compared with 2001. According to
the daily, the poor state of the city's finances was revealed during
last month's mayoral race by one of the candidates, Vladimir Kondratev
(see "RFE/RL Newsline," 9 December 2002). The daily suggested that
Kondratev, backed by several major local entrepreneurs, participated in
the mayoral race as a kind of warm-up for the oblast's gubernatorial
election in September. JAC
[11] ENVOY MULLS ROLE OF COSSACKS IN SOUTHERN POLITICAL EQUATION
Presidential envoy to the Southern Federal District Viktor Kazantsev is
conducting meetings with the heads of various Cossack regiments to
discuss the possible role of the Cossacks in stabilizing the
sociopolitical situation in the south, regions.ru reported on 14
January. Kazantsev is meeting with the atamans from the Don, Kuban, and
Tersk Cossack troops. Earlier this week, RFE/RL's Krasnodar
correspondent reported that in the Leningrad Raion of Krasnodar Krai
Cossacks are protesting the arrest of their ataman by the local police
(see "RFE/RL Newsline," 14 January 2003). JAC
[12] CHECHEN LEADERS' QUARREL INTENSIFIES
Chechen administration head Akhmed-hadji Kadyrov on 14 January rejected
as "a provocation" Prime Minister Mikhail Babich's statement of the
previous day that Kadyrov violated a presidential decree by dismissing
Finance Minister Sergei Abramov without first consulting with Babich,
Russian news agencies reported (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 14 January
2003). But Chechen Prosecutor Vladimir Kravchenko on 14 January
likewise stated that Kadyrov's dismissal of Abramov constituted a
violation of established procedure, ITAR-TASS reported. Abramov, for
his part, explained to Interfax that he submitted his resignation
shortly after Babich's appointment as premier in November, but that
Babich had not yet approved it. "Kommersant-Daily" on 14 January quoted
Abramov as saying he has been offered a more prestigious post within
the apparatus of the Southern Federal District. "Izvestiya" on 15
January reported that Kadyrov is currently in Moscow, where he has for
days been seeking a meeting with President Putin, albeit without
success. The paper speculates that the spat over Abramov is likely to
cost either Kadyrov or Babich his job. LF
[13] DEFENSE MINISTER CLAIMS CHECHEN FIGHTERS SEEKING TO OBTAIN
TOXINS...
In yet another example of Russian officials' systematic demonization of
Chechen President Aslan Maskhadov, Sergei Ivanov told journalists in
Moscow on 14 January that a manual on the production of toxic
substances, including ricin, was found on the body of a Chechen fighter
loyal to Maskhadov who was killed in Chechnya several days ago,
Interfax reported. Ivanov said Russia has evidence that Chechen
"terrorists" are trying to acquire toxic substances. Also on 14
January, senior Moscow security official Viktor Zakharov told Interfax
that Interpol has informed his department that Chechen field commander
Shamil Basaev has threatened to perpetrate a new terrorist attack in
Moscow. Basaev belatedly claimed responsibility for the October hostage
taking at a Moscow theater (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 1 November 2002). LF
[14] ...AS MINISTRY SAYS CHECHEN FIGHTERS DO NOT HAVE NUCLEAR
WEAPONS...
Deputy Atomic Energy Minister Aleksandr Kotelnikov has written a letter
to the State Duma in which he states that Chechen fighters do not have
any nuclear-weapons capability, strana.ru reported on 14 January.
Responding to an inquiry from Duma Security Committee Chairman
Aleksandr Gurov, Kotelnikov said that there is no chance the Chechen
commanders have sufficient weapons-grade fissile material and the high
technology necessary to produce a standard nuclear bomb. However, it is
possible that they could deploy a so-called dirty bomb, using
conventional explosives to disperse low-level radioactive contamination
over a wide area, Kotelnikov said. Although the destructive power of
such weapons is limited, they can provoke mass terror and panic, he
said. VY
[15] ...AND EXPERT SAYS RUSSIA DEFENSELESS AGAINST NUCLEAR TERRORISM
Vladimir Slivnyak, co-chairman of the international environmental
organization Ecological Defense, told strana.ru that existing security
systems do not protect Russia against nuclear terrorism. According to
Ecological Defense experts, the two most likely threats of nuclear
terrorism are an attack on a nuclear-power plant and the use of a
"dirty," or radioactively contaminated, bomb. Slivnyak said that to
attack a nuclear-power station it is not necessary to penetrate the
plant itself but merely to cut off its power-supply system.
Nuclear-power plants receive electricity externally through supply
systems that, as a rule, are in very poor condition. Slivnyak mentioned
that a 1993 windstorm knocked out power to the Kolskaya Nuclear Power
Station, very nearly causing a major catastrophe. He added that it
would be relatively easy to destroy the control centers of several old
Soviet-era reactors. As for dirty weapons, Slivnyak said that
radioactive materials such as cesium-137 and spent nuclear fuel are
practically unguarded. VY
TRANSCAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA
[16] LAWYER CLAIMS ARMENIAN TV HEAD'S KILLING LINKED TO PARLIAMENT
KILLINGS
Russian lawyer Oleg Yunoshev, who represents the family of former Prime
Minister Vazgen Sargsian, told a press conference in Yerevan on 14
January that Armenian Public Television and Radio head Tigran
Naghdalian might have known who masterminded the October 1999
parliament shootings, in which Sargsian and seven other senior
officials were killed, Noyan Tapan and RFE/RL's Yerevan bureau
reported. Yunoshev pointed out that shortly before Naghdalian's 28
December killing, he had claimed that the video footage of the five
gunmen bursting into the parliament chamber was edited before being
handed over to investigators and that a crucial 11-minute segment was
cut. On 13 January, Armenia's chief military prosecutor, Gagik
Djahangirian, who headed the investigation into the parliament
shootings, said experts are examining the video footage to establish
whether anyone tampered with the tape. LF
[17] AZERBAIJANI DEFENSE MINISTER CLAIMS ARMENIA POSES THREAT TO
OIL-EXPORT PIPELINE
Meeting in Baku on 14 January with British Ambassador Andrew Tucker,
Colonel General Safar Abiev alleged that the buildup of military
hardware in Armenia poses a threat to the planned Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan
export pipeline for Caspian oil, Turan reported. LF
[18] GEORGIAN OFFICIAL ADMITS TERRORISTS UNDERWENT TRAINING IN PANKISI
Georgian National Security Ministry spokesman Nika Laliashvili told
journalists in Tbilisi on 14 January that a training camp for Chechen
fighters and Arab mercenaries existed in the Pankisi Gorge until
February 2002, Caucasus Press and Interfax reported. Laliashvili said
that terrorists at the camp studied the manufacture of explosives and
poisons, including ricin. But he said no link has been established
between the terrorists who spent time in Pankisi and the people
arrested last week in London on suspicion of manufacturing ricin.
Britain's "Sunday Times" on 12 January posited such a link (see "RFE/RL
Newsline," 13 January 2002). Laliashvili also said that persons with
connections to Al-Qaeda controlled the channeling of funds to the
terrorists then based in Pankisi. He said there are no longer any
terrorists in the gorge. LF
[19] FORMER SOUTH OSSETIAN PRESIDENT'S SON BEGINS HUNGER STRIKE IN
DETENTION
Aleksei Chibirov, who was arrested in Tskhinvali on 9 January on
suspicion of preparing a coup d'etat and remanded for two months'
pretrial detention, has begun a hunger strike, Caucasus Press reported
on 14 January. Chibirov was involved in an abortive attempt in November
2001 to reverse the outcome of the presidential election, in which his
father, Lyudvig, was defeated (see "RFE/RL Caucasus Report," 29
November 2001). LF
[20] DEFENDER DETAILS PROCEDURAL VIOLATIONS IN KAZAKH JOURNALIST'S
TRIAL
In a 14 January statement addressed to the Almaty raion court hearing
the case of journalist Sergei Duvanov, Duvanov's public defender
Yevgenii Zhovtis detailed police interference with the investigation
into Duvanov's case and police intimidation of witnesses. Duvanov faces
charges, which are widely believed to be politically motivated, of
raping an underage girl. Zhovtis called on the court to declare the
case annulled and to inform the prosecutor-general of evidence pointing
to criminal obstruction of justice. Zhovtis's statement was carried by
the website forumkz.org. LF
[21] KAZAKH OPPOSITION LEADER ACCUSED OF TAX EVASION
Amirzhan Qosanov, chairman of the executive committee of the opposition
Republican People's Party of Kazakhstan, has been formally charged with
tax evasion, AFP reported on 14 January (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 8
January 2003). The charges carry a possible six-month prison term. In a
move apparently intended to thwart his planned lecture tour to the
United States and Europe, Qosanov has been ordered not to leave
Kazakhstan. LF
[22] MORE CRITICISM OF PLANNED KYRGYZ REFERENDUM VOICED
Jailed former Kyrgyz Vice President Feliks Kulov on 14 January
criticized the Kyrgyz leadership's plans to hold a referendum on
constitutional amendments, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reported. Kulov
termed the referendum a "political gamble" that, he predicted, will
strengthen President Askar Akaev's powers and eliminate his political
enemies. Kulov is serving a 10-year prison sentence on charges of abuse
of his official position and embezzlement. Also on 14 January,
politicians, writers, and human rights activists convened a roundtable
to air their objections to the proposed amendments. Human rights
activist Tursunbek Akunov appealed to the government to postpone the
referendum, which is scheduled for 2 February. LF
[23] KYRGYZ, TAJIK OFFICIALS AGREE TO REMOVE DISPUTED BORDER POSTS
Kyrgyz and Tajik government officials agreed during talks on 13-14
January in the Tajik town of Isfara to remove an additional two Tajik
and three Kyrgyz border posts on the borders of Tajikistan's Vorukh
exclave in southern Kyrgyzstan, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service and Asia
Plus-Blitz reported. Several border and customs posts were removed on 5
January following clashes between Kyrgyz and Tajiks (see "RFE/RL
Newsline," 6 January 2003). LF
[24] RUSSIA SEEKS CLARIFICATION OF TURKMEN POSITION ON DUAL CITIZENSHIP
Following President Saparmurat Niyazov's statement on Turkmen state
television on 13 January that Ashgabat might suspend its 1993 agreement
with Russia on dual citizenship, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman
Aleksandr Yakovenko told journalists in Moscow on 14 January that
Russia has not been officially informed of any changes and awaits
clarification of Turkmenistan's position, Russian news agencies
reported. ITAR-TASS quoted unnamed Russian diplomats as saying later
the same day that their Turkmen counterparts have informed them the
agreement remains in force. LF
[25] TURKMENISTAN DENIES CHARGES BROUGHT AGAINST RUSSIAN JOURNALIST
Interfax on 14 January quoted an unidentified Turkmen official as
denying earlier reports that criminal charges have been brought against
"Vremya novostei" correspondent Arkadii Dubnov on suspicion of
involvement in the alleged plan to assassinate President Niyazov and
seize power. Meanwhile, former Deputy Agriculture Minister Sapar
Yklymov, who was sentenced in absentia to life imprisonment for his
alleged role in the putative conspiracy, told Reuters on 14 January
that the Turkmen authorities have evicted 27 of his close relatives
from their homes, including his 75-year-old mother. Yklymov lives in
exile in Sweden. LF
CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE
[26] MILITARY EQUIPMENT REPORTEDLY INTERCEPTED EN ROUTE FROM BELARUS TO
IRAQ
Speaking on condition of anonymity, Lebanese security officials told AP
on 14 January that authorities at Beirut International Airport have
confiscated 12 tons of military equipment -- including helmets,
uniforms, and communications gear -- aboard a flight from Minsk on 12
January that was destined for Iraq via Syria. An Iraqi diplomat in
Beirut told AP that Iraq has no link whatsoever with the equipment or
the importers. The Belarusian Foreign Ministry also denied Belarus was
involved. "The Foreign Ministry of Belarus rules out the possibility of
delivery of dual-use items to Iraq. Belarus strictly follows accepted
international norms in dual-use items," the agency quoted ministry
spokesman Andrey Savinykh as saying. Savinykh added, however, that it
is possible the shipment was sent through Minsk from a third country.
In all, Lebanese customs officers seized 600 helmets and 240
wireless-communications sets designed for use by tank crews. Two
Lebanese men listed as the importers were detained for questioning by
military authorities and fined 240 million Lebanese pounds ($160,000)
for making a false declaration. The names of the companies involved
were not immediately available. JM
[27] BELARUSIAN AUTHORITIES BAN TV CAMPAIGNING AHEAD OF LOCAL VOTES
The Central Election Commission has decided to give five minutes of
airtime on regional and local radio to each candidate running for a
seat on local soviets in the 2 March elections, Belapan reported on 14
January. Candidates will have no chance to appear on television,
although they reportedly will have equal rights for campaigning through
the local press. JM
[28] BELARUSIAN PRESIDENT ENACTS LEGISLATION ON MARTIAL LAW
President Alyaksandr Lukashenka on 13 January signed a bill allowing
the president to declare martial law with the approval of the country's
upper house, Belapan reported on 14 January. The Council of the
Republic would have to approve the move within three days after a
presidential declaration. Possible justifications for imposing martial
law include a declaration of war on Belarus, concentration of another
country's armed forces near the border, emergence of armed conflicts
targeting Belarus, army mobilization in another state to attack
Belarus, or terrorist activities threatening the nation's sovereignty.
JM
[29] CIS SUMMIT SLATED FOR UKRAINE IN LATE JANUARY
CIS heads of state will meet at a government residence in
Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast in western Ukraine on 28-29 January, UNIAN
reported on 14 January, quoting Foreign Ministry spokesman Serhiy
Borodenkov. Borodenkov said the summit will focus on economic issues.
"There will be virtually no politics at this summit -- [only] issues of
interests for the entire CIS will be considered," Borodenkov added.
Borodenkov said, in line with a ruling of the CIS Economic Court in
1994, Ukraine is a CIS founder and "participant" but not a member,
since Kyiv has neither signed nor ratified the CIS Charter. JM
[30] UKRAINE POSTS ECONOMIC GROWTH OF 4.1 PERCENT
Ukraine's gross domestic product (GDP) increased by 4.1 percent in
2002, UNIAN reported on 15 January, quoting First Deputy Premier and
Finance Minister Mykola Azarov. Azarov added that industrial production
grew by 7 percent last year, while inflation was "virtually nil." JM
[31] ESTONIA EXTENDS MINE-CLEARING MISSION IN AFGHANISTAN
The government decided on 14 January to extend the mission of a team of
mine-clearing experts in Afghanistan by another three months or until 8
May, BNS reported. No parliamentary approval is required. The extension
was requested by the U.S. Embassy in Tallinn. The five bomb experts and
three canines are tasked with enhancing security of airfields used by
U.S. armed forces. SG
[32] ESTONIAN PARTIES AGREE: NO CHANGES IN CITIZENSHIP AND LANGUAGE
POLICIES
Representatives of Estonia's eight largest parties agreed at a
roundtable meeting on 14 January that the country's citizenship and
language policies will not be relaxed after general elections in March,
no matter who comes to power, ETA reported. The decision was an
indirect response to a bill proposed by the Estonian United Russian
People's Party to change citizenship laws by exempting from the
language and constitution tests pensioners who have shown their loyalty
to Estonia by not seeking Russian citizenship, BNS reported. Education
Minister Mailis Rand suggested the Estonian-language exam might be made
easier, noting that a report by a Council of Europe committee to combat
racism and intolerance considered those tests too difficult. SG
[33] LATVIAN LEADERS DIFFER OVER REORGANIZATION OF SECURITY SERVICES
After her weekly meeting with Prime Minister Einars Repse on 14
January, President Vaira Vike-Freiberga was not ready to divulge to
reporters the specifics of an apparent dispute over how the country's
security services should be organized, BNS reported. She stressed,
however, that Latvia's security services "must be politically
independent." Vike-Freiberga said she opposes placing the security
services under the supervision of the prime minister, as Repse has
suggested, stressing, "These institutions absolutely must be
politically independent." She said the government should have the right
to exert control over the secret services because it sets out
priorities and goals of the country, but added that more serious
discussion is needed before any final decisions. Vike-Freiberga also
rejected a proposal by Repse to make the Constitution Protection Office
(CPO) responsible only for NATO-related information-security issues.
That approach "would not be the most advantageous," she said, since
NATO has already recognized the CPO as the country's national-security
agency. SG
[34] THREE LITHUANIAN PARTIES SIGN MERGER AGREEMENT
The leaders of the center-right Liberal Union, the Center Union, and
the Modern Christian Democratic Party signed an agreement in Vilnius on
14 January to merge their parties, ELTA reported. The agreement calls
for those parties to cooperate on local councils, form a single faction
in parliament, and participate together in elections to the parliament
and the European Parliament in 2004. The founding congress of the new
party is scheduled to take place on 31 May. Prior to the signing, the
parties held meetings at which the merger was presented and approved by
substantial majorities, according to "Lietuvos zinios" of 15 January.
The vote in Kestutis Glaveckas's Center Union was 46 to two with seven
abstentions, while Eugenijus Gentvilas's Liberal Union supported it by
a vote of 75 to two with three abstentions. SG
[35] LITHUANIAN LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY SELECTS ACTING CHAIRMAN
The board of the Liberal Democratic Party appointed Deputy Chairman
Valentinas Mazuronis as the party's acting chairman on 14 January to
replace Rolandas Paksas, who had to give up his membership after
winning early January's presidential elections, "Kauno diena" reported
on 15 January. The 50-year-old Mazuronis is an architect and a member
of the Siauliai City Council. Party First Deputy Chairman Henrikas
Zukauskas was also proposed as a candidate, but the board followed
Paksas's suggestion and chose Mazuronis so that parliamentary deputy
Zukauskas can remain as a link between party members and Liberal
Democratic deputies in parliament. Mazuronis reportedly stands a good
chance of being elected party chairman at the upcoming congress on 9
March. SG
[36] U.S. PRESIDENT SAYS POLAND AMONG BEST EUROPEAN FRIENDS
"I've got no better friend in Europe today than Poland," Reuters quoted
U.S. President George W. Bush as saying at the White House on 14
January, with Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski at his side. "One
of the reasons why is because this man has made a commitment to work
together, as equal partners, in the war on terror, on the desire to
find freedom for people who live in misery," Bush added. Bush and
Kwasniewski discussed the situation in Iraq, the war on terrorism, and
Poland's recent selection of Lockheed Martin to supply 48 new fighter
jets. "Poles are a loyal ally. If, after all the discussions and
actions and the exploitation of various possibilities, it comes to
stand up to fight, then we will do this," Kwasniewski was quoted by
Polish Television as saying in response to a question about Polish
support for a possible military operation against Iraq, even if it were
unilateral action by the United States. The same day, Kwasniewski also
held talks with U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. JM
[37] POLISH PARLIAMENT STARTS INQUIRY INTO 'RYWINGATE'
Deputy Sejm Speaker Tomasz Nalecz (Labor Union) was elected head of a
special parliamentary commission set up to investigate corruption
charges against film producer Lew Rywin, who reportedly solicited a
bribe of $17.5 million from Agora, the publisher of "Gazeta Wyborcza."
Reports have suggested Rywin was claiming to be acting on behalf of
Premier Leszek Miller's Democratic Left Alliance (see "RFE/RL Poland,
Belarus, and Ukraine Report," 14 January 2003). Nalecz said he expects
to hold the commission's first sitting on 25 or 27 January. The
commission's meetings are to be open. JM
[38] KLAUS, PITHART ADVANCE TO SECOND ROUND OF CZECH PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTIONS
Civic Democratic Party (ODS) Honorary Chairman and former Premier
Vaclav Klaus and Senate President Petr Pithart advanced to the second
round of Czech presidential elections in Prague on 15 January, CTK and
Reuters reported, citing sources from the voting committee. Klaus
received the most votes in the lower house, 92 in the 200-seat chamber,
while Pithart received 35 of 81 votes in the Senate in the secret
ballot. None of the four candidates -- Klaus, Pithart, former Justice
Minister Jaroslav Bures or former military prosecutor Miroslav
Krizenecky -- garnered the absolute majority in both chambers that
would have elected a president in the first round of voting. Klaus and
Pithart were expected to face each other in a first runoff vote later
in the day on 15 January. A qualified majority of both senators and of
lower-house deputies present for voting is required for a candidate to
be elected in the second round. If no candidate is elected in the
second round, a third round in what is still considered to be the first
scrutiny must take place within two weeks. In that round, a combined
majority of those present for the vote from both houses is needed to
win the presidency. MS
[39] OUTGOING CZECH PRESIDENT ADDRESSES PARLIAMENT AHEAD OF VOTE
Outgoing President Vaclav Havel told lawmakers before the first
presidential vote on 15 January that he hopes they select his successor
in the first scrutiny and that their choice be "a good head of state."
Havel thanked deputies and senators, as well as their predecessors, for
having twice elected him as president and said that in this position he
attempted to do his best. "I think that some things [I did] were
successful, other things were not. It is not up to me to evaluate my
role," he said, adding that task falls on "the public, politicians,
journalists, political scientists and historians." He said that as a
normal citizen in the future, he can "never remain silent on the basic
questions of our civic life." He added, "I do not want and I cannot
leave public life entirely." Havel's term is due to expire on 2
February. MS
[40] CZECH PREMIER DOWNPLAYS PARTY DISSENT OVER IRAQ
Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla told journalists on 14 January that a
strong majority of his Social Democratic Party's (CSSD) parliamentary
group in the Chamber of Deputies backs the government's response to a
request by the United States for Czech participation in possible
military operations against Iraq, CTK reported (see "RFE/RL Newsline,"
13 and 14 January 2003). However, CSSD deputies group leader Milan
Urban said he opposes imposing a binding position on CSSD deputies in
the vote, which is be held in the chamber on 16 January. Urban added
that legislators should be free to cast their ballot as their
conscience dictates. Also on 14 January, the Senate Defense Committee
recommended that the upper house's plenum approve this week's cabinet
decision. In related news, U.S. Ambassador to the Czech Republic Craig
Stapleton said on 14 January that the Czech government understands that
Iraqi President Saddam Hussein is a real danger and an obstacle to
peace. MS
[41] CZECH FOREIGN MINISTER VISITS GERMANY
Visiting Foreign Minister Cyril Svoboda and his German counterpart
Joschka Fischer said on 14 January that last year's tensions over
declarations made by former Premier Milos Zeman regarding the Benes
Decrees are a thing of the past, CTK reported. Fischer and Svoboda told
journalists after their meeting that Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder --
who in March 2002 "postponed" a planned visit to Prague following
Zeman's characterization of Sudeten Germans as "a fifth column" -- will
visit the Czech capital "in the nearest future." President Havel's last
trip abroad as head of state will be to Berlin on 17 January. A report
by dpa, however, stressed continuing differences between the two
countries over the postwar decrees. According to Svoboda, "the question
has been dealt with and was closed by the 1997 German-Czech
declaration." Fischer, however, stressed it is important to "remember
the past in order to [be able to] shape the future." MS
[42] CZECH SENATE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS LIFTING MEDIA MOGUL'S
PARLIAMENTARY IMMUNITY
The Senate Mandate and Immunity Committee on 14 December recommended
that the plenum lift the parliamentary immunity of controversial
television director and newly elected Senator Vladimir Zelezny, CTK and
Reuters reported. Seven of the committee's 12 members voted in favor of
the move. Five deputies from the Civic Democratic Party (ODS) -- with
which Zelezny has long enjoyed cozy relations -- and the Communist
Party of Bohemia and Moravia opposed the recommendation. Zelezny, who
is director of the commercial TV Nova, has been charged with tax
evasion and defrauding creditors, and is locked in litigation with
foreign investors over control of the broadcaster. He gained
parliamentary immunity after his election as an independent in late
October (see "RFE/RL Newsline, 29 October 2002). The plenum is expected
to vote on the recommendation next week. MS
[43] SLOVAK PETITION DRIVE LAUNCHED FOR NATO REFERENDUM
The Slovak Governance Institute on 14 January officially launched a
drive in Bratislava and other Slovak cities for a referendum on whether
the country should join NATO, TASR and CTK reported. The initiative is
aimed at collecting 350,000 signatures. Eduard Chmelar heads the
institute, which is an independent nongovernmental organization. Slovak
Premier and Justice Minister Jan Carnogursky is among the leading
proponents of a referendum. Prime Minister Mikulas Dzurinda said the
same day that the initiative is harmful and out of line with Slovakia's
national interests. President Rudolf Schuster said he does not support
the drive but will call the plebiscite if supporters meet all the legal
conditions. Schuster also said he respects those with differing
opinions on the country's entry to NATO. MS
[44] SLOVAK PARLIAMENT APPROVES NEW STATE-TELEVISION DIRECTOR
Legislators on 14 January approved by an overwhelming vote of 125 in
favor, nine against, and eight abstentions the selection of Richard
Rybnicek as the new director general of Slovak Television, TASR
reported. Rybnicek was selected last week for the position by the
Slovak Television Council (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 13 January 2003). MS
[45] U.S. TO BEGIN TRAINING IRAQIS IN HUNGARY...
The Pentagon has informed Iraqi opposition members who have volunteered
to serve with U.S. forces that they are to check in at marshaling
centers in the coming days, AP reported on 15 January. The trainees are
to be screened at the marshaling centers before being flown to Taszar,
Hungary, located 195 kilometers southeast of Budapest, where they will
be trained to serve as support staff, the news agency reported, citing
three unidentified sources. "Up to 3,000 Iraqis are expected to be
trained eventually to serve in such jobs as translators, guides,
military police, and liaisons between coalition combat forces and the
Iraqi population," according to AP. Hungary's Radio Kossuth reported on
13 January that Iraqis will begin training sometime after 26 January.
KR
[46] ...AS IRAQIS CONTINUE TO ARRIVE AT BORDERS
Eight Iraqis have recently been found along the Serbian-Hungarian
border in recent days. Hungarian border police on 11 January picked up
seven Iraqis traveling with Afghan and Iranian refugees near Tompa,
Budapest's Duna TV reported on 12 January. The Iraqi men told border
police they fled Iraq two weeks earlier in an effort to "save their
lives" after being called up to report for military duty, according to
the television station. The men apparently paid a Kurdish smuggler
$1,000 to get to Istanbul, where another smuggler took them to Hungary
for $2,500. On 13 January, an Iraqi Army officer was arrested when he
attempted to illegally cross the Serbian-Hungarian border near Tompa,
BETA news agency reported on 14 January. A spokesman for the Hungarian
border police confirmed the man's identity, but an official from the
Prime Minister's Office declined to comment on the man's arrest. The
officer reportedly told border police he had fled Iraq, BETA reported.
KR
[47] HUNGARY'S FIDESZ LEANS TOWARD CHRISTIAN-DEMOCRATIC MODEL FOR THE
MASSES
Following a two-day party conference in Budapest, the leadership of the
opposition FIDESZ party announced on 14 January that it intends to
transform the right-wing grouping into a political organization
encompassing the whole country, akin to the German Christian Democratic
Union, Hungarian media reported. Although party leaders have not
decided on a new name, former Prime Minister Viktor Orban said FIDESZ
should "become the decisive focus of right-of-center civic cohesion" by
December. He said talks will have to be held with the Christian
Democrats, the various Smallholder forces, and the Democratic Forum,
adding that a "Hungarian Christian Democratic Union" should run in 2004
European Parliament elections. Orban said he sees no sense in changing
the name of FIDESZ at this point, but added that such a decision will
have to be made "in the not-too-distant future." Orban said he will
decide in late January or early February whether to accept a request
from the leadership to become chairman of the new party. MSZ
[48] HUNGARIAN FINANCE MINISTER SAYS CONVERSION TO EURO IN THE OFFING
"Hungary is moving full-speed toward not only European Union membership
but also membership in the European currency union," Finance Minister
Csaba Laszlo told the dpa news agency on 14 January. Laszlo said that
even if there were only a gradual recovery of the European economy,
joining the European currency system would be "no problem" for Hungary.
The country's economic program is aimed not only at EU membership but
also at fulfilling the currency-convergence criteria in 2004, Laszlo
said. Membership in the currency union is not automatic for the 10
countries slated to join the EU in 2004. MSZ
[49] HUNGARIAN FIRMS WIN MAJOR DOMESTIC MILITARY TENDERS
Three Hungarian companies -- Hungarian Iveco, Ikarus Trade, and Raba --
have won tenders to replace up to 65 percent of the vehicles in
Hungary's army over the next 15 years, the Defense Ministry announced
on 14 January. The three suppliers are to deliver a combined 10,000
vehicles worth an estimated $1 billion to the army, AFP and local media
reported. Iveco is to supply four-wheel-drive vehicles, Ikarus is to
provide buses, and Raba off-road vehicles, replacing Russian-made KamAZ
and UAZ trucks and off-road vehicles, some of which are 30 years old.
MSZ
SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE
[50] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS CROATIA COULD JOIN EU IN 2007...
Continuing his whirlwind visit to the western Balkans, Greek Foreign
Minister George Papandreou told his Croatian hosts in Zagreb on 14
January that they might be able to realize their hopes of joining the
EU in 2007, even though Brussels has not given them a timetable,
Reuters reported (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 14 January 2003). He added,
"It is difficult to play the game of dates. It is very much up to
countries themselves, but I would not exclude that Croatia can catch
up" with Romania and Bulgaria. Papandreou told his hosts, "Your success
story can become a success story for every other country." He noted,
however, that Croatia must make progress in resolving certain issues
stemming from the 1991-95 war of independence: "The importance of the
return of refugees is paramount, as is cooperation with the Hague
[-based war crimes] tribunal. I am glad that...Prime Minister [Ivica
Racan] is willing to move forward on these issues." PM
[51] ...URGES SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO TO SET UP THEIR JOINT STATE...
Papandreou left Zagreb for Belgrade on 14 January, where he met top
Yugoslav, Serbian, and Montenegrin officials, RFE/RL's South Slavic and
Albanian Languages Service reported. In talks with Yugoslav President
Vojislav Kostunica and Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic,
Papandreou stressed that Serbia and Montenegro should do everything
possible to set up the legal framework for their joint state quickly
(see "RFE/RL Newsline," 13 January 2003). Djukanovic said the two
republics will work to promote democratization, reforms, and
integration into European institutions. He added that he will not make
pursuit of independence his "absolute priority." Yugoslav Deputy Prime
Minister Miroljub Labus told a press conference that the EU previously
promised Serbia and Montenegro that difficulties stemming from setting
up the new state will not affect Belgrade's desire to begin
stabilization and association talks with the EU, Reuters reported.
Labus added, however, that in reality those difficulties have led to a
delay of one year in starting the talks. PM
[52] ...AND GOES ON TO BOSNIA
Papandreou arrived in Sarajevo late on 14 January, as did Javier
Solana, the EU's foreign and security policy chief, Deutsche Welle's
Bosnian Service reported. The two men formally launched the EU's police
mission in Bosnia on 15 January (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 3 and 10
January 2003). PM
[53] MACEDONIAN HELICOPTERS TRAIN FOR POSSIBLE WAR IN IRAQ
Macedonian helicopter crews have begun training for the possible
participation of two Mi8 helicopters in a conflict in Iraq, dpa
reported from Skopje on 14 January, citing the daily "Dnevnik." The
report added that Macedonia feels it has an obligation to support its
allies because it is a member of NATO's Partnership for Peace. PM
[54] U.S. REPORTEDLY SEEKING CLEAR END TO NATO MISSION IN MACEDONIA
Munich's "Sueddeutsche Zeitung" reported on 15 January that the United
States does not want the EU to take over the Western, armed mission in
Macedonia from NATO until all legal steps have been taken to formally
end NATO's Allied Harmony mission and set up a completely new EU
project in agreement with the Atlantic alliance (see "RFE/RL Newsline,"
15 and 16 October, 15 and 28 November, and 12 and 16 December 2002 and
"RFE/RL Balkan Report," 15 February, 8 March, 3 May, 16 August, and 15
November 2002). The United States wants a formal invitation by
Macedonia to the EU to start a new mission and an agreement on a clear
chain of command for the new endeavor. The Munich daily quoted unnamed
EU diplomats as saying that Washington wants to be sure it is not
involved in the new project. The United States also seeks to
demonstrate that at least one NATO mission in the Balkans can be wound
up. The EU hoped to take over from Allied Harmony in March, but meeting
Washington's demands would mean postponing the new mission until June.
PM
[55] MACEDONIAN FOREIGN MINISTER PROMOTES ECONOMIC TIES IN MOSCOW
As part of her three-day official visit to Moscow, Foreign Minister
Ilinka Mitreva met with her Russian counterpart Igor Ivanov on 14
January, MIA news agency reported. Talks focused on the economic
cooperation. Ivanov proposed that Macedonian construction companies
participate in tenders for housing projects throughout Russia. Ivanov
also expressed Russian interest in the development of gas and oil
pipelines and in the modernization of power plants in Macedonia. During
their meeting, the ministers signed a consular agreement easing the
visa regime between the two countries. They announced that they will
sign a free-trade agreement soon. Mitreva thanked Ivanov for Russia's
support during the armed conflict between ethnic Albanian rebels of the
National Liberation Army (UCK) and the security forces in 2001.
Mitreva's visit was the first by a Macedonian foreign minister to
Russia in more than a decade. UB
[56] BOSNIA TO TRY WAR CRIMINALS AT HOME
Carla Del Ponte, chief prosecutor of the war crimes tribunal in The
Hague, said in Sarajevo on 14 January that the Bosnian judiciary should
set up a war crimes chamber to try its own cases at home, dpa reported.
She noted that the chamber "must fit into Bosnian legal culture --
substantive and procedural law must be in accordance with the country's
existing law and compatible with the European Convention on Human
Rights.... We must not establish yet another costly international
institution, but rather create a structure that will be able to
function on its own." For his part, High Representative Paddy Ashdown
said: "Giving Bosnia-Herzegovina a proper domestic capacity to try its
own war criminals is one of the key steps to building a
self-sustaining, stable state." In related news, the Sarajevo Canton
Court filed charges against Samir Bejtic, a Muslim from Sarajevo, for
war crimes against Bosnian Serbs during the 1992-95 conflict. PM
[57] MORE STRIKES IN CROATIA
Elementary-school teachers ended their strike for higher pay on 14
January after only a day on the picket lines, dpa reported from Zagreb
(see "RFE/RL Newsline," 13 January 2003). The unions had expected to
strike for five days but changed their plans due to what union leader
Dalimir Kuba called government pressure and unspecified threats to
teachers. On 15 January, however, 10,000 high-school teachers and 7,000
doctors went on strike for higher wages. The teachers want a 14 percent
increase for salaries averaging just over $500 per month, while the
doctors are seeking a 15 percent hike for salaries averaging just over
$900 per month. The government called the strikes unjustified, adding
that strikers will not be paid for time spent away from work. PM
[58] ALBANIAN MUSLIM LEADER SLAIN
Unidentified members of his religious community killed Salih Tivari,
who was general secretary of Albania's Muslim Community, in Tirana on
13 January, Deutsche Welle's Albanian Service reported the next day.
Tivari, like most Albanian Muslims, was liberal in his approach to
religion and thus might have been killed by extremists opposed to some
of his policies, such as relaxing the obligation to pray five times
each day, Deutsche Welle reported. Tivari was a firm opponent of
terrorism. The motive for the slaying might involve rivalries stemming
from his work administering welfare money and scholarships, the
broadcaster added. Police are investigating various theories, including
the possibility that his differences with a welfare organization in
Durres are of relevance to the slaying. PM
[59] ROMANIA PURCHASES TWO BRITISH NAVY FRIGATES
British Defence Procurement Minister Lord William Bach and Romanian
Defense Minister Ioan Mircea Pascu signed an agreement in Bucharest on
14 January for the sale of two British Type 22 frigates to Romania,
Mediafax and dpa reported. The agreement includes the modernization of
the "HMS Coventry" and the "HMS London," and alterations to meet the
requirements of the Romanian fleet. The first frigate is to be
delivered in December 2004 and the second in June 2005. MS
[60] ROMANIAN PARLIAMENTARY SPEAKER CLARIFIES PROPOSED ELECTORAL-SYSTEM
AMENDMENT
Chamber of Deputies speaker Valer Dorneanu on 14 January said reports
that his Social Democratic Party (PSD) intends to amend the
constitution, replacing the current system of proportional
representation in the Senate with one of multiple-constituency
representation, are misleading, RFE/RL's Bucharest bureau reported (see
"RFE/RL Newsline," 14 January 2002). Dorneanu said the intention is to
introduce single-constituency representation, so that every
constituency will elect just one senator. He also said the change is to
be introduced by amending the Election Law rather than the
constitution. MS
[61] ROMANIAN JUSTICE MINISTER DISCUSSES PROPOSED PENAL CODE BILL WITH
JOURNALISTS
Justice Minister Rodica Stanoiu told journalists on 14 January that the
proposed bill on amending the Penal Code is by no means aimed at
curtailing the freedom of the press or introducing harsher punishments
for journalists, RFE/RL's Bucharest bureau reported. She said she is
very satisfied that the bill is being debated with representatives of
the media, as has never been done before. Stanoiu said many critical
pronouncements regarding the bill stem from misunderstandings, but
acknowledged that the formulations used in some of the bill's articles
are ambiguous, leaving room for several possible interpretations. These
articles, Stanoiu said, should be reformulated. She said an additional
meeting with journalists will take place in March, after the government
approves the new version of articles that require reformulation (see
"RFE/RL Newsline," 13 January 2003). MS
[62] BULGARIAN SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS CHALLENGES BUDGET
Supreme Court of Appeals head Ivan Grigorov told a press conference on
14 January that it has decided to challenge before the Constitutional
Court the funding allocated to the appellate court in the 2003 state
budget, BTA reported. Grigorov suggested that if the Constitutional
Court rules that it cannot decide on this issue on the grounds that it
cannot rule on individual portions of the budget, it should rule the
entire budget unconstitutional. According to the state budget, the
Supreme Court of Appeals is slated to receive just $3.8 million of the
$10.3 million it requested. This would impede the normal functioning of
the court, Grigorov told Darik Radio on 15 January. In December, the
Supreme Administrative Court rejected an appeal launched by the Supreme
Judicial Council against the 2003 budget. The council argued that the
Finance Ministry unconstitutionally interfered with the council's
budgetary rights (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 14, 21, and 22 November and 5
and 20 December 2002). UB
[63] BULGARIAN SOCIALISTS EXPECT DIRTY CAMPAIGN IN UPCOMING LOCAL
ELECTIONS
Socialist Party Deputy Chairman Rumen Ovcharov announced on 13 January
that his party will wash dirty linen in public during the upcoming
local elections in Sofia, "Sega" reported. "The pre-election campaign
will be dirty, because this is what the state of affairs is under
[incumbent Sofia Mayor Stefan] Sofiyanski," Ovcharov said. He added
that the BSP will seek a broad coalition including leftists and members
of conservative parties to replace Sofiyanski. Ovcharov made clear that
the BSP's long-term goal is a change of government. "It will be hard to
govern Bulgaria without governing Sofia," he said. The BSP has not yet
nominated a challenger to Sofiyanski. UB
SOUTHWESTERN ASIA AND THE MIDDLE EAST
[64] KABUL WILL NOT FORCIBLY DISARM WARLORDS
A Defense Ministry spokesman said at a news conference on 13 January
that the Afghan Transitional Administration does not plan to use force
to disarm various commanders who have their own private militaries, the
Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran reported on 14 January from
Mashhad. "It is not possible to disarm by force those mujahedin who
have fought for 20 years to liberate the country," the spokesman said.
The news conference was held after Defense Ministry officials met with
powerful commanders -- including Herat Province Governor General Ismail
Khan, Kandahar Province Governor Gul Agha Sherzai, and Nangarhar
Province Governor Hajji Din Mohammad -- who pledged to cooperate with
the government's disarmament program. General Abdul Rashid Dostum, a
powerful commander who serves as deputy defense minister and as the
presidential representative in northern Afghanistan, did not attend the
meeting but the Defense Ministry spokesman said Dostum has also agreed
to cooperate with the disarmament efforts. AT
[65] AFGHAN GENERAL DOSTUM ESCAPES APPARENT ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT
Security forces prevented a possible attempt on General Dostum's life
as he emerged from his residence in the northern Afghan city of
Sheberghan on the night of 14 January, the general's press secretary
Faizullah Zaki told RFE/RL on 15 January. Zaki said the alleged
would-be assassin was discovered during security checks being conducted
along Dostum's path, RFE/RL reported. The suspect is a foreigner,
according to Zaki. AT
[66] DISABLED AFGHANS STAGE ANOTHER PROTEST
A number of disabled Afghans gathered in front of the Ministry of
Endowments and Islamic Affairs in Kabul on 14 January to demand that
government authorities provide them with more financial support and pay
more attention to their plight, Hindukosh news agency reported. The
protesters complained that officials from the ministry siphon off aid
earmarked for the disabled. A separate group of 70 disabled Afghans
attempted to block the flow of traffic in central Kabul but were
prevented from doing so by security forces, the report added. On 9
December, a group of about 100 disabled Afghans marched on the Afghan
presidential palace and demanded that Minister of Martyrs and the
Disabled Abdullah Wardak resign (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 10 December
2002). AT
[67] KABUL WEEKLY CONCERNED ABOUT SECURITY SITUATION
The security situation in Afghanistan, and as of late in Kabul in
particular, is getting worse from day to day, the Kabul weekly
"Panjara" wrote in a commentary on 11 January. It seems that criminal
gangs are becoming increasingly organized and are more daringly testing
the resolve of the security system, the paper added. Pointing to the
fact that no arrests have been made following the assassination of
"important government officials" and to the lack of information
regarding the perpetrators of recent bombings in Kabul, "Panjara" said
such lapses only encourage "terrorist gangs" to operate more freely.
The commentary added that after the fall of the Taliban and the
establishment of the Transitional Administration, the people of
Afghanistan were looking forward to living a secure life. However, it
added, recent security breaches and the inability of the government
authorities to address them have "deeply disappointed and saddened"
Afghans. AT
[68] AGA KHAN COMPANY TO PROVIDE MOBILE PHONES IN AFGHANISTAN
An agreement to expand GSM mobile-telephone services in Afghanistan has
been signed between the Communications Ministry and an international
consortium led by the Geneva-based Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN),
the Kabul daily "Anis" reported on 11 January. An AKDN representative
said the company plans to provide mobile-telephone services to 50
percent of Kabul's area over the next six months. Services will be
expanded to 80 percent of Kabul and limited services will be launched
in cities such as Herat, Kandahar, Mazar-e Sahrif, and Jalalabad in a
year's time, according to AKDN. The $75 million project plans to
provide coverage to all of Afghanistan in five years. The AKDN-led
consortium was named the winning bidder over other service providers
already operating in Afghanistan, including the Afghan Wireless
Communications Company (AWCC), leading some to argue that AKDN received
preferential treatment. AT
[69] IRANIAN HUMAN RIGHTS STATUS CRITICIZED
Human Rights Watch's "World Report 2003," released on 14 January, noted
that in Iran "assaults on freedom of expression and association
remained serious problems and were especially acute"
(http://www.hrw.org/wr2k3/mideast.html and
http://www.hrw.org/wr2k3/mideast3.html). In addition, the report
criticized the judicial system. "Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Courts
and Special Court for the Clergy were grossly unfair, operating with
complete disregard for due process safeguards, usually behind closed
doors," it says. Attacks against the press are continuing, according to
the report. The report attributed the lack of progress in human rights
to the continuing struggle between elected reformers in the executive
and legislative branches and conservative clerics who have authority
through the office of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the
Council of Guardians, the judiciary, and the armed forces. BS
[70] COURT SUMMONS RASHT JOURNALIST
Mohammad Kazem Shokuhi-Rad, the managing director of the "Gilan-i
Imruz" newspaper, said on 13 January that the Gilan Province judiciary
summoned him to face a complaint from Rasht Friday prayer leader
Ayatollah Zeinolabidin Qorbani, IRNA reported on 14 January. "I filed a
complaint against Mr. Shokuhi-Rad for baseless accusations made against
certain individuals in his daily, as well as for spreading a false
rumor in one of last week's issues of his paper," Qorbani told the news
agency. Qorbani said that it is a Friday prayer leader's duty to bring
the people's problems to officials' attention. He also alleged that
"Gilan-i Imruz" "raised some other accusations against [him]." BS
[71] BAIL SET FOR DETAINED IRANIAN POLLSTER
A Tehran court has set bail of 2 billion rials ($250,000) for National
Institute for Research and Opinion Polls Director Behruz Geranpayeh,
IRNA reported on 14 January. Attorney Ramazan Haji-Mashhadi said the
bail is "hefty" and his client's family cannot afford it, but they will
post the bail anyway. Geranpayeh's detention and trial relate to a poll
conducted by his institute that found the majority of Tehran residents
favor resumption of dialog and relations with the United States. BS
[72] IRANIANS TO GET NEW ID CARDS
Organization for the Registration of Personal Status head Mohammad Reza
Ayatollahi announced on 14 January that all Iranians must have new
identification cards as of September-October 2003, IRNA reported.
Thirty-six million citizens already have the new cards, and Ayatollahi
said the new system is intended to update census data and end the abuse
of the old identification cards. These cards are required to vote,
receive subsidies, and purchase food, and individuals must have their
cards with them at all times. BS
[73] HEALTH-AWARENESS PLAN UNDER WAY IN IRAN
Deputy Minister of Health, Treatment, and Medical Education Ahmad Reza
Jodati referred to a new health plan and said that its objective is
raise public awareness of health issues, the "Entekhab" daily reported
on 15 January. Approximately 250,000 Basijis and Tabriz Medical
Sciences University students will be part of the plan in East
Azerbaijan Province, he said. Jodati also said just 25 percent of his
ministry's budget is dedicated to public health and the remaining 75
percent is not under the ministry's control. Hassan Aminlu, the
director general of the Health Affairs Department at the State
Management and Planning Organization, said on 14 January that funding
for the health sector will be increased by 12 percent in next year's
budget, IRNA reported. Aminlu said the budget dedicates to the health
sector more than 12.96 trillion rials (approximately $1.62 billion), or
8 percent of the overall budget. BS
[74] TEHRAN MUNICIPAL COUNCIL DISSOLVED...
Vice President for Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Mohammad Ali Abtahi
on 14 January announced the dissolution of the Tehran Municipal Council
because it has not fulfilled its legal obligations, such as holding
regular meetings and dealing with the capital city's administrative
affairs, IRNA reported. The elected council and the mayor, who is
appointed by the Interior Ministry, have had frequent run-ins over
budget-related matters, a situation that led to former Mayor Morteza
Aliviri's resignation in February 2002 (see "RFE/RL Iran Report," 4
March 2002). The council intended to interpellate current Mayor
Mohammad Hassan Malek-Madani, the "Iran Daily" reported on 8 January.
BS
[75] ...POSSIBLY BECAUSE OF PARTY POLITICS
A statement signed by several political groups, including the
Solidarity Party and the Islamic Labor Party, denounced the council's
dissolution. "This undemocratic and uncivil move has left a stain on
[President Mohammad] Khatami's administration," the statement read,
IRNA reported on 15 January. Indeed, the conflict between the mayor and
the council in Tehran is partly related to party politics and disputes
between the Islamic Iran Participation Party (IIPP) and the Executives
of Construction Party (ECP). The English-language "Tehran Times" on 15
January cited the IIPP's Ruydad website
(www.saadabadpalace.org/nfa/main/ruydad/) as reporting that council
member Morteza Lotfi has accused former Tehran Municipal Council
Chairman Mohammad Atrianfar of embezzlement. Atrianfar and Mayor
Malek-Madani are identified with the IIPP, and according to the "Tehran
Times" this means that the IIPP is trying to distance itself from the
ECP. BS
[76] SYRIAN PRESIDENT'S IRAN VISIT CANCELED...
An anonymous "official source at the Iranian presidency" on 15 January
announced the cancellation of that day's visit to Iran by Syrian
President Bashar al-Assad, Al-Jazeera Satellite Channel Television
reported. Assad's visit would have focused on avoiding a conflict in
Iraq, IRNA reported on 14 January. The Syrian president was to meet
with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Khatami.
Assad's visit to Iran would have come on the heels of similar visits by
Kuwaiti First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah
al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah and by Turkish Prime Minister Abdullah Gul
(see "RFE/RL Newsline," 13 January 2002). Al-Jazeera's Tehran
correspondent Ghassan Bin-Jiddu reported later on 15 January that the
trip was not canceled but postponed at the Syrians' request. BS
[77] ...BUT SOMETHING IS IN THE WORKS
A journalist asked at the U.S. State Department's 14 January press
briefing if Washington and Tehran are "coordinating something on Iraq."
State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher hinted that this might well
be the case, saying, "Let me get back to you and see if there's
anything I can say." "In terms of any contact we may or may not have
had, I would have to double-check and see if there's been anything like
that," he added. The Western press reported in November about Iran-U.S.
talks and an agreement on cooperation in the event of a war in Iraq,
and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) leader Jalal Talabani has said
he conveyed Washington's reassurances to Tehran during his 6-10 January
visit to the Iranian capital (see "RFE/RL Iran Report," 2 December 2002
and 13 January 2003). BS
[78] UNMOVIC OFFICIALS HINT THAT UNDECLARED SITES IN IRAQ WILL BE
CHECKED...
UN officials have been hinting in recent days that inspectors will soon
make more use of Western intelligence on Iraq's placement of weapons of
mass destruction and begin focusing on locations not included in Iraq's
declaration to the UN Security Council. "I don't want to go into
operational things, but certainly we have already visited sites which
have not been visited before, and there will be more of them coming,"
the BBC quoted UNMOVIC Executive Chairman Hans Blix as saying on 14
January. "We have widened our net, as it were," Blix said. "Whether the
quality of work improves depends upon how good the intelligence turns
out to have been." Meanwhile, the BBC reported on 14 January that
Dimitris Perricos, the head of UNMOVIC inspections inside Iraq, told
the Greek daily "Ta Nea" on 13 January that "it's true the Iraqis are
opening doors, but they are opening installations they know we are
aware of. The real test will be when we start going to facilities where
they will be surprised." KR
[79] ...AS UNMOVIC CHIEF SAYS INSPECTORS HAVE PLAN
UNMOVIC head Blix told the BBC on 14 January that inspectors have a
clear idea of how inspections should proceed in the coming months. "I
certainly have a sense of what we want to inspect further, and how we
are going to build up the operation and be able to cover more and more
places...[and to] make use of any intelligence of sites that are given
to us," Blix said. Inspectors are helped by the use of helicopters and
satellites, but "whether one can find any hidden cave of stores or a
mobile laboratory, for instance, that is more doubtful and that will
depend very much upon the evidence," he said. "But I don't think they
can give an assurance that the last pieces will be found." Blix
concluded that inspectors will never be completely sure about Iraq's
possession of weapons of mass destruction. "You will not get 100
percent assurance with the inspection, but you can get very far in
terms of assurance," he said. "The question for the politicians is to
decide [whether] that kind of assurance [is] sufficient for them." KR
[80] U.S. TO BEGIN TRAINING IRAQIS IN HUNGARY...
The Pentagon has informed Iraqi opposition members who have volunteered
to serve with U.S. forces that they are to check in at marshaling
centers in the coming days, AP reported on 15 January. The trainees are
to be screened at the marshaling centers before being flown to Taszar,
Hungary, located 195 kilometers southeast of Budapest, where they will
be trained to serve as support staff, the news agency reported, citing
three unidentified sources. "Up to 3,000 Iraqis are expected to be
trained eventually to serve in such jobs as translators, guides,
military police, and liaisons between coalition combat forces and the
Iraqi population," according to AP. Hungary's Radio Kossuth reported on
13 January that Iraqis will begin training sometime after 26 January.
KR
[81] ...AS IRAQIS CONTINUE TO ARRIVE AT BORDERS
Eight Iraqis have recently been found along the Serbian-Hungarian
border in recent days. Hungarian border police on 11 January picked up
seven Iraqis traveling with Afghan and Iranian refugees near Tompa,
Budapest's Duna TV reported on 12 January. The Iraqi men told border
police they fled Iraq two weeks earlier in an effort to "save their
lives" after being called up to report for military duty, according to
the television station. The men apparently paid a Kurdish smuggler
$1,000 to get to Istanbul, where another smuggler took them to Hungary
for $2,500. On 13 January, an Iraqi Army officer was arrested when he
attempted to illegally cross the Serbian-Hungarian border near Tompa,
BETA news agency reported on 14 January. A spokesman for the Hungarian
border police confirmed the man's identity, but an official from the
Prime Minister's Office declined to comment on the man's arrest. The
officer reportedly told border police he had fled Iraq, BETA reported.
KR
[82] IRAQ TV REPORTS ON 12TH VISIT TO AL-QAQA STATE COMPANY
Iraq Satellite TV reported on the 12th visit to the Al-Qaqa State
Company on 14 January. Company representative Umar Ahmad al-Khaujah
told the television station that International Atomic Energy Agency
(IAEA) inspectors "inquired about the substance that is under their
monitoring, which is oxygen." "We have no substances associated with
weapons of mass destruction," he added. KR
[83] MACEDONIAN HELICOPTERS TRAIN FOR POSSIBLE WAR IN IRAQ
Macedonian helicopter crews have begun training for a possible mission
involving two Mi8 helicopters for a conflict in Iraq, dpa reported from
Skopje on 14 January, citing the daily "Dnevnik." The report added that
Macedonia feels it has an obligation to support its allies because it
is a member of NATO's Partnership for Peace. PM
END NOTE
[84] There is no End Note today.
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