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RFE/RL Newsline, 07-05-31
CONTENTS
[01] RUSSIA TESTS NEW ICBM THAT CAN BEAT 'ANY SYSTEM'
[02] PUTIN WARNS AGAINST 'TURNING EUROPE INTO A POWDER KEG'
[03] POLICE DISPERSE PROTEST IN VORONEZH
[04] INSPECTION REVEALS MASSIVE SAFETY VIOLATIONS IN COAL MINES
[05] AMUR PARLIAMENT SPEAKER SURPRISED BY PUTIN'S CHOICE OF GOVERNOR
[06] TRIAL OF RUSSIAN ARMY OFFICERS AGAIN ADJOURNED
[07] ARRESTED ARMENIAN EX-MINISTER AGAIN SAYS HE IS INNOCENT
[08] WATCHDOGS DEPLORE PRESSURE ON AZERBAIJANI JOURNALISTS
[09] GEORGIAN FOREIGN MINISTER REJECTS CALLS FOR SOUTH OSSETIAN
LEADER'S ARREST
[10] GEORGIAN PARLIAMENTARY OPPOSITION CALLS ON EDUCATION MINISTER TO
RESIGN
[11] JOURNALIST DETAINED AFTER PROTEST IN KAZAKHSTAN...
[12] ...AS KAZAKH COURT OVERTURNS ANOTHER JOURNALIST'S CONVICTION
[13] CANADIAN FIRM SIGNS AGREEMENT ON JOINT URANIUM FACILITY IN
KAZAKHSTAN
[14] MEDICAL TESTS CONFIRM POISONING OF KYRGYZ PREMIER
[15] KYRGYZ PRESIDENT, DEFENSE MINISTER OUTLINE PLANNED MILITARY
REFORMS
[16] BELARUSIAN OPPOSITION YOUTHS FINED
[17] UKRAINIAN OPPOSITION RETURNS TO PARLIAMENT TO PREPARE EARLY POLLS,
BUT FALTERS AGAIN
[18] RUSSIA DISMISSES TALK OF KOSOVA DEAL...
[19] ...BUT SEES SIGNS OF SHIFT IN WEST'S STANCE ON KOSOVA
[20] BOSNIAN SERBS LOBBY FOR MORE TALKS ON KOSOVA
[21] KOSOVA TO HAVE CONSTITUTION WITHIN MONTH OF UN RESOLUTION
[22] MONTENEGRO ENDS CONSULTATIONS ON CONSTITUTION
[23] MACEDONIA CALLS FOR CLOSER TIES WITH SERBIA
[24] U.S. STOPS ALBANIAN TV PUBLICITY SPOT ON BUSH VISIT
[25] MOLDOVANS OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORT EU MEMBERSHIP
[26] TRANSDNIESTRIAN POLITICIAN MURDERED
[27] TALIBAN LEADER CALLS FOR RED CROSS, AFGHANS TO PROBE CIVILIAN
DEATHS
[28] SUPPORTERS OF NORTHERN AFGHAN WARLORD RALLY IN FARYAB...
[29] ...AS LOCAL TELEVISION CALLS FOR OUSTER OF GOVERNOR
[30] IRAN'S SUPREME LEADER MEETS WITH LAWMAKERS
[31] IRANIAN INTELLIGENCE OFFICIAL REPORTS ROUNDUP OF 'SABOTEURS'
[32] IRANIAN LAWYER SAYS NO SUBVERSION CHARGE FILED AGAINST JOURNALIST
[33] IRAN HANGS CONVICTED BOMBER
[34] IRANIAN LEGISLATOR FAVORS THREE-PARTY COMMITTEE FOR IRAQ
[35] TURKISH PREMIER SAYS MILITARY ATTACK INTO IRAQ POSSIBLE
[36] AL-QAEDA IN IRAQ CLAIMS TO HAVE 'THERMAL' BOMBS
[37] JORDAN TO ACCEPT OLD IRAQI PASSPORTS UNTIL YEAR-END
[38] U.K. ACKNOWLEDGES FIVE NATIONALS KIDNAPPED IN IRAQ
[39] THERE IS NO END NOTE TODAY.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007 Volume 11 Number 98
Russia
[01] RUSSIA TESTS NEW ICBM THAT CAN BEAT 'ANY SYSTEM'
First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov announced on May 29 the
successful test of a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM)
capable of carrying multiple warheads, and the "preliminary" test of a
long-range tactical cruise missile, Russian and international media
reported. He added that "as of today, Russia has new tactical and
strategic complexes that are capable of overcoming any existing or
future missile-defense systems. So in terms of defense and security,
Russians can look calmly to the country's future." The Strategic
Missile Forces command issued a statement stressing that the RS-24
ICBM, which is a version of the Topol-M or SS-27, will strengthen the
ability of those forces "to overcome antimissile defense systems" from
other, unnamed countries. The Russian military said that the RS-24 was
launched from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Arkhangelsk Oblast and reached
its targets in the Kura test area on Kamchatka Peninsula about 5,500
kilometers away. Britain's "Financial Times" noted on May 30 that "the
show of military strength, coupled with [President Vladimir] Putin's
strong words [see below], appeared calculated to maintain Russian
pressure over the [proposed U.S.] antimissile system," which will
include 10 unarmed interceptors in Poland and a radar station in the
Czech Republic. Putin and other Russian officials call the project a
threat to Russia's security, which Washington strongly denies (see
"RFE/RL Newsline," May 22, 23, 24, and 25, 2007). A military
commentator wrote in the Gazprom-owned daily "Izvestia" of May 29 that
the purpose of missile defense is to neutralize a Russian retaliatory
strike in the event that the United States launches a nuclear first
strike against Russia, possibly from submarines in the Kara Sea. The
daily "Nezavisimaya gazeta" wrote on May 30 that Ivanov presented
Russia's new missiles as an element in the "psychological warfare"
against missile defense. PM
[02] PUTIN WARNS AGAINST 'TURNING EUROPE INTO A POWDER KEG'
President Putin "found an ally in Portugal" in talks about bilateral
and Russia-EU relations in Moscow on May 28-29 with Portuguese Prime
Minister Jose Socrates and his large delegation, "The Moscow Times"
reported on May 30. Portugal will take over the rotating EU Presidency
from Germany on July 1. Russia has for months tried to split the EU and
NATO (see "RFE/RL Newsline," May 22, 23, 24, and 25, 2007). Putin said
of the planned U.S. missile system "We consider it harmful and
dangerous to turn Europe into a powder keg and fill it with new types
of armaments," kremlin.ru and Russian media reported. He stressed that
"this creates new, unnecessary risks for the entire system of
international relations in the world and in Europe." In response to
Western criticisms of Russian human rights policies, Putin said that
"the death penalty in certain Western countries,[...] secret prisons
and torture already in Europe, problems with the mass media in some
countries, and immigration legislation in some European countries that
doesn't correspond with the commonly accepted norms of international
law and democratic norms" are all not in keeping with "common values."
Putin added, "So, let's not talk as if we're dealing on one side with
white, clean, and furry partners, and on the other side with monsters
who have just come out of the woods and have hooves instead of feet,
and horns." Socrates said that "the task is to arrive at a common
strategic agreement that will unite our historic missions. With that
idea, Portugal will embark on its EU Presidency." He warned Western
countries against lecturing Russia on democracy, and stressed that "our
relations have received an amazing impulse" thanks to his two days of
talks. Putin said that Russia is "hoping that when Portugal chairs the
EU, a new impulse will be given to Russia's relations with its European
partners." He criticized Germany for objecting to Moscow's ban on
Polish meat imports when Germany itself recently seized a shipment of
Polish meat. "The Moscow Times" wrote that the atmosphere at the
Putin-Socrates talks was "warm and friendly...in sharp contrast to a
recent Russian-EU summit [with German Chancellor Angela Merkel] outside
Samara." PM
[03] POLICE DISPERSE PROTEST IN VORONEZH
Police in Voronezh on May 29 blocked about 150 demonstrators in a March
of Dissent from proceeding from a central square, where they were
denied permission to demonstrate, to another location, where their
rally was sanctioned, Ekho Moskvy radio and REN-TV reported. Some of
the participants were detained along the way. Former chess champion
Garry Kasparov, who is a leader of the heterogeneous opposition
umbrella group Other Russia, said that the authorities "succeeded in
preventing the meeting [taking place].... We were not ready to overcome
such a powerful force. But, at the same time, I don't consider it as a
total failure because they showed again they are scared. They are
scared even of a small group of people and are mobilizing the police.''
PM
[04] INSPECTION REVEALS MASSIVE SAFETY VIOLATIONS IN COAL MINES
Inspectors for the Federal Service for Ecological, Technological, and
Atomic Monitoring (Rostekhnadzor) said in Novokuznetsk in Kemerovo
Oblast in western Siberia on May 29 that inspections of 58 coal mines
in the area revealed 1,842 violations of safety regulations, "The
Moscow Times" reported on May 30. The inspections were launched
following the March 19 explosion at the modern Ulyanovsk coal mine,
which left 110 miners dead and was the country's worst mining disaster
in 60 years. On May 24, a methane-gas explosion at the Yubileynaya mine
took 39 lives (see "RFE/RL Newsline," March 21, 22, and 27, April 17,
and May 24, 2007). Rostekhnadzor plans to ask a local court to suspend
the license of the Yuzhkuzbassugol company, which owns the mines. In
London on May 29, the board of directors of the steel firm Evraz Group
approved the takeover of Yuzhkuzbassugol, in which it already held a 50
percent stake, Interfax reported. The takeover was first announced on
May 25, one day after the Yubileynaya explosion. PM
[05] AMUR PARLIAMENT SPEAKER SURPRISED BY PUTIN'S CHOICE OF GOVERNOR
Oleg Turkov, who is speaker of the Amur Oblast's legislature, said on
May 29 that President Putin's choice of Nikolai Kolesov, a deputy to
the Republic of Tatarstan parliament, to succeed Leonid Korotkov as
Amur Oblast governor, was unexpected, regnum.ru reported (see "RFE/RL
Newsline," April 19, and May 10 and 29, 2007). Turkov added that the
deputies learned of the presidential decision by fax and that he has no
idea who proposed Kolesov's candidacy to Putin. Turkov said that Putin
must have had "objective" reasons for making his choice, which others
should not challenge. Kamil Iskhakov, who is President Putin's envoy
for the Far East Federal District and a former long-time mayor of
Kazan, is expected to present Kolesov to the legislature, which will
begin an extraordinary session on June 1 to discuss and vote on his
candidacy. Putin dismissed Korotkov, who faces charges of abuse of his
official position, earlier this month. PM
[06] TRIAL OF RUSSIAN ARMY OFFICERS AGAIN ADJOURNED
The trial of Captain Eduard Ulman and three other spetsnaz officers
accused of the execution in January 2002 of five Chechen civilians was
adjourned on May 29 until June 1 after lawyers for two of the accused
failed to appear in court, kavkaz-uzel.ru reported. The prosecutor
insisted on May 28 that the trial should resume despite the
disappearance of Ulman and two other accused. Police informed the North
Caucasus Military Court in Rostov-na-Donu on May 28 that a nationwide
search launched after the three men failed to appear in court six weeks
ago has not established their whereabouts (see "RFE/RL Newsline," April
13, 2007). LF
Transcaucasia And Central Asia
[07] ARRESTED ARMENIAN EX-MINISTER AGAIN SAYS HE IS INNOCENT
Interviewed on May 29 in a maximum-security prison in Yerevan by
RFE/RL's Armenian Service, former Foreign Minister Alexander Arzumanian
insisted that the charges of money laundering brought against him are
unfounded and that "I never did anything illicit." Arzumanian was
arrested in early May, two days after police found during a search of
his apartment some $55,400 that they claim was illegally sent to him by
a fugitive Russian businessman of Armenian descent to help finance the
Civil Resistance movement that Arzumanian cofounded last year (see
"RFE/RL Newsline," May 7, 9, 11, and 18, 2007). According to
Arzumanian's lawyer Hovik Arsentian, a second Russia-based Armenian,
Aleksandr Aghazarian, has since admitted to sending the money to
Arzumanian. The Armenian National Security Service has reportedly not
yet taken up Aghazarian's offer to submit to questioning. Arzumanian
said his arrest and detention constitutes "political persecution" that
he attributed to "total panic" within the Armenian leadership due to
repeated public protests in the run-up to the May 12 parliamentary
elections. He said that he has not been questioned by investigators
during the three weeks he has spent in pretrial custody. LF
[08] WATCHDOGS DEPLORE PRESSURE ON AZERBAIJANI JOURNALISTS
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) on May 29 issued a statement expressing
concern that 14 journalists employed by the newspapers "Realny
Azerbaijan" and "Gundelik Azerbaycan," both of which suspended
publication last week after being constrained to vacate their offices,
have applied for political asylum in the United States, Great Britain,
Germany, or Norway in recent days (see "RFE/RL Newsline," May 23 and
24, 2007). A second organization, Article 18, similarly released a
statement calling on the Azerbaijani authorities to enable journalists
to practice their profession freely in accordance with international
agreements Azerbaijan has signed, the electronic daily zerkalo.az
reported on May 30. Speaking on independent ANS television late on May
29, presidential administration department head Ali Hasanov again
denied that journalists in Azerbaijan are subjected to pressure. He
said three or four international organizations are "unobjective" in
their evaluations of the situation in Azerbaijan, and he accused RSF
specifically of adopting a "pro-Armenian position." Meanwhile, "Realny
Azerbaijan" Editor Eynulla Fatullayev, who was jailed on libel charges
last month for 2 1/2 years (see "RFE/RL Newsline," April 23 and May 23,
2007), has been transferred to solitary confinement in Bailov jail,
while Yasha Agazade, a journalist for the newspaper "Muhalifet" who is
serving a prison term for libel in the same jail (see "RFE/RL
Newsline," May 17, 2007), began a hunger strike on May 29, day.az
reported. LF
[09] GEORGIAN FOREIGN MINISTER REJECTS CALLS FOR SOUTH OSSETIAN
LEADER'S ARREST
Bidzina Gujabidze of the Democratic Front opposition parliament faction
argued on May 29 that the Georgian Interior Ministry should launch a
special operation to arrest Eduard Kokoity, de facto president of the
unrecognized republic of South Ossetia, Caucasus Press reported. But
Foreign Minister Gela Bezhuashvili told journalists in Tbilisi later
the same day that he sees no point in doing so in light of what he
termed the "diplomatic special operation" under way. Also on May 29,
the local Georgian administration rejected as untrue claims by the
South Ossetian authorities that water supplies to the disputed region
have been cut off. Meeting in Tskhinvali on May 29 with Russian
Ambassador to Georgia Vyacheslav Kovalenko, Kokoity called for the
withdrawal from the conflict zone of all armed forces except the Joint
Peacekeeping Force that comprises contingents from Russia, Georgia, and
North and South Ossetia, kavkaz-uzel.ru reported. Kokoity reaffirmed
his commitment to resolving the conflict with Tbilisi exclusively by
peaceful means, and he called for confidence-building measures and
reconstruction in the conflict zone. Kovalenko for his part noted
Russia's role as guarantor of earlier peace agreements, and he called
for a resumption of talks on resolving the conflict within the existing
format. LF
[10] GEORGIAN PARLIAMENTARY OPPOSITION CALLS ON EDUCATION MINISTER TO
RESIGN
The Democratic Front opposition parliament faction called on May 29 for
the resignation of Education Minister Aleksandre Lomaya, adducing a
recent statement by new Control Chamber deputy head Levan Mkheidze that
faction members say substantiates their earlier allegations of
corruption and misappropriation of funds within the ministry, Caucasus
Press reported. In late April, the opposition Conservative party, one
of the members of the Democratic Front, alleged that the Education
Ministry's coordinating center misappropriated some 40 million laris
($23.8 million). Mkheidze was quoted as saying that a recent audit of
ministry accounts suggests that "there have been certain types of
misconduct," without clarifying whether that misconduct was criminal.
Lomaya has reportedly written to the Control Chamber complaining that
its findings lack "objectivity," according to Caucasus Press on May 29.
LF
[11] JOURNALIST DETAINED AFTER PROTEST IN KAZAKHSTAN...
Police officers in Almaty on May 29 detained Yekaterina Belyayeva after
she demonstrated in the city's Central Square against recently adopted
amendments to the constitution, RFE/RL's Kazakh Service reported.
Belyayeva, who works for the Almaty-based "Vzglyad" weekly newspaper,
displayed a handmade poster reading "Amendments to the constitution:
the path to totalitarianism," and conducted her lone protest for 20
minutes before being arrested for holding an "unsanctioned
demonstration." The constitutional amendments, adopted by parliament on
May 22, grant President Nursultan Nazarbaev the right to serve
unlimited presidential terms, along with other changes (see "RFE/RL
Newsline," May 24, 2007). Belyayeva's arrest follows a similar protest
involving independent journalist Sergei Duvanov, who was also arrested
and subsequently fined (see "RFE/RL Newsline," May 29, 2007). RG
[12] ...AS KAZAKH COURT OVERTURNS ANOTHER JOURNALIST'S CONVICTION
An appeals court in the southern Kazakh city of Shymkent issued a
ruling on May 29 overturning the prior conviction of journalist Galina
Vybornova, "Kazakhstan Today" reported. Vybornova, convicted of libel
by a lesser court, was acquitted of all charges and the case was fully
dismissed. Vybornova's legal problems started after Zhambyl district
Judge Bolat Berikov filed a criminal complaint charging her with libel
and insulting a public official after she published an article hinting
at corruption within his court. Her original conviction, which resulted
in a fine of $1,600 in April, was strongly criticized by lawmaker
Darigha Nazarbaeva, the daughter of President Nazarbaev. RG
[13] CANADIAN FIRM SIGNS AGREEMENT ON JOINT URANIUM FACILITY IN
KAZAKHSTAN
In an announcement on May 29 in Almaty, Shinar Zhenebekova, a
spokeswoman for the Kazakh national nuclear company Kazatomprom, said
the company has signed an agreement to establish a joint
uranium-processing facility with Canada's Cameco group, ITAR-TASS
reported. The agreement calls for a preliminary feasibility study to
evaluate the planned establishment of the facility within Kazakhstan's
Ulbinskiy metallurgical plant. If the feasibility study recommends that
the project proceed, the Canadian firm will hold a 49 percent stake in
the uranium-processing venture, with Kazatomprom retaining a 51 percent
share. The conversion process will produce uranium hexafluoride (UF6)
from peroxide derivatives collected from Kazakhstan's supply of mined
uranium. The resulting uranium hexafluoride gas will then be sent to
Russia for further enrichment, as Kazakhstan is prohibited by
international treaty from enriching uranium itself. The plan also
proposes a substantial increase in the output of uranium mining at the
Inkay deposit in southern Kazakhstan from the current level of 2,000
tons to 4,000 tons a year. RG
[14] MEDICAL TESTS CONFIRM POISONING OF KYRGYZ PREMIER
Results from a series of medical tests released on May 29 confirmed
traces of a "toxin of unknown origin" in the bloodstream of Kyrgyz
Prime Minister Almaz Atambaev, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service and AKIpress
reported. The official medical report provided a detailed assessment of
Atambaev's condition, including "acute toxic hepatitis of indeterminate
aetiology," or origin. The medical tests were carried out after
Atambaev told parliament on May 22 that he became seriously ill from
drinking water in his office on May 11, and attributed his illness to
an intentional poisoning (see "RFE/RL Newsline," May 23, 2007).
Atambaev was reportedly unconscious for two days after the incident,
ITAR-TASS reported. Parliament speaker Marat Sultanov earlier pledged
to carry out an official parliamentary investigation if the medical
results confirmed Atambaev's claims. RG
[15] KYRGYZ PRESIDENT, DEFENSE MINISTER OUTLINE PLANNED MILITARY
REFORMS
In a May 29 speech in Bishkek marking the 15th anniversary of the
Kyrgyz armed forces, President Kurmanbek Bakiev announced a series of
planned reforms aimed at strengthening and modernizing the military,
Kabar and AKIpress reported. Bakiev stressed the need to meet the
"modern challenges and threats of the 21st century," and noted that
military education and advanced training will be top priorities for
developing the armed forces. He also identified specific goals,
including the need to "increase mobility and combat readiness," and
pledged to "provide the army with modern armaments and equipment."
Commenting on the military's lackluster response to terrorist groups'
armed incursions into Kyrgyzstan from Tajikistan in 1999 and 2000,
Bakiev warned that the army "must learn a lesson" and work to address
its "shortcomings." In a separate address, Defense Minister Ismail
Isakov hailed the strategic partnership with Russia as an avenue to the
further strengthening of the armed forces, citing some $27 million in
military assistance received from Russia since 2006 alone, ITAR-TASS
reported. RG
Eastern Europe
[16] BELARUSIAN OPPOSITION YOUTHS FINED
A district court in Minsk on May 29 fined four activists of the
unregistered Youth Front, finding them guilty of acting on behalf of an
unauthorized organization, RFE/RL's Belarus Service reported. Dzmitry
Fedaruk was fined 1,240,000 rubles ($580), while Aleh Korban, Barys
Haretski, and Alyaksey Yanusheuski were each fined 930,000 rubles
($435). The fifth defendant in the trial, Anastasiya Palazhanka,
received an official warning. Yanusheuski is currently in the Czech
Republic, pondering an application for political asylum. The May 29
punishments are significantly milder, compared to jail terms of six to
24 months handed down for similar offenses to four members of the
unregistered organization Partnership in August 2006, or to the 18
months in a penal colony given to Youth Front leader Dzmitry Dashkevich
in September 2006. Domestic and international human rights activists
have called on the Belarusian government to abolish Article 193.1 of
the Criminal Code, which penalizes participation in an unauthorized
organization. "The very existence of Article 193-1 in the Criminal Code
violates the Constitution of Belarus, which guarantees the freedom of
association, as well as Article 22 of the International Covenant of
Civil and Political Rights and commitments to the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe. It allows bringing criminal action
against an unregistered organization even if its activities were not
directed against state or public security and did not violate public
order or the rights and freedoms of others," the International Helsinki
Federation for Human Rights said in November 2006. JM
[17] UKRAINIAN OPPOSITION RETURNS TO PARLIAMENT TO PREPARE EARLY POLLS,
BUT FALTERS AGAIN
The Verkhovna Rada on May 29 gathered for a session for the first time
in nearly two months with the participation of lawmakers from the
opposition Our Ukraine and Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc, Ukrainian media
reported. The return of the opposition followed the May 27 political
deal between President Viktor Yushchenko, Prime Minister Viktor
Yanukovych, and parliament speaker Oleksandr Moroz, which scheduled
preterm elections for September 30 (see "RFE/RL Newsline," May 29,
2007). Lawmakers annulled their previous resolutions condemning
President Yushchenko for his two April decrees dissolving the Verkhovna
Rada, endorsed more than 50 bills adopted by legislators of the ruling
coalition during the past two months, and passed a bill on reforming
the Central Election Commission. The Verkhovna Rada was expected to
conclude on May 30 passing legislation needed for the snap elections,
but failed to gather opposition lawmakers for its morning sitting,
reportedly because of the lack of agreement between the ruling
coalition and the opposition on what legal changes need to be
introduced. "Problems have emerged, but I do not want to focus
attention on them, because we have agreed that we will find an answer
to these questions today. We would like the answer to be positive.
Otherwise, if we don't find it, it is going to be bad,"
Interfax-Ukraine quoted Yanukovych as saying at a government session on
May 30, following his meeting with Yushchenko. JM
Southeastern Europe
[18] RUSSIA DISMISSES TALK OF KOSOVA DEAL...
Russia's ambassador to the UN, Vitaly Churkin, on May 29 told the
international media that "there has been no breakthrough" in
discussions on the future of Kosova. He dismissed claims in a Croatian
daily, "Jutarnji list," that Russia, the United States, and EU members
of the UN Security Council are close to striking a deal that would pave
the way for Kosova to gain independence. "These reports are not true,"
Churkin said, dubbing them "wild speculation" and adding that "things
are exactly where they were yesterday or the day before yesterday."
Citing unnamed sources "close to the Russian leadership," "Jutarnji
list" claimed on May 28 that Russia would agree not to veto
independence for Kosova if the Serbian province were allowed to join
the UN only after two years, if Russian peacekeepers were stationed in
Kosova, and if NATO deferred invitations to Georgia and Ukraine. AG
[19] ...BUT SEES SIGNS OF SHIFT IN WEST'S STANCE ON KOSOVA
While dismissing reports of what would amount to a profound change in
Washington's and Brussels' positions, Moscow has indicated it believes
the West is shifting its stance on Kosova. According to a report by the
EU Observer news service on May 29, the head of the Russian Foreign
Ministry's Europe desk, Sergei Ryabkov, told journalists in Brussels
the same day that "there are some signs" that the Western powers are
open to further talks involving Serbia on a solution for the
UN-administered region. Serbia's new government and the Serbian
Orthodox Church on May 25 called for negotiations to be reopened
between Belgrade and Prishtina, which would effectively postpone a UN
resolution. According to the Serbian broadcaster B92, Russia's
ambassador to Serbia, Aleksandr Alekseyev, on May 29 confirmed a report
in the local media that Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica and
Russian President Vladimir Putin may meet during the three-day
International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg, which is due to begin
on June 6. Putin is scheduled to be in Germany from June 6-8 at a
summit of the Group of Eight (G8) leading industrialized states. The
issue of Kosova seems increasingly likely to feature prominently in the
meeting. AG
[20] BOSNIAN SERBS LOBBY FOR MORE TALKS ON KOSOVA
The Bosnian Serbs' prime minister and president have both in recent
days called for a resumption of talks between Belgrade and Prishtina on
the future of Kosova, local and international media reported. Nebojsa
Radmanovic, the Serbs' representative in Bosnia-Herzegovina's
three-member Presidency, made his case on May 28 during a visit to
Slovakia, which is both a member of the UN Security Council and the
home of the international community's incoming high representative to
Bosnia, Miroslav Lajcak (see "RFE/RL Newsline," May 14, 16, and 17,
2007). The Czech and Slovak media quoted Radmanovic as saying a
solution imposed on Serbia could lead to upheaval across Europe.
Slovakia has stated that it will vote with other EU members of the
Security Council, but has also said it fears Kosova could be seen as a
precedent by other minorities, including Slovak Hungarians (see "RFE/RL
Newsline," May 29, 2007). In comments made to the television station
RTRS on May 29, Milorad Dodik, prime minister of the Republika Srpska,
focused on the possibility that Kosova might ignore the UN's decision,
saying "we certainly would not support...a unilateral proclamation of
Kosovo's independence." Bosnian Serb leaders have tempered their
rhetoric about Kosova this year, primarily stressing that events in
Kosova will not trigger violence in the Republika Srpska, a Bosnian
Serb-dominated autonomous region (see "RFE/RL Newsline," September 19
and 20, 2006, and January 5 and 26, and April 12, 2007). The Croat
member of the Bosnian Presidency, Zeljko Komsic, on May 4 said that
Bosnia will follow the position of the EU on the future of Kosova (see
"RFE/RL Newsline," May 9, 2007). AG
[21] KOSOVA TO HAVE CONSTITUTION WITHIN MONTH OF UN RESOLUTION
The newly appointed head of Kosova's constitutional commission,
Hajredin Kuqi, said on May 25 that the draft of a constitution will be
ready within a month of the approval of a UN resolution paving the way
for the region to become a state, the news service KosovaLive reported
the same day. Kuqi did not say when he expects the resolution to be
passed. Washington's hopes of a vote in May, while it heads the UN
Security Council, have been dashed and commentaries in the Kosovar
media are increasingly debating whether the UN might postpone a vote
until September. President Fatmir Sejdiu appointed members to the
constitutional commission on May 24. Once drafted, the constitution
will be sent to Kosova's parliament for approval. Other attempts to
establish the foundations and symbols of a state are currently moving
fitfully, amid reports of differences within the Unity Team, the
cross-party body representing the interests of Kosovar Albanians in
their bid for independence. Leaders of the Unity Team on May 29
announced a competition for a new flag and state symbols, local and
international media reported the same day. The competition will be
formally approved on June 4 and will be closed two weeks later.
Parliament originally announced a competition in mid-March (see "RFE/RL
Newsline," March 13, 2007). Prime Minister Agim Ceku said on May 18
that the state symbols state will not be ready by the time Kosova gains
independence (see "RFE/RL Newsline," May 21, 2007). Again, no date was
predicted. Martti Ahtisaari, who drafted the UN's proposed settlement,
deems the Kosovar Albanians' current flag -- a double-headed eagle on a
red background -- insufficiently inclusive. AG
[22] MONTENEGRO ENDS CONSULTATIONS ON CONSTITUTION
May 28 was the last day for Montenegrins to contribute to the heated
dispute about the country's draft constitution. Montenegrin media on
May 27 reported that 70 persons and institutions have suggested
changes. The constitutional committee of the Montenegrin parliament now
has 15 days to amend the draft and submit it to parliament for
approval. Details of the suggested changes were not revealed, but
debate among political parties has focused on questions of identity,
ranging from the elements featured on state symbols to the fundamental
question of whether Montenegro should be a civic republic or a republic
of nations -- the option preferred by ethnic Serb parties (see "RFE/RL
Newsline," February 9, and March 12 and 15, 2007). Despite the
political differences, Prime Minister Zeljko Sturanovic on May 29 told
Montenegro Radio that he remains confident that the draft will win the
necessary two-thirds majority in parliament. If it fails to do so, the
draft will be put to a referendum, which Sturanovic described as "a
waste of effort, time, and money" that would also "deepen political
differences." A leading figure in the Serbian People's Party (SNS) has
already called for a boycott of any referendum. Rasko Konjevic, a
member of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), which is part of the
governing coalition, told TV Crna Gora on May 22 that there is
"consensus on about 85 percent of the constitution." The Council of
Europe's European Commission for Democracy through Law -- commonly
known as the "Venice Commission" -- is expected to give its view on the
draft constitution in early June. AG
[23] MACEDONIA CALLS FOR CLOSER TIES WITH SERBIA
In an interview published by the Serbian weekly "NIN" on May 24,
Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski urged Belgrade to intensify
and increase contacts with Skopje. "For good contacts two sides are
needed," Gruevski said, continuing: "I have an impression that one side
in the past avoided contacts. However, that is in the past and we
should put the past behind us." Gruevski said that in his nine months
as prime minister, the only time he has been unable to get a response
to a request for a meeting was with Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav
Kostunica. Both Kostunica and Gruevski lead center-right parties, but
he said cooperation between their parties is limited for "no special
reason other than inactivity." Gruevski did not mention Kosova.
According to the MIA news agency, President Branko Crvenkovski on May
29 said that "if there is no [UN Security Council] resolution, as a
candidate for EU and NATO membership, we will follow the common
harmonized policy from Brussels." Crvenkovski also called the notion
that Belgrade and Prishtina might reach a solution "an illusion." AG
[24] U.S. STOPS ALBANIAN TV PUBLICITY SPOT ON BUSH VISIT
An unconfirmed report in the daily "Gazeta Shqiptare" on May 27 says
that a television spot broadcast by the government ahead of U.S.
President George Bush's visit has been taken off the air at
Washington's request. Unnamed government officials said Washington
believes the government inappropriately took political credit for
Bush's visit, while Washington wants it to be clear Bush is coming to
Albania for the sake of ordinary Albanians. The spot, which aired just
four times, includes a voiceover by Prime Minister Sali Berisha and
footage of a series of U.S. secretaries of state meeting Albanian
politicians of various political persuasions over the past 15 years.
Bush's visit has been hailed by almost every faction of Albanian
politics (see "RFE/RL Newsline," April 27 and May 17, 2007). When the
visit was first announced, Berisha described it as an acknowledgment of
the comprehensive nature of reforms undertaken by the government to
consolidate the rule of law (see "RFE/RL Newsline," April 27, 2007).
Bush is scheduled to meet with political leaders from Macedonia and
Croatia, as well as Albanian leaders, during the visit, but his
itinerary remains unclear. A report on May 23 indicated that Bush will
not meet ordinary Albanians, and might not enter Tirana, but the daily
"Koha jone" wrote on May 25 that Bush's convoy will pass through Tirana
during the five-hour stopover on June 10 (see "RFE/RL Newsline," May
25, 2007). AG
[25] MOLDOVANS OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORT EU MEMBERSHIP
Nearly three-quarters of Moldovans, 72.2 percent, would say yes if a
referendum were held on EU membership, according to the results of an
opinion poll published in the local media on May 23 and 24. This is the
highest level of support for EU membership ever recorded in Moldova. An
even higher number, almost 76 percent, believes EU membership would
improve their lives. Only 7 percent would vote to oppose membership,
according to the Barometer of Public Opinion poll. The poll also showed
great confidence that Moldova will become a member soon, with 49
percent saying they expect EU accession within 10 years. Another 20
percent put the preaccession period at 20-25 years. Support for EU and
NATO membership differs greatly, with only 29 percent in favor of
joining NATO and 27 percent against. The dynamic is also unfavorable,
with support dropping and opposition rising. Moldova is currently a
neutral state, and 38 percent favor continued neutrality. The poll also
found that the desire to enjoy the benefits of EU membership
overwhelmingly explains why 38 percent of the Moldovans polled have
applied or plan to apply for Romanian citizenship. So far this year,
1.4 percent have won Romanian citizenship, 10 percent have applied, and
another 27 percent intend to submit an application, according to the
poll. Only 6 percent said they applied for a Romanian passport because
they "feel Romanian." AG
[26] TRANSDNIESTRIAN POLITICIAN MURDERED
A deputy in the parliament of Moldova's breakaway region of
Transdniester was shot dead late on May 27, the news agency Basa
reported on May 28. Valery Emelyanov is the second politician in the
region to be murdered in the past three months (see "RFE/RL Newsline,"
March 14, 2007). The report says Emelyanov was shot eight times, but
otherwise details are scant. No motive is apparent, though in its
speculative report Basa wrote that Emelyanov was connected with the
previous victim, Viktor Neumoyin, and quoted an unnamed source as
saying they were both implicated -- in some undisclosed fashion -- in a
case involving the murder of a police officer. Neumoyin was a close
associate of the son of the leader of Transdniester, which is not
internationally recognized. AG
Southwestern Asia And The Middle East
[27] TALIBAN LEADER CALLS FOR RED CROSS, AFGHANS TO PROBE CIVILIAN
DEATHS
A letter purportedly signed by Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar
Mujahed expressed profound sadness and distress over what it called the
"innocent martyrdom" of Afghan civilians. The letter was posted on May
29 on a website allegedly representing the Islamic Emirate of
Afghanistan -- the name of the country under the Taliban -- and was
signed by Mullah Omar in the name of the leadership council of the
Islamic Emirate. The letter states that civilians have been suffering
"since the beginning of the jihad against foreign invaders and the
Afghan government," and says that the two opposing sides have blamed
one another for causing suffering to civilians, but no independent
reporting is available. The letter says the Taliban proposes the
establishment of a "joint delegation, comprising representatives of the
International Committee of the Red Cross, independent journalists, and
Afghan religious scholars and elders," to take responsibility for
reporting civilian casualties, identifying the perpetrators, and trying
to prevent further casualties. It said that "both the Islamic Emirate
and NATO" should cooperate with the proposed commission, guarantee its
security, and ensure its honest reporting. In recent months, Afghan
President Hamid Karzai has been under pressure from several fronts in
his own country because of civilian casualties resulting from NATO and
U.S.-led coalition operations (see "RFE/RL Newsline," May 9, 2007). AT
[28] SUPPORTERS OF NORTHERN AFGHAN WARLORD RALLY IN FARYAB...
Around 1,000 supporters of General Abdul Rashid Dostum staged a
peaceful rally on May 29 in Maymana, the provincial capital of Faryab
Province, Peshawar-based Afghan Islamic Press (AIP) reported. The
demonstrators released a proclamation demanding that Joma Khan
Hamdarad, the governor of neighboring Jowzjan Province, be removed from
his post and transferred to another province. The demonstrators also
denounced statements by Ahmad Khan, a lawmaker of the Wolesi Jirga
(People's Council) from Samangan Province, alleging that Dostum was
behind an assassination attempt against him (see "RFE/RL Newsline," May
29, 2007). In Sheberghan, the provincial capital of Jowzjan, as many as
seven civilians were killed on May 28 in clashes between security
forces and Dostum's supporters. Ruhullah Jan, a spokesman for the
Jowzjan governor, told AIP that on an otherwise normal day, "General
Dostum's supporters came, intimidated the shopkeepers, and forced them
to shut their stores." AT
[29] ...AS LOCAL TELEVISION CALLS FOR OUSTER OF GOVERNOR
Sheberghan-based Aina Television, in a commentary on May 29, called the
clashes the day before "a gory page" in the history of the city.
Referring to the violent demonstrations in Sheberghan, the commentary
said that "dozens of children have become orphans and dozen of women
have become widows." The commentary said that in keeping with "the
values of constitutional law, the defenseless and innocent people
staged a peaceful demonstration against the cruelty and dictatorship of
the blood-thirsty ruler [Governor Hamdard] and demanded...[that Kabul]
remove this ominous owl from Jowzjan." According to the Aina
commentary, the "peaceful demonstration" was used by Hamdard as a
pretext to order security forces to open fire on the crowds. Hamdard
"successfully accomplished his mission" and was "praised by his
bosses," the commentary added, without identifying the bosses. AT
[30] IRAN'S SUPREME LEADER MEETS WITH LAWMAKERS
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei addressed Iranian lawmakers in
Tehran on May 29 and told them that parliament's "identity" consists in
upholding "Islamic principles and the revolution's values," IRNA
reported. He said the current parliament has so far adopted rational
and "principled" positions on domestic and foreign political affairs,
has worked well with the government of Mahmud Ahmadinejad, and should
continue to do so in its remaining year. Khamenei contrasted this
parliament with certain "ignorant" people who, he said, raised
controversial issues in the previous parliament, possibly referring to
the last, reformist-dominated parliament's concern for political reform
and civil-rights issues. He suggested that voters effectively rejected
that chamber by electing a more conservative parliament. Khamenei
appeared to oppose parliament's recent bid -- so far blocked by senior
state jurists -- to hold simultaneous parliamentary and presidential
elections in 2008 (see "RFE/RL Newsline," May 10 and 23, 2007). He said
that "one must not go after issues that are evidently...contrary to the
constitution, because these issues will waste parliament's time.
Parliament's time should not be spent on details of certain executive
matters," IRNA reported. VS
[31] IRANIAN INTELLIGENCE OFFICIAL REPORTS ROUNDUP OF 'SABOTEURS'
A director-general for counterespionage at Iran's Intelligence Ministry
told the press in Tehran on May 29 that a number of "spy networks" have
been identified and "hit" in Iran, the Fars news agency reported. The
official -- whose name was not released -- said these networks are
guided from "inside Iraq by American and British espionage services,
with the support of some Iraqi elements." He or she said the networks
have been active in Tehran and Iran's western provinces -- Kurdistan,
Ilam, Kermanshah, Hamedan, and Khuzestan. The official said spies have
sought to access "important and sensitive individuals and centers" in
Iran, and use this access to collect confidential information. He named
other alleged activities including kidnapping, "terrorist actions,"
filming and photographing sensitive sites, sabotage, and "soft"
measures such as fomenting discontent among Iranian minorities. He said
the ministry has arrested "a large number" of spies connected to these
networks and is looking for more, and lamented that many of those
detained are Iranians. He specifically warned academics to beware of
establishing connections with foreign institutions, and said such ties
are possible "traps," or means by which foreign intelligence services
could obtain secret information about Iran. VS
[32] IRANIAN LAWYER SAYS NO SUBVERSION CHARGE FILED AGAINST JOURNALIST
Mohammad Hussein Aqasi, the lawyer representing detained RFE/RL
reporter Parnaz Azima, has denied reports that Iran has charged his
client with acting against national security, Radio Farda reported on
May 29. "I absolutely reject the honorable judiciary spokesman's claim,
because my client is not facing such a charge," Aqasi told the
broadcaster in Tehran. News agencies quoted Iranian judiciary spokesman
Alireza Jamshidi as saying the same day that Azima and two Iranians
working in research-related projects have been charged with acting
against national security. But Aqasi said that to his knowledge, Azima
has only been charged with "engaging in propaganda against the system."
He said the only offense so far attributed to Azima was in relation to
her work with Radio Farda and "reporting matters about Iran and
broadcasting them on radio." The lawyer said he intends to challenge in
court the qualification of news reporting as an "action" against
national security. Aqasi said Jamshidi may have confused the charges
against Azima with those made against two other Iranians recently
detained in high-profile cases, Haleh Esfandiari and Kian Tajbakhsh. He
said he and Azima should be informed of any new charges against her,
and thought it unlikely that Jamshidi would be informed before they
were. VS
[33] IRAN HANGS CONVICTED BOMBER
Said Qanbarzehi was executed by hanging on May 27 after he was found
guilty of participating in a February 14 bombing in Zahedan,
southeastern Iran, which killed a group of Iranian soldiers traveling
by bus, ILNA reported on May 29 (see "RFE/RL Newsline," February 14,
2007). Qanbarzehi was convicted on charges of "fighting God and
religion and spreading corruption on earth" through armed activity,
membership of a terrorist group, and assassination and bombing, ILNA
reported. The execution took place at prison in Zahedan, the capital of
Sistan-Baluchistan Province. VS
[34] IRANIAN LEGISLATOR FAVORS THREE-PARTY COMMITTEE FOR IRAQ
Tabriz representative Muhammad Reza Mirtajeddini said in Tehran on May
29 that a three-country committee on Iraq -- proposed during May 28
talks between U.S. and Iranian ambassadors to Iraq -- could contribute
to restoring security in that country, ILNA reported. Mirtajeddini is a
prominent conservative legislator who regularly speaks on foreign
affairs issues. He said that Iran's ambassador to Iraq, Hassan
Kazemi-Qomi, informed U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker of the reasons for
the "security problems" in Iraq and "America's sabotage and changes in
Iraq." Separately, Iran's Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki told the
Saudi daily "Al-Watan" that he has held ongoing phone consultations
with Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal on the situation in Lebanon,
ISNA reported on May 29, without saying when the interview was
published. Mottaki said Iran and Saudi Arabia have also been exchanging
"written messages" on Lebanon. VS
[35] TURKISH PREMIER SAYS MILITARY ATTACK INTO IRAQ POSSIBLE
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that a cross-border
operation to attack Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants in Iraq
will be carried out "if necessary," the Anatolia news agency reported
on May 29. Asked by NTV whether an operation would be carried out,
Erdogan said, "One does not talk about whether these kind of operations
will take place or not, it would simply be carried out." He added:
"There are two dimensions to it. One is military and technical, the
other is political and diplomatic. Both parties [presumably the
military and diplomatic corps] would work on their parts. Then they
would come together and discuss. Following that, the necessary steps
would be taken rapidly." Erdogan said last week that he saw eye-to-eye
with the army over possible military action, Reuters reported on May
30. The news agency reported that Turkey sent more tanks -- about 20 --
to the border on May 30 ahead of a possible incursion. KR
[36] AL-QAEDA IN IRAQ CLAIMS TO HAVE 'THERMAL' BOMBS
The Al-Qaeda-affiliated Islamic State of Iraq said in a video posted to
the Internet that it now has Russian-made thermal bombs, Al-Jazeera
television reported on May 30. The group said it has established a new
unit called the Thermal Brigade to attack coalition vehicles with its
thermal grenades. The Islamic State of Iraq claims the grenades can
penetrate armored vehicles. The video shows insurgents lobbing the
grenades at the vehicles, the news channel reported. KR
[37] JORDAN TO ACCEPT OLD IRAQI PASSPORTS UNTIL YEAR-END
Jordan has said it will accept S-series Iraqi passports until the end
of the year, Jordanian media reported on May 29. The Iraqi government
asked the Hashemite Kingdom in mid-May to allow Iraqis holding the
outdated passports to remain in the kingdom through December (see
"RFE/RL Newsline," May 17, 2007). Iraqi Ambassador to Amman Sa'd Jasim
al-Hayyani said Jordan's decision took into account the delays faced by
the Iraqi Embassy in issuing the new G-series passports, "Al-Ghadd"
reported. "Our embassy offices receive an average of 200 passport
applications every day. Our role is limited to receiving and sorting
out these applications before sending them to the competent departments
in Baghdad," al-Hayyani said. He told the "Jordan Times" on May 29 that
4,000 out of 12,000 applications have been processed so far by the
embassy, the daily reported on May 30. There are an estimated 700,000
Iraqis currently residing in Jordan. Al-Hayyani added that it will be
two to three months before the embassy is equipped to issue passports
directly to Iraqi nationals. Until that time, applications will
continue to be forwarded to Baghdad. KR
[38] U.K. ACKNOWLEDGES FIVE NATIONALS KIDNAPPED IN IRAQ
The British government acknowledged that five U.K. nationals were
kidnapped outside the Iraqi Finance Ministry in Baghdad on May 29, the
BBC reported the same day. Abducted were four bodyguards and a finance
expert who was advising the ministry. Witnesses told the BBC that the
kidnappers were dressed in Iraqi police uniforms and arrived in as many
as 40 police vehicles. Witnesses said the street was sealed off at both
ends, and the kidnappers walked right past ministry guards. British
Prime Minister Tony Blair told reporters during a trip to Libya that
the government will do "everything we possibly can" to help locate the
abducted. Meanwhile, Interior Minister Jawad al-Bulani said the
ministry has launched an investigation into the incident, Al-Iraqiyah
television reported on May 29. Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari
said on May 30 that Shi'ite militants from Muqtada al-Sadr's Imam
Al-Mahdi Army may have been behind the abductions. He speculated that
they were assisted by rogue police, Reuters reported. KR
End Note
[39] THERE IS NO END NOTE TODAY.
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