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RFE/RL Newsline, 07-09-18
CONTENTS
[01] PUTIN SAYS RUSSIA WILL NOT CUT OIL OR GAS PRODUCTION
[02] LEGISLATOR SLAMS FRENCH MINISTER'S REMARKS ON IRAN
[03] RUSSIAN STRATEGIC AIRCRAFT SAID TO ENTER FINNISH, NATO AIRSPACE
[04] RUSSIA TO 'INSIST' THAT U.S. ABANDON MISSILE DEFENSE
[05] RUSSIA 'WELCOMES' GERMAN PROPOSAL FOR TALKS ON CFE
[06] ANOTHER CHANGE OF MILITARY LEADERS REPORTED
[07] PUTIN DISCUSSES SUCCESSION WITH WESTERN EXPERTS
[08] LITVINENKO SUSPECT TO BE NO. 2 ON LDPR DUMA LIST
[09] YABLOKO HOLDS CONGRESS, ANNOUNCES PARTY LIST
[10] OTHER RUSSIA RUNS INTO TROUBLE IN REGIONS
[11] LEGISLATURE MOVES TO PROTECT 'STRATEGIC SECTORS'
[12] ARRESTED 'NEZAVISIMAYA GAZETA' EDITOR IDENTIFIED
[13] MOSCOW WARNS GEORGIA AGAINST 'PEACE MARCH'
[14] FORMER CHECHEN OFFICIAL ARRESTED IN CONNECTION WITH POLITKOVSKAYA
KILLING
[15] CHECHEN OPPOSITION IN EXILE, FORMER REPUBLIC HEAD QUESTION BURAYEV
ARREST
[16] MIRONOV ADVOCATES INCREASED BUDGET FUNDING FOR CHECHNYA
[17] SUSPECTS IN KILLING OF RUSSIAN FAMILY IN INGUSHETIA RELEASED
[18] ALTAI REPUBLIC HEAD DOES VOLTE-FACE ON PLANNED MERGER
[19] ARMENIAN PRESIDENT SAID TO BACK PM AS HIS SUCCESSOR
[20] RUSSIAN TELECOMS GIANT ACQUIRES ARMENIAN MOBILE-PHONE OPERATOR
[21] ARMENIAN JOURNALIST ASSAULTED
[22] KARABAKH PARLIAMENT APPROVES NEW PRIME MINISTER
[23] AZERBAIJAN, GEORGIA DECLINE TO RATIFY UN CONVENTION
[24] SHOULD AZERBAIJAN'S ARMED FORCES BE EMPOWERED TO INTERVENE IN
DOMESTIC POLITICS?
[25] GEORGIAN REJECTS RUSSIAN PROTEST OVER PEACEKEEPERS' ARREST,
DETENTION
[26] GEORGIAN PARLIAMENT APPROVES PLANNED ARMY EXPANSION
[27] KAZAKH PENSIONERS PROTEST PRICE RISE
[28] KYRGYZ COURT OVERTURNS CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS...
[29] ...PROMPTING FIRM RESPONSE BY KYRGYZ PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESMAN
[30] KYRGYZ PROBE IMPLICATES PRESIDENT IN AKSY SHOOTINGS
[31] FOUR BELARUSIAN OFFICERS CONVICTED OF SPYING FOR POLAND
[32] UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT URGES VOTING FOR HIS 'TEAM'
[33] EU WANTS UKRAINE TO PROCEED WITH REFORMS
[34] SERBIA EXPELS KARADZIC'S SON...
[35] ...AS SERBIA STEPS UP EFFORT TO FIND WAR CRIMINALS
[36] MANDATE OF UN TRIBUNAL'S CHIEF PROSECUTOR EXTENDED
[37] PREMIER WANTS NEUTRALITY FOR SERBIA
[38] IRANIAN ARMS SHIPMENT HEADED FOR TALIBAN INTERCEPTED IN
AFGHANISTAN
[39] BANGLADESHI AID WORKER ABDUCTED IN SOUTHERN AFGHANISTAN
[40] AT LEAST 12 SUSPECTED MILITANTS KILLED IN CLASHES ACROSS
AFGHANISTAN
[41] MINISTER SAYS RUSSIAN NUCLEAR FUEL READY FOR IRANIAN POWER PLANT
[42] IRANIAN INTERIOR MINISTER 'FINALIZES' DEALS IN CHINA
[43] FRANCE MOVES CLOSER TO U.S. ON IRAN SANCTIONS...
[44] ...AS FRENCH MINISTER EVOKES WORST SCENARIO FOR IRAN
[45] IRAN CALLS FOR TIMED U.S. DEPARTURE FROM IRAQ
[46] IRAQI SHI'ITE CLERIC'S BLOC WITHDRAWS FROM GOVERNMENT COALITION
[47] AL-DA'WAH PARTY-IRAQ ORGANIZATION MAY PULL OUT OF ALLIANCE
[48] U.S. FORCES CAPTURE SUSPECT IN IRAQI TRIBAL SHEIKH'S KILLING
[49] IRAQI ISLAMIC PARTY SACKS PLANNING MINISTER
[50] IRAQI KURDS DEMAND OIL MINISTER'S REMOVAL
[51] DEATH SENTENCES OF FORMER IRAQI OFFICIALS SENT TO FEDERAL COURT
[52] THERE IS NO END NOTE TODAY.
Monday, September 17, 2007 Volume 11 Number 172
Russia
[01] PUTIN SAYS RUSSIA WILL NOT CUT OIL OR GAS PRODUCTION
President Vladimir Putin told a group of foreign Russia-watchers known
as the Valdai Club in Sochi on September 14 that Russia will not
reduce, but may possibly increase, gas and oil production, Britain's
"The Independent" reported on September 17. He denied, however, that
this will make Russia more dependent on energy earnings and argued that
the economy is "proportionally" less dependent on them than it was in
2000. The daily said that Putin was responding to recent comments by an
unnamed "senior official" to the effect that administering Russia's oil
and gas wealth is more trouble than it is worth. Putin also said on
September 14 that Russia "wants to behave responsibly" because it wants
"harmonious relations" with the rest of the world and sees nothing to
be gained in speculating over energy prices. He claimed that Russia
never "blackmailed" foreign energy consumers and argued that "we don't
have the level of state monopoly over energy production that most OPEC
countries have." He noted that Russia has Gazprom and Rosneft, but
stressed that "the rest [of Russia's energy companies] are all private
ones with foreign investors..., a free market and open sector." Putin
said that the state maintains a monopoly on pipelines and that this
will remain the case as long as there are different tariffs for foreign
and domestic energy buyers. He added, however, that "the domestic price
will rise, and we will also try to diversify energy sources at the same
time." PM
[02] LEGISLATOR SLAMS FRENCH MINISTER'S REMARKS ON IRAN
State Duma Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Konstantin Kosachyov said
on September 17 that no pressure should be exerted on Iran regarding
its nuclear program, Interfax reported. He was referring to remarks by
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, who said on September 16 that
"we must prepare for the worst. That means...war.... We prepare...by
saying we won't accept the building of [an Iranian nuclear] bomb."
Kosachyov also said on September 17 that Kouchner's remarks "echo a
similar, recent statement by U.S. President George W. Bush and are
instances of clear political pressure on Iran." PM
[03] RUSSIAN STRATEGIC AIRCRAFT SAID TO ENTER FINNISH, NATO AIRSPACE
Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen demanded an explanation from
Russia on September 14 after the latest of what several of Russia's
neighbors say have been recent violations of their airspace by Russian
long-range aircraft, AP reported (see "RFE/RL Newsline," September 4,
12, and 14, 2007). An Il-76 transporter reportedly stayed in Finnish
airspace for three minutes. Vanhanen stressed that "these kinds of
[violations] must not happen...and when they do happen, then they need
to be sorted out between the countries in question. That has to be done
this time." Russian authorities replied that they have set up a
commission to investigate the Finnish charges, but maintained that the
plane was in neutral airspace. A Finnish military spokesman said that
"there's a lot of Russian airborne activity above the Gulf of Finland,
especially between Kaliningrad and the Russian mainland. This didn't
really come as a surprise." Also on September 14, Norwegian and British
planes intercepted and shadowed two Russian Tu-160 (White Swan or
Blackjack) bombers in NATO airspace. A British Defense Ministry
spokesman said that the shadowing continued for a few minutes until the
White Swans changed course. PM
[04] RUSSIA TO 'INSIST' THAT U.S. ABANDON MISSILE DEFENSE
Major General Aleksandr Yakushin, who is first deputy head of Russia's
space forces, said in Moscow on September 15 that Russia insists that
the United States abandon its missile-defense plans in Central Europe,
news agencies reported (see "RFE/RL Newsline," September 10 and 11,
2007). He stressed that this will be the Russian delegation's "key
goal" in talks with U.S. and Azerbaijani officials in Baku on September
18. Officials of the three countries will discuss President Putin's
offer of joint Russian-U.S. use of Azerbaijan's Qabala (Gabala) radar
station, which Russia leases. Russia considers the Qabala proposal a
substitute for Washington's plans to station 10 interceptors in Poland
and a radar base in the Czech Republic, while the United States regards
Qabala as a possible supplement to its firm plans to proceed with the
Central European project. In Prague on September 14, Czech Prime
Minister Mirek Topolanek said after meeting with a U.S. congressional
delegation that U.S.-Czech negotiations on the possible stationing of a
radar base in the Czech Republic are moving along without "any serious
problems," CTK reported. PM
[05] RUSSIA 'WELCOMES' GERMAN PROPOSAL FOR TALKS ON CFE
A Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman said on September 14 that Russia
welcomes German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier's recent
proposal for an international conference to rescue the 1990
Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) Treaty, compliance with which
President Putin "suspended" in April, kommersant.com reported (see
"RFE/RL Newsline," April 26 and September 13, 2007). The spokesman
added that Moscow is pleased that "our partners make such suggestions."
The Russian nationalist paper "RBC Daily" wrote on September 14 that
Moscow hopes that Steinmeier can persuade those NATO countries that
have not ratified the treaty to do so and not make any additional
demands on Russia in the process. The paper noted that "Russia's
ultimatum [about scrapping the pact] is having an effect." Russia takes
the ambiguous position of both claiming that the treaty is outdated and
demanding that all NATO members ratify it. PM
[06] ANOTHER CHANGE OF MILITARY LEADERS REPORTED
Interfax quoted an unnamed "well-informed military source" on September
17 as saying that Colonel General Aleksandr Kolmakov has replaced
General Aleksandr Belousov as first deputy defense minister. Kolmakov
has been head of the Airborne Forces since 2003 (see "RFE/RL Newsline,"
September 16, 2003). Lieutenant General Valery Yevtukhovich, who
commands the Airborne Forces headquarters, will reportedly succeed him
in that post. The source suggested that Belousov might become Russia's
ambassador to NATO. The Defense Ministry has not confirmed the report.
It is not clear if these changes are in any way linked to reported
recent ones in the navy (see "RFE/RL Newsline," September 13 and 14,
2007). PM
[07] PUTIN DISCUSSES SUCCESSION WITH WESTERN EXPERTS
President Putin on September 14 met in Sochi with leading Western
journalists and Russia scholars, Russian media reported. Putin said
"now there are at least five people who have a claim to become
president and could be elected," "Nezavisimaya gazeta" reported on
September 17. "It is good that one more person has appeared [meaning
newly named Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov,] and the citizens of Russia
will have people to choose from." Harvard University professor Marshall
Goldman told "The Moscow Times" that Putin mentioned Zubkov, Yabloko
leader Grigory Yavlinsky, and Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov
by name. Asked specifically about acting First Deputy Prime Minister
Sergei Ivanov, Putin reportedly said, "Yeah, yeah. Ivanov too." He did
not mention acting First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. Opinion
polls show that neither Yavlinsky nor Zyuganov has sufficient public
support to be considered serious candidates. Goldman said that Putin
was effusive in his praise of Zubkov during the meeting. Putin also
confirmed again that he intends to remain politically active in some
capacity after his term expires and did not rule out running for the
presidency again in 2012. "Nezavisimaya gazeta" reported that Putin
also spoke about the importance of building a strong
"social-democratic" structure in the country, seeming to lend support
to the left-leaning pro-Kremlin A Just Russia party. RC
[08] LITVINENKO SUSPECT TO BE NO. 2 ON LDPR DUMA LIST
Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR) leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky
on September 16 told reporters that the party has determined who will
hold the top three spots in the party's list for the December 2 Duma
elections, Interfax and other Russian media reported. Zhirinovsky said
that he will head the list, while businessman Andrei Lugovoi -- who is
the main Scotland Yard suspect in the November 2006 murder in London of
former security officer Aleksandr Litvinenko (see "U.K. Slams Russia's
Refusal To Extradite Murder Suspect," rferl.org, July 10, 2007) -- will
take the second place. The third spot will be held by Zhirinovsky's
son, LDPR Duma faction leader Igor Lebedev. Zhirinovsky told
journalists his speech to the party's national preelection congress on
September 17 will be entitled "Global Civil War," and will focus on the
conflict between nationalism and internationalism around the world.
Also on September 17, the Tverskoi Raion Court in Moscow will begin
hearings in a defamation suit brought by Lugovoi against the daily
"Kommersant." Lugovoi is seeking 20 million rubles ($790,000) in
damages for an article published on July 9. RC
[09] YABLOKO HOLDS CONGRESS, ANNOUNCES PARTY LIST
Yabloko on September 16 completed its national preelection congress, at
which the party's list of candidates for the December 2 Duma elections
was confirmed, RFE/RL's Russian Service reported. Party leader
Yavlinsky will head the list, followed by human-rights activist and
former Duma Deputy Sergei Kovalyov, and deputy party leader Sergei
Ivanenko. "Including Sergei Adamovich [Kovalyov] means that Yabloko is
presenting itself to the public as a party of truth, a party of
principles," Yavlinsky told the congress. Yavlinsky criticized the
current authorities for creating a "semi-feudal" state system and
argued that Yabloko must stand for the rule of law and the protection
of the rights of individuals. He added that many of the country's most
serious issues -- growing corruption, instability in the North
Caucasus, and deteriorating relations with neighboring states -- are
not discussed in the state-dominated mass media. RC
[10] OTHER RUSSIA RUNS INTO TROUBLE IN REGIONS
The Other Russia opposition movement continued holding regional
conferences with events in Kaliningrad and Samara on September 15,
RFE/RL's Russian Service reported. The movement is not an officially
registered party and cannot participate in the December 2 elections;
however, it is meeting to select its own "people's duma" and to select
a candidate for the March 2008 presidential election. According to
RFE/RL, only some 50 people attended the Samara event and when it came
time to vote for a presidential candidate, it was revealed that as many
as 25 of them were from the pro-Kremlin New People movement. The
interlopers wrote in the candidacy of Prime Minister Zubkov on the
ballots, forcing the presidium to rule that votes for Zubkov would not
be counted. That decision gave the local victory to former Prime
Minister Mikhail Kasyanov. In Orenburg, Other Russia activists are
alarmed by the September 13 arrest of fellow activist Lyudmila
Kharlamova, RFE/RL reported. Kharlamova is being charged with
possession of narcotics, in a development Other Russia leaders say is
intended to intimidate the opposition. A local court on September 15
denied her request for bail and refused to consider character
references submitted by her relatives, employer, and Other Russia.
Other Russia intends to ask local Duma deputies to file an official
inquiry into the arrest. RC
[11] LEGISLATURE MOVES TO PROTECT 'STRATEGIC SECTORS'
The Duma on September 14 passed in its first reading a bill that would
limit foreign control of enterprises in "strategic sectors" of the
economy, "The Moscow Times" reported on September 17. The bill, which
passed by a vote of 330-1, would block foreign firms from acquiring
majority control of enterprises is in some 39 sectors, including
aerospace and defense. One clause in the bill, however, notes that it
does not apply to ventures already regulated by international
agreements. RC
[12] ARRESTED 'NEZAVISIMAYA GAZETA' EDITOR IDENTIFIED
The "Nezavisimaya gazeta" editor arrested on September 13 on suspicion
of blackmail has been identified as Deputy Editor in Chief Boris
Zemtsov, "The Moscow Times" reported on September 17 (see "RFE/RL
Newsline," September 14, 2007). A spokesman for the
Prosecutor-General's Office told "The Moscow Times" that accusations
the government is trying to pressure the newspaper are "complete
stupidity." RC
[13] MOSCOW WARNS GEORGIA AGAINST 'PEACE MARCH'
In a statement posted on September 14 on its website
(http://www.mid.ru), the Russian Foreign Ministry expressed "serious
concern" at reports that the Georgian authorities plan to stage a Peace
March by Ossetians of Georgia to Tskhinvali, capital of the breakaway
unrecognized republic of South Ossetia. The statement claimed that the
Georgian authorities are trying to bribe or intimidate several thousand
Ossetians to participate in that initiative, which it brands "extremely
dangerous" in light of rising tensions over the past several months. It
suggests that Tbilisi hopes to provoke an armed clash between the march
participants and the peacekeepers deployed in the conflict zone, which
would serve as the pretext for pro-Georgian South Ossetian leader
Dmitry Sanakoyev to call for Georgian military intervention. The
statement warns Tbilisi against "playing with fire," and implies that
international organizations, including the OSCE, should seek to
persuade Tbilisi to abandon the planned march. LF
[14] FORMER CHECHEN OFFICIAL ARRESTED IN CONNECTION WITH POLITKOVSKAYA
KILLING
Shamil Burayev, a former administration head in Chechnya's
Achkhoi-Martan Raion who ran against Akhmed-hadji Kadyrov in the
October 2003 Chechen leadership elections, has been arrested in Moscow,
where he has lived since late 2003, on suspicion of commissioning the
murder in October 2006 of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya,
"Komsomolskaya pravda" reported on September 14. Burayev's home has
been searched, and mobile telephones and the hard drive of his computer
confiscated, regnum.ru reported on September 16. Burayev is said to
have illegally obtained, approximately one month before the killing,
from a second suspect, Federal Security Service (FSB) Lieutenant
Colonel Pavel Ryaguzov, the address of the apartment Politkovskaya
rented in Moscow. Burayev has denied any connection with the killing,
according to kavkaz-uzel.ru on September 16. "Komsomolskaya pravda"
quoted Burayev as saying he knows Ryaguzov but never discussed
Politkovskaya with him or sought to ascertain her address. In the
run-up to the 2003 Chechen ballot, Politkovskaya wrote on August 15,
2003 in "Novaya gazeta" that the private security force loyal to
Kadyrov's son Ramzan was intimidating the 12 challengers to Kadyrov,
who went on to win the ballot with over 80 percent of the vote.
According to the official results, Burayev polled fourth with 3.3
percent of the vote. Burayev warned during the election campaign that
Kadyrov's election would lead to the destabilization of the political
situation in Chechnya, according to kazkav-uzel.ru on September 16, and
after the vote he alleged widespread fraud (see "RFE/RL Newsline,"
August 18 and October 10, 2003). Six months ago, five former members of
the now disbanded Gorets armed unit headed by Movladi Baysarov accused
Ramzan Kadyrov of sending three of their former colleagues to Moscow,
where they said they allegedly murdered Politkovskaya on orders from an
FSB Colonel identified as Igor Dranets. Dranets is not among the 11
persons identified as having been detained in connection with the
murder. On their return to Chechnya, the three Gorets members reported
personally to Kadyrov on their mission, after which they were
purportedly executed by members of Kadyrov's security guard. Baysarov
protested the killing of his men and then left for Moscow, where he was
gunned down in the street on November 18 by police sent by Kadyrov from
Grozny (see "RFE/RL Newsline," November 20 and 29, 2006, and March 26,
2007). LF
[15] CHECHEN OPPOSITION IN EXILE, FORMER REPUBLIC HEAD QUESTION BURAYEV
ARREST
Moscow-based Chechen businessman Malik Saidullayev was quoted on
September 16 by kavkaz-uzel.ru as telling Ekho Moskvy he doubts Burayev
had anything to do with Politkovskaya's murder. Saidullayev
characterized Burayev as "an exceptionally decent person" who would
"never have committed such a crime," and who did not have the contacts
and means to commission a contract killing. Saidullayev was elected in
1999 to head a Moscow-based Chechen State Council; his registration for
the 2003 election for Chechen Republic head was annulled after many of
the signatures he collected in his support were deemed invalid (see
"RFE/RL Newsline," October 8, 1999 and September 12 and 26, 2003). Usam
Baisayev, who works for the human rights NGO Memorial in Ingushetia,
was similarly quoted as telling Ekho Moskvy that Burayev began
collaborating with the Russian authorities when Djokhar Dudayev was
still Chechen president and consistently opposed the idea of an
independent Chechen state. Baisayev also recalled that Burayev was
among the signatories to a letter to Russian President Putin in 2000
begging Putin not to name Akhmed-hadji Kadyrov Chechen Republic head.
On September 17, the daily "Kommersant" quoted Nikolai Koshman, who
served as Chechen prime minister in 1996 and as Moscow's administrator
in Chechnya from 1999-2000 (when Akhmed-hadji Kadyrov took over), as
recalling that he nominated Burayev for a state award. LF
[16] MIRONOV ADVOCATES INCREASED BUDGET FUNDING FOR CHECHNYA
Addressing Chechen parliament deputies in Grozny on September 15,
Federation Council Chairman and A Just Russia party leader Sergei
Mironov said he believes Chechnya should be allocated additional funds
from the federal budget, kavkaz-uzel.ru reported the following day.
Chechnya received a total of 30.6 billion rubles ($1.2 billion) over
the period 2002-06, and 11.85 billion rubles in 2007. A new federal
program for 2008-10 increases funding to between 27-30 billion rubles
per year, according to "Vedomosti" on September 4 as cited by
kavkaz-uzel.ru. Of that sum, 17.8 billion rubles is earmarked for the
construction of housing and administrative buildings; 16 billion rubles
for reconstruction of hospitals and clinics; 14 billion rubles for
schools; and 7 billion for the agricultural sector. LF
[17] SUSPECTS IN KILLING OF RUSSIAN FAMILY IN INGUSHETIA RELEASED
A group of young Ingush men arrested on September 2 in Karabulak on
suspicion of the murder of a Russian family during the night of August
30-31 (see "RFE/RL Newsline," September 4, 2007) and unspecified acts
of terrorism has been released, ingushetiya.ru reported on September
15. Armed militants opened fire during the night of September 15-16 for
the second time in 72 hours on the central police headquarters in
Nazran, but inflicted no casualties, kavkaz-uzel.ru and the Chechen
resistance website chechenpress.info reported on September 16. During
the same night, militants opened fire on a military convoy in Sunzha
Raion. LF
[18] ALTAI REPUBLIC HEAD DOES VOLTE-FACE ON PLANNED MERGER
Speaking on September 14 in Barnaul at a formal ceremony to mark the
70th anniversary of the formation of Altai Krai, Altai Republic head
Aleksandr Berdnikov affirmed that "there cannot be two Altais," and
"soon there will be one Altai," the daily "Kommersant" reported on
September 17. Plans to merge the Altai Krai and Altai Republic have
been under discussion for several years, but were placed on hold 11
months ago after some 5,000 people took to the streets in
Gorno-Altaisk, capital of the Altai Republic, to protest the proposed
merger (see "RFE/RL Russian Federation Report," January 30, 2002 and
"RFE/RL Newsline," December 5, 2002, March 31, 2003, and November 2 and
7, 2006). The sparsely populated Altai Republic has less than one-10th
of the population of the neighboring krai. Vladimir Kydyyev, who heads
a public organization that advocates preserving the Altai Republic as a
separate federation subject, was quoted by "Kommersant" as suggesting
that Berdnikov, who previously opposed unification, changed his mind
following a meeting on September 3 in Moscow with Vladislav Surkov,
deputy head of the Russian presidential administration. LF
Transcaucasia And Central Asia
[19] ARMENIAN PRESIDENT SAID TO BACK PM AS HIS SUCCESSOR
Armenian President Robert Kocharian, who is barred by the constitution
from seeking a third presidential term when his current term expires in
early 2008, was quoted on September 14 by his spokesman, Viktor
Soghomonian, as saying he considers Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian the
most worthy candidate to succeed him, RFE/RL's Armenian Service
reported. "It is obvious that there is no other politician in Armenia
who has that much experience and is capable of performing
[presidential] duties," Soghomian told journalists. LF
[20] RUSSIAN TELECOMS GIANT ACQUIRES ARMENIAN MOBILE-PHONE OPERATOR
Executives announced in Yerevan on September 14 that Russia's Mobile
Telesystems (MTS), one of the world's largest mobile-phone companies,
will pay $430 million for an 80 percent stake in Armenia's largest
mobile-phone operator, K-Telecom, with the option of acquiring the
remaining 20 percent within five years, RFE/RL's Armenian Service
reported. MTS already owns mobile-phone operators in Ukraine, Belarus,
and Uzbekistan. LF
[21] ARMENIAN JOURNALIST ASSAULTED
Unidentified men forced their way during the evening of September 15
into the editorial offices of the small opposition publication "Iskakan
iravunk," (True law) and severely beat its editor Hovannes Galadjian,
Interfax and kavkaz-uzel.ru reported. Galadjian was hospitalized with
serious injuries; he told colleagues he believes the attack may be
connected with the yearlong standoff between the rival factions of the
opposition Union of Constitutional Rights (SIM) (see "RFE/RL Newsline,"
September 21, 2006, and February 2 and 20, 2007). Prior to the split
within SIM, Galadjian served as editor of its weekly, "Iravunk." LF
[22] KARABAKH PARLIAMENT APPROVES NEW PRIME MINISTER
The parliament of the unrecognized republic of Nagorno-Karabakh (NKR)
unanimously approved on September 14 the candidacy of Arayik
Harutiunian as prime minister, kavkaz-uzel.ru reported (see "RFE/RL
Newsline," September 13, 2007). Addressing the legislature the same
day, Harutiunian pledged to "battle corruption, clans, protectionism,
and other social problems," to focus on agriculture, health, social
security, and education, and to promote "healing the moral and
psychological climate...and restoring people's confidence in the
government," according to KarabakhOpen as cited on September 16 by
Groong. Harutiunian must present his proposed cabinet lineup within 20
days, and its program 20 days after that, RFE/RL's Armenian Service
noted on September 14. LF
[23] AZERBAIJAN, GEORGIA DECLINE TO RATIFY UN CONVENTION
Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russia, and Ukraine were among 11 states that
abstained on September 13 from endorsing a UN General Assembly
Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Caucasus Press noted
on September 14. The declaration states that native peoples have the
right "to the recognition, observance, and enforcement of treaties"
concluded with states or their successors. It also prohibits
discrimination against indigenous peoples and promotes their full and
effective participation in all matters that concern them, according to
a UN press release. LF.
[24] SHOULD AZERBAIJAN'S ARMED FORCES BE EMPOWERED TO INTERVENE IN
DOMESTIC POLITICS?
In an article entitled "Let Sleeping Dogs Lie" published on September
15 in the online daily zerkalo.az, the authors reported that
Azerbaijan's new military doctrine, which is to be presented to the
parliament for discussion shortly, allows for the use of the armed
forces within Azerbaijan to "avert a situation that could lead to the
paralysis of state structures." They noted that a similar provision
within the constitution of the Turkish Republic enabled the Turkish
military to seize power on three occasions (1960, 1971, and 1980). They
also cited Defense Ministry spokesman Eldar Sabiroglu as refusing to
clarify the wording of specific provisions of the military doctrine or
to say which state agencies were involved in drafting it. LF
[25] GEORGIAN REJECTS RUSSIAN PROTEST OVER PEACEKEEPERS' ARREST,
DETENTION
The Georgian Foreign Ministry rejected on September 14 as
"incomprehensible and inadmissible" a repeat protest by its Russian
counterpart on September 13 at the detention by Georgian police in the
South Ossetian conflict zone in late August of two members of the
Ossetian peacekeeping force deployed in the conflict zone, Caucasus
Press reported (see "RFE/RL Newsline," September 14, 2007). Russia
demanded the immediate release of the two men, Tariel Khachirov and
Vitaly Valiyev, whom it claims are Russian citizens. The Georgian
Foreign Ministry claims the men are citizens of Georgia. LF
[26] GEORGIAN PARLIAMENT APPROVES PLANNED ARMY EXPANSION
Georgia's parliament approved on September 14 by a vote of 131 to seven
a bill on armed forces manpower that provides for creating an
additional fifth brigade numbering 2,500 men, Caucasus Press reported.
That move would bring the total strength of the armed forces to 32,000,
which is more than twice the optimum figure of 13,000-15,000
recommended in its report for 2005 by the International Security
Advisory Board. Meanwhile, the parliamentary Defense and Security
Committee approved on September 10, and the legislature is scheduled to
vote on September 25 on, a proposed 315 million-lari ($190.4 million)
increase in budget funding for the military in 2007. Responding on
September 7 to opposition criticism of that proposed increase, Prime
Minister Zurab Noghaideli said the armed forces constitute a priority
for the state and will receive as much funding as they need, Caucasus
Press reported. LF
[27] KAZAKH PENSIONERS PROTEST PRICE RISE
An unspecified number of Kazakh pensioners staged a protest on
September 14 at the offices of the ruling Nur Otan party in Almaty
demanding state action to meet the recent surge in bread prices, Kazakh
television reported. In an interview with local television reporters,
the pensioners noted that the recent price rise has reduced the
purchasing power of their 7,000-tenge ($56) pension and they expressed
concern over reports that the government intends to increase tariffs
for utility services. The protesters ended their demonstration after
discussing their complaints with Nur Otan party official Galiaskar
Dunaev and submitting a collective letter to Kazakh President Nursultan
Nazarbaev. RG
[28] KYRGYZ COURT OVERTURNS CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS...
The Kyrgyz Constitutional Court overturned on September 14 a set of
constitutional amendments that were adopted in November 2006, according
to RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service. The ruling by the country's highest court,
issued in response to an appeal challenging the amendments, effectively
nullified the new constitution and restored the February 2003 version
of the constitution. The constitutional amendments that were adopted in
late 2006 imposed new limits on presidential authority in the wake of
widespread demonstrations in Bishkek, but were later significantly
modified and watered down by pro-government parliamentarians in
December 2006, restoring much of the power to the presidency. The
ruling further held that in both cases, the amendment process was
conducted "in violation of the requirements of the constitution" and
ignored the requirements that "changes or amendments to the
constitution could be made only through a referendum," the 24.kg
website reported. One of the main authors of the appeal that triggered
the ruling, opposition lawmaker Melis Eshimkanov, welcomed the ruling
and added that "we do not have to be afraid" that the ruling will lead
to "chaos or political disorder." He further said that "it would be
better if we -- the power branches, led by the president, as well as
the opposition -- define the best, democratic, and fair constitution,
and we need to adopt the amended and renewed constitution by
referendum." RG
[29] ...PROMPTING FIRM RESPONSE BY KYRGYZ PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESMAN
Responding to the decision by the Constitutional Court to overturn the
2006 constitutional amendments, presidential adviser Bektur Zulpiev
argued on September 14 that the "prime minister of Kyrgyzstan will not
be dismissed in connection with the revocation of the November and
December editions of the constitution," the 24.kg website and Kyrgyz
television reported. Zulpiev, who formally represented the government's
side in the appeal before the Constitutional Court, explained that
Prime Minister Almazbek Atambaev was appointed by the president with
parliamentary consent and in accordance with the procedures stipulated
by the 2003 constitution. He noted, however, that the same protection
does not extend to other members of the government, because their
appointments were made in accordance with the now overturned versions
of the constitution, suggesting that parliament will again be required
to approve all other cabinet-level officials. RG
[30] KYRGYZ PROBE IMPLICATES PRESIDENT IN AKSY SHOOTINGS
A special Kyrgyz parliamentary commission announced on September 14
that President Kurmanbek Bakiev should be charged with involvement in
the fatal shootings of antigovernment protesters in the southern Aksy
district in 2002, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reported. Bakiev was prime
minister at the time of the March 2002 incident, in which security
forces shot dead at least six unarmed protesters. According to
Dooronbek Sadyrbaev, the chairman of the commission, the findings also
call for the arrest of then-President Askar Akaev and the current
chairman of the Supreme Court, Kurmanbek Osmonov, then first deputy
prime minister, according to the 24.kg website. Sadyrbaev added that
the commission is in possession of documentary evidence, including
video files, which confirm the involvement of police and authorities in
the protesters' deaths. The authority of the special commission to
investigate the incident was affirmed by the Supreme Court, which
endorsed a petition filed by the Prosecutor-General's Office requesting
a new independent probe and that annulled prior court decisions
acquitting police officers accused of shooting at the protesters (see
"RFE/RL Newsline," June 29, 2007). RG
Eastern Europe
[31] FOUR BELARUSIAN OFFICERS CONVICTED OF SPYING FOR POLAND
The Supreme Court on September 14 jailed four Belarusian army officers
for up to 10 years, after finding them guilty of "espionage and
damaging Belarus's external security and defense capability,"
Belarusian and international news agencies reported. The closed-door
trial began on September 4. The officers allegedly gathered
intelligence on military facilities operated jointly by Belarus and
Russia as well as on S-300 surface-to-air missile systems in Belarus.
Uladzimir Ruskin was punished with a 10-year sentence, Viktar Bahdan
was given nine years, while Syarhey Karnilyuk and Pavel Pyatkevich
received seven years each. All four were stripped of their military
ranks. JM
[32] UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT URGES VOTING FOR HIS 'TEAM'
President Viktor Yushchenko on September 15 called on Ukrainian voters
to cast ballots for the pro-presidential Our Ukraine-People's
Self-Defense bloc in the September 30 early parliamentary polls,
Ukrainian media reported. "I ask you to support my team," Yushchenko
told an election gathering of some 10,000 people in Lviv. Yushchenko
also said he believes in the creation of a cabinet by Our
Ukraine-People's Self-Defense and the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc. "I welcome
and treasure the cooperation between Our Ukraine-People's Self-Defense
and the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc -- it is a guarantee of our victory,"
Yushchenko stressed. Yuriy Lutsenko, one of the leaders of Our
Ukraine-People's Self-Defense, assured the gathering in Lviv that "We
have no other plans apart from creating a pro-Ukrainian democratic
coalition with our ally -- the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc." Prime Minister
Viktor Yanukovych on September 16 criticized Yushchenko for campaigning
on the side of the Orange Revolution forces. "The constitution does not
allow him to campaign for any party," Yanukovych noted. JM
[33] EU WANTS UKRAINE TO PROCEED WITH REFORMS
Top EU officials who attended an EU-Ukraine summit in Kyiv on September
14 (see "RFE/RL Newsline," September 14, 2007) urged Ukraine to quickly
form a government after the September 30 elections and turn to reforms
needed for integrating further with the EU, Ukrainian and international
agencies reported. "It is important to achieve stability so that
Ukraine can concentrate its energy and efforts on reforms, both
economic and political," EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso
told a news conference after the summit. But he added, however, that
discussions on creating a free-trade zone between Ukraine and the EU
wil become possible only after Ukraine completes the process of joining
the World Trade Organization, which has been under way since 1993.
President Yushchenko expressed confidence that the September 30 polls
will be free and fair and will lead to the swift formation of a
government. "There is no technical problem in forming a majority and a
government. I believe these things will be done in a timely fashion
based on the political outcome of the election," Yushchenko said. JM
Southeastern Europe
[34] SERBIA EXPELS KARADZIC'S SON...
The Serbian authorities have ordered the son of the war-crimes indictee
Radovan Karadzic to leave the country after discovering that he was
using fake Serbian identity documents, local and international media
reported on September 14-15. Aleksandar Karadzic was banned from
reentering the country for a year and ordered to pay a fine of 375
euros ($520). The news was broken by Aleksandar Karadzic's sister,
Sonja, who said her brother was questioned about their father's
whereabouts. Aleksandar Karadzic lives in Pale, which served as the
base for the Bosnian Serb wartime government that his father led, but,
according to his sister, had been in Belgrade since late August
visiting his 5-year-old son in hospital. Sonja Karadzic and her mother,
Ljiljana, were questioned several days earlier by police in the Bosnian
Serbs' autonomous region of Republika Srpska. Earlier on September 14,
Republika Srpska police in Pale briefly detained Kosta Cavoski, a
family friend, and questioned him about Radovan Karadzic's whereabouts.
The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for the
former Yugoslavia (ICTY) has said on several occasions that Karadzic
has "disappeared from the radar screen" (see "RFE/RL Newsline," June
19, 2007). AG
[35] ...AS SERBIA STEPS UP EFFORT TO FIND WAR CRIMINALS
The man heading Serbia's effort to find fugitive war criminals, Rasim
Ljajic, said on September 13 that Serbia's security service "has
increased its activity" in its search for suspected war criminals and
should explore fresh ways of applying pressure on them. Ljacic linked
the increased effort to Serbia's desire to win a favorable report from
the chief prosecutor of the ICTY, Carla Del Ponte. The capture of
Karadzic's military commander, Ratko Mladic, is now the only hurdle to
Serbia starting along the path to membership of the EU (see "RFE/RL
Newsline," September 13, 2007). Del Ponte's assessment is seen as
having a potentially critical bearing on whether the EU signs a
Stabilization and Association Agreement with Serbia. Del Ponte gave
Serbia its first positive assessment this summer after the new Serbian
government proved instrumental in the capture of two war-crimes
indictees, Zdravko Tolimir and Vlastimir Djordjevic (see "RFE/RL
Newsline," June 6, 2007). Ljajic said, however, that there are
"indications" that Del Ponte will give a negative appraisal when she
visits Belgrade on September 24. Ljacic said Serbia is "searching for
three suspects," referring to Mladic, a former leader of Croatian Serb
forces Goran Hadzic, and Stojan Zupljanin, a Bosnian Serb police
commander during the war. AG
[36] MANDATE OF UN TRIBUNAL'S CHIEF PROSECUTOR EXTENDED
The UN Security Council on September 14 officially extended the mandate
of ICTY chief prosecutor Del Ponte until the end of the year. Russia
abstained from the vote, making it the only one of the council's 15
members not to back the Swiss prosecutor. Del Ponte, who had intended
to step down at the end of September, said already in June that she had
been asked and agreed to stay in office until December 31 while the UN
seeks a replacement (see "RFE/RL Newsline," June 28 and August 27,
2007). The UN did not say who will replace Del Ponte, who has already
served two four-year terms. Speculation has centered on Serge
Brammertz, a Belgian lawyer who was once a senior figure in the
International Criminal Court. Brammertz is currently heading a UN
investigation into the killing of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq
Hariri, but his mandate expires at the end of the year. Del Ponte will
serve as Switzerland's ambassador to Argentina when she leaves her post
at the ICTY (see "RFE/RL Newsline," August 27, 2007). AG
[37] PREMIER WANTS NEUTRALITY FOR SERBIA
Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica on September 15 rejected the
idea of Serbia joining NATO. "Serbia should retain full military
neutrality," local media quoted him as saying. "Its state and national
interest is to remain outside any military alliances," he said at a
meeting of the leadership of his party, the Democratic Party of Serbia
(DSS). A series of DSS leaders have said in the past month that they
believe the United States wants to make Kosova a "puppet state" of NATO
(see "RFE/RL Newsline," August 16, 20, 21, and 24, and September 4,
2007). "How could Serbia join a military alliance which first bombards
us, then comes to Kosovo using military forces and in the end, evades
the UN's Security Council and recognizes the unilaterally declared
independence of an organic part of our country?" Kostunica asked. AG
Southwestern Asia And The Middle East
[38] IRANIAN ARMS SHIPMENT HEADED FOR TALIBAN INTERCEPTED IN
AFGHANISTAN
NATO-led forces in Afghanistan on September 6 intercepted Iranian arms
destined for the Taliban in western Farah Province, the third shipment
of its kind interdicted by the international force in what appears to
be an increasing arms transfer between the two countries, "The
Washington Post" reported on September 16. The NATO-led International
Security Assistance Force (ISAF) seized smaller weapons shipments
coming from Iran into Afghanistan's southern Helmand Province, a
Taliban stronghold, on April 11 and May 3 (see "RFE/RL Newsline," April
18 and June 5, 2007). All three shipments included explosively formed
projectiles (EFPs), a type of bomb capable of piercing armored vehicles
and frequently used against troops in Iraq. While the transport of EFPs
is troubling to officials, it was the size and location of the shipment
that gave reason for increased concern, a U.S. official said in
Washington. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official said the
"large shipment...got people's attention," adding that the change of
location to the less populated Farah Province indicated the smugglers
are varying their routes in an attempt to avoid capture. A senior
Iranian official called the allegation baseless, contending that Tehran
has no interest in an unstable Iraq or Afghanistan. The official, who
spoke on condition of anonymity because he was unauthorized to comment
on the incident, said Iran has "good neighborly relations" with Afghan
President Hamid Karzai. "Why should we send weapons to the opposition?"
the official contended. In June, U.S. Undersecretary of State for
Political Affairs Nicholas Burns publicly accused Iran of aiding the
Taliban (see "RFE/RL Newsline," June 14, 2007), and Defense Secretary
Robert Gates said it is unlikely Iranian officials were not aware of
the shipments (see "RFE/RL Newsline," June 5, 2007). Karzai has
publicly downplayed the allegations, referring to the two countries as
"brothers," yet other Afghan officials have privately expressed concern
over the intercepted weapons (see "RFE/RL Newsline," July 2, 2007). JC
[39] BANGLADESHI AID WORKER ABDUCTED IN SOUTHERN AFGHANISTAN
A Bangladeshi aid worker involved with administering poverty
alleviation programs was kidnapped from his office on September 15 in a
brazen daytime attack, "The Washington Post" reported the next day.
Noor Islam, who works for the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee
(BRAC), was forcibly taken from his office in Logar Province just south
of Kabul by at least four men dressed as police officers, who also
stole $600, Logar Governor Abdullah Wardak told Reuters. AFP reported
that six men broke into the Pul-e Alam office, where Islam was working
on a microfinancing project. Gunendu Roy, the director of BRAC's Afghan
mission, said it is unclear who is behind the kidnapping. Wardak said
he does not believe there is a political motive behind the kidnapping,
but that the kidnappers are probably criminals seeking to secure a
ransom. JC
[40] AT LEAST 12 SUSPECTED MILITANTS KILLED IN CLASHES ACROSS
AFGHANISTAN
Afghan and coalition forces on September 16 killed more than a dozen
suspected militants during clashes in Afghanistan's volatile Helmand
Province, AP reported. Coalition forces used small-arms fire and air
strikes during the early-morning operation in Garmsir district, a
coalition statement said. The clash was instigated by an afternoon
insurgent strike on September 15 in which an estimated 40 militants
armed with mortars and rocket-propelled grenades attacked an Afghan
police and coalition patrol in Helmand's Musa Qala district. At least
10 insurgents were killed when the joint forces called in air strikes
as part of a counterattack. No civilians were reported injured in
either battle, the coalition said. Meanwhile, four rebels were killed
and five others wounded in an overnight battle that erupted on
September 15 after insurgents attacked a police post in the eastern
province of Paktia, provincial police chief Esmatullah Alizai told AFP.
Five other rebels were wounded in that attack, he added. Elsewhere in
Ghazni Province, Andar district chief Abdul Rahim Desewal was wounded
on September 15 after a remote-controlled bomb hidden in a bag on a
bicycle outside his home exploded. Two bodyguards and 12 civilians were
also wounded in the attack, police official Hayatullah Khan said. JC
[41] MINISTER SAYS RUSSIAN NUCLEAR FUEL READY FOR IRANIAN POWER PLANT
Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki said in Tehran on September
15 that fuel due to be delivered by Russia to the Bushehr nuclear power
plant in southern Iran is ready, and has been sealed and inspected by
the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Radio Farda reported,
citing news agency reports. Mottaki was speaking at a press conference
with his Belgian counterpart Karel de Gucht. The power plant is being
built by Russia but has been subject to repetitive delays, due to
payment problems according to Russia, though Iran denies it owes any
money. Mottaki said the fuel-delivery problem was recently discussed by
telephone between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Mahmud Ahmadinejad, and
Iran hopes the "fuel delivery will be carried out soon." Mottaki was in
Moscow last week to discuss bilateral agreements and the Bushehr
project with the head of the Russian Federal Atomic Energy Agency
(Rosatom), Sergei Kiriyenko, and officials of Atomstroieksport, the
Russian contractor, Radio Farda reported, citing ISNA. Mottaki said
cooperation over Bushehr is now "moving ahead," AP reported on
September 16, citing a state television report. VS
[42] IRANIAN INTERIOR MINISTER 'FINALIZES' DEALS IN CHINA
Interior Minister Mustafa Purmohammadi was in China on September 13 and
14, where he reportedly "finalized" various oil and gas deals, "Kayhan"
reported on September 16, citing news agency reports. Purmohammadi said
the two countries intend to bring the level of trade exchanges "this
year" to $20 billion. Purmohammadi told reporters in Beijing on
September 14 that China supports talks and disapproves of sanctions in
resolving the dispute over Iran's nuclear program, and he said Iran
will adopt "other means" if the UN Security Council imposes more
sanctions to curb its nuclear activities. He met on September 14 with
Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and senior foreign-policy adviser
Tang Jiaxuan, AP reported, citing Xinhua. Purmohammadi did not give
details of the energy deals signed with China but this apparently
encompassed projects with oil and gas fields, related investment, and
fuel transportation, Bahrain's "Gulf Daily News" reported on September
15. Purmohammadi is to appear before the Iranian parliament's National
Security and Foreign Policy Committee on September 19 to answer
legislators' questions, IRNA reported on September 16. VS
[43] FRANCE MOVES CLOSER TO U.S. ON IRAN SANCTIONS...
France is working discreetly to forge a EU consensus on imposing
sanctions on Iran outside the framework of the UN Security Council,
lemonde.fr reported on September 13. The daily noted this as a sign of
closer diplomatic positions between France under its new president,
Nicolas Sarkozy, and the administration of U.S. President George W.
Bush. The daily noted that in the absence of a EU consensus, France and
Great Britain would seek the support of "volunteer" states for
sanctions -- in response to Iran's ongoing refusal to suspend sensitive
nuclear fuel-making activities. Sarkozy reportedly discussed these
sanctions with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on September 10 in
Meseberg; she is reportedly in favor, but not assured of the backing of
some of her coalition partners in the cabinet, notably Foreign Minister
Frank-Walter Steinmeier. "Le Monde" added that specific sanction
proposals have not been officially discussed yet among EU members in
Brussels, but that France may be envisaging an expansion of the list of
Iranian firms, personalities, and banks whose assets would be frozen or
which would be banned from transactions in the EU. "Le Monde" opined in
an editorial the same day that while "Iran is scary" and must provide
the assurances the world requires on its program, Sarkozy's new
diplomatic direction might provoke China and Russia or certain European
states to challenge the positions of a "new Washington-London-Paris"
axis. Alignment with the "Bush administration, which is also at times
frightening and whose diplomacy is strongly contested, would tarnish"
the image of France with states opposed to Bush administration
policies, lemonde.fr added. VS
[44] ...AS FRENCH MINISTER EVOKES WORST SCENARIO FOR IRAN
Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner told a French television audience on
September 16 that the international community or Western states should
prepare themselves "for the worst" -- specifically war -- if Iran
continues with its contested nuclear activities, even if negotiations
must continue as far as possible, AFP reported. Kouchner said Iran has
to be told, "we shall not accept the construction of this bomb,"
referring to Iran's suspected bid to produce nuclear weapons. "Suspend
uranium enrichment and you will see we are serious," he added, in a
hypothetical message from the international community to Iran. He said
nevertheless that "we have to negotiate to the end." He referred to the
possibility of expanded sanctions against Iran beyond any approved by
the UN Security Council, while negotiations with Tehran continue. "Our
German friends have proposed this," he said, adding that enhanced
sanctions would target financial and banking transactions, AFP
reported. VS
[45] IRAN CALLS FOR TIMED U.S. DEPARTURE FROM IRAQ
Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini said in Tehran on
September 16 that Iran favors a "gradual and planned" withdrawal of
U.S. forces from Iraq and that a "sudden withdrawal...will certainly
lead to insecurity. But there is no doubt on the need for their
departure," Radio Farda reported, citing Iranian news agency reports.
The broadcaster reported that Hosseini was corroborating previous
comments made to the Al-Jazeera network by Supreme National Security
Council Secretary Ali Larijani. Larijani said that "we do not want an
immediate departure," and the United States should work out a timetable
with the Iraqi government, "Aftab-i Yazd" reported on September 16.
Hosseini said Iran is ready to hold another round of talks on security
in Iraq with U.S. diplomats if the Iraqis ask for it. VS
[46] IRAQI SHI'ITE CLERIC'S BLOC WITHDRAWS FROM GOVERNMENT COALITION
Radical Shi'ite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's political bloc announced on
September 15 that it is withdrawing from the ruling Shi'ite-led United
Iraqi Alliance (UIA), Al-Jazeera satellite television reported the same
day. "The political committee has declared the withdrawal of the
Al-Sadr bloc from the alliance because there was no visible indication
that the demands of al-Sadr's bloc were being met," the bloc said in a
statement. The group has bitterly complained that the Iraqi government
has sidelined it in the political process and refused to consult with
it in the decision-making process. Salah al-Ubaydi, a spokesman for
al-Sadr's bloc, stressed that the refusal of the UIA to make the
political process more inclusive left the bloc with no alternative but
to withdraw from the alliance. "We tried hard to make the UIA pay
attention to the affairs and concerns of ordinary citizens and give
this matter top priority, but the coalition failed to show seriousness
in this regard," al-Ubaydi said. Other officials from al-Sadr's group
have called on government and U.S. forces to stop targeting the group's
militia, the Imam Al-Mahdi Army, which was widely blamed for the
violence during a Shi'ite religious festival in the holy city of
Karbala last month that killed 52 people. The Al-Sadr bloc has 32 seats
in the 275-seat Iraqi parliament and its departure from the UIA leaves
the alliance with only 83 seats. SS
[47] AL-DA'WAH PARTY-IRAQ ORGANIZATION MAY PULL OUT OF ALLIANCE
Abd al-Karim al-Anzi, leader of the Al-Da'wah Party-Iraq Organization,
warned on September 16 that if the current Shi'ite rift is not healed,
then his party may leave the UIA and form an alliance with al-Sadr's
group, the independent Voices of Iraq news agency reported the same
day. "If our attempts prove unsuccessful, we will seriously consider
forming an alliance with the Al-Sadr movement, Al-Fadilah Party, and
others," al-Anzi said. He also blamed Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki for
triggering the current crisis within the UIA when he initiated a
four-way political alliance without consulting all UIA parties. On
August 15, the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council, the Islamic Al-Da'wah
Party, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, and the Kurdistan Democratic
Party formed a moderates' front as a means of ending months of
political paralysis (see "RFE/RL Newsline," August 16, 2007). SS
[48] U.S. FORCES CAPTURE SUSPECT IN IRAQI TRIBAL SHEIKH'S KILLING
The U.S. military announced in a statement on September 16 that it has
captured an Al-Qaeda in Iraq suspect in the assassination of Sheikh Abd
al-Sattar Abu Rishah, the leader of the Al-Anbar Salvation Council. The
military said it arrested Fallah Khalifa Hiyas Fayas al-Jumayli, also
known as Abu Khamis, during a September 15 operation west of Balad.
Intelligence reports indicated al-Jumayli has close ties to senior
Al-Qaeda leaders in the region, and was also involved in several car
bombings and suicide attacks in Al-Anbar Governorate. "The Iraqi people
have made great strides toward securing their country, and we will not
tolerate Al-Qaeda in Iraq's attempts to derail that progress," U.S.
military spokesman Major Winfield Danielson said. Abu Rishah and one of
his bodyguards were killed by a roadside bomb in Al-Ramadi on September
13 (see "RFE/RL Newsline," September 14, 2007). Al-Qaeda in Iraq issued
an Internet statement on September 14 claiming responsibility for the
attack. SS
[49] IRAQI ISLAMIC PARTY SACKS PLANNING MINISTER
The Iraqi Islamic Party announced on September 15 that it has dismissed
Planning Minister Ali Baban from the party after he decided to rejoin
Prime Minister al-Maliki's cabinet on September 13, KUNA reported the
same day. The Iraqi Islamic Party issued a statement describing Baban's
return as conflicting with the stance of the party and the Sunni-led
Iraqi Accordance Front to continue the boycott of the al-Maliki
government. "He disregarded the fact that he was one of the makers of
the boycott decision. Baban's move goes counter to the national
interests of Iraq. We cannot accept such a move from an Iraqi Islamic
Party member, especially after we preferred him [Baban] to other
members and nominated him to the post," the party said in a statement.
On August 1, the Accordance Front withdrew its six ministers from
al-Maliki's cabinet after he failed to meet the front's list of 11
demands (see "RFE/RL Newsline," August 1, 2007). The Iraqi Islamic
Party is one of the main components of the Accordance Front. SS
[50] IRAQI KURDS DEMAND OIL MINISTER'S REMOVAL
The Kurdish regional government (KRG) issued a statement on September
14 calling for the removal of Iraqi Oil Minister Husayn al-Shahristani,
after he described recent oil contracts by the KRG as "illegal,"
international media reported the same day. The KRG claimed that
al-Shahristani's comments were tantamount to interfering in the
internal affairs of the Kurdish region and accused him of favoring
contracts with companies that operated under the regime of former Iraqi
President Saddam Hussein. "But once again, he [al-Shahristani] has
repeated his false mantra of 'it is illegal.' Unfortunately this has
been his way of dealing with the legitimate concerns of the
hard-working oil-union members in the south, with the achievements of
the KRG, or with any other organization that he does not like," the
statement said. On September 8, the KRG signed a production-sharing
contract with the U.S.-based Hunt Oil Company and Impulse Energy
Corporation to conduct petroleum exploration in northern Iraq. In
response, al-Shahristani described the deal and all previous contracts
between the KRG and foreign firms as illegal, since a federal oil law
has yet to be passed in parliament. The Kurdish parliament passed its
own hydrocarbon law in early August. SS
[51] DEATH SENTENCES OF FORMER IRAQI OFFICIALS SENT TO FEDERAL COURT
Iraqi High Tribunal prosecutor Ja'fari al-Musawi announced on September
16 that the three death sentences in the Anfal case have been referred
to Iraqi Federal Court, Voices of Iraq reported the same day. Al-Musawi
said the Federal Court will determine whether the executions can be
carried out without a presidential decree, as stated in Iraqi law. He
also noted that no date has been set for the executions and the
sentences are not likely to be carried out during the holy month of
Ramadan. An Iraqi appeals court upheld the death sentences for Ba'ath
Party official Ali Hasan al-Majid, former Defense Minister Sultan
Hashim Ahmad al-Tai, and the former deputy director of operations for
the Iraqi armed forces, Hussein Rashid Muhammad, for their roles in the
Anfal military campaign in 1987-88 (see "RFE/RL Newsline," September 5,
2007). Prosecutors contend that more than 180,000 Kurds were killed in
the campaign. The death sentences created a controversy after Iraqi
President Jalal Talabani called for al-Tai to be spared because he
engaged in unofficial contacts with the Kurdish community while serving
under the former regime (see "RFE/RL Newsline," September 10, 2007). In
response, Judge Munir Hadad, a member of the High Tribunal, said the
executions will take place even without a presidential decree (see
"RFE/RL Newsline," September 11, 2007). SS
End Note
[52] THERE IS NO END NOTE TODAY.
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