OMRI Daily Digest II, No. 82, 26 April 1995

From: "Steve Iatrou" <[email protected]>

CONTENTS

  • [01] HEALTH CONSEQUENCES OF CHORNOBYL DISASTER.

  • [02] BRITISH WANT OUT OF GORAZDE.

  • [03] RUSSIA DEFENDS KARADZIC, MLADIC . . .

  • [04] .. . . WHILE KARADZIC WELCOMES SERBIAN PATRIARCH.

  • [05] BELGRADE STANDS FIRM ON SANCTIONS.

  • [06] MAZOWIECKI REPORT ON BOSNIA.

  • [07] KOSOVAR SCHOOLS PREVENTED FROM RESUMING CLASSES.

  • [08] BULGARIAN OPPOSITION WARNS OF RECOMMUNIZATION.

  • [09] BULGARIAN PRIME MINISTER ON EU MEMBERSHIP.

  • [10] ALBANIAN-U.S. NAVAL COOPERATION.

    •

    OMRI DAILY DIGEST

    No. 82, Part II, 26 April 1995

    EAST-CENTRAL EUROPE

    [01] HEALTH CONSEQUENCES OF CHORNOBYL DISASTER.

    On the eve of the ninth anniversary of the 1986 accident at the Chornobyl nuclear power plant, a special medical seminar revealed the results of research conducted by the Ukrainian Health Ministry among 1 million residents in the three regions most affected by the blast, Interfax-Ukraine reported on 25 April. The research revealed that in Kiev, Zhytomyr, and Rivne Oblasts, the incidence of thyroid cancer has increased by 200%, heart disease 75%, respiratory diseases 130%, and digestive illnesses 280% The death rate among inhabitants has risen by 15.7% since the accident. Health care officials also revealed that health consequences are most serious among the 233,507 cleanup workers, who have been exposed to high levels of radiation. -- Chrystyna Lapychak, OMRI, Inc.

    SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE

    [02] BRITISH WANT OUT OF GORAZDE.

    Britain on 25 April announced that it is seeking relief for its contingent of 350 peacekeepers patrolling the Bosnian Muslim enclave of Gorazde, in eastern Bosnia. "We have asked the UN to try to find a replacement . . . when [the British peacekeepers'] tour ends in September," Reuters quoted a representative of the British Ministry of Defense as saying. The latest British announcement comes in the wake of a similar Dutch request to have soldiers relieved from duty in Srebrenica. -- Stan Markotich, OMRI, Inc.

    [03] RUSSIA DEFENDS KARADZIC, MLADIC . . .

    Moscow has reacted negatively to the international war crimes tribunal decision to name Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic and his military counterpart, General Ratko Mladic, as possible war criminals. One senior Russian diplomat has stressed that bringing charges against them may escalate tensions throughout the country. "Such a step would be damaging to peace efforts in the Balkans . . . . [The Bosnian Serb leaders] are seen as freedom fighters by one side and as criminals by the other," he told Interfax on 25 April. -- Stan Markotich, OMRI, Inc.

    [04] .. . . WHILE KARADZIC WELCOMES SERBIAN PATRIARCH.

    Karadzic, together with speaker of the Bosnian Serb legislature Momcilo Krajisnik, received Serbian Orthodox Patriarch Pavle in the Bosnian Serb stronghold of Pale on 25 April, Nasa Borba reported. Pavle used the occasion to sharply criticize Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic for allegedly abandoning the Bosnian Serbs and imposing a blockade against them. He also gave his indirect support to Bosnian Serb military efforts, observing "It is better to die than to betray our soul." The patriarch commented that "our forefathers fought . . . in defense of their freedom, land, and faith." -- Stan Markotich, OMRI, Inc.

    [05] BELGRADE STANDS FIRM ON SANCTIONS.

    Federal rump Yugoslav Premier Radoje Kontic is the latest major Belgrade political figure to attack recent moves by the international community to tighten requirements for lifting or suspending sanctions against rump Yugoslavia. He is quoted by Nasa Borba on 26 April as saying Belgrade "has earned a complete lifting of the sanctions." Meanwhile, Politika reported the same day that Russia continues its lobbying to have sanctions removed against its Balkan allies. According to the daily, Aleksandr Zotov, representative to the international Contact Group, has said that "until the sanctions are lifted, Belgrade is not prepared to extend diplomatic recognition to Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina." -- Stan Markotich, OMRI, Inc.

    [06] MAZOWIECKI REPORT ON BOSNIA.

    Tadeusz Mazowiecki, special rapporteur of the UN Human Rights Commission, has submitted his 15th report since 1992 on human rights violations in former Yugoslavia, according to international agencies. The report focuses on the Banja Luka and Prijedor region, where non-Serbs have reportedly been "subjected to unrelenting terrorization and discrimination," including plundering, beating, and compulsory service on labor brigades, which often use them as human shields on the front lines. Mazowiecki notes that "the de facto Bosnian Serb authorities are very close to attaining their apparent aim of achieving 'ethnic purity' in territory under their control." The former Polish premier has been denied access to territory held by Bosnian Serbs forces, but his report was based on interviews with recent Muslim and Croatian refugees. -- Fabian Schmidt, OMRI, Inc.

    [07] KOSOVAR SCHOOLS PREVENTED FROM RESUMING CLASSES.

    Serbian directors of several elementary schools in Pec, Prizren, and Pristina prevented Albanian staff and pupils from entering the buildings on 24 April, the Kosovo Information Center reported the next day. The schools are for Albanians and Serbs and offer instruction in both languages. But this week has been declared a public holiday by the Serbian authorities to celebrate the anniversary of the foundation of the rump Yugoslavia on 27 April 1992. Private schools run by all-Albanian staff are the only ones in Kosovo to continue classes. Serbian police reportedly also threatened Albanians who allowed secondary school pupils to receive instruction in their house. -- Fabian Schmidt, OMRI, Inc.

    [08] BULGARIAN OPPOSITION WARNS OF RECOMMUNIZATION.

    The Union of Democratic Forces, in a memorandum to the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly, has warned of attempts by the government to recommunize the country, Demokratsiya reported on 25 April. The UDF claims the Socialist government's activities have halted economic and political reform and are a step back toward a totalitarian regime. It also notes that the opposition is being denied access to the media, "which are controlled by the government." -- Stefan Krause, OMRI, Inc.

    [09] BULGARIAN PRIME MINISTER ON EU MEMBERSHIP.

    Zhan Videnov, during his visit to Brussels, said on 25 April that he hopes his country will be granted membership in the European Union within the next five years, Reuters reported the same day. He commented that Bulgaria "must prepare very thoroughly" for membership and that talks can begin only after the EU has reviewed the Maastricht treaty in 1996. At a press conference after his meeting with European Commission President Jacques Santer, Videnov said he realized that hopes for a quick admission into the EU are "wishful thinking." Videnov also met with NATO Secretary-General Willy Claes, who praised Bulgaria's participation in the Partnership for Peace program as "very useful," Demokratsiya reported on 26 April. He added, however, that NATO membership for Bulgaria and other East European countries "is not on the daily agenda." -- Stefan Krause, OMRI, Inc.

    [10] ALBANIAN-U.S. NAVAL COOPERATION.

    Albanian Defense Minister Safet Zhulali met with a high-ranking U.S. naval official on 25 April, Rilindja reported the next day. The two men discussed developing cooperation between the two navies, especially in the field of hydrography. The U.S. navy offered the Albanians modern equipment and handed over coastal maps of American origin. -- Fabian Schmidt, OMRI, Inc.

    This material was reprinted with permission of the Open Media Research Institute, a Prague-based nonprofit organization.

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