OMRI Daily Digest II, No. 91, 11 May 1995
CONTENTS
[01] SHELL EXPLODES IN SERBIA.
[02] MORTAR ATTACK ON SARAJEVO.
[03] TENSIONS IN CROATIA.
[04] CONFLICT OVER BULGARIAN LAND LAW CONTINUES.
[05] BULGARIA, MOLDOVA DISCUSS NUCLEAR WASTE TRANSPORT.
[06] ALBANIA TO PARTICIPATE IN MANEUVERS IN GREECE.
OMRI DAILY DIGEST
No. 91, Part II, 11 May 1995
SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE
[01] SHELL EXPLODES IN SERBIA.
Tanjug on 10 May reported that a shell
exploded in the Serbian border town of Mali Zvornik, killing one person
and wounding two. Rump Yugoslavia's UN ambassador Dra-gomir Djokic has
protested the incident to the Security Council, observing that Belgrade
will not tolerate attacks against its territory. Serbian officials have
alleged that the shell was lobbed, possibly by long-range artillery,
from behind Bosnian-Muslim lines. Reuters noted that the closest held
Bosnian government lines are proximately 20 km northwest of the Serbian
town, which is situated on the River Drina. -- Stan Markotich, OMRI,
Inc.
[02] MORTAR ATTACK ON SARAJEVO.
At least two mortar shells slammed into the
old-town of Sarajevo on 10 May, injuring at least four people. Fighting
in and around the city has intensified in the past few days,
international media reported. Incidents of sniping are also said to have
increased. Reuters on 10 May reported that fighting has intensified in a
number of areas throughout Bosnia-Herzegovina, notably in the north,
where Croatian and Serbian forces engaged in an artillery duel the same
day. The Bosnian Serb news agency SRNA alleges that Croatian shelling of
the corridor running between Brcko and Orasje has left 15 civilians
wounded. Meanwhile, Bosnian Serb forces have said they shot down a
helicopter in the Muslim enclave of Zepa on 7 May, killing 12 and
wounding 11. -- Stan Markotich, OMRI, Inc.
[03] TENSIONS IN CROATIA.
Tensions appear to be on the rise in and near
Sector South of Croatia, where both the rebel Krajina Serbs and the
Croatian military are seeking to strengthen their positions, according
to Nasa Borba on 11 May. The situation in that part of the country
prompted the UN the previous day to warn that hostilities in
southwestern Croatia, near the self-styled Krajina Serb capital of Knin,
could erupt into open military action. Meanwhile, Krajina Serb President
Milan Martic on 10 May alleged that Croatian forces "slaughtered" 150
people during their advance on Serb-held territories in Western
Slavonia. Reuters observed that Slobodan Jarcevic, an adviser to Martic,
had previously alleged that some 400 people were killed, but he offered
no concrete evidence. -- Stan Markotich, OMRI, Inc.
[04] CONFLICT OVER BULGARIAN LAND LAW CONTINUES.
The National Assembly on 10
May reapproved an amendment to the land restitution law, despite
President Zhelyu Zhelev's objections, Western agencies reported the same
day. The amendment stipulates that landowners wishing to sell their land
must first offer it to their neighbors and then to the state, which has
two months to decide whether to buy it. The amendment was passed by the
Socialist-led parliament on 14 April but then vetoed two weeks later by
Zhelev, who argued that it contradicts the constitution. He also said
that he would take the matter to the Constitutional Court if the
parliament overruled his veto. -- Stefan Krause, OMRI, Inc.
[05] BULGARIA, MOLDOVA DISCUSS NUCLEAR WASTE TRANSPORT.
Bulgaria and Moldova
on 10 May resumed talks on transporting nuclear waste from Bulgaria to
Russia via Moldova, Reuters reported the same day. Moldovan Deputy Prime
Minister Valentin Cunev said that the two countries agreed in principle
but that the matter has to be discussed very carefully for security
reasons. Nikita Shervashidze, chairman of Bulgaria's Energy Committee,
noted that the talks also included supplying Bulgaria with some Russian
gas and oil from Moldova's quota. Since the breakup of the Soviet Union,
Bulgaria has had to negotiate with Russia, Ukraine, and Moldova to
obtain nuclear fuel and dispose of waste from the Kozloduy nuclear
plant. Russia agreed in March to reprocess the spent fuel from the
facility's six reactors. Russia and Bulgaria are expected to sign an
agreement on nuclear matters during Russian Prime Minister Viktor
Cherno-myrdin's visit to Sofia on 18-19 May. Cunev was in Sofia to mark
the beginning of regular Air Moldova services between Chisinau and
Sofia. -- Stefan Krause, OMRI, Inc.
[06] ALBANIA TO PARTICIPATE IN MANEUVERS IN GREECE.
Albanian troops will
participate in five-nation maneuvers in Greece from 22-26 May, AFP
reported on 10 May. Albanian Defense Minister Safet Zhulali said that 40
soldiers will be sent to Kalamata to take part in the "Spirit 95"
exercises, which are part of NATO's Partnership for Peace program.
Zhulali noted that this is the first time Albanian soldiers are
participating in maneuvers outside Albania. He also commented that the
exercises are "testimony to the reinforcement of relations between
Greece and Albania in the military domain." Taking part are troops from
Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Albania, and the U.S. Observers from Great
Britain, Germany, and Italy will also be present. Albania jointed the
Partnership for Peace program in February 1994 and signed a cooperation
agreement with NATO in January 1995. -- Stefan Krause, OMRI, Inc.
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