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OMRI: Daily Digest, Vol. 3, No. 21, 97-01-30
From: Open Media Research Institute <http://www.omri.cz>
Vol. 3, No. 21, 30 January 1997
CONTENTS
[A] TRANSCAUCASIA AND CENTRAL ASIA
[01] BAKU PROTESTS U.S. CONGRESSMAN'S VISIT TO NAGORNO-KARABAKH.
[02] MANDATE OF RUSSIAN PEACEKEEPERS IN ABKHAZIA TO BE EXTENDED?
[03] GENERALS SENTENCED IN AZERBAIJAN.
[04] KAZAKSTAN RESIDENCY POLL.
[05] KAZAKSTAN NOT ADHERING TO CUSTOMS AGREEMENTS?
[06] TAJIK-UZBEK AGREEMENTS.
[B] SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE
[07] ALBANIAN MILITARY REMOVED FROM PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
[08] ALBANIAN SOCIALISTS CLAIM 500 MEMBERS ARRESTED.
[09] NATIONWIDE STRIKES, PROTESTS IN BULGARIA.
[10] BULGARIA STRUGGLES WITH HIGH INFLATION.
[11] BELGRADE POLICE KEEP A LOW PROFILE . . .
[12] . . . AS ZAJEDNO LEADERS VOW TO CONTINUE PROTESTS.
[13] CLINTON RULES OUT ROLE FOR SFOR IN CATCHING WAR CRIMINALS.
[14] PLAVSIC SAYS MUSLIMS CAN COME HOME.
[15] BOSNIAN MUSLIMS, CROATS REACH ACCORD ON JOINT ARMY.
[16] SERBS BLOCK ACCESS TO PENSION OFFICES IN EASTERN SLAVONIA.
[17] ROMANIA SEEKS CLOSER TIES WITH NEIGHBORS.
[A] TRANSCAUCASIA AND CENTRAL ASIA
[01] BAKU PROTESTS U.S. CONGRESSMAN'S VISIT TO NAGORNO-KARABAKH.
Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ), co-chair of the 54-member Armenian Caucus in the
U.S. Congress, addressed the parliament of the self-proclaimed Republic of
Nagorno-Karabakh on 28 January, international media reported. Pallone,
whose caucus opposes lifting the 1992 congressional ban on direct U.S. aid
to Azerbaijan said Nagorno-Karabakh's population would be under the
constant threat of "genocide, deportation, or annihilation" if the region
remains part of Azerbaijan. He added that Azerbaijani oil should not affect
the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict "at the expense of its
population." The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry protested to the U.S. Embassy
in Baku that Pallone's visit will "infringe on Azerbaijan's sovereignty and
territorial integrity," Turan reported on 28 January. -- Emil Danielyan
[02] MANDATE OF RUSSIAN PEACEKEEPERS IN ABKHAZIA TO BE EXTENDED?
Vladislav Ardzinba, the president of the breakaway Republic of Abkhazia,
called for the extension of the Russian-led CIS peacekeepers' mandate
beyond 31 January, Sakinform news agency reported on 27 January as
monitored by the BBC. The mandate's extension, which has been recommended
by the CIS Council of Defense Ministers, will be discussed at the scheduled
March CIS summit. Georgian State Minister Niko Lekishvili said Georgia will
take a "tough stance" on the issue but did not specify whether his country
will block any decision to extend the mandate, ITAR-TASS reported on 29
January. Meanwhile, the leadership of the Tbilisi-based pro-Georgian
government of Abkhazia opposed any further presence of the peacekeepers,
accusing them of "taking the Abkhaz side," according to a BGI agency report
monitored by the BBC. -- Emil Danielyan
[03] GENERALS SENTENCED IN AZERBAIJAN.
Azerbaijan's Supreme Court sentenced two former high-ranking security
officials to lengthy prison terms for treason on 29 January, Russian and
Western media reported the same day. Former Deputy Defense Minister Vakhid
Musaev and Interior Ministry Troops Commander Rafik Agaev received
sentences of 15 and 11 years, respectively. They were convicted of plotting
to shoot down the plane of President Heidar Aliev. More than a dozen others
involved in the plot were sentenced to terms ranging from five to 13 years.
-- Lowell Bezanis
[04] KAZAKSTAN RESIDENCY POLL.
ITAR-TASS on 29 January cited statistics from an article in Kazakstanskaya
pravda from the same day showing that 88% of ethnic Kazaks, 57% of
Russians, and 54% of other ethnic groups in Kazakstan regard themselves as
permanent residents of the country. The Institute for the Development of
Kazakstan conducted the survey, which also showed that 4% of Kazaks, 25% of
Russians, and nearly 33% of other ethnic groups consider themselves to be
potential emigrants. Further, 3% of the population deem themselves citizens
of Russia, 39% citizens of the CIS, and 22% citizens of the former Soviet
Union. -- Bruce Pannier
[05] KAZAKSTAN NOT ADHERING TO CUSTOMS AGREEMENTS?
Russian Minister for Cooperation with CIS States Aman Tuleyev claims
Kazakstan has unilaterally broken agreements made with Russia on import
duties, according to a 29 January ITAR-TASS report. The two countries,
members of a customs union with Belarus and Kyrgyzstan, set the import
tariff on Russian goods entering Kazakstan at 0.2%, but customs services in
Kazakstan are charging up to 30%. Additionally, Kazakstani customs services
are sometimes charging as much as $300 as an escort service fee for
passenger cargo, though the Russian ministry says a customs worker will
"immediately recede into unobtrusiveness if he is bribed." Tuleyev has sent
a letter to Kazakstani Customs Service head Nigmatzhan Isingarin regarding
these practices, noting that they could damage economic contacts between
the two states. -- Bruce Pannier
[06] TAJIK-UZBEK AGREEMENTS.
During the 27 January visit of Tajik Prime Minister Yahya Azimov to
Tashkent, agreements were reached on gas and freight transportation and the
development of communication ties in 1997, Uzbek Television reported the
same day. Earlier this month, talks on the same issues broke down.
Tajikistan purchases all its gas, an estimated 1.1 billion cubic meters a
year, from Uzbekistan. It appears Dushanbe appears to have persuaded
Uzbekistan to sell it gas at a concessionary price of $50 per 1,000 cubic
meters. -- Lowell Bezanis
[B] SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE
[07] ALBANIAN MILITARY REMOVED FROM PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
Army personnel sent to guard key buildings in central Tirana last weekend
left on 30 January, AFP reported. Tritan Shehu, who is foreign minister and
head of the governing Democratic Party, said "the situation is calm this
morning and it is no longer necessary to keep the army outside public
buildings." They were sent in response to the unrest resulting from the
collapse of pyramid schemes. Following those protests, the government
claimed that damage to state and public property totaled $50 million. The
previous day, President Sali Berisha said that victims of two scams will be
compensated but not entirely and only in stages lest there be serious
damage to the economy, VOA reported. This approach risks generating even
more unrest, however. Meanwhile in Washington, State Department spokesman
Nicholas Burns said: "The United States remains very concerned about the
political and economic unrest in Albania," and has dispatched two
economists to Tirana. -- Patrick Moore
[08] ALBANIAN SOCIALISTS CLAIM 500 MEMBERS ARRESTED.
The opposition Socialist Party's daily Zeri i Popullit wrote on 30
January that police the previous day arrested 500 of its members, AFP
reported. The Socialists charge that the authorities are using moves
against the unrest as a pretext for cracking down on the opposition. The
Democrats, in turn, have accused the Socialists of stirring up trouble and
violence by politicizing the anger of those who lost their savings in the
scams. The Interior Ministry said: "In all regions where there were
incidents, a considerable number of citizens who committed acts of violence
[were taken into custody]. The police have information and irrefutable
documents proving that the persons in question encouraged, organized, or
committed acts of violence and participated in the destruction of
government property." It is unclear whether those rounded up have been
formally arrested or just detained. -- Patrick Moore
[09] NATIONWIDE STRIKES, PROTESTS IN BULGARIA.
One-hour warning strikes, rallies, and temporary street blockades took
place throughout Bulgaria on 29-30 January in response to a strike call by
the country's three main trade unions, RFE/RL reported. The strike action,
which did not affect key industries, was supported by the opposition. Up to
50,000 people demonstrated in Sofia, while protests also took place in
other cities. Meanwhile, Interior Minister Nikolay Dobrev, who is the
Bulgarian Socialist Party's premier-designate, called on the opposition to
join talks on holding early parliamentary elections within three to five
months, saying that such a ballot was the "only alternative," AFP reported.
He added that if a coalition government were to be formed, someone else
might become premier. Meanwhile, Union of Democratic Forces Chairman Ivan
Kostov said no talks on a coalition government will be held unless Dobrev
gives up his mandate to form a government. -- Stefan Krause
[10] BULGARIA STRUGGLES WITH HIGH INFLATION.
The outgoing government on 29 January announced that public-sector wages
and pensions will be doubled beginning 1 February, Duma reported. However,
these increases will not be paid out in full until the end of February.
First, the parliament must pass legislation enabling the government to
function before adoption of the 1997 budget. It is expected that such a law
will be passed today. The government has also prepared a memorandum to the
EU requesting $23.5 million for one-time payments of up to 6,000 leva
($5.87) to Bulgaria's poorest families. Meanwhile, President Petar Stoyanov,
in Brussels on his first foreign visit since taking office, called on the
EU to help Bulgaria help itself. He also urged more direct EU investment
and quick talks on EU membership in order to stabilize the Bulgarian
economy and democracy, RFE/RL and Reuters reported on 29 January. Stoyanov
was addressing the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee. --
Michael Wyzan and Stefan Krause
[11] BELGRADE POLICE KEEP A LOW PROFILE . . .
While some 10,000 students blocked traffic in downtown Belgrade on 29
January, local traffic police and riot forces seemed to be keeping well out
of sight, Nasa Borba reported. In recent weeks, police have been highly
visible and have resorted to force against demonstrators. Reuters estimated
that up to 20,000 students squeezed on to Slavija Square, bringing
motorists to a halt. The students also marched along the city's main
boulevards past state-run and pro-regime media outlets, whose staff were
regaled with chants of "Join Us." -- Stan Markotich
[12] . . . AS ZAJEDNO LEADERS VOW TO CONTINUE PROTESTS.
Opposition Zajedno leaders told protesters assembled in the Serbian
capital that they will continue the protest action at least until Serbian
President Slobodan Milosevic's regime recognizes opposition wins in the
November local elections. Democratic Party leader Zoran Djindjic said that,
"We have been here for 70 days but we shall last 700 days, if need be,"
Reuters reported. But Vesna Pesic, opposition Serbian Civic Alliance leader,
recently hinted that her party may be willing to reach a compromise whereby
demands for the recognition of wins in all municipalities where Zajedno
came out ahead would be dropped in exchange for recognition of the
opposition's victory in Belgrade, CNN reported on 30 January. Milosevic has
consistently hinted that his regime will not tolerate an opposition
municipal government in Belgrade. -- Stan Markotich
[13] CLINTON RULES OUT ROLE FOR SFOR IN CATCHING WAR CRIMINALS.
President Bill Clinton told a Pentagon meeting with new Secretary of
Defense William Cohen on 29 January that SFOR will not be used in arresting
indicted war criminals in Bosnia. He suggested, however, that a permanent
war crimes tribunal might be set up with some means of going after those it
wants to try, news agencies reported. "We can't expect people who are sent
into a very volatile situation...to do this other work unless they
literally come in contact with those people who should be arrested and
returned. So there would have to be a completely different way of dealing
with this if we're going to have a permanent war crimes tribunal, which I
think has a lot of merit." He added that the tribunal would be responsible
not just for Bosnia. -- Patrick Moore
[14] PLAVSIC SAYS MUSLIMS CAN COME HOME.
Republika Srpska President Biljana Plavsic said that Muslim refugees can
return provided they actually had homes in the area in question before the
war and have completed mutually agreed procedures, Oslobodjenje wrote on
30 January. She and the international community's High Representative, Carl
Bildt, agreed to set up a joint commission to begin immediately to
investigate a 26 January incident in which a well-organized Serbian mob
attacked Muslims helping to rebuild the village of Gajevi just inside the
Serbian side of the former front line. It is unclear, however, whether the
agreement between Plavsic and Bildt to set up joint UN-Bosnian Serb police
patrols in the area has gone into effect. -- Patrick Moore
[15] BOSNIAN MUSLIMS, CROATS REACH ACCORD ON JOINT ARMY.
Ambassador James Pardew, U.S. military envoy in charge of supervising the
U.S.-backed military program "Equip and Train," announced on 29 January
that Bosnian Muslims and Croats have taken the final steps to form a joint
army after a long-stalled process, Oslobodjenje reported on 30 January.
Alija Izetbegovic, Muslim member of Bosnia's three-man presidency, and
Kresimir Zubak, the presidency's Croatian member and president of the
federation, signed orders for the appointment of the commander and joint
command of the army. -- Daria Sito Sucic
[16] SERBS BLOCK ACCESS TO PENSION OFFICES IN EASTERN SLAVONIA.
Between 30 and 40 young Serbs on 29 January blocked access to offices
distributing Croatian pensions in Borovo Selo and Trpinja, AFP reported.
The previous day, some 50 Serbs had stoned Croatian pension officials in
Borovo Selo (see OMRI Daily Digest, 29 January 1997). The payment of
pensions to local Serbs has since been postponed. Pension distribution to
Serbs started recently as part of the process to reintegrate the last Serb-
held region of eastern Slavonia. Local Serbian officials condemned the
incidents and refused help offered by the UN, saying they would handle the
situation. Meanwhile, Serbian political representatives in eastern Slavonia
have called on Croatian Serbs in the area to take Croatian citizenship. UN
Administrator for Eastern Slavonia Jacques Klein also called on Croatian
Serbs either to become Croatian citizens or to live a life of a refugee
deprived of human dignity, Novi List reported on 30 January. -- Daria
Sito Sucic
[17] ROMANIA SEEKS CLOSER TIES WITH NEIGHBORS.
Foreign Minister Adrian Severin told a press conference in Strasbourg that
Romania is actively seeking closer relations with its neighbors, an RFE/RL
correspondent reported on 29 January. Severin said that his country was
considering forming a "triangular association" between Poland, Ukraine, and
Romania and that Hungary might eventually join the group. According to
Radio Bucharest, he also discussed the pending basic treaty with Ukraine,
saying it was imperative to avoid the "Pandora box" in which the talks had
been stranded so far<strong>--</strong>an apparent allusion to Romania's
former insistence that the treaty mention the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact.
Severin added that Romania now wants a reference to Council of Europe
Recommendation 1201 to be included in the treaty to ensure the protection
of the rights of the Romanian minority in Ukraine. That recommendation is
referred to in Romania's basic treaty with Hungary. Romania's relations
with Hungary have improved recently, Severin commented, adding that they
are even considering the formation of a joint military unit similar to the
Franco-German one. -- Zsolt Mato
This material was reprinted with permission of the Open Media
Research Institute, a nonprofit organization with research offices in
Prague, Czech Republic.
For more information on OMRI publications please write to [email protected].
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