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RFE/RL Newsline, 02-10-04
CONTENTS
[01] PUTIN APPOINTS GOVERNOR IN KRASNOYARSK
[02] ...AS RUSSIAN ALUMINUM BELIEVED TO HAVE OVERSTEPPED THE LINE
[03] RUSSIA'S POSITION ON IRAQ RESOLUTIONS UNCLEAR
[04] PUTIN CANCELS YELTSIN DECREE ON RFE/RL MOSCOW BUREAU
[05] DEFENSE MINISTRY SUES FORMER CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
[06] PAVLOVSKII SUGGESTS BENEFICIARIES OF RUSSIA'S ECONOMIC GROWTH MAY
[07] ST. PETERSBURG GOVERNOR'S PLANS FOR THIRD TERM INCUR CRITICISM...
[08] ...AS SOME KREMLIN SUPPORT MIGHT NOT BE ENOUGH
[09] SENATOR URGES REVISION OF LAW ON MASS MEDIA
[10] GOVERNMENT TO TIGHTEN CONTROL OVER SCIENTIFIC-INFORMATION
[11] MEMORIAL TO STALIN'S VICTIMS VANDALIZED
[12] CELL-PHONE USAGE CONTINUES TO CLIMB
[13] TATARSTAN ASKS CONSTITUTIONAL COURT TO RESOLVE BATTLE WITH
[14] TATAR NATIONALISTS ATTACK ORTHODOX CHURCH CONSTRUCTION
[15] KARELIAN LEADER CALLS FOR ETHNIC QUOTAS
[16] NEW NIZHNII MAYOR MULLS REVIVING OLD TRADITION...
[17] ...AND MAKES FIRST APPOINTMENTS
[18] FIT FOR A KING
[19] CHECHEN FOREIGN MINISTER DENIES HE HAS RESIGNED
[20] EBRD WITHDRAWS FROM ARMENIAN ENERGY PRIVATIZATION
[21] ARMENIAN GROUPS CONCERNED OVER ARREST OF ARMENIAN COMMUNITY LEADER
[22] ARMENIAN WTO MEMBERSHIP IMPERILED BY U.S. DECISION
[23] COUNCIL OF EUROPE OFFICIAL CALLS ON ARMENIA TO BAN CAPITAL
[24] FORMER PRESIDENTIAL ADVISER CALLS ON AZERBAIJAN TO PREPARE FOR WAR
[25] RUSSIA REDUCES MILITARY PRESENCE IN GEORGIA
[26] GEORGIAN OFFICIAL ANNOUNCES PROGRESS IN HUNT FOR ABDUCTED BRITISH
[27] GEORGIAN FOREIGN MINISTER HOLDS TALKS AT NATO
[28] HOUSTON INITIATIVE UNDER WAY IN KAZAKHSTAN
[29] U.S. CASPIAN ENVOY WARNS THAT KAZAKHSTAN NEEDS STABLE BUSINESS
[30] ABLIYAZOV'S PRISON WOES
[31] KYRGYZ DEPUTIES OVERRIDE PRESIDENTIAL VETOES
[32] EU GROUP IN KYRGYZSTAN
[33] RENEWED APPEALS TO RELEASE FORMER KYRGYZ VICE PRESIDENT
[34] IMF STUDIES TAJIK REFORMS
[35] TURKMENISTAN BUILDING UP CASPIAN COAST GUARD
[36] UZBEKS CUT IMPORT DUTIES
[37] BELARUSIAN VENDORS CONTINUE STRIKE...
[38] ...WHILE LUKASHENKA VILIFIES THEM ON TV
[39] BELARUS SLAMS LITHUANIA OVER ANNOUNCED END OF VISA-FREE TRAVEL
[40] UKRAINIAN NEWS AGENCY SETTLES CONFLICT OVER ALLEGED CENSORSHIP
[41] UKRAINIAN NGO CLAIMS ITS LEADER KILLED FOR HIS POLITICAL ACTIVITY
[42] UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT IN INDIA
[43] ESTONIAN PREMIER SUGGESTS POSTS OF PRESIDENT AND PREMIER COULD BE
[44] EC PLEDGES TO SOLVE LATVIA'S FARM-QUOTAS ISSUE
[45] PUBLIC INITIATIVE TO CUT PERSONAL INCOME TAX IN LITHUANIA
[46] BASQUE PARTY SUPPORTS AUTONOMY FOR POLAND'S SILESIA
[47] MORE THAN TWO-THIRDS OF POLES WANT RESTORATION OF DEATH PENALTY
[48] CZECH FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS NO DECISION YET ON U.S.
[49] CZECH PREMIER MEETS AFGHAN PRESIDENT IN KABUL
[50] FORMER CZECH PRIME MINISTER REPORTEDLY TO SEEK RE-ELECTION AS
[51] FOURTH BSE CASE REPORTED IN CZECH REPUBLIC
[52] EMERGING SLOVAK COALITION AGREES ON GOVERNMENT PROGRAM
[53] BUSH CONGRATULATES SLOVAK PREMIER ON ELECTION SUCCESS
[54] NEW SLOVAK PARLIAMENT TO MEET ON 15 OCTOBER
[55] FORMER HUNGARIAN PREMIER CLARIFIES EU STANCE
[56] HUNGARIAN SUPREME COURT RULES IN SMALLHOLDERS' LEADERSHIP DISPUTE
[57] SURVEY HIGHLIGHTS YOUNG HUNGARIANS' PREJUDICES
[58] BOSNIA PREPARES TO VOTE...
[59] ...WITH THE NATIONALISTS EXPECTED TO WIN
[60] KOSTUNICA WARNS OF 'ALBANIAN EXTREMISTS' IN PROMOTING SERBIAN
[61] DEL PONTE: CROATIAN GENERAL MUST GO TO THE HAGUE...
[62] ...AND SERBIA MUST ARREST MLADIC
[63] MORE BACKING FOR STEINER'S PLAN FOR KOSOVAR TOWN
[64] KOSOVAR PRIME MINISTER REQUESTS FUNDS TO END TEACHERS' STRIKE
[65] NEW MACEDONIAN PARLIAMENT HOLDS FIRST SESSION
[66] EU NAMES NEW REPRESENTATIVE FOR MACEDONIA
[67] HUNGARIAN PRESIDENT ENDS OFFICIAL PART OF ROMANIAN VISIT
[68] SWITZERLAND EXPELS ROMANIAN ROMA
[69] FORMER ROMANIAN DICTATOR'S BROTHER MAKES HISTORY ONE LAST TIME
[70] MOLDOVAN PARLIAMENT RATIFIES AGREEMENT ON MILITARY COOPERATION
[71] BULGARIAN PRIME MINISTER VISITS TURKEY
[72] CONSERVATIVE OPPOSITION IN BULGARIA THREATENS VOTE OF NO
[73] BULGARIAN PARLIAMENT DISMISSES HEAD OF STATE NEWS AGENCY, NAMES
[74] There is no End Note today.
4 October 2002
RUSSIA
[01] PUTIN APPOINTS GOVERNOR IN KRASNOYARSK
One day after the Krasnoyarsk Krai Election Commission refused to
certify the 22 September gubernatorial elections and instead insisted
on 2 March 2003 as the date for new elections, President Vladimir Putin
announced on 3 October that the acting governor of the krai, Nikolai
Ashlapov, had resigned and that Putin is appointing Taimyr Autonomous
Okrug Governor Aleksandr Khloponin to replace him. Khloponin was
earlier declared the winner of the 22 September election, only to see
his victory snatched away by the election commission (see "RFE/RL
Newsline," 1, 2, and 3 October 2002). Khloponin accused the commission
of acting at the behest of Russian Aluminum (Rusal) head Oleg Deripaska
and Khloponin's opponent in the race, krai legislature Chairman
Aleksandr Uss. Putin said the "fact that Aleksandr Gennadievich
Khloponin received the most votes is not disputed by anyone, including
the territorial election commission. What the argument is about is the
way the election was held, and I believe that this argument has to be
concluded, in the manner prescribed by law, by the territorial or the
Central Election Commission." JAC
[02] ...AS RUSSIAN ALUMINUM BELIEVED TO HAVE OVERSTEPPED THE LINE
"Kommersant-Daily" noted on 4 October that the intervention of the
president in the Krasnoyarsk situation is itself "sensational," because
the battle in the krai was essentially between two large
financial-industrial groups: Interros, which supported Khloponin, and
Rusal, which supported Uss. And on 3 October, Putin demonstrated his
support for Interros. However, unidentified sources told the daily that
even those members of the presidential administration who supported
Rusal were disturbed by the krai election commission's conduct, which
would have left one of the largest regions in Russia without leadership
until the spring. The daily predicted that "serious unpleasantness"
might await Rusal and not just from the new Krasnoyarsk Krai governor.
Meanwhile, leaders of the pro-presidential groups in the Duma praised
Putin's nomination of Khloponin. Yabloko Deputy Sergei Ivanenko,
however, said it would have been more correct to resolve the situation
in Krasnoyarsk Krai through the Supreme Court, ntvru.com reported. JAC
[03] RUSSIA'S POSITION ON IRAQ RESOLUTIONS UNCLEAR
Russia has drafted its own United Nations Security Council resolution
on Iraq (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 3 October 2002) that envisages the
immediate return of UN weapons inspectors and the gradual lifting of
economic sanctions, Deputy Foreign Minister Aleksandr Saltanov told
reporters in Moscow on 3 October, RIA-Novosti reported. Saltanov said
that Russia will not submit the draft resolution until after UN
Commission for Monitoring, Control, and Inspection head Hans Blix files
a report on his talks with Baghdad. However, the head of the Russian UN
mission, Sergei Lavrov, said in New York on 3 October that his
delegation will be ready to consider a new resolution "if our
leadership learns that one is needed." He added that he sees no
obstacles to resuming weapons inspections in Iraq or to fulfilling the
existing UN resolutions, strana.ru reported on 3 October. VY
[04] PUTIN CANCELS YELTSIN DECREE ON RFE/RL MOSCOW BUREAU
President Putin on 4 October canceled a 27 August 1991 decree by former
President Boris Yeltsin that guaranteed the legal and operational
status of the Moscow bureau of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Russian
and Western news agencies reported. Under Yeltsin's edict, the Russian
government provided conditions for RFE/RL's journalistic activities
"because of its role in the objective coverage of the march of
democratic processes." Putin did not issue any statement in connection
with the cancellation, but the Kremlin's information office said
Yeltsin's decree was revoked because it had "lost its original
significance," RIA-Novosti reported. According to the unidentified
spokesperson, Yeltsin's decree was originally intended to demonstrate
Russia's commitment to freedom of the press and to enhance Russia's
image abroad. However, because of the progress of economic and
political reforms in Russia since then, the decree put RFE/RL in "a
privileged position compared to other foreign mass-media outlets
working in Russia," the Kremlin statement was quoted as saying.
Moreover, the statement continued, RFE/RL's editorial policies,
"despite the end of the Cold War," have in recent years become
"biased," especially those of its "Chechen" and Ukrainian services.
Ever since Yeltsin's decree, nationalists, Communists, and other
reactionary elements have regularly called for an end to RFE/RL's
activities in Russia. The Kremlin conducted campaigns of pressure
against RFE/RL in 2000 in connection with the case of RFE/RL
correspondent Andrei Babitskii and his coverage of the Chechnya
conflict (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 17 February 2000) and this year in
connection with RFE/RL's decision to begin broadcasts in three North
Caucasus languages (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 3 and 25 April 2002). The
Foreign Ministry said that Putin's decree is purely a technical measure
designed to give equal status to all foreign media outlets in Russia
and does not constitute a reaction to RFE/RL's policies, RIA-Novosti
reported on 4 October. VY
[05] DEFENSE MINISTRY SUES FORMER CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov has ordered that a suit be filed against
Colonel General Georgii Oleinik seeking the payment of $60 million in
compensation for damages incurred to the ministry when Oleinik served
as its chief financial officer, RIA-Novosti reported on 4 October.
According to the suit, the losses resulted when Oleinik sold allegedly
undervalued ministry bonds to a commercial bank. Oleinik was convicted
in 2000 and sentenced to two years' imprisonment for embezzling $450
million in Defense Ministry funds (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 16 and 19
August 2002), but he was amnestied in August. VY
[06] PAVLOVSKII SUGGESTS BENEFICIARIES OF RUSSIA'S ECONOMIC GROWTH MAY
WANT LARGER STAKE IN POLITICAL SYSTEM
In an interview with "Moskovskii komsomolets" on 3 October, Gleb
Pavlovskii, head of the Foundation for Effective Politics, said there
are currently "hundreds of thousands" of new groups of active voters in
Russia's cities. These groups comprise members of the new middle class
and the new intelligentsia, including the financial intelligentsia.
Pavlovskii said some of these groups are not "dressed in white
clothing" -- that is, they aren't saints -- but they already "have a
sense of themselves as a potential ruling class." In all, this new
force could amount to as many as 20 million people. Pavlovskii claims
the members of these new groups "are closely linked to economic growth
and are oriented toward [capitalist-style] success." They might run for
office as early as 2003 with a "clear understanding of what they want."
Pavlovskii mentioned these new groups in response to a question about
whether there will be any "surprises" during the next parliamentary
elections. JAC
[07] ST. PETERSBURG GOVERNOR'S PLANS FOR THIRD TERM INCUR CRITICISM...
RosBalt reported on 3 October that only 7.8 percent of respondents in a
survey designed to poll influential residents of St. Petersburg welcome
the idea of St. Petersburg Governor Vladimir Yakovlev seeking a third
term. According to ITAR-TASS, the Marko marketing and communications
agency conducted the poll among 150 of the city's most influential
residents, including members of Unified Russia, the Union of Rightist
Forces, the Communist Party, Yabloko, and the Liberal Democratic Party
of Russia. RosBalt's editor in chief is Natalya Chaplina, the wife of
presidential envoy to the Northwest Federal District Viktor Cherkesov,
whom many media sources have identified as a political opponent of
Yakovlev's (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 28 June 2002). RosBalt also quoted
Olga Zastrozhnaya, secretary of the Central Election Commission, as
saying that Yakovlev demonstrated his disrespect for the law when he
recently expressed his willingness to run again (see "RFE/RL Newsline,"
2 October 2002). JAC
[08] ...AS SOME KREMLIN SUPPORT MIGHT NOT BE ENOUGH
Meanwhile, St. Petersburg Deputy Governor Anna Markova said the recent
decision of the St. Petersburg Charter Court ruling Yakovlev ineligible
to seek a third term (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 2 October 2002) violated
the Russian Constitution, and she called for experts to review the
decision with deputy head of the presidential administration Dmitrii
Kozak, RFE/RL's St. Petersburg correspondent reported. However, Ruslan
Linkov, head of the St. Petersburg branch of Democratic Russia, told
RFE/RL that even if Yakovlev has the hypothetical support of some
members of the Kremlin, this cannot make his legal problems simply go
away. "Neither Mr. Kozak nor anyone in the presidential administration
will go so far as to directly violate the constitution," Linkov said.
Political analyst Nikolai Petrov noted that the Kremlin "is hardly
monolithic or homogeneous" and has interests of greater and lesser
priority. Kozak was one of the few members of former St. Petersburg
Mayor Anatolii Sobchak's team to work for Yakovlev during the latter's
first term (see "RFE/RL Russian Political Weekly," 19 March 2001). JAC
[09] SENATOR URGES REVISION OF LAW ON MASS MEDIA
Federation Council Information Policy Committee Deputy Chairman
Yevgenii Yeliseev said on 2 October that the current law on the mass
media must be changed in order "to increase compliance with the
constitution and the Civil Code," RIA-Novosti reported on 3 October. He
said an amended law must address issues such as the quality of
information, and it must define different types of information,
including drawing a distinction between commercial and noncommercial
information. In the past, efforts to change the law have been
counterproductive, because they treated information from the positions
of the producer and distributor, not the user, Yeliseev said. VY
[10] GOVERNMENT TO TIGHTEN CONTROL OVER SCIENTIFIC-INFORMATION
TRANSFERS
At its 3 October meeting devoted to intellectual-property rights (see
"RFE/RL Newsline," 3 October 2002), the government approved measures
for tightening state control over the transfer abroad of scientific and
technical information, "Kommersant-Daily" and other Russian news
agencies reported. The government ordered the Justice, Industry and
Science, and Property Relations ministries and other state agencies to
increase supervision over information generated by research and
development conducted with federal funds and told them to submit plans
for achieving this goal by 25 December. A State Audit Chamber probe in
July found that federally funded intellectual projects brought the
state just 5 percent of anticipated revenues. VY
[11] MEMORIAL TO STALIN'S VICTIMS VANDALIZED
For the second time in less than a week, unidentified vandals defaced
the stone marking the site of a future monument to victims of political
repression in St. Petersburg on 3 October by smearing black paint all
over its inscriptions, Interfax-Northwest reported. The vandals also
drew a Star of David on the stone. The stone was defaced just three
days earlier with black paint. JAC
[12] CELL-PHONE USAGE CONTINUES TO CLIMB
The number of cellular-phone subscribers in Russia jumped 8 percent
from 13.43 million at the end of August to 14.46 million at the end of
September, Interfax reported on 3 October, citing ACM Consulting.
According to the agency, three different cell-phone service providers
have a combined 6 million customers in the Moscow licensing area. Two
mobile-phone service providers based in Kazan have a total of more than
300,000 customers. JAC
[13] TATARSTAN ASKS CONSTITUTIONAL COURT TO RESOLVE BATTLE WITH
PROSECUTORS
Tatarstan's legislature announced on 2 October that it has launched two
appeals to the Russian Constitutional Court in response to a protest
lodged by Deputy Prosecutor-General Aleksandr Zvyagintsev against the
amended Tatar Constitution, RFE/RL's Kazan bureau reported (see "RFE/RL
Newsline," 27 September 2002). In another appeal, the republican
legislature is also asking the court to verify whether Article 27 of
the federal law on the judicial system of the Russian Federation
conforms to the Russian Constitution. The Tatar parliament is also
asking the court to outline a full list of powers of the constitutional
courts of federation subjects. According to "Vremya novostei" on 3
October, Tatarstan's legislators have concluded that the articles of
the amended constitution that have proven so controversial for federal
prosecutors can only be examined by the Constitutional Court. JAC
[14] TATAR NATIONALISTS ATTACK ORTHODOX CHURCH CONSTRUCTION
Members of the moderate nationalist Tatar Public Center (TIU), most of
them elderly, attacked the chapel of the St. Tatyana Russian Orthodox
Church being built near Victory Park in Chally on 2 October and damaged
its foundation, RFE/RL's Kazan bureau reported, citing tatnews.ru.
According to Interfax, it took 30 people 90 minutes to destroy a wall
that was 7 meters long and 1 meter high. The head of the chapel, Father
Oleg Bogdanov, said the damage totaled 40,000 rubles ($1,290). The
center's activists have protested the building of the chapel for more
than a year, suggesting instead that a Tatar puppet theater be built on
the same location despite the fact that such a theater already exists
in the city and that the chapel construction was authorized by the city
administration. One of the TIU members involved in the attack, who did
not identify herself, said that as a result of building a Russian
Orthodox chapel in the vicinity, the park itself would "become
Orthodox," thus "leaving no room for Muslims." JAC
[15] KARELIAN LEADER CALLS FOR ETHNIC QUOTAS
In a 2 October meeting with Helle Degn, commissioner for democratic
development of the Council of Baltic Sea States, Karelian Congress head
Anatolii Grigoriev said he believes it is necessary to introduce quotas
for ethnic minorities in the Karelian Republic's legislature and to
give the Karelian language the status of a state language in Karelia
along with Russian, ITAR-TASS reported. Grigoriev said that indigenous
Finno-Ugric people of the republic, the Karelians and Veps, are
practically unrepresented in government bodies. JAC
[16] NEW NIZHNII MAYOR MULLS REVIVING OLD TRADITION...
Nizhnii Novgorod Mayor-elect Vadim Bulavinov reportedly told reporters
that he might revive an old political tradition of urinating on
portraits of one's predecessor, VolgaInform reported on 3 October,
citing NTA Privolzhe. "This tradition should be restored independently
of who these people were," he said. "We should respect our history. On
the one hand, it is necessary to act correctly, but on the other hand,
[we should not] make the same mistakes and for that it is necessary to
have a reminder." Bulavinov was elected in a very close race on 27
September (see "RFE/RL Russian Political Weekly," 3 October 2002). JAC
[17] ...AND MAKES FIRST APPOINTMENTS
Bulavinov on 3 October announced the first appointments to his new
administration, RosBalt reported. He named the deputy general director
of LUKoil's local affiliate, Aleksandr Meleshkin, as first deputy
mayor. His chief of staff will be Nina Sokolova, who formerly worked as
a chief legal adviser in the administration of presidential envoy to
the Volga Federal District Sergei Kirienko. Sergei Gladyshev, who
formerly served as director of the Nizhnii Novgorod Oblast's Energy
Department, was named deputy mayor for social questions. RosBalt
reported that the appointments correspond to statements Bulavinov made
regarding personnel during the election campaign. RC
[18] FIT FOR A KING
For his 50th birthday on 7 October, President Putin will receive an
exact copy of the Cap of Monomakh, the most potent symbol of Russian
autocracy, RosBalt reported on 3 October. The copy was prepared by a
group of jewelers from the Urals under the supervision of the Russian
Jewelers' Academy and has been insured for $10 million. The original
Cap of Monomakh, which is on display in the Kremlin Armory, was made in
the 14th or 15th century and was used in the coronation ceremonies of
virtually all the Russian tsars before Peter the Great. RC
[19] CHECHEN FOREIGN MINISTER DENIES HE HAS RESIGNED
In a statement posted on chechenpress.com on 4 October, Ilyas Akhmadov
rejected as untrue Russian media reports that he had resigned as
Chechen President Aslan Maskhadov's foreign minister. Russian media
recently reported that Akhmadov is seeking political asylum in the
United States. LF
TRANSCAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA
[20] EBRD WITHDRAWS FROM ARMENIAN ENERGY PRIVATIZATION
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) announced
on 3 October that it will not purchase a 19.9 percent stake in the
Armenian energy-distribution network that is being privatized,
according to RFE/RL's Yerevan bureau. The EBRD decision is the latest
blow to the $37 million sale and overturns an earlier understanding
between the EBRD and the Armenian government under which the EBRD would
have assumed a 20 percent share in the privatization deal once a
foreign investor was found to buy the energy network in an open and
competitive tender. The privatization has already been questioned by
some observers, including the World Bank, after the Armenian government
awarded the 80.1 percent share to a little-known offshore group with no
experience in the energy sector (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 26 and 29
August 2002). RG
[21] ARMENIAN GROUPS CONCERNED OVER ARREST OF ARMENIAN COMMUNITY LEADER
IN DJAVAKHETI
Several Armenian nongovernmental organizations and some political
parties have expressed concern over the recent arrest of Fedya
Torosyan, a founding member of the ethnic Armenian Djavakhk movement in
the southern Georgian Djavakheti region, according to "Yerkir" on 2
October. Torosyan, also a leading member of the Virk political party in
Djavakheti, was arrested on vague charges of "financial negligence"
during his tenure as head of the regional power-distribution company.
The situation in the Armenian-populated Djavakheti region has been
tense in recent years due to a serious socioeconomic crisis and
mounting calls for autonomy for the Armenian region by the Javakhk and
Virk groups. RG
[22] ARMENIAN WTO MEMBERSHIP IMPERILED BY U.S. DECISION
Armenian Finance and Economy Minister Vardan Khachatrian announced on 3
October that the Armenian bid for membership in the World Trade
Organization (WTO) has been delayed by a U.S. decision to postpone
Armenia's accession in order to allow for simultaneous Armenian and
Azerbaijani entry into the trade body, RFE/RL's Yerevan bureau
reported. The nearly six-year Armenian bid for WTO membership is also
hindered by more serious obstacles related to shortcomings in Armenian
laws. For nearly two years, Armenian officials have been saying the
country will imminently enter the 144-member WTO (see "RFE/RL
Newsline," 2 August 2002). RG
[23] COUNCIL OF EUROPE OFFICIAL CALLS ON ARMENIA TO BAN CAPITAL
PUNISHMENT
Council of Europe Commissioner on Human Rights Alvaro Gil-Robles met
with Armenian President Robert Kocharian and Foreign Minister Vardan
Oskanian in Yerevan on 3 October and urged the Armenian government to
abolish the death penalty, according to Arminfo and Mediamax, as cited
by Groong. Gil-Robles cited Armenia's progress in improving human
rights protections but stressed Armenia's obligation as a Council of
Europe member state to end capital punishment (see "RFE/RL Newsline,"
27 September 2002). The Council of Europe official also discussed the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and reviewed the recent tension between
Russia and Georgia, which he sees as exercising a "negative impact on
regional security and stability." RG
[24] FORMER PRESIDENTIAL ADVISER CALLS ON AZERBAIJAN TO PREPARE FOR WAR
A former adviser to Azerbaijani President Heidar Aliev, Vafa Guluzade,
recommended on 2 October that Azerbaijan "silently prepare for war" as
the only way to strengthen its position in the mediation talks over
Nagorno-Karabakh, according to the Azerbaijani Lider television
station. The former adviser cited mounting frustration over the
mediation effort by the OSCE and warned that Azerbaijan might face new
Armenian or Russian aggression in the event of a U.S. attack on Iraq.
RG
[25] RUSSIA REDUCES MILITARY PRESENCE IN GEORGIA
Russian Defense Ministry officials announced on 2 October that Russia
will reduce the number of troops stationed at two military bases in
Georgia, Interfax and Civil Georgia reported. Russian troops stationed
at the Batumi base in Adjaria are to be reduced by 300, and another 700
servicemen are to be withdrawn from the Russian base at Akhalkalaki.
According to the agreement reached at the 1999 OSCE Istanbul summit,
however, Russia is obliged to withdraw completely from its bases in
Georgia. RG
[26] GEORGIAN OFFICIAL ANNOUNCES PROGRESS IN HUNT FOR ABDUCTED BRITISH
CITIZEN
Georgian National Security Council Secretary Tedo Djaparidze announced
on 3 October that law-enforcement agencies have made "great progress in
the investigation" of the kidnapping of British citizen Peter Shaw,
Civil Georgia reported. The abduction in June of the consultant to the
EU led to a warning by the European Union on 1 October that unless the
Georgian authorities provide adequate security for foreign citizens,
the EU will be forced to suspend nearly $40 million in EU-funded
projects under way in Georgia (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 2 October 2002).
Djaparidze stated there is evidence that Shaw is alive and is being
held in the Pankisi Gorge and vowed that the next stage of the security
operation targeting the gorge will result in his release. RG
[27] GEORGIAN FOREIGN MINISTER HOLDS TALKS AT NATO
During talks in Brussels on 2 October, Irakli Menagharishvili and NATO
Secretary-General Lord George Robertson discussed the situation in the
Pankisi Gorge, Caucasus Press reported on 3 October. Menagharishvili
also met with other senior NATO officials to discuss his country's
participation in the Partnership for Peace program and NATO's help in
rehabilitating territory formerly used as military bases.
Menagharishvili and a NATO official signed an agreement under which
NATO will fund the rehabilitation of former rocket bases near Tbilisi
that will subsequently be used for agricultural purposes. LF
[28] HOUSTON INITIATIVE UNDER WAY IN KAZAKHSTAN
At a joint press conference on 3 October in Almaty, Kazakh Foreign
Minister Kasymzhomart Tokaev and U.S. Ambassador Larry Napper announced
the launch of a multimillion-dollar partnership aimed at boosting
business relations between the two countries and building a strong
entrepreneurial class in Kazakhstan, RFE/RL and Interfax reported.
Dubbed the Houston initiative, the project was conceived during
President Nursultan Nazarbaev's official visit to the United States in
1999. According to Tokaev, the partnership envisages "massive support"
for small and medium-sized businesses in the form of credits and
investment, with special encouragement given to housing construction
through the establishment of mortgage facilities and savings banks.
Napper said Washington has pledged about $10 million to fund the
initiative during its first year. AA
[29] U.S. CASPIAN ENVOY WARNS THAT KAZAKHSTAN NEEDS STABLE BUSINESS
ENVIRONMENT
Addressing the Kazakhstan International Oil and Gas Exhibition in
Almaty on 3 October, the U.S. special adviser on Caspian issues, Steven
Mann, criticized the Kazakh government for its recent attempts to
revise existing contracts with international oil companies, warning
that such moves will drive investors away, Interfax-Kazakhstan
reported. The government's attempts to force companies to replace
foreign personnel and equipment with local equivalents are "causing
real concern," Mann said. He added that the country will lose
investment unless it cuts red tape and eliminates corruption, and he
emphasized the importance of transparent laws and an independent media.
AA
[30] ABLIYAZOV'S PRISON WOES
Gulam Mazanov, a defense attorney for former Kazakh Trade and Industry
Minister Mukhtar Abliyazov, who was sentenced to six years'
imprisonment in July, told journalists in Almaty on 3 October that his
client is being subjected to daily humiliations and rights abuses in
one of the worst labor camps in the country, RFE/RL's Kazakh Service
reported. Abliyazov is being held near Kokshetau in central Aqmola
Oblast in a prison with "no sewage system," Mazanov said. He complained
that prison authorities have prevented Abliyazov from communicating
with his lawyers and have maliciously harassed him. He added that his
client might soon be transferred to another labor camp in Oskemen in
the east of the country. AA
[31] KYRGYZ DEPUTIES OVERRIDE PRESIDENTIAL VETOES
On 3 October, Kyrgyzstan's Legislative Assembly (the lower chamber of
parliament) overrode two presidential vetoes, one on an amendment to
the Criminal Procedure Code and the other on an amendment to the
Criminal Code, akipress.org reported. The first amendment gives
defendants the right to contest in court the actions of prosecutors or
police during arrests, detentions, and searches. The second makes it a
crime to obstruct lawyers from performing their duties. Kubatbek
Baibolov, the chairman of the parliamentary committee on criminal,
procedural, and administrative legislation, told Interfax on 3 October
that President Askar Akaev should understand that the articles --
although he vetoed them -- are conducive to democracy and human rights.
Meanwhile, deputies upheld other presidential vetoes concerning arrest
procedures, economic associations, and the amnesty law. AA
[32] EU GROUP IN KYRGYZSTAN
On 3 October in Bishkek, President Akaev and Prime Minister Nikolai
Tanaev received a European Parliament delegation to discuss human
rights, media freedom, and the war on terrorism, RFE/RL's Bishkek
bureau reported. Delegation leader Antonio Di Pietro said that
democratic reforms require financial support and, consequently, the EU
has decided to double its aid to the country. The same day, the
Kyrgyzstan-EU Parliamentary Cooperation Committee held its first
meeting in Bishkek, Interfax reported. The committee is intended as a
forum for exchanging views on the political and economic situation in
Kyrgyzstan and on combating terrorism, organized crime, and drug
trafficking. AA
[33] RENEWED APPEALS TO RELEASE FORMER KYRGYZ VICE PRESIDENT
Members of Kyrgyzstan's Constitutional Assembly, which wrapped up its
work on 2 October (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 3 October 2002), sent a
signed appeal to President Akaev the following day to release jailed
former Vice President Feliks Kulov, RFE/RL's Bishkek bureau reported.
Kulov is serving a 10-year sentence on embezzlement charges, which he
recently reiterated were politically motivated (see "RFE/RL Newsline,"
27 September 2002). Akaev said the issue is beyond his competence, and
the appeal should be redirected to Supreme Court Chairwoman Nelly
Beishenavlieva. Representatives for the political party Moya Strana
duly submitted it to her. Meanwhile, on 3 October, about 600 protesters
demanding Kulov's release picketed the Bishkek municipal court that has
been considering Kulov's appeal against his sentence since August. AA
[34] IMF STUDIES TAJIK REFORMS
An IMF delegation led by Robert Christiansen arrived in Dushanbe on 3
October on a one-week mission, Tajik radio reported. The delegation
will assess Tajikistan's progress in implementing the IMF
staff-monitored reform program that the government agreed to in a
Memorandum of Economic and Financial Policies in March. Fund
representatives met with Finance Minister Safarali Najmuddinov and
National Bank Chairman Murodali Alimardonov. The delegation will also
discuss the government's new draft cooperation program on reducing
poverty levels by 2005. AA
[35] TURKMENISTAN BUILDING UP CASPIAN COAST GUARD
Ukraine has supplied Turkmenistan with three more Kalkan-M patrol
boats, bringing the number received since May to seven, turkmenistan.ru
reported on 3 October. According to a gas-for-goods barter agreement
signed in 2001, Ukrainian shipbuilders owe Turkmenistan a total of 10
Kalkan and 10 40-ton Grif patrol boats. Since last year, Turkmenistan
has been steadily increasing its fleet patrolling its Caspian waters.
AA
[36] UZBEKS CUT IMPORT DUTIES
As of 1 October, import taxes on foodstuffs brought into Uzbekistan by
private individuals and "shuttle traders" have been reduced from 50
percent to 40 percent and those on other consumer goods from 90 to 70
percent, uzreport.com reported on 3 October. The duties are now payable
in the local currency, rather than in hard currency as before.
Tradesmen in Uzbek markets have staged protests in recent months
against what they believe are exorbitant import taxes. AA
CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE
[37] BELARUSIAN VENDORS CONTINUE STRIKE...
Some 120,000 small traders on 3 September continued their strike over
what they say is the government's financial and administrative pressure
to destroy small business in Belarus (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 2 October
2002), Belapan reported, quoting United Council of Entrepreneurs (ASP)
Chairman Anatol Shumchanka. Shumchanka said his council is planning to
hold a convention within a month and to invite President Alyaksandr
Lukashenka so vendors can present their problems and demands directly.
Shumchanka insists Lukashenka is being deliberately misinformed about
the situation in the small-business sector by his ministers and local
authorities. Meanwhile, outdoor-market traders from a strike committee
headed by Valery Levaneuski are demanding Lukashenka's ouster, blaming
him personally for the suppression of small business in the country. JM
[38] ...WHILE LUKASHENKA VILIFIES THEM ON TV
During a visit to the Khimvalakno chemical-fiber plant in Svetlahorsk
(Homel Oblast) on 3 October, Lukashenka explained to workers that he is
forced to increase financial pressure on small traders in order to
protect domestic producers. "Have you seen how these so-called 'poor
entrepreneurs' are striking?" Belarusian Television quoted Lukashenka
as saying. "Who is tormenting you? They go to Istanbul, to friendly
China, or to some other place, buy goods there and bring them into
Belarus without customs duties. They pay virtually no taxes here, that
is, their goods are cheaper than those produced [in Belarus]. In this
way, they ship out hard currency [abroad], feed foreign producers and
importers, while [simultaneously] killing our production." JM
[39] BELARUS SLAMS LITHUANIA OVER ANNOUNCED END OF VISA-FREE TRAVEL
Deputy Foreign Minister Alyaksandr Herasimenka told journalists on 3
October that Lithuania's intention to introduce full-scale visa
requirements for all Belarusian citizens is an unfriendly step, Belapan
reported. Last month, Vilnius announced that as of 1 January it will
cancel the temporary agreement it concluded with Minsk in 1994 on
visa-free entry into Lithuania for Belarusian pensioners, residents of
border areas, and truckers (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 26 September 2002).
"[This measure] runs counter to the principles of good-neighborliness
and contradicts the nature and provisions of fundamental OSCE
agreements, in particular, the Helsinki Final Act of 1975...under which
OSCE member states made commitments gradually to simplify and apply
flexible border-crossing procedures and facilitate travel on their
territory," Herasimenka noted. He added that Lithuania is being too
hasty in introducing visa requirements for Belarusians, since accession
to the European Union does not automatically imply accession to the
Schengen Treaty. JM
[40] UKRAINIAN NEWS AGENCY SETTLES CONFLICT OVER ALLEGED CENSORSHIP
UNIAN, Ukraine's second-largest news agency, published a statement on 3
October saying the agency's leadership and journalists had reached a
compromise over the recent conflict in which journalists complained of
being subjected to political censorship and pressure (see "RFE/RL
Newsline," 2 October 2002). "Both sides declare that political
censorship in UNIAN is inadmissible. We are unanimous in the opinion
that major changes in materials released by UNIAN may be made only by
the journalists who wrote them," the statement reads. The dispute in
UNIAN began on 1 October when journalists accused UNIAN's new executive
director, Vasyl Yurychko, of censoring their work and of refusing to
run reports that could be construed as portraying President Leonid
Kuchma unfavorably, AP reported. JM
[41] UKRAINIAN NGO CLAIMS ITS LEADER KILLED FOR HIS POLITICAL ACTIVITY
The Public Control organization on 3 October claimed that its head,
Ruslan Synyavskyy, was killed because of his public activity, AP
reported. Police reported that an unidentified gunman shot and killed
Synyavskyy, 44, late on 30 September near the entrance to his apartment
building in downtown Kyiv. Interfax reported that the assailant shot
several times in an attempt to rob Synyavskyy. "It's very doubtful that
an ordinary thief carries a gun. We [think] this [killing] was linked
to his activity in the organization," Oleh Sadanets from Public Control
told AP. Public Control helps citizens defend their rights if they
believe state officials abused their power or violated laws. JM
[42] UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT IN INDIA
President Kuchma is continuing a four-day official visit to India that
began on 2 October. Kuchma's spokeswoman Olena Hromnytska told
journalists on 3 October that the two countries signed four accords,
including one on mutual legal assistance in criminal investigations and
another on extradition, UNIAN reported. Kuchma reportedly said that
Ukraine and India "have no divergent opinions" on any international
issues. JM
[43] ESTONIAN PREMIER SUGGESTS POSTS OF PRESIDENT AND PREMIER COULD BE
COMBINED
At a forum of civil servants in Tartu on 3 October, Siim Kallas
suggested that the position of prime minister could be eliminated in
Estonia and the role handed over to the president, ETA reported. He
added it appears likely that the constitution will be changed so that
the president would be directly elected. Now the president is chosen by
the parliament or by a special electoral body consisting of the
parliament and representatives of local governments. Kallas said that
if the next president is elected directly by the people, he or she
would be able to play a greater role in governing the state. Combining
the positions of president and prime minister would simplify foreign
relations and make responsibilities and representative functions
clearer, Kallas added. He also cautioned that his proposals were made
simply for further discussion, with the aim of making the Estonian
state more flexible. SG
[44] EC PLEDGES TO SOLVE LATVIA'S FARM-QUOTAS ISSUE
European Commission (EC) President Romano Prodi told visiting Latvian
President Vaira Vike-Freiberga in Brussels on 3 October that the EC
will make every effort to resolve the question of Latvia's agriculture
quotas, BNS reported. He said the EC has received new statistical data
about Latvia's agricultural output, which are being assessed by
experts. But he added that all countries should be treated equally.
Earlier that day, EC Enlargement Commissioner Guenter Verheugen assured
Vike-Freiberga that there should be no problems for Latvia to become a
member of the EU. Later, Vike-Freiberga discussed European security and
defense policy with European Council Secretary-General Javier Solana,
who expressed the hope that the EU will form a rapid-reaction force by
2003. SG
[45] PUBLIC INITIATIVE TO CUT PERSONAL INCOME TAX IN LITHUANIA
Members of the right-of-center Liberal Union brought to the Chief
Election Commission on 3 October a petition containing 60,891
signatures calling for the gradual reduction of the tax rate on
personal income from 33 percent to 24 percent, ELTA reported. If the
commission verifies that at least 50,000 of the signatures belong to
Lithuanian citizens, parliament will have to consider a draft law on
the tax cut. Liberal Union Chairman Eugenijus Gentvilas said his party
took the initiative of gathering the signatures after parliament
rejected its proposal for the tax reduction. He claimed the tax cut
would boost the income of citizens by 950 million litas ($270 million)
and lead to a revival of the economy and a decrease in unemployment. SG
[46] BASQUE PARTY SUPPORTS AUTONOMY FOR POLAND'S SILESIA
Spain's Basque National Party is supporting the Silesian Autonomy
Movement (RAS) in its bid to promote the idea of political and economic
autonomy for Silesia (southern Poland) in the ongoing local election
campaign in Poland, PAP reported. "I came [to Poland] to back the RAS
in their campaign, because I believe in autonomy, thanks to which
authorities are closer to people," said Jose Mari Etxebarria, who is in
charge of foreign contacts of the Basque National Party. The RAS has
fielded some 200 candidates in Silesian and Opole provinces for the 27
October local election. According to the RAS website
(http://www.raslaska.org/ras/index2e.htm), the movement's long-term
political objective is the "creation of Lower and Upper Silesian
autonomous regions, within their historical borders." JM
[47] MORE THAN TWO-THIRDS OF POLES WANT RESTORATION OF DEATH PENALTY
According to a poll conducted by OBOP in August among 1,017 Poles over
the age of 15, 69 percent of respondents said they support the
reintroduction of capital punishment, PAP reported on 3 October.
Seventy-seven percent said they want to see harsher sentences for
crimes, but only 31 percent declared their readiness to pay higher
taxes to cover the cost of longer prison terms. JM
[48] CZECH FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS NO DECISION YET ON U.S.
MISSILE-DEFENSE PROJECT
Foreign Minister Cyril Svoboda told journalists on 3 October that the
Czech government is considering the possibility of joining the U.S.
"missile-shield" defense program but stressed that no decision has been
made, CTK reported. Svoboda added that the cabinet's attitude toward
the prospect, which was first discussed with U.S. military experts by
Defense Minister Jaroslav Tvrdik during a recent visit to Washington,
is "generally positive." Reports in the local media say the United
States considers the Czech Republic's geographic location suitable for
the deployment of missiles within the proposed system, which would be
deployed to detect and destroy enemy missiles at high altitude. CTK
reported that the view in Washington is that a single site in Europe is
sufficient to provide defense against an enemy missile attack for the
entire continent. Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia Deputy
Chairman Vlastimil Balin said on 3 October that his party will demand a
referendum on the matter if the government decides in favor of such a
plan. MS
[49] CZECH PREMIER MEETS AFGHAN PRESIDENT IN KABUL
Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla met with Afghan Transitional
Administration President Hamid Karzai in Kabul on 3 October and
discussed Czech support for that country's postwar reconstruction
effort and mutual trade, CTK and international news agencies reported.
Spidla said after the meeting that the two had agreed to restore
economic cooperation, which was effectively halted under the Taliban
regime. Spidla and Defense Minister Tvrdik, who is accompanying him on
the visit, also met with Czech soldiers staffing a field hospital as
part of the Kabul-based International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).
Spidla said he does not believe that ISAF involvement will be extended
to the rest of Afghanistan. Spidla and Tvrdik also met on 3 October
with Afghan Defense Minister Mohammad Qasim Fahim and with the ISAF
commander, Turkish General Akin Zorul. MS
[50] FORMER CZECH PRIME MINISTER REPORTEDLY TO SEEK RE-ELECTION AS
PARTY CHAIRMAN
Civic Democratic Party (ODS) Chairman Vaclav Klaus will seek
re-election to his current position at the ODS national conference
scheduled for December, CTK reported on 3 October, citing the daily
"Vecernik Praha." After the ODS lost the June parliamentary elections,
Klaus pledged to resign as chairman but refrained from saying whether
he might run again for the post. Meanwhile, Moravia-Silesia Region
Commissioner Evzen Tosenovsky last month announced his candidacy for
the post. The daily says the Central Bohemian ODS regional council
recently proposed that the ODS leadership in December be elected for
one year only and that Klaus's mandate as re-elected chairman also be
limited to that period. The proposal also calls for the creation of the
post of first deputy chairman, to allow for a future successor to Klaus
to gain experience, as well as the post of honorary chairman, which
Klaus might occupy after 2003. MS
[51] FOURTH BSE CASE REPORTED IN CZECH REPUBLIC
Preliminary tests detected what appears to be a fourth case of BSE
(mad-cow disease) in the Czech Republic, AP reported on 3 October,
citing a State Veterinary Authority spokesman. The spokesman said a
7-year-old bovine from a farm in Sestajovice, just outside Prague,
tested positive for BSE. If the results of additional testing confirm
the preliminary findings, 25 other bovines from the same farm are to be
slaughtered as a precautionary measure, the spokesman said. The first
BSE case in the country was detected last June, and the third case just
last month (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 30 September and 3 October 2002). MS
[52] EMERGING SLOVAK COALITION AGREES ON GOVERNMENT PROGRAM
Four Slovak center-right parties on 3 October reached agreement on the
next government program and said they might sign the coalition pact
early next week, Reuters reported, citing Prime Minister-designate
Mikulas Dzurinda. Dzurinda declined to disclose the names of ministers
in the proposed cabinet, saying that on personal issues "nothing has
yet been agreed 100 percent," according to CTK. The four parties -- the
Slovak Democratic and Christian Union, the Hungarian Coalition Party
(SMK), the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH), and the Alliance of New
Citizens (ANO) -- agreed that the issue of the Benes Decrees, relating
to the postwar expulsion of ethnic Germans and Hungarians, will not be
raised by any of them, thus dismissing speculation that the SMK might
do so. MS
[53] BUSH CONGRATULATES SLOVAK PREMIER ON ELECTION SUCCESS
U.S. President George W. Bush on 3 October telephoned Dzurinda and
congratulated him on his party's electoral performance, AP reported,
citing White House spokesman Ari Fleischer. According to CTK, Bush also
expressed U.S. support for Slovakia's quest to join Euro-Atlantic
structures. Dzurinda told Bush that the election outcome demonstrates
that Slovakia's citizens understand the need for democratic development
and integration in NATO and the EU, as well as for the continuation of
the reform process. Also on 3 October, NATO Secretary-General Lord
George Robertson said in Brussels that the Slovak electorate made a
very wise decision in the recent general elections. "Today they are
part of the main democratic stream in Europe, and they voted for being
part of integration, leading to stability and prosperity," Robertson
told TASR. MS
[54] NEW SLOVAK PARLIAMENT TO MEET ON 15 OCTOBER
The newly elected Slovak parliament will meet on 15 October in its
first session, CTK and AP reported. According to the CTK report, the
coalition is expected to appoint a parliamentary speaker and three
deputy speakers, while one deputy speaker's post will go to the
opposition. MS
[55] FORMER HUNGARIAN PREMIER CLARIFIES EU STANCE
Former Prime Minister Viktor Orban told reporters in Budapest that he
advocates speedy European Union accession, but, as the EU has adopted a
tough negotiating stance, Hungary should also resort to "as tough a
negotiating position as possible," "Magyar Nemzet" reported on 4
October. "I never said that Hungary should not join the EU," Orban
said, adding that he "only wanted to point out that we must act to make
sure that the competitiveness of the Hungarian economy improves by
protecting farmers and small and medium-sized enterprises with
low-interest credits and by defending farmland from the onslaught of
foreign purchasers." He also remarked that he would like to see two
referenda held next year, one on the sale of farmland and the other on
media policy. MSZ
[56] HUNGARIAN SUPREME COURT RULES IN SMALLHOLDERS' LEADERSHIP DISPUTE
The Supreme Court has ruled that Jozsef Torgyan is no longer chairman
of the Independent Smallholders' Party, "Nepszabadsag" reported on 4
October. The court ruled that the 4 May national council meeting at
which Miklos Reti, head of the party's Pest County chapter, was elected
party chairman was legitimate (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 6 May 2002). The
Metropolitan Court previously declared the May meeting invalid. Torgyan
was re-elected party chairman again at a 20 August meeting attended by
a small group of people at the party headquarters. Torgyan told
"Nepszabadsag" that he has not received the text of the ruling, but
"there is no way that Reti can be the party leader, as I am the
chairman of the party." MSZ
[57] SURVEY HIGHLIGHTS YOUNG HUNGARIANS' PREJUDICES
According to a survey conducted during the 2000-01 school year, strong
prejudices against Roma prevail among 32 percent of the 1,500
high-school students interviewed, Budapest dailies reported on 4
October. Some 75 percent of those surveyed are prejudiced to some
extent and "would not have a Roma for a friend." Only 8 percent of
17-year-olds can be said not to harbor any prejudice against Roma,
according to the poll. Another 2.1 percent of respondents are strongly
prejudiced against disabled young people, while 42.3 percent are
tolerant toward them. The survey was conducted by the Kurt Lewin
Foundation at the request of the ombudsman for educational rights. MSZ
SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE
[58] BOSNIA PREPARES TO VOTE...
Voters across Bosnia go to the polls on 5 October in general elections
to select members of cantonal assemblies, the three-person joint
Presidency, and the 42-strong House of Representatives, international
and regional media reported on 4 October. Voters in the Muslim-Croat
federation will elect their own House of Representatives as well. In
the Republika Srpska, voters will select a president and vice
president, as well as members of the People's Assembly. Members of the
joint House of the Peoples are selected by the parliaments of the two
entities: 10 from the federation and five from the Republika Srpska.
Members of the joint House of Representatives are elected directly,
with 28 coming from the federation and 14 from the Republika Srpska.
About 2.3 million voters are registered, as are 57 parties, nine
coalitions, and three independent candidates. Initial results are
expected on 6 October. PM
[59] ...WITH THE NATIONALISTS EXPECTED TO WIN
Polls suggest the Bosnian general elections will be won by the three
main nationalist parties: Alija Izetbegovic's Party of Democratic
Action (SDA), Radovan Karadzic's Serbian Democratic Party (SDS), and
the Croatian Democratic Community (HDZ), which is the Herzegovinian
branch of the Croatian party founded by the late President Franjo
Tudjman, international media reported on 4 October. Non-nationalist
parties dominated the 11 November 2000 elections thanks in part to
intervention by officials of the international community. But now, many
Muslim voters are put off by mudslinging in the media between the
Social Democrats (SDP) of Zlatko Lagumdzija and the Party for Bosnia
and Herzegovina (SBiH) of Haris Silajdzic. Many Serbian voters feel
that only the SDS can protect their interests. And the HDZ remains the
favorite in Herzegovina despite the emergence of the New Croatian
Initiative (NHI) and some other small, moderate parties oriented toward
the Croats of Sarajevo, central Bosnia, and the northern Posavina
region. AP stressed that many people are apathetic or cynical and
unlikely to vote. PM
[60] KOSTUNICA WARNS OF 'ALBANIAN EXTREMISTS' IN PROMOTING SERBIAN
PRESIDENTIAL VOTE
Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica said: "One should participate in
the [13 October presidential] elections so that Serbia does not
definitively descend into chaos and anarchy, as well as so that the
EU-mediated constitutional charter [replacing Yugoslavia with
Serbia-Montenegro], admittance to the Council of Europe, and
negotiations on a stabilization and association agreement with the EU
are not delayed indefinitely. But there is one more reason: Instability
in Serbia would lead to instability in the Balkans, I think above all
by Albanian extremists in Kosovo, southern Serbia, and Macedonia,"
RFE/RL reported from Belgrade on 4 October (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 3
October 2002). Asked by RFE/RL to clarify what he meant by Albanian
extremists taking advantage of the situation, Kostunica backed off and
said: "I was talking about Serbia, but this applies anywhere. Any
instability can have an effect on [the situation of] others -- on
Kosovo, Albania, or Macedonia and so on. That's clear, in the sense
that any state -- not just Serbia -- should be firm, have institutions,
a strong legal order and deal with organized crime." JN/PM
[61] DEL PONTE: CROATIAN GENERAL MUST GO TO THE HAGUE...
Meeting in Brussels with EU security-policy chief Javier Solana on 3
October, Carla Del Ponte, who is the chief prosecutor of the war crimes
tribunal in The Hague, said Croatia is obliged to extradite General
Janko Bobetko to the Netherlands, RFE/RL's South Slavic and Albanian
Languages Service reported. She added that if he is seriously ill, the
tribunal could send him home, but he must first present himself in The
Hague. Meanwhile, in Zagreb, Defense Minister Zeljka Antunovic said she
takes NATO's recent warning in the Bobetko affair seriously (see
"RFE/RL Newsline," 3 October 2002). PM
[62] ...AND SERBIA MUST ARREST MLADIC
Del Ponte said in Brussels on 3 October that the tribunal knows that
indicted war criminal and former Bosnian Serb General Ratko Mladic is
living in Serbia, apparently under the protection of the army, RFE/RL's
South Slavic and Albanian Languages Service reported. She stressed that
what is lacking is the political will to arrest him. Del Ponte added
that the situation of wartime leader Radovan Karadzic, who is also one
of the most-wanted indicted war criminals, is quite different. Karadzic
is living in the Republika Srpska, where everyone regards him as a hero
and protects him, including the authorities, army, police, politicians,
and ordinary people. PM
[63] MORE BACKING FOR STEINER'S PLAN FOR KOSOVAR TOWN
The U.S. office in Prishtina said in a statement on 3 October that it
strongly supports the plan of UN civilian administration (UNMIK) head
Michael Steiner to reunite the divided city of Mitrovica (see "RFE/RL
Newsline," 2 October 2002). Elsewhere, Steiner said after a meeting
with Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Nebojsa Covic that Belgrade
authorities support his program in part if not in its entirety (see
"RFE/RL Balkan Report," 23 August 2002), RFE/RL's South Slavic and
Albanian Languages Service reported. Covic called for the signing of a
formal agreement on the matter. Any direct involvement by Belgrade in
the affairs of Kosova is firmly rejected by the ethnic Albanian
majority and its elected representatives. PM
[64] KOSOVAR PRIME MINISTER REQUESTS FUNDS TO END TEACHERS' STRIKE
Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi has appealed to the IMF, World Bank, and
UNMIK for funds to help end a strike by elementary and high-school
teachers, RFE/RL's South Slavic and Albanian Languages Service reported
from Prishtina on 4 October. The teachers began an open-ended strike on
1 October over pay, which is currently about $125 per month. The
Kosovar parliament has expressed support for them. PM
[65] NEW MACEDONIAN PARLIAMENT HOLDS FIRST SESSION
In what was described as a "tense atmosphere," the new legislature
elected on 15 September held its first session on 3 October, Macedonian
media reported. After the verification of 119 out of a total of 120
mandates, the parliament elected Nikola Popovski of the Social
Democratic Union (SDSM) as new parliamentary speaker (see "RFE/RL
Newsline," 3 October 2002). Three leading members of the Democratic
Union for Integration (BDI) -- BDI Chairman Ali Ahmeti, former UCK
commander Gezim Ostreni, and Fazli Veliu -- did not attend the first
session because of "other engagements." The two deputies of the ethnic
Albanian Party for Democratic Prosperity (PPD) and the only deputy of
the National Democratic Party (PDK) did not appear for unspecified
reasons. The parliamentary group of the Democratic Party of the
Albanians (PDSH) boycotted the first session. Dpa reported that,
"according to the sources within SDSM and BDI, the SDSM-led coalition
will take 11 ministries, and three mandates will be given to the former
rebels" in the BDI. Meanwhile, the government of outgoing Prime
Minister Ljubco Georgievski is continuing in office in a caretaker
capacity until the new cabinet is formed. UB/PM
[66] EU NAMES NEW REPRESENTATIVE FOR MACEDONIA
The European Union named Belgian diplomat Alexis Bruns as its new
special envoy to Macedonia, Deutsche Welle's "Monitor" reported on 2
October. Bruns will replace French Diplomat Alain Le Roy, whose mandate
expires on 31 October. UB
[67] HUNGARIAN PRESIDENT ENDS OFFICIAL PART OF ROMANIAN VISIT
Visiting Hungarian President Ferenc Madl met on 3 October with the two
speakers of Romania's bicameral parliament and with Hungarian
Democratic Federation of Romania (UDMR) Chairman Bela Marko, Romanian
Radio reported. Madl and Marko discussed in particular the restitution
of church property in Romania, with Marko complaining that the process
is proceeding far too slowly. Madl praised the role played by the UDMR
in Romanian politics and its contribution to mutual cooperation. Madl
also lectured at Bucharest University. The official part of the
Hungarian president's visit ended later that evening. On 4 October, he
is visiting the famous monasteries of Bukovina and the Transylvanian
town of Targu-Mures. MS
[68] SWITZERLAND EXPELS ROMANIAN ROMA
Swiss authorities on 3 October deported a group of 40 Romanian Roma,
who were then flown to Bucharest on a charter plane accompanied by 12
Swiss officers after their asylum applications were rejected, AP
reported. Several hundred Roma asylum seekers are currently in
Switzerland, having arrived there from France, where they also faced
deportation. A Swiss-Romanian agreement will ensure their deportation
in the coming weeks. MS
[69] FORMER ROMANIAN DICTATOR'S BROTHER MAKES HISTORY ONE LAST TIME
Ilie Ceausescu, a brother of the executed president, died on 3 October
in Bucharest, AP reported. He was 76. Ilie Ceausescu served as deputy
defense minister when Nicolae Ceausescu was overthrown by popular
revolt in December 1989. Ilie Ceausescu claimed to be a historian by
profession and for many years headed the Bucharest-based Institute of
Military History, which promoted the nationalist line in Romanian
historiography. MS
[70] MOLDOVAN PARLIAMENT RATIFIES AGREEMENT ON MILITARY COOPERATION
WITH RUSSIA
Moldovan lawmakers on 3 October ratified an agreement with Russia on
military and technological cooperation, ITAR-TASS reported. The vote
was 78 for and seven against, with the only votes against ratification
cast by deputies representing the opposition Popular Party Christian
Democratic. The agreement was signed in 1997, but previous parliaments
refused to ratify it on the grounds that Moldova does not participate
in Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) military-cooperation
programs. Infotag reported that the agreement envisages joint design
and production of military equipment. MS
[71] BULGARIAN PRIME MINISTER VISITS TURKEY
Prime Minister Simeon Saxecoburggotski arrived in Ankara on 3 October
for a four-day official visit at the invitation of his Turkish
counterpart Bulent Ecevit, BTA reported. Saxecoburggotski's talks with
Ecevit and President Ahmet Necdet focused on bilateral issues including
easing visa regulations for Turkish citizens and the improvement of
cross-border infrastructure projects such as highways and the Upper
Arda hydroelectric complex. The two sides also discussed Bulgaria's bid
for NATO accession, for which the Turkish representatives reiterated
their support. Saxecoburggotski and Ecevit also discussed the Iraqi
crisis. Ecevit expressed his hope that there will be no armed conflict
with Iraq, saying this would threaten all countries in the region. UB
[72] CONSERVATIVE OPPOSITION IN BULGARIA THREATENS VOTE OF NO
CONFIDENCE
Ekaterina Mihailova, the deputy chairwoman of the conservative
opposition Union of Democratic Forces (SDS), announced on 3 October
that her party will propose a vote of no confidence should the
government fail to implement a parliamentary decision on shutdowns at
the Kozloduy nuclear-power plant (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 25 September
and 3 October 2002), mediapool.bg reported. She also demanded that
Foreign Minister Solomon Pasi, Energy Minister Milko Kovachev, and
European Affairs Minister Meglena Kuneva resign in connection with the
government's position over Kozloduy. Government spokesman Dimitar
Tsonev dismissed Mihailova's demands, saying there is no difference
between the parliament's decision and the position adopted by the
government. UB
[73] BULGARIAN PARLIAMENT DISMISSES HEAD OF STATE NEWS AGENCY, NAMES
REPLACEMENT
Powered by votes from the ruling coalition of National Movement Simeon
II (NDSV) and the ethnic Turkish Movement for Rights and Freedoms
(DPS), parliament dismissed Panayot Denev as director of state-owned
news agency BTA on 4 October, mediapool.bg reported. In the same vote,
parliament elected Stoyan Cheshmedzhiev as the agency's new director.
Cheshmedzhiev previously headed the local Radio Varna. Politicians of
the ruling coalition have repeatedly called for Denev's dismissal,
alleging a lack of loyalty toward the government. DPS Deputy Chairwoman
Emel Etem accused the conservative opposition United Democratic Forces
(ODS) of having used BTA management to tarnish the country's
international reputation. When Cheshmedzhiev was first mentioned as a
possible successor to Denev, unconfirmed media reports linked him to a
number of scandals (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 10 and 11 April 2002). UB
END NOTE
[74] There is no End Note today.
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