OMRI Daily Digest II, No. 102, 26 May 1995

From: "Steve Iatrou" <siatrou@cdsp.neu.edu>

CONTENTS

  • [01] NATO AIR STRIKES IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA.

  • [02] REACTIONS TO NATO AIR ATTACKS.

  • [03] FORMER KOSOVO POLICEMEN ON TRIAL.

  • [04] NEW BULGARIAN POLITICAL ALLIANCE IN THE MAKING?

  • [05] MACEDONIAN PRESIDENT URGES GREECE TO START TALKS.

  • [06] GREEK-ALBANIAN TALKS START IN "GOOD ATMOSPHERE."

    •

    OMRI DAILY DIGEST

    No. 102, Part II, 26 May 1995

    SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE

    [01] NATO AIR STRIKES IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA.

    Six NATO planes on 25 May struck a Bosnian Serb ammunition depot near the Bosnian Serb stronghold of Pale, outside Sarajevo, Nasa Borba and international agencies reported the following day. The NATO attack came after Bosnian Serb forces failed to comply with an ultimatum that they return four heavy guns stolen near Sarajevo. The Bosnian Serbs responded swiftly by launching attacks against five of six of the country's designated safe areas: namely, Sarajevo, Srebrenica, Tuzla, Gorazde, and Bihac. In Tuzla, a shell exploded in a downtown area lined with cafes. The town's mayor has said that at least 50 people were killed in the incident, while as yet unconfirmed reports say the toll may be at least 70 dead and some 150 wounded. Meanwhile, UN spokesman Major Guy Vinet has told Reuters that "all nine weapons collections points have been blocked by Bosnian Serb soldiers." -- Stan Markotich, OMRI, Inc.

    [02] REACTIONS TO NATO AIR ATTACKS.

    Bosnia's Muslim-led government welcomed NATO's actions against the Bosnian Serbs. Vice President Ejup Ganic told reporters at a press conference following the Bosnian Serb response that further NATO action was needed. "NATO must carry out a massive bombardment of the Serb artillery . . . What happened in Tuzla tonight and in Sarajevo and Gorazde must not go unpunished," he said. Meanwhile, NATO officials have indicated that their organization is prepared to launch other strikes against the Bosnian Serbs if they do not withdraw heavy weapons from the exclusion zone around Sarajevo by 10:00 GMT on 26 May. The Belgian news agency Belga quoted NATO Secretary-General Willy Claes as saying that NATO has targets of "importance." He gave no further information. -- Stan Markotich, OMRI, Inc.

    [03] FORMER KOSOVO POLICEMEN ON TRIAL.

    Some 44 ethnic Albanian former policemen went on trial in Prizren on 25 May, international agencies reported the same day. They are accused of forming a shadow Kosovar police force and face up to 10 years in prison if found guilty. The defendants have denied the charges, saying the only reason they formed an independent police union was to protect their rights. The state prosecutor has claimed the union served "as a shield for forming an illegal police force." An ethnic Serbian defense lawyer said that the trial is purely political and that the defendants were tortured by the police during interrogation. -- Stefan Krause, OMRI, Inc.

    [04] NEW BULGARIAN POLITICAL ALLIANCE IN THE MAKING?

    Duma on 26 May reportsthat President Zhelyu Zhelev sees a realistic chance for forming a new political alliance. Dimitar Ludzhev, chairman of the Center New Policy party, was quoted as saying that the United Democratic Forces would not be a presidential grouping but an alliance for the people. Ludzhev, together with Asparuh Panov and Stefan Gaytandzhiev of the Radical Democratic Party (RDP), met with Zhelev on 25 May. Ludzhev's party has already held talks on the formation of a new alliance with the People's Union, and talks with the RDP are scheduled. The RDP, in turn, has invited the Union of Democratic Forces to attend talks but so far has not received a reply, Gaytandzhiev said. -- Stefan Krause , OMRI, Inc.

    [05] MACEDONIAN PRESIDENT URGES GREECE TO START TALKS.

    Kiro Gligorov, on a state visit to Italy, has urged Greece to lift its embargo against Macedonia and start direct talks with his country, Reuters reported on 25 May. Gligorov was quoted as saying that Macedonia will not be "an equal partner in direct talks" if the embargo is not lifted. He also urged Greece to take a bigger role in the Balkan peace process, saying it has "a responsibility as the only Balkan country in the European Union and NATO to bring stability to the region." Gligorov praised the UN peacekeepers stationed in Macedonia and said their presence is a sign that "the war cannot expand south." -- Stefan Krause, OMRI, Inc.

    [06] GREEK-ALBANIAN TALKS START IN "GOOD ATMOSPHERE."

    Greece and Albania havestarted wide-ranging talks to try to improve bilateral relations, AFP reported on 25 May. Greek Foreign Ministry spokesman Konstantinos Bikas said the first sessions in Athens and Tirana, held on 23 and 24 May respectively, took place in a "good atmosphere." The talks focused on immigration and legal and consular problems. Further meetings will take place in Tirana on 26 May-6 June to discuss public order, cultural links, and military cooperation and in Athens on 5 June to debate economic relations. AFP cited an unnamed Greek source as saying Athens is considering granting 100,000 seasonal work permits to Albanian citizens. -- Stefan Krause, OMRI, Inc.

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

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