OMRI Daily Digest II, No. 91, 11 May 1995

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

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.

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

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