OMRI Daily Digest I,II, No. 104, 30 May 1995

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

CONTENTS

  • [01] TURKEY, TATARSTAN SIGN AGREEMENT.

  • [02] DUMA COMMITTEE ON BOSNIAN CRISIS.

  • [03] KOZYREV CONDEMNS "BARBARITY."

  • [04] BOSNIAN SERBS REMAIN DEFIANT.

  • [05] SERBS HOLD NEARLY 400 HOSTAGES.

  • [06] CONTACT GROUP IS "BACK IN ACTION."

  • [07] MILOSEVIC'S MAN IN KRAJINA SACKED.

  • [08] SERBIAN FOREIGN MINISTER ON UNIFICATION, BOSNIAN CRISIS.

  • [09] ALBANIAN PARTY CONGRESS IN MACEDONIA.

  • [10] BULGARIAN PRESIDENT URGES NATO MEMBERSHIP . . .

  • [11] . . .BUT POLITICIANS FAIL TO AGREE.

  • [12] ALBANIAN JOURNALISTS THREATEN STRIKE.

  • [13] ALBANIAN RIGHT-WING PARTY HOLDS CONGRESS.

    •

    OMRI DAILY DIGEST

    No. 104, Part I, 30 May 1995

    RUSSIA

    [01] TURKEY, TATARSTAN SIGN AGREEMENT.

    Tatarstan and Turkey signed an agreement in Ankara on 28 May dealing with trade, economic, scientific, technical, and cultural cooperation, Interfax reported the next day. Tatarstan Prime Minister Farid Muhametshin described the agreement as a "historic document" which upgrades bilateral relations. The agreements will pave the way for Tatarstan to open a mission in Ankara and encourage trade relations. In 1994, trade with Turkey--valued at $39 million--represented 5% of Tatarstan's overall trade. -- Lowell Bezanis, OMRI, Inc.

    [02] DUMA COMMITTEE ON BOSNIAN CRISIS.

    The Duma Committee for International Affairs has condemned NATO action in Bosnia-Herzegovina, dubbing the air attacks of 25 and 26 May, and NATO's presence in general, a measure that "only aggravates the situation and complicates the search for peaceful ways to settle the Yugoslav crisis," Interfax reported on 29 May. The committee also observed that while it was "far from justifying uncivilized Serb operations in Bosnia-Herzegovina...the decision of NATO to bomb the positions on one side of the conflict represents a challenge to peace efforts." -- Stan Markotich, OMRI, Inc.

    [03] KOZYREV CONDEMNS "BARBARITY."

    Russian Foreign Minister Andrei Kozyrevsaid Moscow "can no longer tolerate barbarity as regards peacekeepers in Bosnia," Interfax reported. Nevertheless, the minister also stood firm on his government's conviction that "shrinking from real work with Belgrade, double standards in evaluating the actions of the conflicting sides, [and] NATO bombing, although [carried out with] UN consent, does nothing but aggravate the situation." Kozyrev met with his Contact Group counterparts on 29 May in The Hague, where he outlined his opposition to a withdrawal of UN peacekeepers from Bosnia-Herzegovina. Meanwhile, the Belgrade daily Nasa Borba reported the following day that Russian special envoy Alexander Zotov has finally arrived in the Serbian capital for talks. No Russian troops have been taken prisoner or hurt in the former Yugoslavia, according to Interfax citing Russian Airborne Troop Commander Yevgeny Podkolzin. However, Nasa Borba reported that 37 ethnic Russians are among the prisoners currently being held by the Bosnian Serbs. -- Stan Markotich, OMRI, Inc.

    OMRI DAILY DIGEST

    No. 56, Part II, 20 May 1995

    SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE

    [04] BOSNIAN SERBS REMAIN DEFIANT.

    International media on 30 May report that the Bosnian Serb supreme command has issued a statement saying that the UN is siding with the Bosnian government and that the Serbs now regard "all Security Council resolutions, all NATO ultimatums, and all accords with the UN that have been abused...[as] null and void." General Ratko Mladic said that UN soldiers will still be used as human shields by keeping them at sites where NATO aircraft might strike but that they will no longer be chained to fences and poles. The Serbs denied they had any hostages, preferring to call their captives "prisoners of war." Pale nonetheless did not call for a pullout of UN forces because, in the opinion of the BBC, that would pave the way for Washington to arm the Bosnian government. -- Patrick Moore, OMRI, Inc.

    [05] SERBS HOLD NEARLY 400 HOSTAGES.

    Nasa Borba reports on 30 May that the number of UNPROFOR soldiers held captive by Bosnian Serb forces is rapidly approaching 400. The French lead the list with 174, followed by 55 Canadians, 41 Ukrainians, 37 Russians, and 34 British. The 26 remaining hostages come from various countries, including three from the Czech Republic. The BBC notes that the Serbs have developed a taste for their involuntary guests' belongings and now wear French uniforms and drive British vehicles. They nonetheless appear to have lost ground in the Mt. Ozren area, north of Sarajevo, to attacks by Bosnian government forces. -- Patrick Moore, OMRI, Inc.

    [06] CONTACT GROUP IS "BACK IN ACTION."

    This is how British Foreign SecretaryDouglas Hurd described the 29 May session in The Hague of the foreign ministers of Germany, France, Russia, the U.K., and the U.S. They condemned the Bosnian Serbs' "outrageous acts" and threatened "consequences if [the hostages] are not correctly treated and returned unharmed." But they neither specified what those consequences would be nor gave a deadline for freeing the captives. The five called for "strengthening" UNPROFOR but also urged renewed diplomatic efforts, especially toward securing Belgrade's recognition of Sarajevo. International media noted that Russian Foreign Minister Andrei Kozyrev stressed the need for negotiations, while U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher would not rule out further air strikes. Meanwhile, EU foreign ministers said on 29 May that Pale would be held responsible for the fate of the hostages. -- Patrick Moore , OMRI, Inc.

    [07] MILOSEVIC'S MAN IN KRAJINA SACKED.

    Borislav Mikelic was ousted as prime minister by the Krajina Serb legislature in Knin on 29 May, Nasa Borba reported the next day. He was regarded as Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic's main ally in the Krajina leadership, which otherwise favors closer links--including an ill-defined "union"--with the Bosnian Serbs. Mikelic's popularity has nose-dived recently, because he is suspected of being willing to accept Krajina's reintegration into Croatia. -- Patrick Moore, OMRI, Inc.

    [08] SERBIAN FOREIGN MINISTER ON UNIFICATION, BOSNIAN CRISIS.

    Foreign Minister Vladislav Jovanovic on 29 May said the unification of Serbia with Serb-held territories in Bosnia and rebel Serb-occupied areas of Croatia was an eventuality that would spell only "catastrophe" and amount to defiance of the international community. Jovanovic, in what seems to be a break with the Bosnian Serb leadership over the escalation of the conflict in Bosnia, said the taking of UN hostages and their use as human shields against possible future NATO air raids was "unacceptable." Politika on 30 May reported that Jovanovic has described the sacking of the Krajina premier as "an internal question" for the Republic of Serbian Krajina. This statement may be seen as an attempt by Belgrade to distance itself from its former rebel Serb clients in Croatia. -- Stan Markotich, OMRI, Inc.

    [09] ALBANIAN PARTY CONGRESS IN MACEDONIA.

    Iljaz Halimi, leader of the ethnic Albanian Democratic People's Party, was reelected at a party congress in Tetovo on 28 May, Flaka reported the following day. The congress adopted two documents--one dealing with economic and social questions and the other demanding improved Albanian-language education and the closer integration of ethnic Albanians in the fields of culture and science. A proposal to change the party's name to Democratic Party of Albanians was rejected. -- Fabian Schmidt, OMRI, Inc.

    [10] BULGARIAN PRESIDENT URGES NATO MEMBERSHIP . . .

    Zhelyu Zhelev on 29 May said that full membership in NATO is "the political ticket to enter the European Union." He argued in an interview with state-run Radio Horizont that no former East bloc country will be admitted to the EU without being a member of NATO. Zhelev commented that there are no obstacles to prevent Bulgaria from becoming a full member of NATO by the end of the year "if NATO is willing to accept us." With regard to the EU, Zhelev said reforms are Bulgaria's "visiting card." He added that consensus must be reached on a free market economy and democracy. Also on 29 May, Zhelev met with Russian Ambassador Aleksandr Avdeev. Duma on 30 May quoted Avdeev as saying that Russia's position on NATO expansion remains unchanged. -- Stefan Krause, OMRI, Inc.

    [11] . . .BUT POLITICIANS FAIL TO AGREE.

    The Consultative Council on National Security has failed to bridge different views on Bulgaria's possible membership in NATO, Demokratsiya reported on 30 May. The council, headed by the president, is composed of members of the government, the main political parties, and the president's staff. President Zhelyu Zhelev asked the council to convene to discuss applying to join NATO, but the meeting ended with a vague statement that the parties "agreed to continue discussing [Bulgaria's] concrete position." Three opposition parties supported Zhelev's stance that Bulgaria must clearly state its desire to join NATO. Prime Minister Zhan Videnov, government members, and representatives of the Bulgarian Socialist Party argued that "there is no social consensus as yet on Bulgaria's membership in NATO." -- Stefan Krause, OMRI, Inc.

    [12] ALBANIAN JOURNALISTS THREATEN STRIKE.

    The Albanian Association of Professional Journalists has threatened to suspend publication of all independent newspapers in response to an order that all papers be sold only at state-owned book shops and kiosks in Tirana. The order, issued by Mayor of Tirana Sali Kelmendi, would place severe restrictions on the number of copies of each newspaper, international media reported. The association also said it will begin legal proceedings to reclaim lost earnings for street sellers who were prevented by the police from selling newspapers on 26 May. Meanwhile, Adrian Krasta, a journalist for Albanian TV, was beaten by unidentified individuals, Gazeta Shqiptare reported on 30 May. The paper said the attack was probably in connection with Krasta's professional work as a journalist. -- Fabian Schmidt , OMRI, Inc.

    [13] ALBANIAN RIGHT-WING PARTY HOLDS CONGRESS.

    One of the founders of the extreme right-wing Democratic Party of the Right (PDD), Abdi Baleta,was sacked from the party's leadership at the PDD congress on 27 May, Aleanca Nacionale reported the next day. The congress was attended by representatives from all over Albania, except from Baleta's stronghold, Pogradec. Baleta's defeat comes after his de facto break from the party on 27 April, when he publicly denounced elements within the PDD. -- Fabian Schmidt, OMRI, Inc.

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

    HTML by the HR-Net Group / Hellenic Resources Institute
    news2html v2.09c run on Tuesday, 30 May 1995 - 14:21:40