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OMRI Daily Digest, Vol. 2, No. 117, 96-06-17

Open Media Research Institute: Daily Digest Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: Open Media Research Institute <http://www.omri.cz>

Vol. 2, No. 117, 17 June 1996


CONTENTS

[A] TRANSCAUCASIA AND CENTRAL ASIA

  • [01] PRISONER AMNESTY IN UZBEKISTAN.
  • [02] RUSSIANS IN KAZAKHSTAN VOTE FOR YELTSIN.

  • [B] SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE

  • [03] BOSNIAN DISARMAMENT AGREEMENT SIGNED.
  • [04] BOSNIAN SERBS CELEBRATE CONFERENCE AS VICTORY.
  • [05] FORMER BOSNIAN PREMIER ATTACKED IN PRE-ELECTION RALLY.
  • [06] BOSNIAN CROATS NAME NEW HERCEG-BOSNA GOVERNMENT.
  • [07] BOSNIAN MUSLIMS APPLY TO RUN IN REPUBLIKA SRPSKA ELECTIONS.
  • [08] U.S. OFFICIAL ADMONISHES SERBIAN PRESIDENT.
  • [09] CROATIAN PRESIDENT SAYS COMMUNISTS WERE PARTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR JASENOVAC VICTIMS.
  • [10] LOW TURNOUT REPORTED IN ROMANIAN LOCAL ELECTIONS.
  • [11] MOLDOVA AND JAPAN TO BOOST COOPERATION.
  • [12] BULGARIAN SOCIALISTS NAME PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE...
  • [13] ...AND INTRODUCE CHANGES IN PARTY LEADERSHIP.
  • [14] ELECTION RE-RUNS IN ALBANIA.
  • [15] ALBANIAN DEPUTY PREMIER INVOLVED IN BAR BRAWL.

  • [A] TRANSCAUCASIA AND CENTRAL ASIA

    [01] PRISONER AMNESTY IN UZBEKISTAN.

    The Uzbek government has released 80 prisoners, including members of the banned organization Erk, Western media reported on 15 June. According to Reuters, among those released are Rashid Bekjon, brother of exiled Erk leader Mohammed Solih, Abdulla Abdurazzakov, and Safar Bekjon. All three had been found guilty of anti-government activities. So far, the amnesty has not been reported in the local media, nor has a clear explanation been given. The Uzbek government may be attempting to improve its human rights image in advance of President Islam Karimov's 21-30 June visit to the U.S. and following a recent Helsinki Watch report on human rights violations in the country. -- Roger Kangas

    [02] RUSSIANS IN KAZAKHSTAN VOTE FOR YELTSIN.

    According to preliminary data released by the Russian Embassy in Almaty to ITAR-TASS on 16 June, 49.57% of the Russian electorate in Kazakhstan's capital voted for President Yeltsin; 16.36% voted for Gennadii Zyuganov and 13.39% for Aleksandr Lebed. -- Bhavna Dave

    [B] SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE

    [03] BOSNIAN DISARMAMENT AGREEMENT SIGNED.

    Rump Yugoslavia, the Bosnian Federation, Croatia, and the Republika Srpska signed a disarmament agreement in Florence on 14 June, international media reported. The deal places restrictions on the number of tanks, other armored vehicles, artillery, fighter aircraft, and helicopter gun ships that each of the states is allowed to have. The UN Security Council is expected to lift the arms embargo against the former Yugoslavia on 18 June as a result of the agreement. The WEU will also end operation "Sharp Guard," under which shipping in the Adriatic was monitored during the embargo. -- Fabian Schmidt

    [04] BOSNIAN SERBS CELEBRATE CONFERENCE AS VICTORY.

    Returning from Florence, Bosnian Serb Prime Minister Gojko Klickovic told Srna that he was "satisfied" with the treatment of his delegation at the meeting. He added "we have made it clear that the elections cannot be linked to demands for the extradition of the leaders of the Republika Srpska, and we did not come to Florence to make new concessions." Foreign Affairs Minister Aleksa Buha said the meeting "had calmed the hysteria" about extradition of Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic, AFP reported. -- Fabian Schmidt

    [05] FORMER BOSNIAN PREMIER ATTACKED IN PRE-ELECTION RALLY.

    Haris Silajdzic, leader of the opposition Party for Bosnia-Hercegovina (SBiH), was attacked and injured while campaigning in the northwestern town of Cazin on 15 June, international and local media reported. SBiH spokesman Mustafa Mujagic said Silajdzic was hit on the head with an iron bar and sustained a serious cut and bruises. He added that members of the ruling Muslim Party for Democratic Action (SDA) were responsible for what he called the "obviously organized" attack, Onasa reported. Silajdzic was surrounded by a crowd of some 100 people carrying SDA banners and shouting Muslim religious prayers. Both SBiH and OSCE officials claimed police did nothing to prevent the incident. But the SDA, which condemned the attack the next day, claimed that the police "saved" Silajdzic. -- Daria Sito Sucic

    [06] BOSNIAN CROATS NAME NEW HERCEG-BOSNA GOVERNMENT.

    Pero Markovic, a local official from the town of Capljina, has been appointed prime minister of Herceg-Bosna by the self-styled Bosnian Croatian "presidential council." Onasa reported on 16 June. Markovic proceeded to appoint several new ministers, including Vladimir Soljic as defense minister. Soljic also holds that post in the Bosnian Federation. Bosnian Prime Minister Hasan Muratovic condemned the Bosnian Croat leadership for naming a new government for a rebel state that, he said, should have been disbanded months ago, AFP reported. Muratovic condemned the move as illegal, saying its shows that the Bosnian Croats are not committed to a federal government in Bosnia- Herzegovina. -- Daria Sito Sucic

    [07] BOSNIAN MUSLIMS APPLY TO RUN IN REPUBLIKA SRPSKA ELECTIONS.

    Muslims from six villages in northeastern Bosnia have applied to run in elections in the Republika Srpska, AFP reported on 16 June, citing Oslobodjenje. Inhabitants of villages held by the Muslims during the war in Bosnia and transferred to Bosnian Serb control under the Dayton agreement have nominated candidates for municipal and regional elections. Meanwhile, the deadline for registering for the fall Bosnian elections passed on 14 June. The OSCE said that 45 parties and 16 independent candidates submitted applications. An OSCE spokesman said no details will be announced until the applications have been checked and possible appeals considered. In related news, Reuters reported that the U.S. said refugees who vote will not lose their refugee status and will not be forced to return to Bosnia. -- Stefan Krause

    [08] U.S. OFFICIAL ADMONISHES SERBIAN PRESIDENT.

    Assistant Secretary of State John Kornblum, visiting Belgrade on 16 June, told Slobodan Milosevic that Washington wants Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic ousted from power in the coming weeks. Kornblum stressed the need to implement the Dayton agreement, adding that "the patience of the international community...was beginning to wear thin." Kornblum and Milosevic also discussed freedom of the press in Serbia, freedom of movement, and preparations for the elections, AFP reported. -- Fabian Schmidt

    [09] CROATIAN PRESIDENT SAYS COMMUNISTS WERE PARTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR JASENOVAC VICTIMS.

    Franjo Tudjman, during a visit to the World War II concentration camp at Jasenovac, has given a new interpretation of what happened there 50 years ago, AFP reported on 15 June. Tudjman said Communists loyal to Yugoslav President Josip Broz Tito killed thousands of the people buried at the site. The generally accepted official version is that all those buried there were killed by the Croatian Ustachi, which ran the camp during the war. Tudjman's visit to Jasenovac came one day after the opening of the trial of two Croatian journalists who criticized Tudjman's plan to bury members of the pro-Nazi regime together with their victims. Tudjman paid homage to "all the victims" of the camp, including both "the victims of fascism but also those of communism," Hina reported. -- Daria Sito Sucic

    [10] LOW TURNOUT REPORTED IN ROMANIAN LOCAL ELECTIONS.

    Romania's Central Electoral Bureau (BEC) noted that turnout at the second round of local elections in Romania on 16 June was even lower than during the first round (56%) two weeks earlier, Romanian TV reported. Polling stations stayed open till midnight in accordance with a BEC order, but longer voting hours apparently failed to attract more voters. Exit polls suggest that in the race for mayor of Bucharest, Democratic Convention of Romania (CDR) candidate Victor Ciorbea beat former international tennis star Ilie Nastase, who ran as the candidate of the Party of Social Democracy in Romania. According to final results broadcast by Radio Bucharest on 17 June, the CDR also won the mayoralty of Sibiu. In addition to run-offs, voting was repeated in 334 districts and in two counties where participation in the first round had been less than 50% . -- Michael Shafir

    [11] MOLDOVA AND JAPAN TO BOOST COOPERATION.

    The Japanese government has decided to upgrade Moldova from the status of "transition-economy country" to that of "developing country," President Mircea Snegur and Japanese Ambassador at Large Sumio Edamura announced in Chisinau on 14 June. The two states will also increase economic cooperation. Infotag reported that Snegur thanked the Japanese envoy for a $40 million credit and humanitarian aid worth $2.5 million. -- Michael Shafir

    [12] BULGARIAN SOCIALISTS NAME PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE...

    The ruling Bulgarian Socialist Party's Supreme Council on 16 June nominated Foreign Minister Georgi Pirinski as BSP presidential candidate, RFE/RL reported. Following a 10-hour debate, 70 members voted for Pirinski, one against, and 16 abstained. Under the Bulgarian Constitution, the president must be Bulgarian by birth. Since Pirinski was born to a Bulgarian father and an American mother in New York in 1948, questions have been raised as to whether he can become president. But the constitution also says that everybody with one Bulgarian parent is considered Bulgarian. Pirinski is to run against Petar Stoyanov of the Union of Democratic Forces in elections that will most likely take place in November. Prime Minister Zhan Videnov told the Supreme Council that the BSP has to win the Presidency in order to implement its program. -- Stefan Krause

    [13] ...AND INTRODUCE CHANGES IN PARTY LEADERSHIP.

    The Supreme Council also endorsed Videnov's proposal to change the lineup of the BSP Executive Bureau, Trud reported. Videnov and his four deputies will continue to serve on that body, while seven members have been removed and five new ones appointed. Meanwhile, former Tsar Simeon II wrapped up a three-week visit to Bulgaria, AFP reported. While he did not elaborate on his plans, he did suggest that he intends to play a role in Bulgarian politics. He spoke in favor of a constitutional monarchy, which he described as a "flexible and pragmatic form of government." Simeon also urged the government to speed up economic reforms. -- Stefan Krause

    [14] ELECTION RE-RUNS IN ALBANIA.

    Albania's Central Electoral Commission claimed a 55% turnout at re-runs in 17 of Albania's 115 electoral districts on 16 June, Albanian media reported. President Sali Berisha decreed the new ballots following opposition claims of manipulation and calls by international institutions and several countries for a repeat of the vote. However, the opposition Socialists, Social Democrats, Democratic Alliance, Party of the Democratic Right, and Party of National Unity all boycotted the ballots, demanding that the elections be held afresh. The Constitutional Court on 15 June rejected an appeal by the Social Democrats and Democratic Alliance to declare the ballot illegal, according to international agencies. No official OSCE observers were present during the re- runs, but the Democrats reportedly invited members of conservative and right- wing parties from France, Greece, Italy, and Austria to oversee the voting process. -- Fabian Schmidt

    [15] ALBANIAN DEPUTY PREMIER INVOLVED IN BAR BRAWL.

    Dashamir Shehi hit Koha Jone journalist Frrok Cupi in the face in a Tirana bar on 15 June, international agencies reported. Cupi had earlier charged Shehi with incompetence. Shehi was Cupi's bodyguard in 1991 when the latter was the chief editor of Rilindja Demokratike. Meanwhile, Shehi has denied that the incident took place, Albanian media reported. -- Fabian Schmidt

    Compiled by Victor Gomez and Jan Cleave
    News and information as of 1200 CET


    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 info@omri.cz.


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