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RFE/RL Newsline, 02-09-26
CONTENTS
[01] PACE WARNS RUSSIA AGAINST MILITARY INTERVENTION IN GEORGIA...
[02] ...AS DEFENSE MINISTER SAYS RUSSIA MIGHT STRIKE ANYWAY...
[03] ...AND REAFFIRMS OPPOSITION TO MILITARY ACTION AGAINST BAGHDAD
[04] EXPERT URGES KREMLIN TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF U.S.-EUROPE SCHISM ON
[05] RUSSIAN MILITARY ANTICIPATES NEW CHECHEN INCURSION FROM GEORGIAN
[06] RUSSIAN FORCES, CHECHEN SEPARATISTS IN FIERCE FIREFIGHT IN
[07] ...AND BRITISH CITIZEN REPORTED KILLED IN THE FIGHTING
[08] RUSSIA SLAMS OSCE DELAY IN REPORTING OBSERVERS' ABDUCTION
[09] LUKOIL EXECUTIVE REAPPEARS AS STRANGELY AS HE DISAPPEARED
[10] DUMA GIVES NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET AN INITIAL RUBBER STAMP...
[11] ...AS GOVERNMENT AGREES TO DECLASSIFY SOME DEFENSE SPENDING...
[12] ...AND CONTINUES TO RAISE WAGES FOR STATE-SECTOR WORKERS
[13] DERIPASKA'S NUMBER 2: HE TRIES HARDER
[14] GOVERNOR OUTLINES OLIGARCH SYSTEM IN HIS REGION
[15] PUTIN NIXES IDEA OF ADDITIONAL DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER
[16] PRIMORE CHARTER BROUGHT INTO LINE
[17] PUTIN LAUDS RUSSIAN ELECTIONS...
[18] ...AS VOTER URGES ANNULMENT OF NIZHNII VOTE
[19] DUMA BEGINS CONSIDERATION OF WITNESS-PROTECTION LAW
[20] MORE POLITICAL PARTIES REGISTERED
[21] SUSPECT ARRESTED FOR VLADIVOSTOK PATHOLOGIST'S MURDER
[22] NORTHERN CAPITAL TO SOON STOP HUMMING
[23] MOST OF THE MONKEYS COME HOME
[24] MUSLIM LEADER MAKES BID FOR GREATER TATAR UNITY
[25] ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT PARTLY WRITES OFF CONSUMERS' DEBTS FOR WATER
[26] ARMENIA AMENDS LEGISLATION TO COMPLY WITH WTO REQUIREMENTS
[27] ARMENIA WANTS CONSULATE IN SOUTHERN GEORGIA
[28] AZERBAIJANI OPPOSITION UNVEILS FINAL REFERENDUM REPORT
[29] GEORGIAN JUSTICE MINISTRY TASKED WITH INVESTIGATING LEAKED
[30] THREE ABKHAZ OFFICIALS KILLED IN TERRORIST ATTACK
[31] LEADER OF GEORGIAN MILITARY PROTEST STRIPPED OF COMMISSION
[32] GEORGIAN INTERIOR MINISTER DENIES PANKISI OPERATION CLOSE TO
[33] KAZAKH OPPOSITION PARTY MEETS REGISTRATION REQUIREMENT
[34] KYRGYZ PARLIAMENT APPROVES COMPENSATION FOR AKSY VICTIMS
[35] TAJIKISTAN'S RUSSIANS COMPLAIN THEY ARE ABANDONED
[36] BELARUSIAN PRESIDENT SCRUTINIZES LEGAL SYSTEM
[37] ANOTHER BELARUSIAN NEWSPAPER TO BE BANNED?
[38] POLL FINDS BELARUSIAN PRESIDENT'S POPULARITY AT A RECORD LOW
[39] UKRAINE CONTINUES TO DENY ARMS DEAL WITH BAGHDAD...
[40] ...AS PRESSURE MOUNTS FOR CLEAR EXPLANATION
[41] OUR UKRAINE, OPPOSITION GROUPS BOYCOTT PARLIAMENTARY VOTING...
[42] ...AND ASK WORLD COMMUNITY TO REFRAIN FROM SANCTIONS AGAINST
[43] FRENCH FOREIGN TRADE MINISTER VISITS ESTONIA
[44] ESTONIAN PARLIAMENT PASSES SECOND SUPPLEMENTARY BUDGET FOR 2002
[45] FINLAND DONATES PATROL BOAT TO LATVIAN BORDER GUARDS
[46] LITHUANIA TO CANCEL VISA PRIVILEGES TO RUSSIA AND BELARUS
[47] NATO MINISTERS IN WARSAW MULL IRAQ, GEORGIA, TIES WITH RUSSIA
[48] POLISH, RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTER DISCUSS COOPERATION
[49] CZECHS SAY THEY CAN OFFER EXPERIENCED TROOPS TO NATO'S RAPID
[50] CZECH DEFENSE MINISTER ADMITS LARGE-SCALE AMMUNITION THEFT...
[51] ...AND SAYS FOREIGN MINISTRY DOES NOT 'NOW' DEPLOY VZS AGENTS
[52] CZECH GOVERNMENT APPROVES EU REFERENDUM BILL
[53] EU RELEASES FROZEN PHARE FUNDS TO SLOVAKIA
[54] HUNGARIAN DEFENSE MINISTER IMPRESSED BY EVIDENCE ON IRAQ
[55] HUNGARIAN COALITION PARTIES PROPOSE REDUCING SCOPE OF VETTING
[56] ...AND MECS REPORT WILL NOT NAME NAMES
[57] FORMER HUNGARIAN PREMIER SAYS CHURCHES ARE HIS ALLY
[58] MILOSEVIC TRIAL ENTERS BOSNIAN, CROATIAN PHASE...
[59] ...WITH LEAD PROSECUTOR CHARGING THAT FORMER LEADER SOUGHT TO
[60] CROATIAN PRESIDENT JOINS BOBETKO FRAY, URGES COOPERATION WITH THE
[61] ...AFTER TRIBUNAL ISSUES STINGING REBUKE
[62] YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT WANTS NEW CONSTITUTION, GREATER RULE OF LAW...
[63] ...AND REITERATES CRITICISM OF THE HAGUE TRIBUNAL
[64] DISABLED YUGOSLAV WAR VETERANS DEMAND BENEFITS
[65] YUGOSLAVIA OWES BILLIONS IN FOREIGN DEBT
[66] MONTENEGRIN PREMIER DEFENDS SALE OF OIL SUPPLIER
[67] FUTURE MACEDONIAN PRIME MINISTER RULES OUT DIRECT INVOLVEMENT OF
[68] FORMER MACEDONIAN ORTHODOX BISHOP NAMED SERBIAN EXARCH FOR
[69] HIGH-RANKING U.S. DEFENSE OFFICIAL MEETS WITH ROMANIAN LEADERS IN
[70] PACE DEMANDS THAT ROMANIA REFRAIN FROM RATIFYING ACCORD WITH
[71] EU URGES ROMANIA TO EXTEND BAN ON ADOPTIONS
[72] ROMANIAN COURT OF ACCOUNTS REPORTS DOCUMENTS MISSING
[73] IMF OFFICIAL CRITICIZES BULGARIAN GOVERNMENT'S PLANS
[74] BULGARIAN GOVERNMENT DISAPPOINTED WITH BIDS FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS
[75] BULGARIA, AZERBAIJAN SIGN MILITARY AGREEMENT
[76] There is no End Note today.
26 September 2002
RUSSIA
[01] PACE WARNS RUSSIA AGAINST MILITARY INTERVENTION IN GEORGIA...
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) adopted on
25 September a resolution proposed by the Georgian delegation that
warned Russia to desist from any actions or statements that constitute
interference in Georgia's internal affairs or that violate the
country's sovereignty or territorial integrity, Caucasus Press and
Russian agencies reported. The resolution included in the former
category unilateral actions -- including economic aid -- in South
Ossetia and Abkhazia. At the same time, the resolution called on
Georgia to continue to cooperate with all interested countries to
eradicate terrorism and not to provide either direct or indirect
support to groups that seek to use force to resolve territorial
conflicts on Georgian territory. State Duma International Affairs
Committee Chairman Dmitrii Rogozin, who heads Russia's delegation to
PACE, complained that the resolution ignores Russia's right, as
guaranteed by the UN Charter, to launch a preemptive strike on
terrorist bases on Georgian territory in self-defense, ITAR-TASS
reported. He accused PACE deputies of wanting to rewrite that charter
and suggested that their unwillingness to confront "terrorism" could
rebound on Europe, ITAR-TASS reported. LF
[02] ...AS DEFENSE MINISTER SAYS RUSSIA MIGHT STRIKE ANYWAY...
Addressing a meeting of his NATO counterparts in Warsaw on 25
September, Sergei Ivanov said that despite the PACE resolution, "Russia
reserves the right to use any method of action approved by the UN
Charter to repel possible aggression from Georgian territory," NTV and
other Russian news agencies reported. Russia, he said, feels that it is
a victim of international terrorism originating from Georgian territory
and that the Georgian leadership does not control the situation in the
Pankisi Gorge or elsewhere. "If terrorist incursions from there
continue, we will use military force to resist them, with all the
consequences that might bring," Ivanov said. He also said that Russia
wants to keep the issues of Georgia and Iraq separate. "The Georgian
problem interests Russia much more than Iraq," he said, according to
RBK on 26 September. VY
[03] ...AND REAFFIRMS OPPOSITION TO MILITARY ACTION AGAINST BAGHDAD
Speaking to journalists in Warsaw about Iraq, Ivanov said that "only
experts on the spot can determine whether Iraq has weapons of mass
destruction," Russian news agencies reported on 25 September. He said
that the international community should wait for the reports of UN
weapons inspectors before adopting more resolutions. He added, though,
that Russia insists that Iraq must comply with all UN resolutions
because this is the only way the present situation can be resolved
peacefully. VY
[04] EXPERT URGES KREMLIN TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF U.S.-EUROPE SCHISM ON
IRAQ
Ivan Safronchuk, director of the Defense Information Center in Moscow,
has said that "it is normal and even very desirable for Moscow to take
advantage of differences that arise between the United States and
Europe over the Iraq problem," polit.ru reported on 26 September.
However, he cautioned, Russia should not overplay its hand and risk
provoking "a strong retaliatory reaction." He recalled that Russia
ineptly attempted to play upon such differences over the proposed U.S.
missile-defense shield. Although Russia managed to garner some European
sympathy for its views, the Kremlin's efforts were so clumsy and
transparent that Europe ultimately would not risk quarrelling with
Washington in order to back Russia, Safronchuk said. VY
[05] RUSSIAN MILITARY ANTICIPATES NEW CHECHEN INCURSION FROM GEORGIAN
TERRITORY
Speaking on 25 September in Warsaw, where he attended the NATO defense
ministers' meeting together with Ivanov, First Deputy Chief of the
General Staff Colonel General Yurii Baluevskii said several hundred
Chechen militants and foreign mercenaries, including field commander
Ruslan Gelaev, remain in Georgia close to the border with Chechnya and
that he has "no doubt" they will attempt a new incursion onto Russian
territory, Interfax and ITAR-TASS reported. Georgian border officials
denied on 21 September that several hundred fighters were concentrated
on the Georgian side of the border (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 23 September
2002). Georgian border guards apprehended four men -- two of them Arabs
with French passports, one Russian and one Circassian from Syria --
trying to enter Ingushetia from Georgian territory late on 24
September, Russian agencies reported the following day. LF
[06] RUSSIAN FORCES, CHECHEN SEPARATISTS IN FIERCE FIREFIGHT IN
INGUSHETIA...
Russian forces on 26 September engaged in a heavy battle near the
village of Galashki in Ingushetia against a large unit of Chechen
fighters reportedly under the command of field commander Abdul-Malik,
Russian and Western news agencies reported. AP reported that 10 Russian
soldiers were killed and 15 wounded, citing military sources. The same
sources claimed that 50-80 Chechen fighters had been killed. According
to a press release from the Russian joint forces in the North Caucasus,
two pilots were killed when an Mi-24 helicopter was shot down by a
Chechen fighter armed with a shoulder-launched antiaircraft missile,
and at least two armored personnel carriers were also destroyed.
According to Russian intelligence, Abdul-Malik's real name is Vitalii
Smirnov and he commands a detachment of 200-300 fighters. He is an
ethnic Russian from the Chechen settlement of Kalinovskaya who
converted to Islam in 1997, RTR reported. Chief of the General Staff
General Anatolii Kvashnin said that Abdul-Malik's detachment is
surrounded by Russian forces and has taken heavy casualties. Kvashnin
said he has personally taken control of the operation to liquidate the
formation. VY
[07] ...AND BRITISH CITIZEN REPORTED KILLED IN THE FIGHTING
Russian soldiers near Galashki found the body of man bearing a British
passport with the name Gervase Roderick John Scott, AP and Russian news
agencies reported on 26 September. Near the body, the soldiers also
found a video camera and numerous videocassettes. Lenta.ru quoted a
source in the presidential administration as saying that the security
services "are now checking the authenticity of the document." AP
reported that the British Embassy said it had been informed of the
death of a British citizen but that it would release no information
pending the notification of relatives. ITAR-TASS reported that Scott
was a freelance journalist working with support from Frontline News,
citing sources at the British media company. The same report cited
authorities in Georgia as saying that the Georgian visa found in
Scott's passport was valid and that he had entered Georgia legally as a
journalist. "How he ended up in Ingushetia in the company of Chechen
fighters is unknown to the Georgian Foreign Ministry," the Georgian
official said. RTR added that individuals bearing Georgian and Turkish
documents were also found among the slain Chechen fighters. VY
[08] RUSSIA SLAMS OSCE DELAY IN REPORTING OBSERVERS' ABDUCTION
In separate statements in Moscow on 25 September, presidential aide
Sergei Yastrzhembskii and Foreign Ministry spokesman Aleksandr
Yakovenko said Russia would like an explanation from the OSCE for its
delay in reporting the detention on 20 September of two members of the
OSCE observer force deployed on the Georgian-Ingush border, ITAR-TASS
reported. The two observers were apprehended by 12 unidentified armed
men and released one hour later. OSCE headquarters in Vienna reported
the incident only on 23 September, apparently, according to Yakovenko,
because the gunmen released the observers on condition that they keep
quiet for 48 hours. Both Yakovenko and Yastrzhembskii commented
sarcastically that this was the first time in many months that the OSCE
monitors "noticed" the presence of unidentified gunmen on Georgia's
borders with Chechnya and Ingushetia. LF
[09] LUKOIL EXECUTIVE REAPPEARS AS STRANGELY AS HE DISAPPEARED
LUKoil First Vice President Sergei Kukura, the No. 2 person in one of
Russia's largest oil companies who was kidnapped on 12 September (see
"RFE/RL Newsline," 13 September 2002), was released by his
as-yet-unidentified kidnappers on 25 September, Russian news agencies
reported on 26 September. Reports about the release -- including the
motive for the kidnapping, the identity of the kidnappers, and the
conditions under which Kukura was released -- varied widely.
"Kommersant-Daily" cited unnamed investigators working on the case as
saying the kidnapping was staged by LUKoil itself for internal reasons.
Gzt.ru reported that the abduction was genuine and that LUKoil paid a
ransom of $3 million and 3 million euros to secure Kukura's release.
Polit.ru expressed skepticism over the entire incident, arguing that
the commercial secrets that Kukura possesses are worth billions of
dollars, not millions. The website concluded that it is very unlikely
anyone will ever hear the true story about this case from investigators
or anybody else. VY
[10] DUMA GIVES NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET AN INITIAL RUBBER STAMP...
State Duma deputies approved the draft 2003 federal budget in its first
reading on 25 September, Russian news agencies reported. The vote was
309 in favor, with 112 against and four abstentions, according to
Interfax. The Communist and Agro-Industrial groups voted against the
bill. The draft document assumes that annual inflation will remain
between 10-12 percent, the ruble-exchange rate will average 33.7 rubles
per dollar, and the price of oil will average $21.50 per barrel.
Revenues are set at 2.418 trillion rubles ($76 billion) and
expenditures at 2.346 trillion rubles. The second reading of the budget
is scheduled for 18 October. JAC
[11] ...AS GOVERNMENT AGREES TO DECLASSIFY SOME DEFENSE SPENDING...
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Aleksei Kudrin
said the government will declassify 65 percent of the articles on
national defense included in the draft budget by the third reading,
ITAR-TASS reported. Earlier, the Union of Rightist Forces faction
announced it will support the budget provided the government
declassifies many now-secret parts of the military budget (see "RFE/RL
Newsline," 25 September 2002). Defense expenditures under the bill will
increase by 0.15 percent from this year's level to 345.8 billion rubles
($11.15 billion), according to Defense Committee Chairman Andrei
Nikolaev on 24 September. Of that, 35 billion rubles will be spent on
arms purchases, and 110 billion rubles on research, development, and
military equipment repairs, according to Kudrin. JAC
[12] ...AND CONTINUES TO RAISE WAGES FOR STATE-SECTOR WORKERS
According to "Kommersant-Daily" on 25 September, the government plans
to continue increasing wages for state-sector workers in 2003, but the
budget does not stipulate any additional subsidies for the regions.
According to the daily, when the government raised state-sector wages
by 89 percent earlier this year, wage arrears reached almost 3 billion
rubles ($95 million) by early autumn as regional budgets proved unable
to cope with the increased payrolls. Only then did the government
decide to increase subsidies to regions by 60 percent. On 1 October
2003, wages for state-sector workers will rise by another 33 percent.
JAC
[13] DERIPASKA'S NUMBER 2: HE TRIES HARDER
In its monthly ranking of the most influential lobbyists in Russia
prepared by the Agency for Economic News and published on 25 September,
"Nezavisimaya gazeta" lists Russian Aluminum head Oleg Deripaska in
second place, just behind presidential administration head Aleksandr
Voloshin. According to the daily, Deripaska's "conceptual speech on
Russia's entry into the World Trade Organization noticeably resonated
with the public." Other members of the top 10 are Unified Energy
Systems head Anatolii Chubais, Mezhprombank head Sergei Pugachev,
Alfa-Group head Mikhail Fridman, Sistema head Vladimir Yevtushenkov,
and Media Minister Mikhail Lesin. Interestingly, the most influential
regional leader, according to the survey, is also an oligarch --
Chukotka Autonomous Okrug Governor Roman Abramovich. JAC
[14] GOVERNOR OUTLINES OLIGARCH SYSTEM IN HIS REGION
In an interview with "Novyi region" on 25 September, Sverdlovsk Oblast
Governor Eduard Rossel said it is possible to resolve all the economic
issues of the region by turning to the directors of the seven largest
industrial holdings. According to Rossel, SUAL head Viktor Vekselberg
"comes to me and we can sit down and discuss what is necessary to do."
Rossel added that there are six other industrial magnates of this
stature in the region, including United Machine-Building Plants
President Kakha Bendukidze, Yevraz Kholding head Aleksandr Abramov,
UGMK President Iskandr Makhmudov, and Trubnaya Metallurgiskaya
Kompaniya head Dmitrii Pumpyanskii. Rossel also said he expects his
oblast to lose 2 billion rubles ($64.5 million) under next year's
federal budget, but he nevertheless expects the budget to be approved
easily. "Even our own deputies vote against the interests of Sverdlovsk
Oblast," he said. JAC
[15] PUTIN NIXES IDEA OF ADDITIONAL DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER
Addressing a meeting of the All-Russia Conference of Young Industrial
Leaders in Moscow on 25 September, President Vladimir Putin said he
doesn't believe it is necessary to create an additional deputy prime
ministerial post to oversee industry, ITAR-TASS reported. The idea had
been proposed by Trubnaya Metallurgiskaya Kompaniya head Pumpyanskii.
Putin acknowledged that he has spoken "a lot" about the structure of
the government with Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov and that "the
government itself does not consider its current structure optimal." JAC
[16] PRIMORE CHARTER BROUGHT INTO LINE
The charter of Primorskii Krai is now in complete accord with federal
legislation, lenta.ru reported on 26 September. According to the press
service of the krai's legislature, the last three points in the charter
that contradicted national law were removed during the body's 25
September session. Among the changes, deputies removed an article that
had previously authorized the krai to negotiate and adopt international
agreements. RC
[17] PUTIN LAUDS RUSSIAN ELECTIONS...
President Putin, addressing on 26 September a conference of election
officials from Central and Eastern Europe being held in Moscow, said
that "many positive changes in our country have taken place precisely
because the professional and regular holding of elections is becoming
one of the basic conditions for ensuring the rights and freedoms of
Russian citizens," strana.ru reported. Putin asserted that Russian
elections "completely conform to international standards" and said that
elections have become "a political tradition" in Russia. RC
[18] ...AS VOTER URGES ANNULMENT OF NIZHNII VOTE
Nizhnii Novgorod voter Tatiana Speranskaya has filed a suit asking a
municipal court to set aside the results of the 15 September first
round of voting for city mayor, "Izvestiya" reported on 26 September.
Speranskaya alleges that many of the ballots discarded as invalid were
done so "either mistakenly or maliciously." A representative of the
campaign of Andrei Klimentiev, whose candidacy was annulled by a court
the day before the vote (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 16 and 17 September
2002), told the daily that as many as 10,000 ballots marked "against
all" were discarded by local election officials because "they had other
things written on them." Only 29 percent of registered voters
participated in the first round. According to the official results,
current Nizhnii Novgorod Mayor Yurii Lebedev received 31.47 percent
(98,699 votes); Duma Deputy Vadim Bulavinov polled 30.85 percent
(96,747 votes); and 30.35 percent (95,168) voted "against all." RC
[19] DUMA BEGINS CONSIDERATION OF WITNESS-PROTECTION LAW
The Duma's Security Committee on 26 September considered a government
bill on the protection of witnesses and victims of crimes (see "RFE/RL
Newsline," 28 August 2002), strana.ru reported. However, the website
commented that the problem of protecting witnesses in criminal trials
is not the result of a lack of legislation, but of a lack of funds
allocated for this purpose. According to unidentified sources on the
committee, the government has not yet presented its report on the
budgetary impact of the proposed legislation, however earlier Interior
Ministry estimates put the cost at 3.82 billion ruble ($123 million)
per year. The website also cited unidentified officials in the
government as saying that approximately 10 million Russians each year
give some sort of testimony in legal matters, and about one-fourth of
them change their testimony at least once. The officials said that, in
many cases, such changes of heart are the result of intimidation or
"pressure." RC
[20] MORE POLITICAL PARTIES REGISTERED
The Justice Ministry registered on 25 September the Russian Agrarian
Movement led by Agriculture Minister Aleksei Gordeev as a new public
organization, ORT reported. Another member of the group is Ivan
Starikov, a Federation Council representative for Kostroma Oblast,
according to ITAR-TASS. Earlier in the week, the ministry registered
the Party of Life, which is associated with Federation Council Chairman
Sergei Mironov, "Kommersant-Daily" reported on 24 September. Also
expected to be registered is the Party of Russia's Rebirth headed by
Duma Speaker Gennadii Seleznev, according to "Izvestiya" on 25
September. JAC
[21] SUSPECT ARRESTED FOR VLADIVOSTOK PATHOLOGIST'S MURDER
Police have arrested a suspect in the murder of Vladivostok professor
and pathologist Sergei Melnik (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 25 September
2002), ntvru.com and other Russian news agencies reported on 26
September. According to local Deputy Prosecutor Yurii Avramenko, the
unnamed suspect, who has reportedly confessed to the crime, worked as a
janitor at the funeral home co-owned by Melnik and murdered him over a
personal dispute. Avramenko alleged that the man was drunk at the time
of the murder. RC
[22] NORTHERN CAPITAL TO SOON STOP HUMMING
The St. Petersburg administration has stopped accepting entries for a
competition to write lyrics for the city's official anthem, "Izvestiya"
reported on 25 September. The anthem is the overture to Reinhold
Gliere's 1948-49 ballet "The Bronze Horseman," based on the poem by
Aleksandr Pushkin. In the spring, the city's Legislative Assembly
rejected all proposed lyrics for the anthem, including Pushkin's text,
leading them to announce the present competition. In all, deputies
received 320 entries, many of which were submitted by local pensioners.
A committee will choose 10 of the entrants, to be narrowed down to
three finalists by a committee of distinguished local citizens. Of
those three, Governor Vladimir Yakovlev will choose the winner, and its
author will received a prize of 30 minimum salaries. RC
[23] MOST OF THE MONKEYS COME HOME
Eleven of the 12 monkeys stolen on 25 September from the Leningrad Zoo
in St. Petersburg (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 25 September 2002) have been
recovered, ntvru.com and other Russian news agencies reported on 26
September. One suspect has been arrested in the case. The recovered
monkeys are in satisfactory condition and are expected to make a
complete recovery. Police continue to investigate the matter. RC
[24] MUSLIM LEADER MAKES BID FOR GREATER TATAR UNITY
Galimzyan Bikmullin, chairman of the Spiritual Administration of
Muslims in Tyumen Oblast, has called on local ethnic Tatars to identify
themselves on the national census as simply Tatar rather than as
Siberian Tatar, islam.ru reported on 25 September. However, at the same
time, the representative of the Tatar national-cultural autonomy in the
oblast, Faizulla Kamalov, has expressed the opposite opinion. Kamalov
believes that Tatars in Siberia should identify themselves as Siberian
Tatars so that they can receive the status of a "native people." The
question of whether the Tatar ethnic group should be divided into many
different categories on the census has been a controversial one, with a
number of officials in Tatarstan arguing that federal authorities are
trying to undermine the group's cohesiveness and status by introducing
additional categories (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 1 October 2001 and 15 and
20 March 2002). JAC
TRANSCAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA
[25] ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT PARTLY WRITES OFF CONSUMERS' DEBTS FOR WATER
In a move Yerevan observers linked to the upcoming local, presidential,
and parliamentary elections, parliament on 25 September voted to write
off 45 percent of households' unpaid debts for water supplies in
2000-01 provided they pay the remaining 55 percent, RFE/RL's Yerevan
bureau reported. Total outstanding debts for water supplies are
estimated at 35 billion drams ($62.5 million). The government issued a
decree earlier this year requiring all households to install water
meters in a bid to enforce the widely disregarded billing system (see
"RFE/RL Newsline," 11 January 2002). LF
[26] ARMENIA AMENDS LEGISLATION TO COMPLY WITH WTO REQUIREMENTS
Also on 25 September, the parliament approved in the third and final
reading amendments to the Customs Code and the laws on VAT and excise
taxes that bring them into full compliance with World Trade
Organization (WTO) requirements, according to Armenpress, as cited by
Groong. Noyan Tapan on 19 September quoted Trade and Economic
Development Minister Karen Chshmaritian as saying that Armenia will
become a WTO member by the end of this year. LF
[27] ARMENIA WANTS CONSULATE IN SOUTHERN GEORGIA
Teimuraz Mosiashvili, who is Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze's
representative in the largely Armenian-populated south Georgian region
of Djavakheti, met in Yerevan on 25 September with Armenian President
Robert Kocharian and Prime Minister Andranik Markarian to discuss a
recent program approved by the Georgian government aimed at improving
social and economic conditions and creating new jobs in Djavakheti,
RFE/RL's Yerevan bureau reported (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 12 September
2002). Markarian suggested that Armenia should open a consulate in the
region to monitor implementation of that program, to which he said
Armenia is prepared to contribute financially. LF
[28] AZERBAIJANI OPPOSITION UNVEILS FINAL REFERENDUM REPORT
The four Azerbaijani opposition parties that jointly monitored the
voting in the 24 August referendum on amendments to the country's
constitution published on 25 September a statement detailing the final
results of their observations, Turan reported. The four parties fielded
observers at 2,814 of the total 4,997 polling stations, and calculated
that only some 20.3 percent of registered voters participated in the
plebiscite, rather than the 84 percent claimed by the Central Election
Commission. Minimum participation of 50 percent was required for the
referendum to be valid. LF
[29] GEORGIAN JUSTICE MINISTRY TASKED WITH INVESTIGATING LEAKED
DOCUMENT
President Eduard Shevardnadze has asked the Justice Ministry and the
Prosecutor-General's Office to question all members of the National
Security Council in a bid to establish why a classified document
recently drafted by that body on measures to reduce tensions in
Georgian-Russian relations provides for taking legal action against
parliamentary deputies whose activities are considered a threat to
Georgia's security, Caucasus Press reported (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 25
September 2002). "Alia" on 26 September suggested that the leak of that
section of the document was prompted by infighting between pro-Russian
and pro-Western factions within the Georgian leadership. LF
[30] THREE ABKHAZ OFFICIALS KILLED IN TERRORIST ATTACK
A senior border guard and two customs officials were killed early on 25
September when unidentified assailants opened fire from a grenade
launcher on their car in the village of Chuburkhindji, Caucasus Press
reported. Abkhaz Foreign Minister Sergei Shamba suggested that Georgian
guerrilla formations operating in southern Abkhazia may have been
responsible for the attack, but spokesmen for the White Legion and
Forest Brothers denied responsibility. In a statement the same day, the
Abkhaz Foreign Ministry accused the Georgian authorities of "conducting
a policy of aggression and terrorism against Abkhazia" by funding
guerrilla groups, Caucasus Press reported. The most recent UN Security
Council resolution on the Abkhaz conflict reminded the Georgian
government of the need to make good on its commitment to put an end to
the activities of such illegal armed groups (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 30
July 2002). LF
[31] LEADER OF GEORGIAN MILITARY PROTEST STRIPPED OF COMMISSION
Nika Djandjgava, the former commander of the Georgian Army's ground
forces, has been stripped of his officer's rank in connection with his
role in the protest two months ago by some 100 young officers from the
crack Kodjori battalion, Caucasus Press reported. The men resigned
their commissions to protest inadequate financing for the army and
incompetent commanders, but Defense Minister Lieutenant General David
Tevzadze refused to accept the resignations (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 19
and 22 July 2002). LF
[32] GEORGIAN INTERIOR MINISTER DENIES PANKISI OPERATION CLOSE TO
COLLAPSE
Koba Narchemashvili on 25 September rejected as exaggerated reports
that due to the incompetence of National Guard head Koba Kobaladze the
anticrime and antiterrorism operation in the Pankisi Gorge is close to
collapse, Caucasus Press reported. "Akhali taoba" the same day quoted
Interior Ministry spokesman Paata Gomelauri as saying the operation
will continue for another six weeks. Narchemashvili had said two days
earlier that the "active" phase of the operation would be over within
10 days (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 24 September 2002). A further suspected
criminal was detained in Pankisi on 26 September, Caucasus Press
reported. His is the eighth arrest since the campaign got under way one
month ago. LF
[33] KAZAKH OPPOSITION PARTY MEETS REGISTRATION REQUIREMENT
The leaders and founders of Kazakhstan's Aq Zhol (White Path) Party
held a press conference in Almaty on 25 September at which they
announced that they have signed up 52,000 party members nationwide,
which is more than the 50,000 minimum required for registration with
the Justice Ministry under the controversial new law on political
parties, RFE/RL's Kazakh Service reported. They said they hope
membership will reach 70,000. They criticized, and said they will lobby
for changes to, the 2003 draft state budget. The party was founded
early this year by former Deputy Premier and Finance Minister Uraz
Djandosov, former Labor and Social Welfare Minister Alikhan Baimenov,
and former parliamentary deputy Bulat Abilov (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 30
January 2002). LF
[34] KYRGYZ PARLIAMENT APPROVES COMPENSATION FOR AKSY VICTIMS
The Legislative Assembly (the lower chamber of Kyrgyzstan's parliament)
passed on 24 September a government-sponsored bill that will provide
lifelong welfare payments to the relatives of the five people killed in
clashes between police and demonstrators in Aksy Raion in March,
Interfax and RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reported. The government will also
support victims' children until the age of 18, or 21 if they enter
higher education. The minimum monthly payment will be 140 soms (about
$3). The parliament approved the government draft rather than an
alternative proposed by opposition parliament deputy Azimbek Beknazarov
because the former was more specific and detailed, according to
Interfax. LF
[35] TAJIKISTAN'S RUSSIANS COMPLAIN THEY ARE ABANDONED
Valerii Yushin, who heads Tajikistan's 68,200-strong Russian community,
told Asia Plus-Blitz on 26 September that he believes the new Russian
citizenship law discriminates against ethnic Russians living in the
former Soviet republics and should be amended. "We don't renounce the
Russian state, but it, in the person of its officials and parliament
deputies, has renounced us," he said. He added that none of the
numerous programs adopted over the past decade intended to assist
Russian communities in other former Soviet republics has been
implemented. According to the 2000 Tajik census, Russians constitute
only 1.1 percent of the country's population; Tajiks account for some
80 percent, and Uzbeks 15.3 percent. LF
CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE
[36] BELARUSIAN PRESIDENT SCRUTINIZES LEGAL SYSTEM
A special commission on 25 September reported to President Alyaksandr
Lukashenka on the results of its examination of how judiciary and law
enforcement bodies operate in the country, Belarusian Television
reported. Lukashenka took advantage of the opportunity to publicize his
own efforts to enhance the rule of law. "While touring the country this
past season, I [often met] with this bandit revelry of prosecutors, our
police, and, partly, judges," Belarusian Television quoted the
president as saying. "[My words] primarily refer to the KGB, police,
and prosecutors. They are the chief poachers; they are people who just
threaten our citizens." Prosecutor-General Viktar Sheyman told the
president that prosecutors are currently conducting some 200 corruption
investigations against officials at the raion level, as well as against
business managers. Lukashenka asked him whether he, presidential
administration head Ural Latypau, and State Monitoring Committee head
Anatol Tozik take bribes. "I think they do not," Sheyman replied.
Lukashenka also praised Belarus's system of controlling lawyers through
the National Collegium of Lawyers. "Russia and Ukraine have lawyers who
are sort of independent. We have no such lawyers. Do our justice system
and citizens lose from such a situation?" Lukashenka asked. "No, they
only win," was the reply from the head of the National Collegium of
Lawyers, who was identified only as N. Andreychuk. JM
[37] ANOTHER BELARUSIAN NEWSPAPER TO BE BANNED?
Trade Union Federation of Belarus (FPB) head Leanid Kozik has requested
that Information Minister Mikhail Padhayny close the opposition
newspaper "Narodnaya volya," Belarusian Television reported on 25
September. Kozik said "Narodnaya volya" published a series of articles
that presented the recent FPB extraordinary congress (see "RFE/RL
Newsline," 20 September 2002) in a "distorted" way and insulted the 4.5
million FPB members. Meanwhile, a major international trade union, the
International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering,
Tobacco, and Allied Workers' Associations (IUF), has said in a
statement that the FPB extraordinary congress put an end to independent
trade-union activism in Belarus. "Lukashenka attended the [congress] as
a delegate. He openly declared that Belarusian trade unions must be
'incorporated into the state-authority system.' And he rewarded the
obedient delegates with the restoration of the check-off system [for
collecting membership fees], which was previously abolished by a
presidential decree in his war against the unions," Belapan quoted from
the IUF statement. JM
[38] POLL FINDS BELARUSIAN PRESIDENT'S POPULARITY AT A RECORD LOW
According to a poll of a representative sample of 1,509 adult
respondents conducted earlier this month by the Independent Institute
of Socioeconomic and Political Studies (NISEPI), only 27 percent of
Belarusians would vote for Alyaksandr Lukashenka in a presidential
election, Belapan reported on 25 September. This is the lowest rating
for Lukashenka ever recorded. A similar NISEPI poll in April found that
30.9 percent of voters would support him in a presidential ballot.
Thirty-six percent of those polled said they disapprove of the way
Lukashenka rules the country, while 20.7 percent "partly disapproved."
Nearly 13 percent approved and 26.2 percent "partly approved" of his
rule. Among the reasons for disapproval, most respondents cited low
living standards, the lack of law and order, and the shortage of
accurate information about the situation in the country. According to
the poll, 50.6 percent of voters would reject changes to the
constitution allowing Lukashenka to run for another term, while 15.5
percent would back such amendments. JM
[39] UKRAINE CONTINUES TO DENY ARMS DEAL WITH BAGHDAD...
Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma assured British Defense Minister
Geoffrey Hoon in Kyiv on 26 September that Ukraine has never supplied
any weapons to Iraq, UNIAN reported, quoting presidential spokeswoman
Olena Hromnytska. Kuchma made his comment in connection with
Washington's publicized suspicions that Ukraine might have sold a
Kolchuga radar system to Iraq in contravention of UN sanctions (see
"RFE/RL Newsline," 24 and 25 September 2002). Foreign Minister Anatoliy
Zlenko told journalists on 25 September that Kuchma might have
authorized selling a Kolchuga system to Iraq -- as suggested by Mykola
Melnychenko's secret recording -- but insisted that the sale never took
place, AP reported. Zlenko interrupted his visit to the Dominican
Republic to meet UN officials in New York in order to rebut the U.S.
allegations, Reuters reported on 26 September. Meanwhile, Yuriy
Serheyev, the state secretary for the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, said
on 25 September that the U.S. allegations give "a basis for all those
who would like to besmirch Ukraine as a part of what is called the
'axis of evil' and who would describe Ukraine as a state supporting
terrorists," an RFE/RL correspondent reported. JM
[40] ...AS PRESSURE MOUNTS FOR CLEAR EXPLANATION
The U.S. State Department on 25 September said it plans no talks with
Ukraine on the alleged sale of a radar system to Iraq unless Ukrainian
officials are prepared to discuss the issue honestly, AP reported. "We
have strongly urged Ukrainian officials to be as transparent and as
forthcoming as possible. Unfortunately, we do not believe that the
government of Ukraine has been candid with us in the past on this
issue," the department said in a written statement. Meanwhile, NATO
Secretary-General George Robertson called on Ukraine in Warsaw on 25
September to explain the allegations. Robertson added that relations
between NATO and Kyiv have hit a "tricky moment," Reuters reported. "I
can tell you that there is a very serious atmosphere on this subject,
and some very serious questions still remain to be answered," Robertson
noted. Ukrainian lawmaker Heorhiy Kryuchkov (Communist Party), the
chairman of the parliamentary Commission for National Security and
Defense, told UNIAN on 26 September that the U.S. allegations are
"unfair and insulting" to Ukraine, adding that their primary intention
is to give a boost to the ongoing anti-presidential protest in Ukraine.
JM
[41] OUR UKRAINE, OPPOSITION GROUPS BOYCOTT PARLIAMENTARY VOTING...
The parliamentary caucuses of the Communist Party, the Socialist Party,
the Yuliya Tymoshenko Bloc, and Our Ukraine on 26 September said they
will boycott voting in the Verkhovna Rada as long as lawmakers fail to
address the current political situation, UNIAN reported. A motion to
place this issue on the agenda was supported only by 96 deputies out of
228 registered in the session hall. Our Ukraine did not take part in
the vote, and Socialist Party leader Oleksandr Moroz noted that Our
Ukraine made a "tactical mistake" by not participating. He said the
motion could not "objectively" be passed even with backing from Our
Ukraine lawmakers, but added that Our Ukraine's participation would
have shown that more than 200 deputies want a debate on the current
political crisis. JM
[42] ...AND ASK WORLD COMMUNITY TO REFRAIN FROM SANCTIONS AGAINST
UKRAINE
In a joint statement, the parliamentary caucuses of the Communist
Party, the Socialist Party, the Yuliya Tymoshenko Bloc, and Our Ukraine
have appealed to the United Nations, the OSCE, the Council of Europe,
and the governments of the United States and Canada not to impose
economic sanctions on Ukraine and "to draw a clear dividing line
between the people of Ukraine and criminal actions by [Ukrainian]
officials," UNIAN reported on 26 September. The caucuses recalled that
the previous parliament made several attempts to launch an
investigation regarding Ukraine's alleged illegal arms deals, but was
prevented from doing this by President Kuchma and "deputies who were
dependent on" Kuchma. "We are ready, without waiting for more exposing
steps on the part of international community, to carry out a full and
comprehensive investigation and to apply all necessary procedures as
regards the responsibility of specific officials for illegal arms
trading in contravention of United Nations resolutions," the statement
read. JM
[43] FRENCH FOREIGN TRADE MINISTER VISITS ESTONIA
Francois Loos discussed trade relations with Prime Minister Siim Kallas
in Tallinn on 25 September, ETA reported. He expressed the wish that
other French companies could match the success of Peugeot, which is the
leading seller of new automobiles in Estonia this year. Kallas called
for greater investments from France, which is currently the
14th-largest investor in Estonia. Foreign Minister Kristiina Ojuland
told Loos that higher milk quotas are an important issue for farmers in
the ongoing EU admission negotiations. The Estonian Chamber of Commerce
and Industry organized a seminar on the Estonian economy and business
environment for the delegation of businessmen and journalists who
accompanied Loos. SG
[44] ESTONIAN PARLIAMENT PASSES SECOND SUPPLEMENTARY BUDGET FOR 2002
By a vote of 56 to 20, the parliament on 25 September approved a second
supplementary budget of 788 million kroons ($49.5 million), ETA
reported. Disregarding the advice of the International Monetary Fund
and the Bank of Estonia, the cabinet in August submitted the
supplementary budget (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 15 August 2002), which in
effect raised the 2002 budget to 34.3 billion kroons. Twenty-four
amendments to the bill were debated on 25 September, but only five, all
suggested by the ruling coalition, were approved. The proposed an
additional 145 million kroons to the Foreign Ministry was reduced by 17
million kroons, which was reallocated to schools, cultural
establishments, and hospitals. SG
[45] FINLAND DONATES PATROL BOAT TO LATVIAN BORDER GUARDS
Lieutenant General Hannu Ahonen, the chief of the Finnish
border-control service, officially turned over the patrol vessel
"Valpas" to Latvian State Border Guard Chief Gunars Dabolins in an
official ceremony in Riga on 25 September, LETA reported. Finnish
Ambassador to Latvia Kirsti Eskelinen-Liukkonen and Interior Minister
Mareks Seglins participated in the event. The 48-meter "Valpas," built
in 1971, is capable of functioning in all conditions in the Baltic Sea
year-round, being able to break through ice 50 centimeters thick. SG
[46] LITHUANIA TO CANCEL VISA PRIVILEGES TO RUSSIA AND BELARUS
In order to comply with commitments made to the European Union for
accession to the Schengen Treaty, the government on 25 September
decided to cancel the temporary agreements it concluded with Belarus in
February 1994 and with Russia in February 1995 concerning visa
privileges, ELTA reported. Beginning on 1 January 2003, Lithuania will
end visa-free travel for passengers traveling between Kaliningrad
Oblast and the rest of Russia, as well as visa-free entry into
Lithuania for Belarusian pensioners, residents of border areas, and
truckers. Beginning on 1 July 2003, residents of Kaliningrad Oblast
will be required to have visas to enter Lithuania. The government also
decided to open a consulate in Hrodna, Belarus, as soon as it obtains
permission to rent premises. SG
[47] NATO MINISTERS IN WARSAW MULL IRAQ, GEORGIA, TIES WITH RUSSIA
During the second day of an informal NATO summit in Warsaw on 25
September, NATO defense ministers discussed the alliance's policy on
Iraq, the situation in Georgia, and NATO relations with Russia, PAP
reported. The debate was attended by Russian Defense Minister Sergei
Ivanov. U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld said UN sanctions
have not succeeded in disarming Iraq and added that, in the event of a
military action against that country, Washington will obtain support
from many countries. Rumsfeld also said the United States opposes a
possible Russian military action targeting Chechen separatists
allegedly ensconced in Georgia. "Georgia's sovereignty must be
respected," he added. Meanwhile, Ivanov said the anticipated
extradition of 13 Chechen fighters from Georgia to Russia -- a move
recently announced by the Georgian Prosecutor-General's Office -- will
not exhaust Moscow's demands on Tbilisi, ITAR-TASS reported. "There are
still very many international terrorists in Georgia, whose extradition
is demanded by both Russia and the entire world," Ivanov added. Ivanov
invited NATO representatives to take part in a seminar in Moscow in
December to discuss combating international terrorism. JM
[48] POLISH, RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTER DISCUSS COOPERATION
Following the conclusion of a NATO summit in Warsaw on 25 September,
defense ministers Jerzy Szmajdzinski (Poland) and Sergei Ivanov
(Russia) discussed the possibilities of bilateral technical and
military cooperation, PAP reported, quoting Defense Ministry spokesman
Eugeniusz Mleczak. Mleczak said the two sides are expected to sign an
accord on 26 September on modernizing and servicing Poland's MiG-29
fighter jets by Russia. JM
[49] CZECHS SAY THEY CAN OFFER EXPERIENCED TROOPS TO NATO'S RAPID
REACTION FORCE
Czech Ambassador to NATO Karel Kovanda on 25 September told CTK that
his country can offer its experienced units for the planned NATO Rapid
Reaction Force (RRF). Kovanda explained that he mainly has in mind the
antichemical- and antibacteriological-warfare unit now deployed in
Kuwait. He also said the U.S. proposal to set up the RRF is only in its
initial stage and will be further examined at the organization's
November summit. The planned force should enable the deployment of
25,000 troops within five days to any place in the world. MS
[50] CZECH DEFENSE MINISTER ADMITS LARGE-SCALE AMMUNITION THEFT...
The daily "Pravo" on 25 September said Defense Minister Jaroslav Tvrdik
conceded that ammunition has been repeatedly stolen in recent months
from military warehouses, CTK and dpa reported. The daily said as many
as 175 hand grenades have been stolen from poorly protected military
warehouses. It cited Tvrdik as saying the Czech Army has responded to
the thefts with a campaign to beef up safeguards, adding that if the
investigation shows people in the chain of command "up to the General
Staff" are responsible for negligence, they will be dismissed "or I
will resign." MS
[51] ...AND SAYS FOREIGN MINISTRY DOES NOT 'NOW' DEPLOY VZS AGENTS
ABROAD
Tvrdik on 25 September denied that the Czech Military Intelligence
Service (VZS) is deploying agents abroad under diplomatic cover.
"Nothing of the sort takes place at the moment. A special team will
investigate what happened in the past," Tvrdik told CTK. He was
speaking after a closed session of the Chamber of Deputies' Foreign
Affairs Commission. Rumors of the deployment emerged in the media in
connection with the alleged commission of a journalist's murder by
former Foreign Ministry Secretary-General Karel Srba (see "RFE/RL
Newsline," 23 July 2002). According to press reports, Srba was himself
a VZS agent and placed other VZS agents in diplomatic posts abroad. MS
[52] CZECH GOVERNMENT APPROVES EU REFERENDUM BILL
The government on 25 September approved a constitutional amendment on
holding a plebiscite to approve the country's accession to the EU, CTK
reported. The amendment was approved last week by the Senate (see
"RFE/RL Newsline," 20 September 2002) and is now to be debated in the
Chamber of Deputies. MS
[53] EU RELEASES FROZEN PHARE FUNDS TO SLOVAKIA
The European Commission on 25 September decided to release the PHARE
funds it froze last year on suspicion of fraud in handling EU aid, CTK
reported. At that time, the EU decided to withhold 10 percent of the
funds, amounting to 5 million euros ($4,908,000 at the current exchange
rate) until an investigation is finalized, CTK reported. Deputy Premier
Maria Kadlecikova said Slovakia's Supreme Audit Office has concluded
that there was no misuse of the funds and that police, working jointly
with a team from the European Commission's European Anti-Fraud Office
(OLAF), have reached the same conclusion. As a result of the scandal
last year, two officials were dismissed: Pavol Hamzik, who was deputy
premier in charge of EU integration, and Ronald Toth, at that time
director of the Foreign Aid section of the government office. MS
[54] HUNGARIAN DEFENSE MINISTER IMPRESSED BY EVIDENCE ON IRAQ
Defense Minister Ferenc Juhasz told "Magyar Hirlap" of 25 September
that NATO defense ministers meeting in Warsaw were shown "convincing
and detailed" evidence that Iraq is preparing to manufacture chemical,
biological, and nuclear weapons. MSZ
[55] HUNGARIAN COALITION PARTIES PROPOSE REDUCING SCOPE OF VETTING
PROCESS...
On 25 September, governing-coalition member Socialists and Free
Democrats submitted motions to parliament for amending their earlier
bill on who should be subject to vetting for involvement with the
communist-era domestic secret services, Hungarian dailies reported. The
new amendment would exclude leaders of labor unions, national and
regional leaders of churches registered in Hungary, and chief and
deputy editors of national media who could influence public opinion
directly or indirectly. Another proposed change would stipulate that
the committee set up to investigate those suspected of collaborating
with the secret services should consist of 12 judges. The 12 would be
designated by parliament's National Security Committee following
consultations with the head of the National Judicial Council and would
serve for four years. Under another proposed amendment, public figures'
collaboration with the communist-era secret services would not be
classified as a state secret, but the details of their activities would
be. MSZ
[56] ...AND MECS REPORT WILL NOT NAME NAMES
The report of the parliamentary commission investigating government
officials' secret-service pasts, headed by Free Democrat Imre Mecs,
will not include the names of those implicated, "Magyar Hirlap"
reported on 26 September. Mecs and Karoly Toth, the commission's
Socialist deputy chairman, explained that the lack of a quorum
resulting from the opposition delegates' decision to boycott the
commission made it impossible to include any names in the report. MSZ
[57] FORMER HUNGARIAN PREMIER SAYS CHURCHES ARE HIS ALLY
Viktor Orban told a Budapest conference for Catholic schoolteachers on
25 September that supporters of the right-wing "polgari" look upon the
churches and their institutions as strategic allies, "Magyar Nemzet"
reported. Orban said many things have changed in Hungarian politics,
but that the relationship between the historic churches and learning
institutions and those advocating right-wing national values has not
changed. He encouraged teachers at church-run schools to establish "a
moral yardstick" rather than withdraw from politics and public life.
"It is inappropriate for anybody to advise the historic churches to
stay out of public debates," Orban concluded. MSZ
SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE
[58] MILOSEVIC TRIAL ENTERS BOSNIAN, CROATIAN PHASE...
Hague prosecutors on 26 September launched the second phase of the war
crimes trial against former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic,
reading aloud 61 counts including genocide for alleged atrocities in
Bosnia and Croatia from 1991-95, international news agencies reported.
The Milosevic trial's first phase related to the conflict in Kosova and
ended on 11 September. The charges in the new phase of the trial relate
to the mass execution of Muslims in Srebrenica, the three-year siege of
Sarajevo, and detention camps at Trnopolje and Omarska, among other
activities, AP reported. Milosevic was to have three hours to present
his opening defense statement on 26 September, and is expected to call
his own witnesses toward the end of the trial, probably in the spring.
Tribunal spokeswoman Florence Hartmann said on 25 September that
Croatian President Stipe Mesic will testify in the current stage of the
trial, according to Reuters, although she declined to say when. AH
[59] ...WITH LEAD PROSECUTOR CHARGING THAT FORMER LEADER SOUGHT TO
'DESTROY OR EXPEL' NON-SERBS
Lead Prosecutor Geoffrey Nice said on 26 September that prosecutors
will try to prove that Milosevic intended to "destroy or expel"
non-Serb inhabitants from the region with the aim of creating a Greater
Serbia, RFE/RL reported. Nice accused Milosevic of seeking to "carve up
Bosnia" with the cooperation of former Croatian President Franjo
Tudjman, covertly fomenting Serbian rebellion in parts of Croatia, and
intending to "destroy the Bosnian Muslim community." AH
[60] CROATIAN PRESIDENT JOINS BOBETKO FRAY, URGES COOPERATION WITH THE
HAGUE...
Stipe Mesic on 25 September bucked the trend of senior politicians in
his country when he implored Croatians to "keep our word" to the
international community and suggested that authorities should hand over
indicted war criminal General Janko Bobetko, dpa reported the same day.
The president's words are a stark contrast to the statements emerging
of late from Prime Minister Ivica Racan and his government (see "RFE/RL
Newsline," 23, 24, and 25 September 2002). Mesic said in a nationally
televised address that "nobody is above the law" and "nobody can
jeopardize Croatia's future," the news agency reported. He noted that
his country adopted a law on cooperation with the International
Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia six years ago, adding, "We
have made a commitment and the world is expecting us to keep our word."
Mesic, who is expected to testify for the prosecution at Milosevic's
ongoing trial, urged "cooperation by each Croatian citizen with the
[war crimes] tribunal," according to dpa. Mesic warned that the country
needs to show that "extremist opinions will not prevail," according to
AP. AH
[61] ...AFTER TRIBUNAL ISSUES STINGING REBUKE
UN war crimes tribunal spokesman Jim Landale said on 25 September that
Croatia's obligations are "clear" and "Croatian authorities have a
responsibility to arrest Bobetko without due delay and transfer him to
The Hague," AP reported. Another Hague spokesperson, Florence Hartmann,
warned, "No government can challenge an indictment" by the UN court.
"We shall not stay silent if Croatia does not comply" with the
indictment and handover request for the 83-year-old former chief of the
military Main Staff, AP quoted Hartmann as saying. She declined to
specify what measures the UN body might take if the government in
Zagreb maintains its defiance. AH
[62] YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT WANTS NEW CONSTITUTION, GREATER RULE OF LAW...
Vojislav Kostunica said in Belgrade on 25 September that establishing
democratic rule of law will be his main priority if he is elected
Serbian president in the upcoming election, Reuters reported. In an
interview, Kostunica, who is a law professor, said that his main
opponent in the 29 September election, Miroljub Labus, "is fond of
saying actually that the economy is above everything. For me, the law
is above everything. And the economy should be put in some sort of a
legal frame." Kostunica, 58, added that he plans to oversee the
institution of a new constitution and other important legislation to
replace laws established during the reign of former President
Milosevic. PB
[63] ...AND REITERATES CRITICISM OF THE HAGUE TRIBUNAL
President Kostunica said on 25 September that the UN war crimes
tribunal's charges against Serbian President Milan Milutinovic "seem
unreal and groundless," AP reported, citing the Beta news agency.
Kostunica said the trial of Milutinovic and all other future war crimes
trials against Yugoslav citizens should be held in domestic courts.
Kostunica said he hopes "that the international war crimes tribunal
will reconsider a part of its...practices." He said that currently the
trials "are not something that will be considered...justice."
Milutinovic has been indicted by the war crimes tribunal for atrocities
committed during the 1998-99 conflict in Kosova. PB
[64] DISABLED YUGOSLAV WAR VETERANS DEMAND BENEFITS
Hundreds of disabled veterans of the Balkan wars blocked the entrances
to a government building in Belgrade on 25 September to demand the
immediate payment of overdue state benefits, AP reported. The
protesters, many in wheelchairs or on crutches, chanted "thieves!" and
"treason" until they were met by Yugoslav Prime Minister Dragisa Pesic
and some other cabinet ministers who pledged to pay some 2 billion
dinars ($32 million) in unpaid benefits beginning next month. The
protest was triggered when acting Finance Minister Veroljub Dugalic
said that the overdue benefits would be paid next year. PB
[65] YUGOSLAVIA OWES BILLIONS IN FOREIGN DEBT
Yugoslav acting Finance Minister Dugalic said in Belgrade on 25
September that the country owes some $8.598 billion in foreign debt,
Hina reported. Dugalic said the country's debts have been greatly
reduced since the overthrow of President Milosevic, with more than $3.1
billion having been written off. He added that Yugoslavia has been
granted loans totaling $1.1 billion since October 2000, when Milosevic
was deposed. PB
[66] MONTENEGRIN PREMIER DEFENDS SALE OF OIL SUPPLIER
Filip Vujanovic has decided to meet with parliament President Vesna
Perovic to discuss questions arising from the privatization of the
Jugopetrol oil company, Tanjug reported on 26 September. Vujanovic said
in an open letter to Perovic that he is surprised that the
parliamentarian has expressed doubts regarding the privatization of
Montenegro's largest oil supplier "without having first looked into all
the details." Vujanovic, who has received a vote of no confidence from
the parliament, said the privatization process "is proceeding through a
commission for tenders, with the participation of numerous and very
prominent foreign advisers, in a legitimate and transparent way." PB
[67] FUTURE MACEDONIAN PRIME MINISTER RULES OUT DIRECT INVOLVEMENT OF
FORMER REBELS IN GOVERNMENT
Social Democratic Union Chairman Branko Crvenkovski said on 25
September that he opposes the participation of former members of the
National Liberation Army (UCK) in any future government, "Utrinski
vesnik" reported. Crvenkovski added that there is no room for former
UCK members in parliament either. However, Crvenkovski said he will
begin coalition talks with the Democratic Union for Integration (BDI),
which is led by former rebel leader Ali Ahmeti, as soon as the Supreme
Court has confirmed the final results of the 15 September parliamentary
elections. Ahmeti himself has already signaled that he is not
interested in a cabinet post in the future government (see "RFE/RL
Newsline," 19 September 2002). Crvenkovski spoke after a meeting at the
French Embassy with the ambassadors of the United States, the European
Union, and the OSCE. UB
[68] FORMER MACEDONIAN ORTHODOX BISHOP NAMED SERBIAN EXARCH FOR
MACEDONIA
In Bitola on 25 September, former Macedonian Orthodox Bishop of Veles
Jovan declared himself "independent administrator of the Ohrid
Archbishopric" of the Serbian Orthodox Church, "Dnevnik" reported. One
day earlier, the Serbian Orthodox Church named him archbishop of Pec
and exarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church for Macedonia. Jovan was
dismissed from his position as bishop of the Macedonian Orthodox Church
after he placed his bishopric under Serbian canonic law in July 2002.
Jovan's step followed the failure of the Serbian and Macedonian
Orthodox churches to reach agreement over the future legal status of
the Macedonian church, which is not recognized by other Orthodox
churches (see "RFE/RL Balkan Report," 12 July 2002). UB
[69] HIGH-RANKING U.S. DEFENSE OFFICIAL MEETS WITH ROMANIAN LEADERS IN
BUCHAREST
U.S. Undersecretary of Defense Douglas Feith met in Bucharest on 25
September with Defense Minister Ioan Mircea Pascu, Prime Minister
Adrian Nastase, and President Ion Iliescu, RFE/RL's Bucharest bureau
reported. Pascu described the meeting as a "continuation of talks" he
held with U.S. officials in Washington last week. After those
discussions, Pascu said Romania would allow the United States to use
its airspace in the event of a NATO attack on Iraq. Reports in the
Romanian media suggested that the use of Romanian airfields may have
been discussed during Feith's trip to Bucharest. Feith said after the
talks with Pascu that the United States "made no specific request" to
Romania regarding a possible military intervention against Iraq. He
further said that Washington "does not comment" on the contribution of
other countries to that possible operation, saying that it is left up
to those countries to "assume the role they define themselves." Feith
thanked Nastase and Iliescu for Romania's contribution to Operation
Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and for having recently signed an
accord with the United States regarding the proposed International
Criminal Court (ICC). MS
[70] PACE DEMANDS THAT ROMANIA REFRAIN FROM RATIFYING ACCORD WITH
UNITED STATES
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe approved a
resolution on 25 September demanding that countries that have signed an
accord with the United States that would exempt U.S. citizens from
extradition to the ICC refrain from ratifying the agreement, Romanian
Radio reported. Thus far four countries, including Romania, have signed
such an accord. Senate Chairman Nicolae Vacaroiu responded that the
accord with the United States will not be ratified before an
understanding on the matter is reached between the European Union and
the United States. MS
[71] EU URGES ROMANIA TO EXTEND BAN ON ADOPTIONS
EU Ambassador to Romania Jonathan Scheele, in an interview with Reuters
on 25 September, said that Romania should extend the moratorium on
adoptions by foreigners until the country sets up a better foster-care
system and is capable of monitoring it. The moratorium was announced in
June 2001 and runs out in October. It followed criticism by the
European Union claiming that child trafficking and corruption was rife
in the adoption process. Reuters said families in the United States and
other countries that had already chosen for adoption children from
Romanian orphanages are pressing for the moratorium to be lifted. MS
[72] ROMANIAN COURT OF ACCOUNTS REPORTS DOCUMENTS MISSING
In a report presented on 25 September, Court of Accounts President Dan
Drosu Saguna said investigations have revealed that documents submitted
as evidence regarding taxes owed to the Finance Ministry by privatized
state companies have disappeared, Mediafax and Romanian Radio reported.
Saguna said most of the missing documents date back to 1998-2000. He
added that documents pertaining to more than $2.2 billion and 1 billion
"transferable rubles" owed to Romania by foreign companies before 1989
are also missing. Most of those companies, he said, have since been
privatized, and their managers claim they cannot prove how those debts
were handled, claiming "different excuses." MS
[73] IMF OFFICIAL CRITICIZES BULGARIAN GOVERNMENT'S PLANS
Speaking at a press conference in Sofia on 25 September, Jerald Schiff,
a division chief who represents the Bulgarian team at International
Monetary Fund headquarters, criticized the Bulgarian government's plans
to use part of its currency reserve to build up an investment fund for
risk capital, "Dnevnik" reported (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 25 September
2002). Schiff said the IMF is skeptical about the idea not only because
it will use parts of the country's currency reserve, but also because
the state will renew its engagement in the economy at a time when the
privatization of state-owned companies has nearly been completed. UB
[74] BULGARIAN GOVERNMENT DISAPPOINTED WITH BIDS FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS
COMPANY
Transport and Communications Minister Plamen Petrov said on 25
September that he had expected higher bids than those recently received
for the state-owned BTK telecommunications company, BTA reported. "I
hoped the bidders would offer between 50 and 80 percent higher prices.
I find the bids slightly disappointing," Petrov said, adding that the
company does not have a large debt. A Turkish consortium comprising Koc
Bilgi Grubu Ilitisim ve Teknoloji Hizmetleri and Turk Telekomunikasyon
offered some $230 million for a 65 percent stake in BTK, while the
Vienna-based Viva Ventures Holding GmbH offered $245 million. Both
bidders pledged to invest some $392 million in BTK over the next five
years. UB
[75] BULGARIA, AZERBAIJAN SIGN MILITARY AGREEMENT
In Sofia on 25 September, Defense Minister Nikolay Svinarov and his
Azerbaijani counterpart Colonel General Safar Abiev signed a bilateral
agreement on military cooperation, BTA reported. Svinarov and Abiev
discussed future bilateral military-industrial cooperation and the
exchange of armed forces' personnel for training. They also spoke about
military reforms in Bulgaria and Azerbaijani-Armenian relations. UB
END NOTE
[76] There is no End Note today.
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