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OMRI Daily Digest, Vol. 2, No. 118, 96-06-18
From: Open Media Research Institute <http://www.omri.cz>
Vol. 2, No. 118, 18 June 1996
CONTENTS
[A] TRANSCAUCASIA AND CENTRAL ASIA
[01] CHINA SEEKS CENTRAL ASIAN SUPPORT TO CURB UIGHUR SEPARATISM.
[02] UN EXTENDS TERM OF OBSERVER MISSION IN TAJIKISTAN.
[B] SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE
[03] INDICTED BOSNIAN SERB WAS VICTIM OF MISTAKEN IDENTITY. T
[04] ELECTION COALITIONS IN REPUBLIKA SRPSKA.
[05] TURKEY OFFERS BOSNIA DONATION INSTEAD OF LOAN.
[06] CROATIA CLARIFIES LAW ON AMNESTY FOR REBEL SERBS IN EASTERN SLAVONIA.
[07] FERAL TRIBUNE TRIAL ADJOURNED TILL SEPTEMBER.
[08] CROATIAN FOREIGN MINISTER IN MACEDONIA.
[09] OFFICIAL ROMANIAN ELECTION RESULTS.
[10] ROMANIAN DEFENSE MINISTER ON HUNGARIAN ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS.
[11] NEW STATUS FOR TRANSDNIESTER.
[12] LEBED TRIUMPHS AMONG RUSSIAN RESIDENTS OF MOLDOVA.
[13] BULGARIAN ROUNDUP.
[14] ALBANIAN DEMOCRATS WIN ALL DISTRICTS IN ELECTION RE-RUN.
[15] ARMENIAN PRESIDENT IN GREECE.
[A] TRANSCAUCASIA AND CENTRAL ASIA
[01] CHINA SEEKS CENTRAL ASIAN SUPPORT TO CURB UIGHUR SEPARATISM.
China believes that the Shanghai treaty signed in April to create a
demilitarized zone along the 8,000 km border separating China from Russia and
the Central Asian states of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan will curb
Muslim separatism in its Uighur-dominated northwestern province of Xinjiang,
AFP reported on 17 June, citing an article in the government newspaper
Xinjiang Daily. Uighur leaders exiled in Kazakhstan continue to allege
increasing repression of Muslims in Xinjiang by the Chinese authorities since
the signing of the Shanghai pact. A visit by Chinese President Jiang Zemin to
Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan in early July is seen as an attempt to
further strengthen cooperation between the Central Asian states and China in
checking separatist activities in the border area. -- Bhavna Dave
[02] UN EXTENDS TERM OF OBSERVER MISSION IN TAJIKISTAN.
The UN Security Council on 14 June voted to extend the term of its observer
mission in Tajikistan until 15 December, RFE/RL and ITAR-TASS reported. Prior
to agreeing on the extension, members of the council issued a strong warning
to the warring parties in Tajikistan that visible progress must be shown
toward settling the conflict in the country. UN Secretary-General Boutros
Boutros Ghali noted earlier in the month that the situation in Tajikistan has
grown worse since May. The UN's Mission of Observers in Tajikistan has 94
members, of which 44 are military observers. -- Bruce Pannier
[B] SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE
[03] INDICTED BOSNIAN SERB WAS VICTIM OF MISTAKEN IDENTITY. T
he International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia on 17 June
dropped all charges against Goran Lajic, saying he was a victim of mistaken
identity, AFP reported. Lajic was released, but the court said that charges
against another Bosnian Serb of the same name stand. Lajic was arrested in
Germany on 18 March and was held in a UN prison in the Netherlands for five
weeks on charges of murder and torture. Meanwhile, the U.S. Supreme Court
unanimously ruled that victims of war crimes in the former Yugoslavia can sue
Bosnian Serb civilian leader Radovan Karadzic in U.S. federal courts. The
court rejected Karadzic's appeal against a 1995 lower court ruling that upheld
the right of a group of Bosnian women who had been tortured and raped to file
suits against Karadzic. -- Stefan Krause
[04] ELECTION COALITIONS IN REPUBLIKA SRPSKA.
The Socialist Party of Republika Srpska and the Yugoslav United Left of
Republika Srpska will run as a coalition in the upcoming elections in Bosnia-
Herzegovina, Onasa reported. Negotiations with the opposition Party of
Independent Social-Democrats are under way, according to Nasa Borba.
Meanwhile, Banja Luka Mayor Predrag Radic will lead a coalition of five small
opposition parties. -- Daria Sito Sucic
[05] TURKEY OFFERS BOSNIA DONATION INSTEAD OF LOAN.
Turkish President Suleyman Demirel, visiting Sarajevo for the first time since
Bosnia-Herzegovina proclaimed its independence, said the Turkish government
has decided to donate $20 million to Bosnia, Oslobodjenje reported on 18
June. Originally, it had intended to loan Bosnia that amount, which is part of
a $50 million program Turkey has devised to help in Bosnia's reconstruction.
Demirel met with his Bosnian counterpart, Alija Izetbegovic, on 17 June and
described their talks as "very fruitful." He also had a meeting with Bosnian
Federation President Kresimir Zubak to discuss the implementation of the
Dayton peace accord. The two leaders agreed that the Muslim-Croatian
federation is the main precondition for preserving peace in the country. --
Daria Sito Sucic
[06] CROATIA CLARIFIES LAW ON AMNESTY FOR REBEL SERBS IN EASTERN SLAVONIA.
Croatian Justice Minister Miroslav Separovic clarified a controversial amnesty
law on 17 June, Nasa Borba reported. Separovic made clear that according to
the law all rebel Serbs from eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Srijem
charged with armed rebellion against Croatia between August 1990 and June 1996
except war criminals are pardoned. He said Serbs now in custody or those who
have already been tried and jailed will also be released, with 4,700 court
proceedings already under way to be dropped, Reuters reported. UN
administrator Jacques Klein, had asked Croatian President Franjo Tudjman for a
clear interpretation of the law. According to Vecernji list Separovic, however,
also said that the law will not be changed. The region is due to revert to
Croatian rule by 1997. * Fabian Schmidt
[07] FERAL TRIBUNE TRIAL ADJOURNED TILL SEPTEMBER.
The trial of two journalists working for the Croatian satirical weekly Feral
Tribune was unexpectedly adjourned on its first day, AFP reported on 17 June.
Viktor Ivancic and Marinko Culic are accused of defaming Croatian President
Franjo Tudjman in an article criticizing Tudjman's suggestion that the remains
of World War II Fascists be reburied alongside their victims. They are the
first journalists to be prosecuted under a new press law that prohibits
criticism or satirical commentary on the president, the prime minister, the
parliamentary speaker, or the chief magistrates. The trial is scheduled to
resume on 25 September, when new witnesses are expected to appear. -- Daria
Sito Sucic
[08] CROATIAN FOREIGN MINISTER IN MACEDONIA.
Mate Granic on 17 June visited Skopje for the first time since the breakup of
the former Yugoslavia to attend the opening of the Croatian Embassy there, AFP
and Nova Makedonija reported. The opening came some five years after the two
countries recognized each other. Granic met with his Macedonian counterpart,
Ljubomir Frckovski, President Kiro Gligorov, and Prime Minister Branko
Crvenkovski. Granic and Frckovski described their talks as successful and
stressed that there are no outstanding issues between the two countries.
Granic also said that Croatia is ready to normalize relations with rump
Yugoslavia. -- Stefan Krause
[09] OFFICIAL ROMANIAN ELECTION RESULTS.
The Central Electoral Bureau (BEC) on 17 June confirmed that the Democratic
Convention of Romania (CDR) candidate Victor Ciorbea has been elected mayor of
Bucharest, defeating his Party of Social Democracy in Romania (PSDR) opponent
Ilie Nastase, Radio Bucharest reported. Ciorbea received 56.7% of the vote and
Nastase 43.2%. Results released so far by the BEC indicate that the opposition
has made gains in the mayoral elections, particularly in larger towns, but
that the PDSR continues dominate in smaller settlements. Final results are not
expected before 20 June. Petre Roman's Social Democratic Union has clearly
emerged as the third most important political force. -- Michael Shafir
[10] ROMANIAN DEFENSE MINISTER ON HUNGARIAN ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS.
Gheorghe Tinca, in an interview with the Hungarian daily Magyar Nemzet, said
the celebrations marking the 1100th anniversary of the Magyar Conquest are
"full of manifestations insulting for Romanians." He conceded that the present
Hungarian government cannot be blamed for that. But in an allusion to Jozsef
Antall's cabinet, he noted that "nobody can guarantee that another government
of historians will not take power in Budapest again." Tinca also said his
country neither can nor wants to prevent Hungary from joining NATO before
Romania. However, he reiterated that such a development could have a negative
impact on bilateral relations and stability in the region. -- Zsofia
Szilagyi
[11] NEW STATUS FOR TRANSDNIESTER.
Moldovan President Mircea Snegur and Transdniester leader Igor Smirnov,
meeting in Tiraspol on 17 June, reached agreement on the status of the
Transdniester region, international agencies reported. Smirnov said the
agreement defines the Transdniester as a "state-territorial formation in the
form of a republic within Moldova's internationally recognized borders." This
appears to be a compromise formula that goes a long way toward meeting
Transdniestrian demands. Smirnov added that he and Snegur will sign the
agreement at a meeting attended by Russian and Ukrainian presidents. No date
for the meeting was specified, nor was there an official Moldovan statement. --
Michael Shafir
[12] LEBED TRIUMPHS AMONG RUSSIAN RESIDENTS OF MOLDOVA.
Russian presidential candidate Aleksander Lebed won 45% of the votes of
Russian citizens resident in Moldova, according to data BASA-Press received
from the Russian Embassy in Chisinau. Communist Party Leader Gennadii Zyuganov
received 36% of those votes, while only 11% supported Boris Yeltsin. Turnout
was put at 60%. Some 30,000 Russians reside in Moldova, with the bulk living
in the Transdniester region. -- Michael Shafir
[13] BULGARIAN ROUNDUP.
Opposition presidential candidate Petar Stoyanov on 17 June said his running-
mate will most likely be a member of the Bulgarian Agrarian People's Union
(BZNS), Standart reported. The BZNS is the bigger of the two parties belonging
to the People's Union. But BZNS Chairwoman Anastasiya Dimitrova-Mozer will not
run for vice president because her party opposes this idea, according to
Kontinent. In other news, Ali Agca, who tried to kill Pope John Paul II in
1981, has given an interview to the Spanish daily ABC in which he repeats
his claim that the CIA was involved in the attempt on the pope's life. He also
maintained that the "Bulgarian connection" was fabricated by the CIA in order
to discredit the KGB. Agca made similar statements in 1995. -- Stefan
Krause
[14] ALBANIAN DEMOCRATS WIN ALL DISTRICTS IN ELECTION RE-RUN.
The Democratic Party won all 17 electoral districts in which elections were
repeated on 16 June, Reuters reported. Most opposition parties, including the
Socialists, abstained from voting and demanded a new ballot in all 115
districts. According to the Central Election Commission, 68 percent of voters
participated. The Democrats now have a secure two-thirds majority, which
allows them to pass a new constitution. Meanwhile, A group of well-known
Albanian writers, journalists, artists, and scientists have called on the U.S.,
the EU, the OSCE, the Council of Europe, and other international organizations
not to accept the election re-run as a democratic vote. They described the
election as a "farce," adding that "the institutions of democracy in Albania
have broken down." -- Fabian Schmidt
[15] ARMENIAN PRESIDENT IN GREECE.
Levon Ter-Petrossyan, arriving in Greece on 17 June for an official visit,
held talks with his Greek counterpart, Kostis Stephanopoulos, and Prime
Minister Kostas Simitis, Reuters reported. The discussions focused on
bilateral relations, regional issues, and Armenia's ties with the EU. A
friendship agreement was signed, as well as an economic and cultural
cooperation agreement and an accord promoting tourism. Ter-Petrossyan said the
friendship treaty will bolster the traditionally good relations between
Armenia and Greece, while Simitis stressed Greece's interest in investing in
Armenia. A defense cooperation agreement is expected to be signed on 18 June. -
- Stefan Krause
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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