Epilogh OMRI Daily Digest, No. 32, Part II, 14 Feb 95 [.]

  1. . MORE SERB FLIGHTS - THIS TIME NEAR TUZLA.
  2. . MORE REINFORCEMENTS FOR SERBS IN BIHAC POCKET.
  3. . US SOURING ON THE CONTACT GROUP?
  4. . CRIME NEWS FROM THE YUGOSLAV AREA.
  5. . SERBIAN OPPOSITION LEADERS SIGN PACT, ALLEGED WAR CRIMINALS CHARGED.
  6. . BULGARIAN PRESIDENT VISITS US.
  7. . 7,000 HOMELESS FAMILIES IN TIRANA.

OMRI DAILY DIGEST

No. 32, Part II, 14 February 1995

SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE

  1. MORE SERB FLIGHTS - THIS TIME NEAR TUZLA. The 14 February Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reports that UN personnel have observed yet more flights over Bosnia in recent days by "Serbian combat aircraft," this time around Tuzla. Previously, Serbian helicopters and airplanes had been detected in the Bihac and Srebrenica areas. The UN reported its findings to NATO headquarters in Naples, but the Atlantic Alliance once again claimed to have found no trace of the Serbs on its radar screens. * Patrick Moore

  2. MORE REINFORCEMENTS FOR SERBS IN BIHAC POCKET. News agencies on 13 February noted that some 1,000 Serb fighters have arrived in northwest Bosnia from Krajina. It is not clear whether they are Croatian Serbs coming to help their allies or Bosnian Serbs who have been training in Krajina. In any event, this and other developments underscore the close connection between the Bosnian and Croatian Serb forces, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung says on 14 February. Meanwhile, UN officials warn of growing starvation in Bihac, with the most vulnerable already dying and even the better off now in danger. * Patrick Moore

  3. US SOURING ON THE CONTACT GROUP? The 14 February Washington Post reports that US envoy Charles Thomas will leave his full time position as representative to the Contact Group and will be replaced by a part-time appointee. Thomas will concentrate instead on helping reinforcing the Croat-Muslim alliance. Thomas was active in recent direct negotiations with Pale, which Washington has now "concluded . . . were not leading to any productive discussion." The paper also notes that US Ambassador to Bosnia Victor Jackovich has been reassigned to Slovenia. Jackovich was reportedly unhappy with the Clinton administration's talking directly to the Bosnian Serbs in violation of a UN ban on such contacts as long as the Serbs reject the peace plan. * Patrick Moore

  4. CRIME NEWS FROM THE YUGOSLAV AREA. War is not the only source of news in the former Yugoslavia, and recent days have featured crime in the limelight. The Croatian media have been reporting at length about a weekend drug-bust, in which police confiscated some 30 kilograms of heroin. It was one of the biggest drug seizures ever reported in Croatia. Elsewhere, Nasa borba notes on 14 February that the Hungarian airline Malev has sacked 11 employees for stealing money from airmail letters being sent by citizens of rump Yugoslavia via Malev. The full extent of the thefts is still being investigated. * Patrick Moore

  5. SERBIAN OPPOSITION LEADERS SIGN PACT, ALLEGED WAR CRIMINALS CHARGED. Nasa borba reports on 14 February that on the previous day opposition leaders from the Democratic Party (DS), the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS), and the Serbian Radical Party (SRS), signed an agreement which details how the opposition will cooperate in future local and parliamentary elections. Leader of the Serbian Renewal Movement (SPO) Vuk Draskovic has not, at least yet, signed the accord and AFP quotes controversial SRS leader Vojislav Seselj as saying the purpose of the pact is to effect "the overthrowing of the ruling Socialist Party and [Serbia's President] Slobodan Milosevic, starting from the local level." In other news, international media report that the UN tribunal for the former Yugoslavia has issued arrest warrants for 21 Serbs, including Omarska camp commander Zeljko Meakic, suspected of a host of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Bosnia and Herzegovina. At present, only one of those charged is in custody. * Stan Markotich

  6. BULGARIAN PRESIDENT VISITS US. Zhelyu Zhelev and US President Bill Clinton on 13 February signed a declaration of principles stressing the importance of democracy and human rights, international news agencies reported the following day. The declaration asserts that the security of Bulgaria and other countries in the region "is inseparably linked to that of the United States." The signing took place during talks the Bulgarian delegation had with Clinton, Vice President Al Gore, Secretary of State Warren Christopher and National Security Adviser Anthony Lake. Clinton said the US supports Bulgaria's progress towards democratic and economic transition. He briefed Zhelev on details of a $7 million loan program for Bulgaria to support small and medium-sized private business, especially in rural areas. Zhelev stressed the importance of US support for his country, while he also pointed to Bulgaria's problems caused by UN sanctions against rump-Yugoslavia. Zhelev, who is on a three-day visit to the US, is accompanied by Foreign Minister Georgi Pirinski, Defense Minister Dimitar Pavlov and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Economic Development Rumen Gechev. On 13 February, Zhelev met with Defense Secretary William Perry in the Pentagon. * Stefan Krause

  7. 7,000 HOMELESS FAMILIES IN TIRANA. More than 7,000 families in Tirana are homeless, Aleanca Nacionale reported on 14 February. The paper adds that about 1,500 families will have to give up their flats by the end of 1995, when a restitution law takes effect. Meanwhile, the staff of Tirana's state- run bread shops, most of whom are women, went on hunger strike on 13 February, Populli Po reported on 14 February. The hunger strikers are protesting against the restitution of the shops, arguing that the delivery of cheap bread by state shops would be endangered if too many shops have to close. The strikers also fear for their jobs. Elsewhere, the Council of Ministers discussed issuing privatization bonds, Rilindja reported on 14 February. The Ministry of Finance will distribute the bonds among all Albanians who were 18 years old by 1 August 1991. Rilindja said issuing the bonds would provide "the legal basis for a massive privatization of state enterprises." * Fabian Schmidt

[As of 1200 CET] Compiled by Steve Kettle