OMRI Daily Digest II, No. 1145, 14 June 1995

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

CONTENTS

  • [01] BOSNIAN SERBS KEEP SOME HOSTAGES.

  • [02] DID KARADZIC SUCCEED IN BLACKMAILING THE UN?

  • [03] MASSIVE TROOP MOVEMENTS NORTH OF SARAJEVO.

  • [04] IS THE BOSNIAN ARMY MOVING CLOSER TO GORAZDE?

  • [05] ITALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER IN BELGRADE.

  • [06] MACEDONIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS "NO SECRET TALKS WITH GREECE."

  • [07] ETHNIC ALBANIAN PARTY DENIES CHARGES OF BEING ANTI-MACEDONIAN.

  • [08] BULGARIAN OPPOSITION WILL NOT SIGN NATIONAL AGREEMENT ON LOCAL

  • [09] BULGARIA DENIES SELLING ARMS TO RWANDANS.

  • [10] ALBANIAN ARMY HOLDS MANEUVERS.

  • [11] FRENCH-ALBANIAN INVESTMENT PROTECTION AGREEMENT.

    •

    OMRI DAILY DIGEST

    No. 1145, Part II, 14 June 1995

    This is Part II of the Open Media Research Institute's Daily Digest.

    SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE

    [01] BOSNIAN SERBS KEEP SOME HOSTAGES.

    At least 14 UN peacekeepers remain in the custody of Bosnian Serb forces, despite Radovan Karadzic's announcement on 13 June that all would be freed. He said that "technical reasons" prevented the immediate release of the 14, who were being held in scattered locations. It nonetheless appears that either local warlords are refusing to give up their captives or that Pale is deliberately holding onto the men as insurance against further NATO air strikes, international media reported. The Serbs continue to deny freedom of movement to UN troops, whom they have blockaded. The UN has given up all attempts to deliver humanitarian relief in the conflict areas following the Serbs' confiscation of an entire convoy last weekend. -- Patrick Moore, OMRI, Inc.

    [02] DID KARADZIC SUCCEED IN BLACKMAILING THE UN?

    The Frankfurter AllgemeineZeitung on 14 June quotes Bosnian Serb Foreign Minister Aleksa Buha as saying that "people we trust" in the international community have assured Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic that there will be no more air strikes if the Serbs free their hostages. UN special envoy Yasushi Akashi claimed, however, that nothing has been paid or promised to secure the men's release. U.S. President Bill Clinton has, in any event, ruled out further air strikes as long as the Serbs hold hostages, thereby giving Karadzic what he wanted in the first place. The Los Angeles Times said on 10 June that Clinton's decision specifically means there will be no moves to take out the Serb SAM-6 battery that shot down Capt. Scott O' Grady on 2 June. -- Patrick Moore, OMRI, Inc.

    [03] MASSIVE TROOP MOVEMENTS NORTH OF SARAJEVO.

    Nasa Borba on 14 June reported that some 20,000-30,000 Bosnian government troops have begun massing in the Visoko-Breza area. A UN observer called it the biggest single such action since the conflict began, and Serbian forces have begun gathering in response. It appears that the government wants to break the siege of Sarajevo and force open the main road leading into the capital. This would not only have great political and strategic significance but could well be the only way to end the current shortage of food in Sarajevo. -- Patrick Moore, OMRI, Inc.

    [04] IS THE BOSNIAN ARMY MOVING CLOSER TO GORAZDE?

    AFP on 12 June said thatBosnian government forces appear to have taken the highest point on Mt. Treskavica, which puts them in a position to neutralize Serb forces in and around Trnovo below. The situation for the mainly Muslim enclaves in eastern Bosnia--Gorazde, Zepa, and Srebrenica--has become increasingly bleak recently, but the latest move puts government forces in a somewhat better position to help Gorazde. Meanwhile, Bosnian Prime Minister Haris Silajdzic, during his visit to Washington, rejected comments by White House spokesman Michael McCurry and apparently Vice President Al Gore as well to the effect that the Bosnians are warmongers because they want weapons to defend themselves. Silajdzic said that the Bosnians have no choice but to present their case directly to the American people. -- Patrick Moore, OMRI, Inc.

    [05] ITALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER IN BELGRADE.

    Susanna Agnelli arrived in the rump Yugoslav capital on 13 June for meetings with Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic and her rump Yugoslav counterpart, Vladislav Jovanovic. Nasa Borba reported the next day that at the top of the agenda were discussions about the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia. Milosevic repeated his stance that the issue of regional peace is tied inextricably to the lifting of sanctions against Belgrade. Agnelli was invited to visit Serbia by Milosevic, who wanted to meet with the foreign minister before she attended the upcoming G-7 economic summit in Halifax, Canada. -- Stan Markotich, OMRI, Inc.

    [06] MACEDONIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS "NO SECRET TALKS WITH GREECE."

    StevoCrvenkovski on 13 June denied that Macedonia is holding secret negotiations with Greece in order to solve the dispute between the two countries, Nova Makedonija reported the following day. He was reacting to a report by a private Macedonian TV station that Greek General Nikos Grilakis is in Macedonia on a "secret negotiating mission." Crvenkovski said that no date for another meeting with the international mediators has so far been set but that he did not rule out that a meeting with Cyrus Vance will take place soon. No date has been set for direct talks between Athens and Skopje, either. The reason for the delay is that the question of lifting the Greek embargo on Macedonia before negotiations begin remains unresolved. -- Stefan Krause, OMRI, Inc.

    [07] ETHNIC ALBANIAN PARTY DENIES CHARGES OF BEING ANTI-MACEDONIAN.

    The ethnic Albanian Party of Democratic Prosperity (PPD) has denied charges of being "anti-Macedonian," Flaka reported on 14 June. The party was criticized recently for a letter it sent to the Council of Europe claiming that Macedonia does not meet the criteria to be accepted as a member of the council (see OMRI Daily Digest, 13 June 1995). PPD Secretary-General Naser Zyberi said the party supports Macedonia's accession to the council but only if it meets "high standards." Meanwhile, the Polish UN diplomat Henrik Sokalski has been appointed head of the UNPREDEP mission in Macedonia, MIC reported on 13 June. -- Fabian Schmidt, OMRI, Inc.

    [08] BULGARIAN OPPOSITION WILL NOT SIGN NATIONAL AGREEMENT ON LOCAL E

    LECTIONS. The Union of Democratic Forces (SDS) has said it will not sign a memorandum providing for the opposition to take joint action in the forthcoming local elections, 24 chasa reported on 14 June. The SDS National Coordinating Council said that it supports common electoral platforms and candidates but that agreements have to be reached at a local level. The decision came after the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization said it will withdraw its support from the SDS if it signs an agreement with the ethnic Turkish Movement for Rights and Freedom (DPS). Meanwhile, the DPS and the People's Union seem determined to secure such an agreement. -- Stefan Krause, OMRI, Inc.

    [09] BULGARIA DENIES SELLING ARMS TO RWANDANS.

    The Bulgarian government on 13 June issued a statement denying an Amnesty International charge that Bulgaria has been supplying arms to the former Rwandan army and Hutu militias, Reuters reported. The Amnesty International report, which was issued the previous day, said cargo planes registered in Ghana, Nigeria, Ukraine, and Russia were arriving regularly at Goma airport in Zaire with arms for the combatants. Bulgaria and Albania were identified as two sources of these arms. The Bulgarian statement, signed by Deputy Chairman of the Defense Industry Council Ivan Kolev, said the Bulgarians realized that Rwanda was "a sensitive area and we uphold our national interest in full compliance with international norms." The statement added that there were "forces who have a strong interest in ruining Bulgaria's defense industry." -- Doug Clarke, OMRI, Inc.

    [10] ALBANIAN ARMY HOLDS MANEUVERS.

    The Albanian army held exercises on 12 June using experience it gained in joint maneuvers with NATO countries, Reuters reported the following day. The exercises, in which Chinese-made T-54 tanks as well as MiG-17 and MiG-19 jets, took part, were held near the northern-Albanian border with Montenegro. The Defense Ministry said new anti-tank and anti-aircraft weapons were also used. More joint exercises are planned in the United States and in Italy later this year. -- Fabian Schmidt, OMRI, Inc.

    [11] FRENCH-ALBANIAN INVESTMENT PROTECTION AGREEMENT.

    French Secretary of State for Finance Herve Gaymard and Albanian Minister for Industry Albert Brojka have signed an agreement to encourage and reciprocally protect investments, AFP reported on 13 June. The document is aimed at creating a stable legal framework for French and Albanian investors investing in the other country. It will go into effect for a minimum of 10 years. Investments made during this period will enjoy protection for 20 years. -- Fabian Schmidt, OMRI, Inc.

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

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