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OMRI Daily Digest II, No. 13, 18 January 1996

From: UBVM.BITNET@UBVM.CC.BUFFALO.EDU

Open Media Research Institute Directory

CONTENTS

  • [1] SARAJEVO SERBS STRESS NEED FOR OWN ADMINISTRATION.

  • [2] BOSNIAN SERB SOLDIERS DESERTING TO GOVERNMENT SIDE.

  • [3] IFOR SEIZES SECRET GOVERNMENT AIR BASE.

  • [4] BILDT TALKS WITH NATO.

  • [5] SERBIA PROPOSES AMNESTY.

  • [6] BOSNIAN REFUGEES IN CROATIA FORCED TO MOVE AGAIN.

  • [7] CROATIAN, BULGARIAN PRESIDENTS SIGN AGREEMENT ON FRIENDSHIP.

  • [8] INVESTIGATIONS INTO CEAUSESCU'S CHILDREN DROPPED.

  • [9] ROMANIA SETS BROADCASTING RULES FOR ELECTIONS.

  • [10] TV JOURNALIST KIDNAPPED IN MOLDOVA.

  • [11] BULGARIAN PRESIDENT ON RELATIONS WITH NATO.

  • [12] ALBANIAN CONSTITUTIONAL COURT REVIEWS GENOCIDE LAW.

  • [13] GREECE, MACEDONIA OPEN LIAISON OFFICES.

  • [14] RULING GREEK PARTY SETS PROCEDURES FOR PAPANDREOU SUCCESSION.


  • OMRI DAILY DIGEST

    No. 13, Part II, 18 January 1996

    SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE

    [1] SARAJEVO SERBS STRESS NEED FOR OWN ADMINISTRATION.

    The Bosnian Serbs are following up on their switch in tactics to accept the transfer of their suburbs to government control under certain conditions (see OMRI Daily Digest, 17 January 1996). The BBC on 18 January said that they were now willing to back the terms of the Dayton agreement and that their representatives were meeting with the international community's Michael Steiner to discuss cooperation. Reuters reported that the Serbs want a local administration that will guarantee their rights. Steiner said that he and the Serbs agreed that the agreement would be implemented without any changes but that Serbian concerns would be taken into account. -- Patrick Moore

    [2] BOSNIAN SERB SOLDIERS DESERTING TO GOVERNMENT SIDE.

    Concern about the future for themselves and their families has prompted "several dozen" Bosnian Serbs to desert their units and report to government authorities. AFP said on 18 January that the men were especially concerned that their families living in the Sarajevo suburbs not join any exodus. The government authorities jokingly greeted one man with "Welcome to the Muslim fundamentalist side." The government officials said they were obliged to make sure the deserters were not wanted for war crimes but added that "those who come over have a clear conscience." -- Patrick Moore

    [3] IFOR SEIZES SECRET GOVERNMENT AIR BASE.

    French IFOR troops seized a secret Bosnian government air base on 17 January after repeatedly being denied access to it, international agencies reported. The Visoko airstrip, about 20 kilometers from Sarajevo, was reportedly used to store weapons smuggled into the country in contravention of the UN arms embargo. IFOR was asserting its right to unrestricted freedom of movement under the Dayton peace accords. -- Michael Mihalka

    [4] BILDT TALKS WITH NATO.

    International community representative Carl Bildt on 17 January met with the North Atlantic Council, NATO's executive body, international agencies reported. NATO Secretary-General Javier Solana expressed full support for Bildt's efforts, saying "peace is reconciliation and...the main task...is in the hands of Carl Bildt." Relations between Bildt and NATO have been strained because of continuing NATO grumbling over the slow pace of the civilian peace effort. Bildt, for his part, has complained that the U.S. has prevented him from using UN facilities and that he has received funding only from the EU. Bildt said he expected a substantial contribution from the U.S. in the near future. -- Michael Mihalka

    [5] SERBIA PROPOSES AMNESTY.

    The rump Yugoslavia's Supreme Defense Council has advocated the drafting of a law granting an amnesty to 12,455 people indicted by military authorities for failing to serve in the regions' wars over the past few years, Nasa Borba, citing Tanjug, reported on 18 January. The council is the country's highest military executive authority. Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic, Montenegrin President Momir Bulatovic, and federal rump Yugoslav President Zoran Lilic are among its members. -- Stan Markotich

    [6] BOSNIAN REFUGEES IN CROATIA FORCED TO MOVE AGAIN.

    Oslobodjenje on 18 January reported that some 900 Bosnian refugees in Zagreb collective centers are being forcibly moved to the Gasinci refugee camp. Croatia has requested that refugees not be moved before 1 March, when the Bosnian government is expected to have completed preparations for accommodating the refugees. In another development, Bosnian refugees from Srebrenica and Zepa have begun to leave the rump Yugoslavia for third countries, Nasa Borba reported on 18 January. UNHCR officials explained that the refugees were leaving because of poor living conditions and the mistreatment of refugees, who are reluctant to return to Bosnia due to the lack of safety there. -- Daria Sito Sucic

    [7] CROATIAN, BULGARIAN PRESIDENTS SIGN AGREEMENT ON FRIENDSHIP.

    Franjo Tudjman and Zhelyu Zhelev signed an agreement on friendship and cooperation in Zagreb on 17 January, Vecernji list reported. Zhelev emphasized that Bulgaria was interested in participating in the reconstruction of Croatia and was ready to support Croatia's applications for admission to the Council of Europe and Black Sea Alliance, Hina reported. Tudjman said that the agreement "will lay a foundation for overall cooperation." -- Daria Sito Sucic

    [8] INVESTIGATIONS INTO CEAUSESCU'S CHILDREN DROPPED.

    Prosecutors on 17 January announced that they have dropped investigations into the three children of late Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu, Reuters reported. Zoe, Valentin, and Nicu Ceausescu have been cleared of "undermining the national economy" by using their privileged position to exploit the assets of the former Communist Party. The authorities also lifted a foreign travel ban on the three. -- Dan Ionescu

    [9] ROMANIA SETS BROADCASTING RULES FOR ELECTIONS.

    The National Audiovisual Council (CNA) on 16 January released broadcasting guidelines for the April local elections, Romanian and Western media reported. Free and equal time on state media will be given to all candidates, irrespective of their political affiliation. "Audio or video material that slanders opponents" is prohibited, and no opinion polls may be published in the run-up to the elections. Private radio and TV stations can charge for air time. Similar regulations are expected to apply to the general and presidential elections, due to take place by the end of the year. The opposition has often accused the state-controlled media of favoring candidates from the ruling party in election campaigns. -- Dan Ionescu

    [10] TV JOURNALIST KIDNAPPED IN MOLDOVA.

    Five men in police uniforms have kidnapped the deputy head of a private television company in Moldova, BASA-press reported on 17 January. Ion Frunza was beaten up and abducted in a Chisinau street on 13 January. He works for the Catalan TV company, which began broadcasting last year. Police rejected claims that the kidnappers might be members of the police force. This is the third attack on Moldovan journalists since late December. -- Dan Ionescu

    [11] BULGARIAN PRESIDENT ON RELATIONS WITH NATO.

    Zhelyu Zhelev warned the Socialist government of Prime Minister Zhan Videnov that reluctance to join NATO could have adverse effects on Bulgaria's economic and political relations with the West, international agencies reported on 17 January, citing an interview with the weekly Sega. Zhelev said Bulgarian reservations about full membership in NATO could lead NATO to look at Bulgaria "with suspicion." He also said Bulgaria has a "moral and political" right to take greater part in the reconstruction of the former Yugoslavia since it "incurred great losses...without being guilty." But he added that the government's foreign policy could affect Bulgaria's participation in reconstruction programs. -- Stefan Krause

    [12] ALBANIAN CONSTITUTIONAL COURT REVIEWS GENOCIDE LAW.

    The Albanian Constitutional Court is reviewing the Law on Genocide and Crimes against Humanity Committed in Albania During Communist Rule Out of Political, Ideological, and Religious Motives, the Albanian-language service of Deutsche Welle reported on 17 January. Deputies from the Socialist Party, the Social Democrats, and the Democratic Alliance requested a ruling on the constitutionality of the law, which bans communist-era high ranking officials as well as members or collaborators of the security service from holding public office until December 2001. The opposition argues the law is designed to ban its politicians from running in the upcoming elections. -- Fabian Schmidt

    [13] GREECE, MACEDONIA OPEN LIAISON OFFICES.

    Greece and Macedonia on 17 January opened liaison offices in each other's capitals, as stipulated by the interim accord signed in September 1995, Nova Makedonija reported the following day. The Greek office is headed by Alexandros Malias. Macedonia is expected to name the head of its delegation by 1 February. -- Stefan Krause

    [14] RULING GREEK PARTY SETS PROCEDURES FOR PAPANDREOU SUCCESSION.

    The ruling Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) on 17 January issued the procedures for the succession of Andreas Papandreou as Greek prime minister, international media reported. The new prime minister will be elected by the 168 PASOK parliamentary deputies from among four candidates: former Industry Minister Kostas Simitis; Defense Minister Gerasimos Arsenis; Interior, Public Administration, and Decentralization Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos; and former Foreign and Defense Minister Jannis Charalambopoulos. The election is to take place on 18 January. -- Stefan Krause

    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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