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OMRI Daily Digest, Vol. 2, No. 104, 96-05-29

Open Media Research Institute: Daily Digest Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: Open Media Research Institute <http://www.omri.cz>

Vol. 2, No. 104, 29 May 1996


CONTENTS

[A] TRANSCAUCASIA AND CENTRAL ASIA

  • [01] IRANIAN AZERIS PROTEST ARRESTS IN AZERBAIJAN.
  • [02] KARIMOV VISITS GEORGIA.
  • [03] NAZARBAYEV VISITS MALAYSIA, SINGAPORE.
  • [04] FLOODING IN TAJIKISTAN.

  • [B] SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE

  • [05] OSCE CRITICIZES ALBANIAN ELECTIONS.
  • [06] ALBANIAN POLICE VIOLENTLY BREAK UP OPPOSITION RALLY . . .
  • [07] . . . GOVERNMENT CHARGES SOCIALISTS WITH PREPARING CIVIL WAR.
  • [08] BOSNIAN SERB LEADERS VISIT SERBIAN PRESIDENT . . .
  • [09] . . . WHILE UN "DEPLORES" MILOSEVIC.
  • [10] CHANGES IN SERBIAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL.
  • [11] CROATIAN PRESIDENT SAYS NO MORE DICTATES.
  • [12] MUSLIM REFUGEES PREVENTED FROM VISITING STOLAC.
  • [13] DIPLOMATIC CONFLICT BETWEEN ROMANIA, CROATIA.
  • [14] ROMANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER IN JAPAN.
  • [15] ATTACKS ON BULGARIAN GOVERNMENT CONTINUE.

  • [A] TRANSCAUCASIA AND CENTRAL ASIA

    [01] IRANIAN AZERIS PROTEST ARRESTS IN AZERBAIJAN.

    A rally protesting the arrest of nine Islamists in Azerbaijan took place in Ardabil, in the Iranian province of East Azerbaijan, AFP reported on 28 May. The report did not say how many Iranian Azeri protesters took part in the rally, which was held during the Ashura ritual of mourning for Imam Hussein, the seventh century Shiite Muslim martyr. The agency noted that authorities in Baku arrested three Islamists on 21 May, and charged them with illegally transporting Azerbaijani citizens to Iran. -- Lowell Bezanis

    [02] KARIMOV VISITS GEORGIA.

    Uzbek President Islam Karimov arrived in Tbilisi on 28 May to sign 16 bilateral agreements with his Georgian counterpart, Eduard Shevardnadze, ITAR- TASS reported the same day. Speaking at a press conference after their talks, Karimov and Shevardnadze emphasized the importance of the agreements in principle on forming financial and industrial groups and cooperation in air and rail transport. Shevardnadze noted that an ad hoc group will work on opening a ferry link between Georgian and Bulgarian ports. Uzbekistan is interested in reaching European markets through Georgia. Both leaders stressed that there is no alternative to the CIS, RFE/RL reported. -- Lowell Bezanis

    [03] NAZARBAYEV VISITS MALAYSIA, SINGAPORE.

    Kazakhstani President Nursultan Nazarbayev concluded his four-day visit to Malaysia by signing several bilateral agreements to promote investment, trade, and scientific and technical cooperation, AFP reported on 29 May. Nazarbayev invited Malaysian companies to take part in development projects in Kazakhstan, including the construction of the new capital, Akmola. From there, Nazarbayev, accompanied by a delegation consisting of government and private sector representatives, arrived in Singapore. Nazarbayev is expected to sign an agreement on establishing air links between the two countries and on expanding bilateral trade and economic cooperation. -- Bhavna Dave

    [04] FLOODING IN TAJIKISTAN.

    Heavy rains that began on 27 May have caused flooding in many areas of Tajikistan, ITAR-TASS and RFE/RL reported. ITAR-TASS reported that the Kofirnikhon, Varsovskii, and Leninskii regions are among the hardest hit. The Tajik commission for emergencies said that hundreds of homes have been destroyed, bridges and roads have been washed out, and power lines are down in several places. Thousands of hectares of winter crops and cotton have been lost. The flooding is expected to compound a recent outbreak of typhoid. -- Bruce Pannier

    [B] SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE

    [05] OSCE CRITICIZES ALBANIAN ELECTIONS.

    A preliminary statement issued by the OSCE in Vienna on 29 May criticized legal shortcomings and insufficient government cooperation in the 26 May Albanian parliamentary elections, Reuters reported. The OSCE noted a number of serious violations of the Albanian election law but stopped short of calling the elections unfree or unfair. "In many instances the implementation of the law failed to meet its own criteria," the statement said, adding that "the level of official cooperation offered to [OSCE monitors] was of a limited nature." The OSCE observed manipulations of ballot sheets, counting irregularities, and intimidation of voters. "In direct violation to the law, observers noted that decisions of the polling station commissions were not made by majority vote but by the arbitrary decisions of the government- appointed chairman and secretary," according to the OSCE. On 28 May, a group of British and Norwegian OSCE monitors had issued an unofficial statement that "the elections did not meet international standards for free and fair elections, and they did not conform with the requirements of the election law." -- Fabian Schmidt in Tirana and Stefan Krause

    [06] ALBANIAN POLICE VIOLENTLY BREAK UP OPPOSITION RALLY . . .

    On 28 May at noon the police broke up an opposition rally on Tirana's Skanderbeg Square, arresting an unspecified number of people. The police beat and severely injured several individuals, including party leaders, parliamentarians, parliamentary candidates, and journalists. After the incident, the police surrounded the Socialist Party headquarters, where injured people were being treated and to which some 100 Socialist supporters fled. During the siege, the electricity was shut off and telephone lines cut. The headquarters remained blocked until 20:00 local time when, after a press conference of the Socialists and visits by international diplomats, the police agreed to let the Socialist supporters leave the building. At the press conference, the Socialists demanded new elections and the resignation of the prime minister, interior minister, and a TV director whom they accused of spreading false information. -- Fabian Schmidt in Tirana

    [07] . . . GOVERNMENT CHARGES SOCIALISTS WITH PREPARING CIVIL WAR.

    ATSH issued reports, claiming that the Socialists are building up terrorist groups and preparing to take up arms. Unspecified Socialist supporters were quoted as saying they will "fight until the last drop of blood." Socialist leader Kastriot Islami, however, said these reports were designed to justify further violence. He added that he expects police raids of the Socialist headquarters under the pretext of arms searches and stressed that his party is committed to a policy following the

    principles of democracy and non-violence. The Socialists, however, told OMRI they will begin to hold rallies all over the country protesting alleged election manipulations by the government. Albanian TV, meanwhile, warned the public not to participate in any "illegal" demonstrations, implying that opposition rallies will not be tolerated. -- Fabian Schmidt in Tirana

    [08] BOSNIAN SERB LEADERS VISIT SERBIAN PRESIDENT . . .

    Bosnian Serb civilian leader Radovan Karadzic and his military counterpart, Gen. Ratko Mladic, were in Serbia on 28 May for secret talks with Slobodan Milosevic. The BBC reported that while no details of the discussions are known, topping the agenda was the issue of the two Bosnian Serb leaders' continuing political influence in Republika Srpska (RS) despite intensifying demands from the international community for them to stand trial for war crimes. Meanwhile, RS acting President Biljana Plavsic and RS parliamentary speaker Momcilo Krajisnik were also in Belgrade for talks with Milosevic but declined to comment on the substance of their meetings, Nasa Borba reported on 29 May. -- Stan Markotich

    [09] . . . WHILE UN "DEPLORES" MILOSEVIC.

    In a related development, Reuters on 28 May reported that the UN Security Council that same day "deplored" Belgrade's "continued failure" to cooperate with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. Most recently, Belgrade authorities did not execute arrest warrants against Mladic, who attended the 21 May Belgrade funeral of his colleague and fellow accused war criminal, Gen. Djordje Djukic. Some reports now say Karadzic himself may also have been present at Djukic's funeral. -- Stan Markotich

    [10] CHANGES IN SERBIAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL.

    On 28 May the Serbian government, headed by Premier Mirko Marjanovic, publicly announced a cabinet shuffle, selecting a total of six new ministers, Nasa Borba reported on 29 May. Representatives of the small New Democracy (ND) party reacted to the news even before it was officially announced, saying their party will probably continue to back the government. Following the "reconstruction" of the government, Deputy Speaker and ND member Vojislav Andric said, "I am hoping the status quo will remain, but we'll see," Beta reported. The ND has functioned as a wing of the ruling Socialist Party of Serbia, giving Milosevic's Socialists a de facto majority in the republic's legislature. -- Stan Markotich

    [11] CROATIAN PRESIDENT SAYS NO MORE DICTATES.

    Franjo Tudjman on the Croatian Armed Forces Day said the country has been continuously pushed to accept unacceptable conditions and thus must have a ready armed force to guarantee Croatian independence, Hina reported on 28 May. He added that despite pressure to expand amnesty for Croatian Serbs in eastern Slavonia to all regions previously inhabited by Serbs, he has refused and will accept no more dictates, Nasa Borba on 29 May reported. Meanwhile, the Permanent Committee of the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly on 29 May will consider the status of Croatia's application for full membership. The Permanent Committee noted in a resolution draft of Croatia's application that Croatia acted discordantly to its liabilities. The committee speakers repeated their reserves and criticism regarding Croatia, Vjesnik reported on 29 May. - - Daria Sito Sucic

    [12] MUSLIM REFUGEES PREVENTED FROM VISITING STOLAC.

    Bosnian Croat police on 28 May prevented some 200 Muslim refugees from visiting their homes in Stolac in southern Bosnia-Herzegovina, AFP and Onasa reported. Radoslav Lavric, an official of the self-proclaimed Bosnian Croat republic of Herceg-Bosna, said the Croatian authorities have already allowed some 600 Muslim refugees to visit the town, which was more than agreed. Later, the Croatian authorities in Stolac said the visits were "officially completed, " and denied more visits because "it is not clear how long they will take," Onasa reported on 28 May. Lavric said the Bosnian side had not requested additional visits, but if it had, more would have been approved. -- Daria Sito Sucic

    [13] DIPLOMATIC CONFLICT BETWEEN ROMANIA, CROATIA.

    Florin Radulescu Botica, head of Romania's delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, said his country will not respond to Croatian President Franjo Tudjman's criticism of Romania's democracy, Romanian media reported on 29 May. On 25 May, Tudjman commented on the council's decision to delay Croatia's admission, ironically adding that such "democratic countries" as Albania, Romania, Moldova, and Russia have already been admitted to the council. Botica suggested that Romania's support of the council's decision caused Tudjman's criticism. He added that the Parliamentary Assembly considered the decision justified, recalling freedom of press and human rights violations in Croatia. -- Matyas Szabo

    [14] ROMANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER IN JAPAN.

    Teodor Melescanu on 28 May ended a three-day official visit in Japan, Radio Bucharest reported. He discussed on 27 May bilateral relations with his Japanese counterpart Yukihiko Ikeda and other senior Japanese officials and was received by Emperor Akihito the next day. Mutual trade and economic cooperation figured high on the talks' agenda. The Japanese side pledged to support the process of privatization and industrial restructuring in Romania through loans that will be used for re-equipping the iron and steel combine in Galati and modernizing the Constanta harbor and several Romanian plants. Melescanu stressed Romania's interest in an agreement similar to the one with the EU that would remove obstacles to Romanian exports to Japan. Japanese officials, on their part, insisted that Romania must offer better treatment to foreign investors if it is to attract more Japanese investment. -- Dan Ionescu

    [15] ATTACKS ON BULGARIAN GOVERNMENT CONTINUE.

    The Union of Democratic Forces on 28 May decided to file a no-confidence vote against the Socialist government for its failure to deal with the aggravating economic crisis, Demokratsiya reported. At the same time, the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) is increasing pressure on Prime Minister Zhan Videnov to reshuffle his cabinet, Standart and Trud reported. At a meeting of the BSP parliamentary faction, deputies asked for the dismissal of Deputy Prime Minister and Agriculture Minister Svetoslav Shivarov, Industry Minister Kliment Vuchev, and Culture Minister Georgi Kostov. According to Demokratsiya, the deputies also asked for the resignation of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Development Rumen Gechev. Meanwhile, the Confederation of Labor "Podkrepa"--one of two big Bulgarian trade unions--announced it will organize protests against the government and launch a campaign of civil disobedience. -- Stefan Krause

    Compiled by Victor Gomez and Deborah Michaels
    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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