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RFE/RL Newsline, Vol. 1, No. 129, 97-10-02Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty: Newsline Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty <http://www.rferl.org>RFE/RL NEWSLINEVol. 1, No. 129, 2 October 1997CONTENTS[A] TRANSCAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA
[B] SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE
[C] END NOTE
[A] TRANSCAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA[01] ARMENIAN OPPOSITION LEADER PLEADS NOT GUILTYIn his final speech to the Supreme Court, Vahan Hovannisyan, one of the leaders of the banned Dashnak party (HHD), again affirmed his innocence, RFE/RL's Yerevan bureau reported on 1 October. Hovannisyan is charged with calling for the overthrow by force of the present leadership. Hovannisyan said law enforcement agencies have found no evidence of his guilt. He demanded his and other defendants' acquittal. Hovannisyan and 30 other HHD members and supporters were arrested in July 1995 on charges of plotting a coup d'etat and murdering two policemen. The state prosecutor has demanded a seven-year prison sentence for Hovannisyan. Hovannisyan described the trial, which began in March 1996 and has been condemned as politically motivated by human rights groups, as "political punishment" for his party.[02] VETERAN ARMENIAN DISSIDENT ASSESSES POLITICAL SITUATIONSpeaking at a press conference in Yerevan on 1 October, the leader of the Union for Self-Determination, Paruir Hairikyan, predicted that recent splits within both the Hanrapetutyun bloc (which has a majority within the Armenian parliament) and the opposition National Accord will result in a realignment of political forces, Armenian agencies reported. Hairikyan cited the findings of a poll conducted by the union according to which the Communist Party is the most popular political party in Armenia, followed by the opposition National Democratic Union, the Union for Self-Determination, the Dashnak Party, and the ruling Armenian Pan-National Movement. The poll further established that President Levon Ter-Petrossyan's popularity rating has fallen to 14.7 percent. In last year's presidential elections he polled 51 percent of the vote.[03] ARMENIA SOON TO JOIN COUNCIL OF EUROPE?Hovannes Igityan, the chairman of the Armenian parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs, predicted on 1 October that the issue of his country's full membership in the Council of Europe (will be soon resolved "positively." Igityan said that of the three Transcaucasian states, Armenia has the best chances of joining the council, according to RFE/RL's Yerevan bureau. Igityan, who headed a recent Armenian delegation to Strasbourg, said a council commission on human rights will visit Armenia on 23 October, after which the council will decide on whether to recommend Armenia to the final stage of the admission process. Igityan said he personally thinks it expedient that Armenia and Azerbaijan be admitted to the council simultaneously. In April, the council adopted a resolution making membership for the Transcaucasian states contingent on tangible progress in resolving the Abkhaz and Karabakh conflicts.[04] AZERBAIJAN DEMANDS EXTRADITION OF RUSSIAN JOURNALISTAnatolii Naumov, a member of the editorial staff of the St. Petersburg newspaper "Chas Pik," is being held in solitary confinement awaiting extradition to Azerbaijan on charges of extortion, according to "Segodnya" and "Izvestiya" on 1 and 2 October. A Russian citizen and graduate of Leningrad State University, Naumov had worked as deputy editor of a Russian- language newspaper in Baku. He returned to St. Petersburg in December 1996.[05] COMPLICATIONS OVER REPATRIATION OF TAJIK REFUGEES IN AFGHANISTANThe repatriation of some 7,000 Tajik refugees in northern Afghanistan has been complicated by fighting in that area, according to ITAR-TASS and Interfax. Refugees near the city of Mazar-i-Sharif are now caught in the fighting between the Taliban movement and the anti-Taliban coalition forces. Their proposed route of return, through the Uzbek city of Termez, is no longer open following the Taliban capture of the Afghan town of Khairaton, on the river bank opposite Termez. The border in that area has been sealed by Uzbek border guards. The refugee camp was accidentally hit during an air assault on 1 October that left one person dead and 10 wounded. A contact group for implementing the peace agreement in Tajikistan has appealed to the UN for help. It is looking for an alternative route through Turkmenistan for the refugees.[06] KAZAKH PREMIER REASSURES INVESTORSAmirjan Kosanov, the press secretary of Prime Minister Akezhan Kazhegeldin, has passed on a message from the premier to foreign investors telling them they "need not be worried about their investments," Reuters reported on 1 October. Kazhegeldin, currently in a hospital in Switzerland, said reforms in Kazakhstan are "irreversible." Kosanov also responded to rumors of Kazhegeldin's dismissal from office, saying "the question of [Kazhegeldin's] resignation or retirement is a question for the president."[07] MAFIA'S GROWING INFLUENCE IN TURKMENISTANMukhammed Nazarov, the chairman of the National Security Committee, said mafia organizations are exploiting the country's current problems to make a profit, Interfax reported on 30 September, quoting an interview in the daily "Neitralny Turkmenistan." So far this year, the committee has brought 138 people to trial for economic crimes. Nazarov also criticized "some structures" that are using their connections with foreign partners to smuggle "cotton fiber, car oil, gas condensate, alcohol, gold, silver, mercury, and non-ferrous materials" out of Turkmenistan. He noted that the committee's work has resulted in the confiscation of narcotics worth $5.5 billion since the beginning of 1997.[B] SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE[08] WESTENDORP SAYS PALE TV BROADCASTS MIGHT RESUME...International mediator for Bosnia Carlos Westendorp on 1 October said broadcasts may still be allowed from the hard-line Bosnian Serb stronghold of Pale. He made the remarks shortly after the NATO-led stabilization force (SFOR) seized control of four television transmitters in areas controlled by Bosnian Serb hard-line supporters of indicted war crimes suspect Radovan Karadzic at Westendorp's request (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 1 October 1997). Westendorp said international officials are still considering issues related to television broadcasting in the Bosnian Serb entity. The transmitters were seized after Pale broadcast allegedly altered film footage to suggest that the war crimes tribunal at The Hague is anti- Serbian.[09] ...WHILE DISPUTE EMERGES OVER WHO WILL BROADCASTNATO Secretary-General Javier Solana said the transmitters will remain under the control of Bosnian Serb President Biljana Plavsic's faction. Plavsic said the seizure was justified, but she appealed in a letter to Westendorp to allow the resumption of alternating broadcasts by Pale and Banja Luka. Her chief foe, Karadzic ally Momcilo Krajisnik, warned that SFOR's seizure of the transmitters could lead to an "uncontrollable response" among the Bosnian Serb public.[10] RUSSIA DENIES NATO'S CLAIM THAT RUSSIAN TROOPS PARTICIPATEDRussian Defense Minister Igor Sergeev, speaking in Maastricht on 1 October, said Russian troops were only present as observers when SFOR troops seized the transmitters. "Observation from two posts, and that is all the Russian peacekeepers did, can hardly be described as participation in an operation, " Sergeev told reporters.[11] MORE UNREST IN BELGRADE...For the second consecutive night, Serbian riot police on 1 October used batons to break up a peaceful Belgrade demonstration against the ouster of Zoran Djindjic, the city's first non-communist mayor in 50 years, and the editors of Studio B, an independent radio and TV station. Police made arrests and injured several people in their attack on the crowd, which was estimated at 10,000, about half the size of the crowd the previous night. Djindjic is calling for more protests on 4 October, one day before the second round of Serbia's presidential elections.[12] ...AND IN KOSOVOAt least 30 Kosovar students required hospital treatment after Serbian riot police used tear gas to stop a peaceful march by ethnic Albanian students in Pristina on 1 October demanding the readmission of ethnic Albanians to Pristina University. Tanjug reported that "a number of organizers of the alleged student protest were detained, including self-proclaimed chancellor of the outlawed university Ejup Statovci." The Kosovo Information service says police beat Statovci and Vice Rector Ahmet Geca while detaining them. Police also detained the four leaders of the student union. Elsewhere, police used force to disperse protesters in Pec, Prizren, Gnjilane, Mitrovica, and Urosevac. They also beat and detained protesters in Decani and Djakovica. The students have called off further protests. Meanwhile, the U.S. and the EU issued a joint condemnation of the use of force by Serbian riot police against the demonstrators in Belgrade and in Kosovo (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 1 October 1997).[13] RUGOVA CALLS FOR AN END TO PROTESTSKosovar leader Ibrahim Rugova later condemned the Serbian police intervention against the protesters. He said on Albanian Television that he will demand that the protests be stopped, "as they may explode into dangerous situations with serious consequences for Kosovo and the region." Rugova added that despite the violence and continuous Serbian repression, ethnic Albanians are "determined to realize their independence through peaceful means." The Serbian government later issued a statement saying the sole obstacle to implementing the 1996 agreement on reinstituting Albanian language education in Kosovo is "separatism." "Serbia will never allow the existence of a separate Albanian state of Kosovo with a separate education system and university," the government commented.[14] ALBANIA EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER KOSOVO DEVELOPMENTSThe Albanian Foreign Ministry on 1 October said it is following with concern the latest developments in Kosovo. "The Foreign Ministry of Albania supports every movement to defend Albanian education in Kosovo, which is one of the fundamental rights of every nation," according to a statement broadcast on Albanian Television. The Foreign Ministry called on Belgrade to avoid the use of violence and repressive measures against the students and the Albanian population and to create opportunities for the free expression of their views.[15] PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF BOSNIAN LOCAL ELECTIONSThe Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe on 1 October released the first results of the 13-14 September municipal elections. In Tuzla, the second-largest city of the Muslim-Croatian federation, the civic- oriented Joint List '97, led by Mayor Selim Beslagic and his allies, won a majority of seats, beating the ruling Muslim Party of Democratic Action (SDA). A Muslim-led coalition won in Hadzici, near Sarajevo. In Bosanski Brod, which is held by the Bosnian Serbs, the Serbian Democratic Party came in first, followed by the Bosnian branch of the Croatian Democratic Alliance. In Rogatica, which is also held by the Bosnian Serbs, a coalition of Muslim-led parties took 21 seats and three Bosnian Serbian parties won a total of 28 seats.[16] ROMANIAN SENATOR DISCIPLINED OVER SECRET FILES PROPOSALThe Disciplinary Commission of the National Peasant Party Christian Democratic (PNTCD) on 1 October suspended Senator Ticu Dumitrescu's membership in the party for one year . On several occasions in September, Dumitrescu criticized the party leadership for procrastination over a draft law on accessing the files of the former communist secret police. He insinuated that PNTCD chairman Ion Diaconescu, deputy chairman Nicolae Ionescu-Galbeni (who also chairs the parliament's commission supervising the Intelligence Service), and other PNTCD deputies want to block access because of their past. A Senate commission has approved an urgent debate on Dumitrescu's draft law but said the debate must await the commission's revisions to the bill. Premier Victor Ciorbea on 1 October said access to the Securitate files will be possible "within two months," RFE/RL's Bucharest bureau reported.[17] CHISINAU-TIRASPOL NEGOTIATIONS TO TAKE PLACE IN MOSCOWMoldovan presidential adviser Anatol Taranu says that during Russian Deputy Prime Minister Valerii Serov's visit to Chisinau on 22-23 September, it was agreed that negotiations between Chisinau and Tiraspol will take place in Moscow in the future, RFE/RL's Chisinau bureau reported on 1 October. Taranu told an RFE/RL correspondent that the first round of negotiations in Moscow will be held on 6 October.[18] MOLDOVAN PARLIAMENT APPROVES AMENDMENT TO DEFENSE LAWThe parliament on 1 October passed an amendment to the defense law stipulating that the defense minister is appointed by the president on the premier's recommendation, Infotag reported. Under the former version of the law, the defense minister was appointed by the parliament on the president's recommendation. Grigorii Bratunov, the chairman of the parliament's Commission for National Security and Public Order, said the amendment will avert situations such as that in 1996, when former President Mircea Snegur dismissed Defense Minister Pavel Creanga without the premier's consent, triggering a constitutional crisis. In other news, Dumitru Diacov, the leader of the pro-presidential For a Prosperous and Democratic Moldova Bloc, said the government must be immediately reshuffled. He threatened to make public the names of ministers allegedly involved in corruption if there are no cabinet changes, BASA-press reported.[19] BULGARIA CRITICIZES RUSSIA...Foreign Minister Nadezhda Mihailova on 1 October said Bulgaria is "disturbed" by Russian Foreign Minister Yevgenii Primakov's refusal to meet with her during the UN General Assembly session in New York. Upon her return from the session, Mihailova said the refusal was "indicative" of Moscow's "unwillingness or inability to use...civilized methods" in relations with other states, BTA reported. She said that "civilized countries" conduct "international relations through dialogue and at the negotiating table."[20] ...EXPLAINS RUSSIA'S ABSENCE FROM DEFENSE CONFERENCEDeputy Foreign Minister Stefan Tarfov on 1 October told reporters that Russia has not been invited to participate in a conference of defense ministers from southeastern Europe because the planned talks on military preparations for NATO membership would be of no interest to Moscow, Reuters reported on 1 October. He pointed out that Russia has no plans to join the organization. BTA reported that the Russian embassy in Moscow has sent a diplomatic note expressing concern over what it described as the recent Bulgarian tendency to restrict Russian participation in regional meetings. The note said that "Russia views the Balkans and southeastern Europe...as a vital sphere of its interests." The conference is due to begin on 3 October with the participation of U.S. Defense Secretary William Cohen.[C] END NOTE[21] THE PARADOXES OF PRIVATIZATIONby Paul Goble Transferring ownership from the state to private persons will not, in itself, guarantee the emergence of a market economy. Indeed, it may not even constitute privatization in the sense of the word typically employed in the West.That was the unsettling message of Grigorii Yavlinskii, the leader of the Yabloko faction in the Russian State Duma, during his recent visit to Washington. Speaking at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Yavlinskii noted that 82 percent of all enterprises in the Russian Federation no longer belong to the state. But he suggested that at the same time, few are privately owned. In fact, their new "owners" are the old communist-era managers. And those people consider their new possessions to be more like the collective farms of the past than the private enterprises of a market economy. That is, they do not seek to maximize their profit in competition with other firms but rather to maximize their immediate personal wealth and to gain additional subsidies from the state. In order to line their own pockets, they sell off assets created by others rather than investing in their own enterprises to improve the future position of the firm. As a result, Yavlinskii said, investment in the Russian Federation is likely to decline some eight to ten percentage points this year instead of rising, as Moscow routinely claims. Such disinvestment not only pushes any turnaround in the Russian economy further into the future but also means that any future growth will start at a far lower level and with far fewer available resources than is the case in capitalist countries following a down-turn. In order to secure additional state subsidies, the new "owners" behave much as they did in the past. They form alliances with state bureaucrats who can provide them with both resources and protection from other owners as well as from other government bureaucrats who may be grouped against them and their allies in the state apparatus. According to Yavlinskii, such alliances mean that both the "owners" and the bureaucrats with whom they are allied generally oppose any real reform lest it challenge both their incomes and power. And as in communist times, those alliances entail additional costs as well. Neither the owners or the bureaucrats want to face the prospect of social upheaval that bankruptcies or massive unemployment might produce. As a result, both work to keep enterprises in operation even when the efficiencies of the market dictate that many older and inefficient firms should be allowed to fail and their resources reallocated to better use. And both work to hide unemployment. Yavlinskii argued that real unemployment in Russia is equal to the number of people not being paid-- some 25 percent of the total labor force-- and not to the much lower figure put out by the Russian government. But neither the government nor the firms have the funds to compensate those laid off or the political will to deal with the massive social dislocation caused by such lay-offs. For all these reasons, Yavlinskii suggested, privatization has not been the panacea that many in both Russia and the West had expected. Instead, privatization--as carried out under Russian conditions--has often had the effect of reinforcing rather than undermining Soviet-styles of economic activity. But if privatization has not yet led to a free market and a dynamic Russian economy, Yavlinskii implied that it is a necessary, if not sufficient, measure. He also suggested that any retreat from a commitment to private ownership and a free market would be even more disastrous than the current situation. What Russia needs, Yavlinskii said, is the political will to stand up to the social pressures opposing a shift from collective-farm style ownership to genuine private property. It also requires the state institutions capable of making possible such a transformation, he added. Until Russia has both, Yavlinskii concluded, its economy and even more its political system will remain mired in their currently disastrous state. -10-97 Reprinted with permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
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