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RFE/RL Newsline, Vol. 2, No. 64, 98-04-02Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty: Newsline Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty <http://www.rferl.org>RFE/RL NEWSLINEVol. 2, No. 64, 2 April 1998CONTENTS[A] TRANSCAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA
[B] SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE
[C] END NOTE
[A] TRANSCAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA[01] OSCE ASSESSES SECOND ROUND OF ARMENIAN POLLThe Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's observer mission in Yerevan said on 1 April that in some areas, the 31 March presidential run-off "fell short of the commitment Armenia made to [meet] OSCE standards, " RFE/RL's Yerevan bureau reported. The OSCE said that in several instances there is sufficient indication of voter fraud to require further investigation. But it said those shortcomings do not call into question the outcome of the vote, which Robert Kocharyan won with 59.7 percent. The OSCE also praised the professionalism of the Central Electoral Commission and noted a marked improvement in the way military personnel organized the ballot and in media coverage of the run-off. LF[02] DEMIRCHIAN PONDERS NEXT MOVEAddressing his campaign staff on 31 March, defeated presidential candidate Karen Demirchian pledged to continue the "sacred task" that he has embarked on, RFE/RL's Yerevan bureau reported, citing "Aravot" of 1 April. At the same time, he conceded that accomplishing that task may take 30-40 years. Demirchian predicted in the shorter term, his supporters will constitute "a force that everybody will reckon with," whose main goal will be winning the next parliamentary elections. A spokesman for Demirchian argued that the 31 March runoff was neither free nor fair, but Demirchian himself argued that "even if we accept the result, it's not so bad because it means that every third voter trusts us." LF[03] BAKU COMMENTS ON KOCHARYAN'S ELECTIONAzerbaijani President Heidar Aliev said on 1 April that "we are ready to cooperate with any president elected" and that "since we have a special relationship with Armenia, we do not want to become involved in their internal affairs," AFP reported. Aliev's foreign policy adviser, Vafa Gulu- zade, said that "we are waiting for the elections to end so the peace talks can begin." But Musavat Party vice president Hikmet Hadji-zade interpreted Kocharyan's election as an indication that "Armenians have voted for war." Former president Abulfaz Elchibey commented that "we cannot work with this man" and predicted the resumption of hostilities between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces, Turan reported. LF[04] TURKEY CALLS ON KOCHARYAN TO TAKE "POSITIVE STEPS."Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Necati Utkan told journalists on 1 April that Turkey "wants an improvement in relations with Armenia," Reuters reported. He added that he hopes Armenian president-elect Kocharyan will "feel [his] presidential responsibility and take positive steps" toward resolving the Karabakh conflict." Ankara has consistently said that a warming of relations with Yerevan is contingent on the withdrawal of Armenian forces from occupied districts of Azerbaijan. But Tunjai Mutlu Er, the head of the eastern Anatolian municipality of Kars, told Turan on 1 April that the local population opposes any move by the Turkish government to formalize trade ties with Armenia and wants Armenian citizens to be prohibited from entering Turkey from Georgia. LF[05] COUNCIL DISCUSSES RETURN OF DISPLACED PERSONS TO ABKHAZIAParticipants in the third session of the Coordinating Council to expedite a solution to the Abkhaz conflict focused on the obstacles to the repatriation to Abkhazia of Georgian displaced persons forced to flee during the 1992- 1993 war, Caucasus Press reported. Russian Foreign Ministry special envoy Gennadii Ilichev again rejected the "peace enforcement" variant suggested by Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze. Ilichev expressed doubt that either Russia or the UN will be able to impose a solution to the conflict, and he proposed that the Abkhaz and Georgian leaderships agree on mutual compromises. Georgian Ambassador to Russia Vazha Lortkipanidze said on Georgian television on 1 April that the direct dialogue between the two sides will soon "become more intensive," ITAR-TASS reported. Lortkipanidze met with Abkhaz President Vladislav Ardzinba in Sukhumi on 31 March. LF[06] CHECHNYA SNUBS ABKHAZIAAbkhaz Foreign Minister Sergei Shamba has written to his Chechen counterpart, Movladi Udugov, complaining that Abkhazia has not been invited to the meeting of representatives of Transcaucasus states and North Caucasus republics in Grozny on 4 April, Caucasus Press reported. Shamba warned that this "oversight" could prove "a serious obstacle to the consolidation of Caucasian nations." But Chechen Vice President Akhmed Zakaev argued that Chechnya has no reason to feel insulted. Zakaev said that a decision on whether Abkhazia should be represented at the meeting lies with the official Georgian government, to whom the original invitation was addressed. Over the past year, the Chechen leadership has systematically sought to expand relations with Tbilisi. LF[07] LAST CAPTIVE SOLDIERS RELEASED IN TAJIKISTAN?Armed groups loyal to field commanders in the Kofarnikhon region released what they claim are the last 16 government troops to be held captive by them since 24 March, RFE/RL correspondents reported. The government is investigating the fate of another 15 soldiers who are still unaccounted for. Forces from both sides are withdrawing from the area. BP[08] IMF APPROVES MORE CREDIT FOR TAJIKISTANThe IMF has approved a second $10 million credit to Tajikistan, ITAR-TASS reported on 2 April. Last December, the fund granted the country a $10 million credit to help improve macroeconomic discipline, accelerate structural reforms, and increase efforts to ensure rescheduling of the country's foreign debts. This latest credit is intended to help GDP to grow by 4-5 percent, lower inflation by 18 percent, and augment hard-currency reserves. BP[09] RUSSIA CUTS OFF ELECTRICAL SUPPLIES TO NORTHERN KAZAKHSTANRussia's Unified Energy Systems carried through its threat to cut off electrical supplies to Kazakhstan's northern Kustanai region on 1 April, RFE/RL correspondents reported. The region owes the Russian company nearly $16 million for supplies and has received several warnings that deliveries would be cut off. Electricity in Kustanai is now being supplied only to vital industries. BP[10] KAZAKH PRIME MINISTER FAILS TO APPEASE STRIKING WORKERSNurlan Balgimbayev on 1 April failed to persuade striking workers at the Kazafosfor plant in the southern city of Janatas to return to work, RFE/RL corespondents reported. Balgimbayev told the workers that if they called off their strike, they would begin receiving wages for current work and would later receive wage arrears, which in some cases go back more than two years. Workers rejected that offer and continue to demand full payment of the $19 million they are owed. BP[B] SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE[11] MONTENEGRO SLAMS MILOSEVIC FOR "COUP ATTEMPT."The Montenegrin parliament passed a resolution on 1 April charging that outgoing President Momir Bulatovic tried to stage a coup and retain power by calling out violent street mobs in Podgorica early this year (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 15 January 1998). The text added that "the highest officials of the federal government, including President...Slobodan Milosevic, gave full assistance and [complete] support to the demonstrators." The resolution praised government officials, particularly employees of the Interior Ministry, for defeating the coup attempt and saving numerous lives in the process, BETA reported. PM[12] KOSOVARS WANT MONTENEGRINS AT TALKSLeading Kosovar spokesman Fehmi Agani said in Pristina on 1 April that the Albanians want Yugoslav authorities, and not just Serbian ones, to be included in Belgrade's delegation to any talks on the future of Kosovo. Montenegrin leaders in recent public statements have supported autonomy for Kosovo and the inclusion of foreign mediators in any talks (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 1 April 1998). The Montenegrins stress that Kosovo belongs to Yugoslavia and rule out Kosovar independence. Meanwhile in Paris, the daily "Le Monde" published an interview with Yugoslav Foreign Minister Zivadin Jovanovic, who said Belgrade is "ready for a dialogue without conditions but sanctions must be put aside. It is clear that there cannot be a solution based on a separatist agenda. There cannot be a solution outside of Serbia. Serbia exists with Kosovo or not at all." PM[13] BELGRADE SLAMS ARMS EMBARGOThe Yugoslav Foreign Ministry issued a statement to the state news agency Tanjug on 1 April calling the UN's arms embargo "baseless and unacceptable" (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 1 April 1998). The text repeated Belgrade's position that Kosovo is its own internal affair and that "Albanian terrorists and separatists" are to blame for the province's problems. Meanwhile in Moscow, a Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman said Russia voted for the arms embargo as "a preventive measure" and not to punish Belgrade. And in Tirana, the Albanian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the embargo "limits the opportunities for the exercise of police violence against the population of Kosovo and encourages the political process and talks." PM[14] YUGOSLAVIA DEVALUES DINAR...The Yugoslav government, on the advice of the Central Bank, agreed on 31 March to devalue the dinar from 3.3 to six to the German mark. Tanjug reported that the devaluation is part of a package of "measures aimed at restoring a macro-economic balance and market stability." Montenegrin Prime Minister Filip Vujanovic said in Podgorica the next day that the Montenegrin government did not agree to the devaluation, which he called "an unacceptable fait accompli." He stressed that Podgorica wants a thorough review of federal economic policies. The same day in Belgrade, the mark sold on the black market for 6.5 dinars, an RFE/RL correspondent reported from the Serbian capital. On 2 April, the pro-government daily "Novosti" ran the headline: "There will be no inflation." PM[15] ...WHILE BOSNIAN SERBS ADOPT MARKPrime Minister Milorad Dodik said in Banja Luka on 1 April that the government of the Republika Srpska has decided that the German mark will replace the Yugoslav dinar as the legal tender until the unified Bosnian currency, the convertible mark, is introduced later this year. Dodik added that the government is replacing the dinar as legal tender in order to prevent the importation of inflation from Yugoslavia. PM[16] OSCE BLASTS CROATIAN REFUGEE RETURN POLICYA spokesman for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe said in Zagreb on 1 April that the Croatian government's new program to facilitate the return of refugees is flawed (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 1 April 1998). "The return is an individual right and...cannot be made dependent on other conditions, conditions to be mentioned in respect to housing, or return of other individuals, or international assistance or whatever." The following day, the pro-government daily "Vecernji list" ran the headline: "Croatia opens the door to all who left." PM[17] BELGRADE WANTS ZAGREB'S DIPLOMATIC HELPYugoslav Ambassador Veljko Knezevic asked Croatian Parliamentary speaker Vlatko Pavletic to help Belgrade gain admission to the Council of Europe, "Vjesnik" reported on 1 April. Pavletic replied that Croatian assistance will depend not only on the development of bilateral relations but on internal political developments in Yugoslavia. He singled out what he called the "growing Seseljization" of Serbian political life, by which he meant the growing influence of the ultranationalist Radical Party of Deputy Prime Minister Vojislav Seselj. Unnamed Croatian political leaders said Croatian support for Yugoslavia is currently out of the question in view of the latest developments in Kosovo, an RFE/RL correspondent reported from Zagreb. PM[18] ALBANIAN PYRAMID CREDITORS CLASH WITH AUDITORSSome 100 investors in the VEFA pyramid company tried to block chief government auditor Farudin Arapi and representatives of the U.S. auditing firm Deloitte & Touche from entering the VEFA building in Tirana on 1 April. The auditors succeeded in entering the building only with police assistance, "Gazeta Shqiptare" reported. Many investors oppose the government's and auditors' plans to begin selling off parts of the pyramids and demand that the U.S. firm leave Albania (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 2 March 1998). Arapi told the investors that this demand is "unacceptable." FS[19] LEADING ALBANIAN SOCIALIST CRITICIZES GOVERNMENTDritero Agolli, who is a prominent writer and leading member of the governing Socialist Party, said in Tirana on 1 April that the government is not carrying out social and economic reforms quickly or efficiently. He added that the authorities are constantly making excuses for their failure to act decisively and will never succeed in governing unless they change their behavior. He noted that the government promised last year to create 200,000 jobs but so far has created only 5,000. Agolli stressed that changes in the cabinet are urgently needed to remedy the situation. FS[20] VASILE NAMED ROMANIAN PREMIER-DESIGNATERomanian President Emil Constantinescu has officially named Radu Vasile as prime minister-designate, Reuters reported on 2 April. Vasile was nominated the previous day by the National Peasant Party Christian Democratic, of which he is secretary general. Vasile has 10 days to form a government and be endorsed by the parliament. An economic historian, Vasile said he is a politician who "does not yield to pressure." He said his strengths are a "capacity for dialogue, for negotiations in order to reach a common solution for the benefit of the country." Constantinescu approved the choice after holding talks with leaders of the parties expected to make up the coalition government: National Peasant Party Christian Democratic, the National Liberal Party, the Social Democratic Party, and the Hungarian Democratic Federation of Romania (see "End Note" below). PB[21] BULGARIA REJECTS EU CONCERNS ABOUT NUCLEAR PLANTIvan Hinovski, the executive director of Bulgaria's National Electricity Company, said European Commission concerns about the safety of the Kozloduy nuclear power plant are "outdated," Reuters reported on 2 April. Hinovski said that owing to extensive modifications over the last several years, the four Soviet-designed reactors meet all safety requirements. He added that a European Commission report issued on 1 April calling for the reactors to be shut down was based on "old information." More than $100 million has been spent to update the reactors and Bulgaria plans to operate the first two reactors until 2005 and the other two until 2010, according to Hinovski. Sofia had earlier pledged to close the plant by 2000. A Commission spokeswoman said failure to decommission the reactors could hinder Bulgaria's chances of joining the EU. PB[C] END NOTE[22] ROMANIA'S CIORBEA STEPS DOWNby Breffni O'Rourke and Michael ShafirRomanian Prime Minister Victor Ciorbea resigned earlier this week, leaving the country with its reform process in tatters and its future uncertain. Ciorbea's decision to go ends a lengthy chapter of political infighting in the ruling coalition. In his resignation speech, broadcast on national television, Ciorbea spoke of his place in history, suggesting it will be different from the role assigned to him by his present detractors. What is his legacy? The high hopes with which Ciorbea began his term nearly 18 months ago have not been fulfilled. He takes credit for setting the country on a reform path after years of postcommunist governments' inactivity. But reforms faltered amid bickering and indecision: the national economy shrunk last year by 6 per cent of GDP, living standards continued to plummet, and privatization ground to a halt. Ciorbea's most lasting contribution might well be his attempt to achieve the integration of Romania's Hungarian minority. His tenure was marked by a desire to grant ethnic Hungarians the basic rights that had long been withheld from them. It will be a delicate task for an incoming prime minister to continue that process as well as economic reform. Moreover, the omens are not all good. President Emil Constantinescu has named Radu Vasile, secretary-general of the National Peasant Party Christian Democratic (PNTCD), as prime minister- designate with a mandate to assemble a new coalition government by the end of this month. The four parties of the original coalition--National Peasant Party Christian Democratic, the National Liberal Party, the Social Democratic Party, and the Hungarian Democratic Federation of Romania--are expected to form the new government. Romania currently faces many urgent economic tasks. A London-based analyst with the Chase Manhattan Bank, Michael Marrese, says the economy is at a standstill. Restarting the privatization program and getting the state budget through the parliament will be among the priorities of the new government. Marrese notes that the IMF has not released the third of five tranches of its standby loan to Romania. He says Bucharest will have a last chance to persuade a visiting IMF mission next month by presenting a program that includes downsizing and restructuring state monopolies. He says that task will require political willpower because of the labor opposition it is sure to cause. Developments in Romania over the past few months show the extent of the rifts between parties in Romania's pro-reform and pro-democracy movement. They are also reminiscent of developments in Bulgaria in 1991-1992, when the failure of a democratic coalition led to the return of former Communists. That relapse froze Bulgaria's recovery process, so that only now and with great difficulty is Bulgaria gaining reform momentum. Breffni O'Rourke is an RFE/RL senior correspondent. 02-04-98 Reprinted with permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
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