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RFE/RL Newsline, Vol. 2, No. 222, 98-11-18Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty: Newsline Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty <http://www.rferl.org>RFE/RL NEWSLINEVol. 2, No. 222, 18 November 1998CONTENTS[A] TRANSCAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA
[B] SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE
[C] END NOTE
[A] TRANSCAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA[01] ARMENIAN PRESIDENT NAMES NEW CABINET APPOINTEES...Robert Kocharian named four new ministers on 17 November and merged two ministerial posts, RFE/RL's Yerevan bureau reported. Kocharian named Hayk Gevorgian, chief manager of a big state enterprise and reportedly an ally of influential Defense Minister Vazgen Sarkisian, as minister of trade and industry. Gevorgian replaces Garnik Nanagulian, whose initial request to step down five months ago had been refused by Kocharian, according to "Azg" on 17 November. Deputy Economy and Finance Minister Meruzhan Mikaelian was appointed energy minister to replace Gagik Martirosian, who has been given the newly established post of minister without portfolio responsible for "industrial infrastructure." Deputy Defense Minister Gevorg Vartanian was named minister for the environment. Minister for Operational Issues Shahen Karamanukian was fired and his duties merged with those of Minister for Territorial Rule David Zadoyan. Hayk Nikoghosian was appointed minister of health. LF[02] ...RULES OUT SPLITTING KEY MINISTRYMeeting last week with journalists, Kocharian made it clear that he categorically opposes the proposed division of the National Security and Interior Ministry into two entities, Noyan Tapan reported on 16 November. Kocharian said that if the parliament adopts a law on doing so, he will refuse to sign it. Last month, the parliament's Committee on Defense and Security voted to approve a legislative act that would restore the separate existence of police and national security in Armenia. The move was initiated by the opposition Hayrenik [Fatherland] group, which believes that both the ministry and Minister Serzh Sarkisian have acquired disproportionate powers. Sarkisian had told journalists last month that it is normal practice in democracies to have "police and counterintelligence" co- existing within the same agency. "Do they want to copy Syria or Uganda?" he asked. LF[03] FORMER KARABAKH PREMIER OFFERED DEFENSE POST IN YEREVANLeonard Petrosian, who stepped down in May as prime minister of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, was named Armenian deputy defense minister on 17 November, RFE/RL's Yerevan bureau reported. Petrosian's new duties will focus on supplies for the armed forces. LF[04] GEORGIAN LOCAL ELECTIONS SHOW SUPPORT FOR RULING PARTY ERODINGThe preliminary results of Georgia's 15 November municipal elections indicate that the Union of Citizens of Georgia (SMK), which has a clear majority in the parliament, failed to receive such a majority in some local councils and will be forced to form coalitions with other parties in most of Georgia's largest cities. The left-wing Labor Party made a surprisingly strong showing, while the Socialists and National- Democrats fared worse than expected. The Union for Democratic Revival, headed by Adjar Supreme Council chairman Aslan Abashidze, won almost all the seats in Adjaria. Opposition party spokesmen accused the SMK of falsifying the vote, but international observers, including some from the Council of Europe, described the ballot as democratic. "Nezavisimaya gazeta" on 18 November quoted Central Electoral Commission chairman Djumber Lominadze as estimating voter turnout at just above the required minimum of 33.3 percent. LF[05] NAZARBAYEV WANTS KAZHEGELDIN IN JANUARY ELECTIONS...Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, who is on a working visit in the northwestern city of Aktyubinsk, said on 17 November he wants former Prime Minister Akezhan Kazhegeldin to run against him in the 10 January presidential elections, RFE/RL correspondents in Almaty reported. According to Interfax, Nazarbayev intends to ask the Supreme Court to overturn the ruling of the Medeu District court, which fined Kazhegeldin for taking part in an unsanctioned demonstration in early October. Under that ruling, Kazhegeldin is barred from running in the elections. However, RFE/RL correspondents reported on 18 November that a new judge has been appointed to the Medeu court and will hear the case again on 18-19 November. Kazakhstan's Supreme Court is prepared to consider the case on 28-29 November if the Medeu court upholds its original ruling. BP[B] SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE[06] U.S. WARNS UCK AGAINST 'AGGRESSION'State Department spokesman James Rubin said in Washington on 17 November that U.S. Ambassador to Macedonia Chris Hill, on a visit to southwestern Kosova, delivered a message to officials of the Kosova Liberation Army (UCK) in which Hill advised the guerrillas "to exercise restraint and reduce their aggressive presence on the highways." Rubin added that "if the [UCK] doesn't hold to the cease-fire and conducts provocations, that will negatively affect international support for their cause." Meanwhile in New York, the UN Security Council passed a resolution in which it "called upon the authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, the leaders of the [Kosovar] Albanian community and all others concerned" to cooperate fully with the Hague-based war crimes tribunal, Reuters reported (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 17 November 1998). The next day, court officials in The Hague said that they expect "immediate compliance" from Belgrade. PM[07] KOSOVAR MODERATES READY TO COMPROMISE?NATO Secretary-General Javier Solana said in Lisbon on 17 November that both sides in the Kosova dispute "now have before them an opportunity to reach a political settlement in this crisis, without which a durable peace cannot be established." In Prishtina, Fehmi Agani, who heads the Kosovar negotiating team, said, reportedly for the first time, that the Kosovars might accept something less than independence, namely republican status equal to that of Serbia and Montenegro within federal Yugoslavia. "A period of three to five years would be enough to see whether such a union could function. If it could, we would want to stay in it. If not, I don't see why we would stay." Previously, shadow-state President Ibrahim Rugova and his negotiating team were willing to consider an interim international protectorate to be followed by independence as the only alternative to immediate independence. Both Serbia and Montenegro oppose republican status for Kosova. PM[08] UCK WANTS LAST WORDAdem Demaci, who is the political spokesman for the UCK, said in Prishtina on 17 November that "Rugova can sign anything, but there can be no deal without UCK consent." Jakup Krasniqi, who is a spokesman for the UCK's military headquarters, added that "we have our remarks and general comments" about Hill's draft political settlement. He did not elaborate. The UCK maintains that Kosova cannot remain in the same state as Serbia after Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic's violent crackdown in the province this year. PM[09] FRANCE SEEKS DIPLOMATIC ROLE IN KOSOVAA spokeswoman for the Foreign Ministry said in Paris on 17 November that Ambassador to Macedonia Jacques Huntzinger will speak with Milosevic in Belgrade on 18 November about a political settlement in Kosova. Huntzinger will then go on to Prishtina to meet Kosovar leaders. She added that "the question of autonomy, which was endorsed by the [international] Contact Group, has still not been broached by either side." France has sought the leading role in NATO's planned rapid-reaction force, which will rescue international civilian monitors if they find themselves in danger (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 5 November 1998). Hill and U.S. special envoy Richard Holbrooke have led recent diplomatic efforts to solve the Kosovar crisis. Holbrooke wrote in his memoirs of the Dayton peace process that the French government chafed under what Paris regarded as undue U.S. preponderance in obtaining a settlement to the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia. PM[10] NATO REQUESTS BASE IN MACEDONIAIn Brussels on 17 November, the Atlantic alliance formally asked the government of Macedonia for permission to station at least part of the rapid-reaction force in that country. A response is expected the following day. Officials of the outgoing government have suggested that the answer will be positive. The incoming cabinet is also likely to approve the request in order to increase Macedonia's chances of early integration into Euro-Atlantic structures (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 16 November 1998). Elsewhere in Skopje, a spokesman for the victorious electoral coalition said that "if everything goes as we expect, a government will be formed at the beginning of next month." PM[11] U.S. KEEPS UP PRESSURE ON BANJA LUKA, SARAJEVOState Department spokesman Rubin said on 17 November that Washington wants a moderate who is committed to the Dayton peace agreement to head the new Bosnian Serb government (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 16 November 1998). When a reporter asked Rubin whether the Bosnian Serbs are free to select their own prime minister, he replied: "Absolutely, and it's our choice to not support those who don't support Dayton," Reuters noted. Meanwhile in Sarajevo, a spokesman for the international community's Jacques Klein said that Klein has contacted Muslim and Croatian political leaders in order to persuade the Muslims to sign a bilateral agreement with Croatia soon (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 17 November 1998). RFE/RL's South Slavic Service reported that the Muslim Party of Democratic Action could soon split over the issue of relations with Croatia. PM[12] CROATIAN RULING PARTY TRIES TO SHUT DOWN WEEKLYIvo Pukanic, who is the editor of the independent weekly "Nacional," told Reuters in Zagreb on 17 November that the Croatian Democratic Community (HDZ) is trying to put him out of business. His distribution agency, which is close to the HDZ, has not paid him money owed for sales of "Nacional" since late October. He needs the money to pay his debts to the state-owned printer (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 21 October 1998). The Croatian authorities have often used financial pressures to silence independent voices in the media. Elsewhere, a spokesman for the HDZ said that its youth wing will soon publish a calendar to express solidarity with the 12 Croats in the dock at the Hague-based war crimes tribunal. The calendar will be called "We are with you, Hague 1999" and will feature one of the indicted war criminals as a "Croatian knight" for each of the 12 months. PM[13] ALBANIAN OPPOSITION WANTS REFERENDUM DELAYED...Pellumb Cela, a member of the Democratic Party and deputy chairman of the Central Election Commission, formally requested on 16 November that the 22 November referendum on the new constitution be delayed. He said that during the preparations for that vote, the government committed several procedural violations, "Gazeta Shqiptare" reported. Cela argued that local election commissions failed to publish the voter registration lists eight days before the referendum, as they are obliged to do under the election law. He added that there is confusion over the existence of two types of lists, one prepared by local governments and another prepared by the centrally appointed prefects' offices. Cela stressed that the only valid lists are those compiled by local governments. Commission Chairman Daver Cano rejected the complaint, arguing that the law allows for changes to the lists up to 48 hours before the ballot. FS[14] ...WHILE GOVERNMENT WARNS OF FRESH UNRESTPublic Order Minister Petro Koci told "Koha Jone" after a government meeting on 16 November that "we have information that some politicians are trying to cause new tension and instability in order to make the referendum vote on the new constitution invalid," dpa reported. "Shekulli" the next day quoted unidentified government sources as saying that armed groups in some northern districts are prepared to cause unrest during the vote. Neither newspaper clearly identified any suspects, but both suggested that the opposition Democratic Party is behind the alleged groups. National Police Chief Fadil Canaj told "Shekulli" that police have increased their presence in what may prove the most "problematic" parts of the country. Meanwhile, special police have begun guarding the Tirana soccer stadium ahead of an 18 November match against Greece. It is the first international match in Albania since 1996. FS[15] DISPUTE CONTINUES OVER ROMANIAN EDUCATION LAWThe Chamber of Deputies on 17 November voted to change the regulation amending the 1994 education law after the opposition had walked out during the debate that preceded the vote. The chamber rejected an amendment submitted by Victor Ciorbea's cabinet in early 1997, an amendment approved by the Senate in late 1997, and a recommendation by its own Higher Education Commission. Under the amended regulation, the law makes no mention whatsoever of university instruction in the languages of national minorities. The Senate's version of the law says that such instruction can be provided only by special sections within existing universities, while the commission recommended that such sections be allowed only in "multicultural universities." The chamber's version, which was approved despite objections by the Hungarian Democratic Federation of Romania, says multicultural universities must have Romanian sections. The chamber's and the Senate's versions of the law are to be debated by a mediation commission of the two houses. MS[16] ROMANIAN LIBERAL LEADER SOFTENS EARLIER DECLARATIONValeriu Stoica, National Liberal Party (PNL) deputy chairman, said on 17 November that only public opinion polls can establish which party is now the leading force in the Democratic Convention of Romania (CDR). Stoica had earlier said the PNL has "taken over the helm" in the CDR, replacing the National Peasant Party Christian Democratic (PNLCD), which has been divided by conflict. He had also commented that a new CDR protocol reflecting this change would have to be signed (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 16 November 1998). That statement was criticized by PNTCD chairman Ion Diaconescu on 16 November. Stoica said on 17 November that the growing strength of the PNL is "not directed against the other parties" represented in the CDR and that the PNL wants the PNTCD to be a "strong party," Mediafax reported. MS[17] MOLDOVA TO BE INCLUDED IN SOUTHEAST EUROPE ACTION PLANForeign Ministry spokesman Oleg Serebreanu told journalists on 17 November that the U.S. has decided to include Moldova in the Southeast Europe Action Plan launched in February by U.S. President Bill Clinton. He added that this is the "Foreign Ministry's most important achievement thus far," Infotag reported. Initially, the action plan included only Bulgaria, Macedonia, Slovenia, and Romania. Serebreanu said that as a result of its inclusion in the plan, Moldova can "count on further technical and other forms of assistance" from the U.S., as well as on attracting foreign investments. MS[18] U.S. HAILS BULGARIAN PROGRESS ON CURBING PIRATE COMPACT DISCSThe U.S. trade representative says Bulgaria has made significant progress in reducing the piracy of CDs and has been moved to a lower level of concern on its "watch list," an RFE/RL correspondent in Washington reported on 17 November. Charlene Barshefsky on 4 November lowered Bulgaria from the U.S. "priority watch list" to its "watch list." The U.S. trade representative says Sofia has made substantial progress and that with a few more steps toward CD title verification and strengthened customs enforcement, it could be removed from the list next year. MS[C] END NOTE[19] AVERTING 'ONE STATE--TWO SOCIETIES' IN ESTONIAby Jan CleaveOn several occasions this fall, Estonian President Lennart Meri has said he regards the passage of amendments to the country's citizenship law as one of the legislature's most important tasks in the coming months. He has appealed to lawmakers to overcome the "political passions" that have built up over the bill of amendments. And he has stressed that the bill's passage would be advantageous for both the domestic and the foreign policy of the country. Like neighboring Latvia, Estonia has a sizable ethnic Russian and Russian- speaking community and has been under pressure from both Moscow and the West to pass amendments making it easier for members of that community to become citizens. Last month, Meri's Latvian counterpart, Guntis Ulmanis, signed into law such legislation, but only after several well-publicized incidents that prompted Moscow to step up the pressure, the difficult passage of the amendments through the Latvian parliament, and their final approval in a referendum. Estonian lawmakers, meanwhile, have not yet completed the second reading of amendments to the Estonian citizenship law, nor has a date been set for such a debate. So far, the Estonian bill has been almost one year in the making: last December, just days after Estonia was included among the six countries singled out for "fast- track" EU membership talks, the government submitted the bill to the parliament. The draft provides for stateless children under 15 who were born after 26 February 1992 (when the country's 1938 citizenship law was reinstated) to gain citizenship. The children's parents must apply on their behalf, must be stateless themselves, and must have lived in Estonia for at least five years. It is estimated that some 6,000 children would be eligible for citizenship immediately and 1,500 annually thereafter. As was the case in Latvia (where the final version of the amendments makes a similar provision for stateless children who were born after 21 August 1991, when the country regained independence), nationalist-inclined politicians opposed the bill on the grounds that such children would not be required to prove proficiency in the state language. Such legislation, they argued, would discourage non-Estonians from learning Estonian (according to the Open Estonia Foundation, only 16 percent of non-Estonians speak Estonian fluently, while 37 percent are deemed to have a satisfactory command). When the bill was opposed by a majority of deputies in June, the parliament postponed its second reading until the fall. Estonian politicians who greeted last month's signing into law of the Latvian amendments have urged that Estonia follow suit as quickly as possible. Such a development would be advantageous on three fronts. At home, it would help speed up the integration of Russian-speakers (who constitute an estimated one-third of Estonia's 1.45 million population); the government advocated this in its national integration policy, aimed at averting what it calls "one state--two societies." With regard to relations with Russia, it might help expedite the signing of the border treaty, which Moscow has repeatedly linked to an improvement in the situation of Estonia's ethnic Russian and Russian-speaking community. And as far as Tallinn's bid for Western integration is concerned, it would meet requests by the European Commission to loosen citizenship requirements. It is difficult to predict whether the events that surrounded the Latvian citizenship law amendments will have an influence on parliamentary deputies in Tallinn when they resume debating the Estonian bill. On the one hand, there may be a strong desire not to further prolong the amendments' passage and to push for their speedy signing into law. On the other hand, among deputies opposed to the bill, there may be a degree of complacency based on the perception that Tallinn's relations with Moscow are not as tense as Riga's and that Estonia has, after all, already been included among the fast-track EU membership candidates. Such complacency could have serious repercussions, not least with regard to EU integration. In a recent document, the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly commented that Latvia's chances of joining the EU would have been endangered had last month's citizenship referendum failed. That vote did not fail, however, and the European Commission is to consider recommending that Latvia be moved up to the fast-track group by the end of next year if Riga meets certain economic criteria. In the meantime, the EU and other organizations will be watching to see whether Estonia passes the citizenship law amendments, thereby helping consolidate its position among the fast-track candidates. If it does so without the kind of adverse publicity that surrounded Latvia this summer, it will also avoid tarnishing its image in the West and exacerbating relations with Russia. 18-11-98 Reprinted with permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
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