RFE/RL Newsline, Vol. 3, No. 192, 99-10-01

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From: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty <http://www.rferl.org>

RFE/RL NEWSLINE

Vol. 3, No. 192, 1 October 1999

CONTENTS

[A] TRANSCAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA

[01] ARMENIA, GEORGIAN PRESIDENTS SEEK CLOSER TIES

[02] TBILISI FEARS MOSCOW WANTS TO INVOLVE GEORGIA IN

[03] TBILISI SAYS GIORGADZE NOW IN SYRIA

[04] KAZAKHSTAN PREMIER RESIGNS TO HEAD NATIONAL OIL

[05] ASTANA THREATENS TO FORCE KAZHEGELDIN'S RETURN

[06] KYRGYZSTAN TIGHTS SECURITY ACROSS COUNTRY

[07] TAJIKISTAN REGISTERS CANDIDATES, PARTY

[08] KARIMOV CHALLENGES 'FORCES WITH EVIL INTENTIONS'

[09] UZBEKISTAN AGREES TO RESUME GAS SHIPMENTS TO

[B] SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE

[10] SERBIAN RIOT POLICE BEAT DEMONSTRATORS AGAIN...

[11] ...AS POLICE ACTIONS ARE CONDEMNED

[12] SERBIAN DAILY SHUT DOWN

[13] SERBIAN OPPOSITION LEADERS MEET TO DISCUSS EARLY

[14] KFOR COMMANDER CONCERNED ABOUT SECURITY IN

[15] ETHNIC ALBANIAN PATIENTS, STAFF REMOVED FROM

[16] BERISHA WARNS OF ALBANIAN FEDERATION...

[17] ...AS HIS PARTY PURGES MODERATES

[18] U.S. BACKS ALBANIAN BID FOR WTO

[19] SLOVENE PRESIDENT PLEDGES SUPPORT FOR ALBANIA

[20] HUNGARIAN CONSUL BUILDING IN ROMANIA FINED FOR

[21] INCREASE IN ATTACKS ON ROMANIAN JOURNALISTS

[22] ROMANIAN MINORITY DEPUTIES WANT MORE

[23] U.S. PLEDGES TO CONTINUE SUPPORT FOR MOLDOVA

[24] BALKAN FINANCE MINISTERS CONCERNED ABOUT

[C] END NOTE

[25] KARL HEINRICH MENGES (1908-1999)

[A] TRANSCAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA

[01] ARMENIA, GEORGIAN PRESIDENTS SEEK CLOSER TIES

Shevardnadze told his Armenian counterpart, Robert

Kocharian, that he wants priority to be given to the

development of closer ties among the three southern

Caucasus countries, ITAR-TASS reported on 30 September.

Kocharian, for his part, welcomed Shevardnadze's support for

signing more agreements between their two countries. PG

[02] TBILISI FEARS MOSCOW WANTS TO INVOLVE GEORGIA IN

Levan Aleksidze, a foreign policy

adviser to Georgian President Shevardnadze, said that he

fears Moscow may want to push Chechens into fleeing to

Georgia and then use that as an excuse to attack his

country, Interfax reported on 30 September. "If the Georgian

side lets the Chechens in," he said, "Russia will start

destroying them in Georgia." Meanwhile, Georgian Interior

Minister Kakha Targamadze denied in Kyiv that Georgia has

anything to do with the supply of arms to the Chechens,

ITAR-TASS said. PG

[03] TBILISI SAYS GIORGADZE NOW IN SYRIA

the former Georgian security chief who is wanted on

suspicion of involvement in terrorist attacks on President

Shevardnadze, is now in Syria, Georgian Interior Minister

Kakha Targamadze told Prime News on 30 September.

Targarmadze indicated that Georgia has been unsuccessful in

seeking his extradition, largely because of the work of

"Russia's special services." PG

[04] KAZAKHSTAN PREMIER RESIGNS TO HEAD NATIONAL OIL

Nurland Balgimbayev resigned as prime minister

on 1 October to become head of KazakhOil, the company he

had worked for before becoming premier two years ago,

Interfax reported. President Nursultan Nazarbayev, who had

been critical of Balgimbayev's leadership, immediately

appointed Kasymzhamart Tokayev as acting prime minister.

Until now, Tokayev was deputy prime minister and foreign

minister. PG

[05] ASTANA THREATENS TO FORCE KAZHEGELDIN'S RETURN

on 30 September that if former Prime Minister Akezhan

Kazhegeldin does not return home after receiving medical

treatment, the Kazakh authorities will try to compel him to

return, using what Khitrin said would be "unpopular but forced

measures." Khitrin said he has sufficient evidence to convict

Kazhegeldin of money laundering, abuse of office, and tax

evasion. In other comments, Khitrin said he is supervising the

investigation of an illegal sale of MIG-21 fighters to North

Korea and that he knows of no evidence to support claims

that there are foreign militants operating in Almaty. PG

[06] KYRGYZSTAN TIGHTS SECURITY ACROSS COUNTRY

a continuing challenge from rebels in the southern region of

the country, Bishkek has increased security throughout the

country, increasing its monitoring of mosques and checking

the passports of those suspected of not having legal

residence permits, Kabar reported on 30 September.

Meanwhile, rebels in the south continued to hold 13

hostages, Interfax reported. The news agency quoted

Kyrgyzstan Interior Minister Omurbek Kutuyev as saying that

the current situation in his country "is similar to events in

Daghestan." PG

[07] TAJIKISTAN REGISTERS CANDIDATES, PARTY

Central Electoral Commission registered incumbent President

Imomali Rakhmonov, leader of the Congress of People's Unity

Party Sayfiddin Turayev, and former tax official Sulton

Quvvatov as presidential candidates, Iranian radio reported

on 29 September. The same source added that the

commission has also registered the Islamic Rebirth Party. PG

[08] KARIMOV CHALLENGES 'FORCES WITH EVIL INTENTIONS'

Speaking on 30 September near the Uzbek-

Kyrgyz border, Uzbekistan President Islam Karimov said he is

prepared to defend his country against all those "with evil

and bad intentions" who might seek to "stir up trouble" in his

country. PG

[09] UZBEKISTAN AGREES TO RESUME GAS SHIPMENTS TO

Uzbektransgaz will resume shipments of gas

to southern Kazakhstan under the terms of an agreement

reached between Astana and Tashkent, Kazakhstan's Khabar

TV reported on 30 September. The two countries will settle

their accounts by writing off Kazakhstan's debts for gas

against Uzbekistan's debts for rail service. PG

[B] SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE

[10] SERBIAN RIOT POLICE BEAT DEMONSTRATORS AGAIN...

some 40,000 protesters as they attempted to march to the

main Yugoslav government building in Belgrade, the

independent B2-92 Radio reported. At least 10 people were

reported injured in the incident, which took place as

marchers attempted to cross a bridge into Novy Belgrade.

Police said 21 people were arrested, and they warned the

organizers of the demonstrations, which have entered their

ninth consecutive day, to stop disturbing "public peace and

order." Zoran Djindjic, a leader of the Alliance for Change

(SZP), said protestors will continue to rally and will attempt

again to march to Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic's

home in the Dedinje district. Rallies attended by some 10,000

people were also reported in Nis and Novy Sad. PB

[11] ...AS POLICE ACTIONS ARE CONDEMNED

General Javier Solana said in Madrid on 30 September that

the Yugoslav government will not solve discontent among

Serbs by "dealing violently with people demonstrating

peacefully," Reuters reported. Solana said he would like to

see opposition forces in Serbia "more united." Serbian

Renewal Movement leader Vuk Draskovic, who has refused to

join in the opposition protests, said "Milosevic is ready for

bloodshed...the lives of people mean nothing to him."

Draskovic repeated his desire for early elections so that

Milosevic can be replaced via the ballot box. The Russian

Foreign Ministry said it is concerned by the clashes, and it

urged dialogue between the opposition and the government.

U.S. National Security Adviser Sandy Berger said the police

actions in Belgrade are "contemptible," an RFE/RL

correspondent reported. Berger added that the use of force

by Milosevic shows his regime's desperation. The U.S. based

humanitarian organization Human Rights Watch condemned the

"unnecessary and excessive use of force by Serbian police."

PB

[12] SERBIAN DAILY SHUT DOWN

of the independent daily "Glas Javnosti" on 30 September and

slapped a 15-day ban on the publication of the newspaper,

the AP reported. Police said the shutdown was due to

"financial irregularities," while editor Vjekoslav Radovic said it

was because the daily had printed leaflets distributed at

opposition rallies. On 1 October, police also surrounded the

offices of the Alliance for Change, reportedly to detain Ceda

Jovanovic, the publisher of the leaflet "Promene" (Changes).

Jovanovic told Reuters by telephone that he and several

others had barricaded themselves in the office. He said the

attempt to arrest him was "expected." PB

[13] SERBIAN OPPOSITION LEADERS MEET TO DISCUSS EARLY

The leaders of 17 Serbian opposition groups

held a round-table meeting on 30 September to discuss their

participation in early elections, Reuters reported. The

meeting was organized by the Democratic Center. Miladin

Kovacevic, an official from the Serbian Renewal Movement,

said the meeting was constructive and was just the first in a

series of discussions among the opposition on its strategy

and tactics for calling early elections. In Paris, the dissident

Serbian economists' Group 17 held talks with French Foreign

Minister Hubert Vedrine on a plan to distribute oil to parts of

Serbia governed by opposition parties. Vedrine said he

backed the group's "energy for democracy" plan. PB

[14] KFOR COMMANDER CONCERNED ABOUT SECURITY IN

Lieutenant-General Michael Jackson, the head of

NATO forces in Kosova (KFOR), said in Tirana on 30

September that he is not satisfied with the level of security

in the Serbian province of Kosova, AP reported. Jackson

added, however, that his troops are determined to break the

"cycle of violence" in the province based on "ethnic hatred."

Jackson met with Deputy Premier Ilir Meta and Defense

Minister Luan Hajdaraga during his trip. Discussions centered

on the situation in Kosova as well as the NATO troops in

Albania (AFOR-2). There are some 2,000 troops in AFOR-2

operating under KFOR command. They maintain

communications between the port city of Durres and the

Kosova border. Jackson said those troops will likely remain in

place as long as KFOR is in Kosova. PB

[15] ETHNIC ALBANIAN PATIENTS, STAFF REMOVED FROM

KFOR troops have removed the

remaining nine ethnic Albanian patients and 10 Albanian

nurses and doctors from the main hospital in the divided

town of Mitrovice, AP reported on 30 September. The

hospital is in the northern part of the town, dominated by

Serbs, while the southern part of the town is controlled by

ethnic Albanians. French KFOR troops keep the two sides

separated. Ethnic Albanians needing medical treatment will

now be taken to Prishtina. PB

[16] BERISHA WARNS OF ALBANIAN FEDERATION...

Albanian President Sali Berisha said on 30 September that

Albanians throughout the Balkans may unite if "anti-Albanian

racism" continues in other countries where Albanians are in

the minority, Reuters reported. Speaking at a convention of

the opposition Democratic Party, which he heads, Berisha

said "we are not seeking to change borders" but one could

not exclude the possibility of Albanians forming a "federation

of free Albanians in the Balkans as a fundamental condition of

survival." He added that UN governance in Kosova is only a

"first step toward independence." PB

[17] ...AS HIS PARTY PURGES MODERATES

the Democratic Party's steering committee considered to be

more moderate than party leader Berisha were expelled from

the party on 30 September, AP reported. Ylli Vejsiu, who was

often critical of Berisha for his autocratic ways, was

dismissed along with two other committee members. The

expulsions come one day after party official Genc Pollo's

decision not to challenge Berisha for the chairmanship of the

party (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 30 September 1999), accusing

Berisha of manipulating the nomination process. Local media

also report that Pollo and his family had received death

threats. PB

[18] U.S. BACKS ALBANIAN BID FOR WTO

September that it has agreed to support Albania's bid to join

the World Trade Organization, AFP reported. In a bilateral

agreement signed in Washington, Albania will reduce tariffs

and other trade barriers in the agriculture, banking,

insurance, and telecommunications sectors, among others.

U.S. Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky said the

agreement will benefit Albania by increasing its commercial

ties with the U.S. and other WTO members. PB

[19] SLOVENE PRESIDENT PLEDGES SUPPORT FOR ALBANIA

Rexhep Meidani, in Ljubljana that Slovenia strongly supports

the democratic process in Albania, ATA reported on 30

September. Kucan also said his government will work with

Albanian officials to help them towards the country's goal of

joining NATO and the EU. Meidani, on a two-day visit to

Slovenia, said relations between the two countries were

good but that increased trade and a more liberalized visa

regime should be worked on. Meidani also met with Foreign

Minister Boris Frlec and parliament speaker Janez Podobnik

as well as attending a business conference. PB

[20] HUNGARIAN CONSUL BUILDING IN ROMANIA FINED FOR

The Mayor's Office in the city of Cluj-Napoca

has slapped an 80,000 lei ($5) fine on the owner of a building

inhabited by the Hungarian consulate-general for flying the

Hungarian flag, according to a 29 September Hungarian TV2

report cited by the BBC. Mayor Gheorghe Funar said the

building's owner would be fined again if the flag is not

removed. VG

[21] INCREASE IN ATTACKS ON ROMANIAN JOURNALISTS

Agency for Media Monitoring has noted a "sharp increase" in

recent months in the number of attacks on Romanian

journalists investigating corruption cases, AP reported on 30

September. The agency reported that three journalists who

were writing stories on illicit business deals were attacked

this month. Two of the journalists were pushed and shoved

by a group of construction workers, while the third was

thrown from a moving train. VG

[22] ROMANIAN MINORITY DEPUTIES WANT MORE

Representatives of minorities in Romania's

parliament are planning to push for changes to the electoral

law that would give those minorities greater representation

in local and national legislatures, according to a 30

September Mediafax report cited by the BBC. VG

[23] U.S. PLEDGES TO CONTINUE SUPPORT FOR MOLDOVA

September told visiting Moldovan Foreign Minister Nicolae

Tabacaru that the U.S. will continue to support Moldova's

independence and integrity "especially in the context of the

present situation in Southeastern Europe," Basa-Press

reported. Both officials agreed that Moldova and Russia

should quickly finalize plans for the withdrawal of Russian

troops from the Transdniester. VG

[24] BALKAN FINANCE MINISTERS CONCERNED ABOUT

The finance ministers of Bulgaria,

Macedonia, and Albania voiced their concerns about the

delay in implementing the Balkan Stability Pact, BTA reported

on 30 September. Bulgarian Finance Minister Murayev Radev

said the speed at which the Stability Pact is developing is

"not satisfactory." The three ministers, who were meeting in

Washington, D.C., agreed to approve a final report on their

countries' infrastructure needs at a November meeting in

Sofia. Radev said they will also invite finance ministers from

Romania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Croatia to attend the

meeting. VG

[C] END NOTE

[25] KARL HEINRICH MENGES (1908-1999)

Last week, Karl Heinrich Menges, one of the world's

greatest Altaists and Turkologists, died in Vienna at the age

of 91. His knowledge is not adequately represented by his

published books, book reviews, and articles because he saw

the Altaic languages as a linguistic spectrum: each of his

writings expressed only a small part of that spectrum, and to

understand his thoughts it was necessary to have known him

personally.

I was a student of his from the late 1950s until the late

1960s, and a friend and colleague later. He imparted to me

and his few other students his knowledge not only of the

classics of Central Asian literature but also the cultures,

folklore, and language of the Turkic and Tungusic peoples of

Siberia and the Russian East.

Menges was a survivor. His sense of humor and ability

to imitate accents and mannerisms did not always stand him

in good stead. When he was a professor at Berlin, his

occasional parodies of Adolph Hitler drew unwelcome

attention from the Gestapo. That, together with his work in

the anti-Nazi resistance, resulted in his interrogation and

arrest. He was released shortly thereafter, and one of his

students in the Japanese diplomatic corps advised him that

he had heard he was to be arrested shortly. He went home,

packed a few things, and left for Turkey.

In Turkey, he settled in at the University of Ankara.

Conditions in Turkey at that time were not good for emigre

German scholars, so he left for Russia in 1940. When he

arrived in Moscow, he was contacted by the U.S. Embassy

and offered a job at the University of California. He left

immediately, taking the Trans-Siberian Railroad to Vladivostok.

He was able to take a Japanese freighter to San Francisco,

arriving there in December 1941, just before the outbreak of

war between Japan and the United States. As noted above,

he was a survivor and occasionally lucky.

Of his published works, his study of the Altaic words

embedded in the Old Slavic epic poem, "The Lay of the Host

of Igor," is perhaps his most original. He was able to

demonstrate the openness of the steppe and the way

different languages and cultures intermingled under the

conditions of the freedoms available in a region without

boundaries.

His study, "The Turkic Languages and Peoples: An

Introduction to Turkic Studies," was published in Wiesbaden in

1968. It was one of the essential works for newer

generations of Central Asian and Turkic scholars.

Karl Heinrich Menges could have published more, but in a

way he knew too much and had too little time.

But remarkable people like Menges always have too

little time. His death is not only a loss to scholarship but also

a personal loss to all who knew him.

The author is the editor of the "RFE/RL Iraq Report."

01-10-99

Reprinted with permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
URL: http://www.rferl.org

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