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RFE/RL Newsline, Vol. 5, No. 27, 01-02-08
RFE/RL NEWSLINE
Vol. 5, No. 27, 8 February 2001
CONTENTS
[A] TRANSCAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA
[01] COMMISSION UNVEILS PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO ARMENIAN CONSTITUTION
[02] ARMENIA, RUSSIA REACH AGREEMENT ON ENERGY DEBTS
[03] AZERBAIJAN PROTESTS TURKISH INTERVIEW WITH ARMENIAN PRESIDENT
[04] IRAN AGAIN DENIES INVOLVEMENT IN MURDER OF AZERBAIJANI HISTORIAN
[05] SOME AZERBAIJANI WAR INVALIDS END HUNGER-STRIKE
[06] NEW PROTEST AGAINST POWER OUTAGES IN GEORGIA
[07] EMBATTLED GEORGIAN PROSECUTOR-GENERAL RESIGNS
[08] KAZAKHSTAN TO DRAFT OIL, GAS EXPORT STRATEGY
[09] KAZAKH OPPOSITION LEADERS CRITICIZE OSCE
[10] NEW CRIMINAL CHARGES BROUGHT AGAINST KYRGYZ OPPOSITION POLITICIAN
[11] KYRGYZ HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST APPLIES FOR POLITICAL ASYLUM IN AUSTRIA
[12] TURKMEN PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE TREATED WITH PSYCHOTROPIC DRUGS
[13] UZBEK-SOUTH KOREAN AUTO JOINT VENTURE TO INCREASE PRODUCTION
[B] SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE
[14] BOSNIAN PARLIAMENT BLOCKS NATIONALIST PRIME MINISTER CANDIDATE
[15] BOSNIAN SERB LEADER DENIES PLAN TO EXPEL U.S. ENVOY
[16] CROATIAN COURT WANTS GENERAL INVESTIGATED FOR WAR CRIMES
[17] BELGRADE RULES OUT AUTONOMY FOR PRESEVO
[18] PRESEVO ALBANIANS SET CONDITIONS FOR TALKS
[19] NATO WANTS MEDIATOR FOR PRESEVO
[20] WARM SERBIAN RECEPTION FOR RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTER...
[21] ...WHO EXPRESSES HIS VIEWS
[22] HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH CALLS FOR EU TO LINK SERBIAN AID TO HAGUE
COOPERATION
[23] YUGOSLAV MINISTER WANTS KOSOVA CONFERENCE
[24] FOR WHOM DOES VEDRINE SPEAK ON MONTENEGRO?
[25] SERBIA TO SET UP CUSTOMS BORDER WITH MONTENEGRO?
[26] ROMANIAN PRESIDENT TO PROMULGATE CONTROVERSIAL LAW
[27] ROMANIAN OPPOSITION PARTY OPPOSES HUNGARIAN DEMAND
[28] ROMANIAN CONSTITUTIONAL COURT RULES ON RESTITUTION LAW
[29] ROMANIAN PARLIAMENT CONFIRMS NEW INTELLIGENCE SERVICE CHIEF
[30] COMPLAINTS REJECTED AGAINST PREMIER'S ALLIANCE IN MOLDOVA
[31] MOLDOVAN PARTY'S ELECTORAL SPENDING TO BE CHECKED
[32] SNEGUR SAYS RUSSIA MUST BE FORCED OUT THE TRANSDNIESTER BY THE OSCE
[33] BULGARIAN RADIO JOURNALISTS THREATEN TO LAUNCH STRIKE
[34] MILITARY INDUSTRY WORKERS DEMONSTRATE IN SOFIA
[35] AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL CONCERNED OVER BULGARIANS' LIBYAN TRIAL
[C] END NOTE
[36] There is no end note today.
[A] TRANSCAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA
[01] COMMISSION UNVEILS PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO ARMENIAN CONSTITUTION
The presidential commission for constitutional reform established in July
1999 (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 3 August 1999) unveiled its proposals in
Yerevan on 6 February, AFP and Noyan Tapan reported. Commission and
Constitutional Court member Feliks Tokhian said that if adopted, the
proposals would change almost half the articles of the present constitution
to bring them into line with international standards. Specifically, the
proposed changes give greater independence to the government and the
judiciary and guarantee the neutrality of the armed forces. Tokhian said
that as some political forces are likely to object to some of the proposed
changes, it is unlikely that the amendments will be put to a nation-wide
referendum before the end of the year. LF
[02] ARMENIA, RUSSIA REACH AGREEMENT ON ENERGY DEBTS
Armenian Energy Minister Karen Galustian said in Yerevan on 7 February that
during recent talks in Moscow he reached agreement with the Russian side on
a new schedule for the repayment of Armenia's total $23 million debt for
natural gas and nuclear fuel for the Medzamor atomic power station, AFP
reported (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 29 January 2001). Under that agreement,
the Russian Atomic Energy Ministry will resume shipments of nuclear fuel
for Medzamor in 5-6 months. Medzamor is to shut down for two months for
scheduled maintenance in late May or early June 2001. LF
[03] AZERBAIJAN PROTESTS TURKISH INTERVIEW WITH ARMENIAN PRESIDENT
In a statement published in the "Turkish Daily News" on 8 February, the
Azerbaijani embassy in Ankara criticized as "pro-Armenian propaganda" an
interview with Armenian President Robert Kocharian published in that
newspaper on 1 February (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 2 February 2001). The
Azerbaijani embassy castigated the Turkish journalist who conducted the
interview for failing to ask Kocharian "why he was pursuing a policy of
occupation, why he has not withdrawn from Azerbaijani soil and why he has
turned Armenia into a giant arsenal." The statement further noted that
while "Turkey has always been well-intentioned" towards Armenia, Armenians
"are constantly hostile towards Turkey." It also claimed that Armenia has
bought from Russia S-300 missiles that are targeted on Turkish cities. LF
[04] IRAN AGAIN DENIES INVOLVEMENT IN MURDER OF AZERBAIJANI HISTORIAN
Speaking at a press conference in Baku on 6 February, Iranian Ambassador
Ahad Gazai denied any Iranian involvement in the murder four years ago of
historian Zia Buniatov, Turan reported. The Iranian Embassy in Baku had
issued a similar denial last fall (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 9 October 2000).
Seven men identified as members of an Iranian organization named Vilayet al-
Fagikh Hizbollah went on trial in Baku late last month for that killing. LF
[05] SOME AZERBAIJANI WAR INVALIDS END HUNGER-STRIKE
Most of the 2,000 veterans of the Karabakh war who joined a mass hunger-
strike in towns across Azerbaijan to demand an increase in their pensions
have ended that protest, Turan reported on 8 February. The chairman of the
society representing the invalids, Etimad Asadov, said that they interpret
the 7 February statement by Finance Minister Avaz Alekperov that those
allowances may be raised subject to an increase in budget revenues as a
concession, and have ended the strike to avoid charges that they are
pressuring the authorities. Some 60 invalids are, however, continuing their
strike in the society's Baku headquarters to demand the creation of a
commission to assess their demands. LF
[06] NEW PROTEST AGAINST POWER OUTAGES IN GEORGIA
Hundreds of people staged a street protest in Tbilisi on 7 February against
ongoing electricity shortages, calling on President Eduard Shevardnadze to
resign if he is unable to guarantee uninterrupted power supplies, AP
reported. Also on 7 February, the Russian-Georgian "Kavkasioni" power line
that connects the two countries' power grids was blown up in Abkhazia's
Kodori gorge, Caucasus Press reported. A spokesman for the Georgian
Ministry of Fuel and Energy said the saboteurs are demanding a large sum of
money from local officials in return for allowing engineers to repair the
damage. LF
[07] EMBATTLED GEORGIAN PROSECUTOR-GENERAL RESIGNS
Djamlet Babilashvili formally asked on 8 February to be released of his
duties as prosecutor-general, one month before the expiry of his term in
office on 5 March, Caucasus Press reported. Parliament deputies launched a
campaign late last year to impeach Babilashvili for overstepping his
official powers (see upcoming "RFE/RL Caucasus Report," Vol. 4, No. 6, 9
February 2001). LF
[08] KAZAKHSTAN TO DRAFT OIL, GAS EXPORT STRATEGY
Kazakhstan's First Deputy Prime Minister Daniyal Akhmetov told journalists
in Almaty on 7 February that the country will draft by the end of June a
strategy determining how much natural gas and oil is to be exported between
now and 2010 and to which countries, and how much is needed for domestic
consumption, Interfax reported. Addressing representatives of domestic and
foreign oil companies the same day, Akhmetov said the Kazakh government
hopes to persuade foreign companies to use domestic rather than imported
goods and services. He further criticized the Chinese National Oil
Corporation for violating the terms of its agreement with the Kazakh
government by hiring Chinese rather than Kazakh specialists to work at the
AqtobeMunaiGaz oil complex. (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 27 April and 16 August
2000). LF
[09] KAZAKH OPPOSITION LEADERS CRITICIZE OSCE
Azamat Party chairman Petr Svoik and National Congress Party deputy
chairwoman Gulzhan Ergalieva held a joint press conference on 7 February in
Almaty at which they criticized the OSCE mission for the conduct of two
roundtable discussions of the political situation in Kazakhstan, RFE/RL's
bureau in the former capital reported. They said the most recent of those
discussions, which focused on the election laws, was inconclusive (see
"RFE/RL Kazakh Report," 2 February 2001). They also called for the
resignation of Central Electoral Commission chairwoman Zaghipa Balieva. LF
[10] NEW CRIMINAL CHARGES BROUGHT AGAINST KYRGYZ OPPOSITION POLITICIAN
Kyrgyzstan's National Security Service has brought further criminal charges
against former Vice President and opposition Ar-Namys party leader Feliks
Kulov, RFE/RL's Bishkek bureau reported on 7 February. Kulov is accused of
abuse of his official position and financial mismanagement while serving as
governor of Chu Oblast in 1995. Those charges were previously brought
against Kulov in 1997, but the Chu Oblast administration appealed to the
Constitutional Court to drop them. Kulov was sentenced last month to seven
years imprisonment on charges of abuse of his official position while
serving as National Security Minister in 1997-1998 (see "RFE/RL Newsline,"
22 January 2001). LF
[11] KYRGYZ HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST APPLIES FOR POLITICAL ASYLUM IN AUSTRIA
Albert Korgoldoev told RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service on 7 February that he
applied for political asylum on his arrival in Austria the previous day.
Korgoldoev said criminal charges of hooliganism have been filed against him
in Kyrgyzstan in connection with his monitoring of demonstrations in
Djalalabad Oblast in October-November 2000 to protest the falsification of
the outcome of the 29 October presidential poll. LF
[12] TURKMEN PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE TREATED WITH PSYCHOTROPIC DRUGS
Shageldy Atakov, a Baptist who is serving a four-year sentence on what are
believed to be fabricated charges of swindling, is being subjected to
treatment with psychotropic drugs at a labor camp in northern Turkmenistan,
Keston News Service reported on 8 February. LF
[13] UZBEK-SOUTH KOREAN AUTO JOINT VENTURE TO INCREASE PRODUCTION
The joint venture UzDaewooAvto will increase production of light
automobiles by 70 percent, from 30,700 in 2000 to 51,400 in 2001, company
board deputy chairman Akhmadzhon Khakkulov told journalists in Tashkent on
7 February. The joint venture had slashed production last year from 58,300
cars in 1999 as a result of Daewoo's financial problems. LF
[B] SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE
[14] BOSNIAN PARLIAMENT BLOCKS NATIONALIST PRIME MINISTER CANDIDATE
The lower house of the joint parliament did not approve the candidacy of
Martin Raguz for the post of prime minister on 7 February. He is from the
nationalist Croatian Democratic Community and has the backing of the joint
presidency. The non-nationalist Alliance for Changes has the largest bloc
of votes in the legislature and has nominated Professor Bozidar Matic to
become prime minister. Ante Jelavic, who is the Croatian member of the
joint presidency, has said he will not agree to any Alliance-backed
candidate becoming prime minister, Reuters reported. PM
[15] BOSNIAN SERB LEADER DENIES PLAN TO EXPEL U.S. ENVOY
Zivko Radisic, who is the Serbian representative on the joint presidency,
denied on 7 February having called for the expulsion of U.S. Ambassador
Thomas Miller for allegedly interfering in internal politics, Reuters
reported from Sarajevo (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 7 February 2001). Radisic
claimed that he was only speaking in general terms about "these pressures,
these attempts to interfere in cadre politics in Bosnia and Herzegovina,
and mentioned the American ambassador. We mentioned no names then...but we
said that the presidency can raise the issue of credentials [of individual
diplomats], depending on [the individual's] behavior." Muslim presidency
member Halid Genjac told Reuters that he sees no reason to discuss such an
issue as expelling diplomats. Jelavic, who is the ethnic Croat
representative, said that it would be untimely to withdraw the
accreditation from any Western diplomat. Jelavic added, however, that he
has sometimes been unhappy with the ambassador's "behavior and political
actions." PM
[16] CROATIAN COURT WANTS GENERAL INVESTIGATED FOR WAR CRIMES
State Prosecutor Boris Hrast has called for the arrest of retired General
Mirko Norac and his deputy Milan Canic in conjunction with a massacre of
Serbian civilians in Gospic in 1991, "Novi List" reported from Rijeka on 7
February. Norac was commander in Gospic at the time of the alleged
atrocity. AP reported that this is the first time that a Croatian
prosecutor has called for the arrest of such a high-ranking official.
Police have meanwhile arrested Canic, but Norac is believed to be abroad.
PM
[17] BELGRADE RULES OUT AUTONOMY FOR PRESEVO
The much-discussed Serbian government plan for a peaceful reduction of
tensions in the Presevo region explicitly rules out any autonomy, AP
reported on 7 February (see "RFE/RL Balkan Report," 6 February 2001). "Any
solutions that include any kind of autonomy [and a] special status of
change of borders of Serbia and Yugoslavia [with Kosova] are unacceptable,"
the government said in a statement. Among the many grievances of the local
Albanians is the parliamentary voting system that effectively prevents
their parties from sending deputies to the national legislature. PM
[18] PRESEVO ALBANIANS SET CONDITIONS FOR TALKS
Presevo Albanian leaders met in Veliki Trnovac in the demilitarized border
zone, saying that they are willing to talk to the Belgrade authorities
under certain conditions, AP reported from Belgrade on 7 February (see
"RFE/RL Newsline," 7 February 2001). One is that international
representatives must be present at any negotiations. Another is that
Serbian forces withdraw from the area and be replaced by an international
force, preferably one of U.S. troops, AFP reported. The ethnic Albanian
leaders also agreed on a nine-member delegation, including three members of
the Liberation Army of Presevo, Medvedja, and Bujanovac (UCPMB). One of the
Albanians' goals is for the region to be "reunited" with Kosova, which, the
Serbs have said repeatedly, is unacceptable to Belgrade. PM
[19] NATO WANTS MEDIATOR FOR PRESEVO
NATO's Admiral James Ellis said in Prishtina on 7 February that the
international community or UN should try to find a "facilitator" to help
resolve differences between the two sides in Presevo, Reuters reported.. "I
think these types of challenges are best dealt with by international
agencies that are appropriately configured for the task," Ellis told
reporters. "I would hope that...one would come forward to assume that
responsibility." He did not elaborate. Ellis commands NATO's Allied Forces
South wing, which recently took over lead responsibility for the more than
40,000 NATO-led troops in Kosova. In related news, Serbian police said on 8
February that UCPMB gunners fired during the night on a Serbian position
near Vranje, AP reported. There is no independent confirmation of the
police account. PM
[20] WARM SERBIAN RECEPTION FOR RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTER...
Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica met with visiting Russian Defense
Minister Marshal Igor Sergeev in Belgrade on 7 February, "Vesti" reported.
(See Kostunica's views on protocol regarding Hague chief prosecutor Carla
Del Ponte in "RFE/RL Newsline," 16 January 2001). Kostunica's office issued
a statement saying that the marshal backs Belgrade's efforts to "defend the
integrity of the country with all democratic means...and thus help preserve
peace and stability in the Balkans," AP reported. The statement added that
"Russia is fully in accordance with the Yugoslav initiative to change
provisions regarding the [Presevo] Ground Security Zone" by reducing the
size of or eliminating the zone, Reuters reported. Yugoslav Defense
Minister Slobodan Krapovic said that he and Sergeyev "had a meeting as
traditionally good friends and as partners with much [of] common interest."
They signed an agreement on "military-technical" cooperation between the
Russian and Yugoslav armies but provided no details (see "RFE/RL Balkan
Report," 5 January 2001). PM
[21] ...WHO EXPRESSES HIS VIEWS
In Belgrade on 7 February, Sergeev charged that the U.S. and its NATO
allies have "avoided their responsibility" by not providing more economic
aid to Belgrade. He gave his full support for Yugoslavia on the Kosova
question. The marshal nonetheless expressed his concern to Yugoslav General
Nebojsa Pavkovic, who heads the General Staff, that the Yugoslav military
is being "hasty" about moving towards membership in NATO's Partnership for
Peace program, "Vesti" reported, citing its own unspecified sources (see
"RFE/RL Newsline," 22 January 2001). PM
[22] HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH CALLS FOR EU TO LINK SERBIAN AID TO HAGUE
COOPERATION
Holly Cartner, an executive director of Human Rights Watch, said in a
statement on 7 February that "there can be little hope of a clean break
with the past unless the indicted architects of ethnic cleansing are
brought to justice," Reuters reported from Belgrade. Human Rights Watch
called on members of the EU delegation that was slated to arrive in
Belgrade on 8 February to link any assistance to Serbia to its cooperation
with the Hague-based war crimes tribunal (see "RFE/RL Balkan Report," 6
February 2001). Upon its arrival, the delegation, which was led by EU
foreign affairs coordinator and former NATO Secretary General Javier Solana,
was met with anti-Solana protests by nationalist supporters of the former
regime. PM
[23] YUGOSLAV MINISTER WANTS KOSOVA CONFERENCE
On a visit to Berlin to seek German economic help, Foreign Minister Goran
Svilanovic said on 7 February that Germany holds the "key to the future of
the Balkans," "Vesti" reported. Svilanovic added that he wants an
international conference on the model of the 1995 Dayton gathering to
decide on and guarantee the political future of Kosova, Deutsche Welle's
Bosnian Service reported. When he first launched the idea in December,
Svilanovic admitted that such a conference "would amount to stacking the
deck against Kosovo's ethnic Albanian majority," which wants only
independence (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 18 December 2000). PM
[24] FOR WHOM DOES VEDRINE SPEAK ON MONTENEGRO?
French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine said in Paris on 7 February that "as
far as I know, no European or American official is in favor of the eventual
independence of Montenegro, and I don't think neighboring countries favor
it, either." It is not clear on what authority he made this statement.
Slovenian President Milan Kucan, for one, is a strong supporter of the
Montenegrin leadership (see "RFE/RL Balkan Report," 12 December 2000).
Vedrine made his remarks after speaking with Slovenian Foreign Minister
Dimitrij Rupel, dpa reported. For his part, Rupel said that "Slovenia
believes it will be ready to join NATO in 2002 and the European Union in
2003," AFP reported. PM
[25] SERBIA TO SET UP CUSTOMS BORDER WITH MONTENEGRO?
Montenegrin Prime Minister Filip Vujanovic said in Podgorica on 7 February
that his government rejects a recent demand by Kostunica and Serbian Prime
Minister Zoran Djindjic that Montenegro raise its customs duties to the
same level as those of Serbia. Vujanovic added that the Belgrade leaders
suggested that Serbia will levy duty on goods coming in from Montenegro if
Podgorica does not agree to the demand. Montenegrin Trade Minister Ramo
Bralic instead called on Belgrade to bring Serbian import duties in line
with the recommendations of the WTO, RFE/RL's South Slavic Service
reported. Montenegrin leaders have repeatedly said that they want an open
border with Serbia even if the two republics become completely independent.
PM
[26] ROMANIAN PRESIDENT TO PROMULGATE CONTROVERSIAL LAW
President Ion Iliescu said on 7 February that he will promulgate the law on
Local Public Administration once the parliament ends the approval process.
He said the article in the law allowing national minorities to use their
languages in localities where they make up 20 percent of the population "is
correct from all points of view" and "in line with the spirit of the
constitution." Members of the Party of Social Democracy in Romania (PDSR)
parliamentary group in the Senate have voiced misgivings about the article,
and the extremist Greater Romania Party (PRM) is opposed to approval of the
law because it contains that provision. MS
[27] ROMANIAN OPPOSITION PARTY OPPOSES HUNGARIAN DEMAND
National Liberal Party (PNL) First deputy Chairman Valeriu Stoica, in an
interview on Romanian Radio on 7 February, said the PNL will oppose the
demand of the Hungarian Democratic Federation of Romania to amend the
constitutional provision that defines Romania as a "national state." Stoica
said the "myth of the national state" is the "corner-stone of the modern
world" and "its dismemberment would also mean the dismemberment of that
world." He said that "any myth has a beneficial and a harmful side" and
"one must not emphasize the harmful aspect alone" because of its influence
on "some excesses in the last century." A PNL-PDSR team began negotiations
on amending the constitution on 7 February. MS
[28] ROMANIAN CONSTITUTIONAL COURT RULES ON RESTITUTION LAW
The Constitutional Court on 7 February rejected the appeal of 78 PRM
parliamentarians against the approval in January by the Chamber of Deputies
of the law on restitution of real estate property, RFE/RL's Bucharest
bureau reported. The Senate has already approved the law and the court said
President Iliescu can now promulgate it. MS
[29] ROMANIAN PARLIAMENT CONFIRMS NEW INTELLIGENCE SERVICE CHIEF
A joint session of the two houses of the parliament on 7 February voted 374
to 28 in favor of the appointment of Radu Timofte as the new Romanian
Intelligence Service (SRI) director, RFE/RL's Bucharest bureau reported.
The PNL opposed the appointment, on grounds of insufficient time to debate
controversial statements made by Timofte in the past and allegations that
Timofte was a KGB agent. Former SRI chief Virgil Magureanu said the same
day there are no grounds to believe Timofte ever worked for the KGB, but
added he doubts Timofte has the necessary skills to run the SRI. MS
[30] COMPLAINTS REJECTED AGAINST PREMIER'S ALLIANCE IN MOLDOVA
The Central Electoral Bureau (CEC) on 7 February rejected as "unfounded"
complaints launched against the Braghis Alliance by communist leader
Vladimir Voronin, Party of Revival and Conciliation (PRAM) chairman Mircea
Snegur and Democratic Party leader Dumitru Diacov, Infotag reported. The
three leaders had asked the CEC to disqualify the Braghis Alliance from
running in the elections. The commission ruled that the three leaders
failed to produce "convincing evidence" that the alliance headed by the
premier is using governmental resources in its electoral campaign. It ruled
that the alliance has produced "convincing proof" that members of the
cabinet engaged in the electoral campaign have been "temporarily suspended
from official duties". It also said that existing legislation does not
require the premier to resign during the election campaign period. MS
[31] MOLDOVAN PARTY'S ELECTORAL SPENDING TO BE CHECKED
The CEC on 7 February also decided to ask the Chief Tax Inspectorate to
investigate how the National Liberal Party (PNL) is using funds allocated
from the budget for its electoral campaign. Mihai Busuleac, a commission
member, was quoted by Infotag as saying the private Catalan TV company,
which is backing the PNL, is providing "fairly expensive gifts" on that
party's behalf. The Inspectorate is to verify whether the funds come from
the money allocated to parties for the election campaign. The law
stipulates that no formation can spend more than 1 million lei (about $79,
000) for this purpose and no funding is permitted from other sources. MS
[32] SNEGUR SAYS RUSSIA MUST BE FORCED OUT THE TRANSDNIESTER BY THE OSCE
PRAM leader Snegur told journalists in Chisinau on 7 February that Russia
will not withdraw its troops from the Transdniester of its own free will
and only international organizations of which the Russia is a members can
force it to do so, RFE/RL's Chisinau bureau reported. Chief among these,
the former Moldovan president said, is the OSCE, which must increase its
involvement in the conflict. He said back in 1994, former premiers Andrei
Sangheli and Viktor Chernomyrdin signed an accord for the withdrawal of the
troops that was never ratified by the Duma, and later Russia did not
respect the pledge made to the Council of Europe to evacuate its troops.
"At present Moscow knows too well it has no intention of respecting the
decisions of the [December 1999 OSCE] Istanbul summit," Snegur said. MS
[33] BULGARIAN RADIO JOURNALISTS THREATEN TO LAUNCH STRIKE
The staff of Bulgarian national radio said on 7 February they will start
legal procedure required by the law to begin labor action if Ivan
Borislavov, who was recently appointed general director of the radio, does
not resign, Reuters and AP reported. In a declaration released to the media,
the staff said their motivations are not political but stem from
Borislavov's lack of professional credentials. A radio presenter cited by
Reuters said the journalists are prepared to "go to the very end, like
colleagues in the Czech Republic." The protesting journalists also demanded
that the National Radio and Television Council, which appointed Borislavov,
resign (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 7 February 2001). MS
[34] MILITARY INDUSTRY WORKERS DEMONSTRATE IN SOFIA
Some 4,000 workers in the military industry on 7 February demonstrated in
Sofia against the government's neglect of the problems of that sector. They
said the cabinet lacks a clear-cut plan to deal with the debt-ridden
industry. The protesters also said wages have not been paid for several
months. Most of the demonstrators work in the VMZ plant in Spot, some 150
kilometers east of Sofia. A local union leader cited by AP said the future
of the whole area depends on the fate of the company. The government has
slated the VMZ for sale in March 2000, but investors have shown little
interest. The company has run up a 68 million leva ($32.7 million) debt to
the state budget. MS
[35] AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL CONCERNED OVER BULGARIANS' LIBYAN TRIAL
Amnesty International on 7 February said it is "concerned" over Libya's
handing of the six Bulgarian health workers charged with deliberately
infecting children with the HIV virus in a Benghazi hospital. Jurgens
Carsten, who is in charge of the Middle East in the organization, told
Reuters that the Bulgarian medics "were detained two years ago, and had
spent one year without legal or medical help." He said that Amnesty's
"major concern is that Libya has not investigated allegations of use of
torture against the medics" during the year-long pre-trial period. Libyan
lawyer Osman Byzanti said two of his clients told him they had confessed
under duress. In June 2000, Bulgarian Justice Minister Teodossyi Simeonov
said the medics had been tortured during the investigation and the nurses
among them were pressured to convert to Islam. MS
[C] END NOTE
[36] There is no end note today.
08-02-01
Reprinted with permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
URL: http://www.rferl.org
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