|
|
|
RFE/RL Newsline, Vol. 5, No. 174, 01-09-13
RFE/RL NEWSLINE
Vol. 5, No. 174, 13 September 2001
CONTENTS
[A] TRANSCAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA
[01] ARMENIAN OFFICIAL'S MURDER LINKED TO HIS 'PROFESSIONAL DUTIES'?
[02] ARMENIA, IRAN SEEK TO EXPAND TRADE, ECONOMIC TIES
[03] ARMENIA RELEASES TWO AZERBAIJANI POWS
[04] PACE CHAIRMAN VISITS GEORGIA
[05] CHINESE PREMIER VISITS KAZAKHSTAN
[06] IRANIAN AMBASSADOR TOURS SOUTHERN KAZAKHSTAN
[07] THREE KILLED IN YET ANOTHER HELICOPTER CRASH IN KAZAKHSTAN
[08] TAJIK POLICE IDENTIFY CULTURE MINISTER'S KILLER, DEAD BOMBER
[09] REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR SACKED IN UZBEKISTAN
[10] MORE CENTRAL ASIAN REACTION TO U.S. TERRORIST ATTACKS
[11] UZBEKISTAN, UKRAINE REGISTER INCREASE IN BILATERAL TRADE
[B] SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE
[12] THOUSANDS DEMONSTRATE FOR U.S. IN KOSOVA
[13] MIXED REACTIONS IN SERBIA TO ATTACKS
[14] CROATIA ANNOUNCES DAY OF MOURNING
[15] BROAD CONDEMNATION OF ATTACKS BY MACEDONIA
[16] RUSSIA RECONSIDERING ROLE IN MACEDONIA?
[17] NATO HAS COLLECTED TWO-THIRDS OF WEAPONS IN MACEDONIA
[18] MACEDONIA DENIES REPORTS ON PARAMILITARIES
[19] MACEDONIAN MINISTER BALKS AT FOREIGN PRESENCE
[20] ALBANIAN GOVERNMENT PLEDGES TO IMPROVE STATUS OF MINORITIES
[21] SERBIAN LEADER HAS OFFER FOR MONTENEGRO
[22] ROMANIAN SUPREME DEFENSE COUNCIL TAKES MEASURES AFTER ATTACKS ON
U.S...
[23] ...WHILE INFORMATION SERVICE EXPECTS NO VIOLENT ACTIONS
[24] VORONIN INTENDS TO LEGALIZE DUAL CITIZENSHIP
[25] ECHR TO EXAMINE BESSARABIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH CASE IN OCTOBER
[26] NEW PARTY SET UP IN MOLDOVA
[27] CANADIAN DEFENSE MINISTER PRAISES BULGARIA'S NATO CHANCES
[28] BULGARIAN FOREIGN MINISTER CALLS FOR COOPERATION AMONG WESTERN
DEMOCRACIES
[C] END NOTE
[29] There is no End Note today.
[A] TRANSCAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA
[01] ARMENIAN OFFICIAL'S MURDER LINKED TO HIS 'PROFESSIONAL DUTIES'?
Armenian Interior Minister Hayk Harutiunian told parliament deputies on 12
September that "we have no concrete results yet" in the investigation of
the 11 September murder of Gagik Poghossian, an aide to Prime Minister
Andranik Markarian, Noyan Tapan and RFE/RL's Yerevan bureau reported (see
"RFE/RL Newsline," 11 September 2001). Harutiunian added that he believes
Poghossian's death was connected with his "professional activities," but
did not elaborate. Poghossian served from May to October 2000 as tax
minister, and from July 2001 as head of the government oversight committee,
which is responsible for launching financial inspections at government
agencies suspected of misuse of public funds. "Hayots ashkharh" on 13
September said that shortly before his murder he provided the paper with
documents implicating former Environment Minister Murad Muradian in
corruption. The paper claimed without citing its sources that Poghossian
was killed by the "mafia." LF
[02] ARMENIA, IRAN SEEK TO EXPAND TRADE, ECONOMIC TIES
Iranian Trade Minister Mohammad Shariat-Madari told journalists in Yerevan
on 12 September following two days of talks with top Armenian officials
that agreement has been reached on expanding bilateral trade and commercial
ties, RFE/RL's Yerevan bureau and Noyan Tapan reported. Specifically,
Shariat-Madari said that an agreement has been drafted that would loosen
current restrictions on more than 40 types of goods manufactured in Armenia
and exported to Iran. He also said that experts from both countries are
continuing to put the finishing touches to plans to build a 140-kilometer
gas pipeline to supply Armenia with Iranian gas and a hydroelectric power
station on the Araks River, which forms the southern border between the two
countries. During talks earlier on 12 September, Shariat-Madari and
President Robert Kocharian agreed that the close ties between their
respective countries constitute "an important factor for peace and
stability in the region." LF
[03] ARMENIA RELEASES TWO AZERBAIJANI POWS
One Azerbaijani serviceman and one civilian, both of whom were taken
prisoner some two months ago by Armenian forces, were released on 12
September through the good offices of the International Committee of the
Red Cross, Turan reported. The two men have returned to Azerbaijan. LF
[04] PACE CHAIRMAN VISITS GEORGIA
Lord Russell-Johnston held talks in Tbilisi on 12 September with Georgian
President Eduard Shevardnadze, Minister of State Gia Arsenishvili,
parliamentary speaker Zurab Zhvania, and members of the Abkhaz parliament
in exile, Caucasus Press reported. Shevardnadze assured Russell-Johnston
that Georgia will comply fully with the commitments it made when it was
accepted into full membership of the Council in April 1999. (On the eve of
the British peer's visit, the Georgian press had quoted a summary of a
draft document prepared by the PACE Monitoring Committee that reportedly
detailed instances of Georgia's failure to meet those commitments.) Russell-
Johnston discussed with Zhvania Russian-Georgian relations and preparations
for the 4 November local elections, which most opposition parties intend to
boycott. Meeting with Arsenishvili, he expressed concern at the magnitude
of the problem posed by corruption in Georgia, and said he thinks ministers
guilty of corruption should be dismissed "without delay." He also expressed
regret that little progress as been made toward resolving the Abkhaz
conflict, but singled out as an encouraging factor the desire of both sides
to resolve that conflict peacefully. LF
[05] CHINESE PREMIER VISITS KAZAKHSTAN
Following his talks with Russian officials in St. Petersburg (see "RFE/RL
Newsline," 11 and 12 September 2001), Zhu Rongji traveled to Astana where
he met on 12 September with his Kazakh counterpart Qasymzhomart Toqaev to
review the present state of bilateral relations, Caspian News Agency
reported. Representatives of the two governments signed six joint documents
including one on cooperation on the use of transborder rivers (see "RFE/RL
Newsline," 6 and 15 April 1999 and 12 June 2001), and one on avoiding dual
taxation. LF
[06] IRANIAN AMBASSADOR TOURS SOUTHERN KAZAKHSTAN
On a recent visit to Shymkent Oblast in southern Kazakhstan, which is home
to a small Iranian minority, Iranian Ambassador to Kazakhstan Morteza
Saffari discussed with the oblast's governor, Berdibek Saparbaev, the
prospects for expanding economic and cultural contacts between Shymkent and
Iran, Caspian News Agency and RFE/RL's Kazakh Service reported on 11
September. Saparbaev said he would welcome investment by Iranian
businessmen in the oblast's infrastructure, especially highway construction,
and in drilling for oil. Saffari also attended a local festival of Iranian
culture. LF
[07] THREE KILLED IN YET ANOTHER HELICOPTER CRASH IN KAZAKHSTAN
All three crew members were killed when a Kazakh military helicopter on a
routine night flight crashed in southern Kazakhstan on 11 September,
Reuters and Interfax reported the following day. It is the third fatal
crash of a Kazakh military helicopter this year (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 22
January and 20 February 2001). LF
[08] TAJIK POLICE IDENTIFY CULTURE MINISTER'S KILLER, DEAD BOMBER
Tajikistan's Interior Ministry has established the identity of the young
man who perished on 9 September when a bomb he had prepared exploded
prematurely, Asia Plus-Blitz reported on 12 September (see "RFE/RL Newsline,
" 10 September 2001). The police have also identified the man who escaped
after shooting Culture Minister Abdurahim Rahimov in Dushanbe on 8
September, but will not disclose his name, the agency reported, quoting a
senior police official. LF
[09] REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR SACKED IN UZBEKISTAN
Acting on a directive from President Islam Karimov, on 11 September the
Samarkand district administration dismissed its head, Erkin Ruzaev, and
appointed Shavkat Mirziyaev to replace him, Interfax reported on 12
September. Karimov, who addressed the session personally, deplored a recent
decline in output by the district's factories, failure to encourage small
and medium businesses, and the fact that registered unemployment in the
region has reached 7 percent. LF
[10] MORE CENTRAL ASIAN REACTION TO U.S. TERRORIST ATTACKS
Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev and his Turkmen counterpart Saparmurat
Nizayov on 12 September sent messages of condolence to U.S. President
George W. Bush following the previous day's terrorist attacks in New York
and Washington. Nazarbaev expressed concern lest those attacks spark a
global confrontation between Christians and Muslims, according to Interfax-
Kazakhstan. Kazakh Foreign Minister Erlan Idrisov and Zharmakhan Tuyaqbaev,
speaker of the lower chamber of parliament, both said Kazakhstan must join
the global fight against terrorism, RFE/RL's Kazakh Service reported. LF
[11] UZBEKISTAN, UKRAINE REGISTER INCREASE IN BILATERAL TRADE
Trade turnover between GUUAM member states Uzbekistan and Ukraine increased
by 32 percent during the first eight months of 2001 to reach over $200
million, Ukraine's ambassador in Tashkent, Anatolii Kasyanov, was quoted as
telling Caspian News Agency on 12 September. (Visiting Tashkent last week,
Moscow Mayor Yurii Luzhkov said trade between his city and Uzbekistan
amounted to only $113 million -- see "RFE/RL Newsline," 11 September 2001).
Kasyanov said Ukraine delivers to Uzbekistan products from its
metallurgical, chemical and electronics industries, tires and medications,
and imports natural gas, cotton fiber, textiles, copper, zinc, and
agricultural produce from Uzbekistan. LF
[B] SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE
[12] THOUSANDS DEMONSTRATE FOR U.S. IN KOSOVA
Several thousand Kosovars demonstrated in Prishtina and other cities and
towns on 12 September in sympathy with the U.S. and against the terrorist
attacks, RFE/RL's South Slavic Service reported (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 12
September 2001). Meanwhile in Sarajevo, a conference on relations between
Christians and Muslims in Europe opened, and several speakers referred to
the tragic developments in the U.S., "Avaz" reported. The Orthodox
archbishop of Albania -- who himself is Greek -- led a prayer for the
victims. PM
[13] MIXED REACTIONS IN SERBIA TO ATTACKS
Shock, horror, and disbelief were the predominant reactions in the former
Yugoslavia to the terrorist attacks, RFE/RL reported on 13 September. An
openly anti-American attitude was displayed only by a few Serbian extreme
nationalists linked to the former regime, such as Radical Party leader
Vojislav Seselj. Some Serbs nonetheless expressed satisfaction over the
attack on the Pentagon, dpa reported from Belgrade on 13 September. Others
charged that U.S. policies have served to generate terrorism. Predrag Simic,
an adviser to Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica not known for his pro-
American sympathies, told "Blic" that he hopes that the U.S. will soon
reduce its role in Kosova and Macedonia. He added that he fears an
"irresponsible reaction" by Washington to the terror. There have been no
reports of anti-American demonstrations in Serbia or elsewhere. In related
news, NATO and U.S. forces in Bosnia, Kosova, and Macedonia have tightened
security as a precaution, "The Wall Street Journal Europe" reported on 12
September. PM
[14] CROATIA ANNOUNCES DAY OF MOURNING
Prime Minister Ivica Racan said in Zagreb on 13 September that the
following day will be an official day of mourning for the victims of the
"insane terrorist attacks" in the U.S., dpa reported (see "RFE/RL Newsline,
" 12 September 2001). He added that "democratic Croatia is willing to make
its contribution to the international struggle against terrorism." PM
[15] BROAD CONDEMNATION OF ATTACKS BY MACEDONIA
President Boris Trajkovski, Prime Minister Ljubco Georgievski, Foreign
Minister Ilinka Mitreva, and Defense Minister Vlado Buckovski strongly
condemned the terrorist attacks against the U.S., Makfax news agency
reported from Skopje on 12 September. The article noted that "this country
shares the grief of the American people. The grief is even deeper given
that Macedonia has also been subjected to terrorist attacks over the past
six months." "Nova Makedonija" wrote that "no such aggression against one
country has been carried out before" and likened it to the dropping of two
atomic bombs in World War II. PM
[16] RUSSIA RECONSIDERING ROLE IN MACEDONIA?
While most international political attention is riveted on the U.S. and the
lessons to be learned from the attacks, Moscow has apparently concluded
that it might want to send troops to Macedonia after all, Interfax reported
on 12 September (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 11 September 2001). Foreign
Ministry spokesman Aleksandr Yakovenko noted that "various circles are
discussing options of a possible military presence in Macedonia that could
be deployed after the NATO operation for collecting arms." He added that
"so far we have not received any official proposal regarding possible
peacekeeping forces on the territory of Macedonia." Yakovenko stressed,
however, that any such mission must be backed by a UN mandate and limited
to carrying out the Macedonian government's objectives: "securing the
sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country, monitoring the
borders with Kosovo and Albania, promoting the solution of ethnic and other
problems -- including the return of refugees and temporarily displaced
persons, observing [unspecified] existing international standards, and
supporting the Macedonian administration's efforts to preserve a single
multinational state." PM
[17] NATO HAS COLLECTED TWO-THIRDS OF WEAPONS IN MACEDONIA
A NATO spokesman said in Skopje on 13 September that the Atlantic alliance
has collected 2,200 out of a scheduled 3,300 weapons from ethnic Albanian
fighters in Macedonia, dpa reported. Later that day, the parliament was to
debate holding a referendum on the political settlement. Representatives of
the international community have pointed out that a referendum is not
provided for in the peace settlement. A parliamentary election is scheduled
for January 2002. And on 12 September, guerrillas and government forces
engaged in a brief firefight near Tanusevci. The rebels subsequently
withdrew into Kosova. No government soldiers were injured. PM
[18] MACEDONIA DENIES REPORTS ON PARAMILITARIES
The Macedonian government denied reports by NATO and some Western media
that the Interior Ministry or other state bodies are sponsoring
paramilitary groups, Deutsche Welle's "Monitor" reported on 12 September
(see "RFE/RL Newsline," 24 August and 11 September 2001). A spokesman said
that the security forces are under the authority of Trajkovski. In the past
six months, the Interior Ministry has enlarged and expanded its own special
antiterror and anticrisis units, one of which has been in existence for 40
years. The spokesman added that the police chief of Prilep has been sacked
because of unspecified shortcomings in his work. Meanwhile, the Interior
Ministry said in a statement that reports about the existence of
paramilitaries constitute an "attempt to ruin the reputation of...members
of the Macedonian police," dpa reported on 11 September. PM
[19] MACEDONIAN MINISTER BALKS AT FOREIGN PRESENCE
Hard-line Interior Minister Ljube Boskovski said in Skopje on 12 September
that Macedonia will have no need of a foreign armed presence after NATO
ends Operation Essential Harvest on 26 September, AP reported (see "RFE/RL
Newsline," 10 and 11 September 2001). Boskovski added that any such
presence must have a UN mandate and be limited to patrolling the borders
with Kosova and Albania. That same day, the top Macedonian leadership
discussed the deployment of security forces into areas now held by the
National Liberation Army (UCK) after Essential Harvest ends. Many ethnic
Albanians fear that Boskovski's police in particular will seek revenge (see
"RFE/RL Newsline," 5 September 2001). PM
[20] ALBANIAN GOVERNMENT PLEDGES TO IMPROVE STATUS OF MINORITIES
The new government of Prime Minister Ilir Meta easily won a vote of
confidence in the parliament, Reuters reported on 12 September. In addition
to its main priorities of promoting Euro-Atlantic integration and
eliminating power cuts, the government wants to bring its policies toward
ethnic minorities more into line with European standards, Deutsche Welle's
"Monitor" reported (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 23 August 2001). The government
also plans to devote more attention to working with the various religious
communities and the diaspora. The Greeks are the largest single minority,
but Macedonians and other Balkan Slavic and non-Slavic groups are also
present. The main religious communities are Sunni Muslim, Orthodox, Roman
Catholic, and Bektashi. All have reemerged with new vigor following decades
of persecution under communism, partly with the help of their respective
coreligionists abroad, such as the Greek Orthodox Church and the Bektashi
community of Detroit in the U.S. PM
[21] SERBIAN LEADER HAS OFFER FOR MONTENEGRO
Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic said in Belgrade on 12 September that
he will propose to Montenegrin Prime Minister Filip Vujanovic that the two
republics divide responsibilities in foreign affairs between them on a
proportional basis. RFE/RL's South Slavic Service reported. There are about
10 Serbs for every Montenegrin. The Montenegrin leadership wants each
republic to be internationally recognized and have its own representation
abroad. PM
[22] ROMANIAN SUPREME DEFENSE COUNCIL TAKES MEASURES AFTER ATTACKS ON
U.S...
An extraordinary meeting of the Romanian Supreme Defense Council (CSAT) on
11 September decided to take "special measures" to protect important
institutions, foreign embassies, and international institution buildings, a
CSAT press release stated. The CSAT decided to set up a crisis committee
for the government, while the Defense and Foreign Affairs ministries set up
their own similar committees. It also decided to adopt "all necessary
measures" to prevent the population being affected by eventual "worldwide
economic fluctuations." Finance Minister Mihai Tanasescu on 12 September
said the Romanian economy will not be significantly affected by the
evolution of the global market, "Adevarul" reported on 13 September.
Tanasescu said the ministry, together with Romanian National Bank Governor
Mugur Isarescu, have decided to tie the Romanian currency to the Euro
instead the U.S. dollar. ZsM
[23] ...WHILE INFORMATION SERVICE EXPECTS NO VIOLENT ACTIONS
An 11 September press release of the Romanian Information Service (SRI)
said there is little probability that violent actions by anti-U.S.
organizations will occur in Romania. The SRI also warned that it watches
over such organizations and is ready to intervene if necessary. The
Romanian media on 13 September reported that there have been several bomb
alerts in Bucharest and Iasi recently, all of which have proven to be false
alarms. ZsM
[24] VORONIN INTENDS TO LEGALIZE DUAL CITIZENSHIP
Meeting with OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Rolf Ekeus,
Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin said he intends to modify the country's
constitution in order to allow dual citizenship, Flux reported. According
to a presidency press release, the two discussed governmental efforts to
integrate ethnic minorities. Voronin said the recently adopted law on
language in the country is the result of an effort to "maintain the
activities of national minority representatives in society." He added that
national minority representatives are present at different levels of state
institutions, the sole condition for their career advancement being
professionalism and competence. In other news, Voronin and Ekeus called on
international institutions to unite in eliminating terrorism. ZsM
[25] ECHR TO EXAMINE BESSARABIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH CASE IN OCTOBER
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has decided to examine a case
filed by the Bessarabian Orthodox Church against the Moldovan government,
Flux reported on 11 September. The Bessarabian Church, which is subordinate
to the Bucharest Patriarchate, filed a complaint to the court following
repeated refusals by consecutive Moldovan governments to register the
church. Premier Vasile Tarlev's cabinet had previously asked for a
postponement and expressed its readiness for settlement. According to
Popular Party Christian Democratic deputy Vlad Cubreacov, the ECHR rejected
the cabinet's request for an additional postponement. ZsM
[26] NEW PARTY SET UP IN MOLDOVA
Former Party of Revival and Conciliation Deputy Sergiu Mocanu on 11
September announced the formation of a new political party, Flux reported.
The party, called Democratic Unity Party, is "pro-European," and will
primarily focus on social issues, Mocanu said. He added the party insists
on the definition of "Moldovan" as being identical with "citizen of the
Republic of Moldova." As for external policies, the party considers Moldova
"a bridge between West and East." Mocanu said Moldova should end special
relations with Romania, thus facilitating Romania's accession to NATO and
the EU. Later on, Romania could help Moldova integrate into the EU, Mocanu
added. The party is to hold its first congress in November. ZsM
[27] CANADIAN DEFENSE MINISTER PRAISES BULGARIA'S NATO CHANCES
Arthur Eggleton said during a trip to Sofia on 12 September that Bulgaria
is a "strong" candidate for NATO membership, BTA reported, citing the
newspaper "Bulgarska Armia." Eggleton, who made his comments after a
meeting with his Bulgarian counterpart Nikolai Svinarov, added that Ottawa
has not yet decided which countries it will support for membership,
although he said that decision will be made soon. PB
[28] BULGARIAN FOREIGN MINISTER CALLS FOR COOPERATION AMONG WESTERN
DEMOCRACIES
Solomon Pasi said in Sofia on 12 September that the terrorist attacks in
the U.S. inflicted "a huge wound on democracy," BTA reported. Pasi, upon
returning from a visit to Brussels, said that the incidents in the U.S. are
another reason for "democracies to get closer." He added that the attacks
have shaken the world's "vision of peace and stability." In Brussels, Pasi
took part in an informal meeting of foreign ministers from EU member states
and applicant countries. He said he received positive signs from several of
his counterparts about Bulgaria being invited to join NATO during its next
expansion, expected to be announced next year at the 2002 NATO summit in
Prague. PB
[C] END NOTE
[29] There is no End Note today.
13-09-01
Reprinted with permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
URL: http://www.rferl.org
|
