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RFE/RL Newsline, Vol. 5, No. 174, 01-09-13

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty: Newsline Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

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


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