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22 March Latest News
Scandal Over Consulting Contract
Rocks Bulgarian Government
SOFIA, Bulgaria -- The Bulgarian government denies any
wrongdoing connected with its decision to award a contract to reform the customs
service to the British consulting firm Crown Agents. The daily Trud
Thursday (21 March) published minutes from a closed-door cabinet meeting which
seemed to suggest that ministers deliberately sought to bypass the law when they
struck the deal. Opposition MPs had argued that the government should have organized
a tender under the Public Procurement Act.
The United Democratic Forces (UDF) says it will initiate a
no-confidence motion against the cabinet. Former Finance Minister Muravey Radev,
a UDF member, called the scandal "Bulgaria's Watergate". The Bulgarian
Socialist Party has called for resignations. Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg
says his ministers are under attack from those who oppose customs reform. He is
demanding to know how the minutes were leaked. (Dnevnik, Standart, 24 Chasa,
Sega - 22/03/02; Trud, AP, AFP, BTA, Mediapool - 21/03/02)
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Serbian Coalition Still Opposes Role in
Kosovo Cabinet
PRISTINA, Yugoslavia -- The Serbian coalition Return is still
opposed to participating in the Kosovo cabinet. After a meeting Thursday (21
March) among Return leaders, Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica and
Belgrade's co-ordinator for Kosovo Nebojsa Covic, Return reiterated its demand
for broader Kosovo Serb participation through the establishment of a ministry on
refugees. The issue will likely be raised again Monday, with UN Mission in
Kosovo (UNMIK) chief Michael Steiner.
Meanwhile, the Serbian government has decided to allow the
transfer of ethnic Albanian prisoners in Serbian jails to Kosovo, a key
condition for US financial assistance to Yugoslavia. Under an agreement with
UNMIK, the prisoners will be transferred to Kosovo in exchange for Serb
prisoners, who will go to Yugoslavia. (FoNet - 22/03/02; B92, Tanjug, BBC -
21/03/02)
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Macedonian Public Prosecutor Dzikov in The
Hague
SKOPJE, Macedonia -- Public prosecutor Stavre Dzikov visited
the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague Friday (22 March) to discuss future
co-operation. Talks with chief prosecutor Carla del Ponte were to focus on
documents submitted by Macedonian authorities regarding alleged war crimes and
crimes against humanity committed during last year's conflict in Macedonia.
Meanwhile, the new US Ambassador to Macedonia, Lawrence Butler
toured the hard-hit Tetovo region Thursday. Butler condemned the vandalism that
had occurred, especially to homes and churches, during the conflict but said his
conversations with residents suggested the human spirit cannot be broken. (Utrinski
Vesnik, Dnevnik, MIA - 22/03/02; MIA, A1 TV - 21/03/02)
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EU Donates Equipment to BiH State Border
Service
SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) -- The EU is providing
equipment worth 2.8m euros to the BiH State Border Service (SBS). The donation,
including 135 vehicles, was delivered at a special ceremony Thursday (21 March).
The head of the EC mission in Sarajevo, Hans Joerg Kretschmer, stressed the
importance of SBS efficiency, particularly for the fight against organised
crime. Since its establishment as a multiethnic service in June 2000, SBS has
assumed control of 75 per cent of Bosnia’s borders. (FTV - 21/03/02)
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Croatian Parliament Approves Cabinet
Reshuffle
ZAGREB, Croatia -- As expected, parliament Thursday (21 March)
approved the appointment of three new cabinet ministers. Drazen Budisa, leader
of the Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS), is taking over the post of first
deputy prime minister and will supervise the ministries of interior and foreign
policy. Goran Granic, who had held that position, will remain in the cabinet as
a deputy prime minister. Hrvoje Vojkovic is the new minister of economy, and
Marijo Kovac heads the transport and telecommunications ministry. The opposition
Croatian Democratic Union did not participate in the vote, and the Croatian
Party of Rights opposed the reshuffle.
Also Thursday, parliament adopted a law that reshapes the
intelligence service into three units -- a counterintelligence agency, a
military intelligence agency, and an intelligence agency. The move is aimed at
harmonising Croatia’s system with that of NATO states. (Vecernji List,
Jutarnji List, Vjesnik - 22/03/02; HRT, HINA, Inforpress - 21/03/02)
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Bush To Meet Bulgarian Prime Minister
EL PASO, United States -- White House Spokesman Ari Fleischer
announced Thursday (21 March) that US President George Bush will welcome
Bulgarian Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg to Washington on 23 April.
"Bulgaria is a good partner and friend of the United States which has
actively supported the war on terrorism and made significant contributions to
our common effort of maintaining peace and stability in southeast Europe,"
said Fleischer, who added that the leaders will discuss Euro-Atlantic and
regional issues.
Athens, meanwhile, has offered to host a meeting of foreign
ministers to help Bulgaria and Romania in their bids for NATO membership. Greece
also supports their accession to the EU. In negotiations with the EU, Bucharest
Thursday opened five more chapters, bringing the number opened to 22, of 31. For
its part, Bulgaria Thursday opened its final two chapters. (Nine O'clock,
Dnevnik - 22/03/02; AFP, AP, Mediafax, Rompres, BTA - 21/03/02)
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Safety of Kozloduy Nuclear Plant Addressed
VIENNA, Austria -- Nuclear safety and the timetable for
decommissioning the older units of Bulgaria’s Kozloduy plant were the focus of
talks Thursday (21 March) between Bulgaria's Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg
and Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel in Vienna. Afterwards, Saxe-Coburg
said it was too early to give any deadlines for the closure of reactors 3 and 4.
Schuessel urged him to fulfil Sofia’s commitment to the international
community to close the first and second units by the end of this year, and the
third and fourth by 2006. Bulgaria would prefer to postpone the second round of
closures until 2010. (BTA, Dnevnik, Standart - 22/03/02; Mediapool - 21/03/02)
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Bosnian Entities to Form Joint Football
League
SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) -- The Bosnian Football
Federation (FIFA) in the Federation of BiH and the teams in Republika Srpska
decided Thursday (21 March) to organise a joint soccer league starting next
season. A joint football association will be formed in May. The two entities
formed a joint team for the 2000 Olympics and a joint basketball league. FIFA
President Sep Blatter says the new football league will bolster Bosnia and
Croatia’s joint bid to host the 2008 European Championship. (AFP - 21/03/02)
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Albania's Exiled Prince to Return Home
TIRANA, Albania -- Heir to the throne Leka Zogu is expected to
return to Albania soon, at the request of 30 members of parliament. The 63-year
old prince, son of Albanian King Ahmet Zogu, says he is ready to contribute to
the country’s development. During the communist era Zogu lived in England,
Egypt, and Spain before moving to South Africa. (A1 TV - 21/03/02)
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