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12 March Latest News
Solana: Serbian-Montenegrin Talks at
Advanced Stage
BRUSSELS, Belgium -- EU security chief Javier Solana told EU
foreign ministers Monday (11 March) that federation talks between Serbia and
Montenegro are at a "very advanced phase". He said he is confident
they will be wrapped up by Wednesday, when he is scheduled to arrive in
Belgrade. Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica and Deputy Prime Minister
Miroljub Labus met Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic and Prime Minister
Filip Vujanovic in Belgrade Monday night to discuss federation issues. The
officials reportedly failed to reach a final agreement but made progress on some
issues. Solana noted that a final agreement should be completed before
Friday’s meeting of EU leaders in Barcelona.
Vujanovic said that the federation model should include an
option that would allow Montenegrins to decide on their status in the future. He
insists that an independence referendum will take place in May if no agreement
is reached. (FoNet - 12/03/02; B92, Tanjug, BBC, BETA - 11/03/02)
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Kostunica Party Says It Cannot Be Expelled
From Ruling Coalition
BELGRADE, Yugoslavia -- Yugoslav President Vojislav
Kostunica's Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) may have decided to boycott
leadership meetings of the ruling coalition, but insists it cannot be expelled
from the Democratic Opposition of Serbia (DOS). DSS deputy leader Dragan
Marsicanin said Monday (11 March) that expulsion from the DOS would be
"legally and politically impossible" under the terms of the coalition
agreement. The draft law on co-operation with the UN war crimes tribunal has
driven a wedge between DSS and DOS. The DSS opposes extraditions included in the
draft.
In other news, Serbian Interior Minister Dusan Mihajlovic
reportedly tendered his resignation Monday protesting attempts to prevent him
from reforming the country's police and from fighting organised crime. (Tanjug,
BBC, B92, BETA, AFP - 11/03/02)
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Skopje Rejects Possibility of War Crimes
Charges Against Interior Minister
SKOPJE, Macedonia -- Foreign Minister Slobodan Casule warned
Monday (11 March) that the government would not accept even the hint of war
crimes charges against Macedonian Interior Minister Ljube Boskovski stemming
from the so-called Ljuboten case. Ten ethnic Albanian civilians were murdered in
Ljuboten last August during some of the most violent clashes between government
forces and rebels of the National Liberation Army.
Carla del Ponte, chief prosecutor for the UN war crimes
tribunal, has suggested that Boskovski may be held responsible for the murders.
Local media has reported that international organisations are investigating, and
even exhuming remains, without the permission of Macedonian authorities. Casule
took issue with that Monday saying the government would not recognise anything
collected without Skopje's authorisation. (Nova Makedonija - 12/03/02; A1 TV,
MIA - 11/03/02)
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Serbs Could Be Offered One More Position in
Kosovo Cabinet
PRISTINA, Yugoslavia -- The Serbian coalition Return predicts
it may be offered a deputy prime minister post in the Kosovo cabinet. Party whip
Rada Trajkovic suggested Monday (11 March) that pressure from the international
community, particularly Michael Steiner, head of the UN mission in Kosovo, could
serve as a catalyst. Return has refused to join the new cabinet until it obtains
a larger role -- specifically a position overseeing the return of displaced
Serbs. (Tanjug, B92 - 11/03/02)
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Albanian PM Discusses Power Sector Problems
TIRANA, Albania -- Prime Minister Pandeli Majko met Monday (11
March) with senior management from the national electricity company KESH and
cabinet members to discuss the severe power shortages in Albania this winter.
Majko stressed that outdated equipment and limited sources of energy, along with
a large number of delinquent customers, are the main problems. He emphasised the
need for implementing the 2002-2003 energy sector strategies rather than
attempting to find short-term solutions.
Meanwhile, a delegation of US military officials is visiting
Albania to review reforms in the armed forces. Defense Minister Luan Rama says
the government is working to bring the army up to NATO standards. (ATA -
11/03/02)
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Teachers Protest in Romania
BUCHAREST, Romania -- Across Romania, more than 350,000
teachers staged a one-day protest Monday (11 March) demanding higher pay. The
government has offered an increase of five per cent -- not nearly enough, says
the teachers union, in the face of an inflation rate that hit 30 per cent last
year. Another nationwide walkout is planned on 18 March.
Also Monday, it was announced that the Romanian economy grew
by 5.3 per cent in 2001, the highest jump in the past five years. The increase
was attributed in part to a 21.7 per cent surge in agricultural production. (AP,
AFP, Rompres, Mediafax - 11/03/02)
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Bulgaria's Foreign Minister on Working
Visit in United States
WASHINGTON, United States -- Bulgarian Foreign Minister
Solomon Pasi met briefly Monday (11 March) with US President George Bush during
a ceremony marking six months since the 11 September terrorist attacks. Pasi
expressed his condolences and assured Bush that Bulgaria is a true ally of the
United States. The foreign minister went to Washington to present Bulgaria and
Macedonia's joint appeal for financing of the Sofia-Skopje railway project. He
will also promote Bulgaria's candidacy for NATO membership.
Meanwhile, in Sofia, a three-day forum is under way to address
corruption in national security forces. Representatives attended from Albania,
Croatia, Hungary, Macedonia, Moldova, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia. (Dnevnik,
Standart, Monitor - 12/03/02; Mediapool, BTA - 11/03/02)
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Bosnia's SDS Elects New President
BANJA LUKA, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) -- The Bosnian Serb
Democratic Party (SDS) elected Dragan Kalinic as its new president, finally
replacing party founder Radovan Karadzic. Kalinic called the move a courageous
new start. Karadzic created the SDS in 1990 and was its president until 1996
when he quit politics. The party has had a rotating leadership since then. It
remains the most popular political organisation in Republika Srpska.
Meanwhile, the OSCE chairman-in-office, Portuguese Foreign
Minister Jaime Gama, is in Bosnia to meet with senior BiH officials and
international representatives in Sarajevo. (MIA - 12/03/02; Reuters, OSCE News
Release - 11/03/02)
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Ruling Parties Committed to Resolving
Crisis in Croatian Cabinet
ZAGREB, Croatia -- Croatia’s ruling parties are expected to
sign an agreement Tuesday (12 March) paving the way for a cabinet reshuffle. In
response to the demands of the Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS), the
ministers of economy and transport will leave the cabinet while HSLS leader
Drazen Budisa will become a first deputy prime minister.
The leadership of the ruling Social Democratic Party (SDP)
announced Monday it would accept the changes, provided the other four members of
the coalition sign the discussed co-operation agreement. SDP said broad
consensus on government policy is more important than personnel changes. (Vecernji
List, Jutarnji List - 12/03/02; HINA, HRT - 11/03/02)
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