04 March  2002

Croatian President Counsels Against Ministers' Resignations

ZAGREB, Croatia -- President Stipe Mesic commented Saturday (2 March) that Prime Minister Ivica Racan should not accept last week’s resignations of six ministers from the Croatian Social Liberal Party. His sentiments seem to echo those of Racan himself, who has suggested that the government would seek a confidence vote in parliament. Leaders of the five parties in the ruling coalition were expected to meet Tuesday (5 March) to discuss what the opposition calls "the biggest and deepest crisis of the current government".

Late Friday meanwhile, Zeljko Pul, head of the Zagreb police department’s organised crime division, crashed while driving a police car under the influence of alcohol. He damaged five cars and injured two people. Pul has been temporarily relieved of his duties, and his license seized. This is the second alcohol-related accident involving a Zagreb official. Milan Bandic resigned as mayor weeks ago, following a crash and police chase. (Vjesnik, Vecernji List - 04/03/02; HINA - 02/03/02)

SFOR Starts Logistics Operation at Croatian Port

RIJEKA, Croatia -- The NATO-led Stabilisation Force (SFOR) in Bosnia and Herzegovina launched a transportation operation through the Croatian port of Rijeka Sunday (3 March). US troops and Rijeka port workers unloaded 30 helicopters, 50 tanks and other military vehicles and containers. A US infantry division will replace SFOR units in Tuzla, northeastern Bosnia and Herzegovina, following complicated logistics maneuvers through the seaport that are expected to take some two months. (HINA - 03/03/02; Delo - 02/03/02)

Bosnia's Moderate Croat Leader Blames Serbs for Failure of Constitutional Talks

SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) -- Bosnia's moderate Croat leader, Kresimir Zubak of the New Croat Initiative, blamed the Serb Democratic Party for the lack of progress in ongoing constitutional talks. The goal is to reach consensus on amendments to each of the two entities' constitutions granting equal status to all three constituent peoples across BiH. Following the second round of negotiations among the main BiH parties in Sarajevo Sunday (3 March), Zubak said the session was fruitless. (SRNA - 03/03/01)

Ruling Party Proposes Set of Constitutional Amendments in Romania

BUCHAREST, Romania -- The ruling Social Democratic Party (PSD) is proposing amendments to Romania’s constitution, including provisions for a reduction in the number of senators and parliamentarians, in a bid to increase efficiency. At a news conference Friday (1 March), PSD also urged stricter sanctions for those who failed to attend parliamentary sessions and removal from office if the problem was chronic.

PSD says it wants to consult with other parties before weighing in on the question of direct presidential elections. Parliament currently picks the president. Incumbent Ion Iliescu meanwhile started discussions with the main political parties Monday about constitutional reforms and key economic and social issues. (Nine O'clock - 04/03/02; Rompres, Mediafax, BBC - 01/03/02)

Izetbegovic Ready to Testify Against Milosevic

SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) -- Former BiH President Alija Izetbegovic says he is prepared to testify against Slobodan Milosevic at The Hague. Izetbegovic, a Bosniak, tells the Sarajevo weekly Dani that he believes the trial will confirm that Bosnia was a victim of Yugoslav aggression.

At The Hague, efforts are under way to streamline the proceedings in the Milosevic trial. Justices are concerned the preliminary schedule -- which envisioned prosecutors completing their Kosovo case by July -- is unrealistic, given the current pace.

Meanwhile, the international community's high representative in BiH, Wolfgang Petritsch, commended Friday (1 March) repeated attempts by the NATO-led Stabilisation Force (SFOR) to arrest Radovan Karadzic in eastern BiH. In response to criticism from Republika Srpska authorities, Petritsch suggested there would be no need for action by SFOR if local authorities co-operated with the war crimes tribunal. (AFP - 03/03/02; Dani - 02/03/02; ATVBL, FTV, AFP - 01/03/02)

Parvanov Marks Bulgaria's National Holiday With Appeal for Unity

SOFIA, Bulgaria -- President Georgi Parvanov appealed for national unity in his speech celebrating Bulgaria's national holiday Sunday (3 March). Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg, Parliament Chairman Ognyan Gerdjikov, Chief Mufti of Bulgarian Muslims Selim Mehmed, cabinet members and parliamentarians attended a military parade and ceremony marking liberation from centuries of Turkish rule.

Meanwhile, the leaders of the predominantly ethnic Turk Movement for Rights and Freedoms agreed with President Parvanov and Foreign Minister Solomon Pasi that ethnic Turks will receive five ambassador seats. The party will also have the right to name the next ambassador to Turkey after Stoyan Stalev’s term expires this summer.

In other news, a Europol delegation will visit Bulgaria this month after agreement was reached in Brussels Friday to strengthen ties between Sofia and the European police organisation. (Dnevnik, Monitor, Sega, 24 Chasa - 04/03/02; BTA - 01/03/02)

Yugoslav Government Takes Control of Largest Mobile Phone Company

BELGRADE, Yugoslavia -- Police and court officials have entered the offices of 063 Mobtel Srbija, Yugoslavia's largest mobile phone operator, to install court-appointed management. The government said it acted because the company failed to pay taxes. The business is owned by the Karic family, known for its support of Slobodan Milosevic for more than a decade. The business came under tight scrutiny amid suspicions of financial irregularities involving the former president. It was required to pay $30m in taxes under a law that punished businesses that had benefited from Milosevic's protection. (AP - 02/03/02)

First Quintuplets Born in Macedonia

SKOPJE, Macedonia -- Liljana Ilievska, 32, gave birth to Macedonia's first quintuplets early Sunday (3 March). The babies -- three girls and two boys -- are in stable condition. Until she delivered, doctors thought Ilievska was carrying four. Skopje Mayor Risto Penev paid a visit to the hospital and announced that the municipal council has decided to provide the family with financial support. President Boris Trajkovski is expected to visit Monday. Statistically, quintuplets occur once in every 20 to 30 million pregnancies. (Vest, A1 TV - 04/03/02; A1 TV, MIA - 03/03/01)