[ALST-L] News Summary-4 December

[info at balkan-info.net]

Russian Defence Minister to Meet with NATO Officials
Moscow- Russian Defence Minister Igor Sergeyev will hold talks with NATO officials in Brussels on Tuesday. Agenda topics include the latest developments in the Balkans and a schedule for reopening the NATO office in Moscow, ITAR-TASS reported. Sergeyev met with Japan's Prime Minister during a recent four day visit to Tokyo. (Copyright AFP 2000)

Yugoslavia Seeks Renewed Relations with Albania
Tirana- Yugoslav Foreign Minister Goran Svilanovic said Belgrade was prepared to renew diplomatic relations with Albania, DPA reported.  “We should communicate, discuss delicate problems and this is the reason that we should restore full diplomatic relations,” Svilanovic said in an interview with the state-run Albanian Telegraphic Agency.  Albania has also stated its willingness to restore relations with Yugoslavia, on the condition that Kosovo Albanians remaining in Serbian prisons are released.  (DPA – 03/12/00)


Kostunica Urges Diplomacy in Southern Serbia
Belgrade- Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica urged politicians in the Balkan country to refrain from calls for war in southern Serbia, AFP reported. “This is not the time for war, but for wise diplomatic action,” Kostunica said in a statement, according to AFP.  In recent weeks, ethnic Albanian insurgents have clashed with Serbian police in southern section of the republic, along the administrative border with Kosovo.  (AFP – 03/12/00)


Stolojan Warns Against Voting for Tudor
Bucharest- The Liberal Party of Romanian presidential candidate Theodor Stolojan warned the country’s citizens that Romania could be isolated if far-right candidate Corneliu Vadim Tudor wins the runoff election, AP reported.  “Vote against extremism, against Corneliu Vadim Tudor, in the second round of the presidential elections,” Liberal Party deputy leader Valeriu Stoica said, according to AP.  Tudor finished the first round in second place with 28 percent of the vote, with former President Ion Iliescu winning 36 percent.  Stolojan finished third with 11.78 percent.  (AP – 03/12/00)


Serbian Judge Found Dead: Report
Belgrade- Belgrade television reported that Serbian judge Nebojsa Simeunovic was found dead over the weekend, nearly one month after his disappearance, according to DPA. Simeunovic gained notoriety during the Yugoslav post-election crisis when he refused to issue arrest warrants for Democratic Opposition of Serbia officials Nebojsa Covic and Boris Tadic.  (DPA – 03/12/00)


Otpor Gathers Support For Yugoslav Secret Police Chief Ouster
Belgrade- The student-run resistance movement Otpor has put together a petition of 60,000 names calling for the ouster of secret police chief Rade Markovic, AFP reported.  Otpor accused Markovic of stymieing the progress of Serbia’s transitional government.  Vukasin Petrovic, an Otpor official, warned that the student-run group would focus on other individuals in the police and political system who supported former president Slobodan Milosevic.  (AFP – 04/12/00)