From info at balkan-info.net Tue Oct 3 17:37:56 2000 From: info at balkan-info.net (info at balkan-info.net) Date: Tue, 3 Oct 2000 17:37:56 Subject: [ALST-L] Election Watch Summary 3 October 2000 Message-ID: <571.129028.720466@balkan-info.net> The following is a summary of international news and information related to elections in Southeast Europe and carried on the Balkan Information Exchange Web site. For the full story, and complete election coverage, click here: http://www.balkan-info.com. Dateline: Belgrade Source: Agence France Presse (AFP) 03/10/00 MILOSEVIC COULD ACCEPT MOSCOW MEDIATION OFFER Borislav Milosevic, Yugoslav Ambassador to Russia and brother of Slobodan Milosevic, said that it is still possible for the Yugoslav President to accept Moscow's offer to mediate the election crisis, although "nothing concrete has been decided," AFP reported. Both the Serb opposition and Yugoslavia?s ruling coalition have so far rejected Moscow's entreaties. Dateline: Belgrade Source: Agence France Presse (AFP) 02/10/00 MILOSEVIC ADDRESSES NATION In his first TV appearance since the 24 September elections, Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic slammed his opposition rivals, warning that a vote for the opposition will bring violence while his policies would bring peace, AFP reported. He accused the opposition of seeking ?foreign occupation? and the eventual break-up of Yugoslavia. Zoran Djindjic, an opposition leader, characterised the speech as ?threatening? and ?very unstable,? according to AP. Dateline: Belgrade Source: Agence France Presse (AFP) 03/10/00 SERB MINERS REJECT ARMY APPEAL TO END STRIKE Some 7,500 workers at Serbia?s largest coalmine, Kolubara, rejected appeals from Yugoslav army chief Nebojsa Pavkovic to end their strike, AFP reported. Pavkovic met with Kolubara mine leaders for over three hours to no avail. Miners are striking as part of the nationwide effort to force Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic from office. Dateline: Athens Source: Xinhua 02/10/00 GREECE, RUSSIA, FRANCE SEEK SOLUTION TO YUGOSLAV CRISIS Foreign ministers from Greece, Russia and France are working jointly to put together a memorandum that will urge Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic to hold a recount of the recent first round presidential elections, according to the Greek government. Dateline: Belgrade Source: Associated Press, Agence France Presse (AFP) 02/10/00 TENS OF THOUSANDS OF SERBS PROTEST Thousands of Serbs took to the streets throughout the republic to mark the first day of civil disobedience aimed at removing Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic from power, wire services reported. Some 40,000 people marched in both Novi Sad and Cacak. In Pozarevac, the hometown of Milosevic, 20,000 people blocked roads and prevented public services, AP reported. Dozens of strike organisers were arrested and four people were injured in a clash with police in Surcin, 20 kilometres west of Belgrade, opposition leaders said, according to AP. Dateline: Paris Source: Reuters 02/10/00 U.S., EU PLEDGE AID FOR POST-MILOSEVIC YUGOSLAVIA The United States and European Union pledged to lift sanctions and provide Yugoslavia with substantial financial aid once Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic acknowledges his electoral defeat and leaves office, Reuters reported. "Today we discussed how we would engage with a democratic Yugoslavia on reconstruction and economic development and we agreed on the need to do so quickly and substantially," U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said, according to Reuters. Dateline: Sofia Source: Reuters 02/10/00 BULGARIA, CROATIA URGE MILOSEVIC OUSTER Bulgaria and Croatia applauded the apparent presidential election victory of Serb opposition candidate Vojislav Kostunica and called on Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic to step down from power, Reuters reported. ?The will of the Serbian people expressed in the voting must be respected which would put an end not only to the regime of Milosevic but also to his policies,? read a joint statement issued by Presidents Petar Stoyanov of Bulgaria and Stipe Mesic of Croatia, according to Reuters. Dateline: Podgorica Source: Reuters, Dan 02/10/00 MONTENEGRIN ALLIES CAUTION MILOSEVIC Montenegrin allies of Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic cautioned him against ignoring the will of the people, Reuters reported. ?The people have the right to make mistakes from time to time, but no one has the right to make the mistake of not respecting the will of the people out of the conviction that he knows the people?s interests better than the people themselves,? Yugoslav Prime Minister Momir Bulatovic said in an interview with the newspaper Dan. Dateline: Belgrade Source: Associated Press (AP) 02/10/00 SERB OPPOSITION CALLS FOR MASSIVE BELGRADE PROTEST Serbia?s opposition bloc called on citizens across the country to assemble in Belgrade on 5 October to ?exercise major pressure on the authorities to acknowledge? the victory of Vojislav Kostunica in the presidential elections, AP reported. ?The people want to come to Belgrade, because things are decided in Belgrade,? Zoran Djindjic, an opposition leader said, according to AP. Dateline: Belgrade Source: Reuters 02/10/00 STATE-CONTROLLED TRADE UNION THREATENS STRIKE The Alliance of Serbian Trade Unions (SSSJ), Serbia?s state-controlled trade union, warned it would strike if the Federal Electoral Commission does not provide true vote counts from every polling station by 4 October, Reuters reported. For complete coverage of Southeast Europe and more election news, we encourage you to visit http://www.balkan-info.com. The Balkan Information Exchange is a news and information clearinghouse for Southeast Europe that reflects the reporting of international and regional news agencies. Site content is written in Albanian, English, Greek, Russian and Serbian , and is updated daily. Please send your comments to info at balkan-info.net. Sincerely, info at balkan-info.net To unsubscribe from this service, simply reply to this email with the message "Unsubscribe." Please be sure to include your email address so that it may be removed from the list. Thank you. From info at balkan-info.net Wed Oct 4 16:14:47 2000 From: info at balkan-info.net (info at balkan-info.net) Date: Wed, 4 Oct 2000 16:14:47 Subject: [ALST-L] Election Watch Summary 4 October 2000 Message-ID: <354.514780.556192@balkan-info.net> The following is a summary of international news and information related to elections in Southeast Europe and carried on the Balkan Information Exchange Web site. For the full story, and complete election coverage, click here: http://www.balkan-info.com. Dateline: Belgrade Source: Agence France Presse (AFP) 03/10/00 MILOSEVIC WARNS OF GOVERNMENT CRACKDOWN The government of Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic vowed to crackdown on opposition protesters demanding Milosevic?s ouster, AFP reported. ?Any attempt at subversive activity that threatens the citizens? personal and material security must be prevented in accordance with the law,? AFP reported. Despite the threat, protests against Milosevic continued unabated throughout the country. Dateline: Lazarevac, Yugoslavia Source: Reuters 04/10/00 SERB MINERS TO MAINTAIN STRIKE Workers of the Kolubara coal mine said they would remain on strike in an effort to remove Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic from office, despite further pressure from authorities to end their protest, Reuters reported. ?This is not a political strike but a strike for the protection of elementary human rights,? Zoran Ristic, a member of the Kolubara strike committee said, according to Reuters. Dateline: Belgrade Sources: Reuters, Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA) 03/10/00 YUGOSLAV CONSTITUTIONAL COURT TO HOLD DEBATE The Constitutional Court of Yugoslavia announced it would hold a public debate on the Serbian opposition?s complaint concerning voting irregularities in the presidential poll, wire services reported. The debate is scheduled for the morning of 4 October in the federal government building, according to Reuters. It was uncertain who will take part in the debate or if media will be allowed to attend. Dateline: Boston Source: Reuters 04/10/00 GORE CALLS FOR RESPECT OF ELECTION RESULTS The United States "should do everything we can to see that the will of the Serbian people, expressed in this extraordinary election, is done," Vice-President Al Gore said in a U.S. Presidential debate. Gore went on to call for Milosevic to leave office. The Vice President noted the sensitivities associated with U.S. policy toward Serbia. "The sentiment within Serbia is, for understandable reasons, still against the U.S?even if they don't like Milosevic, they still have some feelings lingering from the NATO action there, Gore said. Dateline: Belgrade Source: Agence France Presse (AFP) 03/10/00 G-17 CLAIMS TO HAVE TRUE ELECTION RESULTS The G-17 group of independent economists alleged it obtained information that it said could prove the country?s presidential election was manipulated, AFP reported. G-17 spokesman Miroljub Labus said they were given the information from employees at the Federal Bureau of Statistics. The Federal Bureau of Statistics provided the Yugoslav Federal Electoral Commission with the voting data. Dateline: Dresden Source: Associated Press (AP) 03/10/00 GERMANY, U.S. TO MAINTAIN PRESSURE ON BELGRADE Germany and the United States promised to maintain pressure on Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic until he steps down from power, AP reported. ?I'm counting on the Serbs who are demonstrating peacefully for their hard-won rights and also on all those in Europe, current and future EU members, to show solidarity with them,? German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said at a ceremony marking the 10th anniversary of Germany?s reunification. Dateline: Pristina Source: Reuters 03/10/00 OSCE: KOSOVO SERBS ALLOWED TO VOTE IN SECOND ROUND The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) said Kosovo Serbs would be allowed to take part in Yugoslavia?s second round presidential election on 8 October, Reuters reported. Dateline: Kragujevac, Yugoslavia Source: Agence France Presse (AFP) 03/10/00 KOSTUNICA SEES PEACE IN SERBIA Speaking at a rally attended by some 40,000 people, Serb opposition presidential candidate Vojislav Kostunica said normality would return to Serbia once Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic is out of power, AFP reported. ?Slobodan Milosevic is the creator of the chaos in Serbia. Imagine Serbia without him, Serbia in peace, without conflicts with Montenegro and conflicts among Serbs themselves,? Kostunica said, according to AFP. Dateline: Washington Source: Associated Press (AP), Agence France Presse (AFP) 03/10/00 U.S. URGES RUSSIA NOT TO BE A SAFE HAVEN FOR MILOSEVIC The United States said that it would expect Moscow to hand Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic to The Hague if he sought refuge in Russia, AP reported. ?There?s an indictment that calls for any country to hand him over to The Hague. That?s very clear, including Russia?We expect the indictment to be followed,? U.S. State Department spokesman Philip Reeker said, according to AP. Russia had no comment on the matter, AFP reported. Dateline: Belgrade Source: Reuters 03/10/00 POLICE TURN MARCHERS AWAY FROM MILOSEVIC?S HOMETOWN Serb police turned away an estimated 20,000 opposition supporters as they attempted to march to the home of Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic in the Belgrade suburb of Dedinje, Reuters reported. A police commander successfully negotiated the end to the standoff, avoiding a potentially violent confrontation with marchers. ?The good thing that happened today is that police did not apply force against us although they were ordered to,? said Branko Ilic, an opposition activist and organiser of the march, according to Reuters. Dateline: Novi Sad, Yugoslavia Source: Radio B2-92 02/10/00 YUGOSLAV GOLD MEDALLISTS JOIN PROTESTERS IN NOVI SAD Eight members of the Yugoslav volleyball team that won the gold medal at the Sydney Olympics addressed thousands of protesters in Novi Sad on 2 October, Radio B2-92 reported. Thanking the protesters for their support. ?Since this team is playing for 11 million people and some of them are here, we are with you now,? the players said, according to Radio B2-92 reported. For complete coverage of Southeast Europe and more election news, we encourage you to visit http://www.balkan-info.com. The Balkan Information Exchange is a news and information clearinghouse for Southeast Europe that reflects the reporting of international and regional news agencies. Site content is written in Albanian, English, Greek, Russian and Serbian , and is updated daily. Please send your comments to info at balkan-info.net. Sincerely, info at balkan-info.net To unsubscribe from this service, simply reply to this email with the message "Unsubscribe." Please be sure to include your email address so that it may be removed from the list. Thank you. From info at balkan-info.net Tue Oct 10 17:30:26 2000 From: info at balkan-info.net (info at balkan-info.net) Date: Tue, 10 Oct 2000 17:30:26 Subject: [ALST-L] News Summary 10 October Message-ID: <736.852359.695704@balkan-info.net> Dateline: Belgrade Source: Reuters 09/10/00 EARLY ELECTIONS FOR SERBIA?S PARLIAMENT Serbia?s parliament, including members of the Democratic Opposition of Serbia (DOS) agreed to hold early elections on 17 December, Reuters reported, citing the Serbian president?s office. Dateline: Ottawa/Luxembourg/Washington Sources: Agence France Presse (AFP), Reuters 09/10/00 CANADA, EU, U.S., TO LIFT SANCTIONS AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA Canada, the United States and the EU have moved to lift sanctions against Yugoslavia, following the change of leadership in Belgrade. ?With Vojislav Kostunica now inaugurated as President, Canada is pleased to revive its traditional ties of friendship with Yugoslavia,? Canadian Foreign Minister Lloyd Axworthy said, according to AFP. Canada will lift the ban on Canadian export goods to Yugoslavia. The EU announced it is removing a ban on flights between Yugoslavia and EU states, Reuters reported. The EU ministers said that finances of Slobodan Milosevic and of people close to the former dictator would remain frozen. U.S. officials will take ?comparable steps in the coming days," according to Reuters. Dateline: Belgrade Source: Associated Press (AP) 09/10/00 MILOSEVIC ALLIES RESIGN Federal Prime Minister Momir Bulatovic and Serbian Interior Minister Vlajko Stojiljkovic, two key allies of Slobodan Milosevic, resigned yesterday, AP reported. Dateline: Sarajevo Source: Agence France Presse (AFP) 09/10/00 IZETBEGOVIC TO LEAVE OFFICE Alija Izetbegovic, the Muslim chairman of Bosnia?s tripartite presidency, will leave office on 12 October, AFP reported, citing Izetbegovic?s spokesman. The 75 year-old Muslim leader cited his poor health and old age as the reasons for stepping down. Dateline: Sofia Source: Agence France Presse (AFP), Democratzia 09/10/00 BULGARIA ASKS KOSTUNICA TO SUPPORT KOSOVO AUTONOMY Bulgarian Prime Minister Ivan Kostov called on Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica to back autonomy for Kosovo, AFP reported, citing the daily Democratzia. ?We have to find a peaceful solution for Kosovo, and not create a new conflict,? Kostov said, according to Democratzia. Dateline: Novi Sad, Yugoslavia Source: Reuters 09/10/00 DANUBE SEEN CLEARED BY JUNE 2001 The Danube river will likely be cleared of debris and ready for shipping by next June, according to a senior municipal official in Novi Sad, Reuters reported. ?We will suggest the new government to start with the cleaning first and tackle the issue of new bridges later,? Radoje Cvetkov, head of the executive board for city planning in Novi Sad, said, according to Reuters. ?It will be a costly job, so it would be fair for the European Union to contribute with funds, as promised,? he continued. Dateline: Warsaw Source: Reuters 09/10/00 KWASNIEWSKI RE-ELECTED PRESIDENT OF POLAND Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski was re-elected with 53.9 percent of the vote, the State Electoral Commission reported, according to Reuters. Independent centrist Andrzej Olechowski finished second with 17 percent of the vote, followed by the right-wing Solidarity bloc (AWS), led by Marian Krzaklewski who won 15.6 percent, Reuters reported. Lech Walesa, former Solidarity movement leader, garnered just one percent of the vote. Dateline: United Nations Source: Agence France Presse (AFP) 10/10/00 ANNAN WANTS YUGOSLAVIA TO REJOIN UN ?Today, we have a unique opportunity to make a fresh start,? Annan wrote in a letter to Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica. ?I would like to suggest that the most effective way forward is for your country to submit an application for membership in the United Nations as called for by the relevant resolutions of the Security Council and the General Assembly,? the letter continued, according to AFP. Dateline: Belgrade Source: Agence France Presse (AFP) 09/10/00 KOSTUNICA REJECTS INDEPENDENCE FOR MONTENEGRO, KOSOVO ?As far as independence for Kosovo and Montenegro is concerned, let me explain it in this way, our Yugoslav constitution does not permit independence for Kosovo or independence for Montenegro, because these two elements are an integral part of the country, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia,? Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica said on French television, according to AFP. Dateline: Belgrade Source: Agence France Presse (AFP) 10/10/00 YUGOSLAV JOURNALIST RELEASED FROM JAIL The Supreme Court of Serbia released journalist Miroslav Filipovic, who was sentenced last July to seven years in jail for spying, AFP reported. Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica pardoned Filipovic on 9 October, though his family demanded the Supreme Court overturn the conviction. From info at balkan-info.net Wed Oct 11 17:24:01 2000 From: info at balkan-info.net (info at balkan-info.net) Date: Wed, 11 Oct 2000 17:24:01 Subject: [ALST-L] News Summary-11 October Message-ID: <95.605905.288516@balkan-info.net> Milosevic Allies Suspend Talks with Kostunica Team Belgrade - Allies of Slobodan Milosevic walked out of talks with the Democratic Opposition of Serbia (DOS), saying they would not resume discussions on forming a new government until ?violence and anarchy ended,? Reuters reported. Kostunica supporters have threatened to renew mass protests if the delay continues. (Reuters ? 11/10/00) France, Yugoslavia will Resume Diplomatic Relations Belgrade - France will restore diplomatic ties with Belgrade soon, French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine announced following a meeting with Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica, AFP reported. ?That could go very quickly, all the Yugoslav authorities have to do is give the signal,? Vedrine said, according to AFP. (AFP ? 10/10/00) Romania Lifts Oil Embargo on Yugoslavia Belgrade - Romania lifted an oil embargo on Yugoslavia as part of an effort to renew and strengthen economic ties between the two states. Earlier, Romania had offered to contribute to the reconstruction of Yugoslavia by supplying oil and electricity to its Balkan neighbour, Reuters reported. ?We still have to discuss quantities and, last but not least, the way such supplies will be paid for. I was told by Zoran Djindjic that they have the necessary money,? Berceanu added. (Reuters, DPA, Rompres ? 11/10/00) Kostunica?s Reformers Control Currency Operations Belgrade - Monetary reformers assumed total control of Yugoslavia?s central bank currency operations as a measure to guard state assets from cronies of Slobodan Milosevic, Mladjan Dinkic, economist and close advisor to Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica said, according to Reuters (Reuters ? 10/10/00) U.S. Embassy in Belgrade will Reopen Washington - The U.S. Department of State announced plans to reopen the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade, AP reported. The State Department also said that James O?Brien, the senior U.S. official for Balkans developments, is scheduled to meet with Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica in Belgrade to further ease relations between the two countries, according to AP. (AP ? 10/10/00) Kostunica, Djukanovic Meeting Postponed Belgrade - The first meeting between Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica and Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic was postponed, AFP reported, citing Beta. The meeting was rescheduled to allow Djukanovic more time to recover from injuries suffered in a car accident. The two leaders are to discuss changes in the military leadership following the ouster of Slobodan Milosevic, Zoran Djindjic told Vijesti. (AFP, Beta, Vijesti ? 11/10/00) Police in Serbia Continue Surveillance Belgrade - Zoran Djindjic, advisor to Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica, warned that the new Belgrade leadership was not in full control of the police, Reuters reported. ?What we know informally is that high level surveillance is again under way. A week ago it was cut off but then they activated some other sources of monitoring,? Djindjic said, according to Reuters. (Reuters ? 10/10/00) Djindjic Says Yugoslav Forces will Return to Kosovo Belgrade - ?Between now and the end of the year we will return 1,200 of our (Serb) police and our Yugoslav soldiers to the (Kosovo) border with Albania,? Zoran Djindjic said, according to AFP. (AFP ? 10/10/00) Hungary will Help Rebuild Yugoslavia Budapest - ?After a dictatorship, a new state has to be set up in Yugoslavia. We are ready to share our experiences on building democracy after a dictatorship collapses,? Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said, according to AP. Orban said the Hungarian government would boost commerce with Yugoslavia. (AP ? 10/10/00) IMF Offers Renewal of Yugoslavia?s Membership Belgrade - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has offered Yugoslavia the opportunity to rejoin the financial institution if it is successful in forming a government quickly, Reuters reported. (Reuters ? 10/10/00) Belgrade Must Comply with The Hague Zagreb - Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula said Belgrade?s new leadership must co-operate with The Hague if they want to reintegrate with the rest of Europe, Reuters reported. ?Yugoslavia?s failure to co-operate would undermine the credibility of the tribunal and of the United Nations. It is probably a matter of choosing the right time when the new authorities will define new relations with The Hague,? Picula said, according to Reuters. (Reuters ? 10/10/00)