News from East Europe
Croatia
► Serbian legal team appears before International Court of Justice in Croatian genocide lawsuit
On 25 May, Serbia’s legal team appeared before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague in the Croatian genocide lawsuit. In 1999, Croatia filed a complaint against then Federal Republic of Yugoslacia (SRJ) that its population suffered genocide during the war in the early 1990s. In the preliminary hearing, which is set to last five days, the Serbian representatives will argue that the ICJ, a UN court, has no jurisdiction in the case, as at the time the suit was filed Serbia was not a UN member, and therefore not a signatory to the Genocide Convention, on which the tribunal’s jurisdiction is based.
► Zoran Milanovic re-elected leader Social Democratic Party of Croatia
At the Social Democratic Party’s (SDP) 11th congress held in Zagreb on 10 May, Zoran Milanovic was re-elected leader with the support of 75 percent of the SDP members. The other candidates were Davorko Vidovic and Dragan Kovacevic.
Macedonia
► Macedonian and Greek peace organizations stage ‘peace rally’ against nationalism
On 17 May, around a dozen of peace organizations from Macedonia and Greece held a joint rally in Skopje to criticize the rise of nationalism in both countries and to urge the public in both countries to show more tolerance and co-operation. The rally was partly held as a response to the ongoing name dispute between Greece and Macedonia, to “make people aware there is an alternative to political conflicts.”
► Democratic Union for Integration assaulted during election campaigns
On 12 May, a convoy of vehicles belonging to the ethnic Albanian Democratic Union for Integration (DUI), en route to a campaign rally, came under attack. During the shooting incident, a child was injured and one vehicle damaged. Speaking at a press conference after the incident, DUI leader Ali Ahmeti said he “survived an assassination attempt”, and demanded the police discover who stood behind the attack. But Menduh Thaci, leader of a rival ethnic Albanian party, the Democratic Party of Albanians (DPA), said that DUI "staged the incident". On 13 May, a local living close to the place of the incident was arrested in connection to the shooting. Police has announced to launch an investigation into the details of the incident, the motive of the suspect, and possible participation of others, as it is alleged there were two people involved in the attack. Several attacks have also taken place against the offices of the DUI and DPA. The US Embassy in Macedonia on 13 May urged authorities to investigate the incidents, and stressed that ”successful elections are vital to Macedonia’s future.” Several other incidents have also taken place in the following week, including eight shots fired at the office of the DUI in Tetovo. The European Commission has also condemned the campaign-related incidents taking place in Macedonia.
► Macedonia files formal protest with Greece over treatment Macedonian citizens
On 12 May, the Foreign Ministry of Macedonia filed a formal protest with Greece over the frequent stopping of vehicles belonging to Macedonian citizens in Greece, and the frequent physical attacks against Macedonians living in the country. The note, which was handed to Greece’s ambassador to Macedonia Alexandra Papadopoulu, describes three separate incidents in the past few days, and contends that “[s]uch vandal acts not only hinder the freedom of movemenr of people and goods, which is one of the fundamental principles of the EU, but also indirectly threaten the security and physical integrity of Macedonia’s citizens.”
► Campaign period parliamentary elections officially kicks off
On 11 May, the campaigns for Macedonia’s 1 June parliamentary elections officially kicked off. On 12 April, the Macedonian parliament called for early elections after legislatord dissolved the parliament in a bid to end months of political stagnation. The ruling coalition had been in turmoil for months over the country’s reform path before Greece dealt the final blow by blocking an invitation for Macedonia to joint NATO on 2 April due to the dispute between the two countries over Macedonia’s official name. At the start of the campaign, Macedonian President Branko Crvenkovski said that “fair and democratic elections are a key condition for Euro-Atlantic integration and the country’s future.” He furthermore said that “[w]e’ve had well-organized elections up to now, and we’ve shown that we can do it. So, it’s not a question of if we can, but whether we sincerely want to, and whether the political will and a sense of responsibility for the future of our country exist,” said Crvenkovski.
► Macedonia and EU sign ‘roadmap’ to liberalize visa regime
On 8 May, Director-General of the Enlargement Directorate of the European Commission (EC) Michael Leigh presented a ‘roadmap’ to liberalize Macedonia’s visa regime with the EU to Macedonian Foreign Minister Antonia Milososki. The plan, which aims to gradually abolish the visa regime for Macedonian citizens entirely, also covers the security of personal documents, border management, illegal migration and the fight against organized crime and corruption. Describing is as a “tailor made” and “balanced” approach, Leigh said the roadmap identified “realistic and achievable benchmarks.” Milososki expressed his hope that Macedonia would be able to complete the four blocks of “scheduled measures” required by the EU before the end of the year. After a first visa relaxation agreement with the EU already took effect in January, EC Vice-President Jacques Barrot described the signing of the new roadmap as “another important step towards [Macedonia’s] EU integration.”
Turkey
► Headscarf discussion to be held in a top court in June
On 24 May it was announced that a case regarding constitutional amendments lifting the headscarf ban in universities will begin the first week of June. According to the president of the Constitutional Court, Haşim Kılıç “The case, which seeks to annul the constitutional amendments and demands a delay in the implementation of the law for the duration of the case, will be discussed the first week in June.” The constitutional amendments to articles 10 and 42, which would allow women to wear the Islamic headscarf in universities, were approved by President Abdullah Gül on 22 February. The implementation of the law has led to chaos on university campuses. Rectors of the universities argued that the constitutional amendment cannot be implemented without making an additional amendment to Article 17 of the Higher Education Board (YÖK) Law, a move that has created conflict between the rectors and YÖK President Yusuf Ziya Özcan. In the wake of this controversy, the Republican People's Party (CHP) and the Democratic Left Party (DSP) asked the Constitutional Court to annul the modifications and order a delay in the execution of the law for the duration of the case, arguing that allowing the headscarf in universities is a threat to secularism. A report on the suit prepared by rapporteur of the Constitutional Court Osman Can held that the court can only decide on procedural aspects of constitutional amendments but cannot touch the content of the laws.
► Row between the government and the judiciary
On 21 May the Turkish Supreme Court of Appeals issued a statement harshly criticizing the government, claiming that it was exerting systematic pressure on the judiciary at a time when it had crucial rulings to make. The judges accused the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government of trying to influence the course of a closure case against it filed at the Constitutional Court. On the same day, Justice Minister Mehmet Ali Şahin and Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Çiçek responded strongly to the judicial declaration, but politicians and opinion leaders continued to comment on 22 May. The row between the government and the judiciary started when on 14 March the state prosecutor urged the Constitutional Court to close the ruling Justice and Development Party and ban 71 AKP officials - including the prime minister and president - from politics for five years for trying to build an Islamic state in secular Turkey. The AKP is currently pending trial, threatened with closure. The trial is likely to result in new faces replacing old ones irrespective of the court’s decision. In the event of closure, new elections will be held 90 days from the decision, according the head of the country's Supreme Election Board (YSK) as stated on 16 May. The 71 politicians accused of anti-secular activities have started submitting their defences to the court as of 26 May. In search of a way out of the quagmire, many political figures and representatives of nongovernmental organizations point to the need of change in the attitude of both sides, with clear emphasis on the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) taking responsibility for its actions.
► Turkey urges EU to draw up final time-table for Turkey’s EU accession
On 9 May Turkey's top officials emphasized the need for setting a membership date for the country's accession to the European Union, and wanted the EU to stay focused on it during their statements on Europe Day. President Abdullah Gül pointed to the technical nature of the EU negotiations and stated that the internal politics of Turkey and some EU countries should not influence Turkey's EU accession talks. “The European people should better understand Turkey's dynamism and the values it will bring to Europe. The eradication of mutual prejudices and misunderstandings, and the prevention of misrepresentations are of great importance in this process. Communication efforts should be accelerated,” he said. Foreign Minister Ali Babacan demanded that the EU draw up an exact timetable for accession. “When our membership timetable is concretized, then maybe we can have a different and more coherent posture on the timetable with the EU,” Babacan said. “Today we are not celebrating the existence of a geographical zone, we celebrate common ideals, common values and a common future shared by hundreds of millions of people,” he said.
► Turkey debating Kyoto Protocol
On 8 May Haluk Özdalga, head of the parliamentary commission on environment stated that Turkey will soon sign the Kyoto Protocol. The protocol, a legally binding international agreement on the reduction of emission of all greenhouse gasses, will be on the commission's agenda within one month. Before the commission discusses the protocol, a meeting might be held with representatives of relevant ministries, public institutions and nongovernmental organizations, Özdalga said. However, after the Commission’s meeting session on 21 May, it was revealed that the Turkish bureaucracy is divided on whether to sign the Kyoto Protocol, looking with concern at the lack of political will towards the document. However, on 24 May President Abdullah Gül stated that The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and Kyoto Protocol are the most effective tools for sustainable development and that Turkey is getting ready to assume its responsibilities as a party to the U.N. convention.
► President’s impartiality in question
On 7 May President Abdullah Gül used his right to veto a law approved by Parliament, for the first time since he took office last year on 28 August. Gül, a former member of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) is often criticized for not being an objective president and still following his former party’s interests. Opposition parties argue that Gül's approval of all 71 laws and hundreds of decrees are proof of the president's partiality. Gül's veto came for an amendment to the law of chartered accountants and consultants after a demand by accountants' organizations that said the amendment would complicate in-house elections of their organizations. Unlike accountants, millions of workers were left disappointed by Gül's decision to approve a controversial law on social security, which will gradually raise the retirement age from the current 58 for women and 60 for men to 65 for both by 2048. According to the law, the number of working days required to be eligible to receive a pension, meanwhile, has been raised from 7,000 to 7,200. Representatives of trade unions had visited the president and presented him with a report on the shortcomings of the law. “The presidency should not be a public notary where all government decisions are approved but an office that protects the interests of the people,” İsmail Hakkı Tombul, head of the Confederation of Public Sector Trade Unions (KESK) said in a written statement on 8 May. “We'll continue our struggle against this law until it will be completely eliminated from Turkey's agenda,” Tombul noted, saying they will take the law to the Constitutional Court to have it annulled. It should be noted, that on 10 May it was reported that Public support for Turkey's ruling APK party has declined due to fluctuations in global markets and political tensions in the country. The AKP’s approval rating, that reached its peak in January with 54 percent, decreased to 44 percent at the beginning of April and to 41.7 toward the end of the month.
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WESTERN BALKANS
Albania
► Prime Minister Sali Berisha announces salary increases to overcome price hikes
At a cabinet meeting on 21 May, Albanian prime minister Sali Berisha announced that salaries and pensions will be increased to help offset overall price hikes starting from coming July. He also lashed out at the media for doubting the will and the power of the government to help the public overcome the difficulties of increased prices. At the cabinet meeting, the government furthermore decided to pay the promised compensation to those displaced by the 15 March explosions at the Gerdec ammunition depot.
► USAID urges Albanian government to step up efforts to complete reforms and fight corruption
On 19 May, USAID Administrator and Director of US Foreign Assistance Henrietta Fore urged the Albanian government to commit itself more to completing reforms and fighting corruption in the country. According to Fore, in light of the upcoming 2009 elections and the recent invitation to NATO membership, “it is [specifically] important that the government shows its commitment to implement election reform and judicial reforms. Albania should work hard combating corruption, applying tough measures for criminals through independent and un-politicised trials.” On 23 May, Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha praised the government’s transparency in the privatisation of the only Albanian oil refinery. A 125m-Euro bid was made by a US consortium to buy the refinery. According to Berisha, “[t]his privatisation process is transparent and honest. The high bid came as a result of investors’ trust in the government and prime minister.” He furthermore promised the government will continue to pursue transparency in privatizing other strategic assets in the country, including the INSIG insurance company and energy distributor KESH.
► Prime Minister Sali Berisha welcomes opposition’s readiness to annul immunity parliamentarians
At a meeting of his ruling Democratic Party (DP) on 12 May, Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha welcomed the opposition’s readiness to amend the constitution concerning immunity for parliamentarians. According to Berisha, “we have agreed publicly with the head of the Socialist Party, Edi Rama, to break down the wall of immunity in Albania.” He furthermore contended the opposition’s support shows “political maturity and a willingness to demonstrate that everyone is equal before the law”, arguing such reforms help Albania to move towards EU membership. On a trip to Tirana on 13 May, German speaker of parliament Norbert Lamert echoed this sentiment, saying “changes are possible, but they require time and are a precondition to join the EU. Only changes make integration possible.” A special panel is currently investigating how to strip former Defence Minister Fatmir Mediu, who is suspected in the Gerder blasts case, of his lawmaker’s immunity.
► Gerdec blasts victims protest against government
On 12 May, Albanians living near Gerdec, where a series of army depot blasts on 15 March killed 26 people and injured another 300, furthermore destroying many houses, staged a protest. The victims claim the government has failed to provide any help, and running water and electricity have still not been restored. They vowed to continue their protests, threatening to launch hunger strikes and demanding a meeting with Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha. Meanwhile, prosecutors have sent the records of former Defence Minister Fatmir Mediu, who resigned over the Gerdec tragedy, to parliament. A panel there is investigating the case needs them in order to strip Mediu of his lawmaker's immunity. At the request of new Defence Minister Gazmend Oketa, two senior military officials were fired on 10 May. According to Oketa, the officials, in charge of the Albanian joint force and logistics operation in the army, withheld information that could have prevented the deadly blasts.
Bosnia-Herzegovina
► BiH will sign Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU on 16 June
After a regular weekly session in which the Austrian government gave green light to BiH’s Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) on 21 May, Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik confirmed that BiH will sign its SAA with the EU on 16 June. BiH is the only Western Balkan country that has not signed its SAA yet, and earlier postponement of the signing ceremony last month had let to unrest in the country’s politics as speculations rose over alleged shortcomings of the government’s agreements with the EU.
► New political party Our Party announces ambitions
Last month, a new political party was established in BiH under the name Our Party. The party, of which Danis Tanovic, BiH’s oscar-winning director, was one of the co-founders, is led by Bojan Bajic. Speaking about the future of the new party on 24 May, Bajic said that Our Party so far managed to attract 3.000 members from all regions and parts of BiH, and said that the party will work to “remove manipulators from the political scene, focus on citizens’ lives and accelerate integration into the European Union.” Tanovic, who had announced his plans to form a political party in February, said that he moved back to BiH after living 10 years abroad because he “believe[s] change is possible,” adding “I cannot accept that children are in separate kindergartens depending on the religious affiliation of their parents… that they wait for five months to have their tonsils removed.” Our Party, which will first compete in the upcoming 5 October local elections, hopes that its proposal of a “united alternative” for BiH will attract 50 percent of the voters who boycotted previous polls. However, many analysts doubt the party will be able to cross the entry threshold.
► High Representative Miroslav Lajcak wants frozen currency issue resolved
On 12 May, High Representative Miroslav Lajcak urged the BiH Constitutional Court to address conflicts arising from the existence of two laws at different levels of power that deal with the frozen foreign currency debt of the country. In January 2008, Republika Srpska (RS) adopted its own legislation and introduced a separate system, derailing the original plan to address the debt on the state level. Lajcak warned that “[t]he longer a constitutional court decision is delayed, the greater the legal uncertainty will be for frozen-foreign-currency savers throughout BiH.”
► BiH local elections scheduled for 5 October
On 8 May, BiH’s Central Election Commission (CEC) announced that local elections will be held on 5 October. Voters will elect new municipal councils and mayors, as well as new Brcko and Banja Luka assemblies and a new city council in Mostar. These will be the first elections in which representatives of national minorities will be elected to local assemblies. Parties and candidates had until 23 May to register with the CEC. Party lists and coalition lists must be submitted by 25 June.
Kosovo
► Kosovo Serb internally displaced persons (IDPs) visit their property
On 25 May, an unspecified number of Kosovo Serbs driven out of their homes in the Suva Reka municipality by Kosovo Albanians after the 1999 war visited their property, accompanied by United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and Red Cross officials. According to a report in Pristina-based daily Koha Ditora they also met with the local municipal leadership, which encouraged the Serbs to return to their houses and farms. The municipal press service said afterwards in a statement that the IDPs were directly informed about the general circumstances in their village, possibilities of return, “and possibilities for the young people to join the Kosovo police.” A UNHCR report from September 2007 puts the number of Serbs and other non-Albanians forced to leave their homes in the province at over 206.000.
► Serb Radical Party triumphs in unrecognized Serbian local elections in Kosovo
On 11 May during the presidential and local elections in Serbia, Kosovo Serbs could also vote for representatives in their respective constituencies. The Serbian government had earlier decided to stage elections in Kosovo, which unilaterally declared independence in February but is still regarded as part of Serbia by Belgrade. According to a UNMIK statement, the Serbian authorities had held the local elections “conscious that in so doing they were defying UNMIK, which, according to Resolution 1244, is the only institution authorized to hold elections in Kosovo.” Kosovo Serbs voted overwhelmingly for the Serb Radical Party (SRS), which won the most votes in Kosovo, followed by the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS)-New Serbia (NS). United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) chief Joachim Ruecker had earlier warned that the vote for local authorities in Kosovo had no legal grounds, and warned that UNMIK would not recognize the results. Belgrade, however, keeps insisting on the validity of the Kosovo Serb elections. Serbian Minister for Kosovo Slobodan Samardzic said on 19 May that “local assemblies will be the highest authorities in the 25 municipalities in which Kosovo Serbs voted,” arguing that these “local government representatives […] are selected in a democratic and legal way,” adding that they will communicate with Belgrade rather than with UNMIK. Meanwhile, the Kosovo Albanian authorities welcomed the pro-European forces’ triumph at the Serbian presidential elections. “We will respect the electoral will of the Serbian citizens. Pro-Western oriented governments and forces that are acceptable to the EU are acceptable to everyone, not just in Serbia, but the whole region,” said Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister Hajredin Kuqi.
Montenegro
► Filip Vujanovic sworn in for second term as Montenegro’s president
At a ceremonial session of parliament on 20 May, Montenegrin President Filip Vujanovic was sworn in to a second term in office following his win in last month’s presidential elections. During the inauguration, he pledged continued support for Montenegro’s Euro-Atlantic integration efforts. Several opposition parties did not attend the inauguration out of protest over different issues, including alleged election fraud (Socialist National Party), the playing of the national anthem during the ceremony (National Party), and a decision to end tv coverage of parliamentary sessions (Movement for Change).
► Montenegrin delegation suggests co-operation network with Albania
During an official visit to Tirana on 20 May, a group of Montenegrin parliamentarians met with Albanian Parliament Speaker Jozefina Topalli. The visit took place as part of Montenegro’s European Movement co-operation project. Montenegrin parliamentarians briefed Topalli on an initiative to create a co-operation network between the two countries in the fields of politics and the media, which she did welcome, commenting that “[i]t is important that the natural regional co-operation be more intensive, especially in joint aims towards the European perspective.”
► Montenegro presents new passports
On 9 May, Montenegro presented a new passport, two years after the country split from a federation with Serbia. The new documents replace the Yugoslav passports which Montenegrins have been carrying since the mid-1990s. Interior Minister Jusuf Kalamperovic, who presented the first passports to thirty-three top students from the state university in Podgorica, alleged they are an important condition for joining the Schengen White Lists, which allows for visa-free travel. “We are expecting that they [the EU] will give us the document [road map to the Schengen White List] any day now, because its contents have to be agreed upon by all the EU countries,” Kalamperović said, adding that the conditions “are not rigorous”.
Serbia
► Coalition negotiations continue in Serbia
Speaking after meetings with representatives of all political parties on 22 May, Serbian President and leader of the Democratic Party (DP) Boris Tadic said that no party or coalition that has the majority in parliament needed to form the new government has yet been formed. Tadic’s DS was part of the “For European Serbia” coalition, which came out first in the vote with 102 of the 250 seats in parliament. However, due to the extreme polarization in the Serbian political landscape, it is not easy to form a governing coalition. The Serbian Radical Party (SRS) and the Serbian Democratic Party (DSS) – New Serbia (NS), which came in second and third, are trying to form an alternative nationalist coalition together. Both sides are seeking the support of the Serbian Socialist Party (SPS), which won 20 seats in the elections and functions as the kingmaker in the coalition forming. The SPS has been holding informal negotiations with both sides. According to senior DS official Dragoljub Micunovic, “[i]t is up to the Socialists to decide whether they will join a government with parties of a similar socialist, center-left orientation, or with conservative ones far removed from their manifesto.” Although SPS negotiations with the SRS and DSS-NS seem to proceed more smoothly then those with the “For a European Serbia” coalition, differences of opinion have also risen within the SPS-led coalition. Junior Coalition partner United Serbia (JS) leader Dragan Markovic said on 21 May that the SPS should break off negotiations with the SRS and DSS-NS coalition, and start forming a ruling coalition with the DS. He specifically criticised the DSS-NS for its desire to annul the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU.
► Socialist Party of Serbia leader meets head of Socialist International
On 23 May, Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) leader Ivica Dadic met with president of the Socialist International (SI) George Papandreou. Papandreou, who is also the leader of Greece’s biggest social democratic opposition party PASOK, said the SI is ready to initiate the process of SPS’s membership. Dadic and Papandreou also talked about the political situation in Serbia, especially given the SPS’s kingmaker status in the future government coalition. Earlier, Papandreou had warned the SPS that it could join the SI only if it renounces its past ultra-nationalistic policies and decides to support Serbian EU aspirations.
► Pro-European coalition wins Serbian elections, encounters difficulties to form governing coalition
Parliamentary elections in Serbia, held on 11 May, were won by the pro-European coalition led by the Democratic Party (DS) of President Boris Tadic. The elections were called after the governing coalition of DS and Prime Minister Vojistav Kostunica’s Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) collapsed early March due to differences over Serbia’s course towards European integration. DSS argued against further ties with the EU now that most member states have recognized Kosovo’s independence, whereas the DS, which also was against Kosovo independence, does not think this issue should influence Serbia’s European integration. This remained one of the biggest themes during the campaign period leading up to the elections, and led many to see the elections as a referendum on Serbia’s future path – towards EU integration, or towards isolation and enhanced ties with Russia. Most Serbians are strongly against Kosovo independence, seeing the province as the cradle of the Serbian state. However, many are also in favour of European integration. There was therefore no clear winner in the run-up to the elections. A day ahead of the ballot, polls indicated that the nationalist Serbian Radical Party (SRS), led by Tomislav Nikolic, would win the elections with 32 percent of the votes, against 31 percent of the votes for the DS. However, exit polls showed that the pro-European coalition, led by the DS in combination with G17+ and several smaller parties, won a big victory with 38.7 percent of the votes (103 seats); almost 10 percent more votes than the SRS (29.1 percent; 78 seats). Kostunica’s DSS came in third, with 11.3 percent of the votes (30 seats). Immediately after the exit polls were announced on Sunday night, Boris Tadic claimed victory, saying “Serbia has chosen the path towards the EU.” Within the EU, which signed a Stabilization and Association Agreement with Serbia on 29 April and where 17 member states decided on 6 May to waive visa fees for Serbian citizens, both in a bid to support the Serbian pro-European forces in the elections, the DS’s win was qualified as a “pro-European choice” of the Serbians. It is, though, not yet clear how the winning coalition will form a government, as it did not receive an absolute majority of the votes. In order to create a majority in parliament, they will probably work together with the Liberal Democratic Party (5.2 percent; 13 seats) and several minority parties (Hungarians, Albanians, Bosnian Muslims; together 7 seats). However, even then they still need the support of late Milosevic’s Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS, 7.9 percent; 20 seats) to form a majority. Nikolic already announced that the SRS will also enter negotiations with the DSS and SPS to form a coalition, in which case the DS would be kept outside the government. In a reaction to this statement, Tadic said that “I am sure that those who wish to bring back Serbia to the 90s [when Milosevic was in power], will try to neglect the will of the people. But I will not accept this.” Election turnout was high, with 60.7 percent compared to a usual turnout of around 50 percent.
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WIDER EUROPE / NEIGHBOUR COUNTRIES
Armenia
► Another government-opposition dialogue attempt failed
On 20 May opposition leader Raffi Hovannisian again failed to broker a “dialogue” between the governing coalition and its radical opponents over ways of ending Armenia’s post-election crisis. In separate letters sent on Monday, Hovannisian invited Ter-Petrosian, President Serzh Sarkisian and the leaders of three parties represented in the Armenian government to talks which he planned to organize in the offices of a Yerevan think-tank the next evening. He suggested that the discussion focus on a “program of reforms” proposed by his Zharangutyun (Heritage) party. The program calls for an end to the government crackdown on the Ter-Petrosian-led opposition and detailed measures which Zharangutyun believes would prevent serious fraud in future Armenian elections. It also advocates a sweeping reform of Armenia’s judicial and law-enforcement systems and a greater opposition role in legislative affairs. However, none of the invited leaders showed up for the discussion. Ter-Petrosian reaffirmed through a spokesman his refusal to negotiate with the authorities before their compliance with the recent Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) resolution on Armenia, demanding the release of Ter-Petrosian supporters arrested for political reasons and the launch of an independent investigation into the March 1 clashes in Yerevan. President Sarkisian did not react to the proposal. Both he and Ter-Petrosian turned down Hovannisian’s earlier offers to mediate a face-to-face meeting between them. Each of them questioned the other’s commitment to dialogue. The leaders of Dashnaktsutyun, Prosperous Armenia and Orinats Yerkir parties, the three junior partners in Sarkisian’s coalition, also ignored the Zharangutyun leader’s invitation. On 20 May, the authorities announced that they would offer Levon Ter-Petrosian the opportunity to name a representative to a new consultative body to be formed by President Serzh Sarkisian. However, a close associate of Ter-Petrosian’s made it clear that the opposition leader will not cooperate or negotiate with the authorities as long as dozens of his supporters remain in prison.
► Opposition Dashnak party reclaim parliament post
On 20 May, a leading member of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun), Hrayr Karapetian, was elected deputy speaker of parliament in line with the nationalist party’s power-sharing agreement with President Serzh Sarkisian. The position had been vacant since the recent resignation of Vahan Hovannisian, its previous holder and another Dashnaktsutyun leader. Hovannisian attributed the move to his poor showing in the 19 February presidential election. According to the Central Election Commission (CEC), Hovannisian finished fourth in the race with only 6.2 percent of the vote, much below his party’s expectations. In his statement, Hovannisian also called the election deeply flawed, citing widespread vote buying, violence in some polling stations, ballot-stuffing and other violations. However, that did not prevent Dashnaktsutyun from subsequently recognizing the legitimacy of Sarkisian’s election win and agreeing to stay in government. As a result, the party retained control of the Armenian ministries of agriculture, education and social affairs as well as the posts of deputy parliament speaker and chairman of the parliament committee on foreign relations. Hovannisian’s successor Karapetyan was elected vice-speaker by 97 votes to 1.
► Law amendments
On 19 May the Armenian parliament began debating a European-backed bill that would ease serious restrictions on freedom of assembly imposed by the government following the bloody suppression of post-election opposition protests in Yerevan last March. The government has faced strong pressure from the United States, the European Union and other international bodies to lift the de facto ban on opposition rallies, which took the form of amendments to Armenia’s law on public gatherings. The bill debated by the National Assembly would rescind or change some of those amendments. It was drawn up on the basis of understandings reached last month by the parliament leadership and representatives of the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission. In its written opinion made public last week, the commission said the proposed fresh amendments to the law “largely address the concerns” expressed by the Council of Europe and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. In particular, the bill would scrap a clause that allows the Armenian authorities to “temporarily” ban rallies for an unspecified period of time after previous street gatherings resulting in casualties. The authorities said earlier that the ban is necessary for preventing a repeat of the March 1 deadly clashes in Yerevan between security forces and opposition supporters protesting against official results of the February 19 presidential election.
► The International Caucasus Conference 2007 to be held in Yerevan on May 22-23 of this year
On 12 May it was reported that the International Caucasus Conference 2007 is expected to be held in Yerevan and will be attended by political scientists, conflict specialists and analysts from Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Turkey and Poland. In the framework of the conference reports will be delivered on discussion topic such as: "Main trends in the South Caucasus in 2007", "Unrecognized state of the South Caucasus", "Main outcomes of the socioeconomic development of the South Caucasus countries in 2007", "Problems of regional security in the South Caucasus in 2007", "Caspian energy policy-2007 and its Caucasus measuring", as well as "Turkich policy on the Caucasus in 2007", "Russia's policy in the South and North Caucasus", "The West and the Caucasus region" and "Caucasus conflicts and the Kosovo precedent". The previous conference "Caucasus-2006" was held in Yerevan on May 24-25 of 2007. It was attended by scientists, journalists and public figures from Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Russia and the United States.
► Opposition Consolidation?
On 9 May opposition leader Stepan Demirchian said that he supports the consolidation of opposition forces aligned to former President Levon Ter-Petrosian but believes their transformation into a single political party would be premature for the time being. Demirchian’s People’s Party of Armenia (HZhK) is one over two dozen mostly small organization groups that supported Ter-Petrosian’s failed presidential bid this year’s elections and remain loyal to him. Speaking at a 2 May conference of those parties, Ter-Petrosian said that they should form an alliance and even suggested a name for it, the Armenian National Congress (HAK). The ex-president said the HAK might eventually turn into a single party. Still, he stressed that his proposal is “tentative” and needs to be discussed in detail among his political allies.
Azerbaijan
► Agreement on CIS Humanitarian Cooperation Council to undergo ratification in Azerbaijani parliament
On 21 May an agreement "On the Council of Humanitarian cooperation of the CIS member-states" was adopted for ratification in the Azerbaijani parliament at the session of the Milli Medjlis commission on social policy. While presenting the draft law to the commission members, commission chairman Hadi Rajabli noted that the Council is created for the further development of cooperation in the humanitarian sphere among the CIS countries. "The Council is intended for the coordination of relations between the CIS member-states in the sphere of culture, education, science, archive, information and mass communications, sport, tourism and youth", Rajabli said. The agreement on the creation of the Council was signed in Minsk on November 28 of 2006.
► NGO Elections Monitoring Centre prohibited to monitor presidential elections in Azerbaijan
On 14 May the Khatai district court of Baku annulled the registration of the Elections Monitoring Center on the basis of a claim filed by Azerbaijan's Ministry of Justice. The Ministry explained the appeal to the court by the "uncertainty of information" in the constituent documents of the organization. Head of the Center Abar Mamedli rejected the claims. He said the organization was registered three months ago and the Ministry of Justice did not request any additional information while studying the documents. Mamedli considers that the case is politically motivated and pursues the purpose of preventing the officials of the Center from parallel calculations of votes at the presidential elections in Azerbaijan, scheduled for October 2008.The center is a member of ENEMO-European Network of Monitoring Organizations, functioning under OSCE auspices.
► Movement of Azerbaijani Intelligentsia to support Eldar Namazov's candidacy in presidential election
On 14 May, chairman of the Movement of Azerbaijani Intelligentsia Eldaniz Quliyev stated that the movement intends to support Eldar Namazov, president of the forum "For the sake of Azerbaijan" at the presidential elections. He said they made the decision as Eldar Namazov, nominated for President, has a definite program. "This candidacy fully complies with the charter and principles of our organization. Eldar Namazov is an independent candidate, therefore, it would be better to support him and not a representative of any political party. Moreover, we follow similar way and have common positions on the same issues", he said.
► Differing views as to opposition chances in the upcoming October presidential elections
On 13 May Fazil Qazanfaroghlu, chairman of the Great Creation party and Milli Medjlis deputy (Azerbaijani Parliament) stated that the chances of the opposition would depend on whether the elections in Azerbaijan are held in a democratic fashion. However, Gazanfaroghlu’s opinion is not shared by chairman of the opposition Social-Democratic Party of Azerbaijan Araz Alizade. On 14 May he stated that in working conditions the opposition has no chances to win the presidential elections. This is explained by several factors. "Candidates should join the elections with a good election campaign and strategy, and have sufficient financial grounds. There is not a single person among the Azerbaijani opposition, whom people trust. The opposition has no finances. The opposition leaders have no team, therefore, Ilham Aliyev is a favourite in the presidential race", Alizade said. The chairman of the opposition Azerbaijan Classical Popular Front Party Mirmahmud Miralioghlu, on the other hand, stated on 14 May that despite the party’s decision to propose participation in the upcoming elections to its supreme council, he was unable to make a statement as to opposition chances. According to Arif Hajili, head of the central office of the opposition Musavat party, “The main problem of the Azerbaijani opposition is not that it is not supported by the people but that it is not able to struggle for the votes until the end". On 17 May he noted that under the recent Electoral Code changes, the electoral commissions is again controlled by one party, and that the opportunities of the presidential candidates for conduction of a normal campaign can possibly be restricted. On 26 May, leader of the United Front opposition party Ali Kerimli stated that he does not believe there will really be any contest between presidential candidates, and that the opposition will not stand a chance.
Belarus
► Russia proceeds with new pipeline passing Belarus
On 14 May, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin announced that state pipeline monopoly Transneft has chosen the port of Ust-Luga, in Russia’s Leningrad oblast, as the terminal for the Baltic Pipeline System-2 (BPS-2). The initial idea for BPS-2 was floated in January 2007 following a dispute over oil-transit fees with Belarus, and the new pipeline is set to severely dent Belarus’s economy and bargaining power vis-à-vis both Russia and Europe, even though analysts say it is unlikely that Russia will fully suspend oil transit through the neighbouring country. Analysts furthermore allege that the BPS-2 route also aims at freeing Russia from transit fees to the Baltic countries, with which Moscow has repeatedly been in political conflict over the past years.
► Lukashenka expresses readiness to improve ties with EU in interview
In an interview on 13 May, Belarusian president Lukashenka said he hoped the parliamentary elections scheduled for September will deliver some seats to the opposition to disarm western criticism of the democracy and human rights situation in the country. "I would like for at least a few opposition figures to win support so that you cannot accuse us of not having an opposition in parliament. But that will depend on the people. People who deserve it will get into parliament," Lukashenka said. The opposition currently has no seats in parliament. The US and EU accuse Lukashenka of rigging the presidential election in 2006 and have imposed a travel ban on him and other top officials. The jailing of several opposition politicians and activists, most noticeably Alyaksandr Kazulin, triggered US economic sanctions and has further strained relations with the US. During the interview, Lukashenka furthermore expressed his readiness to improve relations with the European Union, stating as the “only condition” that the “EU has to treat Belarus as partners and not to interfere with internal affairs of this country.” He furthermore described the US sanctions against Belarus as “having no prospects.”
► Draft Belarus Democracy Reauthorizations Act submitted to US House of Representatives
On 13 May, a draft Belarus Democracy Reauthorization Act of 2008 was submitted to the US House of Representatives by a group of US lawmakers led by Christopher Smith. The draft, which continues and extends the Belarus Democracy Act of 2004, which calls for assistance to Belarusian political parties, NGOs and independent media while prohibiting US government agencies from providing loans and investments to the Belarus government, exept for humanitarian purposes until Minsk conducts a thorough inquiry into the 1999-2000 disappearances of Alyaksandr Lukashenka`s opponents, releases political prisoners, drops charges against opposition figures and ends the politically-motivated prosecution of civil society. Apart from support for human rights defenders, independent media, trade unions, youth groups, pro-democratic political parties, the draft also specifically calls for support for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, the Voice of America, and Polish-based Belsat channel and European Radio for Belarus.
► Special Rapporteur Adrian Severin publishes rapport on human rights situation Belarus
On 10 May, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus Adrian Severin published a summary on his findings for the Human Rights Council in the International Service for Human Rights. According to the document, the Special Rapporteur, which was to monitor any progresses in the human rights situation in Belarus, did “not receive favourable responses to his communications with the Belarus authorities,” who have continuously objected the “politicized work” of Severin, forcing him to work only with the reactions of third parties. Despite the lack of co-operation from the authorities, Severin concludes that “violations of civil and political rights and the deprivation of Belarusian citizens’ rights to effectively take part in the conduct of public affairs continue to be observed,” and that “human rights protection mechanisms remain extremely week and there is no national human rights institution.” The Rapporteur furthermore responded to the attacks made on his presentation at the 2nd Session of the Human Rights Council, when Belarus called his mandate “politicised, biased, and nothing more than Cold War propaganda,” and several states supported Belarus in its refusal to recognise Severin’s mandate. Again it is expected that many delegations will object to country-specific rapporteurs.
Georgia
► Georgia elects parliament
On 23 May the Georgian Central Election Committee released its data regarding the 21 May Georgian Parliamentary Elections stating that the results are not expected to change. On proportional representation, i.e. for 75 out of 150 seats, the said results showed that the following four parties have overcome the 5%: The United National Movement (59.48%), United Opposition (National Council, New Rights) (17.69%), Political Union "Giorgi Targamadze - Christian-Democrats" (8.26 %) and political party "Shalva Natelashvili -Labour party of Georgia" (7.55 %). These results are consistent with the interim results made public on May 22nd, pronouncing Saakashvili’s United National Movement the winner. According to the majoritarian single constituency election results for the remaining 75 (out of 150) seats in parliament, 71 were won by the United National Movement, 2 seats were won by the candidates presented by the United Opposition and another 2 by the Republican party. Overall, these results in the majoritarian contest, combined with the ruling party’s landslide victory in the proportional party-list contest, mean that the National Movement may have at least 120 out of 150 seats in the new parliament, which is more than enough to form the constitutional majority, for which at least two-third of seats is needed. The opposition, however, questions the results, claiming massive fraud took place in Georgia’s latest elections.
► Elections evaluation
On 22 May International Election Observation Mission released a preliminary statement on the conduct of the parliamentary elections of 21 May. The observers noted that voters were offered a wide array of choices to select their representatives. The legal framework was generally conducive to the conduct of democratic elections, although remaining inconsistencies negatively affected its implementation. After failed talks, the government unilaterally changed the election system shortly before the elections in a manner seen by the opposition as favoring the ruling party. Parties were able to campaign actively, but there were numerous allegations of intimidation, some of which could be verified. The distinction between state activities and the government party's campaign was often blurred. The media, in particular public TV, offered voters a diverse range of views. The election administration worked in a transparent manner, but election commissions and courts generally did not give due consideration to complaints. Election day was overall calm and generally assessed positively, although problems with inking and instances of pressure on observers and proxies were noted. Counting and tabulation was evaluated less positively, with many significant procedural shortcomings observed. On the same day the opposition stated that the elections were held in “intimidation, pressure and violence” exerted by the authorities, and called for an opposition rally to protest the election results. The rally was held on 26 May, coinciding with the Independence Day military parade. Initially, a police cordon was set up blocking the city’s main thoroughfare. However, it was removed shortly after the military parade on Rustaveli Avenue was over. It finished after as little as 40 minutes, as the marching opposition supporters approached Rustaveli Avenue. The protest rally was aired live by the Tbilisi-based Kavkasia TV.
► Abkhazia on Russian military presence in the region, and the IDP issue
On 12 May Abkhaz air-defence authorities claimed to have shot down two more Georgian unmanned reconnaissance drones over Ochamchire district. Officials in Tbilisi have denied the report. The Abkhaz side reported to have found the debris of one of the two drones. Following the claim, on 14 May Abkhaz leader, Sergey Bagapsh, said Sokhumi wanted to have Russian military presence to provide security guarantees. “We are in favour of Russia having a presence here in the military sense, a base here...It will give us protection,” Bagapsh on 13 May. He also stated Sokhumi had no interest in a new war but also added it was ready to repel Georgian attack. In the meantime, on 15 May UN General Assembly passed Georgian-sponsored resolution on May 15 recognizing "the right of all refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) and their descendants, regardless of ethnicity" to return to Abkhazia. Abkhaz leader, Sergey Bagapsh, said UN General Assembly resolution calling for return of IDPs and refugees back to Abkhazia, was “one-sided.”
Moldova
► Social Democratic Party of Moldova prepares documents to be offered for signing to all political parties
On 23 May, the Social Democratic Party of Moldova (PDSM) announced to be preparing 4 documents to be subsequently offered to all political parties in Moldova for signing. SDPM leader Dumitru Braghis told the documents, which pertain to the development of agriculture, education, the health sector, and the political system, will stipulate the common positions of all parties in these essential spheres. According to the former Prime Minister, already looking at the 2009 elections, “[w]e want to avoid a situation when each time a new party comes to power it starts with changing the rules of the game in the republic. To develop steadily, the country needs stability and clear, reliable rules of the game.” The 4 draft documents will first be published for a nation-wide discussion, to be improved and amended with account of citizens’ remarks. Hereafter, they will be offered for signature to all Moldovan poltical parties and movements.
► Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin sets up National Commission for European Integration
On 19 May, Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin has set up a National Commission for European Integration, which will be headed by Voronin himself. The establishment of the National Commission was fixed by presidential decree and motivated by Voronin on the basis that “it is necessary to develop relations with the European Union in conformity with Moldova’s priorities and objectives to deepen the European integration process.”The Commission is supposed to ensure the coordination of the work aimed at meeting the accords achieved and documents signed between the Republic of Moldova and European structures.
► President Vladimir Voronin announces new law amending the Election Code
On 14 May, Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin promulgated a law amending the Election Code. The most important stipulations in the amendments ban political parties from forming electoral blocks, and increase the election threshold from 4 to 6 percent. Many of the smaller parties are against these changes in the law, as they fear they will not be able anymore to pass the election threshold. Several parties have already started to merge in the hope in such a way to still garner enough support in the 2009 elections. Moreover, the amendments also stipulate conditions of participation in elections for persons with criminal records and specify categories of people that suspend their activities when running for an elective post.
► European Action movement appeal for registration rejected
On 13 May, appeals by the European Action political movement, which has been denied registration by the Moldovan Ministry of Justice, were rejected by the Appeals Court. The movement then said it might well decide to seek justice with the European Court of Human Rights by lodging a complaint against the Government of Moldova. The Ministry of Justice has denied registration of the movement, led by former adviser to the President Vladimir Voronin Sergiu Mocanu, alleging many of the citizens’ signatures raised in its favour were false. Mocanu, however, maintains the ministry’s decision was a political step, and there was no ground for such allegations. In his words, the decision not to register the European Action proves that Voronin “has exceeded all thinkable limits,” accusing the president of being anti-democratic. “It goes without saying that we shall challenge this decision with the Supreme Court of Justice and subsequently, it need be, with the European Court of Human Rights.”
► Parade of sexual minorities to be held in Chisinau frustrated
On 11 May, the parade of sexual minorities, organized by the Gender-Document-M center, was to take place in Chisinau. However, upon arrival of bus with participants in the parade, a group of ca. 500 representatives of Christian organizations, skinheads and national-Bolsheviks blocked the way to the central square, shouting slogans as “the family is the union between a man and a women”, “homosexuality is a sin” and “amorality destroys society.” In the end, the bus was forced to depart again. This was the second year the parade was blocked, as similar events took place last year. At a press conference on 12 May, priest of the St. Trinity Cathedral Vasile Filat presented a declaration signed by the participants in the “Family March”, condemning the Gender-Document-M center’s actions, and demanding to outlaw the organisation. According to the declaration, the center “systematically undermines the family institute, moral values, the Constitution, the Bible’s foundations and insults people’s Christian feelings.” Meanwhile, Gender-Document-M also released a statement, expressing their frustration with the Chisinau authorities who did nothing to prevent the blocking of the parade. Gender-Document-M Director General Aleksei Marcicov said that “[u]nfortunately, the policy, which were present at our meeting, did not undertake anything, thus the police silently approved [of] all the actions of aggressive adversaries of [our] action.” Marcicov furthermore pointed to the new version of the Law on Freedom of Assembly, and said Gender-Document-M “call[ed] upon the Ministry of the Interior to fulfil their functions on providing the freedom of assembly for Moldovan citizens. We also call upon the European Union, the OSCE Mission and organizations protecting human rights, to react to this grand violation of human rights and to urge the Moldovan authorities to observe the laws and their international obligations.” In this, he got support from NGOs in Moldova, which also voiced their concern with lack of action of the Chisinau authorities. Amnesty International Moldova Director General Evghenii Golosciapov remarked that “[t]he rights for freedom of assembly and freedom of expression are the fundamental human rights and the foundation for the existence and development of a full-fledged civil society. Attacks at these rights impede the development of the democratic society in Moldova.”
► LDPM organizes manifestations in support of the Convention on trans-border traffic with Romania
On 11 May, manifestations were held in the 13 Moldovan rayons situated along the border with Romania in support of the Convention on trans-border traffic. The manifestations were organized by the Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova (LDPM), and were attended by 200 to 600 people in each raion. According to the attendants, Romania’s accession to the EU and the subsequent introduction of a visa regime between the two countries had created a serious obstacle for the residents of Moldova’s border raions in their visits to Romania, both to visit relatives and to run business across the river Prut, which constitutes the border. The trans-border convention will lift some of the obstacles for travel accros the border. However, the Moldovan Government has been critical of the document, alleging it will cause Moldovans to leave the country in a plot by Romania to take over the country. LDPM leader Vladimir Filat stated at the meeting held in Cahul that the party will prepare a resolution demanding the signing of the Convention without any further delay.
Russia
► Lithuania lifts veto, opening possibility for start of EU-Russia talks on partnership deal
On 21 May, Lithuania’s ambassador to Brussels told his EU colleagues that Vilnius will lift its veto on starting negotiations between Russia and the EU on strategic partnership deal. The move came after Vilnius accepted assurances that the list of demands it presented earlier this month would receive due attention in the course of the EU-Russia talks. On 13 May, Russian envoy to the European Union Vladimir Chizhov had already said the EU could issue a mandate for the start of talks with Russia on a new partnership deal at the beginning of June. The old Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) between the EU and Russia expired in December 2007 and was extended for a further year after a mandate for talks on a new pact were blocked by Poland and subsequently by Lithuania. Lithuania vetoed talks on a new treaty on 29 April, demanding Russia resume oil supplies to Lithuania through the Druzhba pipeline, which were halted in July 2006 after an accident on the pipeline. However, analysts allege the real reason behind Russia’s stopping of the supplies was Lithuania’s decision to set the Mazeikiu oil refinery to a Polish company, rejecting bids from Russia’s LUKoil and Rosneft. Lithuania has furthermore demanded Russia find a solution to the ‘frozen’ conflicts in Moldova and Georgia, cooperate in investigations into alleged attacks by Soviet troops on Lithuanians seeking independence from the USSR in 1991, and compensate for the deportation of Lithuanians to labor camps during the Soviet era. However, Vilnius announced it considered to lift its veto at the foreign ministerial meeting on 12 May, after a compromise was reached that its demands and concerns would be included in the mandate for the start of the EU-Russia talks. Accordingly, on 21 May Lithuania’s ambassador was able to give more clarity on the situation. Poland had until recently blocked talks on a new treaty governing trade and political cooperation with Russia over Moscow's embargo on Polish meat. However, Warsaw signalled its readiness to lift its veto after the two countries resolved the meat dispute and Russia resumed Polish meat imports in December 2007. Russia, which supplies over a quarter of Europe's natural gas, is hoping for a simplified document, without binding obligations relating to its energy exports to the EU. It has repeatedly dismissed accusations that it uses energy as a political tool and insists it is a reliable supplier.
► Russian opposition starts “National Assembly”
On 17 May, leader of the opposition Other Russia coalition Garry Kasparov formally launched the National Assembly, an alternative parliament aimed at the “restoration of democracy and popular government in Russia.” The National Assembly is intended as a parallel parliament to the State Duma, which will be comprised of delegated from grassroots organizations form across the country. During the launch of the parallel parliament in Moscow, Kasparov accused Russian authorities of creating a “feudal fiefdom,” and criticized mainstream opposition parties that will not attend the assembly, such as Yabloko and the Union of Rightist Forces (SPS). Co-leader of the Other Russia coalition Eduard Limonov said that “we want to destroy the [Putin and his allies’] monopoly on power.” The founding charter of the assembly reaffirms the inviolability of fundamental rights, including freedom of speech, assembly, and conscience, and renounces the use of violence for political ends. Although political analysts regard the attempt as “quixotic,” mentioning the high likeliness that it will be obstructed by the authorities, it is also seen as a brave attempt to unite Russia’s opposition against Putin and his successor, president Dmitry Medvedev.
► Chechen suspected of murder Anna Politkovskaya
On 12 May, Russia issued an international arrest warrant against a 34-year old Chechen who is suspected of the murder of Anna Politkovskaya. Politkovskaya, a journalist working for Novaja Gazeta, wrote critical articles about the policies of Vladimir Putin’s government and the conduct of the war in Chechnya. Her murder on 7 October 2006 led to international commotion, with several international organizations alleging the Putin government might be behind the execution. According to the chief prosecutor, anti-Kremlin forces abroad were behind the murder, with the aim of discrediting Russia. Immediately after the murder, the Russian government promised an investigation, but thus far the assassin has never been found. An alleged accomplish of the suspect has been released on bail, and seven others suspected of involvement are said to be still in prison.
► Prime Minister Vladimir Putin names new cabinet
At a meeting with his hand-picked successor Dmitry Medvedev on 11 May, prime minister Vladimir Putin announced his new government. The finance, defense, interior, and foreign ministers, along with several other prominent Cabinet figures, remain unchanged. Furthermore, several former Kremlin aides are brought in. former prime minister Viktor Zubkov and former presidential aide Igor Shuvolov will be the first deputy prime ministers, and the total numer of deputy minister has been increased from five to seven. According to analysts the new cabinet full of Putin’s allies and aides, which was immediately approved by president Medvedev, is a clear sign that power will for now stay concentrated in Putin’s hands. During the ceremony to present the cabinet, Putin took the leading role, with Medvedev only stating his approval from the background. This could point to a shift of the steering power from the Kremlin to the government, which is furthermore strengthened vis-à-vis the presidential apparatus as Putin has taken the strongest political figures with him from the Kremlin staff to the cabinet.
Ukraine
► Incumbent mayor Leonid Chernovestskiy wins early Kyiv mayor elections
On 25 May, early mayor elections took place in Kyiv. According to partial preliminary findings of the Kyiv City Electoral Commission, turnout was about 53 percent. Incumbent mayor of Kyiv Leonid Chernovetskiy won the elections with arount 37.5 percent of the votes, followed by BYuT candidate Oleksandr Turchynov (18.5 percent) and former heavyweight boxing champion Vitaly Klitschko (17.5 percent). All in all, 70 candidates competed in the ballot. Chernovetskiy’s win is remarkable, as the Ukrainian parliament had called the early election after prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko accused the incumbent mayor of illegally selling highly profitable land and witholdig revenue from the national budget. Chernovetskiy denies these allegations, and had already announced after the early elections were being called that he did not worry, but would “run again and win.” In a statement on his victory in the 25 May elections, Chernovetskiy said this proved once more the allegations had been false.
► Former Soviet block countries agree on project to bring gas to Europe bypassing Russia
During the Kyiv Energy Security Summit held on 22-23 May, seven former Soviet bloc countries agreed to launch a joint project aimed at bringing Caspian oil to European markets bypassing Russian territory. At the end of the meeting, a joint declaration on creating a “Caspian energy space” was signed by the presidents of the seven countries including Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Georgia, designed by Ukraine in a bid to challenge Moscow’s traditional domination of energy in the region. Speaking at the summit, Yushchenko warned that Europe could one day fall victim to Russian "energy blackmail" if it fails to stem dependence on Moscow for the supply and delivery of gas and oil, and said he was “certain that [the agreement’s] implementation will give impetus to the development of joint energy projects and the improvement of technical capabilities for the […] supply of resources […] to the European markets.” Kazakhstan, which Yushchenko would also like to include in the project, has expressed interest as well. But Kazakh Deputy Energy Minister Lyazzat Kiinov told reporters at the summit that there are some "difficult questions" about the pipeline that still need to be answered, including shipping oil from Kazakh to Azerbaijani ports, and then from Georgia to Ukraine. The EU has also responded enthusiastically to the plan, which can decrease EU energy dependence on Russia, and appears likely to give the project a boost at a next month summit.
► Tymoshenko supports law strengthening the powers of the president
On 19 May, Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko voiced support for legislation strengthening the powers of the president, saying her government “backed the law for the sake of democratic unity.” This comes to many as a surprise, especially when taking into account the relationship between Tymoshenko and president Yushchenko, which has considerable worsened over the past time. The two were allies who led the 2004 Orange Revolution that peacefully overturned a rigged election, but relations between them have since cooled. Tymoshenko told at a press conference that “[a]t the president’s request, our political team voted for a new law on the cabinet, reducing the government’s powers… and increasing those of the president.” The new legislation, overturning a 2007 decree which had sough to reduce the powers of the president and asserted governmental control through parliament, allows the president to allow his allies in key posts, to block prime ministerial candidates, and to nominate the foreign and defence ministers on his own. The proposal won the votes of 245 members of the Verkhovna Rada, the Ukrainian parliament, 19 more than the legal minimum to pass a law.
► Ukraine becomes full-fledged member of World Trade Organization
On 16 May, Ukraine became the 152nd country to become a full-fledged member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) after a membership protocol ratified by parliament last month officially came into effect. Ukraine spent 14 years on accession negotiations, in which time the country implemented several economic reforms and amended more that 50 laws to bring the state regulation into line with WTO norms, and membership now obliges Ukraine to still more reforms. However, experts expect the accession into the TO will boost agricultural, chemical and metals exports. Prior to being accepted as a member, Ukraine promised not to obstruct the future accession of Russia to the WTO, which is still not a member after 15 years of negotiations. Although this could be used as a tool to exert political pressure, many also believe that Russia’s inclusion in the organization would be beneficial to Ukraine because it would prevent Moscow from applying tariffs against the WTO rules. Ukraine was formally invited to join the trade organization during the WTO General Council meeting on 5 February, but by rule would only become a full-fledged member one month after its parliament ratified the treaty.
► BUyT lawmakers block Ukrainian parliament demanding adoption anti-inflation laws
On 13 May, lawmakers of the Block of Yulia Tymoshenko (BYuT) blocked the rostrum and presidium of the Ukrainian parliament, the Verkhovna Rada. According to correspondents, BYuT parliamentarians occupied the government’s box and the presidium, and blocked doors with chairs, demanding the Rada would adopt three anti-inflation draft laws on import duties, on imposing restrictions on main foodstuffs trade duties in supermarkets, and on replenishing the Ukrainian market with imported food production on a duty-free basis. Tymoshenko stressed that the government also submitted 30 key economic draft laws for consideration of parliament, on which discussion has so far been blocked. According to the prime minister, now the time had come to act “rather toughly,” and she will not stand to watch how the Ukrainian citizens’ money “vanishes into thin air.” The majority of lawmakers, however, did not support the actions of BYuT. Instead, although not being able to enter his workplace, parliament speaker Arseniy Yatseniuk opened the morning session of parliament from next to the rostrum, while many parliamentarians registered as present in the session hall. On 15 May, BYuT lawmakers unblocked the parliament without their demands having been fulfilled.
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CENTRAL ASIA
Kazakhstan
► Radio Free Europe/Radio Free Liberty sites blocked in Kazakhstan
In a statement published on 20 May, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) president Jeffrey Gedmin said that in a “very disturbing” case that smacks of “deliberate interference” by the Kazakh government, internet users in Kazakhstan have been prevented for over five weeks from accessing the Kazakh-language website of RFE/RL. According to the statement, access to the site was interrupted on 11 April, and has continued to be blocked despite repeated requests by RFE/RL to restore the service. Because the Kazach state-run telecom operator KazTelecom is the main Internet provider for Central Asia, access to RFE/RL websites in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan has also been blocked. According to Gedmin, “if they were interested in restoring our service, they would have and could have done so by now,” indicating government involvement to block the restoration. Kazakhstan’s poor record on media freedom is already under scrutiny due its upcoming presidency of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in 2010. The international media watchdog Committee to Protect Journalists considers Kazakhstan’s chairmanship of the OSCE controversial, pointing out that the Kazakh government has “total control of influential broadcast media” and a “record of unpunished attacks on the press.” On 22 May, the OSCE representative on media freedom, Miklos Haraszati, has also urged the government of Kazakhstan to restore access to the RFE/RL sites, stating in a letter to Kazakh Foreign Minister Marat Tazhin that he is “hopeful” the problem is “merely technical” and can be restored swiftly. Haraszati furthermore writes he is “convinced that the state Internet service providers were informed by Your Government that interference in providing service would violate Kazakhstan's press freedom commitments," and reminds the Kazakh authorities that under OSCE Permanent Council Decision No. 633, participating states have pledged “to take action to ensure that the internet remains an open and public forum for freedom of opinion and expression.”
► Bilateral meeting between Kazakhstan and Tajikistan signals growing influence Kazakhstan in region
On 14 May, Tajik president Emomali Rahmon paid an official visit to his Kazakh counterpart Nursultan Nazarbaev. The two presidents agreed Kazakhstan will step up its activities in Tajikistan, and invest in developments in the country. Moreover, Nazarbaev pledged help in training Tajik border guards observing the border with Afghanistan, and made a vague promise to help the country by selling it wheat in the wake of the global food crisis, which has earlier prompted Kazakhstan to announce a wheat exports ban until September to protect its own citizens. In return, Rahmon promised to support Nazarbaev’s plans to form a Central Asian Union, an idea that was earlier backed by Kyrgyzstan, but rejected by Uzbekistan and likely to upset Russia. Kazakhstan’s enlarged interest in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, the two poorest countries of Central Asia, could signal a new regional alliance at the expense of Russian and Uzbek influence in the region. Currently, energy flowing to resource-poor Tajikistan comes from Uzbekistan, causing the country’s dependence on its neighbour. Kazakhstan has now promised, however, to invest in the development of several hydro-electric power plants in the country, and the construction of pipelines to funnel energy to Kazakhstan by way of Kyrgyzstan, instead of the easier route through Uzbekistan. This will greatly reduce Uzbekistan’s influence in the region. Moreover, Uzbek president Islam Karimov has, unsurprisingly, reacted unfavourably to the creation of a new Central Asian Union under Kazakh initiative. However, being the most wealthy state of the region, Kazakhstan holds considerable prestige. It furthermore has the best international standing, with several international companies being active in the country, several investments abroad, and looking forward to the OSCE chairmanship in 2010. Dmitry Medvedev has chosen Astana as the destination of his first official trip as Russian president on 22 May. Kazakhstan’s leading role in the region thus becomes more and more likely.
Kyrgyzstan
► Kyrgyz Prime Minister tours Poland, Latvia and Belarus
From 20-22 May, Kyrgyz Prime Minister Igor Chudinov paid official visits to Poland, Latvia and Belarus. The visits were aimed at the strengthening of bilateral economic and cultural cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and the three eastern European countries. Kyrgyzstan furthermore hopes to lure investors from Poland and Latvia to the country. Furthermore, it hopes to strengthen trade with these countries. Chudinov therefore attended several high-level business meetings, together with a delegation of Kyrgyz government representatives and businessmen. In the case of Belarus, Kyrgyzstan has primarily voiced its interest in agricultural equipment import from the country.
► Kyrgyz author and ambassador Chingiz Aitmatov in serious condition
On 16 May, 79-year-old Kyrgyz author Chingiz Aitmatov suffered kidney failure while being in the Russian town of Kazan for the shooting of a documentary about his life. Reportedly, he complained of feeling ill and subsequently fell into a coma, after which he was rushed to a local hospital. On 19 May he was transferred to a German hospital. Aitmatov is Kyrgyzstan’s most famous author, with more than forty million copies of his books sold worldwide. His books were popular for truthfully describing life in the Soviet Union, but were sufficiently tempered to avoid being considered outright criticism of the Soviet authorities. His father was executed in 1938 on charges of being an ‘enemy of the people.’ Aitmatov has also served as Kyrgyzstan’s ambassador to NATO, UNESCO, and several European countries. He still enjoys enormous popularity in Kyrgyzstan, and other Central Asian countries alike, and his work has had an important influence in promoting little-known Kyrgyzstan abroad.
► OSCE Representative urges Kyrgyz president to veto amendments on broadcasting bill
On 14 May, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Miklos Haraszti addressed Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiev, urging him to impose his veto on recently adopted amendments to the Bill on TV and Radio Broadcasting, as the amendments restrict the freedom of the media. The amendments, which were adopted by the Kyrgyz Parliament on 24 April, enable the Kyrgyz President to personally appoint the director of the National Broadcasting Corporation and nominate candidates for the observing council, which then have to be approved by parliament. A statement on by the press service of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek read, “independence and autonomy of public broadcasting are fundamental features of the freedom of the media. Without it pluralism of opinion will not be rendered in full.”
► UNICEF Representative concerned over reduced budget investments in education
During a round-table conference on the development of young children on 14 May, UNICEF Representative in Kyrgyzstan Timothy Schaffter warned that the “lack of educational institutions and low income of Kyrgyz families hinder children, particularly of vulnerable groups, to obtain pre-school education.” Schaffter stressed this is a dangerous development, especially regarding the potential of quality education to “reverse the slow development of the [Kyrgyz] economy,” and the growing gap between different sections of Kyrgyzstan’s society. Budget investments in education have been significantly reduced in Kyrgyzstan since the early 1990s.
Tajikistan
► Tajik and Kyrgyz president hold bilateral meeting
On 15 May, Kyrgyz president Kurmanbek Bakiev paid an official visit to neighbouring Tajikistan. The two presidents met twice during the day under a new format for bilateral negotiations, which included a private talk between the two men and an extended meeting with delegations of both countries. During the meetings, Bakiyev and his Tajik counterpart Emomali Rahmon discussed the delimitation of the border between the two countries, which lack of clarity still leads to occasional disputes amongst the border communities. Demarcation of the borders is furthermore seen as a way to reduce the potential for conflict in the Ferghana Valley more broadly. Furthermore, the two presidents talked about water issues. Both mountain countries have abundant water and no other energy resources. Tajikistan has plans to develop hydraulic power plants, but is currently still looking for resources. However, a new deal with Kazakhstan, which is interested in developing Tajikistan’s hydraulic energy potential, might bring the plans closer to actual fulfilment.
► Rumours over ‘disappearance’ brother-in-law president
Since 2 May Hasan Sadulloev, a powerful businessman and the brother-in-law of Tajik president Emomali Rahmon, has not been seen in public. Sadulloev is considered to be one of the most powerful and wealthy people in Tajikistan, with a business imperium including cotton mills, factories, food-processing companies, real estate, transport and insurance companies, and Orienbank, one of the country’s largest financial institutions with reported assets of 47 million dollar. The long disappearance of Sadulloev, who usually accompanies Rahmon during regional trips, from the public stage has sparked rumours over a family feud within the presidential family and Sadulloev’s alleged murder by Rahmon’s eldest son Rustam. Earlier, it was already alleged that several of Rahmon’s nine children were in conflict with their uncle over business-related issues. Official media in Tajikistan, however, has remained silent on the issue, with one regional website reporting that the president threatened to punish any Tajik media outlet that publishes on the issue. Meanwhile, officials at Orienbank insist that nothing has happened to Sadulloev. His deputy, Umed Davlatzoda, also maintains Sadulloev is alive and well, calling the rumours over his alleged death “not more than a plot made by those who look for scandals.”
Turkmenistan
► Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov pays official visit to Azerbaijan
From 18-19 May, Turkmen president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov paid an official visit to Azerbaijan. The first visit of a Turkmen president to Azerbaijan since 1996, this marks the warming of relations between the two countries which for a long while had almost no contact due mainly to a dispute over gasfields in the Caspian and a bad personal relation between former presidents Saparmurat Niyazov of Turkmenistan and Heydar Aliyev of Azerbaijan. The recent meeting between heads of the two states is therefore seen as a major event in the region. The main topic on the agenda were the energy export routes for supplies of Caspian Basin natural gas. Now that Turkmenistan-Azerbaijan relations are improving, this opens up perspectives for the Nabucco project and trans-Caspian pipeline, both proposed projects to transfer gas from the region to Europe, bypassing Russia. The dispute over gas fields in the Caspian basin was also discussed, although a solution has not yet been reached.
► NATO Special Representative pays visit to Ashgabat
On 13 May, NATO Special Representative for Central Asia and the Caucasus Robert Simmons met with Turkmen president Gurbanguly Bedimuhamedov in Ashgabat. The two sides talked about the further development of partnership between Turkmenistan and NATO, noting that relations had been successfully developed already since 1994 in the framework of NATO’s Partnership for Peace (PfP) programme. Simmons furthermore said that NATO was ready to enhance relations while taking into account Turkmenistan’s UN status of ‘permanent neutrality’, meaning the country will not cooperate in any military alliances. Cooperation will be furthered mainly in the field of eliminating the threat of natural disasters in the region.
Uzbekistan
► President Karimov publishes new book on morality
During a special presidential book-launching ceremony on 12 May, Uzbek president Islam Karimov published his new book with the title “Morality is Invincible Power.” Participants in the ceremony praised the book of the authoritarian leader as “the best book on philosophy and morality since the time of Socrates” and said the book could be “a spiritual guide not only for Uzbeks but also for all the other nations of the world.” Karimov, like other presidents in the region, has published several books before, with more than 30 million copies of his books in circulation. As with his previous works, the latest addition to his oeuvre will probably become compulsory reading for students. University students are required to take exams on Karimov’s works, which are deemed “an essential part of their education.”
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