News from Eastern Europe
Croatia
► Crime journalist assaulted after string of threats
On 3 June, Croatian long-time crime journalist Jutarnji List was assaulted by two unidentified men. The attackers jumed Miljus outside his home in Zagreb and beat him with baseball bats, which caused the journalist a concussion and a broken arm. Miljus has identified several people linked to weapons trafficking between the former Usgoslavia and the EU. Earlier this year, he already received a number of anonymous threats which he reported to the police. An obituary with his name and photograph appeared in the daily Vecernji List last week. The paper apologised and described the placing of the obituary as a “procedural mistake.”
► Croatian prime minister Sanader announces public debate on oil pipeline project
During a press conference on 2 June, Croatian prime minister Ivo Sanader announced his plans to open a public debate on the Druzba Adria oil pipeline project. The project will provide Russian oil to Croatia via a pipeline passing through Belarus, Ukraine, Slovakia, and Hungary. There would also be an option to ship oil through Croatian ports to Western Europe and the US, from which Croatia will benefit through transit fees. The biggest concern over the project is environmental, as the Jadran basin, where the pipeline will end, already faces a pollution threat. Critics say a new pipeline would only exacerbate the situation. In the past, Sanader’s ruling Croatian Democratic Union had opposed the Druzhba Adria oil pipeline project in the past. However, Sanader conceded that “the current situation means Croatia can no longer secure cheap energy.”
► Ethnic Serbs in Croatia convene meeting in Zagreb
On 31 May, the Great People’s Assembly of the Serb National Council (SNV) was held in Zagreb. During the congress, top Croatian, Serbian and Republika Srpska (RS) officials, as well as dignitaries of the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC), took the floor. The gathering of ethnic Serbs furthermore produced a joint declaration, which pointed to the importance of boosting relations between Serbia and Croatia, both in the context of European integration and for improving the status of Serbs living in Croatia. The present status was seen as not satisfactory, particularly in the field of employment. In his speech, SNV president Milorad Pupovac underlined the importance for Serbs in Croatia to preserve their own identity and organize themselves, in order to “regain their rights.” However, he also pointed out the Serb minority in Croatia recognized the Croatian society, saying that “we are not gathering to create something parallel, neither do we aim to separate from a society we accept.” Croatian president Stepan Mesic, who also attended the congress, spoke of the importance of Serbs in the history of Croatia, as well as in present-day society, and expressed the wish for better relations between Serbia and Croatia. Envoy of Serbian President Boris Tadic Bojan Pajtic said that “the task ahead of all of us is to make it possible for the Srebs in Croatia to live better and to help the relations between the two countries develop to the benefit of both nations.” The gathering came shortly after recent protests by Croatia to a statement by Serbian foreign minister Vuk Jeremic, who accused Croatia of genocide against Serbs during 1995 Operation Storm.
► Croatian president Stipe Mesic denies Serbian claims of genocide during 1995 military operation
During a service to mark Croatian Army Day on 28 May, Croatian president Stipe Mesic denied recent statements by Serbian foreign minister Vuk Jeremic accusing Croatia of ethnic cleansing of Serbs during Military Storm in 1995. During a meeting of the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative Conference in Zagreb one week earlier, Jeremic had said: “You remember Vukovar and the tragic events that took place there. You remember the ethnic cleansing of over 250.000 Serbs during Operation Storm in 1995. That was a dark time, one that should never be repeated.” Mesic responded by saying that “there are still plenty of people in Serbia who do not remember what happened and that tanks from Belgrade, Novi Sad and the rest of Serbia entered Croatia not only to destroy Vukovar but other towns as well. Moreover, flowers were often thrown onto those tanks as they made their way to the border. We sustained huge losses during those attacks.”
► Croatian social partners support bill to raise minimum wage
On 26 May, trade unions, employer’s assosciations and the government supported a bill that would raise the minimum wage in Croatia from 35 percent to 39 percent of the country’s average. The bill will become effective in July. The trade unions had initially demanded an increase to 50 percent of the average, but backed down amid pressure from both employers and the government.
Macedonia
► Macedonian president cancels trip to Athens
On 5 June, Macedonian president Branko Crvenkovski’s press department announced he has cancelled a trip to Greece because Athens refuses to allow his plane to land on the airport. The plane bears the Macedonian state symbol, a sensitive image in light of the long-standing name dispute between Greece and Macedonia. Crvenkovski was to attend a summit with Southeastern European heads of state coming week. In April, Greek officials refused to allow Macedonian Airlines to fly over Greek airspace because of the air carrier’s name.
► Radmila Sekerinska steps down as leader SDSM after election loss
On 3 June, Social Democratic Alliance of Macedonia (SDSM) leader Radmila Sekerinska announced that she steps down after the SDSM lost in the 1 June parliamentary elections. Sekerinska, who became the chairwomen of the SDSM in November 2006, said her decision was final, and the right thing to do according to “the principle of responsibility.” The Sun coalition, led by the SDSM, won 28 seats in parliament. The conservative For a Better Macedonia coalition, led by the ruling VMRO-DPMNE, won 64 seats in the 120-seat parliament.
► Prime minister Grueski’s VMRO-DPMNE coalition wins elections marred by violence
According to preliminary results, the centre-right VMRO-DPMNE coalition led by Prime Minister Nikola Grueski has won most votes in the Macedonian parliamentary elections held on 1 June. According to the results, the VMRO-DPMNE coalition won 48.21 percent of the votes. It has thereby won a majority of 64 of the parliament’s 120 seats. The “Sun – Coalition for Europe” block led by the Social-Democratic Alliance of Macedonia is trailing behind with 23.19 percent of the vote, or 28 seats. The country’s two ethnic Albanian parties also managed to secure representation: the Democratic Union for Integration (DUI) won 11.23 percent of the vote, while rival Democratic Party of Albanians (DPA) won 10.33 percent. Both will receive 13 seats. Elections were marred with violence and irregularities, mostly in the predominantly ethnic Albanian northwest of the country. Several shooting incidents took place, in which one man died and at least eight were injured. Shoot-outs took place both between the rival ethnic Albanian groups or in standoffs with the police. Twenty-one people were arrested.Tensions between both ethnic Albanian parties have been high since the 2006 elections, when Gruevski picked the DPA as a coalition partner, despite it won fewer voter than the DUI. Both parties have accused each other and the police of the violence. Ali Ahmeti, leader of the DUI, held the DPA responsible for “provocations, violence and psychological terror.” On 12 May, his car was attacked during the election campaign, in what was allegedly an attempt to kill him. Menduh Thaci, leader fo the PDA, however, said the DUI had “staged the incident.”Ethnic Albanians make up about a quarter of Macedonia's 2.1 million inhabitants. Due to the violence and rapports about fraud, 22 polling stations (1 percent of the total) had to be closed. The election commission has announced to repeat elections in those districts on 8 June. The elections, which were called after Macedonia’s governing coalition fell over the issues of recognition of Kosovo and Greece’s veto to give the country a NATO invitation, were supposed to prove Macedonia’s credentials to join the EU and NATO. However, upon claiming victory in the ballots, Gruevski said that while he regretted the violence, the vote was mostly fair and peaceful. Meanwhile, international observers have reacted in disappointment regarding the violent conduct during the election. Head of the EU mission in Macedonia Erwan Fouere stated “[w]e are deeply concerned by the many … corroborated reports of not only acts of intimidation, but also blatant violence, shooting, injuries to innocent people.” The OSCE commented that "expectations have not been met" when it comes to the vote, saying there were “massive violations.” Apart from intimidation, fraud and violence in the predominantly ethnic Albanian areas, the OSCE also concluded that throughout the campaign, the media generally favoured the ruling VMRO-DPMNE.
► DPA leader Menduh Thaci announces he will leave politics
On 29 May, 3 days before Macedonia’s parliamentary elections staged on 1 June, Democratic Party of Albanians (DPA) leader Menduh Thaci announced his plans to leave politics. According to Thaci, he would leave politics after the ballot, stating that “[e]ven if I win the elections, I intend to withdraw from the political scene.” He added that the era of “politicians from the period of transition”, including him, is coming to an end.
► PM Gruevski reiterates Macedonia will not compromise on name dispute with Greece
On 28 May, during the campaign period for the Macedonian parliamentary elections, Prime Minister and leader of the VMRO-DPMNE coalition Nikola Gruevski reiterated that according to him, Macedonia is not ready to compromise on the name dispute with Greece for the sake of EU and NATO membership. “We can’t do that at the cost of losing our identity, our language and our nation,” he said, while adding that all parties realise “there is no alternative for Macedonia” to Euro-Atlantic integration. During the NATO Bucharest summit in the beginning of April, Greece vetoed NATO's membership invitation to Macedonia and threatened to block Macedonia's EU entry as well if the name dispute is not resolved. This was one of the reasons for the Macedonian government to call early elections. Gruevski successfully used the nationalist sentiment during the campaign in order to garner support for his VMRO-DPMNE. The ruling coalition won with over 48 percent of the votes.
Turkey
► Court decision on controversial headscarf case
On 6 June Turkey's top court declared constitutional changes proposed by the ruling AKP party that would have allowed the wearing of the Islamic headscarf in universities invalid, ordering a stay of the amendments. The Constitutional Court held the changes were a breach of the unalterable Article 2 of the Constitution, which states the Turkish Republic is a secular state. The court based its ruling on Article 4 of the Constitution, which stipulates that the Republic's core values, including secularism, cannot be altered. The court declared itself able to rule on the substance of a constitutional amendment, normally excluded from the court's authority by Article 148. The top court will now be able to decide on further applications to demand wearing of the headscarf in universities, based on this decision, effectively rendering them inconsistent with the Constitution. The court's decision is expected to have major implications on the closure case against the Justice and Development Party (AKP), where the constitutional changes on the headscarf, ruled to be violating the secular values of the Republic by the court, were cited as an evidence that the party has become a “focal point for anti-secular activities.” AKP deputies, the opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) had backed the constitutional changes by 411 for, 103 against on 9 February. The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) and the Democratic Left Party (DSP) took the amendments to the court, which accepted to look into their constitutionality on March 6. Opinions among women are divided. On 7 June about 500 women demonstrated against the court’s decision in the southeastern city of Diyarbakır, and hundreds more in colourful headscarves chanted slogans in Istanbul. Others, however, seem relieved by the decision, fearing that headscarves in universities would just be the first step, and that if the headscarf is allowed into the public sphere all Turkish women will one day be forced to cover up. However, in a further development, the chairman of the Justice Committee in Parliament and ruling Just and Development Party (AKP), Ankara deputy, Ahmet İyimaya, came up with a surprise proposal on 9 June to suspend the verdict. He proposed a constitutional amendment known as the “suspension veto,” which would allow Parliament to suspend the Constitutional Court's decisions in annulation and objection cases. It would require a written proposal by one-third of all deputies and yes vote of three-fifth of Parliament. The AKP brass has not declared a clear position yet. Main opposition Republican People's Party, or CHP, opposed İyimaya's proposal, suspecting it is a move to torpedo the court.
► Thousands rally for peace
On 1 June tens of thousands of people gathered in Kadıköy district on Istanbul's Anatolian side demanding a “peaceful solution” to the Kurdish problem. Many demonstrators at the gathering highlighted their demands for peace, while saying they do not believe that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is sincere in his desire to solve the problem. The demonstration was held by the Peace Assembly, a civil society organization consisting of academics, journalists, trade union representatives, intellectuals and political parties. The gathering is unlikely to be the last of its kind, as the Kurdish question will continue to exist, said another participant, a non-Kurd from the southern province of Adana. “But we have hope, otherwise we would not be here,” he continued, noting, “Opposition in Turkey is not well organized.”
► Turkey to sign Kyoto protocol
On 30 May Turkey began mobilizing to sign the Kyoto protocol, a U.N.-endorsed international agreement to stabilize greenhouse gas emissions and limit global warming. Environment Ministery Veysel Eroğlu stated that he has sent a letter to the Foreign Ministry stating that joining and approving of the Kyoto protocol is appropriate for Turkey. On 2 June the Turkish government decided to adopt the Kyoto Protocol. Turkey previously rejected signing the protocol, arguing the country needed the opportunity to first complete its industrial development. The protocol binds 37 developed nations to cut greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 5 percent below 1990 levels by 2008-2012.
► Court decides to close down Istanbul gay rights association
On 29 May an Istanbul court decided to shut down Istanbul's only gay rights association on the grounds that it violates the law for the protection of family and public morality. Members of Lambda Istanbul said they were surprised by the court's decision, and voiced their plan to appeal to the Supreme Court of Appeals to seek to annul the decision using all available legal channels. İzlem Aybastı, a member of Lambda, stated that “if the Supreme Court gives a closure decision as well, [they] will apply to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR)”. The governor's office claimed that the name of the association, which includes words like gay, lesbian, transsexual and bisexual, violates family and public morality, and that the aims of Lambda violate the law governing associations. Lambda Istanbul was founded in 1993 and became an association in 2006.
► Alleged Turkish Watergate
On 28 May the leader of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Deniz Baykal claimed that the room of the party's general secretary was bugged by security forces, and tapped conversations were leaked to an Islamic daily, Vakit. “Some illegal organizations nestled within state institutions are systematically employing technological means against some citizens. It is obviously the government who controls these actions,” Baykal said. Ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Vice President Dengir Mir Mehmet Fırat accused Baykal of being paranoid and speaking nonsense, during a press conference. Interior Minister Beşir Atalay said he ordered the Ankara governor to file a criminal complaint, and summoned prosecutors to investigate claims. “We must shed light on this event, if the claims are true, it is a dire violation not only of law, but also of ethics,” Atalay said. The party headquarters were thoroughly searched, but no trace of bugging was found, raising suspicions that the office was being tapped from outside the party's premises. On 29 May the Ankara government offered the CHP to establish a joint parliamentary commission to investigate the incident over the alleged tapping. Interior Minister Beşir Atalay’s proposal was, however, not welcomed by the CHP, which took the wiretapping incident to Parliament on the same day. “The purpose of establishing a commission is to dilute the incident,” Hakkı Süha Okay, CHP deputy parliamentary group leader told lawmakers. Okay harshly criticized the government and asked Atalay to resign. Atalay responded that he was not appointed by the CHP and thus could not be asked to resign by them. He advised the main opposition to wait for the results of the investigation. On 30 May the CHP sued Islamic Vakit daily newspaper, which had published a private conversation of the secretary general in minute detail. In response the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) directed its fire against CHP leader Deniz Baykal and sued him for accusing the AKP of systematically violating bans on electronic tapping. The ruling party also requested an inquiry into the Parliament speaker. However, on 2 June the explanation of the mysterious eavesdropping incident was cleared up, as the sued Vakit newspaper produced an official Türk Telekom document that proves Önder Sav , the CHP official in question, forgot to hang up his mobile phone after a conversation he had with a Vakit reporter just before meeting governor Serindağ, which had supposedly been tapped.
► Pro-Kurdish Democratic Society party (DTP) elects new parliamentary group leader
On 27 May the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) elected hardliner Emine Ayna, a Mardin deputy, as its parliamentary group leader yesterday during the group's closed meeting in Parliament. Moderate Ahmet Türk, another Mardin deputy, stepped down to allow for Ayna's election. Ayna, in her first speech as DTP group leader, condemned military operations in northern Iraq against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). She also accused the government of failing to keep its promises regarding the cultural and political rights of the Kurds. She called on the government to “take serious steps,” and maintained that a peace process can only start with “withdrawal of armed units” from the borders, as occurred in 1999.
► Unions unhappy with new union law
On 27 May, a draft bill seeking to make certain changes to the Law on Unions and Collective Bargaining Agreement Strike and Lockout law, was ratified by the Parliament. According to the bill unions and confederations will be able to launch branches abroad, non-Turkish citizens are allowed to launch unions, and new criteria for collective bargaining have been set. In addition, the unions that have over 80,000 members or that are members of a confederation represented in the Economic and Social Council will be authorized to engage in collective bargaining. Finally, a notary won't be necessary to be a member to the union. The unions, however, are unhappy with the changes finding them insufficient. They criticized the draft bill for not meeting the International Labor Organization (ILO) standards, European social rights and freedom requirements. “The abolition of the notary requirement in union membership is a positive change, but it is not enough,” said Süleyman Çelebi, the chairman of the Confederation of Revolutionary Worker's Unions (DİSK). He added, “Everyone should have the right to launch a union or become its member. The professional and management threshold, which is 10 percent, should be removed all together.” He also said the procedure for collective bargaining should be eased. “The bans and handicaps on strikes should be abolished,” he said. The closure reasons of unions are still problematic after the draft bill, according to the DİSK chairman. “We cannot regard this bill as a reform since it does not alter the obstacles to general strikes and strike delays,” said Çelebi. The collective bargaining agreement should be a right that can be used by all workers according to the unions. Çelebi said the unions' demands are not met with the bill. The internal affairs of the unions should be organized by the unions themselves without restraint and the unions should have the right to choose their leader freely, according to DİSK. On 6 June DİSK left the International Labour Organisation citing the fact that changes to the country's labor code have not been brought before Parliament's general assembly and arguing that the proposed law does not meet ILO standards
► President Gül as mediator in judiciary-government row
On 26 May president Gül met with members of the judiciary to take a first (yet vital) step towards mediation in the tension between the judiciary and the government that has been going on since March this year. The meeting has reportedly produced positive results, allowing the head of state to continue in his role as a mediator. Hasan Gerçeker, head of the Supreme Court of Appeals, stated that it had been agreed that the president will take steps in order not to let the tension continue. He also called the meeting a very positive one, with a discussion concerning the elimination of the tension. In the meantime, Foreign Minister Babacan stated on 9 June that the ruling party is moving on a strong basis of legitimacy, and it will obey the Constitutional Court's verdict on the closure case against it.
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WESTERN BALKANS
Albania
► Albanian Socialist Party launches series of regional conferences on agriculture
On 8 June, the Albanian oppsition Socialist Party (SP) launched a series of regional conferences on agriculture in the northern town of Shkodra. The conference was the first in a planned series of 12 regional conferences around the country. During the event, SP leader Rama stated that “[t]his is the larges and most serious process ever taken up by a political force in Albania, which is seriously preparing to govern starting from next year.”
► Albanian chief prosecutor submits worrying report signalling increased criminal activity
On 3 June, Albanian chief prosecutor Ina Rama submitted a report on criminal activity in the country in 2007 to the Albanian parliament. The document covers crimes linked to corruption and crimes and violations committed by state and other public employees. According to the document, compared to 2006 the level of criminal activity increased by 11 percent, the number of criminal proceedings against state employees climbed by 21 percent, and the number of corruption cases increased significantly.
► EC presents conditions for visa liberalisation to Albania
On 3 June, Albanian foreign minister Lulzim Basha in Brussels received a document with the conditions set by the European Commission to come to an agreement on visa liberalisation with the EU. According to the document, Albania must work on biometric passports for all citizens, legislation regulation the movements of citizens outside the country, and the equipping and training of border police and all other border officials. Albania must also establish mechanism to control migration and organised trafficking. More general standards the government must meet include increased efforts to fight organized crime, corruption and money laundering, and a full cooperation with internatioanal organisations and respect for international conventions. Tirana’s efforts to meet these conditions will determine the speed of the visa liberalisation process.
► Albania offers families displaced by Gerdec blasts housing in holiday resort
On 2 June, the Vlora municipality, began distributing a monthly allowance of 200 euros to all families displaced by the 15 March explosions at an ammunitions depot in Gerdec. Around 3.000 people lost their homes in the blasts. A week earlier, Albanian authorities organised a meeting with representatives of international institutions in Tirana asking for help in rebuilding the Gerdec area. The EU offered assistance for education, healthcare, infrastructure development and agriculture, but warned that no family should return to the area until it is cleared of unexploded ammunition. The Albanian government has since decided to move displaced families from their temporary shelters to a state-owned holiday resort in Durres.
► US diplomat calls Albania’s efforts to combat human trafficking “unsatisfactory”
At a conference hosted by the Albanian interior ministry intended to unveil a joint international strategy to combat human trafficking, representative of the US embassy in Tirana Steven Zate called Albania’s efforts to combat human trafficking “unsatisfactory” in the eyes of the international community, pointing out that “Albania remans a base for woman and child trafficking.” The conference signals an attempt by the Albanian government to step ut the fight against human trafficking in the country. Deputy Interior Minister Iva Zajmi said “border points are the weakest link” in the fight against child trafficking.
► Albanian anti-corruption panel to start random investigation into assets of officials
On 26 May, the Albanian High Inspectorate for Declaration and Audit (HIDA) announced its intention to investigate the assets of 152 randomly chosen officials, looking for possible conflicts of interest. HIDA will comb through information on real estate holdings, bank accounts and other assets of deputy prime ministers, members of parliaments, ambassadors, prosecutors and judges. Recently, a decision was taken to strip all parliamentarians and other officials of their immunity, after former Defence Minister Fatmir Mediu was suspected of corruption and mismanagement in the Gerdec blasts case. The Albanian parliament will vote in two weeks on whether to lift Mediu’s immunity. During a parliamentary session on 5 June, Mediu asked the parliament to vote on his immunity immediately. However, it was argued that doing so would violate procedures.
Bosnia-Herzegovina
► Decertified policemen start new protests against work ban
On 9 June, decertified policemen launched new protests outside the Office of the High Representative in Sarajevo, demanding permission to return to work. In 2002, a major security service purge by the UN International Police Task Force sacked approximately 500 police officers from all ethnic communities. Protestors insist High Representative Miroslav Lajcak to implement the decision made by the UN Security Council over a year ago that liftst the lifetime work ban affecting most of them. They threatened to begin hunger strikes if the authorities fail to resolve their situation.
► Bosniak parties reach agreement on joint participation in local elections RS
On 5 June, the two largest Bosniak parties, the Party for BiH (SBiH) and the Party of Democratic Action (SDA) reached an agreement on joint participation in the local elections in Republika Srpska (RS). Local elections in BiH are scheduled for 5 October. The SbiH and SDA said that in municipalities where no agreement exists, they will form candidate lists based on the results of the 2004 municipal elections or 2006 general elections. They furthermore agreed that the SDA would nominate a candidate for mayor of Srebrenica, while the SbiH will put forward a candidate for mayor of Prijedor. These are the two towns in RS with the largest Bosniak populations.
► BiH receives road map for visa-free travel to the EU
According to head of the European Commission’s (EC) Directorate General for Enlargement Michael Leigh, on 5 June BiH received an official road map for visa-free travel to the EU. The document sets requirements for reforms in key areas such as security of documents, border management, fundamental rights and the fight against illegal migration, organised crime and corruption. The EC will monitor the implementation of the document regularly. From January 2008, visa requirements had already been softened. Currently, around fifty percent of BiH citizens travelling to the EU are exempt from the visa fee.
► BiH parliament rejects motion to dismiss foreign minister and deputy ministers
On 4 June, BiH’s House of Representatives rejected a motion filed by prime minister Nikola Spiric to dismiss foreign minister Sven Alkalaj, deputy defence minister Igor Crnadak and deputy minister for civil affairs Senad Sepic with a vote of 22 to 9 and one abstention. Spiric launched the procedure to dismiss them on 5 May, after the BiH Central Election Commission ruled they had violated the law on conflict of interest and banned them from public office for four years. The three then refused to resign, and Alkalaj dismissed the CEC’s decision as politically motivated and “part of a partisan political campaign” against him. All three officials have lodged court appeals against the CEC’s decision.
► Office of the High Representative warns against nationalist rhetoric in BiH
On 2 June the Office of the High Representative (OHR) released a statement warning against the use of nationalist rhetoric in BiH. In the statement the OHR says that although it is aware that campaigning for the 5 October local elections has begun, using nationalist rhetoric “could be detrimental to the political atmosphere in BiH.” According to the statement, politicians who truly care about the public should abandon nationalist speeches and instead address issues that really matter to the people. During a congres of the Serb majority in Zagreb on 31 May, Republika Srpska (RS) prime minister Milorad Dodik had said that RS considers itself a state, on which the BiH state was imposed. Croatian president Stipe Mesic, who was also attending the congress, reacted strongly to his words, saying he would expect the Serbian government to send a clear message to RS that it should accept the Dayton Accords.
► BiH prime minister Nikola Spiric confirms SAA will be signed on 16 June
On 4 June, the tripartite presidency of BiH formally approved the signing of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU on 16 June and authorised BiH prime minister Nikola Spiric to sign the document. Returning from Brussels on 27 May, Spiric already said he received assurances that the signing of the SAA between the EU and BiH will occur on 16 June. Signing of the SAA became possible after the BiH parliament in early April adopted a long anticipated police reform law, which the EU had marked as a condition to signing the deal. Since then, a lenthy translation procedure caused considerable delay. Meanwhile, EU High Representative for the Foreign and Security Policy, on 26 May urged BiH parties to start implementing the police reforms. He also implied that progress in this area would lead to the transformation of the Office of the High Representative (OHR) into an Office of the EU Special Representative in BiH. The OHR was to close last summer, but the Peace Implementation Council then decided to extend its mandate indefinitely, arguing local politicians were not yet ready to govern.
► EUFOR to stay in BiH
During a meeting in Brussels on 26 May, EU defence ministers agreed to extend EUFOR’s presence in BiH due to security concerns in the region related to Kosovo’s independence. Slovenian Defence Minister Karl Erjavec, chairman of the meeting in Brussels, motivated the decision by saying “[t]he region is not yet fully stable.” EUFOR is comprised of about 2.500 troops.
Kosovo
► Government reacts against Belgrade’s plans to establish parallel structures for Kosovo Serbs
On 6 June, Kosovo Serbs announced the establishment of a parallel parliament at the state level in Kosovo, based on the results of the 11 May Serbian parliamentary and local elections. The interim Assembly of the Serbian People of Kosovo will convene for the first time on 15 June, the same day Kosovo’s constitution goes into effect. Kosovo’s government immediately denounced the move and insisted any parallel parliament would be illegal, and called upon UNMIK to declare it invalid. The head of the International Civilian Office, Pieter Feith, described any Serb parliament in Kosovo as "regrettable," and insisted that "the state of Kosovo must rule over its entire territory". Serbian Minister for Kosovo Slobodan Samardzic, meanwhile, said Belgrade expects to enjoy extensive administrative powers relating to Kosovo’s Serbs, and has submitted a proposal to that effect to the UN. Earlier, quarrels had already arisen over Belgrade’s plan to establish parallel municipal structures for Kosovo based on the results of the 11 May elections. On 2 June, the Kosovo government dimissed this plan after Kosovo lawmakers had asked for a firm stand against Belgrade’s idea by the government. Deputy prime minister Rame Manaj then told the parliament that “setting up parallel structures on the local level is inadmissible and unviable.” 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 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.” UNMIK has also strongly condemned the Serbian plan to establish parallel municipal structures in Kosovo.
► Kosovo prime minister Hashim Thaci acknowledges confusion about future international presence
During a government meeting on 3 June, Kosovo prime minister Hashim Thaci acknowledged there is confusion about the future international presence in the newly independent country, saying “there are some dilemmas about the transfer of competencies between UNMIK and EULEX.” He added that Kosovo’s institutions are ready to assume all competencies after the new constitution enters into force on 15 June. By this time, UNMIK is supposed to gradually stop its activities, with EULEX taking over under a different mandate. However, the EU’s plans to assume a policing role in Kosovo through the EULEX mission face months of delay. This led NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer to call for clarity in the way UNMIK is going to evolve following 15 June. At the government session, the Kosovo government furthermore adopted five more bills from the supervised independence plan of former UN envoy for Kosovo Martti Ahtisaari, and asked UNMIK to stop the creation of parallel municipal assemblies in areas dominated by Serbs. Belgrade intends to create such assemblies based on the results of the 11 May Serbian local elections, which were held in ethnic Serb Kosovo municipalities in defiance with UNMIK, which condemned them as being illegal.
► Kosovo delegation participates in European Parliament session
On 28 May, a delegation of Kosovo parliamentarians participated in a European Parliament (EP) session for the first time. They presented Kosovo’s new constitution, which takes effect on 15 June. The discussion furthermore centered on the question who will be in charge in Kosovo after this date, as the EU’s police mission to Kosovo, dubbed EULEX, is expected to face delays. On 28 and 29 May, first meeting between Serb and Kosovar MPs at an international forum furthermore took place at the EP, during a joint parliamentary meeting on the Western Balkans. The state of the economy, the role of parliaments and visa issues were on the agenda. During the Kosovar delegation’s presence in Brussels, Kosovo parliament speaker Jakup Krasniqi, who headed the delegation, furthermore talked with several MEPs and with the press to convince people Kosovo should join the EU as soon as possible. Meanwhile, the EU is still divided over Kosovo, as several member states have not recognized the country.
Montenegro
► Prime minister Milo Djukanovic holds press conference marking the hundredth day of government
At a press conference marking the 100th day of his government on 9 June, Montenegrin prime minister Milo Djukanovic said that Montenegro continues to follow the processes related to recognising Kosovo’s independence very carefully and, based on this, will announce its position on the issue in the future. He therewith repeated earlier statements by Montenegrin president Filip Vujanovic, who had said on 16 April that Podgerica believes it should not make any rash statements concerning Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence. Djukanovic furthermore explained that Montenegro’s main priority is becoming a member of the EU and NATO, and said the first hundred days have resulted in “radical progress” in efforts to fight corruption in the judiciary, which Montenegro was urged to by the EU.
► Montenegro to postpone filing of EU candidate status application until autumn
On 27 May, Montenegrin Deputy Prime Minister Gordana Djurovic said that Montenegro will postpone applying for EU candidate status until the autumn, as “the country needs time to strengthen the capacity of EU integration institutions.” Earlier, the government had announced to file an application by the end of June.
Serbia
► Pro-European governing coalition seems more and more likely in Serbia
On 11 June, Serbian dailies reported that a governing coalition of pro-European forces becomes more and more likely in Serbia. Coalition negotiations are still going on in the country since the 11 May parliamentary elections. Although the pro-European coalition led by the Democratic Party (DS) of president Boris Tadic won the elections, the final composition of the government to a great deal depends on the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS). The party of late Serbian president Milosevic came in fourth, after the DS coalition “For a European Serbia,” and the nationalist Serbian Radical Party (SRS) and Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS). However, both the DS coalition and the coalition around the SRS and DSS were not big enough to form a coalition without the support of the SPS, thus giving this party the role of kingmaker. Initially, it looked like the SPS would choose for a coalition with the SRS and DSS, but negotiations with these parties were halted after several smaller parties in the SPS-led coalition objected. An important reason to suspend talks with the DSS and SRS is the legal analysis of the Stabilization and Assosiation Agreement (SAA) with the EU conducted by the DSS, which concludes that the agreement is not in line with the Constitution and can therefore not be ratified. United Serbia (JS) leader Dragan Markovic announced on 5 June his party had asked the SPS and the Associated Pensioner’s Party (PUPS) to break off talks with the SRS and DSS, as “we oppose annulling the SAA, and are in favor of its ratification in parliament. We are for cooperation and EU entry while respecting Resolution 1244.” The SPS is also more European oriented then both SRS and DSS. However, its principle point was that charges against late president Milosevic’s son Marko Milosevic and wife Mira Markovich should be dropped. This obstacle was party removed on 10 June, when Marko Milasevic was acquitted of charges of “causing grievous bodily harm to three members of the Otpor organization.” SRS leader Tomislav Nikolic has reacted disappointed to the latest developments in the coalition negotiations, warning the SPS that voters “remember and know how to get even.”
► Constitutive session of newly elected Serbian parliament held
On 11 June, the mandates of all 250 MPs elected at the 11 May parliamentary elections were verified at the constitutive session of the Serbian parliament. The constitutive session was chaired by Associated Pensioners Party leader Jovan Krkobabic, as the parliament's oldest member. The session closed following the verification of the mandates, with acting speaker Jovan Krkobabic informing MPs that they would be informed as to when the session would resume. The constitution of parliament also marks the beginning of a 90-period for parliament to form a new government. Negotiations are still going on, with a key role for the coalition around the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS). They seem increasingly likely to choose to form a government with the pro-European coalition around the Democratic Party (DS), which won most votes in last elections. Former parliamentary speaker Oliver Dulic (DS) announced earlier that he was almost certain that a that a parliamentary majority would be formed by the coalition gathered around DS, the SPS, and the minority parties, with the new speaker coming from ranks of those parties.
► The Netherlands will not ratify SAA between the EU and Serbia
Adressing the Dutch parliament on 11 June, foreign minister Maxime Verhagen said he will not submit the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) signed between the EU and Serbia to parliament for ratification. According to Verhagen, he has taken this decision because Serbia is not cooperating fully with the Hague Tribunal. He referred to Hague Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz’s report, which states that Serbia has not made any serious effort to find the four remaining major fugitives, including Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic. The Netherlands and Belgium earlier opposed the signing of the SAA between Serbia and the EU until Belgrade achieved full cooperation with the tribunal by arresting all the remaining refugees. However, just ahead of the May elections in Serbia, the two countries agreed to sign the agreement, conditioning its ratification on full cooperation with the Hagua Tribunal.
► Chief prosecutor Serge Brammertz alleges Serbia still not fully cooperating with Hague Tribunal
In his first address to the UN Security Council on 4 June, Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal of the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) Serge Brammertz alleged Serbia is not doing enough to arrest war crimes fugitives. Brammerts, who replaced Carla del Ponte at the beginning of 2008, said “we strongly believe that the remaining fugitives – Ratko Mladic, Radovan Karadzic, Stojan Zupljanin and Goran Hadzic – are near the Serbian authorities and that Serbian authorities could do more to locate and arrest them.” In the regular six-month report, he suggested that local authorities were exploiting political uncertainty in Serbia to justify their insufficient co-operation. On 5 June, Serbian National Council for Cooperation with the UN war crimes tribunal chief Rasim Ljajic rejected the criticism of Brammertz, and insisted the report of the chief prosecutor was “incorrect.” Ljajic reiterated that the four remaining high-profile fugitives are not within the reach of Serbian authorities, and denied Brammertz’s claim that the tribunal lacked access to Serbian archives.
► EU foreign ministers express hope for a pro-European Serbian government
After a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels on 26 May, the Council issued a statement saying it hopes that Serbia will form a pro-European government that “will engage contructively in the Stabilisation and Association (SAA) process.” The Council furthermore reiterates that “Serbia will be able to advance further on its EU path, including candidate status, once the necessary conditions are met.” Outgoing Serbian foreign minister Vuk Jeremic (Democratic Party, DS), said after the meeting that a government based on pro-European values, formed under the lead of the DS, would be absolutely acceptable to the EU. He furthermore added that “parties that seek to annul the SAA [Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) and Serbian Radical Party (SRS)] are a problem in the eyes of the EU.”
► Court procedure against Stanisic and Simatovic again postponed
The judges of the International Criminal Tribune of the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in The Hague on 28 May again postponed the process against the Serbians Jociva Stanisic and Franko Simatovic, to former top functionaries of the Yugoslavian secret services. According to the judges, Stanisic (57) is in such a bad health condition that he is unable to attend the proceedings. He furthermore suffers from depression, and is said to be suicidal. According to the rules of the VN court, a suspect should be physically and mentally able to follow the process. Stanisic, who was leader of the state security services (DB) from 1991 to 1998, is widely regarded as a close cooperative of Milosevic. Simatovic replaced Stanisic, and was first commander of the Red Barrets, a secret unit of the Serbian police. The SD was responsible for paramilitary actions in Croatia and Bosnia, carried out by extremely violent militias. According to the prosecutors, these militias were organised, led and financed by Stanisic and Simatovic. They are accused of involvement in the ethnic cleansings during the wars in Croatia and Bosnia (1991-1995), crimes against humanity, and war crimes.
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WIDER EUROPE / NEIGHBOUR COUNTRIES
Armenia
► Chief prosecutor criticises ombudsman for unrest report
On 5 June Prosecutor-General Aghvan Hovsepian strongly criticized Armenia’s human rights Ombudsman Armen Harutiunian for challenging the official version of the deadly street clashes that followed the recent presidential election. The Armenian authorities have defended the use of lethal force against thousands of supporters of opposition leader Levon Ter-Petrosian and say security forces that tried to disperse the angry crowd were not only pelted with stones and Molotov cocktails but also came under gunfire. Harutiunian cast doubt on the credibility of the official theory in an extensive report issued in late April. The report said in particular that the Armenian police have yet to publicize any evidence of the use of firearms by the protesters. It stressed that the deadly violence was sparked by the dispersal of some 2,000 Ter-Petrosian supporters camped out in Liberty Square. It also said that contrary to police assurances the protesters were “not given any time to stop the rally.” The Office of the Prosecutor-General and the Ministry of Justice voiced strong objections to the ombudsman’s findings in separate reports released late last month. The move led the human rights committee of the Armenian parliament to hold hearings on the controversy. Speaking at the hearings, Hovsepian claimed that Harutiunian’s report is based on “unfounded” opposition claims and is therefore not objective. He said the ombudsman also overstepped his constitutional powers by making recommendations. In his speech before the panel, Harutiunian rejected the accusations. He claimed that the Office of the Prosecutor-General and the Justice Ministry deliberately “distorted” the content of his report in order to avoid answering questions raised by it. He also said Armenia’s constitution and laws do not empower the prosecutors to challenge statements made by the human rights defender.
► New opposition rally planned
On 3 June former President Levon Ter-Petrosian and his opposition allies reaffirmed their intention to defy a possible government ban and on 20 June to hold their first major rally since the post-election clashes in Yerevan. In a written statement, Ter-Petrosian’s Popular Movement, an umbrella structure uniting more than two dozen opposition groups, offered to cooperate with the municipal authorities and the Armenian police in maintaining public order during the planned rally. A top aide to Ter-Petrosian, Levon Zurabian, said that the organizers will formally ask the Yerevan mayor’s office to authorize the gathering. But he made it clear they will urge supporters to converge on the city’s Liberty Square even if the application is rejected by the authorities. The planned demonstration will come just three days before the start of the June session of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) that will discuss Yerevan’s compliance with its recent resolution on the political situation in Armenia. One of the key demands of the resolution is a repeal of controversial legal amendments that enable the authorities to ban anti-government street protests practically at will. The authorities maintained their de facto ban on opposition protests after the end of emergency rule on 21 March by enacting controversial amendments to Armenia’s law on public gatherings. Bowing to Western pressure, the Armenian parliament last month passed a bill easing those restrictions. However, the Ter-Petrosian camp insisted on 3 June that the changes are “cosmetic.”
► Opposition party to turn down government position
On 27 May it was reported that Zharangutiun, the only opposition party represented in Armenia’s parliament will turn down a likely offer to head one of the standing committees of the National Assembly. The government-controlled assembly voted on 26 May to increase the number of those commissions from 9 to 12. One of the three new positions is likely to be offered to Raffi Hovannisian’s opposition Zharangutyun party. The choice of the committee would most likely be left to Zharangutyun. The Armenian authorities will likely present the move as a further indication of their compliance with a resolution on the post-election situation in Armenia adopted by the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) last month. The resolution says, among other things, that the opposition minority in the Armenian parliament should play a greater role in the legislative process. However, according to Stepan Safarian, one of the seven Zharangutyun deputies in the 131-member parliament, the offer “has nothing to do with the PACE resolution” and will be rejected by his party. “This is a bill that was prepared within the framework of intra-coalition agreements and serves coalition goals,” he told reporters. The pressure on the Armenian government has been mounting, as on 28 May PACE Monitoring Committee officials urged the Armenian authorities to “intensify” their efforts to take steps towards the PACE resolution and expressed concern at the Armenian government’s failure so far to launch an independent inquiry into the deadly post-election violence in Yerevan and release arrested opposition members. On the same day, the US State Department described Armenia’s recent presidential election as “significantly flawed,” effectively distancing itself from the election’s largely positive assessment by Western observers. On 30 May OSCE toned down its initial, largely positive, assessment of Armenia’s recent presidential election on Friday, citing serious irregularities that were witnessed by its observers after the closure of the polls. In its final election report, the OSCE mission observer in Armenia said the freedom and fairness of the 19 February vote was “devalued” by fraud registered during the vote count and recount.
► Internal changes in government coalition’s Dashnak party
On 27 May it was announced that Dashnak party members Agriculture Minister David Lokian, Labor and Social Affairs Minister Aghvan Vartanian and Education Minister Levon Mkrtchian had decided to resign their minister posts after being elected to the party’s worldwide governing Bureau. According to Hrant Markarian, the newly re-elected de facto head of the Bureau “their resignation was their personal choice. They [decided] that being a member of the Bureau [was] much more important than holding the post of minister.” The three men occupied the ministerial posts in the administration of former President Robert Kocharian for the past several years. Kocharian’s successor, Serzh Sarkisian, reappointed them to Armenia’s new coalition government formed by him the previous month. On the same day Hrant Markarian, the newly reelected de facto head of the party Bureau also lashed out at opposition leader Levon Ter Petrosian saying that his post-election street protests were part of a Western plot to stage a “color revolution” in Armenia. He said the use of lethal force against Ter-Petrosian supporters protesting against the alleged falsification of the February 19 presidential election was therefore justified. He also said Dashnaktsutyun was right to remain part of a government which it strongly criticized during the election campaign. On 29 May the party expelled Ruben Hakobian, one of its prominent members who has challenged the legitimacy of President Serzh Sarkisian and called for the holding of fresh national elections. In response to the expulsion, Hakobian criticized the current party leadership on 30 May, saying that its “unprincipled” stance has enabled former President Levon Ter-Petrosian to emerge as the country's main opposition force.
Azerbaijan
► Official start to presidential elections in late July
On 10 June, chairman of the Azerbaijani Central Election Commission Mazahir Panakhov state that the official start to presidential elections would take place in late July. Panakhov said the commission is ready for elections, which will be held on 15 October this year.
► Electoral Code alterations
On 2 June proposed annexes to alterations to the Electoral Code of Azerbaijan were presented by the parliament. Thus, the draft amendments to the Electoral Code of Azerbaijan excludes a paragraph according to which a candidate to president could pay monetary deposits instead of signatures. The term of election campaign has been reduced from 120 to 75 days. The number of voters' signatures, needed for registration of candidates for presidents, has been lowered by 5,000 signatures, bringing the required number of signatures to 40,000. According to deputy chief of OSCE Baku office Alexis Shahtakhtinski proposals on reduction of the terms of election campaign were not contained in the draft amendments to the Electoral Code, put forward by the presidential administration of Azerbaijan to representatives of the Venice Commission, Human Rights Bureau and democratic institutions of OSCE and IFES. He said longer election campaign would be more expedient. The Liberal Democratic and Musavat opposition parties have already voiced their discontent with the alterations. Panakh Huseyn (Musavat) warned about possible unsanctioned protests, while the Liberal Democrats directed a letter to president Aliev calling on him to annul the parliament’s decision.
► “Our Azerbaijan” opposition block to support Eldar Namazov (“For the Sake of Azerbaijan”)
On 30 May the opposition block "Our Azerbaijan" decided to support the candidacy of the president of the forum "For the sake of Azerbaijan" Eldar Namazov during the presidential elections. The block representatives explain the decision by saying that their position on the upcoming presidential elections coincides with Eldar Namazov's platform, and call on “all political powers and public organizations to support the president of the forum "For the sake of Azerbaijan" Eldar Namazov during the presidential elections”.
► Amendments to law on freedom of assembly passed
On 30 May amendments and alterations to the law on Freedom of Assembly were passed by the parliament with 98 votes in favour and 2 against. Parliament member Ahmed Oruj, speaking on the amendments, noted that in Azerbaijan meetings mostly become a field for extremism. His colleague, chairman of the opposition Great Creation party Fazil Qazanfaorghlu noted that the constitution does not envision restrictions regarding freedom of assembly and such restrictions are introduced by the law. Member of the oppositional Musavat parliamentary group, Intizam Akperli believes that the proposed amendments do not have anything positive while all the restrictive factors of the old law remain in force. For instance, he did not agree with a paragraph that bans holding mass actions just before international events. Some other disagreements involving certain paragraphs included, for instance, the pro-government Ana Veten party chairman, deputy Fazail Aghamaly. While supporting the alterations to the law, he said he does not agree with the paragraph, which allows foreigners to conduct mass actions. "For example, Azerbaijan starts military actions for liberation of occupied lands. At the same time, religious sects, mainly led by foreigners, may start meetings against it. I think this is inadmissible", he noted. One of the leaders of Azerbaijan's oppositional Popular Front Party Qulamhuseyn Alibeyli stated on 31 May that the amendments introduced to the law "On Freedom of Assembly" are of a cosmetic nature and do not change the existing state, as the executive bodies still have a right to restrict freedom of assembly. The Liberal Democratic party also disapproves of the amendments. A statement released on 4 June by the party press centre reads: "The amendments and alterations to the law "On Freedom of Assembly", separate Azerbaijan from democracy. They will create problems between the citizens and authorities, cause damage on the activity of the opposition and the democratic image of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev”.
► Process of voter lists specification completed
On 27 May spokesman for the Central Election Commission Azer Sariyev stated that the Central Election Commission has ratified the process of specification of the lists of voters. He said Azerbaijan currently accounts for 4,834,584 voters with 2,320,697 men and 2,513,887 women. "The number of voters at the age of 18 is 55,482 people. The age group from 19 to 35 years old consists of 1,864,121 voters, the age group from 36 to 55 of 2,020,925 voters, and the age group of over 56 years -894,056 voters", Sariyev said.
Belarus
► Belarus rejects US concerns about detained lawyer
On 28 May, Belarus rejected US concerns about the health of Emanual Zeltser, a US lawyer detained in Belarus on drug trafficking charges. He has been held in custody in Minsk since 12 March, when he was arrested on charges of smuggling medications containing illegal drugs, which he should have declared when entering Belarus, and faces up to seven years in prison.Zeltser is reported to be suffering from a serious health condition and being denied vital medications in custody. On 19 May the US State Department said it was “deeply concerned” about Zeltser’s deteriorating health. It said the consulate had been allowed to visit him only twice and he was being prevented from taking required daily medicine. The US State Department furthermore urged Minsk to release Emanuel Zeltser on "humanitarian grounds." A spokesman for the KGB internal security service said the health of Zmeltser was okay: "Regarding Zeltser's health I can say with complete confidence that it is okay and all attempts to polemicize this issue are nothing other than pressure on the investigation."
► Belarusian opposition politicians meet with president of the European Parliament
On 27 May, Belarusian opposition politicians Alyaksandr Milinkevich and Pavel Sevyarnets met with the president of the European Parliament, Hans-Gert Poettering in Brussels. Milinkevich, a former presidential candidate and leader opposition figure, and Sevyarynets, a co-founder of the opposition Belarusian Christian Democracy Party, appealed to the international community over regular violations of the right to freedom of conscience in Belarus. They also handed Poettering a petition calling for the liberalisation of Belarus’ religious regulations, which was signed by more than 50.000 people.
► Vladimir Putin named prime minister of the Russia-Belarus alliance
On 27 May, Belarusian president Lukashenka announced he named Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin the prime minister of the Russia-Belarus alliance. According to the Belarusian state news agency, the move was coordinated with Russian president Dmitry Medvedev. The post, officially called the chairman of the union's Council of Ministers, has been held by the Russian prime minister since 2000. The position was created in December 1999, along with the post of chairman of the Supreme State Council, which has been held since its creation by Lukashenko. In 1996, Russia and Belarus signed an agreement that envisaged close political, economic and military ties. However, efforts to achieve a full merger have foundered, and structures of the alliance have only limited powers. Lukashenko angrily rejected a Kremlin proposal in 2002 to incorporate his nation into Russia, and negotiations on strengthening the union have stalled. Relations between the two countries have furthermore gotten under pressure due to conflicts over Russian energy exports to Belarus. Last year, Lukashenka denounced Russia as a "huge monster" when Russia more than doubled the price of natural gas and imposed a customs duty that made oil more expensive. But many the meaning Putin’s new appointment is not yet completely clear. Kremlin observers expected the idea of a unified state to resurface and Vladimir Putin to become president of such a unified state of Russia and Belarus after he stepped down earlier this month as Russian president. They are watching for signs that Putin is trying to consolidate power in the new post. Meanwhile, the US said to be “concerned” about the new sign of deepening ties between Belarus and Russia at a time of heightened tensions with both countries. Karen Stewart, US ambassador to Minsk until she was forced to leave the country under pressure of the Belarusian government in March 2008, furthermore said "we have no objection to the integration of states as long as it is voluntary, as long as the people have been able to express their will and it is mutually beneficial and does not erect barriers to the wider community of nations."
Georgia
► Opposition rally outside parliament during its first session
On 6 June several hundred protesters were gathered by midnight outside the Parliament building, following the eight-party opposition coalition's call for supporters to rally. The rally was called shortly after it was announced late on 6 June that the newly elected parliament’s inaugural session would be convened on 7 June. By the next morning a few dozen people, including some opposition leaders from the eight-party coalition, were still gathered outside the parliament. Riot police were not to be seen in the immediate vicinity of the parliament; only parliamentary security were visible, sealing off the entrance. The session was not hindered, as Saakashvili addressed the parliament in his opening speech. During the inaugural session of the parliament Davit Bakradze from the pro-government United National Movement party was elected parliament speaker unanimously. Meanwhile, only a few hundred protesters gathered outside Parliament. “Our goal is to leave the ruling party alone in this illegal Parliament,” Davit Gamkrelidze, the leader of the New Rights Party, part of the eight-party coalition, told the rally. “Shame on those parties and politicians who enter Parliament.” The opposition soon dispersed when told to do so by the opposition leaders, who will discuss how to proceed. In a symbolic gesture to confirm their commitment, opposition leaders, including Levan Gachechiladze, Davit Gamkrelidze, Koba Davitashvili, Shalva Natelashvili and others cut up their MP IDs with scissors.
► CEC confirms election results on parliament seat distribution
On 4 June the CEC announced the official final vote tally. The seat distribution in the new Georgian parliament according to the election results is as follows: out of 150 seats Saakashvili’s National Movement holds 119, the eight-party opposition block – 17, the Labour Party and the Christian Democrats each hold 6, and the Republican Party holds the remaining 2. On the same day representatives of the eight-block opposition party reaffirmed their plans to picket outside the parliament building during the first parliament session, which will take place no later than 10 June.
► Reported attacks on opposition party members
On 30 May three separate cases of attacks against opposition party activists, that took place on 29 and 30 May were reported. Dachi Jgarkava and Amiran Iobashvili, both from the eight-party opposition coalition, said they were attacked by unknown masked men and beaten up. Both reported incidents took place in Tbilisi. The opposition Republican Party stated on the same day that its activist Ramin Abuladze was also attacked in Gori at his apartment. The opposition said the attacks were politically motivated. On 2 June the opposition New Rights Party reported that its member Giorgi Tavdgiridze was attacked and beaten near his apartment in Tbilisi on the same day. Tavdgiridze, a former rector of the Georgian Military Academy, was hospitalized with head injuries. The New Rights Party has alleged that the authorities are behind all the attacks. According to Sozar Subari, by 4 June the number of activists attached rose to at least 12. He said that all 12 victims, including one woman, were opponents of the authorities and it would be “turning a blind eye on the truth to think they were ordinary criminal acts.” Subari also suggested that the number of attacks was higher than the 12 reported, saying many victims of attacks and intimidation refused to officially speak out “because of fear.” In a tough worded statement, Subari said the violation of human rights by the authorities had taken “a systematic pattern.” Shota Khizanishvili, an Interior Ministry spokesman, told Civil.Ge, on June 4 that investigations were ongoing into the reported cases.
► Opposition divided
On 26 May Paata Davitaia, leader of the small political party On Our Own, which was part of the nine-party opposition bloc, stated that he had quit the coalition over a disagreement on tactics. Davitaia said that although he fully agreed with the coalition’s decision to boycott the new parliament, he was strongly opposed to the coalition plans to set up “an alternative parliament.” With this latest decision the coalition has now turned into the eight-party opposition block. Other leaders from the block said, while commenting on Davitaia’s decision that the most important thing was that the On Our Own party remained committed to the pledge not to enter the new parliament. However, on 10 June it was announced that three other members would be quitting the opposition coalition:: Dimitri Lortkipanidze (a member of Georgia’s Way Party until his resignation shortly after the elections), Gia Tortladze and Giorgi Tsagareishvili – both were individual member of the coalition. In addition, the Christian-Democrat party has already stated it will not be taking part in the boycott, however, it also did not attend the parliament’s inaugural session despite having obtained 6 seats. With respect to the subject of the turmoil of the recent elections, 39 polling station have been annulled by election administrations and courts to date. On 29 May The Central Election Commission stated that the opposition Republican Party handed over election footage for investigation to the General Prosecutor’s Office and it was not yet in a position to react. In the meantime president Saakashvili referred to the recent elections as ‘exemplary’ on 29 May.
Moldova
► SDPM demands dismissal Chisinau Council Chairman
On 6 June, the Social Democratic Party of Moldova (SDPM) announced its “utter discontent” with the Chisinau Municipal Council’s (CMC) activity and demanded the resignation of its Council Chairman, Liberal Party leader Mihai Ghimpu. The statement issued by the SDPM claims that the city legislature’s work leaves much to be desires, the interaction of political parties represented is inefficient, and the Council leadership members are unable to provide for conditions to resolve acute problems faced by citizens. "The consequences of such [a] situation are chronic unresolved strategic problems, unending scandals at Council meetings, and loss of trust in the democratic coalition that is unable to ensure an efficient city management", the document says. The SDPM faction in the Chisinau Municipal Council had already several times put forth proposals on improving the CMC work, but Chairman Ghimpu consistently ignored them.
► Russia pressures Moldova to leave GUAM and never join NATO
On 28 May, chairman of the Russian State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs and Relations with Compatriots Alexei Ostrovski said on an official visit to Chisinau that “Moscow hopes that the Republic of Moldova will withdraw from GUAM at a certain moment and will never join NATO, but will become closer to Russia.” According to Ostrovski, "Moldova’s neutrality is an advantage first of all for Moldova and its people,” and Russia “does not want the Moldovan soldiers to be used as pawns for satisfying the interests of Bush and his company in (…) hot spots where the NATO troops are deployed.” Ostrovski furthermore said that the State Duma is preoccupied with the settlement of the Transnistrian conflict, and that he welcomed the resumption of dialogue between the leaders of the to banks of the Dniester. However, it seems that Russia’s interest in resolving the conflict comes at the price of caving into Moscow’s demands to leave GUAM and reject NATO. At the same time, the secretary general of GUAM Valery Cecelasvili was quoted by the Azeri press as saying that Moldova does not intend to leave GUAM in the near future. Moldovan Deputy Minister of Reintegration Ion Stavila said the same. “We do not intend to quit GUAM. On the contrary, we want to help intensify interaction in the framework of this organization. We, like all other member-states, are interested in attaining progress and having definite results.”
► Moldovan president Voronin meets with EU external relations commissionern Ferrero-Waldner
On 27 May, Moldovan president Vladimir Voronin met with EU external relations commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner. Moldova, whose current Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) with the EU will expire in June, seeks to negotiate a new accord that will take it perceptibly closer to its eventual goal of EU membership by upgrading the country’s current “partnership” status to that of “association.” After the meeting, Ferrero-Waldner also stated that “a new, broader agreement” is needed. However, it is extremely unlikely that a Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) would be offered to Moldova at this point. Ferrero-Waldner outlined some of the tasks Moldova will have to complete before a new agreement can be signed: "Of course, all that presupposes that the reform efforts are going on, and it's very important to still make reform efforts, particularly in the question of judiciary and police reform, on the question of reforms to create the right business and investment climate, and particularly the fight against corruption," she said. "And since we are also in the run-up to the next election, particularly also media freedom." The commissioner furthermore said the EU and Moldova are working on a "mobility partnership" aimed at easing EU visa restrictions for Moldovan citizens and possibly creating limited opportunities for Moldovan citizens to apply for EU work permits.
Russia
► Russia warns Ukraine and Georgia over NATO accession; reacts to EU plan to mediate over Abkhazia
During separate conversations on the sidelines of an informal summit of leaders from the CIS on 6 June, Russian president Dmitry Medvedev warned his Georgian and Ukrainian counterparts not to join NATO. According to Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov, Medvedev warned Ukraine that this would be in breach of the friendship treaty between the two countries. He furthermore told Viktor Yushchenko that Russia plans to nearly double the gas prices for Ukraine next year. Medvedev told Georgian president Mikhail Saakashvili that pursuing NATO membership would hamper efforts to settle conflicts with pro-Russian separatists in Georgia’s breakaway provinces Abkhazia and Sout Ossetia. Meanwhile, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said after talkst in the Abkhaz capital of Sukhumi on 6 June that the EU wants a greater role in the efforts to settle the crisis in Abkhazia. Solana this week also criticized Moscow for activities related to Abkhazia -- including the deployment of additional Russian troops there. He said the deployment has "raised the temperature" of the crisis.Tensions over Abkhazia have soared since Moscow announced in April that it was establishing more formal ties with the separatists there.In his talks with Saakashvili, Medvedev immediately brushed off the idea of EU mediation over Abkhazia, saying “I thing we can sort out our relations by ourselves.”
► Russian president Medvedev makes first European trip as head of state to Berlin
On 4-5 June, Russian president Dmitry Medvedev made his first European trip as head of state to Berlin. He was welcomed by Germany’s chancellor Angela Merkel, and later had meetings with German president Horst Koehler and several business leaders. During a press conference, Medvedev said that “[i]n the light of the growing negative trends in international affairs, frank dialogue between Russia and Germany is very useful and will continue on a wide spectrum of subjects,” pointing out that “the two countries’ common interests are much greater than their differences.” In the past, tensions arose between Merkel and Medvedev’s predecessor Vladimir Putin, partly due to Merkel’s criticism of human rights violations in Russia and “growing authoritarianism” in the country. However, trade interests between the countries are big, with Germany spending $31bn on gas imports from Russia last year. In his his inauguration on 7 May, Medvedev underlined the importance of a strategic partnership between Russia and Germany, Europe's biggest economy, when he announced the trip to Berlin. Merkel visited Medvedev in Moscow after his victory in presidential elections in March and Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the German foreign minister, was the first foreign dignitary received by the new president after he took office.
► Dmitry Medvedev annuls changes in law as they would ‘hinder’ the normal functioning of the media
On 3 June, Russian president Dmitry Medvedev softened the proposal for a new media law that would enable courts to close media suspected of publishing smear material. Medvedev had already talked disapprovingly about the proposed changes to the media law earlier, which were adopted by the parliament on 25 May, and said that according to him they should not be passed. According to Russia’s new president, they would “hinder” the normal functioning of the media. He subsequently sent his remarks to parliament speaker and chairman of pro-Putin party United Russia Boris Gryzlov.
► Vladimir Putin pays official visit to France as Russia’s prime minister
On 29-30 May, Vladimir Putin paid an official visit to France. As Russia’s new prime minister, he met with French president Nikolas Sarkozy and prime minister Francois Fillon, in the context of France’s upcoming EU presidency from 1 July and the EU-Russia summit that will take place end June. According to Fillon, "during the French European Union presidency, we want to move forward, and why not strike a deal on a strategic partnership between Russia and the EU, which would mark the success of the process of the EU and Russia coming together.” The two sides furthermore talked about energy. Political analysts have pointed out to the unique situation of prime minister Putin making a trip to a European country before newly inaugurated president Dmitry Medvedev, whose first trip to Germany would only take place in the beginning of June. According to one analyst, "Putin is acting like the country's true leader. (…) Even before the presidential elections, it was already clear that Medvedev would be a president on probation, at least for the first few months, maybe even years. Putin has done everything to remain in control of real power and decision making." Putin’s two-day visit to Paris thus seems to confirm the former president is still in charge in the Kremlin.
Ukraine
► Russia angered over Ukrainian plan to mark 350th anniversary of Battle of Konotop
On 10 May, the Russian foreign ministry expressed its “bewilderment and regret” over Ukrainian plans to mark the 350th anniversary of the Battle of Konotop coming July. The Battle of Konotop took place on 29 June, 1659 between Ukraine`s rebel leader, Ivan Vyhovsky, along with his allies, Crimean Tatars and Poles, against the Russian army led by Alexei Trubetskoy. The official statement said "certain forces in Ukraine are trying to search through the common, complex and controversial Russian-Ukrainian history for events and personalities famous for being anti Moscow, against Russia and Russians." "The bloody battle after the treason of another hetman [military commander] is one of them," the ministry said, adding that it hopes that the Ukrainian people will not let the country`s authorities involve it in an "unnatural and sophisticated confrontation with Russia." Ukrainian nationalists claim that during the battle near the northeastern town of Konotop, Vyhovsky defeated a regiment from Moscow, while Russia says Trubetskoy was not crushed, though his army suffered substantial losses. The Russian Foreign Ministry maintained in their statement that the military campaign was launched by Trubetskoy after the military commander, Vyhovsky, broke an oath to Moscow. President Viktor Yushchenko ordered the government in March to set up an organizing committee to commemorate the battle, as well as to shoot a documentary film and build a memorial complex devoted to the "victory."
► Governing coalition Ukraine looses majority in parliament
On 6 June, Ukrainian parliamentarians Ihor Rybakov (ByuT) and Yuri But (OU-PSD) left the democratic coalition. Verhovna Rada (parliament) speaker Arseniy Yatseniuk read their announcements at the plenary session of parliament on that day. According to correspondents, Yatseniuk furthermore told the two parliamentarians to “come to their senses.” The loss of two MPs is a serious problem for the governing coalition in Ukraine. The coalition included 227 of the 450 members of the Ukrainian parliament, a very slim majority. After the two lawmakers have quitted the coalition, there are only 225 MPs left, thus leaving the governing coalition without a majority in parliament. According to the president’s chief of staff Victor Baloha, this does not mean that the governing coalition will be dissolved, as for that to be necessary, a fraction has to withdraw from it instead of individual MPs. He did acknowledge, however, that in this way it will be extremely difficult to push through any laws, although he also stated that as many constitutional changes are proposed “it is always necessary to look for a broad coalition of 450 MPs.” Meanwhile, on 11 June prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko called upon the ministers to “continue fruitful work and not to pay attention to the political squabble” in Ukraine. “Let’s just do our work,” she was quoted as saying.
► PES proposes Black Sea Union
On 29 May, the Party of European Socialists (PES) announced the plan to establish a Black Sea Union. According to Hannes Swoboda, MP for the PES, the goal of the plan is to find common solutions for the problems in the region, for instance in the areas of environment, migration and security. The plan would create “cooperation on the basis of equality,” and needs the support of “important countries such as Russia and Turkey,” as it is impossible to make an effective policy without those countries. Although the plan is not connected to future membership of the EU of Turkey or the other Eastern European countries, the PES considers it important to offer those countries something on the short term, as they often have to wait for membership for a long time. Countries that should become member of the new union are, next to Turkey and Russia, also Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. The plan comes in the wake of an earlier proposal, made by Poland and Sweden on 26 May, to focus more attention on the Eastern dimension of the European Neighbourhood Policy, to set up a new “EU-Eastern Partnership.” The PES plans to present the proposal to the French presidency of the EU, which starts on 1 July, after the summer.
► Poland and Sweden float plan for EU “Eastern Partnership”
At a EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels on 26 May, Poland and Sweden floated a plan to set up a new EU “Eastern Partnership” for Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. The initiative seeks to reinforce the EU’s ties with its eastern neighbours, with a view of eventually putting them on the path of EU membership. According to Polish foreign minister Rasoslaw Sikorski, closer ties with these countries are now hampered by the “enlargement fatigue” within the EU. He criticized the European Neighbourhood Policy, which is designed to remain noncommittal about countries' future membership prospects,for not making a distinction between the Eastern dimension and the Southern dimension. Sikorski said that “to the south, we have neighbors of Europe, to the east we have European neighbors," stressing the legitimacy of the Eastern neighbours’ wishes to proceed on the path of membership in the future. Meanwhile, the EU's southern member states have secured two-thirds of the 12 billion euros ($18.9 billion) available to the ENP between 2007-13 for North African countries, which have been deemed ineligible for EU membership. France is spearheading efforts to set up a "Mediterranean Union" to coordinate EU cooperation with the southern neighbors. Sikorski said the Eastern Partnership would be one of the main priorities of the EU's Polish presidency in 2011. But the initiative is likely to kick off even sooner. Diplomats say the EU's larger member states , who often oppose the smaller "new" states over issues related to the former Soviet space, are supportive of the Eastern Partnership initiative. Both France and Germany have suggested interest in enlarging the EU’s interests in Eastern Europe. Some suggest France is merely trying to placate eastern member states in order to win support for its own Mediterranean Union for the southern neighbors, endorsed by EU leaders in March. But there are also signs that Paris is really preparing to get more involved in Eastern Europe, specifically in Ukraine. Michel Foucher, a former senior French diplomat and a current member of the French think tant Robert Schuman Foundation looked forward to the French EU presidency starting 1 July, predicting "we will be very open, especially for Ukraine, because we would like to get out of this negative position [the EU] had in the past. And we think it's important to have a kind of open-door policy toward Ukraine, which is not to make decisions, not prescribe [solutions], but not to exclude [anything].”
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CENTRAL ASIA
Kazakhstan
► Kazakhstan debates draft law on legalizing polygamy
On 28 May, it was reported the Kazakh parliament discusses a new draft law ‘On Marriage and Family,’ legalizing polygamy. According to the draft law, any man who gets the consent of his first wife and can prove he is able to financially upport another family, can marry up to four wifes. Proponents of legalizing polygamy say the new bill will help improve the demographic situation in the country. They cite Islamic customs, which allow Muslim men to marry up to four wives. And they say the new bill would give more rights to the wives and children of polygamous husbands. However, opinions are divided with many parliamentarians, especially women parliamentarians, being against the law. Speaking at a televised roundtable in Astana on 7 May, parliamentarian Bahyt Syzdykova said she would propose legalizing polyandry if parliament legalizes polygamy, as “after all, men and women in our country have equal rights according to our constitution.” Syzdykova added that there is more need for a law giving greater rights to children born out of wedlock than any legalization of polygamy. Polygamy became more popular in Central Asia when people “returned to Islamic traditions” following the collapse of the Soviet Union. However, as only the first marriage has legal force in the region’s states, the second and third wives of the men and their children have no rights in the case of divoce or the death of a husband. A 2004 poll by the “Express K” daily suggested that some 40 percent of Kazakh men supported legalizing polygamy. In the same poll, more than 73 percent of women said they wanted to be the only wife of their husband. 22 percent of women said they would not oppose living in a polygamous marriage.
Kyrgyzstan
► Russia plans to expand its airbase in Kyrgyzstan
On 6 June, it was reported that Russia’s Air Force is planning to expand its Kant airbase in Kyrgyzstan in the near future. The Russian base in Kant, about 20 miles west of the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek, was established in October 2003, and currently deploys about 400 troops. According to Colonel General Alexander Zelin, “[t]he base will soon receive four combat trainers from the Kransnodar military pilot school, and An-26 transport plane and several new Su-27 aircrafts. We will also start a comprehensive flight training program for young pilots here.” The 2003 bilateral agreement between Russia and Kyrgyzstan stipulates the presence of the Kant air base in the Central Asian republic for 15 years with an automatic extension every five years after the expiration of the original term. The agreement is in the framework of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, a regional security bloc which also includes Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.Kyrgyz Defense Minister Ismail Isakov said in March that Russia annually pays some $4.5 million to Kyrgyzstan for military bases and also provides Bishkek with military and technical equipment as part of the lease agreements.
► Opposition party Ata-Meken launches women’s wing
On 30 May, Kyrgyz opposition party Ata-Meken officially presented a women’s wing of the party, and launched a campaign promoting women in politics and the state administration. Ata-Meken is one of the biggest opposition parties in Kyrgyzstan, and won almost ten percent of the national vote in the last parliamentary elections of December 2007. It failed to win representation, however, as the party did not secure the second threshold of 0.5 percent of the vote in all of Kyrgyzstan’s 9 election districts.The women’s wing of Ata-Meken will deal with the protection of women’s rights, and the promotion of their participation in the state administration on the local and national level. According to one of the party’s members: “The women’s wing is an innovative approach to the gender issue (…) and involvement of women into [the] political and social life of Kyrgyzstan.” Men are considerably overrepresented in Kyrgyzstan’s politics, and traditional gender roles are still strong, especially in the regions. On several issues, the position of women is reported to have deteriorated after the disintegration of the Soviet Union.
► Atibai Tagaev new speaker of parliament Kyrgyzstan
On 29 May, pro-presidential Ak-Jol parliamentarian Aitibai Tagaev was elected the new speaker of the Kyrgyz parliament on the nomination of president Kurmanbek Bakiev. In a secret ballot, 77 parliamentarians voted for Tagaev, and two voted against. The new parliamentary speaker was elected after the former speaker, Adakhan Madumarov (Ak-Jol) announced he would resign on 28 May. He had come under fierce criticism after making rude and insulting comments to Elmira Ibraimova (leader of the Ak-Jol parliamentary faction) and violated the procedures of adoption of a draft law during debates on the draft decree on reconstruction and modernization of the parliament building and offices of the senior management of parliament on 22 May. The parliament’s ethics committee and the president then suggested him to resign. Elmira Ibraimova was named vice prime minister on 26 May, four days after the incident.
Tajikistan
► Central Asian states critically affected by locust invasion
Starting from early April, swarms of Moroccan locusts returned to Cetnral Asia. The locusts appear around this time each year, leaving barren fields in their wake, but the current invasion is particularly devastating as the region is already threatened with food shortages and soaring food prices. Moreover, the infestation seems to be significantly larger than in previous years. In Tajikistan, more that 220.00 hectares of farmland have already been invested. Authorities have mobilized the local population and sent the army to help fight the infestation. The use of presticides is the preferred eradication method, but most people cannot afford them, leaving many farmers helpless against the plague. Both Kyrgyzstan and southern Kazakhstan also suffer from locusts invasions. The locust invasion is likely to lead to severe food shortages, as a shortage of crops caused by the harsh winter left less food for the population in general, and has also left less crops for the locusts to devour, forcing the swarms farther north and west in search of new fields of grain and cotton, fruit orchards, and grazing areas for livestock. International aid agencies, including UN bodies, are trying to help Central Asia cope with the locust problem, but it is already too late for many areas. Moreover, the situation likely to worsen next winter, when the almost certain meager harvest will be compounded by an unavoidable meat shortage.
Turkmenistan
► Turkmenistan drafting Constitutional reforms
On 22 May, Turkmenistan’s recently created State Commission for Constitutional Reforms held a session chaired by president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov supposedly intended to hear about constitutional concerns by the public. In April, citizens were already invited to comment upon the constitution, which has been in force since 1992. During the meeting, parliament speaker Akja Nurberdieva mentioned several alleged “desires of the people” that shed a light on the planned reforms. Expected amendments to the constitution include the scrapping of the Halk Maslahaty, or People’s Council in favour of the Mejlis, or parliament. Under Berdimuhamedov’s predecessor Saparmurat Niyazov, the Halk Maslahaty, which has about 2.500 members, most of whom are appointed by the president, became the most important legislative organ of the country. The parliament was increasingly marginalized. Niyazov and his administration allegedly regarded the Mejlis with suspicion because the constitution gave it the power to confirm a new president if a sitting president died or was otherwise unable to perform his duties. Since he came to power, Berdymukhammedov has sought to present himself as a reformer who can alleviate an impoverished public's worst suffering while opening the hydrocarbon-rich country up to increased trade. Constitutional changes are viewed as an important opportunity by international and human rights organizations, as most changes to Niyazov’s isolationist and extremely authoritarian style of rule are welcomed. Ms. Akhmedova, of the state-controlled Turkmen National Institute of Democracy and Human Rights, furthermore said that "[t]he norms of UN conventions, to which Turkmenistan is a signatory, OSCE documents, existing law-making and law-enforcement practices and the constitution-building experience of the CIS countries and other states have been studied and taken into consideration while preparing proposals on making amendments and changes to Turkmenistan's Constitution." However, it should be noted that other expected amendments include lengthening the presidential term and otherwise enhancing the already powerful presidency, which raises suspicions over the sincerity of the reforms Berdimuhamedov wishes to push through.
► Turkmenistan and NATO moving closer together
Although neither NATO nor Turkmenistan has officially commented upon this yet, relations seem to have increased rapidly over the past months. Starting from 15 May, correspondents and informants of the Eurasian Transition Group (ETG) reported that transport flights between western Europe and Afghanistan via Turkmenistan have increased significantly, thus raising allegations that NATO has started to focus on air bases in Turkmenistan to make transport flights to Afghanistan. The changing relation between Turkmenistan and NATO is a dramatic altering of Turkmen foreign affairs. Although a membership of NATO’s Partnership for Peace (PfP) program since the early 1990s, under late president Saparmurat Niyazov the country carefully maintained its UN-recognized status of “permanent neutrality”, and refrained from participating in any international groupings exept those with a purely economic agenda. The first sign of an improved relation between NATO and Turkmenistan already appeared in early April, when Turkmen president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov attended the NATO summit in Bucharest, and met with several important heads of state, including US president George Bush, on the fringes of the summit. However, one obstacle that still remains is Turkmenistan’s extremely poor human rights situation. Berdimuhamedov has been slow to implement drastic domestic reforms, and although he has restored some of the rights Niyazov took away, he has stopped short of introducing democratic reforms. Western rights organizations have been pressing the Turkmen government to make democratic changes and, with Western troops using Turkmen military facilities, rights groups can be expected to call on NATO to pressure Turkmenistan on the issue. However, they fear NATO will subordinate rights issues in favour of geo-strategic interest, as they allege the EU has already subordinated rights issues in Turkmenistan for energy interests.
Uzbekistan
► Conference on human rights and freedom of media staged by authorities criticized by human rights groups
On 9-10 June, a EU-Uzbek conference on civil society and media freedom took place in Tashkent. The conference, which was initially to be attended by representatives of several international human rights groups, was decided upon in Brussels on 29 April. The Uzbek authorities’ initial agreement with holding the conference was allegedly also one of the reasons for the member states to maintain a freeze on sanctions against Uzbekistan imposed after the bloody suppression of the Andijon uprising in March 2005. However, at the last minute, Uzbek officials scrapped the plans for the conference, and instead staged an “Uzbek version” of the event, which fell short of the goals of the EU. International human rights groups were not invited to the conference, and most of the participants agreed with state interference in the media. OSCE’s representative on media freedom Miklos Haraszti, who was among the few foreign experts allowed to attend the conference, called it "regrettable" that many foreign invitees were unable to attend the meeting, and said others were "handpicked" by Uzbek authorities." He remained hopeful, however, that his speech on the importance of media freedom and urge to release all prisoners of conscience, would have some positive effect. Representatives of the human right groups, however, were more sceptical. Elsa Vidal of Reporters Without Borders, said the suspension of an invitation for her organisation “shows quite precisely what [is] the position of the Uzbek authorities on the question of a dialogue on human rights.” Andrew Stroehlein of the International Crisis Group called the conference “a complete farce.” In a joint statement issued on 9 June, Human Rights Watch, the ICG, the Open Society Institute, and Reporters Without Borders called on Uzbek authorities to release imprisoned journalists, stop intimidating those still working independently, allow foreign media to register and work in the country, and end censorship of Uzbek media outlets.
► Uzbekistan releases prominent political prisoners
On 4 June, Uzbekistan’s longest-held political prisoner, and one of the most controversial figures in the country, was released from jail. Ahmadjon Odilov (83), set up an succesful agro-industrial complex including several collective farms which employed about 40.000 people in the 1970s, and was once regarded as a potential rival to president Islam Karimov. However, he spent more than 20 years in prison after being detained in 1984 on corruption charges after Moscow launched a series of investigations against alleged corruption in the Uzbek cotton industry. Odilov was briefly set free after the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union. He reportedly set up an independent political party, Temur's Justice Party. But he was imprisoned again in 1993, allegedly as Uzbek president Islam Karimov felt threatened by his influence. Many human rights organizations urged Uzbek authorities to free Odilov, who is said to be nearly blind and suffering from other health problems. He was released two days after Mutabar Tojiboeva, a human rights defender and government critic, who was released on parole after serving nearly four years of an eight-year prison term. The son of prominent rights activist Ahmadjon Madumarov was also released this week, but his family said he had served his full seven-year jail term. In April, the Miami-based International Society for Human Rights wrote a letter to Karimov urging him to release political prisoners, including Odilov and Tojiboeva. The releases are seen as a gesture to the US, as they come on the heels of a visit by senior US officials. Relations between Uzbekistan and the US worsened after the Andijon uprising in Uzbekistan in 2005 and subsequent US criticism on the bloody surpression of the uprising by the Uzbek authorities. Karimov then forced the US base in the country, used for the war in Afghanistan, to close. Recently, however, ties seem to have improved. Human Rights Watch (HRW) says at least 11 more human rights defenders remain in Uzbekistan's prisons -- one of them in a closed psychiatric ward -- for politically motivated reasons.
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