__________________________________________
Political news from candidate countries, south east Europe and new eastern neighbours
14th March 2008
CONTENT
CANDIDATE COUNTRIES
Croatia - EU says Croatia can conclude entry talks in 2009 (13.03.2008);
EU-hopeful Croatia Exempts EU Members from Its Fishing Zone Restrictions to Speed up Accession
Talks (13.03.2008)
FYR of Macedonia - Macedonian coalition government faces collapse (13.03.2008)
Turkey - Turkey government to use $12 billion investment to fight terror (13.03.2008); Economy
ministers tout improved figures (13.03.2008)
SOUTH EAST EUROPE
Albania - EU COUNTRIES SUPPORT ALBANIA NATO MEMBERSHIP - BERISHA (13.03.2008)
Bosnia-Herzegovina - Bosnian Serb official urges endorsement of police laws to prove commitment
to EU (13.03.2008)
Montenegro - Montenegro presents "intensified dialogue" document to NATO council (13.03.2008);
Croatia, Montenegro agree sea border issue should be settled before international court (13.03.2008)
Serbia - Serbia, Russia Call For UN To Block the EU in Kosovo (14.03.2008); Serbia election over EU
accession (14.03.2008)
Kosovo - Kosovo unveils new passport (14.03.2008); Kosovo Serbs continue protests (13.03.2008)
Cyprus - N. Cyprus office in Israel only a 'beginning' (13.03.2008); FEATURE-Cypriots may soon erase
symbol of division (13.03.2008)
NEW EASTERN NEIGHBOURS
Armenia - Armenia confirms its willingness to implement all international commitments (12.03.08); CE
Commissioner for Human Rights to arrive in Armenia (11.03.08)
Azerbaijan - System of Entrants’ E-Applications Acceptance presented in Azerbaijan (12.03.08); CE
Calls on Azerbaijan’s Authorities to Upgrade Penal Establishments – Expert (12.03.08)
Belarus - US report lists Belarus among countries with worst human rights records (13.03.2008)
Georgia - President of Georgia and Opposition's Representatives Discussed Theme of Abkhazia
(13.03.2008)
Moldova - Moldova pledges not to join NATO if Russia accepts its sovereignty over Trans-Dniester
(13.03.2008)
Ukraine - Kazakhstan to boost oil, gas exports to Ukraine if Moscow agrees (13.03.2008)
Russia - Russia to take stance on Georgian disputed territories (13.03.2008)
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CANDIDATE COUNTRIES
CROATIA
EU says Croatia can conclude entry talks in 2009 (13.03.2008)
Croatia should be able to conclude talks in 2009 to become the next country to join the European
Union, the European Commission said on Thursday, as it sought to encourage integration of the
troubled Balkans region. European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said after talks with
Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader that the EU executive would give Zagreb an indicative timetable
later this year for the steps required to close the accession talks. "I have every confidence that Croatia
will be able to meet the conditions...It should be possible to conclude the technical negotiations next
year, preferably by the end of the mandate of the Commission (in November 2009)," he told a joint
news conference. Barroso said the target date assumed Croatia would meet all the EU's benchmarks
by June this year, which include a reform of the judiciary and a painful restructuring of its stateassisted shipyards. Allowing time for ratification by the 27 member states, that would mean Croatia
would join the EU in late 2010 or 2011. The Commission's explicit pledge of a target date was a
choreographed political reward for Sanader after he took the political risk of pushing through a divided
parliament the suspension of a protected ecological and fisheries zone. The EU executive was
particularly keen to overcome the hurdle with Croatia as it struggles to persuade other Western
Balkans countries, especially Serbia and Bosnia, to choose the path of European integration over
nationalist policies. Croatia's parliament voted early on Thursday to allow EU fishermen to enter the
protected no-fishing zone reaching into the middle of the Adriatic Sea it imposed on Jan. 1. Sanader
said the parliament made the right decision. "One of the most important national interests is to join the
European Union -- this great process of unifying Europe," he said. SUCCESS STORY "I am very
confident that Croatia will be the 28th member of the European Union," Sanader said. "We are ready
to do this work, to master the job in 2008, in order to be able to conclude the negotiation process by
autumn next year."We want Croatia to be a success story, also a model country for other countries in
the region." Slovenia, the only former Yugoslav republic to have joined the EU so far, and which holds
the bloc's rotating presidency, had threatened to start blocking Croatia's accession talks if the
exclusion zone applied to the Slovenian and Italian fleets. Barroso said that as well as meeting
benchmarks by June, Croatia would have to comply with all its legal obligations under an already
signed Stabilisation and Association Agreement that charts reforms necessary for EU entry.
"Furthermore, Croatia urgently needs to improve its management of European Union financial
assistance," he said. It also needed to suspend completely the ecological and fisheries protection zone
with respect to EU vessels. "I consider this now done," he said. Barroso said the Commission was fully
in favour of sustainable management of fisheries and was ready to work on proposals for a fisheries
protection area in the Adriatic
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Source: Reuters
EU-hopeful Croatia Exempts EU Members from Its Fishing Zone Restrictions To Speed up
Accession Talks (13.03.2008)
The Croatian parliament on Thursday decided to exempt temporarily European Union member states
from the restrictions of its fishing zone in the Adriatic in a bid to speed up the country’s EU accession
talks, state media reported. “Saying that EU membership is a strategic priority for Croatia, parliament
decided that as of March 15, the [restrictions of the] country’s protected fishing and ecological zone will
not be applied temporarily to the members of the union,” state TV broadcaster HRT reported. The
decision will be effective until a joint agreement between Croatia and the EU members is reached.
Croatia's Prime Minister Ivo Sanader has said that Croatia faces a dilemma whether to continue its
negotiations with the European Union “in the fifth gear”, including by a decision not to apply the
restrictions of its fishing zone to EU member states, or remain in the current situation of strong
informal blocking of the negotiations. In 2003 Croatia proclaimed its protected fishing and ecological
zone in the eastern half of the Adriatic but a year later it exempted neighbouring Slovenia and Italy
from the zone to help its EU membership bid. However, the restrictions of the zone have been applied
to EU fishing vessels since the beginning of this year. This move has made Slovenia and Italy angry,
which said Croatia has failed to deliver on its earlier promise not to apply the zone to EU members. The
zone is designed to preserve fish stocks, limit pollution and help Croatian fishermen, whose fleet is seen
as smaller and less well-equipped than Italian fishing fleet. Slovenia, which holds the rotating
presidency of the European Union, has a relatively small fishing fleet. It opposes the zone mainly
because of Slovenia's undefined maritime border with Croatia and its access to international waters.
Italy wants to continue fishing in the zone. Croatia started EU membership talks in October 2005 and
hopes to join the union around 2011. Seventy-seven members of the 153-seat parliament backed the
decision. Deputies from three of the four parties of centre-right government coalliton: the Croatian
Democratic Union HDZ, the ethnic Serbs party SDSS and Social Liberal Party HSLS, backed the decision,
while the fourth coalition partner, Peasants’ Party HSS was against. Three deputies of regional rightwind HDSSB party also supported the decision. Most opposition deputies abstained.
Source: See News
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FYROM
Macedonian coalition government faces collapse (13.03.2008)
Macedonia's coalition government was heading for collapse on Thursday after the main ethnic Albanian
party said it was pulling out in a row over minority rights, in a new threat to Balkan stability. The
central committee of the Democratic Party of Albanians was due to meet to verify a decision by the
leadership to withdraw, ending Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski's slim parliamentary majority. Macedonia
borders the newly independent Kosovo. It was rescued from all-out ethnic civil war in 2001 by NATO
and European Union mediation, but the West watches warily for any sign of a resurgence of armed
Albanian revolt. The former Yugoslav republic's prospects of joining NATO, a step that would keep it
moving towards EU membership, are in doubt with two weeks to go before an alliance summit at which
southern neighbour Greece could veto its membership. Albanian DPA leader Menduh Thaci said his
party would quit over the Gruevski government's failure to back laws allowing greater use of the
Albanian language and flag, and to provide benefits for veterans of the 2001 Albanian guerrilla
insurgency. Thaci has also cited the fact that Macedonia has yet to recognise neighbouring Kosovo,
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where ethnic Albanians last month declared independence from Serbia with Western backing. "I'm
certain that (the central committee) will accept the decision and that it will be irreversible," Thaci said
late on Wednesday. "The DPA's withdrawal from government will be final." The move will force
Gruevski to look for other partners or call a snap election, just as the country bids for an invitation to
join NATO at a summit in Bucharest on April 2-4. Diplomats and political sources do not rule out a
broad coalition of all main parties to see Macedonia through. The country's accession to NATO is in
doubt, with Greece threatening to block the move if Macedonia does not accept a different name.
Macedonia is also the name of Greece's northern province, birthplace of Alexander the Great. The
United States, concerned about stability in the Balkans, said it was not the time for political infighting.
"Macedonia's political leaders need to focus their energies on getting into NATO at this critical time,"
the U.S. embassy in Skopje said in a statement. Macedonia has a golden opportunity to receive an
invitation to NATO, well-deserved after serious and successful reform efforts. The name dispute with
Greece stands as the remaining impediment." NATO and European Union diplomacy pulled the former
Yugoslav republic from the brink of civil war in 2001, ending a six-month Albanian guerrilla insurgency
in exchange for greater minority rights. The promise of NATO and EU membership has since kept
tensions in check.
Source: Reuters
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TURKEY
Turkey government to use $12 billion investment to fight terror (13.03.2008)
The government is planning to make a broad series of investments worth as much as $12 billion in the
impoverished Southeast in a new economic effort intended to create jobs and draw young men away
from militancy, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said. The program is intended to drain
support for the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) by improving the lives of residents of
southeastern Anatolia, the majority of whom are Kurds, Erdoğan said in remarks published in The New
York Times on Wednesday. The government, under pressure from the United States, the European
Union and liberals at home to speed up efforts to address the non-military aspects of terrorism and
prevent more people in the impoverished Southeast from joining the PKK, has repeatedly stated that
there was no special “package” of measures planned. But it is working to revitalize an existing regional
development program, known as the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP), and one Cabinet minister,
Nazım Ekren, recently toured southeastern provinces to study measures for a speedy conclusion of
GAP. Successive Turkish governments have invested large sums of money in GAP in past decades, but
the project is only 60 percent complete. Erdoğan announced in January that his government would
make GAP investments a priority with a view of finishing it in the next five years. He told The New York
Times that the state will invest between $11 billion and $12 billion over five years to build two large
dams and an irrigation system, complete paving roads and remove land mines from fields along the
Syrian border. Plans for the project will be completed within two months, he said, at which point
construction on the two dams would begin. “Everything we can see in the western part of the country
we can see in the east,” he said. Erdoğan’s remarks followed a major ground offensive into northern
Iraq last month against the PKK. Erdoğan said the cross-border offensive against terrorism had been
backed by the United States but added that military measures alone are not enough in combating
terrorism. “The fight against terrorism is not only this. … It also has a socioeconomic part, a
psychological part, a cultural part,” he said. In this respect, he said the government would dedicate a
state television channel to Kurdish language broadcasting, a measure that Kurds in Turkey have sought
for years. The television channel will also include Persian and Arabic programming, Erdoğan said, and
should be up and running in several months. “This will be the most important step in providing cultural
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rights to the region,” he said. The prime minister also reconfirmed the willingness to mend troubled
relations with the Iraqi Kurds, whom Ankara suspects are supporting the PKK. “We are the most
important door for northern Iraq to open up to the world,” he said. “We are the healthiest door.” Iraqi
President Jalal Talabani, an ethnic Kurd, had talks with Erdoğan and President Abdullah Gül in Ankara
last week in his first official visit to Turkey since his election as president in 2005. Turkish and Iraqi
leaders announced plans to develop business ties, and Talabani suggested a readiness to help Turkey
fight the PKK. The United States, which has helped Turkey in a series of cross-border operations into
Iraq since Dec. 16 by providing military intelligence, is urging Ankara and Iraq to work together to deal
with PKK terrorism. Turkey has chosen not to negotiate directly with the Kurdish administration in
northern Iraq, led by Massoud Barzani, despite the fact that many of the PKK terrorists it is chasing
hide in that territory. Erdoğan added, however, that informal contacts had been made with the area’s
representatives. “We have relatives in northern Iraq,” he said. “And people living there have relatives in
our southeastern region. With whom will we have good relations if not with ourselves?”
Source: Trend News Agency
Economy ministers tout improved figures (13.03.2008)
Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan and two other state ministers responsible for economic matters, Nazim
Ekren and Mehmet Simsek, yesterday held a press conference on economic figures for Turkey revised
under new formulas. "Since 2004, the debt owed by the Turkish public sector has been declining, in a
mark of economic success, and debts are no longer a matter of concern," said Simsek. "This is an
important development." He added that over the past five or six years, fiscal discipline has been
restored. Erken also stated that Turkey can be seen as richer from a macroeconomic perspective as the
nation's income was adjusted to a higher figure, adding, "International investors will have a different
approach to Turkey from now on." Unakitan said that the government budget's share of the economy
has declined to below one-fourth and that making concessions from fiscal discipline is out of the
question.
Source: Dunya
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SOUTH EAST EUROPE
ALBANIA
EU COUNTRIES SUPPORT ALBANIA NATO MEMBERSHIP - BERISHA (13.03.2008)
Prime Minister Sali Berisha has received the support of all the countries of the European Union (EU) for
Albania's NATO membership and for the continuation of the EU integration process, during the
European People's Parties (EPP) Summit in Brussels, on Thursday. Berisha said that Kosova's
independence plays a very important role in peace and stability in the Balkans, according to the Prime
Minister's Press Office. Berisha held bilateral meetings with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, President
of the European Parliament Hans-Gert Poettering, French Prime Minister Francois Fillon, Greek Prime
Minister Costas Caramanlis, Macedonian Prime Minister Gruevski and Croatian Prime Minister Sanader.
Source: Albanian-ATA English News Service
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BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA
Bosnian Serb official urges endorsement of police laws to prove commitment to EU
(13.03.2008)
[Interview with Milorad Zivkovic, Speaker of B-H Parliament's House of Representatives, by Vesna
Popovic; place and date not given: "Fate of B-H Depends on Police Laws" - first three paragraphs are
Nezavisne novine introduction] Milorad Zivkovic, the Speaker of B-H Parliament's House of
Representatives and senior SNSD [Alliance of Independent Social Democrats] official, said that "nothing
would be the same in Bosnia-Hercegovina" following the vote on the police reform bills and that it was
up to B-H leaders to decide whether they were in favour of Bosnia-Hercegovina's European path or not.
As he said, the failure to pass the set of police reform laws would not just generate a new political crisis
in Bosnia-Hercegovina, but would also deny Bosnia-Hercegovina access to EU funds over its failure to
sing the Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU. "All parliamentary parties from the RS
[Serb Republic] and the B-H Federation should support the police reform laws and thereby confirm
their commitment to European integrations," Zivkovic said. [Popovic] What is your comment on
politicians' statements that the failure to adopt the police reform laws would mean a new political crisis
in Bosnia-Hercegovina as it would delay Bosnia-Hercegovina's accession to the EU? [Zivkovic] Following
the vote on these laws, nothing will be the same in Bosnia-Hercegovina, regardless of whether these
laws are adopted - which is what the SNSD and I are in favour of - or not. If the laws are rejected, we
will have a bad situation. It will lend credence to all those who think that Bosnia-Hercegovina should
not go ahead with European integrations, that B-H citizens do not want Bosnia-Hercegovina's path to
the EU, and that the RS should take a different position. The laws are on the table, in front of the
deputies, and they need to decide whether they are for Bosnia-Hercegovina's path to the EU or not.
The failure to adopt the laws will not be just a new crisis in Bosnia-Hercegovina; it will also mean
denying access to the pre-accession funds that Bosnia-Hercegovina needs in order to be revived. If the
laws are adopted and the agreement signed, it will be possible to open the pre-accession funds and
they are necessary to revive agriculture, and the funds can also be used to protect domestic
production. Bosnia-Hercegovina does not just need the pre-accession funds to go to the EU, but also to
revive its economy and to provide a better life to its citizens. Those who vote against BosniaHercegovina's entry in the EU are against this state and its citizens. In Bosnia-Hercegovina we have a
division into those who want us to be a part of the EU and those who do not want this. [Popovic] Even
without the SDA [Party of Democratic Action] there are enough votes in the B-H Parliament to adopt
the police reform laws on 18 March? [Zivkovic] If all who said they would vote for the laws do so, we
will have a sufficient number of deputies - 22 - to pass the laws. Should they, on the other hand,
decide to change their mind and withdraw their support, they will have to bear responsibility for nonadoption and stopping Bosnia-Hercegovina on the path to the EU. As for the SDA - the defence reform
was passed without the SNSD, and likewise we can pass the police reform without the SDA. We,
however, have been consistent in our views: we in the past advocated European integrations in the
same way that we advocate them now, albeit we have one precondition: nothing must be done outside
of the Dayton peace accords or to the detriment of the RS. [Popovic] The SDA has deviated from the
police reform agreement in the Mostar Declaration and the Sarajevo Action Plan. What is your comment
on their sudden deviation from what has been agreed on? [Zivkovic] I do not want to comment on SDA
politics because they are known for being inconsistent. This is not the first time that the SDA has
deviated from an agreement, and this has been a constant in their politics: they first sign something
and then they renounce it the next day. This is politics that does not lead to progress. Parties in the BH Federation have big problems, and I think that this is about their positioning prior to local elections.
Politicians in the B-H Federation do not look at reforms; they look at things from the point of view of
personal and petty political and partisan interests, and this is not to the benefit of the citizens of this
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country. I hope that citizens will recognize this in the municipal elections. [Popovic] In addition to the
SDA, the SB-H [Party for Bosnia-Hercegovina] will also propose amendments so not even their support
for the set of police reform laws is certain? [Zivkovic] All those who swore by Bosnia-Hercegovina's
European future should confirm this by voting for the proposed laws. The international community has
promised that, after the laws in the area of police reform are adopted, there will be no additional
requirements for Bosnia-Hercegovina to sign the Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU.
The position of the international community is clear, and it is also clear that the proposed laws are
quite sufficient according to EU standards. Once these laws are adopted, the international community
should keep its word and allow Bosnia-Hercegovina to sign the Stabilization and Association Agreement.
I really do not see a reason why someone in Bosnia-Hercegovina should make problems about this
reform, unless they have some other interests in mind. Those who intend to change the B-H
Constitution in any kind of a procedure should let go and focus on finding a joint solution. All B-H
Federation parties that at the most recent session unanimously supported the resolution on BosniaHercegovina's commitment to European integrations - and the same goes for the RS parties - should
now confirm this by voting for the proposed laws. Everything else is politicking that does not contribute
to the calming down of the situation in Bosnia-Hercegovina and to Bosnia-Hercegovina's path to the
EU. Time has come for them to confirm their words with action. If someone is against these laws on 18
March, this will be a strong message to us. After this the SNSD will no longer have any obligations to
pass any other laws before this job is finished. The SNSD will do everything to prevent any amendment
to the original texts of the police reform laws from being adopted. [Box] Ratification of Dayton Peace
Accords [Popovic] You forwarded to the B-H Presidency a request to start the initiative to give approval
for the ratification of the Dayton peace accords. Have you received a reply? [Zivkovic] The B-H
Presidency is preparing a reply, but I have not received it yet. The ratification of the Dayton peace
accords is a part of Bosnia-Hercegovina's obligations; it is not some request by Milorad Zivkovic. I am
worried about us signing laws without being completely sure that we act in accordance with Annex 4 to
the Dayton peace accords, that is, the B-H Constitution. A part of the signing of the Dayton peace
accords was the signing of the accord on translations, pursuant to which Bosnia-Hercegovina was
required to send to Paris the translations of accords into each of the three languages officially spoken
in Bosnia-Hercegovina. Serbia and Croatia have fulfilled this requirement, and I think that BosniaHercegovina should also fulfil it otherwise we could have serious legal consequences. We need to find
the original document, which has gone missing in Bosnia-Hercegovina, translate it into official
languages, and send the translations to Paris.
Source: Nezavisne novine
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MONTENEGRO
Montenegro presents "intensified dialogue" document to NATO council (13.03.2008)
Excerpt from report by Montenegrin TV on 11 March [Announcer] Foreign Minister Milan Rocen and
Defence Minister Boro Vucinic are in Brussels where they have presented a presentation document of
individual partnership action plan for Montenegro and NATO. The High Political Committee at the NATO
HQ assessed that Montenegro had made speedy progress since it joined Partnership for Peace and
welcomed Montenegro's ambition to enter a new phase of relations - intensified dialogue with NATO at the Bucharest summit. [Reporter Vesna Teric] All 26 NATO members supported the presentation
document of individual partnership action plan for Montenegro and NATO. Montenegrin Foreign Minister
Milan Rocen who, together with Defence Minister Boro Vucinic, presented the presentation document in
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Brussels says for our news that this is yet another important and big step for Montenegro's EuroAtlantic integration. [Rocen on the phone] Representatives of some 20 countries and the chairman on
behalf of the Brussels administration, Robert Simmons, offered strong support to Montenegro and
highly assessed its speedy progress towards NATO membership since it joined Partnership for Peace
and the quality of the document itself which was assessed as being a realistic and true expression of
capacities and ambitions of Montenegro. Most participants offered open support to our ambition that at
the Bucharest summit we enter a new phase of relations called intensified dialogue with NATO which
would build upon the political dialogue and would be only a step away from [word indistinct]
programme and the candidate status. [Reporter] According to a majority of participants of the NATO
political committee, for Montenegro it is no longer topical to ask whether it will become NATO member,
but when it will become so: [Rocen] The speed will depend on the implementation of standards and
values on which NATO is based today, which fully corresponds with European integration. Confirmation
of their support and high assessment of what we are doing and indeed what we are intending to do is
that they entrusted Montenegro with hosting a meeting of the advisory group of the Euro-Atlantic
partnership council in May this year.
Source: BBC
Croatia, Montenegro agree sea border issue should be settled before international court
(13.03.2008)
The prime ministers of Croatia and Montenegro, Ivo Sanader and Milo Djukanovic respectively,
agreed in Zagreb on Wednesday that the outstanding sea border issue between the two countries
should be settled before an international court whose decision would be accepted in advance by the
parliaments of the two countries. A joint commission would prepare a legal framework that would be
presented at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, and the Montenegrin and Croatian
parliaments would endorse it, committing themselves in advance to accepting the court ruling, the two
prime ministers agreed at talks held in the government headquarters. The two countries currently have
a temporary agreement on the sea border which Croatia signed in December 2002 with the then
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, which at the time included Montenegro. "Despite the fact that the
agreement has had good results, due to the sensitivity of this issue it would be best to seek a solution,
which I am confident will be fair, before the International Court," said Djukanovic, who was on his first
visit to a foreign country after he took over the post two weeks ago from former PM Zeljko Sturanovic,
who resigned due to illness. Sanader and Djukanovic have similar views on the recognition of Kosovo's
independence, saying that their final decision on the matter would take into account the EU's policy and
the interests of their respective countries. "We are following the situation and we don't want to add fuel
to the flames," PM Sanader said, adding that Zagreb cared about the permanent stability of the entire
region. "Montenegro shares the EU's foreign political views on this issue, but we ask for
understanding for our situation," Djukanovic said, recalling that large Serb and Albanian minorities live
in Montenegro and that his government's priority is to maintain internal political stability. The two
prime ministers also discussed their countries' integration with European and Atlantic associations, with
Djukanovic saying his country expected Croatia to share its accession experience with Montenegro.
Sanader said that Montenegro, which signed a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the EU
last October, would take the same road as Croatia and that it would enjoy Croatia's full support on that
road.
Source: Hina
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SERBIA
Serbia, Russia Call For UN To Block the EU in Kosovo (14.03.2008)
Serbia and Russia have demanded that the UN administration in Kosovo halt the transfer of authority to
the European Union, calling a handover illegal and declaring they will never recognize the
independence of the Serb province. But the United States and Britain, who were among the first
countries to recognize Kosovo after its Feb. 17 declaration of independence, said debates over whether
Kosovo should have seceded are over and itТs now time to address the future of an independent
Kosovo. The EU is expected to take over UN administration of Kosovo and has sent a mission to
implement KosovoТs pledges under a UN-drafted plan for supervised independence. The plan was
never approved by the Security Council because of Russian opposition, but it is supported by
Washington and key EU nations. Kosovo came under UN and NATO administration after a NATO-led air
war halted former Yugoslav leader Slobodan MilosevicТs crackdown on ethnic Albanian separatists in
1999. Serbia, which considers the territory its historic and religious heartland, has rejected Kosovo´s
statehood as illegal. Russia has backed Serbia, its traditional ally. Serbia asked to address the Security
Council Tuesday to discuss what its foreign minister, Vuk Jeremic, called the dangerous consequences
of the unilateral, illegal and illegitimate declaration of independence. He reiterated that Serbia Уwill
employ all legal, diplomatic and political means at our disposal to continue asserting our core sovereign
rights.Ф But he again ruled out military action and an economic embargo, which he said would hurt
SerbiaТs goal of a peaceful and prosperous Kosovo. Let me be clear: It is not that the EU is unwelcome
in our southern province. For we do welcome, as a matter of principle, any demonstration of EuropeТs
deepening commitment to our country, including Kosovo,Ф he said. But there has to be a clear legal
mandate for any such commitment Ч and this can only be achieved by getting the approval of the
Security Council. But the Security Council remains hopelessly divided over Kosovo. A draft statement
circulated Tuesday by RussiaТs UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin was almost immediately rejected by the
U.S. and British envoys. It calls for the preservation of SerbiaТs territorial integrity and for a settlement
acceptable to both parties. It´s based on a premise which is now overtaken,Ф BritainТs UN
Ambassador John Sawers said of the Russian statement. Sawers said the EUТs role in Kosovo is not
illegal. The 27-member bloc has always been part of the UN Mission in Kosovo and it is now a larger
part than it was before, he said. U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad said Serbia and Kosovo must talk to
each other and Уcome to an understanding based on the new reality Ч they are new neighbors with a
lot of common interests. Anything that focuses on how to help Kosovo consolidate its independence ...
and work toward cooperation between Serbia and Kosovo ... we are certainly going to look at,Ф
Khalilzad said.
Source: The St. Petersburg Times (Russia)
Serbia election over EU accession (14.03.2008)
Serbian President Boris Tadic yesterday dissolved parliament and called early legislative elections for
May 11, following the collapse of the ruling coalition in a policy rift over ties with the EU and Kosovo's
disputed independence. `The elections are a democratic way for citizens to say how Serbia should
develop in years to come,'' Mr Tadic said in a statement. The dissolution of parliament was requested
by nationalist Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica's Government, which said it was unable to overcome
differences over Serbia's integration in the European Union and Kosovo's independence. Last weekend,
Mr Kostunica announced that his Democratic Party of Serbia had failed to solve the dispute with its proEuropean coalition partners from Mr Tadic's Democratic Party. The rift came less than a month after
ethnic Albanian majority Kosovo unilaterally proclaimed independence from Serbia, which considers the
territory the cradle of its history and culture. Angered by the decision of most EU countries to recognise
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an independent Kosovo, Mr Kostunica, backed by the opposition ultra-nationalist Serbian Radical Party,
vowed to stop Serbia's further integration until the 27-member bloc rejected the breakaway. Mr Tadic
and his party, which also opposes the independence move, have argued that Serbia has no alternative
but to try to join the EU as soon as possible, regardless of the dispute over Kosovo. The May polls are
considered a referendum on Serbia's EU accession. The elections come shortly after Mr Tadic narrowly
defeated radical leader Tomislav Nikolic at presidential polls in early February.
Source: The Australian
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KOSOVO
Kosovo unveils new passport (14.03.2008)
Kosovo has unveiled the design for the country's new passport, almost a month after it declared
independence from Serbia. It comes as Prime Minister, Hashim Thaci met the head of the 1,800 strong
police and justice mission that is to be deployed in Kosovo. Prime Minister Thaci says it marks another
significant step in Kosovo's nationhood. He says all Kosovo citizens living domestically and abroad are
entitled to Kosovo state documents. It's a move that's sure to further upset Serbia. Prime Minister of
Kosovo Hashim Thaci says Kosovo will cooperate with Serbia as two separate states, as two
neighbouring countries. “We will invest so we can have a good relationship and cooperation with
Serbia, but we need always to separate the state of Serbia with its citizens”. / A telephone dialling code
for Kosovo / But that's not all, Kosovo has also begun plans to acquire its own international telephone
dialling code. Currently a Serbian prefix is used to reach numbers in Kosovo. Kosovars say that should
end. Alma Lama, a local journalist, says Kosovo is a country, it has declared independence and it
should have elements of statehood, not only in the telecommunications but also in the banking and
other fields. But it's more than just an issue of identity. Revenue is lost when incoming phone calls use
another nation's dialling code. Telecommunications Manager Genc Lami says it costs Kosovo about 40
million euros in revenue a year for the usage of international dialling codes. Some Kosovo Albanians are
ready to pay more for mobile phone services, just to have a different prefix to Serbia's. It comes as
Prime Minister Thaci met the head of the European Union Rule of Law Mission. The mission will
comprise 1,800 police and judicial personnel. The head of the force says it must engage minority Serbs
in Kosovo's north and soothe their suspicion of the EU-led mission. The Head of the European Union
Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo, Yves De Kermabon, says his intention “is to work Kosovo-wide, and this
mission EULEX is aimed to be deployed Kosovo-wide and to work for all the population in Kosovo
including all the communities". But Serbia and its ally Russia have branded the mission as illegal. The
United Nations has administered Kosovo since 1999, after NATO launched an air war against Belgrade
to end a bloody crackdown on ethnic Albanian separatists in its southern territory.
Source: SBS World News Headline Stories
Kosovo Serbs continue protests (13.03.2008)
Kosovo Serbs have continued protests against Kosovo's independence, insisting they want to live and
work only under Serbian rule. Nearly 1,000 Serbs demonstrated in the Gracanica enclave, just south of
Pristina, on Thursday to show their support for Serb police officers who had been suspended from the
Kosovo Police Service. After Kosovo declared independence from Serbia on 17 February, 150 Serb
policemen left the Kosovo Police Service and did not report to work, after which they were suspended.
They want to work as police officers, but only under the command of the UN mission, UNMIK, because
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they do not recognise the newly independent state. Only the Serb police in northern Kosovo have been
under UNMIK command since before Kosovo's declaration of independence. In the northern town of
Mitrovica, Serb employees of judicial institutions and students held a joint rally demanding that Serb
judicial and educational institutions in Kosovo should be part of the Serbian system. The protests
passed peacefully.
Source: HINA
CYPRUS
N. Cyprus office in Israel only a 'beginning' (13.03.2008)
The Turkish Cypriot trade office registered as a private company is set to open in Tel Aviv in April most
probably. Turkey sees its establishment as the first step toward diplomatic representation A low-profile
Turkish Cypriot trade office set to open in Israel very soon is the first step on the way toward the highlevel diplomatic representation of northern Cyprus in the Jewish state, according to Turkish diplomatic
sources. "Our goal was to open a diplomatic office in Israel but we could only start from a low level," a
Turkish diplomat told the Turkish Daily News. "It is better than nothing." Turkey has been using every
platform for the international recognition of northern Cyprus. "We've been working for a year to
prepare a positive ground for the opening of a Turkish Cypriot office in Israel through dialogue with
influential Israeli officials," said the diplomat. In November, Ankara pressed visiting Israeli President
Shimon Peres to allow the opening of a Turkish Cypriot office in Israel, a proposal that was not directly
turned down but Tel Aviv had to bow to Greek Cypriot pressure and left Turkish requests unanswered.
Israel has so far refrained from taking sides in the decades-old Cyprus dispute and always referred to
the decisions of the United Nations for a settlement to the ongoing dispute. Tel Aviv does not recognize
northern Cyprus as an independent state. "It is going to only be a trade office of a private
businessman, not something official," said an Israeli diplomat, who wished to remain anonymous. The
trade office, registered as a private company, will most probably open in April in Tel Aviv immediately
after the Turkish Cypriot Foreign Ministry appoints a diplomat, according to the Turkish official. He
underlined that Israeli investors were already doing business in northern Cyprus especially in the real
estate sector and the trade office would further contribute to tourism and trade ties between Israel and
northern Cyprus. Israel is not banning the possibility of having a business relationship with northern
Cyprus, said the Israeli diplomat. But he emphasized that there was no official Israeli involvement in
the establishment of the trade office and that it would be like those opened in other countries. Early
this week, Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Arye Mekel said the opening of the trade office would not
mean Israel was recognizing northern Cyprus. He would not say if the Israeli government had officially
approved the opening of the trade office, but said the government would find it difficult to bar such a
facility since it was not tied to an enemy state. The opening of the Turkish Cypriot office in Israel
comes on the heels of similar operations in Qatar and Italy. Northern Cyprus also has offices in Britain,
Brussels, New York, Washington and Pakistan. But such initiatives to further promote the northern part
of the island are not pressure-free and immediately retaliated against by Greek Cyprus
Source: The Turkish Daily News (TDN)
FEATURE-Cypriots may soon erase symbol of division (13.03.2008)
Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders may soon erase the most potent symbol of the island's division, by
reopening a bullet-pocked crossing between the two sides closed for nearly half a century. Hopes of
ending decades of estrangement were revived after last month's election of Cyprus President Demetris
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Christofias, who has pledged to relaunch reunification talks. Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader
Mehmet Ali Talat have said they will discuss the reopening of the crossing on Ledra Street, a
thoroughfare running through Nicosia's old Venetian citadel, after they hold their first meeting on
March 21. "This is the most evocative induction to life in Cyprus and opening the street would be a
symbolic step towards reuniting the city and its people," said a western diplomat. Cyprus was split in
two by a 1974 Turkish invasion triggered by a coup inspired by Athens. But the seeds of division go
back a good deal earlier, to ethnic strife towards the end of British colonial rule, and a power-sharing
government which crumbled in 1963, prompting the dispatch of a U.N. peacekeeping force. Ledra
Street was first divided in 1958, when a Turkish Cypriot group erected barriers to stop members of the
community shopping at Greek Cypriot stores. The barriers were dismantled in 1960, only to be thrown
up again by the Turkish Cypriot side after intercommunal conflict in late 1963. They briefly came down
in 1968, but were quickly re-erected and have remained in place ever since. Ledra Street now runs
across a corridor of abandoned buildings that snakes across Nicosia. The corridor still divides the city,
although five other crossing points across the ceasefire line have been opened since 2003. Nearly fifty
years of separation have taken their toll on the part of Ledra Street in no-man's land. Vegetation
pierces the masonry of graceful mansions and shops, many of which are on the verge of collapse. If
the checkpoint opens, one of the first tasks will be to shore up buildings in its immediate vicinity. The
United Nations will also have to do a sweep for unexploded bombs left during past fighting.
CONTRASTS The island's long partition has created a two-speed economy. The breakaway Turkish
Cypriot north has been under restrictions preventing direct trade with the outside world for decades,
while the Greek south is now in the euro zone. The Greek Cypriot end of Ledra Street is a busy
commercial hub, boasting upmarket Chinese restaurants, Starbucks, McDonalds and British retail
chains. "We want a solution, and we hope that opening this street will be a step towards that," said
Greek Cypriot shoe shop owner Andreas Yiasemi, 50. "But we want a healthy settlement, not one that
will lead us into arguments five years down the road." Bustling activity abruptly ends about 500 metres
down the street, giving way to an eerily quiet strip of land guarded by Greek and Turkish soldiers on
both sides, and patrolled by the U.N. in the middle. Then life picks up again, albeit at a much slower
pace, on the Turkish Cypriot side. "It used to be so crowded here, we were shoulder to shoulder," said
Turkish Cypriot Huseyin Sonya, 75, a former trader, as he stood in the shadow of buildings pockmarked
by bullets fired decades ago. "If there is will on the part of our politicians, we can live together again,
but it will take time." The Turkish part is reminiscent of a bygone era, with few stores shops and
eateries. The laughter of toddlers playing in the street echoes off long-abandoned buildings. "God
willing, the crossing will open soon and things will be better for traders here, better for us," Mehmetali
Sinaoglu, 50, told Reuters as he sat on a battered chair outside his restaurant, sipping strong Turkish
coffee. "At least it will be the end of this silence. It's dead around here now." On the Greek side, some
have already rushed to open shops in anticipation of the border opening. Sinaoglu's closest Greek
Cypriot neighbour, about 80 metres down a road obstructed by screens erected by the military, is
Elvira's Gallery. Wedged just behind the Greek Cypriot checkpoint, it hopes to entice locals to spend
hundreds of euros on artworks. "This is one of the last points left unopened. It has to open," said Maria
Anaxagorou, 32, a gallery partner. "It will mean more people coming to the area."
Source: Reuters
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NEW EASTERN NEIGHBOURS
ARMENIA
Armenia confirms its willingness to implement all international commitments (12.03.08)
Armenian Minister of Labour and Social Issues Aghvan Vardanyan held meetings with a number of
international organizations cooperating with the ministry. The public relations department of the
Armenian Minister of Labour and Social Issues told ArmInfo that the minister invited the heads of the
USAID, a number of UN structures, OSCE Office in Yerevan, European Commission Delegation to
Armenia and other organizations to take part in the meeting. Vartanyan stressed that the Armenian
government wishes to openly and publicly present the state of affairs in the country to all its partners
and inform them about the measures being taken by the Armenian authorities. "Living and working in
Armenia, you, naturally, cannot stay indifferent to the processes taking place in the country and you
have the right to get reliable first-hand information. Unfortunately, in Armenia political forces have not
enough political culture to admit their defeat at elections," the minister said. He told the officials about
the Mar 1 disorders in Yerevan and the following decision to impose a state of emergency. He said that
Azerbaijan's actions on the Azeri-Nagorno Karabakh contact line were a provocation. UN Resident
Coordinator/UNDP Resident Representative in Armenia Consuelo Vidal thanked Vardanyan for the
invitation and the information. Vardanyan pointed out that the Armenian Government was firmly
resolved to continue its joint programs with international organizations and strongly committed to meet
all of its international obligations.
Source: ARMINFO News (Armenia)
CE Commissioner for Human Rights to arrive in Armenia (11.03.08)
CE Commissioner for Human Rights Thomas Hammarberg is to arrive in Armenia this week on a threeday visit to discuss the complicated internal political situation in the country, CE information office told
"Novosti-Armenia". The rallies of opposition protesting against the outcome of the presidential vote in
Armenia, developed into disturbances and clashes between demonstrators and the Police. On March 1
Armenia's President imposed a state of emergency on Yerevan, effective for 20 days, under item 6
paragraphs 14 of Article 55, Armenia's Constitution (threat to the country's security and population).
According to the report, Hammarberg is to meet with high ranking Armenian officials to support
effective human rights protection. Particularly, the Commissioner is to meet with Armenian President
Robert Kocharian, the Prime-Minister and President-elect Serge Sargsian, ex-president Levon TerPetrosian, Speaker of the Parliament Tigran Torosian, Chairman of the Constitutional Court Gagik
Harutiunian, Human Rights Defender Armen Harutiunian, diplomats, representatives of international
organizations and civil society. Hammarberg will also visit the custodies, police stations and hospitals to
meet with participants of events, the information office reported. According to the report, he expressed
concern about the human rights situation in Armenia and the consequences of the state of emergency
in the country. The Commissioner stressed the urgency of lifting restrictions on mass media and
activities of political parties and NGOs. On March 10 Armenia's President Robert Kocharian signed a
decree on lifting certain provisions of the state of emergency in Yerevan, i.e. the provisions on
"temporary interruption of activities of parties and other public organizations, which hinder the
elimination of the conditions, which became a reason for imposing the state of emergency" and
"sending out the people, who violated legal order of the state of emergency and who do not reside in
the zone of its effect".
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Source: ARMINFO News (Armenia)
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AZERBAIJAN
System of Entrants’ E-Applications Acceptance presented in Azerbaijan (12.03.08)
Today, the State Student Enrolment Commission (TQDK) of Azerbaijan conducted a meeting of heads
of regional education departments at which it was presented a new system of acceptance of eapplications from entrants. Commission’s chair Maleyka Abbasova said that since late March 2008 TQDK
will start accepting e-applications for higher and secondary special educational institutions. “The system
was developed by local specialists and due to it acceptance of around 100,000 applications from
entrants is planned. The system is based on database of the Ministry of Internal Affairs on the basis of
identity cards,” Abbaszadeh said. Acceptance of e-applications will be carried out by two stages. In the
course of the first stage the entrant should receive a payment card to contain working number and
code, and using them the entrant will be able to enter the system and fill in an e-application. Besides
data from identity cards (to be chosen automatically), the entrant should indicate address of his current
point of residence, contact phones, choose a section of specialities, data of a document about
education, year of school finishing, etc. Before this information is confirmed it can be changed. During
the second stage the entrant should present the required documents to specially established
Commission on Acceptance of Documents, in which the Commission’s employee will check rightness of
filled in information and confirm it. After that no changes can be made in the e-application. The
Commission officials will pas training courses and they will be given password of system entry. The
Ministry of Communications & Information Technologies renders assistance to TQDK. Through post
offices the entrants in all the 27 regions of Azerbaijan will be provided free access to Internet. Receipt
of documents from entrants will continue until May 1. After entrance exams, the entrant will be able
check on its working number the results of exams and select specialities through Internet. In this case
no confirmations will be demanded.
Source: ABC.AZ Daily News
CE Calls on Azerbaijan’s Authorities to Upgrade Penal Establishments – Expert (12.03.08)
Azerbaijan, Baku, 12 March /TrendNews corr K. Ramazanova/ The Council of Europe (CE) calls on
Azerbaijan’s authorities to upgrade penal establishments and prisons, the CE expert for prisons Per
Colliander said to journalists in Baku on 12 March. “The Government should pay special attention to
improving the qualifications of personnel in those establishments,” Colliander said. According to the
expert, the conditions of prisons in Azerbaijan have not changed since the USSR. “A lot is being done to
improve the system, but good results require time,” he said. “The prisons are placed in old buildings
and several inmates are jailed in one cell,” Colliander said. The expert noted that the Council of Europe
will continue monitoring the prisons in Azerbaijan. There are 17 penal establishments in Azerbaijan, one
prison, three investigation cells, one delinquent punishment serving place, and one medical
establishment for prisoners.
Source: ABC.AZ Daily News
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BELARUS
US report lists Belarus among countries with worst human rights records (13.03.2008)
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The US Department of State has included Belarus into the 10 countries with the world’s worst human
rights records. In its 2007 report on human rights around the world released on March 11, the
Department of State accused the Belarusian government of continuing to “ignore recommendations by
major international organizations to improve election processes and human rights.” According to the
report, authorities in Belarus “restricted freedom of press, speech, assembly, association, and religion”
and arrested and convicted opposition activists on politically motivated charges. The US Department of
State says that the judiciary lacked independence and “trial outcomes were usually predetermined,”
with some trials held behind closed doors without independent observers. The report highlights
pressure on independent media outlets, trade unions, non-governmental organizations and opposition
political parties, as well as the persecution of religious leaders and churches. “Trafficking in persons
remained a significant problem, although some progress was made to combat it,” the report says. The
US Department of State refers to a resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly that condemned
the human rights situation in Belarus. Belarus was grouped with Zimbabwe, Iran, North Korea, Cuba,
Myanmar, Syria, Sudan, Uzbekistan and Eritrea.
Source: BelaPAN
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GEORGIA
President of Georgia and Opposition's Representatives Discussed Theme of Abkhazia
(13.03.2008)
The theme of Abkhazia and Russia's decision to lift economic sanctions from Abkhazia were in the focus
at the meeting of representatives of the opposition - leader of the party 'Industry will Save Georgia'
Georgi Topadze and leader of the Party of Future Giya Maisashvili with Presidenr of Georgia Mikheil
Saakashvili The meeting lasted for an hour and a half and was held in camera. As Goya Maisashvili
stated to journalists, the question was about which state policy had to be pursued with regard to NATO
not to damage the process of conflicts settlement and relations with Russia. He informed that the
initiative existed to form the independent group which would not comprise representatives of the
government to hold a dialogue with the Abkhaz side. This group will have to elaborate and propose to
the Abkhaz party concrete economic models and to present as attractive as possible them to Georgia,
to work actively on integration to the Abkhaz society into the Georgian statehood. Elaboration of
proposals on improvement of Russian-Georgian relations and steps that will be able to accelerate
Georgia's accession to NATO is one more sphere of this group activity. According to Maisashvili's
information, this group must be formed and start working in the nearest future. Leader of Industrialists
Georgi Topadze considers that entrance of Georgian business into Abkhazia was the most justified way
of rapprochement with Abkhazes. 'Abkhazes must see that our relations are built not on hostile
attitude, but on good neighborhood', he said. In Topadze's opinion, it is necessary to invest funds into
Abkhazia and commercial banks must allocate them preferential credits. In this trend Georgian
authorities and the opposition must work together and the government must provide certain
guarantees for the Abkhaz party and make certain concessions', Topadze stated. During some minutes
Georgi Topadze and Mikheil Saakashvili held a tat-a-tat meeting. They discussed activity of the National
Olympic Committee which was headed by Topadze and preparation for the Olympic Games in Peking by
Georgian combined teams.
Source: BLACK SEA PRESS
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MOLDOVA
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Moldova pledges not to join NATO if Russia accepts its sovereignty over Trans-Dniester
(13.03.2008)
Moldova's President said in remarks published Wednesday that a deal may be reached with Russia
under which the Trans-Dniester region remains part of Moldova in return for Moldova's promise
never to join NATO. "Soon we will have a final solution to the Trans-Dniester conflict," President
Vladimir Voronin was quoted as saying in the Russian daily Kommersant. Trans-Dniester, a small
Russian-speaking enclave in eastern Moldova, fought a war with Moldova in 1992 that left more than
1,000 people dead. It is not international recognized as a separate country. The leaders of TransDniester would like Russia to recognize its independence. Russia has supported Trans-Dniester but has
not recognized it.
The deal with Russia, Veronin said, would include guarantees that Trans-Dniester would retain broad
autonomy within Moldova. And Moldova would recognize the sale of state enterprises that have
taken place in the separatist region, he said. In addition, Moldova would take on Trans-Dniester's
US$1.5 billion (euro0.97 billion) debt to the Russian gas company, Gazprom. Voronin also suggested
Moldova might leave GUAM, a regional organization set up with Georgia, Ukraine and Azerbaijan,
which some say is anti-Russian. He said it would be necessary for "a declaration recognizing Moldova's
permanent neutrality" to be signed Russia, Ukraine, the United States, the European Union and the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. Russia has 1,500 troops stationed in TransDniester. They guard large weapons storage facilities left over from the former Soviet military.
Voronin met President Vladimir Putin for talks in Moscow in February.
Source: Associated Press Newswires
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UKRAINE
Kazakhstan to boost oil, gas exports to Ukraine if Moscow agrees (13.03.2008)
Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko arrived in Kazakhstan last week hoping to secure new deals for
Kazakh energy supplies, however he was set to leave without an agreement for more natural gas or oil
anytime soon. Yushchenko's visit to Kazakhstan was planned months ago and timed to coincide with
the opening of the Year of Ukraine festivities in Kazakhstan. But the renewed disputes that emerged
last week between Ukraine and Russian gas giant Gazprom shifted the focus of Yushchenko's visit to
attempting to strike new deals for supplies of Kazakh oil and natural gas. After a meeting with
Yushchenko, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev briefly raised Ukraine's hopes. "We clearly
understand Ukraine's interest in energy resources and, with its large resources and opportunities to
increase both oil and gas output in the future, Kazakhstan can potentially meet this need" Nazarbayev
said, pointing out at the same time that actually increasing energy exports to Ukraine depends on a
third party. The Kazakh leader noted that Kazakh oil is transported to Ukrainian ports through the
Russian Transneft oil-transit system, known as the Caspian Pipeline Consortium. He said that
Kazakhstan is ready to boost its exports to Ukraine, but that an agreement would have to be sought
with both countries and Russia. A firm alliance Matthew Clements, the Eurasia editor at the Londonbased Janes information group, said before the Nazarbayev-Yushchenko meeting that Kazakhstan was
unlikely to agree to anything that might jeopardize its strong ties with Russia. "Kazakhstan has a closer
relationship with Russia than other CIS states or regional states and I think this has been cemented in
recent months by the pipeline agreement between Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, and Russia" Clements
said, adding that the signing of the agreement shows Kazakhstan's favourable view toward Russia and
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minded in terms of getting as many gas deals as possible into other countries, for instance pipeline and
export agreements signed with China, and he's also been very open to the idea of supplying some
degree of [gas] across the Caspian towards Europe." Back door option Nazarbayev did venture to say
that a deal with Ukraine that does not involve Russia or Russian companies is at least possible. There
is an alternative way to resolve this issue, and that is to reach the Black Sea via Baku, he said. "We're
working to restore the old pipeline that runs directly from Baku to the Black Sea, and Kazakhstan has
bought out the deep-sea port in Batumi [in Georgia] together with its terminals" Nazarbayev said. For
his part, Yushchenko held out the prospect that Kazakh oil could not only be sold to Ukraine, but also
transported through Ukraine to other countries in Europe via a Ukrainian pipeline that begins in
Odessa on the Black Sea and will eventually reach the Polish port city of Gdansk. The goal of the
Odessa-Brody [pipeline] project is to deliver Caspian oil to the center of Europe, Yushchenko said. "So
we believe there is no alternative to this project. No existing project has been designed to deliver
Caspian oil to European consumers by this shortest way."
Talks between the Kazakh and Ukrainian presidents were reportedly cordial, and Kazakhstan is due to
send representatives to an energy summit in Kiev this May. Yushchenko said the Odessa-Brody-Gdansk
pipeline project would be among the top issues on the agenda at that summit.
Source: Asia Pulse
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RUSSIA
Russia to take stance on Georgian disputed territories (13.03.2008)
The Russian State Duma deputies are poised to discuss the situation in Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and
Transnistria during today's parliamentary proceedings. Delegations from the parliaments of the three
disputed territories are expected to make an appeal to Russia for the recognition of their
independence. A wide range of issues concerning Russian-Georgian relations is projected to be
discussed during the session, head of the State Duma's CIS committee Alexei Ostrovsky said.
Meanwhile, Georgia's Foreign Minister David Bakradze warned Moscow yesterday against declaring
Abkhazia and South Ossetia's independence, saying that the move was likely to affect the security of
the territories in question, as well as the southern region of Russia.
Source: RosBusinessConsulting
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