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Central Asia / Siberia
NEWSLINE: Central Asia, Transcaucasia and Russia
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
Uzbekistan warns Kyrgyzstan of gas cut-off
A Kyrgyz government official who requested anonymity told RFE/RL correspondents in Bishkek on 8 March that Uzbekistan has sent a telegram to Kyrgyzstan warning that gas supplies will soon be cut off if the latter does not start paying its $3.3 million debt. Uzbekistan reduced gas supplies in late February and stopped supplies altogether last November. On both occasions, a Kyrgyz delegation traveled to Uzbekistan to negotiate the resumption of deliveries. (Bruce Pannier)
New Kazakh party seeks young membbers
Representatives of the People's Republican Party held a press conference in Almaty on 9 March to reveal some of the party's goals, RFE/RL correspondents reported. Amirzhan Kosanov, the spokesman of party leader Akezhan Kazhegeldin, said the party will focus on gaining supporters from among the country's younger generation. He noted that party branches have been established throughout the country, even in remote areas. The party's deputy chairman, Ghaziz Aldamzharov, said the process of choosing candidates to participate in parliamentary elections later this year has already begun. Aldamzharov added that the party currently has 4,000 registered members, although it was officially registered only last week (see ''RFE/RL Newsline, 3 March 1999). Kazhegeldin was not present at the press conference. Kosanov said he was in the U.S. to inform people abroad about the existence of the new party. (B.P.)
Action taken against Kyrgyz banks
Kyrgyzstan's National Bank has announced that Maksata Bank will work under a ''conservative regime'' for the next six months, ITAR-TASS reported on 9 March. Chairman of the National Bank Ulan Sarbanov also said Insana Bank will be placed under a ''temporary administration'' until June. Sarbanov said these moves are necessary owing to the banks' violations of the law, which, he said, could ''lead to a worsening of the country's financial situation.'' Sarbanov said the measures taken by the National Bank are aimed at ''preventing insolvency and will protect the commercial banking system.'' (B.P.)
Armenian party elects fugitive ex-minister
The ruling board of the Armenian Pan-National Movement (HHSh) on 8 March voted narrowly to reelect former Interior Minister Vano Siradeghian as its chairman, RFE/RL's Yerevan bureau reported. Following three days of heated debates and two rounds of voting, 22 members of the 41-strong HHSh board finally voted for Siradeghian, while 14 others backed his main challenger, former parliamentary speaker Babken Ararktsian. A third candidate, former Foreign Minister Alexander Arzoumanian, withdrew after the first round of voting. Siradeghian left Armenia in late January, two weeks before the parliament voted to strip him of his deputy's immunity (see ''RFE/RL Newsline,'' 18 February 1999). He is wanted in connection with several murders. ''Oragir'' reported on 9 March that former President Levon Ter-Petrossian lobbied energetically for Ararktsian's candidacy. (Liz Fuller)
Bulgaria backs Armenia for Council of Europe
Bulgarian parliamentary chairman Yordan Sokolov met with his Armenian counterpart, Khosrov Harutiunian, and other senior officials, including President Robert Kocharian, Prime Minister Armen Darpinian, and Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian, in Yerevan on 5-6 March. Sokolov said Bulgaria will support Armenia's bid for full membership in the Council of Europe, Noyan Tapan and RFE/RL's Yerevan bureau reported. Sokolov concurred with the Armenian argument that Yerevan's membership in that organization should not be directly linked to the Karabakh conflict. (L.F.)
Georgia's jobless emigrate in search of work
Georgia currently has 101,700 registered unemployed, a 14.5 percent decrease from early 1998, Caucasus Press reported on 8 March, citing the State Statistics Department. More than half those seeking work have higher education, and 25 percent are under 30. ITAR-TASS, which cited a total of 98,000 jobless, said that the real figure is probably three times higher. Some 400,000 people out of a total population of 5 million in 1991 have emigrated since then in search of work. (L.F.)
Yeltsin resignation would open way for 'Stalinists'
In an interview with ''Die Welt'' published on 8 March, Oleg Sysuev, first deputy chief of the presidential staff, said that President Boris Yeltsin and his government are working to stabilize conditions in Russia and that Yeltsin's premature resignation would open the way to ''a representative of the third force,'' namely, nationalists and Stalinists. Sysuev added that Russia will achieve stability and become a ''state power with democratic and market-oriented principles'' no sooner ''than the end of the term of the next president, in 2004.'' (Paul Goble)
Zhirinovsky supporters may back Yeltsin impeachment
Aleksei Mitrofanov, a member of Vladimir Zhirinovskii's ultranationalist party and chairman of the Duma's geopolitical committee, told Interfax on 9 March that four or more of the deputies in his faction ''are close to voting in favor of Yeltsin's impeachment.'' (P.G.)
St. Petersburg, Hong Kong plan cooperation
Representatives of the two cities met in Russia's second capital to outline measures for future cooperation in their capacity as the major sea ports of their respective countries, ITAR-TASS reported on 8 March. St. Petersburg Governor Vladimir Yakovlev said that the cities can ''cooperate as the sea gates'' to their respective markets. He added that the Russian side can help Hong Kong in ''creating its own incubators of high technologies.'' (P.G.)
Chechnya given ultimatum on kidnapping
In a harshly worded statement issued on 7 March, Russian Interior Minister Sergei Stepashin warned that Moscow will resort to ''extremely rigorous measures to ensure law, order, and security in the North Caucasus region'' unless his subordinate, Major-General Gennadii Shpigun, is released ''shortly,'' Interfax reported. Shpigun was abducted in Grozny on 5 March (see ''RFE/RL Newsline,'' 8 March 1999). Stepashin said that despite assurances from the Chechen leadership that it is cracking down on crime and terrorist activities, the situation continues to deteriorate and the Russian leadership's tolerance is exhausted. ''In effect, several thousand armed scoundrels dictate their will to Chechen society, driving it into medievalism and obscurantism,'' Stepashin said. He hinted that Russian sanctions on Chechnya could entail cutting rail and air links and energy supplies to the region. And he added that in the event of future ''terrorist acts,'' Russia will intervene ''in conformity with international practice'' to destroy ''criminal formations' bases.'' (L.F.)
Chechen president vows to find general
Chechen President Aslan Maskhadov told journalists in Grozny on 8 March that he has given investigators three days to locate Shpigun, Interfax reported. Presidential press spokesman Mairbek Vachagaev told Interfax that Russia has aggravated the situation in Chechnya by circumventing Maskhadov and dealing directly with his rivals. Vachagaev added that any armed intervention by Moscow ''will forever turn the Chechen people away from Russia.'' The Chechen presidential press service issued a statement on 8 March claiming that Russian intelligence had acted together with opposition state Shura [council] leader Shamil Basaev in abducting Shpigun. (L.F.)
Opposition warns of reprisals
Speaking on Grozny television on 8 March, Basaev denied any part in the abduction and urged whoever is holding Shpigun to hand him over to the Shura as a ''war criminal,'' ITAR-TASS reported. Opposition field commander Vakha Arsanov said the Shura has placed its armed forces on high alert to counter anticipated Russian military aggression. On 9 March, Basaev's deputy Movladi Udugov warned that a Russian attack could trigger Chechen reprisals against individual Russian politicians. (L.F.)
© 1998 RFE/RL, Inc. All rights reserved.
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RADIO FREE EUROPE/RADIO LIBERTY, PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC
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March 11, 1999
