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![]() No. 205, 25 October 1993Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Inc. RUSSIA YELTSIN ORDERS REGIONAL AND LOCAL ELECTIONS BY MARCH. President Boris Yeltsin issued a decree on 22 October ordering that elections to all councils at the regional (oblast and krai) level and lower be held by March 1994, ITAR-TASS reported. The decree did not affect Russia's constituent republics. Earlier, the president decreed the dissolution of local councils at the city level and lower, and recommended (but not ordered) that regional councils voluntarily dissolve themselves. Some, but not all, of the councils had already agreed with the president's demands. -Vera Tolz POWERS OF NEW REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE ORGANS. Yeltsin's decree on regional councils stipulates that they should have no more than 50 deputies, Russian media reported. (Regional and even some city councils now have hundreds of deputies.) The decree says regional councils will have the right to pass their own laws but they will have to be approved by heads of regional administrations, appointed by the president. Heads of administrations will also have to sign any documents determining regional budgets. While this decree was being prepared, Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Shakhrai told a press conference that this system, which gives broad rights to the heads of administration, will exist only for the next two years and then will have to be revised, reported Nezavisimaya gazeta on 15-October. -Vera Tolz PROVISION ON REPUBLICS' SOVEREIGNTY REMOVED FROM DRAFT CONSTITUTION. The provision in the draft constitution that the republics are sovereign states has been dropped by the constitutional assembly's working group, Sergei Filatov, chief of the president's administration said on 22 October. Filatov said its retention could have led to "unpredictable consequences." Nezavisimaya gazeta reported that it had learnt from sources close to Shakhrai that the text of the federation treaty had also disappeared from the draft. Virtually all the republics have adopted declarations of sovereignty and were insistent that the designation "sovereign" and the federal treaty be included in the constitution. Nezavisimaya gazeta said the changes could seriously jeopardize plans to adopt the new constitution by referendum in December. -Ann Sheehy REACTIONS OF TATARSTAN AND BASHKORTOSTAN. Contacted by Nezavisimaya gazeta, Tatarstan president Mintimer Shaimiev and the chairman of the Bashkortostan parliament Murtaza Rakhimov both reacted very negatively to the change, describing it as a return to the "Russian empire." Shaimiev said that the republics' sovereignty is the choice of the republics' peoples. Rakhimov suggested "such provocations" could bring about the collapse of the Russian Federation. Ivan Aleksandrov, first deputy chairman of the Karelian parliament described Filatov's statement as "simply nonsense." -Ann Sheehy YELTSIN VISITS YAROSLAVL. President Yeltsin visited the city of Yaroslavl on 24 October to unveil a monument to the eleventh-century prince, Yaroslav the Wise, ITAR-TASS and Western agencies reported. Yeltsin said that Yaroslav, who ruled in Kiev over a unified medieval state and introduced its first legal code, was a symbol of reform. Speaking to journalists after the ceremony, Yeltsin predicted that the new Russian parliament would be "more intellectual and cultured," and expressed satisfaction that, having ended "the senseless battle between executive and legislative branches of power" the president and government "could devote their attention to building Russia." Yeltsin also hinted that he would not insist on holding presidential elections in June 1994, saying that their date would be fixed by the new parliament. Close allies have recently advised Yeltsin that he should serve out his full term, which lasts until 1996. -Wendy Slater RESULTS OF CHRISTOPHER VISIT. US Secretary of State Warren Christopher held meetings with Russian officials in Moscow on 22 and 23 October. In an appeal for Moscow to lift press restrictions, Christopher said: "True democrats have nothing to fear from a free press." Yeltsin expressed his appreciation for US support during the recent political crisis, and at other times, saying, "of all the leaders of the world, President Clinton . . . always supports Russia . . . most steadily in all situations," A January summit between presidents Yeltsin and Clinton is planned, Western agencies reported. -Suzanne Crow CHRISTOPHER ON NATO MEMBERSHIP. Speaking at a joint news conference in Moscow on 22 October with Russian Foreign Minister Andrei Kozyrev, Warren Christopher said that Russia enthusiastically supports the US proposal to restrict NATO expansion to a plan of gradual growth. Yeltsin called the plan "brilliant" and "terrific" following meetings at his dacha with Christopher, Western media reported. -Suzanne Crow RUSSIAN PROSECUTOR CHARGES 16 PERSONS FOR REVOLT. The office of the Procurator General has formally charged 16 persons in connection with the armed revolt of 3-4 October, ITAR-TASS reported on 22-October. All were charged with organizing mass disorders, which can be punished by up to 15 years in jail. Among the accused are former parliamentary speaker Ruslan Khasbulatov, former Vice President Aleksandr Rutskoi, former Minister of Security Viktor Barannikov, the leader of the militant Communist Workers' party, Viktor Anpilov, and others. -Alexander Rahr CREDIT PACKAGE FOR AGRO-INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX. Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin has earmarked a total of 1,450 billion rubles in low-interest or interest-free centralized credits for the agro-industrial complex, Interfax reported on 23 October. No time-frame was given for the extension of the credits, but the wording suggested that these will be made available immediately. On the face of it, the credit package will appreciably raise the budget deficit which was already-by most accounts-well above the government's original projections and above the guidelines set by external creditors. -Keith Bush CURB ON DEFENSE EXPENDITURE? DEPUTY FINANCE MINISTER ALEKSANDR POCHINOK TOLD KRASNAYA ZVEZDA ON 22 OCTOBER THAT THE GOVERNMENT PLANS TO KEEP TIGHT RESTRICTIONS ON ALL BUDGETARY EXPENDITURES IN 1994, INCLUDING DEFENSE EXPENDITURE. Pochinok acknowledged the government's appreciation of the army's loyalty during the recent upheavals, but stressed that the future army must be smaller, more mobile, and cost less. He nevertheless gave an assurance that soldiers will be provided with "decent conditions." It is difficult to reconcile recent authoritative pronouncements on a ceiling on defense expenditure with promises to increase outlays on pay and housing and with the requested 50% jump in military procurement orders (see RFE/RL Daily Report no. 200). -Keith Bush MASS CLOSURE OF COMMERCIAL BANKS? A DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE RUSSIAN CENTRAL BANK (RCB), DMITRY TULIN, TOLD THE FINANCIAL TIMES OF 22 OCTOBER THAT DOZENS OF COMMERCIAL BANKS COULD SOON BE CLOSED DOWN OR RESTRUCTURED. Speaking in his new capacity as chief of banking supervision, Tulin reported that the RCB stopped refinancing 22 commercial banks in Moscow two weeks ago after they exceeded its 5-day overdraft limit, and warned that many more banks throughout the country would be subject to review. Those whose overdrafts with the RCB were found to be due to "serious financial problems" would be either bailed out, offered to bigger institutions, or closed down. The number of commercial banks in Russia is put at nearly 2,000. -Keith Bush LATEST ON WASTE DUMPING IN SEA OF JAPAN. Ecology Minister Viktor Danilov-Danilyan told a news conference on 21 October that Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin has formally ordered the suspension of a planned second dumping of liquid nuclear waste in the Sea of Japan, Reuters reported. On the same day, Interfax reported that a senior Russian Navy official, Vice Admiral Yurii Kaisin, called for the dumping of radioactive wastes to continue; he claimed that it was the least environmentally harmful way of getting rid of the waste. Kaisin also said that Tokyo's protests were more political than substantive. Meanwhile, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported on 23 October that Viktor Mikhailov, Russia's Minister for Atomic Energy, proposed in Tokyo that Japan purchase $100 million worth of uranium annually from Russia as a means of helping Russia finance a new waste disposal facility. Japanese power companies reportedly have no need at present for the uranium. Finally, Reuters reported on 22-October that a plant designed to dispose of such radioactive wastes, located at Murmansk in the Arctic northwest, has been standing idle. -Stephen Foye TRANSCAUCASIA AND CENTRAL ASIA GEORGIAN TROOPS RETAKE TERRITORY. On 22-October Georgian government troops retook the rail junction of Samtredia, captured by forces loyal to ousted president Zviad Gamsakhurdia on 17 October; on 23-October government forces retook the town of Martvili (former Gegechkori) to the north, and on 24-October, Abasha, northwest of Samtredia, Western agencies reported. Georgian Interior Minister Igor Giorgadze was quoted by GIA-TASS on 24-October as claiming that Chechen President Dzhokar Dudaev has sent a contingent of Chechen troops to Gamsakhurdia's headquarters, Zugdidi, and plans also to send equipment. In Tbilisi, Georgian parliament chairman Eduard Shevardnadze has appointed former Abkhaz Interior Minister Givi Lominadze to head an emergency committee to administrate the territory liberated from Gamsakhurdia's forces, AFP reported. -Liz Fuller SHEVARDNADZE SIGNS DECREE ON CIS MEMBERSHIP. On 22 October Georgian parliament chairman Eduard Shevardnadze signed a decree formally approving Georgia's membership in the CIS, ITAR-TASS reported. The Georgian parliament, which has been suspended for three months, has not ratified the decision, but a total of 120 deputies have signed a petition in favor, according to Reuters. -Liz Fuller NAZARBAEV, CHRISTOPHER ON NUCLEAR AGREEMENTS. AFP, Reuters and Interfax on 24 October reported that President Nursultan Nazarbaev had promised US Secretary of State Warren Christopher that Kazakhstan would ratify the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT) by the end of this year. Christopher and Nazarbaev also reportedly eliminated all remaining problems connected with a draft "umbrella agreement" that will govern the payment of US denuclearization aid to Kazakhstan. Reports indicated that the agreement will be signed "shortly," presumably at a higher-level meeting. -John Lepingwell NAGORNO-KARABAKH CEASEFIRE CRUMBLES. The towns of Kubatli, Zangelan and Goradiz in southeastern Azerbaijan were subjected to heavy artillery bombardment on 23-October, IRNA reported on 24 October. An Azerbaijani presidential spokesman claimed that troops from Armenia had launched an offensive against Goradiz, while Karabakh representatives in Stepanakert and Baku charged that the Azerbaijanis had attacked Gadrut raion in the south of Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenpress and Western agencies reported. -Liz Fuller RAFSANJANI IN TURKMENISTAN. On 22 October Iranian President Ali Akbar Rafsanjani traveled from Kyrgyzstan to Turkmenistan, where on 24 October he and Turkmen President Saparmurat Niyazov signed nine agreements on economic cooperation, specifically the construction of pipelines to transport Turkmen gas and oil through Iran to Turkey or the Persian Gulf, transport, and religious exchanges, Reuters reported. Speaking at a news conference in Ashgabat on 24-October prior to his departure for Kazakhstan, Rafsanjani rejected as "rumors spread by imperialist news media" charges that Iran is supporting the rebel faction in Tajikistan. -Liz Fuller CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE KLAUS, HAVEL ON NATO. Speaking at a press conference in Prague on 24 October after returning from a trip to the US, Guatemala, Mexico, and Germany, Czech Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus said that former Warsaw Pact countries should become members of NATO without being part of the alliance's military command. Klaus argued that East European countries could become members "a la France," which withdrew from the NATO military command in the 1960s but otherwise remains a member. Klaus's words were a reaction to a recent proposal by US Defense Secretary Les Aspin that former Warsaw Pact countries be offered limited partnerships in NATO, rather than full membership, and to the 21 October meeting of NATO defense ministers in TravemŸnde, which endorsed Aspin's proposal. Also on the 24th, Czech President Vaclav Havel said on Czech Radio that "much depends on what exactly the NATO proposals mean." If they are meant as a step "toward our future full membership, there is no reason to cry," said the president. Havel argued that the worst possibility would be "to try to pacify us and leave everything as is." -Jiri Pehe US ENVOY MENDS FENCES IN SOFIA. US Deputy Secretary of State Steve Oxman spent 23-and 24-October in Sofia meeting Bulgarian political leaders and discussing pressing European and bilateral affairs. One reason for the visit was clearly a wish on the part of the US to amplify its position on NATO membership for Eastern Europe and more specifically on the "partnership for peace" proposal presented on 20 October in TravemŸnde, Germany. Oxman told AFP he was "very encouraged" by the Bulgarian reaction to the US initiative, which First Deputy Foreign Minister Valentin Gatsinski referred to as "a complement to existing forms of cooperation." Gatsinski nevertheless emphasized that Bulgaria would continue to strive for full membership as a long-term goal. A second motive for Oxman's unexpected visit was to try to quell the outburst of anti-American sentiment following criticism of Bulgaria's constitutional ban on ethnic and religious parties expressed by the newly appointed ambassador to Sofia, William Montgomery, before the US Senate Foreign Affairs Committee. On 23 October BTA circulated an "unofficial document" prepared by the Bulgarian foreign ministry saying Montgomery's criticism was both inappropriate and inaccurate. -Kjell Engelbrekt HUNGARY MARKS 1956 ANNIVERSARY, ANTALL ON NATO. On 22 and 23 October commemorations were held throughout the country to mark the 37th anniversary of the 1956 revolution, MTI reports. Prime Minister Jozsef Antall commented that neutrality, one of the demands of the revolution, is not a goal today, and that Hungary seeks security guarantees in NATO. Justice Minister Istvan Balsai and several organizations representing 1956 freedom fighters used the occasion to call attention to the need to punish Hungarian communists who participated in the suppression of the revolution and in subsequent reprisals. President Arpad Goncz recalled in an interview with Radio Budapest that the freedom fighters belonged to various political orientations including socialist and conservative. In recent years, some political groups have claimed to be the sole representatives of the legacy of the revolution, and have launched a reevaluation intended to minimize the contributions of reform communists. -Edith Oltay BOSNIAN LEADER SEEKS PEACE WITH SERBS, CROATS. According to Western media, on 22 October Bosnian Muslim leader Fikret Abdic, who controls Bosnia's Bihac province, signed a separate peace with Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic and Serbia's President Slobodan Milosevic in Belgrade. On 23 October, Abdic defended his actions at a Zagreb press conference by observing that his intentions are to forge a "just and lasting peace" with Bosnian Serb and Croat leaders, Reuters reported. Meanwhile, AFP reported that not all Muslim leaders were in accord with Abdic's actions. General Ramiz Drekovic, a leader of the Bosnian Muslim army, allegedly condemned Abdic's efforts to secure peace as an act of "treason." Bosnian President Alija Izetbegovic echoed these sentiments. On 23 October Sarajevo radio reported that Bosnia's foreign minister, Haris Silajdzic, condemned Bosnian Croat leader Mate Boban's efforts to come to a peace agreement with Abdic. Boban and Abdic met on 21-October in an attempt to help end the 18-month-old war in Bosnia. -Stan Markotich FIGHTING IN BOSNIA MAY BE EASING. According to Reuters, on 22 October British UN peacekeepers in Bosnia reported that fighting between Croats and Muslims in central Bosnia had tapered off. However, the relative calm was seemingly short-lived. On 23-October Bosnian Muslim forces launched a major attack on the Croat enclave of Vares, situated in Central Bosnia. Lt.-Col. Bill Aikman, representing the UN, reportedly described the fighting in that region as "serious." On 23-October, Bosnia's capital Sarajevo came under heavy shelling from Serbian forces, but by the morning of 24-October Sarajevo radio was reporting calm in the city, and made no mention of fighting anywhere else in Bosnia. Croatian radio on 24 October carried reports which indicated that the situation in Bosnia was marked by calm. -Stan Markotich PAPANDREOU OUTLINES TOUGH BALKAN POLICY. In a speech on the priorities of Athen's foreign policy following the election victory of the Panhellenic Socialist Movement two weeks earlier, Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou on 23 October said his government above all intends to safeguard Greek interests in the Balkans, Western agencies report. While Papandreou promised to promote peace in the region, he rejected the possibility of recognizing the former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia under any name that includes 'Macedonia,' a term Athens argues implies territorial claims on Greece. Noting that Turkey remains the chief source of Greece's security concerns, he did not rule out that tension between the two countries might decrease, especially if Ankara accepts a Greek proposal on resolving the dispute over the Aegean Sea continental shelf. On the long-standing conflict over Cyprus, however, he warned that "any violent change of the existing situation . . . will be considered a cause of war." The freshly elected premier also said he wants closer relations with Albania but added that any improvement will depend on Tirana's treatment of ethnic Greeks. One day after the address, Athens denied Albanian charges that Greek border troops were responsible for the death of three civilians found shot 200 meters into Albanian territory. Another two Albanians were said to be injured. -Kjell Engelbrekt PAWLAK'S GOVERNMENT NEARING COMPLETION. Polish Prime Minister designate Waldemar Pawlak continued consultations aimed at forming a government on 22 and 23-October. PAP reports that the names of his three deputies can be taken as certain: Marek Borowski, Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz, and Aleksander Luczak. The first two are members of the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD), the last is from Pawlak's own Polish Peasant Party (PSL). Borowski will have responsibility for economic matters; the division of responsibilities between the other two will be agreed upon "within the government leadership." Such wording reflects a struggle between the two coalition partners over who is to have the upper hand in the government. Grzegorz Kolodko, also a member of the SLD, will be finance minister. The remaining ministerial nominations are not yet certain. In an interview with PAP on 24 October Pawlak said that his government will be ready for presentation to the president at the beginning of the week. -Anna Sabbat-Swidlicka POLISH TV A PAWN IN POWER STRUGGLE? NATIONAL BROADCASTING COUNCIL CHAIRMAN MAREK MARKIEWICZ TOLD PAP ON 20 OCTOBER THAT TV MANAGEMENT'S "UNSATISFACTORY" RESPONSE TO ALLEGATIONS OF PROGOVERNMENT BIAS IN COVERING THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN WOULD BE BOUND TO HAVE A "SIGNIFICANT" EFFECT ON PENDING NOMINATIONS TO MANAGEMENT POSITIONS AFTER STATE RADIO AND TELEVISION BECOME PUBLIC CORPORATIONS ON 1 JANUARY 1994. The current head of television, Janusz Zaorski, believed to be a protege of President Lech Walesa, rejected the council's allegations as "unfair." Gazeta Wyborcza reported on 20 October that the Supreme Chamber of Control is concerned about Zaorski's financial transactions. The press has been speculating that the new government will replace Zaorski but Democratic Left Alliance leaders have gone on record as saying that such a move would be pointless when Zaorski's post is due to be terminated simultaneously with TV's incorporation. Meanwhile, Zaorski has accused outgoing Finance Minister Jerzy Osiatynski of pressing the current radio and television management to speed up their structural transformation to enable appointments to take place before the new government takes over and installs its own proteges. In a statement quoted by PAP on 21-October he suggested that the different forces fighting for power in Poland were making a bid to gain control over the public media. -Anna Sabbat-Swidlicka SLOVAK PARTIES APPROVE COALITION. On 23-October the executive committees of the Movement for a Democratic Slovakia and the Slovak National Party approved the coalition agreement which was signed by the parties' chairmen on 19 October, TASR reports. MDS Chairman Vladimir Meciar said the new partnership, which "will avert all negative predictions by politicians and journalists," is expected to last 32 months, until the time of the next scheduled elections. Jozef Prokes of the SNP said the purpose of the coalition is "to turn Slovakia into a prosperous country, improve economic, political and social stability, keep up its image abroad, and complete its integration into European structures." According to Meciar, "the cabinet will be composed of both parties' members, and no attention will be given to who belongs to which party." The list of cabinet members will be given to President Michal Kovac on 25-October and will be made public after Kovac approves it. Because all members of the MDS executive committee present for the vote approved the coalition, Meciar "dismissed speculations about new MDS defections" to other parties. Although SNP Chairman Ludovit Cernak said before the vote that he expected "a stormy discussion" concerning the agreement in his party's executive committee, 41 SNP members voted in favor, 1 was against and 4 abstained. -Sharon Fisher BULGARIA'S SOCIALIST REFORMERS SET UP "MOVEMENT." The first national conference of the Civic Alliance for the Republic (CAR), partly made up of reformist members of the Bulgarian Socialist Party, on 24 October decided to seek registration as a "movement" and not as a party, BTA reports. According to the statutes adopted at the conference, this will allow sympathizers of the CAR to retain memberships in other political organizations. The decision seems to indicate that the Socialist reformists are not yet ready to break ranks despite BSP leader Jean Videnov's circulation one week earlier of a document instructing local chapters to exclude BSP members who join other political formations. The CAR reelected Aleksandar Tomov as its chairman and appointed a 79-man strong National Council, 21 of whom are currently members of the BSP. The conference also adopted a resolution stating that the chief aim of the organization will be to reduce the level of political confrontation in the country. -Kjell Engelbrekt US CONGRESS APPROVES MFN STATUS FOR ROMANIA. The US Congress unanimously approved the restoration of most-favored-nation trade status to Romania on 21 October. The House of Representatives had already ratified the bilateral trade agreement, which includes the MFN clause, on 12 October. The document still must be signed by President Bill Clinton. In separate but similarly worded communiques released on 22-October, Romania's government and the ruling Party of Social Democracy of Romania expressed "particular satisfaction" at the vote, which they described as marking the "full normalization of ties between Romania and the US." Also on 22 October, Radio Bucharest broadcast a statement by US Ambassador to Bucharest John R. Davis Jr. saying that the measure had to be seen as a token of support for Romania's democratization rather than as a reward. The MFN status will be reviewed after a year. Former Romanian President Nicolae Ceausescu had renounced MFN status in 1988 in response to stern US criticism of human rights violations in Romania. -Dan Ionescu ROMANIAN CABINET ORDERS PRICE AND IMPORT CURBS. At a cabinet meeting on 22-October, Romania's Prime Minister Nicolae Vacaroiu ordered price controls and curbs on imports in what was described by a Reuters corespondent in Bucharest as a new blow to economic reform. Vacaroiu told ministries to ensure that state sector food producers set retail price limits for their goods in their contracts of delivery. He also ordered the Finance Ministry to take action to reduce high prices in privately-run shops. This amounts to reinstating at least some price controls, which were abolished on 1 May 1993. In a further move apparently designed to protect inefficient state industries, Vacaroiu demanded significant import curbs. Vacaroiu's left-wing minority cabinet, which is widely held responsible for a slow-down in economic reforms, faces the third no-confidence motion in a year on 25 October. The motion argues that the appointment of four ministers in August was illegal because it was not endorsed by the parliament. -Dan Ionescu KRAVCHUK'S GERMAN VISIT. Ukrainian President Leonid Kravchuk was in Bonn on 22-October to take part in an international forum entitled, "Europe's future: a political program for the 1990's," ITAR-TASS reported on 24 October. During the visit Kravchuk met with German Chancellor Helmut Kohl. The two held talks behind closed doors on bilateral ties and European issues. German officials expressed their concern over the recent decision by Ukraine's parliament to keep the Chernobyl power station operating. In response Kravchuk said that while Ukraine intends to close the power station it needs technical, organizational and financial assistance to do that. -Ustina Markus WEIZSAECKER IN LATVIA. German President Richard von Weizsaecker returned to Germany from a two-day visit to Riga on 23 October. While in Latvia, Weizsaecker said that Germany will support the Baltic States in their efforts to join the EC and said he favors the creation of a Europe-wide security system. The German president also discussed with Latvian leaders possible monetary compensation for World War II victims, the need for the prompt withdrawal of the Russian military from the Baltics, and visa-free travel, Diena reported on 22 and 23 October. -Dzintra Bungs ULMANIS URGES MEETING WITH YELTSIN. While meeting with foreign diplomats in Riga on 21 October, Latvia's President Guntis Ulmanis said that interstate talks cannot resolve the issues still standing in the way of a prompt withdrawal of Russian troops and military equipment from Latvia and that a summit meeting with the Russian president is needed. In his letter of 15-October to Ulmanis, Yeltsin said he will help arrange a visit by Ulmanis to Moscow but argued that the possibilities of interstate talks have still not been exhausted. In response to the Russian Defense Minister's statement of 20 October linking the troop withdrawals to the situation of Russian-speakers in Estonia and Latvia, the Latvian Foreign Ministry pointed out on 21 October that such linkage contradicts the position of both international organizations and the Russian government and interpreted the statement as an attempt to strengthen Russia's influence in the Baltic region. In a related development, on 22-October the US State Department dismissed the rumors of treaties between Washington and Moscow on the Russian radar station in Skrunda, and stressed that such an accord should be made by the Russian and Latvian governments, Baltic media reported on 21 October. -Dzintra Bungs FINAL ESTONIAN ELECTION RESULTS NOT YET REPORTED. Contrary to expectations, the final results of the Estonian local elections, held on 17 October, have not been announced. According to the election law, the results must be announced no later than one week after the elections, Baltic media report. -Dzintra Bungs [As of 1200 CET] Compiled by John Lepingwell and Louisa Vinton THE RFE/RL DAILY REPORT IS PRODUCED BY THE RFE/RL RESEARCH INSTITUTE (A DIVISION OF RADIO FREE EUROPE/RADIO LIBERTY, INC.) with the assistance of the RFE/RL News and Current Affairs Division (NCA). The report is available by electronic mail via LISTSERV (RFERL-L@UBVM.CC.BUFFALO.EDU), on the Sovset' computer bulletin board, by fax, and by postal mail. For inquiries about specific news items, subscriptions, or additional copies, please contact: in North America: Mr. Brian Reed, RFE/RL, Inc., 1201 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC-20036 Telephone: (202) 457-6912 or -6907; Fax: (202) 457-6992 or 828-8783; Internet: RIDC@RFERL.ORG or Elsewhere: Ms. Helga Hofer, Publications Department, RFE/RL Research Institute, Oettingenstrasse 67, 80538 Munich, Germany;.Telephone: (+49 89) 2102-2631 or -2624; Fax: (+49 89) 2102-2648, Internet: PD@RFERL.ORG 1993, RFE/RL, Inc. All rights reserved.
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