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Subject:      RFE/RL Daily Report 22 JAN, 1993

The RFE/RL Daily Report is a digest of the latest developments
in Russia, Transcaucasia and Central Asia, and Central and
Eastern Europe. It is published Monday through Friday (except
German holidays) by the RFE/RL Research Institute (a division of
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Inc.). Copyright 1993 RFE/RL,
Inc.


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                  RFE/RL Daily Report

                                      No. 14, 22 January 1993

                          INTERREGIONAL

FULL TURNOUT FOR CIS SUMMIT. The heads of states of all ten CIS
member-states are attending the CIS summit that opened in Minsk on
22 January, the CIS media reported. Azerbaijan has also sent
observers.  At a meeting of the CIS prime ministers prior to the
meeting of the heads of states, the prime ministers approved the
draft CIS charter, which is to be the main item on the summit's
agenda, and also the principles of establishing an interstate
bank, with one amendment that will give Russia 50% of the vote.
The original draft provided for one vote per member-state. On
arrival in Minsk several heads of state said they would sign the
draft charter. Ann Sheehy, RFE/RL, Inc.

KOZYREV ON CIS SUMMIT AND DOCTRINE.  Russian Foreign Minister
Andrei Kozyrev said on 21 January that the Minks CIS summit will
be a milestone in the history of the CIS. Kozyrev said Boris
Yeltsin will make proposals for a sort of CIS "doctrine" which
would "bring the different viewpoints to a common denominator once
again," Interfax reported. Suzanne Crow, RFE/RL, Inc.

                              RUSSIA

RUSSIA'S CLAIM TO CONTROL ALL CIS NUCLEAR WEAPONS REJECTED.  The
21 January meeting of the CIS Nuclear Policy Committee failed to
solve the ongoing argument over ownership and control of the
former Soviet strategic nuclear weapons stationed in Belarus,
Ukraine, and Kazakhstan.  Russia insists that these weapons can
only belong to one country--itself. Appearing on the "Vesti"
newscast, Russian Defense Minister Pavel Grachev said that he was
convinced that all nuclear troops were completely subordinate to
him.  However, others indicated that only Belarus accepted the
Russian position.  Kazakh Defense Minister Sagadat Nurmagambetov
would not agree that the weapons in Kazakhstan were under Russian
control while Ukrainian First Deputy Defense Minister Ivan Bizhan
told Interfax that "Ukraine must retain administrative control [of
the nuclear weapons.] Doug Clarke, RFE/RL, Inc.

RUSSIAN DEPUTIES' FACTIONS, MOVEMENTS CALL FOR CIS INTEGRATION.
The Political Council of the Civic Union and the Executive
Committee of the International Movement for Democratic Reform
have, in separate statements, called upon CIS leaders to avoid
missing the last chance to strengthen the CIS at the Minsk summit,
ITAR-TASS reported on 21 January.  The International Movement for
Democratic Reform recommended the formation of a new Eurasian
Commonwealth on the territory of the former USSR. The conservative
deputies' bloc "Russian Unity" also spoke out in favor of the
reunification of all former Soviet republics. Its call was
supported by the National Salvation Front. Alexander Rahr, RFE/RL,
Inc.

RUSSIA WILL KEEP CONTROL OF FORMER USSR SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS.
Russian Defense Minister Pavel Grachev told Interfax on 21 January
that the question of military satellite communications had been
removed from the agenda of the CIS Defense Minister Council at
Russia's initiative. He said that Russia alone should control
space communications and other members of the CIS wishing to use
these facilities should conclude bilateral agreements with Russia.
Grachev turned down the idea that space communications might be
controlled by the CIS Joint Armed Forces. In an RIA interview he
explained that "communications satellites are Russian, and
controlled from Russia.  Why should we pass this control to the
[Joint Armed Forces]?" Doug Clarke, RFE/RL, Inc.

RUSSIAN AND TATARSTAN PRESIDENTS MEET.  Russian President Boris
Yeltsin and Tatarstan President Mintimer Shaimiev met in Moscow on
21 January to discuss the draft treaty between Russia and
Tatarstan on the mutual delegation of powers, ITAR-TASS reported.
It was the first time the two had met to discuss the treaty.  No
agreement appears to have been reached on the substantive question
of Tatarstan's status vis-a-vis the Russian Federation.  It was
decided instead to try and reach agreement first on economic,
ecological and other subsidiary matters.  Ann Sheehy, RFE/RL, Inc.

RUSSIAN-MONGOLIAN TREATY SIGNED IN MOSCOW.  The official visit of
Mongolian President Punsalmaagiyn Ochirbat ended on 21 January.
During Ochirbat's three days in Moscow, Russia and Mongolia signed
a treaty of friendship and cooperation and several
intergovernmental agreements on trade, economic cooperation, and
customs.  The two presidents also signed a joint communiqui which
expressed deep regret over the victims of Stalin's repressions and
called for measures to uncover the historical truth of those
crimes, ITAR-TASS reported. According to a Reuters report of 20
January, the treaty says neither country would participate in any
alliances aimed against the other or enter any similar pacts with
third countries.  Suzanne Crow, RFE/RL, Inc.

RUSSIAN DEPUTIES FORCE HUNGARIAN TREATY OFF AGENDA.  Controversy
erupted at the Russian parliament on 21 January over the question
of an amendment to the Russo-Hungarian treaty of friendship.  The
amendment, which was contained in an exchange of letters by the
Russian and Hungarian foreign ministers, referred to the two
countries' "mutual desire to overcome the legacy of
totalitarianism, especially that of the invasion of Hungary in
1956." According to an Interfax report, some deputies said they
opposed the amendment on the grounds that Hungary was one of
Germany's allies in World War Two. One deputy was quoted as saying
that "Russia is constantly apologizing, bowing and scraping to the
rest of the world." The same deputy added that Russia should not
be held responsible for the mistakes and crimes of the Soviet
government. Subsequently, the treaty, signed on 6 December 1992,
was removed from the agenda.  Suzanne Crow, RFE/RL, Inc.

RUSSIAN COSSACKS CHAFFING OVER DELAY.  Vladimir Naumov, a field
chieftain from the Cossack Union--the largest Cossack association
in Russia--told Interfax on 21 January that the Union would hold a
session in Moscow at the end of January.  The main agenda item, he
said, would be "state service of Cossacks." Naumov complained that
a bill on Cossack military service in the Russian army and border
guards had been ready for a long time but, "for reasons
incomprehensible to Cossacks," President Yeltsin had not signed
it. He refused to give specific information on the bill "out of
state security considerations," but said that Cossack service
would become "a stabilizing factor and one of the key links in
averting the collapse of the Russian state." Doug Clarke, RFE/RL,
Inc.

RUSSIAN ENERGY EXPORTS IN 1993.  Interfax on 20 January published
what it claims to be the provisional planned exports of Russian
oil and gas in 1993.  Final figures for planned exports were said
to be subject to the resolution of a dispute between the
production ministries and the Economics Ministry. The provisional
quantities for 1993 are, with 1992 outturns in parentheses: to
former Soviet republics, 56 million tons of oil (87.6 million
tons) and 97 billion cubic meters of gas (109 billion cubic
meters); to other countries, 40-45 million tons of oil (66 million
tons) and 109 billion cubic meters of gas (99 billion cubic
meters).  Keith Bush, RFE/RL, Inc.

CHANGES IN RUSSIAN TAXATION. In an interview with ITAR-TASS on 13
January, the first deputy head of the State Taxation Service
outlined the changes that have taken place in Russian taxation
laws effective 1 January.  Enterprises in all branches of the
economy have been freed from taxes on the money they channel into
investment or into expansion and renovation of production
capacities. Value added tax rates have been reduced from a uniform
28% to 10% for foodstuffs and children's products, and 20% for the
rest. The same rates will apply to imported goods. Income
declarations are now mandatory for the estimated 10 million
citizens whose total annual income exceeds 200,000 rubles. Keith
Bush, RFE/RL, Inc.

RUSSIA TO WITHDRAW PEACEKEEPING TROOPS FROM SOUTH OSSETIA,
ABKHAZIA? Moscow is considering withdrawing the Russian troops
which currently form the largest contingent within the tripartite
peacekeeping force deployed in South Ossetia, Interfax reported on
21 January, quoting a senior Russian Foreign Ministry official,
who conceded that the local population were alarmed at a possible
resumption of hostilities.  A second Interfax report quoted Feliks
Kovalyov, head of the Russian delegation to talks with Georgia, as
stating that for financial reasons Russia might also withdraw its
peacekeeping troops deployed in Abkhazia in accordance with the 3
September agreement.  Kovalyov said Russia would not object to the
presence of UN peacekeeping troops in Abkhazia but doubted whether
this was realistic. Liz Fuller, RFE/RL, Inc.

                  TRANSCAUCASIA AND CENTRAL ASIA

UZBEK OPPOSITION LEADER ON TRIAL IN TASHKENT. The trial of
Abdumanap Pulatov, chairman of Uzbekistan's Human Rights
Association and younger brother of Abdurakhim Pulatov, head of the
major Uzbek opposition group Birlik, began in Tashkent on 20
January, Interfax reported on 21 January. The younger Pulatov is
accused of having insulted Uzbek President Islam Karimov.
Uzbekistan is one of the CIS states that has adopted a law
protecting the dignity of the president. On 21 January, Birlik
co-chairman Shukrat Ismatullaev told an RFE/RL correspondent that
the deputy chairman of Uzbekistan's Peasants' Party, Olim Karimov,
has been arrested.  Birlik leaders interpret the authorities'
actions as being part of a campaign to destroy the Uzbek
opposition. Bess Brown, RFE/RL, Inc.

AFGHAN MILITARY TRAINING FOR TAJIK OPPOSITION. Tajik Prime
Minister Abdumalik Abdullodzhonov told a press conference in
Moscow on 21 January that there have been reports of ten training
camps in Afghanistan for supporters of Tajikistan's Islamic
Renaissance Party, Interfax reported.  Russian border troops in
Tajikistan often reported during the fighting in the second half
of 1992 that such camps existed in Afghanistan, funded by Afghan
fundamentalist leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar. Interfax quoted Russian
border troop officials in Dushanbe as saying on 21 January that
some 500 Tajiks have completed training in the Afghan camps and a
"mass provocation" against border installations is expected.  Bess
Brown, RFE/RL, Inc.

AZERBAIJANI PRIME MINISTER OPTIMISTIC ABOUT 1993 ECONOMY, OIL.
The Prime Minister of Azerbaijan, Ragim Guseinov, told Interfax on
21 February that he expects the initial signs of stabilization in
the economy that appeared at the end of 1992 to become stronger
this year. Guseinov said that the country should experience
positive overall economic growth in 1993. GNP and industrial
output in Azerbaijan fell over 20% in 1992 according to official
statistics. Guseinov cited the oil sector as particularly
promising.  After a 2% expansion this year, oil production should
increase by 50% in five and over 100% in ten years over 1992
levels. Erik Whitlock, RFE/RL, Inc.

KYRGYZSTAN TO OPEN EMBASSY IN JERUSALEM. During his official visit
to Israel, which ended on 21 January, Kyrgyzstan's President Askar
Akaev confirmed that his country's embassy will be located in
Jerusalem rather than Tel-Aviv, because, he said, Jerusalem is
Israel's capital. ITAR-TASS reported that Akaev had added that he
hoped Muslim states would understand the Kyrgyz decision, and
called for the Palestinian people to enjoy independence.
Kyrgyzstan's Foreign Minister Ednan Karabaev told Interfax on 21
January that his country's foreign policy priorities are relations
with Russia, China and the West, although Kyrgyzstan considers
itself "to a certain extent" part of the Muslim world and wants
good relations with the Middle East and Southwest Asia. Bess
Brown, RFE/RL, Inc.

                    CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE

BOSNIAN FIGHTING INTENSE.  Despite the latest
internationally-mediated peace efforts and cease-fires, heavy
fighting was reported on 21 January between Muslims, Serbs, and
Croats in many areas of Bosnia-Herzegovina. Muslim-Croat clashes
continued on around Gornji Vakuf, despite the cease-fire agreement
signed on 20 January. Radio Bosnia said the fighting continued
unabated and accused the Croat forces of shelling the town and
reported that the Croatian side is regrouping its forces around
the central Bosnian town of Vitez. Fighting escalated between
Muslims and Croats in the region of Kladanj and Gradacac,
according to Radio Croatia.  Bosnian Croat leader Mate Boban
stressed that the Croatian side wants to end the conflict in "the
speediest possible manner" but added that Bosnian President Alija
Izetbegovic's refusal to meet with him complicates matters.
Meanwhile, Muslim commanders warned that they will retaliate
against any "new aggression" by HVO extremists who are accused for
having disrupted the Croat-Muslim alliance against the Serbs.
Milan Andrejevich, RFE/RL, Inc.

GENEVA TALKS TO RESUME. The peace talks resume on 23 January.
According to Radio Serbia, Serbia's President Slobodan Milosevic
will accompany the Yugoslav delegation headed by federal President
Dobrica Cosic.  Fred Eckhard, spokesman for UN-EC mediators Cyrus
Vance and Lord Owen, told reporters that the Bosnian Serbs must
cooperate in the talks without preconditions. The negotiations
will focus on the actual boundaries of the 10 proposed provinces
which the Serbs and Muslims are contesting.  Milan Andrejevich,
RFE/RL, Inc.

SESELJ SEEKS COSIC'S RESIGNATION. Vojislav Seselj, head of the
Serbian Radical Party (SRS) told Radio Serbia on 21 January that
his party will demand the resignation of rump Yugoslav federal
President Dobrica Cosic if he fails to submit his resignation by
early next week.  Seselj said he would like to help Cosic and
respects him as one of the first dissidents in the former
communist Yugoslavia and the first leader of the Serbian
opposition.  However, Seselj also argued that Cosic has made some
disastrous political mistakes and has violated the federal
constitutional on several occasions over the past two months.
Seselj admitted that the SRS shares the blame for backing Cosic's
election by the federal assembly in June. He said "resignation is
the easiest way for Cosic to step down from his post while
preserving a minimum of dignity and honor that nobody would later
question." Seselj warned that Cosic will be facing an uphill
battle in the federal assembly if he does not resign.  Milan
Andrejevich, RFE/RL, Inc.

COMPROMISE ON MACEDONIAN RECOGNITION?  Western agencies reported
on 21 January that the Greek government might be prepared to
compromise on the issue of recognizing the Republic of Macedonia.
Faced with mounting pressure from within the EC, Greece, as a
first step, evidently may be willing to accept a "temporary
solution," such as recognizing Macedonia as the "Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia," as the IMF is currently doing.  Next, a
compromise would be sought at UN-led discussions between the Greek
government and Macedonian officials that would take place before
the UN General Assembly's meeting in September, when that body is
expected to vote on Macedonia's application for membership.
Duncan Perry, RFE/RL, Inc.

ANTALL COULD RESIGN IF NOT REELECTED HDF CHAIRMAN. In a letter to
the head of the nomination committee of the Hungarian Democratic
Forum at the party's weekend congress and published in Pesti
hirlap on 21 January, Prime Minister Jozsef Antall officially
declared his candidacy for the post of HDF chairman.  He stressed,
however, that he received his mandate to lead the coalition
government as HDF chairman and promised to "draw the necessary
governmental consequences" should he fail to be reelected. Antall
also warned that "as HDF chairman I will be able to work only with
a presidium that pursues centrist policies and admits no
demagoguery or political irresponsibility, which would mean a
disaster for the country." HDF presidium member Istvan Csurka and
followers, opponents of Antall at the congress, have been
demanding the separation of the post of Hungarian prime minister
from that of the party chairman.  An editorial by a Csurka
supporter in Pesti hirlap on 20 January hinted that while Csurka
might not be of prime minister caliber, he does have the qualities
to be party chairman.  Csurka formally declared that he is not a
candidate for chairman, but he and his followers are hoping for a
majority in the 20-member presidium.  Edith Oltay, RFE/RL, Inc.

HUNGARIAN MEDIA WAR CONTINUES.  According to a statement issued by
the prime minister's press office on 21 January, the directors of
radio and TV and now officially freed from their duties and the
deputy directors will assume their posts until new directors are
appointed, MTI reports.  The radio and TV directors, however
dispute Antall's authority in this matter and maintain they have
not resigned and therefore remain in office until President Arpad
Goncz specifically relieves them of their duties.  Antall's press
office said they find any new legal wrangle "unfortunate" and
declared that the resignations cannot be withdrawn unilaterally.
Edith Oltay, RFE/RL, Inc.

CZECH, SLOVAK ECONOMIC EXPERTS MEET.  A Czech delegation led by
Finance Minister Ivan Kocarnik and a Slovak delegation led by
Finance Minister Julius Toth met in Cejkovice, southern Moravia,
on 21 January.  Following the meeting Kocarnik told CTK that the
experts had solved most controversial points related to the
division of federal property and that an agreement on that issue
could be signed next week during a meeting between Czech and
Slovak prime ministers, if the prime ministers manage to solve the
remaining problems. One such problem is the fate of Slovakia's
"golden treasure"--some seven tons of gold collected during the
existence of the independent Slovak state between 1939 and 1945.
Slovakia demands the return of all the gold, while the Czech
government insists that it is federal property and should be
divided between the two republics.  Experts who discussed customs
practices at the Czech-Slovak border agreed in Cejkovice that the
current special regime at the border should be abandoned and
replaced by controls based on established international practices.
Jiri Pehe, RFE/RL, Inc.

WALESA PROPOSES BILL OF RIGHTS. Polish President Lech Walesa
presented his proposed Charter of Rights and Freedoms to the Sejm
on 21 January. Walesa said the charter is designed to anchor basic
civil rights in the Constitution and protect the public from
abuses of state power. "In the old legal system, law was designed
by the authorities for the authorities," Walesa said. In contrast,
the president said, the proposed charter would draw a line that
the authorities could not cross. Neutral in ideology, it would
guarantee basic rights considered unalienable and inviolable by
the entire civilized world.  It would forbid censorship, guarantee
the right to privacy, ban the forced assimilation of ethnic
minorities, and enable 500,000 citizens to call a referendum to
overturn legislation. There was general support in the Sejm for
Walesa's charter, although some Catholic deputies argued that
censorship was a legitimate means to defend "religious feelings
and honor." There was widespread criticism, on the other hand, of
an "economic rights charter" proposed by the former communist
deputies.  Louisa Vinton, RFE/RL, Inc.

ALLEGATIONS CONTINUE TO DOG WALESA. There has been no let-up in
the campaign by disgruntled former officials to suggest that
President Walesa and his staff are tainted by collaboration with
the communist secret police. At a press conference on 21 January,
former presidential chief of staff Jaroslaw Kaczynski insinuated
that Walesa was the "Agent Bolek," whose files were unearthed in
its final days by the ousted government of Jan Olszewski.
Attempting to preempt such charges, Walesa made available to the
Sejm leadership tapes of recent conversations with communist
Internal Affairs Minister Czeslaw Kiszczak, who conceded that the
Bolek files were forgeries. Kaczynski responded by suggesting that
Walesa's reliance on Kiszczak's testimony confirmed the
president's guilt.  Jan Parys, the defense minister ousted in 1992
for alleging that Walesa was plotting a coup, charged that three
further close Walesa aides, including his confessor, had been
secret police informants.  Neither Parys nor Kaczynski presented
any evidence.  Walesa asked journalists "why they paid attention
to such nonsense." Louisa Vinton, RFE/RL, Inc.

ROMANIAN OPPOSITION SAYS ITS OFFICES BUGGED. Opposition
politicians said on 21 January that listening devices have been
found in their offices by reporters from the independent daily
Evenimentul zilei using detectors bought in the US.  The
politicians accused the government and its intelligence service of
being behind the affair. Adrian Severin, deputy leader of the
National Salvation Front, told reporters that microphones were
found in offices belonging to his party and two other opposition
groups. Emil Constantinescu, chairman of the Democratic Convention
of Romania and spokesman for the Liberal Party-Young Wing
confirmed the findings. Constantinescu spoke of a "serious
violation of the law." Dan Ionescu, RFE/RL, Inc.

IMF MISSION IN SOFIA. On 21 January Anoup Singh, the head of the
IMF mission to Bulgaria, said that he is confident that
cooperation between his organization and Bulgaria will continue,
BTA reports.  At a press conference in Sofia Singh told reporters
he is now convinced that the new Bulgarian cabinet intends to
speed up economic reforms.  He nevertheless reiterated the IMF's
view that both the budget deficit and annual inflation--80% in
1992--will need to be reduced. Finance Minister Stoyan
Aleksandrov, who recently criticized the IMF requirements as too
rigid, said he has agreed to boost budget revenues by raising
prices on oil products, alcohol, and tobacco as well as by making
tax collection more effective. In an interview with Reuters Prime
Minister Lyuben Berov pledged to cut inflation to 60-70% in 1993.
The current stand-by agreement with the IMF is due for renewal by
end of March.  Kjell Engelbrekt, RFE/RL, Inc.

UKRAINE CRITICIZES RUSSIA OVER SEVASTOPOL. Parliament Chairman
Ivan Plyushch has sent a letter to his Russian counterpart, Ruslan
Khasbulatov, accusing influential Russian politicians of
attempting to reanimate "the old empire and the old imperial
policies," Ukrainian TV reported on 21 January. Plyushch's letter
was in reaction to the recent discussion of the status of the
Crimean city of Sevastopol in the Russian parliament.  Roman
Solchanyk , RFE/RL, Inc.

UKRAINIAN PARLIAMENT SPLIT. The special meeting of Parliament on
20 January, which was convened under pressure from conservative
deputies from Ukraine's eastern and southern oblasts, failed to
gather a quorum and was qualified as a meeting of parliamentary
commissions.  Reformist deputies grouped in the People's Council
fraction blocked Parliament's activities by not registering. The
same tactic were used when the lawmakers met on 21 January,
resulting in a walkout by delegations from Luhansk, Donetsk, and
other reegions.  At issue are differences over the CIS, economic
reform, and accusations that former communists in the parliament
are intent on reversing the ban on the Communist Party.  Roman
Solchanyk , RFE/RL, Inc.

BELARUS TO INTRODUCE NEW CURRENCY REGULATIONS. According to
Novosti on 20 January, new regulations on the export and import of
currency will come into force in Belarus starting 1 February.
Belarusian citizens traveling to other nations of the ruble zone
will be able to take an unlimited amount of "Soviet" rubles, but
only a limited amount of Belarusian rubles out of the country. The
maximum amount of exportable Belarusian rubles will be equivalent
to three times the minimum wage.  The quantity of "Soviet rubles"
non-CIS citizens can bring into Belarus will also be restricted.
Erik Whitlock, RFE/RL, Inc.

MOLDOVAN OFFICIAL MAKES CASE AGAINST UNIFICATION. Writing in
Nezavisimaya Moldova of 19 January as cited by Basapress, Deputy
Foreign Trade Minister Artur Gherman, son-in-law of President
Mircea Snegur, listed historical, economic, and political concerns
in advising against unification with Romania.  These include that
Moldova would find itself "at the discretion of a new center' with
regard to investments, credit, and technical assistance, never
getting a fair share"; Moldovans would again become "second-class
citizens"; local administrative and law enforcement bodies would
be replaced and run directly from Bucharest; the left bank of the
Dniester would be lost, and the right bank itself may be turned
into "another Transdniester" for Romania by an alienated
"Russian-speaking population" and also by pro-independence
Moldovans; and the situation would exacerbate tensions in
Transylvania, turning a Greater Romania into "a source of tension
in Europe." To avoid the fate of "a primitive country of chaos and
lawlessness," Moldovans "must firmly consolidate [their] own
statehood." Vladimir Socor , RFE/RL, Inc.

BRAZAUSKAS GIVES STATE OF NATION ADDRESS.  As required by the
Constitution, on 21 January Acting President Algirdas Brazauskas
gave the annual state of the republic speech, which was broadcast
live over Radio Lithuania. In 1992, he said, the domestic
political, economic, and social situation has worsened,
principally blaming politicians who often give priority to narrow
political interests. He expressed concern about the way the IMF
requirements were being addressed by the authorities.
Brazauskas's speech was filled with statistics for 1992, notably a
decrease of 39% in GNP from 1991 and an 11-fold growth in
inflation. The country's greatest foreign policy achievement,
Brazauskas said, was the Helsinki CSCE call for the withdrawal of
the Soviet army.  Saulius Girnius , RFE/RL, Inc.

OPPOSITION STEPS UP PRESSURE ON ESTONIAN GOVERNMENT.  The main
opposition faction in the Estonian State Assembly is charging the
ruling coalition with stymieing parliamentary progress. In a
statement carried by BNS on 21 January the opposition Center
faction accuses the ruling Pro Patria-led coalition of blocking
dialogue to the point of threatening democracy and independence.
For their part Pro Patria leaders say the Center faction is
intentionally stalling passage of the 1993 budget in order to
force new elections this spring.  According to the Constitution,
the president must call for new elections if the parliament fails
to pass a budget within the first two months of the fiscal year,
which begins on 1 January.  Riina Kionka, RFE/RL, Inc.

ESTONIAN PARLIAMENT DISCUSSES SEA BORDER. After suspending
discussion on the subject last December, the Estonian State
Assembly on 21 January restarted talks on a new government
proposal concerning the extent of Estonia's territorial waters,
BNS reports. As a gesture of goodwill to Finland, which maintains
a 4-mile limit in the Gulf of Finland, the new Estonian government
proposal foresees a 4-mile limit there as well, but the standard
12-mile limit in other coastal areas.  Foreign Minister Trivimi
Velliste told reporters that no one has pressured Estonia to
establish a narrower sea border, rather the proposal was
"unilateral and voluntary." Proposals in Tallinn to proclaim the
full 12-miles-limit along the entire coast has caused considerable
diplomatic consternation in Finland.  Riina Kionka, RFE/RL, Inc.

CSCE COMMISSIONER ON MINORITY RIGHTS IN LATVIA. CSCE High
Commissioner on Minorities Max van der Stoel told Latvian Supreme
Council Chairman Anatolijs Gorbunovs and Foreign Minister Georgs
Andrejevs that he had not observed any abuses of ethnic minority
rights of non-Latvians who are citizens of the republic, but noted
that the status of residents whose future was yet undecided is a
matter of some concern, BNS reported on 21 January.  The high
commissioner recommended that the citizenship law be adopted
immediately after the parliamentary elections and suggested
publishing booklets explaining the key legislation in easily
understandable language.  Dzintra Bungs, RFE/RL, Inc.

[As of1200 CET]

Compiled by Hal Kosiba & Charles Trumbull
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