From: msirbu@next5.cs.umr.edu (Mihai Sirbu)
Subject: Romania/Moldova News from RFE/RL, 26 Jan 1993
Date: Tue, 26 Jan 1993 16:13:15 GMT
Organization: University of Missouri-Rolla, Missouri's Technological University

The complete RFE/RL Daily Report is posted to the newsgroup
                 misc.news.east-europe.rferl
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
RFE/RL Daily Report              No. 16, 26 January 1993

SANCTION-BREAKERS PROGRESS UP DANUBE.  Bulgarian Prime Minister
Lyuben Berov has ruled out force as a means to halt a convoy of
Serbian oil barges towed by the tugboat Bihac traveling westwards
up the Danube, Kontinent reports on 26 January. On the previous
day Bulgarian border officials assured a Western correspondent
that the barges, transporting some 6,000 tons of oil in violation
of UN sanctions, were to be stopped at the port of Lom or at
Vidin, just before entering Serbian territory.  Whereas border
officials in Lom said they would do everything in their power not
to let the convoy escape, the head of Vidin customs control told
BTA he lacks the equipment to stop the convoy.  Meanwhile, on 25
January Romanian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mircea Geoana deplored
the fact that three more Serbian tugboats and oil barges refused
to stop at the order of Romanian authorities and continued
upstream toward Serbian ports.  As in the case of the Bihac, the
captains of three ships threatened to blow up their cargoes if
stopped.  Radio Bucharest quoted Geoana as saying that Romania is
awaiting instructions from the UN Security Council Committee on
Sanctions. Nine other Yugoslav vessels are reportedly being
detained in Galati and Braila.  Belgrade has released six Romanian
tugboats detained in Serbian ports, but still retains four barges.
Kjell Engelbrekt and Dan Ionescu , RFE/RL, Inc.

ROMANIA, POLAND SIGN COOPERATION TREATY.  On 25 January in
Bucharest, Romania and Poland signed a friendship and cooperation
treaty, replacing a 1960 accord between the two countries. Signed
by Polish Foreign Minister Krzysztof Skubiszewski and his Romanian
counterpart, Teodor Melescanu, the treaty calls for a system of
permanent ties between the two foreign ministries. Skubiszewski
told reporters that the agreement will boost stability in the
region.  Romanian President Ion Iliescu, who attended the
ceremonies, praised the traditionally good relations between the
two countries.  Dan Ionescu , RFE/RL, Inc.

MOLDOVAN CEASE-FIRE MONITORS ALERT YELTSIN. In a statement
forwarded to Russian President Boris Yeltsin on 23 January, the
Moldovan side of the joint commission to monitor the cease-fire
listed growing violations of the Snegur-Yeltsin armistice
convention by the "Dniester" insurgents, charging that they are
being condoned by Russia's 14th Army and "peacemaking" forces.
The insurgents have banned the remaining Moldovan authorities from
entering Bendery, prevented the return of Moldovan refugees,
introduced "border guards" and Russian Cossack units into the
security zone, and are maintaining fortifications there. Noting
that "the situation is becoming unstable precisely where Russian
forces are deployed," the Moldovan side expressed concern that
"the Tiraspol leaders and the pro-imperial conservative forces
outside Moldova" may be preparing to resume the hostilities.
Vladimir Socor , RFE/RL, Inc.

"DNIESTER," GAGAUZ SIGN PACT WITH ABKHAZIA. On 22 and 25 January
in Tiraspol an Abkhazia Supreme Soviet delegation signed
agreements of friendship and cooperation with the "Dniester
republic," Basapress reports. "Dniester" representatives told
Interfax that the parties agreed to consult in the event of an
attack against them and, if possible, to grant each other military
assistance "against aggressors," evidently meaning Moldova and
Georgia.  Delegates from the "Gagauz republic" attended the talks
and cosigned the agreements. (They are likely to represent the
intransigent, armed faction within the divided Gagauz leadership).
These are the first agreements of their kind known to be concluded
among insurgent movements supported by the Russian military in two
different independent states of the former USSR. Vladimir Socor,
RFE/RL, Inc.

--
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.

Copyright 1993, RFE/RL, Inc. All rights reserved.
Xref: sparky soc.culture.romanian:1498 talk.politics.soviet:10745