Datasets:
Tasks:
Text Retrieval
Sub-tasks:
document-retrieval
Languages:
English
Multilinguality:
monolingual
Source Datasets:
robust04
ArXiv:
_id
stringlengths 9
20
| title
stringlengths 0
3.57k
| text
stringlengths 35
5.64k
|
|---|---|---|
FBIS3-2_8 | FBIS MEDIA GUIDE: THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA | Official press agency of the Republic of Croatia, founded in 1991. Extensively quoted by Croatian radio, television, and press. THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA (FYROM) PUBLICATIONS FLAKA E VELLAZERIMIT Sourceline: Skopje FLAKA E VELLAZERIMIT in Albanian Translation of name: Flame of Brotherhood Type of publication: Newspaper Days of publication: Sunday, Wednesday, Friday Publisher: Nova Makedonija Address: Mito Hadzivasilev Jasmin, 91000 Skopje Director: Pande Kolemisevski Chief editor: Abdulhadi Zylfiqari Newspaper of the Albanian minority in FYROM; concentrates on reports about the Albanian community, but also reports on other events in FYROM and occasionally Kosovo and Albania. Although a part of the Nova Makedonija publishing company, which publishes the country's major Macedonian-language newspapers (see below), the newspaper follows a staunchly independent editorial policy that is often sharply critical of the Slavic Macedonian political parties. NOVA MAKEDONIJA Sourceline: Skopje NOVA MAKEDONIJA in Macedonian Translation of name: New Macedonia Type of publication: Newspaper Days of publication: Daily Publisher: Nova Makedonija Newspaper Publishing Enterprise Address: Mito Hadzivasilev Jasmin, 910O0 Skopje Director: Pande Kolemisevski Chief editor: Georgi Ajanovski Flagship newspaper of the Nova Makedonija publishing company; like other newspapers in the company, appears to set its editorial policy independently. Generally supportive of President Kiro Gligorov, but frequently critical of the coalition government. Covers domestic and foreign news, with greater emphasis on the former. Tends to give more extensive coverage to the Liberal Party than to other Macedonian parties. The paper of record in Skopje. ODBRANA Sourceline: Skopje ODBRANA in Macedonian Translation of name: Defense Type of publication: Magazine Dates of publication: Six times yearly Publisher: Macedonian Defense Ministry Address: Ulica Orce Nikolov, 91000 Skopje Chief editor: Aleksa Stamenkovski Carries articles on politics, social issues, military affairs, reviews of weapons. PULS Sourceline: Skopje PULS in Macedonian Translation of name: Pulse Masthead caption: "Independent Weekly" Type of publication: Weekly newspaper Day of publication: Friday Publisher: Nova Makedonija Address: Mito Hadzivasilev Jasmin, 91000 Skopje Director: Pande Kolemisevski Chief editor: Vasil Mickovski Carries articles, commentaries, and interviews on domestic and foreign affairs; sometimes critical of the government. Style suggests that the paper is aimed at intellectuals. VECER Sourceline: Skopje VECER in Macedonian Translation of name: Evening Type of publication: Newspaper Days of publication: Monday-Saturday Publisher: Nova Makedonija Address: Mito Hadzivasilev Jasmin, 91000 Skopje Chief editor: Stojan Nasev Popular, tabloid-style newspaper; coverage sometimes borders on sensationalism but occasionally carries investigative reports that hint at government corruption. RADIO SKOPJE RADIO Sourceline: |
FBIS3-19_0 | EGYPT: POLITICAL ISLAM REVIEW, NO. 4 | The following is the fourth of a series of editorial reports on political Islam in Egypt. These reports include summaries of all articles, reports, interviews, commentaries and other islamic affairs items that were published in the Cairo Arabic-language weeklies 'AQIDATI, AL-NUR, AL-SHA'B, and AL-USRAH AL-'ARABIYAH. This review covers the "January 1994" issue of AL-NUR, indicating that the paper is apparently now published monthly, rather than weekly, as only this and the Muslim Hegira date of 23 Rajab 1414 appear on the front page. Contents of this issue include the following: Saudi Shura Council Opening Highlighted Anti-Islamic Claims Against Ministry Upheld News in Brief Islamic Insurance Rules Discussed Certifying Islamic Interpreters Death for Apostates Dictated by Islam Shaykh 'Abd-al-Rahman Defended Islamic "Subversives" Beware Saudi Shura Council Opening Highlighted AL-NUR Board of Directors Chairman al-Hamzah Di'bis wrote, in a lengthy factual two-page report, about the inauguration of the Shura Council in Saudi Arabia to which he was invited. His report described the scene and covered the speeches delivered by the chairman of the Shura Council and the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Bin-'Abd-al-'Aziz. Anti-Islamic Claims Against Ministry Upheld Reporters Muhammad Hilmi and Ahmad Mustafa underscored views of a number of ulema, supporting the "serious charges" leveled by People's Assembly member Jalal Gharib 25 December against the minister of culture that the ministry, through its publications and cultural functions, "encourages deviation and spreads anarchy and vice in Islamic society." News in Brief The General Assembly of the General Federation of Doctors "has strongly rejected, for the third time, invitations by the Israeli Health Ministry and Ben-Gurion University to conduct joint medical research." (page 1) "Three People's Assembly members have called for legislation to combat terrorism, which is threatening the country's security." (page 1) News from the Islamic world. (page 2) Issues of Islamic jurisprudence, individual interpretation, and Islamic economy. (page 4) Cultural and literary issues. (page 6) Letters and other contributions by readers. (page 7) An announcement that "The Islamic Jawami' al-Khayr charitable association in the 'Ali Bin-Abi-Talib Center in al-Haram provides its services to the poor, particularly orphans, all over Egypt. The society provides them with clothing, daily meals, and allows them to stay in the center, which is supplied with modern equipment." (page 8) Islamic Insurance Rules Discussed Dr. 'Abd-al-Muttalib 'Abduh, head of the Statistics and Insurance Branch at the al-Azhar University's College of Commerce, was interviewed, discussing |
FBIS3-19_3 | EGYPT: POLITICAL ISLAM REVIEW, NO. 4 | and Islam after the Koran. He added that Sunnah contains various religious legal rulings. There was a Sunnah that confirmed what is contained in the Koran and another that explained the Koran. He further explained that "Islam protects rights and freedoms, and the first of these freedoms is the freedom of belief and expression. No one is forced to abandon or change his religion. A person can choose which religion to believe and accept, but if he adopts Islam willingly, he accepts its rules and submits to its obligations. He will be asked about every shortcoming." Khalil also said that "the punishment for apostasy was legalized to safeguard religion, ensure its course, deter those who wish to enter Islam to achieve certain purposes and then return to their infidelity, and purge society of such hypocrites and exploiters of religion." He concluded that apostates are more dangerous to Islam than non-Muslims because they distort religion and deceive many people who are not familiar with Islam." Shaykh 'Abd-al-Rahman Defended Writer Muntasir al-Zayyat argued, in an article entitled "Umar 'Abd-al-Rahman; The Other Side," that Dr. 'Abd-al-Rahman is being held in the United States on political rather than legal grounds. He said that the indictment issued by the federal court in New York in the case of the World Trade Center explosion on 4 September did not include the name of Dr. 'Umar 'Abd-al-Rahman, although much media clamor was raised at the time. This, al-Zayyat said, "opens the way for his possible release soon." Al-Zayyat then recalled that the U.S. Administration several months ago wanted Dr. 'Abd-al-Rahman to leave the country, saying that his entry into the United States was improper. Describing this as "ridiculous" and "surprising," he said that if Shaykh 'Umar's entry visa, which he received in Khartoum, was wrong, then why did no one find fault with his previous 1985 and 1987 entries to the United States? He further argued that the U.S. Administration wanted to get Dr. 'Umar 'Abd-al-Rahman out and could not explicitly express that; therefore, it said that he violated immigration laws and began looking for a country to take him. The problem became more complicated, al-Zayyat said, when the Egyptian Government asked for his extradition and the prime minister of Afghanistan agreed to receive him. This was unacceptable to the U.S. Administration, he said, adding that the day when 'Abd-al-Rahman's lawyer officially requested that the shaykh be |
FBIS3-23_2 | PACIFIC RIM ECONOMIC REVIEW -- 9 MARCH 1994 | Building Materials Institute Taiwan: Additional Incentives To Promote Southern Policy; Draft Trade Regulations on Hong Kong, Macao; Textile Companies To Invest or Expand in Vietnam; Government To Hold Current Tariffs on Automobiles, Parts for Now; Imposition of Anti-Dumping Tax on Japanese, Korean Polypropylene; MOEA Assesses Impact on Manufacturers of Joining GATT; Statistics on Exports to PRC May Be Underestimated NORTH KOREA: FEATURE: DPRK-Chosen Soren Joint Ventures Face Continuing Problems SOUTH KOREA: FEATURE: Patent Office Looks for Countermeasures to Patent Disputes; FEATURE: ROK Efforts in Obtaining Foreign Commercial Technology Chronicled; FEATURE: Electronics Companies Focusing on Large Screen TV's; Government Committee Devising NAFTA Countermeasures; Study Compares ROK and Japanese Overseas Investment Strategies; KDI Approves of Samsung's Entry Into Auto Production; Samsung Develops One-Chip Integrated Circuit; Hyundai Motors Opens Car Institute; Seoul, Beijing Seeking Industrial Alliance; Companies Withdraw From Indonesia Because of Rising Labor Costs; Plant Exports to China on Increase; Companies To Participate in Telephone Business in Russia; Goldstar Signs Communications Agreement With Romania; China Emerges as Major Export Market for ROK Textiles SOUTHEAST ASIA: INDONESIA - FEATURE: Government Urged To Reduce Cost of Economy; FEATURE: Workers Strike as Government Enforces Minimum Wage Decree; Central Bank Needs $400-Million 'Standby Loan'; Government Discontinues 'Protection' of Steel Industry; P.T. PAL To Shift Production Focus; Increase in French Investments Reported; Agriculture's Contribution to GDP Drops to 19 Percent MALAYSIA: Contract for Asia Pacific Cable Network Signed PHILIPPINES: Proposals for Satellite Project Reported SINGAPORE: 'Largest' Petrochemical Investment Announced THAILAND: Rice Sale to North Korea Reported; Cabinet Approves Soybean Import VIETNAM: FEATURE: Losses in Rice Export Earnings Reported; Government To Approve Foreign Construction of Infrastructure Projects; Government To Develop 'Core' Groups of State Enterprises; Banking Association To Include Domestic, Foreign Banks; Finance Ministry Personnel To Study Japan's Securities Industry; Joint Venture With French, Chinese Firms To Produce Nylon Cords; Jewelry Joint Venture Formed With Japanese Company; Joint Venture With Philippine Firm To Build Commercial Complex; Joint Venture With Singaporean Company To Provide Hotel Services; Joint Venture With Malaysian Firm To Produce Glass Containers; Decrease in Coal Export Noted; Singapore's Liang Court Holdings To Invest in Apartment Complex; Hanoi Launches First Paging Service; Hong Kong Firm To Invest in Da Lat Infrastructure; PetroVietnam To Increase Production; Government To Increase Cement Production; Peanut Exports Put Vietnam Third Among Exporting Countries; First Phase of Hoa Binh Hydroelectric Plant Completed; Rice Joint Venture Accord With Hong Kong Company Signed; Construction of |
FBIS3-23_20 | PACIFIC RIM ECONOMIC REVIEW -- 9 MARCH 1994 | reports that total welfare and national annuity premium payments by working households will increase by 1.4 trillion yen ($13.3 billion) a year, which is nearly equivalent to one-fourth the estimated 5.5 trillion yen ($52.4 billion) in income tax cuts specified in the 8 February economic stimulus package. According to MHW's calculations cited by NIKKEI, the total amount of welfare annuity premiums will increase by approximately 2.6 trillion yen ($24.8 billion) a year, assuming an average worker's monthly salary of 340,000 yen ($3,200) and 33 million wage earners. Of this 2.6 trillion yen ($24.8 billion), 1.3 trillion yen ($12.4 billion) will be paid by wage earners, since employers and employees equally split premium payments. The MHW also anticipates that total national annuity premiums will increase by 100 billion yen ($952 million) a year. Premium Hikes Will Wipe Out Tax Cut Gains for Average-Income Families - According to the 15 February NIKKEI, working households with annual incomes below 6 million yen ($57,000) will realize little benefit from the income tax cuts due to increases in annuity premium payments and other public levies. Moreover, while the income tax cuts are only for FY94, the premium increases "will be permanent." In the case of a household with an annual income of 6 million yen ($57,000) or below, an income tax cut of around 71,400 yen ($680) or less "will be largely offset by the increased welfare annuity premium payments." Although the MHW claims that welfare annuity recipients over 60 years of age will receive 5 percent more in benefits from FY94, and therefore the total household disposable income will increase by 3 trillion yen ($28.6 billion), NIKKEI argues that incomes will increase "at the cost of increased burdens for all working households." More broadly, the NIKKEI article notes that FY94 may be a "losing year" for working class households with children in school, since postal rates have recently increased; a 9-percent increase in national university tuition has been proposed for 1995; and an increase in Tokyo expressway tolls has been proposed. The paper concludes that even when workers want to have a bottle of beer after a hard day's work, a 8.9 yen ($.08) tax increase per bottle will "hurt their thin wallets." FEATURE: Economic Organizations Critical of MITI 'Interference' -- SUMMARY: The Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) reportedly faxed a memorandum to four major private economic organizations summarizing the "important points" |
FBIS3-23_25 | PACIFIC RIM ECONOMIC REVIEW -- 9 MARCH 1994 | control of the private sector "appears to have been strengthened." The editorial demands that MITI "reflect gravely on its conduct." Environmental Issues - Thirty Small Industrial Waste Companies Form Cooperative -- About 30 small-scale manufacturers of industrial waste treatment equipment and industrial waste disposal companies from the Tokyo Metropolitan Area and Nagano, Kanagawa, and Shizuoka Prefectures have joined together to form a cooperative association which will pursue contracts for building final industrial waste disposal facilities and conducting R and D activities. The "Cooperative Association for Promoting Environment-Related Enterprises" will be established with an investment of 10 million yen ($96,000) and will be chaired by Yoshinori Ito, president of Kankyo Seibi Shinko, an environmental equipment firm. The companies decided to form this "unique" cooperative because as independent firms, each has limited financial resources and thus can not qualify for special programs sponsored by public corporations, such as the Japan Environment Corporation, to finance work for improving disposal facilities to conform with stricter environmental regulations. The cooperative plans to expand its membership to about 1,000 companies and establish a network of branch chapters throughout the country. (Tokyo NIKKAN KOGYO SHIMBUN 17 Feb 94 p 12) Financial Issues - Nippon Credit Bank Expanding, Introducing U.S. Techniques -- Nippon Credit Bank (NCB), the newest and smallest of Japan's three long-term credit banks, has established a wholly-owned trust banking subsidiary that will begin operations in April 1994, according to the 1 March NIKKEI KINYU SHIMBUN. It will be the seventh financial institution, after the "big four" securities companies and two banks, to enter the trust banking business through a financial subsidiary. Capitalized at 5 billion yen ($48 million) and with 15 employees, the new subsidiary will begin buying real- estate trusts and bank loans for resale. NCB also established a "financial development division" within its Planning Department in February to engage in real-estate project finance and asset securitization, according to the 18 February NIKKEI KINYU. The new division will offer advice to customers on how to securitize their assets through trust banking or by setting up special-purpose companies, and will introduce the securitized products to its large bank bond purchasing customers. For now the division will focus on assisting in the securitization of a customer's better assets, but in the future it will expand to nonperforming loans, as is done by U.S. investment banks. Establishing the new division is NCB's first step in expanding commission-earning |
FBIS3-23_87 | PACIFIC RIM ECONOMIC REVIEW -- 9 MARCH 1994 | is rising. Even mid-size firms are discovering they can defeat "barricades to technology" erected by another country by hiring that country's nationals, directly or through overseas subsidiaries. The latter are sent to South Korea periodically "to solve problems that occur on production lines and for technical consultations." The strategy of hiring foreigners with technical skills to improve the competitiveness of ROK products is likened to "using barbarians to control barbarians." (Seoul MAEIL KYONGJE SINMUN 8 Feb 94 p 14) U.S.-Based Subsidiaries Collecting Technical Information - ROK factory automation (FA) companies are busily setting up subsidiaries abroad to open up new markets for their products, and to "beef up their collection of technical information." Poscon's new subsidiary in Delaware, Poscon International Corporation (PIC), will attempt to market its own FA products in the United States while it "engages in technical information collection activities." Samsung Aerospace will form two "teams" this year for FA equipment exports and control equipment exports, while stepping up activities at its U.S. subsidiary Samsung Optical America (SOA). (Seoul MAEIL KYONGJE SINMUN 7 Feb 94 p 18) 'Brain Pool' To Identify, Recruit Expatriate Scientists - The Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) will begin operating a "brain pool" this year aimed at inducing high-level scientists abroad to come to South Korea and help the country "acquire at an early date the newest science, technology, and know-how in the R and D stages in advanced countries, and breathe life into the domestic R and D scene." The ministry will recruit 100 "overseas Korean" and other foreign scientists in 1994, and if the program is effective expand its scope in subsequent years. Recruits will be leading scientists and technicians with more than five years postdoctoral experience in their countries of residence. Exceptions will be made for personnel with world class achievements who lack these credentials. South Korea will pay round-trip transportation, all moving expenses, and a salary higher than that currently received. A review will be made every six months of each individual's performance as a basis for deciding whether to continue the contract. The system will allow MOST "to make systematic use of more than 40,000 expatriate Korean scientific personnel, including the 14,000- plus members of the Association of Overseas Korean Scientific and Technical Personnel" and "top notch" Western and former-Soviet scientists. MOST is instituting the system "to deal effectively with the increasing reluctance of advanced countries lately to |
FBIS3-23_93 | PACIFIC RIM ECONOMIC REVIEW -- 9 MARCH 1994 | of the Daewoo Group, has established a joint venture with Russia's Gas Discharge Equipment Research Lab (under the jurisdiction of Russia's Munitions Industrial Committee) to produce plasma display panels (PDP's). The equipment, originally produced for Russia's aerospace program, reportedly is being designed for use with extra large ("multivision") televisions with 100-inch plus displays. According to the newspaper, PDP's are much narrower than conventional cathode ray tubes, and offer a brighter screen than liquid crystal displays (LCD's). The new company, Orion Plasma Research and Production, will be located southeast of Moscow. Each partner will supply half of the $4-million capital. Government Committee Devising NAFTA Countermeasures - On 24 January, the ROK Government's "NAFTA Countermeasures Committee" consisting of 17 members from trade-related agencies and industry met to discuss a "new strategy" that entails increasing local investment, moving "full-scale" into the U.S. distribution market, relying on trade diplomacy, and strengthening industrial technological "cooperation." The committee agreed that plans to secure a share of the North American market will be frustrated unless accompanied by direct local investment. In those sectors where South Korean exports lose their competitiveness to Mexican goods which enter the United States duty free, South Korea will react by reducing distribution expenses through more aggressive export marketing. A fact-finding team will be sent to the United States in the first half of 1994 to survey the distribution market, while ROK companies are encouraged to participate in U.S. trade exhibitions and make other efforts to find local vendors. Competitiveness of South Korean products will also be enhanced by strengthening technological "cooperation" through the ROK-U.S. Industrial Cooperation Foundation. In terms of diplomacy, South Korea will use the Uruguay Round and bilateral trade negotiating forums to check NAFTA's "excessive discrimination" against non- member countries as evidenced, for example, in its stringent country-of-origin criteria. The committee plans to have a "full- blown NAFTA strategy" ready by March this year. (Seoul MAEIL KYONGJE SINMUN 25 Jan 94 p 6) Study Compares ROK and Japanese Overseas Investment Strategies - The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry has published a "Comparative Study of Direct Overseas Investment Strategies by South Korean and Japanese Companies." The study points out that Japan follows a two-part strategy of manufacturing high value-added, high- tech products at home while farming out medium and low value-added work to overseas production sites. Also, Japan continuously shifts its overseas sites depending on the manufacturing cost and the |
FBIS3-26_2 | FOREIGN PRESS SURVEY--FB PSE 94-010--WEST EUROPE | 301,' Fish Import Controversy Super 301 Trade Legislation Recent French commentary and reporting on the decision by President Bill Clinton to revive "Super 301" trade retaliation legislation to pressure Japan into opening its markets to U.S. goods has been mostly critical of the U.S. decision and has expressed fear over its effect on the completion of the final version of the GATT Uruguay Round agreement in Marrakesh on 12-15 April. An article in the 7 March LA TRIBUNE DESFOSSES stated that the revival of Super 301 "can only add to the difficulties faced by the (EU) Twelve in speaking with one voice in Marrakesh..." However, the 7 March LA TRIBUNE DESFOSSES article pointed out that "in Brussels, as in other capitals, everyone is convinced that (President) Clinton's decision is targeted to intimidate only Japan," not the EU. French press reporting also contained the following official statements, most of which were also critical of the United States. For example: * GATT Director Peter Sutherland: Sutherland was quoted as saying the U.S. action is "a new effort in bilateral trade, which is about to test the results obtained in the Uruguay Round before they are even implemented." (LIBERATION 4 Mar 94) "The concept of managed trade constitutes a dangerous and unfortunate notion. When bureaucrats interfere (in trade), the potential of risks increases." (LE FIGARO 4 Mar 94) * Prime Minister Edouard Balladur: "Happy to get rid of the label of bad boy of world trade," Balladur stated that the Super 301 decision "completely validates the French position that one cannot have a system of free trade where each country creates its own justice." (LIBERATION 5, 6 Mar 94) "It is the negation of an international free trade system, which is what we have always said it was." (LE FIGARO 5, 6 Mar 94) Balladur, criticizing U.S. "threats" against France as a "breach of the rules of the game," declared, "It is proof that we are right to ask for the suppression of Super 301. If we do not, the Uruguay Round agreement will only be hot air." (LES ECHOS 7 Mar 94) Despite the negative comments by these officials, the press did report a more positive assessment: * EU Officials: An article in LIBERATION claims that while officials in the EU are declaring that they are hostile to the U.S. unilateral approach on trade with Japan, in private "some officials" understand U.S. |
FBIS3-26_26 | FOREIGN PRESS SURVEY--FB PSE 94-010--WEST EUROPE | to part-time work. As of December, 281,000 jobless were willing to work part-time but only 32,000 part-time jobs were reported available. (CW) (Frankfurt/Main FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE in German 28 Feb 94 p 15) REXRODT SEES MEXICO AS 'BRIDGEHEAD' TO AMERICAS--Speaking at the late February trade fair in Mexico City, Economics Minister Guenther Rexrodt described Mexico as a potential "bridgehead" for German exports to North and South America. Rexrodt noted that German industry had overlooked the Mexican market during the boom years of the 1980's, but had rediscovered its potential since the creation of the North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). German companies now hoped, through Mexico, to gain duty-free access to the U.S. market. Rexrodt also pointed out that increasing trade with Germany offered an opportunity for Mexico to lessen its dependence on the United States, which currently accounts for 70 percent of all Mexican foreign trade. German trade with Mexico, which amounts to about DM5 billion, has "still not realized its full potential," according to an article in the SUEDDEUTSCHE ZEITUNG. By contrast, some progress has been made in the field of capital investments. In 1993 alone, Germans invested DM20 billion in Mexico, 10 times more than in 1992. Experts expect a similarly high level of investment in 1994. According to the article, Mexico's recent trend toward economic privatization, coupled with its balanced budget deficit and its relatively low 8-percent inflation rate, have created favorable conditions for German investors. In addition, the two countries have concluded an agreement to prevent double taxation, although they have yet to sign an investment protection pact. (RoH) (Munich SUEDDEUTSCHE ZEITUNG in German 23 Feb 94 p 30) ITALY PDS PRESENTS ECONOMIC PROGRAM--The Democratic Party of the Left (PDS) presented its election platform on 15 February. The platform contains a large section on economic reforms and programs which advocate the following: * Taxes --Divide revenues equally between the central and local governments. --Extend the tax base, reduce individual tax rates. --Remove taxes from Treasury bills since it "serves no purpose" and the same result is currently being achieved by lower interest rates. --Reduce red tape and accounting procedures. --Abolish local income taxes, health taxes, health benefit contributions, and regional double taxation. Allow individual regional and local taxes. --Combine the payment of personal income tax (IRPEF), VAT, social security tax, and disability taxes for small companies and have them submitted under a single tax return. --Modernize |
FBIS3-29_9 | FOREIGN PRESS SURVEY--FB PSE 94-009--EAST EUROPE | the sum of 126 million leks. Economic aid for one family member has been given to 1,479 families, for two family members to 1,216 families, three members to 1,879 families, four members to 2,086 families and so on. As for 1994, the necessary documentation is already compiled to grant economic assistance to this category of the population. (Tirana ATA in English 1302 GMT 30 Jan 94 AU) TRAINING FOR BERAT UNEMPLOYED: The Office of Social Assistance and Former Political Persecutees in Berat is arranging the training of unemployed people in order to employ them in the private sector. This will also contribute to the consolidation of the small business sector. Tapir Numani, head of this office, said that 25 persons are being qualified at a private firm specializing in the production of bread and biscuits. Every worker will receive 5,100 leks for three months with the condition that the firm's owner will employ 70 percent of the workers trained there. The same practice will also be followed in a construction firm. At present, some 16,200 persons are receiving social assistance in Berat. This figure has increased because the Textile Mill products are not being sold, so many textile workers have become jobless and are receiving assistance. (Tirana ATA in English 1123 GMT 31 Jan 94 AU) STATE EMPLOYEES TO GET 'SIGNIFICANT' WAGE INCREASE: Starting with 1 February, employees of budgetary institutions will have a salary increase of 33 percent. Based on the decision by the Ministry of Labor and Emigration, a higher rise in wages is anticipated for senior state officials and institutions, including deputies. This is the second year that the budgetary employees have received a significant salary rise. The 1993 minimal wages, including the auxiliary sectors of state administration, will have a l00-percent increase, thus a monthly salary of 2,400 leks. However, the minimum wage will be 1O times lower than the highest wage in the budgetary sector. Both the rise and differentiation in salaries is made considering qualifications and positions in organizing and managing all state structures. The decision on the salary rise came immediately after the Albanian Parliament approved the decision on taxes on personal incomes. This decision does not cover monthly payments up to 4,000 leks and pensions. (Tirana ATA in English 1108 GMT 1 Feb 94 AU) RESTITUTION PROBLEMS IN FIER: The Commission for Restitution and Compensation of Properties in Fier have made only |
FBIS3-29_18 | FOREIGN PRESS SURVEY--FB PSE 94-009--EAST EUROPE | as a correspondent member of the International Organization of the Consumers' Union (IOCU), which has its headquarters in London. This independent association was formed on 1 September 1991 and is the first organization of Albanian consumers recognized by international organizations. Its main objective is to defend the interests of Albanian consumers. (Tirana ATA in English 1135 GMT 25 Jan 94 AU) LABOR MINISTRY, GREEK OAED 1994 COOPERATION PROGRAM: The Albanian Ministry of Labor and Social Assistance and the Greek Unemployment Office (OAED) recently agreed on a joint cooperation program for 1994. The medium-term program will include the exchange of specialists between the OAED and the Albanian Ministry of Labor and Social Assistance, a short training course by OAED for 6O Albanian youngsters at Greek professional schools, and the provision of new and reconditioned equipment for the professional education system in Albania. The program will be implemented in the context of the PHARE Program of the European Union and will be signed by the Albanian Government during 1994. Based on the needs in Albania, the PHARE Program will provide technical assistance in the organization, employment, professional training, and establishment of the necessary structures for the functioning of the programs. In February, the two sides will sign a detailed financial agreement in Athens. Some parts of 1994 activities will be financed by a European Union program. (Tirana ATA in English 1124 GMT 25 Jan 94 AU) FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN ELBASAN DISTRICT: Some 20 foreign companies, 18 of which are joint ventures with the state and two are private firms, are investing in Elbasan District. A total of $7.5 million have so far been invested in a variety of enterprises, and an additional $7 million will be invested during the first half of this year. Twelve investments cover productive enterprises. (Tirana ATA in English 13O1 GMT 26 Jan 94 AU) EUROPEAN UNION HUMANITARIAN AID: A statement by the European Union (EU) Commission, a mission of which will visit Tirana confirms that the EU has granted an additional 1O million ECU to Albania as humanitarian aid. Of that sum, 6.3 million ECU will be used to repair the country's eight-year schools according a plan provided by the Albanian Government. The pupils of these schools are from six to 15 years of age. One million ECU will be used to construct the houses of former political prisoners and provide them with social assistance. The EU |
FBIS3-29_59 | FOREIGN PRESS SURVEY--FB PSE 94-009--EAST EUROPE | Feb 94 p 2 AU) GERMANY'S SCHOELLER TO ACQUIRE MAJORITY IN STROJPLAST: The German firm Schoeller Plast Holding will acquire 51 percent of Strojplast in Tachov, one of the largest manufacturers of plastics. Schoeller will become the owner of property worth Kc1OO million. Strojplast processes 8,000 tons of plastics and employs 640 people. Last year, the company's turnover was Kc496 million and it made a net profit of Kc28 million. Some 17 percent of the production was sold on Western markets. (Prague HOSPODARSKE NOVINY in Czech 3 Feb 94 p 6 AU) ELITEX TEXTILE MACHINES TO ASIA, SOUTH AMERICA: The state-owned company Elitex has solved the problem that arose after its exports to the Soviet Union were discontinued. The company, which exported some 90 percent of its production to the Soviet Union, began exporting to Southeast Asia and South America. Elitex offers textile machines of the Arachne type, which are in demand in Southeast Asia and South America. Because of the low production costs in the Czech Republic, the textile machines are more competitive on these markets than German, Italian, or Japanese-made machines. (Prague HOSPODARSKE NOVINY in Czech 3 Feb 94 p 6 AU) 900 MHZ-BAND MOBILE TELEPHONE SYSTEM TO BE INTRODUCED: The Czech Republic is to introduce a progressive digital system of mobile telephones operating in the 9OO MHz band. Besides providing additional services, this system is compatible with the systems used in other European countries. People from other countries will be able to use their phones in the Czech Republic. (Prague HOSPODARSKE NOVINY in Czech 3 Feb 94 p 7 AU) SELLIER, BELLOT TO REMAIN IN CZECH HANDS: The two components of the name of the company are the only things foreign about the Sellier and Bellot Company. Jiri Hanak, chairman of the board of directors, stresses that the company does not need foreign capital. "We have received so many orders that our production capacities are not able to cope with them all. We can profit from the situation in which many European ammunition manufacturers are undergoing a crisis," he explains. (Prague MLADA FRONTA DNES in Czech 3 Feb 94 p 10 AU) PALABA SLANY TO REINVEST 1993 PROFITS: The Palaba Slany company, a manufacturer of household batteries, does not anticipate paying out dividends to shareholders from its 1993 profits. Palaba Slany is the legal successor of the Bateria Slany company (the change of name was approved last |
FBIS3-29_72 | FOREIGN PRESS SURVEY--FB PSE 94-009--EAST EUROPE | IN 1993: More than Kc12 billion ($400 million) from the state budget was allocated for the support of small and medium-sized businesses in 1993, Minister of Economy Karel Dyba announced on 24 January. The amount is equal to about 1.7 percent of the Czech Republic's 1993 gross domestic product. More than half of the amount, Kc7.5 billion, came in the form of tax breaks granted by the Finance Ministry, Dyba said. The Ministry of Agriculture provided Kc2.8 billion, the Ministry of Economy Kc1.2 billion, and the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs Kc178 million. The Ministry of Economy's support was granted primarily in the form of government-approved programs through the Ceskomoravska Zarucni a Rozvojova Banka (Czech-Moravian Guarantee and Development Bank) and other financial institutions. Ten programs have been approved for 1994, Dyba said. (Prague CTK in English 24 Jan 94 AU) OIL SUPPLY RESUMPTION HALTS DRAWDOWN OF RESERVES: The resumption of the Russian oil supply to the Chemopetrol refinery in Litvinov, north Bohemia, on 22 January has halted the decline of its very low levels of reserves, the director of Chemopetrol's trade policy, Lubos Kyselo, stated 23 January. He said that in the next few days reserves would begin to be replenished. According to Kyselo, a similar fluctuation in the supply of Russian oil was usual at the beginning of the year. This year's interruption in supply was unusually long, however, and caused production in the Litvinov plant to fall by a third. This did not affect the supply of fuel and heating oil, he said, and Chemopetrol also managed to secure the necessary supplies of products to other enterprises. (Prague CTK in English 24 Jan 94 AU) GASOLINE PRICE CEILING ELIMINATED: The Finance Ministry has decided to abolish the cap on gasoline prices as of 1 February. However, this does not mean a complete liberalization of gas prices. As a matter of fact, prices will still be regulated by the state. Merchants will fix the prices, and the state will only check whether they are economically justified. (Prague LIDOVE NOVINY in Czech 25 Jan p 1 AU) MINISTRY RECONSIDERS, RETAINS GASOLINE PRICE CEILING: After preliminary research, the Finance Ministry abandoned it plan to abolish fixing maximum prices for gasoline. This information was provided by Czech Television on 31 January. The ministry justified this step by saying that "it is necessary to find a proper deadline, so as to avoid |
FBIS3-29_122 | FOREIGN PRESS SURVEY--FB PSE 94-009--EAST EUROPE | expected to narrow the gap between regions with varying degrees of development. So far, the various counties have spent state support, granted under a regional development program, on different sectors of their infrastructure: The drinking water supply and roads in Nograd, the telephone network in Borsod, both in northern Hungary, and the gas program in the eastern county of Szabolcs-Szatmar. Public utilities are expanding at an accelerated rate. The length of water mains last year exceeded 55,300 kilometers, of which 4,000 were built over the past four years. At present, 89 percent of towns and villages have conduit water supply, reaching 3.6 million households, or more than four-fifths of the total. Full-scale supply is planned for 1997. Drainage measured 16,300 kilometers in 1993, with 1,900 kilometers built during the last three years. Thus, 17 percent of towns and villages and nearly 38 percent of households -- 1.7 million -- are connected to the drainage system. Of the 600 towns and villages (18 percent) supplied with gas last year, 172 have been connected to the system since 1989. The 30,000-kilometer-long pipe network carries gas to 40 percent of the households, numbering 1.8 million. (Budapest MTI in English 1004 GMT 26 Jan 94 AU) UNEMPLOYMENT DECLINE CONTINUES: Registered unemployment continued to fall last December, the National Labor Center said. With 632,000 jobless listed at the end of December, 3,000 fewer than in the previous month, the unemployment rate went down from 12.2 percent to 12.1 percent. However, a few counties in the north are still facing massive unemployment, including Borsod-Abauj-Zemplen (19.9 percent), Nograd (19.7 percent), and Szabolcs-Szatmar-Bereg (18.7 percent). This compares to 6.3 percent in the capital city of Budapest. (Budapest MTI in English O946 GMT 31 Jan 94 AU) ELEVEN-MONTH INDUSTRIAL OUTPUT UP 4.3 PERCENT: Industrial output was 4.3 percent up in real terms in the first eleven months of 1993 as compared with the same period of the previous year, the latest Central Statistical Office report shows. Overall output in the construction industry in the first nine months was the same as in the comparable period of 1992 but house construction in January- November was 16 percent down on the first eleven months of 1992. Sales of farm produce were down 24 percent in the first 11 months of last year as compared with January-November 1992. Preliminary figures show a grain harvest of 8.4 million tons last year, 13 percent |
FBIS3-29_137 | FOREIGN PRESS SURVEY--FB PSE 94-009--EAST EUROPE | reference establishment for the Hungarian electricity industry. The Kelenfold Power Station supplies energy, including distance heating, to one of the country's largest regions, which includes the suburbs of Kelenfold, Gazdagret, and Budapest Castle. Experts believe this new project will promote Hungary's increasing independence in energy supplies. The new power station is expected to play a major part in energy supply for the 1996 World Expo. (Budapest MTI in English 1123 GMT 21 Jan 94 AU) ENERGY USE ROSE IN 1993: The greater use of energy last year was mainly due to more intensive heating in the winter period, the State Authority for Energy Management and Energy Safety reported. Total energy consumption was 1,067 petajoules in 1993, nearly 10 percent up on 1992. The share of domestic production was 48.4 percent, 2.8 percent down on the previous year. Within the total energy consumption, the proportion of coal fell from 18.2 percent in 1992 to 15.9 percent last year. Domestic coal production totalled 14.5 million tons, and imports amounted to 1.17 million tons. Oil production was 1.7 million tons and natural gas production 5 billion cubic meters, 0.25 billion more than in 1992. Including imports of 6 million tons of oil and 5.87 billion cubic meters of gas, hydrocarbons accounted for 67.8 percent of energy use. Electricity consumption rose by 0.5 percent and consumption was close to 35,000 gigawatt-hours, including imports of 2,474 gigawatt-hours, which covered 7.1 percent of consumption, compared with 10 percent in 1992. (Budapest MTI in English 1143 GMT 25 Jan 94 AU) NUMBER OF BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS INCREASES: The number of business organizations continued to increase last year, with units financed from the central budget being the only exception to the rule. Business organizations without legal personality showed the sharpest increase. According to a recent report of the Central Statistical Office, in late 1993 there were 85,638 business organizations with legal personality, 23.4 percent more than a year before, in the country. Business organizations without legal personality numbered 98,036, 13.6 percent more than in late December. The number of private entrepreneurs increased by 13.6 percent, to 688,843. The structure of business organizations changed to a slight extent: 35 percent of them were specialized in trade, 20 percent in industry, 18 percent in real estate and services, and 10 percent in construction. In the category of private entrepreneurs, 35 percent were artisans, 35 percent traders, and 20 percent intellectuals. (Budapest |
FBIS3-29_176 | FOREIGN PRESS SURVEY--FB PSE 94-009--EAST EUROPE | company will own 60 percent of the enterprise and the Slovak side the remainder. The enterprise aims to produce telecommunications equipment, and production should begin at the end of 1994. The investment required for the first stage of production is 15 million Austrian schillings. (Bratislava HOSPODARSKE NOVINY in Slovak 1 Feb 94 p 2 AU) REPUBLIC AGAIN EXCEEDS CLEARING CREDIT MARGIN: At the end of January, the Slovak Republic was in the red by 176 million ECU in the clearing account with the Czech Republic. This means it has exceeded its credit margin by 46 million ECU. The National Bank will repay this amount to the Czech side by 15 February. (Bratislava REPUBLIKA in Slovak 1 Feb 94 p 1 AU) PROPERTY FUND'S STAKE IN ENTERPRISES: The National Property Fund owns an average of 38 percent of the shares in all privatized enterprises. It owns all of the shares in more than 40 enterprises and more than 50 percent of the shares in more than 50 enterprises. (Bratislava NARODNA OBRODA in Slovak 1 Feb 94 p 3 AU) PLANT IN KYSUCE LAYS OFF 491 WORKERS: As of 1 February, 491 workers will be laid off at the roller bearing plant in Kysuce. This means that the number of people employed at the plant will decline to 2,100. (Bratislava SME in Slovak 1 Feb 93 p 3 AU) ORAVA TV PLANT IN JOINT ENTERPRISE WITH TAIWANESE FIRM: Within two months of a joint agreement being signed by the Orava Television Plant (OTF) in Nizna, the Taiwanese company PROSYST Corporation, and the Association of Slovak Industrial Enterprises (ZSPP) in Martin, the production of new products should begin. The agreement was signed on 25 January by Anton Grobarcik of OTF, Rong Chang of PROSYST Corporation, and Jozef Petrik of the ZSPP. It will guarantee the production, export, and marketing of telecommunications and electronic equipment. The new company will be known as PROSYST-OFT-ELEKTRONICS. In 60 days, the company will begin to manufacture fax machines intended for businessmen and households. (Bratislava SME in Slovak 1 Feb 94 p 14 AU) DAILY QUESTIONS OFFICIAL UNEMPLOYMENT STATISTICS: The Bratislava daily PRAVDA recently questioned the accuracy of official unemployment statistics, which reflect the number of job applicants registered with labor offices, and argued that they "distort" the actual rate of unemployment. As Mikulas Sliacky, the author of the article, pointed out, job applicants who do not find a |
FBIS3-35_7 | PERSPECTIVES SELECTIONS ARE BASED SOLELY ON FOREIGN NEWSPAPERS, | which recycles fluorine waste generated in the electrolysis of aluminum oxide. The equipment previously had been exported to Canada and Europe, but this is the first such equipment to be used in Russia. Hosokawa Micron has also received an order from Russia amounting to about 500 million yen ($4.76 million) for equipment to recycle telephone and electrical power cables. The recycling equipment can break cables down into vinyl, copper, and aluminum and recycle the metals. The first shipment of the equipment, which was developed by a German company now owned by Hosokawa Micron, was to be in January 1994. (NIHON KEIZAI SHIMBUN 23 Dec 93) Junko A. 733-6346 (Japan) Kobe Steel, Ltd. is testing and hopes to market a 300- kilowatt plasma fusion plant that detoxifies low-level radioactive waste generated in nuclear power plants. The company has already delivered a small plasma fusion pilot plant (under 100 kilowatts per hour fusion capacity) to the Central Research Institute of the Electric Power Industry (CRIEPI). Originally developed to treat ash from incinerated urban refuse, plasma fusion technology reduces the volume of waste to one-fifth and the amount of exhaust gas to less than one-thirtieth that produced by combustion. The compact, cylinder-shaped plasma fusion furnace continuously supplies ash and generates ingots, resulting in a low concentration of nitrogen oxide in the exhaust gas. The furnace's plasma torch provides highly efficient heating as well as a choice between transfer-type and non- transfer-type plasma generation. Various non-flammables such as metals and concrete can be processed simultaneously, and continuous processing allows the handling of large amounts of material. Plasma- fused materials are buried in concrete shields, and exhaust gas is treated with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters and ceramic filters. (KAGAKU KOGYO NIPPO 13 Dec 93) Junko A. 733-6346 Industrial Technology (Russia/Uzbekistan) Moscow State University researchers have demonstrated the feasibility of using alternating nonuniform electromagnetic field energy to accelerate the enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose for the commercial production of methane, food, and animal feed. The researchers added ferromagnetic particles to a mixture of cellulose and cellulolytic enzymes from the fungus Trichoderma reesei and excited the particles with an electromagnetic field. This agitation increased the speed of hydrolysis by as much as nine times and resulted in a higher concentration of glucose and cellobiose hydrolysis products in one to two hours than did the two- day control experiments. In a related development, the Scientific Research Institute for |
FBIS3-35_9 | PERSPECTIVES SELECTIONS ARE BASED SOLELY ON FOREIGN NEWSPAPERS, | Chemical Technologies in Tashkent has developed a clean technology for making cellulose from rice straw. The process produces 0.5 ton of cellulose from 1 ton of straw, while reducing water consumption by nearly 90 percent. (DOKLADY AKADEMII NAUK Dec 93; NEZAVISIMAYA GAZETA 5 Jan 94) Roberta D. 733-6331 Lasers (Japan) Mitsubishi Electric Corporation has developed a 24-watt green light laser with twice the power of other Japanese green light lasers. It is part of a solid-state laser system that also includes an yttrium-aluminum-garnet (YAG) laser and a potassium titanate phosphate crystal element that converts the 1,064-nanometer- wavelength infrared (IR) YAG laser light to green laser light with a wavelength of 532 nanometers and 24 watts of power. Previous attempts by Japanese researchers to achieve conversion to such a high output level failed because the strong IR radiation caused crystal damage. Mitsubishi claims to have solved this problem by lengthening the wavelength conversion element, increasing the YAG laser beam's spot size, and finding the optimal phase matching for the adjoining parts of crystals that form the long wavelength conversion element. Commercial applications for this green light laser include compact disc recording. (KAGAKU KOGYO NIPPO 24 Nov 93)* John H. 733-6341 (Japan) Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. has developed a surface-emission laser optoelectronic integrated circuit system that operates at optical switching speeds of up to 10 gigahertz, ten times the speed of conventional systems of this type. The new system uses 64 unique surface-emission lasers arrayed in a 480-micron square cell. All of the lasers operate at a wavelength of 0.98 nanometer and have built-in driver transistors. The company expects this "transistor-on-laser" system to serve as a basic technology in the development of ultrafast high-volume optical communications and optical computers. (KAGAKU KOGYO NIPPO 8 Dec 93)* John H. 733-6341 Microelectronics (France) SGS-Thomson has developed a fuzzy logic microprocessor, based on 0.7-micron complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology. The Weight Associative Rule Processor (WARP) microprocessor integrates over 400,000 transistors on an 88-square- millimeter chip and can process 10 million inferences per second with 40 megahertz clockspeed. This is a complete fuzzy processor that includes "fuzzification," processing of inferences, and "defuzzification." According to the director of SGS-Thomson's Advanced Systems Architectures Group, the WARP microprocessor is capable of evaluating 32 rules with 5 inputs and one output in less than 1.85 microseconds. (For previous reporting on the WARP microprocessor, see PERSPECTIVES Vol. 8 No. 2, 29 |
FBIS3-35_32 | PERSPECTIVES SELECTIONS ARE BASED SOLELY ON FOREIGN NEWSPAPERS, | rate of 0.05 K per kilobar as the atomic density of cuprates increases with increasing pressure. (Previous research achieved the same result by replacing certain atoms in a compound with others.) The experimental samples were 10 cubic millimeters in size and consisted of mercury, barium, calcium, and copper oxide phases. A dramatic drop in electrical resistance was observed in seven samples and diamagnetism was observed in 15 samples, at temperatures ranging from 190 K to 280 K depending on the compound, with the highest critical temperature occurring in 1 percent of the sample. Future research will focus on identifying the structure of that portion of the sample. Alexis M./Wendy P. (Brussels Bureau) 733-6339 RUSSIA: ANTICANCER, POTENTIAL AIDS DRUG PATENTED In June 1993 Russian officials granted four patents to a Russian chemist who developed Viturid, an immunostimulant said to be ten times more effective against second- and third-stage cancers than current US and Russian therapies for the disease. After declining an offer from a US hospital to conduct clinical trials of the pharmaceutical in exchange for rights to its use, the scientist founded her own testing firm in the United States but later returned to Russia following the collapse of the former Soviet Union. Clinical trials in Russia showed that malignant tumors became benign and ultimately regressed completely following treatment with Viturid. The drug's developer also claims it is effective in treating human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prior to the onset of immunodeficiency. Russian Health Minister Nechayev has authorized doctors to begin treating some unspecified diseases with Viturid in order to finance further testing (NEZAVISIMAYA GAZETA 6 Jan 94). Roberta D. 733-6331 JAPAN: SYNCHROTRON ORBITAL RADIATION FACILITY FOR CIRCUIT ETCHING Mitsubishi Electric has completed construction of a synchrotron orbital radiation (SOR) facility designed for circuit etching of future-generation semiconductor chips. It includes a linear accelerator, a synchrotron, and an accumulator ring for the storage of electrons after they have been accelerated to relativistic speeds. Superconducting electromagnets in the ring are used to deflect the electrons from their orbit, thereby causing them to emit the intense radiation required for the ultrafine processing of future-generation 256-megabit dynamic random access memory (DRAM) chips. The compact SOR facility, which cost several billion yen, is designed to supply radiation simultaneously to 20 processing units. The circumference of the electron beam orbit in the SOR ring is only 9.2 meters, and the amount of liquid helium required to |
FBIS3-36_0 | Serbs, Croats, Muslims Maneuver After Washington Agreement | SUMMARY None of the leaders of the former Yugoslavia, whether Serb, Muslim, or Croat, has expressed any interest in seeing the Serbs join the Muslim-Croatian federation in Bosnia-Herzegovina that was called for in the 1 March Washington agreement. Serbian leaders, while rejecting a federation, have suggested forming a confederation loosely linking the Serb entities, Croatia and the proposed federation of Muslims and Croats in Bosnia. However, Croatian and Muslim leaders have rejected any confederal relations between Bosnia and the so-called Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY, Serbia and Montenegro). END SUMMARY Having already expressed their strong opposition to joining the proposed Muslim-Croatian federation in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bosnian Serb leaders, along with the Serbs of Croatia, are pressing for at minimum a confederation of all Serb-populated territories in former Yugoslavia. Serb leaders in Bosnia and Croatia have reiterated their longstanding claims that their respective territories never seceded from Yugoslavia--as did the Bosnian and Croatian republics--and thus have the right to remain united with the FRY. For example, Nikola Koljevic, "vice president" of the so-called Republic of Srpska (RS), demanded the right for the Bosnian Serbs to have "very close links" with the FRY since, "legally speaking," they "never left Yugoslavia" (Belgrade radio, 14 March). Similarly, Milan Martic, "president" of the so-called Republic of Serbian Krajina (RSK) in Croatia, maintaining that the RSK never seceded from Yugoslavia, has called for establishing "everlasting connections with the FRY" (Politika, 10 March). This apparently represents a significant and possibly coordinated shift in emphasis, since leaders of both entities had recently emphasized their contrary claims that their "republics" should be recognized as separate, sovereign states. The Bosnian Serbs have not ruled out some type of future political links with the Muslim-Croatian federation in Bosnia- Herzegovina and Croatia. Bosnian Serb "President" Radovan Karadzic suggested that the RS is willing to consider "broader integration" of the territories of former Yugoslavia, broaching the idea of joining Croatia and the FRY together "into some relationship" with the RS and the RSK (Tanjug, 14 March). Similarly, although Momcilo Krajisnik, president of the Bosnian Serb assembly, described the prospect of the Serbs joining the Muslim-Croatian federation as "unnatural, illogical, and unacceptable," he said the Serbs would "accept" talks on a "future modality" for linking the three peoples (Tanjug, 12 March). At the same time, another Bosnian Serb official set conditions for joining the negotiations on the fate of Bosnia-Herzegovina that would almost preclude Serb |
FBIS3-38_13 | Flood of Candidates, Impractical Rules Mar Coming Election | put a mark only by the names of those they wished to vote for. The prospect of many runoffs has led to concern that voters will lose interest and too few will vote in the second round to meet the requirements for a valid election or that even in the runoff no one will win a majority (if a substantial number of voters cross out both candidates). In this case, the election rules provide for new elections within a month of the original election in which all candidates in the original election would be barred (Vidomosti, 30 November 1993). With the need to quickly come up with new candidates who had not participated earlier, it seems likely that the quality of the candidates would decline and voter interest may drop further, producing more invalid elections and leaving many seats unfilled--perhaps even enough to prevent the formation of a new Supreme Soviet. Outlook Although most news reporting on the Ukrainian elections has focused on the activity of parties and their candidates, most candidates are unaffiliated, and presumably they will win most seats, especially in rural areas where parties are weakest. Many of these unaffiliated may be conservative-leaning representatives of interest groups, lobbies, or behind-the-scenes power structures. While democrats are strong in west Ukraine, they appear to have little organization or support in much of the rest of the country, further adding to the prospect for returning a conservative legislature. There is also a danger that low voter turnout could void the balloting in enough districts to prevent formation of a new Supreme Soviet, raising the prospect of a paralysis of government. Box 1 Regional Variations in Party Activity In Lviv, parties were very active, judging by reports in local papers of meetings by Rukh, KUN (Congress of Ukrainian Nationalists), New Wave, UKRP (Ukrainian Conservative Republican Party), and the Ukrainian Peasant Democratic Party that nominated candidates for Lviv's 23 districts (Za Vilnu Ukrainu, 4, 12 January; Vysokyy Zamok, 4, 6, 18 January). Although lists of candidates in Lviv papers often did not report the organization nominating, a relatively large proportion of candidates were identified as affiliated with a party--in most districts about half the candidates. Many of these candidates, however, were nominated by groups rather than parties. In Donetsk, which encompasses 47 districts as the most populous oblast of Ukraine, a high proportion of candidates were identified with parties and parties nominated |
FBIS3-42_6 | Kozyrev Hails Renewed Partnership Af ter Vladivostok Meeting | a "serious talk" about this with Secretary Christopher in Vladivostok. -- A 12 March article by prominent foreign affairs commentator Aleksandr Golts in the Defense Ministry's newspaper, Krasnaya Zvezda, titled "The Chill Must Not Develop Into Confrontation," warned that "conflicts and microcrises" in U.S.-Russian relations had been following each other "virtually without interruption and in ever-increasing intensity." Criticizing Washington for, among other things, intensifying U.S. involvement in CIS affairs in order to prevent the revival of a dreaded Russian "empire," Golts charged that such an approach not only was inappropriate for states "that only yesterday were calling themselves allies," but went "beyond the bounds of common sense" and could scuttle efforts to settle conflicts. Taking issue-with Secretary Christopher's remarks on Russian peacekeeping efforts, Golts asked with evident sarcasm if the United States allowed its own freedom of action to be restricted "anywhere at all" by consultations with international organizations. Golts contended that Russia's active involvement in trying to end conflicts both in the former Soviet republics and elsewhere was important not only because Moscow was "offering sensible ways to end the suffering of thousands," but also because it strengthened Russia's self-esteem by demonstrating that Russia was a state that could resolve global problems. While asserting that US.- Russian differences were "not insoluble," Golts warned that neither Russia nor the United States can afford the "luxury of a new confrontation" while they search for a new model of mutual relations, and he called upon both states to use the Vladivostok meeting to "prevent undesirable developments." -- A 12 March article in the pro-Yeltsin newspaper Izvestiya headlined that U.S.-Russian relations are experiencing "the most serious crisis of recent years." In describing the reasons for the "time of coolness," the article supported Moscow's "proper" response to the Nixon visit and diplomatic activism in the Balkans, the Middle East, and the "near abroad," but fretted over how Washington might react to such policy "changes." For example, the article cited a "Western diplomat" as complaining that after the reformers' poor showing in the December parliamentary elections, the Yeltsin administration adopted the "slogans of the opposition," adding it was difficult to know who was making foreign policy pronouncements--Kozyrev or Communist leader Gennadiy Zyuganov. Ending on an optimistic note, the article reported that the Russian Foreign Ministry would "strive to avoid confrontation with Washington" at Vladivostok and quoted an "informed" ministry source as saying "there are no |
FBIS3-48_5 | Saddam Threatens Confrontation To Split Coalition | an action [tasarruf] that will protect the Iraqi people from the harm to which they are being exposed." Indicating that at least for now Iraq will not recognize Kuwait and the Iraq-Kuwait boundary, as required by UN Security Council Resolution 833, 'Aziz said that if the sanctions and the no-fly zones are lifted, the issue of Kuwait "could then be discussed in accordance with the rules regulating relations among states" (Baghdad radio, 17 March). (See Box 1) Perceived Rift Baghdad appears to believe that now is an opportune moment to exploit what it perceives as a serious rift within the alliance that liberated Kuwait. For example, the Information Ministry's mouthpiece Al-Jumhuriyah has claimed that the United States has become "virtually isolated in its calls for the continued enforcement of sanctions against Iraq, particularly since it has seen with its own eyes the disintegration of its international coalition" (INA, 6 March). Iraqi media have recently listed France, Russia, and China as among the countries showing understanding for Baghdad's position. In a recent article, Saddam's press secretary 'Abd-al-Jabbar Muhsin advocated using a policy of "intimidation" and "temptation," denying trade benefits, priority in debt payments, and other benefits to "any country not currently adopting a just and equitable stand" and offering corresponding benefits to countries now helping Iraq to lift the sanctions (Babil, 24 February). Information Ministry First Under Secretary Nuri Najm al-Marsumi argued in Al-'Iraq -- the daily of the pro-Saddam Kurds -- that Iraqi diplomacy and U.S. mistakes had helped create "a serious fissure within the anti-Iraq alliance" and that "current international and regional circumstances" provide Iraq with "a serious and true opportunity for lifting the unfair embargo." Therefore, he said, Iraq must "draw the world's attention" to its determination and capability "not to remain idle" if the sanctions continue and to its current "rallying" around Saddam "to thwart the aggression once and for all and to achieve the decisive victory" (8 March). (See Box 2) Implications Saddam clearly is unwilling to recognize Kuwait, as required by UN Security Council Resolution 833, unable to stay in power without repressing his people, as required by Resolution 688, and surprised by Ekeus' determination to treat Resolution 715 as an effective means of monitoring Iraqi weapons. Nevertheless, he seems to believe that to protect his proclaimed status as "Iraq's historic leader" and to avoid being perceived as weak, he needs to manipulate the Security |
FBIS3-53_5 | Beijing Rejects U.S. Stance on Human Rights | the past several weeks as with U.S. policy, China's decision to cast the Secretary's visit in a negative light stands in stark contrast to Beijing's efforts in recent months to put a positive gloss on Sino-U.S. relations. Beijing was, for example, upbeat in portraying the November meeting between U.S. President Bill Clinton and Jiang Zemin at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Conference, calling the meetings "positive and constructive." Beijing also cast Qian's talks in late January with Secretary Christopher in a more positive light, even though they dealt with the same topics- -bilateral relations, disarmament, nonproliferation, and human rights--that were raised during the March visit (Xinhua, 24 January). PRC media described the January talks as "positive and constructive" and claimed that they had maintained the "momentum of improved Sino-U.S. relations." Reemergence of Hardline Themes Perhaps reflecting a reassertion of hardline influence in the leadership and pressures on reformers to demonstrate their resolve to tighten social control as inflation, social discontent, and dissident activity have increased in recent weeks, less authoritative central media commentary has featured highly nationalistic rhetoric that undercuts this positive treatment of Sino-U.S. relations before Secretary Christopher's visit. A 21 February article in Beijing's reformist current affairs weekly Liaowang, for example, pointed to alleged beatings of Chinese citizens in Beijing by foreigners to denigrate those who have "doted on foreigners" and do not "dare to stand upright" in the face of foreign pressure. This xenophobic line was also evident in a signed article in Renmin Ribao on 2 March which was pegged to an incident at the recent Olympics involving an altercation between a Chinese speed skater and an American competitor. Underscoring the need to stand up to foreign pressure, the article pointedly noted that the Chinese people, because of their past experiences, realize that "concessions do not win understanding and sympathy but result in endless bullying." Signs of this harsh line were also prominent in both domestic Chinese media and in the PRC-owned Hong Kong press just prior to Secretary Christopher's visit. A PRC Foreign Ministry spokesman on 10 March, for example, in commenting on the defeat of an anti- China resolution at the UN Human Rights Commission meeting in Geneva, warned that the "days when China was subjected to willful bullying and humiliation and outside interference are gone" (Xinhua, 10 March). Similarly Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Wu Yi was quoted by the PRC-owned |
FBIS3-58_21 | PACIFIC RIM ECONOMIC REVIEW -- 23 MARCH 1994 | Japanese banks are thought to be part of their attempt to garner cooperation in capital financing from foreign financial institutions, not just from foreign investors in manufacturing and production. Despite the fact that investment by Japanese companies in these regions is still rather limited, the banks are now seriously considering where to set up offices in China's interior areas. Meanwhile, according to the 2 March NIKKEI KINYU SHIMBUN, five Japanese banks--Sumitomo, Sanwa, Industrial Bank of Japan, Bank of Tokyo, and Mitsubishi--are vying for permission to establish branches in Beijing. The Chinese Government is moving toward allowing a few foreign banks to open branches in Beijing, but because only one or two will be Japanese banks, the competition is intense. Sumitomo Bank is Offering seminars to financial institutions in Beijing to enhance its presence there, while the presidents of the Bank of Tokyo and Mitsubishi Bank recently visited China and appealed to the mayor of Beijing for authorization to establish branches. China To Authorize Japanese Banks To Use Yuan - Japanese banks will be authorized to use the Chinese yuan, but initially only for deposit-taking functions, according to the 8 March NIKKEI KINYU SHIMBUN. The People's Bank of China has not specified how deposits will be obtained or precisely when the deposit-taking functions will begin, but major Japanese commercial banks understand from discussions with the People's Bank that they will be able to start taking yuan-based deposits sometime in the spring or summer of 1994. The Ministry of Finance has continued to press the Chinese Government to authorize Japanese banks to use the Chinese currency because the recent change in China's foreign exchange system is having an adverse effect on Japanese banks doing business there, according the 4 February NIKKEI KINYU. Under the revision, foreign banks can only make loans and conduct foreign exchange transactions in dollars or yen, while foreign companies operating there can only use yuan. When a Japanese company operating in China sells yuan and buys a foreign currency, it must first transfer the money to the People's Bank of China, where the Japanese bank has an account, thereby making it more troublesome for the company to use a Japanese rather than a Chinese bank. According to the 8 March NIKKEI KINYU, some people assert that authorization to use the yuan is a "matter of life or death" for Japanese banks in China, and the recent indication that |
FBIS3-58_71 | PACIFIC RIM ECONOMIC REVIEW -- 23 MARCH 1994 | the mayor of Beihai recently signed a memorandum on the construction of a Singapore Industrial City, which will occupy 10,000 mu of land in Tieshan Port Industrial Zone in Guangxi's Beihai City. The land tenure offered by Beihai City Government is for a period of 50 years and is renewable with government approval. The city government will provide all infrastructural facilities, while the Singapore side will be responsible for overall planning, leveling, waste disposal, attracting investment, property management, and so on. This industrial city is intended as a base for the development of advanced industries, on a par with Singapore's industrial sophistication, and to create new jobs and import new technology and management techniques. (Hong Kong LIEN HO PAO11 Mar 94 p 22) Shenzhen Reaches Agreement With South Korean Firm on Oil Refinery - China Petrochemical Corp (Sinopec) has reached agreement in principle with Yukong Ltd, South Korea's leading refinery company, to build a $1.5-billion oil refining project in Shenzhen Special Economic Zone, Guangdong Province. This is the biggest venture involving South Korea since diplomatic ties were established in 1992. The refinery will have the capacity to process 100,000 to 150,000 barrels of oil per day. Yukong will hold 40 percent of the equity, the rest being owned equally by the state-owned Sinopec and the Shenzhen City Government. Yukong has a long-term agreement to import 10,000 barrels of oil per day from China. Sinopec is the largest industrial corporation in the PRC, with 690,000 employees, a registered share capital of $2.5 billion, and assets valued at $15 billion. It has investments in Japan, Hong Kong, and Thailand. (Hong Kong SOUTH CHINA SUNDAY MORNING POST (SUNDAY MONEY) 13 Mar 94 p 2) Heilongjiang Imports Telephone Switchboards From Australia - Qingan County in Heilongjiang Province formally put its program- controlled telephone switchboards with a total capacity of 6,000 lines into operation on 15 March, thus becoming one of Heilongjiang's counties with advanced telecommunications equipment imported from Australia. This equipment is jointly financed by the World Bank and Qingan County with a total investment of 17 million yuan. After putting this equipment into operation, Qingan County will change its telephone number from five digits to six. (Harbin Heilongjiang Radio 2200 GMT 14 Mar 94) Heilongjiang Uses German Loan To Upgrade Switchboards - Heilongjiang Post and Telecommunications Bureau has decided to use $100 million of a low-interest loan from Germany to introduce program-controlled telephone |
FBIS3-58_78 | PACIFIC RIM ECONOMIC REVIEW -- 23 MARCH 1994 | would help protect Taiwanese investments. The outcome of Lien's visit reportedly heightened enthusiasm toward investing in Hainan on the part of Taiwanese companies. The purpose of the trade promotion committee, which is based in Haikou, Hainan's capital, is to promote two-way economic cooperation and expedite the introduction of Taiwanese investment. The honorary chairman of the committee is Du Qinglin, Hainan's NPC delegate, and the chairman is Vice Governor Mao Zhijun. Hainan is seeking "large- scale Taiwan cooperation" in the petroleum, natural gas development, agriculture, fishing, and basic infrastructural sectors, Sakurai reports. The 200-person corporate inspection group, Taiwan's "largest company inspection group ever," will visit Hainan from 25 to 30 March. For its part, Hainan's government has "growing expectations" concerning Taiwanese investment in the province, one of the five Chinese special economic zone, where foreign investment "has lagged." Sakurai maintains that one uncertainty regarding investment in Hainan is "deep-seated opposition" to promoting trade with China among Taiwanese governmental officials. Because of this, people involved in this issue reportedly feel "the situation remains fluid" whether large-scale Taiwan investment in Hainan "will progress smoothly." Minister of Economic Affairs Warns Taipei To Avoid Super 301 - Commenting on 3 March on U.S. moves to revive super article 301 against Japan and other countries, Minister of Economic Affairs Chiang Ping-kun said that even though the article is aimed at Japan, and despite the fact that Taiwan's foreign trade surplus against the United States declined in 1993 to $6.76 billion from a peak of $16 billion, the not-too-open Taiwan market may still make it a possible U.S. target. As the United States has been exerting pressure on Taiwan to open up its domestic market, Taiwan should properly restructure its market before joining GATT at the end of 1994. (Taipei CHING-CHI JIH-PAO 4 Mar 94 p 2) Plans To Export Arms, Planes, Missiles - In a report to Premier Lien Chan on 7 March, Minister of Defense Sun Chen said the Defense Ministry plans to cooperate with the civilian sector in commercializing for export defense industry products such as missiles and planes. Sun Chen noted that the shifting of the defense industry to manufacturing civilian products has been promoted for many years, adding that concrete results have been made in the manufacturing of communications equipment, radar, chemical weapons protection gear, and electronics equipment for military purposes in cooperation with the civilian sector. (Taipei CHING-CHI JIH-PAO 8 Mar |
FBIS3-58_98 | PACIFIC RIM ECONOMIC REVIEW -- 23 MARCH 1994 | 9. Evaluation The scientists and technicians who are hired will have their research results evaluated from the perspective of the type of employment at six-month intervals by the Evaluation Committee. (If found "unsuitable," support will be discontinued and that part of the support paid will be recovered from the institution where the person is employed.) 10. Application Period 14 February to 10 March (for the first half of the year). * Remaining personnel look for a later notice in the second half of the year. 11. Documents To Submit a. Application for employment with the Brain Pool (in a form determined by the individual) 1 copy b. Statement of plans (to be drawn up by the institution applying) 1 copy c. Written introduction from the institution applying 1 copy 12. Information Office General Federation of Korean Science and Technology Organizations (635-4 Yoksam-dong Kangnam-gu Seoul 135-703) 13. Miscellaneous a. Materials received will not be returned. b. Please address detailed inquiries to the General Federation of Korean Science and Technology Organizations (Tel: 553-2181-5) Director General Federation of Korean Science and Technology Organizations (Note: the 25 January MAEIL KYONGJE SINMUN identifies South Korea's Ministry of Science and Technology as the sponsor of this organized effort to acquire foreign technology. See PACIFIC RIM ECONOMIC REVIEW Vol 3 No 5 9 Mar 94 pp 33-34) Steel Firm Imports North Korean Scrap Iron - ROK steel producers are actively moving ahead with importing scrap steel from North Korea. In January, Inchon Iron and Steel Co., Ltd. (Inchon Steel) brought in on a trial basis 1,200 tons of scrap iron from Najin. The company tested the suitability of the iron, which was obtained from dismantled rail cars, and found that the quality was not as good as U.S. scrap iron. Nonetheless, steel firms which use scrap steel as raw materials in their electric furnaces are actively moving ahead with importing scrap iron from North Korea. Inchon Steel is already prepared to place a supplemental order for 8,000 tons via a Japanese trading company. North Korea has many scrapped rail cars and cracked rails. If the nuclear issue is resolved and North Korea normalizes its foreign relations, ROK firms could possibly import 40-50,000 tons of scrap iron from North Korea annually. In the long run, steel firms could even import scrapped Russian rail cars via Najin or Sonbong, where they could be disassembled. Realizing that North Korean scrap |
FBIS3-58_111 | PACIFIC RIM ECONOMIC REVIEW -- 23 MARCH 1994 | with the Korean company contributing 32 percent. Il-yang will build a plant as soon as it receives authorization from the Chinese Government and start manufacturing tonic drinks and digestives in the latter part of next year. (Seoul YONHAP 0223 GMT 4 Mar 94) Inchon Steel ReceiveS Order From Indonesia - Inchon Steel recently received an order for 500 tons of molding iron (worth $1.3 million) from the Indonesian engineering company FPE (Flat Product Equipment Co). The molding iron will be used to expand FPE's facilities for large-scale housing and housing parts. Shipments will begin on 10 August. (Seoul MAEIL KYONGJE SINMUN 4 Mar 94 p 18) Dongbu Steel To Transfer Silicon technology to German Firm - Dongbu steel will transfer silicon production technology to Wacker- Chemitronic of Germany for $3.84 million plus royalties. The technique is for the production of multicrystalline silicon, an ingredient for semiconductors. The German firm currently supplies 30 percent of the world's demand. Dongbu is entitled to a royalty of 1-2.5 percent for the technology it developed jointly with the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, a government-funded research institute, over a period of 10 years. The company said it opted for German production instead of domestic manufacturing because of the high costs involved in transporting the ingredient material, thricholosil. (Seoul THE KOREA HERALD 10 Mar 94 p 8) Daewoo Car Audio Plant in Tianjin Begins Operations - Daewoo Electronics expects to put its car audio plant in Tianjin, China into full operation on 11 March. The plant will make 600,000 car audio systems a year, all for export. Daewoo has a 100-percent stake in the plant with an investment of $3 million. Annual capacity will be increased to about 2 million units by the year 2000. (Seoul YOHAP 0230 GMT 11 Mar SOUTHEAST ASIA: INDONESIA - Paiton Electric Power Agreement signed -- Indonesia recently signed an agreement with P.T. Paiton Energy Co., an international consortium, to produce electricity at the $2.3-billion, coal-fired Paiton power station in East Java. According to Indonesian officials, the two 615-mw units covered under the agreement are expected to be operational by 1998. The consortium consists of Mitsui and Co. of Japan and Mission Energy of the Netherlands, each holding a 32.5-percent stake in the project; the U.S. General Electric Power Funding Corporation which has a 2O-percent share; and Indonesia's P.T. Batu Hitam Perkasa, controlled by Hashim Djojohadikusumo which holds the |
FBIS3-58_113 | PACIFIC RIM ECONOMIC REVIEW -- 23 MARCH 1994 | remaining 15 percent. Paiton Energy has agreed to sell the electricity it will produce to Indonesia's state-owned electric company PLN over a 3O-year period, based on a three-tiered rate structure--8.56 cents per kilowatt hour (kwh) for the first six years, 8.41 cents per kwh for the following six years, and 5.54 cents per kwh for the last 18 years. (Jakarta KOMPAS 14 Feb 94 p 8) Increased Competition Expected in LNG Market - Pertamina Director for General Affairs Baharudin recently stated that even though Indonesia is the world's largest LNG exporter, it cannot ignore the emergence of several new competitors. Baharudin said that five countries are vying for the Asia-Pacific region's LNG market, which is currently concentrated in Japan, south Korea, and Taiwan, with China and Thailand surfacing as potential markets. Qatar, Alaska, and Australia are in the process of jncreasing their annual LNG production by 10 to 15 million tons, and Malaysia and Oman by 5 million tons, Baharudin noted. (Jakarta BISNIS INDONESIA 19 Feb 94 p 5) Batam Island To Be 'Center' for Taiwanese Investments - Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie recently stated that Taiwan has formed a-task force to encourage entrepreneurs to invest in Batam, as Taiwan plans to make Batam Island the "center" of its Southeast Asian investments. In return, Habibie has requested that Chang, director of Taiwan's Evergreen Group, serve as his personal advisor in a $600,000 project to establish a container port in Batam, capable of handling 600 million containers annually. Evergreen has already completed a feasibility study on the project, at no cost to the Indonesian Government. While Indonesia has of fered Evergreen the contract to construct the port, the company has not responded thus far. (Jakarta BISNIS INDONESIA 15 Feb 94 p 6) P.T. Pindad To shift Production, Marketing Focus - T. Sjamsu, senior executive vice president of P.T. Pindad, recently announced that the company is shifting its production and marketing efforts away from the military sector. In order to boost revenues and defray the cost of producing military equipment for the Indonesian Armed Forces (ABRI), the company plans to devote 80 percent of its production capability to the manufacture of non-military equipment. In the past, P.T. Pindad was able to sell 40 percent of what it produced to overseas commercial markets, Sjamsu said. P.T. Pindad produces ammunition, pistols, revolvers, and non- military equipment such as generators- machine tools, vacuum |
FBIS3-60_1 | FOREIGN PRESS SURVEY--FB PSE 94-013--WEST EUROPE | contents in no way represent the policies, views, or attitudes of the U.S Government. All comment or analysis contained herein is attributable to the cited media source, unless otherwise indicated. TABLE OF CONTENTS FEATURES: Sweden--Exporters Set Their Sights on China EU Rapid Conclusions of Leuna Dispute Sought; EBRD Doubles Investment in East Europe FINLAND Commentary Views Reich's Jobs Solutions FRANCE Editorial Discusses G-7 Job Summit; Commentary Advocates Social Welfare Commitment; Job Summit Ignores World Unemployment;Commentary on G-7 Job Summit; U.S. Seen Speaking 'Double Talk' on Audiovisual; Sapin Discusses Monetary Policy; Editorial on OECD Views on French Interest Rates; Editorial on Government Subsidies;Dassault Asks Assembly To Stop Rafale Delays; Roots of Unemployment Viewed; U.S. 'Pressure' Divides EU on Naval Construction GERMANY Commentators View Jobs Summit; Environmental Technology Seen As Creating Jobs; Governments Push Small Business Funding; New Semiconductor Plant Opens in East; Bitterfeld Chemical Facilities Expanded GREECE Civil Service 'Inflation' Noted; Greek-Romanian Economic Relations; Energy Pollution Taxes Assessed ITALY Labor Minister Discusses Black Market Labor; Recent Labor Accords Seen As Stopgap Measures; ENI's Plans To Expand East NORWAY Record Export Year Reported; Pension Fund Called 'Profitable Business'; Swedish Bank Predicts Growth for Norway, Denmark; 1993 Profitable for Most Businesses; New Oil Drilling Planned; Competitiveness of Norwegian Shelf Assessed7 SWEDEN Swedish Contribution to EU Budget Calculated ECONOMIC BRIEFS France, Greece, Norway FEATURE Sweden: Exporters Set Their Sights on China With many Swedish companies hoping to take advantage of the Chinese economic boom, exports to China have more than doubled in the last two years. In fact, according to a 29 January SVENSKA DAGBLADET survey of Swedish economic activity in China, the Far East is well on its way to becoming a more important market for Swedish firms than North America. Swedish exports to China increased from 1.6 to 3.5 billion kronor between 1991 and 1993, and more Swedish firms are establishing joint ventures in China as well. The commercial section at the Swedish embassy in Beijing described 1993 as a "real record year." Despite the export boom, Sweden's trade picture with China is not all rosy. According to the 29 January SVENSKA DAGBLADET, Sweden continues to maintain a trade deficit with China because imports from that country--especially textiles--have increased dramatically. In recent years, China has replaced Portugal as the leading supplier of textiles to Sweden. The business weekly VECKANS AFFARER also reported on 21 February that Sweden's share of Chinese imports has |
FBIS3-62_4 | JAPAN: KAZUSA ACADEMIA PARK, SCIENCE PARK | 19 Jan 94, DENKI SHIMBUN 13 Dec 93). The institute will initially be operated with 70 staff members, including Mitsuru Takanami, professor emeritus of Kyoto University, who will be the director of the institute, Susumu Tonegawa, Nobel Prize-winning molecular biologist and MIT professor, and Itaru Watanabe, professor emeritus of Keio University -- both appointed as special advisors (NIHON KOGYO SHIMBUN 26 Jan 94). The institute will encourage joint research projects between Japanese researchers and researchers from overseas as a research institute with an "open-door policy." The institute plans to establish lecture rooms for visitors and observers (NIHON KOGYO SHIMBUN 26 Jan 94 and 19 Jan 94). (The hard copy version of this FMN contains the final proposed site plan for the Kazusa DNA Research Institute.) The Research Institute, equipped with supercomputers and 18 of the latest DNA sequencers, will focus on 1) analytical research on DNA structure, 2) research on analytical technologies for DNA structure, 3) research on mechanisms of DNA, 4) production and provision of DNA data, and 5) education of personnel for DNA research. Along with these research activities, a primary mission of the institute will be to provide research data to the private sector in order to promote biotechnology industry (NIHON KOGYO SHIMBUN 26 Jan 94). So far, the institute has made agreements with seven Japanese companies to construct high-tech R&D centers and R&D-focused plants in the Park. These companies include Fujitsu, Canon, Nissan Chemical Industries, Denki Kagaku Kogyo, Nippon Zeon Co., Maruzen Petrochemical Co., and Tokyo Tanabe Co. (NIHON KOGYO SHIMBUN 26 Jan 94) Tokyo Tanabe Co. will obtain approximately 34,000 square meters on the site. Total area of its research center will be approximately 20,000 square meters. The company plans to allocate about 200 researchers and invest approximately 12 billion yen ($109 million) into the project excluding the cost for the land (NIKKEI SANGYO SHIMBUN 29 Sep 93). FIGURE 1 THE FIRST PHASE CONSTRUCTION PLAN FACILITY NAME AREA REMARKS Kazusa Academia Center Facility Approx. 17ha Public experimental & Approx. 40ha Kazusa DNA Research research facilities Institute & others approx. 19ha Enviornmental Center approx. 3ha Public experimental & research facilities approx. 18ha Private research Approx. 94ha 15 divisions institutes R&D-focused plants Approx. 56ha 5 divisions Lots for other Approx. 13ha Lots planned for facilities public facilities Parks & Landscapes Approx. 37ha 5 parks & 3 landscapes Roads & Rivers Approx. 21ha Prefectural roads TOTAL Approx. 278ha |
FBIS3-67_3 | FOREIGN PRESS SURVEY--FB PSE 94-012--EAST EUROPE | the middle of March 1994, which will pave the way for budgetary institutions to operate until parliament approves a draft law in 1994. Finally, they reached a cooperation agreement between the Albanian National Conipany and the Croatian company, Ina, on the exploration, processing, and production of hydroxides. (Tirana ATA in English 0925 GMT 26 Feb 94 AU) 1993 ALBANIAN IMPORTS INCREASE: The total value of Albanian imports during 1993 was 42.1 billion leks or 29 billion more than in 1992. Private imports accounted for the major part with 28 billion of the total. The main countries from which Albania imported goods were Italy, Greece, Germany, and France. In 1993, goods worth 18.888 billion leks were imported from Italy, mainly foodstuffs such as meat, flour, vegetable oil, and sugar, while goods worth 10.545 billion came from Greece, mainly tractors, machinery, and electrical appliances. Some 12,500 tons of oranges were imported from Greece, though the southern Albanian coast has many citrus plantations of its own. (Tirana ATA in English 1112 GMT 26 Feb 94 AU) BRITISH PETROLEUM TO OPEN AIRPORT FUEL STATION: British Petroleum, one of the world's largest companies, will open the first petrol station to supply aircraft in Rinas Airport. This joint venture has been due to an agreement between two companies, British Petroleum and Petrol Impex of Albania. The petrol station will be constructed soon and is expected to open by mid-March. (Tirana ATA in English 1141 GMT 1 Mar 94 AU) CABINET APPROVES AMENDMENTS TO LAWS, BILATERAL AGREEMENTS: The government has approved an agreement between the Republics of Albania and Malaysia on the promotion and protection of investment and an agreement between the Governments of Albania and Croatia on educational, cultural and scientific cooperation as well as on mutual removal of visas between the two countries. (Tirana ATA in English 1128 GMT 1 Mar 94 AU) BILATERAL AGREEMENTS SIGNED WITH CROATIAN DELEGATION: Several bilateral agreements were signed at the Palace of Congresses and Foreign Ministry today between the Albanian and Croatian delegations. The agreement on cooperation in the field of tourism between the Government of the Republic of Albania and the Government of Croatia was signed by Ministers Spaho and Bulic. The agreement on petroleum research in land between the National Agency of Hydrocarbons and Croatian National Company Ina Naf t Plin was signed by Fatbardh Ademi and Franjo Gregoric. Presidents Berisha and Tudjman were present at the |
FBIS3-67_7 | FOREIGN PRESS SURVEY--FB PSE 94-012--EAST EUROPE | will be achieved only in 1996, when the water pipe-line in Bovilla will start to function. (Tirana ATA in English 1316 GMT 17 Feb 94 AU) JOINT VENTURES FOR CLEANING TIRANA STREETS: The grave situation created in Tirana due to dirty streets and the mass of unremoved filth is expected to change completely next month. Astrit Hana, director of Public Services in Tirana municipality, said to ATA that the contracts with foreign firms, which won the tender organized by the municipality for the best Tirana cleaning project, will be signed within the first 15 days this month. Tehnokomerc, a Slovene- Austrian firm, and Nuova Ekolega, an Italian firm, will create joint ventures with the existing domestic units to for city cleaning. Tirana's rural territory will be divided into two areas and one of the joint ventures will work in each of them. (Tirana ATA in English 1108 GMT 18 Feb 94 AU) MALESI E MADHE PRIVATE FARMERS BUYING TRACTORS: The Regional Department of Agriculture and Food reports that during the last two years, the private farmers in Malesi e Madhe have bought 245 tractors. The increasing number of the tractors has led to a decrease in land tariffs and other agricultural services. Malesi e Madhe is a mountainous area north of Albania and one of the country's poorest provinces. (Tirana ATA in English 1304 GMT 18 Feb 94 AU) PRIVATE FURNITURE FACTORY IN DURRES: Two years ago, some Durres specialists of various professions, such as engineers, doctors, and economists set up the private firm "Ada," which mostly deals with the import of domestic electric facilities. Now, the firm has extended its activity even in the field of production. A small furniture factory, supplied with foreign technology and raw material and with a staff of 11 workers and specialists, has started to manufacture furniture, cupboards, and domestic facilities, which bear the seal of Ada. Bujar Bajramaj, the firm's president, told an ATA reporter that $45,000 have been invested for the construction of this factory and the salaries vary from 7,000 leks monthly for workers to 13,000 leks monthly for specialists. The advantages of the productions of this firm to those imported are the prices, which are 30-40 percent lower, as well as the employment of Albanian specialists. The firm is prepared to set up a money exchange agency and aims to start some productive and elaborate activities in food industry. (Tirana |
FBIS3-67_30 | FOREIGN PRESS SURVEY--FB PSE 94-012--EAST EUROPE | observes in a front-page headline. The DEMOKRATSIYA daily notes that yesterday the banks purchased U.S.$11.2 million at an average exchange rate of 38.316 leva and sold $7.7 million at an average of 38.496 leva to the dollar. (Sofia BTA in English 1115 GMT 2 Mar 94 AU) GOVERNMENT TO SUBSIDIZE TOBACCO INDUSTRY: The purchasing of the 65 percent of last year's tobacco harvest, which is still in warehouses, will be financed with a subsidy from the 1994 national budget, according to Agriculture Ministry Plant-Growing Department Chief Polina Stefanova. The 1994 budget passed by parliament a couple of days ago allocates a total of 500 million leva in subsidies to be spent on purchasing for the 1993 tobacco harvest. According to Stefanova, the subsidy will be enough to buy out the 1993 harvest. Bulgartabak Executive Director Rafail Ivanov said for his part that the subsidy will be spent to compensate the margin between the purchase and the market price of tobacco. He also said that the distribution of the funds has yet to be considered. (Sofia BTA in English 1345 GMT 2 Mar 94 AU) RETAIL PRICES RISE SLIGHTLY: Retail prices of government monitored and controlled goods went up 0.68 percent over the past two weeks, the National Statistical Institute reported on 16 February. The greatest rise was registered in the price of milk -- 2.41 percent, and cheese -- 3.43 per cent. The prices of mutton, pork, and bread went down. (Sofia BTA in English 2150 GMT 16 Feb 94 AU) NATIONAL BANK OFFICIAL VIEWS BANKING REFORM: In an interview published in KONTINENT on 16 February, Mileti Mladenov, deputy governor of the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB), says that the plan to reform banking by building a two-tier banking system with a central bank independent of the government has not been achieved. There are cases of the government and parliament putting pressure on the BNB as a result of the uneven progress of reforms and limited external financing. The BNB's autonomy eliminates the possibility of financing the government automatically and unrestrictedly, but now most of the central bank's loans go to the government and much less to the country's economy, Mladenov points out. The Bank Consolidation Company was set up to promote the regrouping of banks and their privatization. As the legal framework is imperfect and because the banks to be privatized belong to the state, the BNB Board decided that |
FBIS3-67_36 | FOREIGN PRESS SURVEY--FB PSE 94-012--EAST EUROPE | AU) HOUSEHOLD BUDGETS ANALYZED: Bulgarians spend 37 percent of their earnings on food, according to a household budget survey carried out by the National Statistical Institute and published in STANDART NEWS on 23 February. Bread and pastry account for 13 percent of food consumption, followed by eggs, 12.8 percent; milk, 6.5 percent; and fresh vegetables, 5.8 percent. Meat consumption dropped from 4.2 percent in 1992 to 3.7 percent in 1993. Cigarettes and alcohol account for 0.1 percent and 1.6 percent of household expenses respectively. (Sofia BTA in English 1317 GMT 23 Feb 94 AU) FIRST CELLULAR TELEPHONE NETWORK: The first cellular radio telephone network in Bulgaria was officially launched in Sofia on 23 February. The system is called Mobifon. It covers Sofia and its environs, and has over 1,000 subscribers. The system will shortly be extended to Varna, Burgas, Plovdiv, and the highway from Sofia and Plovdiv. Later it will cover all the larger towns. Mobifon is the trademark of the Bulgarian-British Radiotelecommunications Company Ltd., in which Bulgaria holds a 51 percent stake. (Sofia Khorizont Radio Network in Bulgarian 1400 GMT 23 Feb 94 AU) CABINET APPROVES WAGE INDEXATION MECHANISM: At its regular session on 3 February, the Council of Ministers adopted three decrees that determine the mechanism for its income indexing policy this year. The three regulatory documents were approved in their final form after several months of discussions and consultations with the trade unions and employers within the National Council for Trilateral Cooperation. The first decree sets a new national minimum wage of 1,565 leva per month for the first quarter of 1994 and raises the social pension received by about 2.5 million pensioners from 450 to 780 leva per month. The minimum income for persons receiving social assistance is set at 980 leva per month. During the first quarter of 1994 other benefits and payments, such as unemployment benefitS and children's allowances, will be indexed by a coefficient of 1.107 on the basis of the forecast inflation rate for the quarter, namely 10.7 percent. The second decree regulates wages and salaries in material production and the trading sector. It provides that wages should now be indexed on the basis of the forecast inflation rate, as compared to last year, when wages were increased on a trailing basis by 85 percent of the actual inflation rate. The third cabinet decree regulates the principles for fixing wages and salaries |
FBIS3-71_6 | NATO Partnership Proposal Meets Hedged Support, Ambivalence | (Interfax, 9 March; Rossiyskaya Gazeta, 18 March). More recently, however, he appears to have changed his position on joining. During the Duma hearings Yushenkov said he supports Russian membership, but maintains it should be carried out on special terms given Russia's "status as a nuclear power." Like many government officials, he contended that the NATO program should be viewed as "the beginning of a path toward a common security system" (Interfax, 17 March). -- Konstantin Zatulin, chairman of the Duma's CIS affairs committee and co-chairman of the Party of Russian Unity and Accord faction, warned the MFA Foreign Policy Council session that Russia's participation in the "Partnership" program would dash its hopes [unspecified] in the "near abroad," because even now CIS countries were trying to "blackmail" Russia by appealing to the West for help (Kommersant-Daily, 11 March). Media Reaction Russia media commentary on the Partnership for Peace program has reflected fears about isolation if Russia fails to join, suspicion that Russian interests may suffer if it does join, and resentment that Russia's options thus are limited. NATO bashing has been a staple of procommunist newspapers like Pravda and has intensified in the wake of the February NATO ultimatum to the Bosnian Serbs, but even reformist and pro-Yeltsin newspapers appear ambivalent toward membership, although the Defense Ministry newspaper, Krasnaya Zvezda, supported it: -- The procommunist newspaper Pravda printed a long diatribe on 16 March by retired general Viktor Chudov, who charged that Partnership for Peace was designed as a cover for "peace U.S.- style" and "world domination." The article, which claimed that planned U.S.-Russian exercises were designed to counter "reunification sentiments" in former Soviet republics and to inspire "separatists and nationalists" to "vigorous activity," lambasted the Defense Ministry's "top brass" for engaging in such exercises instead of carrying out its own war games designed to repel aggression "by a coalition of nuclear powers." -- The reformist newspaper Nezavisimaya Gazeta, which printed the highly critical Migranyan article, frontpaged another article on 15 March titled "Russia's Partnership With NATO Is A Misalliance." The article maintained that Russia could have received better terms if it had held out longer before agreeing to join, claiming that there had been growing sentiment in the West to offer Moscow something more in line with its "great power" status. Now, the article warned, Moscow confronts a new dilemma: to face isolation and discrimination if it does not become |
FBIS3-73_6 | NATO Partnership Proposal Meets Hedged Support, Ambivalence | (Interfax, 9 March; Rossiyskaya Gazeta, 18 March). More recently, however, he appears to have changed his position on joining. During the Duma hearings Yushenkov said he supports Russian membership, but maintains it should be carried out on special terms given Russia's "status as a nuclear power." Like many government officials, he contended that the NATO program should be viewed as "the beginning of a path toward a common security system" (Interfax, 17 March). -- Konstantin Zatulin, chairman of the Duma's CIS affairs committee and co-chairman of the Party of Russian Unity and Accord faction, warned the MFA Foreign Policy Council session that Russia's participation in the "Partnership" program would dash its hopes [unspecified] in the "near abroad," because even now CIS countries were trying to "blackmail" Russia by appealing to the West for help (Kommersant-Daily, 11 March). Media Reaction Russia media commentary on the Partnership for Peace program has reflected fears about isolation if Russia fails to join, suspicion that Russian interests may suffer if it does join, and resentment that Russia's options thus are limited. NATO bashing has been a staple of procommunist newspapers like Pravda and has intensified in the wake of the February NATO ultimatum to the Bosnian Serbs, but even reformist and pro-Yeltsin newspapers appear ambivalent toward membership, although the Defense Ministry newspaper, Krasnaya Zvezda, supported it: -- The procommunist newspaper Pravda printed a long diatribe on 16 March by retired general Viktor Chudov, who charged that Partnership for Peace was designed as a cover for "peace U.S.- style" and "world domination." The article, which claimed that planned U.S.-Russian exercises were designed to counter "reunification sentiments" in former Soviet republics and to inspire "separatists and nationalists" to "vigorous activity," lambasted the Defense Ministry's "top brass" for engaging in such exercises instead of carrying out its own war games designed to repel aggression "by a coalition of nuclear powers." -- The reformist newspaper Nezavisimaya Gazeta, which printed the highly critical Migranyan article, frontpaged another article on 15 March titled "Russia's Partnership With NATO Is A Misalliance." The article maintained that Russia could have received better terms if it had held out longer before agreeing to join, claiming that there had been growing sentiment in the West to offer Moscow something more in line with its "great power" status. Now, the article warned, Moscow confronts a new dilemma: to face isolation and discrimination if it does not become |
FBIS3-75_6 | NATO Partnership Proposal Meets Hedged Support, Ambivalence | (Interfax, 9 March; Rossiyskaya Gazeta, 18 March). More recently, however, he appears to have changed his position on joining. During the Duma hearings Yushenkov said he supports Russian membership, but maintains it should be carried out on special terms given Russia's "status as a nuclear power." Like many government officials, he contended that the NATO program should be viewed as "the beginning of a path toward a common security system" (Interfax, 17 March). -- Konstantin Zatulin, chairman of the Duma's CIS affairs committee and co-chairman of the Party of Russian Unity and Accord faction, warned the MFA Foreign Policy Council session that Russia's participation in the "Partnership" program would dash its hopes [unspecified] in the "near abroad," because even now CIS countries were trying to "blackmail" Russia by appealing to the West for help (Kommersant-Daily, 11 March). Media Reaction Russia media commentary on the Partnership for Peace program has reflected fears about isolation if Russia fails to join, suspicion that Russian interests may suffer if it does join, and resentment that Russia's options thus are limited. NATO bashing has been a staple of procommunist newspapers like Pravda and has intensified in the wake of the February NATO ultimatum to the Bosnian Serbs, but even reformist and pro-Yeltsin newspapers appear ambivalent toward membership, although the Defense Ministry newspaper, Krasnaya Zvezda, supported it: -- The procommunist newspaper Pravda printed a long diatribe on 16 March by retired general Viktor Chudov, who charged that Partnership for Peace was designed as a cover for "peace U.S.- style" and "world domination." The article, which claimed that planned U.S.-Russian exercises were designed to counter "reunification sentiments" in former Soviet republics and to inspire "separatists and nationalists" to "vigorous activity," lambasted the Defense Ministry's "top brass" for engaging in such exercises instead of carrying out its own war games designed to repel aggression "by a coalition of nuclear powers." -- The reformist newspaper Nezavisimaya Gazeta, which printed the highly critical Migranyan article, frontpaged another article on 15 March titled "Russia's Partnership With NATO Is A Misalliance." The article maintained that Russia could have received better terms if it had held out longer before agreeing to join, claiming that there had been growing sentiment in the West to offer Moscow something more in line with its "great power" status. Now, the article warned, Moscow confronts a new dilemma: to face isolation and discrimination if it does not become |
FBIS3-77_0 | ECONOMIC ISSUES NO 1: RUSSIA-BELARUS MONETARY UNION | The central press has been publishing articles discussing the political, social and economic ramifications of a Russian-Belarusian monetary union. Economic experts, journalists and officials are debating the pros and cons of such a union in articles appearing in a variety of sources. No Consensus in Belarus Belarusian Radicals Call for a Strike KRASNAYA ZVEZDA published an article by Valeriy Kovalev entitled "An Ordinary Meeting Instead of a Strike Took Place in the Belarusian Capital." Kovalev reported that a group of deputies from the opposition Belarusian National Front issued a statement claiming that a Belarusian-Russian monetary union would cause "the destruction of the Belarusian economy and the Belarusian state." The deputies called on their countrymen to engage in a "national liberation struggle" and to participate in a demonstration demanding removal of Kebich's government, dissolution of the Supreme Soviet, and early presidential elections. However, only about 1,000 people attended the rally in Minsk's central square, which led Kovalev to observe that "hardly anyone will be successful in coming to power in Belarus under the banner of fervent Russophobia." (Moscow KRASNAYA ZVEZDA in Russian 16 Feb 94 p 3) Belarusian Deputy Favors Union Henadz Kazlow, coordinator of the "Belarus" faction in the Supreme Soviet, in an interview responded to a question about a monetary union, noting that despite attempts to "foil" the agreement he believed "in the pragmatism of practical politicians who drafted this agreement," and added that "an economic union is already being discussed quite seriously. There is no other way out." (Minsk ZVYAZDA in Belarusian 23 Feb 94 pp 1, 3) Some Belarusians and Russians Agree Belarusian and Russian Enterpreneurs Appeal for Union The business-oriented paper DELOVOY MIR carried on page 1 an "Appeal from the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs and the Belorussian (Belarusian) Scientific-Industrial Association to the Governments of Russia and Belorussia." The appeal, signed by Russian Union chairman A.I. Volskiy and president of the Belorussian Association M.F. Lavrinovich, pointed out that the time is ripe for integrating the monetary systems of the two republics and noted that possible temporary expenses due to unifying the monetary systems are commensurably small in comparison with the benefits from regulating economic and cooperative ties, broadening the market and increasing incomes from the development of production." The two organizations called upon their respective governments to "take this decisive and necessary step" which would benefit both "the economic situation and the population's standard |
FBIS3-192_0 | Priest Released | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Kampala, March 2 (AFP) -- Rebels have freed a kidnapped Spanish priest but seriously wounded an unspecified number of travellers in an attack in northern Uganda, a church source and press reports said here Wednesday [2 March]. The rebels, led by Joseph Kony, on Monday ambushed a vehicle operating a daily passenger service between Lira and Kitgum, at Ludel and subsequently set it ablaze, witnesses said according to the NEW VISION newspaper. Some of the passengers, who were badly injured, said a group of about 50 rebels jumped on to the road ahead of the vehicle and opened fire, shooting sporadically both in the air and at the vehicle. The vehicle's driver was hit in the arm by two bullets while the conductor got a hard kick on the knee from one of the rebels who had taken cover in the nearby bush. Earlier in the day, the rebels abducted and held hostage two Roman Catholic missionaries, Spaniard Luigi Paolino Aguilera and another unnamed black priest, together with two nuns from Lira's Paranga mission, reports said. The papal envoy here, reached by telephone by the Italian news agency ANSA, said Father Aguilera had returned safe and sound to the Kitgum mission, 380 kilometres (about 240 miles) north of Kampala. Aguilera, a member of the Comboniani order based at Padua in northern Italy, was held by the rebels for just one day, but subjected to five hours of "indoctrination" in the bush before he was set free, ANSA reported. The Italian news agency said the two nuns were still in the hands of the rebels of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), but made no mention of the black priest also said to have been abducted. Other reports here said that at least one of the priests had been released, but a Ugandan Catholic Secretariat spokesman could not be reached for further details. NEW VISION said two priests and two nuns were held hostage by the rebels apparently for use as human shields in the event of an attack by government forces. Security sources in Lira said on Wednesday that government troops based at Pajule, 15 kilometres (12 miles) from the scene of the incident, moved swiftly in pursuit, but arrived late and only managed to find the vehicle in which the priests had been travelling. The attack on travellers is seen by the people in the |
FBIS3-207_2 | King Mswati III Opens Sixth Parliament | of Assembly, who have been chosen by your fellow Swazis to be their representatives in the country's most important legislative chamber, you take your seats here at a vital time in the Kingdom's history, and you and all members of both houses hold in your hands the hopes of those you represent, to ensure that the direction of our development aim is correct, and that the effects of development strategies implemented by government reach those who most need them, for the time has now come for the nation to direct its attention to the issue of greatest importance for our future stability and prosperity -- how best to tackle the economic problems facing the country today, and what steps we must take to sustain the progress toward achieving our national development objectives. Before considering this economic challenge at a national level, we should understand the importance to Swaziland's development of events occurring around the world. These days of increasing economic inter-dependence between nations, the effects of situations in one part of the world, or the decisions of other countries and organizations, can have implications for the rest of us. One example of this, and one that perhaps has the greatest significance for the world's economic future, is the signing last December of the General Agreement of Tariffs and Trade. This was the result of many years of negotiations between all the major trading blocks aimed at breaking down trade barriers between countries, and it is an important step towards creating a world of free trade. While Swaziland, along with other developing countries, can welcome the outcome of the agreement in terms of expanding markets for our exports, there are several short term disadvantages and implications for our economies to be taken into account. Two examples of these are, first, the issue of our unique access to various markets for our sugar, beef, and other products. Under the terms of GATT, this trading advantage will certainly fall away in time, reducing the revenue from those export markets. And second, linked to the first, is the fact that the agreement will mean all our exports will potentially be in direct competition with every other country. Thus, the GATT signing represents both an advantage and a challenge to the Kingdom. The advantage is the opening up of whole new markets for our exports, and the challenge to Swazi industry of producing exports which |
FBIS3-207_16 | King Mswati III Opens Sixth Parliament | Closely linked to our national development objectives is the confirmation of government priorities on spending. This is an issue that will occupy members of both houses following presentation of the budget by the minister for finance. Since independence, our three highest priorities for government spending have been health, education, and agriculture. These are recognized as being fundamental to the objectives of any developing country. But the nation will be asked to confirm whether in each case the specific targets for spending in each area is correct, and indeed whether other areas deserve more attention. The provision of adequate health care to all members of the Swazi nation continues to demand our concern. New challenges in this field confront as we strive to increase health facilities. To make existing ones more efficient [word indistinct] of most agents to educate our people about the importance of health care and the prevention of diseases. We have all been shocked to learn of the extent of the spread in the Kingdom of the killer disease, AIDS. Swaziland, along with many other countries, stands to lose whole generations to this menace. Unless we act with haste to contain the danger, the real enemy to finding a solution to this potential devastating problem, ignorance -- ignorance of what this disease is, ignorance of what we can do to prevent it, and ignorance of the effect on our future if we fail to contain it. This is a challenge for us all to confront. We all have a role to play in educating others to the dangers. There must be a wholesale change in attitude to our social behavior. The only alternative is to witness a tragedy occur which will undermine all our development efforts and result in a future of misery for our children. We require a national policy on this issue, and we look to you seated here to give the nation its direction. A central principle since independence has been our belief that a nation's future is dependent on the products of its schools. Access to education is right for all Swazis, and this remains a guiding objective for government today. There has been a long debate on the issue of what some call free education. This is an issue the nation shall be addressing in our forthcoming debate on the national strategies. It must be acknowledged though before discussion begins that there is |
FBIS3-230_2 | South African Press Review for 3 Mar | help them regain some moral high ground." BEELD Intimidation Campaign Against De Klerk -- An editorial on page 10 of Johannesburg BEELD in Afrikaans on 25 February says: "Intimidation is an evil which cannot be easily erased during the current election campaign. It is clear that no political party can be declared entirely innocent, but nevertheless a certain pattern is beginning to take form." "What emerges is that President F.W. de Klerk, as leader of the National Party, has all too often been on the receiving end from ANC supporters. In contrast, ANC leader Mr. Nelson Mandela is able to address his followers relatively unhindered. Mr. Tony Leon of the Democratic Party was this week able to move through Alexander township peacefully, as was Minister Roelf Meyer through Soweto. Examples of the campaign against President de Klerk were evident during his visits to the various regions...reaching a low point...when he was struck by an object thrown at him, and at Kimberley...where a meeting had to be cancelled for his safety. It is clearly no coincidence that these attacks follow bitter personal criticsm of President de Klerk by Mr. Mandela." Homeland Sets Time Bomb Ticking -- In his "Political Beeld" column on the same page Willie Kuhn warns: "Even among those who ought to know better, a dangerous oh-well-why-not approach has emerged -- give the right wing their homeland, so there can be peace in the land." "Therein lies the danger -- that half-baked plans will be accepted in order to achieve temporary peace; but this will set a time bomb ticking." He adds: "What happened at Newcastle this week is an indication of the explosive force which can be triggered by homeland claims. The right wing says Newcastle belongs to it, the Zulus consider it as part of the Zulu kingdom, the ANC supporters believe it is part of South Africa -- and the Indians are probably wondering how they are going to be Pakistanized. Even in Standerton the right wing and the ANC are fighting for possession." "A homeland cannot be established through emotional force," as this "would simply repeat and multiply the mistakes of the past. Sober reasoning is needed, rather than irresponsible surrender." "There must be thousands of right wingers who realize that a homeland cannot be simply wished into being. The blacks in the so-called homeland towns will not simply evaporate; nor will they accept sudden |
FBIS3-232_0 | 12 Reported Killed | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Accra, 2 Mar (GNA/PANA) -- Twelve people were killed and 21 others wounded when soldiers shot to disperse a crowd that besieged the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) in Tamale, Ghana's northern regional capital on Monday [1 March], police said in Accra on Tuesday. Nine of the victims died during the incident while three died later in hospital, a police spokesman said. He said the crowd had marched on the bank when word went round that a Kokomba man was inside to cash some money, apparently to lynch him. "The bank called in the soldiers after the crowd refused to heed appeals to disperse after failure to convince them that no Kokomba man was inside", the police spokesman said. When the soldiers failed to disperse the crowd by shooting into the air, "they started shooting into the crowd which had by then started stoning them". The incident has undermined the relative calm that had slowly returned to the municipality over the past two weeks, after previous incidents of rioting, killings, arson and looting, in the wake of the Kokomba-Nanumba ethnic conflict, which later engulfed the north to include the Dagombas and Gonjas. The Tamale municipality is predominantly Dagomba. The National Mobilisation Programme (NMP) said over 120,000 people have so far been registered as refugees and are being held in schools, mosques, church compounds, police stations and military barracks in the conflict areas. More than 1,000 corpses had been buried following the fighting, which erupted after a Nanumba killed a Kokomba man in a marketplace row over the price of a guinea fowl. Several others either died in the bush or were thrown into rivers or burnt alive in their houses. The police said all markets within the Tamale Municipality had been temporarily closed down and a night curfew continues while a three-month state of emergency has been clamped on the conflict areas of Gushiegu/Karaga, Zabzugu/Tatale, east Gonja, Nanumba, Saboba/Chereponi and Yendi. Meanwhile, police said three persons were injured Tuesday night when a grenade exploded at the yam market in Accra, popularly known as "Kokomba market" because the Kokombas who are mainly yam farmers are engaged in the supply and distribution of the food stuff to that market. They named the three, who were described as traders, as Kwaku Sasu and Eric Danso, on admission with serious injuries and Joseph Asare, who had been treated and discharged. |
FBIS3-270_0 | UNITA Ambushes Civilian Vehicle; 17 Killed | Language: Portuguese Article Type:BFN [Text] In Lusaka, the government and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola [UNITA] talk of peace, but here in Angola the situation is paradoxically characterized by UNITA attacks on civilian and other targets. The FAA [Angolan Armed Forces] General Staff announced today that UNITA troops are carrying out violent actions against civilians. [Begin unidentified army officer recording] An unspecified number of UNITA troops ambushed a civilian vehicle along the Quicabo-Balacende road, 51 km to the northeast of the city of Caxito, Bengo Province, killing 17 civilians, wounding three others, destroying one vehicle, and looting people's property. [end recording] |
FBIS3-309_0 | Survey Shows High Percentage Intend To Vote | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Report by A Thomson] [Text] Johannesburg March 3 SAPA -- Motivation to vote in the April elections is high, according to the results of a survey for Matla Trust published on Thursday [3 March]. The research initiatives survey of 8,004 respondents shows 83 per cent of black voters and 85 per cent of white voters intend casting ballots. However, only 50 per cent of coloureds and 55 per cent of Indians intend voting. The survey shows six per cent of blacks, eight per cent of whites, 19 per cent of coloureds and 23 per cent of Indians intend abstaining. Motivation to vote among blacks is highest in the Eastern and Western Cape (93 and 95 per cent) and lowest in Natal and the Eastern Transvaal (74 per cent). Among coloureds, it is lowest in the Western Cape (47 per cent) and in the North-West Region (46 per cent). Indian voters in the PWV [Pretoria, Witwatersrand, Vereeniging] region are more motivated than those in Natal (62 and 54 per cent). Women are less motivated than men in all regions except the Western Cape. The gender gap is between seven and 12 per cent, except in the Eastern Transvaal where 85 per cent of men and 62 per cent of women will vote, and Natal where 80 per cent of men and 68 per cent of women will go to the polls. The gender gap is highest among Indians, at 29 per cent. Principal reasons for not voting are confusion about political events, personal reasons (such as "too old", "against religion") and ignorance about elections and voting. Among blacks, lack of identity documents is the fifth most important reason for not voting. The survey also shows the secrecy of the ballot is either doubted or mistrusted by about 25 per cent of voters. Belief in ballot secrecy is highest among blacks, at 81 per cent. The figure for whites is 77 per cent, for coloureds 70 per cent and for Indians 74 per cent. |
FBIS3-434_0 | Ethnic Clashes Reported in Kamenge District | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Bujumbura, March 7 (AFP) - Up to 200 people were killed in weekend clashes with ethnic overtones between civilians and soldiers in an outlying district of Bujumbura, Radio Burundi reported Monday [7 March]. Witnesses said some 20 bodies were brought out of the northern Kamenge district after fighting between civilians mainly of the Hutu majority, and the powerful army, which largely comprises the Tutsi minority. Police said 40 people had been killed but the interior ministry said the death toll could be as high as 200, the radio said. Humanitarian aid sources said some of the civilians had firearms. The rest of the capital was quiet, but the situation has been extremely unstable in Burundi since a section of the army mounted an unsuccessful coup in October against the Hutu government elected the previous June, killing President Melchior Ndadaye. An estimated 100,000 people were killed in ethnic clashes after the coup attempt and another 700,000 fled the country. The reason for the latest shooting, which began Friday and intensified Saturday, was still unknown. Two Italian doctors with the Belgian arm of the Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) organisation were wounded Saturday as they drove through the district in a car, aid sources said. They said the atmosphere in Kamenge was still very tense, adding that the use of firearms by civilians is a comparatively recent phenomenon. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said it had evacuated three wounded people from the district Monday, on top of four brought out Saturday. |
FBIS3-435_1 | Security Minister Issues Statement on Disorder | fellow citizens. The Central African Republic has installed political democracy. It has become a state where there is the rule of law. Since his investiture, the elected president of the Republic has always preached dialogue with all the social and political groups of the nation. He has made social justice and dialogue the watchwords of his national policy. Unfortunately, this political will for reconciliation and national reconstruction is not accepted by a good number of Central Africans. As the minister of interior and national security, and to support the head of state's policy, I have continued to receive in my office some lost sons of the country who deliberately take pleasure in acts of social agitation and socio-political upheavals. Despite my appeals for order and national unity, I have observed and recorded facts of partisan dissentions and disorders, marked by (?obscene) and irresponsible demonstrations organized by small groups still pining for an era fresh in the minds; an ear which supported the very people who caused its fall [words indistinct] arms. Some people have organized hotbeds in some areas in the capital with the sole aim of disturbing public peace and disrupting the smooth running of our democratic and republican institutions. These hotbeds are marked by acts of aggression against strangers and French technical assistants. These are innocent targets who are faced with armed attacks in their homes. All these purely barbaric acts only aim at destabilizing the democratically elected and recently installed government. Considering the manifest dishonesty insincerity of these [word indistinct] agitators (?sponsored and trained) by [words indistinct] which mistake democracy with anarchy, I make it my duty, as the minister in charge of our country's internal security and guarantor of public order and (?peace), to make a public appeal to the national and international community. I appeal to the organizations for the defense of human rights to witness this situation. I cannot continue to tolerate such acts of political agitation, social upheavals, and public disorder in a state where there is the rule of law. As the minister of interior and national security, I have the duty to install state authority in order to guarantee the regalia of a democratic state. So, beginning with this warning, I am giving firm instructions to the competent police to ask them to ensure, in the implementation of the country's laws, that all the (?enemies) of democracy are exposed. Thank you. |
FBIS3-470_0 | Rights Group Releases February Violence Statistics | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Johannesburg March 7 SAPA -- At least 245 people were killed and 302 people injured or wounded in political violence in South Africa in February in the seventh successive month of decline in such violence, the Human Rights Commission [HRC] said on Monday [7 March]. The HRC said in a report it recorded 361 incidents of politically-motivated violence in February as compared to 509 incidents in January. "The February death toll of 245 is significantly down from the January figure of 328 and reconfirms the strong downward trend in political violence. February recorded the seventh successive month of decline in political violence as measured by death toll," the report said. It said the average daily death toll dipped below nine this month and seemed headed back to the level of six per day which was prevalent at the same time last year. The HRC said 70 of the dead in February were African National Congress [ANC] supporters and 31 supporters of the Inkatha Freedom Party. The victims included 12 African National Congress supporters massacred at Masunkazane in Richmond in Natal, and 15 ANC activists massacred at Mahlele in Creighton, also in Natal. The HRC said 20 women, 25 children, nine commuters and six members of the security forces were among those killed in February. It said Natal now firmly occupied the violence centre-stage with 66 per cent of the national toll in February. Nonetheless the provisional figure of 161 deaths in February in Natal was still a little lower than any figure during the past eight months. "Peace initiatives in the PWV [Pretoria, Witwatersrand, Vereeniging] region are succeeding in returning violence levels to the manageable proportions of a year ago. The PWV region seems now to be well on its way to being stabilised, but sub regions which are still unsettled are West Rand, Alexandra, Vaal and of course the East Rand which accounted for 62 per cent of PWV deaths in February." |
FBIS3-471_0 | Further on Human Rights Report | Language: English Article Type:BFN ["Summary Report" issued by the Human Rights Commission] [Text] Main Events and Trends in February Peace initiatives in the PWV [Pretoria, Witwatersrand, Vereeniging] region are succeeding in returning violence levels to the manageable proportions of a year ago. Natal is now strongly centre-stage in the political violence with 66 percent of countrywide deaths in February; this is clearly where maximum effort needs to be concentrated. Two major massacres were recorded in the Midlands sub-region of Natal. Women and children accounted for 18 percent of all deaths in February. Amongst February victims were 9 commuters, 20 women, 25 children and 6 security force members; reports identified 70 ANC [African National Congress] supporters and 31 IFP [Inkatha Freedom Party] supporters amongst the dead. Detention without trial continues unbridled with Sections 29 and Section 50 of the ISA [Internal Security Act] in constant use. A. Statistical summary Form of Feb 1994 Total Year 1994 Monthly 1993 Monthly Repression to Date Average Average Formal Repression Detentions 72 129 64.5 60.6 Without Trial Deaths in Police 3 7 3.5 3.2 Custody Political 87 204 102.0 428.7 Arrests Deaths Sentences 4 5 2.5 4.5 Political Violence Incidents: 361 870 435.0 463.5 Deaths: PWV 69 211 105.5 166.8 Natal 161 333 166.5 167.4 Elsewhere 15 29 14.5 32.3 Total Deaths: 245 573 286.5 366.5 Injuries: 302 571 285.5 361.6 Formal Repression Legislation No unrest areas were declared or withdrawn during February, and at the end of the month 14 such areas were in effect, all in the Eastern Cape. By the end of February, legislation assented to last December which would repeal Section 29 of the ISA, had still not been brought into effect. Detention Without Trial During February extensive use was made of detention powers under the ISA, using both Section 29 (on 54 persons) and Section 50 (on 18 persons). At month end, 30 persons were still being held in detention without trial. Deaths in Police Custody During February, 3 deaths in police custody were reported. Political Trials During February, another 13 political trials were completed, none resulting in jail sentences. At month end, 55 trials were ongoing involving 548 accused, nearly half of them in Bophuthatswana Death Row Four persons were given death sentences in February. Death row now has 330 occupants. Repression of Gatherings and Political Activity Extensive interference in political activity related to the forthcoming elections was perpetrated |
FBIS3-471_1 | Further on Human Rights Report | PWV 69 211 105.5 166.8 Natal 161 333 166.5 167.4 Elsewhere 15 29 14.5 32.3 Total Deaths: 245 573 286.5 366.5 Injuries: 302 571 285.5 361.6 Formal Repression Legislation No unrest areas were declared or withdrawn during February, and at the end of the month 14 such areas were in effect, all in the Eastern Cape. By the end of February, legislation assented to last December which would repeal Section 29 of the ISA, had still not been brought into effect. Detention Without Trial During February extensive use was made of detention powers under the ISA, using both Section 29 (on 54 persons) and Section 50 (on 18 persons). At month end, 30 persons were still being held in detention without trial. Deaths in Police Custody During February, 3 deaths in police custody were reported. Political Trials During February, another 13 political trials were completed, none resulting in jail sentences. At month end, 55 trials were ongoing involving 548 accused, nearly half of them in Bophuthatswana Death Row Four persons were given death sentences in February. Death row now has 330 occupants. Repression of Gatherings and Political Activity Extensive interference in political activity related to the forthcoming elections was perpetrated by Bophuthatswana security forces. An ANC march in Standerton was banned and broken up see HRC [Human Rights Commission] Election Watch No.2 for interference in freedom of political activity in February. Political Violence General Comment February recorded the seventh successive month of decline in political violence as measured by deathtoll. Average daily death toll dipped below 9 this month and seems head back to the level of 6 per day which was prevalent this time last year, and a far cry from the level of 20 per day during last July. Incidents of Violence During February, HRC recorded 361 incidents of political violence, appreciably down from the 509 of January and from the 464 average of last year. Deaths and Injuries The February deathtoll of 245 is significantly down from the January figure of 328 and reconfirms the strong downward trend in political violence. There has been a 60 percent drop since the July peak. The injury count for February was 302, higher than January, but below last year's average. Major Massacres Two major massacres (10 or more deaths) were recorded in February, both of them in the Midlands sub-region of Natal: On the 6th February, 12 ANC supporters were |
FBIS3-547_0 | Infiltration by S. African Crime Syndicate Reported | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Report by Zanele Vutela] [Text] The notorious CCB [Civil Cooperation Bureau]--allegedly disbanded two years ago--is very much alive and has established a criminal empire in Zimbabwe, it was reported this week. The weekly FINANCIAL GAZETTE, an independent newspaper in Harare, reports that the Zimbabwean business community has been extensively infiltrated by about 600 criminals linked to the CCB. The paper said that a crime syndicate, also linked to the Blue-Light Gang, was responsible for the exportation from SA [South Africa] to Zimbabwe of more than 600 stolen vehicles. The proceeds of the sales of the cars are believed to have been used to buy drugs which were then sold to finance the SADF's [South African Defense Force] covert military intelligence operations. SA military intelligence was responsible for setting up the CCB. According to the paper the SA criminal syndicate was uncovered by the Zimbabwean security in early 1992. In June 1993 Kaarman Noortman, whose aliases include Malcolm Anthony Cheney and Jack Cheney and who was allegedly wanted at the time by the SAP [South African Police], was arrested. It quotes SA records revealing that Noortman was a member of the stolen vehicle division at John Vorster square until 1985, and that in 1993 he was wanted by the division for car theft and fraud. In July of the same year Noortman was handed over to SA immigration officials at Beit Bridge but according to the GAZETTE was "inexplicably let loose". Intelligence sources also link Noortman to Frederick Alex Harding, regarded as the Blue Light Gang's Godfather and the CCB's operational chief in Zimbabwe until he was arrested and deported two years ago. It said that Harding, 50, was interviewed by the ANC [African National Congress] last year shortly after he had allegedly admitted that he had been recruited by a SA government agency to carry out dirty tricks in neighbouring countries. Harding is also alleged to have admitted that he had headed a car and drug-trafficking ring in the 1980s whose task was to procure funds for military intelligence-linked operations. SAP Media Liaison officer Colonel B.S.I. Van Rooyen confirmed to CITY PRESS that Noortman was an SAP member, and was re-arrested shortly after being freed at Beit Bridge. Although Zimbabwean sources suspect Noortman of being in Harare, Major Van Rooyen told CITY PRESS that Noortman was currently awaiting trial at the Pretoria Central Prison. |
FBIS3-602_2 | Human Rights Commission Issues Weekly Report Weekly Repression Report for week no.10 from 02/03/94 to 08/03/94. A. Formal repression Formal repression of persons Detention without trial B. Political violence General incidents C. Other incidents [words indistinct] | between ANC and IFP supporting hostel dwellers from Duduza hostel. The hostel is unique in that it houses hostel dwellers supporting both the IFP and the ANC and is not divided on ethnic lines. Tension in the hostel however was reported to have started on 17 February, when IFP supporters from the hostel threatened ANC supporters putting up ANC posters in the vicinity of the hostel. The violence was allegedly sparked off by an attack on 2 Xhosa-speaking hostel dwellers. Following the clashes, the township residents came to the assistance of the ANC supporters, resulting in an attempt to burn down the hostel. Other reports received included IFP supporters forcing residents to join the IFP and intimidated residents living in the first line of houses opposite the Duduza hostel, to evacuate their homes. Allegations of security force collusion were also received, isu police allegedly not taking action against IFP supporters. In other sub-regions, a female ANC recruitment officer, was allegedly harassed by IFP who came to her apartment in Johannesburg; 5 youths, including 2 Cosas members, were allegedly abducted and assaulted by members of the public, for allegedly murdering a taxi owner in Soweto; in Sharpeville, a man was killed and a schoolgirl were assaulted allegedly by members of the German gang. The township of Bekkersdal recorded 2 deaths as compared to last week's toll of 3 deaths and 21 injuries, residents however report that the township is tense. Natal: 39 deaths and 32 injuries. Twenty five deaths and 21 injuries were recorded in the Durban sub-region. Inanda (14 deaths and 17 injuries) emerged as a focal point of violence in the sub-region. This included the massacre of 11 ANC supporters in Bhambayi. The massacre toll included the deaths of 3 women, 7 injuries and 20 homes torched when the ANC-supporting Congo and Angola settlements were attacked by a group of alleged IFP supporters in a 5 hour attack. The ANC's Natal region alleged that a white man was seen by witnesses at the scene of the attack, and alleged that ISU [Internal Security Unit] vehicles blocked the four entrances to Bhambayi during the attack. In Ndwedwe, 5 people, including 4 women, were killed and 2 were injured in an attack on a store in the ANC-supporting Sonkombo area. Other sub-regions affected were N Natal (6 deaths), N Coast (4 deaths, 11 injuries), Midlands (2 deaths) and S Coast (2 |
FBIS3-602_3 | Human Rights Commission Issues Weekly Report Weekly Repression Report for week no.10 from 02/03/94 to 08/03/94. A. Formal repression Formal repression of persons Detention without trial B. Political violence General incidents C. Other incidents [words indistinct] | and a schoolgirl were assaulted allegedly by members of the German gang. The township of Bekkersdal recorded 2 deaths as compared to last week's toll of 3 deaths and 21 injuries, residents however report that the township is tense. Natal: 39 deaths and 32 injuries. Twenty five deaths and 21 injuries were recorded in the Durban sub-region. Inanda (14 deaths and 17 injuries) emerged as a focal point of violence in the sub-region. This included the massacre of 11 ANC supporters in Bhambayi. The massacre toll included the deaths of 3 women, 7 injuries and 20 homes torched when the ANC-supporting Congo and Angola settlements were attacked by a group of alleged IFP supporters in a 5 hour attack. The ANC's Natal region alleged that a white man was seen by witnesses at the scene of the attack, and alleged that ISU [Internal Security Unit] vehicles blocked the four entrances to Bhambayi during the attack. In Ndwedwe, 5 people, including 4 women, were killed and 2 were injured in an attack on a store in the ANC-supporting Sonkombo area. Other sub-regions affected were N Natal (6 deaths), N Coast (4 deaths, 11 injuries), Midlands (2 deaths) and S Coast (2 deaths). In the incidents where the victims could be ascertained, 1 death was of an IFP member and 17 deaths and 18 injuries of ANC members. W Cape: no injuries, 3 incidents. In one incident the Milnerton municipal offices were petrol bombed. Ciskei: four teachers, including 3 whites, and a child (13) who was walking by the college, were injured when gunmen ambushed a minibus entering vunindela teachers' training college. [words indistinct] PWV: 7 injuries and 14 arrests all in the East Rand. In Duduza, a young girl was allegedly shot and injured by members of the ISU. Two reports were received of security forces arresting and later releasing people - 8 people attending a funeral were arrested and later released by members of the ISU in kwaThema; 6 youths were arrested and assaulted by members of the SADF [South African Defense Force] in Thokoza. Natal: 1 death of an ANC member allegedly shot dead by the SAP in Ntuzuma. Bophuthatswana: at least 1 injury, 25 arrests in numerous actions by the homeland security forces attempting to curb the widespread strike by civil servants and workers, demanding wage increases, pension payouts, free political and trade union activity in the homeland. |
FBIS3-642_0 | Violence Descends on Bophuthatswana as Government Flees Violence, Rioting Described | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] From late this afternoon there have been reports of absolute chaos in Mmabatho, the Bophuthatswana capital. There have also been reports that President Lucas Mangope has left Mmabatho and that security forces and the police have laid down their arms. Our reporter, Nan Roux, is on the line from the Mmabatho Sun Hotel. Nan, what's the latest? [Roux] Well, as we were driving into Mmabatho this afternoon, some journalists, the city, the town was covered in smoke. Then, as we came into the hotel, we were stopped by security guards wanting to know whether we were residents. Then we knew something was wrong. As we came in, the entry hall was milling with reporters. Apparently there is a section in Mmabatho called Megacity, and this is apprently burning. Shooting and looting is going on, security forces are apparently having great problems controlling the people. There have also been rumors that President Lucas Mangope has left. Apparently at 6.30 [1630 GMT] this afternoon, and they saw him leave in a helicopter and they believe he might have gone to Lehurutshe, there are also rumors that he might have gone to Sun City. There were also rumors that the security forces have laid down their arms. In Megacity, there is a policeman's store which was gassed and then set alight. The problem with the police is apparently they are trying to -- there are too many entrances to Megacity. They cannot control all these entrances, so they are having problems controlling the people. It seems as if the majority of the security forces are anti-President Mangope, however, there are still some loyalists. One reporter told me that apparently he was chased by two men in a bakkie [pickup truck] -- he said they might be AWB [Afrikaner Resistance Movement]. There have been reports of AWB in the town. A huge crowd then, just earlier this afternoon, walked to the South African Embassy and handed over -- a huge crowd of Bophuthatswana Police -- and handed over their memorandum demanding the reincorporation into South Africa, and also the resignation of the commissioner of police. The police also went to the university where they laid down their arms and they have given in their vehicles. They've just physically sort of given in. Some of our reporters that went down now said they have just come back from Megacity, and |
FBIS3-679_0 | Gunmen Kill 1, Injure 2 in Attack on Vehicle | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Johannesburg March 10 SAPA -- A 12-year-old boy was killed and his mother and brother were critically injured when gunmen blasted their vehicle with AK-47 rifle fire on the East Rand on Thursday [10 March] night. Police said the mother had taken her sons to visit their father where he was being treated at a local hospital, and was returning home. The attack occured as she stopped the car at a traffic light in Alberton. "As the car stopped...an unknown gunman or gunmen opened fire from behind the vehicle they were travelling in. The woman and her two sons were hit several times," police said. A R150,000 [rand] reward has been offered for information leading to the arrest of the attacker or attackers. SAP [South African Police] ground patrols and a police helicopter combed the area until late Thursday in an attempt to track down the killers but were unsuccessful. The names and addresses of the victims have not yet been released because their families have not yet been notified. The SAP statement said police believed other motorcars in the vicinity at the time of the attack might also have been hit by flying bullets. These motorists were asked to contact the East Rand Murder and Robbery Unit at 8452820. |
FBIS3-709_0 | Thousands of Civilians Reportedly Flee Clashes | Language: English Article Type:BFN [By Christophe Parayre] [Text] Buchanan, Liberia, March 11 (AFP) -- A murderous attack by an armed faction has forced thousands of Liberian civilians to flee this week to the iron ore port of Buchanan, refugees and relief workers here said. More than one thousand displaced people have arrived here daily since Sunday [6 March] for fear of further attacks, aid personnel in the town, 90 kilometres (56 miles) southeast of Monrovia, told AFP. Guerrillas of the Liberia Peace Council (LPC) militia on Sunday launched a "brief, violent attack" on civilians in the Compound 2 region, 20 kilometres (13 miles) north of Buchanan, killing several, a refugee said. "They opened fire right among the people," he said. "They began to throw grenades everywhere. Everybody ran. We left our home to go to the bush." The dead included a Liberian worker for the charity Medecins sans Frontieres [MSF] (Doctors Without Borders), he added. Available information indicated that the attacks had stopped, but this had not prevented some 7,000 people from joining 20,000 other displaced persons already sheltered in Buchanan schools. They had fled fighting between the LPC and the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL), which controls the area and was one of three signatories to a peace pact last year, before the LPC was formed in September. The attack came a day before the installation of a transitional State Council, or collegiate presidency, and the official start to the disarming of Liberia's armed factions under the July peace accord. But disarmament by troops of a multinational African peacekeeping force under the supervision of UN monitors was Thursday only a dream here, where five lorries carrying mainly women and children arrived in less than two hours. Most of the displaced people were dressed in rags and were visibly exhausted, often with nothing but a small bag of possessions. After receiving a food card, they went to a makeshift reception centre where an elderly woman was handing out small rations of rice. In the classrooms, benches and tables were pushed into a corner to make space for the new arrivals. Mats were laid on the floor for them to sleep on. For the present, the relief agencies were coping, Christine Muller of MSF declared. "It's not over," she said. "We are expecting more than 7,000 new arrivals in the coming days." |
FBIS3-731_0 | Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe Visits Ends Four-Day Visit | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe left Gaborone this afternoon after a four-day visit to Botswana. He told journalists before his departure that he believed creating additional border posts, and involving local leaders and villages next to the Botswana-Zimbabwe border, could curb the problem of illegal border crossings. President Mugabe attributed the problem of illegal border crossings to unemployment, which he said is everywhere, even in Zimbabwe. He also admitted that a bureaucracy problem existed at the Zimbabwe Immigration Department, which he said hindered Batswana businessmen and women to do business. He promised that something would be done about it. Commenting on the former Ethiopian leader's status in Zimbabwe, Mr. Mugabe said Mr. Mengistu Haile-Mariam sought refuge in Zimbabwe in accordance with international law. He said no extradition treaty exists between the two countries and in any case the treaty usually deals with individuals who commit crimes of a nonpolitical nature. |
FBIS3-744_0 | Government Restores Order in Bophuthatswana White Men Reportedly Kill 3 Blacks | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Mmabatho March 11 SAPA -- Three black people were were shot dead by white men in Mafikeng, Bophuthatswana on Friday [11 March], witnesses said. The three bodies were found in Mafikeng's Main Street on Friday afternoon following days of bloody conflict in Bophuthatswana. The two men and a woman, with half her face shot away, lay in the street near the Mafikeng Town Square for at least three hours and were still there at 6pm. Heavily armed white rightwing insurgents, who entered the homeland early on Friday with the aim of assisting Bophuthatswana security forces in quelling the popoular uprising, finally left the Bophuthatswana Defence Force airfield at about 4.30pm. The rightwing action backfired badly on them -- during the course of the day at least three rightwingers were shot dead, and five were wounded by Bophuthatswana soldiers. Shops inside the flashpoint Mega City shopping complex were set alight on Friday afternon following more than 24 hours of running battles between looters and people responsible for keeping them at bay. A vacant lot behind the complex, adjacent to the Bophuthatswana government buildings, has been used as a site for burning garbage and tyres. |
FBIS3-781_1 | AWB Affirms Refusal To Participate in Elections | the Wonderboom Fort they occupied in Pretoria on Sunday [13 March], Commandant Willem Ratte, a former 32 Battalion Commander, said: "We can't agree with what Gen Viljoen says. We can't take part in our own funeral by taking part in the Azanian election." Cmdt Ratte and a group of Boerecommando members in army browns occupied the fort while a small but steady stream of right-wing supporters trundled up the hill to express their moral support. The group was armed, and had barricaded the historic fort with razor wire and sandbags. The vierkleur [four-color; flag of the former Transvaal Republic] and South African flags were hoisted on the corners of the half-moon shaped fort, similar in design to the Schanskop Fort they previously occupied. The security forces seemed to take no interest in the occupation this time, after over-reacting at Schanskop. Traffic police were on hand to regulate the traffic of curious arriving visitors. Cmdt Ratte said he expected the city council, which owns the fort, to meet on Monday and to request the police to remove them by force. "The situation may become a little bit serious. We'll see what happens," he said, in an interview at the fort. He said Gen Viljoen intervened last time, ending the Schanskop siege, even though this was against the occupants' wishes. Asked whether the rightwing may avenge the execution of the AWB men in central Mmabatho, Cmdt Ratte said this would be difficult because it would be difficult to identify the guilty party. "The real guilt lies with the South African Government. They created the conditions for that type of situation." Cmdt Ratte objected to being labelled militant, saying Afrikaners were a small group threatened by a mass of Azanians. Afriakners had to choose between slavery under African National Congress [ANC] President Nelson Mandela and South African Communist Party Chairman Joe Slovo, or to making a stand. "It is a question of self-preservation. We will be swamped if we don't make a stand," he said. Asked about the dented image of the rightwing after the Mmabatho fiasco, Cmdt Ratte said the rightwingers had been caught unawares by the Bophuthatswana Security Forces suddenly switching their allegiance to the ANC after they had been promised job security under an ANC government. The ANC and the South African Government, after staging a coup in Bophuthatswana, would now bring similar pressures to bear on kwaZulu, he added. |
FBIS3-802_0 | Five Killed in Violence | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Johannesburg March 13 SAPA -- The kwaZulu Police have now put the official death toll arising from the violence at Umlazi to five people, SABC [South African Broadcasting Corporation] radio news reports. A spokesman said the victims had been killed in various sections of the township. The situation is tense but calm after security forces prevented a bloodbath between ANC [African National Congress] supporters and hostel dwellers. The trouble began when hostel dwellers occupied the King Zwelithini Stadium preventing an ANC election rally scheduled to take place there. |
FBIS3-855_2 | Report on Finance Minister's Meeting | stage, Comiche said that in Beira recently, businessmen had complained to him about "persecution" by the revenue department. "I tried to point out that it is not a question of persecution. What happens is that they are not used to tax inspectors whom they cannot bribe." He added that he would "reward" the tax inspectors in question. He said categorically: "I will not give in to any pressure." George Tsilakhis, proprietor of the Agricultural Tobacco Company, SAT, also attended the meeting. SAT is one of the two companies that still manufactures cigarettes, but which could close down their operations if their products continue to cost as much as imported cigarettes in view of heavy taxation. Imported cigarettes are exempted from tax. Tsilakhis once again reiterated the tobacco companies' call to the government: to either substantially lower the taxes applicable to Mozambican cigarettes or to scrupulously apply the relevant customs duties on cigarettes imported from South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Malawi. Comiche acknowledged that there is "a great deal of tobacco that enters the country, but does not pay tax." He added: "Unfortunately, it is not only tobacco. It is everything." He pointed out: "We ought to protect the Mozambican industry by controlling borders more effectively." He promised: "We must charge a levy on cigarettes that enter the country without paying duties. We are studying ways of doing it." Is that a vain promise? Commenting on the minister's promise, a reliable source told MEDIAFAX that Comiche has succeeded in controlling imported tobacco, but has done nothing to protect the local industry from sliding down. MEDIAFAX attended the meeting and took the opportunity to ask a few questions of the minister: Businessmen throughout the country say government should cut the budget deficit by reducing public expenditure instead of imposing more taxes. What ministries does he think should be shut down for being irrelevant? Comiche said the government is "looking into" the matter to see which state agencies should be shut down. "It is only a question of opportunity before a decision can be made." The minister said the assets and services account is "extremely tight," but acknowledged that the state is not "being as austere as one would like it to be." He also agreed that the informal sector should also pay taxes. Comiche reiterated the government's position that the collection of taxes from the informal sector should be done by the town |
FBIS3-886_0 | More Ethnic Violence in Bujumbura Reported | Language: French Article Type:BFN [Text] There is new violence in Bujumbura. Grenade explosions last night resulted in deaths and injuries in the Burundian capital. It is once again violence of a political-ethnic character. The 13 members of the National Security Council who have just been appointed by the Burundian head of state, Cyprien Ntaryamira, have a lot to do. Gerard Furazima reports from Bujumbura. [Begin Furazima recording] Three people have died in the area of Nyakabiga. This is the toll of the tragedy which took place in the evening of 14 March when a group of still unidentified people launched a grenade attack on a house at about 0100. The house caught fire and was still burning early this morning. The fire brigade managed to extinguish the fire, but there was extensive damage. This violence of a political-ethnic character has produced victims among the Hutu majority ethnic group as well as the Tutsi minority. The phenomenon of ethnicization of popular areas like Kamenge and Kinama in the north of the capital, which are invaded day after day by Hutu looters, is increasing. To the south, Nyakabiga and Musaga are more and more inhabited by Tutsis. Fear and insecurity prevail within the remaining families in all these areas where their respective ethnic group members become scarce. A grenade thrown last night in a bar in Musaga in the south of the capital resulted in one person seriously wounded. In any case, the 13 members of the National Security Council, just appointed by President Cyprien Ntaryamira today, have a lot to do. Will they manage to stop the diabolical spiral of violence in Burundi since the murder on 21 October 1993 of Mr. Melchior Ndadaye, the democratically elected president? This is a great challenge for them. [end recording] |
FBIS3-896_0 | Nigerian Delegation Studies NRM Structure | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] A delegation from the Nigerian War College headed by Brigadier General Victor Malu, which is currently in Uganda on a study tour, has held discussions with the first deputy prime minister and national political commissar, Mr. Eriya Kategaya, and directors in the National Resistance Movement's [NRM] secretariat in Kampala. The delegation, which comprises of senior Nigerian officers ranging from brigadier to colonels and Nigerian Government civilian representatives, is interested in studying the National Resistance Movement's structure to see what it could offer in the search for a solution to African political, social, and economic problems. The delegation has also visited Makerere University, where discussions were held with the political science and history departments of the university. The first deputy prime minister and national political commissar, while opening the discussions, told Nigerian military officers of the need for Africa to find permanent solutions to its political problems and informed them that this has been the chief mission of the National Resistance Movement. He spoke of the need to involve the population in politics and to think of what ought to be the role of the army in African politics. He said the army, which is the most organized part of society, cannot escape responsibility in politics of the nation. Mr. Kategaya also emphasized the issue of Africa devising its own solutions to its problems and commended Nigeria for its leading role in the efforts to bring about peace in Liberia. |
FBIS3-958_0 | Bishops Call For Revision of Constitution | Language: English Article Type:BFN [By Emman Omari] [Excerpts] Eighteen Catholic bishops called for a revision of the Constitution yesterday, saying the political situation in Kenya had not changed since single-party rule. They urged the president to lead the country to democracy and said they would be willing to meet with him. "The main responsibility is, in a particular way, on the president of the Republic who is also the commander in chief of the Armed Forces and therefore, can change the situation," they said. Quoting a previous statement, they declared: "As president, he cannot escape his responsibility. He cannot escape the judgement of history." The bishops made their remarks in a pastoral letter, "On the Road to Democracy," which will be read in all churches serving the seven million strong Catholic population on Sunday [20 March]. Seven prelates, including Cardinal Maurice Otunga, presented the letter at the Catholic Secretariat's headquarters in Nairobi. Parts of the document quoted or repeated previous statements by the bishops or Pope John Paul II or bodies such as the Justice and Peace Commission. Taking turns to read the letter, the bishops also criticised opposition parties for internal divisions, struggles for personal power and visible orientation towards tribal membership. All this, they said, was "a source of confusion and disappointment" to the people. The bishops called for the rewriting of the Constitution "to fit our political circumstances." This should be done not by a group of politicians but by an enlarged independent constituent body. "Our constitution was composed when there was a de facto one-party system and was suitable to the situation of that time. "A complete revision has to be entrusted to a large constituent body of experienced competent citizens representing all trends of society and not just to a reduced group of politicians," the bishops said. The Constitution should be endorsed by popular consent. The bishops complained that KANU [Kenya African National Union] ignored other political parties and interpreted not being a member of KANU as being against the government. This could be seen from utterances of senior ministers that only KANU zones would benefit from government development programmes. National resources, they said, were a right and not a gift from KANU. They said that if KANU could not serve all Kenyans equally then it was breaking the contract of service and had no business being in power "because ipso facto it loses the |
FBIS3-970_3 | Renamo's Domingos Views Recent Visit to U.S. | be Easter celebrations during the month of April and many people go on holidays. Second, in April, there will be elections in South Africa which will attract the attention of both the U.S. people and Mozambicans. There is a very short period between Easter celebrations and the elections. That is why we set President Dhlakama's visit to the United States for May. [Jossias] Does the choice of the date depend entirely on you or does it also depend on the United States? [Domingos] We made the last alterations together. First, President Dhlakama will visit the United Nations at the invitation of the UN general secretary. Then he is thinking of going to Washington for contacts with the State Department. [Jossias] Mr. Raul Domingos, do you think you have been able to change the image that the United States had of Renamo, that it was a terrorist movement? [Domingos] Well, at least I, myself, was not received as a terrorist. I cannot say that I was the one who changed the situation because that cannot be done in a few days. A series of actions that we have been carrying out contributed toward the change of image. The image that people had of Renamo in Washington, United States, is no longer the image of Chester Crocker's Renamo and the Gerson Report. The image that Renamo had as a result of the Gerson Report disappeared following my visit, the progress registered here with the approval of the Electoral Law, the beginning of the confinement process, and the behavior of our forces in assembly areas. All this helped to change the image. What I did in the United States was to give the true picture of Renamo. I can therefore safely say that the present Renamo's image is not the Gerson Report's image. It is the image of the Rome Accord. [Jossias] And what about the coincidence between your departure for the United States and the publication of the U.S. State Department report accusing Renamo of human rights abuse...didn't it harm your visit? [Domingos] Not at all. I was at the State Department, and I told the officials there that the accusation was false. The State Department lamented the report and also agreed that it was not true. It said there are people who collect information and write and the department has no authority over these people. The department officials believe the report |
FBIS3-1059_0 | Holomisa Reveals Report Implicating Security Officers | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Transkei leader General Bantu Holomisa said he is waiting for a report from the Goldstone Commission on the supply of weapons to the IFP [Inkatha Freedom Party] and alleged drug trafficking by high-ranking South African security officers. The report, which was to have been tabled with the TEC [Transitional Executive Council], has apparently been withheld by the commission pending further investigations. [Begin recoding] [Correspondent Ami Nanackchand] The disclosures were made at a Natal University forum in Durban where General Holomisa said information implicating six generals of the security establishment had been supplied to the commission towards the end of last year. The classified information was obtained from General Holomisa's tested intelligence and sources. He said that Judge Goldstone had briefed President F.W. de Klerk at the end of February of the commission's findings confirming the allegations. Mr. de Klerk allegedly refused to release the information. General Holomisa said he was told on Tuesday [15 March] that Judge Goldstone would release the report to the TEC within 48 hours. However, the next day the judge apparently said he was making further inquiries. [Holomisa] According to the latest information, or intelligence information, a classified one, he has briefed President de Klerk towards end of February and they have confirmed to him that indeed, your number two in one of your security forces and other generals are involved in drug trafficking as well as supplying weapons to Natal, to the IFP. [Nanackchand] General Holomisa also denied claims by the National Party that he was hindering free political activity in the Transkei. [end recording] |
FBIS3-1100_0 | Bus Attacked; 40 Reported Killed in Other Clashes | Language: French Article Type:BFN [Excerpts] The Musaga Estate was the site yesterday of certain incidents that increased tension in the area, after an Otracom [Office of Transport and Communication] bus was attacked with a grenade. We managed to telephone the head of the Musaga zone, who first of all briefed us on the security situation in the zone in an interview with our colleague, Antoine Kaburahe. [passage omitted] We have not managed to link up with the head of the Nyakabiga zone, but there is trouble there, as well, which reportedly has caused between 20 and 40 deaths since yesterday afternoon. The killings are still going on up to this moment, despite the presence of security forces on the spot. |
FBIS3-1138_2 | Defense Minister, Legislators Discuss Security | you can help the minister of defense. I liked the fact that you thought about helping the security services. I also thought about requesting the same from you, but you did it before I had the chance. I would like you to examine together ways of meeting the people, how we can go to Musaga, Cibitoke, and other suburbs to pacify them so that, as you said, the culprits are arrested, tried, and jailed. Regarding the question of how to implement this in peace, we are going to study this situation so that we see how you can visit suburbs in our company without endangering the security of deputies. I do not say that all of you can go there, but a few of you can represent the rest so that we act quickly and see how we can ensure your security. The other thing in which you can help us is to support us when talking to the people in your daily actions, in your work, because the way things are now, we should leave aside the party questions so that people can catch up on their sleep and can attend their work. What took place over the weekend is a shame. Guns were fired throughout the night, there were explosions throughout the night and it is a shame. You can therefore see that in the whole country, especially in Bujumbura, there are too many weapons. It is excessive. Everyone has weapons -- Tutsis, Hutus, and foreigners. [Words indistinct] to return peace as soon as possible, today or tomorrow so that people can sleep and go to work, you should support the idea that people who have weapons should be (?disarmed). This question should find a solution with the help of the people themselves. Because even if we achieved peace today, as long as the weapons are still in circulation they would be used later in other ways, for stealing and killing. That question should not be left behind among the urgent questions. Ministers, deputies, government employees should work together, meet the people and speak with one voice about peace in these difficult times. People are being kidnapped in broad daylight, but we cannot even find their bodies or know where to start looking. This is a shame. This cannot continue while there are services charged with security and administration. We would be useless to the people. [passage omitted] |
FBIS3-1186_0 | Up to 100 Deaths Reported in Bujumbura Clashes | Language: French Article Type:BFN [Text] There have been scores of deaths, maybe 100 in Burundi. This is the sad result of a weekend of clashes between Tutsis and Hutus in the capital, Bujumbura. Burundi has not come out of the infernal cycle of violence and reprisals, and people are living in fear. Jean-Michel Mostaert reports: [Mostaert] Everything started on Saturday [19 March] morning with a grenade attack on a bus in the district of Rusaka, east of Bujumbura. Four passengers were killed. All were members of the Tutsi community. Immediately, the Tutsis wanted revenge; they attacked members of the Hutu community, while Tutsis were victims of reprisals in the areas with a Hutu majority. These fresh interethnic clashes are reported to have led to scores of deaths, maybe 100. They reveal the tense atmosphere which is continuing in Burundi almost five months after the abortive military coup of October, when almost 100,000 people were killed in interethnic violence. Since then, the authorities have not managed to restore a minimum of trust between the two communities. On the contrary; in the capital, Bujumbura, Tutsis and Hutus now live entrenched in their districts. Many are armed and the slightest incident leads to bloody reprisals. The government seems to be powerless. It is divided on whether to disarm people or not. A UN mission is to arrive in Burundi tomorrow. It will investigate the situation in the country. It will only be able to see the drift of Burundi, which is sinking deeper and deeper into chaos. |
FBIS3-1264_0 | Presidential Palace Surrounded by Armored Vehicles | Language: French Article Type:BFN [Excerpt] Blood was shed again last night in the Burundian capital, where more than 1,000 people have died since the weekend. There is a disheartening scene in Bujumbura with streets strewn with mutilated bodies. Meanwhile, the presidential palace has been surrounded since last night by Army armored vehicles. In a radio broadcast yesterday, President Cyprien Ntaryamira appealed for calm and national reconciliation, but his appeal has apparently not been heeded since people continued to be massacred throughout the night. [passage omitted] |
FBIS3-1283_0 | Situation in Ciskei Reportedly Returning to Normal Rioting Mdantsane Prisoners Surrender | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Mdantsane March 24 SAPA -- Rioting prisoners in Mdantsane jail on Thursday [24 March] surrendered their weapons to warders after being confronted by police from South Africa's Internal Stability Division [ISD]. About one hundred prisoners, some in warders' uniforms, escaped early on Thursday morning after breaking into the administration block and making holes in the asbestos roof. They also briefly held a number of building workers hostage inside the prison. One prisoner, convicted robber Thembelani Makeleni, was shot in a thigh and hand by a warder when he refused to heed warnings to return to his cell. Makeleni was given first aid by ISD medics before being taken to hospital. There had been minor unrest in the prison on Wednesday. On Thursday most of the staff went to Bisho to attend a court hearing on a strike in which they participated in February, leaving what one decribed as "very few" members at the prison. One of the builders, Mr David Weimers, said he was tiling cells when awaiting trial prisoners "came out" and took him and about 15 of his fellow workers hostage. The prisoners seized their angle grinder and cut open all the other cells in the mens' section. "They held us, they were standing in front of us. They didn't hit us or anything," he said. The men were freed by ISD policemen who came over the roof, fired warning shots and then lowered a ladder so they could climb to safety. They prisoners were "badly angry", Mr Weimers said. "They say they have been here too long. They haven't got a government. That's why they want to come out." The prisoners broke into a storeroom to obtain warders' uniforms used in the escape, ransacked offices, ripped metal window frames out of walls and torched several cells and the bail and fines office. After the ISD moved in, and prison staff began returning about 11AM, the prisoners moved to one courtyard at the back of the jail. After negotiations they handed over their weapons to warders, watched by ISD members. A SAPA reporter counted about 250 prisoners in the courtyard, some in convict green, others in civilian clothing. Among the weapons were warders' batons, kitchen knives, pieces of metal including tripods and a garden sickle. According to a watching warder the prisoners had said they wanted to negotiate with the jail's commanding officer, |
FBIS3-1299_0 | Commission Notes 180 Killed in Natal February Violence | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Johannesburg March 23 SAPA -- The Human Rights Commission [HRC] said in a statement on Wednesday [23 March] 180 people died in political violence in Natal in February. Although this was lower than the number recorded in the closing months of 1993, the HRC noted that passions were running high in the province and that continued attacks had created a high level of frustration and tension. The HRC said the Midlands area had witnessed the most deaths with 64 killings. There were four major attacks in the area. At Richmond 12 people were killed in a single attack and at Creighton 15 African National Congress supporters were killed. In the greater Durban area there were 54 deaths; in northern Natal five; 44 on the north coast; and 13 on the south coast. |
FBIS3-1301_0 | German Right-Wing Extremists Reportedly Trained in Country | Language: German Article Type:BFN [Report by Willi Germund: "Brown Network From Germany to South Africa"] [Text] Johannesburg -- German and South African authorities are investigating the possibility of an international network by which German right-wing extremists are taken to South Africa. Yesterday morning, German Horst Klentz (57) was arrested, along with his accomplice, Alex Neidnelein, in Boskop, close to the South African capital, Pretoria. Last Monday, there was a gunfight with the South African police. According to information obtained by DIE TAGESZEITUNG, Klentz, who is wanted in Namibia for murder, belongs to the same network of German right-wing extremists with whom the murderers of South African communist leader Chris Hani, who was killed in April 1993, were in contact. He wrote, among other things, for the neofascist circular DIE AUSCHWITZLUEGE [The Lie About Auschwitz] and used newspaper advertisements to recruit "young, strong people." They were later trained in shooting and bombing techniques on farms in South Africa. Helmut Hornung, who owns a farm on the Sabie River near the city of Graskop in Transvaal, also belongs to the Klentz group in South Africa. Hornung only receives visitors who have been personally recommended by National Democratic Party of Germany functionary Guenter Deckert in Weinheim and Peter Dehoust, publisher of the magazine NATION UND EUROPA in Coburg in Upper Franconia. According to Hornung, the German right-wing extremists are still in training on farms in South Africa. NATION UND EUROPE publisher Dehous was in close contact with South African journalist Arthur Kemp, who procured the addresses of politicians who were to be murdered at the order of Hani's murderers. At that time, Kemp was not arrested because he helped the authorities with their investigations. Before that, he had written articles for NATION UND EUROPA and held lectures before right-wing extremists and the "German-South African Society" in Coburg. Moreover, the Klentz group in South Africa maintains contacts with German neo-Nazi Manfred Roeder, who was released from prison early in 1990. He held lectures when he visited the Cape in early 1993. During a gunfight last Monday, Thomas Kuntz, who was wanted for aggravated robbery in Germany, was killed. His accomplice Stephan Rays was arrested. Some weeks ago, the two had been watched in the circle of South African right-wing extremists around the formerly illegal radio station, Radio Pretoria. |
FBIS3-1308_0 | Government Spokesman, UN Official on Death Toll | Language: French Article Type:BFN [Text] Bujumbura, 24 Mar (AFP) -- Armed clashes in recent days between the Burundian Army, which is dominated by the minority Tutsi ethnic group, and members of the majority Hutu group in the northern area of the capital, Bujumbura, have left nearly 400 dead, according to a report issued today by Government Spokesman Issa Ngandakumana. Heavy shooting could still be heard this morning from the districts of Kamenge, Kinama, and Cibitoke (where most of the inhabitants are Hutus), according to the AFP correspondent in Bujumbura. People have started fleeing from these areas to Zaire. The Burundian radio made several appeals for calm this morning. The UN special representative in Burundi, Ahmedu Ould Abdallah, said between 60 and 80 deaths were recorded last night. In a statement to AFP, Ould Abdallah pointed out that the dead included members of both ethnic groups as well members of the Armed Forces which lost at least five men. He described as "extremely exaggerated" the reports given by Rwandan radio last night stating that at least 1,000 persons were killed in Bujumbura over the weekend. "It is in the interest of some politicians to make people believe that things are not going well. There is no general insecurity in Burundi," he added. |
FBIS3-1387_0 | Stores, Banks Close | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Report by Lew Elias] [Text] Johannesburg March 28 SAPA -- At least four people were shot in central Johannesburg during a rally of Zulus marching through the city to demonstrate support for King Goodwill Zwelithini. A man was shot in the leg, allegedly by sniper fire, in Jeppe Street at about 8.15 AM as a group of between 10 and 15 marchers moved down the main CBD [central business district] thoroughfare in the rush-hour traffic. As the group was between Delvers and Von Weilligh Streets between eight and 10 shots rang out. Pedestrians on the pavenments fled into the nearest doorway or building entrance and within seconds of the shots being fired the normally busy street was deserted for the entire block. One man was wounded in the leg and a motorist, Lawrence Mavundla -- a priest at the nearby St Mary's Cathedral, had a narrow escape as a bullet pierced the radiator of his car. In Commissioner Street at least three people were wounded when a larger group of marchers travelled down the main street. Two women and a man were shot outside the Kine Centre as the marchers approached the giant office and cinema complex. A policeman at the scene said they were most probably shot by shopkeepers anxious about destrution of property and looting. Two of the wounded, a man and a woman -- both shot in the leg, managed to get to the Market Street entrance to the Smal Street mall -- a block away. The third, a middle-aged woman, was loaded into an ambulance in Commissioner Street with unknown injuries. When another group of 400 marchers came down Commissioner Street about six heavy-calibre shots rang out at about 9.30 AM. As the group marched down the streets informal sector hawkers' kiosks were robbed. In Jeppe Street, handfuls of traditional weapons -- heavy sticks, home-made spears and iron pipes -- were found near the scene of the shooting and handed to the police. The weapons were dropped after the burst of automatic gunfire which wounded one man. People living in flats in Delvers Street around the scene of the shooting crowded on balconies to see what was happening as shop owners closed their doors to barricade themselves in. Stores and banks in the Smal Street mall were being closed and evacuated in the wake of the early morning city unrest. A staff |
FBIS3-1388_0 | 1 Killed, 7 Wounded in Zulu March | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Johannesburg March 28 SAPA -- A man was killed and at least seven others were wounded in violence surrounding a march by tens of thousands of Zulus into the Johannesburg city centre on Monday morning, police said. Shots, which killed the man and wounded another, were fired from a cafe near the corner of Jules and Market Streets. In other incidents a black woman was shot in the legs near the corner of Smal and Bree Streets from a group carrying traditional weapons. Shots were fired at a police patrol by men in a group of Zulu marchers near the corner of Delvers and Von Wielligh Streets. Police returned fire with rubber bullets and arrested a man with an illegal firearm. They al?o arrested a man with an unlicensed firearm on the corner of De Beer and Main Streets. Security guards wounded two people who stormed into the city centre office of African National Congress [ANC] Spokesman Obed Bapela, the anc and police confirmed. A man was seriously injured when people with traditional weapons assaulted him near the corner of Commissioner and Kruis Streets. Another man is in a serious condition after he was stabbed by people carrying traditional weapons at Denver railway station. A man was injured in a panga [large knife] attack near the corner of John Page and Main Streets. A man was seriously injured in an attack near the corner of Market and Polly Streets. Several assaults were reported on the corner of Main and McIntyre Streets. A policeman was assaulted and robbed of his firearm near the corner of Kapteijn and Claim Streets. |
FBIS3-1389_0 | Correspondent Describes `Chaos' | Language: English Article Type:BFN [From the "Newsbrief" program, presented by Patricia Glyn] [Text] [Glyn] We have Barry Claassen on the line, reporting for Newsbrief from the Library Gardens in central Johannesburg. Barry, can you hear me? [Claassen] I can hear you. [Glyn] Barry, can you tell us, where were those shots coming from? It seemed to be unclear when you last spoke to us. [Claassen] Well, it appears that there are snipers on the rooftops, shooting down into the crowds. The police are shooting back with what appear to be 9 mm pistols. I personally came across a man lying in the street. It looked as if he'd been shot in the head, blood pouring out of his head, and he wasn't moving. We've now heard an unconfirmed report of about 15 people being shot. How many of those have been killed, I don't know, but as you might hear in the background, there's still sporadic gunfire being heard. At the moment it's very chaotic, with people crowding into shop doorways and trying to keep down. It's total, it's complete chaos here. [Glyn] Are any of the snipers on top of the city council building? [Claassen] Not that we can see. Some of the high buildings, but not the city council building at this stage, but anything is possible. You know, you can't always make out where the shots are coming from, but I did see snipers up on the buildings. Who they are, I'm not quite sure. [Glyn] But the crowd is making no attempt to disperse? Do I understand that? [Claassen] At the moment, not. I think they most probably might be too terrified to move away, so what they're doing is, they're lying down on the pavement. [Glyn] Barry, I'm sure we'll hear from you again, but do take care of yourself. |
FBIS3-1392_0 | 14 Killed, 50 Injured | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] At least 14 people have been killed and 50 injured during violent incidents linked to a march by thousands of Zulus in the Johannesburg city center. The police said the injuries ranged from gunshot wounds to serious hack- and stab wounds. Reporters at the scene have described scenes of chaos, with several bodies lying in the streets. Police say thousands of people are still streaming into the city to join the march. The march is to protest against next month's elections, and to show support for a Zulu kingdom. The marchers apparently plan to proceed towards the offices of the Independent Electoral Commission. Business in the CBD [central business district] has come to a complete halt, and the Johannesburg Traffic Department has advised motorists to avoid the city center. People in office blocks have been advised to remain inside the buildings. We have just heard that the police have returned the fire of shots which were fired from rooftops in the city center a short while ago. Several people appear to have been hit by gunfire. Another report says that at least five people were shot dead and eight wounded when Zulu marchers engaged ANC [African National Congress] security guards at the ANC's Shell House head office in Plein Street. ANC spokesman Carl Niehaus told SAPA [SOUTH AFRICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION] that there had been attempts by armed men to enter the building. He said security guards at Shell House had fired warning shots in the air, but were forced to open fire in self-defense. |
FBIS3-1395_0 | ANC Security Guards Allegedly Kill 5, Wound 8 Zulu Marchers | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Johannesburg March 28 SAPA -- At least five people were shot dead and eight wounded when Zulu marchers engaged African National Congress [ANC] security guards at 11.30 AM at the ANC's Shell House head office in Plein Street, Johannesburg on Monday. When journalists arrived on the scene at least three of the wounded were being treated at the side of the road after the dead had been removed by police. A tense situation developed outside the building where members of the police's Internal Stability Division and SA [South African] Defence Force cordoned off the area. Initial reports said ANC guards shot dead at least five Zulu marchers and wounded eight as they tried to attack the ANC head office. ANC Spokesman Carl Niehaus told SAPA there had been "attempts by armed men to enter the building". "There have also been reports of people shooting at the ANC headquarters from buildings across the road. Security guards at Shell House fired warning shots in the air but were forced to open fire in self defence," Mr Niehaus added. |
FBIS3-1404_0 | `Rampaging' Violence Reported | Language: English Article Type:BFN [By Greg Arde'] [Text] Durban March 27 SAPA -- While rampaging violence in Natal dominated South Africa's political talks at the weekend, more blood has continued to flow in the province with police reporting at least 12 deaths since Friday. The African National Congress [ANC] and violence monitor Mary de Haas said there were unconfirmed reports of another 10 killings throughout Natal, and in northern Natal particularly, where political fighting is said to be rife. The kwaZulu police said four people were killed in separate incidents in homeland-administered areas at the weekend. Ms Alice Mhlongo, 43, and Mr Mzokhona Daniel Mhlongo, 17, were attacked and shot dead at their home in Umbumbulu, south of Durban. Ms Regina Mthembu, 38, also of Umbumbulu, was shot and killed by unknown assailants and Ms Thembi Khumalo, 36, of Esikhawini on Natal's north coast, was stabbed to death. A criminal motive is being investigated in all cases. Police spokesman Maj Hamilton Ngidi said two people were killed in kwaMakutha, south of Durban, and two people were fatally shot in Ndwedwe, north of Durban. In Bhambayi, also north of Durban, four people were murdered. ANC northern Natal spokesman Zipho Mkhize said six people were believed to have been killed in Ntambanana, near Empangeni, since last week. Ms de Haas said there were unconfirmed reports that three people had been murdered in Ensingweni, near Mtunzini, on Natal's north coast. She said the situation in areas around nearby Eshowe were worsening with reports of a politically motivated murder in S'qwanjana on Friday. Women in the kwaMfana area were fleeing their homes at night and sleeping in the bushes after a number of homes had been attacked and set alight, she said. On Sunday there were fears of a confrontation between IFP [Inkatha Freedom Party] supporters and ANC members after the network of independent monitors alleged that IFP members had occupied an ANC rally venue in Vryheid, northern Natal. The ANC on Natal's south coast said it was worried about similar conflict linked to its rally, to be addressed by SA Communist Party stalwart Joe Slovo on Sunday. Continuing violence in Natal was the subject of urgent talks between State President F W de Klerk and IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi in Durban on Saturday. There the leaders agreed to establish a mechanism to search for solutions to the problem of holding elections in kwaZulu- |
End of preview. Expand
in Dataset Viewer.
Dataset Summary
This dataset contains the FollowIR TREC Robust 2004 dataset, to be used in FollowIR evaluation.
The format was designed to be the same as the mteb datasets: it contains the corpus, queries, and qrels in separate folders. For more information see the above code link or paper.
- Repository: orionw/FollowIR
- Paper: https://arxiv.org/abs/2403.15246
Citation
@misc{weller2024followir,
title={FollowIR: Evaluating and Teaching Information Retrieval Models to Follow Instructions},
author={Orion Weller and Benjamin Chang and Sean MacAvaney and Kyle Lo and Arman Cohan and Benjamin Van Durme and Dawn Lawrie and Luca Soldaini},
year={2024},
eprint={2403.15246},
archivePrefix={arXiv},
primaryClass={cs.IR}
}
- Downloads last month
- 0