MARCH 2007

From: MSN NicknameEagle_wng  (Original Message)    Sent: 3/24/2007 7:29 PM
Friday, March 23, 2007

Russia/U.S.: Moscow's Opposition Threatens UN's Kosovo Plan

By Luke Allnutt

Kosovo -- A Kosovo daily newspaper Epoka e Re featuring UN envoy Martti Ahtisaari and his proposal for the final status of Kosovo in Podujevo, 01Feb2007
Ahtisaari's proposal has made headlines in Kosovo
(epa)
March 23, 2007 (RFE/RL) -- There has been talk of war in the Balkans once again.



The European Union has warned that the region could plunge into chaos unless a prompt decision is made on Kosovo's status. A German government study has warned of riots and a "revolution-like development."
 
The threat of such a dire scenario will be in the back of UN Security Council members' minds on March 26, when UN special envoy Martti Ahtisaari will present a plan that would likely lead to conditional independence for Kosovo.
 
Council members United States, France, and Britain are in favor of the plan. But ...
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From: MSN NicknameEagle_wng  (Original Message)    Sent: 3/24/2007 7:50 PM
Photo from Kommersant Photo Archive
Photo from Kommersant Photo Archive
Russian Minister Says Row Over Soviet-era Monument Will Harm Relations Between Russia and Estonia

23.03.2007

MosNews
Relations between Russia and Estonia could be seriously damaged by the removal of a monument to Soviet soldiers in Tallinn, the Russian foreign minister said Friday, RIA Novosti news agency reported.
The six-foot high “Bronze Soldier” and other Soviet-era memorials have in recent years become rallying points for ethnic Russians, and clashes with Estonian nationalists near the bronze monument prompted the Estonian authorities to press for monuments “dividing society” to be removed.
“These actions will seriously harm Russian-Estonian relations,” Sergei Lavrov told a news conference. “We would like to avoid it, but we believe it is necessary that organizations where Estonia is a member, including the EU, NATO and OSCE, must voice their protest against such steps.”
Russia has long accused Tallinn of encouraging ...
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From: MSN NicknameEagle_wng  (Original Message)    Sent: 3/24/2007 8:40 PM
CAUCASIAN KNOT / NEWS

23/3/2007
FSB branch head: extremism liquidated in Karachaevo-Cherkessia

After liquidation of Vakhtang Aliev's grouping in Karachaevo-Cherkessia, many adherents of extremism "have sobered up, and the armed terrorist underground has come to naught." Valery Ostrovetskiy, head of the FSB for Karachaevo-Cherkessia, has told about it today.

Year 2006 was successful for the FSB of Karachaevo-Cherkessia. It managed to liquidate Vakhtang Aliev's group, created by its leader from mercenaries with the aim of mass murder of militiamen.

In Karachaevo-Cherkessia, the armed underground resistance is completely destroyed, there are some small groups, "whose brains are littered with ideas to create a Muslim state based on Shariat laws."

Valery Ostrovetskiy, FSB (Federal Security Bureau) head for Karachaevo-Cherkessia, has noted that "the Republic is free from any terrorist jama'ats - either Karachai or Cherkessian ones."
http://eng.kavkaz.memo.ru/newstext/engnews/id/1182249.html