Crimean news 55.

(Mass Media survey for 24-29 April 2000).

(All the material is given in an abridged form).

 

News from the Mejilis

Sensation on demand

Problems of legislative regulations

Commenting on the parliamentary hearings devoted to the Crimean Tatars'problems

Refat Chubarov: "The parliamentary hearings demonstrated unsatisfactory legislative regulation of the repatriation process".

Mustafa Djemilev's press conference

Mejilis hasn't decided yet

An Extra-ordinary Event

Georgian diplomats are benevolent to the repatriates' problems

The richest people on the peninsula are peasants.

They opened an exhibition devoted to the history of Crimean Tatar handicraftin Simferopol.

 

 

 

Politics

 

 

 

News from the Mejilis

The Mejilis held a roundtable workshop in Yalta on 14-15 April, entitled: "Crimea: The reasons and revealing of interethnic tension in the socio-economic sphere". The workshop was organized by the Program Of Development And Integration Of The Crimea (PRIK, in Russian) UNO. The main topics of discussion involved the relationships among nations in the course of economic transformations and the reasons for inter-ethnic tension.

 

*      *      *

The meeting, devoted to preparations for the mourning measures on 18 May

2000, was hosted by the Crimean Tatar nation's Mejilis’ staff, on 20 April. As a

result, it was decided to create a working group, which will provide all the

technical needs during the activities on 18 May.  The Mejilis' politics-and-law

department was given an order to prepare a plan for the meeting

resolution. The project to conduct mourning measures was adopted at the

session.

 

*      *      *

Conducting the International Symposium "The Crimean Tatar Culture, Science

and Education in the Context of the Ukrainian-And-Turkish Friendly

Neighborhood" is planned for the month of June of the current year. The measures are timed to coincide with the 500th anniversary of the oldest higher educational establishment of Eastern Europe Zindjirly Medrese, the 100th anniversary of the Crimean Tatar national theater, the 700th anniversary of the city of Karasubazar(Belogorsk) and the 80th anniversary of the Crimean Tatar writer Djengiz Dagdjy. Sessions will be held in the cities of Simferopol, Bakhchisarai, Gurzuf, Sudak and Yevpatoriya.

From the Newspaper "Avdet", ("Return"), #8(242), 25 April 2000, p.1.

 

Sensation on demand

The chairman of the Crimean Tatar nation's Council with the President of Ukraine, the national deputy Mustafa Djemilev intends to address the court because of publications in the Crimean press containing an anti-Crimean Tatar ideology that are causing conflicts to arise between nations.

The next-in-turn "sensation" in the newspaper "Krimskaya Pravda" as of 13 April,

compelled M. Djemilev to make such a decision. Under a very blatant headline -

"They tried to get rid of the truth, but it remained safe." Dmitry Kulikov

not only submitted untrue information but also brought an accusation against

the leadership of the Mejilis. In his "unmasking" article, he stated that

supposedly, during the fire in the building of Mejilis in January last year,

very important documents had been burned. To be more exact, those documents were "the lists of citizens, who had help for the buying of dwellings. The help was

provided by the Turkish agency of development and cooperation (TIKA)".

Having stated that the fire was set in the response of planned revision,

the author offered the version that "the arson was started from inside". And that the guard" a soldier of the Crimean Islamic party, was allowed to make Hadj to Mecca as thanks for the pretense as if he had seen no one setting the fire".

The chairman of the Crimean Tatar nation's Mejilis, Mustafa Djemilev sent a

letter to the Prosecutor of the Crimea on 17 April demanding that he should

take urgent measures against the articles’ author and the editorial staff of the

"Krimskaya Pravda" newspaper. He stated that this provocative article

contained "deceitful ideas about the representative organ of the Crimean

Tatar nation, and the Crimean Muftiyat - the highest ecclesiastic organ of

the peninsulas’ Moslems."

Due to the present situation, M. Djemilev asked the Prosecutor of the

Autonomous Republic Crimea to bring an action against the author. He also

emphasized that "Krimskaya Pravda" regularly makes anti-Crimean Tatar and

anti-Ukrainian propaganda and causes “conflicts between nations”. In this

respect, he reminded them about the letter of the Regular Representative of

Ukraine in the Crimea, Anatoliy Korneychuk to the editor-in-chief of

"Krimskaya Pravda" newspaper.  Anatoliy Korneychuk noted that the position of

the newspaper "doesn't provide the stabilization of socio-politic agreement

between nations in the Crimea", "some of its materials are aggressive and

nonconstructive in character as related to the state of Ukraine".

The Crimean Moslem's Mufti also addressed the Prosecutor. He focused on

the author's statement that "Mejilis guard is supposedly an accessory to the

arson and was sent to Hadj". He asked that it be investigated whether the fact of accessory to the crime corresponds the truth or not. Otherwise, he demanded

that " they should institute criminal proceedings against the articles’ author

not only for abusing the dignity of the mosque visitor, but also for causing

conflicts between nations of the peninsula".

Gulnara Kerimova, "Avdet" ("Return"), #8(242), 25 April 2000, p.1-3.

 

Problems of legislative regulations

Conclusions and recommendations of the participants of the parliamentary hearings relating to: "The problems of legislative regulating and implementation of state policy providing rights of the Crimean Tatar nation and national minorities, which were deported and are now voluntarily returning to Ukraine" were confirmed by the resolution of the Parliament of Ukraine.  The national deputy, Refat Chubarov, provided information about this at the briefing with the Crimean journalists, held on 24 April. The problem is being considered at the state level and the parliamentarians have already understood that it is a very deep and topical problem. This, according to Refat Chubarov's words, is the initial result of the hearings.

 

The Parliament is recommended to take measures on developing and adopting

laws, connected with implementation of clauses 11 and 92 of the Constitution of Ukraine (i.e. those clauses, which contain the term "native nation"), and also the rights of the Crimean Tatars and national minorities that were deported and are now returning to Ukraine. It is also recommended the problem of accepting the Ukrainian citizenship be regulated by a simplified method.

 

The President is proposing to study the question of signing the Convention of

International Organization of Labor #169: "About Native And Tribal Peoples In

Independent Countries". Ukraine's joining this convention will enable the

determination of politics-and-lawful status of native nations.

The Cabinet of Ministry of Ukraine is recommending to develop the law project

of concept of state ethno-national policy and offer it for the consideration

by the Parliament of Ukraine. In the economic sphere, it is recommended that they foresee the goal of the financing of measures, connected with repatriates'

accommodation from the state budget.  They also recommend them to take

measures in order to attract help from other countries, international funds

and organizations, and also provide the repatriates equal possibilities of

participating in privatization and the possibility of taking part in the

land division.

Yelena Gornaya, "Krimskaya Gazeta",#77(15933), 26 April 2000, p.1.

 

 

Commenting on the parliamentary hearings devoted to the Crimean Tatars'

problems

The (above) Recommendation also includes a clause offering to use the term

"Crimean Tatars" when writing the names of the entire population of Ukraine.

When being asked to comment on the fact that L. Grach consciously avoided the

terms "native nations" and "national minorities" in the Constitution of the

Crimea, Refat Chubarov responded as follows: "For me, a citizen of Ukraine

and a Parliamentary member, the Constitution of Ukraine is above all.  Besides,

it contains clauses on this very topic. These are the clauses number 11 and

92 (point 3)".

According to R.Chubarov's words: “the Committee on human rights and relations

between nations will prepare a law project concerned with introducing additions to the Law "About the Verkhovna Rada* of ARC". “Many of deputies don't accept

the idea of legislative strengthening of representatives according to a

national indication.  That's why, noted R. Chubarov, there will probably be a

proportional electoral system in the Crimea.”

 

R. Bulat, "Golos Krima", #18(337), 28 April 2000, p.1.

Editor’s Note: *Verkhovna Rada VR of ARC is the Parliament of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.

 

Refat Chubarov: "The parliamentary hearings demonstrated unsatisfactory legislative regulation of the repatriation process".

According to Refat Chubarov's words during the preparations for the

parliamentary hearings, they provided the entire participating of all the

interested parties. More than 160 representatives of scientific

establishments, state and non government organizations and organs of local

authorities were invited. At the same time, after the parliamentary hearings

the leadership of Verkhovna Rada of the Crimea expressed its dissatisfaction

because the representatives of the Crimean Parliament were deprived of the

right to take part in conducting preparations for the hearings. He refuted

these statements of the Speaker of the Crimean Parliament, L. Grach and

submitted information that the chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Crimea,

L. Grach, and the chairman of the Ministry Council of the Crimea, S. Kunitsin

were invited to the parliamentary hearings by an official letter.

The parliamentary hearings demonstrated dissatisfactory legislative

regulation of the repatriation process. The absence of a clear state policy of

restoring the rights of the deported Crimean Tatars and some other national

minorities, ignoring national interests of the deported call distrust to the

organs of state power and lead to strengthening of social and political tension in some regions and in the country in the whole.  The hearings prove that the Crimean Tatar problem is one of the most urgent and demands an immediate solution.

Gulnara Kerimova, "Avdet" ("Return"), #8(242), 25 April 2000, p.1.

 

Mustafa Djemilev's press conference

The Crimean Tatar nation's Mejilis chairman, Mustafa Djemilev held a press

conference in Simferopol on 28 April. According to M. Djemilev, the result of the foreign policy activity of the Mejilis was the consideration of the Crimean Tatar problem's at the Assembly of the European Council, where, for the first

time, used the term "native nation" when discussing the problem. Returning to

the discussions in Strasbourg, M. Djemilev remembered an accusation made by the

Crimean speaker, Leonid Grach, in his address.  Grach stated that the leader

of the Mejilis defended only the political rights. In this response he was

answered as follows: How many dissatisfied people were there crying that the Mejilis was not legalized, and when it tries to do something in a lawful

way, they rise in revolt. Speaking in regard to conducting the Day of Deportation, it should be said that the plan hasn't been affirmed yet.

-The forms of actions will depend on our agreement with the President of Ukraine. I can only add that the Crimean Tatar nation's Mejilis, the Crimean Tatar national movement have no intention to give-up their principals, - said M. Djemilev.

He also noted that the Soviet Day of Deportation has been associated with the day of national struggle since the days of Soviet power, and it's a normal thing

that the activity increases at this very time.

News TV program "Volna" of the Chernomorskaya TV-Radio company.

 

Mejilis hasn't decided yet

The plan and form of mourning measures connected with the next anniversary of the Crimean Tatars' deportation will be asserted by the Mejilis after a meeting of the Crimean Tatar leaders and the President of Ukraine; the meeting has been appointed for 11-12 May, - stated the chairman of the Crimean Tatar nations’ Mejilis, Mustafa Djemilev, at a press conference.

The range and order of conducting these measures, demands made at these

measures will depend on the results of the meeting with the President and the

agreements reached regarding the regulating of repatriates' problems. In

particular, Mustafa Djemilev emphasized that the point about the

Consultative Council of the Crimean Tatars with the President is not

acceptable. Because according to it, nominating and sacking of the Council

chairman is the President's prerogative, but the Council has to be entirely elected by an organ of the people. If it is not possible to change the point,

then the Mejilis will make the necessary statements.

Yelena Gornaya, "Krimskaya Gazeta", #80(15936), 29 April 2000, p.1.

 

 

An Extra-ordinary Event

The incident with the motor ship "Pavel Vereshchagin",

The member of crew of the Ukrainian motor ship "Pavel Vereshchagin" was the

only injured after the unarmed rocket had hit the motor ship during the

exercises of the Black Sea Navy. The injured was taken from the motor ship

and sent to the hospital of the armed Navy Force of Ukraine.

On April 24, 30 miles from Donuzlav (Yevpatoriya), a "Progress"-type rocket

released by the Russian navy shore rocket complex from the Khersones cape in

Sevastopol made a big hole in the superstructure of the Ukrainian ship. The motor ship, one of the "River-Sea" class, was making its charter voyage from Istanbul.  As they informed the press-service of the Black Sea, the military experts assume that the main reason of the incident with the Ukrainian motor ship "Pavel Vereshchagin" was its entering of the closed zone (the zone of military exercises).

Interfax-Ukraine, "Krimskiye Izvestiya", #78(2028), 26 April 2000, p.2.

 

 

Social sphere

 

Georgian diplomats are benevolent to the repatriates' problems

The General Consul Mission of Georgia devoted to the problems of citizenship

has recently been accomplished in the Crimea. We should note the especially benevolent relationship of the Georgian diplomats, a considerable decrease of the consul collection (from $30 down to $15), and sometimes, taking into consideration the financial condition of the deponent, they freed them from the collection completely. They gave certificates to people who have never been in prison, thus making it easier to get a living allowance. Some refugees from

Abkhaziya, who had no documents, were given temporary certificates that replaced their ID cards.

According to the vice-consul’s words, the Agreement Project between Georgia

and Ukraine is nearly completed and must be checked in all necessary instances both in Georgia and Ukraine.

Lentara Halilova, "Golos Krima", #18(337), 28 April 2000, p.1.

 

 

Land reform

 

The richest people on the peninsula are peasants.

The Crimean leaders' report about quick land division is the news both happy

and disappointing.  On the one hand, the local peasants are the richest in Ukraine: the highest prices are the prices for land, big sizes of plots because the lands of local Collective Agriculture Enterprises (CAE) are traditionally two or three times bigger then anywhere else in the country.  On the other hand, the Crimean Tatars don't share a universal joy with the peasants. The Mejilis demands that its every compatriot that has come of age should be given the

same land plot as the CAE members have. They are given land plots from

"reserve" lands. But these plots are smaller than those of the peasant's. The

President has signed the Decree that 50% of reserve land should only be given to

the “social sphere officials”. They were given 15 one-hundredth parts in the

districts with the biggest concentration of the Crimean Tatars. Now, they'll

be given even less. Besides, the leaders of the deported demand that they

should give land to 250,000 of their compatriots, who have to return to

the Crimea in the coming ten years.

Andrey Konovalov, "Komsomolskaya Pravda v Ukraine", #78(894/22304), 27 April

2000, p.4.

 

 

Culture & Education

 

They opened an exhibition devoted to the history of Crimean Tatar handicraft

in Simferopol.

 

 

"Restoring the lost" – an exhibition devoted to the history of the Crimean

Tatar national handicraft was opened in the Simferopol library of Ismail

Gasprinskiy. It consists of unique exhibits: books, telling about the

development of the Crimean Tatars' national handicraft industry, photos and

examples of production.

Many of the national handicraft industries have been lost forever. Research

officers of the Republic Crimean Tatar museum of arts, masters and even

enthusiasts begin reviving some of the ancient handicrafts. There are potters

and ceramic workshops in the museum; they also revive national jewelry,

embroidery and carpet production.

DINAU, "Krimskoye Vremya", #78(945), 27 April 2000, p.5.

The material is given in an abridged form).

 

 

They held a workshop in Yalta on 14-15 April: Crimea: the reasons and

revealing of interethnic tension in the socio-economic sphere. The

workshop was organized by the program of development and integration of

the Crimea (PRIK) UNO. The main topic to discuss was the relationship among

nations in the course of economic transformations and the reason of interethnic tension.

 

The sitting, devoted to preparations for the mourning measures on 18 May

2000 was held in the Crimean Tatar nation's Mejilis on 20 April. As a result,

they decided to create a working group, which will provide all the technical

needs during the measures on 18 May. Mejilis' politics-and-law department was

given an order to prepare the project of the meeting resolution. The project

of conducting mourning measures was adopted at the sitting.

 

Carrying out The International Symposium The Crimean Tatar culture, science and

Education in the context of the Ukrainian-and-Turkish friendly neighborhood

is planned for June of the current year. The measures are devoted to the

500th anniversary of the oldest higher educational establishment of Eastern

Europe Zindjirly Medrese, the 100th anniversary of the Crimean Tatar

national theater, the 700th anniversary of Karasubazar city (Belogorsk) and the 80th anniversary of the Crimean Tatar writer, Djengiz Dagdjy. They will be held in Simferopol, Bakhchisarai, Gurzuf, Sudak and Yevpatoriya.

 

The chairman of the Crimean Tatar nation's Council with the President of

Ukraine, the national deputy Mustafa Djemilev intends to address to court because

of the publications in the Crimean press containing an anti-Crimean Tatar

ideology and causing the arising of conflicts between nations.

 

 

 

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