Crimean news 92.

(Mass Media review for January 8-13, 2001).

Articles are abridged.

 

Development of our nation depends on every representative.

Confrontation: why? And who needs it?

Nation is not for state, but state is for nation.

Council of Ministers of Crimea works on fulfilling president's errands.

No land re-division expected?

Tension in Kapsikhor* increases

First sitting of Central electoral commission* was held.

 

Politics.

 

Development of our nation depends on every representative.

4th session of Kurultay III of Crimean Tatar people took place in Simferopol on January 5-6. Resolutions and decisions related to the Crimean Tatars' problems were passed on it. They also passed Regulations related to the delegate’s election to Kurultay IV.

In connection with Regulations passed on Kurultay III, the number of Crimean Tatar people's Kurultay delegates will reach 250, and 20% of them will be representatives from non-governmental organizations. They also asserted that the first session of Kurultay IV would be held in the middle of summer, 2001.

"Kyrym" ("The Crimea"), #3 (609), 10 January, p.1.

 

Confrontation: why? And who needs it?

On January 5-6, 4th session of Kurultay III of Crimean Tatar people -national session of the Crimean Tatars - was held in the Crimean Tatar musical-dramatic theatre. Mejlis chairman, Mustafa Dzhemilev and chairman of Kurultay Revision commission, Ayder Mustafayev delivered their reports at the session. 170 delegates from different regions of Crimean and CIS* came to the session.

It was devoted to analyzing of the Crimean Tatars' returning problems and barriers negatively influencing this process. Delegates made rather strict evaluations on some issues. In particular, one of adopted resolutions says that if people don't understand constructive moves of Crimean Tatar national movement on regulating situation in Crimea by means of restoring norms and principals of Ukrainian Constitution, the Crimean Tatars will start preparations for all-Crimea campaign of civil protest. It will be aimed at paralyzing anti-constitutional actions of both Crimean officials and state organs in Crimea.

Mustafa Dzhemilev tried to explain this Crimean Tatars' stand emphasizing that Ukraine has started paying more attention to their problems lately.

However, there is much of misunderstanding because there are no national movement representatives in Crimean parliament. He believes that it is necessary to introduce corresponding changes into Crimean Constitution and law about parliament election in order to come up with this problem. However, it is impossible. And the main barrier for restoring Crimean Tatars' legal rights is "chauvinist and pro-communistic majority of Crimean parliament headed by speaker-communist, Leonid Grach".

He is also concerned that Ukrainian parliament is not very interested in adopting a very necessary "Law about status of Crimean Tatar people". What is it supposed to be? Is it misunderstanding or unwillingness of elected national representatives? The same thing happened about the "Law about rehabilitation and providing rights for national minorities that endured deportation from the territory of Ukraine".

Land issue is another great problem for the Crimean Tatars. Council of Ministers passed several decisions and resolutions on it. But it is impossible to do without adopting corresponding legal acts. Mejlis suggests that registration and distributing of state certificates for land ownership are temporarily stopped in Crimea. It also suggests conducting registration of divided lands and adopts a separate legal document, which would allow including deportees to the lists for getting an average-size land plot.

The Crimean Tatars intend to fight for restoring norms and principals of Constitution of Ukraine. Everyone seems to support the idea, but… why do the parliaments of Ukraine and Crimea delay with adopting necessary legal acts? Perhaps they don't want the Crimean Tatars to integrate into the Ukrainian society or underestimate the role of Crimean Tatar factor? What powers want some new political and social tension in Crimea as a result of it? Who will benefit from Crimean Tatars' organizing various protest actions?

Victor, "Krymskaya gazeta" ("The Crimean newspaper"), #4 (16105), January 10, 2001, p.1.

Our information: CIS stands for the Commonwealth of Independent States.

 

Nation is not for state, but state is for nation.

Public-political action supporting Constitution of Ukraine took place on Simferopol Central Square on January 10. Several political parties and non-governmental organizations organized the action. More than 6 thousand people participated in it. The rally participants introduced several demands concerning stabilization of socio-economic situation in the country. And this demands union of all power branches for organized and coordinated activity. Otherwise, they believe it is impossible to avoid Ukraine's involving into the fighting of political confrontations.

M.Mavke, "Yany dunya" ("The new world"), #4 (5550, January 13, 2001, p.1.

 

Council of Ministers of Crimea works on fulfilling president's errands.

PM of Crimea, Sergey Kunitsyn held a working sitting with the members of President's Council of Crimean Tatars. It was devoted to discussing how president and prime minister's errands concerning repatriates' housing are fulfilled.

According to the ministries' data, most errands are now in the process of fulfillment.

When touching upon the issue of distributing land among the Crimean Tatars president gave commission to the chairman of Republican committee on land resources to specifically consider this issue in every region and if in some regions it is impossible to resolve confrontation he gave commission to sign a joint conciliatory minutes with local Council of representatives. Interdepartmental commission, which is to begin its work since January, will be helpful in resolving conflict situations.

Press-service of Crimean Council of Ministers, "Krymskoye vremya" ("The Crimean Times"), #7 (1119), January 12, 2001, p.3.

 

No land re-division expected?

Deputy of chairman of Republican committee on land resources of Crimea, Vladimir Dmitrusenko explained the committee's activity on addressing the issue of distributing land among the Crimean Tatars.

According to his words, the resources of Reserve land fund of Crimea for the beginning of 2001 equaled 190 thousand hectares and no more than 93 hectares of them are arable. Taking into consideration the fact that more than 50 thousand of Crimean Tatars living in the rural zone want to get a medium-size land plot (it equals 5 hectares), this amount of land is not enough for solving this problem.

Within the frameworks of current legislation, when some 98% of land are already owned it is impossible to give land to the Crimean Tatars having no land certificate.

Crimean Informational Agency, "Krymskaya gazeta" ("The Crimean newspaper"), January 12, 2001, p.1.

 

Tension in Kapsikhor* increases

But they managed to find a way out.

As it was earlier informed, on October 25, 2000 local Orthodox Christians erected a 9-meter cross on mount Kamatra, village Kapsikhor. But local Moslems dismantled it in 2-hour time. This is leading to increasing of tension between parties. Developments about the cross erecting got worse on January 4.

After an attempt to erect a cross on mount Kamatra, village Orthodox community decided to erect it on a mount by cemetery. However, Moslem community tried to stop it, as earlier its representatives suggested making the cross-shorter by some 2-3 meters and paints it from black to white. Village Moslem community also suggested erecting its religious sign in case the cross is erected. Furthermore, they believe that it is necessary to open a museum and erect a monument devoted to the victims of deportation.

The deputy of town administration head, Shevket Asanov told the followings:

"Despite the recently reached agreement, village Orthodox community representatives have decided to persuade their compatriots to erect the cross on a more celebrated place by making it longer. More than 1000 people from both sides have made their addresses. The situation got extremely worse because some of Orthodox community representatives were armed. However, they managed to keep the situation under control and make a decision favorable for both sides. These events were considered at the sitting of Council of Ministers of Crimea. They decided to fulfill demands of both sides".

Thus, they managed to reach an agreement, and Orthodox community erected a cross on the mount by cemetery making it shorter from 9 meters to 6.5. Moslem community representatives were allowed to erect their religious sign anywhere in the village.

Ismail Ablyakimov, "Kyrym", #4 (610), January 12, 2001, p.1.

Our information:* Kapsikhor is an old Crimean Tatar name for village Morskoye of Sudak district, Crimea. See "Crimean news82, 85, 86" about this confrontation between Orthodox and Moslem communities on erecting crosses.

 

News from Mejlis.

 

First sitting of Central electoral commission* was held.

They discussed organizational issues. Sinaver Kadirov was elected the chairman of electoral commission by a secret ballot. Shevket Kaybullayev was elected his deputy and Kurtegen Nazarov - secretary.

They also considered the projects of propositions related to developing documents necessary for the work of this commission.

"Kyrym" ("The Crimea"), #4 (610), January 12, 2001, p.1.

Our information: *Central electoral commission was created on the last fourth session of Kurultay III. It has already started its preparations for electing delegates to Kurultay IV.

 

 

 

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