The Omri Annual Survey of Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union, 1996: Forging Ahead, Falling Behind

894 Pages·1997·3.86 MB·English

by  Open Media Research Institute

Forging Ahead, Falling Behind OMRI
title: Annual Survey of Eastern Europe and the
Former Soviet Union; 1996
author:
publisher: ME Sharpe, Inc.
isbn10 | asin: 1563249251
print isbn13: 9781563249259
ebook isbn13: 9780585021997
language: English
Europe, Eastern--Politics and government-
-1989- , Former Soviet republics--Politics
and government, Europe, Eastern--
Economic conditions--1989- , Former
subject
Soviet republics--Economic conditions,
Post-communism--Europe, Eastern, Post-
communism--Former Soviet
publication date: 1997
lcc: DJK51.O68 1996eb
ddc: 320.94
Europe, Eastern--Politics and government-
-1989- , Former Soviet republics--Politics
and government, Europe, Eastern--
subject: Economic conditions--1989- , Former
Soviet republics--Economic conditions,
Post-communism--Europe, Eastern, Post-
communism--Former Soviet
Page i
The OMRI Annual Survey
of Eastern Europe and the
Former Soviet Union:
1996 Forging Ahead, Falling Behind
With an Introduction by J. F. Brown
Open Media Research Institute
M.E. Sharpe
Armonk, New York
London, England
Copyright © 1996, 1997 by the Open Media Research Institute
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher, M. E. Sharpe, Inc., 80
Business Park Drive, Armonk, New York 10504.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Open Media Research Institute.
The OMRI annual survey of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union: 1996forging ahead, falling behind / by the Open Media Research Institute.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references (p. ) and index.
ISBN 1-56324-925-1 (alk. paper)
1. Europe, EasternPolitics and government1989
2. Former Soviet republicsPolitics and government.
3. Europe, EasternEconomic conditions1989
4. Former Soviet republicsEconomic conditions.
5. Post-communismEurope, Eastern.
6. Post-communismFormer Soviet republics.
I. Title.
DJK51.068 1996
320.94dc20
96-19263
CIP
Printed in the United States of America
The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of the American National Standard for Information SciencesPermanence of
Paper for Printed Library Materials,
ANSI Z 39.48-1984.
ISSN: 1088-3304
BM (c) 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Page iv
CONTENTS
LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES xiii
PREFACE xv
MAP OF THE REGION xvi
I. INTRODUCTION 1
A YEAR OF PRODUCTIVE DISCONTENT 1
by J.F. BROWN
II. CENTRAL EUROPE 9
Czech Republic 10
MAVERICK CZECH REFORMERS GET BOGGED
DOWN 11
by JIRI PEHE
Sidebar: CZECH SECRET SERVICE SCANDALA
STORM IN A TEACUP? 16
by STEVE KETTLE
Sidebar: COLLAPSE OF CZECH KREDITNI BANKA
TURNS CRIMINALAND POLITICAL 17
by BEN SLAY
Sidebar: CZECH PARTIES' VIEWS OF THE EU AND
NATO 18
by JIRI PEHE
Slovakia 21
SLOVAKIA HEADS TOWARD INTERNATIONAL
ISOLATION 22
by SHARON FISHER
Sidebar: SLOVAK GOVERNMENT CLAMPS DOWN
ON CULTURE 27
by SHARON FISHER
Sidebar. SLOVAK PRIME MINISTER LISTED AS 28
ONE OF TEN ''WORST ENEMIES OF THE PRESS"
by SHARON FISHER
Hungary 31
A YEAR OF SCANDALS AND RESIGNATIONS IN
HUNGARY 32
by ZSOFIA SZILAGYI
Page v
Sidebar: HUNGARIAN MINORITY SUMMIT 36
CAUSES UPROAR IN SLOVAKIA
by SHARON FISHER and ZSOFIA SZILAGYI
Sidebar: HUNGARY COMMEMORATES 40TH 39
ANNIVERSARY OF 1956 REVOLUTION
by ZSOFIA SZILAGYI
Poland 41
WITH THE LEFT IN CHARGE, THE POLISH RIGHT 42
PREPARES FOR 1997
by JAKUB KARPINSKI
Sidebar: ABORTION LAW EASED BY THE POLISH 47
PARLIAMENT
by JAKUB KARPINSKI
III. EASTERN EUROPE 49
Lithuania 50
THE POLITICAL PENDULUM SWINGS BACK IN 51
LITHUANIA
by SAULIUS GIRNIUS
Sidebar: NEW LITHUANIAN GOVERNMENT 54
PRESENTS PROGRAM
by SAULIUS GIRNIUS
Latvia 56
A YEAR OF CONSOLIDATION IN LATVIA 57
by SAULIUS GIRNIUS
Sidebar: U.S. ACTS TO SOOTH BALTIC CONCERNS 60
OVER NATO ENLARGEMENT
by SAULIUS GIRNIUS
Estonia 62
ESTONIA PROVES ITSELF 63
by JOHN B. TAHT
Sidebar: MERI RE-ELECTED ESTONIA'S 66
PRESIDENT
by SAULIUS GIRNIUS
Belarus 68
BELARUS CHOOSES DICTATORSHIP 69
by USTINA MARKUS
Sidebar: BELARUSIAN OPPOSITION LEADERS 73
APPLY FOR ASYLUM
by USTINA MARKUS
Page vi
Sidebar: CENSORSHIP IN BELARUS 75
by USTINA MARKUS
Document: DEFENDING THE ''SACRED CAUSE" 76
OF RUSSO-BELARUSIAN INTEGRATION
Ukraine 79
UKRAINE'S CONTINUING EVOLUTION 80
by CHRYSTYNA LAPYCHAK and USTINA MARKUS
Profile: PAVLO LAZARENKO: CAUTION IS THE 86
KEY
by OLEG VARFOLOMEYEV
Sidebar: ASSASSINATION LIFTS LID ON 92
UKRAINIAN CLAN POLITICS
by OLEG VARFOLOMEYEV
Sidebar: UKRAINE'S ECONOMIC PROGRAMMORE 93
MUDDLING THROUGH?
by BEN SLAY
Sidebar: TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 94
CHORNOBYL ACCIDENT
by USTINA MARKUS
Document: UKRAINE FREE OF NUCLEAR 96
WEAPONS
IV. SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE 97
Slovenia 98
SLOVENIA INCHES AHEAD 99
by STAN MARKOTICH