1. Wednesday, 24 October 2012 FOR INTERNAL INFORMATION ONLY. The content of this brief is taken from press sources and does not in any way reflect official OSCE policy. Situation/Communications Room

2. NEWS ITEMS from the OSCE Mission Areas: NEWS ITEMS from the OSCE Mission Areas: 24 October 2012  Russia / OSCE: Lavrov meets OSCE SG Zannier (Voice of Russia)  Serbia / Kosovo: Kosovo leader urges opposition to end street protest (AFP) LEAD STORIES: OSCE / CPC Situation Room

3. Russia/ OSCE The OSCE should become a full-fledged intergovernmental structure acting in the interests of all its member states, Russian FM Sergei Lavrov said after meeting with OSCE SG Lamberto Zannier in Moscow on 23 October. He emphasized the need for an OSCE reform to enable it to rectify imbalances in its work, called for a new charter for the OSCE and for improving the activity of the election monitoring mission of the OSCE Bureau for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights. Lavrov and Zannier exchanged opinions on the role of the OSCE in the European security architecture and discussed some issues concerning its executive bodies. Voice of Russia (23 Oct.): Lavrov meets OSCE SG Zannier

4. Serbia / Kosovo Kosovo PM Hashim Thaci on 23 October called on the nationalist opposition to halt its street protests against talks with Serbia after a demonstration in Pristina turned violent and left two dozen people wounded. Thaci called on Albin Kurti, the leader of the nationalist Self- Determination Movement that organised the protest, "to return to parliament and not threaten (government) institutions with anarchy." The group, Kosovo's third-biggest political party, held another demonstration on 23 October after Thaci spoke but no incidents were reported. Thaci accused Kurti of "taking an issue to the streets that he has already lost in parliament". AFP (23 Oct.): Kosovo leader urges opposition to end street protest

5. NEWS ITEMS from the OSCE Mission Areas: NEWS ITEMS from the OSCE Mission Areas: 24 October 2012 OSCE / CPC Situation Room  Albania / Serbia: Protest in Tirana over Serbian minister's visit (Tanjug)  Albania / Serbia: Albanian premier, Serbian minister discuss ties (ATA)  BiH / Serbia: Izetbegovic slams Nikolic over Bosnia remarks (BIRN)  Serbia / Albania: "Greater Albania poses threat to all of Balkans" (B92)  the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia: Anti-gay attacks on the rise (Pink News)  former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia: Macedonian hackers attack several websites of Albanian govt (FOCUS) South - Eastern Europe (slides 12 - 17) South - Eastern Europe (slides 12 - 17)

6. NEWS ITEMS from the OSCE Mission Areas: NEWS ITEMS from the OSCE Mission Areas: 24 October 2012 OSCE / CPC Situation Room Eastern Europe (slides 18 - 22) Eastern Europe (slides 18 - 22)   Belarus: We basically have one army with Russia - Lukashenko (Telegraf.by)   Moldova: Moldovan, Russian premiers discuss ties, gas issue by phone (AFP)   Moldova: European commissioner backs Moldova's EU integration prospect (All Moldova)   Ukraine: Tymoshenko asking to clarify where she will vote, says defense lawyer (Interfax.ua)   Ukraine / Russia: Yanukovych to discuss gas issue with Putin in November (Kyiv Post)

7. NEWS ITEMS from the OSCE Mission Areas: NEWS ITEMS from the OSCE Mission Areas: 24 October 2012 OSCE / CPC Situation Room South Caucasus (slides 23 - 32) South Caucasus (slides 23 - 32)  Armenia: Authorities seek to restrict opposition’s chances in PACE – activist (Armenia Liberty)  Armenia: Ter-Petrosian bloc seeks continued cooperation with Tsarukian (Armenia Liberty)  Armenia: Armenian NGOs urge for screening Serbian LGBT film (Tert)  Armenia / Azerbaijan: Czech parliamentary committee adopts resolution on Safarov case (News.am)  Azerbaijan / Armenia: Face-Off in Mexico over el Nagorno-Karabaj (EurasiaNet)  Azerbaijan: Azeri, Russian news agencies sign cooperation accord (APA)  Azerbaijan / Armenia: No incident during OSCE monitoring of contact line (APA)

8. NEWS ITEMS from the OSCE Mission Areas: NEWS ITEMS from the OSCE Mission Areas: 24 October 2012 OSCE / CPC Situation Room South Caucasus (slides 23 - 32) South Caucasus (slides 23 - 32)  Georgia: Minority complains about pressure on their MPs by majority (Civil Georgia)  Georgia / Abkhazia: Abkhaz leader rules out bilateral talks with Tbilisi (Georgia Online)  Georgia / Abkhazia / South Ossetia: Minister-to-be says breakaways won't be recognized as conflict sides (Channel 1)

9. NEWS ITEMS from the OSCE Mission Areas: NEWS ITEMS from the OSCE Mission Areas: 24 October 2012 OSCE / CPC Situation Room Central Asia (slides 33 - 42) Central Asia (slides 33 - 42)  Central Asia: Journalists and human rights activists from CA countries condemns manual for migrants (Asia Plus)  Kazakhstan: Kazakh, Czech leaders discuss cooperation (Interfax.kz)  Kazakhstan: Kazakhstan may join WTO in 6 months (West Kazakhstan Today)  Kazakhstan: Paper sues mayor's press aide (Interfax.kz)  Kyrgyzstan: UN allocates USD 12 mln grant to fight TB (24.kg)  Tajikistan: New US Tajik envoy downplays Moscow pact (RFE)  Tajikistan: Tajik embassy blasts Russian manual for labor migrants (RFE)  Turkmenistan: Turkmen leader unveils USD 80 bln economic plan (AFP)

10. NEWS ITEMS from the OSCE Mission Areas: NEWS ITEMS from the OSCE Mission Areas: 24 October 2012 OSCE / CPC Situation Room Central Asia (slides 33 - 42) Central Asia (slides 33 - 42)  Turkmenistan: Turkmenistan to pardon over 2,000 convicts in Independence Day amnesty (TV Altyn Asyr)  Uzbekistan: Second jobs forbidden for government officials (Trend)

11. NEWS ITEMS: NEWS ITEMS: 24 October 2012 Miscellaneous (slides 43 - 48) Miscellaneous (slides 43 - 48)  Afghanistan: NATO kills four children in Afghan East - Karzai (Reuters)  Energy Security: Bulgaria shuts nuclear reactor after generator problem (AFP)  Energy Security: Russia taps mega Arctic gas field (AFP)  Hungary: Tens of thousands in anti-PM rally in Hungary (AFP)  ICTY: War crimes court rejects Karadzic subpoena of Greek president (AFP)  Russia: Russian activist charged with preparation of mass disorders (RFE) OSCE / CPC Situation Room

12. Albania / Serbia Scores of Albanian nationalist staged a protest in Tirana over the first visit in eight years to their country by a Serbian FM. Supporters of the Red and Black Alliance party shouted slogans and held banners reading “Kosovo is Albania” at Tirana's airport on 22 October as Serbian FM Ivan Mrkic arrived. The nationalist party is unhappy with the Albanian government's ties to Serbia, the agency reported. Serbian FM Ivan Mrkic is on a two-day visit to Albania, where he will confer with Albanian officials on the relations between the two countries and other issues. Tanjug (23 Oct.): Protest in Tirana over Serbian minister's visit

13. Albania / Serbia At a meeting with visiting Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia Ivan Mrkic, Premier Berisha underlined on 23 October that differences between the two countries should not turn into an obstacle for development of bilateral relations, stressing that despite the past, the future of these relations should be characterized by feelings of friendship and cooperation in fields of mutual interest, such as education, culture, tourism, economy, etc. On his part, Minister Mrkic said with this visit he is conveying the message of friendly feelings of new Serbian government for Albanian people. Both interlocutors pointed to the need of catching up with lost chances in the past and underlined the importance of exchange of meetings in the framework of an inter-governmental committee, which could identify fields of mutual interest. ATA (23 Oct.): Albanian premier, Serbian minister discuss ties

14. BiH / Serbia The Bosniak member of the Bosnian Presidency, Bakir Izetbegovic, has written a letter to Serbia’s President Nikolic accusing him of irrevocably harming the relations between Bosnia and Serbia. Reacting to Nikolic’s statement in a Macedonian TV interview on 21 October that “the Bosnian state is disappearing before our very eyes,” Izetbegovic wrote on 23 October that Nikolic had offended the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina and its citizens. “I am sorry to have to say it, but your words remind me of what the war crime defendant Radovan Karadzic said in 1991,” wrote Izetbegovic. “Unfortunately this is not the first time you have made unacceptable remarks. Your denial of the Srebrenica genocide is an inhumane act that goes against civilization. Instead of apologizing to victims, you rudely insult them”. Izetbegovic said that because of Nikolic’s continued insults to the Bosnian people he has cancelled their planned meeting in November in Turkey (…). BIRN (23 Oct.): Izetbegovic slams Nikolic over Bosnia remarks

15. Serbia / Albania Serbia's Ambassador to France Dušan Bataković says that the Greater Albania project is seriously endangering the fragile stability in the Balkans. This diplomat, a historian, noted that the term "Natural Albania" was but another name for "Greater Albania", and added: "For a number of years this project has had a significant support of Albanian elites in all the countries where Albanian live, and it is, as has been announced, gradually becoming a reality." "This process has advanced a long way, and it threatens our vital national interests in an essential manner, and seriously endangering the fragile stability in the Balkans," Bataković told Blic. As a historian, Bataković has been studying the Kosovo problem for decades, to recently publish a book on the subject entitled, "Serbia's Kosovo drama: A historical perspective". B92 (23 Oct.): "Greater Albania poses threat to all of Balkans"

16. the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia On 21 October a young gay rights activist was attacked in the country’s capital Skopje and on 22 October Alen Shakiri, the head of the campaign organisation LGBT United Macedonia, was violently attacked on a street. In the past month several Macedonian politicians have also made public statements against LGBT rights. On 12 October, Minister for Labour and Social Policy Spiro Ristovski stated that same-sex couples should not be allowed to marry and children must be raised only be opposite-sex parents. MEPs, such as Ulrike Lunacek and Michael Cashman, have expressed concern over the increase in homophobic incidents in Macedonia. Pink News (23 Oct.): Anti-gay attacks on the rise

17. the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Macedonian hackers have attacked several websites of the Albanian government in retaliation to a Macedonian flag set on fire at a football match in Tirana, the Macedonian news website Netpress reported. The Macedonian hacker group, Macedonian Security Crew, said that together with Macedonian Dark Security they managed to hack several websites of the Albanian government. FOCUS (23 Oct.): Macedonian hackers attack several websites of Albanian govt

18. Belarus The President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko counts on the further development of the military technical cooperation between Belarus and Russia, as he stated on 23 October during the meeting with Deputy Chairman of the Russian Government Dmitry Rogozin. Alexander Lukashenko offered to the Deputy Chairman of the Russian Government to learn the capabilities of the Belarusian military- industrial complex. “I won’t hide it. I expect it to work for our common defence space since we basically have one army with you. You are aware of what’s happening in the world today and the threats that exist out there,” stated the head of the Belarusian state. Dmitry Rogozin noted the positive dynamics of the Belarusian- Russian cooperation in the area. According to him, over this year the countries have come a long way and have done a good job in terms of searching the ways and “making ties for strategic partnership” (…). Telegraf.by (23 Oct.): We basically have one army with Russia - Lukashenko

19. Moldova Moldovan PM Vlad Filat held a telephone conversation with Russian PM Dmitriy Medvedev 22 October. The two PMs reviewed bilateral relations, pointing out their recent positive dynamic. Referring to energy cooperation, Filat presented Moldova's point of view, recalling the decision the Ministerial Council [of the European Energy Community] had taken in Budva, Montenegro. The council decided to allow Moldova to postpone the implementation of the EU's Third Energy package from 2016 to 2020. The two leaders agreed that the negotiations on supplies of natural gas to Moldova would continue in order to sign a new contract [as the old one expired in late 2011]. Filat and Medvedev also spoke in favour of a constructive dialogue in order to diversify and deepen relations between the Republic of Moldova and the Russian Federation. Bsanna (23 Oct.): Moldovan, Russian premiers discuss ties, gas issue by phone

20. Moldova Foreign and European Integration Minister Iurie Leanca met European Commissioner Stefan Fule at the EU-Moldova forum, in Berlin on 22 October. The officials discussed the current stage of Moldova-EU relations, the main directions of the short- and medium-term cooperation, and preparations for the visit of the President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, to Chisinau in late November 2012. Fule said that the EU's response to reforms implemented by Moldova must be suitable and in line with the efforts taken; it must offer Moldova the EU integration prospect. According to Fule, Moldova deserves more, the negotiations on the EU-Moldova association agreement being relevant in this respect. He pointed out the article No 49 of the EU Treaty, providing for the accession process of new member states. According to him, the article sets the European integration future path which Moldova should follow. All Moldova (23 Oct.): European commissioner backs Moldova's EU integration prospect

21. Ukraine Former Ukrainian PM Yulia Tymoshenko wants to know where she will vote at the parliamentary elections on 28 October, the ex- premier's defense lawyer Oleksandr Plakhotniuk said. “On 23 October Yulia Volodymyrivna has submitted a request to ensure that her right to vote at the elections is satisfied. So far it is not clear, at least she does not understand, where she is to vote. She has not received any messages or invitations," Plakhotniuk said outside Central Clinical Hospital No. 5 in Kharkiv, where Tymoshenko is undergoing treatment, on 23 October. The lawyer also said that on 23 October Tymoshenko passed him an open statement containing her assessment of the current election campaign. The statement will be published on 24 October morning. Interfax.ua (23 Oct.): Tymoshenko asking to clarify where she will vote, says defense lawyer

22. Ukraine / Russia Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin will hold their next meeting in November during a state visit by Yanukovych to Moscow, the Ukrainian head of state told journalists in Simferopol on 23 October. "I think we will meet and discuss this problem [the gas issue] in November. A state visit and a business forum in Nizhny Novgorod are being planned. We will discuss the issue during this visit," he said. While speaking about the results of his working visit to Moscow on 22 October, Yanukovych said both sides "can see the unstable character of the issue and propose various kinds of approaches to it, [including] a package deal that could help to solve the problem." Kyiv Post (23 Oct.): Yanukovych to discuss gas issue with Putin in November

23. Armenia Levon Zurabyan, who represents the opposition Armenian National Congress in Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly’s Armenian delegation, is going to be replaced in rotation next year. But the politician does not quite approve the idea as he attributes that to the Armenian authorities’ efforts to restrict the opposition's chances in the Assembly. Speaking to Tert.am, he said the plan has yet to be finalized. Zurabyan is more interested in the committees dealing with legal and political affairs. “If [the plan] is confirmed, that will mean that continuous efforts are being made to debar the opposition from raising its voice in PACE,” he said. Asked what he thinks about a possible argument that the ANC is not the only opposition force in Armenia, Zurabyan answered: “Mher Shahgeldyan (Rule of Law party) seems to be the only replacement.” Tert (23 Oct.): Authorities seek to restrict opposition’s chances in PACE – activist

24. Armenia The Armenian National Congress (HAK) continues to favor close cooperation with the Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) of Gagik Tsarukian in its efforts to topple President Serzh Sarkisian, a leading member of the opposition alliance said on 23 October. Levon Zurabian insisted that the HAK and the BHK are the sole major political forces capable of seriously challenging Sarkisian in the upcoming presidential election. A top representative of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (HHK), Education Minster Armen Ashotian, disputed that claim, however, saying that the two groups cannot threaten Sarkisian’s hold on power even if they join forces. Zurabian said that the two political groups should strive for a regime change that would result in democratization, separation of business from government and genuine protection of private property. “I think that the HAK, Prosperous Armenia and the broader society can rally around these objectives,” he said. (…) Armenia Liberty (23 Oct.): Ter-Petrosian bloc seeks continued cooperation with Tsarukian

25. Armenia Several human rights NGOs have voiced their protest over the efforts to frustrate the screening of the Serbian LGBT film, The Parade, in Armenia. In a joint statement addressed to PM Tigran Sargsyan, Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia Traian Hristea and German Ambassador Rainer Morel, they consider such efforts a restriction on fundamental human rights and freedoms in the country. “Any democratic, social and rule of law country should consider impermissible such a violation of human rights, particularly those relating to freedom of expression, which includes the freedom to search, receive, obtain and disseminate information. It is clearly enshrined in the Armenian Constitution and better outlined in several international instruments under which Armenia has a commitment to protect each person’s fundamental rights and freedoms,” reads the statement. Tert (23 Oct.): Armenian NGOs urge for screening Serbian LGBT film

26. Armenia / Azerbaijan The Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Security of the Parliament of the Czech Republic unanimously adopted on 23 October Senator Jaromír Štětina’s resolution, whereby the Committee expressed its concern by the Ramil Safarov case. “The Committee expresses its deep concern and regret that the Azerbaijani president decided to grant pardon to Ramil Safarov, whom the court of a EU member state had sentenced for murder; it considers this decision—as a symbolic move—that could add to further escalation of tension in relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan; also, it is concerned that this decision would hamper the reconciliation process of the conflict-affected societies, and it jeopardizes the future chance for a peaceful development of interpersonal contacts in the region; commissions the Committee Chairman, Senator Jozef Regec, to inform the Senate President about this resolution,” the motion reads. News.am (23 Oct.): Czech parliamentary committee adopts resolution on Safarov case

27. Azerbaijan The Azeri-Press news agency (APA) and the Russian news agency RIA Novosti have signed an agreement on cooperation. Under the agreement, APA's material will be used on the internet portal Russia for Everyone [Russian: Rossiya dlya vsekh], which is a new project by RIA Novosti. For its part, APA news agency will also use RIA Novosti news agency material. The internet portal Russia for Everyone was presented in Moscow on 23 October. The portal plans to publish news in the Russian, Azeri, Chechen, Circassian, Tajik, Kyrgyz and other languages, and analytical and photo and video material. APA (23 Oct.): Azeri, Russian news agencies sign cooperation accord

28. Azerbaijan / Armenia Mexico may be far away from the Caucasus' territorial conflicts, but it is offering a venue for another staring-down match between gun- slinging neighbors Armenia and Azerbaijan. The Armenian-Azerbaijani diplomatic face-off over the breakaway territory of Nagorno Karabakh mostly plays out in the US, Russia and Europe, but lately has expanded to the Latino world. On 22 October, Armenian FM Edward Nalbandian arrived in Mexico City to convey his nation’s “bewilderment” at Mexico allegedly taking sides in the 24-year Armenian-Azerbaijani feud. He reproached Mexico's senadores and deputados for passing supposedly anti- Armenian resolutions in the past, and proposed an Armenian embassy in Mexico City as the way to help set things right. Nalbandian’s hostess, FM Patricia Espinosa, assured her guest that the Mexican people wish Armenia well and that she wishes to see more of him and of ties between Mexico and Armenia. EurasiaNet (23 Oct.): Face-Off in Mexico over el Nagorno-Karabaj

29. Azerbaijan / Armenia Under the mandate of the Personal Representative of the OSCE CiO, the contact line in the south of Borsunlu village of Azerbaijan’s Goranboy region was monitored on 23 October. The press service of the MoD told APA that no incident occurred during the monitoring. The monitoring was conducted by the field assistant of the OSCE CiO Hristo Hristov and personal assistant William Pryor on Azerbaijani side, by the Personal Representative of the OSCE CiO Andrzej Kasprzyk and field assistant Jiri Aberle on the opposite side of the contact line. APA (23 Oct.): No incident occurred during monitoring of contact line

30. Georgia The lawmakers from the United National Movement, who are in minority after the 1 October parliamentary elections, accuse the majority MPs from Georgian Dream coalition of pressure and intimidation. The leaders of the majority held a special briefing on 23 October and spoke about the forms of the pressure on their colleagues. They say this method of pressure aims at winning over their MPs in order to gain constitutional majority in parliament. Chiora Taktakishvili of the UNM said the MPs from the UNM, who have their own businesses, are subjected to pressure in particular, as they are threatened to have problems in their business. The relatives of the MPs from UNM are also being intimidated. According to the UNM leaders, they are threatened to face criminal investigations. Majority leaders assert such undemocratic activities make it impossible to work constructively in the parliament. Rustavi2 (23 Oct.): Minority complains about pressure on their MPs by majority

31. Georgia / Abkhazia The leader of the de-facto regime of Abkhazia Alexander Ankvab thinks that bilateral negotiations with official Tbilisi are not possible. He stated this on 23 October at the working meeting concerning Geneva discussions. The head of interior agency of Abkhazia Viachelsav Chikirba informed the participants of the meeting about the results of the last round of Geneva negotiations. Ankvab underlined that Abkhaz side is not going to discuss issues of secondary importance that are brought up by the participants of Geneva negotiations. Abkhaz leader also mentioned visits of ambassadors accredited in Georgia. According to him, countries wishing to participate in the peace process may send their diplomats accredited in Russia, or directly from their foreign ministries. At the same time, said Ankvab, these meetings will have any sense only "if they wish to discuss the key issues." Georgia Online (23 Oct.): Abkhaz leader rules out bilateral talks with Tbilisi

32. Georgia / Abkhazia / South Ossetia Georgian foreign ministerial designate Maia Panjikidze said that the new Georgian Dream coalition-dominated government will not recognize the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as sides in conflict with Georgia. In remarks broadcast by Georgian Public TV Channel 1 shortly after confirmation hearings with parliamentary committees on 23 October, Panjikidze said: "I was asked whether this conflict was between Georgia and Russia or whether Abkhazia and South Ossetia are also considered sides. We explained in response that it was a conflict between Georgia and Russia, that there is talk only about these sides and that Abkhazia and South Ossetia will not be recognized as sides." Her comment marks a stark policy shift, as the head of the Georgian Dream, Bidzina Ivanishvili, said numerous times during the campaign ahead of the 1 October parliamentary election that he backed recognizing Abkhazia and South Ossetia as conflict sides. Channel 1 (23 Oct.): Minister-to-be says breakaways won't be recognized as conflict sides

33. Central Asia Journalists from four Central Asia’s nations collaborating with the UN regional program on women’s labor migration and human rights organizations have joined criticism of a new manual for migrants published in St. Petersburg. A statement released by them on 23 October says “the booklet’s illustrations point to dual standards living in mind.” “At the same time, we are concerned over for the booklet’s authors as swell. They are subject not only to criticism, they are also subject to inspection from the prosecutor’s office, there is an organization that is going to file lawsuit against them. Internet is full of not only comments but also threats. It is a dangerous tendency.” The booklet's illustrations also depict labor migrants as tools commonly used in the construction industry (…). Another drawing shows the tools being lectured by a human doctor on the danger of AIDS. He also warns them that they should go home immediately if they are infected. Asia Plus (23 Oct.): Journalists and human rights activists from CA countries condemns manual for migrants

34. Kazakhstan As part of his official visit, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev met the Czech leader, Vaclav Klaus. During the meeting, the two leaders reviewed bilateral cooperation over the past 20 years, the Kazakh president's press service said on 23 October. The sides also discussed economic, investment, scientific, technological, cultural and humanitarian collaboration. Moreover, they exchanged views on urgent international issues and multilateral initiatives. The head of the country [Kazakhstan] left a note in the book of Prague Castle's honorary guests, where he expressed his confidence in further development of Kazakh-Czech relations. Interfax.kz (23 Oct.): Kazakh, Czech leaders discuss cooperation

35. Kazakhstan Kazakhstan is now at a crucial stage of negotiations to join the WTO, and is likely to become the Organisation's member-state in the next six months. However, it is still necessary to get the best conditions for the entry, which was stressed by the Minister of Economic Integration Zhanar Aitzhanova, speaking at a forum on economic policy, organized by the American Chamber of Commerce, Caspionet reports. She explained that Kazakhstan asks for a transitional period on a number of issues including the harmonization of customs duties between Russia and Kazakhstan. The Republic wants to retain the existing tariff rates on imports of medicine, cars, and duties in the field of passenger transport. Another important issue is about keeping subsidies for farmers for a few years, especially for those producing export-oriented products. West Kazakhstan Today (23 Oct.): Kazakhstan may join WTO in 6 months

36. Kazakhstan The editorial office of the Vremya newspaper filed a complaint with the Medeu District court of Almaty against Sergey Kuyanov, the press secretary of the mayor of the city, on 23 October. "On 23 October, we filed a lawsuit against Sergey Leonidovich Kuyanov, the press secretary of the mayor of Almaty. We ask for the following: information circulated by Kuyanov on 10 October on the Almaty TV channel that 'the position of the Vremya newspaper is one of a political prostitute', to be found not to correspond with the reality and to be deemed to discredit the business reputation of the Vremya newspaper; Kuyanov to be ordered to publicly refute the aforementioned discrediting information and offer an apology on the Almaty TV channel to the staff of the Vremya newspaper; a state duty equal to one MCI to be collected from Kuyanov," a representative of the Vremya newspaper, lawyer Valentina Zhukovskaya, told the Interfax-Kazakhstan news agency. Interfax.kz (23 Oct.): Paper sues mayor's press aide

37. Kyrgyzstan The UN has allocated a grant worth USD 12 mln to Kyrgyzstan to fight TB, Alexander Avanessov, UN resident coordinator to Kyrgyzstan, told a news conference on 23 October. He said the funds will be used to purchase medicines and equipment, as well as to carry out [anti-TB] work at the penitentiary system and with people. 24.kg (23 Oct.): UN allocates USD 12 mln grant to fight TB

38. Tajikistan The new US ambassador to Tajikistan says the recent agreement between Dushanbe and Moscow to extend the presence of a Russian military base will not affect Washington's ties with Tajikistan. On 5 October, Russia and Tajikistan signed an agreement allowing Russian troops to stay at a military base in Tajikistan until 2042. At her first press conference, US Ambassador Susan Elliott said Tajikistan is not being considered as an alternative to the Manas Transit Center in neighboring Kyrgyzstan. Manas is used by NATO to help deliver noncombatant cargo supplies for its troops in Afghanistan. According to the ambassador, talks are under way on the possible prolongation of Manas Transit Center's operations after 2014. RFE (23 Oct.): New US Tajik envoy downplays Moscow pact

39. Tajikistan Tajikistan's embassy in Moscow is harshly criticizing the publishers of a controversial manual on labor migrants to Russia, calling the document a "provocation." The embassy released a statement expressing the hope that Russia's law enforcement structures would "seriously investigate the unacceptable behavior of the manual's publishers to prevent similar incidents in future." Last week, prosecutors in St. Petersburg started preliminary investigations into the manual's illustrations, which depict labor migrants from Central Asia as tools like hammers, brooms, and paintbrushes. In the illustrations, they are met at the airport by real human beings wearing the uniforms of Russian customs officials and border guards. RFE (23 Oct.): Tajik embassy blasts Russian manual for labor migrants

40. Turkmenistan Turkmenistan's President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov on 23 October unveiled a five-year economic plan that aims to invest over USD 80 bln to wean the country from gas sales and build hundreds of new industrial facilities. Berdymukhamedov presented the programme at the annual Council of Elders. "We must decrease our dependence on natural resource base, and we will direct about 200 bln manats (USD 80.6 bln) into state and private sectors of the economy in the next five years," the Turkmen leader said at the event held in Turkmenbashi, a city on the Caspian sea coast. "We are planning to build 450 industrial and social objects," he declared, "The goal… is to turn agrarian Turkmenistan into a developed industrial state with all the advances of civilisation." AFP (23 Oct.): Turkmen leader unveils new USD 80 bln economic plan

41. Turkmenistan More than 2,000 convicts will be pardoned in Turkmenistan on the occasion of Independence Day, Turkmen TV Altyn Asyr channel reported on 23 October. "The state commission formed to examine the pardoning of categories of convicts serving their prison terms asks the esteemed president to pardon a group of convicts which includes 2,004 Turkmen citizens and 11 foreigners, on the occasion of the 21st anniversary of the sacred independence of Turkmenistan [marked on 27 October]," the country's national security minister, Yaylym Berdiyew, said. He was speaking at the annual session of the Elders Council of Turkmenistan, held in Turkmenbasy town on 23 October. Addressing the session, President Berdimuhamedow announced his decision on declaring 26, 27, and 28 October days off for the Id al- Adha holiday. TV Altyn Asyr (23 Oct.): Turkmenistan to pardon over 2,000 convicts in Independence Day amnesty

42. Uzbekistan A resolution of the Uzbek Cabinet of Ministers approved the statute on the subject of second jobs and overlapping of professions and positions according to which employees of the president's office, executive office of the Cabinet of Ministers, heads of public agencies, their deputies and heads of departments are prohibited to hold two positions concurrently, except as provided in the decisions by the president and government. A second job is also prohibited for heads of administrations in the provinces, districts and cities and their deputies, experts of public agencies in organisations subordinate to or under the control of each other, with the exception of doctors working in the public health agencies and teachers involved in the education agencies. In addition, persons under 18 and those working in unfavourable conditions, if their main job is associated with the same conditions, are not allowed to have second job. Trend (23 Oct.): Second jobs forbidden for government officials

43. Afghanistan Afghan President Hamid Karzai on 23 October condemned a NATO operation that he said killed four children in the country's east, a claim the coalition said was possible. The operation took place in the Baraki Barak district of Logar province on 20 October, a statement released by Karzai's office said. Civilian casualties have been a major source of friction between Karzai's government and the US-led NATO forces in Afghanistan. "Despite repeated pledges by NATO to avoid civilian casualties, innocent lives, including children, are still being lost," Karzai said in the statement. A spokeswoman for NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said it was aware of possible ISAF-related civilian casualties from the October 20 operation. Figures it released on 23 October showed that there had been a 58 percent decrease in the number of ISAF-caused civilian casualties in July-September of this year compared to the same period in 2011. Reuters (23 Oct.): NATO kills four children in Afghan East - Karzai

44. Energy Security Bulgaria shut down one of two reactors at its only nuclear power plant on 23 October after a generator control problem, the operator said, adding that there was no radiation leak. "Kozloduy's 1,000-megawatt reactor number six was disconnected from the country's electricity grid at 9:24 am (0624 GMT) due to failure of a control element of the unit's turbogenerator … that triggered the reactor's shutdown," the plant said. The glitch in the non-radioactive, secondary circuit of the reactor came just three days after it had been reconnected to the grid following maintenance and refuelling work. It was also shut down in May due to generator problems. Kozloduy's other 1,000-megawatt reactor remains in operation. Four other reactors at the plant were shut down in 2002 and 2006 as conditions for Bulgaria's entry into the EU. AFP (23 Oct.): Bulgaria shuts nuclear reactor after generator problem

45. Energy Security Russia's energy giant Gazprom launched production on 23 October at one of the world's largest natural gas fields originally discovered some 40 years ago in the frozen and hitherto inaccessible Arctic. In a live-link up from Moscow, President Vladimir Putin formally pushed the button on the start of commercial production at the Arctic deposit whose discovery by the Soviets in the early 1970s created excitement and frustration in equal measure. The Bovanenkovo field on the Yamal peninsula in extreme northwestern Siberia has what Gazprom estimates to be 4.9 trl cubic metres (177 trl cubic feet) of natural gas - making it one of the world's three largest deposits. But it also lies amid permafrost and had long remained cut-off from access to pipelines or even basic communication. "The field will produce 115 bln cubic metres (4,060 bln cubic feet) of gas and that will go up to nearly 140 bln," Putin told the field's workers by live video. AFP (23 Oct.): Russia taps mega Arctic gas field

46. Hungary Between 50,000 and 100,000 opponents of Hungarian PM Viktor Orban held a rally in Budapest on 23 October, while the state news agency said that a pro-government demonstration attracted some 150,000 people. The opposition event was expected to see former PM Gordon Bajnai, seen as a possible challenger to Orban in elections due in 2014, return to the political scene. Orban, accused at home and abroad of using his two-thirds majority in parliament to erode democratic norms in the EU member state, was due later to make a speech in front of parliament. According to an AFP count, the anti-Orban demonstration drew more than 50,000 people. Popular online newspaper Index put the number at several tens of thousands, while opposition radio station Klubradio said there were more than 100,000. There was no official count from the police. AFP (23 Oct.): Tens of thousands in anti-PM rally in Hungary

47. ICTY The UN's Yugoslav war crimes court has rejected a call by Bosnian Serb former leader Radovan Karadzic to subpoena Greek President Carolos Papoulias to testify at his genocide trial. "The requirements for the issuance of a subpoena have not been met," the ICTY said in a document made public on 23 October. "The chamber denies the motion." Papoulias was Greek FM between 1993 and 1996 and Karadzic had said he was "one of the few international interlocutors whom the Bosnian Serbs trusted and with whom they could speak confidentially and candidly." Karadzic, who was arrested in Belgrade in 2008, had said evidence by the Greek president would include establishing his innocence for the shelling of Sarajevo's Markale market on 5 February 1994, in which 67 people died. AFP (23 Oct.): War crimes court rejects Karadzic subpoena of Greek president

48. Russia Russia's Investigative Committee says Leonid Razvozzhayev, an aide to a State Duma deputy, has been officially charged with plotting mass riots. The charges filed on 23 October are in connection with an opposition protest in Moscow in May. Investigators say Razvozzhayev turned himself in to the authorities and confessed on 22 October that a Georgian official had financed the demonstration. But Razvozzhayev's lawyer, Violetta Volkova, said that her client was kidnapped in Kyiv last week. She says he was brought to Moscow against his will and suspects his confession is the result of torture. Volkova says she's been denied access to Razvozzhayev. Ukrainian opposition members are demanding explanations from the government regarding the alleged abduction. The Ukrainian MFA promised to comment on the situation in due time. RFE (23 Oct.): Russian activist charged with preparation of mass disorders

49. Situation/Communications Room FOR INTERNAL INFORMATION ONLY. The content of this brief is taken from press sources and does not in any way reflect official OSCE policy. Contact details + 43-1-514 36 6167 Current Issues Tel. + 43-1-533 30 30 ISDN Line Tel. + 43-1-533 20 20 Fax E-mail: SitCen-at@osce.org TEAM: Jürg WINZENRIED Mira HAXHIAJ Vladimir NIKOLOV Giso TOPAS Siegfried WÖBER Levan KHUBULAVA Angela WIESER