RADIO FREE EUROPE/RADIO LIBERTY, PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC
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RFE/RL NEWSLINE  13 April 1999

RUSSIAN CONVOY ALLOWED TO TRANSIT HUNGARY. Following
intensive talks between Hungarian Interior Minister
Sandor Pinter and Russian Emergency Minister Sergei
Shoigu in Budapest, the Russian convoy carrying aid
shipment to Yugoslavia on 12 April was allowed to enter
Hungary, Hungarian media reported. Five armored trucks
were returned to Ukraine and only four of the eight
gasoline tankers were allowed to travel with the convoy
(see "RFE/RL Newsline," 12 April 1999). Russia's
presidential deputy chief of staff, Sergei Prikhodko,
cited by ITAR-TASS, said that despite the settling of
the dispute, Moscow "will draw very serious conclusions
from Budapest's actions." He said Hungary had not acted
"independently" or "freely." Shoigu said before
returning to Moscow that Hungary had consulted with NATO
before blocking the convoy's passage. MSZ/MS

UKRAINIAN CARGO PLANE DETAINED IN CHISINAU. The Moldovan
customs authorities on 9 April detained in Chisinau a
Ukrainian "Air Alliance" AN-26 cargo plane secretly
transporting 5,000 Hungarian-made pistols bound for
Yemen, via Sofia, Infotag and Reuters reported the same
day. The plane, which originated in Budapest, landed in
Chisinau due to technical problems. The crew provided
documentation claiming the plane was transporting oil
exploration equipment. On 12 March, a Ukrainian plane
belonging to the "Air City" company was detained in
Chisinau on route to Yemen, upon suspicion that it was
transporting cartridge-cases. That plane was allowed to
take off following the intervention of the Ukrainian
embassy. "Air City" said it will sue for damages. MS

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