From May 6-9, a Macedonian delegation, led by President Kiro Gligorov will take part in celebrations in Paris, London and Moscow to mark the 50 year anniversary of the end of the Second World War and victory over fascism in Europe. On that occasion, President Gligorov stated for the newspaper "Nova Makedonija": "During the Second World War, Macedonia had an army of 100,000 people, and 24,000 victims in that war. Not one allied soldier died on our territory, which only speaks that we liberated ourselves. On the other hand, I'd like to remind that the Macedonian corps also entered Zagreb and took part in the final operations, starting from the Srem front, and our units also reached the Austrian border."
President Gligorov also reminded that "the inclusion of Macedonia, as an equal participant, in the fight against fascism, is very important and in opposition to those claims, often used for propaganda purposes, that Macedonia was inaugurated by Tito and that thanks to that, we have become a state and a nation! Entering the family of countries that fought against fascism only shows that our fight was not an accident, that it took part in continuity with all liberation battles fought before that."
In the longer statement, Gligorov emphasizes that: "With this evaluation of ours, among those who fought against fascism, it becomes clear, once more, that our place is in Europe, because we fought for such an Europe. For such connection and integration of all peace-loving nations. I believe that this treatment of the Republic of Macedonia will have an effect in breaking the resistance that still exists today in relation to the recognition of Macedonia or its history and originality, and on the other hand, also those who are trying to delay that with all kinds of obstacles, can not prevent our acceptance to the European integrations," said President Gligorov on the occasion of the celebration of the 50 year anniversary of the victory over fascism in the world.
Today various manifestations will start in Macedonia, marking the 50 year anniversary of the defeat over fascism. Tonight, starting at 20.00 hours, at the Macedonian National Theater, a formal academy will be held where the President of the RM will hold a speech. President Gligorov is also chairman of the Committee for marking this anniversary. Within the frame of the academy an artistic program will be performed out before the various guests, the military leaders from the period of the National Liberation War of Macedonia, national heroes, bearers of the decorations "Partizanska spomenica 1941, members of foreign missions with the chief headquarters of the National Liberation War of Macedonia, and other guests.
On the 9th of May, a picnic will be held on the lake Treska, that will be addressed by the Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski. The same day a state delegation will lay flowers on the grave of Mihailo Apostolski, the Commander in Chief of the general headquarters of the National Liberation War, while the representatives of the Macedonian Orthodox Church will hold a commemorative service for all that died in the anti-fascist war, as well as by all the other religious communities in Macedonia.
The President of the Republic of Macedonia Kiro Gligorov has been awarded the medal "50 years from the victory in the Great war for the fatherland 1941-1945" for his participation in the war, and on the occasion of this jubilee, by the President of the Russian federation Boris Yeltzin.
At an appropriate ceremony that was held yesterday in the cabinet of the President of the Republic, this decoration has handed to Gligorov by the Ambassador of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Macedonia Jurij Trushin.
In response to the article that appeared in the Italian newspaper "Espresso," in which it was said that Macedonia is the "world headquarters for the refining of heroine", the Minister of the interior of the RM Ljubomir Frchkovski made a statement for "Nova Makedonija" in which he said: "It is not unusual that sometimes even the most prominent weeklies publish articles for which they have been paid. While in fact, according to information from INTERPOL, Macedonia is last on the list of countries through which drugs pass. "The Balkan route" for the smuggling of drugs has been severed precisely in Macedonia".
Today at 18.00 hours, a protest meeting will be held at the town square in Gostivar. The meeting is being organized by all Albanian political parties in Macedonia and, as it has been announced, the meting will be held in protest against the rigged political processes, more precisely to protest against the sentences of the rector of the illegal university in Tetovo Dr. Fadil Sulejmani and the president of the Forum for human rights Mr. Milaim Fejziu, and to request the release of all the other activists connected to this issue.
The aim of the meeting, as todays issue of "Flaka" informs, is to "once again inform the wider general public that court processes against the leaders of the Tetovo university are without any foundation. The meeting will once again express the dissatisfaction because of the repression that the Macedonian state is implementing towards the education of the Albanians in Macedonia." In the joint press release it is said that all citizens are invited to participate in the meeting and to express their revolt in a dignified and disciplined fashion.
Today's "Flaka" brings the information that yesterday, with a decision of the Ministry of Traffic and Relations, the TV station in Albanian language "ERA" in Skopje was closed without any previous warning.
According to the director of the TV station Abdula Mehmeti, the only TV station in Albanian language working in the Skopje area, was "closed for no reason."
Sources from the Ministry of Traffic and Relations claim that "ERA" did not possess a work permit. Otherwise, this TV station has been working in Skopje for more than six months and broadcasting programs of TV Tirana, intended for abroad.
The director of TV "ERA" stated for MIC that "none of the TV stations in Macedonia have special work permits, as there is no law for radio diffusion." Mehmeti feels that "the same criteria should exist for all."
In the column "Profil," today's issue of the weekly "PULS" publishes parts of the interview with prof. d-r Dimitar Dimitrov for the oppositional weekly newspaper "Makedonsko Delo".
The text says: "Makedonsko delo", which published its 100th issue last week, which is a number deserving respect in Macedonian conditions, when it comes to a political weekly, among other things, published the interview with prof. d-r Dimitar Dimitrov, who in thirty years, which is how long he has been present in the educational and political life, has walked through the phases of a moderate communist to hard-core nationalist. He used this opportunity to once again express his personal stances which are in opposition to the current Government, and re-affirm that the role of an independent intellectual suits him much better that the role of a minister in the Government.
"Our Constitution has had a dynamite called nationalities, co-existence, Council for inter-ethnic relations, right to primary and high school education in the languages of the nationalities, built into it. In practice, this sets off an explosion of disintegrative tendencies, that threaten to dissolve our peacefully revived state with a war, as a logical untangling of the contradiction called multi-national state" - claims Dimitrov.
"With the ideology of a multi-national state, the Macedonian old-new nomenclature is working on the project of a second Switzerland on the Balkans, while that first Switzerland on the Balkans (Bosnia) is bleeding and melting away."
The Dutch firm "Van Winkel fashions" has bought out the controlling package of shares, or 55% of the shares, of the shirt- manufacturing firm "Vinichanka" from Vinica. The agreement was signed on behalf of the Dutch firm by its director Franc Vna Lit, and from the Macedonian side, by the director of the Agency for privatization d-r Miroljub Shukarov.
"Vinichanka" was 100% state owned and exporting shirts on the Dutch market through this Dutch firm for over five years.
Today, the firm is entirely privatized because 15% are owned by the Fund for pension insurance and 30% of the shares were bought by employees in the factory.
The capital of "Vinichanka" was valued at DEM 280,000, while DEM 154,000 will have to be paid by the Dutch firm for the shares they bought. "Van Winkel Fashions" will have to pay this sum within 3 months from the signing of the agreement.
Otherwise this is the first foreign investment since the start of the privatization process.
The Macedonian Government has determined a new proposal for the adoption of a law for transport in the road traffic. This draft-law, unlike the old one, also regulates international transport.
The basic new component, which did not exist in the old law, is the introduction of an approval (licence) for carrying out transport, which is issued by the republic organ of the administration in charge of traffic. In order to get a licence, one must personally own, or rent a certain number of vehicles. Or, in other terms, for the bus line transportation in the international and local traffic, not less that two busses, i.e. for international transportation of goods, not less than two cargo vehicles.
Also, the applicant must have at his disposal personal funds of at least 50,000 DEM in denar equivalent value, or at least 1,000 DEM per ton of useful capacity of the vehicle, that is, the number of seats in the bus.
The applicant must also show proof of having settled his dues to the state, of having regular technical and daily maintenance of the vehicles, special parking space and an appropriate number of drivers working for him.
The licence will be valid 4 years, however, it can be taken away if the transporter does not fulfill any of the foreseen criteria, then, if he carries out transport without keeping a timetable, if he fails to service the registered line for more than 7 days, if he does not stop at the designated spots, etc.
The international traffic is foreseen to be carried out according to the determined agreements with certain countries, and in case such agreements do not exist, then, on the basis of reciprocity.
The president of the Chamber of Commerce of Macedonia Dushan Petreski stated at yesterday's Assembly of the Chamber that in the first 2 months of this year, the drop in production in the state was 22.6%, while the same drop in the first 3 months is 18.6%.
On behalf of all the businessmen, he asked for financial support for the supply of raw materials and intermediate goods, as well as for revising the interest policy of the banks, that is, its coordination with the inflation, as well as the methodology for calculating the discount rate of the National Bank of Macedonia, as well as revising the rate of the denar, the protection policy, the strategy of exchange with abroad, and to intensify and round off the started reform processes for restructuring and privatization.
Speaking of the interest policy of the banks, Strasho Nelkovski, general director of "Makedonija Tabak" stated that his firm paid US$ 97 million for interest, while US$ 50 million were necessary for the purchase of the tobacco. He also opposed the policy of the banks for keeping the capital abroad and stated that Komercijalna banka is keeping US$ 48 million abroad, with a minimal interest of 3-4% yearly, and that money is welcome for the Macedonian economy.
Vasko Kostojchinovski also discussed this problem, director of the Skopje "Alumina," who said that last year, the interest was 154% at a yearly level, and that the situation is not much better this year.
Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski stated that the main aim of his government is the realization of the reforms, which in the long run, are scaled down to privatization of the companies with state-owned capital and rehabilitation of the banking system. He agreed with the businessmen that the interest policy of the commercial banking does not correspond with the inflation and that therefore, the National Bank of Macedonia gave a recommendation for their reduction. He, nevertheless, said that the interest rates will not be reduced through administrative means. As for the rate of the denar, Crvenkovski stated that he accepted every initiative for correction of the rate, but which will not be implemented with the printing of money. Such an initiative, Crvenkovski said, has still not been made.