A Macedonian state delegation paid homage yesterday to the Slav saint and educator St. Cyril of Thessaloniki, as part of the ceremony "Macedonia in the honor of St. Cyril." President Kiro Gligorov laid a wreath at his grave in the basilica of the Roman church "San Clemente," while the Head of the Macedonian Orthodox Church (MOC) Archbishop Mihail held a solemn liturgy in the honor of the great Christian educator.
On his second day in Rome, the Macedonian President met with his Italian counterpart Oscar Louigi Scalfarro. Participating in the meeting was also Macedonian Foreign Minister Stevo Crvenkovski.
The Macedonian church delegation, led by Archbishop Mihail, was received in a special audience by the Head of the Roman-Catholic church Pope John Paul II. This is the first time for a Macedonian archbishop to be received by the Pope.
The impression from the friendly and sincere talks between presidents Gligorov and Scalfarro is that there are extremely good relations between Italy and Macedonia, which will continue to develop, and that Italy will continue giving support to Macedonia in all processes of European integration.
"We presented our views on the situation in the former Yugoslav regions to President Scalfarro. Our viewpoint is that a division of Bosnia & Herzegovina must not be allowed, as we have seen that despite all ethnic cleansing, an ethnically clean state can not be made. The next step would be the mutual recognition of the former YU republics and to enable those countries that have taken the course of European integration to get on the right path as easily as possible. Divisions on the Balkans based on religious grounds are impermissible," President Gligorov told the press after the talks.
The Italian side has announced its readiness to help in Macedonia's development, with an emphasis on the East-West corridor and the advancement of the cultural cooperation.
In the meeting with the head of the MOC, the first Head of an Orthodox church with whom the Pope is meeting, after sending his apostolic letter initiating reconciliation between the Catholic West and the Orthodox East, Pope John Paul II was interested in the situation in Macedonia, especially the spiritual and cultural situation in Macedonia and the activities of the MOC in the development of Christian values and evangelic principles.
On his behalf, and on behalf of the church delegation, which was accompanied by the bishop of Skopje and Prizren Joakim Herbut and the Macedonian ambassador to the Vatican Dimitar Mirchev, Archbishop Mihail pointed out his satisfaction with the cooperation between the MOC and the Roman-Catholic church.
The University "Cyril and Methodius" yesterday formally commemorated its holiday, in the presence of the state leadership and diplomatic corps.
The day of "Sts. Cyril and Methodius" was also formally celebrated in Bulgaria and Russia. In Bulgaria, it was done with a special emphasis on the "Bulgarian character" of this holiday, as well as the Slav educators Cyril and Methodius.
"The Social-Democratic Union of Macedonia is rejecting the unfounded attacks and accusations of the Liberal party of Macedonia of allegedly embezzling its money, intended to cover the elections costs, in line with the decision of the State Election Committee, and in relation to which every interested subject can be presented with appropriate financial documentation," is said in the press release of the SDUM.
Further on, it says: "This media 'event' which is initiated these last couple of days by an important coalition partner in the Macedonian Government, is raising questions and dilemmas which can rightfully bring into question the publicly declared readiness of the LP to draw up a joint platform for future activities of the government and parliamentary coalition. However, in spite of everything, the SDUM, governed foremost by the state, national and vital interests of the citizens of the RM, has no intention of delving into the true motives and intentions of this coalition partner, nor will it do anything that could disrupt the initial goals and motives for the formation of the Alliance for Macedonia."
On the issue of the problems between the coalition partners SDUM and LP, prof. Svetomir Skarich gave a statement for "Vecer," who sees the basis for these happenings in the legitimacy of the elections.
"The Alliance for Macedonia starred at the elections. It was an election block with its own physiognomy, program, and above all, the entire block was connected with one figure - the President of state. From a sociological and political aspect, the Alliance for Macedonia appeared as one party then, with one leader of that party. The people, the voters gave their votes for one such subject, under the supposition all together, united. Thus, the legitimacy of the elections was given to one such subject, an entity," prof. Skarich explains.
From a political viewpoint, prof. Skarich claims that "according to the logics of the process, they must be one and united until the next elections. It's quite logical, since they were united in the election process, for them to be united in the formation of the Government and all its activities!"
Prof. Skarich agrees that the Alliance has been used only to win power, which is normal, however, "obviously they thought more about how to win that power, than how to keep it and how it will be realized in the future."
"It's normal for something that hasn't been cleared up to create problems in the functioning. The parties that went to the elections as a monolith entity, now want to act as partners. And, they weren't that at the elections. Their legitimacy isn't as for partners, but as one subject. Therefore, now the term partners is causing problems. However, in practice, it is coming to partnership, which is in direct collision with their own legitimacy, it is diminishing. That contradictory situation will have to be cleared up at the next elections. It's a question whether one such construction will be able to survive, or it will have to be physiognomized," Skarich says.
In the context of the legitimacy, prof. Skarich notes that "the way the parties act now, they're cheating the voters, because, whichever way it is put, the voters did not vote for separate parties, but for one entity - the Alliance for Macedonia."
Noting that the Alliance is not registered as a separate political subject, as a party, the fact nevertheless remains that the bad profile, fro the aspect of legitimacy, can bear consequences at the next elections, prof. Skarich says. "And what they will be, will be judged by the previous, but also the eventual future coalition disputes."
Musli Alimi (47) from Tetovo was sentenced eight months in prison yesterday by the Council of the Municipal court in Tetovo, for committing the act "participation in a crowd that will prevent an official person from carrying out his duties."
Musli Alimi, who was a professor of Roman Law at the University in Prishtina, decided to remain silent in court yesterday. It was proven that Musli had taken part in the demonstrations in Mala Rechica on February 17.
A delegation of 6 executive directors of the World Bank arrived in Macedonia yesterday, as part of their visit to a number of countries in transition. The delegation is comprised of Evelyn Herfkens, Hugh Evans, Leonard Gudd, Michael Mark, Abdul Kerim Lodi and Kim O' Tanat. During their stay, according to the Information Secretariat, the delegation will hold talks in the Government and with Prime Minister Crvenkovski, as well as the governor of the National Bank of Macedonia. The delegation will visit a number of companies in the country.
The first filling of the gas line system is planned for the second half of September, this year, which will practically mean that the system will be ready before the heating season starts. The definite determination of the deadline for turning the system on has been prolonged 2 months, because of the problems that have come up during the construction of the gas line. The gas line will not be finished until the problems which appeared due to the intersection of the gas line with the railroad track toward Bulgaria are not overcome. Seven such spots have been determined on a stretch of 2 km, so the re-location of the gas line will start in June, and last 3-4 months.
The costs of re-locating the gas line will fall at the expense of the investor in the track - the Macedonian Government, and are expected to reach US$ 1.5 million. As for the number of industrial consumers, of the initial 14, now there are 40, and 20 of them have already signed agreements for the long-term delivery of the natural gas.
US$ 5 million are expected to be spent on adapting the consumers, and these funds have to be allocated to the firms in the form of credits from the budget and the European bank.
The Ohrid stock company for the production of textiles and leather has signed an agreement with partners in Italy, for the delivery of 170,000 meters of artificial fur on the Italian market. To make profits, the factory has to provide a market for 350,000 meters of artificial fur.
Recently, "Otex" started working as a holding company of 20 firms, with limited liability. By the end of the year, it is expected to realize exports of 20 million DM.
The citizens of Macedonia can leave hard currencies, numismatic objects and valuable documents in the personal safety deposit- boxes of "Komercijalna" and "Stopanska banka."
"Stopanska banka" has 3,000 deposit-boxes in eight sizes and monthly renting costs 160 to 360 denars (US$ 4.2 to 9.4), depending on the size of the deposit-box. The owner is guaranteed privacy, and the deposit-box department is open from Monday to Friday from 8 to 14.00 hours. Around half of the deposit-boxes have already been rented out to citizens.
"Komercijalna banka" also has deposit-boxes, and it is renting them out from MKD 110 to 385 (US$ 2.9 to 10) per month, depending on the size of the box, and there are five sizes. The department is open from 7.30 to 14.30 hours from Monday to Friday, however, the bank is making efforts to keep this department working on also on Saturdays.