MAK-NEWS 06/10/95 (M.I.C.)

From: "M.I.C." <[email protected]>

Macedonian Information Centre Directory

CONTENTS

SKOPJE, OCTOBER 6, 1995 (MIC)

[01] PRESIDENT'S HEALTH CONDITION WITHOUT CHANGES

Yesterday, control diagnostic procedures were made. The results are satisfactory, is said in the latest bulletin on the President's health condition, released late last night.

Yesterday a team of doctors from Ljubljana and London visited the President.

The opinions regarding the therapeutic procedures are identical with the therapy that is being applied. His health condition is being maintained stable. The intensive care is continuing.

According to "Vecer" sources from doctors' circles, the President is feeling well, he has started regaining consciousness and is reacting to instructions and mechanical stimulation, with which he is giving signs of total regaining of consciousness.

At around 14.00 hours yesterday, the President was again taken to the Institute of Radiology, where a computerized tomography of the brain and head was made for the third time. According to unofficial sources, the results are good and within expectations. The dynamics of the development of the post- operative period will be constantly monitored.

The medical teams from FR Yugoslavia, Greece and France, who took part in the post-operational consultations, left the expert team of neurosurgeons yesterday morning, however, saying they would return to Macedonia immediately, if the need arises. Otherwise, at around 12.00 o'clock yesterday, a Slovenian anesthesiologist from the Clinical Center in Ljubljana arrived at the surgical clinics with the Medical faculty. The eminent and well-known neurosurgeon Lindsy Simon from London also arrived in Skopje yesterday evening, with his expert team and equipment.

Yesterday morning, President Gligorov was visited by his wife Nada Gligorova, Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski and Government spokesman Gjuner Ismail.

There was a lot of commotion around the Clinical Center within the Medical faculty yesterday, although the surgical area is still under strict security control. Helicopters are constantly landing and taking off the heliport, transporting the experts who are taking care of the President.

[02] PRESS IN U.S.: "CONCERN FOR MACEDONIA"

"Gligorov has managed to keep the ethnic peace and to deter the war in former Yugoslavia from spreading to the south," the "New York Times" writes yesterday. The newspaper quotes foreign diplomats as saying that they welcome the appointment of an interim president, since it is in line with the Constitution. The diplomats pointed out that it is unlikely that Gligorov, who has sustained serious injuries to his brain, will be able to carry out his duties again.

The western diplomats are not expecting any radical changes following the transfer of power in the country, however, are expressing certain concern, the "New York Times" writes. Quoting Victor Comras that "Andov is pro-American, pro-Western and an advocate of market economy," the "New York Times" also states the opinion of a well-known Macedonian intellectual who said he was worried because Andov lacked political wisdom, flexibility and Gligorov's popularity.

A European diplomat described the attempted assassination as "very professional," stating that it is very possible that the bombers could have been trained outside Macedonia. Although underlining that he did not have any strong evidence, the diplomat stated that he suspected Bulgarian extremists. The "New York Times" points out that although Bulgaria has recognized Macedonia's independence, it has not recognized the Macedonians as a separate nation.

The newspaper also states the opinions of some Macedonians who suspect extremist Macedonian nationalists or extremist ethnic Albanians.

"No matter who is responsible," the "New York Times" concludes, "the violence comes at a time when things started looking up for Macedonia," however, reminds that, still, the country is located in the Balkans.

The "Chicago Tribune" quotes the doctors who are optimistic that Gligorov will survive this ordeal, adding that, however, his political future is becoming uncertain.

The same newspaper writes that even before the attack, some observers warned of growing danger, pointing out the announced protest of the Macedonian nationalists, the re- assertion of the opposition of the Albanians against the Government and their demands for a separate Albanian states.

[03] GERMAN PRESS: "A BLOW TO THE CORNERSTONE OF PEACE"

The German press paid a lot of attention to attempted assassination yesterday, as well. The media are still condemning this act, which could lead to destabilization of the southern part of the Balkans.

In the commentary of the "Sud Deutsche Zeitung," the Macedonian President is characterized as a rare cornerstone of stability in the Balkans, adding that the very careful and restrained Gligorov was the only statesman in the Balkan regions who could pull his country out of war. The newspaper made a retrospective of Gligorov's activities during the rule of Tito, who "stood out especially with his civilized openness to the world."

[04] BULGARIAN MINISTER KNOWS WHO THE ASSASSINS ARE

The Bulgarian Interior Minister Ljubomir Nacev stated yesterday that the health condition of the Macedonian President is much more critical than it is presented to be in the official versions, Makpress reports.

Nacev emphasized that the attempted assassination on Gligorov was the work of four Macedonian citizens, and refused to give out any more details about this issue.

The spokesman of the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry dismissed all speculations about "Bulgarian links" with the assassination attempt on Gligorov.

[05] BRITISH ANTI-TERRORIST TEAM ARRIVES

At the request of the Macedonian Government, a five- member team of the London Metropolitan Police arrived in Skopje yesterday afternoon, to help in the investigation into the attempted assassination on President Kiro Gligorov. According to the information of the embassy of the Kingdom of Great Britain in Skopje, the members of the team are from the anti-terrorist department and are with enormous experience.

[06] SUCCESSFUL TALKS IN ATHENS

The team of experts from the Macedonian Foreign Ministry returned from talks in Athens yesterday, on the implementation of the provisions from the Interim Accord between Macedonia and Greece, signed in New York on the 13th of September. It was concluded that the talks were held in a working and constructive atmosphere, whereby a number of proposals and possible solutions were noted down, which should present a basis for the agreement that is scheduled to be signed at the next meeting of the delegations of the Macedonian and Greek foreign ministries, next week in Skopje.

Yesterday's issue of "Ta Nea" says that Athens and Skopje have agreed on around 80% of the practical measures on the implementation of the New York Accord.

MACEDONIAN PRESS REVIEW:

[07] "VECER": SLIP-UPS FOR RESPONSIBILITY?

At least three facts point to inconsistencies and slip- ups in the security of President Gligorov, who was injured in the attempted assassination which took place on Tuesday afternoon.

Firstly, the presidential car, although probably the most secured vehicle in the country, was not even armored. The excuse that an armored vehicle was not provided because it is too expensive, which was given by the chief of security Nikolovski, was received in the public with surprise and disapproval. Few could have thought that the state could not set aside half a million Deutsche marks (and probably not even that much) for the security of its head of state, under conditions when the state motor pool is not that modest and unrenewed.

Are there that strong "economic" reasons that can justify this obvious omission of the Government? Many would say: now, when the worst thing happened, everyone's selling a peace of their mind. Others would note: if the Government spent half a million Deutsche marks under these destitute conditions, the journalists would have been the first to throw sticks and stones at it. It may be so. However, one would think that there is someone in this country instructed and paid to think about the worst things that could happen, without paying any attention to comments in the public.

Secondly, the chief of security Nikolovski admitted that the security standards require the President to sit in the back seat in his car. However, the President sat in the front seat, next to the driver, because he insisted on that himself, the chief of security claims. And, he thinks this says it all.

Is that so? The head of state shouldn't and mustn't be burdened with questions of his own security. The President didn't have to accept the advice of the people from the security, simply because he didn't even have to think about all those details at all. It was the job of the chief of security to uphold the security standards at any cost. People who know Gligorov say that all that was necessary was to be more persistent to achieve that.

As third, Nikolovski still owes the public an explanation as to the standards according to which it was planned for the presidential vehicle to be accompanied by only one vehicle, instead of two.

It is also unclear why that precise route that crosses the street "Macedonia" was chosen, when the traffic conditions in this area dictate slow movement and therefore, unsafe conditions for the presidential car. Even this doesn't end the list of doubts.

Let it be clear: no one doubts the devotion of the people from the president's security. One of them, the driver Aleksandar Spirovski even laid down the most valuable thing - his life, in the line of service. Also, no one doubts that all those valuable people would do everything in their power to protect the President. Many things would be done and fixed if "time could be turned back."

But still, now that the most terrible thing has happened, those responsible must feel and publicly demonstrate moral responsibility. It should be like that even if the security had really been in line with the standards that can be compared to world standards. Now, when the public is forced to remind those responsible of the words "responsibility," even the eventual consequences are losing sense. Somehow, ....it's not worth it.

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