MAK-NEWS 11/01/96 (M.I.C.)

From: "M.I.C." <[email protected]>

Macedonian Information Centre Directory

CONTENTS

SKOPJE, JANUARY 11, 1996 (MIC)

[01] GLIGOROV: "I AM COMING BACK NEXT WEEK"

President Gligorov said as follows: "We have passed another year filled with events that will leave deep traces in the history of this region, but also at large in the world. This was a year in which the international community gathered forces to prevent the further spreading of the most outrageous and horrible war conflict in Europe after the Second World War, by announcing peace in Bosnia as the only alternative and guarantee for peace in Europe. All of us, all the peace-loving countries and people in the world, must do our best for the implementation of the agreements, for the governing of peace.

The last year was extremely important for the rising international affirmation of our country," Gligorov said. "You have witnessed this development, and in addition to this, in the process of Macedonia's inclusion in the European and world's trends, you have incorporated your direct and personal contribution. The Republic of Macedonia, the Macedonian people, and all the citizens of our country, pay tribute and gratitude to you for this."

"I would like the difficulties and problems with which we were occupied in the last year never to be repeated again," Gligorov said. "We see the guarantee for this in the Accord that we signed with the neighborly Republic of Greece, whose implementation is in course. Moreover, the lifting of the embargo against our northern neighbor is another possibility for economic and every other kind of cooperation with the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, with which we are interested in normalizing relations as quickly as possible and in constructing cooperation between two equal countries. We are on the good road to promote relations with the other neighbors as well, with the Republic of Bulgaria and the Republic of Albania, in a way that will serve to the lasting interests of the nations, to peace, stability, and progress in the Balkans," President Gligorov emphasized.

"Finally, I have to recall the criminal attempt that took place on 3 October last year, when my life was attacked. Fortunately, it failed. Our country proved to be ready to endure such attacks. However, that was an occasion for other demonstrations - we, and the whole world, could see the great support and sympathies of a large number of statesmen and outstanding personalities from the whole world, we could see how many friends we have on all four sides of the world. I would personally like to thank you, dear friends, for your direct and humane engagement in the time during my recovery," said President Gligorov in announcing his come back to his presidential duties.

[02] DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH THE EU ESTABLISHED

The establishment of diplomatic relations with the EU, as yesterday's announcement of the Foreign Ministry announces, paves the way to closer relations and cooperation between the EU and the Republic of Macedonia, enables the realization of Macedonia's ambition for speedier accession to the EU and inclusion in the Union's programs for the Central and Eastern European countries. Altogether, this will present a significant impulse for the economic and political reforms in Macedonia that are underway, the announcement says.

Makfaks reports from Brussels that the European Commission should decide on the form and date for opening a diplomatic mission in Skopje soon, which automatically creates conditions for the opening of a Macedonian diplomatic mission with the EU.

As Makfaks reports, the establishment of diplomatic relations is one of the conditions for the start of a political dialogue and the negotiations for an Agreement on trade and cooperation between the EU and RM, which should start some time this month.

[03] STEVO CRVENKOVSKI: "STEP TOWARD FULL COOPERATION WITH EU"

[04] "RM NOT ACCEPTING DECISIONS OF SECURITY COUNCIL"

[05] RM EXPECTS DIRECT COMMAND OF UNPREDEP FROM NEW YORK

[06] UNPREDEP STILL NEEDED IN MACEDONIA

President Gligorov assessed that UNPREDEP's preventive role has proven to be exceptionally valuable for the stability in the south of the Balkans. In view of the general situation in the region, especially the future implementation of the peace accord for Bosnia-Herzegovina, Gligorov assessed there still is a need for UNPREDEP to stay in the Republic of Macedonia. In relation to this, he reiterated Macedonia's request for an autonomous and independent position of the UNPREDEP Command in Macedonia.

President Gligorov placed an emphasis on the question of future cooperation and friendship between the Balkan countries, underlining the importance of the Resolution for cooperation in the Balkans, which was recently adopted by the UN General Assembly, at Macedonia's initiative. In this sense, he especially stressed the significance of the recognition between the FRY and the other former YU countries, as an element of general stability in the Balkans.

The guest from the UN Kofi Annan assessed the presence of UNPREDEP in Macedonia as successful and as support of the stability and independence in the Republic, in the interest of the peace in the Balkans. In this context, he expressed the conviction that UNPREDEP will continue to stay in Macedonia, and that the independent position of the UNPREDEP Command is completely justified.

On this occasion, President Gligorov sent out an invitation to the UN Secretary-General Boutros Ghali to pay an official visit to the Republic of Macedonia.

Kofi Annan also had a meeting with Stojan Andov, at which they discussed the political situation in the Balkans, the peace processes in Bosnia, the situation in Macedonia and the relations with the neighboring countries.

MACEDONIAN PRESS REVIEW:

[07] "NOVA MAKEDONIJA": SILENCE - IN THE INTEREST OF INVESTIGATION

On the other hand, although all roads lead to him, investigative judge Vasilev, who has all data and findings concerning the hitherto investigation, refuses to give any comments. According to his statement for our newspaper yesterday, "the assessment is that all the materials and findings about the assassination attempt are not for the public," by which he practically repeated that the competent representatives keep quiet "in the interest of the investigation."

In such cases ordinary things happen -- speculations and unofficial data on the possible executors of the assassination attempt of 3 October appear. In the past period many of them have been published, some of which exclude each other, and yet they are imposed on the public because of the official "wall of silence." It is interesting that every unofficial version starts from the logical examination of the whole case, and thus even the newest speculation brings about several "sensational and spectacular" discoveries that contain some logic. One of these days there was a news spread among the public that the Macedonian police has serious tracks which lead to the inspirers of the assassination attempt against President Gligorov. They are allegedly people from Macedonia and the assassination attempt was ordered here and paid with money of domestic origin. For this purpose, according to the unofficial version, some foreign experts for explosives had also been engaged, while the preparations for the act itself had been organized and executed by some people from Skopje. This speculation excludes all hitherto unofficial information about the involvement of foreign intelligence services and even the statement of Interior Minister Frckovski on 26 October last year on the involvement of a "multi-national financial grouping from a neighborly country," because it fully returns the whole case on domestic grounds.

In any case, the seriousness of unofficial speculations, constructions, and assumptions is rising and we are again faced with a situation in which by refusing to face the public and thus suggesting that something is hidden from its eyes, the opposite effect is created.

(end)