MAK-NEWS 08/02/96 (M.I.C.)

From: "M.I.C." <[email protected]>

Macedonian Information Centre Directory

CONTENTS

SKOPJE, FEBRUARY 8, 1996 (MIC)

[01] REACTIONS FOLLOWING ADDRESS OF PRESIDENT GLIGOROV TO PUBLIC

At the expanded session of the Central Committee of the Social-Democratic Alliance of Macedonia, on February 6, with the participation of the SDAM parliamentary group, the members of the Macedonian Government from SDAM, as well as the presidents of the municipal party organizations were informed by the Prime Minister and president of SDAM Branko Crvenkovski, about the thorough reconstruction of Government, the party says in its announcement.

Following the constructive debate, the central committee accepted the to-date results from the consultations on the reconstruction of the Government, giving full and unanimous support to president Branko Crvenkovski and the party presidency for the full realization of the conclusions from the previous session of the Central Committee, which contains the stance of the new Macedonian Government not to have representatives of the Liberal Party in its ranks.

Considering Mr. Gligorov's appeal in his public address, the announcement says, the SDAM is expressing readiness to present the reasons for taking such a stance, in a direct meeting with the Liberal Party.

Moreover, the Central Committee advised president Crvenkovski to inform the public about the reconstructed government list, by the end of the week, at the latest, the SDAM announcement says.

[02] LIBERAL PARTY: READINESS TO SETTLE SITUATION IN ALLIANCE

[03] PDP: GOVERNMENT WITH ALL PARTNERS IN COALITION

PDP believes that the interests of the state should be above all, especially narrow-party interests. If the members of the Alliance for Macedonia, the Liberal Party and the Social- Democratic Alliance can not overcome their mutual problems, in the interest of the state and in the interest of an efficient and stable government, then each of these parties should bear the responsibility for its future moves and acts.

[04] STATEMENTS IN "NOVA MAKEDONIJA" ON OCCASION OF GLIGOROV'S APPEAL

The reason is simple: none of the parties had a clear program and well thought-out reforms. They had too many figures for whom power was not a means, put a final objective. There are too many figures whose moral matrix is "all means are allowed in politics." If it is so, then the seeming functioning or definite break-up of that Alliance has always been clear to us."

TIHOMIR JOVANOVSKI (Dr. Prof. at Faculty of Economy) says: "I followed President Gligorov's statement with great interest and I feel his address points to the realization that the parties in the coalition need to have a different approach, when it comes to global interests - economic, social, political, than the interests of individual members in the Alliance. Certain leaders and leaderships in the Alliance should consider the fact that they should have a greater level of respect for Gligorov, and if that is not realized, I personally feel that his personality is not respected, as well as everything the President has done, which could have grave consequences for Macedonia and the parties from the Alliance, when they come out at the next elections.

ANTE POPOVSKI (writer and former president of MAAK): "I see President Gligorov's address more as an address to the public than to the political parties, which is coming at the last moment, after probably all other political means have been exhausted, in order to ensure political tolerance between the parties who had joined their interests before the elections. Despite the discreetness and political tact, President Gligorov's address implicitly contains a high degree of anxiety in relation to the uncertainty on an internal-political plan. The conflict in the Alliance has reached a degree of boiling point and it is only a question of time when it is formally broken up.

Macedonia is governed by autocratic political groups that can not bury the differences between them until one of them completely takes over the political space in the country. The internal-political situation in Macedonia is in the sign of great social tensions and unrest. The power-struggle in the Alliance is quickly transforming this situation in a political demonstration for early elections. Now, it's up to the wisdom of the political opposition to assess how to approach this situation. Since, I don't rule out quick and new political re-groupings in the Macedonian political space."

[05] MACEDONIAN AMBASSADOR TO U.S.A. SUBMITS LETTERS OF CREDENCE TO PRESIDENT CLINTON

On this occasion, ambassador Acevska conveyed the greetings from President Kiro Gligorov and underlined Macedonia's strong orientation to continue the democratic processes and economic reforms, as well as the efforts to achieve peace and stability in the region, and wider. In thanking President Clinton for the help his country is giving Macedonia, especially through the preventive deployment of U.S. troops as part of the UN forces, ambassador Acevska expressed the conviction that the friendly relations between Macedonia and U.S. will continue to develop.

In welcoming ambassador Acevska to the U.S. and wishing her much success in her work, President Clinton emphasized that Macedonia presents an essential factor of peace and stability in the Balkans. In this sense, underlining Macedonia as a positive example, that should be followed by the other in the region, President Clinton expressed gratitude for the good cooperation and the acceptance of the U.S. forces as part of UNPREDEP. Furthermore, President Clinton expressed hope and readiness to strengthen the friendly relations and cooperation between the U.S.A. and Macedonia.

In continuation, Clinton mentioned the assassination attempt on President Gligorov, saying he was very pleased with his speedy recovery and his return to his duties. Clinton added: "Your authorities have picked the peaceful way of resolving the disputes with the neighbors. Over the past year, a great deal of progress was achieved in the relations with one of your neighbors. We congratulate your leaders for their efforts for peace and hope that the other will follow this example.

In spite of the economic losses caused partly by the consequences from the war in the region and the embargo, your Government has managed to maintain the course of economic reform and has made enormous strides in improving the life of its citizens. We praise your efforts in relation to the curbing of the inflation and the privatization of the economy and hope that you will achieve even greater success in these fields. The integration in the family of nations, especially the integration with the West has made a lasting mark on last year. I congratulate you on your accession to the 'Partnership for peace' program, to the OSCE, and the Council of Europe. Your participation in these organizations is not only in your interest, but in the interest of the international community, as well," President Clinton said.

[06] THESSALONIKI WITH LOCAL BORDER STATUS

The issue of local border traffic will also be discussed. It has been announced that Macedonia will ask for EU support to realize this type of economic and other cooperation with the Republic of Greece, and especially with the Union.

[07] LOCAL BORDER TRAFFIC BETWEEN BITOLA AND LERIN

[08] "AUSTRIA AIRLINES" OPENS NEW AIR ROUTE

[09] 4 DEGREE EARTHQUAKE IN SKOPJE

MACEDONIAN PRESS REVIEW:

[10] "NOVA MAKEDONIJA": RECONSTRUCTED GOVERNMENT WITHOUT LIBERALS

The session resulted with the Central Board's view that the government should be formed without the liberals and yesterday morning an unofficial list of the possible new ministers was released.

It was emphasized that there would be additional consultations about some of the names [of the ministers] and sectors, but reliable sources say that it is clear that the prime minister will offer the members of parliament a list of names of ministers that exceeds one third of the present Government, which automatically implies a parliamentarian debate and voting for new Government. This reconstruction will be also used for filling-in vice premier vacancies in the Government and for appointment of deputy ministers.

We found out that Jane Miljovski, who is now minister of finance, will become the first vice premier without portfolio. According to the unofficial proposal of the premier, second vice premier will be Bekir Zuta, who will also be in charge of the ministry of economy, which is now headed by Risto Ivanov, a liberal. The third vice premier would be Ljube Trpevski from the Socialist Party, who has so far been a minister without portfolio.

In addition to the mentioned changes, including the replacement of the minister of economy, new ministers will be appointed to the following ministries: Slobodan Unkovski is to replace Estref Aliu, present minister if culture; as new foreign minister, and this is one of the sectors that will be further discussed, Ljubomir Frckovski is now mentioned, who is presently minister of the interior. In such a case, Vlado Popovski, now minister of justice, would come to the position of minister of the interior (it is also possible that the two ministers retain their present positions). In that case, there are speculations that the PDP [Party for Democratic Prosperity] would fill-in the vacancy in the ministry of justice, and here the name of a member of parliament and high-ranking official is mentioned, but it seems that an agreement on this position has not been reached yet. In the new division of the posts, the PDP is expected to have five instead of the hitherto four ministerial positions in the Government.

The position minister of finance, which will be vacant after the appointment of Jane Miljovski as vice premier, has been offered to Taki Fiti. There will be some changes in the ministry of education, where Emilija Simovska is expected to be replaced by Sofija Todorova, the current minister of science. So, this rotation would produce another vacancy and, as we found out, it is expected to be filled-in by the new partner in the government coalition. Namely, the Albanian Democratic Alliance-Liberal Party [ADS-LP] is expected to join the reconstructed Government and fill-in the vacant place of the minister of science.

We also found out that the Social Democratic Party will be also included in the coalition, but we were not able to find out which ministry would be headed by its member. On the other hand, two more ministerial positions, which have been so far occupied by the Liberal Party, will remain vacant -- the minister of agriculture, which has been so far occupied by Ivan Angelov, and a minister without portfolio, that is the position of Sasko Stefkov.These positions are expected to be filled-in by some new members of Government. The rumors are that only Bekir Zuta will remain from the PDP, while its other three ministers are leaving. So, this party is expected to offer new people for the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy, which was so far headed by Ilijaz Sabriu, as well as for the position of minister without portfolio that is presently occupied by Muhamed Halili, and if it is definitely agreed that the PDP is going to have five ministerial positions, they will additionally inform about the name of this person.

Our sources say that the following ministers will hold their positions in Crvenkovski's reconstructed Cabinet: Blagoj Handziski, minister of defense, Dimitar Buzlevski, minister of transport, Ilija Filipce, minister of health, and Jorgo Sundovski, minister of urbanism, construction, and ecology.

61 Votes are needed for a substantial reconstruction of the Government. Without taking into the account the calculations about the further possible events, let us just mention the present number of parliamentarian groups. Out of the total number of 120 members of parliament, the SDSM [Social Democratic Alliance of Macedonia] has 59, and it is in coalition with the SDPM [Social Democratic Party of Macedonia], which has one member of parliament, the Liberal Party has 29 members of parliament, the PDP has 10 plus two former members of the NDP [People's Democratic Party], who joined it additionally, the Socialist Party has 7, the NDP two, the PCERM [Party for Full Emancipation of Romanies in Macedonia] two, the DPT-PDA [Democratic Party- Party for Democratic Action]-Islamic Road coalition has one, the DPM [Democratic Party of Macedonia] one, the PDPA [Party for Democratic Prosperity of Albanians] five, and there is one independent member of parliament.

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