MILS: News from the FYROM, 97-01-13

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From: "Macedonian Information Liaison Service" <[email protected]>

CONTENTS

[01] HEAD OF MACEDONIAN DIPLOMACY ON RELATIONS WITH NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES

[02] NOVA MAKEDONIJA: `TIRANA MANIFESTS DESIRE TO NORMALIZE RELATIONS WITH MACEDONIA'

[03] PUBLIC SECTOR INVESTMENT PROGRAMME UP TO 1999

[04] ON THE FUNCTIONING OF THE MACEDONIAN LONG-TERM STOCK EXCHANGE

[05] SLIGHT RISE OF `DM' VALUE

[06] FITUM: `GOVERNMENT AND SDSM ARE MAINLY RESPONSIBLE FOR BAD SOCIAL CONDITION OF MACEDONIAN POPULATION

[07] STRIKERS CONTINUE TO UPHOLD THEIR DEMANDS

[08] WIDE-SPREAD DISCONTENT REGARDING LAW ON PEDAGOGICAL FACULTY

[09] ANTI-MACEDONIAN ACTION AT LABUNISHTE AND PODGORCI

[10] IS THE FLU EPIDEMIC CONTAINED?

MILS SUPPLEMENT

[11] `ANNUAL REPORT ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN MACEDONIA'

MILS NEWS

Skopje, 13th January, 1997

[01] HEAD OF MACEDONIAN DIPLOMACY ON RELATIONS WITH NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES

Upon delving into relations with SR Yugoslavia, Minister Frchkovski indicated that the Fourth Session of the Joint Committee on Border Demarcation was in progress currently, and that it was to be entailed by a meeting supposed to complete demarcation. Minister Frchkovski evaluated the pace of progress regarding this matter as satisfactory.

Concerning the still unresolved name-issue with Greece, Frchkovski stated that international law supported Macedonia's claim. Thus the Macedonian option to address this issue should be accepted on an international level as well. Repeating once again that Macedonia would continue to exhibit goodwill to negotiate a solution which is mutually acceptable, Frchkovski expressed his optimism that Greece i.e. the international community would eventually endorse and accept the right of the Republic of Macedonia to also use its constitutional name on an international level. On speculations regarding a ministerial meeting between both parties, Frchkovski said that this depended - above all - from the Greek side as it had formally proposed such a meeting, but then postponed it.

The ratification of agreements with Albania - according to the Foreign Secretary - would only intensify the already solid relations with this country.

As far as relations with Bulgaria are concerned, Frchkovski assessed them as deadlocked due to the so-called `language- issue. Within this context he also claimed that the Macedonian side offered several compromises which `with a wee bit more rationality and honesty on the Bulgarian side, would generate chances to resolve this issue'.

[02] NOVA MAKEDONIJA: `TIRANA MANIFESTS DESIRE TO NORMALIZE RELATIONS WITH MACEDONIA'

These statements given by the Albanian Ambassador to Macedonia - as well as the recent visit of a PDP delegation to Tirana, during which they were received by the Head of the incumbent Democratic Party Tritan Shehu. This has been interpreted in political circles as a sign that Tirana is officially commencing to support the most representative party of Albanians in Macedonia, with which relations have been deadlocked for app. two years when the radical PDPA and NDP had been endorsed instead - assesses `Nova Makedonija'.

This daily claims that after two years of support rendered to the radical components of Macedonian Albanians, Tirana has manifested the desire to normalize its relations with Macedonia through its Ambassador in Skopje.

In order to achieve this, the paper states, it is relevant to address the condition of the Macedonian minority in Albania (according to some estimates it amounts to app. 200 000) in addition to Albanian demands in Macedonia - as well as the fact that Albania has still not recognized Macedonia by its constitutional name, thus making it the only country in the Balkans besides Greece that has failed to do so.

[03] PUBLIC SECTOR INVESTMENT PROGRAMME UP TO 1999

Projects contained within this programme have been divided into two categories, `Vecher' reports. The first group consists of projects already in implementation (with an already completed budget breakdown) - whereas the second group is comprised of projects which lack a completed budget (e.g. the `Kozjak' dam, the railway towards Bulgaria, etc.).

One of the larger projects in terms of new investments is embodied in the introduction of a gas pipeline for consumer use throughout Skopje worth 171 million dollars. The EBRD has already allocated 60 million DM for its implementation.

Other new projects are on a smaller scale and of local importance (e.g. local roads, water supplies systems, etc.), which means that they are to be financed out of the Budget.

The second group of projects, worth 913 million dollars, is to be funded through loans, direct joint ventures, concessions and donations. This is to procure funding for the `Chebren' Hydro Electric Plant (via concession), the Veles - Babuna - Prilep and Skopje - Tetovo motorways, the Veles - Shtip - Negotino gas pipeline, etc. The water supply systems `Lisiche' and `Zletovica' are to be financed through foreign donations.

[04] ON THE FUNCTIONING OF THE MACEDONIAN LONG-TERM STOCK EXCHANGE

Exchange records reveal that brokers had wrapped up 499 transactions on 56 meetings, which means that an average of 6.3 transactions had been conducted on each work day - yielding an average daily profit of 440.5 thousand denars or 16.6 thousand DM.

The above mentioned daily also reports that on the three markets incorporated into the Macedonian Long-Term Stock Exchange a total of 37 bonds had been offered throughout last year, with 8 being cited at the primary and secondary market. A National Bond has also been issued unto the primary market, in addition to two derivatives and bonds of the City Shopping Centre. The secondary market consisted of stocks issued by `Invest Banka' and `Balkanska Banka' - whereas the tertiary market is comprised of 29 stocks. In the opinion of Exchange Chairman Milcho Kjupev generated yields are in compliance to the expected upward trend - though forecasts had been more optimistic. The registered trend, however, is still one of moderate growth gaining momentum.

[05] SLIGHT RISE OF `DM' VALUE

[06] FITUM: `GOVERNMENT AND SDSM ARE MAINLY RESPONSIBLE FOR BAD SOCIAL CONDITION OF MACEDONIAN POPULATION

[07] STRIKERS CONTINUE TO UPHOLD THEIR DEMANDS

The depts. of another construction contractor, `Pelagonija', which have been striking separately have united their efforts now, formed a joint list of demands and asked the remaining depts. to join them to organize a general strike on 14th January... It has also been revealed that demands predominantly focused on the change of the current management and on reviewing privatization procedures.

The strike of the 3 200 `Makedonka' employees in Shtip is still going on as well, and the Strike Board continues insisting on forwarding withheld pay and changes in management. `Makedonka' has ceased to exist as a conglomerate, and is comprised of 8 entities at the moment.

Events connected to the `Veles-Prom' strike have obtained a tragic overtone, as around ten policemen, a court official and the current manager attempted to enter the facilities where a hunger strike is in progress. Several employees ruined this attempt and most recent information reveal that barricades have been built to prevent a repeated occurrence of forceful entering. It is being reported that employees fear court authorities in Veles have decided to hand facilities over to some of the creditors which would leave them out in the streets.

The strike of several employees of the `Continental' hotel - which has commenced prior to New Year's holiday season due to the negligence of the foreign partner to fulfill his obligations - is still in progress as well. The principal cause for this strike was the request of General Manager Antoine Yazbeck to be authorized by employees to represent their interests by handling their shares of the `Metropol' company, which also holds the `Continental'. A group of employees refused to give its consent which was entailed by the suspending of several of them. This eventually instigated their discontent and was conducive to the strike.

During this time, another group of employees of the `Continental' have formed an `Anti-Strike Committee', in order to oppose those demanding the resignation of Yazbeck.

Members of this Committee have stressed their content with the cooperation exhibited by the foreign partner represented by Director Yazbeck, and by what has been done for the hotel and its employees since their arrival three years ago.

[08] WIDE-SPREAD DISCONTENT REGARDING LAW ON PEDAGOGICAL FACULTY

According to today's edition of `Vecher' the Students' Federation of the `Ss. Cyril and Methodius' University of Skopje is endorsing this non- violent initiative instigated by the Students' Council at the `St. Clement of Ohrid' Pedagogical Faculty - as a symbol of its revolt regarding the announced enactment of the law on this tertiary education institution. Therefore the Students' Federation has launched an appeal to all university students - regardless of their religious and national affiliation - to attend the peaceful protest to be held in front of the University Rectorate, and the Government / Parliament of Macedonia.

The PDP parliament faction - according to `Dnevnik' - has decided to withhold support for the proposed bill for the Pedagogical Faculty, since in their opinion this represents an only partial solution of the minority language- issue in education. The proposed law - the release states - displeases Faculty officials as well, as they claim that it does not solve any problems - but rather generates new ones.

This in spite of the fact that this act of law - proposed by the Ministry of Education - had been denoted the solution to the boycott of Albanian students, which had been going on for months at the Pedagogical Faculty of Skopje since they demanded instruction in Albanian. The Albanian students also agree that the proposed law does not meet their requests, which is why they would have to insist on their fulfillment throughout the future.

[09] ANTI-MACEDONIAN ACTION AT LABUNISHTE AND PODGORCI

The Presidium considers this barbaric deed the consequence of hostile Greater Albania secessionism which is entering Macedonian Moslem villages on a religious basis, attempting to assimilate their population and develop Islamic radicalism - particularly after establishing a faction of the Bosnian Moslem fundamentalist SDA party at Labunishte and Podgorci. According to the Society the key ones responsible for this is the incumbent party in this region.

[10] IS THE FLU EPIDEMIC CONTAINED?

According to the National Health Care Institute the figure of 787 patients obtained on 9th January in Skopje indicates that the epidemic is regressing. Conditions throughout other towns appear to be similar. The statement issued by the National Health Care Institute on Friday reveals that initial research conducted on the virus have revealed that it is of the A-2 type, which has been present in Macedonia for many years. The prevailing opinion of the media nevertheless remains that it is too early to predict whether conditions will become more stable this week, or whether expansion of the epidemic is regressing.

MILS SUPPLEMENT

[11] `ANNUAL REPORT ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN MACEDONIA - Cases and Responses - Capital Punishment AD HOC'

(`Helsinki Committee for Human Rights' - 10th issue, December 1996)

The year 1996 will be remembered, within the history of the Macedonian Republic generated after the proclamation of its independence in 1991, as the year in which the new judiciary system was established - via the enactment of the Judiciary Bill and the Criminal Prosecution Procedures Law. Other bills being drafted currently refer to suits and minor offences. According to government officials all these acts of law have been previously submitted to the Council of Europe for analysis, which resulted in a satisfactory and even favourable assessment. All suggestions made by the Council of Europe have been taken up and integrated within these laws. The Macedonian Helsinki Committee for Human Rights hopes that this will improve the implementation of human rights and diminish their violating.

1996 could also be considered important due to the fact that local elections have been held for the first time, which symbolized the country's sitting an examination in the subject of democracy - challenging another fundamental human right: the right to choose freely.

Besides the fact that 1996 is characterized by the largest number of human rights violations, caused by the lack of conscience exhibited by individual police officers - as well as by the principal judicial instance which, while falling back on some sort of discretional right, has frequently succeeded in breaching human rights in cases concerning the acquisition of citizenship or identification documents. It very often occurred that this instance did not execute, ergo not heed, the rulings passed by the Supreme Court.

LOCAL ELECTIONS 1996: the first local elections in compliance to new legal provisions were staged in November and December throughout Macedonia; the previous ones were still organized according to old Socialist regulations - and based on the then valid territorial division.

The actual progressing of local elections entails the conclusion that both the Law on Local Elections and the one outlining the new territorial division have caused a great deal of trouble to state administration, as it has not succeeded in staging these elections without the emerging of numerous technical difficulties.

Helsinki Committee observers registered a considerable amount of irregularities affecting the technical aspect of elections. One of the main problems thus were unregulated electorate registers, i.e. voter registration. There were cases when voters simply could not find their names on the lists - in spite of their being previously registered. At newly-established polling stations there had also been problems as regards the implementation of the electorate's right to vote, thus in some instances the number of unregistered voters rose up to 20%. It is indeed difficult to assess the impact of this kind of irregularity upon election outcomes. Regardless of all the afore said, the mere fact that this is the second occurrence of this deficiency (inappropriate electorate registers) since the last parliamentary elections in 1994 only augments the suspicion that some sort of intention may be hidden behind all of this.

In addition to this, at several polling stations - in West Macedonia first and foremost - there have been numerous violations of voting procedures themselves, such as the breaching of the pre-election moratorium, overt propaganda operations in front of polling stations and in some cases even physical violence and the destruction of balloting boxes. The Election Commissions also, if the truth be said, were not always completely conscientious in their work, i.e. they openly violated provisions - most often in favour of the incumbent party...

...to be continued.

(end)

mils news 13 January 1997

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