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MILS: News from the FYROM, 97-05-12Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: "Macedonian Information Liaison Service" <[email protected]>CONTENTS
MILS SUPPLEMENTMILS NEWSSkopje, 12 May, 1997[01] IMF: `HIGHLY FAVOURABLE IMPRESSIONS ON STABILIZATION PROGRAMME AND REFORMS'IMF President Michel Camdessus - who has been staying in Macedonia for the past three days - has aired a highly favourable opinion with regards to the Stabilization Programme and ongoing reforms, while underlining that Macedonia represented a positive example for all countries in transition. In this context Camdessus emphasised the Fund's continuing readiness to support Macedonia. This is being revealed in the press release issued following the meeting between the IMF Head and President Kiro Gligorov, held in Ohrid last Friday.According to the latter, Gligorov expressed his gratitude for the support of stabilization processes in Macedonia rendered by the Fund so far. In his opinion this represented a sign of approval and encouragement to adhere to the course of a market economy and integrating the country into international economic and political trends. During his visit to Macedonia Michel Camdessus has also been received by Parliamentary Chairman Tito Petkovski, by PM Branko Crvenkovski and he also had talks with the coordinators of parliamentary factions, the Head of the Macedonian Economic Chamber Dushan Petrevski - as well as with IMRO-DPMNE leader Ljupcho Georgievski. Media report that during these meetings Camdessus stressed that the IMF would continue its present policy of rendering complete support to reforms - bearing in mind economic trends and needs. Towards the end of his visit, Camdessus said that Macedonia's biggest problems are the high unemployment rate and its brittle foreign policy. [02] CROATIAN-MACEDONIAN FREE TRADE ZONE AGREEMENT SIGNEDCroatian and Macedonian Prime Ministers Zlato Matesha and Branko Crvenkovski have signed the bilateral free trade zone (the result of several months of cooperation) agreement in Skopje last Friday. This Agreement outlines the suspending of all tax in the domain of bilateral trade, except for the 1% for customs procedures. The trade of industrial products is to be conducted without any limitations, while agricultural produce and food are to be listed on concessions registers. Macedonia is to protect its agricultural production and food produce through quantitative restrictions, while Croatia is to protect its production of fruit and vegetables, food and tobacco products. MTV reports that both Prime Ministers stated after the signing of the treaty that relations between both countries are on an enviable level and that there were no unaddressed bilateral issues.In addition to this the Croatian PM has also been received by President Kiro Gligorov and Parliamentary Chairman Tito Petkovski, while separate bilateral meetings were also held between the Ministers of Justice; of Agriculture and Forestry; of Navigation, Transportation and Communications and of Social Service. On this occasion the Ministers of Justice stressed the necessity of an expedient ratification of treaties on extradition and transfer of convicts, while the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry agreed to place Macedonian agricultural produce on Croatian markets and the Macedonian deficit in raw materials and final products is to by covered from Croatia. In the field of communications it has been determined that the establishing of an optic cable link is of priority, as well as the activating of the road and railway section of the for now most efficient link from West Europe - SE Europe - the Near East. The Ministers of Labour and Social Services have used the opportunity to exchange information on the imminent implementation of the treaty on social security. [03] VISIT OF AUSTRIAN PARLIAMENTARY CHAIRMAN COMPLETEDUpon invitation of Macedonian Parliamentary Chairman Tito Petkovski, his Austrian counterpart Heinz Fischer has been staying in Macedonia over the past three days. During his encounters with top political officials (President Gligorov, Parliamentary Chairman Tito Petkovski, PM Branko Crvenkovski, Foreign Secretary Ljubomir Frchkovski, Mayor Risto Penov and Parliamentary faction Coordinators), Fischer discussed current conditions in the country and in the region, political and economic reforms, the establishment of European criteria and standards in all fields, etc. Talks also brought forward the content of the positive development of bilateral relations, while the Austrian side emphasised its commitment to support Macedonian endeavours to achieve admission in international structures, European associations and collective security structures. It has been stated that economic cooperation is to be improved considerably, should the concept on investing Austrian capital via Vienna-based `Giro Kredit Bank' be implemented in cooperation with `Komercijalna Banka.'[04] DEFENCE COOPERATION AGREEMENT WITH ITALYUpon his first official visit to Macedonia, Italian Defence Secretary Benjamino Andreatta and his host Blagoj Handzhiski have signed a bilateral Defence Cooperation Agreement past Friday. Official sources reveal that the treaty codifies the foundation for an extremely elaborate cooperation in the defence domain between both countries. This Agreement is thus of particular importance to Macedonia, as Italy is one of the most influential countries in Europe (especially within collective security structures) and as this is the 9th treaty of this kind signed with NATO or `PFP' member- states.Throughout his visit to Macedonia the Italian Defence Secretary Andreatta spoke with President Gligorov and PM Crvenkovski, in addition to talks with his Macedonian counterpart. [05] CUSTOMS COOPERATION AGREEMENT WITH TURKEYLast Friday a bilateral Customs Cooperation Agreement has been signed in Ankara, by Turgul Atature, Under-Secretary of the Head of Turkish Customs Services and Iljo Iljoski (Head of Macedonian Customs Services HQ). This treaty standardizes regular procedures between both services, with the objective to increase efficiency in terms of implementing legal provisions and the more successful countering of their abuse - according to the information released by the Customs Services of Macedonia.[06] PRESIDENT GLIGOROV: `DIFFERENTIATING BETWEEN NOTIONS REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA AND GEOGRAPHICAL MACEDONIA'During his meeting with the group of Greek journalists at Ohrid, Macedonian President Gligorov advocated the differentiating between the notion `Republic of Macedonia' and its geographical variant. He stressed that the Republic of Macedonia represented a concrete state with its own borders, its own culture and its own Constitution. `Nova Makedonija' reports that Greece's resistance with regards to the name is unfounded which - in his opinion - was becoming increasingly clearer to the Greek population as well. Gligorov further added that it was quite decisively determined by the Macedonian public (e.g. through the referendum on Macedonia's independence six years ago), that the Constitutional name would certainly not be abandoned. While delving into Greek-Macedonian relations, President Gligorov stated that it was high time for both countries to be open and honest as the future of the Republic of Macedonia is linked to a long-term commitment to the EU and NATO, associations of which Greece is a member- state. In the opinion of Gligorov no other alliances or unions are a perspective for the Balkans.The Greek press, i.e. pro-governmental `Eskoussia', is reported to have stated after the meeting of the Greek journalists with Foreign Secretary Ljubomir Frchkovski, that the latter clearly indicated that `Republic of Macedonia' is a complex name which definitely denotes the current bounds of the country. In this context Frchkovski also stated that Macedonia has been the one to make a series of concessions in New York in the past, that it has actively endeavoured to find a solution. This could however not be united with the subjecting of its sovereignty as a state, of its integrity or the identity of its people. As a gesture of good will, Frchkovski once again repeated the willingness of Macedonia to agree with whatever reference Greece chooses for itself, while the Constitutional name would be used internationally. According to `Eskoussia', towards the close of the meeting Frchkovski discarded speculations on the possible reference `Republic of Macedonia - Skopje', mentioning that such an option had been rejected by Greece in 1992. [07] DIFFERENT VIEWS ON `MACEDONIAN ISSUE' IN BULGARIAIn an interview for `Demokratija' the Bulgarian historian Bobby Bobev stated that `sooner or later we will have to accept the Macedonian nation as such. Since people consider themselves Macedonians, it would be harmful to convince them otherwise.' According to `Makpress' Bobev thinks that Bulgaria and Macedonia can find a common ground as `elementary logic indicates our shared interests... We cannot go on feeding on the idea of a San-Stephano Bulgaria with access to three seas. We cannot permanently adhere to socio-political practice with views corresponding to the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century. This would be an absurd', stated Bobby Bobev.`Makfax' reports that in an open letter addressed to Bulgarian President Petar Stoyanov by the `Macedonian Organisation of Patriots' it is being said that `You are not aware how proud Your speech at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg has made us.' This refers to Stoyanov's denoting Macedonia the most romantic part of Bulgarian history. The letter further states that for the first time in 75 years Bulgarians from Macedonia, living scattered all over the world, have their own spokesperson who publicly said towards the end of the 20th century that Macedonia and its history is Bulgarian to the whole of Europe.' The letter further claims that the song `From Ohrid to the Black Sea' (in which Vancho Mihaylov is asked to confirm that only Bulgarians live in Macedonia, garnished by a few Serb spies), which has been forbidden for years, may freely be sung now. Both this song and the letter have been published in their entirety in almost all Sofia papers; papers which until recently claimed that Stoyanov's statement in Strasbourg had been misinterpreted in an unacceptable way. [08] IMRO-DPMNE: `NO REASONS TO CANCEL ANNOUNCED MEETING'In spite of the initial content about the establishment of the Government- Opposition interaction, the IMRO-DPMNE nevertheless considers that there are no reasons for postponing the protest meeting scheduled for 15th May. In the opinion of party leader Ljupcho Georgievski (aired at the press conference held last Friday), the meeting has been intended as a way to express the discontent of all citizens let down by the Government - and in order to underline the demand for early elections.So far five political parties have expressed their readiness to participate, the single condition being that each speaker focuses on social and economic issues in the country - Georgievski informed. He also said that the meeting is expected to yield a memorandum on early parliamentary elections, which is then to be forwarded to the Parliament, the Government and President Kiro Gligorov. In the opinion of the IMRO-DPMNE elections may be postponed as late as November this year, as any later date would shorten the four-year mandate. According to Georgievski the IMRO-DPMNE will forward an official request on scheduling the dates for the dissolving of the Parliament, the urgent enactment and establishing of an administrative government and the eventual conducting of early elections. [09] `TAT' CLIENTS DEMAND GOVERNMENT RESIGNATION AND LIABILITY OF BRANKO CRVENKOVSKIDuring the third organised protest of `TAT' clients, held in Bitola last Saturday, most of the speakers defined this and all other recent scandals as a planned strategy employed by the SDSM, which is also creating the policy of this country. `Nova Makedonija' reports that in this context the majority of speakers requested PM Branko Crvenkovski to assume responsibility and the resignation of the Government. Some have also demanded the revoking of passports of all Ministers and MPs.`TAT' owner Sonja Nikolovska has been asked to disregard to confidentiality of the NBM investigation findings and publicize the identity of all `privileged' bank clients holding important positions within the incumbent Government. These requests have also received the endorsement of all opposition parties. Clients have been addressed by IMRO-DPMNE leader Ljupcho Georgievski as well. He stated that scandals were becoming public knowledge in Macedonia due to the huge involvement of Ministers and holders of vital state functions. `Thus when somebody not involved in the TAT banking scandal wants to see things through, compromised sides launch a counter-offensive threatening the discrediting of the non-involved', stated Georgievski. He also used the opportunity to invite bank clients to attend the protests scheduled for 15th May. These - in his opinion - are to make it clear to the Government that `its time is up'. The meeting at Bitola last Saturday was also marked by one minute of silence in remembrance of exchange office owner Koce Georgievski who committed suicide on the day of the `TAT crash', as he has lent over 100 000 DM to Sonja Nikolovska the previous day and then realized that he would not be able to recover these funds. [10] STANDARD TAX CARDS DUE SOONLast Friday the Ministry of Finance has commenced the compiling of standard tax cards which identify all tax payers in the country. This, media report, rounds up a significant component of the unified tax payers registration which has been begun with introducing the obligation to register each business or the agent of any economic activity. Between 10th February and 25th march around 50 000 such registration forms have been filled in. The use of tax cards with a standard tax code entail its entering into all documents submitted to the Public Revenue HQ, all payment flow records and business correspondence.[11] RECORD PRODUCTION AT `FENIMAK' KAVADARCIThis April the `Fenimak' smelteries at Kavadarci have achieved the record production rate of 506 tons of nickel, the highest since its establishment `Vecher' reports. According to Director Branko Dudukovski this is a result of sufficient energy supply to maintain production, as well as the increased discipline among employees which ensures the use of all production facilities.MILS SUPPLEMENT[12] `AR and DK - the Macedonian CIA and FBI'(`Nova Makedonija' - 9th May 1997)The recent appointment of Justice Secretary Vlado Popovski as Head of the Intelligence Agency (`Agencija za Razuznavanje') has once again raised questions with regards to the function, structure and role of such an institution. All the more as the filling of this post has been overdue for more than a year, since almost two years have passed since the enactment of the Law on the Intelligence Agency. Popovski will be confronted with organizing the work of the Agency. It is another question altogether why it took such a long time to appoint the Head of this institution, which concordant to legal provisions is the sole obligation of the President. According to what has been leaked to the public so far (on an unofficial basis), the virtually definite choice for this post in 1995 was Mirko Atanasovski (currently Aide to the Secretary of Defence). The assassination attempt upon Kiro Gligorov though prolonged these matters indefinitely, until last week when the No. 1 of the Intelligence Agency was at last appointed. This security organisation - concordant to law - is concerned `with the gathering of data and information of relevance to the safety and defence of the Republic of Macedonia and of its economic, political and other interests.' Legal provisions further outline that one of the Agency's elementary functions is to compile analyses and research of security- related data and to update the President , the PM and other state authorities concerned with this domain. Simply said, intelligence operations or espionage are directed towards foreign states, and modes of operation are to include covert, semi-covert and legal approaches. Covert approaches include the inserting of operatives in high state and political circles of other countries, the forming of a separate agency, the recruitment of operatives or the use of electronic surveillance. The latter, i.e. the observing and `bugging' of the object is part of the so-called semi-covert operations - while legal methods include data gathering through diplomatic representatives, through non-diplomatic missions and through the media. In many countries intelligence operations embody the most developed, most complex and most significant security component on whose basis strategies are being re-defined - including even international political relations. The opposite of intelligence activities is counter-intelligence, which represents a form of countering and preventing international espionage. In our current conditions this role will be assigned to the Directorate of Security and Counter-Intelligence (`Direkcija za Bezbednost i Kontra- Razuznavanje'), headed by Dobri Velichkovski. This organisation - according to the law - will have the primary function to provide `protection from espionage, terrorism and other activities directed towards the threatening or destroying of democratic institutions outlined in the Constitution of the Republic of Macedonia.' The approaches employed by the Directorate are almost identical to those of the Agency, with the fundamental difference that its `terrain' is Macedonia. It is known that both organisations are founded on different grounds, in the aftermath of the disintegration of the former Service for National Security. The majority of its employees have been reassigned to the Directorate, while a smaller number are working for the Agency. The Directorate of Security and Counter-Intelligence functions within the Ministry of the Interior, but as in the case with an independent institution its head is being appointed by the Government, and he reports to the Minister of the Interior. The Agency is set up as a completely independent organisation, under the direct command of the President, who personally appoints its Director. The Agency is supposed to unify and coordinate appropriate police, Armed Forces and Foreign Office structures. It still remains unclear why the appointing of the Head of this organisation has been shelved for such a long time, as this impeded the implementation of the basic prerequisites to structure this very relevant security segment. In the end, there is another open question: could the terrorist attack on President Gligorov on 3rd October 1995 been prevented or predicted, had Macedonia possessed its own developed intelligence system? (end)mils news 12 May 1997Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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