MILS-NEWS 15/01/96

From: "M.I.L.S." <[email protected]>

Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory

CONTENTS

MILS NEWS

Skopje, 15 January 1996

[01] DISCUSSIONS ON THE NAME ISSUE TOOK PLACE

Macedonian media reported that first Macedonian-Greek discussions on the name issues took place last Saturday in UN, in accordance with the article 5 of the Interim Accord.

The meeting between the Macedonian Ambassador Ivan Toshevski and the Greek Ambassador Hristos Zaharakis, mediated by Cyrus Vance, lasted for almost four hours. Toshevski said the opinions were presented in a cordial atmosphere, and that the discussions are expected to continue in the second half of February.

According to Greek media, these discussions were of a preliminary character, due to the political crisis in Greece caused by the long absence of Premiere Papandreou. In such circumstances, if Skopje accepts any suggestion for a combined name, the Greek Government will present it to the Political Parties Council, in order to take a joint attitude. This Council might offer some 'relief' to mediator Vance, in the issue of a possible combined name. Greek daily 'Elefterotipia', on the other hand, cites Macedonian Foreign Minister Stevo Crvenkovski that Macedonia refuses the most often mentioned name 'New Macedonia' or any other which would be imposed by the UN Security Council.

This daily also informs that Macedonian Liaison Office in Athens will be opened during the next week, and its head is expected to be Victor Gabber or Ljupcho Arsovski, as both of them used to work in Greece and speak Greek.

[02] MACEDONIA WITH THREE ENVOYS

The Standing Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of OSCE, seated in Vienna, had confirmed the participation of Macedonia in this forum. It was decided that Macedonian delegation in the Parliament of OSCE will consist of three deputies, who will participate on the session scheduled for July 1996.

[03] SEVERAL MEETINGS OF MINISTER HANDJISKI IN WASHINGTON DC

Macedonian Defense Minister, Blagoj Hanjiski, met with a number of high US military representatives in Pentagon and discussed the mutual cooperation in the defense area, including the joint maneuvers in 1996. Hanjiski also met with Lion Firt, National Security Councilor of the Vice- President Al Gore, and discused the contribution of UNPREDEP mission in Macedonia in the stabilization of the Macedonian northern border. The need for prolonging the mandate of UNPREDEP till the peace and stability in the region are established was also emphasized.

Last Saturday, in Washington, Handjiski also met with the Albanian Defense Minister, Saffet Zuliali, discussusing future cooperation of mutual interest in the defense area.

Both Ministers stressed the need to develop and institutionalize the bilateral cooperation, to positively influence the mutual confidence and to preserve the peace and stability in the region. It was agreed that Minister Hanjiski will visit Albania during the first half of this year.

[04] WORRIED ABOUT THE CRISIS IN MACEDONIA

Last Saturday 'Makfax' cited Albanian media's claims that UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros Ghali has expressed his worries about the situation in the former Yugoslavia, especially 'the crisis in Macedonia'. Apparently, this was written in Ghali's report to the Security Council, where the rights of the Albanian minority in Macedonia are considered.

Pristine daily 'Rilindia', printed in Tirana, cited Ghali's opinion that 'despite the activities and efforts of UN in Macedonia, which is a multi-national country, anomalies and ethnic discontents are still present.' Albanian agency ATA stresses the statement of UN Secretary-General that the incident in Tetovo on 17 January 1995, was one of the reasons for the Working Group for Minorities of the Conference for Former Yugoslavia, to immediately start the negotiations between the Macedonian Government representatives and all political parties in Macedonia.

These negotiations, however, did not solve many of the problems. Albanian media did not precise when was Ghali's report sent to the Security Council.

'Makfax' also informed that many Turkish papers asked from the Government in Ankara and those in other Moslem countries to recognize Kosovo as an independent republic. One of the most famous Turkish analysts, Estafur, stated the time has come for such a decision. Turkish media also reported the statement of the Kosovo Premiere in exile, Buiar Bukoshi, that nobody should hope that Kosovo is a part of Serbia.

[05] A PRESSURE TO FORM A COMMITTEE ON SUCCESSION

Croatia, Macedonia, Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina required freezing of the property of former SFRY in foreign countries, until an agreement on its dividing is achieved, informed 'Royter' citing a Croatian official representative.

Meanwhile, Bozo Marendich, head of the Croatian Office on the Succession Issues stated the Resolution 1022 of UN Security Council does not anticipate enough measures for protection of the mutual funds of about 5.5 billion US dollars before their dividing. Great Britain, France and Austria have put a part of these funds at the disposal of FR Yugoslavia, which was unsuccessfully tried to be prevented through diplomatic channels. For these reasons, legal charges will be raised in these countries, said Marendich, and there is also a pressure for a Committee on Succession to be formed in the frames of London Conference.

[06] PROGRAM IN MACEDONIAN ON BBC IN AUSTRALIA?

'As Macedonia has become a very important factor for the peace and stability in the Balkans and in this part of Europe, BBC has began to broadcast Macedonian program which will be heard in Macedonia, Bulgaria, Albania and northern Greece. The possibility to expand, i.e. the program in Macedonian to be heard in Australia, will also be examined.' - said the editor in cheaf of BBC in Macedonian in his interview for the radio program 'Macedonian Voice' in Pert, Australia, reported 'Nova Makedonija'.

[07] STRIKE ADJOURNED TILL MID-MARCH

After 40 days of hunger striking, 13 members of the Committee of Former Workers of 'Chik' - Kumanovo, adjourned the strike till mid-March this year. This is the dead-line to realize what was agreed between the workers and the Macedonian Ministers on 10 January 1996. The reason for strike to be adjourned was, as it was reported on the press conference, the very bad health condition of the strikers, who are now at their homes under constant medical control.

[08] LIBERALS SUPPORT RECONSTRUCTION OF THE GOVERNMENT

'Board of the Liberal Party supports Premiere Crvenkovski in his announced analysis of the one year work of the Government and its possible reconstruction.' - says the report from the session of the Board, adding this will contribute in the improvement of understanding and respect between the parties of the Alliance for Macedonia. These actions will also strengthen the role and efficacy of the Alliance for Macedonia to realize the promises given to the citizens in the election period, and will improve the confidence between the parties of the Parliamentary majority.

[09] REPEATED POLICE RAID IN SKOPJE SETTLEMENTS

Three months after the assassination attempt on President Gligorov, cellars, garages and sheds in Skopje settlements 'Jane Sandanski', 'Prolet', 'Vardar', '13 Noemvri', 'Avtokomanda' and 'Butel' were searched in detail. While in the last two raids all cars were searched, in this last one, which took place last Saturday, only the old and more suspicious cars were examined. Citizens were shown the photograph of the possible buyer of the car-bomb, and samples of sand were taken to be compared with the one of the car-bomb.

Meanwhile, Macedonian Ministry of Internal Affairs discovered an organized group of 12 members, who illegaly trade and kept fire arms. After the search, 14 bombs, 5 guns, 8 pistols, one revolver and 1 490 parts of other munitions were found. The daily 'Vecer' unofficially informed that most of the arms were found at the apartment of the driver of the President of VMRO-DPMNE, Ljupcho Gjorgjievski. The official announcement of Internal Affairs Ministry says that the group of 12 persons from Skopje and Strumica obtained a great deal of arms and munitions from former Yugoslav republics during 1993 and 1994, intended for illegal trade.

[10] OBJECTIONS FROM PETROV AND BAIRAM REFUSED

Electoral Commission of the electoral unit 114 refused the objections of the independent candidate, Todor Petrov and the candidate of PCER, Avdi Bairam for the additional elections in this unit. Bairam objected that deceased persons were listed as voters in the second round, which the Commission determined as unfounded and untrue. Todor Petrov said he has still not received the answer to his first objection after the first round, while the Commission said it was received from an anonymous person.

MILS SUPPLEMENT:

[11] RECONSTRUCTION WILL TAKE PLACE?

('Nova Makedonija', 13 January 1996)

The possibility of reconstruction of the Government, recently announced by the Premiere Branko Crvenkovski, is accepted in public as a definite and necessary matter.

Besides the serious attitude of some parties from the Governmental coalition considering this issue, the last public survey also showed that the work of the current Government is being negatively estimated. If we add the contradictory attitudes of the coalition members on very important issues, it seems it will be difficult for the Premiere to withdraw what he had announced.

What does 'reconstruction' mean? Most of the lawyers consulted said 'reconstruction' involves more basic changes, not only a few personnel changes. The Constitution of the Republic of Macedonia says: 'President of the Government can suggest a member of the Government to be released from duty.

The Parliament decides on the suggestion on its first following session. In case the President of the Government suggests more than a third of the Government members to be released from duty, the Parliament votes as for a new Government.' This means that, in case interventions refer to positions of six ministers, the reconstruction will be made in the current Government, and for each additional position the Parliament will vote as for a new Government.

The possible suggestions of the Premiere to release from duty some ministers means they will have to be discussed, i.e. there will have to be explanations on the reasons and on the responsibilities, which could bring to unwanted results. The, unofficially, idea that the ministers will resign, is understood as a wise step to eliminate a great risk. The other idea is that some ministers will be transferred to other Ministries, which has already been speculated about.

The public is mostly interested in the areas involved in the reconstruction. Although noone of the competent has mentioned any names, it seems it is most acceptable that, due to a balance in the coalition, equal number of the ministers - members of the Coalition parties, will be changed.

The criteria chosen by Premiere Crvenkovski will be crucial.

Last summer some changes were already made due to 'unsatisfactory results in their work', but in circles lower than the ministerial ones. Although personal faults of some of them were not established, they were removed from their leading positions in the sectors which were not successful.

Has the time for the ministers now come?

On the remarks to the Premiere that he had chosen incompetent people as ministers, his answer was this is not an expert Government, but a political one, resulting from the Parliamentary majority and the elections. He also used to say that the minimum of fair relations is to judge the abilities of persons by the results they will achieve and that the time will show everybody's competence in certain tasks.

If the last public survey on the opinion about the work of the Government is taken into account, the 1 200 polled show the attitude of the Macedonian citizens in general, which should definitely be taken seriously. The results were that the Ministers of Economy, Finances, Labour and Social Policy, Internal Affairs, Development, etc., were not successful. Will the Premiere agree with the public opinion or will his interventions be different? What is great is the hope that there will be an answer to this question.

(end)

mils news 15 January 1996