MILS NEWS 17/01/96

From: MILS <[email protected]>

Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory

CONTENTS

MILS NEWS

Skopje, 17 January 1996

[01] TODAY - OPENING OF THE LIAISONS OFFICES

At 11 a.m.(12 a.m. Greek time) today, the hoisting of Macedonian and Greek flags took place at the premises of Liaison Offices in Athens and Skopje. Macedonian Foreign Affairs Ministry officially announced this is in accordance with the Memorandum for mutual establishing of Liaison Offices, signed by the two countries in Athens on 20 October 1995. The opening of the Offices will enable immediate and direct informing of Foreign Affairs Ministries and other governmental institutions, which will contribute in solving many issues of mutual interest and in strengthening the mutual confidence.

According to A-1, the ceremony in Athens will go no further than hoisting of the flag, as Macedonia has still not appointed a head of its Office, which is planned to be done till 1 February, when Macedonian personnel should leave for Athens. Head of the Liaison Office of the Hellenic Republic in Macedonia, Alexandros Mallias, has been in Skopje for more than a week already and has officially handed the credentials.

[02] PHOTO OBLIGATORY TO CROSS THE BORDER

'Macedonian and Greek citizens will be obliged to have a photo with them at crossing the border between the two countries, starting from Friday, 19 January 1996.' - announced Macedonian Foreign Affairs Ministry. The Ministry explained this is in agreement with the Memorandum on temporary measures of applying the Interim Accord, signed in Skopje on 13 October 1995. The Memorandum includes the Protocol for mutual visa regulations and taxes.

Macedonian Radio informed yesterday that Greek customs officers, without any previous announcement, already began to ask photoes from Macedonian citizens, and those who did not have any were not allowed to cross the border.

[03] YUGOSLAV REPRESENTATIVE IN MACEDONIA KNOWN?

The daily 'Vecer' unofficially informed that present Chief of Security in Yugoslav Foreign Affairs Ministry, Zoran Janachievic will be appointed as a head of an office or an Ambassador of FRY in Macedonia. According to 'Vecer', Janachievic is, in Belgrade considered a 'shadow eminence' of the Foreign Ministry, and is often mentioned as possible head of the Yugoslav police. He, also, used to be mentioned as possible FRY Ambassador in Athens. The possibility of his appointing in Skopje depends on the 'process of normalization' of the relations between Macedonia and FRY, according to FRY Foreign Ministry.

[04] GREAT PUBLICITY TO THE MEETING GLIGOROV - KUCHAN

Slovenian media gave a great publicity to the meeting of Slovenian President Milan Kuchan with Macedonian President Kiro Gligorov. Macedonian Radio reported that the statements of the two Presidents, referring to well-developed relations of the two countries with an intention to be further improved, were given the greatest attention. The European orientation of the both countries was also stressed, as well as the equal atands on the process of succession of former SFRY.

[05] DISCUSSIONS ON AIR TRAFFIC COOPERATION

Delegation of Macedonian Ministry of Traffic, led by Minister Dimitar Buzlevski, met yesterday in Ljubljana with the General Manager of 'Brnik' Airport. Slovenian party expressed their readiness to participate in the reconstruction of the Skopje airport. Macedonian delegation also met with representatives of the air-company 'Adria Airways', when the successful cooperation of this company with Macedonian company 'Avio Impeks' was emphasized, and possibilities for further cooperation in cargo transport between the two countries were discussed. The delegation visited 'Iskra-Tel' company, and Minister Buzlevski met with his Slovenian counterpart Istok Umeg.

[06] REPRESENTATIVES OF PDPA AND NDP IN TIRANA

Agency 'Makfax' cited Albanian Radio and Television, according to which representatives of Albanian parties in Macedonia, PDPA and NDP, met with Albanian Premiere, Meksi, and President of Albanian Parliament, Pieter Arbnori, yesterday in Tirana. Albanian Radio reported on the meeting with Arbnori, when representatives of PDPA and NDP said they will continue their efforts for the 'Tetovo university' to be given the status of an official institution, for bigger participation of Albanians in Macedonian state institutions, and for recognizing the Albanians as a second nation in Macedonia by the Constitution.

President of Albanian Parliament said that, despite the good relations of this country with Macedonia, Albania supports these requirements because they are justified. Albanian media did not inform on the meeting with Premiere Meksi.

[07] ASSISTANCE FROM PORTUGAL

Macedonian President Kiro Gligorov received yesterday the Ambassador of Portugal to Macedonia, Kiitor Maia e Silva, who handed him the credentials. President Gligorov said the establishing of diplomatic relations between Macedonia and Portugal confirms the friendly relations of the two countries, which will be completed with the appointing of a Macedonian Ambassador in Portugal soon. Ambassador Silva offered Portugal assistance in the EU integration of Macedonia. Portugal Ambassador also met with President of Macedonian Parliament, Stojan Andov, and Premiere Crvenkovski.

[08] GRATITUDE FOR JAPANESE SUPPORT TO MACEDONIA

President Gligorov yesterday met with members of Macedonian Parliament, Kioshi Misuno and Hakuo Ianagisava, and expressed his gratitude for the help and support of Japan to Macedonia, as well as his hope for this successful cooperation to continue. Japanese deputies also met with President of Macedonian Parliament, Stojan Andov, when they stressed the importance of Macedonian peaceful politics. The deputies had a meeting with Macedonian Foreign Affairs Minister, Stevo Crvenkovski.

[09] AMBASSADOR MILLSON IN 'EMO' IN OHRID

Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Macedonia, Tony Millson, yesterday visited the company 'EMO' in Ohrid and was informed on production program and privatization process of the company. The Ambassador stressed the need for greater business and technical cooperation of 'EMO' with similar companies in Great Britain.

[10] MORE PRECISE ATTITUDES IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS

Ljubomir Popovski, member of Social democratic Alliance (SDSM), Muhamed Hallilli of Party for Democratic Prosperity (PDP) and Blagoja Filipovski of the Socialist Party (SP), were interviewed yesterday by the Macedonian Radio and talked on the announced reconstruction of the Government, the attitudes of the Coalition members and the relations inside the Alliance for Macedonia. Ljubomir Popovski said that more precise political estimations of the relation between SDSM and Liberal Party are to be expected during the next week, after SDSM widely analyzes the situation. Muhamed Hallilli rejected a reconstruction which would mean leaving the Coalition by a certain party, but said PDP will accept a reconstruction in case the idea is to eliminate mutual misunderstandings and interfering in the work of Ministers. Everything which of interest for better functioning of the Government, stressed he, is of interest to PDP.

'Socialist Party does not have an official attitude on the announced reconstruction of the Government, but respects the statements of Premiere Crvenkovski', said Blagoja Filipovski, adding that the public and the Coalition partners will be informed on the attitudes of Socialist Party after they complete their discussions on the situation these days.

Representatives of Liberal Party refused to give any statements for Macedonian Radio, explaining they have nothing to add to the official announcement of their Party.

President of Democratic Party, Petar Goshev, referring to the same matter, for 'Nova Makedonija' said:

'The quarrel between Socialdemocrats and Liberals is not new, it is only more severe than before. Their mutual intolerance has appeared at the first elections period, when they were promoted as two different political subjects intended for and inspired by the same social structure of the electoral body. The last elections in 1994 removed this apparent difference, when they were formally united in the Alliance for Macedonia. As they never really had different political attitudes, and as they eliminated the opposition from the Parliament, they were returned to their 'natural environment', i.e. to the single-party ambient. It is, therefore, normal, that the games and intrigues reached their culmination. They realize that their politics is unsuccessful, which is obvious from the following facts: disastrous privatization, seen by the people as a 'bandit capitalism'; production and GNP reduced to their half; drastic increase of the new lumpenproletariats transformed in a dangerous social battle; crime of all kinds; increase of the feeling of insecurity amongst the people, etc. It is, therefore, normal that they are now intensively trying to avoid their responsibility and to make an impression that not everybody in the Coalition are guilty and responsible for the unsuccessful politics.'

Goshev further said all these games, in fact, are motivated by their personal wish to rule, to completely own and control the economy of the country, to rule the media and the public enterprises. To put it in one word, to change the sovereignty of a people with a sovereignty of a group.

The announced reconstruction, according to DP, will not solve the situation in the country, as the situation is getting worse daily. The real way to solve this crisis and to stop the games is to organize new, earlier, democratic and fair elections.

[11] PREPARATIONS FOR CHANGING THE BILLS

New Macedonian bank-notes are expected to appear in August this year and will most probably be dated 8 September 1996, as a contribution to the 5th Anniversary of Macedonian Independence. National Bank Governor, Borko Stanoevski, should leave for Great Britain today, where the necessary paper with protective watermarks and the three bank-notes with biggest nominal value will be produced. The highest bill will be of 5 000 denars (185 DM), and a new bill of 1000 denars will also be introduced.

[12] ACTION TO STOP THE CORRUPTION IN THE COUNTRY

Macedonian Internal Affairs Ministry informed yesterday that, in the frames of the action to stop the corruption in the country, has discovered a case of accepting bribe to avoid tax payments. Criminal charges were brought against an inspector in the Public Income Administration, who is suspected of asking and receiving a bribe of 40 000 DM from an employee in 'Balkanska Banka' in Skopje, so that the bank forges the tax basis.

[13] FILM BOOK PROMOTED

On the occasion of the exhibition 'The Film in Macedonia', organized by Macedonian Film Library in the Museum of Skopje, the newest book of this area. 'Film And Its Esthetic Essence' by Prof. Stefan Sidovski - Sido, was promoted yesterday. Sidovski is, besides an amateur film worker, a professor of Philosophy, and this book is his successful graduate philosophy studies work, with Prof. Kiril Temkov as his mentor. Film critic Vlado Jankulovski talked about the author and the book and praised Sidovski as a synonym for the film amateurism in Macedonia.

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mils news 17 January 1996