MILS NEWS 19/01/96

From: "M.I.L.S." <[email protected]>

Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory

CONTENTS

MILS NEWS

Skopje, 19 January 1996

[01] NEW RESULTS FROM THE POLICE INVESTIGATION OF THE ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT

The precise structure of the explosive and the type of the metal (a special steel rarely used in Macedonia) were also determined. The three raids, according to the Chief of the Analytic Department, Trpe Stojanovski, did give some results. That was finding a piece of a metal identical to the one used, on a location very near the one where the sand was taken from. A bag identical with the one from the car- bomb was also found and which is subjected to further investigation.

In the questioning of the citizens, another six witnesses confirmed that the car-bomb was driven by a woman, not long before 7 o'clock a.m, October 3. The woman was also seen by others the day before the assassination attempt and police experts try to make a photo-robot of her. Journalists were given a photo taken by a German tourist on 2 October 1995, showing that the car-bomb was parked on the same spot as the next day. Experts said that the car was then loaded with about 60 kilos. According to Internal Affairs Ministry, the participation of Macedonian citizens as a logistic support to the assassins is now obvious. The investigation continues.

[02] 'PASOK' ACCUSED OF YIELDING TO THE NORTHERN NEIGHBOUR

All Greek media reported about the opening of the Macedonian Office in Athens, stressing that its head has still not been appointed.

[03] CARL BILT NEXT MONTH IN MACEDONIA

Meanwhile, during the Conference on planning free and democratic elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina, held in Stockholm, Macedonian Ambassador Tihomir Ilievski met with Swedish Chief of Diplomacy, Ms. Lerajen Valen. Valen said Sweden will work on improving the bilateral relations with Macedonia in future.

[04] AMBASSADOR OF MOLDOVA HANDED THE CREDENTIALS

Moldovian Ambassador also met with Macedonian President of Parliament, Stojan Andov, and Premiere Branko Crvenkovski.

[05] EFFICACY OF WORKERS' SHARE HOLDING

[06] REPEATED ELECTIONS ON SUNDAY

[07] WHAT DO THE NEXT MOVES OF THE PREMIERE DEPEND ON?

1. Estimations whether Social Democratic Alliance of Macedonia will profit or lose if the team of new Government is without Liberals in it;
2. Will and how much will the members of Party for Democratic Prosperity participate in the Government, including the agreements between the parties and setting conditions of the type 'warm-cold' by PDP, i.e. will or not Allitti require institutionalized high education of Albanians and status of constitutional nation for Albanians, which is unacceptable for the Social Democrats;
3. Will this reconstruction be acceptable for foreign circles and particularly estimated as normal by the neighbouring and European circles;
4. Is SDSM prepared to carry the complete responsibility;
5. Is the political moment for establishing new political relations in the country well analyzed and estimated;
6. Will President Gligorov interfere in the dispute and how much;
7. Will the uncleared relations with the Liberals only postpone the dispute to some other, maybe worse time;
8. Will the eventual passing of Liberals to an opposition mean leaving of the Foreign Minister Stevo Crvenkovski from his position, and what will the President say to that;
9. Is Stojan Andov prepared to become only an opposition member of the Parliament?

[08] OVERCOMING THE FALSE DISPUTES

Social Democratic Party of Macedonia announced yesterday that further acceleration of the arificial disputes inside the Alliance for Macedonia, might seriously endanger the situation and relations in the country and to paralyze democratic processes, and most of all, the results achieved by this Government on the international plan, economy and social reforms in Macedonia.

For all these reasons, and for the need of the Government and the Parliament to function properly, SDPM finds it necessary to immediately overcome this situation. The disputes are a result from personal quarrels and interests, but they offer possibilities to criticize all the achievements of the Government.

[09] GOLD FEVER IN DEMIR HISAR

Gold diggers were noticed in the Demir Hisar Community, near villages Slepche, Suvodol, Kraishte and others, in the last few months. The digging takes place at archeological sites, and according to the local residents, the diggers destroy many valuable objects of antiquity. Unofficially, the gold diggers come from other places, are well trained and use special equipment. Macedonian Institute for Protection of the Cultural Wealth was informed about this and severe measures were announced.

[10] VICTORY OF BITOLA'S HANDBALL TEAM

The team Pelister - Eurocar from Bitola won the Polish team Iskra with 29:19, in the first game of the Cup of Handbal Winners. Bitola's fieldball team has now big chances to enter the semi-final in case they win the rematch on 24 January 1996.

MILS SUPPLEMENT:

[11] DEEPER ROOTS OF THE DISPUTE

('Nova Makedonija', 18 January, 1996)

Previous Director of the Agency for Privatization, d-r Miroljub Shukarov, has, apparently, began to reveal the hidden 'aces in his sleeve', after he was released from this position. That is how his demand for abolishing the decision on privatization of the enterprise 'NOEL' from Gevgelija, is reasoned out in public. Is one of the 'aces' actualy the complaint submitted by this enterprise to the Government against the decision of the Commission for transformation of the companies with social capital because of the irregularly established model of transformation?

The essence of the complaint is that it is asked from the Governmental Commission to consider the evidence submitted, to revoke the current decision and to decree a new one in accordance with the Program of the enterprise. The disputable model is: sale of an ideal part of the enterprise combined with the model of transforming the claims in a permanent deposit. The complaint further says that such a decision is not in accordance with the program for the transformation, from 10 July 1995, article 8, where it is stated that the enterprise will be transformed by selling an ideal part of it.

All this case would not be so much interesting if the name of the Economy Minister, Risto Ivanov, is not involved. He preferred the position of General Manager of this enterprise to his present position. In one occasion, Ivanov presented in detail all the specifics of the privatization model of 'NOEL', which involves permanent deposits of all 625 employees, model now denied by d-r Shukarov.

The objection might be understood as a normal consequence from the revolt of d-r Shukarov caused by his suspension from the position of Director of the Privatization Agency, apparently required by Ivanov in the form of an ultimatum.

Ivanov threatened that otherwise he would leave his position of a President of the Governmental Privatization Commission.

There were no official remarks on the work of the Agency or its Director, and Shukarov states he is still not familiar with the reason for his releasing.

The obviously different attitudes and opinions of the heads of the Agency and the Governmental Commission, about the way the privatization process should be performed, appeared at the very beginning of their work. The situation culminated at the point of the privatization of 'NOEL'. Former Director of the Agency might have reacted to some irregularities of the documents submitted, which was not publicly confirmed.

'NOEL' was estimated at a value of 1 998 470 DM, the estimated value with permanent deposits is 1 988 951 DM, which leaves a transformation capital of 9 519 DM, or a public capital for sale of 8 091 DM (reduced for 1 428 DM for the pension fund). The debt of 'NOEL' is, therefore, 1 690 866 DM.

This dispute will now have to be legally solved, but it is obvious its roots are deeper, which is supported by the publicly presented statements of Shukarov and Ivanov.

Namely, Minister Ivanov required an information in detail on the realization of the Law on Privatization, about each article in it. According to Shukarov, this was taking over the sphere of influence and preparing to change the Law, which would have involved the suspicion of changing the roles of the Agency and the Commission. Shukarov said for A- 1 Television: 'If they were afraid that the Agency will become a kind of a monster, would the situation with the Commission not be the same?' Probably, someone was afraid that the power of the Agency in a very important economy area was increasing too much. What is more, they are suspicions of a possible agreement in his releasing Shukarov to be joined by three other Liberals, including the General Manager of the Skopje Brewery. The explanation that Shukarov's position of a Director is not in accordance with his membership in the Administration Board of the Agency was also strange. And so was the leaving of the main representative of the Government for the project of 25 enterprises with greatest losses in the Republic, who must have had much to do with the privatization.

The privatization of 'NOEL' deserves to be legally solved, as it is obvious both from the objection of Shukarov and the complaint of the enterprise that the privatization has not been made in accordance with the Law. The general impression is that by trying to reach the figures required from the international financial institutions, the attitude towards many enterprises was lenient.

(end)

mils news 19 January 1996