MILS NEWS 23/01/96

From: "M.I.L.S." <[email protected]>

Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory

CONTENTS

MILS NEWS

Skopje, 23 January 1996

[01] TRAJCHE KRSTEVSKI - NEW CHIEF OF STAFF OF THE MACEDONIAN ARMY

[02] CONFERENCE ON MACEDONIAN-GREEK ECONOMY RELATIONS

According to the information of 'Makpress', unofficial data in Athens show that Macedonia was the tenth trade partner to Greece in 1993. Before closing of the border, Greek export to Macedonia was 127.5 million ECU. Jordanis Atanidis, the General Manager of the Association of the Exporters from Northern Greece, stated that three to six months will be necessary to achieve that level of export.

[03] CONGRATULATIONS TO SIMITIS AND PANGALOS

[04] CONGRATULATIONS TO ARAFAT FROM GLIGOROV

[05] DISCUSSIONS ON NORMALIZING THE RELATIONS WITH FRY CONTINUE

Macedonian Television reported that Yugoslav side is being represented by the Ambassador of the Yugoslav Foreign Ministry, Dragan Vuchichevic, who participated on the meeting in Skopje last Friday. Unofficially, Macedonian Television informed that the aim of the discussions is to achieve an agreement on the mutual relations, which could result in the opening of diplomatic offices in the two countries.

[06] OPENING OF THE CONSULATES IN KOSOVO DISPUTABLE

Meanwhile, Albanian media inform that Turkey is also considering the possibility for opening a consulate in Pristine. Namely, official Ankara considers such a consulate would be of great importance for Kosovo, as local citizens would not have to travel to Belgrade to satisfy certain consular and administrative needs.

[07] DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN MACEDONIAN AND CROATIAN BUSINESSMEN

[08] DECLARATION ON PRESERVING THE NAME OF MACEDONIA

The party reminded it considers the last parliamentary and presidential elections irregular. Therefore, the Interim Accord with Greece, as well as the terms 'the first and the second party', is characterized by IMRO-DPMNU as a non-valid document, both politically and legally. The Declaration concludes that this party will continue its efforts for maintaining the good neighbourly relations and for solving all the disputes peacefully and on the basis of mutual understanding and respect.

[09] FORMING A PARALLEL FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION IN THE COUNTRY

The announcement further says that the motives and aims of the inter-clubs calculations initiated by the recent annual assembly of the Football Club 'Vardar', without any connection with FAM, are in fact forming a parallel football association in the country. This is against the statute of FAM and unacceptable for FIFA and UEFA regulations. FAM states that the individuals, who in the name of their clubs act illegally (with ultimatums and blackmails) are most responsible for their deeds. FAM is the only place where all the problems of Macedonian football should be solved, concludes the announcement.

MILS SUPPLEMENT:

[10] BULGARIAN TURKS WILL ASK FOR AUTONOMY TILL 2 000 LATEST

Interview with Boncho Asenov, previous officer of the Bulgarian State Security (part 2)

('Kontinent' - Sofia, 21 January 1996)

Immediately after 9 September 1944. Or at least after 1975- 1976, after what happened on Cyprus, when everybody realized what is Turkey like. Now it is very difficult. Bulgarians now struggle for bread and pay not attention to the threat.

We have forgotten the forecasts that there will be more Bulgarian Turks than Bulgarians in 2030. Do not misunderstand me, I have nothing against them, they are also human. But I think they are unhappy, all the time drifted from one side to another. That is why I think the 'Rebirth Process' was good for them. Not only that they did not rebel, but many of them openly approved the Process.

Q: How many of them did approve it?

I do not know exactly, but it is well known that about 20 000 people did it publicly. There were intellectuals and Moslem priests amongst them, including Ibrahim Tatarl. We used to be colleagues and I know his attitudes about the ethnic issues did not differ from mine. After 10 November, we became nationalists, but he is a Turkish nationalist, and I protect Bulgarian national identity.

Q: Are there others like him?

Yes, but it is dangerous for you to write about that. And that is not most important. Also, it is not most important that Dogan used to be an undercover agent, but what are his ideas now. Turkish Secret Service has now better conditions to operate here than any time before - it has its lobby in the Bulgarian Government. Anyone can go to the Embassy, have a talk, take a honorary, etc.

Q: Do you find Turkey dangerous for Bulgaria?

With its Pan- Turkish - Pan-Islamizm, even fundamentalist position, it is dangerous for the existence of the Bulgarian nation. The fundamentalists will not rule soon, as the West will not allow that, but their power will be increasing. The fundamentalist Erbakan is now asking the Dayton Peace Accord to be revised and Bosnia to be constituted as a Moslem country, so he is expressing his concern for the fellow men in the Balkans.

Turkey jeopardizes Bulgarian people through Bulgarian Turks.

I do not believe that the elections in Krjali will be annulled, nor that DPS will be forbidden. There are no brave people in this country who would bear the pressure - either from inside or from outside.

Q: Would eventual request for autonomy initiate a new wave of the 'Rebirth Process'?

The new wave started immediately after the decision of the Central Committee of the Bulgarian Communist Party, brought on 29 December 1989. OKZNI, OPT, political circle 'Dawn', 'Will for Bulgaria', d-r Ivan Georgiev with all his extremes and extravagances (I do not include Gelemanov here). It was a weak wave, but new politicians joined it, such as Zorz Ganchev, and protectors of the national interests in BSP and SDS. The instinct for preserving the nation will increase.

We should admire the external national policy of Turkey. Turkish propaganda is a manifestation of a high intellect. 160 Bulgarian children already study in Turkey, they will return in Bulgaria and are the future Turkish lobby in Bulgaria. Unfortunately, Bulgarian politicians are engaged in pro-Turkish and pro-American politics.

Q: What is unknown about the participation of DS in the 'Rebirth Process'?

For example, the order from the Internal Affairs Minister Dimitar Stojanov in 1985 to double the secret agents among Bulgarian Turks. That was more a political than a professional task - the aim was to include more people in the 'Rebirth Process'. DS was an institution of the State and served to the party and the country. There were some problems, and there was violence, but not so much as it was afterwards presented. That can be allowed in the name of the higher national interests. That is a measure against the assimilation policy of the neighbouring country, against the genocide in 'white gloves'.

Q: What is the aim of your book? Don't you think it might increase the ethnic conflicts?

I want to make people think. They should decide who is right and what is most necessary to be done. And what is the aim of this interview of yours?

Q: Are you not afraid of the extremists?

No. They have not threatened me so far. However, if a violence against me or others like me initiate the prohibition of DPS, that would be good for Bulgaria.

(end)

mils news 23 January 1996