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MILS NEWS 05/02/96From: "M.I.L.S." <[email protected]>Macedonian Information Liaison Service DirectoryCONTENTS[01] OCCASION OF A GREAT POLITICAL SIGNIFICANCE[02] PROTOCOL ON ALLEVIATING THE VISAS REGULATIONS[03] CONSTANT DEVELOPMENT OF THE BILATERAL RELATIONS[04] OFFICIAL COOPERATION WITH OECD[05] MACEDONIA IS NOT FORGOTTEN IN THE PEACE PROCESS[06] NAME 'SKOPJE' - AN OBSTACLE IN THE NORMALIZATION OF THE RELATIONS[07] BELGRADE DRAGS OUT[08] 'TETOVO UNIVERSITY' LEADS TO GHETTOIZING AND DISINTEGRATION[09] REFUSED PUBLISHING OF A BOOK ABOUT MACEDONIAN MINORITY[10] BULGARIA DOES NOT RECOGNIZE MACEDONIAN MINORITY[11] SOON A BRITISH INFORMATION CENTRE[12] TRADITIONAL HUNT ORGANIZED[13] RECONSTRUCTED GOVERNMENT - WITHOUT LIBERALS[14] INSISTING ON MAINTAINING THE SAME NUMBER OF MINISTERS FROM PDP[15] DIRECTOR OF MACEDONIAN TELEVISION RELEASED FROM DUTYMILS SUPPLEMENT[16] How to Find the Balance? ('Puls', 02 February 1996)MILS NEWSSkopje, 05 February 1996[01] OCCASION OF A GREAT POLITICAL SIGNIFICANCEFollowing the latest UN Security Council decision, on making the UN forces in Macedonia fully-independent operation, reporting directly to the UN Headquarters in New York, Assistant Secretary General and Chief of Mission of UNPREDEP to Macedonia, Mr. Henryk Sokalski, gave a public statement last Friday, saying:'This new, seemingly technical development, is of great political significance, which can hardly be overestimated. The Council's decision further illustrates the acknowledgment by the international community of the successful efforts of the Macedonian leadership and people, with a view to maintaining peaceful and stable relations in the region. Our peace-keeping operation has now become a genuine venture in preventive diplomacy as conceived by the Secretary- General in his 'An Agenda for Peace'. We, at UNPREDEP, welcome the decision of the Council also as an expression of appreciation for our humble contribution to the peace process in the Balkans over the past few years.' [02] PROTOCOL ON ALLEVIATING THE VISAS REGULATIONSWith the Protocol on the alleviation of the visas regulations between Macedonia and Greece, signed last Friday in Skopje, the taxes of the entry-visas were reduced five times. Therefore, Greek visa has been reduced to 1 000 drachmas from the previous 5 000, while the Macedonian visa has been reduced to 160 denars from the previous 900 denars.After the delegations examined the measures for successful implementation of the Interim Accord and of the Memoranda on the practical application, they concluded maximum attention should be paid to the mutual cooperation in the European integration, specially EU, and to the regional cooperation with other countries. It was agreed that the ministers of Macedonia and Greece will have two regular meetings per year. [03] CONSTANT DEVELOPMENT OF THE BILATERAL RELATIONS'To our greatest pleasure, relations between Republic of Macedonia and Federal Republic of Germany are constantly improving, which is being confirmed by the frequent contacts on the highest level. The quality of these relations is special due to the great number of Macedonian citizens who live and work in FR Germany.' This was stressed by the Macedonian President, Kiro Gligorov, last Friday, when the German Ambassador, Klaus Shramaer, handed his credentials.German Ambassador emphasized that Germany will continue to support Macedonia in its development, especially in the intensification of its cooperation with the EU. Shramaer also said that the economic relations between Macedonia and Germany are already well developed, and that there are perspectives for their further intensifying, as well as for the cooperation in the development policy. [04] OFFICIAL COOPERATION WITH OECDSecretary-General of the World Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Jan Claude Pei, met with Macedonian Ambassador to France, Luan Starova, in Paris.They discussed the possibilities for cooperation of Macedonia with OECD, and the possibility for making it official soon, with the acceptance of Macedonia in the Centre for Cooperation of the Countries in Transition. [05] MACEDONIA IS NOT FORGOTTEN IN THE PEACE PROCESS'Makpress' agency reported the statement of the British Ambassador to Croatia, Gavine Hevitt, given for the daily 'Vecernji List', that FR Yugoslavia is only one of the successors of former SFRY. He explained that the insisting of EU on the recognition of Macedonia is based on the importance of showing that this country is not forgotten in the peace process. Hevitt also said that recognition of FRY and its acceptance in EU should be preceded by the solving of the issue of Kosovo, by the improvement of the human rights, by the agreement on the succession and by the recognition of Croatia.[06] NAME 'SKOPJE' - AN OBSTACLE IN THE NORMALIZATION OF THE RELATIONSThe last edition of Belgrade weekly 'Vreme' writes that the EU recognition of Belgrade was conditioned by a mutual public announcement of Belgrade and Skopje that an agreement has been reached on the normalization of the relations. The announcement was to be issued on 29 January, and the formalities were to be completed later on. This was done by the Yugoslav Government, writes 'Vreme', but Macedonian one refused to do the same after realizing that in the draft Agreement Belgrade had used 'Skopje' instead the constitutional name of Macedonia. According to the journal, Macedonian Government understood this as a continuation of the old 'game' with Greece and an attempt of Yugoslavia to profit both in Athens and in Brussels, by not mentioning the name under which it will recognize Macedonia.During the intensive Macedonian-Yugoslav contacts that took place before the EU meeting in Brussels, continues the paper, a compromise was reached, according to which FRY accepted to recognize Macedonia under its constitutional name, while Macedonia accepted to recognize the continuity of FRY. Apparently, FRY accepted to recognize the continuity of Macedonian state in the frames of former SFRY, from which Macedonia separated peacefully. [07] BELGRADE DRAGS OUT'Makfax' agency informed that US Secretary of State, Warren Christopher, said that USA will not recognize FR Yugoslavia until Belgrade does not completely fulfill its obligations stated in the Dayton Peace Accord. Christopher also said that the opinion of US Administration is that Belgrade drags out the implementation of certain commitments of the Accord, and expressed his satisfaction from the fact that EU did not reach a consensus on the recognition of FRY.According to Christopher, during the meetings he had with Serbian President Miloshevic last weekend in Belgrade, they have agreed on opening an office of the Hague Tribunal in Belgrade and on opening an American Information Center in Pristine. [08] 'TETOVO UNIVERSITY' LEADS TO GHETTOIZING AND DISINTEGRATION'The initiative of establishing an Albanian university in Tetovo is a political initiative which does not consider its educational component', said Macedonian Premiere Branko Crvenkovski, according to Pristine weekly 'Koha', in his interview for the BBC program in Albanian. Crvenkovski said the opening of the university was a political initiative, partly autonomous, and partly a result of the happenings in the region. He expressed his suspicion that 'Tetovo university' functions as a university at all, as it lacks the necessary criteria, such as the programs, the personnel, the quality of education, the legitimacy and legality. The Premiere emphasized that 'the initiative which is out of the legal frames of Macedonia leads to ghettoizing and disintegration, and not to integration of Albanians'.'Koha' cites the denying of these 'thesis' of Crvenkovski, by the rector of the 'Tetovo university', Fadil Suleimani, who said that the university is of an open character. He supported this with the apparent attending of Turkish, Roma and Macedonian students at the university, as well as the eight Macedonian professors who teach there. Meanwhile, Skopje daily 'Vecer' interpreted the statement of Macedonian President Kiro Gligorov made on the meeting he had with the Special Rapporteur of the UN Commission for Human Rights, Elisabeth Rehn, last Thursday in Skopje, that UN Center should prepare a special comparative study on implementing the rights of minorities in the Balkan countries, as 'a slap to UN'. On this statement President Gligorov was given a support by the Association of Macedonians from the Aegean Part of Macedonia. [09] REFUSED PUBLISHING OF A BOOK ABOUT MACEDONIAN MINORITYAccording to Greek daily 'Elefterotipia', reported 'Nova Makedonija', the famous British publishing house 'Cambridge University Press', refused to publish the book by the New York University professor, Anastasia Karakasidou, about the Macedonian minority in Greece. The publishing house did this at the last moment, apparently because they were afraid from provoking terrorist attacks on British citizens in Greece and trade boycott. The decision was brought under the pressure of the British Embassy in Athens and of the Foreign Ministry. The information continues that the publishing board immediately submitted a collective resignation as a protest.[10] BULGARIA DOES NOT RECOGNIZE MACEDONIAN MINORITYThe Second Electoral Conference of UMO 'Ilinden' - Democratic Movement, with participation of 40 delegates of the towns in Bulgaria, leaders of the Bulgarian political parties and the representative of the League for Protection of Human Rights, was to be held yesterday in the village of Mosonishte in Bulgaria. Immediately before the start of the Conference, however, about 200 police officers surrounded the village and banned the Conference. The explanation was the UMO 'Ilinden' - Democratic Movement has not been officially registered in Bulgaria and that Bulgaria does not recognize any Macedonian minority in the country. The police checked the identity cards of everybody present, and three Macedonian citizens, including a journalist of the local paper of Bitola, were expelled from Bulgaria for the next five years.[11] SOON A BRITISH INFORMATION CENTREA Memorandum on opening a British Information Centre in the Republic of Macedonia was signed last Friday in Skopje, by Macedonian Minister of Culture, Eshref Alliu and the representative of the British Council, Jim Mc Grath. The Centre will work in the frames of the British Council, an institution of the British Government, for culture, education and science. The ceremony was attended by the Ambassador of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to Macedonia, Tony Millson.[12] TRADITIONAL HUNT ORGANIZEDA traditional hunt was organized last Friday for the diplomats in Macedonia. Macedonian President Gligorov organized a formal lunch on this occasion, also attended by Macedonian Prime Minister, Branko Crvenkovski, and the ministers Stevo Crvenkovski, Blagoj Hanjiski and Vlado Popovski.[13] RECONSTRUCTED GOVERNMENT - WITHOUT LIBERALSSaturday's edition of 'Nova Makedonija' sees the announcement of SDSM, regarding the reconstruction of the Government, as a proof that the Coalition with the Liberals will definitely be broken up and that there will be no Liberals in the new Government. According to the sources of 'Nova Makedonija', Central Board of SDSM firmly agreed on this attitude, and warned Premiere Branko Crvenkovski that in case he does not support it, he will have to resign. With this move, in fact, SDSM opted for a Parliament with a strong opposition, but there are already hopes that some MPs of the Liberal Party will become members of SDSM. The daily also anticipates the possibilities for some ministers - Liberals to 'pay the price of their positions by changing their party'. Apparently, there is an idea in SDSM, those ministers who are not members of the Liberal Party, but who were suggested by it, also to be put on the reconstruction list.Meanwhile, Macedonian Radio informed that it is expected from the Socialistic Party to announce their attitude, after the consultations they had with the Premiere Crvenkovski during the last few days. Unoffically Macedonian media reported that the Spokesman of the Government, Gjuner Ismail has resigned today. [14] INSISTING ON MAINTAINING THE SAME NUMBER OF MINISTERS FROM PDP'Nova Makedonija' informed that Presidency of the Party for Democratic Prosperity on the session last Friday in Tetovo, supported Macedonian Prime Minister, Crvenkovski, in the reconstruction of the Macedonian Government. They have also decided to insist on keeping the same number of the ministers from this party (four) in the new Government, in case the reconstruction includes the current ministers, members of PDP. Unofficially, 'Nova Makedonija' informs on the possibility for Muhamed Hallilli, Minister without portfolio, and Eshref Alliu, Minister of Culture, to be released from their positions. The other two members of PDP in the Government are the Minister of Labour, Illiaz Sabriu, and the Minister of Development, Bekjir Zutta.[15] DIRECTOR OF MACEDONIAN TELEVISION RELEASED FROM DUTYGeneral Manager of Macedonian Radio and Television, Mepomeni Corneti yesterday released from duty the Director and Editor in Chief of Macedonian Television, Sasho Ordanovski.Releasing came as result of the severe program and editing policy violation, as well as for not respecting the production and broadcasting schedule and because of the violation of the principles of objective and authentic informing, reads the statement of the Macedonian Television. MILS SUPPLEMENT[16] How to Find the Balance?('Puls', 02 February 1996)The Ohrid Forum on the Strategy of Development of Macedonia in the next fifteen to twenty years, was supposed to give the answer to the question: What will Macedonia look like at the doorway of the next century? Or, how to organize the country, as Premiere Crvenkovski said, with a 'modern, stimulating, productive and profitable economy, socially balanced'.To organize such a state is possible only if there is a wide vision of the development and of the strategy for its realization in practice. The vision, the strategy, as well as the ways and methods of their realization, were the main subject of the discussions on the Forum. Many scientists and politicians from Macedonia were engaged in finding the weak segments of the economy and of other areas, but also in finding the solutions for the reforms necessary. One of the most important reforms is definitely the transformation of the economy, already initiated with the privatization process. As Minister of Finances, Jane Miljovski, said, an important condition for the positive development of the country is the transformation of the current enterprises into small and medium ones, with flexible economy and highly competitive capacities, as well as with a great capability to apply the new technologies. The improvement also depends on the complete functioning of the market of goods, market of capital and of labour force, on further liberalization of the foreign trade and prices. Effective ways to prevent monopoly behaviour and to maintain a satisfactory level of market competition will have to be introduced. Minister of Economy, Risto Ivanov, in context of the development of the market in the next period, stressed that one must not neglect the period of transition from a regional to a national economy, and that the discussion mostly refers to its export orientation. Most of the participants in the discussion, including experts such as d-r Nikola Kljusev and professor Ksente Bogoev, stressed the motto 'open economy and free market behaviour'. In the strategy of the development of our country in the period planned, the perspectives of the Macedonian export must be taken into account. D-r Ariton Zikov said that classic export and import, now dominating in the Macedonian exchange with foreign countries, will have to be oriented to higher forms of cooperation, i.e. to international cooperation in production and to joint appearance on other markets. D-r Zikov suggested establishing a special institution for finance support of the export. Changes in the sector of industry would not be effective without the proper rehabilitation and transformation of banks, as the finance sector will play a crucial role in the next period. According to d-r Mihail Petkovski, that role of the banks will be felt both in the completion of the transition of market system and in the restructuring of the economy. Macedonia needs a finance sector that will be able to mobilize and effectively allocate significant funds, which is something the country lacks at the moment. Minister of Agriculture, Ivan Angelov, said Macedonia has resources which may provide a wide assortment of agricultural products, but still there are many limiting factors. Solving of these limitations is of greatest importance for the further economic and social improvement . The same can be said about the tourism. According to Assistant Minister of Tourism, Zorica Smileva, tourism might powerfully encourage and expand the possibilities for economy development in the Republic. The directions would be to intensify and revitalize the current offers, but also to search for new tourist programs and services. Participants in the Forum were presented the opinions of representatives of many countries, similar to ours. These countries have already overcome the difficulties of their own reforms and are now examples of medium to highly developed countries, which is the aim of our country, too. Most interesting were the reports of the former Finance Minister of Chile, Hernan Buhi, and of New Zealand, Ruth Richardson, as well as of the former Malaysian Foreign Minister, Tan Shri Gazalli Shaffi. The Forum, which was organized by the World Bank, and with financial support of the Macedonian and Swiss governments, was greeted by the General Manager of the World Bank, James Wolfenson (the greeting was presented on a video tape recording), and by the President of the Board of Directors of the Bank, and representative for Macedonia, Evelyn Herfkens. (end)mils news 05 February 1996 |
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