MILS NEWS 13/02/96

From: "M.I.L.S." <[email protected]>

Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory

CONTENTS

MILS NEWS

Skopje, 13 February 1996

[01] ARSOVSKI: MACEDONIA AND GREECE IN THE SAME DIRECTION

Head of the Macedonian Liaison Office in Athens, Ljupcho Arsovski, yesterday handed his letter of accreditation to the Greek Foreign Minister, Theodoros Pangalos. With this, the Liaison Office of Republic of Macedonia in Athens officially started its work.

Ljupcho Arsovski said he will focus on the development of the relations of the two countries in all areas of a mutual interest.

After the meeting with Pangalos, Arsovski said the Greek- Macedonian negotiations on the name dispute are in procedure mediated by Cyrus Vance. For the time being, he said, there is no reason for Greece and Macedonia to stop or to change their direction. He also stated it is sure that both Skopje and Athens are interested in finding a mutual solution, acceptable for both parties.

[02] REMINDING ABOUT THE INITIATIVE OF PRESIDENT GLIGOROV

Foreign Minister of the Republic of Macedonia, Stevo Crvenkovski, yesterday sent a letter to Ms. Elisabeth Rehn, UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in former Yugoslavia, and to Aialla Laso, UN High Commissioner on human rights. In his letter, Crvenkovski reminds of the initiative of the Macedonian President, Kiro Gligorov, for comparative analysis of the human and minority rights in the Balkan states. Crvenkovski pointed out the attention this initiative provoked in the Macedonian public and reminded that Ms. Rehn supported the initiative.

[03] INDEPENDENCE OF UNPREDEP MISSION NECESSARY

UN Secretary-General, Boutros Boutros Ghali, yesterday replied to the letter of Macedonian Foreign Minister, Stevo Crvenkovski, from 15 January 1996. In his letter, Crvenkovski stated the arguments of Macedonia for the necessity of making the UNPREDEP mission in Macedonia independent. Secretary-General replied these arguments were completely accepted and cited in his report to the UN Security Council, submitted on 29 January 1996. Ghali expressed his hope that the positive development of the situation in the region will enable fast and satisfactory solving of the disputes.

[04] DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH GHANA ESTABLISHED

Republic of Macedonia and Republic of Ghana yesterday established diplomatic relations with exchanging diplomatic notes. With this, perspectives for a successful development of the bilateral relations between the two friendly countries are set, announced Macedonian Foreign Ministry.

The modalities for implementing the development of the diplomatic relations will be more precisely determined during the visit of a high diplomatic representative of Ghana to Macedonia, scheduled for the end of this month.

[05] FRENCH DIPLOMACY DENIED THE INFORMATION OF 'LE MOND'

Referring to the information of the French daily 'Le Mond', that Paris thinks FRY should be a political successor of former SFRY, Macedonian Television yesterday reported that French Foreign Ministry denied the information. The official attitude of the French diplomacy is the succession issue, including the political continuity, should be solved by the newly formed countries of former Yugoslav republics. This, according to French diplomacy, does not refer to the membership in the international organizations and institutions, as these organizations should decide independently.

[06] ZAN VIDENOV - PAN-EUROPEAN DEVELOPMENT OF THE BALKAN POLITICS

'We think that no one must have any pretensions for a territory or people in the Balkans these days.' - said Bulgarian Premiere Zan Videnov yesterday, during his official visit to Belgrade. He stated for 'Tanjug' agency that Balkan countries must use the possibility to develop the bilateral and multilateral relations as a proof of the pan-European development of the Balkan politics. FR Yugoslav Premiere, Radoe Kontic, supported the idea of the Bulgarian side to create a free trade zone in the Balkans.

Videnov denied the speculations about a secret agenda for his meeting with Miloshevic.

[07] EXPLOSIONS IN SERBIAN REFUGEE CAMPS IN KOSOVO

As 'Tanjug' informed, explosive devices were thrown to five Serbian refugee camps in Kosovo the day before yesterday, but there were no victims or injured reported. About 10 000 Serb refugees from Croatia were settled in Kosovo last summer, who escaped from the offensive of the Croatian Army in Kraina region.

[08] 'STANDARD' - 'DEFINITIVE BREAKDOWN OF THE GOVERNMENTAL COALITION'

The structure of the new cabinet of Premiere Branko Crvenkovski means a definitive breakdown of the Governmental Coalition, despite the attempts of President Gligorov to preserve it, estimated yesterday Bulgarian media. 'Makpress' reported about the article in Sofia daily 'Standard', which wrote that Macedonian Premiere did not obey the appeal of President Gligorov. It also wrote that the new Foreign Minister, Ljubomir Frchkovski, besides having a significant influence to Gligorov, he originates from an 'old Bulgarian family'.

The daily 'Continent' wrote that Macedonian opposition parties described the move of Crvenkovski as a political assassination on President Gligorov.

[09] LIST OF CANDIDATES FOR VICE - MINISTERS

Macedonian Premiere, Branko Crvenkovski, the day before yesterday submitted the list of the new candidates for vice ministers to the President of Macedonian Parliament, Stojan Andov. The candidates are:

Ramazan Croj - Ministry of Defense; Ilija Gajtanovski - Ministry of Internal Affairs; Mersid Polozani - Ministry of Justice; Hari Kostov - Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Slavenka Stojanova - Ministry of Finances; Blagoja Petrushevski - Ministry of Economy; Ljupcho Vchkov - Ministry of Development; Kiril Nastevski - Ministry of Civil Engineering, Works and Ecology; Branko Petkovski - Ministry of Traffic and Connections; Iordan Zafirov - Ministry of Agriculture; Branko Ianevski - Ministry of Labour and Social Policy; Hassan Iashari - Ministry of Education and Sports; Vasil Drvoshanov - Ministry of Science; Borko Zafirovski - Ministry of Culture, and Illir Iuma - Ministry of Health Care.

[10] VOTING FOR THE NEW GOVERNMENT - ON 21 FEBRUARY

Macedonian media informed that the session of the Macedonia Parliament, on which the reconstruction of the Government should be on the agenda, will not be held today, but on 21 February, on the previously scheduled 39th regular session.

In context of the requiruest of Premiere Branko Crvenkovski, to have a session of the Parliament today, the Article 94 of Macedonian Constitution reads:

'The Parliament decides on the proposal for the release of a member of the Government at its first meeting following the proposal.'

The voting is public, the Government is elected by majority votes of all members of the Parliament, i.e. with at least 61 votes. In case the majority needed is not reached, the voting procedure is repeated. The President of the State appoints the Mandator and the old Government performs its duties till the new one is elected.

[11] LIBERALS : NO DISCUSSION WERE HELD

Executive Committee of the Liberal Party held a session yesterday, when the list of the restructured Government was discussed, as well as the future steps of this Party.

Member of the Committee, Gordana Silanovska, for A-1 Television said that Liberals did not have discussions with SDSM representatives nor with Premiere Crvenkovski, in the way suggested by President Gligorov's public appeal. Namely, SDSM only announced their decision on restructuring of the Government, without participation of members of the Liberal Party.

[12] PETAR GOSHEV - 'ENFORCING THE AUTHORITATIVE GOVERNING'

The breakdown of the Alliance for Macedonia and the reconstruction of the Government have not other aim but to draw all the political and financial power to the oligarchic ruling circles of the country. This is, according to Democratic Party, the essence of the current happenings inside the Alliance for Macedonia and the Macedonian Government. The biggest losers in the situation, according to the leader of the DP, Petar Goshev, are the Liberal Party and the President of the Republic.

President Gligorov, said Goshev, now experienced a second assassination, as the refusal of his appeal insulted his political authority.

The breakdown of the Alliance means a complete de- legitimizing of the Parliament of the reconstructed Government. The absence of the Liberals from the Government will not reduce its ineffectiveness, nor will increase its responsibility, said Petar Goshev. He stressed the enforced authoritative governing might be expected, but it could not last too long. A responsible Government can be formed only by new parliamentary elections, on which Democratic Party is already working on by initiating the collecting of 150 000 signatures. 'Our Party cooperates with all other parties in this action' - said Goshev.

[13] PDPA - 'NOTICE OF CONTROLLED IMPACTS IN THE COUNTRY'

According to the Party for Democratic Prosperity of Albanians (PDPA), the the newest events considering the Macedonian Government, including the happenings in the Macedonia Television, is planned and directed by some Macedonian and, similar to them, Albanian politicians, which is contrary to the democratic interests of Macedonia. The representatives of this Party, on the press conference, held yesterday, negatively evaluated the public addressing of President Gligorov. 'He had no reason to appeal to all citizens of Macedonia, as he was a representative of the Alliance for Macedonia on the last elections' said Arben Jafferi, the President of PDPA. He added this was a signal that Gligorov does not have a real political power, and anounced a phase of 'controlled political earthquakes' in the country.

PDPA stressed they think there are two unsolved problems in Macedonia: the inter-ethnic relations and the establishing of a real democracy.

PDPA (more popular as 'Tachists'), announced they will not vote for the reconstruction of the Government and that they will support an eventual parliamentary initiative for new elections, and the initiative for collecting 150 000 signatures for earlier elections in Macedonia.

MILS SUPPLEMENT

[14] Significant Unrest

('Nasa Borba' , 09 February 1996)

During the last several days of the drama in Athens, Belgrade and Brussels, official Skopje was unusually restrained and calm. According to our source, close to the Macedonian Government, official Skopje expected the mutual recognition between Belgrade and Skopje to take place immediately after the new Government of Constantine Simitis in Athens is elected. According to this version, recognition of Macedonia by Belgrade under its constitutional name would create problems to Simitis in the Greek Parliament on the structuring of his Government. Contradictory information are still announced in Skopje. For example, according to sources from Belgrade, Macedonian Television in its main news announced it is a matter of days, even hours, when the mutual recognition with FRY will happen, i.e. when the already adopted draft Agreement on the normalization of the relations was to be signed. On the other hand, the last edition of the Macedonian weekly 'Puls' claimed that, according to its sources, the Yugoslav Government, after its Foreign Minister Milan Milutinovic came back from Athens, did not even discuss the draft, and not even mentioned its adopting. According to this source, the announcement of Belgrade was issued because it was considered it will be enough to 'outwit the European ministers'. It appeared that was not enough, especially as nothing similar came from Skopje, despite the fact that Macedonian Government had its session that Monday. It is guessed that Skopje was not ready for the announcement from Belgrade, as it was agreed all the moves to be made in coordination. The one-sided move of the Yugoslav side was the first sign for suspicion that it would work coordinately.

According to sources in Skopje, during the negotiations in Dayton, Miloshevic expressed his readiness to give bigger rights to the Albanians in Kosovo, even to the level of autonomy, but in return he required 'American protection of the Serbian minority in Macedonia and giving them more rights'. As alleged, the American side replied that UNPREDEP is already in Macedonia, controlling the northern border.

Soon after, Boutros Boutros Ghali asked the UN Security Council to give an independent status to the Peace Mission in Macedonia and to connect it directly to the headquarters in New York.

The most recent news in Macedonia, that, apparently, Belgrade avoids to recognize Macedonia under its constitutional name because Greece would disagree to give an exclusivity to FRY for using the Thessaloniki Port, are described as a 'Greek propaganda camouflage', an explanation for the Greek public. It is said that the essence of this problem is quite different than the one stated in the announcement of Milan Milutinovic. Namely, it is said that Belgrade has asked for much more than a free zone, i.e. has asked for Macedonia to have access to the Port exclusively through the Yugoslav zone. Greece, as alleged, refused that, as that was required immediately before signing of the Interim Accord on a temporary normalization of the relations between Athens and Skopje. This requirement was even less possible to be realized as the new Greek Premiere, Simitis, said the cooperation between Skopje and Athens was 'a basic factor for the stability in the region'. It may be even concluded that the colder the relations between Belgrade and Athens are, the warmer they become between Skopje and Athens.

Macedonian reporters claim that Skopje does not confirm that the Greek Office in Skopje was given the draft Agreement, after which a telephone conversation between Minister Pangalos and Milutinovic and the visit of Milutinovic to Athens took place. The Greek press, however, informed that official Athens was very insulted by the fact that the draft Agreement was received not from Belgrade, but from Skopje.

The statement of the new Greek Premiere about the 'Serbian knife in the Greek back' was also published. It is concluded also that forthcoming 'breaking up of some old connections' and 'notices of a new Balkan reality' should be expected.

President of the EU Council of Ministers, Susan Anielli, stated for BBC that Milan Milutinovic convinced her that Macedonia will be recognized under its constitutional name.

Macedonia has already been recognized under that name by many countries, including the former Yugoslav republics of Slovenia and Croatia, the neighbouring countries Bulgaria and Albania, and powerful countries such as Russia and China. According to the information from Macedonian Foreign Ministry, the constitutional name of Macedonia was not disputable either in the Miloshevic - Gligorov meeting, or in the diplomatic dialogues on the draft Agreement. It is possible that Belgrade did not insist on the temporary name of Macedonia as it wants the exclusive continuity from SFRY, even from the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenians. A country with traces of the former federation in its name would jeopardize the possibility for the exclusivity. Also, Republic of Macedonia is a name established on Anti- fascistic Assembly of the People's Liberation War of Macedonia, kept till the federation had dissolved. There were, however, some other explanations in Skopje. It was said that Slobodan Miloshevic did not want to 'disappoint the strong pro-Serbian lobby' in Macedonia and the 'great number of the pro-Serb population'. The intention of Miloshevic to 'trade with the name of the Port' was also mentioned, as well as the ambitions of the Serbian President to promote himself as the most important factor on the Balkans, which directly stroke the ambitions of Athens.

According to some estimations, the most important issues for Macedonia were regulated by the New York Accord, and the issues of greatest importance for Serbia should be regulated by the normalization of the relations between FRY and Brussels. After the Interim Accord, Skopje significantly strengthened its international position. It was allowed an access to the international financial and security institutions, and the rapid improvement of the economical cooperation with Greece is in process. Greek businessmen show a great interest in the cooperation with their Macedonian colleagues. Greek ambition is to help Macedonia in its integration in the EU, which was openly stated by Premiere Simitis. The opinion of Skopje is that Greece is least dangerous for Macedonia, and that Greece is least jeopardized by its northern neighbour and by the Macedonian minority in Greece. This minority is small in number and mostly assimilated. The name issue is 'of a great importance for the political manipulations', and most probably by some 'transit' solutions (for example, a 'triple name', mentioned as the most possible one) will be forgotten when the cooperation and the integration will show it was a senseless dispute.

The future will show the meaning of the intention of Miloshevic to recognize Macedonia under the constitutional name, and to strike back to Athens, as nobody precisely knows when and how will he announce his decision.

(end)

mils news 13 February 1996