MILS NEWS 22/02/96

From: "M.I.L.S." <[email protected]>

Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory

CONTENTS

MILS NEWS

Skopje, 22 February 1996

[01] CRVENKOVSKI: 'PLEASE DO NOT PROTECT GLIGOROV FROM US '

'Today, you have the list of the proposed new Government of Republic of Macedonia in front of you. This is one of the many things we are going through for the first time, which probably is the reason for the exaggerated sensitivity that appeared due to it. In the countries with longer democratic tradition, such happenings are treated much more peacefully, as a normal part of a democratic life.' - said Macedonian Premiere, Branko Crvenkovski, in his expose on the reconstruction of the Macedonian Government, presented on yesterday's session of the Macedonian Parliament.

Premiere stressed that his suggestion for the reconstruction had been motivated by an attempt to form a team of ministers who will more effectively, more promptly and more successfully realize the program platform promoted during the elections period, and added that it is not always in a complete co-relation with the efficiency of different individuals. 'It must not be forgotten', said Crvenkovski, 'that the Government is a collective body and that it can function successfully only if there is a spirit of a team work and mutual confidence and loyalty. The Government can not and must not be a debate club, and it must be effective 24 hours a day.'

'This Government, despite the fact that all the conditions for its functioning as a political one were fulfilled in the parliamentary elections, did not function as a political one. This Parliament remembers that the Liberal Party did not support it, and that its members - ministers were said to function as experts personally chosen by the Premiere. It was publicly announced that Liberals are not a part of the Governmental Coalition. I would now like to say I feel personally responsible for that unnatural situation, as I, as a mandator, did not ask for the things to be cleared up at the very beginning. As the attitude of the Liberal Party remained unchanged after 13 months, it was clear that the new structure of the Government will not include ministers - experts, and members of that Party.' - explained Premiere Crvenkovski the absence of the Liberals from the suggested list.

He also stressed that political partnership meant that both sides had to be ready to equally take the risks and the responsibilities in the most difficult moments. In case one of the partner intends to participate only in the successes, there can be no political partnership.

Premiere Crvenkovski denied all the rumours that the platform and the strategic aims of the Alliance for Macedonia will be abandoned. Regarding the historical and state interests, the aims of these programs are such that there must not be strict separation into parliamentary and non-parliamentary, and into position and opposition political subjects.

Regarding the attitude of certain political subject towards President Kiro Gligorov, Crvenkovski said those who proclaimed themselves his unique protectors have made a mistake. President Gligorov, with what he had done and still does, has obtained such a personal reputation and confidence, both inside and outside the country, that he does not need to be protected by anybody. The Premiere stressed: 'Please, do not protect Gligorov from SDSM, from the Party with which he had had the most sincere cooperation and respect in the last period. SDSM was one of the few, if not the one and only Party that did not even consider to make calculations about his successor, after the assassination attempt on him on 3 October last year. That cooperation and the mutual loyalty will continue, you may be sure, in future, not because of interests or political profiting, but because of the fully identical views, and because of the long term interests of this people. SDSM do not regard President Gligorov as their protector in certain critical situations, but a President of a country and a leader of the nation, which he definitely is, and we sincerely wish him to remain that for many years.'

Saying that the commodity which appeared in the ruling circles after the winning of the elections, will have to be abandoned, Crvenkovski reminded of the achievements of this Government in the first year of its mandate. He mentioned the normalization of the relations with Greece, the joining of Macedonia to OSCE, to the European Council and to the 'Partnership for Peace' Program, as great successes in the international field. He emphasized that the Government succeeded to maintain the total macro economic stability of the country, the stability of the national currency and the one-figure inflation, despite the blockades from the southern and from the northern sides. The foreign currency reserves of Macedonia of $ 274 million US at the end of last year; the satisfactory regulated relations with the Paris Creditors Club, and the expectations for the arrangement with IMF to be successfully realized, were pointed out by Crvenkovski as great successes in the field of economy. He estimated as favourable the facts that the privatization process had been speeded up in the last year, i.e. that 604 of planned 1216 enterprises had been privatized, that the Law regarding the 25 enterprises with greatest losses had been realized and that the structural changes in the banking system had began.

From the area of the reforms of the political system, the Premiere pointed out the Law on Courts and the Law on Local Self-Government as projects of a great importance, treated by the Government most seriously.

Crvenkovski said there had been things planned, but not realized, such as solving the problems of the fall of the GNP and the production, the unemployment, the deficit in the pensions fund, the reforms in the administrations of the state, and the fight against criminality.

The Premiere presented the precise activities that expect the new Government, in case it is supported by the envoys.

He said the policy of distinguished good will for cooperation with all neighbours would be maintained, the strategy of joining the European integration would be kept, as well as of improving the cooperation with NATO, with hopes to become its official member.

The reforms in the economy and the structural changes would be continued, and the turn in the area of the production would be regarded to be of greatest importance, according to Crvenkovski. He also stressed the reducing of the deficit in the pensions fund as one of the most important tasks in future.

In the field of the judiciary, as most important would be treated the Criminal Law, the Law on the new territorial separation of the country, the Law on Local Elections, the Law on Local Self-Government, the Law on Denationalization, the Law on High Education, etc.

Concluding his report, Crvenkovski said he could not guarantee successes in all the fields, but he could guarantee the Government and himself will do their best to realize the programs, which is expected from them.

[02] LIBERALS FOR EARLY ELECTIONS

After the Premiere submitted his report, about twenty members of the Parliament participated in the discussion on the proposed new structure of the Government. Members of the Liberal Party said it could not be regarded a reconstruction of the previous Government, but a forming of a new one, and pointed out that both Liberal Party and President Gligorov did not support the Premiere in this. Risto Nikolovski of the Liberal Party, asked Crvenkovski whether President Gligorov agreed with the suggested candidates for the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Internal Affairs and Defense, which are in his domain.

Zoran Krstevski (Liberal Party), said it would be the best for the Government to resign, and that it would have been honest before the citizens to discuss the possibility for new elections. According to Krstevski, the Alliance for Macedonia had been broken up by one side, and the Liberal Party took the position of a 'hidden' opposition which did not intend to provoke a fall of the Government, but to point out what had not been realized of the program. He said his Party never refused its responsibility for these failures.

Krstevski said the absence of President Gligorov on this session clearly showed his stand about the proposal for the new Government. Ivan Boikov of SDSM reminded him that President Gligorov also did not attend the session when the current Government was inaugurated.

The coordinator of the parliamentary group of the Liberals, Ace Kocevski, said the first clash inside the Coalition appeared at the very beginning, when Illiaz Sabriu, who gave his support for the 'Tetovo university' in written, was appointed a Minister. About Minister Frchkovski, Kocevski said that he was rewarded by being promoted to a Foreign Minister, despite the fact that, as a Minister of Internal Affairs, he failed to discover the assassins of President Gligorov. Kocevski said the Liberals would sign an initiative for early elections, because of their principles and ethics.

Members of PDP said they would support the proposed new Government, as they expect it will be more effective and have better sense of political responsibility. Hisen Ramadani (PDP) said the breakdown of the Alliance for Macedonia does not jeopardize the promises given in the elections period. As an opposition in the Parliament, the Liberals would contribute to the creation of a constructive atmosphere, according to Ramadani, but a domination of a single Party in the Parliament must be prevented. Sefedin Hairuni said he would vote for the new Government, as, according to him, there is no other political Party that would offer a more acceptable solution and a new platform. He, however, paid most attention to the issue of 'Tetovo university'.

The proposal of Premiere Crvenkovski was supported by SDSM, the Socialist Party, the Party for Complete Emancipation of Romas, the Democratic Alliance of the Albanians - Liberal Party and the Social Democratic Party of Macedonia.

Nano Ruzin of SDSM said it is a great day for the democracy in Macedonia, because after the elections, with the creation of a homogenous Parliament, the members of the Alliance for Macedonia began to lose their identity, and a lack of constructive ideas appeared. The current situation offers a much different quality. Vancho Chifliganec (SDSM) said he disapproves the attempts for his Party to be accused of abandoning the program of the Alliance and President Gligorov, adding that Crvenkovski was not a mandator of the Alliance, but of SDSM, the Party with most members in the Parliament.

Ljubisav Ivanov of the Socialist Party said the frequent changes inside the Coalition and the Government are nothing to be feared from, as it is more important whether there are or not different ideas between the parties. In that case, it is better if the Parties with different views leave the Coalition and act independently. According to Ivanov, the Alliance for Macedonia failed in the field of economy, and the new Government should find the solution for the chaotic situation.

Faik Abdi (PCER) said, from now on Macedonian Parliament will have an opposition, and supported the new Government.

The discussion on the proposed reconstruction of the Government was interrupted yesterday afternoon, and will continue today, when many members of the Parliament are expected to take part in it.

A-1 Television informed yesterday, according to sources from SDSM, that this Party does not consider the changing of the President of the Parliament, Stojan Andov, while the Liberals stated it should be his individual decision. Stojan Andov scheduled the next session of the Parliament for 6 March 1996.

[03] EXTRAORDINARY SESSION OF WEU

The Parliamentary Assembly of the West European Union will have its extraordinary session in London today. It will be attended by the Presidents of the Defense and Foreign Affairs Committees of the national Parliaments, and of the joined members and partners of countries-observers, including Macedonia. The subject of the discussion will be the security in Europe, from the defense and political aspect.

[04] PARLIAMENTARY COOPERATION WITH MONTENEGRO

As A-1 Television informed, the President of Montenegro Parliament, Svetozar Marovic will pay a visit to Macedonia today. He is expected to meet with President Kiro Gligorov and with the President of the Macedonian Parliament, Stojan Andov. According to unofficial sources, A-1 Television reported that Marovic will discuss the mutual recognition of FRY and Macedonia. The recognition should take place till the end of this week, and it should be preceded by a visit of Serbian President Slobodan Miloshevic to Macedonia.

Meanwhile, Radio NOMA informed yesterday on the stand of Greece to support the conditions of EU for FRY to be recognized, i.e. FRY to recognize Macedonia. Greek stand is, however, that FRY should recognize Macedonia under the name FYROM, which is the principle attitude of Greece, not an exception. It was also said that Greece had informed Macedonia on this.

[05] BUSINESS INFORMATION CENTRE OPENED IN SKOPJE

As a support to the initiatives for starting new economy programs, the Business Information Centre for small and medium enterprises was opened yesterday in the Chamber of Commerce of Skopje. The aim is to offer various information through creation of several computer data banks, such as registration, foreign technical aid, credit lines, export- import information, addresses of firms, access to foreign data banks, economy literature and magazines, etc. The system is expected to be expanded on the whole territory of Macedonia.

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mils news 22 February 1996