MILS NEWS 26/02/96

From: "M.I.L.S." <[email protected]>

Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory

CONTENTS

MILS NEWS

Skopje, 26 February 1996

[01] NEW GOVERNMENT ELECTED

Last Friday, the members of the Macedonian Parliament, with 83 votes for, elected the new Macedonian Government. There are no ministers - members of the Liberal Party in the new cabinet of Crvenkovski. Liberals will be acting as parliamentary opposition in future, while their President Stojan Andov said he will submit his resignation as President of the Parliament on the next session.

The new Macedonian Government consists of: 11 ministers and 6 vice ministers of the Socialist Democratic Alliance of Macedonia (SDSM); 3 ministers and 4 vice ministers of the Socialist Party (SP); and 5 ministers and 4 vice ministers of the Party for Democratic Prosperity (PDP). The candidate for the position of a Vice Minister of Labour and Social Policy, Branko Janevski (SDSM), was withdrawn from the list before the voting took place, and that position is empty at the moment.

26 deputies, members of the LP, PDPA and NDP, voted against the new Government, while the Parliament Member of Democratic Party of the Turks in Macedonia, Kenan Hassani, abstained from voting. The third day of session of the Parliament was marked by severe mutual accusations between the Social Democrats and the Liberals, same as the previous two days were.

[02] CRVENKOVSKI - 'WE GAINED MORE SUPPORT'

After the new Macedonian Government was elected, Premiere Crvenkovski in a public statement said: 'After the period of expectations, a great change happened. There are 9 new members of the Government (of the total number of 20), and the epilogue was that this Government won more support than the previous one in 1994. It would be tragic if the programs or the strategic aims of a country are changed each year or every four years. In that case, the aims would be neither strategic, nor of a vital national interest. We are in the middle of very important activities, and, as I already said in my expos,, I expect that this Government will function more effectively and be more responsible, as well as that we will be able to solve most of the problems in a very short period of time.

On the question whether we will now have a politically responsible Government, I now say it clear which political Parties and subjects back this Government. They will bear the responsibility of its functioning in front of the public. My opinion is that this is the new quality of the Government.'

[03] ANDOV - 'WILL WE KEEP THE DEMOCRACY?'

On the occasion of the election of the new Government and his announced resigning from the position President of the Parliament, the leader of the Liberal Party, Stojan Andov, stated:

'I have worked in the Parliament for five years, and I am convinced that I have contributed to what was done in that period. It will be recorded in the history. This is obviously a crucial moment. I think that good directions for the development are possible, but also that there are many possible dangers for the stability of Macedonia and its future, as well for the democracy in it.

The basic question is whether we will keep the democracy and what it will look like. Will it be a real one? Whether we will progress in the direction of its development will mostly depend on the parliamentary democracy, as well as on the pressure of the opposition against the Government. That is the reason I think I am more needed in the opposition now.' - said Andov.

[04] MILOSHEVIC IN SKOPJE TODAY?

After the announcements and the denials of the FR Yugoslav Foreign Minister, Milos Milutinovic, visit to Skopje, yesterday's Athens press claimed there were certain indications that the formal signing of the documents on mutual recognition of FRY and Macedonia would take place today. According to Athens News Agency', Belgrade waited for the election of the new Macedonian Government in order to sign the recognition documents.

[05] GREEK GOVERNMENT SHOULD ACCEPT A COMPLEX NAME

There are no new official statements of the Greek diplomatic circles on the information that FRY will recognize Macedonia under its constitutional name. It was said, however, that such a recognition will strengthen the position of the most unyielding circles in Skopje. It is expected that it would influence both the negotiations on the name issue in New York and the relations between Athens and Belgrade.

Greek daily 'Katimerini', in its yesterday's comment asks when will the Greek Government have the courage to accept a complex name for its northern neighbour, adding that it still not known what solution will be brought in New York.

Meanwhile, Athens 'quietly suppressed the lapse' of the Greek Premiere Simitis, who used the term 'Macedonia' instead of 'FYROM', in his answer to a question raised during his visit to Paris.

[06] FRENCH RECOGNITION OF FRY - VIOLATION OF EU AGREEMENTS

EU partners of France expressed their disagreement with the unilateral re-establishing of the diplomatic relations between FR Yugoslavia and France, informed 'Royter' yesterday, according to sources from the EU diplomatic circles. The diplomats stated that France broke the EU agreements in which it participated.

French diplomacy belives it does not mean that France recognizes FRY as a legal successor of former SFRY. The previous state, it was said, included also Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Macedonia, which proclaimed their independence in 1991-1992. The issue of succession also refers to the rights to the property, as well as responsibilities and obligations of formerfederation. Great Britain agrees with this French attitude, while Germany and some other countries, according to French sources, disagree.

[07] MACEDONIA IN THE FAMILY OF THE ECONOMIES IN TRANSITION

The OECD Council on its session held the day before yesterday, passed the decision to accept Macedonia as a regular member of the Centre for Cooperation of the Economies in Transition (CCET), that acts within the frames of OECD. OECD Secretary General expressed his belief that the adoption of Macedonia in the Centre will positively contribute to the economy development of the country and to its integrating to the EU and other international economy organizations.

[08] ARENS - 'INTER ETHNIC RELATIONS IN MACEDONIA DEVELOP POSITIVELY'

The President of the Working Group for Ethnic and National Minorities of the Geneva Conference on Former Yugoslavia, Gerd Arens, and the German Ambassador to Macedonia, Claus Schramaer, yesterday visited Tetovo, and met with representatives of the political Parties PDP, NDP and DPM.

Mr. Arens said the inter ethnic relations have a very positive development in Macedonia. He also said he never agreed with, nor ever supported, the opening of the illegal 'Tetovo University'. A-1 Television informed that, when asked what will happen to this 'University', he answered:

'Ask your new Government and your new Minister of Education.'

Yesterday, Arens met with the representatives of the Democratic Party of Turks, the Democratic Party of Serbs, the Democratic Party of Vlachs, VMRO DPMNE, Democratic Party and the PCER. These were farewell visits of Arens, who was appointed to a new position.

[09] TERM 'SLAV MACEDONIANS' TO BE REJECTED

Macedonian Council for Western Australia on the meeting with the Australian Emigration Minister, Senator Nick Bolcus (25 January this year, in Pert) requested from the Australian Government: the term 'Slav Macedonians' to be rejected; legal introducing of the Macedonian language in Australia, which means all the information in the Australian Embassy in Belgrade, in relation to Macedonia, to be in Macedonian language; and financial aid for Macedonia due to the damages the country suffered from the war in Bosnia and sanctiones imposed on FR Yugoslavia. Minister Bolcus recently informed the Council, in written, that the Australian Embassy in Belgrade will soon begin with preparing standard letters and information in Macedonian. The letter also wrote that the Australian Government indirectly participates in the project of modernizing the navigation system of the Airport in Skopje, which is financed by the European Bank with $ 14.05 million US. Bolcus also informed that there is a possibility to make an agreement with British authorities in the region to issue Australian visas for Macedonian citizens, as well as to make mediating agreements with certain organizations about the issuing of the visas.

[10] EXHIBITION OF GREEK PRODUCTS

The first exhibition of Greek products, called 'Multi Product Expo '96', was opened the day before yesterday at Skopje Fair. One hundred most successful Greek firms participate in the exhibition, all of them ready to cooperate with and to invest in the Macedonian economy. They are presenting mostly general consumer goods.

The manifestation was opened by the President of the Macedonian Chamber of Commerce, Dushan Petreski, who expressed his satisfaction from such numerous participation of Greek enterprises, which should contribute to the improvement of the relations between Greece and Macedonia.

The Head of the Liaison Office of the Hellenic Republic in Skopje, Alexandros Mallias, said the political, economy and any other cooperation between the two countries are bases for the improvement of their relations and will contribute to the stability of the whole region. It is expected that this relations will help Macedonia to be included more successfully and in a shorter term in the EU.

[11] HUAN ANTONIO SAMARAN IN SKOPJE

On the occasion of the Macedonian Olympic Days, an Olympic Academy was held last Saturday in Skopje, which was attended by the first man of the International Olympic movement, Huan Antonio Samaran. During the celebration, the President of the Macedonian Olympic Committee (MOK), Vasil Tupurkovski, handed Mr. Samaran a Medallion for the contribution in the sports and tourism, the highest reward of MOK.

About 300 athletes participated in the program, as well as the Ballet and Drama of the Macedonian National Theatre (MNT). A retrospective exhibition 'From Athens 1896 to Atlanta 1996' was opened in the lobby of MNT. The Macedonian Olympic Days ended sooner than planned, as Mr. Samaran had to return to Barcelona immediately, due to, as it was informed, family reasons. According to Skopje daily 'Vecer' Samaran received a medical treatment in Skopje hospital and was brought to the Skopje Airport by ambulance. This was the reason why the round table discussion with representatives of Olympic Committees of 17 European countries was canceled.

However, this was Samaran's second visit to Macedonia in the last three years.

[12] ITALIAN SKIERS MOST SUCCESSFUL

The 27th 'Shara Mountain Ski Cup' took place during the weekend on the winter resort of 'Popova Shapka'. The Cup was opened by the Macedonian President, Kiro Gligorov, who is the sponsor of the event. Skiers from 11 countries participated in this year's Cup: from Italy, Slovenia, France, Bulgaria, Croatia, Slovakia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, FR Yugoslavia, Greece, Albania, and from the host country, Macedonia. The Italian skiers were generally most successful, and the winner of the Cup was the Italian Mateo Nanna, who won both the slalom and the great slalom races.

MILS SUPPLEMENT

[13] New Sources of Energy

('Nova Makedonija', 24 February 1996)

The hydroelectric power system of Mavrovo is one of the biggest and most complex ones both in our country and wider.

It consists of three hydroelectric power stations of 182 MGW installed, the reservoir Mavrovo Lake with maximum reserve of 376 million kWh electric power, pipe lines of 133.4 km (91 km of covered channels, 36 km of tunnels, and 6.4 km of steel water traps), as well as of access roads for observing and maintaining the objects of 167 km total length.

The big number of objects, distribution installations and hydromechanic equipment make this system rather complex. The system extends to a territory of 513 km2. The objects are set on the mountains of Korab, Bistra and Shara.

Since the beginning of their exploitation in 1957 till now, the three hydroelectric power stations ('Vrutok', 'Raven' and 'Vrben'), have produced more than 13 billion kWh electric power.

These stations have, however, 'lived out their life' a long time ago. The station 'Vrutok' has been working for 39 years, while 'Raven' and 'Vrben' for 37. It means that the turbines, the generators and the other hydro-energy objects should be replaced by new ones. 'The system should be completely revitalized', told us Miodrag Jefremovski, the General Manager of the hydro-electric power station 'Tito' in Gostivar, who was one of the pioneers that worked in the stations 'Raven' and 'Vrben'.

It is expected that in the forthcoming period a complete technical documentation will be prepared to justify the necessity of the replacement. The procedure has already started, and in about thirty days the enterprise will be chosen that will prepare the report. An offer has already been submitted to competent institutions in Switzerland, Slovenia, Croatia and Serbia.

It is planned that the report is accomplished till the end of this year, and in the next one credits to be asked from the European and the World Bank, intended for the revitalization of the Mavrovo system.

Mr. Jefremovski informed us that experts from the European and the World Bank have visited the system and were surprised by the fact that the equipment has been used for such a long time, without any problems to appear. This is due to the regular annual maintenance of the equipment and the objects. The Banks representatives had informally agreed to credit the revitalization of the system.

The activities should be accomplished in five years, i.e. till the year of 2 002, and more than $ 50 million US to be spent.

The revitalization of certain most important installations should start during this year, with financial aid of 5 million CHF from the Swiss Government.

The activities have already began: the two generators of the station 'Vrutok' should be reconstructed, the 110 kWh installations should be replaced, the turbine regulation of two aggregates should be reconstructed and two turbine circuits should be constructed.

Also, the isolation of per one generator in the stations 'Raven' and 'Vrben' should be replaced, and the caps in the Mavrovo Lake should be reconstructed.

All this should be done in two years, as the activities will be performed gradually, without stopping the production of the power. After that, the power of the generators will be increased for 5 MGW, and after the system is completely revitalized, the annual production should be enlarged for 30 million kWh electric power, and the power for additional 10 MGW.

The idea of constructing a reservoir on the mountain of Korab originates from the time of the construction of the Mavrovo system. The complete technical documentation has been prepared, but it is still waited for the necessary funds. 'The planned construction of 'Lukovo Pole' is the cheapest and the most economical one of all in our country' - told us Miodrag Jefremovski. According to the calculations, this object would cost $ 31 350 000 US. The annual production planned is 114 million kWh of electric power, which means that one kWh would cost only 27 cents.

Jefremovski stressed that it was of greatest importance that in the periods of drought the Vardar river will be provided with 12 - 15 m3 of water per second, which will be very significant for the agriculture and for obtaining a biological minimum water quantity in the river.

The need for new production of electric power in Macedonia is more than necessary, and the authorities should pay a special attention to it. They should work on obtaining the necessary funds to start the constructions as soon as possible. Each additional kWh of electric power is of greatest importance for the complete development of the country.

(end)

mils news 26 February 1996