MILS: News from the FYROM, 96-11-04

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From: "Macedonian Information Liaison Service" <[email protected]>

CONTENTS

[01] SIGNING OF EU COOPERATION AGREEMENT DUE AND OF THIS YEAR

[02] 'MAKFAX': CROSSING INTO YUGOSLAVIA WITH ID CARDS SOON ?

[03] CONTINUING OF BULGARIAN-MACEDONIAN NEGOTIATIONS

[04] 'ELEPHTHEROTYPIA': SUPER POWERS SUPPORT SKOPJE

[05] PRODUCTION OF NEW 'AUDI' MODEL IN MACEDONIA POSSIBLE

[06] CONSUMER PRICES INCREASED IN OCTOBER

[07] 'FOCUS' OPINION POLL REVEALS: LJUPCHO NILKOLOVSKI - FUFO THE RED HOT FAVOURITE OF SKOPJE

[08] PRESENTATION OF AGENDAS AND ASSESSMENT OF RIVALLING CANDIDATES

[09] VICTORIA THEODOROU & VLADA UROSHEVIKJ PROCLAIMED LAUREATES OF 'RATSIN MEETINGS'

MILS SUPPLEMENT

[10] 'Unrestricted Police Brutality' ('Dnevnik', 30 October 1996)

MILS NEWS

[01] SIGNING OF EU COOPERATION AGREEMENT DUE AND OF THIS YEAR

Papoutsis also used his stay in Macedonia to publicize several concrete EU programmes which will have the objective to stimulate the evolution of small and medium- size businesses in Macedonia, or which are to financially aid projects concerning the development of tourism. In addition to this, Papoutsis promised that the EU would undertake ancillary measures to fasten the complete integration of Macedonia within the Black-Sea Regional Energetics Centre. This was followed by the proposal to compile a national study on Macedonia's energy needs, as well as the possibility of organizing a conference on furthering cooperation between the EU and Macedonia with regards to energetics, i.e. the integration of our country into several programmes dealing with this issue.

During his two-day visit EU Commissioner Christos Papoutsis has been received by President Gligorov, PM Crvenkovski, Foreign Secretary Frchkovski and Vice- president Jane Miljoski.

[02] 'MAKFAX': CROSSING INTO YUGOSLAVIA WITH ID CARDS SOON ?

It should perhaps be mentioned that so far there have been no visa requirements for Macedonian citizens upon entering SR Yugoslavia or Macedonia, though identification through passports has been a prerequisite for a year and a half.

Representatives of the Macedonian Foreign Office claim that the given formulation is rather illogical since one cannot suspend something that has never been enacted. It has also been revealed that so far no sort of draft of such a regulation had been forwarded to the Macedonian Foreign Office by Yugoslav authorities. This, nevertheless, may be possible in the future ...

[03] CONTINUING OF BULGARIAN-MACEDONIAN NEGOTIATIONS

During its stay in Sofia the Macedonian delegation was also received by Bulgarian Foreign Secretary Gjorgji Pirinski in order to outline the details concerning the impending meeting of the Prime Ministers of both countries, Zhan Videnov and Branko Crvenkovski, scheduled for 8th and 9th November in Graz (Austria) during the next session of the Black-Sea Initiative. 'Makfax' reports that discussions are also to revolve around the establishing of a free-trade zone between both countries.

Besides this it has also been decided to continue talks between both ministries in Skopje next week.

[04] 'ELEPHTHEROTYPIA': SUPER POWERS SUPPORT SKOPJE

Madras contributes this to the fact that it is being supported by the most relevant political factors (the USA, the EU and the Russian Federation), which is also why Greece has not been able to stop its northern neighbour from using the name Macedonia so far. The author continues by delving into the mistakes made by Greek policy-makers regarding this bone of contention, particularly in more recent times, e.g. during the immediate aftermath to the Lisbon Declaration which swung EU opinion in Macedonia's favour - as well as the fact that the EU did not assume a definite statement with regard to the admission of our country under the FYROM acronym within the UN.

In his article Madras suggests the use of one complex name for Macedonia instead of the FYROM acronym, concluding that the acceptance of the name Macedonia or Republic of Macedonia by the UN would be an act of deception towards Greece.

[05] PRODUCTION OF NEW 'AUDI' MODEL IN MACEDONIA POSSIBLE

'Nova Makedonija' also implies that there may be a possibility for Macedonia to take on the entire production of the 'A3' model. Such an arrangement would involve 'EMO' and 'HTC' in Ohrid, 'Metalna' in Shtip, 'Zletovo' in Probishtip, 'MZT' in Skopje and 'Ruen' in Kochani, and the parts manufactured in Macedonia could also be integrated into other models by 'Audi', which represents a part of the 'Volkswagen' Group. During the initial stages of this venture German partners would invest around 40 million DM - above all in 'know-how' and technology - whereas it was insisted that Macedonia had to be represented by the government and private investors. According to Vice- president Jane Miljoski the execution of this deal requires the signing of a 'national vehicle' agreement. This would also entail more favourable import conditions for other 'Audi' models.

[06] CONSUMER PRICES INCREASED IN OCTOBER

As a result of this overall living costs are increased by 3.6% in October compared to those of its preceding month, whereas in comparison to last year's index the current one is 4.2% higher.

[07] 'FOCUS' OPINION POLL REVEALS: LJUPCHO NILKOLOVSKI - FUFO THE RED HOT FAVOURITE OF SKOPJE

The paper states that 17% of the interviewees voted for Nikolovski, whereas IMRO-DP, DP & MAAK-KP candidate Risto Penov occupies the runner-up position, followed by Darko Markovikj (LP) and Jovica Ugrinovski (SDSM).

[08] PRESENTATION OF AGENDAS AND ASSESSMENT OF RIVALLING CANDIDATES

During the Tetovo election rally of the SDSM its leader - incumbent PM Branko Crvenkovski - said: 'The main topic of conversation at each election rally is the SDSM, which is quite understandable since there are no other issues, activities and achievements not linked to our party in Macedonia. Our opponents had the opportunity to assume power in 1992 - but they refused since expectations outgrew their capacities.'

IMRO-DPMNE leader Ljupcho Georgievski issued this statement in Berovo: 'The current SDSM government has found a way to destroy Macedonian economy. It keeps importing agricultural produce throughout harvest season ... the fact that inflation in Macedonia amounts to zero is hardly surprising when one considers the fact that there are almost no companies left in the country which do business successfully. We as a party are happy that the majority accepts our concept of an independent Macedonian state'.

In Delchevo DP leader Petar Goshev commented: 'The thesis that one party is the creator of today's Macedonia represents an insult to the entire Macedonian people, and to its historic personalities. It is, however, in concordance with the opinion of certain foreign states which consider Macedonia an artificial creation, a nation created by decree - and not as a result of a natural and logical historic evolution of a national and political potential inherent to the Macedonian nation. It is the aim of such a theory to prolong domination into infinity, through the depreciation of these local elections.'

SP leader Ljubisav Ivanov - Singo said (in Kavadarci): 'Many hush-up manouvres and a lot of underestimating the public's judgment have been exhibited during these local elections ... demagoguism is being sold in shape of campaigning ... streets are being constructed and repaired on the one hand, whereas battles for the extinction of parties are being fought on the other. This kind of terror has to stop. The Socialist Party promotes the entering into the era of Socialism, unlike other parties which condemn the latter and sore by it until yesterday'.

DPM leader Tomislav Stojanovski gave the following statement during an election rally in Negotino: 'This country has not been established yesterday - and neither has it been created by somebody belonging to yesterday ... thus nobody has the right to claim such parentage ... we have no ambitions to assume absolute government. It would be very dangerous if one practice become dominant: the meting out power to those who have cronies in government ranks, throughout municipalities in Macedonia. This would throw us back, rather than serving to anybody's advantage. Do not cut off the DPM and Macedonians in the West of the country.'

In Debar the Executive Board member of the PDP Ismet Ramadani stressed that his party promoted the equality of Albanians in Macedonia. Thus they would continue to demand the status of a 'constitutional people' for Albanians, the legalization of the 'Tetovo University' and the passing of regulations which would allow Albanian MPs to address parliamentary assemblies in Albanian, as well as corresponding constitutional changes, etc.

[09] VICTORIA THEODOROU & VLADA UROSHEVIKJ PROCLAIMED LAUREATES OF 'RATSIN MEETINGS'

This year's festival also included the staging of a round- table on 'Balkan Literatures, Cultures and Traditions - Similarities and Blends' at the village Gorno Vranovci. This event had been opened by Borko Zafirovski, aide to the Minister of Culture. The traditional speech on Kocho Ratsin's life and output - traditionally held in front of his house ( a museum dedicated to the poet) - has been delivered by the Bulgarian author Constantine Orush this year.

MILS SUPPLEMENT

[10] 'Unrestricted Police Brutality'

('Dnevnik', 30 October 1996)

The educative methods of extorting confessions: clobbering suspects with truncheons, beating the soles of their feet, tying them to hot radiators, driving them around in vans on uneven roads, beating them on the back, penetrating their anus with a truncheon, trampling on them, hitting them on the head, tying them onto chairs, throwing them around the investigation room ...

The beating of 60-year-old Mirko Kitanovski as he was returning home in his coach from his vineyards - halfway between the villages Drachevo and Kolichani - is only the last item on a mile-long record of violent behaviour exhibited by certain policemen in recent times. This record has been compiled of cases being processed by several legal offices, and of data procured from the Helsinki Committee on Human Rights.

According to police records this incident had been provoked by the fact that Mirko had refused to make way for a police vehicle driven by policeman Dragan Andjelkovikj a.k.a. Arkan. Once both vehicles had passed each other, Arkan came out of the car, disgusted by Mirko's 'swearing' and - clobbered the man. This earned the 60-year-old two fractions of his lower jaw ... and most probably he would have fared even worse had it not happened that the other policeman dragged Dragan away - nauseated by the sight of the barely conscious old man. But the story continues: Mirko was ordered to appear at the police station in Drachevo - in spite of his complaints that he could hardly breathe due to the blood gushing into his nose and mouth. He was detained there for an hour and a half. Only after the arrival of his son Zharko - who had found out by chance that his father was being held at the police station - was he allowed to see a doctor by the policemen.

In February four boys of the Skopje suburb Chento (the minor Igor Stankovikj, Dejan Nikolovski, Aleksandar Kolozhinovski and Kiril Ivanov) were taken to the fifth police station at Avtokomanda without a warrant. There they were maltreated by two 'goons' called Refik and Desim for hours.

These conscientious policemen began 'working over' their victims right away in the police car - and they started with the youngest one, Igor. The continuing beating included the 'most efficient' police methods used to extract the truth from suspects: hitting the soles of their feet, clobbering the boys with truncheons or trampling around on them, tying them to chairs, beating them on their hands, or the more 'educational' variant: hitting them on the head ...

Another incident that happened at the fifth police station involved ARM private Ilija Gligorijadis and student Toni Popovski who were taken to the station because they had supposedly been caught stealing alcohol throughout cafes in Avtokomanda and Lisiche, so that they could re-sell it afterwards.

Policeman Zvonko began by hitting Toni's palms with a truncheon ... and 'just in case he needed it' he also got a baseball bat out of a locker. This was followed by the main course of hitting and boxing the boys - and Zvonko also put Toni's 'airborne' abilities to the test - who was flying mach 2 through the investigation room, crashing into lockers every once in a while. Toni also got a few hits with a bat on the back - and only managed to escape the 'truncheon and behind treatment' by the skin of his teeth.

But if you thought that female police officers were gentler - think again ...

On 1st March this year Cvetanka Lazarova was beaten up by police-person Jelka Stoilkovska in the middle of the street, at the crossroads near the old railway crossing in Skopje. The Epilogue to this drama is: charges are being pressed against Cvetanka for Physical and Verbal Assault of a police officer.

It has occurred that policemen would 'gatecrash' a party and start creaming whoever they got hold off. Some of the children of this party were hospitalized for arm or leg fractures, and other severe injuries. The reason for all this: a neighbour complained about the loud music, and the police came to 'take care of things'.

In June this year - during a routine check for illegal peddlers at the 'zelen pazar' in Skopje - Rakiba Mehmed died 'in vain'. Throughout a similar action and shortly before this incident, 6-year-old Dzhavid was maimed for life (left without a leg) at Topansko Pole. Policemen had sealed off both ends of the stone bridge, and the only way out the terrified child saw was the shallow river bed of the Vardar.

Our attempts to obtain more precise data by the Ministry of the Interior on how many incidents of this kind had been registered, and what measures had been taken to prevent and sanction those individuals who overstepped their boundaries - did not bear any kind of fruit due to the fact that authorities were permanently too busy to look into this matter.

(end)

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