Dhmhtrhs Paneras
Boston, MA
In the talks, which were also attended by the special envoy of the U.S. President Clinton in the Greek-Macedonian dispute Matthew Nimitz, minister Crvenkovski briefed his hosts of the situation in Macedonia and the broader region, as well as the economic consequences Macedonia is suffering due to the unilateral Greek embargo.
It was agreed to continue the negotiations for lessening the differences between the Republic of Macedonia and Greece, with the mediation of Cyrus Vance.
The conservative newspaper "Katimerini" assesses that minister Stevo Crvenkovski clearly dismissed the proposals for a "triple name," as well as the so-called "small package", which foresees a postponement of the negotiations over the name. The pro-government "Ta nea" adds that minister Crvenkovski refused to hold any kind of negotiations over the name, as that presents "the essence of the Macedonian nation." The same newspaper says that minister Crvenkovski "provocatively said" that Skopje would give up its flag with the Sun of Vergina, if Greece recognizes the name "Makedonija."
As Makpress reports, the Greek press claims that Crvenkovski had allegedly told Vance that there was a proposal for RM to give up its flag, only if Greece accepted the present name of its northern neighbor.
The mediator Vance, according to "Ta nea," had asked "Skopje to agree to the formula - the negotiations over the name to be postponed for some time later on." Previously, namely, some kind of measures of mutual trust should have been established. Expressing disappointment over Skopje's unyielding stance, "Katimerini" assesses that Cyrus Vance's mediating mission is brought into question.
In Athens, Skopje's adamancy is explained with its determination to wait for the decision of the European Court of Justice regarding the embargo that Greece imposed on Macedonia. The UN mediator will inform the Security Council of the situation in the relations between Greece and Macedonia, the Athens press informs, adding that Vance will continue his mediating mission.
According to Makpress from Ankara, Papandreou's Government has been a total failure in the sphere of internal and foreign politics. "Due to the political chaos in the country, the government of the socialists, which is in agony, is putting on more pressure, pushing in the front plan some foreign problems, and creating a military atmosphere. Now Greece is taking an enemy political stand toward the neighbors Albania, Macedonia and Turkey and is literally challenging them. The stand that Athens took in relation to the Aegean and Cyprus is leading toward war," according to the estimates of Ankara, as well as the U.S.A. and NATO. Efforts are being made to prevent Greece in that.
Washington, Brussels and Ankara have reached a consensus also over another important question. Papandreou is in a psychological dilemma. It is believed that Papandreou will drag Greece into a war, if he feels he will lose power.
On the other hand, the report "Analysis of the political risks" from January, this year, it is said: "The officers of the Greek army, who are afraid that Papandreou will push Greece in an abyss have the intention (are planning) to make a coup d'etat!"
Their demonstrative leaving, not so long after the recent statements that there was a possibility of the Albanians in Macedonia walking out of the institutions of the system, leads to the thought that this is the first concrete step in that direction. However, judging from what was happening in yesterday's session, it can be claimed, with an equal doze of "un" certainty that its exactly the opposite - that ll of this was a momentary expression of revolt, and nothing more. Because, the Albanian MPs were present at yesterday's commission sessions, again.
However, one thing is for sure. There's a great deal of dissatisfaction with the solutions that the Government is offering, which they view in a much broader context that the framework of the mentioned law. So, in yesterday's talks, the president of PDP and the vice-president of Parliament Abdurahman Aliti emphasized that PDP has an absolutely negative stand regarding the way in which the Government treats the Albanian language, and its constitutional-legal status, in general. He stood by his previous assertion that the authorities in Macedonian are changing their global politics toward the Albanians, that there are symptoms which point to that, which is why he came to the conclusion that the Albanians will also have to change their political course toward the authorities. To the question what that means, we did not receive a concrete answer, except for one thing "we'll see that." Aliti emphasized that they were making efforts to discuss the constitutional position of the languages in Macedonia, and not only partial or marginal solutions. Such a real discussion, according to him, never took place, and they only talk when certain issues arise. Otherwise, the conduct in Parliament, that is, the (non) participation in the work is decided by the group of MPs.
On the same position, but much more keen to talk was Mersel Biljali, vice-president of NDP and coordinator of this party's group of MPs. He also connected that concrete motive with the global dissatisfaction with the government solutions. Biljali claims that the Government restrictively interprets article 7 of the Constitution, as under the term local self-government it understands only an organizational form, and not a territorial unit. Such an interpretation, he says, creates an absurd situation in the local units: to use two languages or several languages in the organs of the municipalities, the assemblies and executive boards, and to use only the Macedonia language in the local units of the ministries. To the question as to how far they are expected to go in their demands to accept their solutions, Mersel Biljali said that they see the solution in the acceptance of the amendments and an initial discussion with the government coalition over this issue, as it is a question of human rights and respect of their own Constitution. He announced the possibility that some initial questions might be raised at today's session of Parliament, although he refrained from announcing the next steps, in regards to which he said that they would be coordinated inside the party, as well as in consultations with PDP and the other parties in Parliament, with which a common language and common activities can be found.
The session of Parliament is scheduled for today, and it will be seen whether the MPs of Albanian nationality have already prepared their own strategy. But, if talks over the controversial issues are requested, or even more, promised to the Albanians, then it must surely come to that. Even more so that we are also for that to discuss all the problems, and to come to a solution through dialogue.
On the other hand, experience has shown that the blackmail that has been taking place in Parliament did not give any results, but only condemnation of those who did the blackmailing.
According to Ms. Linda Gregory, USAID representative for Macedonia, Macedonia needs help of $ 100 million for the same to be effective. According to Ms. Gregory, this help is provided together with the other international institutions such as IBRD, EBRD, IMF, etc.
Last year, USAID delivered Macedonia help valued at $ 9 million, which was intended exclusively for development programs, and in addition, another $ 5 million cash for covering the debts to the World bank, as well as $ 7.5 million in corn, as part of the program for food, handled by the agriculture department.
The competent ministry is instructed to monitor the situation and if this measure is re-introduced by the FRY, then the Macedonian Government will also restore the same measure.
In this meeting, the Government adopted the program for the sale of business areas in the first quarter of 1995. According to this program, the sale of a total of 202 business premises is planned for the first quarter of this year, of which 77 are in Skopje. The total initial value of the objects is expected to reach a sum of 682,773,872.00 denars.