MAK-NEWS 17/02/95 (M.I.C.) [*]

Ta nea ths hmeras, opws ta eide to MIC:

  1. * WITHOUT INCIDENTS IN TETOVO
  2. * ABDURAHMAN ALITI: WE ARE NOT WITHDRAWING FROM THE GOVERNMENT
  3. * SALI BERISHA: "UNIVERSITY - RESULT OF EFFORTS OF ALBANIANS AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE GOVERNMENT AND PRESIDENT GLIGOROV"
  4. * TIRANA: WIDE PUBLICITY TO UNIVERSITY
  5. * MAKING UP FOR LOST CLASSES
  6. * LAW FOR UNIVERSITY SOON?
  7. * REALIZATION OF WHAT WAS AGREED
  8. . CROATIAN AMBASSADOR IN MACEDONIA
  9. * REVIEW OF THE MACEDONIAN PRESS: "VECER": INTERVIEW WITH KONSTANTIN MENGES FROM "GEORGE WASHINGTON" UNIVERSITY, SIGNEE OF AGREEMENT FOR COOPERATION WITH TETOVO UNIVERSITY": "I DIDN'T KNOW THEY WERE NOT REGISTERED"

    MONEY - Economy, Business, Finance & Market

  10. . *** CONSTRUCTION - EARNINGS IN 1994
  11. . *** SYNDICATE - CHANGE IN LAW FOR "LOSERS" REQUESTED
  12. . *** RICE PRODUCTION - STOP TO IMPORTS
  13. . *** ROUND TABLE - DEMOCRATIC PARTY ON PRIVATIZATION

SKOPJE, 17 FEBRUARY, 1995 (MIC)

  1. WITHOUT INCIDENTS IN TETOVO

    The Faculty of Economics within the illegal Tetovo University in Albanian language was opened in the Tetovo village Poroy today, without any incidents or police intervention.

    The first lesson was held in the religious object, in front of 60 students. According to eyewitness reports and the Tetovo private TV "ART," around 1,000 villagers congregated in front of the building, while around one hundred police officers observed this event without coming into direct contact with the gathered people. The same source claims that UNPROFOR and UN representatives in Macedonia also attended the happening.

    After the end of the lesson, the rector Sulejmani asked the congregated people to peacefully disburse. He announced that the classes on the philological and philosophical faculty would continue on Monday.

  2. ABDURAHMAN ALITI: WE ARE NOT WITHDRAWING FROM THE GOVERNMENT

    Following the Tetovo events, the leader of the biggest party of the Albanians in Macedonia Abdurahman Aliti stated for Makpress that the government's stance on the issue of the "University" was only repeated. The differences between us and the other parties comprising the Government still remain. But, that does not mean that with time, they will not be harmonized."

    Aliti stated that PDP will not withdraw from the Government. In response to the question why the Albanian ministers in the Government did not take part in the opening of the university in Mala Rechica, he said: "Because I told them not to come."

  3. SALI BERISHA: "UNIVERSITY - RESULT OF EFFORTS OF ALBANIANS AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE GOVERNMENT AND PRESIDENT GLIGOROV"

    The Albanian embassy in Skopje today conveyed the statement of the Albanian President Sali Berisha, made yesterday in Tirana on occasion of the events in Tetovo. This announcement says: "President Berisha regards the opening of the University in Albanian language in Tetovo as an important event in the history of the education of the Albanians. I am strongly convinced that this university will help the Albanians livingin Macedonia to get involved in the life as equal citizens and to contribute to the stability, prosperity and ethnic harmony in this Republic. Certainly, this very important event is a result of the efforts of the Albanians in Macedonia, as well as the understanding shown by the Macedonian Government and President Gligorov, in resolving this problem. That will have a positive effect in the already friendly relations between Albania and Macedonia, as well as the Albanians and Macedonians," is said in the statement of the Albanian President Sali Berisha.

  4. TIRANA: WIDE PUBLICITY TO UNIVERSITY

    With its own comments and through the report of its correspondent from Macedonia, the Albanian television gave wide publicity to the opening of the so-called Tetovo University. The television informed about this event practically over the entire day, as an event of imperative importance, that is, as it was said "important day for the Albanians in Macedonia."

    The reports stress the presence of the head of the Albanian lobby in the U.S.A., Diogardi, who was presented as the "head of the delegation of the U.S. Congress." His words were also quoted: "Do not fear, you have brothers and sisters in America." The report also says that "representatives of the Washington University," UNPROFOR, UN, OSCE as well as "representatives of the political parties of the Albanians in Macedonia" attended the opening of the Tetovo University.

  5. MAKING UP FOR LOST CLASSES

    The students of Albanian nationality, who entirely boycotted their classes in the past three months, yesterday returned to the Teachers' College "St. Clement of Ohrid" in Skopje and started to regularly follow their classes from the summer semester.

    At present, they can not be provided classes in Albanian language - which was a demand and motive for the boycott - for three subjects. Several university professors have agreed to hold these classes, but till the completion of the formalities concerning their part-time employment, the students of Albanian nationality will follow the classes in Macedonian language. This was agreed with the student representatives from the first and second year at the College, while the acting director of the Teachers' College Borislav Micevski told them that they would have to follow classes regularly from that moment onward.

    According to the decision of the college council, the students of Albanian nationality will have to make up for all the classes missed during the boycott over the weekends, in order to verify the winter semester.

  6. LAW FOR UNIVERSITY SOON?

    The minister in the Macedonian Government Muhamed Halili received the OSCE delegation for inter-ethnic issues yesterday.

    The talks focused on the educational system in our country and the processes that went on in this sphere. They also discussed the legal provisions in the educational system, and in that context, it was mentioned that a Law for university is expected to be prepared soon.

  7. REALIZATION OF WHAT WAS AGREED

    The Minister of Science d-r Sofia Todorova yesterday received the acting ambassador of the Republic of Albania to the Republic of Macedonia Shaban Murati, in a protocol visit.

    In the meeting, both sides expressed satisfaction with the to-date cooperation in the field of science and technology and confirmed the mutual interest for its intensification, in view of the fact that two neighboring countries are in question, and in particular due to the presence of a great number of members of the Albanian nationality in Macedonia. An emphasis was placed on the need for quicker realization of the Agreement for cooperation in the field of science and technology between the two countries, which was signed last year.

    Minister Todorova informed the ambassador of the Republic of Albania about the increasing participation of members of the Albanian nationality in certain scientific-research projects, the allocation of financial support for the publishing of scientific essays and magazines whose authors are members of the Albanian nationality in Macedonia, the employment of scientific-research personnel in the institutes for national history and folklore, as well as the beginning of the issuing of scholarships to students from the Republic of Albania for post- graduate studies.

  8. CROATIAN AMBASSADOR IN MACEDONIA

    The President of the Republic of Macedonia Kiro Gligorov yesterday received the ambassador of the Republic of Croatia to Skopje Onesin Cvitan, who submitted his credentials.

    The ceremony that was organized in the President's Cabinet, on this occasion, was also attended by Foreign Minister Stevo Crvenkovski.

  9. REVIEW OF THE MACEDONIAN PRESS:
    "VECER": INTERVIEW WITH KONSTANTIN MENGES FROM "GEORGE WASHINGTON" UNIVERSITY, SIGNEE OF AGREEMENT FOR COOPERATION WITH TETOVO UNIVERSITY": "I DIDN'T KNOW THEY WERE NOT REGISTERED"

    Yesterday, we contacted d-r Konstantin Menges from the University "George Washington" - U.S.A., with whom, as it was said on Radio Tirana (the news was conveyed by Makpress), the "rector" of the so-called University in Albanian language in Tetovo, Fadil Sulejmani signed an agreement for bilateral cooperation. We are bringing you the discussion with d-r Menges.

    VECER: Two days ago, the news appeared in the Macedonian media that you signed the agreement with the so-called University in Albanian language in Tetovo. Is that true?
    MENGES: Yes, that is true.
    VECER: Did you know that this university is not legal?
    MENGES: No. That is your view on matters, but not also of the people who organize that University.
    VECER: Do you cooperate with all universities of the ethnic populations?
    MENGES: We support freedom of speech and research. We find that it is important to establish academic links with those universities who are prepared for that. That's why we make agreements.
    VECER: Have you contacted any other universities like the one in Tetovo?
    MENGES: Yes, we have contacts with a couple of universities in the former communist countries.
    VECER: Do you also have contacts with similar universities in the U.S.A.?
    MENGES: We are in contact with all the universities in the U.S.A..
    VECER: It is known that there is an initiative in the U.S.A. for the foundation of a university of the Hispanic population. Have you made contacts with them?
    MENGES: I don't know anything about that. You are stressing something I don't anything about.
    - I must repeat that we have contacted all universities which are open to freedom of speech and research. Those are academic activities and exchange of information.
    VECER: Did you ask them to show you some kind of documents that they are registered as a university?
    MENGES: I hope that will happen soon.
    VECER: That is you viewpoint?
    MENGES: As far as I understood them, they meet all the requirements of the Macedonian laws and expect to function as a normal university, as a normal educational institution. However, I'm not in a position to provide independent for the problems with the registration.
    VECER: Did you ask for a document for the registration of that so-called university? I'm asking you because such documents don't exist.
    MENGES: That is a novelty to me. They said that they fulfilled all the legal demands and therefore were included in the program for transition to democracy.

    MONEY - Economy, Business, Finance & Market

  10. *** CONSTRUCTION - EARNINGS IN 1994:

    The Macedonian construction firms still have US$ 225 million to collect from a number of countries, in particular Iraq, for work done in those countries. The construction firms want the Macedonian Government to buy up these debts and discharge them in a couple of installments. They also want incentives to be introduced for the influx of pure foreign capital into Macedonia, derived from the construction work, which they feel is not at all small.

    Last year, the construction operative from Macedonia carried out construction and project making services abroad of up to US$ 66 million, which is 15% less than 1993.

    The total value, on the other hand, of the agreed work was estimated at US$ 84 million, which is 47.8% less than in 1993.

    Outside the country, the presence is greatest in Russia, Ukraine, FR Germany, the Czech Republic, while there is also growing interest for appearing in Israel, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, as well as Tunis, Morocco, Algiers, etc.

    According to information from the construction companies, construction work valued at US$ 110 million has been agreed on the territory of the Russian Federation, while the construction work finished so far is valued at US$ 30 million. The rest of the work, to the value of US$ 80 million has to be realized this and the next year.

    The biggest project on this market, on which Macedonian firms have been present for 20 years already, is the construction of the converting plant in the town of Novokuznec, to the overall value of US$ 77 million, which has to be completed by the end of 1997. Work valued at US$ 5.6 million was carried out in Ukraine last year, in the Czech Republic - US$ 5.5 million, in Bulgaria - US$ 14.3 million and in Germany - US$ 9.5 million.

    As for the markets in the former YU republics, US$ 2 million were realized in Montenegro.

  11. *** SYNDICATE - CHANGE IN LAW FOR "LOSERS" REQUESTED:

    The Union of Syndicates of Macedonia made an initiative yesterday to change four articles in the Law for "losers" which apply to taking better care of the workers who will lose their jobs, as well as those who will keep on working.

    The first amendment requests that the unpaid wages to the workers be turned into shares, as foreseen with article 12 of the Law for "losers" and to be asked whether they want shares or money.

    The second proposed change applies to the introduction of deadlines for giving notice to the workers before they are proclaimed technological surplus. It is also proposed to change the basis for calculation of the level of unpaid wages and the funds the workers have to receive upon being dismissed.

  12. *** RICE PRODUCTION - STOP TO IMPORTS:

    The group for rice with the Chamber of Commerce of Macedonia concluded in yesterday's meeting that the import of rice is the main reason for the problems with the rice production in Macedonia.

    It was pointed out that last year's rice production was at the level from 1939, and that the rice is being threatened with disappearance from the Macedonian fields.

    The rice producers stated that the announced import of 2,000 tones of white rice is just like adding gasoline to the fire, and requested for this additional import of rice not to be allowed for this year.

    It was also said in the meeting that there are possibilities to plant rice in Macedonia on around 3,000 hectares, this spring.

  13. *** ROUND TABLE - DEMOCRATIC PARTY ON PRIVATIZATION:

    The Democratic party organized a round table yesterday on the topic of discussion, which was opened by M.A. Trajko Slavevski from the Faculty of Economics, who said that Macedonia has a totally wrong model of privatization, due to which it holds the last position in the process of transition to market economy even behind those who started from nothing, namely, the countries from the former socialist block. According to Mr. Slavevski, already 65% of the GDP is created in the private sector in those countries, while in Macedonia, that figure is 35%. Among us, according to Slavevski, the privatization is not being conducted transparently, for which he accused the Agency for Privatization which is marketing inaccurate data for the results of the privatization conducted thus far.

    Slavevski believes that the model of privatization from case to case should be abandoned, so as to go for massive privatization with the issue of privatization cheques.

    The president of the Democratic party Petar Goshev, who also took part in the discussion, stated that a group of people from the authorities were choosing methods so as to take the major part of the state-owned capital for themselves. He added that if true privatization was what they wanted, firstly they should start with denationalization.