"Macedonia is ready to sit down at a negotiating table with Greece, however, it's difficult to negotiate seriously while the embargo remains in effect," stated the Macedonian Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski in the interview for the Paris daily "Le Mond."
In the interview for the most prominent Paris daily newspaper, published yesterday, in response to the question as to the main concerns of the Macedonian Government, prime minister Crvenkovski said they were numerous.
"Macedonia has the same problems as all former socialist countries, i.e., social tension as a consequence of the economic reforms, then, the decrease in production, the increase in unemployment, nationalism. All of that is specific here as it comes at a moment when Macedonia is trying to enforce its international status. However, Greece is trying to block this process, by using its membership in the European Union and the good relations with the U.S.. A result of that is also the embargo that caused losses of some US$ 500 million for the Macedonian economy."
As to the minority problems, the Macedonian prime minister feels that their resolution presents a key questions, emphasizing that Macedonia is a rare example of co-existence as the different ethnic groups are represented in Parliament, in the Government, yet, the demands of some of the minorities go beyond the framework of the Macedonian Constitution. Here, prime minister Crvenkovski gives the example of Tetovo, where he assesses the attempt to create an university in Albanian language as political action aimed at increasing the tension and dividing the two communities.
According to Crvenkovski, that would lead to the creation of ghettos, adding that it is interesting to study the way in which Albania and Kosovo intervened in Macedonia's internal affairs.
In regard to the Greek blockades and Greek demands, prime minister Crvenkovski emphasizes that Macedonia is always ready to sit down and talk at a table, though it is difficult to negotiate while the embargo remains in effect. When asked what would happen with Macedonia's sovereignty if it is allowed for the flag and state symbols to be imposed, the prime minister emphasizes that this would be in contradiction with all international principles.
To the question - is Macedonia protected from the Serbian hegemony, the Macedonian prime minister stresses that the fact that Serbia has not recognized Macedonia speaks clearly enough. Officially, the Serbs explain that with solidarity with their Greek ally, however, without doubt, there are more serious reasons, Branko Crvenkovski believes, adding that Belgrade and Athens coordinate their policies and that Miloshevich is dreaming of a confederation between Serbia and Greece, that way, wiping the Macedonian state off the map.
In the meeting of the Ministerial Council, yesterday afternoon, the Greek Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou, speaking of Greece's foreign policy, confirmed the unknown assessments according to which efforts are made to improve relations with Albania, while "Skopje is still unyielding," Makfaks reports.
According to this agency, the central Athens newspapers carried excerpts yesterday from the interviews with Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski for the Paris "Le Mond," and the Skopje "Vecer," saying that they contain contradictory stances on the Macedonian intentions for dialogue, also under the Greek embargo. In the text entitled "Skopje showing signs of submittal," the pro-government "Ta nea" assesses "it seems Skopje is going for considerable changes in its stances, by announcing through the newspaper 'Le Mond' its readiness to sit down at a negotiating table, without Greece previously lifting the embargo." "Ta nea," as Makfaks reports, points out "Prime Minister Crvenkovski's statement for the Skopje 'Vecer' in which it is emphasized that Skopje will not sit down at a negotiating table, unless the embargo is not previously lifted."
The newspaper of the moderate left-wing "Elefterotipia," in the text entitled "They are accepting negotiations under embargo," writes that "officially, Skopje has still not responded to the call of the mediator Cyrus Vance to start negotiations on April 6th, however, it is indicative that the prime minister of Skopje has chosen a 'calm way', through the interview for 'Mond', to unofficially accept Vance's proposal." "Elefterotipia" adds that "the diplomatic circles in Athens noticed two days ago that actually, there is no time for the two sides to come to negotiations in New York on the 6th of April," adding that "the closest date to the moment when Skopje's intention to start direct negotiations is officially confirmed, should be sought."
Announcing new pressure by Washington on Athens and Skopje, the central Greek newspapers assessed two days ago that Athens is ready for negotiations in New York on April 6, however, they are expected to be postponed due to the opposition of Skopje. "Elefterotipia" asserts that the Greek ambassador Zaharakis is "ready to start talks at any time," however, according to the same source, it is certain that Foreign Minister Papoulias will not travel to New York on April 6. The next day, he is scheduled to meet with the U.S. Secretary of State Richard Holbruk."
"Elefteros tipos" emphasizes that the U.S. diplomat "will put pressure on Greece to lift the embargo, with the aim of having Gligorov's Government start negotiations."
"The date of the eventual direct Macedonian-Greek negotiations is still not known," Matthew Nimetz, special envoy of the U.S. President in the dispute between Athens and Skopje stated for Radio Skopje.
With this statement, Nimetz denied the claims of Greek official representatives that the meeting in New York, with the mediation of Cyrus Vance is scheduled for April 6, this year, Makfaks reports.
"The American side and the circles of the European Union in Brussels are exerting pressure on Athens to allow the passage of 14,000 tones of crude oil and 6,000 tones of petrol into Macedonia."
The pro-government newspaper "Ta nea" asserted this yesterday, claiming that the Americans are emphasizing that humanitarian aid is in question, within the framework of the PHARE program.
The pro-government newspaper adds that "Greece had already approved the passage of the oil derivatives, however, the decision was revoked without explanation."
The transport of the petrol was announced some ten days ago, and Skopje sent 70 wagon cisterns, which, as "Ta nea" claims, are now in Thessaloniki.
The draft-law for civil air traffic which will be discussed in Parliament today is in parliamentary procedure. The preparation of the law incorporated legal provisions from Finland and Denmark and the other Nordic countries. The Department for civil air traffic will be a separate legal entity with its own bank account and will answer directly to the Government, all within the Ministry of Traffic and Relations.
The Department's competence, among the rest, is providing safe conductions for civil air traffic, flight control, meteorological security of air traffic, research into the safety threats of the planes, carrying out inspection supervision, as well as giving information about the maintenance of the technical communications systems.
It will coordinate the work in relation to the use of air space, it will approve all flights, flights over Macedonia, take offs from airports, it will carry out information exchanges with other countries and institutions.
It will also carry out work that applies to the use, construction, maintenance, registration, development and strengthening of the international cooperation in the field of civil air traffic.
The Department will decide at a first degree of authority, and any complaints to decisions it makes will be decided by a second-degree commission in the Ministry of Traffic and Relations.
The Department will be headed by a director appointed and dismissed by the Government, at the proposal of the competent minister.
The funds for work of the department will be provided through the state budget and the funds charged that will be realized by the Department from the part of the taxes for rendered airport services and flights over Macedonian air space.
As for the employments, of the overall needed 190 employees, 120 are employed for now, while for this year, another 50 persons are planned to be hired.
In yesterday's auction of shares at the stockmarket of the Privatization Agency, another 172 shares from "Otex" from Ohrid were sold, at a price of 60 DEM per share.
The shares have been sold to three authorized participants: "Stopanska banka" from Skopje, "Almako banka" from Skopje and the broker's firm "Smart," also from Skopje, is said in the announcement of Privatization Agency.
The Macedonian Government will determine protection prices for the domestic production of wheat, sunflower, sugar beet, young cows, lambs and a couple of types of tobacco. A special decision of the Government determined the protection prices of these products, according to which the price for the sugar beet is 2 denars, while it is 12.5 denars per kilogram for the sunflower. The percentage of premiums is also determined for them, which will be 15 percent of the overall price. The protection prices for the other food products will be determined additionally. This was said at the news conference of the Macedonian Government.
It was also said in the news conference that the Government has accepted the help from Germany, to the value of 3 million DEM, which will firstly be used to supply equipment and medicine in the veterinary field and for the realization of some projects in the water supply, which will require 1,360,000 MKD which will come from the credit.
In addition, urban plans and parts of the urban plans for a number of municipalities in the country will be drawn up, which will cost 40 million MKD.
The bankruptcy workers from the shoe manufacturing industrial combine "CIK" from Kumanovo, who forced their way into the premises of the combine, again protested yesterday, in front of the doors of the combine, which were guarded by policemen.
Despite the adamancy of the bankruptcy administrator, it nevertheless came to negotiations. At the moment, there are 1,300 workers working in the combine, and the bankruptcy workers asked why the other 160 workers, for which money was given, were not hired. The answer was that those fund had already been spent for other purposes.
The bankruptcy workers announced that they would remain in front of the doors of the combine until their demands are fulfilled: meeting and talking with the creditors, the members of the Bankruptcy committee and the president of the Commercial court.
The bankruptcy workers from stock company "Skopjanka" have been protesting peacefully in front of the building of the Shopping mall a couple of days already, and the appointed bankruptcy administrator has not been allowed to enter the building. The protestors add up to some 150 bankruptcy workers, who are receiving financial help from the Employment Bureau.
According to the workers, the bankruptcy administrator Branko Dimitrovski was working illegally, and furthermore, they are claiming that in 1991 they became owners of a part of the shares, which have still not been recorded anywhere.
The creditors of "Skopjanka" are "Komercijalna banka" from Skopje, "Euroinvest banka" from Prilep, "Almako banka," "Mak banka," "Bavak" savings bank and the stock company "Plastika." The overall debt is 4.5 million DEM.