The general adviser of the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg Francis Jacobs says that he believes the complaint (in relation to the Greek economic embargo against Macedonia), submitted by the European Commission last June, is not in the sphere of jurisdiction of the court "it does not depend on the court, in light of the circumstances in this case, to decide on the grounds of misunderstandings between Greece and FYROM," is said in the report, and it is added that the complaint should be rejected. The statement also emphasizes that the opinion of the general adviser should not influence the final decision, which should be made by the court. Jacobs feel that the Greek trade blockade on FYROM does not violate the EU laws. In his opinion, which is not binding for the court, but only orientating, he stated that Greece, in line with the EU agreements, has the right to impose an embargo as long as it feels that its conflict with Macedonia could grow into war.
"Such questions about the national security depend on the decision of every country," is said in the opinion of the adviser, which the court usually accepts. "Every member is better positioned than any other institution of the EU or any other member, when it comes to determination of the dangers which threaten it from the attitude of a third country," is said in the document.
Jacobs stated that the historic tension which is prevalent on the Balkans presents a justified fear of war with Greece, although it is quite unlikely. Therefore, it is calling on the EU agreements which allow the member states to adopt measures which will be used to thwart the "serious international tensions, that present a threat of war."
The Commission is also not rights in saying that the embargo is disproportional, he added, as the measures have only a small influence on the EU trade and are unlikely to disrupt the competition within the Union.
The conclusion of the general lawyer of the EU Court of Justice, in regards to the case of the Greek embargo, truly surprises. Without delving into the legal aspects of the case from the aspect of the documents of the European Union, mainly article 113 from the charter and the other provisions of the Committee, we feel that this conclusion of the general lawyer is an attempt to exert political pressure, is said in yesterday's announcement of the Macedonian Foreign Ministry.
In this case, it is not a question of competence of the court to decide on the dispute between the Republic of Greece and the Republic of Macedonia, as the general lawyer claims, but the report of the EU Commission against a member state for violation of the charter and the other provisions of the EU.
We are convinced that the EU Court of Justice will make a just decision, otherwise, this would really open a precedent, unknown in the history of EU practice, which will encourage acts of economic blockades and pressure, as a way of resolving certain bilateral problems. In the instable regions on the continent, that could be an introduction into new methods of economic violence.
In a report on the statement of the U.S. mediator Matthew Nimetz for Radio Skopje, yesterday, the Greek press informed that the "scheduled" meeting in New York, between representatives of Athens and Skopje, will not take place.
The influential newspaper "Katimerini," as Makfaks reports, writes that recently, the Foreign Minister Stevo Crvenkovski "ad referendum" accepted the proposal of the mediator Cyrus Vance without the previous lifting of the embargo. "Katimerini" adds that Skopje withdrew from the procedure for renewing the relations with Greece, as it "does not suit Gligorov's regime," as the western countries incorrectly presumed.
The president of "Political Spring" Andonis Samaras yesterday reiterated his call to the Greek Government to confirm or deny the information, according to which strong pressure is put on Greece to lift the embargo against Skopje. According to the Athens news agency, "Samaras is against the lifting of the embargo before and during the eventual dialogue with Skopje," in particular if "Skopje does not take the obligation to change the name of the state."
The commercial TV station "Mega" claimed yesterday that the European Court of Justice is closer to the Greek stances in the case with the embargo against Skopje. A clear indicator of that is the viewpoint of the British Foreign Office Francis Jacobs, who dismissed the charges against Greece in the case of the embargo against Macedonia, "Mega" says.
The next step in the procedure before the European Court is for the judge to express his stand, who is from Holland. If he is also on the same side, Greece wins the dispute. Otherwise, the decision about the Greek embargo will be made by the European Court of Justice, in full composition.
As a representative of the Macedonian Parliament, the parliamentarian Naum Simjanovski took part in the session of the Parliamentary Committee of the Central European Initiative, which is taking place in Warsaw.
Taking part in the debate on the Report from the meeting of the ministers of foreign trade which was held in Skopje toward the end of last month, the MP Simjanovski discussed the difficult economic situation of the Republic of Macedonia due to the unilateral embargo imposed by its southern neighbor and the sanctions against the northern one. On this note, he emphasized the need to form a group that will examine the legal systems of the member-states of the CEI, in the function of providing better connections between the countries from this micro region, on an economic plan, as well as to draw up a project of the East-West corridor, which will revive the economic revival of the Republic of Macedonia, the Information Service of the Macedonian Parliament informed.
"Germany is not a world power, and in my country, no one is harboring pretensions to become that. I, as foreign affairs minister, am for Germany, after its unification, to achieve foreign-political balance, which exists with our political allies. This is not a question of greater political influence or even leadership, but for united Germany to be able to take on its tasks in the international community, with all rights, but also with all of its obligations," stated Claus Kinkel, Foreign Minister of the Federal Republic of Germany, who is scheduled to visit our country on April 11, in the exclusive interview for "Puls."
Speaking of the fear of some of its allies of possible German leadership, Kinkel says: "We are for the principle of consensus to be transformed into decision-making with majority votes. This certainly, also includes the readiness to recognize the decisions of the majority, against one's own stand. This principle is exactly the opposite of the any leadership aspirations."
In answer to the question regarding the Germany's role in the current Balkan developments, Kinkel said: "Germany is taking an active part in the preparation of new mandates of the UN in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. In addition, the Federal Government is making efforts to strengthen the Bosnian-Croatian federation."
The head of the German diplomacy, answering to the question why Macedonia is still not involved in the European political and security integrations, stated that he had always been for our country to be included in these systems. "However, such decisions can only be made in the EU and the OSCE with consensus," he said.
When asked to comment the request of the U.S.A. for division of the obligations upon the despatch of "blue helmets" to Macedonia, Kinkel said: "The Federal Government has not received a request from the UN for German participation in the UN mission in your country. If we receive such a request, we will certainly review it."
In the end, Mr. Claus Kinkel raised the issue of the economic relations between our two countries. Underlining the increased trade exchange between Germany and Macedonia last year, Kinkel outlined the directions of the next Macedonian-German cooperation: projects in the agriculture, funding of the engineering services for the railroad track toward Bulgaria, promoting trade, etc.
Under the organization of the Ministry of Development, a mission if the Organization for Industrial Development - UNIDO, which is a part of the UN, is staying on a several-day visit to Macedonia. The visit is aimed at helping to define the priority regions and preparing the investment projects in the economy in the Republic of Macedonia, and according to the standards of the international financial organizations.
The UNIDO mission conducted a number of talks in the Macedonian Government and a couple of ministries, as well as the Chamber of Commerce. Following their departure, they are expected to prepare a program for investment projects in Macedonia, which should also determine the priorities, and which will be submitted to the international financial institutions, as well as the donor countries that will be able to invest in Macedonia.
The World Customs Organization, based in Brussels, admitted the Republic of Macedonia as a regular contracting client this week. Thereby, Macedonia became the 80th full contracting client in this institution, and from now on, like the other members in the organization, it will have a right to vote and a right to use its services and help in the formation of its customs network, in the training of personnel and modernization of the techniques.
With this membership, Macedonia also takes on all the obligations required from the contracting sides. One is the advantage in the use of the Convention for harmonized system of names and coded goods markings. From now on, also Macedonian goods will be able to receive six-digit numbers which would make the product recognizable worldwide.
From April 3, this year, the Agency for payment operations is enabling all legal and physical persons to carry out payments from their accounts from all organizational units for payment operations in the Republic. In accordance with the Agency's instructions, in another organizational unit, the businessmen will be able to pay for goods and services rendered, for freight forwarding, customs dues and to withdraw money in cash of up to DEM 200. This way, salaries and pensions will not be able to be withdrawn, or to pay sales and service taxes.
Until now, the payments were carried out only in the organizational unit where the account of the legal person is kept. The new changes to the entire economic system also require a transformation of the work of the Agency, so there was a need to change and simplify the manner of payment, officials at the Agency say.
The technical requisites for this system of payment have been fully provided.
The slaughterhouse of "Stokokomerc" in Bitola, which has a permit to export to countries from the western European market, exports 2,000 lambs to Italy, via Albania, every day.
30,000 lambs are to be delivered before the Easter holidays, and so far, 16,000 have reached Italy. This transaction is expected to bring in 1 million DEM.