Preparations are going ahead for the general strike of the workers and citizens that are not satisfied with the social situation in our state, which is being organized by the Union of independent and autonomous syndicate of Macedonia (UNASM). The strike will start with a meeting on the square "Makedonija" in Skopje and afterwards, according to the scenario, it is expected to spread to the other cities. This was stated at yesterdays press conference by the president and the secretary of the coordinating committee of the UNASM, Stojan Nikolov and Atanas Lefterov. Nikolov and Lefterov also condemned the attacks that are coming from the regime media and certain opposition parties like the Liberal party, and the other attempts to obstruct the strike. According to the representatives of the UNASM all of this will have an effect on the number of participants in the strike but that it will not obstruct it. The strike will not be held if, eventually, the Government decides to accept the 16 requests, pointed out the representatives of the UNASM. The representatives of the UNSAM announced that if their requests are not accepted then as of tomorrow the Declaration of the participants of the strike will come into force that requests the resignation of the Government and the formation of an interim Government that within three months will have to prepare and carry out new elections in the country.
During the press conference it was announced that the VMRO-DPMNE, the Democratic party, the Republican party and MAAK are giving the strike their moral support. The representative of the UNASM pointed out that the support is welcomed but that the Union has the leading role in this "purely syndicate action" at least up to the moment when tomorrow they will be convinced that the Government has definitively "washed their hands of them" after which they will negotiate only with the President of the RM and the Parliament of the RM.
The presidency of the Alliance of the syndicates of Macedonia addressed it's membership, the organizations of the syndicate and the general public, with a press release. In it the Alliance of syndicates of Macedonia points out that it does not stand behind this strike and calls it's membership not to participate in this manifestation which is of a political character and is aimed at misusing their interests.
The press release also informs that due to the entire social and material situation of the workers, the Alliance of syndicates of Macedonia has initiated organizing a general strike in Macedonia and that negotiations are in progress with the Government of the RM about concrete requests, and that the membership will be informed about these negotiations.
The Alliance of syndicates of Macedonia opposes any kind of manipulations with the workers, while it will use democratic and civilized methods and means to solve the current problems, including the general strike as a final means in the syndicate battle, it is said at the end of the press release.
At yesterdays press conference the leader of the Democratic party, Petar Goshev, confirmed that this party supports the strike of the UNASM, among other things because the party supports the requests in the Declaration. These requests, pointed out Goshev, are coincide with the requests of the DP for a resignation from the current Government and the formation of a new Government of experts, and new early elections.
Goshev pointed out that in a situation when the opinions of the opposition can not be heard in the institutions of the system then the opposition has to voice it's opinions on the street, with protests and meetings. He also pointed out that a state is not destabilized with strikes, but with the disrespect of the democratic rights of the citizens.
The Party for democratic prosperity decided to support the protest meeting that is to be held today at noon on the town square in Tetovo, under the motto "to liberate those that were arrested".
After a meeting of the central presidency of the PDP in Tetovo, the ministers and MPs of the PDP were also present at this meting, it was announced that the PDP gives it's unreserved support to the so-called rector, for a continuance of the education process, and that through it's parliamentary group and the ministers it will attempt to institutionalize and legalize the so-called Tetovo university.
According to the PDP, there are no elements for criminal charges to be raised against Fadil Sulejmani, Milaim Fejziu, Nevzat Halili and the others. The PDP is convinced that the court will make a just decision without political motivation and that the arrested persons will immediately be released as innocent.
The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Kiro Gligorov, has received official invitations from the Government of Great Britain and from the President of the Republic of France, Fransoaz Miteran, to participate in the commemoration of the 50 year anniversary of the end of the II World war that will be held from the 6 to the 8 May this year in London and in Paris.
As it is known President Gligorov has already accepted the invitation from the President of the Russian Federation, Boris Yelcin, to participate in the commemorations in Moscow.
Yesterday in Istanbul, the President of the National assembly of the republic of Turkey, Husamet Dzindoruk, received the President of the Parliament of the Republic of Macedonia, Stojan Andov. In the long and friendly conversation they exchanged opinions on bilateral cooperation, as well as about the current situation in the region and wider.
President Dzindoruk, expressing satisfaction from the presence of the delegation of the Republic of Macedonia at the 75 year anniversary of the founding of the Grand assembly of the Republic of Turkey, underlined the importance of the traditional relations between the Macedonian and Turkish people which are making progress. Dzindoruk pointed out that Macedonia is a historic fact and that Turkey was the first country to recognize it's independence and that it has always supported and will always support Macedonia's efforts to take it's rightful place in the international organizations as an important factor of peace and stability.
Speaking about the importance of building the East-West corridor and other forms of long term linking of the countries in this region, he expressed the full support of the Turkish side, when he also pointed out that the unjustifiable Greek embargo should be lifted.
President Stojan Andov expressed his gratitude for the invitation to participate in the anniversary of the Turkish Parliament. He especially pointed out the contribution of the founder of modern Turkey, Kemal Ataturk, whose personality is also respected by the Macedonian people.
Andov stressed the importance of Turkey's engagement for peace in the Balkan region and for the elevation of cooperation in all fields. Macedonian-Turkish relations are characterized by a stable development, to which contribution was made by the cooperation between the Parliaments of the two countries, it is said in the press release of the Ministry for foreign affairs of the Republic of Macedonia.
A delegation of the Parliament of the Republic of Macedonia is in Strazbourg where it is participating in the second continuance of this session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
During the course of the session, that will last until the 29th of April, the members of the Parliamentary assembly will debate issues from the field of law, human rights, current political events, issues of the economy, social rights and culture, announced the press service of the Parliament of the Republic of Macedonia.
The Democratic alliance of the Albanians-Liberal party (DSA-LP), on the beginning of court proceedings against Fadil Sulejmani and Milaim Fejziu, accused of crimes according to articles 205 and 206 of the Criminal law of the Republic of Macedonia, as always once again this is a trial that is not based on a committed crime, but rather represents political pressure on the Albanians and is directed against their political rights.
The DSA-LP points out that articles 205 and 206 of the quoted law have no constitutional basis and are in collision with articles 16 and 21 of the Constitution of the Republic of Macedonia.
Therefore we feel that it is in the interest of justice, and harmonious inter-ethnic relations and in the interest of the peace and the stability of the republic, that these and all other political court proceedings are stopped.
Yesterday, before the Parliament of the RM, peaceful protests were held by 1000 salesmen of textile and other non- agricultural goods from the market places, who are endangered by the new Trade law. As we were informed by Bajram Amdi, member of the organizers of the protest, the main reason for the protest is article 6 of the mentioned Law which forbids the resale of these goods on the market places. The protestors expressed their requests for a return of the old Trade law, as well as requests for changes to the current law, which would allow the further sale of textile goods on the market places. The salesmen also said that they were not satisfied with the decision that these products will be sold once a week at specially allocated places.
In spite of their intentions to meet the Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski, this meeting was not held. Otherwise, as the salesmen claim, if the Government does not reply to their requests, they will organize a general strike in the entire state.
Yesterday the Commercial bank held it's regular Assembly during which the results of the work of this bank during the past year and the plans for the next year were presented to the share holders and the guests.
According to Aleksandar Manevski, General Director of this bank, last year this bank achieved permanent liquidity in foreign currencies and denars, which in turn enlarged it's crediting activities. Of the entire issued credits 91% are short term credits, of which 74% were given to the industry, mining and agriculture. Last year 3,400 such credits were issued reaching up to 25 billion MKD and two investment credits of 65 million MKD. For the needs of the general population the bank issued 531 credits valued at 24 million MKD and 70 credits for the construction of homes valued at 17 million MKD.
The bank realized a profit of 186 million MKD, while the participation of private capital in the bank reached 63% in comparison to 57% last year.
If negotiations with the EBRD are finished successfully, then by the end of the year it si expected that the bank will be entirely privatized.
At yesterdays assembly, the first Macedonian credit cards were presented that will be used for non-cash payments in the country and abroad. It was announced that they will become available from the following week.