BEFORE TODAY'S "MEETING OF THE HUNGRY"
The court trial of the rector of the illegal university in Albanian language in Tetovo Fadil Sulejmani began yesterday in the municipal court in Tetovo. According to the indictment, Sulejmani is charged with the criminal act of "inciting resistance." Also, the trial of Milaim Fejziu started yesterday, president of the Forum for human rights from Gostivar, who is charged with "participation in a mob that obstructs an official person from carrying out his duties."
The trial was followed with great interest of the domestic and foreign journalists, while the process was also attended by monitors from the OSCE and the Helsinki Human Rights Committee.
The judge Zorica Eftimovska removed six journalists from the court at the beginning of the trial, "who could be called up as witnesses of the defence during the hearing."
The prosecutor read out the indictment, according to which Sulejmani "starting from December 2, last year, and until February 17, this year, called for resistance and disobedience of the Albanians population in Macedonia, through the press, contrary to the legal decisions and conclusions of the Macedonian Government, in relation to the illegal closing of the Albanian University in Tetovo." The statements Sulejmani made in the interview for the newspaper "Nova Makedonija" on December 2 were also read out, where he said that "if the Government stops us, everything will go to hell." In addition, at the press conference held on February 15 in the Tetovo local assembly, he also stated and threatened that "if the police comes, tomorrow, 200,000 Albanians will stand up to defend the University. They're welcome, they have guns, rifles, bombs, let them kill us." The next day, in the village Poroy, Sulejmani told the police in front of the gathered masses of Albanians "you are doing your job and we are doing ours. We will also be working tomorrow, and if you also come tomorrow, 100,000 Albanians will come out and stop you." Furthermore, on February 13, Sulejmani signed the statutory decision to announce the autonomy of the objects and the ownership of the so-called University in Tetovo.
In his three-hour long defence, Sulejmani entirely denied the assertions in the indictment, often expanding his statement with things that were irrelevant and of no importance for the judge, and for which he was warned. Otherwise, following the sequence of the indictment, he firstly denied the part about the interview in "Nova Makedonija" where he stated that "everything will go to hell," saying that it was a fabrication of the journalists. But, to the question of the judge "if that is so, why didn't you deny that, as you stated in the investigation," Sulejmani said that he had sent both a written and oral denial to the newspaper, however, he did not show any material evidence to support this. In the part where he answered to the charges that he had called the masses to defend the so- called University, Sulejmani emphasized a couple of times that "I have never called anyone and anywhere to resistance." As for the signing of the statutory decision for autonomy of the so-called University, Sulejmani stated that he did sign that as by then, he had still not received an official reply from the Government that what they were doing was in collision with the Constitution and the existing education laws.
Sulejmani also stated before the criminal council that on the day of the unrest in Mala Rechica, he was not even there, that he actually arrived only 500-600 meters from the scene with Milaim Fejziu, when the shooting had already started, and that they turned back and returned to Tetovo. The trial is continuing today, when Milaim Fejziu will also face the criminal council, while a number of witnesses of the defence and prosecution are expected to appear.
More than 10,000 Albanians held a peaceful protest on the Tetovo town square yesterday, against the trial of Fadil Sulejmani and Milaim Fejziu. Representatives of the Association of Albanian Women, as well as all Albanian political parties, except for the coalition partner in the Macedonian Government PDP, held speeches in front of the board on which the demand for the release of the arrested Albanians, activists of the initiative for the opening of the university in Albanian language, was written.
All the speeches were read in Albanian language and the speakers characterized the trials of Sulejmani and Fejziu as a "political process." The main message of the speakers was that the education of the Albanians in Macedonia in their mother tongue does not present danger, but progress for all in Macedonia.
The meeting was well organized and after an hour, without any incidents, the citizens peacefully disbursed.
On their way to the town square, a larger crowd chanted in front of the court "Fadil, Fadil" and "University," due to which the judge Eftimovska called for a short recess.
Two days ago, on the Albanian TV, and yesterday the press followed the trial of Fadil Sulejmani with great interest. Beside the comments in the press, the Albanian Academy of Arts and Sciences also condemned the "policy of the Macedonian Government against the education of the Albanians." The stances were repeated that "the process against Sulejmani is political." These days, more emphasis is placed on the term "former Yugoslav Republic" in Albania.
The Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating stated yesterday that his country, which is a multi-cultural community, serves as an example of tolerance in the world, however, his statements were overshadowed by ethnic protests, Reuters reports from Sydney.
Around 500 Macedonian demonstrators, as well as a small group of Bosnian demonstrators used the international Conference for cultural differences in Sydney, to express their dissatisfaction against Keating and the visit of the UN Secretary-General Boutros Ghali.
Outside the Conference, the demonstrators carried the Macedonian flag and signs, condemning the recent decision of the Australian Government to call the Macedonians Slav Macedonians, in official communication.
"That's utter discrimination," the Macedonian activist Alex Sapker stated for Reuters, while the demonstrators accused the Government of supporting the Greek stand for non-recognition of the name Macedonia.
The President of the Republic of Macedonia Kiro Gligorov yesterday received the Under Secretary of the British Foreign Office Sir John Couls. The talks were also attended by the British ambassador in Skopje Tony Milson. Under Secretary Sir Couls reiterated Britain's great interest in the successful development of RM, and positively assessed the development of the bilateral relations between the two friendly countries.
In the talks, an emphasis was placed on the joint concern over the deterioration of the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the danger that it might not come to a renewal of the cease-fire agreement.
BEFORE TODAY'S "MEETING OF THE HUNGRY"
According to the Government spokesman Ismail, the Government "does not have a special stand about this meeting." It is intent on continuing the reform course it has embarked on, which, truly, although with great traumas, is the only way of reviving the Macedonian economy. Ismail explained that "these kind of manifestations, with a great degree of politization and the inclusion of the marginalized political parties, is a retrogressive process of falling back to the communist-socialist waters."
In its meeting yesterday, the Macedonian Government made a decision to form a public company for gasification. The company would be with mixed capital of which 51% would be state-owned, while the rest would belong to "Makpetrol" and other shareholders.
This was said by the minister-spokesman Gjuner Ismail in yesterday's press conference of the Government. In the session, the Government also brought the draft-law for getting Macedonia into debts with IDA (International Development Association).
Namely, obtaining a FESAK credit of US$ 85 million, in line with the latest arrangements with the IMF and the World bank. The loan is granted with a 25 year pay back period, with a 10 year grace period, without bank interest and a provision from 0.5 to 0.75%.
The idea to open an agricultural exchange was launched in Macedonia a couple of years ago. With the return of Ivan Angelov as Agriculture Minister, this idea has been renewed, although its opening is not expected during this year.
Although a study about the work of the agricultural market has already been made, it will have to be re-done, in view of the changed conditions. Minister Angelov is insisting on an agricultural market of a Dutch type and intends to re-establish contacts with appropriate firms from Holland, which manufacture the necessary equipment.
Unlike developed countries, where there are agricultural exchanges for individual products, in Macedonia, the agricultural exchange would work with all foodstuffs and agricultural products, in view of the fact that there is no massive production of one product in the country. It is believed that the opening of the agricultural exchange would provide better marketing for the Macedonian agricultural products.
The state has put aside MKD 15 million (US$ 407,000) for this purpose, while it is believe that the equipment alone would cost US$ 2 million. In addition, it is also necessary to build storehouse space, coolers and other objects which would increase the expenses for building the exchange considerably.