The Macedonian state delegation and the delegation of the veterans took part in all the events that took place in Moscow on occasion of the celebration of the victory over fascism. President Gligorov met with the majority leaders of delegations from other countries, and a brief meeting with the president of the Russian federation Boris Yeltzin.
Gligorov described this meeting as sincere, at which both leaders reminded each other of the common participation in the war and everything in common between Russia and Macedonia, in general. They also discussed the need of intensifying the relations between the two countries, in all spheres. In this context, Macedonia is interested in having Russia send its ambassador to Macedonia, to realize the long prepared visit of the Russian government economic delegation to Macedonia, and finally reach some agreements for this cooperation to take on an institutional character.
In addition, Gligorov met with the Croatian President Tudjman, the president of Slovenia Kuchan, the UN Secretary- General Boutros Ghali and the foreign ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and FR Yugoslavia.
In the afternoon, Gligorov held a brief meeting with Russian reporters, at which he emphasized that all the ceremonies taking place throughout the world, on the occasion of the Day of victory, were very important for Macedonia, as they confirm the fact that it is also a participant in the common fight, that it is a part of the anti-fascist coalition.
On his return from Paris Monday, in the short statement for the Macedonian press, Kiro Gligorov said that one comes to the realization that 50 years from the victory over fascism, probably the biggest evil humanity has ever come across, it can be presumed what the world would be like today, had it won. Gligorov also emphasized that these days, there is a similar sentiment as upon the acceptance of Macedonia to the UN, as Macedonia is a part of the countries that lay down a lot of victims for victory.
In Paris, president Gligorov had a meeting with the future French president Jacques Sirak and congratulated him on his election victory. Gligorov expressed hopes that the good relations and cooperation between France and Macedonia would continue. The Macedonian president also had a meeting with the president of the French Assembly Segan, and met with a line of statesmen who attended the celebration of the 50-year anniversary of the victory over fascism, which was organized in France.
A great people's gathering under the motto "Together against fascism - together in Europe in peace and cooperation" was held on the lake Treska, near Skopje yesterday, with the presence of several thousand citizens, representatives of the highest state authorities, survived veterans and representatives of the religious communities, diplomatic corps and the cultural and public life in the Republic.
The congregation was welcomed by Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski, who, among the rest, said: "let us turn toward the future, let us forget, at least for a moment, our mythologies and passions, let us stop digging up the bones of our predecessors, lets turn toward good-neighborly relations, toward cooperation and the progress of our nations."
As part of the commemoration of the 50-year anniversary of victory over fascism, a formal gathering of the veterans from the Second World War took place in Sofia Monday, which was addressed by the Bulgarian Defense Minister Dimitar Pavov.
Among the rest, he said that "in the Second World War, the Bulgarian army helped in the liberation of Macedonia and Serbia," and added that it had cut off communication with the Hitler armies along the valleys of the rivers Vardar and Morava, with which, according to him, the left strategic wing of the Soviet army was secured."
Minister Pavov said that the heroism of the Bulgarian fighters at Nish, Strachin, Kumanovo,... would remain inscribed in history forever, stressing that "the participation of Bulgaria in the Second World War starts from the beginning of 1941."
However, as Makpress reports from Sofia, several objects in this city had fascist symbols written on them yesterday.
The president of the OSCE and head of the Hungarian diplomacy Laslo Kovach will send mediators to Skopje and Athens shortly, the Greek press reports on Tuesday.
Commenting the initiative of the president of the OSCE to mediate in the dispute between Athens and Skopje, the Greek press, as Makpress reports, also brings the statement of the Hungarian minister that the acceptance of Macedonia to the OSCE would have wider significance for the region.
The conservative "Katimerini" writes that in the meetings in Budapest, minister Papoulias assessed the problem with Macedonia as "thorny." Papoulias stressed that many articles in the Macedonian Constitution do not comply with the OSCE principles and reiterated that efforts to find a solution are thwarted by the adamancy of president Gligorov.
The Greek president Kostis Stefanopoulos stated in Paris, at the celebration of the 50-year anniversary of the victory over fascism that he had evaded a meeting with the Macedonian president Gligorov. Yesterday's Athens press, as Makfaks reports, says that at the ceremony, when the path of the Greek president crossed with the Macedonian president Gligorov, Stefanopoulos "withdrew a couple of steps back, to avoid shaking hands with him."
President Stefanopoulos told Greek reporters in Paris that "he had the warmest meeting with the president of FRY Zoran Ilich."
Yesterday, the governments of the Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of Singapore, expressing the joint wish for strengthening and advancement of the friendly relations, established diplomatic relations, is said in the announcement of the Foreign Ministry.
Over the weekend, 1.8 million DEM were robbed from the vault of "Stopanska banka" at the border crossing with Greece "Bogorodica." The robbery was discovered on Monday morning, and it is presumed that the vault was opened with duplicate keys. The investigation is underway.
The factory for the processing of wood s.c. "Treska - Boris Kidrich" from Kochani, will probably be the second firm from Macedonia, following "Vinicanka" from Vinica, that will be bought by a foreign partner.
The directory Done Janchev stated that the German- Swedish-English firm is interested in buying "Treska-Boris Kidrich," which is estimated to cost, by authorized experts, at 2.2 million DEM.
According to business circles from the municipality, the firm has some debts to the bank, which is slowing the purchase down, but the director claims that the firm with nevertheless be sold.
According to Janev, the foreign partner is announcing modernization of the capacities and the creation of conditions for new jobs.
S.C. "Hemteks" from Skopje is in a phase of getting an attestation for an exclusive licence from "Coca-Cola" to be able to use the polyester granulate of the factory for the production of plastic bottles in which this drink would be filled.
"Hemteks" is planning to complete the formation and increase the production capacities of polyester granulate, for which it needs 10-15 million DEM, which, it intends to withdraw from the Government or through direct investments from foreign partners.
Otherwise, "Hemteks" is in cooperation with the U.S. engineering firm "Kemteks" which has the exclusive right to sell the technology of the chemical industry "Dupont," whose licences are also used by "Hemteks."
An agreement for technical cooperation has been signed with "Kemteks," according to which engineers from "Hemteks" will take part as consultants upon the supervision and construction of new factories, the presentation of technology and start of the work of those capacities. At the moment, "Hemteks" experts are working in Indonesia, China, India and Thailand.
"Hemteks" also exports its own products to Turkey, Germany and Switzerland, and maintains production at a level of 60% of its capacities.
On the 5th of this month, the International Monetary Fund gave a green light for a stand-by arrangement for Macedonia. With this decision, Macedonia will receive US$ 55 million, of which US$ 19.24 million from the second installment of the STF arrangement, that was signed in January, last year. The endorsement of this installment was conditioned with the signing of the Stand-by arrangement. The remaining US$ 34 million will be delivered in 4 equal installments.
The credit is intended for support of the current account balance, which means that the funds will go to the foreign currency reserves of the state, and will be used to pay- back Macedonia's debt to some financial institutions.
The pay-back deadline of the credit is 6 years, with a grace period of 1 year and variable interest, which is 5.5% at the moment.
The Minister without portfolio Ljube Trpevski stated that this agreement enables Macedonia to start negotiations with the Paris club for regulation of the Macedonian debt of US$ 250 million, and then, regulation of the debt to the commercial banks.
During the visit of the Macedonian delegation to Paris, France and Macedonia agreed to exchange 1,500 transport permits each, on a reciprocal basis, and 100 permits to and fro third countries.
According to Boris Chaushevski, under-secretary at the Ministry of Traffic and Relations, this quantum of permits has been approved for Macedonia, seeing that only 1,000 permits per year were exchanged before.
Otherwise, documents regulating the bus transport of passengers have also been signed.