"Athens would agree to lift the embargo immediately after the start of the direct negotiations between the two sides, under the condition that Skopje makes an obligation to give up the symbol on the flag, first," the pro-government newspaper "Ta nea" said yesterday, adding that this means the simultaneous lifting of the embargo and the changing of the flag.
The pro-government newspaper assesses that following the meeting with Nimetz and Vance in Rome, "President Gligorov gave some signs of yielding," adding that it was still not known whether the direct negotiations between Athens and Skopje would start soon.
The Greek side, according to the pro-government newspaper, does not want a full normalization of the relations, before the question of the name is settled. Athens, as it is added, wants Macedonia to be called the former Yugoslav Republic in the deal with the so-called "small packet."
On another issue, the President of the Greek party New Democracy Miltijadis Evert met yesterday afternoon with the President of Greece Kostis Stefanopoulos, following his recent visit to the U.S.A..
Following the meeting, Evert told the press he did not see a direct solution to the dispute between Athens and Skopje, as "there are great differences between both sides." On this occasion, he also decided in favor of the "large packet," as any other solutions, which would not include the name, "can lead to the recognition of Skopje under the name Macedonia."
The Macedonian Television brought a commentary on the Macedonian-Greek relations on Sunday. The commentary says: "Unlike many times so far, these days, without much noise, which sounds quite wise, it seems something's moving on the line Skopje-Athens. Of course, through the unavoidable international mediators. Such, although not categoric, is the conclusion that can be drawn following the latest statements of President Gligorov about the fate of the Macedonian-Greek negotiations, during his visit to Rome and the Vatican, and the express old-new Friday commentary of official Athens, following them. The initial impression, as we said, although objectively incomplete due to the unexplained absence of more tangible facts, puts our readiness to resume the negotiating process with direct meetings of the first men of both countries, which we expressed long ago, in the foreground.
After this commentary, MTV broadcast President Gligorov's statement: "At any time and with great pleasure, I proposed in one of my letters, in a phase of mediation of the gentlemen Vance and Nimetz, that the direct dialogue between the leaders of both countries will surely contribute to the settling of the problems."
In continuation, it is said: "This opinion could also be acceptable to Greece, not only because it is coming from our President, but because, more or less, it promises success. Actually, both Skopje and Athens know best how, what, and up to where they can negotiate. Furthermore that there can be no lasting winner or loser - that is more than clear, in the Macedonian-Greek dialogue. To the contrary. It would be expected to talk about the degree of mutual benefit which both neighbors can have, as well as their people's, who are naturally directed one towards the other, who have been anticipating for a long time already, that their leaderships will show that they are theirs. And, to do that without a shadow of doubt, that the decision, at whose ever proposal, to meet eye to eye, will give some kind of value.
Kiro Gligorov: "But, maybe at this moment, it can be said one initial hope exists for that. And, I'm also taking into account all the difficulties and disappointments we have been through. But, let's hope that this so-called initial hope, I'd say, for rational, real negotiations, does exist."
MTV comments again: "The initial hope that President Gligorov mentions, having in mind our stand and the conveyed stances by Vance and Nimetz, from Rome, about 'certain signs and greater understanding from the Greek side,' is a good basis for Skopje and Athens. So, then the international mediators should help as much as necessary, not more. They should try, as soon as possible, to sit down and review, step by step, all the questions that would be vital for the establishment of normal relations between the two countries. And, the way as is suitable for members of the European house. Without preconditions, outwitting, and most important, without the damaging, and not only for Skopje, embargo from Athens. Cause, it would be an illusion that under conditions of any kind of restrictions, it would be possible to talk, regardless of the wishes and pressure.
The representative of PDP in the Commission for parliamentary procedure Mevljan Tairi, rejected, at yesterday's session, the new draft-Rules of Procedure for the Macedonian Parliament. Although the other members accepted this text, Tairi argued that the impossibility to use the Albanian language at the parliamentary stand "presents the cementing of unequal relations in RM and the constitution of Macedonia as a national state of the Macedonian people."
Tairi feels that this presents a blow to the party PDP, which has proven, so far, to be a moderate Albanian opposition in Macedonia, and as a "risk of maintaining the conflict situation in the inter-ethnic relations for a longer period."
The French concern Alcatel Alsthom will open an office in Macedonia through its trade company "Alcatel Trading International" (ATI). The Macedonian office is expected to start working in September, this year. It's an interesting fact that Alcatel is entering Macedonia directly, through its Paris headquarters and it will be using its name in Macedonia, which is a precedent in relation to the other large telecommunication companies, which open offices in Macedonia through their partners.
The work surrounding the opening of the office is being carried out by Yves Renauddin, Alcatel CIT Manager for this part of Europe, otherwise, the biggest company within Alcatel Alsthom, which deals with the production of communication systems, J. Adam - vice-president of Alcatel CIT and Carl Heinz Constantin, ATI representative. Julien Bertin is expected to be appointed manager of the Macedonian ATI representation, who is in Macedonia for a couple of years already, and who has worked on a number of projects in the field of construction and telecommunications in this period.
Alcatel has been present on the Macedonian market so far, with the cheapest offer for a main telephone exchange of Alcatel CIT in Kavadarci, with 8,000 connections, and it also took part in the auction of the Macedonian posts, for a digital communications project, which is financed by the EBRD, with US$ 42.5 million.
As concerns the plans for the Macedonian office, Alcatel intends to form a joint French-Macedonian Chamber and mixed firms.
From the aspect of greater presence of the French firms on the Macedonian market, it is believed that the presence of Alcatel in Macedonia will also encourage the smaller French firms, in particular those that do business with Alcatel, of which there are more than 200, to enter the Macedonian market quicker, seeing they can regard Alcatel as a patron.
Otherwise, in 1993, Alcatel Asthom earned US$ 27.6 billion. It has more than 196,000 employees, it is present in various ways in 126 countries in the world, and has factories in 56 countries. It is among the 40 largest companies in the world.
Its biggest branch Alcatel CIT holds 20% of the world market of public telephone exchanges, 19% of the world market of transmission systems and 14% of the world market of telecommunication cables.
In the meeting of the attorneys from the sphere of economy in Macedonia, speaking of the Law for business companies, the Minister of Finance Jane Miljovski stated that this law presented the foundation of the market economy, with the domination of private ownership. He added that the law would have enormous economic influence, as it outlined the rules of the game in all capital transactions, moving capital from one to another economic branch and from one company to another, all with the aim of achieving greater profits.
Dr. Milan Nedkov from the Faculty of Economics stated that this law harmonizes the European law, on a national level.
Dr. Tito Belichanec from the Faculty of Law stated that according to the law, in order to form a stock company, it is necessary for the smallest amount of the basic founding capital to be 50,000 DM, in denar equivalent value, when it is founded through public all, i.e. 20,000 DM, when it is founded without public call. This law contains a number of new elements in relation to share-holding, including the possibility of the priority shares gaining the right to vote, the possibility of distributing workers' shares free of charge, or at a lower price, in order to motivate the employees, and this decree has been taken over from the EU legislature. Another new element is the introduction of convertible bonds, which can turn into shares, with time. The assistant professor Elena Gradiska Lazarevska spoke about companies with limited liability, and stated that the basic capital for the foundation of this type of company is 10,000 DM, which has to be paid upon the registration of the company, in cash or material goods.
The level of prices of the old apartments in Skopje is reaching the price of the newly-built apartments. This situation comes as a result of the decreased construction of new apartments in the city. Therefore, the price of the old apartments, compared to the same period three years ago, has increased 20-30%.
The price of the apartments in the most popular suburbs in the city, like Kapishtec and Bunjakovec, ranges from 1,200 to 1,400 DM per m2. The price of the newly-built apartments is also in the vicinity. Nevertheless, the price of the apartments in more distant suburbs, such as Aerodrom and Karposh III is around 900 DM per m2.
On the other hand, according to the real estate agencies, the rents are dropping, the reason being that businessmen from Serbia or people employed in the diplomatic missions are less interested in renting apartments.
A completely furnished apartment with heating and telephone in Kapishtec, can be found for 500 DM per month, while the cheapest two-bed apartments in the suburbs Butel or Lisiche, cost 250 DM per month.