At the invitation of the Macedonian Parliamentary Speaker Stojan Andov, the president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Miguel Angel Martinez will be staying in the Republic of Macedonia from today, and till June 8.
The visit of the high-ranking guest comes amid the procedure for the acceptance of the Republic of Macedonia as full member of the Council of Europe. At present, Macedonia holds the special guest status in this European organization. Macedonia's admission to the Council of Europe is the first and extremely important step for its full integration into Europe.
The visit will include meetings with top political figures, in order to exchange views on the current challenges on the path toward the building of a united democratic Europe, and particularly the possibilities for speedier inclusion of the RM in the European institutions and contemporary integration processes.
The program also foresees meetings and talks with the President of RM Kiro Gligorov, Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski and Speaker of Parliament Stojan Andov. Moreover, Martinez will address the Macedonian Parliament, on the issue of the role of the European Council in the strengthening of the European house.
Miguel Angel Martinez has been at this function since May, 1992, and has rich international political experience.
Macedonia's Foreign Minister Stevo Crvenkovski is due to arrive in Tokyo today, following his visit to China. Tomorrow, he is scheduled to meet with his Japanese counterpart Johen Kono.
In an exclusive for Radio Noma, Crvenkovski said: "Yesterday, I met with the general director for Europe in the Japanese Foreign Ministry and the chief for Eastern Europe. The official part of the program starts tomorrow, when I'll have talks with the Japanese Foreign Minister Johen Kono."
Crvenkovski will also meet with the heads of the Japanese agency "Jaika" for helping developing countries and countries in transition.
Mihail Levenski and Ivan Pejkovski from the Socialist party of Macedonia, who took part in the Balkan Forum of left- wing parties in Athens, last week, expressed their surprise at the warm welcome and reception of their delegation, in Skopje yesterday. "They didn't leave us any room to feel odd, although we were on sensitive ground, and roused the interest of the media. We answered all the questions of the press, but we couldn't say why SDUM was not present at the Forum, because we didn't know ourselves. Otherwise, we represented our interests everywhere, and the fact that we had a presentation in Macedonian language caused great attention, seeing it was agreed for the discussions to be in English. However, as other representatives from other countries also spoke in their language, we took advantage of our right."
The issues on the parliamentary agenda for tomorrow are the legal proposals for the military academy, the draft-law for income tax, the law for compensation of the damages caused by the earthquake in the municipalities of Bitola, Demir Hisar, Ohrid and Resen.
Before the start of the session, the MPs are expected to be addressed by the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Miguel Angel Martinez.
The Ministry of Labour and Social Politics has dismissed information linking it with the organization of the convoy of refugees from Bosnia and Herzegovina, which left Macedonia on Thursday, last week.
The Macedonian Government did not take part in this action. Reportedly, it only participated in the supply of food for the refugees. Furthermore, the convoy was escorted to the border point Kjafasan, with Albania, by a couple of Macedonian police vans.
In the presence of delegates from all 18 Macedonian Orthodox church communities, the Macedonian eparchy in Australia held an assembly in Melbourne, yesterday. The meeting was also attended by the metropolitans Mr. Petar and Mr. Stefan. According to reports in the Macedonia press, the delegates managed to overcome the reasons for the disunity in the Macedonian community.
It was concluded that these are crucial times for the Macedonians, especially in Australia, where they are subjected to all kinds of state measures for their renaming. Therefore, the unity of all the churches of the eparchy of the Macedonian Orthodox Church is a guarantee for the preservation of the Macedonian national identity.
Starting from today, and up to next Friday, 110 exhibitors from Croatia, FRY, Turkey, Germany, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Hungary, Finland, Italy, Albania, Israel and Macedonia will display their products at the fair for general consumption, intermediate goods and equipment, in Skopje. 20,000 products from the metal-processing, machine, motor, chemical, baking, meat, and dairy industry, will be exhibited on an area of 15,000 m2.
Under the organization of the Republic Center for the advancement of the individual agriculture, 362 producers from 22 municipalities will be taking part in the Republic competition in agriculture. They will be competing in the raising of 12 crops. At yesterday's press conference, it was said that results are excellent, which speaks of the great potential lying in the individual agricultural sector.
The first 5 km of the track from Ginovci, toward Kriva Palanka, on the line Macedonia-Bulgaria, will be finished in August.
The construction company "Pelagonija" has 15 tunnels in this section, spanning 2,950 meters. For the construction, an agreement has been signed between the Austrian firm "AST" and the investor "Macedonian Railways." 200 workers will be working on the project, in four shifts, starting from the end of June.
24 bridges will be built in this part, with a total length of 2,500 meters.
The Ohrid ecologists have protested against the inefficient protection of the Ohrid Lake, which is under the protection of UNESCO. They said that in spite of all measures, the lake is still endangered by waste waters and other harmful materials.
The Republic of Macedonia is taking part, this week, in the annual assembly of the International Airport Council for 1995, which is taking place in Prague.
At the meeting, the representatives of the public company for airport services "Makedonija" will discuss the creation of additional airport capacities and the improvement of the airport infrastructure.
All of this will be in the function of meeting the needs of the fast-growing and developing European air traffic market.
At the onset of the tourist season, the Macedonian-Bulgarian border at Deve Bair, near Kriva Palanka, is becoming more and more frequent. An increase of around 20% is anticipated, due to the tourist wave for the Black and Aegean Sea. The cargo traffic is maintaining its constant intensity, which is being carried out in three convoys, which are joined by cisterns, transporting fuel for Macedonia.
The Berovo textile industry "Bekon" has signed an agreement with an Austrian firm for the production of some 200,000 pieces of protective clothing, which, according to the management, will provide sound profits and an average salary of 300 DM for the workers. The Austrian partner has sent three experts to Berovo, and 80 sewing machines, which will also open 50 more jobs.
Recently, machines for the finishing off of jeans clothes were installed in the factory, which cost 78,000 DM. These funds were received with an interest-free credit from a Greek partner, interested in working with "Bekon."
An error was made in yesterday's edition of the MIC INFOMAC Service. In the MONEY section, under the title "Investments - Macedonia still zone of disinvestment" the word "transformer station" was accidently left out. (end)