"Macedonia's membership in the Council of Europe is an important step for the progress of the country, and this question must not be the issue of dispute between the Macedonian political subjects," the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Miguel Angel Martinez stated at today's press conference, prior to his departure for Sofia, Makpress reports.
The report of the Rapporteurs on Macedonia will be reviewed at the September session of the Parliamentary Assembly, which will be followed by a recommendation for accession, and the final decision will be made by the Minister's Committee of the Council of Europe.
A couple more final steps are left for entering the processes of European integration, and they, according to Martinez, round off the legal system, the signing of the Convention on human rights, national minorities and the Declaration for local self-government of the Council of Europe.
The Speaker of the Macedonian Parliament Stojan Andov assessed Miguel Martinez' visit as very important, while the signing of the mentioned agreements by Macedonia, is entirely certain.
Regarding Mr. Martinez' views on the participation of the national minorities in the state institutions, he said that it should be improved, and stressed: "However, the question of participation of women in Parliament and the other state institutions is more important to me."
The Convention on national minorities of the Council of Europe is signed by 26 members of the Council (out of 34), so far. The signing procedure is underway in several countries, with the exception of France and the Czech Republic, which refuse to sign the agreement, insisting on the respect of individual rights, on account of the collective ones.
The signing of the Council of Europe conventions, according to Martinez, implies the legal application of the decrees, while the competent European courts are becoming competent for the implementation of the signed agreements. Although disagreeing with the Greek embargo on Macedonia, Martinez characterized Greece as a democratic country that is of great importance for the stability in the region.
"Thus, I feel that the accession of Macedonia in the Council of Europe must not be regarded as a step toward destabilization of the region. To the contrary," the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe said at today's press conference.
In the press release from the talks between President Slobodan Milosevich and Greek ministers Karolos Papoulias and Gerasimos Arsenis, who went to Pale on a mediating mission, more room was given to the "Skopje question" than the Bosnian crisis, Makpress reports.
As an illustration, the newspaper "Elefterotipia" states a part of the announcement which stresses that Serbia and Greece are in accord that it should come to a normalization of the relations on the line Belgrade-Skopje-Athens, as soon as possible, and that this is of vital interest for the stability on the Balkans.
A Law on Military Academy, the first of its kind in the Republic of Macedonia (after the gaining of independence), was adopted in the Macedonian Parliament yesterday. The Military Academy will start in September, the studies will last four years, and the graduating cadets will automatically obtain the rank second lieutenant. As Defense Minister Blagoy Handziski stressed in his discussion, the Academy will have a positive effect on overcoming the present unfavorable age structure of the officer personnel, as well as fulfilling the conditions for equal membership in the collective systems of defence and inclusion in the new European security project.
The Law on Military Academy was passed with 63 votes in favour, while the PDP MPs were against. The independent MPs Mersel Biljali and Hisen Ramadani remarked in their discussions that the nationality structure was neglected, and offered the introduction of admission quotas as a solution.
Parliament also passed the amendments to the Defense Law, according to which the fines are raised, in conformity with the Law of torts.
Despite the warning of Ratka Kuljan (SDUM) for the Law on transplantation not to enter yesterday's daily agenda, the MPs adopted this law, without any discussion whatsoever. According to the Law, parts of the body of a deceased person can be taken for means of transplantation, provided the deceased did not have anything against, while he was alive. In her discussion, Kuljan disagreed with this legal solution, emphasizing that it violates human and custom rights.
The Minister of Health Ilija Filipche said, in defence of the Law, that it only eases and regulates the transplantation procedure.
Another law also adopted in Parliament yesterday was the Law on providing funds for compensation for the consequences of the earthquake in Bitola, Demir Hisar, Ohrid and Resen. The Government proposal was accepted, to put aside two daily salaries for this purpose.
The broadest debate enfolded over the Law on the debts of the Republic of Macedonia to the International Development Association, social reform and technical help, which was adopted in the end, after numerous remarks were voiced, from the aspect of its realization, but also the pay-back of the funds. Parliament also passed the Law on debts for the Project for adaptation of the financial sector and the company, which was also the last item on the parliamentary agenda.
On Tuesday, for the first time in this mandate, the Macedonian Parliament had its first interpellation. Namely, the PDP parliamentary group submitted an interpellation on the general director of the Macedonian Radio Television, Melpomeni Korneti.
The PDP parliamentarians say, among the rest, that they are disappointed over the fact that the inter-party agreement between the then coalition partners (last fall) on the distribution of the managing positions in this information house, is not upheld. Namely, it was agreed for the Liberals to get the position of general director of MTV, the Social-Democrats got the managing position of the TV, while PDP was promised the position of deputy general director. According to the PDP parliamentary group, they have still not received anything from this "gentlemen's" agreement, at least as far as their part of the cake is concerned. Furthermore, they claim "not only was this agreement not respected, but the last drop in the glass was the fact that the general director Melpomeni Korneti appointed Hisni Shakiri top man of the television program in Albanian language, thereby damaging their interests. He does not fulfil our criteria and is not suitable for that position," they say.
: Macedonia's Foreign Minister Stevo Crvenkovski met with Mr. Akira Nishigaki, president of the Managing board of the Fund for international economic cooperation of Japan, yesterday, as part of his official visit to Japan.
The two officials reviewed the possibility of Macedonia using credits from this fund, which are issued under very favorable conditions: a long pay-back period, a 10 year grace period and low interest rates, which sometimes add up only to 1%.
The signing of the stand-by arrangement with the IMF and the closing of the deal with the International bank, has created the necessary conditions for Macedonia to be able to use credits from this fund.
In accordance with the decision of the Constitutional Court and the Government decision to raise the price of the electricity 15%, the Electrodistribution of Macedonia decided to increase the prices as of June 15, at all voltage lines.
"Stopanska Banka" - Bitola has started working independently and it will carry all banking functions in the domestic sphere with a founding capital of 10 million DM, which has been distributed into shares.
The economic publication "One hundred plus one hundred most successful" was promoted yesterday. It deals with the largest enterprises in the country, among which it lists the "Skopje Brewery," "Makpetrol," "Nacional-shped," "Makedonija Turist." Of the smaller enterprises, the list is headed by "Filip Morris," "Nimeks," "Feroglas," "Vemaks" and "Dameks."
Two thirds or 64% of last year's overall profits in the Macedonian economy were realized in these 100 most successful firms. They employ 15.6% of the overall number of employees. At the same time, 12.4% of the profits are realized in the most successful one hundred small companies. They employ only 887 people, or 0.3%.