After returning to Macedonia, following a meeting with the UN mediator in the Greek-Macedonian dispute Sajrus Vance, the Minister for foreign affairs Stevo Crvenkovski only briefly stated that he is not bringing anything special from New York, reports MAKPRESS.
"We presented before Sajrus Vance, the mediator in the Greek-Macedonian dispute, the Macedonian stance and our readiness for negotiations in order to solve the situation that has been forced upon us. The next meeting with Vance will be held in July, when the envoy of the General secretary of the UN will arrive in Europe", stated the Minister for foreign affairs of the RM Stevo Crvenkovski.
The meetings that the mediator Sairus Vance had these days in New York with the Macedonian Minister for foreign affairs Stevo Crvenkovski and the Greek Ambassador to the UN Hristos Zaharakis, brought about some movement in the negotiations, however some "large event" in the relations between Athens and Skopje is not expected before the end of summer.
These evaluations are contained in the commentary that was published in the last issue of the weekly "To vima". Repeating the well known Greek stances, the newspaper adds that Athens has "used up all the possibilities for making concessions" and that it can not accept "some of the requests" presented by Skopje.
"The number one problem for the recognition of Macedonia is its refusal to recognize Serbia and Montenegro to continue to live in the joint state Yugoslavia, in the part that remained after the cessation of the separatist republics. This refusal is an absolute obstacle for any kind of a recognition of Macedonia by Yugoslavia", said the Minister for foreign affairs of the FRY in his statement for the Sofia newspaper "Duma", reports MAKPRESS.
"We acknowledge the fact that it is independent", said the Yugoslav Minister and adds that his country "is interested in a swift solution to the problem between Macedonia and Greece".
According to Yovanovich "there are certain open issues in the relations between the FRY and Macedonia that require a minimal civilized effort by the Macedonian authorities so as to be solved". Among them are the equal treatment of the Serbs in Macedonia, who according to the Yugoslav Minister, "are discriminated in comparison to the Turks, Albanians, Vlachs and other nationalities".
Today's "Nova Makedonija" comments the Congress of the Liberal party that was held this Saturday in Skopje and asks: "who is the Liberal party not satisfied with".
The newspaper adds: "So that things are more clearer about who the Liberal party is not satisfied with, the President of the LP Stojan Andov, in his address (which is also a parliamentary document) criticizing the unnecessary triumphalism, the tightening of the foundations of the reforms by certain individuals in power, publicly pointed at the SDAM as a party that is trying to grab the leading positions of state administration in several municipalities. Which means that the cards have finally been revealed with a direct accusation that the Social Democrats are abusing their political power grabbing the power in the organs and bodies of the state administration. Finally at the end, in the context of the critical intonation of the Liberals addressed against certain deformations of the authorities, we have a Declaration for an expert and efficient administration. The remarks in this document refer to the expertise and competence of the state administration of the Government and the Parliament, which, in the context of the 76 laws that were contested by the Constitutional court in the last two years, instead of pointing out the illegitimate character of these proposals, is placed in a position to serve as a "legal" cover for the lack of knowledge and voluntarism.
In fact, this open dissatisfaction of the Liberals was announced from quite a long time ago at several public and semi- public confrontations with the SDAM, who had their christendom during the very election of the Government when the MPs of the Liberal party abstained from voting. In the same context is the recent conflict with the Minister of finance and vice-president of the SDAM about the distribution of the money for the elections. However, if all the up-to-date confrontations between the two coalition partners were at the level of verbal disputes from the parliamentary podium and through the party newspapers, today after the Third Congress of the LP they acquired an official connotation, and with this greater political weight.
Which means that it remains to wait and see the practical realization of the demonstrated principal attitude of the Liberals through concrete steps, activities and initiatives that will contribute to the overcoming and the solution of the problems, which they locate so precisely. To do this they have four ministers, 30 MPs and the President of the Parliament. At the end of things no one is forcing the LP to participate in the Government and parliamentary coalition, because the most logical direction of reasoning says that a principal attitude expressed with words understands a principal attitude in steps that will be taken. If not, then it is reduced to naked verbalism and an alibi policy".
The wool combine "Teteks" from Tetovo was awarded the important international reward for technology and quality which is awarded by the international "Club of business leaders".
The reward was received yesterday in Rome by the general director of the Combine, Gligorie Gogovski. "Teteks" received the reward in competition with 96 firms from the entire world.
The "Club of business leaders" exists for 16 years now and rewards the most successful world firms from all fields of economy.
As of the 3rd of July the Yugoslav air transport (JAT), after a three year pause, will once again establish a regular airline link between Belgrade and Skopje.
JAT's planes will fly for Skopje 4 times each week - from Monday to Friday with the exception of Tuesday.
The tickets for these flights will be available from the 1st of July, their price will be DM 210,00 in one direction and DM 420,00 for a return ticket.
Macedonia is the first country from the former YU republics to introduce regular airline links with the FR Yugoslavia after the partial suspension of the UN sanctions against Serbia and Montenegro.
According to the announcement of the Ministry of agriculture, forests and water supply, from the 21st to the 25th of June Macedonia has exported a total of 3 thousand and 247.7 tones of early garden products. Of these 2,105 tones of tomatoes; 605 tones of peppers; 59.3 tones of cucumbers; 73.3 tones of onions and 406 tones of potatoes.
The export was realized towards FR Yugoslavia, Slovenia, Croatia, Slovakia, the Chek Republic, Albania and Bulgaria.
A delegation of the Republic of Macedonia under the leadership of the Minister of agriculture, forests and water supply, Dr. Ivan Angelov, on the invitation of the Ministry of agriculture and food of Albania, Hasan Halili, will make a visit to this country from the 27th to the 29th of June this year.
Several meetings and discussions about issues of interest to both countries are planned during this visit. Discussions are planned about the formation of an Albanian- Macedonian commission for water supply and an sub-committee for fishing, and an agreement about the securing of a regular supply of water for melioration for the villages Otisani and Dzepishte in Albania, for the modernization of the border crossings Kjafasan and Blato, and discussions will also be held about preparing a text for a veterinarian convention between the two states.
During the three day long visit, the delegation will also hold meetings about the protection of the Ohrid lake from pollution, about its stocking with fish by modernizing and enlarging the artificial spawning places.
According to the Bureau of statistics of Macedonia, the average salary in the country in April was MKD 8,472 (US$ 230). In the non-economic field it was MKD 9,385 (US$ 253), while in the economy MKD 8,160 (US$ 221). The percentage of workers who have not received salaries in the non-economic field is 4.3%, while in the economy 25.9%.