Macedonia's President Kiro Gligorov recently gave an interview for the "Financial Times," in which he says, among the rest: "In this part of the world, it's hard to find the true way between conscience and emotions, myth and reality. That's the burden on the Balkans which prevents us from becoming real Europeans."
"It would be a great mistake if the Balkans is treated only as a security problem and is left aside from the processes of economic and political integration. These countries will struggle for economic prosperity and democracy, provided they are encouraged with the possibility of economic integration. The younger generations will ask themselves why 200,000 people had to die in former Yugoslavia, if the offered Schengen Europe, with freedom of movement and open borders, is signed," President Gligorov said.
In the interview, Gligorov cautions that "another war on the Balkans could break out again, if the younger generations are denied the possibility to join Europe." "In the end, the costs for integration of the Balkan countries in Europe would be a great deal smaller than the costs for creating the forces for quick reaction and the other security measures which are taken at the moment. The conflicts in former Yugoslavia are already costing the international community a lot, and the award is small," President Gligorov said in the interview for the "Financial Times."
The Macedonian delegation, which attended the Fourth session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE in Ottawa, submitted three amendments to article 12 of the Political Resolution of the Political Committee. The amendments say: "Greece to stop vetoing the acceptance of Macedonia, then, concern is expressed over the Greek embargo on Macedonia, which destabilizes the situation in the region, while the third amendment asks for compensation to the losses suffered by Macedonia as a result of the sanctions against Yugoslavia."
Since Macedonia can not submit any amendments as an observer, they were submitted on its behalf by Slovenia, Denmark and Turkey. In the pending voting, only the delegations of Greece, Cyprus and Bulgaria were against.
The Speaker of the Macedonian Parliament Stojan Andov yesterday received the delegation of the Foreign politics commission of the Albanian National Assembly, which is staying on a four-day official visit to Macedonia. The delegation also met with Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski. It was assessed in the talks that there are no obstacles for the cooperation between the two countries not to develop and progress, and to solve a number of questions that are of mutual interest.
"Nova Makedonija" and "Vecer" report that in the talks with the appropriate commission of the Macedonian Parliament, the guests from Albania brought forward the initiative for opening the border between the two countries for the flow of people and goods, which is not restricted with the visa regime. The delegation said that Albania regards its anxiety over the rights of the Albanians in Macedonia as justified, with an assessment that that question should not be viewed exclusively as an internal affair and that the problems have to be solved through the work of the Parliament.
The Macedonian side pointed out that all the laws in the Macedonian Parliament are reviewed by the European institutions and organizations, and that all key decisions Macedonia made in the past two years and more (like the Constitution, Referendum, etc) did not come across reservation in the international circles and, as concerns the political life, all the citizens have full freedom to get organized, which certainly also applies to the Albanians. By avoiding to specify any numbers, and respecting the fact that Albania recognizes the minorities in its country, it was noted it would be good to hear that Macedonians also live in other parts of Albania, except for those generally known.
The Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of Lithuania established full diplomatic relations yesterday, at embassy level, with the exchange of notes between the two foreign ministries.
Education Minister Emilija Simoska denied, at the news conference held in Skopje yesterday, information that negotiations took place in Geneva between ministers in the Macedonian Government and representatives of the Albanian parties in Macedonia, in the presence of Gerd Arens.
"It was never a question of any kind of negotiations, but talks with Arens by the six-member Macedonian group. It was comprised of the ministers Frchkovski and Somovska (Vlado Popovski did not attend at all, while Stevo Crvenkovski was there for a completely different business), while the Albanian parties in Macedonia were represented by Dzeladin Murati and Mevljan Tairi from PDP, Dzaferi and Ibrahimi," Simoska said.
She explained that "these negotiations must not be treated as anything special, and in the least as negotiations between two sides, of which one is the Government."
112 working places have been reduced in the Macedonian Defence Ministry, while another 116 employees have also dismissed from the administration of this ministry. This presents a direct rationalization of 2%, i.e. indirect rationalization of 4%, as new employees will not be hired up to that percentage.
This kind of rationalization is also conducted in the Interior Ministry, which makes a total of 500 less working places in these two ministries. Such activities will continue over the summer, with which the Government is realizing the program for freeing itself from over-employment. The rationalization does not exclude those workers who have been showing unsatisfactory work results. This information was released at the news conference held yesterday.
9.6 million denars from the budget will be earmarked for compensation of the damages caused by the storms that hit south-eastern Macedonia. If it is determined that the damages exceed 20% of the GDP, the mechanism of solidarity will be activated, to put aside one-day earnings.
For the purchase of 200,000 tones of market surplus of wheat, the Government suggested a financial construction in agreement with the companies from the mill-baking industry.
The Government has adopted a program for the sale of business premises for this year. An area of 40,000 m2 will be privatized, or around 550 objects, which is expected to cash in some 62 million DM.
With the start of the annual summer vacations, the frequency is increased at the border crossings toward Bulgaria. Last month, some 120,000 passengers with 39,000 vehicles crossed the Macedonian-Bulgarian border point near Strumica (Novo Selo).
The internal passenger and cargo railway traffic will be 15% more expensive as of today. Hence, the new price of a one-way ticket, on the line Skopje- Bitola, is 194 denars, instead of the previous 165 denars. For trains of higher rank, the additional payment will be somewhat higher, while the return train tickets are with a 20% reduction.
Over the past 6 months, the textile combine "Tetex" exported goods up to the value of US$ 8.5 million, which is 0.2% more in comparison with the same period last year.
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