MAK-NEWS 23/10/95 (M.I.C.)

From: "M.I.C." <mic@ITL.MK>

Macedonian Information Centre Directory

CONTENTS

SKOPJE, OCTOBER 23, 1995 (MIC)

[01] MACEDONIAN FLAG IN FRONT OF UN

From Saturday, the Macedonian flag is raised in front of the building of the UN, alongside all other flags of the member-states of the World organization. At the formal ceremony of the raising of the flag, the UN Secretary-General Boutros Ghali said that "this act symbolizes the truth and understanding, as a condition for friendship in the region and the international community." "And, while its colors are being flown alongside the flags of the other member-states, let the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia live in peace, as a full member of the family of nations," the UN Secretary-General Boutros Ghali said at the ceremony in front of the UN building.

The head of the Macedonian state delegation, Parliamentary Speaker Stojan Andov, thanked the UN officials who contributed and helped realize this act and said "this is a moment of pride for the Republic of Macedonia."

Immediately after the ceremony, Cyrus Vance came to the headquarters of the mission of the Republic of Macedonia and held talks with Parliamentary Speaker Stojan Andov. Vance was interested in President Gligorov's health and assessed that even in this situation, Macedonia proved to be a mature subject, which is deemed highly by the international community.

[02] BILL CLINTON SENDS A LETTER TO STOJAN ANDOV

The President of the U.S.A. Bill Clinton sent a letter to Speaker of Parliament Stojan Andov, in which he says: "I'd like to thank you for your letter from October 6. I was pleased to hear that our medical help was of use in the period following the attack on President Gligorov. Please convey President Gligorov my sincerest wishes for his complete and speedy recovery.

You were right in calling the assassination attempt a 'brutal terrorist attack.' I hope that the help provided by the U.S. will help your country bring the people responsible for this attack before the court of justice.

The efforts of your people for a constitutional process at the time of this appalling act is further proof of the contribution that your country is giving in accomplishing stability and progress in the Balkans. You gave an example to the other countries in the region. Furthermore, I recommend your Government and the Macedonian people not to allow this criminal act to impede your efforts for a peaceful resolution of the dispute with your neighbors.

I impatiently await the possibility to work with you in the period of President Gligorov's recovery.

[03] STOJAN ANDOV ADDRESSING UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY: "MACEDONIA MEMBER OF UN SINCE 1945"

Parliamentary Speaker Stojan Andov, in replacing the President of the country Kiro Gligorov is heading the Macedonian state delegation at the formal jubilee assembly of the UN, addressed the General Assembly of the World organization yesterday.

At the beginning of his speech, Andov reminded that President Gligorov should have been the one to address this gathering of world leaders. "He was prevented from attending because he is still in treatment after the criminal, terrorist attack on him," Andov said. "Luckily, the assassination attempt did not achieve the political goal to destabilize the Republic of Macedonia, to change its democratic, peace-loving course and its role as a key factor of the peace in the south of the Balkans. That is the policy that remains as a lasting and strategic orientation of the RM," Stojan Andov told the participants.

He underlined that Macedonia was present in the world organization, as a founder from the very start, as a federal member of the former SFRY.

"Over the past five years, the Republic of Macedonia has shown itself as a key factor of the peace in the south of the Balkans," Andov said, and listed the principles of the Macedonian policy. He underlined the peace and legitimate way of realizing the right to self-orientation of the Macedonian people for independence, the orientation for political negotiations following the break up of the SFRY, the orientation for inviolability of the frontiers by means of force, proclaiming its state within the constitutional and internationally recognized borders. Andov said that Macedonia has actively implemented the policy of good-neighborly relations and equidistance towards the neighbors, and has decided on quick market reforms, democracy and European integration of countries. He also stressed the orientation for the implementation of the international standards and tradition for equality of the nationalities and inter-ethnic understanding and tolerance. Andov said that Macedonia has managed to endure the consequences from the UN sanctions against the FRY with enormous self-sacrifices.

With Macedonia's membership, the UN has accepted the right of the people of Macedonia to self-orientation and independence and its territorial integrity and sovereignty. This has put an end to the historical negations, divisions and genocide of an autochthonous European nation and its right to a state, whereas, with the deployment of its peace-keeping forces, the UN has helped prevent the escalation of the war to the south of the Balkans and have given a clear signal that the independence and territorial integrity of RM are also a concrete interest of the World organization.

[04] LIAISONS OFFICES BY END OF YEAR

The signing of the Memorandum on the establishment of diplomatic liaisons offices in Skopje and Athens has marked the end to the three-day Macedonian-Greek talks in the Greek Foreign Ministry. The document bridges the to-date misunderstandings regarding the Macedonian mission in Athens, and therefore, the two offices are expected to be opened by the end of the year.

As regards the "controversial" question concerning the name on the sign in front of the Macedonian liaisons office, the Athens press says that the basic thing is that a solution acceptable to both sides has been found.

Probably not by accident, the "Nova Makedonija" correspondent from Athens writes, it is explained that during the last round of negotiations in Athens, it was decided for a sign with Macedonia's temporary name "FYROM" to stand at the front of the liaisons office in Athens, while the constitutional name of the Republic of Macedonia would be written inside the building or house, behind the glass security wall, like the one in the Greek Foreign Ministry. As to the liaisons offices, the head of the Macedonian delegation Ljupcho Arsovski told us that it was agreed for them to be opened by the end of the year. Otherwise, both sides expressed the wish for the two liaisons offices, in Skopje and in Athens, to be opened at the same time. The reasons for extending the deadline are of a purely technical nature, he says. Still, it will take some time to find an appropriate object, house or building and to equip it. The state of the building of the Greek Consulate is also such that it needs to be repaired and adapted for work, after being closed up for 20 months. In addition, it will also take some time for the procedure to appoint the heads of the liaisons offices.

Regarding the speculations that the Macedonian delegation has accepted for FYROM to stand on the facade of the building of the Macedonian office, Arsovski claims that this is incorrect. Greece, according to the document, has the right to put a sign in front of its building on the street, that will say everything they want. If it's a house, the sign will be placed in front of the fence, and not directly on the fence, Arsovski says. However, in the right corner, they have to write who put up the sign, which will make it completely clear that it is not Macedonia's matter. If Macedonia chooses an apartment, a sign saying "Liaison Office," together with the Macedonian coat of arms and flag will be placed on the fence or in the hall of the building.

[05] GREEK BUSINESSMEN PREPARED FOR ECONOMIC INVASION

Immediately after the lifting of the twenty-month long embargo, a large number of companies from Greece are showing great interest in establishing business ties in Macedonia, stressing that they want to make up for lost time.

While the Macedonian and Greek businessmen are working out the practical measures of the Interim Accord from New York, Greek merchants and businessmen are speeding up preparations for an "economic invasion of Macedonia," the Greek press writes on Saturday.

According to speculations in Athens, the business giants "Mamidakis," "British Petroleum," "Motor Oil," the telecommunications giant "Entercom" and other companies that have offices in Greece, are preparing to make major investments in Macedonia.

[06] SELECTIVE RAISING OF THE RAMP

Over the weekend, a large number of citizens from the south-western part of Macedonia tried to cross the Macedonian- Greek border through the border point Medzitlija, near Bitola. Among them were also citizens born in the Aegean part of Macedonia, who were sent back from the border.

They were told that they had to obtain special permits in order to cross the border. Upon checking the travel documents, the Greek authorities immediately tried to read the birth place. Those born in northern Greece were denied entry and sent back from the border ramp.

Furthermore, a couple of citizens were also sent back from the border point Medzitlija, who were not allowed to enter Greece even before the Greek embargo, because they had put stickers of Macedonian Ilinden revolutionaries on their cars.