MAK-NEWS 26/10/95 (M.I.C.)

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

Macedonian Information Centre Directory

CONTENTS

SKOPJE, OCTOBER 26, 1995 (MIC)

[01] INTERIOR MINISTER SUBMITS RESIGNATION

The Interior Minister of the Republic of Macedonia Ljubomir Frckovski announced at today's news conference that he had offered his written resignation to Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski today.

The reason for this decision is the assassination attempt on President Kiro Gligorov, that took place on October 3, this year, in Skopje. So far, the investigation has concluded that "a financial economic grouping from a neighboring country is behind the attempt, which sent a man to Skopje on September 28 to make the explosive. He was helped by perpetrators from Macedonia, who can be described as fanatics, criminals and the political underground of the country," Frckovski said. In the interest of the investigation, he did not release any information as to the identity of the grouping, the country it comes from and the identity of the person that made the explosive.

According to his words, the "political motive was the elimination of the President himself, the creation of controlled instability in the country and the weakening of its economic and political sovereignty." In this sense, Frckovski assessed that the aim of the assassination was to achieve "tectonic destabilization of the state administration and its control."

[02] MACEDONIA ACCEPTED TO BLACK SEA CONVENTION

The embassy of the Republic of Turkey in Skopje informed the Macedonian Foreign Ministry that the Republic of Macedonia has been accepted as a full member of the Black Sea Convention for cooperation in the field of culture, education, science and information, which was signed in 1993 by the governments of Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Romania, Turkey, Ukraine and Russia. The Convention was concluded in Istanbul, and Turkey is its depositor.

The acceptance will present a possibility for the future affirmation of the Republic of Macedonia in these fields, as well as the establishment of closer links with the countries and nations in the Black Sea region.

[03] MUTUAL PROTECTION OF INVESTMENTS IN TURKEY

The proposal for the adoption of a Law for ratification of the Agreement on friendship, good-neighborliness and cooperation between the Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of Turkey with a draft-law, as well as the Law for ratification of the Agreement between Macedonia and Turkey for the mutual protection of investments, were the main discussion topics at yesterday's session of the parliamentary commission for foreign politics.

In adopting the two draft-laws, the Under Secretary in the Foreign Ministry Victor Gaber said that after Slovenia and Croatia, Macedonia has signed the most agreements with Turkey, and that the mutual protection of investments between the two countries actually regulates the land claims that Turkey had the former Socialist Republic of Macedonia, i.e. this request no longer applies to Macedonia.

At the session, Under Secretary Gaber informed about the protocols that have been signed with the Republic of Greece. The members of the commission Blagoja Filipovski and Faik Abdi tabled some questions concerning the discriminatory attitude of the Greek border organs toward Macedonian citizens born in Aegean Macedonia. The answer was that they had no information about such attitude, and according to what has been agreed, if our side respects the Greek citizens, we will also ask them to show the same respect. If, on the other hand, it is determined that our citizens are going back for one reason only - their birth places in Aegean Macedonia, the MP Sami Ibrahimi announced that he would table this question in front of the Human Rights Commission of the Council of Europe, at the session on the sixth and seventh of next month, in Prague.

Under Secretary Gaber denied the news regarding the start of the negotiations over the name in New York, since, according to the information he had, minister Stevo Crvenkovski will be meeting with Boutros Ghali and mediator Vance in New York.

[04] MACEDONIAN DELEGATION NOT DISCUSSING NAME

"The meeting between Parliamentary Speaker Stojan Andov and the Foreign Minister Stevo Crvenkovski with the mediator in the Greek-Macedonian dispute Cyrus Vance, was just an ordinary lunch," a member of the Macedonian delegation in New York told "Vecer," in relations to the remark that despite all denials, Cyrus Vance had nevertheless met with representatives from Macedonia.

"That has got nothing to do with the start of the negotiations over the name," the same source said, implying the claims of the Greek media. This source explained that Stojan Andov wanted to thank Vance for being present at the formal ceremony of the raising of the Macedonian flag in front of the building of the UN, by taking him to lunch.

[05] GREECE: "PRELIMINARY CONSULTATIONS OVER THE NAME?"

The meeting that UN mediator Cyrus Vance had in New York with the Greek ambassador Zaharikis and the Speaker of the Macedonian Parliament Crvenkovski, are assessed in Athens as preliminary consultations for the resolution of the question regarding the name of the state, Makfaks reports from Greece.

Refraining from comments and speculation as to when and how the talks over the name will end, the Greek newspapers wrote yesterday that in the meetings with Vance, both sides "showed an intention to speed up the dialogue."

In relation to this, the pro-government "Ta Nea" adds that "Washington, which wants to close this question as soon is possible, is pleased with this stance."

At the preliminary meetings that he had in New York these days, Cyrus Vance did not bring forward his proposal about a compromise name, the Greek newspapers report, adding that if a compromise is not reached beforehand, Vance will propose the name "New Macedonia" for the republic seceded from Yugoslavia.

[06] HELP FROM THE GERMAN BUDGET

The Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development of the Federal Republic of Germany Karl Dieter Spranger yesterday received the ambassador of the Republic of Macedonia to Germany Srdjan Kerim, at his request.

The talks focused on the possibility of financing certain projects foreseen with the program for public investments of the Macedonian Government.

Spranger emphasized that Germany supports the strengthening of Macedonia's international position and its stability entirely. In that sense, it can be expected for Germany to make some concrete efforts in this effect, by putting aside some money from its budget for financing infrastructure, ecological and energy objects in the Republic of Macedonia.

The German Government also promised to intercede with the EU for the speedier realization of the program for economic revival of the Republic of Macedonia.

[07] FRENCH HONORARY CONSULATE OPENED IN BITOLA

An honorary French Consulate was opened yesterday in the University library "St. Clement of Ohrid" in Bitola, in the French reading room. Kaliopi Krivasija-Stilipovich, secretary in the president's office of the Bitola University, has been appointed first honorary consul.

At the ceremony on this occasion, the French ambassador to Macedonia Mr. Patrick Crisman handed Krivasija the necessary documents, credentials and other important materials for the work of the Consulate, and emphasized that this act creates even greater possibilities for cooperation between Macedonia and France. Soon, the honorary Consulate is expected to move to more appropriate offices.

The opening of the honorary Consulate in Bitola has started off the process of opening other honorary Consulates, for instance, Turkey and Italy, with which after 80 and more years, Bitola will become a Consular city again.

[08] BILATERAL RELATIONS WITH AUSTRALIA MUST NOT BE BURDENED BY THIRD COUNTRIES

If the statement of the acting Foreign Minister of Australia Mc Malen following the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Macedonia and Australia is conveyed correctly by the media, the Macedonian Foreign Ministry emphasizes: In the several rounds of talks we had with the Australian side, regarding the establishment of diplomatic relations, the Macedonian side always held on to the principled stance that the bilateral relations between the two countries must not be burdened by the relations with third countries.

It is unacceptable to involve third countries in the Australian-Macedonian relations, in this case - the Republic of Greece, with which the foundations of the future comprehensive cooperation are successfully being laid, is said in the announcement of the Foreign Ministry.

Today's "Nova Makedonija" comments: "A real surprise is happening to us here. The Australian Government (according to reliable diplomatic sources, it and not the Macedonian Government) worked out a non-residential status of the ambassadors of the two countries, which means that the diplomatic mission of the Australians in Macedonia, and ours in Australia, will wait for some better times, that, in the meantime, the work will be done by 'flying' ambassadors, that the consular and other problems of the vast Macedonian immigration in Australia will be carried out during the 'periodical' visits of the accredited diplomats from both countries." "Until Skopje and Athens resolve their problem with the name," the cited Mr. Mc Malen says.

The Australians probably know what they are doing, why and what they are saying, but viewed from a Skopian, and as they put it "Slav Macedonian" perspective, the non-residential status of the diplomatic relations implies some conclusions. In general, that the non-residence is actually a cover for the nonresistance of a policy, moreover, a multicultural one in regard to the influence of a segment of the Australian society - the Greek community, and the resistance of another segment - the Macedonian. Whether anyone admits that or not, judging only by logics, this casts a shadow on that policy and the consistency of that policy, when the practicing of the international documents on human rights is in question.

(END)