Compact version |
|
Monday, 4 November 2024 | ||
|
MAK-NEWS 09/01/96 (M.I.C.)From: "M.I.C." <mic@ITL.MK>Macedonian Information Centre DirectoryCONTENTS[01] CELEBRATION OF CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS[02] GLIGOROV SENDS CHRISTMAS GREETINGS TO MR. MIHAIL[03] ALLIANCE FOR MACEDONIA LEADING IN 114[04] RM MILITARY DELEGATION IN U.S.[05] AGREEMENT ON ECONOMIC COOPERATION WITH SWITERLAND[06] "NEW MACEDONIA" INSTEAD OF FYROM?[07] GREEK LIAISONS OFFICE TO BE OPENEDSKOPJE, JANUARY 9, 1995 (MIC)[01] CELEBRATION OF CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYSThe last couple of days in Macedonia were marked with Christmas festivities. The head of the Macedonian Orthodox Church, the Archbishop of Ohrid and Macedonia Mr. Mihail served the Christmas day service. The formal atmosphere of the Christmas celebrations was enhanced by the President of the Republic of Macedonia Kiro Gligorov, who appeared in the public for the first time. Gligorov was received by the believers with distinct expressions of sympathy.Gligorov's presence, since recovering from his injuries, could not pass unmentioned in Archbishop Mihail's address: "God performs miracles and God saved the life of the head of our state. We thank God for that. Our God is living and listening to our prayers. He heard them and performed a miracle by saving our President's life in the nick of time. Let us thank God also for preventing bloodshed in these turbulent Balkan regions. If we have trust in Christ, we will endure all the coming hardship." [02] GLIGOROV SENDS CHRISTMAS GREETINGS TO MR. MIHAILOn the occasion of the greatest Christian holiday, Christmas, the President of the Republic of Macedonia Kiro Gligorov sent greetings to the head of the Macedonian Orthodox Church, the Archbishop of Ohrid and Macedonia Mr. Mihail."I wish You, the whole Orthodox clergy of the Macedonian people, and all the citizens of the Republic of Macedonia of Orthodox religion, a very merry Christmas, good health, joyous Christmas spirit, happiness and successful and fruitful work. On the occasion of this great Christian holiday, I would like to express my strong conviction as to further successes in the joint efforts to create conditions to realize the aspirations of our people for peace and prosperity in the country, for mutual understanding and respect of all the citizens in the Republic of Macedonia, the fortification of its reputation in the world as a peace-loving and democratic country," Gligorov says in his Christmas card. [03] ALLIANCE FOR MACEDONIA LEADING IN 114Vasil Drvosanov, candidate of the Alliance for Macedonia, won the majority votes in the second election round of the additional elections, held on Sunday in constituency no. 114. The elections have been abolished in only one polling station, due to which they will have to be repeated.A total of 1,800 citizens voted for Drvosanov, who is followed by Amdi Bajram with 1,744 votes, Dzemail Baftii from PDPA with 1,307 votes, Todor Petrov, independent candidate, with 693 votes, Vladimir Golubovski from IMRO-DP with 373 votes and Krste Jankovski from the coalition RP, MNP and IMRO-MNDS. A total of 6,363 voters out of 13,540 listed turned up at the elections, which, in terms of percentages, is 46.9%. [04] RM MILITARY DELEGATION IN U.S.A high-ranking Macedonian delegation, comprised of Ilinka Mitreva9, the president of the Parliamentary Commission on foreign politics, Defence Minister Blagoy Handziski and Yorgo Chuka, director of "OHIS," left on a brief visit to the U.S. on Sunday.The visit is realized at the invitation of the White House and the U.S. Defence Department, on the occasion of the commemoration of 50-year anniversary of the Marshall declaration and two years of the NATO initiative "Partnership for peace." The celebration of these two important dates will be marked with five-day panel discussions, which will include a number of national leaders from the EU, the NATO member-states and "Partnership for peace." As part of these activities, during its stay in the U.S., the Macedonian delegation will hold meetings with a delegation from the sister State of Vermont, led by political and military representatives. Minister Handziski will also meet with Secretary Perry and other officials from the U.S. administration. [05] AGREEMENT ON ECONOMIC COOPERATION WITH SWITERLANDThe Foreign Minister of the Republic of Macedonia Stevo Crvenkovski and the State Secretary of Foreign Economic Relations of the Swiss Confederation, Franc Blankart, signed an Agreement on trade and economic cooperation in Skopje, yesterday.Mr. Blankart described this Agreement as an important step towards the establishment of bilateral economic cooperation between the two countries. He reminded that two agreements have already been signed with Macedonia, one to the amount of 8 million Swiss francs, on investments in the field of energy and protection of the living environment, and the other, on financial assistant, to the amount of 7 million Swiss francs. He said that agreements on the protection of investments, as well as evasion of double taxation are to be signed soon, and that negotiations between Macedonia and EFTA are due to start shortly. Following yesterday's formal signing, Blankart stated that this was a political signal to Switzerland for providing assistance to Macedonia in its transition towards democracy and market economy. Minister Stevo Crvenkovski said the Agreement represents a legal basis for closer and more fruitful cooperation with Switzerland, a framework that will bolster Swiss investments in Macedonia. The Agreement on the reprogramming of Macedonia's debt to the Paris Club is expected to be signed today as well. On behalf of Macedonia, the Agreement will be signed by Finance Minister Jane Miljoski. [06] "NEW MACEDONIA" INSTEAD OF FYROM?Athens and Skopje have probably already agreed on a compromise solution, but they don't want to announce it themselves.Makpress reports that such assessments have appeared in the Greek media, directly before the meeting Zaharakis-Toshevski, scheduled for this Thursday, in New York, underlining the name "Nova Makedonija" as the "compromise solution." The decision to announce this name, according to "To Vima" and "Elefterotipia," will be left to the UN Security Council, as a final name for internal use in the UN. "Such an outcome," "Elefterotipia" writes, "would follow because the political circumstances in the two countries would not permit ratification in the national parliaments." "To Vima," on the other hand, point out that in the whole affair of finding a solution, the American side has been very restrained. According to the newspaper, Washington's stance at this moment is that there is no need to hurry with the resolution of the name problem, since the relations Athens-Skopje are relatively normalized. [07] GREEK LIAISONS OFFICE TO BE OPENEDThe chief of the Greek Liaisons Office in Skopje Aleksandar Maljas will take on his duties today, Makfaks reports today, quoting the Greek newspaper "Elefterotipia." The Greek newspaper also writes that two members of the Greek mission, Teodoros Pasas and Natalija Karajorgu are already working in the office.(end) |