MAK-NEWS 01/02/96 (M.I.C.)

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

Macedonian Information Centre Directory

CONTENTS

SKOPJE, FEBRUARY 1, 1996 (MIC)

[01] CONSULTATIONS ON GOVERNMENT RECONSTRUCTION UNDERWAY

This is further supported by the start of the consultations and talks with the participants in the government, which were announced after the highest party organ of the Social Democrats gave their support to the reconstruction of the cabinet. PDP, which has four ministers in the government, informs that the Prime Minister set up a meeting with the party leadership for last night. The Socialists (who have two ministerial positions) are scheduled to meet with Crvenkovski this week, i.e. today or tomorrow. Neither are commenting anything about the possible changes and their own positions in the future government team. Apparently, they are waiting to see the outcome of their meeting with the Prime Minister.

The Liberals, on the other hand, are adhering to the party agreement to keep silent in the communication with the media. Their parliamentary group held a meeting on Tuesday, however, they claim that the issue of the announcement of the SDAM Central Committee and the reconstruction of Government was not even raised at the meeting. As it seems, they are waiting for Prime Minister Crvenkovski to make a move first.

[02] UN "RECORDING" HUMAN RIGHTS IN RM

The Foreign Ministry has announced that the visit comes as a part of Ms. Renn's preparations to draw up a report on the human rights situation in the Republic of Macedonia, which will be on the daily agenda of the next session of the UN Human Rights Commission, scheduled to take place in Geneva, in March.

As part of her visit, Renn held a number of meetings yesterday with representatives of foreign missions in the Republic, including the chief of the UNPREDEP mission in Macedonia Henrik Sokalski and the OSCE ambassador Tore Bogh.

Today, she is due to meet with President Kiro Gligorov, Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski and other state officials.

[03] MACEDONIA HAS INVESTED $50 MILLION IN EAST-WEST CORRIDOR

The Macedonian ambassador Georgi Spasov informed that Macedonia has already invested $50 million in the realization of the project, through the construction of a railroad line. The Turkish ambassador stressed that his country's position remains unchanged, while the acting U.S. ambassador to Sofia confirmed his country's engagement to the amount of $30 million.

Sofia will not manage to financially cover its obligations for finalizing the railroad track and border crossings with Macedonia before the year 1997. Makpress reports that this conclusion was reached following the meeting between Transport Minister Stamen Stamenov and the leadership of the Kjustendil municipality. This project will cost some $10 million.

[04] GREEK DELEGATION IN SKOPJE FOR CONSULTATIONS

The consultations will focus on the to-date implementation of the Interim Accord signed in New York, in September last year.

The Macedonian Foreign Ministry issued an announcement saying that the two sides will review the overall situation in the Balkans and seek ways of making progress in the bilateral cooperation.

[05] PORTUGAL VOWS TO SUPPORT RM INTEGRATION INTO EU

Following the formal ceremony of the submittal of the letters of credence, President Suares held ambassador Starova for a longer discussion, which was also attended by the Portuguese Foreign Minister Haim Gama. At the meeting, President Suares expressed his country's readiness, as a member of the EU, to continue to support and help Macedonia's integration into the EU.

[06] COOPERATION WITH TURKEY IN MILITARY EDUCATION

An expert team from the Military Academy of the British Armed Forces is also in Macedonia, which will exchange experiences over the next couple of days with colleagues from the Macedonian Army, linked with military education and the training of officer personnel.

[07] LAW ON SPORTS PASSED

Minister Simovska says that the law will automatically mean the abolishment of SOFKA (Association of Soccer clubs), it will give autonomy to the sports associations and change the way in which the consultative organ with the competent ministry is formed. It also introduces health insurance of the athletes.

[08] CONSTITUTIONAL COURT REJECTED MANY LAWS LAST YEAR

At yesterday's news conference, the president of the Constitutional Court Jovan Proevski announced that the largest number of laws and regulations were rejected last year, since the court started working.

In other terms, that means 128 rejected laws, 56 rejected government regulations, 62 acts from the municipalities and 103 acts from enterprises and other organizations.

[09] CLOSE TO 25,000 WORKERS STOCKHOLDERS

According to the date of the Privatization Agency, by the end of last year, the overall number of privatized enterprises amounted to 600, which were transformed according to various models. Together with the enterprises that received certificates from the Transformation Commission (over 100), and those that submitted documents to start the process, the number of subjects that are in the process of transformation can be rounded off at 1,000.

496 of these issued shares according to the Law on state-owned capital and are privatized to a various degree, while 59 are completely privatized. Their total value is estimated in excess of 60 million DEM, employing more than 10,000 employees- shareholders. Enterprises transformed according to the model - employee buy-out are also included as part of the privatization through employee stocks. So far, 210 enterprises have been transformed this way, totalling the value of 73 million DEM, and employing some 8,000 workers. 110 more enterprises are awaiting transformation according to this model. Enterprises that have applied the model - sale to people who will take over the running of the company, can also be placed in this context. So far, 13 large and medium-sized companies have been privatized this way, and their management teams include more than 6,800 shareholders. The estimated value of the capital is estimated in excess of 200 million DEM.

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