MAK-NEWS 14/02/96 (M.I.C.)

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

Macedonian Information Centre Directory

CONTENTS

SKOPJE, FEBRUARY 14, 1996 (MIC)

[01] KIRO GLIGOROV: "EVERYONE WILL BEAR HIS OWN RESPONSIBILITY"

"I am sorry to say that my appeal to the hitherto partners in the Alliance for Macedonia for holding reasonable discussions and making compromises was interpreted in different ways, such as that I allegedly agree with everything that is being done, that I gave a delayed public statement that I actually do not consent, that the Alliance for Macedonia should be maintained, and so on.

Instead of reaching a constructive outcome, which was my only goal, the agitation was even further intensified, which led to a definite break up of the former partners.

I do not intend to arbitrate this evening, since I am firm in my stance that everyone will bear responsibility for the future activities and events. It is sad that the matters have hit the rock-bottom and that totally contradictory and extreme announcements and statements have been exchanged.

It is exactly for this reason that I would like to avail myself of this opportunity to repeat once again, as the president of all the citizens of the Republic of Macedonia, regardless of their party, religious, or any other affiliation, that I will continue to carry out my function on the base of the program and goals that I stood for during the elections.

This is what I wanted to communicate to you this evening in order to avoid misunderstandings over the origin of these events and over the reason why this action was persistently being directed to an outcome that will finally have to be solved in the Macedonian Parliament.

[02] LIBERAL PARTY: WE DON'T SUPPORT THE PRIME MINISTER AND THE NEW GOVERNMENT

The Liberal Party of Macedonia does not support Branko Crvenkovski as a candidate of the Alliance for Macedonia for setting up a Government, nor his proposal for a new Government and deputy ministers. The MPs from this party will explain the reasons for this kind of stand at the parliamentary session at which the election of a new Government will be discussed.

Yesterday's public announcement of the Republic Committee of the Liberal Party, from its session held on February 12, 1996, says: "At the meeting with the press on Saturday, February 10th, 1996, upon announcing the list of his new Government, Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski misinformed the public about the meeting held with representatives of the Liberal Party. In effect, at this meeting, the president of the Government actually dismissed President Gligorov's appeal for talks between the Liberal Party and SDAM. The reasons for this view were that he had gone too far and that he would not like to return back to the SDAM Central Committee. Thus, the Prime Minister put the blame for the break up of the Alliance for Macedonia on the members of the SDAM Central Committee.

The Republic Committee of the Liberal Party has assessed that the suggested candidates for a new Government and the proposed deputy ministers, except for two or three, did not even take part in the creation of the election platform of the Alliance for Macedonia, not its presentation or promotion in front of the voters. On the contrary, the list has candidates who are bitterly opposed to the platform of the Alliance for Macedonia, and some of them even publicly promoted ideas of recomposing the authorities and the system, contrary to the will of the voters. This is the only way in which the prime minister's refusal to make an analysis of the one-year work of the Government and its ministers, can be explained.

The Republic Committee of the Liberal Party has concluded that, judging by the proposed list of members of the new Government and the proposed deputy ministers, the Prime Minister is promoting a newly-composed platform that is different and contrary to the platform of the Alliance for Macedonia, which was created by President Kiro Gligorov. Therefore, the citizens are rightfully concerned about the future of the country, aware that the Prime Minister is leading them to uncertainty and danger, which is contrary to their orientation at the elections.

The Liberal Party of Macedonia remains consistent in the realization of the platform of the Alliance for Macedonia and fully supports the President of the Republic Kiro Gligorov, as personification of the platform of the Alliance for Macedonia and as a personality who won a confincing support of the voters at the elections in 1994, on the basis of that platform.

In light of the above, the Republic Committee of the Liberal Party has reached the conclusion that it does not support Branko Crvenkovski as a candidate of the Alliance for Macedonia for putting together a Government, his proposal for a new Government and his proposal for deputy minister. These stances will be explained by the MPs of the Liberal Party at the parliamentary session when the election of the new Government and the new deputy ministers will be discussed, the announcmenet of the Republic Committee of the Liberal Party says at the end.

[03] PARLIAMENTARY SESSION SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY 21

The Macedonian Parliament is scheduled to hold its 39th session on February 21. The daily agenda will contain a number of legal projects, including the draft-law on scientific research, the legal proposal on the Macedonian Academy of Arts and Sciences, as well as a number of laws regulating the rights of the participants in the National Liberation War and the Spanish War from 1936 to 1939.

In addition, Parliament will also discuss the proposal for the election of a new Government and the appointment of deputy ministers in the Macedonian Government.

[04] AGREEMENT ON ROAD TRANSPORTATION WITH HUNGARY

A two-day meeting between delegations of the Macedonian and Hungarian ministries of transportation and communications is set to start in Budapest today, to discuss cooperation in the field of road transportation between the two countries. According to Boris Chaushevski, Under Secretary in the Macedonian Ministry of Transport and Communications, who is leading the Macedonian delegation, the text of the draft-agreement on the regulation of road transportation between Macedonia and Hungary is expected to be signed.

This agreement, and the regulation of the relations in the field of road transportation with Hungary, in general, is of exceptional importance for Macedonia, since this country presents a cross-road for Macedonian transporters towards Central and Western Europe, and thus, for the Macedonian economy towards markets in this part of Europe. Before, relations with Hungary in this sphere were regulated mainly on the principles of liberal transport.

[05] JANUARY INFLATION 0.3%

Compared to December, last year, the inflation in January noted a small increase of 0.3%, Makpress reports. According to experts, this is owed to the 4.3% increase in the prices of agricultural products, i.e. the vegetables - 6% and fruits - 1.3%.

In the group food products, price reductions are noticed only with the eggs - 2.8%. The prices of the industrial- food products in January, on the other hand, were 0.7% lower. An increase is noticed with the beverages and industrial-food products, while the services are at the same level as in December, last year.

In a matter of a month, the living expenses rose 0.5%. As to retail prices, as an inflation indicator, compared to January, 1995, they are 5.7% higher.

(END)