MAK-NEWS 11/09/95 (M.I.L.S.)

From: "M.I.L.S." <mils@ITL.MK>

Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory

CONTENTS

MILS NEWS

Skopje, 11 September, 1995

[01] A ROAD TO PEACE, DEMOCRACY AND CITIZEN'S SOCIETY

Macedonian citizens celebrated 8th of September, "Referendum Day" with various activities. To celebrate the 4 years of independence of Macedonia, Parliamentary President Stojan Andov gave a reception. Macedonian President Kiro Gligorov, Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski, parliamentarians now included in the Parliament and former parliamentarians, members of the Government and others attended . President Andov in his speech stressed that the decision for an independent Macedonia determined the fate of these regions for ever, and that in 1991 chose a road to peace, democracy and civil society in the state. Talking about the relations with Greece, Andov said that it is a demonstration of the power of the Macedonian policy of equidistant. " We expect our attitude and readiness for compromise to be evaluated rightfully by the other partner and that any attempts for international games should be avoided. We are a serious partner, and we expect the same of the other side. Also we do expect the initiative by the American side and UN mediation to be used for making long term arrangements and arrangements of the relations in the Balkans in a way which will enable us to employ European principles in the relations between the nations and states, and with these principles, all conflicts and hates which burden this century and bring misfortune to the people here will be overcome" said Andov.

[02] THE NAME ISSUE WILL BE DISCUSSED LATER

Greek Prime Minister Andreas Papandreu stated last Friday that during the talks which will be held next week in New York, Greece will not discuss the name issue of the Former Yugoslav Republic Macedonia. " This time we will talk about the small package", he stressed adding that the name issue demands more effort and time. His attitude was clear that his government will not recognize the neighboring country under the name Republic of Macedonia or any other name which will have the word Macedonia. When asked about the embargo and its lifting right after the signment of the agreement , according to A1 TV, he stated : "I'm not informed about that. It the first time that I hear about this. Unless the embargo be eliminated, we are coming home and will not continue with the talks".

Leader of the Party Nea Democratia, Miltiadis Evert, severely attacked the Government for its way of solving the issue of FYROM, particularly regarding the name issue. "After endless irresponsibility and recklessness, the Government begins with UN mediation, a direct dialogue with Skopje for solving the issue, without confronting the issue of the name which is the major aspect of this great problem", explained Evert, demanding the Greek Government to retreat for the good of the Greek people.

Meantime, Greek Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias and his Macedonian counterpart Stevo Crvenkovski will have the firs direct talks in New York at the beginning of this week. It is expected that a day after the talks a "temporary agreement" written in English, limited to 5 pages, and valid for 7 hears will be signed. The agreement will not mention the name of the states, that is it will be named as sides of the agreement. Nova Makedonija cites sources from New York that different opinions for the name issue will be left for further negotiations after the implementation of the temporary agreement, that is after 30 days. The US Ambassador in Athens, Thomas Niles stated that the UN dialogue will create conditions for solving the problems between the two countries and that an agreement will be reached including the name issue, but that Washington has neither responsibility nor right to suggest any kind of solution for the name.

Meantime, the Greek Committee for a Dialogue between the citizens in the Balkans and Macedonian Civil Committee for Greek-Macedonian dialogue and understanding adopted several days ago a mutual statement with which they expressed their satisfaction for the determination of the two governments to reach an agreement.

[03] SCANDALOUS BULGARIAN ADDRESS TO MACEDONIAN PEOPLE

On the occasion of the 8th September, Macedonian "Referendum Day", a group of Bulgarian politicians, social workers and intellectuals, mainly of the opposition parties, addressed the Macedonian people. The address, actually a declaration, as Nova Makedonija reports, was published by the magazine Democratia, and it contains certain aspirations regarding Macedonia and the Macedonian people. Three issues are key, which represent the tone and also the intention of its compilers. " We are sincerely sorry, brothers and sisters that besides losing lots of dear victims, various Bulgarian governments failed to bring you the wanted freedom and union, and that statesman used for Communist International, have pushed away the national ideas that have separated us for decades. While understanding that every hostility is unknown to us, and that every danger for Republic of Macedonia is a general danger for the peace and stability in our countries, we express our readiness to protect freedom and democracy in the case that sometime it will be asked by Macedonian state institutions. Knowing about your current difficulties, we will work for such changes in the Bulgarian legislature which will ensure to all citizens of RM. a right for free work, pension and handicap security, education and property of territory of Bulgaria."

[04] CHANGE OF THE CONSTITUTION AND FLAG - UNACCEPTABLE

-Macedonian Orthodox Church Community in Australia sent a letter to the Macedonian higher officials and Macedonian Head of the Church where they most severely protest against the change of part of the Constitution and flag of Republic of Macedonia.

-The Association for Protection of the Human Rights of the Macedonians Discriminated by the Republic of Greece with its office in Bitola considers that : "Having in mind all situations in the Balkans and the well-known denial towards our existence by Greece, we consider that forthcoming negotiations and arrangements between the Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of Greece are the only possible way for mutual understanding and recognition. There must not be talk of the flag and constitution in the so called 'small package', without solving the mutual recognition of the two countries under their constitutional name. The declarations in the constitution are also a guarantee for a concern of the RM. for the rights of Macedonians in the neighboring countries. Therefore in these first negotiations with Greece, there must be discussed the issue of the rights of our brothers and sisters in the Aegean part of Macedonia in Greece."

-The Association "Dostoinstvo" points that the so called 'Greek-Macedonian dispute' was imposed by Greece onto Macedonia primarily to eliminate the return of Macedonians, exiled during World War II to their native places, and also to exclude them from their ownership and other rights. Only complete expression of Macedonian national identity will result in the constituency of the Macedonian state and nation in front of international community.

[05] KOSOVA VISITING MACEDONIA

Starting today, the Commandant of General Staff of Albanian Army, Colonel Seme Kosova, will be officially visiting Macedonia. During the visit, Kosova will have talks with General Chief of Staff of ARM, General Colonel Dragoljub Bocinov, Defense Minister Blagoj Handziski and will visit several barracks in Macedonia. According to Albanian sources, the theme of these talks is the development of the situation in the Balkans and the region.

[06] JAPANESE PARLIAMENTARIANS VISITING MACEDONIA

A Delegation of the Commission of Foreign Policy of the Parliament of Japan is staying for several days in Macedonia. The delegation met with Macedonian Foreign Minister Stevo Crvenkovski, and they discussed the bilateral relations of the two countries. They expressed mutual satisfaction of the current state of the cooperation, The guests were informed about the current political and security situation in the republic and region. The Japanese parliamentarians met with the Macedonian Parliament Commission of Foreign Policy where they discussed the political and economic situation in Macedonia, relations with Greece, and Macedonian standing regarding the solution of the Yugoslav crisis.

The delegation was received by Macedonian President Kiro Gligorov. The talks were attended by Japanese Ambassador in Macedonia Sujossi Kurokava. The delegation was also received by Macedonian Parliament President Stojan Andov. After the talks, the President of the Japanese delegation, Asahiko Mikara, gave a statement in which he stressed the readiness of Japan to aid Macedonia.

[07] MACEDONIAN DEBT TO W.B. IS FULFILLED

The outstanding financial debt of Macedonia for 1995, which amounts to about 600 million $, is covered with additional bilateral and multilateral aid, said the Director General of the World Bank Department for Eastern and Central Asia, Rachel Lomaks. It is evaluated that Macedonia has made great progress in the economic reforms in spite of extremely difficult foreign conditions, and there are indicators that the foreign debt of Macedonia for next year will also be covered, having the great support of bilateral donators and multilateral institutions.

[08] A SEMINAR IN BERLIN FOR MACEDONIA

Two hundred diplomats, politicians and reporters, among which representatives of Embassies of Germany in US, Poland, Slovak, Czech, Italy, Great Britain, France, Indonesia, China, Slovene, Sweden and others, were in Berlin last Friday for a seminar for Macedonia honoring the holiday 8th September. The Introductory speaker was Macedonian Ambassador in Germany, Srgjan Kjerim, who talked on the topic ' Republic of Macedonia, on its way to Europe" . This seminar was held for a second time and was organized by the Macedonian Club "Goce Delchev". with a large donation of the well-known German journalist and Macedonian lobbyist, Mattheas Dornfild. The event helped to introduce the German public to the truth about Macedonia,

[09] PDP EXPLAINS THE LETTER ADDRESSED TO CLINTON

The central leadership of PDP, with Abdurahman Aliti as its leader, replied in the newspaper Flaka e Vazerimit the following explanation with regard to the reactions of the public to the letter of the Albanian Parties of Macedonia addressed to the US President Bill Clinton: "Regarding the fact that we communicate with a foreign statesman about the name FYROM, we were clear about which country it is about, since it is known that Republic of Macedonia is in UN and international circles known under that name." As for the used term Slavo-Macedonians, Aliti explained that "In the US the idea of one state, one nation, is applied. Everyone in America is American. In the letter to Clinton, it is emphasized that it is only about one portion of the citizens of Macedonia. If we used the term Macedonians in the letter, one can get an impression that it is about all citizens of Macedonia. In the press we often meet the term 'Macedonians-Albanians' and only as a match to this would it be logical to use "Macedonian's Macedonian" says Aliti. In the remarks about the demands for a global solution of the Macedonian issue, Aliti emphasized that in the letter this is not demanded, but that in the letter it is talked that Albanians in Macedonia, Kosovo and Monte Negro, have similar problems. As examples, Aliti cited instances of challenging Albanian people's citizenship, right of Albanians for opening University, use of Albanian language as official, and presence of Albanians in the state administrative. At the end Aliti said that PDP will stand for realization of these efforts with the goal of improving the quality of life in Macedonia, and not to changing its borders.

Meantime, today Nova Makedonija, cites the opinion of Dzerail Idrizi, leader of the Democratic Alliance Albanians - Liberal Party, which is not in agreement with the position of the name FYROM, and Macedonian people as Slavo- Macedonians, because it implies an attaque to the existence of Republic of Macedonia as an independent state. He thinks that part of this letter could be understood as a demand for national union of all Albanians in one state.

[10] COOPERATION ON HUMANITARIAN PLAN

Vice-President of City Hall of Krushevo, Ivan Andreevski, yesterday received a delegation of the Alliance of the Communities of Switzerland lead by Secretary General Mrs. Shumaher. The purpose of the cooperation is to give humanitarian aid and cooperation in culture, sport, health department, tourism etc. while Krushevo will become a partner of the Alliance of Communities of Switzerland.

[11] 10 000 DRUG ADDICTS IN MACEDONIA

At the Seminar against Drugs, which finished yesterday in Ohrid, it was said that since the year 1990 in Republic of Macedonia, 347 kg heroine and 70 kg unrefined opium are confiscated. According to the police evidence, Nova Makedonija cites that the police have registered 1,100 serious drug addicts, of which over 70 % are in Skopje. The entire number of addicts in Macedonia is estimated to be about 10 000 people.

MILS SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT:

[12] MACEDONIAN SCOUT ORGANIZATION ACTION PROGRAM AS PART OF THE GLOBAL ACTION: CLEAN UP THE WORLD

1. 15.09.1995 cleaning the yards of public enterprises, schools, universities,, kindergartens and other since Friday is a working day.

2. 16.09.1995 cleaning of the infastuctural points (parks, river banks ...)

3. 16.09.1995 cleaning of the coast of lake Dojran. That will be done by over 150 scouts and citizens from the region.

3. 16,09.1995 Skopje, a great rock concert at the Square.

4. 17.09.1995 cleaning of the Square, and at 17 p.m. Press Conference for the achieved results in the activity.

Clean up the world is a community participation event where citizens are encouraged to do something positive for their environment by helping to clean up the litter pollution in their local area. The event has come about as a result of the success of clean-ups which have been held all around the world and which have been organized or assisted, in the main, by Organizing Committees.

Clean up the World Pty Limited (CUW), in conjunction with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), is "creating" the event by encouraging people to form Organising Committees and hold clean-ups in their local area. The event relies upon the Organising Committees (OCs) having full responsibility for the organization, conduct and promotion of their local cean-up activities.

(end)

mils news, 11 September '95