MAK-NEWS 05/10/95 (M.I.L.S.)

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

Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory

CONTENTS

MILS NEWS

Skopje, 5 October 1995

[01] GLIGOROV STABLE

The condition of the Macedonian President Kiro Gligorov during the night was stable.

All of his major functions were normal, although he is still in intensive care. This was reported today at the official media conference held by the President's medical team at the Medical Clinic in Skopje which has been monitoring the condition of the President.

Professor Jovica Ugrinovski, a leading neurosurgeon and a member of the medical team, told A1 TV: "It is still too soon to provide any optimistic statements. The President's condition is stable, as are his vital functions. However, he is still at the critical stage, and this may continue for days, although I trust that the President will eventually return to his functions."

[02] STOJAN ANDOV INTERIM PRESIDENT

Due to the latest turn of events, President Gligorov will be temporarily unable to fulfill his functions as head of state, and on the basis of article 82, clause 3 of the Macedonian Constitution, the President of the Macedonian Parliament, Stojan Andov, will substitute for President Gligorov as interim or acting head of state. This was announced yesterday by the Cabinet of the President.

According to the Constitution, Stojan Andov will be able to also continue his function as Parliamentary President He will participate in the work of the Parliament, however without the right to vote.

[03] PRESS CONFERENCE OF THE MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS

A press conference was held yesterday in the Ministry for Internal Affairs, the first one following the assassination attempt. "Nova Makedonija" writes that instead of an address by the most senior officers of the Ministry, who were allegedly "busy", the journalists were addressed by the Chief of Staff of the Department for Criminal Procedures, Kiril Stankovski, the Chief of Staff for Security, Blagoja Nikolovski and the Assistant Minister for Internal Affairs, Stojan Trenevski. After reconstructing the entire event, it was stated that all of the evidence obtained will be analyzed by professional teams of MIA, assisted by several foreign experts from the US, Germany and Great Britain. It was also said that the President's security detail is trained only for his personal physical safety, and not for terrorist acts such as the assassination attempt. In answer to the questions, whether police are holding in custody any persons suspected of having made the assassination attempt?; were security procedures properly followed?; where was the security vehicle that should precede the President's car?; and will someone in the MIA bear the responsibility for this?, precise answers were not given. The Ministry advised journalists that President Gligorov was sitting at the front of his vehicle next to his chauffeur due to his own preference, with his bodyguard relegated to the backseat.

The President's car was not armored, according to the Ministry, due to the fact that the State "is unable to afford it". In response to queries as to whether the bombing was preventable, it was stated: "We can not possibly know what is in every vehicle or container that the President's vehicle passes by!"

[04] BEST WISHES FOR A SPEEDY RECOVERY

President Gligorov yesterday received a large number of telephone calls and telegrams, which strongly condemn the terrorist attempt on his life and which provide best wishes for his speedy recovery and continuation of his state functions. Such messages were sent by : UN Secretary-General Boutros Ghali, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the British Prime Minister John Major, a representative of the US State Department, the President of the Republic of Austria, the President of the Republic of Poland, the President of the Swiss Confederation, the President of the Economic and Social Council of France, the Group of Liberals, Democrats and Reformists in the Euro-parliament, the President of the Republic of Croatia Franjo Tudjman, the President of the National Assembly of France, the Holy Synod of the Macedonian Orthodox Church, members of the Macedonian Community of Western Australia, the Association of former Refugee Children from the Aegean Part of Macedonia in Melbourne, Australia, the Macedonian Community Council of Melbourne and Victoria, the Australian-Macedonian Human Rights Committee, the Ilinden Foundation (Australia), the Macedonian Council of Australia, the Macedonian Orthodox Communities of Melbourne, Adelaide, and Geelong, the Canadian Macedonian Human Rights Committee, OMO "Ilinden""- Democratic Association of Bulgaria, Alliance of Macedonian Cultural Associations and the Association of Macedonians and Friends of Macedonia from Split, Croatia and many others.

[05] CRVENKOVSKI ADDRESSES UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Macedonian Foreign Minister, Stevo Crvenkovski, addressed the UN General Assembly two days ago. In his speech, he paid considerable attention to the assassination attempt on President Gligorov, calling this act a treacherous and terrorist one which aimed to destabilize the Republic.

Minister Crvenkovski highlighted the main principles of Macedonian Foreign Policy and the role of the UN and its peace corps in Macedonia.

[06] PAPOULIAS RECEIVES ARSOVSKI

Greek Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias, yesterday received Assistant Macedonian Foreign Minister Ljupco Arsovski.

According to Papoulias, the terrorist act against President Gligorov is also a direct attack on the efforts of both countries made recently to normalize relations and preserve peace and security in the region.

Meanwhile, in Athens talks continued between the delegations of Foreign Ministries of Macedonia and Greece. Several proposals to resolve the border traffic of people and goods were made. They also talked about the establishment and role of the proposed liaison offices in Skopje and Athens which will only function as such until they become embassies. A memorandum of agreement is expected to be signed at the conclusion of the talks.

[07] MONGOLIAN PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION IN SKOPJE

Under-secretary of the Macedonian Foreign Ministry, Victor Gaber, yesterday received a parliamentary delegation of the Republic of Mongolia, which is visiting Macedonia. This is the first official contact at this level since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

[08] DEBATE ON THE FLAG SCHEDULED TODAY

At today's session of the Macedonian Parliament, parliamentarians will debate the proposal for the passing of a law for the flag of the Republic of Macedonia, together with the draft bill. Both legislative proposals received a positive evaluation by the Legislative Commission of the Parliament. Meanwhile, the Commission recommends that the new flag be used immediately. The Commission has also recommended that the Parliament adopt a Law for Ratification of the Interim Accord.

[09] SURVEY BY "DATA PRESS"

A change of the name of the Republic is unacceptable for 79,33% of the citizens of Macedonia, while only 15% of those polled are not against such proposal. In contrast, some 56,33% state that a change of the flag is acceptable; while only 26% are against, and the remainder have no view. These are the results of the survey conducted by the Agency of NIP "Nova Makedonija" - "Data Press" on the basis of a poll of some 1.200 citizens.

[10] THREE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF MILS CELEBRATED

Yesterday, in the presence of representatives of foreign embassies, government and non-government missions in Skopje, as well as many domestic guests, the third anniversary of operation of Macedonian Information and Liaison Service (MILS) was celebrated. In his welcoming remarks, the Chairperson of the Australian-Macedonian Society and Director of the Ilinden Foundation, Mr. Michael Radin, emphasized the significance of the work of this non- governmental information service in respect of the events in Macedonia and beyond, and realization of the rights of Macedonians in the neighboring countries. He pointed out the contribution that MILS has made to the affirmation of the Republic and the empowerment of the Macedonian Diaspora in the process of the independence and further development of Macedonia. Particular emphasis was given to the great support offered the Service by organizations in the Diaspora, and especially the Australian Macedonian and Canadian Macedonian Human Rights Committees. He concluded that the successful work of an independent and objective Information Service was an indispensable part of the development of democratic values and processes in all countries. Guests were entertained by a rendition of traditional folk songs from the Aegean region of Macedonia by the group "Egejski Melos", as well as an exhibition of musical instruments arranged by the artist Branko Bozinovski.

[MILS SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT:

[11] PARLIAMENTARIANS DECIDE ON THE FLAG

[(Vecer, 5 October '95) The Macedonian Parliament is working according to the schedule arranged some 10 days ago. Today the 27th session is scheduled, and in respect of the agenda for this and the next session scheduled for October 9th, when the Interim Accord should be ratified, several parliamentary commissions have given consideration.

The agenda at today's session comprises of only one item, the issuing of a law for the new state flag. The new design of the flag, proposed by parliamentarians who are at the same time its progenitors, will have a red base and a sun in the middle with eight sunrays. The proposal was moved by 93 parliamentarians of all parties represented in the Parliament. The new flag , of which is said that only the style of the sun is altered, was supported yesterday by the parliamentary Commission for the Political System, and was also approved by the Legislative Commission.

According to the regulations for the issuing state symbols, a two-thirds majority will be needed, that is 80 votes. The number of signatures of parliamentary proposers, which exceeds the needed quorum, implies that the new flag should be passed without any difficulties. It is expected that it will be implemented immediately after its adoption.

The Legislative Commission of the Parliament, supported the new proposal for the state flag and the proposal for issuing a law for ratification of the Interim Accord signed between the Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of Greece in New York, October 13.

The Commission stressed that the original number of 86 signatories of has increased to 93. Only one amendment was moved, by the parliamentarian Tomislav Stojanovski, of the DPM Party. He proposed that the base of the flag remain red, and the yellow sun in the middle should have only three sunrays. According to him, such a style symbolizes the Macedonian Diaspora, spreading over three continents.

Standing by his proposals he explained that his proposal does not look like any other existing flag. The majority proposal, he said should not be accepted because it "associates us with the Japanese war flag, now the official flag of the defense forces of Japan". The amendment of Stojanovski, which by the way looks a lot like the flag of his own party, did not get a single vote. Members of the Commission, taking into consideration that some problems may occur when the law passes, that is when to commence displaying the new flag, suggests that the Parliamentary Expert Unit determine the time of the publishing of the law in the "Sluzben Vesnik", so that the law can come in force on the day of its publication. Also, the Commission initiated the issuing of a new law for the use of the flag, because the previous one, dating from 1972, has a lot of imprecise and unexplained matters.

Concluding that the term interim accord instead of the original translation "time of agreement" does not at all change the essence of the document, and that it fully corresponds with the international law, the Commission supported the ratification of the Macedonian-Greek agreement, stressing at the same time that a new law for ratifications in which the rules will be clearly defined is required.

The proposal for issuing a law for ratification of the Interim Accord by a draft-law, was the main subject of discussion at yesterday's session of the Parliamentary Commission for Foreign Affairs. All discussants supported the issuing of this law and recommended to the Parliament that it be passed, and as Ilinka Mitreva, President of the Commission, stressed, the accent was put on the fact on beginning the negotiations, and not on the merits, since this document is a basis for signing other documents with Greece.

The Commission remains in a dilemma, whether this law should be named as a law for a temporary agreement or an accord, as it is in the original, because in spite of the explanations of the Under-secretary in the Foreign Ministry, Victor Gaber, it is a terminological adjustment to our own legal regulations. Parliamentarian, Nikola Popovski, pointed that the Constitution gives a possibility to the Parliament to ratify international arrangements, notes, agreements and other acts, not excluding the accords. It was concluded that this note is going to be submitted to the Legislative Commission, so that the existing dilemma, whether to issue a law for ratification of the agreement or accord with Greece, should be cleared up.

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mils news 5 October'95