MAK-NEWS 16/10/95 (M.I.L.S.)

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

Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory

CONTENTS

MILS NEWS

Skopje, 16 October 1995

[01] THE MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRACTICAL MEASURES SIGNED IN SKOPJE

The delegations of Macedonia and Greece signed the Memorandum for the practical measures of the Interim Accord signed on September 13 in New York.

The negotiations in Skopje lasted four days, two days more than was planned. The last day of negotiations was almost halted as the Greek delegation tried to leave the negotiations. However, after talks with the chief of the American Embassy in Macedonia, Victor Comras, the Greek and the Macedonian negotiations continued and later, the Memorandum was signed.

The daily newspaper Vecher says that the delegations did not solve the question about the name of the Macedonian liaison office in Athens. Greeks insist on the reference FYROM, however according to Vienna Convention, the state has a right to express its constitutional name in its embassies.

The talks will continue in Athens this week. According to Vecher, the problem will be solved by having the sign 'Liaison Office' outside the office, and 'Republic of Macedonia' on the door.

[02] THE GREEK EMBARGO ABOLISHED

The economic embargo that was adopted by the Greek government on February 16 last year has been abolished at Friday midnight. The government in Athens officially announced its decision on the practical realization of the measures from the Interim Accord.

The Greek officials yesterday let in about fifty Macedonian vehicles over the border. It happened after many hours of uncertainty as Macedonian citizens were being sent back even though the decision had already been formally announced. The Greek officials explained that they did not have any directions from their authorities. According to MAKPRESS, the Greek officials issued visas to Macedonian citizens for 5 000 drachmas (31 DM). After entrance to the Greek territory, Macedonian citizens had to remove the signs on the registrations(RM) and the international code MK.

However, the A1 TV reports that today will start the normal transportation of goods and the transportation of oil.

According to the information from A1 TV, the text of the Memorandum will be announced today in Skopje and Athens simultaneously.

[03] TORE BOGH NOTES THE ADMITTANCE OF MACEDONIA IN OSCE

"The admittance of the host country of the OSCE mission in its membership is a result of the Macedonian-Greek agreement signed in New York. There is no doubt that this act will contribute to stabilization of the events in the region" , said the chief of OSCE mission in Macedonia, Tore Bogh, at the press conference last Saturday. Ambassador Bogh stated that Macedonia will play a main role in the region after the acceptance in full membership. The state can now be directly involved in the working groups of the organization which may influence the normalization of the situation in the region.

According to the OSCE announcement from Vienna last Saturday, Macedonia is officially accepted as a full member in this organization. Until now, Macedonia had an observer status. After the admittance of Macedonia, OSCE has 54 members.

[04] JOHN SHALIKASHVILLI VISITS MACEDONIA

Last Friday, General John Shalikashvili was officially visiting Macedonia for a second time. The stay of General Shalikashvili was focused on the future role of the American soldiers in Macedonia and the need of a complete separation of the UNPREDEP from the Command in Zagreb. The visit of Shalikashvilli was presented in the media as "preparing the ground" for the visit of the defense secretary of USA, William Perry, next month.

Shalikashvilli had talks with the Acting President of the Republic and President of the Macedonian Parliament, Stojan Andov, the Prime Minister, Branko Crvenkovski, the Macedonian Defense Minister, Blagoj Handziski, and the Chieff-of-Staff of the Macedonian Army, General Dragoljub Bocinov.

On the press conference held with the Macedonian minister Handziski, Shalikashvilli expressed the mutual satisfaction of the level of cooperation in the defense, mostly realized through the program " Bridge of America". General Shalikashvili expressed the point that UNPREDEP should continue its mission after the completion of its mandate, but as an independent mission. Concerning the acceptance of Macedonia into "Partnership for Peace" the General expressed his full support.

He had a short meeting with the President Gligorov's wife and handed over a letter from President Clinton wishing him a quick recovery.

[05] PRESS CONFERENCE OF THE MACEDONIAN GOVERNMENT

With the measures of the government the debt of the state to the citizens has been lowered by 227 million DM. This was announced at the press conference of the government which was led by the spokesman Gjuner Ismail. He informed the press that the German government allowed a 10 million DM loan to Macedonia that will be used for stimulation of companies of Macedonian origin. Spokesman Ismail also informed the press about the nomination of Alexandar Donchev as a vice minister in the Police in the place of Stanoja Bogev.

Many journalists raised questions about the assassination attempt on President Glighorov, but the spokesman avoided most of it. On the question about the presence of Minister Frchkovski, as he has not appeared in public since the assasination attempt, Ismail answered that all ministers are in their working places and they do their work according to the constitutional obligations.

[06] THE STATE OF HEALTH OF PRESIDENT GLIGOROV- GOOD

The state of health of President Gligorov is good. The high body temperature slowly comes to normal, and the rehabilitation treatment continues with active participation of the President. He has been allowed short walks in the hospital hallways. He eats normally, and the process of recovery continues- says the latest bulletin of the medical team .

[07] HAVE THE ASSASSINATORS SENT WORD ABOUT THE TERRORIST ACT?

During the past couple of days the Macedonian public has been disturbed by speculations that the assassination attempt on President was the third attempt on his life.

According to the information, the first attempt occurred in 1993, the second some time later during the stay of the President in Vienna. The Serbian magazine 'Vreme' claims that Macedonian intelligence services were warned by a foreign intelligence service which found out that an assassination attempt was being prepared for the President.

'Srpska Rec' adds that according to the technology, the assassinators may have connections in the top of the Macedonian police.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs has not officially reacted.

[08] A LETTER OF THE BULGARIAN DEPUTIES TO STOJAN ANDOV

On the initiative of VMRO- Union of Macedonian societies, more than 50 Bulgarian deputies signed the letter to the President of the Macedonian Parliament, Stojan Andov. The letter says that the assassination attempt on Gligorov aims to destabilize the Republic. It happened at the moment when Macedonia is on the way to finally normalize relations with Greece and Yugoslavia.

The letter also implies that Bulgaria has supported and will support the independence of Macedonia and its territorial integrity and sovereignty.' The assassination may be used by those who plan to return Macedonia to Yugoslavia, and those who would lose any hope after the normalization of the relations with the northern neighbor'- the end of the letter says.

MILS SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT:

[09] IS GLIGOROV ALL THEY HAVE?

(Fokus, 13 October 1995)

Ten days passed since the assassination attempt on president Kiro Gligorov and we got through many (un) expected things: first of all the expected irresponsibility of the president's security, the mature reaction of the opposition, and the attentiveness of the Greek officials for the president's destiny and the state he runs. Concerning the contradictory information about the wounds, the public also started to predict the future of Macedonia. That's, however, the main question: What's going to happen with us after this assassination?

The atmosphere after the assassination attempt near the hotel Bristol, admitting it or not, beside condemning the act itself also produced a bit of bitterness as many people, acting as detectives, pointed at the possible assassinator.

Surprising was the statement of M. Krste Crvenkovski who "found out" that the act was done by the "nephews" of Ivan Mihailov, and he pointed out to those who prepared the ground for the assassination: the irresponsible statements on many protests, tribunes, the Macedonian yellow press.

Shortly after 'Nova Makedonija' "elaborated" the arguments and concluded that the opposition irresponsibly accuses the political opponents so that many mentally unstable persons take it seriously. Finally the thesis was completed by Minister Stevo Crvenkovski who explained that those who called for the awakening of Macedonians in many ways are not real Macedonians.

When we hear such things we ask ourselves what happened to liberalism which caused many problems in the past to the people mentioned above. How responsible, without investigation, is the 'mihailovism' that immediately points out the eastern neighbor? Is there any sense of accusing the poor "mentally ill"? What can we say about those who judge whether someone is Macedonian or not? We need to ask ourselves just the following: are the "judges" those who condemned the people who divided Macedonians into "great" and "small"?

The next cause for bitterness is the immoderateness which is one of our basic characteristics. Too many metaphors, compliments, sympathies for the hardly wounded president cause unrest. We get an impression that the president has got at least 98,4% of the votes in the last elections. The rest, of course, are not Macedonians but freaks who commit treason...

According to the facts, the election results are not so high; on the contrary they are very unconvincing. We ask ourselves, who needs the mystery of the relations between the president and the public? Of course in the mean time, voters could find out their mistake and change their political choice. Could not the government congratulate the opposition for condemning the assassination as a method of political fighting instead of creating some national cohesive point about Gligorov when everybody knows the differences between the government and the opposition?

The mystery results in the question whether we deserve Gligorov. Everything ends up with the peace and the historical role of the President in the context of its opposite: war, destruction and devastation. And what's more, we get to the question: what are we going to do without him?

Another contradiction: have we not entered into the history of mature nations, don't we follow his way? Why do we fear the future when only a small number of "feebleminded" do not understand that the best is already done?! Are not the Epigoni those who will destroy the real value by making grounds for dependence on one man, one leader... As the former "dilettantes in their own surrounding"! Does Crvenkovski by citing Gligorov express respect to the President or is Gligorov all they have in the political fight with the opposition? Is the lack of moderation a result of the fear of being" all alone"? The answer to these dilemmas will depend on the result of the political fight about the assassination which seems to intensify. The fight between the subjects will very much affect public opinion.

The final result for the responsibility for the assassination will be known after some future elections.

Then we can say whether the public accepted the responsibility of the opposition or it will point to the government as responsible and incapable to protect the citizen as it is not capable to protect its "greatest investment".

(to be continued)