MAK-NEWS 03/11/95 (M.I.L.S.)

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

Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory

CONTENTS

MILS NEWS

Skopje, 03 November 1995

[01] THE BUDGET WILL BE LOWERED FOR 16,6%

The Macedonian Parliament deputies came out on the proposed rebalance of the budget. It will be lowered for 16,6% or 300 million DM. The deputies also adopted the Law on ratification of the Statut of the Council of Europe, the Law on number of judges in appellate courts, and the Law on publishing. The Minister of Finances, Yane Miljovski, stated that the budget is lowered as a result of the low inflation. It was expected that this year's inflation would be 18% but until September it ranged to 3,2%. It is expected that, after all, the annual inflation will be 8%. In the next period it is also expected that the revenues will raise for 20% as the period is the most dynamic in the year.

Minister Miljovski added that the rebalance of the budget is a result of "good condition and positive results in the stabilization". In that sense he stressed that problems in finances are for the first time solved without printing money, but with balancing the expenditures and the revenues.

The deputies complained that the Law was delivered to them a day before the session so they did not have enough time to study it. Some deputies stated that the rebalance will also have negative effects which will lead to not paying incomes, taxes, customs, etc.

The deputies adopted the amendment on raising of finances for international sport.

[02] MEETING BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE TRADE UNION

The Government and the Trade Union of Macedonia had a meeting yesterday on the issue of payment of finances for salaries. Its interruption caused many problems in internship of employees. As Macedonian radio reports, the meeting was held behind closed doors.

[03] MACEDONIAN DELEGATION VISITS ROMANIA

Delegations of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Romania and Macedonia exchanged opinions on the development of the bilateral relations, the cooperation as well as the existing problems in the region. After the talks, Macedonian Under-Secretary, Victor Gaber, and his Romanian colleague, Dimov, signed a protocol on cooperation between the two Ministries. During the visit, the delegation was received by the Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Teodor Maleskanu.

[04] MACEDONIA WILL HOST THE EUROPEAN YOUTH COUNCILS

Macedonian Youth Council will be a host of the conference of the Executive Committee of the European Youth Council.

About 75 delegations of 36 European countries will be present at this conference which is held twice a year. The delegations will have talks on the issues of the relations with the Council of Europe and the EU, the youth policy in the framework of the UN, the policy on emancipation of women. Special attention will be paid to creating of the new European coordination platform which will unify the present ones. At the press conference yesterday, it was said that this organization has an important role in the correspondence with the Council of Europe.

[05] MACEDONIA ASKS FOR SUPPORT OF THE MEDITERRANEAN COUNTRIES

The second Inter parliamentary Conference on Security and Traffic started yesterday in La Valeta, Malta. The Macedonian representative, Parliament deputy Nano Ruzhin reviewed to the situation in Macedonia and the wider region saying that the stability in the Balkans largely depends on the stability of Macedonia. In that respect, said Ruzhin, Macedonia asks for political, economic and diplomatic support from the Mediterranean countries.

[06] MACEDONIA IS A RESPECTABLE CANDIDATE FOR EUROPE

Macedonian Ambassador in Sweden, Tihomir Ilievski, gave a lecture in the oldest Swedish University in Lont, yestreday. He talked at the Department for international political relations on the theme-"Political visions and economic possibilities of the Republic of Macedonia". The lecture was attended by 150 professors, students and experts for the Balkans. Ambassador Ilievski emphasized the European orientation of Macedonia, and its pledge on further cooperation with the EU. During the debate many speakers expressed support to Macedonian efforts in the democratization and concluded that Macedonia is already affirmed as a respectable European partner.

[07] THE INSTRUMENT FOR RATIFICATION WILL BE SOON ADOPTED

At the conference of the Council of Europe in Prague, the Macedonian representative, m-r Elena Andreevska stated that Macedonia will very soon ratify the European Convention on Human Rights.

[08] 'MULTIGROUP' - A CORPORATION OF FORMER SPIES?

'Makpres' reports about the statement of the director of the Bulgarian multinational company 'Multigroup' for Macedonia, Ivo Ianchev, who evaluated the accusations of being involved in the assassination attempt on President Gligorov as not serious saying that this organization does not deal with such activities. According to Ianchev, the problem is that there are forces that cannot accept the development of the Macedonian-Bulgarian relations.

'Multigroup' deals with trade and finances and does not have connection with neither of the political parties in Macedonia, says Ianchev.

[09] WINNERS OF THE AWARD '13 NOEMVRI' HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED

This year's winners of the award '13 Noemvri' have been announced at the session of the Fund for the aforementioned prize. The winners were awarded after the secret voting. In the field of culture, the winner is Dimitar Malidanov for pedagogical and cultural work, and Bairush Miaku for the role "The King Lir".

In the field of health care the prize was awarded to dr. Ivan Daskalov and dr. Tome Tudzarov. In the area of the sports the prize was awarded to Alexandar Malenko, a swimmer. The prize for students was awarded to the Literary Section in the primary school Goce Delcev and Igor Gramatikovski.

The prize is also awarded to foreign citizens for contribution in development of international cooperation. This year's winner is Richard Newhizel, president of the international organization for fraternized cities from Tempi, Arizona.

[10] EXHIBITION OF THE MACEDONIAN FILM PRODUCTION

The 39th London Film Festival which was opened last night, will perform more than 200 movies from all over the world.

This year Macedonia will participate for the first time with the video project of the A1 TV, 'Nep Bordosban'. This festival does not have a competitive character, however the best world movies will participate.

The film of Milcho Mancevski, "Before the Rain", will participate at the 36th international festival in Salonica which will be opened today. The movie will compete with the best world movies from 15 countries. Meanwhile "Before the Rain" was performed in Sarajevo for the first time.

The cartoon "The End" of Delco Mihailov and Tonkica Mitrevska will be performed at the festival in Bilbao, Spain, and the documentary "Berikjet" of Mitko Panovski will compete on the festival 'Mon Amour' in Belgium. The movie has won the best prize at the festival in Ismalia, Egypt.

MILS SUPPLEMENT:

[11] MOULTIGROUP DENIES CONNECTIONS WITH THE ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT

'Moultigroup' is placed in a bright-blue building. The security staff is at the entrance. Above the entrance 'Multigroup' is written with large letters. In the big marble hall, at the information stand, a charming lady gives information and leads the guests. She led the reporter of 'Nova Makedonija' into the meeting hall and offered him a drink. Then she showed him the way to the conference hall. The guest waits for the general secretary of the corporation, Boiko Draganov, the vice president, Nikolai Vlkanov, and the executive director of the 'Balkan' agency, Donco Ivanov.

Q: Mister Draganov, what is your answer to the accusations that your corporation has had connections with the assassination attempt on President Gligorov since some press pointed to 'Multigroup' after the announcement of Minister Frckovski that the attempt was done by a multinational corporation based in a neighboring country? The Greek newspaper 'Thessaloniki' stated that Multigroup was the corporation that Frckovski referred to.

Draganov: As a Bulgarian citizen I am amazed of the insinuation of the Greek press. We concluded that the Greek journalist who had written the statement expressed his own opinion. Our law department will raise charges against those statements as they are dangerous for the business of 'Multigroup' as well as for good relations among Balkan countries. I think that such statements are aimed against the private business in countries where it practically begins. In the name of 'Multigroup', I'd like to protest about the case with President Gligorov.

Q: Mister Draganov, you should have certain information, as a general secretary of the corporation, about the visit of your Vice President, Dimitar Ivanov of Skopje on September 28. As you know, certain analysis point out that the man of the corporation visited Macedonia, prepared the explosive and left Macedonia. The name of your vice president is mentioned; what do you think about that?

Draganov: As a general secretary of the corporation, I always know where my employees are. I assert that M. Ivanov did not visit Macedonia on September 28. M. Ivanov is vice president for regional development. He does not have any engagements in Macedonia. I also assert that nobody from Multigroup could have been connected with the attempt as the corporation does not have such relations.

Q: Multigroup is often mentioned in connections with certain murders of Bulgarian businessmen. What do you think about that?

Draganov: It is usual those who succeed, especially in countries of the new democratic processes, to be denied and accused of many things. There is only one truth: we create something real, something that can be found at the market. It is normal that there are people who are envious and people who work against us. In the process of development we did not pay enough attention to that. We put efforts to make new structures. I claim that we have had no problems with authorities in the countries where 'Multigroup' has its representatives, nor with the Bulgarian authorities.

Q: Mister Vlkanov, what is actually 'Multigroup'?

Vlkanov: 'Multigroup' works in the field of energetic, deployment of energy resources, gas, electro-energy and its production, etc. It also works in the field of metallurgy, electronics, then in the tourism, PTT communications, etc. In those areas, 'Multigroup' has a leading role in Bulgaria and the wider region. Our employees are high educated and professionals.

'Multigroup' a has turnover of 1,5 billion dollars.

'Multigroup' has offices in the U.S., in Washington and New York, in Great Britain, in Germany, in Russia, in Ukraine, in South Africa and China. 'Multigroup' has also offices in Macedonia, in Kavadarci and Skopje, in Greece, in Salonica and in Istanbul, Turkey. In the near future we will open an office in Belgrade, Yugoslavia.

Q: What are your relation with the Republic of Macedonia?

Vlkanov: We started cooperation with Macedonia a long time ago. We give loans to Macedonian state corporations.

'Multigroup' has business relations with leading corporations in Macedonia and leading corporations in the world. We cooperate with 'Gaspromet' from Russia, 'Siemens' and many others. Multigroup was the first to credit loans to 'Fenimak'. At that time there were talks between Macedonian and Bulgarian officials on loans. In 1993 we provided 1 million $ for 'Fenimak'. We also provided technical equipment for the mine in Rzanovo. From 1993 to 1995 'Multigroup' loaned and financed 'Fenimak', founded the Balkan Bank to help business in Macedonia, etc. This year we started to finance the railway Skopje- Deve Bair. We cooperate also with 'Pelagonija', 'Makpetrol' and with 'Makmetal'

Q: Are not those great economic interests a motive for the assassination attempt on President Gligorov?

Draganov: We categorically deny such accusations as we had no difficulties in the business with Macedonia. We will continue our business with the country. Macedonia and Bulgaria will always be neighbors and our people are very close. I again protest on the attempt on President's life and at the same time I would like to express hope that President's condition will soon improve. We condemn the terrorist act.

Vlkanov: We are close to Macedonia. Our people are very close.

Q: 'Multigroup' is often mentioned as a corporation that transforms the political power of the former Bulgarian Communist Party into economic power of the present Socialist Party. Also there are indications that 'Multigroup' was founded by close people of the former dictator Zhivkov.

Draganov: I work in 'Multigroup' from its very beginning. Our corporation does not have anything to do with former high officials and the intelligence services. 'Multigroup' had no connections with the state funds before October 1989. It has 10.000 employees of which three have worked in the former security services.

(end)

mils news 03 November '95