MAK-NEWS 17/11/95 (M.I.L.S.)

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

Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory

CONTENTS

MILS NEWS

Skopje, 17 November 1995

[01] MANDATE FOR THE TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN EU AND MACEDONIA

The European Commissioner, Hans van den Broek, was given a mandate to prepare the draft agreement for trade and cooperation between the EU and Macedonia. As A1 TV reports, it is expected that the draft will be announced today, and will be adopted at the meeting of the EU Foreign ministers in Brussels next Monday.

[02] MACEDONIAN RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY THE UN

As Macedonian TV reports, the Macedonian proposed resolution on development of good relations between the Balkan countries was adopted unanimously by the UN Political Committee. The proposal was previously supported by other Balkan countries, EU members and other European countries.

[03] WILLIAM PERRY WILL VISIT MACEDONIA ON 23 NOVEMBER

US Defense Secretary William Perry will visit several European countries starting from Saturday. The announcement of the US Defense Department says that Perry will first visit the three Baltic countries, then he will visit Copenhagen (Denmark) and finally Macedonia on 23 November.

[04] ECHOES ON MACEDONIAN ADMITTANCE IN 'PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE'

Radio 'Free Europe' evaluated the admittance of Macedonia in 'Partnership for Peace' as an important step toward the strengthening of the international status of the country.

The radio also stated that Macedonia in a short period had become a member of OSCE, the Council of Europe, and will soon start dialogue with the EU on the agreement for trade and cooperation. It was stressed that Macedonian Army fulfills the standards.

All Bulgarian newspapers have reported about the Macedonian admittance in 'Partnership for Peace'. The daily 'Demokratija' rephrased the speech of Macedonian Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski who stated that 'Macedonia is strongly aimed to join international security organizations.

Bulgarian media, according to the Macedonian TV, reported that Macedonia is accepted under the temporal reference FYROM, while the Prime Minister signed the document with the constitutional name.

Bulgarian press also referred to Macedonian-Greek negotiation on the name, pointing out that the dialogue is yet to start.

Albanian media have announced the information about the admittance of Macedonia, however there were no comments about it. Albanian officials have also remained silent.

Serbian media reported about the event in the major papers, yet it did not report official statements. 'Politika' says that Skopje may now apply for NATO, and it referred to the speech of Crvenkovski who stated that there is a certain danger of creating ethnic countries on religious ground. The independent 'Nasa Borba' stated that the acceptance of Macedonia in 'Partnership for Peace' means a contribution to the stability of the whole region.

[05] MACEDONIA AIMS TO COMPLETELY ASSOCIATE WITH EUROPE

Macedonian Parliament President, Stojan Andov, and Foreign minister Stevo Crvenkovski, received the OSCE delegation led by Istvan Szabo, Istvan Gyarmati and Mihail Tot from the Hungarian Foreign Ministry, Lorenzo Andvert and Jean Francois from the Swiss foreign Ministry. Guests expressed satisfaction on the Macedonian policy saying that Macedonia is aimed to fully integrate in EU institutions and establishing good relations with neighbors. Andov stated that Macedonian policy is completely independent from events in former Yugoslavia.

[06] FIRST MACEDONIA AMBASSADOR IN VATICAN

Pope John Paul II received yesterday the credentials of the first Macedonian Ambassador in Vatican, Dimitar Mircev.

During the ceremonial speech, Ambassador Mircev stated Macedonia is a birthplace of the great Apostles, St. Cyril and Methodious who had spread Christianity, literacy and European values among Slavonic people. Macedonian policy is aimed to peace, understanding and dialogue, said Mircev, stressing that Christians, Moslems and other religious communities in Macedonia respect those values.

The Pope expressed gratitude and reminded of President Glogorov's speech during his last visit to Vatican. "The civil sphere of a state as well as representatives from different religions bare the same responsibility for peace and understanding among people." The Pope also expressed wishes for a quick and full recovery of President Gligorov and his soon return to duties.

[07] MACEDONIAN-GERMAN RELATIONS ARE CONTINUOUSLY DEVELOPING

Macedonian Parliament President, Stojan Andov and the President of the German Parliament Commission of Foreign Affairs, Karl-Heinz Hornhues agreed that relations between the two countries are continuously developing with a full respect and cooperation. Hornhues was introduced with the economic and the political situation of the country and the region. Both Hornhues and Andov stated that there was a need of closer contacts between the Macedonian and German Parliaments.

Hornhues was also received by Prime Minister Crvenkovski.

[08] INVESTMENTS IN THE HYDRO POTENTIALITY OF THE COUNTRY

Macedonian Prime Minister, Branko Crvenkovski received yesterday a delegation of the largest Finnish corporation for production of electricity, 'IVO'. They reviewed possibilities of investment in Macedonian hydro potential sources and the most interesting idea was the 'Vardar Valley' project. Crvenkovski stated Macedonia was opened for any kind of foreign investment for the benefit of both investors and users.

[09] A SUPPORT FROM THE GREEK RED CROSS

Macedonian and Greek Red Cross representatives on a meeting yesterday in Skopje discused the bilateral relation and the forthcoming General Assembly of the International Federation of Red Cross.

It was agreed that a cooperation between the two organizations may be achieved through closer cooperation and communication among the Community organization of both countries. Greek Red Cross announced it will give active support to the Macedonian one through mutual programs.

The Greek delegation was also received by the Labor and Social Affairs Minister, Iliaz Sabriu who expressed his expectation for support by the Greek delegation of the forthcoming admittance of Macedonian Red Cross in the International Red Cross Organization, at the General Assembly in Geneva next week.

[10] MACEDONIAN-CROATIAN COOPERATION IN VETERINARY MEDICINE

A delegation of the Croatian Ministry of Agriculture led by Minister Matej Jankovic is in a two-day visit of Macedonia.

The delegation had meetings with representatives of the Veterinarian Institute of Macedonia. Both parties expressed the need of resuming cooperation in education. The Croatian delegation also visited the meet-packing industry 'Gorni Polog' in Gostivar and reviewed possibilities of Macedonian export of lamb in Croatia as there is a great interest at the Croatian market.

Today, both Ministries will sign an agreement for cooperation between both countries in the field of veterinary medicine.

[11] MACEDONIAN GREEN CARDS ARE VALID FOR THE EU MEMBERS STARTING FROM TODAY

Macedonian National Insurance Company announced that its green card for vehicle insurance will be valid for all EU member states starting from today.

The green card will be issued at 'AD ZOIL Makedonija' and 'AD Vardar' and users may exchange the former green cards that were not valid for the EU member states.

[12] THE TRANSFORMATION IS ORGANIZATIONAL RATHER THAN FINANCIAL, IVANOV SAYS

Forty days before the expiring of the deadline for companies with financial losses, Economy Minister Risto Ivanov announced companies with losses may start their privatization in the beginning of next year.

At the press conference yesterday, Minister Ivanov stated the Government has decided to privatize 76 organization units in 23 corporations. 31 organization units will be observed by 20th December while 8 will go bankrupt.

The project has started on 17 January when Government defined the obligations of 23 corporations with financial losses by means of paying debts amounting to 52 billion denars. According to Ivanov, the problem was being resolved by paying off 13.900 employees, yet there are other 1.860 to paid off.

According to the planned 40 million dollars should have been used for the capital turnover, yet only 30 million were used, stated Ivanov.

Minister Ivanov also referred to problems in realization of the Law on corporation as well as the business results in the first 6 month of the year, saying that 41 organization units gain profits while 74 have financial losses. He pointed out that much more work was done in organizational rather than financial transformation. The Government has accepted the plan on paying off debts and stated there are real possibilities that companies' debts will be privatized by 31st December.

Considering the privatization and foreign investments in Macedonia, Macedonian TV informed that about 4 million dollars have been invested so far.

Meantime, Prime Minister Crvenkovski had a meeting yesterday with representatives of Macedonian National Bank and the State Custom Department behind closed doors. According to the Chamber of Commerce President, Dusan Petrevski, delegations had talks on the economic policy measures in the process of privatization, the controlling of finances, searching for new foreign markets, etc. All businessmen paid great attention to the problem of transportation costs, saying that transportation is too expensive even after the opening of the southern border.

[13] AN ANNOUNCEMENT BY MINISTER FRCKOVSKI

The Minister of Internal Affairs, Ljubomir Frckovski, addressed to the press with an announcement about the recent accusations considering the assassination attempt on President Gligorov. Namely, Frckovski was accused of braking the Law since the Internal Ministry led the investigation, not the investigatory judge. Frckovski denies the accusations saying that the investigation has been led by the investigatory judge from the very beginning. All additional measures of the Ministry were approved by the judge, the Minister said.

[14] METROPOLITAN PETAR WILL BE ARCHPRIEST IN THE AUSTRALIAN EPARCHY

The Holy Archpriest Synod of the Macedonian Orthodox Church assigned Metropolitan Petar for a new Archpriest in the Australian Eparchy who is presently leading the Prespa- Pelagonian Eparchy. Macedonian TV reports that the new archpriest will be based in Australia which means that he takes over the whole jurisdiction of the Macedonian Orthodox Church in Australia.

[15] TRADE UNION WILL SUE THE GOVERNMENT

If the Government abolishes travel and food financial substitutes, the Trade Union will organize a general strike.

This was announced by the Trade Union President, Atze Yankulovski, who also stated that Government must not cut budget funds by abolishing financial holiday substitutes for employees. The budget may only be balanced by obeying Law procedures, which means it can be regulated with tax and custom policy measures. According to Yankulovski this was agreed by the Government and the Trade Union. If the Government does not obey the agreed, trade Union will sue it.

The Trade Union stated that salaries must raise according to the raise of inflation, and by the end of the year the Government will have to determine the lowest possible salary.

In conclusion the Union informed all employees with suspended internship for 1994 and 1995 that both Government and Union agreed to provide finances for pension insurance by the state budget.

[16] PETRE PRLICKO HAS PASSED AWAY

The distinguished Macedonian actor and director, Petre Prlicko, passed away yesterday in his 88 year of age. He was born in 1907 in Veles and was a member of the first generation of Macedonian theatrical and film workers.

(end)

mils news 17 November '95