MAK-NEWS 06/12/1995 (M.I.L.S)

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

Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory

CONTENTS

MILS NEWS Skopje, 06 December 1995

[01] THE DIALOGUE ON THE NAME ISSUE WILL START DURING THIS MONTH

The Macedonian -Greek dialogue on the differences on the name issue will start during this month. This was stated by UN Spokesman Fred Ekhard after consultations with mediator Cyrus Vance who announced he had received confirmation by the two parties on the negotiations. UN Spokesmen added Cyrus Vance could not precisely determine the date and the rang of representatives of the two countries.

[02] MINISTER CRVENKOVSKI ATTENDS NATO SESSION

The Ministry session of NATO which is taking place in Brussels is attended by Macedonian Foreign Minister Stevo Crvenkovski. Main issues on the agenda are the situation in Bosnia and the coordination of activities for cooperation between NATO and the project 'Partnership for Peace'. Macedonia participates for the first time on such a session.

[03] SOLIDARITY BY WEALTHIER AND MORE POWERFUL

Macedonian Labor Minister, Iliaz Sabriu talked before participants at the XXVI th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent yesterday. Sabriu stated Macedonia is in a very difficult social condition and asked for solidarity by wealthier and more powerful countries. 'Macedonia is aimed toward the European option and transition. Beside that it needs foreign capital which will lower the non-employment that affects nearly 200.000 mostly young people. Macedonia does everything in its power in order to secure the existence of about 250.000 socially endangered people', stated Sabriu. Sabriu also expressed regret that the official documents of the Conference excluded the constitutional name of the country only because it provoked a reaction of the Greek delegation. The Macedonian Foreign Ministry representative, Miomir Ristevski addressed to the participants saying that 'Republic of Macedonia' is the Constitutional name of the country and Macedonia is an equal participant at the Conference, so there was no need of politicization of the Organization.

[04] SWEDISH DELEGATION IN A VISIT OF MACEDONIA

A high Government delegation of the Kingdom of Sweden will have a three-day visit to Macedonia, led by the Minister of Development and Cooperation with East and Central European countries, Pierre Shuri. During the visit the delegation will have many bilateral meetings in the field of politics and economy.

[05] DEVELOPMENT OF RELATIONS THROUGH REGIONAL CONNECTIONS

Yugoslav Trade Minister Gjorgje Shiradovic is cited by A1 TV as saying that custom taxes introduced to Macedonia are in correspondence with the regular custom regime of the state. The reconciled special status of Macedonia is not aim to make things difficult for the country, but to put trade relations in normal order, said Shiradinovic, adding that further development of relations with Macedonia should be based on regional connections.

The new custom policy imposed by the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, as Macedonian TV reports, was done without consulting the federal Governor Avramovic who stated that there may be incidents in interpretation of the 'Program 2' which raises custom taxes to 30 percent. If the policy toward Macedonia is different, then something else is in question, added Avramovic, not explicitly saying what he meant.

[06] SUCCESSION WILL BE BASED ON THE INVESTED

The assets of SFRY will be divided by the newly created states according to the investments of each in the federal state treasury. According to that criteria, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia will receive 36,52%, Croatia 28,49%, Slovenia 16,39%, Bosnia-Herzegovina 13,2% and Macedonia 5,4% of the total assets of the former federation. This was announced in the Zagreb paper 'Vijesnik', according to which total assets of former Yugoslavia amount to 94 billion dollars. Arms are evaluated to 70 billion, finances 20.730 billion, the infrastructure-1.873 billion, real estates 1.220 billion and the rest 284 million dollars. This census was made in the framework of the Peace Conference on Former Yugoslavia based on data of 1990. At the time, foreign currency reserves amounted to 5.500 billion dollars, while real estates abroad were evaluated to 550 million dollars.

[07] INVESTMENTS FOR RETURNEES AND PRIVATE CORPORATIONS

Macedonian Government and 'Almako Banka' arranged a contract of 10 million DM (7 million secured by the Government, and 3 million from 'Almako Banka) which will be used for the realization of projects in the private sector and Macedonian returnees as well as for businessmen in the country. The contract was signed by Macedonian Development Minister Bekhir Zhuta and the director of 'Almako Banka', Metodija Tossevski. Both parties stated that this arrangement is the first step for development of banks activities in supporting profitable projects, which basically contribute to the growth of the Macedonian economy.

[08] A NEW PUBLIC COOPERATION IN THE FIELD OF URBAN PLANNING

Macedonian Government reviewed the proposed Law on Urban Planning which introduces a new public cooperation in this field. It will enable the concentration of the present specialized staff and formation of informative system. The new Law also introduces financing of plan creation which will be secured by rates for public utilities which is paid by owners of newly constructed facilities. The Government also reviewed the proposed Law on Radio Broadcasting which, as it was stated, is based on pluralistic concept in broadcasting of radio and TV programs. The Law also introduces independence, and protection of the rights of personal privacy, freedom in foundation of private radio broadcasting organizations under equal conditions, introducing a system on concessions and respect of international standards. The Government accepted several proposals in the field of the political system, primarily the international activities in arranging agreements with Turkey and Romania in the judicial fields and the joint actions concerning court decisions in criminal maters and extradition of convicts.

[09] EXPORTERS AND THE GOVERNMENT TALKED ON ECONOMY PERSPECTIVES

Managers of export companies and the Government delegation led by Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski had a meeting at the Chamber of Commerce and reviewed the macroeconomics. Economic situation was discused in the light of the newly created conditions after the withdrawal of the Greek embargo and sanctions on Yugoslavia, as well the Yugoslav Decision to impose custom taxes on Macedonia goods. At the meeting, businessmen offered solutions to problems and demanded from the Government to raise the exchange rate of the national currency, to stimulate the exporters, to lower customs for import of raw materials and equipment not produced in Macedonia. They also demanded new conditions for trading in some economy fields. Government's position was elaborated by Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski and Economy Minister Risto Ivanov. Both Ivanov and Crvenkovski stated that the Government will not print money in order to change the exchange rate of the denar. They also stated that Government is ready to negotiate concerning export stimuli, after it reviews the NETO foreign currency income. The Government is ready to talk about the urgent interventions in custom policy taxes, however it asks for cooperation with the Chamber of Commerce, added both Ministers.

The negotiations with the European Union for regulation of relations have already started, and according to the Prime Minister, solution to problems with the neighboring states will be introduced, which will provide for stable conditions in trading. Representatives of the leather and shoes companies stated that production in these fields has lowered for 12 and 27% during the last 10 months, and that the withdrawal of sanctions on Yugoslavia will make things worse. They also stated that competition will not be achieved by lowering salaries of employees (the minimum salary in these fields is 50 DM), but by lowering custom taxes on raw materials. Credits that are granted Macedonia should be aimed for the raise of production, the restoration of the machinery and the maximum use of the present industrial facilities, representatives added.

[10] EXCHANGE RATE OF THE GERMAN MARK DEPENDS ON THE TRADE WITH SERBIA

While examining the turbulences on the foreign exchange rates market during the last few days and raise of the German mark to 28 denars, the A-1 television announced yesterday that, according to "rumours", the reason for this is the liberation from the sanctions of the Macedonian northern neighbouring country. The explanation is, in fact, that during the sanctions were in force, the trade with Serbia was active and it was from there where main income of foreign currency on the Macedonian market came from and which made the denar stable. In changed conditions the trade was stopped and for this reason the foreign currency shortage was immediately felt. The National Bank of Macedonia Governor, Mr. Borko Stanoevski, in his announcement for the A-1 television considering this, stated that the exchange rate of the denar will by no means be changed and it will be firmly positioned on the rate of 27 denars for 1 German mark. The last movements of the German mark are a result of the attempt of some private exchange offices from the local market "Bit Pazar" in Skopje to cause a small monetary stroke, whose aim is to earn from it. According to Stanoevski, there was no interventions with more means from the foreign currency reserves than usual, but in case a need on the market appears the National Bank will intervene with a higher sum of foreign currency to preserve the stability of the national one. According to the daily "Nova Makedonija" which informs on the attitude of more distinguished businessmen, the reason for the raise of the German mark is that the International Monetary Fund has given a green light to the Macedonian government to decrease the denar to help the export business. This information was denied by the government officials.

[11] INTRUDERS IN THE PREMISES OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY

There was an intruding in the premises of the Democratic Party during the weekend, where several things of high value were stolen. Intruders also searched through the party document. According to the statement of the party representatives, it is interesting that many valuable things were left behind, such as computers, telefaxes, telephones (although two TV sets and an electric heater were stolen), but all the drawers were taken out, and the documentation was all over the place, which, according to the estimation, gives a different view on this event.

[12] MILS SUPPLEMENT: The Police Makes the Circle of Suspects Smaller?!

('Vecer', 06 December 1995)

The investigation on the assassination attempt on President Gligorov entered a new, general phase, after the rational police action last Saturday. Several questions arose which will be answered periodically, after everything that was reached by the investigation will be analyzed. Information close to Internal Ministry sources say the aim of the aforementioned police action in some of the Skopje districts was to find the missing chain , i.e. the link between the sand found in the car-bomb 'ami-8' parked in the street Macedonia in the center of Skopje. It is already known that a sack with sand was placed in the vehicle so the explosion would be directed toward the President's car. There is certain evidence that the sand had been taken from the region of Kisela Voda. Namely, some persons were noticed the night before the assassination that loaded sand in sacks from the sand hill in the area. Sacks were loaded in a white car 'Zastava 101'!? The question that is to be answered is who were the people who loaded the sand identical to the specimen from the investigation? The police action was also aimed to reveal the young guy (from 25 to 32 years old) who bought the car at the Skopje automobile fair, and who was later noticed in Kisela Voda. That young man is a suspected of being the one who parked the car-bomb near hotel 'Bristol' in the street Macedonia. There are some indications that the suspect parked the car and hid in or near 'Bristol'. The young man with brown hair is probably disturbed! He has probably come out from the his hiding place. After the assassination attempt the rider of the 'ami 8', the man of the photo fit picture created by German experts and announced immediately after the attempt, has been hiding in Skopje, mostly in Kisela Voda, and then has disappeared!? Before he disappeared, he had been questioned by the police, and there are some witnesses that remember his looks and who helped the experts to create the the photo fit picture. He has disappeared on October 12, which means that nine days after the attempt he had been hiding somewhere in the town with a great risk to be caught. Some information say he had escaped in Canada. The great action last Friday, two months after the attempt on President's life is directly aimed toward the suspect. Police has information that the suspect has returned to Skopje the night before the action, i.e. last Friday, and placed somewhere in Kisela Voda. The police announcement warned citizens not to take any measures in case they meet the suspect, but report as soon as possible on the telephone number 120-120, or in the closest police station, as the man is dangerous. This announcement implies that the suspect is presently in Skopje. It is even assumed that he had come back to organize another diversion. It is not clear whether the man on the photograph is a photo fit picture or an original photograph of the suspect. According to photograph experts, the photograph is a smoothly created photo fit picture.

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mils-news 06 December '95