MAK-NEWS 11/12/95 (M.I.L.S.)

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

Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory

CONTENTS

MILS NEWS

Skopje, 11 December, 1995

[01] GREEK MEDIA PRESENTS THE OPTION FOR A TRIPLE NAME

The Mediator in the Macedonian- Greek talks, Cyrus Vance, had a meeting with the Greek Ambassador in the UN, Hristos Zaharakis last Thursday. 'Makfaks' citing the Athens News Agency says Cyrus Vance had consultations with representatives of Athens and Skopje concerning the resuming talks on the name issue, however the starting date has not been announced. According to the paper 'Katimerini', referring to diplomatic information, talks will be held on a higher technical, not a ministerial level, and according to some estimations, they will last long. The same information are pessimistic on the outcome of the negotiations since none of the parties have changed their position on the issue. In case the negotiations fail, Mediator Vance will return his mandate and propose a complex name, says 'Katimerini', adding that the name will become an international reference for the country, while Skopje and Athens will remain on their primmer positions. In that case the name of the country will be triple, one for international use, and two for internal use in Greece and Macedonia.

Meantime, as 'Nova Makedonija' reports, Greek representatives of the Trade Union and producers of Nea Mudania from Halkidiki had meetings with Macedonian representatives and businessmen at the Macedonian Chamber of Commerce. Both sides stressed there was a great interest for cooperation which will start to become evident after the Liaison Offices in Skopje and Athens are opened.

The Publishing House 'Prosvetno Delo' from Skopje signed an agreement for cooperation with the Greek Publishing House 'G.P Publication' and agreed to publish joint coproduction publications in the area of English studies.

[02] CRVENKOVSKI MEETS DECHARET

Macedonian Foreign Minister, Stevo Crvenkovski had a meeting with the French Foreign Minister, Erve Decharet at the London Conference for the implementation of the peace agreement in Bosnia. They talked on the future cooperation between Macedonia and the EU, and in that framework, the cooperation between France and Macedonia.

They also talked on the implementation of the peace treaty in Bosnia and the forthcoming peace conference in Paris, announced Macedonian Foreign Ministry.

[03] THE VOICE OF MACEDONIANS IN GREECE IS MORE AUTHORITATIVE ON THE INTERNATIONAL SCENE

Pavlos Voskopoulos, the administrative member of the political party of Macedonians in Greece, 'Rainbow, and a member of the Macedonian movement for Balkan prosperity stated that he had meetings with high representatives of the European institutions for human rights, especially with Simon Vail, a former President of the European Parliament.

Voskopulous had an interview for the program 'Macedonian Voice' in Perth, Australia, and stated that 'Rainbow' and the Macedonian movement for Balkan prosperity are becoming more and more authoritative on the international scene concerning requests for the right of Macedonians in Greece.

They demand to have a right for their national language and culture in Greece.

[04] TENDENTIOUS TREATMENT OF BULGARIA

Bulgaria is deeply concerned of the more frequent signs of pressure on persons in Macedonia who openly express their Bulgarian self-determination, which is especially present after the assassination attempt on the president Gligorov.

This, as 'Makpress' informs, was stated by the Bulgarian foreign minister, Ivan Hristov. Hristov further emphasized that the Bulgarian ministry will ask for an official information from Skopje about the imprisonment of Dimitar Crnomarov from Bitola and Vladimir Paunovski from Ohrid, as well as for other cases 'when people of Bulgarian self- determination were kept for days without being officially accused'.

[05] THE MACEDONIAN DEBT TO SWITZERLAND REPROGRAMMED

The Macedonian debt to Switzerland of 21,7 millions Swiss francs was, in the frames of the Parisian creditor's club, reprogrammed with the Agreement that was signed by the representatives of the Macedonian and Swiss governments in Bern last Friday. The debt was reprogrammed according to the conditions established by the Parisian creditor's club, with payment term of 15 years, grace period of 6 years and an annual interest rate of 5,75 %. The Macedonian representatives also discussed with their Swiss colleagues about the help Switzerland would possibly approve to support the balance of payments of the Republic of Macedonia.

[06] THE REALIZATION OF THE 'BRINDIZI' CORRIDOR ACCELERATED

A delegation of the Macedonian Ministry of Transport and Connections?? paid a visit to Albania for two days, during which it was agreed with the Albanian representatives that concrete measures should be taken to eliminate some problems and defects in the transport area, as well as that an agreement between the two states about the road traffic should be signed. They have also agreed that both sides will issue five thousand bilateral transit licenses per side on a reciprocal base, and that the realization of the 'Brindizi' corridor (Bari - Dracc - Skopje - Burgas - Istanbul) should be quickened. A meeting of the ministry representatives of the five countries through which the corridor passes will be organized in Skopje for the above cited reason.

[07] COMPLETE SWEDISH SUPPORT TO MACEDONIA

A Swedish delegation led by the minister of development and co-operation with Middle and Eastern Europe countries, Pierre Shuri, paid a three days visit to Macedonia. The Macedonian ambassador in Sweden, Tihomir Ilievski estimated the visit as a completely successful one and one of the most important in the political and economical contacts between the two countries so far. The Swiss representatives were, as the ambassador Ilievski emphasized, informed about the complete potentials of the Macedonian economy during the visit, especially about the legal favorable conditions for foreign investments in Macedonia. Greatest attention was paid to the objects in the infrastructure , such as the East - West corridor, the hidro systems 'Lisiche', 'Koziak', 'Chebren', 'Zletovica', the 'Vardarska Dolina' project and the gassification, as well as the projects for preserving the environment of the Macedonian lakes. The Swiss representatives were also informed about the products from the food and textile industry and about the services of civil engineering and tourism, which could be interesting for the Swedish market.

Minister Shuri, in his statement for 'Vecer', emphasized that Sweden is ready to support the processes of stabilization of the Macedonian economy, the efforts for maintaining peace and stability in the country and the region, and especially in the further admitting of Macedonia in the European integration, to the final aim - admitting in the EU.

[08] REGIONAL SAFETY SYMPOSIUM

On the fifth annual International symposium, held in Athens on the 8th and 9th of this month on the subject 'Regional safety and its role in the International organizations on the Balkans and the Mediterranean', among about 150 delegates of the countries members of NATO and 'Partnership for Peace', the Macedonian delegation also took part led by the MP Nano Ruzzin. Nano Ruzzin spoke on the symposium about the safety and co-operation on the Balkans.

[09] FALL OF THE PRODUCTION AND GROWTH OF THE UNEMPLOYMENT

The November salaries in the Macedonian production sector compared to the October ones can be raised for 1,9 %, while in the non-production sector no increasements can be made.

The average salary in Macedonia in September was 8. 760 denars, a little higher than in August, when it was 8. 739 denars. The consumer's basket cost 9.348 denars in October and was more expensive than the September one for 1,8 %. The number of the employed people till September this year was 353.741, which is 10,6 % less than the last year's average.

The number of the unemployed in August was 222. 804, which is 19.8 % higher than the average in 1994 of 185. 906 persons. More than one fifth, i.e. 21,6 % of the employees have not received one, two or more salaries in September.

These researches showed that the industrial production in Macedonia decreased for 12,2 % compared to the same period last year.

These facts were broadcast by the 'Macedonian Television' yesterday, informing about the research of the Republic Bureau of Statistics, in which the standard of the Macedonian citizens and the situation in the Macedonian economy is presented with figures.

[10] 'SECRET MEETINGS' IN BELGRADE DEMANDED

The recent information presented in the Macedonian media about the alleged meeting between the representatives of the Macedonian government and the Chamber of Commerce with the representatives of the Yugoslavian government and Chamber in Belgrade on 6 December, was demanded during the weekend by the Chamber of Commerce of Macedonia. It was estimated that it was only one of many manipulations about the international activities of the Chamber of Commerce of Macedonia. It was also stated that no delegation nor representatives, neither separately nor included in some other delegation, had stayed in Belgrade and had any contacts there. 'Vecer' informs that representatives of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce asked for abolishing the customs regulations towards Macedonia, emphasizing that 'previous conditions of trade' with Macedonia should be kept. 'Thanks to the Macedonian understanding, all the goods that were in transit can be 'pulled out' through the border till 15 December, and after that everything will depend on the wisdom of the Federal government', is said in the request of the Serbian Chamber sent to the Yugoslav government.

[11] PRAISING THE PATRON ST. KLIMENT OHRIDSKI

Macedonian orthodox church has completed praising its patron St. Kliment Ohridski on Friday with solemn religious services and other festivities, held in all the main churches of the eparchies.

Most festively was in the churches and temples that bear the saint's name, and the Macedonian Church organized the central celebrations in the 'Synod Archbishop's Temple' in Skopje and in the church 'St. Mother of God' in Ohrid, where the saint relics of the Ohrid's diviner are.

The celebrating included other festivities, such as the religious academy in the 'St. Spas' church in Skopje, as well as the monograph 'Archbishop Ohrid's and Macedonian Dositei' by Done Ilievski. In the Celebrate Hall of the Macedonian parliament the 'Kliment Ohridski' award for distinguished achievements in culture, education and health care was given. This high award was this year given to the actor Senko Velinov, the writer d-r Vasil Tocinovski and the composer Blagoja Canev, as well as to the Macedonian Medical Association from Skopje and the Public and University Library 'Kliment Ohridski' from Skopje.

MILS SUPPLEMENT:

[12] 'Stabilized Borders and a Long Lasting Peace Interview with Mr. Blagoj Handziski, Minister of Defence of Republic of Macedonia (Part one)

(Nova Makedonija, 09 December, 1995)

Two extremely significant issues, which concern our country both directly and indirectly, have happened in a condensed period of time. The first one is the admittance of Macedonia in the 'Partnership for Peace' programme, with which Macedonian defense and security have been qualitatively situated. The second one is the peace agreement in Dayton between the three war sides in Bosnia and Herzegovina, by which the inevitable process of peaceful way of solving the crisis on the Balkans was started, with far-reaching repercussions for achieving stability in the whole region.

The acceptance in the NATO programme is only a small part in the complete Macedonian international promotion, which followed after the agreement with Greece in September, at the same time being a big step in the internal relaxation in the question of security and safety. This was the occasion for having an interview with Macedonian minister of defense, d-r Blagoj Handziski.

- In the presentation document, on the occasion of our acceptance in the 'Partnership for Peace', it is stated that Macedonia will create a defense system according to its possibilities, but proportional one to the countries with similar characteristics. What does this more precisely mean?

* The most suitable answer to this question would be to remind ourselves to the rights and obligations with which each country acquires itself by entering this Programme. To put it in other words, countries which are ready to guarantee the transparency of the processes of planning and budgeting the national defense, to maintain democratic civil control of military forces, to keep a part of the military force ready to take part in international operations lead by the UN and OSCE, to develop co-operative relationships with NATO for joined planning, training and maneuvering, i.e. for strengthening their capability to take over duties in the field of maintaing the peace and, finally, to develop forces capable of taking part in joint operations with the NATO forces to a long term, are asked to enter the 'Partnership'.

Republic of Macedonia, with overtaking these rights, acquires the following rights: to use technical and other information from NATO needed for intercommunication with its military forces for all kinds of planning and development; to continually research and inform about an eventual direct threat upon country's own territorial integrity, independence and safety; to open an office in the NATO headquarters in Brussels and to represent our country in the co-ordination office in Mons, for co-ordination of joint activities. Next following is the help in planning the defense, development of the system of democratic control of military forces and creating an annual Individual programme for joint activities, through which our military forces will be developed and made capable of taking part in the multinational training, as well as maneuvers and operations in co-action with the forces of the Alliance.

- Which part of our military has the priority in the eventual equipping with weapons and other military equipment and also what would be the benefit of our country on this plan with joining the 'Partnership for Peace'?

* It is clearly seen from I have said before that, from the membership in 'Partnership for Peace' a concrete help in equipping and modernization of our military forces does not come out directly.

As far as the part of the question considering our future equipping, I would like to remind you that last year the Ministry has made a complete programme for dynamic equipping of the armed forces with modern materially- technical weapons. Our army is equipped with modern infantry arms and with weapons for an effective antitank and antiaircraft defense on small and medium distances. We had no possibility to equip our military forces during the last two years because of the embargo. Now, with the embargo being lifted, and in the frames of the resources that will be established with the budget for the next year, our armed forces will be equipped with these weapons and with modern communication technics, compatible with the one of the members of the Alliance.

(to be continued)

(end)

Mils News, 11 December, 1995