MAK-NEWS 18/12/95 (M.I.L.S.)

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

Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory

CONTENTS

MILS NEWS

Skopje,18 December 1995

[01] DIFFERENCES ABOUT THE NAME PRESENTED IN NEW YORK

Macedonian Ambassador Ivan Toshevski and Greek UN Ambassador Hristos Zaharakis, met in the UN headquarters in New York last Saturday discusscusing the differences between Macedonia and Greece regarding the name issue. This was reported, as 'Nova Makedonija' informs, by the Greek media, estimating the atmosphere on the meeting as a positive and a 'very encouraging' one, as both sides expressed their awareness that the problem with the name should be solved as soon as possible. On the meeting that lasted four and a half hours, according to Greek papers, many ideas about this 'most difficult' problem were expressed. After reporting to both Governments more detailed estimations and decisions are expected. Cyrus Vance after the meeting informed the press that the meeting was 'exceptionally interesting' and that many similar meetings are expected to take place between both parties after Christmas holidays. Unofficialy Athens media say that the next meeting is scheduled for 11 and 12 January 96.

[02] DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS SOON OFFICIAL

On the Europe Union summit, which was held during the weekend in Madrid, the leaders of the member countries greeted the establishing of close relations between Macedonia and the Union. It was also asked from the Ministers Council to give a green light for the start of negotiations on the Agreement for Cooperation and Trade with Macedonia before the end of this year. A high official of the Union informed the Macedonian Radio that the Agreement is expected to include the so called 'evolutionary steps' and that the diplomatic relations between EU and Macedonia might become official soon.

Meanwhile the heads of the member countries and governments of the EU adopted a Declaration which demands from the former Yugoslav republics to recognize each other as soon as possible.

[03] CREDITS FOR THE SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

Macedonian Government and four Macedonian banks (Stopanska Banka, Makedonska Banka, Almako Banka and Export - Import Banka) signed a contract with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in London last Friday for several credit lines of 30 million DM, intended for financing the programs of small and medium enterprises in Macedonia. The credit should be returned in five years, with 18 months grace period.

[04] WE ARE NOT REVOKING OUR CONTINUITY

'We are not denying the continuity that Serbia has as a member of former SFRYugoslavia, but we can not even think of resigning our own continuity from the former country.' This was stated by Macedonian Premiere Branko Crvenkovski in his interview for the national radio last Friday. He further estimated that it is clear that only one question remains open in the mutual recognition - establishing the mutual relations between Republic of Macedonia and FR Yugoslavia.

'As the mutual recognition issue was not solved till the beginning of Paris Conference, I decided not to attend it. Macedonia was represented there by the Foreign Affairs Minister Stevo Crvenkovski. It was of great importance for me, as a Premiere of a state which is an equal successor, this to be verified through the process of international recognition between us and our Northern neighbour, which would complete the process of the mutual relations. Any kind of federation or association are unacceptable for us, as, firstly, we do not want them, and secondly, we do not want to restrain ourselves from building the relationships with others in that way.' - said Macedonian Premiere about his not attending the Paris Conference. He also commented on the politics of equally expressed will for good relations with Macedonian neighbours, most often called equi-distance. 'I must say that I can not understand the criticism of this political attitude as being a defensive one. I consider it a very active one, which means that we have neither interest nor wish to have in advance defined negative attitude towards any of our neighbouring countries. But it also means that none of our neighbours will be given in advance an exclusive right in Macedonia.'

Reffering to current relations of the coalition parties in the Government, he estimated: 'I have still not managed to identify any alternative concept presented by the Liberal Party which would be rather different from the concept of the Social Democratic Alliance of Macedonia(SDSM). I find it necessary that all participants in the Government coalition re-examine their intentions and influences, but also to accept mutual responsibility for the happenings. One can not participate in the Government without being responsible for its functioning. Finally, somebody concluded that such a cooperation can not continue, that the Coalition is not a locked room and anyone can leave it at any time.' -concluded the Premiere.

[05] THE NAME IS NOT NEGOTIABLE

Secretary of the Social Democratic Alliance of Macedonia (SDSM) Ljubomir Popovski, in his interview for today's 'Vecer', on the name issue said: 'I can emphasize that SDSM had, since the very beginning of the disputes with Greece, a very determined attitude. It is that all open issues will be discussed, in the frames of the UN mediating mission, except for the name of our country. We have tried to include this attitude in the actions of all our representatives in the executive and legal administration. Therefore, it is acceptable to discuss the differences about this issue, but it is not acceptable to negotiate about changing the name.'

[06] HELP FROM THE DIASPORA

The representatives of the schools from Mala Prespa, Albania, were given packages with school materials and clothes by the representatives of the Emigrants Institute of Macedonia, sent by Macedonian emigrants in USA. The help was collected through the Macedonian - American Foundation from Detroit (USA).

[07] MACEDONIAN ELECTRIC COMPANY FIRES 400 WORKERS

'Makpress' agency reports that Macedonian Electric Company plans to fire 400 workers, which will be proclaimed a 'technological suffice'. This is a part of the program for restructuring the firms with greatest losses, which should be carried out till the end of this year. In the contacts with the international finance and other institutions, 2000 employees were estimated as sufficient.

[08] CELEBRATED THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE 'TETOVO UNIVERSITY'

The First Anniversary of the so-called 'Tetovo University' was celebrated in the premises of the University Library in Mala Recica (near Tetovo) last Saturday. Many professors, students, guests from Skopje, Gostivar, Kumanovo, Kichevo, Debar, Struga, etc., attended the celebration. According to Macedonian Television, the celebration started with the Albanian anthem, and the President of the Town Council of Tetovo Shakir Aliti, congratulated the Anniversary of the 'Albanian language University' to the professors and students in the name of the Town Councils of Debar, Tetovo and Gostivar. Rector of the University, Fadil Sulejmani, informed the guests that there are six faculties with 18 departments, 1300 regular students, and 150 professors, 123 of which are Ph.D. and MA degrees holders. Macedonian Television informed that present people were mostly excited by the presence of the Minister of Culture of Macedonia Eshtref Aliju.

Macedonian members of the Town Council of Tetovo, after the celebrity criticized the speech of their President Shakir Aliti, emphasizing that he does not represent all the members of this Council and the attitude of all members.

They also asked from the Government to take actions against such non-institutional actions.

Democratic Party of Macedonia expressed its revolt and bitterness because of the celebrity, emphasizing that this should be discussed by the Macedonian Parliament as soon as possible.

'Makfax' agency informed from Tirana that the Albanian electronic media reported that 'the Albanian political subject will leave the Parliament and the Government, unless the 'Tetovo University' is institutionalized and unless usage of the Albanian language in the Macedonian Parliament is allowed'. Albanian media also reported that this was explained by the pressure upon the voters for the Albanian parties.

MILS SUPPLEMENT

[09] OPENING THE 'KOSOVO' QUESTION

('Nova Makedonija', 18 December 1995)

After Dayton and Paris conferences, official Tirana has intensified its activities regarding solving the 'Kosovo' question by including the international organization representatives as mediators. Kosovo is again commented in the media and spoke about by the politicians. Have Dayton and Paris woke up the hope?

A week ago, Albanian President Sali Berisha, on the occasion of the anniversary of the Democratic Party of Albania, said that politics of his country will never seize the activities about solving the national question of the Albanians outside Albania. After Dayton, he said, we believe that positive climacy for solving the question of Kosovo will be made, including the rights of the Albanians and one satisfactory solution for Kosovo in accordance with all the international legislation and norms.

In his greeting the signing of the Agreement by the Presidents of Bosnia, Serbia and Croatia, he appealed to the international community regarding the question of Kosovo. He estimated that the rest of the problems on the Balkans should be solved, and pointed out the crisis on Kosovo as the most acute one.

The day before Paris Agreement was signed, Albanian President of the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Commission Eduard Selami, estimated that Dayton was not a barrier in solving the problem of Kosovo, although Kosovo was not on the Agenda. I do not agree, said Selami, with the attitudes that nothing on Dayton Conference was dicussed about Kosovo and that the need of solving this problem was not realized. He also emphasized that Kosovo will remain in the center of the Albanian politics.

It is almost certain that Selami's statement was mostly intended for the internal needs, as part of the opposition had expressed its revolt by the Albanian politics considering the pressure on the international organization.

The Right Wing, made of the Republican Party, The Party of Legacy, Balikobtar and four other political associations submitted a declaration to the Parliament and to the Government in which they express their wish for an independent and free Kosovo. It is also emphasized that a different attitude is unreasonable, for which somebody would be responsible in the eyes of the people and the history.

The need for the rights of the Albanians in other former Yugoslav republics, where they have been living in centuries, to be respected was also emphasized.

Albania media regularly inform about the political activities of the head of the Albanians on Kosovo, Ibrahim Rugova, about his meetings and discussions with diplomats and politicians from the West European countries and USA.

They are reported completely and without any comment.

The Albanian press usually refrains from comments. This time, the Albanian paper 'Lajmi i dites' of the public press agency ATA commented on the Paris Conference. Besides the satisfaction from the Agreement and the expressed hope that it will bring peace to the people, it also points out that unless the question of Kosovo is solved, there will be no peace on the Balkans. The crisis on Kosovo should be solved in accordance with the wish and striving of the Albanians that have been living on Kosovo with centuries, it was said.

In case the question of Kosovo is not solved as soon as possible, the paper concluded, the problems could grow and explode with a force much bigger than in the other critical Balkan regions, and bring to much bigger consequences not only for the Balkans, but for Europe, as well.

The independent paper 'Koha Jone' also commented on the Paris Conference. This comment informs in details about the Conference, warns about the problem of Kosovo, and points out that mutual recognition of Serbia and Macedonia is of great importance for the peace on the Balkans.

(mils news 18 December 1995)

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