MILS NEWS 27/12/95

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

Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory

CONTENTS

MILS NEWS

Skopje, 27 December 1995

[01] GLIGOROV MET WITH A DELEGATION OF PDP

Delegation of the Party of Democratic Prosperity (PDP), led by its President Abdurahman Aliti met yesterday with Macedonian President Kiro Gligorov and informed him about their opinion on the current political situation in Macedonia, as well as of their political activities in the period after the assassination attempt till now. 'Makpress' reports that Aliti emphasized the problems in the functioning of the Government and the problems referring the university education of the Albanians in Macedonia. Gligorov informed the delegation on the planned political activities in future, emphasizing the need of mutual understanding of all political parties and expressed his readiness of personal engagement in solving the problems.

[02] YEAR OF CHALLENGES AND DRAMATIC MOMENTS

On the traditional New Year's reception of the journalist accredited in Macedonian Parliament, President of the Parliament Stojan Andov estimated this year as one of challenges and dramatic moments, when important long-term decisions both for Macedonia and the region were brought in the Parliament. The following year will also be a challenging one, but also a year of peace and further strengthening of the democracy, added Andov, appealing to journalists to keep their criticizing attitude in future.

President of the Macedonian Trade Unions, Zivko Tolevski, also met with the media representatives yesterday and emphasized this was a very difficult year on the social plan, adding that many unsolved issues will be a priority in the next year's activities. Achieved agreement with the Government on the minimum labour price was estimated by Tolevski of the highest priority, and the fact that 160 000 workers in Macedonia have already become shareholders was emphasized as a big success.

[03] HELP FOR PRESERVING THE ENVIRONMENT

Institute for Sustainable Communities, will contribute 50 000 US dollars to ecology projects in the Macedonia, reported the Institute representative on a press conference yesterday. The Institute is conducting Democratic Cooperation Program financed by the US National Democratic Institute for International Affairs which is realized in 11 countries in Central and Eastern Europe. The Macedonian Program is concentrated on preserving the environment, including educational, technical and financial help.

Projects of eight ecological associations from Struga, Titov Veles, Valandovo, Radovish and Skopje, as well as three non- governmental associations will be given financial support.

Macedonia will receive about 300 000 US dollars for this purpose in the following three years.

[04] AIRCRAFT TRAFFIC CONTROL RADAR INSTOLED

The first primary radar for aircraft traffic and lines control was instoled near 'Skopje Airport' yesterday. The usage of this radar means establishing the Antiaircraft Defense System of Macedonia, as well as sovereignty of the air space.

This is in accordance with the Central European Regional Aircraft Initiative which includes forming a mutual civil- military control and preserving of the aircraft lines and traffic.

[05] THE AGENCY WILL TRANSFORM ALMOST 200 ENTERPRISES

Agency for Privatization agreed on its session yesterday the following enterprises to be privatized: 'HEK Jugohrom' from Jegunovce, Tobacco Company 'Blagoj Despotovski - Shovelj AD Skopje', 'Interpromet' from Tetovo, 'Zito - Bitola' from Bitola, 'Mavrovo', 'Pelagonija' and 'Granit' from Skopje, 'Fustelarko' from Bitola and 'Hartija' from Kochani. The Agency will take over the privatization procedures of almost 200 enterprises which did not bring autonomous decisions for transformations till the dead line,10 December 1995.

[06] UNPAID PENSIONS WILL BE GIVEN DURING THE NEXT YEAR

Administration Board of the Pensions Fund of Macedonia informed that, in comparison with the anticipated expenditures, 360 million denars less income will be realized during the next year, which are planned to be recompensed with a loan from the national budget. The Board concluded there are no possibilities to shorten the current subsequent payment period of the pensions. The Fund plans on intensifying the activities on fees payment evidence, in accordance with which legal procedures will be raised against the employers who will pay the salaries and avoid to pay the pension fees.

[07] ONE - FIGURE INFLATION

The inflation in Macedonia is anticipated to be less than 10 percent in 1995. For the next year 6 percent inflation and a national budget of 43 billion denars are planned, was informed on yesterday's press conference in Macedonian Government. Decisions on keeping the prices of the flour, oil derivatives, electricity, internal PTT services and public services till 30 June 1996 were also adopted.

Macedonian Finance Minister Jane Miljoski emphasized: 'We have managed to stabilize the denar to a one-figure inflation this year, which has not happened in decades. We have managed to keep the exchange rate of 27 denars for one German Mark for another year, which we intend to do next year also, no matter the various forecasts. Significant steps forward were made in the privatization process, highly estimated by the international institutions. Many political problems have been solved, especially the relations with Greece, which should positively influence the economy.'

According to Miljoski, next year's priorities will be to decrease the inflation, to enlarge foreign currency reserves, to lessen the expenditures for some social programs (by completing the privatization processes of 25 enterprises with greatest losses), and to increase the unemployment social programs expenses in certain areas. The Government announced that Laws on Denationalization, Public Enterprises, Customs Taxes and Administration will be brought. 70 percent of the Budget will be spent on the police, courts, defense, health care and education, and a strategy will be created according to which the citizens will have to learn to solve their social problems individually.

[08] STRIKES IN THE WHOLE REPUBLIC

Despite their salaries for October were paid, workers of clothing factory 'Palanchanka', carpets factory 'Vera Jocic', the dismissed workers of clothing factory 'Karposh', the mine 'Toranica' and the working unit 'Oprema' continued their strike in front of the Town Council building in Kriva Palanka. The explanation of the Town Council President that their requests and rights should be realized in accordance with the legal norms, workers kept insisting on payments of their beneficiary internships, on retirement of the workers with 25 years internship and on equal treatment of disabled workers by the Pensions Fund. Workers expressed their support to the hunger strikers in Kumanovo and decided to continue their protest until their requests are fulfilled.

Workers from the trade company 'Ilinden' from Vinica, who have been on strike for 60 days already, met with their customers and agreed on seizing further investment in former trade objects until the Court brings the final decision. The workers continued the strike after the meeting.

There were also strikes in front of the factories 'Frigomak' in Negotino and 'Prima' in Kochani.

The workers of the clothing factory 'Edtko' in Tetovo, stopped the strike initiated by their dissatisfaction from the management, low salaries and irregular payments.

The hunger strikers in Kumanovo refused further visits of medical teams, and announced the strike will continue during the New Year's holidays.

President of Macedonian Labour Unions, on a journalist's question whether he intends to visit hunger strikers in Kumanovo, answered that he initiated such a meeting ten days ago, but they refused any contact with the Unions.

[09] DARK AIMS ENDANGERING PEACE AND SECURITY IN MACEDONIA

President of the Cultural and Scientific Association of Macedonian Muslims, Namik Arslanovski severely criticized the policy of PDP and Democratic Party of Turks, blaming they are using Islam as means to realize their 'dark aims' endangering peace and security of Macedonia. He pointed out extinguishing Macedonian mother tongue as one of those aims in the villages Bachishta, Dolno Kolichani and Debarska Zupa, where children are forced to learn in Albanian and Turkish. The Association accused PDP for constant anti- Macedonian actions outside the country by spreading lies about the position of Albanians in Macedonia, qualifying the pressure of 'Tetovo University' as pure militarism. A democratic census in Albania would show there are 200 000 Macedonians in that country, and not only 5 000 as presented officially. The need for Macedonia to defend and protect ethnic Macedonians in Albania from assimilation, as Albania does for Albanians in Macedonia, was also emphasized.

[10] MORAL VICTORY OF VMRO - DP

Leader of VMRO - Democratic Party, Vladimir Golubovski, evaluated the results from the first voting round in the electoral unit 114 a moral victory of his party. He supported this with the fact that, unlike other parties, VMRO - DP had a candidate only of his party, adding that the elections may be considered fair.

[11] PETITION OF A GROUP OF MACEDONIAN WRITERS

A group of Macedonian writers submitted a petition to the Council of Writers Association, asking for a new voting session, because of their dissatisfaction from the situation in the Association, accusing it of inadequate representing of the writers' rights, and of being too passive. They claimed that the Association, instead of protecting the interests of all its members, is engaged only in protecting private interests of its current President Jovan Pavlovski, who has transformed the premises of the Association in his own private office.

MILS SUPPLEMENT:

[12] Macedonian Business Resource Center (Part I)

The Macedonian Business Resource Center has been established to help private Macedonian businesses improve their financial management, operations and marketing, and to enhance their ability to raise capital and attract joint venture partners. The goal is to provide managers the resources they need to make their companies viable and competitive in challenging new market conditions.

The Center is partially supported by the US. Government through its Agency for International Development (USAID) and is managed by Crimson Capital, a leading provider of investment banking and management consulting services to companies in Central and Eastern Europe. Crimson Capital has assisted in raising over $5 billion USD of foreign investment for these companies.

Management teams fully committed to improving their operations, products and services, and taking advantage of new opportunities for growth are invited to contact the Center. Access to some level of assistance, whether it be direct advice, resources such as tools and templates, training, or referrals will be provided to as many applicants as possible.

What does the Center provide?

The Center will focus on five main areas:

1. Financial Management, Reporting and Control
2. Operational and Managerial Improvements
3. Marketing & Sales
4. Strategic Partnership, Joint Ventures and Capital Raising
5. Development of Businesses in the Agribusiness Sector

Through its international network, the Center will also provide support in establishing contacts with foreign investors and strategic partners.

Within the five areas of focus, the Center aims to meet certain objectives with each company through the provision of tailored programs:

1. Financial Management, Reporting and Control

   This program focuses management of those factors and approaches which will help it improve cash flow, understand and control all financial aspects of its businesses, establish quantitative decision making processes, and plan for the future.

   Programs include:

   • enterprise viability analysis
   • cash flow analysis and management
   • financial restructuring and negotiations with creditors, suppliers, and shareholders
   • financial management controls
   • cost accounting
   • cost reduction and expenditure deferral
   • financial performance parameters
   • management training
2. Operational and Managerial Improvements

   This program provides management with guidance regarding the implementation of operational and managerial improvements to enhance its business.

   Programs include:

   • corporate organization
   • management
   • product quality and quality control (TQM & ISO 9 000)
   • training and personnel management
   • production efficiency
   • inventory control
   • upgrading technologies
   • customer service
3. Marketing

   This program focuses on analysis of the competitive marketplace, developing or modifying products to meet the market needs, creating a strategy for capturing new markets, and the implementation of the long term marketing plan.

   Programs include:

   • competitive market analysis
   • "strength assessment" of company's abilities in technology, product design, and manufacturing
   • market-driven product development and design
   • strategies for sales, marketing and public relations
   • distribution and services
   • identifying export markets and trade partners

(to be continued)

(end)

mils news 27 December '95