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MILS NEWS 11/04/96From: "M.I.L.S." <mils@MILS.SPIC.ORG.MK>Macedonian Information Liaison Service DirectoryCONTENTS[01] GLIGOROV IN CROATIA TOMORROW[02] IMPORTANCE OF UNPREDEP PRESENCE IN MACEDONIA STRESSED[03] SIMITIS - 'MACEDONIAN-GREEK RELATIONS ARE IMPROVING'[04] WORKING ON MACEDONIAN-GREEK PARLIAMENTARY COOPERATION[05] NO CONDITIONS FOR THE EU INTEGRATION PROCESS[06] NEGOTIATIONS ON BUYING CZECH AIRPLANES FOR MACEDONIA[07] MACEDONIAN INDEPENDENCE CONNECTED WITH THE STATUS OF KOSOVO[08] SITUATIONS IN THE REGION IN THE LIGHT OF BELGRADE ACCORD[09] 76 SQUARE KM AT THE BORDER WITH FRY DISPUTABLE[10] INFORMING THE BULGARIAN POLITICIANS ON BELGRADE ACCORD[11] THE ROAD FOR BELGRADE TO BE RECOGNISED BY EU OPENED[12] LIBERALS - SUCCESSION PART UNFAVOURABLE FOR MACEDONIA[13] LJUPCHO GEORGIEVSKI - 'THE PROBLEM IS IN THE EMOTIONAL TIES TO YUGOSLAVIA'[14] INDEPENDENT MACEDONIA WITH A CLOSE ECONOMY COOPERATION WITH FRY[15] CHECKING THE SIGNATURES FOR A REFERENDUM[16] BEATEN BECAUSE OF INTERCEDING FOR TOLERANCEMILS SUPPLEMENT[17] US Mission Chief in Skopje Comments on Greek-Macedonian IssuesMILS NEWSSkopje, 11 April 1996[01] GLIGOROV IN CROATIA TOMORROWMacedonian media informed yesterday that President Kiro Gligorov , accepting the invitation of the Croatian President Franjo Tudjman, will pay a one-day visit to Croatia tomorrow. The Presidents are expected to discuss the situation in the region and the improvement of the bilateral cooperation. Also President Gligorov will talk in front of the Croatian Parliament.[02] IMPORTANCE OF UNPREDEP PRESENCE IN MACEDONIA STRESSEDIn the talks the US Senate delegation, led by Senator Thomas Dashli, had with President Gligorov, they were informed on the current political and economy situation in Macedonia, as well as on the foreign policy priorities. In the context of the security situation in the wider region, the Macedonian President emphasised the importance of the presence of the US military contingent in UNPREDEP forces. He also thanked for the US support to Macedonia in its development so far.The US delegation talked to Macedonian Premier Branko Crvenkovski, as well, when the presence of UNPREDEP in Macedonia had showed the advantages of the preventive mission of these forces and their contribution to the maintaining of peace and stability in the country and the region. [03] SIMITIS - 'MACEDONIAN-GREEK RELATIONS ARE IMPROVING'At the meeting with US President Bill Clinton in Washington DC, Greek Premier Simitis said the relations between his country and Macedonia were improving, Macedonian media reports. President Clinton, according to the information from Washington, greeted the efforts Greece have made to solve the problems in the Balkans in a positive way.After the meeting, reported 'Makfax' agency, Simitis said that Athens intended to fulfill all the obligations of the New York Interim Accord. When asked about the negotiations on the name issue, Simitis said there was still no concrete results, as it was a process still going on. According to 'Makpress' agency, the name dispute was not discussed at the meeting, but the US stand is, as Victor Comras had said for the Greek agency 'ANA' the day before yesterday, that both sides should solve it by a direct dialogue. It was a possible announcement of the possibility for Cyrus Vance to return his mediating mandate. However, the results from the next Macedonian-Greek talks round, scheduled for Monday in New York, are being waited for. [04] WORKING ON MACEDONIAN-GREEK PARLIAMENTARY COOPERATIONDuring yesterday's talks of the Greek Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamandis and the head of the Macedonian Liaison Office in Athens Ljupcho Arsovski, the bilateral relations were estimated to be gradually developing, and a mutual desire to improve the economy cooperation was expressed.Macedonian media reported that the Macedonian proposal to start parliamentary contacts and cooperation was evaluated as a great opportunity to exchange experiences and to act together in the international organisations and associations. Ljupcho Arsovski extended an invitation to Kaklamandis to visit the Macedonian Parliament. 'ABNA' agency informed that the issue of normalisation of the FRY - Macedonia relations had not been raised during the meeting. Kaklamandis told reporters afterwards that he agreed with the government's stand that Belgrade's action was an unfriendly act toward Greece, adding however, that it was expected by Greece. [05] NO CONDITIONS FOR THE EU INTEGRATION PROCESSAfter the meeting with his Swedish counterpart Lena Jen Valen in Stockholm yesterday, and in the frameworks of the two-days visit to Sweden, Macedonian Foreign Minister Ljubomir Frchkovski for Macedonian Radio said that they had talked about the aspects of the negotiations on Macedonia's integration in the EU. Frchkovski had presented the Macedonian disagreement with the ideas of conditioning the EU integration process by a regional cooperation amongst the former Yugoslav republics, adding that Macedonia would try to establish an independent position on the further development of its relations with the Union. Swedish side, according to Macedonian Foreign Minister, was understanding and promised to support the Macedonian stands.Frchkovski also talked to the Swedish Minister of International Cooperation Pierre Shuri about the relations of Macedonia with its neighbours. [06] NEGOTIATIONS ON BUYING CZECH AIRPLANES FOR MACEDONIAMacedonian Defense Minister Blagoj Hanjiski talked to his Czech counterpart Vilem Hollan in Prague yesterday about the bilateral cooperation in the area of defense and in the framework of the 'Partnership for Peace' Programme.According to A-1 Television, Hanjiski showed interest in buying Czech military equipment, especially training airplanes, as well as military and transport ones, which was the reason for his visit to the 'Aerovodohod' factory that makes military airplanes. As 'Makpress' agency informed, the Czech airplanes are much cheaper than those made in USA, Russia and France. [07] MACEDONIAN INDEPENDENCE CONNECTED WITH THE STATUS OF KOSOVOIndependent Macedonia is necessary for the stability of southern Balkans, but Macedonia will preserve its independence only if the status of Kosovo is solved appropriately, reads the project of the Foreign Policy Council, a non-governmental US organisation seated in Washington DC. 'Makpress' reported the information of Radio Tirana, according to which the Council appeals to the EU to support the talks between the Albanian President Sali Berisha, Macedonian President Kiro Gligorov and the leader of the Kosovo Albanians Ibrahim Rugova. The goal would be to check whether an agreement could be reached regarding Kosovo, in coordination with the USA. The project also suggests for certain reforms in Macedonia, such as widening the possibilities in the field of the Albanians' education in Macedonia, including the 'Tetovo university' as a private education institution, then changes in the electoral system, etc.[08] SITUATIONS IN THE REGION IN THE LIGHT OF BELGRADE ACCORDMacedonian Parliament President Tito Petkovski and German Ambassador to Macedonia Claus Schramaer yesterday talked on the political situation in the Republic and the relations with its neighbours in the light of the mutual recognition of Macedonia and FR Yugoslavia. Petkovski pointed out the significant German support to Macedonia in its international affirmation as a sovereign country.[09] 76 SQUARE KM AT THE BORDER WITH FRY DISPUTABLE'There are about 76 km2 at the Macedonian-FR Yugoslav border which are disputable and considered 'its own' by both countries,' reads today's daily 'Dnevnik', according to unofficial information from international observers.According to the paper, the Macedonian government's view is that nothing of a great importance is disputable regarding the border, which was claimed to be administrative by Belgrade for a long time. [10] INFORMING THE BULGARIAN POLITICIANS ON BELGRADE ACCORDMacedonian Ambassador to Sofia Gjorgji Spasov yesterday asked to be received by the Bulgarian President Zelju Zelev, Premier Zan Videnov and Foreign Minister Georgi Pirinski to inform them about the content and goals of the Accord signed between Macedonia and FR Yugoslavia. 'Makpress' informed that the Accord had not been given a great publicity in the Bulgarian media, except for a few comments in the papers.[11] THE ROAD FOR BELGRADE TO BE RECOGNISED BY EU OPENED'The mutual recognition of Macedonia and FR Yugoslavia opened the road for the normalisation of relations between Belgrade and the EU, and for FRY to be recognised as one of the countries-successors to former SFRY'. This was announced yesterday by EU officials in Brussels. The announcement pointed out the need for FRY and Croatia to immediately remove all the obstacles for their mutual recognition and normalisation of the relations.Meanwhile, 'Royter' reported that Great Britain had recognised FRY yesterday, and the British diplomatic office in Belgrade had started to function as an Embassy. [12] LIBERALS - SUCCESSION PART UNFAVOURABLE FOR MACEDONIAOn yesterday's press conference, Risto Ivanov, the Vice President of the Liberal Party, said it was not clear why had the text of the Accord (completed in January '96) been changed in the meantime. The formulation that the succession issues will be solved by agreement had weakened the position of Macedonia in the framework of the International Conference for Former SFRY Succession, stressed Ivanov.He presented the stand of the Liberal Party that the Accord should not be used to stop the UNPREDEP mandate in Macedonia. The Liberal's proposal to the Parliament to form a Survey Commission on the control of the investigation of the assassination attempt on President Gligorov, according to Ivanov, had been withdrawn, because if it was not voted as suggested, it would not give the needed results. The resistance of SDSM to the initiative raised suspicion among the Liberals. Namely, some facts of the investigation are being covered, said Ivanov, adding that the Liberals will bring the initiative forward again, but in other ratio of the forces in the Parliament. [13] LJUPCHO GEORGIEVSKI - 'THE PROBLEM IS IN THE EMOTIONAL TIES TO YUGOSLAVIA'Today's 'Dnevnik' reports the statement of Ljupcho Georgievski, the President of VMRO - DPMNE, that the Belgrade Accord is another proof of the incapability and lack of principles of the Macedonian foreign policy. He emphasised that the Macedonian diplomacy needed a whole year to win what could have been won at the very beginning of the negotiations with FRY. The main problem were 'the emotional ties to Yugoslavia, and not the real problem - the fixing of the border, which is left open,' said Georgievski for 'Dnevnik'.[14] INDEPENDENT MACEDONIA WITH A CLOSE ECONOMY COOPERATION WITH FRYThe Democratic Party of Serbs in Macedonia greeted the recognition of Macedonia and FRY and stressed their attitude to have an independent Macedonia closely tied with FRY in the field of economy cooperation.The disagreement of Greece was estimated a passing and emotional reaction by the President of the Party, Dragisha Miletic, adding that no one has the right to be angry about a recognition and good relations between the two neighbours. He said his Party would continue to intercede for respecting the constitutional rights of Serbs in Macedonia, and that Macedonians in Serbia should do the same. [15] CHECKING THE SIGNATURES FOR A REFERENDUMMacedonian President of the Parliament Tito Petkovski asked yesterday from the Ministry of Justice to check whether everybody who had signed for a referendum scheduling have the right to vote. 'After the checking is done, the initiative will be put on the agenda of the Parliament,' said Petkovski for 'Nova Makedonija'.[16] BEATEN BECAUSE OF INTERCEDING FOR TOLERANCEEdmond Ademi, a student from Tetovo, was beaten on Sunday, and his party fellows of the Social- Democratic Youth claimed it had happened due to the fact that he talked too much in favour of the living together and tolerance spirit, at a seminary in Istanbul. The leadership of his Party claimed that he had provoked significant reactions by answering that 'he was not competent to answer why the Tetovo university had not been recognised by the Macedonian government', which was understood as his stand against the 'Tetovo university'.MILS SUPPLEMENT[17] US Mission Chief in Skopje Comments on Greek-Macedonian Issues('Athens News Agency', 9 April, 1996)Greek agency ANA informed that the senior American diplomat in the Balkans had called for direct talks between Greece and Macedonia to resolve the name issue.Career diplomat Victor Comras, the former head of the US Liaison Office in Skopje and now chief of the US Embassy mission in the neighbouring nation pending Senate approval of Christopher Hill's appointment as US envoy to Macedonia, said Washington endorsed direct Athens-Skopje talks, since it was no longer playing a mediating role. 'We believe that the name problem must be solved bilaterally by the two sides concerned,' he said in an exclusive interview in Skopje with ANA correspondent Marina Vihou. 'This is the best procedure, since we are no longer acting as mediators...' after the signing of the Interim Accord. 'We have reached the point where the two sides have direct talks,' Comras said. However, he added that 'if a compromise on the name is feasible, then it should be encouraged. But then again, we should not be the ones to set out the framework for such a compromise. The US position is that the two sides must find a solution in a direct and constructive manner.' Turning to relations between Macedonia and FR Yugoslavia, Comras reiterated a US position that Yugoslavia needed to fulfill certain conditions - including the establishment of friendly relations with all neighbouring countries, respect of human rights domestically, resolution of the Kosovo issue and settlement of the issue of succession to the Socialist Federation of Yugoslavia - before sanctions could be fully lifted and Federal Yugoslavia be reinstated into the international community. He also replied that there were many factors, and not only the Kosovo issue, that would determine the continued presence of a UN peacekeeping force (UNPREDEP) in Macedonia, which includes a US military contingent. Comras disagreed with warnings by some Macedonian officials that ethnic Albanians constituted a long-term threat to the country's stability, saying it was precisely the Macedonian mixed population that 'constitutes part of its strength, as in the case of the US.' He declined comment, however, on the Albanian political parties' demand that ethnic Albanians in Macedonia be recognised as a component of the country, describing it as an 'internal problem, the solution of which is up to the communities themselves.' Turning to US-Macedonian relations, Comras described them as 'close and constructive,' with emphasis mainly in economic and military sectors. He said close military ties had been established in the context of the 'Bridge to the US' Programme, which includes support in military training and organisation. Now that the embargo on arms sales was gradually being lifted, Comras continued, talks could also begin on military support in that area as well, initially with small-scale weapons, although 'the perception that exists is that Macedonia should be allowed to develop its own defense system.' On the economic scale, Comras said there was a $60 million programme covering a variety of sectors, including support of democratic institutions, in the legislative, tax and duties areas, reform of the banking system and a privatisation programme. (end)mils news 11 April 1996 |
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