MILS NEWS 01/07/96

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From: "Macedonian Information Liaison Service" <mils@mils.spic.org.mk>

CONTENTS

[01] KOSOVO ISSUE AND ECONOMIC COOPERATION STRESSED

[02] AGREEMENT ON ECONOMIC COOPERATION WITH SLOVENIA

[03] SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES - BASES OF THE MACEDONIAN ECONOMY

[04] FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE AMONG THE CATTLE

[05] MACEDONIAN CHURCH OFFICIALS VISITING THE BULGARIAN PATRIARCHY

[06] VMRO-DPMNE: 'JUDICIARY UNDER INFLUENCE OF PARTIES'

[07] PDP: 'SULEIMANI ACTS AGAINST TETOVO UNIVERSITY'

[08] HALILI: 'MACEDONIA IS CREATING A MONO-NATIONAL COUNTRY'

MILS SUPPLEMENT

[09] 'Avoiding Pressures from Outside for The Name Issue'

MILS NEWS

Skopje, 01 July 1996

[01] KOSOVO ISSUE AND ECONOMIC COOPERATION STRESSED

That is why I and Turkish President Demirel have together required a quick start of a dialogue for the Kosovo issue.

We in Macedonia are very concerned about the situation in Kosovo and the possible implications it could have for our Republic,' said Macedonian President Kiro Gligorov for the press at Skopje Airport, returning from the four-days visit to Turkey.

About the bilateral relations, Macedonian Head of State said there were no open issues between Macedonia and Turkey, adding that development of cooperation, especially in the field of economy, was mostly stressed during the talks. 'In context of that, a draft Contract was signed to establish an international bank in Skopje, which should be a solid basis for the development of the economic cooperation,' informed Gligorov, pointing out the realisation of $10 million as a part of the $25 million credit given to Macedonia by the Turkish 'Export-Import Bank' as a support for the economic cooperation. Gligorov also said that it was agreed Macedonian culture to be presented next year in Ankara and Istanbul.

Local media reported that Macedonian President, besides the intensive and friendly talks with his Turkish counterpart Suleiman Demirel, also met with Turkish Parliament President Mustafa Kalemli and the resigning Prime Minister Mesut Jilmaz. The visit of Macedonian delegation was paid great attention, and Gligorov was honured Ph.D. of Istanbul University. Vice Prime Ministers of Macedonia Ljube Trpevski and Bekjir Zuta, as well as the entrepreneurs who escorted the President, had very constructive talks with their Turkish counterparts about the development of the bilateral economic cooperation.

[02] AGREEMENT ON ECONOMIC COOPERATION WITH SLOVENIA

With the new Agreement, Macedonian products imported in Slovenia will not be submitted to customs duties, while Slovenian products imported in Macedonia will be put in two lists. Namely, customs duties for some products will be abolished successively in three years, and for others in five years. Regarding the agriculture products, the formula of quotas, for which no customs duties will be paid, is going to be kept. According to Macedonian Television, the Agreement regulates many financial and legal aspects of the bilateral economic cooperation.

[03] SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES - BASES OF THE MACEDONIAN ECONOMY

[04] FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE AMONG THE CATTLE

Disinfection and quarantine measures have been taken at these locations, was reported, as well as that this disease had last time been noticed in 1963 in Macedonia.

FR Yugoslav Embassy in Skopje announced last Saturday that, in order to prevent spreading of the disease from the Republic of Macedonia and Republic of Albania to this country, all the transport would be made through the border crossing near Preshevo. The crossing near General Jankovic will be closed temporarily, while the one near Prohor Pchinjski will be partly closed. The announcement also said that severe measures will be taken against illegal crossing of the border, and that FR Yugoslav policemen and soldiers would destroy all the cattle that would try to cross the border.

[05] MACEDONIAN CHURCH OFFICIALS VISITING THE BULGARIAN PATRIARCHY

That is why Macedonian Church delegations are going to visit all Orthodox Churches in the world to explain 'the true denationalizing role of Serbian Orthodox Church in Macedonia in the past'. As alleged, MPC is opening a new strategy in international plan and is not connecting its destiny exclusively with Serbian Patriarchy any more.

Meanwhile, at the block of monasteries on Popova Shapka near Tetovo, the construction of new monastery shelters began yesterday, which should be opened in a year. Metropolitan Cyril held a religious service in the honor of the great Macedonian Saint Naum of Ohrid, in the presence of many priests and believers.

[06] VMRO-DPMNE: 'JUDICIARY UNDER INFLUENCE OF PARTIES'

Namely, she used to be a member of the Macedonian Communist Union Central Committee and a President of the Communist Party Commission for Personnel in Judiciary, which is 'a continuity with the one-party system'.

Meanwhile, the new Law on Courts is coming in effect today. It divides Macedonian Courts in 27 of Original Jurisdiction, 3 Appellate and one Supreme Court, with total number of 665 judges. As 'Vecer' daily reads, this is the last phase in the establishing of the independent judiciary in Macedonia, besides a small number of acts that still remain to be passed.

[07] PDP: 'SULEIMANI ACTS AGAINST TETOVO UNIVERSITY'

This was concluded at the latest session of PDP Central Presidency, reads the daily 'Dnevnik'. The official announcement was that the rector of 'Tetovo university' Suleimani has 'voluntarily accepted the role imposed by some political mentors, who want to maintain the confusion and political chaos in the realization of the most vital aspirations of Albanians, especially of the request for legalization of 'Tetovo university'.

'Such statements made by the rector are free from any ethics, and his opposition acting are considered harmful by PDP for the initial united request and acting of all Albanian parties to include the university in the legal system,' read the announcement.

Recently, Suleimani stated for 'Flaka e Vlazerimit' daily that PDP did not support 'Tetovo university'.

[08] HALILI: 'MACEDONIA IS CREATING A MONO-NATIONAL COUNTRY'

MILS SUPPLEMENT

[09] 'Avoiding Pressures from Outside for The Name Issue'

('Nova Makedonija', 01 July 1996)

In the interview for 'Nova Makedonija', the President of Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly, Lenny Fisher, on the name issue said:

'We discussed the name of Macedonia quite a lot during the procedure of its joining the Council. Being aware of the difficulties in the relations with neighbours, we thought it would be wiser to pay attention to Macedonia's joining the Council than to over-stress the name issue. We have again, however, discussed this issue these days and I will talk to Lord Ginsberg about it this week (he initiated the actualization of the issue), as well as with Lenc Cornet, a Rapporteur for Macedonia, whether we should start re- examining the problem. Personally, I think it would be best to discuss it within the groups of the Council here, in order to prevent any pressures from outside, as it would be easier to find a solution in that way. I support the talks about this sensitive matter and am prepared to be a mediator, and I expect that the results will be positive.'

Q: 'It is well known that Macedonia joined the CoE under the reference 'FYROM' with a very little majority in the Parliamentarian Assembly, and that it was mostly influenced by the UN decision. That name was, in fact, a solution offered by the international organisation, wasn't it?

'It would have been much worse if the Council of Europe asked for a third name of your country. At that time, the reference 'FYROM' was accepted by majority of countries, but it does not mean any more that a final and different solution will not be found in future.'

Q: 'What is your attitude about the initiative for early elections in Macedonia, about which the CoE has been informed?'

'According to the information I have, your parliamentarian procedures do not allow organizing a referendum for early elections. Anyway, I would rather not interfere in your internal matters or impose any solutions, as I do not have all the details at my disposal.'

Q: 'To what extend do you think Macedonia has fulfilled the conditions set at its joining the CoE regarding preparing of certain laws, accepting conventions, etc.?'

'It is too early to talk about it or to give some evaluations. I find changing the regulations a long and complex process, which needs time to be settled. The final evaluations of how much Macedonia had fulfilled the conditions set will be given by rapporteurs in charge.'

Q: 'The main issue discussed by the Council lately were the irregularities of elections in Albania. But, the final Resolution seems to controversial, as it recognizes the legitimacy of the new Parliament and allows President Berisha to spend his mandate, doesn't it?'

'No, it does not allow President Berisha to spend his mandate. My opinion is that it is most important for the ruling party and the opposition ones to be given the chance to think about what happened and to take actions in the interest of the country. And, of course, to examine the best ways of preparing the local elections in November. The interest of the country is the priority, not political differences.'

Q: 'Are there any reforms planned for the Council of Europe, as the new 20 members have made it a large political forum?'

'I do not think we will change anything in the CoE, but we will definitely change the way of its work. It is true that enlarged number of members has increased the work of the Council, and it will have to be alleviated. For example, about a hundred members plus the Ambassadors participate in the work of Political Issues Committee, and about 600 Parliamentarians want to talk at the sessions of the Parliamentarian Assembly. In aspect of that, we do need reforms.'

(end)

mils news 01 July, 1996

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