MILS NEWS 04/07/96

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

CONTENTS

[01] CANADA RECOGNIZED MACEDONIA

[02] AGREEMENTS ON COOPERATION WITH MACEDONIA

[03] GLIGOROV: 'EDUCATION OF NATIONALITIES WITHIN THE SYSTEM INSTITUTIONS'

[04] CONGRATULATIONS FOR THE USA NATIONAL HOLIDAY

[05] HIGH NATO OFFICIAL IN MACEDONIA

[06] GREEK PRESSURE BEFORE SOFIA MINISTERIAL MEETING

[07] FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE IS SPREADING

[08] PARLIAMENT OPPOSITION SPOKESMAN SUGGESTED

[09] 'TETOVO UNIVERSITY' - REASON FOR LEAVING THE PARLIAMENT

[10] DZAFERI: 'WORRYING DISRESPECT OF RIGHTS OF ALBANIANS'

MILS SUPPLEMENT

[11] 'On The Edge of A Failure' ('Nova Makedonija', 04 July 1996)

MILS NEWS

Skopje, 04 July 1996

[01] CANADA RECOGNIZED MACEDONIA

[02] AGREEMENTS ON COOPERATION WITH MACEDONIA

[03] GLIGOROV: 'EDUCATION OF NATIONALITIES WITHIN THE SYSTEM INSTITUTIONS'

[04] CONGRATULATIONS FOR THE USA NATIONAL HOLIDAY

[05] HIGH NATO OFFICIAL IN MACEDONIA

Handziski stated that he and the guest had discussed the activities Macedonia had performed so far to fulfill the conditions for a full membership in NATO. It was concluded that joining OSCE and 'Partnership for Peace' Initiative were moves that had strengthened security and international position of the country. According to Handziski, the top priorities at the moment are the construction of a compatible communication and information system, as well as of a compatible flight control system and protection of sovereignty of Macedonian sky. He also said the report submitted to NATO structures by this high delegation would play a very important role in the decisions for spreading of the Alliance, although that are decisions of mostly political nature.

General McKenzie said he was satisfied with the improvement Macedonia had made within 'Partnership for Peace' programme, underlying that Macedonia was already finishing the individual programme, although it was the 27th country to join the Initiative.

General McKenzie will meet President Gligorov and visit a Macedonian Army unit during his stay.

[06] GREEK PRESSURE BEFORE SOFIA MINISTERIAL MEETING

Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday briefed, according to 'Makpress', that Macedonian Foreign Minister would attend the Sofia meeting on 6 and 7 July only if Macedonia is presented under the Constitutional name. In case that condition is not fulfilled, a delegation of a lower level would be sent. The Spokesman Pantelej Karasimeonov said that 'there have been enough situations when Macedonia had participated as 'FYROM' in international practice', such as the meeting on South-Eastern Europe in Bucharest. The final decision will be made at tomorrow's meeting of political directors of Foreign Ministers in Sofia.

[07] FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE IS SPREADING

Full disinfection and insects and rats extermination is being carried out at all infected locations, and the ban on transport of livestock is in force. The infection has not yet appeared among other animals, but Veterinary Administration is insisting on their control, as well. The decision whether the 1,500,000 heads of cattle in Macedonia will be vaccinated will be brought after tomorrow's recommendation of EU Veterinary Commission.

Meanwhile, Macedonian Radio reported that the European Commission had banned import of meat from Albania and Macedonia, due to the foot-and-mouth outburst. The embargo on import of Macedonian meat will most probably come in effect within a week, until the administrative procedure is accomplished. It will refer to all kinds of meat, as all the animals are considered susceptible to it, including even chickens. European Commission's decision also banned meat transport through Macedonian territory. According to Macedonian Radio, EU might finance eradication of the infection in Macedonia, which should be discussed tomorrow by Macedonian Agriculture Ministry expert and representatives of General Agricultural Administration of the European Commission.

Macedonian Customs Administration yesterday announced that traffic at border crossing Tabanovce-Preshevo with FR Yugoslavia had been normalized. Except for the trucks that need veterinary control, all other trucks are entering FRY without problems. It was also recommended buses and cars to use border crossings Blace-General Jankovic and Pelince- Prohor Pchinjski in order to avoid new holdups.

[08] PARLIAMENT OPPOSITION SPOKESMAN SUGGESTED

[09] 'TETOVO UNIVERSITY' - REASON FOR LEAVING THE PARLIAMENT

Dzaferi added that a peaceful protest will be organized in Tetovo today by PDPA, NDP, Republican Party for National Unity, and other Albanian political associations. It will be intended against the latest arresting of 'Tetovo university' participants and the verdicts about their imprisonment. As Nevzat Halili said, PDP will not participate in the demonstrations, as they 'are completly not interested in 'Tetovo university' issue', adding that they did not participate at last year's meeting, although they were invited. Self-declared rector Fadilj Suleimani said that unless Macedonian government recognized 'Tetovo university', parallel institutions would be formed in the country, and Albanians will throw Macedonian language out of usage.

According to him, the Government will bear the full responsibility for it.

[10] DZAFERI: 'WORRYING DISRESPECT OF RIGHTS OF ALBANIANS'

According to Radio Tirana, NDP members talked about the discrimination of Albanians, and supported it with examples of violence. PDP leader Abdurahman Aliti informed his guests that the current development of democratic processes was only provoking conflicts, adding that his party would continue to make attempts to realize the national rights with a dialogue.

As alleged, the guests thanked for the information and stressed that the American country would engage more in the development of democracy in Macedonia and in improvement of position of Albanians.

A-1 Television reported the official stand of US Embassy in Skopje about meetings in Tetovo, saying that they were regular contacts of the Embassy with representative groups in the country. As announced, US Embassy in Skopje does not comment on such meetings, and except for official USA representatives, nobody else can characterize official US stands.

MILS SUPPLEMENT

[11] 'On The Edge of A Failure'

('Nova Makedonija', 04 July 1996)

It seems that a worse moment for the meeting of Balkan countries Foreign Ministers in Sofia, planned for this weekend, couldn't have been chosen. Not only that Videnov's government in Bulgaria is having great political and economic problems, but the situation is serious in other countries invited: Albania is without a government after the controversial elections and Premier Meksi's resignation; Turkey is also suffering from a governmental crisis; Greece is still disturbed about the latest congress of PASOK and Foreign Minister Pangalos is being silent for quite a long time. Also, Macedonia's participation is still uncertain due to the Greek insisting on its 'former' name to be used at the meeting.

Certain participants are at the moment Bulgaria (the host), FR Yugoslavia, Greece and Romania. Except for the last one, which always participates in such kind of meetings, the rest of them have always aspired for a leading position in the Balkans and are, in fact, mostly interested in this meeting.

One has to ask why is the meeting being insisted on if there are problems at the very beginning and why isn't it postponed for some better time? It is obvious that Bulgaria is very interested in such a meeting in order to improve its rating in the eyes of the world, which is rather low at moment due to the opened dispute between the President and the Prime Minister of the country, and to the unclear foreign policy which has turned to the West, but is still not leaving the East. The second reason is the need of Bulgarian Foreign Minister Pirinski to be launched as a presidential candidate at the meeting.

And, although invisible at first sight, there is a subtle pressure from the West for this meeting to be held, which is felt by all countries' diplomacies. It is another proof that the European Union and the USA are promoting the regional approach. However, the regionalism understood as a continuation of the already seen and known regional 'manifestations' such as Alpe Adria, Central European Initiative (CEI) or joining of Black Sea region countries should not be understood apriori as a negative matter.

Because, the EU also was a result of a regional cooperation.

The question is whether the meeting in Sofia and the monologues of Ministers present (there will be no discussion) is going to bring any news or will be another performance of many protocols, but without a content. The truth is that the joint appearance can sometimes be a good start of something more ambitious to take place, but a start in such complicated circumstances and probably without presence of everybody does not promise much.

The favourable attitude of the EU and USA about the meeting, either with or without Macedonia and with Slovenia and Croatia as observers only, can be explained by their hope that such a meeting would be good for strengthening the new political and geographic reality in the Balkans, in this case presented as a territory 'from Jesenice to Bosphor'.

The greatest difference would be made by appearance of Macedonia as an independent country. In case the summit passes without us, if we are not allowed to appear under the Constitutional name, the minus will be much more the host's that Macedonia's. Of course, Macedonia would in that case miss the opportunity to appear as an independent country.

Although Macedonia is interested in presenting itself, it can definitely not accept to be 'promoted in the Balkans' under the 'former' name. Organizer's decision and the uncertainty of our participation at the meeting will most probably be not defined until the very beginning of the meeting.

It has to be stressed (and the participants probably understand it) that it is neither a problem nor a priority for Sofia to bring Greece to the meeting. It would have been significant if the subject of the summit was the dispute with Turkey. But in a case such as this one, to hold the first Balkan meeting after all the turbulence without participation of a new independent state, which used to be a reason for many disputes and clashes, would be on the edge of a failure.

(end)

mils news 04 July, 1996

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