MILS NEWS 96-09-10

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

CONTENTS

[01] GERMAN PRESIDENT ROMAN HERZOG IN MACEDONIA

[02] MACEDONIAN TV: 'GHALI WILL PROPOSE EXTENSION OF THE UNPREDEP MANDATE'

[03] GLIGOROV: 'FIVE YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE WITH A EUROPEAN IMAGE'

[04] CONGRATULATIONS TO GLIGOROV

[05] DAY OF INDEPENDENCE MARKED IN AUSTRALIA AND CANADA

[06] ON BULGARIAN-MACEDONIAN RELATIONS

[07] MINOR DIPLOMATIC INCIDENT AFTER ARSOVSKI'S PROTEST

[08] ALBANIA REJECTS THE ACCUSATIONS OF INTERFERING IN INTERNAL MATTERS OF MACEDONIA

[09] AIDE-M,MOIRE OF PDPA-NDP TO THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE

[10] LAW ON LOCAL ELECTIONS PASSED - OPPOSITION PARTIES STILL CONSIDERING

MILS NEWS

[01] GERMAN PRESIDENT ROMAN HERZOG IN MACEDONIA

Local media reported that German President also met with Macedonian Parliament President Tito Petkovski and with representatives of parliamentarian political parties. According to A-1 Television, President Herzog stated for the German reporters, who had come with him, that his visit should be understood as a sign of the support of Germany to Macedonia as an independent country, meritorious for the peace in the region. According to him, Macedonia should not be observed as a remaining of the former Yugoslavia, and Germany highly respected the policy of the country regarding the national minorities. In his statement, President Herzog said Germany was prepared to help Macedonia, but not at the level of 'retail trading, but with joint investments'.

Macedonian media reminded that Roman Herzog was the first President of an EU member country who had come to Macedonia. Macedonian public remembers him as a member of Badenteur's Commission, which in 1991 estimated that Macedonia had fulfilled the conditions for being recognized as an independent country.

[02] MACEDONIAN TV: 'GHALI WILL PROPOSE EXTENSION OF THE UNPREDEP MANDATE'

As alleged, Sokalski had submitted a report on the situation in Macedonia and at its borders with Albania and FR Yugoslavia, following the request of the UN Security Council. According to the radio station 'Voice of America', at a press conference held after that, Sokalski said the situation in Macedonia was not bad, but solving of the problems would last longer than expected.

[03] GLIGOROV: 'FIVE YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE WITH A EUROPEAN IMAGE'

The Republic of Macedonia is now a part of the new Balkan reality and a relevant factor of the peace and stability in the region. The country showed that its independence and territorial integrity were putting an end to the historical reasons that provoked wars and conflicts in southern Balkans. Also, it proved itself as a specific peace bringing model, in which the inter-ethnic understanding and tolerance are an alternative for the Balkan ethnic passions and intolerance. Macedonia is now accomplishing its active position as a member of the UN, OSCE, the Council of Europe and other international organizations and institutions. The country also began to carry out its firm European determination and aspirations with the negotiations for association in the European Union and with its determination to join the Euro-Atlantic security structure.' This was part of the speech made by Macedonian President Kiro Gligorov at the formal assembly in the Macedonian National Theatre on Sunday, organized on the occasion of the 5th Anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Macedonia. The assembly was attended by many officials, representatives of the political, cultural and scientific circles, as well as by diplomatic representatives in the country.

On the occasion of the Anniversary, Macedonian Parliament President Tito Petkovski organized a formal reception for the representatives of the political life, members of the current and previous governments and other guests. In his speech, Petkovski underlined that 8 September was a date that neither the time nor the future events could sink into oblivion. He also stated that the way Macedonia achieved its independence was a modest contribution to the modern civilization.

The Day of Independence was marked by another event - the promotion of the new Macedonian bank notes, which will be put into circulation beginning from today. The promotion was made by Macedonian Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski immediately before the start of the formal assembly at the National Theatre, and he emphasized that besides the control over its own territory and borders, a country accomplished its sovereignty also with the control of the monetary- financial sphere.

Prime Minister Crvenkovski officially put into operation the new mobile telephone net 'MOBIMAK', as well, which was referred to as another matter that would include Macedonia among the countries with a modern telecommunication infrastructure.

The other more significant events by which the Day of Independence was marked were the aero-meeting at the sport airport 'Stenkovec' near Skopje, and the renewed event of 'Tikvesh Grapes Picking' in Kavadarci, which was attended by over 10,000 people, to whom the traditional grapes picking customs were presented.

The media reported about some other events, such as: putting into operation of the 5.5 km long local road Brezovo-Zashle in Demir Hisar area, and of the 3.5 km long one between Ogut and Nerav near Kriva Palanka, putting into operation the water pipeline in the village of Polaki near Kochani, etc.

[04] CONGRATULATIONS TO GLIGOROV

'You and Your country triumphed last year despite the great risks you were faced with. Besides the assassination attempt on You and the fact that the country was surrounded with regional instability, Your determination to build a democratic society persisted. Your efforts to solve all differences with the neighbours in a peaceful way is an example that should be followed by everybody. I appreciate Your leadership and the contribution of Your Government for the regional stability,' President Clinton's note read. President of the Russian Federation Boris Yeltzin also sent his greetings to Kiro Gligorov, wishing for peace and welfare to the Macedonian people and expressing his hopes that friendly and cooperative connections between the two countries and nations would be further developed and strengthened.

Macedonian Television yesterday reported about the greetings Gligorov had received from the Greek President Constantinos Stefanopoulos, who wished him good health and prosperity for his country and people. Greek President also expressed his hope that the remaining misunderstandings between the two neighbouring countries would be soon resolved, which would encourage closer cooperation and mutual trust between the two people.

President Gligorov also received congratulations from Milan Kuchan, Vatzlav Havel, the Great Duke of Luxembourg Jean, Islam Karimov, Algirdas Brazauskas, Akbar Hashemi Rafsenjani, and other officials from abroad. Holy Synod of the Macedonian Orthodox Church and associations of Macedonian emigrants also sent their greetings to Gligorov.

[05] DAY OF INDEPENDENCE MARKED IN AUSTRALIA AND CANADA

The central celebration of Macedonians in Canada was held in the big banquet hall of the Macedonian Orthodox Church in Toronto, 'St. Clement of Ohrid'. Head of Macedonian Orthodox Church Archbishop Mihail, who is staying in Canada, dedicated the new Macedonian orthodox church 'Sveta Nedela' in Pickering, Toronto.

[06] ON BULGARIAN-MACEDONIAN RELATIONS

Referring to Kosovo, Macedonian President stated that 'there was a great concentration of military troops and police in the province, and in case a conflict took place, ethnic purgation and many refugees would be inevitable consequences. In that case, the most natural and the easiest way for the Albanians to run away would be the road to Macedonia. Several hundred thousands of Albanians more in Macedonia would change the ethnic map of the country, which might easily provoke conflicts and ethnic clashes and a destruction of the country, which we, being a small country, can not allow.'

Stating that nobody in the Balkans could aspire for a pure ethnic country, Gligorov said 'conflicts could appear only in a country which lacked righteous attitude towards the Constitutional nations and minorities'.

Meanwhile, 'Vecer' daily reported a statement of the Bulgarian Foreign Minister Gjorgji Pirinski for Macedonian Radio, that there were bases for Bulgarian-Macedonian relations to develop in all areas. Underlying that Bulgaria was among the first countries which recognized Macedonian as an independent country, Pirinski said he was encouraged with the speeded up stabilization processes in the Balkans. 'Both Macedonian and Bulgarian Governments are making efforts in that direction,' Pirinski said, adding that he was convinced that concrete solutions would be found to make the mutual wish for development of the relations a reality.

[07] MINOR DIPLOMATIC INCIDENT AFTER ARSOVSKI'S PROTEST

[08] ALBANIA REJECTS THE ACCUSATIONS OF INTERFERING IN INTERNAL MATTERS OF MACEDONIA

[09] AIDE-M,MOIRE OF PDPA-NDP TO THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE

[10] LAW ON LOCAL ELECTIONS PASSED - OPPOSITION PARTIES STILL CONSIDERING

According to the media, the discussion mainly involved the objections of the opposition which Minister of Justice Vlado Popovski had not accepted at the previous working meetings. Popovski stated that, although most of the objections of the National Democratic Institute from Washington and of the opposition parties had been included in the Law, the Government and the opposition could agree on two issues: the elections for mayors (the Government's stand was to allow all the candidates with over 10% of the votes to enter the second voting round, while the opposition parties thought that only the two candidates with most of the votes should be allowed that), and the request of the opposition parties to have electoral IDs prepared for the forthcoming elections, which was also rejected. According to Popovski, the Government and the opposition had made a compromise regarding the electoral commissions by agreeing to have two members of the opposition and two of the ruling parties plus a judge as a President to constitute one commission. The Liberals, however, found the number of Commission members disputable. After the Law was passed, Liberal Party MPs stated, as 'Nova Makedonija' reported, that the Parliament had worked without a quorum, which meant that passing of the Law was a violation of the Constitution.

To the question if his party intended to participate at the local elections, the coordinator of the Liberal Party Parliamentarian group Ace Kocevski replied that they should additionally analyze the situation and would make that decision when the time came.

Democratic Party leader Petar Goshev stated that 'the arrogance was continuing, and the group that had illegally seized the power was continuing to rule even more arrogantly'. He estimated that the Law had been passed hastily and that talks with opposition parties had been made because of the 'international factor', but did not say whether his party would participate or not at the local elections.

VMRO-DPMNE leader Ljupcho Georgievski stressed that it was too early to make estimations of the Law, adding that certain objections of his party had been accepted, but describing them as less extreme than those of the Liberal and Democratic Party. To the question regarding the participation of his party at the local elections, Georgievski answered that 'they had been receiving signals from the branches in the communities that people could hardly wait for the participation in the local elections'.

(end)

mils news 10 September, 1996

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