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MILS NEWS 96-10-23Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: "Macedonian Information Liaison Service" <mils@mils.spic.org.mk>CONTENTS
MILS SUPPLEMENTMILS NEWSSkopje, 23 October, 1996[01] 'TRUD' - POSSIBLE CONFERENCE ON REGIONAL EUROPEANISATION AND COEXISTENCE IN SKOPJE COMES TOO LATEThe motion made by the Macedonian delegation to hold the next Conference on Stability and Coexistence in SE Europe in our country has received the support of over 30 state delegations attending the session in Athens two days ago - according to several sources.The Sofia newspaper 'Trud', however, claims that it knew nothing about this initiative to make Macedonia the host of the next Conference on Europeanisation and Coexistence in the Balkans. The Bulgarian paper further speculated that the entire matter would have most likely been instigated by the head of the Macedonian diplomacy, Ljubomir Frchkovski, who is to have acquired a reputation throughout the session for his ability to make a 'faux pas'. 'Trud' also airs the opinion that Frchkovski happened to 'end up in world diplomacy by accident' who decided to stage a Balkan Conference on Europeanisation and Coexistence in the region. It also stresses that the organisation of such an event comes too late, since there already had been a meeting of this kind in Sofia this summer which - however had not been attended by the Minister as he found the name of the country he was bound to represent unacceptable, despite the fact that it is the name under which this state had been admitted within the UN. According to 'Trud' for the time being the one and only definite speaker for the upcoming conference is the UN Secretary-General, Butros-Ghali. [02] GREEK PRESIDENT HOPES FOR A QUICK RESOLVING OF PROBLEMS WITH MACEDONIA'We want FYROM to exist beside us in peace', were the words of Greek President Costas Stephanopoulos addressing the Polish parliament with regards to Greece's relations towards its neighbours - according to a release taken over by 'Makfax' from the Greek 'ANA' press agency. This quote was part of the attempt made by Stephanopoulos to explain in front of the Polish MPs why Greece was resisting recognition of its adjoining state by the name Macedonia. According to 'ANA' the Greek head of state furthermore expressed his hopes regarding a solution of this problem in the nearest future.[03] BILL CLINTON: NEW NATO MEMBER-STATES DUE IN 1999As Macedonian TV reports US president Clinton invited the first group of countries - candidates for NATO membership - to join the organisation in 1999. According to the same source the US President mentioned a precise time frame for the expansion of NATO for the first time in public during his speech in Detroit, dwelling in particular on the expansion of its southern wing. The main reasons for such a measure - according to Clinton - is the situation in SE Europe which poses a constant threat to peace in the region.In connection to this national television also broadcasted the statement of support (expressed previously on numerous occasions) by Turkish Defense Secretary Turhan Tayan concerning the endeavours made by Macedonia to join NATO yesterday. Tayan - while dwelling on particularities of Blagoj Handzhiski's recent visit to his country - also emphasised that Turkey has an interest in monitoring the condition in the Balkans, especially the independence, integrity and stability of Macedonia. [04] ACCORDING TO WHO FINDINGS - NO INFECTIVE OR TOXICOLOGICAL BASIS FOR 'POISONINGS'Preliminary findings of the WHO team of experts do not contain any evidence of an infective or toxicological nature which could account for the mysterious syndrome noted with several schoolchildren in Tetovo and its surroundings. This, according to the Macedonian national TV channel, is part of the official WHO (located in Copenhagen) report forwarded by the latter to the Macedonian Ministry of Health. The Team of experts, however, will continue its investigation which has not been completed yet - and submit a report on recent events in Tetovo and the closer region.[05] A-1 TV: SUCCESSFUL NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE LONDON CLUB OF CREDITORSThe above named source reports the closing of talks between the Macedonian delegation and the London Club of Creditors in New York yesterday. According to unofficial sources within this TV channel the outcome of these negotiations had been the desired one, i.e. the regulation of debts Macedonia has towards commercial banking houses throughout the world.The Macedonian delegation is to return to Skopje from New York today, so that more precise details on this information will be available afterwards. [06] TRUST HAS TO BE ESTABLISHED TOWARDS STOCK EXCHANGEMacedonia's primary capital market has been established during the early stages of privatisation. Currently it trades the stocks of 240 transformed stock companies (both privatised and newly-formed ones), of 17 banks and of one insurance company. As long as transformation procedures continue, i.e. for at least another 3 to 4 years, one should not expect any new emissions of stocks onto the market - with the exception of those issued by banks which have to do otherwise throughout the following five yrs. in order to fulfill the newly set down criteria on the size of financial institutions - codified within the new Bill on Banks. This was one of the issues addressed by Evgenij Zoografski, Chairman of the Macedonian Stock Exchange at their two-day seminar on 'The Long-Term Stock Market in Macedonia' in Ohrid. He also mentioned that there are approximately 300 000 shareholders in Macedonia who will start trading sooner or later.The head of the Macedonian Stock Exchange - according to 'Veccer' - also stressed the significance of the state and its motivational function in establishing a relation of trust towards the evolving of the capital market with institutions - particularly throughout the initial stages. In Macedonia, however, only a total of 3 national bonds have been issued throughout the past five years. During the seminar it was also mentioned that the Stock Exchange had a track record of 58 days - of which 32 were marked by active trading resulting in profit of 880 000 DM. 60% of this sum had been earned on the primary capital market. Since the establishment of the Stock Exchange (in March '96) 8 000 stocks generated revenue - and up to now the 'hottest' stocks have been the one of the City Shopping Centre in Skopje. [07] FEDERATION OF TRADE UNIONS: EFFORTS TO PROTECT STATE CAPITALThe leadership of the Trade Union Federation of Macedonia and government representatives met for talks yesterday, concerning the agreement on privatisation procedures in the country. The essential objective of such a written consensus between the Trade Union Federation and the government - lies in the provision of more favourable economic and social conditions for employees, i.e. the option for the latter to obtain 30% of the Industry's capital. Thus employees would receive a controlling impact which would increase security and a guarantee on their employment.What was also emphasised throughout yesterday's session was the fact that the aftermath of the signing of such an agreement could further the purchase of stocks by employees - via direct involvement of the Trade Union Federation - which is already common practice to some extent. In some companies, however, there are cases of abuse, i.e. certain individuals would buy up internal stocks initially intended for employees and thus gain control over the company. Due to this the Trade Union Federation will insist on a more conscientious approach by authorities - in particular the Public Attorney for State capital. [08] 'PALAIR MACEDONIAN' LEFT WITHOUT ITS 'FLEET' AND ITS EMPLOYEESThe fact that around 50 employees have left 'Palair Macedonian' and are now employed by 'MAT', as well as the fact that leased aircraft has been returned does not entail the airline's downfall. This is part of the statement made by 'Palair Macedonian' Chairman of the Executive Board Vanja Bitoljanu for A-1 TV. He also stressed that aircraft has been returned because the airline could not afford to keep paying for them at the moment, which still did not mean that the airline is ruined - since the freezing of its account is shorter than the prescribed period entailing bankruptcy.In addition to this it should be mentioned that the airline has already been 'grounded' for a few weeks towards the public airport company 'Macedonia' - and its bank account has been frozen since 9th October. [09] 'TEHNOMA '96' FAIR OPENYesterday the 'Tehnoma '96' fair was opened in Skopje. This event also covers the 22nd International Fair of Metallurgy, Electronics, Non-Metal Industry and Machinery Production - as well as the 60th International Exposition of Innovations and New Products 'Makinova'96'. This fair is one of the oldest and largest manifestations of this kind in Macedonia - and this year it will be made up by over 400 expositors from Macedonia and abroad. 'Tehnoma '96' will be closed on 26th October - by Which time many presentations, seminars and business meetings will have been brought to a close. 'Makinova '96' will consist of the presentation of approximately 60 innovations and new products - and it will also include an award ceremony for significant achievements.[10] PRE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN GAINS MOMENTUMThe pre-election campaigning of parties and candidates for the impending local elections is indeed gaining momentum, which is confirmed by the staging of several promotional assemblies and meetings.Thus in the newly-formed municipality Makedonska Kamenica the SDSM party staged a meeting to promote its mayor candidate Kire Zlatanovski - which included an address by the Macedonian Parliament Chair Tito Petkovski. On this occasion the latter who observed 'that when the old Balkan grindmills were operating Macedonia did not fit not the schemes of any nationalist leader and therefore succeeded in avoiding war and gaining its independence'. Petkovski also emphasised that there was no political figurehead who could sanction a change of Macedonia' s name ... as well as that provided there had not been any embargoes or the difficulties with Greece Macedonia could have entered the level of more developed European countries ... Macedonia has by now been recognised by 120 nations, it has managed to develop a decent democracy, and the country has now become a subject of interest to foreign investors, In Berovo the Socialist Party promoted their mayor candidate Aleksandar Gerdovski. Party president Ljubisha Ivanov - Singo said on this occasion that 'the significant success on a political level is matched by huge failures with regards to production'. He furthermore underlined his party's intention to assume leadership in a democratic manner, and to resolve economic problems. 'The new style of country leadership will have to abandon methods of torturing and terrorizing, and the new head of state will have to be in tune with Europeanisation trends', was part of the statement made by IMRO-DPMNE leader Ljupcho Georgievski at the meeting at the Novaci municipality (Bitola). Calling Macedonia an 'economic wasteland' due to the 'unwanted rule of the Socio-Democrat alliance'. Georgievski stressed that the party in power had forgotten who had done the fighting for an independent Macedonia, and that the establishing of a new local government structure would hopefully decrease the outflow of means and human resources. The mayor candidate of this party - in coalition with the DP and MAAK-KP - is Ilija Srbinovski. The Liberal Party of Macedonia also held a press conference yesterday - presenting its new marketing strategy regarding local elections, which is based on facts and reality and the needs of the population as much as possible. [11] PROTEST AGAINST THE DENATIONALISATION OF MACEDONIAN MOSLEMSMacedonian Moslems keep being subjected to processes of ethnic denationalisation by the DP of Turks and the political parties of the Albanian ethnicity - with support of the highly politic Islamic Relig. Community. This has been one of the findings expressed at yesterday's press conference of the National Association for Cultural and Scholastic Manifestations of Macedonian Moslems, as 'Veccer' reports. The member of this association's presidency, Nijazi Limanovski, said that the DP of Turks in Macedonia has been conducting the 'ottomanisation and assimilation' of Macedonian citizens of Islamic faith - which can best be seen through the educational system.This sort of 'utterly vulgarized Turkish or Albanian' version of the Islam - according to Limanovski - has become the foundation of Albanian separatism and nationalism. Such an Albanisation bears evidence of the endeavour to prove that every Moslem in Western Macedonia either is or should be Albanian. MILS SUPPLEMENT[12] 'A Three-Dimensional Project for the Next Century'('Veccer', 23 October, 1996)The Macedonian Academy of Science and Art - in cooperation with the Economic Institute of Vienna is currently compiling a development study of the country spanning over the next 25 yrs. This analysis consists of three segments providing a general framework for the development of Macedonia. Its working version will be augmented by round tables - and the final version is due for march next year. Our country's emerging as an independent state and transitional procedures have imposed the need for a long- term development strategy. Thus the Macedonian government has taken all the necessary steps to ensure the compilation of such a strategy. The key factors involved in this project are the Macedonian Academy of Science and Art and the Vienna Institute of Economics which are to outline future development potentials of the country. Up to now this project has been headed by the academicians Ksente Bogoev, Nikola Uzunov, Nikola Kljusev and Vice- Governor Gligor Bishev - and all deadlines have been observed. The working text of the study has already been drafted, i.e. its initial version. It consists of three segments of which the third is considered the most relevant one as it concerns the macroeconomic model and contains input-output diagrams. Thus it will actually be executed as a separate project. This third section contains important data indicating the trend Macedonia is bound to follow throughout the 21st century, i.e. over a time span of 25 yrs. says Abdoulmenef Bedzheti - the Development Minister of Macedonia. The other segments - the first and the second one - exist in shape of working texts. What is to follow is the staging of several round tables or work-shops in order to facilitate their analysis and their redrafting. Therefore a meeting with representatives of the Vienna Institute of Economics has been scheduled for November, which is to facilitate a further outlining of Macedonia's future development. The first section of the study contains the general outlines to macroeconomic issues, based on general social trends and modernisation processes. This is followed by a survey of economic development, a study on capital and investments and a national survey on human resources and labour force - as well as forecasts on technological modernisation and the integrated transition of the financial sector. This first section will also include the national strategy on international economic relations, forecasts on modernising public administration, on regional development and urban development - and eventually on the social aspects generated by this strategy. The second section of this general study refers to different sectors (e.g. the commercial sector, the service sector, the agricultural one, the hydro-system sector, the industrial and the agro-industrial sector, the sectors concerning transportation, electricity production, communications and ecology) representing the economic structure. This indicates that the mentioned study does not only restrict itself to economic development but all segments of society, such as welfare and health services etc. This analysis will represent a general framework which will procure a scientific foundation for our government regarding the overall future evolution of Macedonia... says Development Minister Bedzheti. Which are the long-term objectives of the future quarter of the century in Macedonia - and who are the main protagonists? These questions remain unanswered for the time being. The national strategy on economic development in the Republic of Macedonia is to be completed by the end of March '97. The most general outlines and directions, however are predictable right now: the creation of an open economy, achieving greater efficiency, increasing the employment rate and improving the social condition of the population. Those were actually the very words of Ksente Bogoev and Nikola Kljusev recorded in their joint findings, presented during a Seminar on Evolutional Prospects of Macedonia between 1996 and 2010, held in Ohrid this spring. (end)mils news 23 October, 1996Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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