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MILS: News from the FYROM, 96-11-25Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: "Macedonian Information Liaison Service" <mils@mils.spic.org.mk>CONTENTS
MILS SUPPLEMENTMILS NEWSSkopje, 25th November, 1996[01] 30 MAYORS ELECTED IN ROUND 1In the aftermath of round one of local elections in Macedonia it has been registered that 30 mayors have been elected for as many municipalities, whereas elections are to be annulled in 28 polling stations - which means that they will have to be repeated in 13 municipal units. Round 2 of the elections for mayor - unless the latter are contested through legal means - are to be held on 1st December, according to NEC Chairwoman Ljiljana Ristova who also revealed that it is known how many votes and municipal council seats each party had obtained with respect to the election of these bodies. As far as counsellor elections are concerned, procedures are to be repeated in 9 municipalities throughout this week as they had been annulled in 22 polling stations. Ms. Ristova also stated that by Friday 27 complaints had been lodged, on breaches of municipal council election procedures - which entails a possible increase of units where elections are to be repeated.Based on data released by the NEC, the party affiliation of mayors elected in round 1 looks as follows: SDSM obtained 11 mayor slots in the municipalities of Staro Nagorichane, Miravci, Star Dojran, Plasnica, Delchevo, Demir Hisar, Sopotnica, Pehchevo, Resen, Rankovce and Belchishta. The SP managed to gain 3 in Samokov, Zletovo and Demir Kapija, whereas the IMRO-DPMNE coalition got 5 in Podaresh, Bosilovo, Kriva Palanka, Kuklish and Makedonska Kamenica. The DP coalition succeeded in pushing through one of its candidates in Dobrushevo. The PDP emerged victorious 7 times at Zhitoshte, Delogrozhda, Labunishta, Arachinovo, Studenichani, Saraj and Konodovo, whereas the PDPA did the same at Srbinovo, as did the Turkish DP at Centar Zhupa and the PDPA _ NDP coalition at Oslomej. Mayor elections are to be repeated at Bistrica (1 polling station), Makedonski Brod (1), Vrutok (1), Orizari (2), Kratovo (2), Krivogashtani (3), Lozovo (1), Tetovo (4), Dzhepishte (4), Kamenjane (4), Vratnica (1), Karbinci (3) and Sopishte (1). Results on council elections have revealed that the majority of votes (241 428) went to the SDSM, which thus obtained 524 seats, followed by the IMRO-DPMNE (170 044) and 340 seats, the DP (82 604) and 128, the SPM (79 594) and 159, the LP (78 344) and 110, the PDP (64 492) and 164, the PDPA (56 228) and 117, the IMRO-DP (17 991) and 6 seats, the RP (15 764) with 5, the DPM (13 670) with 3 and the DPT (10 977) with 37 counsellor seats... These elections are to be repeated at Sopishte, Kamenjane, Dzhepchishte, Tetovo, Lozovo, Krivogashtani, Kratovo, Makedonski Brod and Bistrica. NEC information reveals that a total of 128 964 voting slips were not valid throughout round one - of which 97 003 referred to council elections and 31 943 to mayor elections. The final turn-out of voters amounted to 60.33%. [02] INCIDENTS ALSO DURING REPEATED ELECTIONS IN TETOVOMTV reports recurrent incidents during repeated elections at 8 polling stations of the Tetovo region. Procedures had been annulled during round 1 due to unrest. As was the case this time when elections had to be suspended at polling station No. 2 in the morning because one of the balloting boxes had been forcefully opened. At Mala Rechica voting did not even commence, and voters were denied access to the polling station. Sources in Tetovo reveal that the entrance of the polling station in Kalnik had been adorned by the flag of the Albanian Republic, whereas at Sinichane and Kamenjane decisive factors had been the incongruence between the figures of voting slips and registered voters. The only instances of problem-free voting occurred at Vratnica and Sarachino.[03] TWO INDEPENDENT CANDIDATES SUPPORT UGRINOVSKIIndependent mayor of Skopje candidate Amdi Bajram who did not make it into round 2, decided to encourage his voters to support SDSM candidate Jovica Ugrinovski who is currently ranked third. Media report that Bajram had managed to obtain 6 091 votes throughout round 1, whereas Ugrinovski needs another 4 000 votes in his favour to level up with first-ranked Penov who gained 35 625 votes.The only independent female mayor-candidate, Gordana Mihajlovska also invited citizens who had cast their votes in her favour to support SDSM candidate Jovica Ugrinovski. [04] `MAKFAX': BULGARIAN MEDIA SUPPORTING IMRO-DPMNEThe above mentioned agency reports that Bulgarian media appear to unanimously support IMRO-DPMNE as the strongest opposition party within their coverage of Mac. local elections. Sofia dailies place a great deal of emphasis on the fact that local elections were marked by `serious manipulation attempts and disorder', but that IMRO-DPMNE achieved a remarkable success, remarkable enough to continue its struggle to dethrone the cabinet of Branko Crvenkovski. The Bulgarian opposition paper `Demokratija' published the statement of IMRO-DPMNE leader Ljubcho Georgievski on how OSCE experts were present in Macedonia to secure victory to the incumbent party, which as a `quid pro quo' has become more lenient towards Athens regarding the name-issue. The paper `Kontinent' accuses President Gligorov of creating anti-Bulgarian sentiments by entering the campaign, and trying to damage the Mac. opposition led by IMRO-DPMNE.`Kontinent' bases this viewpoint on an interview given by Head-of-state Kiro Gligorov for `Financial Times' in which he supposedly threatened that `the spite' Bulgarians have exhibited with regards to `recognising the West-Bulgarian dialect (Mac. Language)' could be conducive to an armed confrontation. The Skopje daily `Dnevnik' reveals that the author of the `Kontinent' article is IMRO-DPMNE supporter Krasimir Uzunov, as well as that his book - written in Bulgarian - has been promoted by IMRO-DPMNE leaders in Skopje. [05] PANGALLOS ON THE AEGEAN ISSUEThere is to be no such thing as a mass re-patriation of those `Greeks' who live in Macedonia as political dissidents... stated Greek Head of Diplomacy Theodoros Pangallos last Friday, according to `Makpress'. The Foreign Secretary of Greece excluded the possibility of a mass re-patriation of the `Macedonia' region, as only a few hundred requests had been submitted so far. Pangallos also stressed that the Civil War in Greece entailed the departure of over 25 000 political dissidents, and that all of them were free to return to Greece, acquire Greek citizenship and enjoy all legally guaranteed rights. In addition to this the Minister also mentioned the fact that over 50 000 citizens of the Republic of Macedonia have visited the Republic of Greece.[06] MATTHEW NIMITZ: `MACEDONIA IS TO RETAIN ITS CONSTITUTIONAL NAME'`My personal viewpoint, though I am not holding any official mandate, is that neither of both sides can be forced to accept something it does not favour. I believe that a solution can be found which would allow Macedonia to retain its constitutional name - without threatening the strategic interests of Greece at the same time.' This - as the Skopje weekly `Fokus' reports - is a statement made by Matthew Nimitz who had been one of the two mediators (until 15th September last year) entrusted with the Greek-Macedonian negotiations prior to Cyrus Vance, and who has contributed towards the Interim Agreement (adopted in New York on 14th September '95) quite significantly. Nimitz furthermore claimed that it would be surprising if a consensus were reached within a few weeks - or even within a few months. But the fact that both parties were in favour of continuing negotiations was to be evaluated as a very positive sign.Today's `Nova Makedonija' is quoting the Athens `To Vima' paper on the fact that at the beginning of last week a meeting attended by Foreign Sec. Theodoros Pangallos, Dep. Foreign Sec. Yorgos Papandreou, Under-Sec. Christos Rosakis, Permanent UN-representative Christos Zacharakis, Head of the Balkan Dept. Dymyteros Cypreos and by the Chief of the Skopje Liaison Office Alexandros Malyas had been held at the Greek Foreign Office behind closed doors. Talks had mainly dwelled on the `Mac. issue', and the ideas forwarded by both sides during the last meeting with mediator Cyrus Vance in New York. `To Vima' is quoting diplomatic sources while stating that a possible solution could be reached next summer, which would have to be ascribed to local elections in Macedonia, the speculations on irregular parliamentary elections, etc. [07] BILATERAL MEETING WITH SFRY SUCCESSION-MEDIATOR ARTHUR WATTSAccording to A-1 TV a Mac. delegation - headed by Pr. Todor Dzhunov - is to meet the SFRY succession-mediator, Sir Arthur Watts, in Brussels today. These talks follow bilateral meetings between the latter and Slovenia, Croatia and B&H.[08] MACEDONIA ATTENDING EU FINANCE CONFERENCEThe 10th Annual EU Finance Conference has started in Dublin today. The event is to last till Friday, and its main thematic focus are economic advantages entailing the peace process, North-South cooperation, the road towards EMU (Economic and Monetary Union) and the EU Regional Approach. `Vecher' reports that the conference will be attended by a Mac. delegation headed by Vice-President Jane Miljoski who will make a presentation on our country during an informative panel and a 30-minute long address on 26th November under the title: `Macedonia - the Road Towards Integration into Europe'. Vice-President Miljoski is to concentrate his speech on macro- and micro- economics, on structural reforms and on the completion of the legal system.[09] INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT-SEMINAR STARTED IN OHRIDThe Central European Management and Organisation Seminar has begun in Ohrid this Saturday, under the auspices of AIESEC-Macedonia. It is to be attended by app. 200 delegates of 20 countries, whereas main thematic issues are concentrating on management and organisation. The event will also include the familiarisation with the cult. and hist. heritage of Macedonia and the potential of its economy. The seminar has been opened by President Kiro Gligorov.[10] SEMINAR ON ETHNIC MINORITIES IN THE SOUTHERN BALKANS`The Recognition and Protection of Differences in the Southern Balkans - Human Rights and Minority Aspects' is the theme of a two-day seminar which commences in Skopje today. It will be attended by representatives of the countries in this region, by scientists and NGO activists who are to debate cultural differences and their respecting, ethnic and relig. stereotypes, conflict- provoking factors and the civil concept of ethno- identification. The seminar is held under the auspices of the Mac. Centre for Ethnic Relations and the Institute for Sociological and Political Research and - according to `Dnevnik' - it will be attended by representatives from Macedonia, Italy, Albania, Greece, Bulgaria, Turkey, the Netherlands and South Tirol.[11] SHTIP WIRELESS AMATEURS - WORLD CHAMPIONSThe Wireless Amateur Club `Nikola Tesla' of Shtip has become World Champion in Maintaining Wireless Communication at 14 Mhz during the World Championships last year, `Vecher' reports, in addition to stating that results had not been announced until a couple of days ago.The first place went to the Shtip club with 2 019 contacts established in 111 countries. [12] MISS MACEDONIA PRESENTED AS MISS YUGOSLAVIA AT MISS WORLD PAGEANT`Vecher' reports that `Miss Macedonia' Vesna Meshterovich had been dubbed `Miss Yugoslavia' at the MISS WORLD pageant in Benghalore, India. The same had been the case with the actual `Miss Yugoslavia. Ms. Lidija Velkovska, Mac. pageant organizer, denoted the entire matter a political scandal and an assault against part of the team and announced that a letter demanding public correction had been sent to organizers in India.MILS SUPPLEMENT[13] `The production is growing but so does the trading deficit'(`Vecher', 22 November 1996)In the year 1996 the social product in Macedonia will be increased for 2% and thus amount up to 644,2 dollars per inhabitant, the retail prices i.e. the inflation by the end of this year is estimated to grow for 4%, while in the foreign trade exchange the export of goods is expected to be reduced for 25% by which the degree of export covered with import will be reduced for 60%. These are the latest estimations by the Ministry for Development made about the crucial economic indicators which are brought up in the Analysis of the macro- economic policy realization of the Republic of Macedonia in the year 1996. -'It may globally be concluded that we are moving within the frames of that which has been provided for with certain movement in the positive direction and deviations within certain economic aggregates. The industry production was expected to grow for 2% but it has so far (in September) realized a growth of 4% , thus by the end of the current year the industry production is expected to be increased for 3%', commented the Development Minister Abdulmenaf Bedgeti. In the field of enployment a 5,1% decrease is noted. By the end of August this year the number of employed persons amounted up to 341 000 while the number of persons on the look for job came to 230 000. As the Minister Bedgeti assesses, unfavourable results will be accomplished in the foreign trade exchange this year and this is due to the great decrease of the export as opposed to the import. In the period from January to July a 523,4 million dollar goods was exported, which is around 31% less than the export in the year of 1995. All the while the import in the first seven months amounted up to 903,7 million dollars which means a reduction of about 5%. Due to this a high trading deficit is realized amounting 380 million dollars which presents a double increase in relation to the previous year. That is why, according to the analysis of the Development Ministry, the past period of 1996 and the realized movements within the monetary-credit policy are characterized with a high degree of restriction. These movements were determined as well by the unexpected situations in the foreign currency market and the necessity of the Macedonian National bank to intervene with a increased amount on the part of the offer. Due to the protection of the denar rate of exchange the foreign currency reserve are cut down for 20 million dollars and now they amount about 270 million dollars. The Development Minister points out that in the field of the of the bank credits amount there are inconsistent tendencies with the discount rate of the National bank. The nominal discount rate in November moved about 0,72% at a monthly level while at the beginning of the current year it amounted about 1,20%. Although there is e permanent decrease of the economic rate the bank interest rates are yet far higher. At an average they move about 1,7% a month and concluding with November the interest rate of the long term credits amounts up to 1,51%. It is assessed that these are high interest rates in relation to the inflation and the increase in the prices. In the field of financing the public needs besides the taken measures assessed with the macro-economic policy for the year of 1996 the situations within the fiscal sector have not been much improved as well, this especially goes for the pension and health fund. In the filed of the social funds ( not including the employment office) according to the periodical assessments the situations in the past few month have been worsened. According to the information given by the pay-circulation Institute the social funds have accomplished a deficit amounting 1,7 billion denars by which the fund for pension and invalid insurance deficit amounts to 697 million denars ( as opposed to 286 million denars in the January - December period of 1995), and in the health insurance fund the deficit is 935 million denars ( a s opposed to 714 million denars in 1995). However, as a general assessment of the economic policy realization in the year of 1996 one may say that the long lasting recessive tendency has stopped and positive movements have started in the real sector. A thus established macro-economic balance and stability create conditions for a faster development in the following year. (the end)Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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