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MILS: News from the FYROM, 97-02-06Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: "Macedonian Information Liaison Service" <mils@mils.spic.org.mk>CONTENTS
MILS SUPPLEMENTMILS NEWSSkopje, 06 February, 1997[01] NORTH-SOUTH CORRIDOR DEFINEDThere is a large amount of support for the corridor No. 10 project, which would connect Salzburg and Thessalonica via Ljubljana, Zagreb, Belgrade, Nish and Skopje. It would also be comprised of several secondary routes, such as the ones from Graz to Ljubljana, from Budapest to Nish, from Nish to Sofia and from Veles via Prilep and Bitola to the `Via Ignatia' under construction in Greece. This has been concluded during the second day of the `G-24' Transport Working Group meeting in Skopje yesterday. It has been stressed during the press conference following the close of the meeting, this option of the corridor has to obtain the `go-ahead' at the General `G-24' Assembly In Brussels towards the end of this month, as well as at the European Transport Ministers' Conference due in Berlin this April, in order to acquire the status of a priority project for the pan-European Transport Conference, to be held in Helsinki in June. According to Jonathan Schelle, in charge of the `G-24' Transport Group East- West corridor project, communications seem to progress the most between Bulgaria and Macedonia, which is not the case with Albania due to insufficient infrastructure. The EU intends to assists the construction of the port in Drach, and in terms of road and railway connections in Macedonia endeavours are being made to complete the railway link to Bulgaria and the motorway from Skopje to Tetovo.The Under-Secretary of the Macedonian Transport and Communications Ministry, Chaushevski, has underlined that the construction of the East-West and North-South corridors would embody the fulfillment of Macedonia's interest in creating a crossroads between both directions - which would again be complemented by other routes. In order to ensure project implementation it will become necessary to secure funding from the EU and financial institutions. [02] 30 `NEA DEMOKRATIA' MPS OPPOSING PROPOSAL OF PANGALLOSA group of 30 MPs of the Greek opposition party `Nea Demokratia' have issued a written statement yesterday in which they categorically oppose the proposal to settle the name-issue with their northern neighbour by accepting a complex reference containing the toponym `Macedonia' - the Macedonian Radio reports. The statement represents a response to the proposal made by Greek Head of Diplomacy Theodoros Pangallos to the Greek Parliament, which according to Macedonian media coverage has cause severe resistance within both the incumbent PASSOK and the Greek Government itself.[03] COOPERATION BETWEEN DUTCH AND MACEDONIAN JUDICIARYMacedonian Secretary of Justice Vlado Popovski has met H.E. Amb. Hendrik Heynen of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Macedonia yesterday. Both politicians reviewed cooperation between the judiciary structures of both countries up to the present. Priority was attributed to the imminent signing of agreements on legal assistance, i.e. the implementation of court rulings and extradition.[04] HIGH-RANKING GERMAN OFFICIAL VISITS ILINKA MITREVAYesterday the Chairperson of the Macedonian Parliamentary Commission for Foreign Policy Ilinka Mitreva has received Gottfried Haas, the Head of the Southeast Europe Dept. of the German Foreign Office. Talks revolved around the mutual interest to further overall relations between Germany and Macedonia - and to speed up the ratification of the EU Cooperation Agreement.[05] `UNPREDEP' COMMAND EXPRESSES GRATITUDEThe Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General to Macedonia, Henryk Sokalski, and the UNPREDEP Force Commander Brig.-Gen. Bo Wranker have expressed their gratitude for extended help and solidarity with regards to the helicopter crash into Lake Mavrovo. Particular gratitude has also been addressed to President Kiro Gligorov, Macedonian authorities, the Diplomatic Corps, civic organisations and a large number of individuals who have forwarded their sincere sympathies regarding the untimely death of the four peacekeepers. Gratitude and recognition has also been expressed to the Ministries of Defence, of Internal Affairs and of Foreign Affairs for their exceptional expediency exhibited during this tragic accident.[06] `EU' INTENDS TO ACCEPT MACEDONIAN TEXTILE PRODUCTSThe `EU' Ministerial Council has adopted the mandate on the commencing of negotiations on textile with Macedonia, A-1 TV reports. It is being stated that the mandate contains a flexibility clause which actually bears evidence of EU readiness to meet Macedonian manufacturers halfway, in order to facilitate their emerging onto the European textile market. The European 15 have also codified a protection system within this mandate, which leaves room for the modification or termination of the agreement should European producers find themselves threatened by Macedonian producers. The deal with Macedonia is further to include a dual control system in order to counter possible speculations, i.e. the abuse of the agreement for re-export of textiles into a third country by Macedonian traders. Negotiations on this agreement , as well as on arrangements on wine export into the EU should commence next moth, according to A-1 TV.[07] FRENCH-MACEDONIAN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CHAMBER DUE SOONThe Chamber for Economic Development between France and Macedonia is to commence operation in Skopje next week, in order to facilitate networking between businesses of both countries. This has been revealed at yesterday's `Round Table on Economic Relations Between France and Macedonia' which has been attended by several representatives of French companies interested in investing in Macedonia. It has also been stressed that France is interested in the Macedonian market, as well as that short-term credit lines for Macedonian businesses are to be introduced soon. The French Government will further cover the expenses of French entrepreneurs willing to invest in Macedonia.Another thing pointed out at the meeting that the regulating of legal aspects would have a major impact on attracting French capital into Macedonia, i.e. on the speedy ratification of agreements on avoiding dual taxation and investment protection. [08] CONSTITUTIONAL COURT NOT AFFECTED BY POLITICAL INFLUENCEThe Constitutional Court of Macedonia is not under any sort of political influence, neither does anybody attempt to exert this kind of influence... stated Constitutional Court Chairman Jovan Proevski at yesterday's press conference which focused on Court activities of last year.Proevski's statement also reflects a response to the US State Dept. Human Rights Report, i.e. the section on Macedonia which states that a small number of court rulings and trials appear to be affected by politics, in addition to quoting the wide-spread belief that corruption of judges is a common occurrence, and that the Constitutional Court does not protect human rights actively enough. According to the assessments made by Proevski, the US State Dept. Report is based on a different Constitutional framework - which is not diffusive compared to the Macedonian one where competencies are divided between the Constitutional Court and basic judiciary instances. Members of the Constitutional Court have also indicated that the claim of how this court depended on dominant political groups is contradictory to statistical facts. In this context the most recent ruling of the Supreme Court on retirement pensions was mentioned, as it represented the logical sequel to the ruling of this Court. Constitutional Court Chairman Jovan Proevski has further revealed yesterday that throughout 1996 the court had processed 350 cases, whereas 280 had been brought to a close. These cases contained 70 suspensions, 4 annulments, 83 procedure initiations, 109 refusals, etc. [09] DECEIVED BANK CLIENTS PICKETED GOVERNMENT YESTERDAYThe missing 35 million DM of the `ALFA-S', `Jugomarket', `Makedonija- reklam' and `Dzhamadanche' banks have instigated yesterday's protests in front of the Macedonian Government seat, staged by deceived customers. The latter requested a meeting with PM Branko Crvenkovski, adding that demonstrations had been inevitable as so far individual demands to remedy the situation had not generated any response with authorities. Customers have also asked the Government to introduce urgent restitution measures, and initiate legal procedures against those responsible for this form of organised crime. Instead of meeting the PM, authorities offered talks with the Under- Secretary of the Ministry of Finance - this entailed the one-day blockade of the street in front of the Government premises by discontent customers. Afterwards they even attempted to enter the building, but were stopped from doing so by the police. According to yesterday's media coverage, demonstrations are to continue until the bank- scandal issue has been settled.[10] `PELAGONIJA' STRIKE PUT ON HOLDAs of 27th January strike activities at the `Pelagonija' construction contractor have been put on hold, and on 3rd February regular work has been resumed except at construction site No. 10 in Bitola. This has been stated by representatives of the new Executive Board of this company, at a press conference given yesterday. It has further been revealed that most of the employees are currently involved in constructions of the railway link to Bulgaria. The newly-appointed Charge D'Affairs of the company Stojo Milkovski said that so far new projects in Montenegro and the Czech Republic have been secured for `Pelagonija' employees - whereas future ventures would be conducted in Albania, Spain, etc. Transformation procedures are also in progress in nine Depts. while the number of employees has remained unaltered.[11] `DPT' OBJECTS THE REVOKING OF OFFICIAL LANGUAGE STATUS OF TURKISH IN GOSTIVARAt their press conference staged yesterday, the Democratic Party of Turks in Macedonia has addressed an energetic protest to the Municipal Council of Gostivar with regards to its most recent decision. According to the latter the status of an official / administrative language has been revoked regarding the Turkish language - without determining the actual percentage up to which the Turkish ethnicity is represented in this region. In addition to this the DTP also submitted the proposal that the Government should overrule this municipal decision, and pass a law on the use of minority languages as soon as possible. The already enacted Law on Local Self- Government, i.e. the provisions regulating this issue do not encounter the support of this party, as it has been proposed to await the enactment of the new law, or to change and complement the existing - as a sign of goodwill by the Government. Other assessments delved into the observation that the Turkish ethnicity was also being subjected to restrictive policy, which imposed considerations on possibly asking for the protection of international instances - or even implement methods of `furthering democracy on the streets'. Though the DPT does not expect significant changes as regards Parliamentary structures, its candidate Alaydin Chorbalan is to compete for the one vacant slot at a Gostivar election unit - during additional elections.[12] `THE INTERNATIONAL STANDING OF MINORITIES' BY VLADIMIR ORTAKOVSKI PROMOTEDYesterday Macedonian publisher `Misla' promoted the most recent book of Vladimir Ortakovski `The International Standing of Minorities'. The event itself was attended by eminent public personalities, including President Kiro Gligorov. The overall comment was that the book provided answers to many questions of a legal, historical, political and sociological nature with respect to the position of minorities within a society. The book thus focuses on tensions in the Caucasus, ethnic conflicts in Romania (1990), the disintegration of Yugoslavia (1991), events occurring in the Soviet Union and the Czech Republic in 1992, armed conflicts in Bosnia and Croatia, etc. It has also been stressed that this book intended to lay the foundation for the compiling of a comparative study on the position of minorities in the Balkans - an initiative launched by President Gligorov.MILS SUPPLEMENT[13] `Profane Commandments on Sacral Sermons'(`Vecher' - 5th February 1997)So far religious communities have reacted rather emphatically with respect to what has been proposed as the future legal framework within the state. In terms of contents responses have been varying - from contesting several proposed provisions up to the overall rejection of this legal concept. They all, however, have been predominantly revolving around `extracting' what lies in store for each religious community as regards ranking and treatment by the state. Interestingly enough, suggestions registered up to now indicate that concord does not exactly `blossom' with respect to relations between larger religious communities and the state - unlike smaller communities, i.e. future religious groups with whatever status is reserved for them. A significant dimension complementing debates which are bound to be led regarding this act of law is the question whether it practically implements liberal Constitutional provisions into the civic freedom of religious worship (those guaranteeing the irrevocable right of a human being to engage in religious worship, on an individual or collective basis, in public or privately), and whether religious issues remain separate of those of the state, but yet equal in the eyes of the law. In this context it appears quite certain that discussions will also be led with respect to the proposed option of `one denomination in one religious community', then the role of state structures within the activity of religious communities and the possible sanctions for unauthorised activity. There is also the division into `religious communities' and `religious groups' which according to some is discriminatory in terms of status - i.e. a manifestation of the state's endeavour to protect larger religious communities such as the OCM, the Islamic Community and the Catholic Church with regards to the working of smaller religious communities. The OCM has not commented on these proposed legal provisions yet, in spite of the fact that the Holy Synod has discussed them. One can only guess why, but according to what is being rumored more characteristic demands to be put forward by the OCM are that: `OCM decisions should be as binding as those of the state', `the minimum of 3 000 members for the registration of a religious group as opposed to the proposed 50'... In this context one should certainly mention the recent statement of the OCM figurehead as regards the possible stifling of freedom of worship as numerous permits seem necessary to stage religious services outside church objects. The views of the Islamic community are bound to depend on the future processing of the clause on `one denomination per religious community'. Should this provision not be entered into the final version, it almost certain that duels with the newly-registered Moslem community are to continue. The leader of the latter Jakub Selimovski has stated that the enactment of such a provision should not question the existence of the Moslem Religious Community, as it is registered concordant to legal regulations and cannot be declared unregistered retroactively. Utterly negative evaluations on the draft-bill have been aired by several Protestant denominations, such as: the Baptist, the Evangelist-Methodist, the Evangelist, the Pentecost and the Congressional Church. After a joint meeting they have concluded that this concept has been drafted departing from the viewpoint that religion should surpressed / kept out of the public domain as much as possible. Another objection dwells on noted partiality towards the Orthodox Church. `A law of this sort opens up old wounds of religious persecution. Legal restrictions make it nearly impossible to even leave the four church walls, offering a kind of `domestic confinement' instead'... states Ivan Grozdanov of the Baptist Church. In his opinion this draft-bill introduces discrimination among religious communities for the first time, by categorising some into `communities' and others into `groups'. This further embodies state interference with purely religious terminology. As far as the `one denomination per religious community' is concerned, Grozdanov stated that the key bone of contention is that according to this creed only one Christian denomination should exist, in spite of the fact that there are several ones (particularly Protestant ones). Therefore it would be recommendable to introduce the term `confession'. `Why should one impede the propaganda activities of religious communities if it is not advocating religious or national intolerance? Each individual should be the one to decide whether she/he will accept certain information or not. The state should not emerge as a censor', Grozdanov claims. (end)mils news 06 February 1997Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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