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MILS: News from the FYROM, 97-02-10Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: "Macedonian Information Liaison Service" <mils@mils.spic.org.mk>CONTENTS
MILS SUPPLEMENTMILS NEWSSkopje, 10 February, 1997[01] PROTOCOL VISIT OF MINISTER FRCHKOVSKI TO THE WHITE HOUSEThe Foreign Secretary of the Republic of Macedonia Ljubomir Frchkovski attended the traditional breakfast, hosted by US President Clinton each year for a large number of US and international personalities. Upon this occasion the Macedonian Foreign Office revealed that Minister Frchkovski had been placed at the same table with the US Head of State and his US counterpart Madeleine Albright. Records further indicate that Frchkovski paid a short protocol visit to the President, whereas he had a separate meeting with State Secretary Albright, focusing on bilateral issues. Both sides expressed their content with relations between both countries - as well as the necessity for their furthering and intensifying. Foreign Office records also reveal that Minister Frchkovski had a meeting with World Bank Head for Southeast Europe Ken Lake, with whom he discussed the imminent Donors' Conference in Brussels.[02] MINISTER FRCHKOVSKI RECEIVED BY MEDIATOR CYRUS VANCEA-1 TV reports that Macedonian Head of Diplomacy Ljubomir Frchkovski had been received by the mediator in Greek- Macedonian negotiations regarding the name-issue, Cyrus Vance, during his visit of several days to New York. The meeting had also been attended by newly-appointed Macedonian UN Representative Naste Chalovski, and by Vance Advisor Herbert Augley. Throughout talks Frchkovski informed mediator Vance of the progress of reforms in Macedonia, even with respect to the most sensitive domain: inter- ethnic relations. Evidence of this was the recent enactment of the Pedagogical Faculty Law. Divergent views entertained by Athens and Skopje concerning the name should not be conducive to regional destabilization in any way... mediator Vance stated, adding that talks are to continue in New York, under his auspices, towards the end of this month.[03] KOSTAS SIMITIS: `MUTUALLY ACCEPTABLE OPTION DOES NOT CONTAIN THE TERM MACEDONIA'`Makfax' informs that Greek PM Kostas Simitis stated in front of the Parliament last Friday that his country was strictly implementing the Interim Agreement signed with Macedonia in New York, whose objective it was to determine a mutually acceptable name which would not contain the term `Macedonia' or any of its derivatives. According to the above mentioned agency the Greek PM underlined the danger of `Skopje being called Macedonia' should mediator Vance decide to resign and the Security Council omit to propose another name. `I believe that nobody in this room favours such a solution', stressed Simitis at the Parliament, at the same time appealing to political parties to remain united in order to achieve their goal. These views aired by the Greek PM represented part of a debate with `Nea Demokratia' opposition leader Militiyadis Evert with respect to Greek Government views on negotiations in New York and the assessment of the New York Interim Agreement by Greek Foreign Secretary Pangallos as inefficient.[04] FARMERS ANNOUNCING STRIKE AND DEMANDING LIABILITY OF APPROPRIATE MINISTERSIn the opinion of the Independent Trade Union Organisation of the Private Agricultural Production Sector - a clearly defined agriculture policy is lacking in Macedonia; there is no export concept or orientation for agricultural produce; the law for the use of water has not been enacted in spite of five years of pressuring and this year's National Budget is more than discouraging in terms of stimulating agriculture production. At Friday's press conference the representative of the above mentioned Trade Union Organisation Stavre Janevski placed particular emphasis on the blow dealt out to Macedonian rice farmers by allowing the unrestricted import of 2 000 tons of rice - according to media reports. Importers mentioned include `Sloga' of Kadrifakovo and Skopje-based `Ino-Spektar' (owned by SDSM parliamentary member Zore Temelkovski). It was also said that involved ministers would be held responsible. Upon outlining the damage inflicted on farmers by the customs system, by permitting the import of lamb meat and other agricultural produce, farmers also emphasised that the development credits for the private sector had either not been implemented, or given to some strong businesses. Upon demanding a meeting with PM Crvenkovski Trade Union Representatives underlined that all necessary measures for the protection of private farmers would be taken, including the irrevocable right to strike. `Dnevnik' quotes sources within the Ministry of Agriculture upon reporting that loans had not been issued as the precise terms had not been defined yet.The Commission for Agriculture, Forestry and Water Supplies adopted the draft-bill for entering arrangements with the `IFAD' (International Fund for Agriculture Development) last Friday, for the issuing of an 8.15 million dollar credit to renew app. 393 rural communities in 14 municipalities in East and South Macedonia. [05] `ZLETOVO' MINERS ON STRIKELast Friday the miners of `Zletovo' in Probishtip have commenced striking as their demands granted by the management during the strike of last August had not been fulfilled. Media report that miners are now requesting a pay rise of 100%, the forwarding of pay withheld as of last September, the improving of working conditions, the modernization of the utterly insufficient and outdated equipment as well as the more regular supplying with reproduction material. In order to come up with a solution for the situation in `Zletovo' a meeting of the Strike Board, Trade Union representatives and the management has been scheduled for today.[06] PROTESTS OF DECEIVED BANK CLIENTS CONTINUEThe peaceful protests of deceived bank clients continued in front of the Macedonian Government building last Friday.Demands for a meeting with PM Crvenkovski were once again repeated, though today they are only to be received by Vice- President Ljube Trpevski. It has also been announced that demonstrations are to begin at noon today. In the meantime the Ministry of the Interior has released information on another fraud in which 60 citizens lost the total sum of 823 000 DM - without, however, revealing the name of the company, i.e. of the owner who had closed an agreement with his clients to borrow hard currency funds at a monthly interest rate of 15% - in spite of the fact that the company was already under investigation throughout 1995/'96. Criminal charges against the offender have been submitted to the DAs office last Friday. [07] COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT FOR `MRTV' AND LOCAL STATIONSTransport and Communications Minister Dimitar Buzleski and Chairman of the Trade Union Organisation for Graphic, Informative, Cintematographic and Publishing Activities Petre Klinkarov have signed a Collective Agreement covering the National Macedonian Radio and TV Broadcasting Network and local radio and TV stations. This document - Buzleski and Klinkarov stressed - is to be conducive to an improvement in radio broadcasting in the country. To this purpose it is nevertheless necessary for the Parliament to adopt the Law on Radio Diffusion.[08] ONLY `HALF A' SKOPJE CITY COUNCIL SESSIONLast Friday was marked by a Skopje City Council Session attended by only 13 counsellours of the IMRO-DPMNE, LP, DP and PDPA - as those of the SDSM, SPM, IMRO-DP and PDP did boycott the session due to the omission to invite the municipal delegates. `Vecher' reports that the session was brought to close `in a jiffy' (i.e. after around 20 minutes) as all proposals were adopted unanimously. Afterwards City Council Chairman Kekenovski made an appeal to all factions to overcome discord for the sake of the citizens. To this purpose he also stressed that once council elections at Kisela Voda were completed, all delegated counsellours would be invited to attend sessions of the City Council.[09] ADDITIONAL NATIONAL `MP' ELECTIONS TO BE HELD IN GOSTIVARAdditional elections for one seat in the National Parliament of Macedonia have been held in Gostivar yesterday. During these it occurred that votes were cast in favour of PDPA member Rufi Osmani who has already been elected mayor of Gostivar at local elections. One of the candidates of the PDP, PDPA, DPT, SDSM, IMRO-DP and DPM is reported to have received 30% of the overall registered 14 230 votes, according to most recent information.A-1 TV reports that during voting procedures the national flags of the Republic of Macedonia, of the Republic of Albania and the Republic of Turkey had been placed in front of the Gostivar municipality building - with permission of the Municipal Council but contrary to the Macedonian Constitution. [10] `SPM' LEADER ON STATEMENTS MADE BY PM CRVENKOVSKI`The statements given by PM and SDSM leader Branko Crvenkovski on relations with the SPM during his recent interview for Macedonian National Television, were without principles and outside established inter-party relations - abundant in lies and false information in order to mislead the public. I ask Mr. Crvenkovski to come up with even one exhibit that anybody within the SPM - or I as the party leader - has ever stated that Macedonian should strive towards integration into Yugoslavia, or that the SPM has opposed the pro-western orientation of our country.' ...This has been stated by SPM leader Ljubisav Ivanov - Zingo at the press conference held two days ago in response to the Crvenkovski interview for MTV.Upon asking PM Crvenkovski to review his appearances not only prior to local elections but his overall public image, Ivanov stressed that the SPM did not entertain a foreign policy strategy different from that of the SDSM - but that it merely objected to the fact that certain individuals attempted to establish a monopoly over it, and interpret it in their own way. In the opinion of Ivanov key divergences emerge with regards to economic policy, privatization procedures, etc. These mainly surfaced during the extra- ordinary party congress, when we opted for an independent Socialist Party... Ivanov stressed. Upon the question whether the SPM were to leave the coalition, Ivanov replied that they embodied a `serious party which was not easy entering or abandoning coalitions', as well as that all difficulties created within the party and relations with the SDSM were to be discussed at the imminent meeting of the party's National Council. [11] GREEK AND MACEDONIAN `NGOS' ON RIGHTS OF REFUGEES OF THE AEGEAN PART OF MACEDONIAYesterday the meeting of Greek and Macedonian NGOs on `The Rights of Refugees of the Aegean Part of Macedonia' was brought to a close in Skopje, A-1 TV reports. It has been revealed that several conclusions were adopted at this meeting, whereas the statement by both Helsinki Committees has been issued in English and is to be translated into Greek and Macedonian soon.Further information state that the meeting was brought to a close with the denoting of the discriminatory 1982 decision denying the right of return to refugees who are not ethnic Greeks as unacceptable by any human rights standard, which is why it should be suspended. `All those forced to leave Greece throughout the 40s should be treated equally - regardless of their ethnic origin, while respecting their right to permanent repatriation or temporary visits. Matters of property restitution should be handled similarly, concordant to the successful `82 Law and other legal regulations. The Greek state is to stop (ab-) using provisions within the Citizenship Law to deny entrance to non-ethnic Greeks into the country. It is just as unacceptable to deny the same right to the children of those refugees... states the statement issued by both Helsinki Committee branches. In the end it is also being stressed that it should be understood that these refugees are indeed not of Greek origin, that they declare themselves to be Macedonians, as many of the current residents of Greece do, too. Their desire to return to Greece in a non-violent way should not be considered a separatist claim on Greek territory - claims a statement signed by seven NGOs concerned with the protection of the rights of Macedonians of the Aegean part of Macedonia, as well as by four Greek representatives of the Greek Helsinki Committee, the International Minority Rights Group (`SOS - Racism') and two representatives of Macedonians in Greece. [12] ISLAMIC WORSHIPPERS CELEBRATING RAMAZAN `BAYRAM'Yesterday Islamic worshippers celebrated one of their greatest religious holidays, the Ramazan Bayram. On this occasion the Bayram Morning Prayers dedicated to this holiday were read in all Islamic houses of worship, while central festivities were held at the Yaya-Pasha Mosque in Skopje. The Bayram message to Moslem worshippers was delivered by Reysoul Oulema Redzhepi who asked Allah to accept their fasting and the `ibadet', while wishing all present joy and happiness in their lives.[13] SLOVENIAN GREGOR GRILT WINS `SHARPLANINA CUP'Gregor Grilt of Slovenia won the 28th Sharplanina Ski Cup held on Popova Shapka (Tetovo) this weekend. Grilt won the Giant Slalom race on Saturday, and secured the overall win by coming in second at yesterday's Slalom competition. The first prize award totalled 3 000 DM in prize money and a `Sharplaninec' dog - an award introduced for the first time this year. The Ski Cup, with 69 competitors from 11 countries, had been opened by President Kiro Gligorov last Saturday. The best-ranked Macedonian was Kirche Ristevski at position 15.MILS SUPPLEMENT[14] `Macedonian Language in Greek Educational System'(`Dnevnik' - 7th February 1997)`Vinozhito is using all its resources in its struggle for the minority rights of ethnic Macedonians, guaranteed by international agreements and obligations Greece has taken upon itself. Its strategic aim is to procure equality for ethnic Macedonians in Greece and within the EU...' ...This is an extract of the `Vinozhito' Political Manifesto adopted in January this year. `Vinozhito' as a political organisation represents the Macedonian ethnicity living in Greece. Based on the premise that the achieving of peace requires the recognition of borders - regardless of all past historic injustice - civic and social justice is to be generated by progressive forces within the boundaries of a state. Particular emphasis within the Political Manifesto has been placed on the returning of ethnic Macedonians / political emigrants and of refugee children. The Greek Government is to abandon the practice of revoking citizenship of those Macedonians living abroad for economic reasons, and return it to those already deprived of it - the Manifesto states. The party has also outlined several development objectives concerning the use of Macedonian language, such as: the publishing of bilingual (Greek- Macedonian) periodicals, the publishing of a Macedonian-Greek dictionary, the introducing of instruction in standard Macedonian language within Greece's nine-year education system at places where ethnic Macedonians are resident and the language is being spoken. `Vinozhito' demands the revival of dual listing of toponyms, as well as the compiling of low-restricted trade programmes, the conducting of economic decentralization, etc. in order to facilitate economic prospect and the establishing of friendly relations and cooperation among states. `We oppose the policy of demographic manipulation selectively employed by the Greek Government throughout decades on the territories of Thrace and Macedonia'... `Vinozhito' therefore demands legal reforms (Greek Election Law) which would ensure minority representation in both the Greek and the European Parliament. Greek policy makers are also being asked to recognise the existence of a Macedonian and Turkish ethnic minority. [15] `PDPA Against Turkish Language'(`Nova Makedonija' - 7th February 1997)Rufi Osmani... currently mayor of Gostivar; a political executive of the very top of the PDPA... an economic expert, young and capable - known to the wider TV audience as an extraordinary rhetoric. Until recently he also held the post of a parliamentary member. A clearly-heard and fierce advocate of human - and particularly minority - rights... practically one of the most determined promoters of the right of Macedonian Albanians in the country. In this struggle he either `toyed around' with state institutions or confronted them. A man walking on the high wire spanned across the abyss of actions and legal / Constitutional provisions. At times wobbling - almost falling... due to his personal opinion, or the party line which would catapult him that high up in front of the eyes of the public. By the latter he is equally abhorred or adored... both sides however value his intelligence. Constitutional and legal points were `not his cup of tea' on grounds of his political engagement or beliefs - and yet he has good knowledge of them. Epithets very often ascribed to him: `radical' or `extremist'. During his numerous skirmishes with the Macedonian Government - labelled by him as a government affirming Macedonians, i.e. as an `anti-Albanian government' he has emerged as a politician refusing to recognise the 1991 and 1994 censuses, a politician who openly circulated the figure of 40% Albanians in Macedonia in his interaction with international missions - in contrast to the 22% registered by the responsible state institution. The census? Rufi Osmani is recognising the census of the population in Macedonia? Aye! Mayor Rufi Osmani finally seems to have settled for the census - and what is more he even bases his political decisions affecting Gostivar on these official census data. According to those obtained during the 1994 census he noticed that the Turkish language should no longer be employed as an administrative language within his city / municipality, as there are only 12.5% of Turks in the latter - and not 20% which is the legal prerequisite. Thus this municipality was no longer trilingual - but bilingual (Macedonian and Albanian). The Turkish language found itself banished... political manipulations of an ethnicity, the opportunity to prioritise the Albanian language besides the Macedonian one - evidence supporting the thesis of two dominant nations within the country? The Turkish community is upset, as is the DPT (Democratic Party of Turks)... it is being claimed that the Turkish language has always been official - even during the era called socialism. This unease may also be attributed to the fact that this decision is being brought on by a person of whom they thought of as a champion for minority rights, as a politician who would increase the latter - even by overstepping legal and Constitutional boundaries... a man who during elections even posed as their coalition partner at several instances. Mayor Osmani, however, recommends the reading of the Local Self-Government Law - particularly of those sections outlining minimum percentages, while expressing profound regrets of his having to uphold the law. As a mayor though he is obliged to respect the laws generated by the institutions of the Macedonian state system. It is hard to believe that these are the only motives for mayor Osmani, especially when minority rights are concerned. We believe that future events will reveal why relations between Albanians and Turks have been worsening in Gostivar i.e. Macedonia. All this will, of course, cause a great fuss for PDPA member Rufi Osmani as regards the advancing of his political career - since he recognised census results `through his teeth' in public. It would be interesting to be a fly on the wall in his cabinet the next time international monitors and missions, and embassy official visit this eminent minority rights politician - and hear him saying that the Albanian ethnicity in Macedonia makes up 22% of the overall population. (end)mils news 10 February 1997Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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