MILS: News from the FYROM, 97-03-07

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

CONTENTS

[01] MAYOR INFLUENCE HELPED SETTING UP OF TENTS FOR STRIKERS

[02] STUDENT BODY OF THE SKOPJE UNIVERSITY: `WE ARE NOT IN FAVOUR OF PROTESTS IN THE STREETS'

[03] LP & DP: `CURRENT GOVERNMENT ACCUSED OF BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR STUDENT PROTESTS'

[04] IMRO-DPMNE OBJECTS TO THE BRUTAL TREATMENT OF STUDENTS BY POLICE

[05] `FITU' URGES GOVERNMENT TO MEET STUDENT DEMANDS

[06] MAX VAN DER STUHL IN MACEDONIA TODAY

[07] ACTIVITIES OF LARGEST SAVINGS HOUSE IN MACEDONIA SUSPENDED

[08] MANAGEMENT OF `TIKVESH' AGRICULTURAL FACILITY IN KAVADARCI CHANGED

[09] TRANSFORMATION OF `PELAGONIJA' CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTOR COMPLETED

[10] MACEDONIAN ECONOMY HITTING THE `NET'

[11] DPT: `TURKISH SHOULD BE AN ADMINISTRATIVE LANGUAGE IN BOTH DEBAR AND GOSTIVAR'

MILS SUPPLEMENT

[12] `A Region Does Not Equal Illyrida!' (`Dnevnik' - 6th March 1997)

[13] `PDPA Promising Hygiene, As Well As Para-Institutions' (`Nova Makedonija' - 6th March 1997)

MILS NEWS

Skopje, 07 March, 1997

[01] MAYOR INFLUENCE HELPED SETTING UP OF TENTS FOR STRIKERS

This day was also marked by the fact that the tents were set up, which had been obstructed by the police two days ago in spite of the fact that students had obtained a permit by appropriate authorities. Upon request by the organisation board of the hunger strike, the latter have also been visited by the mayors of the Gazi Baba, Kisela Voda and Chair municipalities of Skopje - as well as by the mayors of Prilep and Sveti Nikole, by the leader of the MAAK-CP and part of the IMRO-DPMNE leadership. On behalf of the visiting officials strikers were addressed by Metodija Gochevski, mayor of the Gazi Baba municipality, who expressed his unconditional support to student demands - assessing that the approach implemented to achieve the fulfillment of these requests has been brought on by force due to the lack of interaction with authorised structures and institutions. By fulfilling the strikers' demands - Gochevski said on behalf of the visitors - a significant problem would be solved and perspectives for the education and the future of the young would be opened up. The participants of the hunger strike asked for the assistance of the mayors in setting up a tent, with the justification that their influence as officials would prevent the police from intervention. This was followed by the customary march through the centre of Skopje, headed by the organisers and the above mentioned officials. Students were also joined by the employees of the Skopje-based `Goce Delchev' printing company and by a group of deceived bank clients yesterday. According to media estimates about 2 000 people attended yesterday's protests.

The Macedonian Radio has further reported that Education Minister Sofia Todorova expressed her willingness to enter negotiations with students of the Pedagogical Faculty regarding publicised demands, but in a more suitable environment.

Another peaceful protest has been staged by students of the Faculty of Tourism and Gastronomy in Ohrid yesterday.

Demonstrators there also marched through the streets carrying flags and singing revolutionary songs, and a group of the Students' Association leadership was received by the mayor of this municipality. Non-violent demonstrations were also organised in Bitola.

[02] STUDENT BODY OF THE SKOPJE UNIVERSITY: `WE ARE NOT IN FAVOUR OF PROTESTS IN THE STREETS'

[03] LP & DP: `CURRENT GOVERNMENT ACCUSED OF BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR STUDENT PROTESTS'

Both parties further expressed that they are holding the incumbent government responsible for the student demonstrations. The solution is seen by them in patient dialogue, in establishing and increasing the trust of the public into state institutions and in upholding the Constitution by state structures. The LP and the DP also appealed to students to suspend the hunger strike, in the conviction that there are other means to overcome these difficulties painlessly.

The LP parliamentary faction requested of Parliamentary Chairman Tito Petkovski yesterday to establish a dialogue with the striking students in front of the Parliament, to inform all MPs of the outcome of these talks and to hold an urgent parliamentary meeting. The latter, according to the LP, should focus on conclusions and views aired by the Government on 22nd last month and on the requests submitted by university and secondary school students. In response to this written LP request, Parliamentary Chairman Tito Petkovski emphasised that the document had been addressed to the Government - and as soon as the Parliament had received the required information, conditions for an urgent meeting of the Parliament would be created.

[04] IMRO-DPMNE OBJECTS TO THE BRUTAL TREATMENT OF STUDENTS BY POLICE

[05] `FITU' URGES GOVERNMENT TO MEET STUDENT DEMANDS

[06] MAX VAN DER STUHL IN MACEDONIA TODAY

[07] ACTIVITIES OF LARGEST SAVINGS HOUSE IN MACEDONIA SUSPENDED

MTV reports that the `TAT' bank had practically kept double records, which is why the Central Bank had not been kept up to date on the overall amount of savings deposits.

According to the latest report submitted by the bank around 10 days ago the figure on the latter totalled 7.5 million DM, implemented via 7 000 contracts - although the Central Bank estimates that there are around 23 000 contracts. At the moment all transactions involving the bank have been suspended, with the exception of issuing savings books for the contracts valid so far. It has further been assessed that a kind of moratorium has been imposed as regards the bank over the subsequent three to four weeks - which resembles a pre-bankruptcy measure.

According to MTV the `TAT' bank had publicised the total figure of 10.5 million DM in savings deposits by 30th June last year. The remaining banks in the country reported app. 18 million DM. At that time the overall amount of savings deposits in Macedonia was estimated to be around 200 million DM.

Today `Nova Makedonija' reports that this may be the second banking scandal starring `TAT' director Sonja Nikolovska, since as a bank teller at `JIK Banka' in Bitola she had been charged with embezzlement, but acquitted due to lack of evidence subsequently. The daily further reveals that over the past four to five years Nikolovska had built a remarkable career for herself as head of the `TAT' bank. During the last local elections she had even found herself on the SDSM list of candidates in Bitola.

[08] MANAGEMENT OF `TIKVESH' AGRICULTURAL FACILITY IN KAVADARCI CHANGED

The new Charge d'Affair is Nikola Danev. The paper also reports that the `Tikvesh' Executive Board has opted for these measures due to the discontent expressed by employees with regards to the self-willed governance of Chekorov and his associates, and in order to obstruct the catastrophic method of privatisation to which this facility is being submitted. The latter has resulted in the disappearance of basic means which have made it impossible for `Tikvesh' to continuously conduct all technical procedures in the wine cellar, and in terms of growing wine and agriculture in general.

[09] TRANSFORMATION OF `PELAGONIJA' CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTOR COMPLETED

[10] MACEDONIAN ECONOMY HITTING THE `NET'

[11] DPT: `TURKISH SHOULD BE AN ADMINISTRATIVE LANGUAGE IN BOTH DEBAR AND GOSTIVAR'

MILS SUPPLEMENT

[12] `A Region Does Not Equal Illyrida!'

(`Dnevnik' - 6th March 1997)

The regionalisation of those areas mainly populated by Albanians is not to be mistaken for the referendum on the autonomy of West Macedonia, as the latter had a more sublime objective. This is a West European concept which does not threaten the territorial integrity of Macedonia... claim the mayors of Gostivar (Rufi Osmani) and Tetovo (Alaydin Demiri).

Regionalisation is a civilised project, originating from West Europe and the European Parliament has offered it as a model to all countries confronted with inter-ethnic tensions... the mayor of Tetovo says, prior to adding that `this is the way all these issues are being resolved throughout Europe. It is another story altogether why Foreign Secretary Frchkovski and President Gligorov are discarding this option, when actually this regionalisation has already been conducted; Tetovo and Gostivar do already embody a homogeneous entity. Thus they are in need of certain economic capacities and regional institutions.

The Gostivar mayor Osmani refuses to place a sign of equality (`=`) between this concept and the referendum for political and territorial autonomy of Albanians in Macedonia (staged several years ago, but then proclaimed illegal and a total failure by the political parties representing Albanians) as well. Osmani is convinced that the regionalisation concept is justified by the Law on Local Self-Government and the Constitution of Macedonia.

But everything nevertheless depended on the `qualitative interpretation' of these provisions.

In addition to this, we reported in our yesterday's edition that both mayors as well as their party (PDPA) intend to create regional financial, banking and other institutions. In reply to the dilemma whether this does not represent the establishing of parallel institutions, Osmani states that `the term parallel institutions is being interpreted rather negatively by the Macedonian political corps... My opinion on this subject is different. Albanians do parallel Macedonians in almost every respect - they embody two parallel people, they possess two parallel cultures, two parallel ethnic backgrounds, two parallel denominations... Those two parallelisms have been functioning for decades which is why they should develop via parallel institutions.'

Both mayors think that practice has proven so far that joint institutions have left very little room for the evolving of the particular traits of Albanian culture, education, history and tradition.

In response to the question whether they expect resistance by the central government, Osmani claimed: `We do think that projects will be based on the existing, positive provisions - and our avant-garde interpretation of the latter. There are to be impediments indicated by the central government, but we will attempt to nullify these with substantiated proposals and requests. Should there be any hindrances to the implementation of the positive provisions, we will be capable of creating a vent via amendments and annexes which are render feasibility to this concept of ours - without endangering the territorial integrity of Macedonia.

[13] `PDPA Promising Hygiene, As Well As Para-Institutions'

(`Nova Makedonija' - 6th March 1997)

The newly-established Municipal Council of Tetovo - where Alaydin Demiri (PDPA) has been elected mayor - will be chaired by PDPA representative Vebi Bedzheti, while NDP member Bedredin Ibraimi has been appointed Secretary.

Representatives of the PDP as the second largest party in terms of council members, are not holding any post. The same applies to the other parties represented in the Council, such as the DPM, SDSM, IMRO-DPMNE AND the DP - which actually embody the Macedonian electorate, and that of other ethnic origin.

The chairman of the Tetovo PDP branch, Bejtula Ademi, explains: `PDP accepted to support Alaydin Demiri of the PDPA in the second round of elections without demanding anything in return. PDPA has made the offer to appoint our member chairperson of the Council. We did refuse. It is our objective to function as the opposition in this body.

We did not make the promise of grand political decisions to the people of Tetovo, unlike the PDPA. Therefore we will insist on the fulfillment of these promises by this party, even if those should revolve around the establishing of institutions outside the political system of Macedonia. I repeat, we will insist and render support in the decision-making process.' In addition to this Ademi thinks that a Macedonian should have been offered a function within the Council - at the same time stressing that the PDP did not have anything to do with the division of power.

Tomislav Stojanovski - Bombay considers this scandalous, and states that it has been over a hundred years since no Macedonians were part of the government in Tetovo. Had the PDPA possessed the necessary political etiquette, if it had been committed to coexistence and tolerance it would have initiated a meeting with the parties of Macedonians to address this issue. But - Stojanovski says - we are not into the begging business.

The new mayor of Tetovo, Alaydin Demiri, emphasises that the formative meeting had gone by in a peaceful and solemn atmosphere, which is promising a solid cooperation among all parties. And yet, he claims, the parties representing Macedonians in the Council have not exhibited any interest to participate in the allocation of offices.

In addition to this Demiri states that the first issue on his `things to do list' is the raising of hygiene standards in the city and the addressing of the burning issues in the municipality, affecting the public the most.

He, however, also adds that he sees the post of a mayor as a political function as well - which is why he intends to `deal with the issues of vital interest to Albanians; we will offer bilingualism, the unobstructed use of national symbols, education on all levels, the creation of institutions which I think will be part of the system. If the government cannot grasp this, than this is the problem of the government which is to be conducive to tensions. In response to the question whether in this case the `referendum' of Albanians of 1992 on territorial and political autonomy may be resuscitated, Demiri gives the brief reply: `the referendum embodies a reality, the will of the people. Even if we organised another one, the outcome would be the same.

(end)

mils news 07 march 1997

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