MILS: News from the FYROM, 97-04-03

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

CONTENTS

[01] MACEDONIA DEMANDS EXCLUSION FROM ELISABETH REHN MANDATE

[02] ELEPHTEROTYPIA: THE REFERENCE `REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA - SKOPJE' ON THE NEGOTIATION TABLE IN NEW YORK

[03] VISIT OF DANIEL TARCHISE TO MACEDONIA ANNOUNCED

[04] STABILITY AND GOOD NEIGHBOURLINESS IN SE EUROPE - THE TOPIC OF SKOPJE MEETING

[05] UNCONDITIONAL SUPPORT BY `SDSM' FOR PM BRANKO CRVENKOVSKI

[06] GOVERNOUR STANOEVSKI: `THERE ARE NO ATTRACTIVE NAMES'

[07] `MEDIPHARM' SELLS MEDICINE PAST TERM OF EXPIRY

[08] DUTY-FREE SHOPS AT BORDER CROSSINGS CLOSED DOWN

[09] MACEDONIA ADAPTS TIME MEASURING TO `EU'

[10] AROUND 20 000 COMPANIES GENERATE LOSSES

[11] LIVING EXPENSES DOWN BY 0.5% IN MARCH

[12] DNEVNIK: `SMUGGLERS OF HIGHLY-RADIOACTIVE URANIUM ARRESTED'

[13] UFOs OVER STENJE, SHTIP...!?

[14] FOOTBALL: MACEDONIA BEATS IRELAND BY 3:2

MILS SUPPLEMENT

[15] `The Next Stop to Salonica Terminus...' (MILS / IC - 10th February 1997)

MILS NEWS

Skopje, 03 April, 1997

[01] MACEDONIA DEMANDS EXCLUSION FROM ELISABETH REHN MANDATE

Macedonia has signed all essential UN Conventions on the protection of human rights, and on a regional level it has ratified the European Convention on Human Rights and the Framework Convention on the Protection of National Minorities. As a result of this - according to Minister Frchkovski - this issue is being regulated via a clear and all-inclusive legal foundation. Standards incorporated into Macedonian legislation in particular are entirely concordant to the minimum of international provisions on the protection of minority rights - and in certain domains (especially with respect to education and local self- government) these provisions are even transcended.

Positive results of Government policy in this respect have also been achieved in the sectors of education, civil service, culture and the media so that Frchkovski stated the main objective to be achieved lay in a society with a strongly-expressed sense of integration and the affiliation of all its citizens on the one hand, and a developed sense of individuality, liberty and the respecting of all idiosyncrasies on the other'. The battle for the respecting of individualism and the strengthening of mutual trust, however, is a continuous process which should be upheld and to this purpose - as well as in order to overcome extremist tendencies - the Parliament of Macedonia has adopted the Declaration on Furthering Inter- Ethnic Relations in the Spirit of Tolerance, Dialogue and Mutual Trust and Respect. This paper confirms the basic postulates of the policy conducted by the Republic of Macedonia in terms of furthering inter-ethnic relations.

What is even more valuable than the adopting of this Declaration is the fact that ethnic extremism is a marginal issue within our society - not encountering the support of the majority', stressed Minister Frchkovski at the 53rd Session of the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva.

[02] ELEPHTEROTYPIA: THE REFERENCE `REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA - SKOPJE' ON THE NEGOTIATION TABLE IN NEW YORK

[03] VISIT OF DANIEL TARCHISE TO MACEDONIA ANNOUNCED

[04] STABILITY AND GOOD NEIGHBOURLINESS IN SE EUROPE - THE TOPIC OF SKOPJE MEETING

The meeting, which is to be chaired by current EU President the Netherlands, will also be attended by representatives of the 15 EU member-states and by delegates from Albania, Bosnia & Hercegovina, Bulgaria, SR Yugoslavia, Romania, Russia, the USA, Slovenia, Turkey, Hungary, Croatia and several international organisations.

MTV informs that the event is to focus on opinions and information on current issues affecting the region - and on the implementation of a series of concrete initiatives of the member-states, conducive to the strengthening of stability, good neighbourliness and cooperation in SE Europe.

[05] UNCONDITIONAL SUPPORT BY `SDSM' FOR PM BRANKO CRVENKOVSKI

The Macedonian Radio informs that during debates it has been stated that there had been several attempts to obstruct more thorough investigations (by exerting pressure and imposing blockades). These attempts had been made by both collectives and individuals, at times even by political parties. The SDSM, however, has energetically opposed such occurrences, and committed itself to the complete examination of conditions via employing political means and within the institutions of the system. Offenders are therefore to be punished concordant to the law - regardless of their political (or any other different kind of) affiliation.

Media report that the Minister of Civil Engineering, Urbanism and Ecology - Jorgo Shundovski - has officially submitted his resignation during the session of the party Presidium. This has been accepted by PM Branko Crvenkovski. Upon justifying his resignation, Shundovski states among other things that the irregular business practice of the `TAT' bank - and particularly the surfacing of his name in public in connection with this - have inflicted an incredible amount of damage upon his own repute, as well as that of his family. Even in spite of his decisive disavowals. Shundovski continued that this added complexity to his performing of professional duties, and even endangered the functioning of the dept. he had been heading. He further stated that `in a time when we have committed ourselves to the countering of crime, in order to provide a future for everybody - and in spite of the fact that there are no objections to my professional achievements, due to the fact that I have only the best intentions, I ask you to accept my resignation as the Minister of Civil Engineering, Urbanism and Ecology.'

[06] GOVERNOUR STANOEVSKI: `THERE ARE NO ATTRACTIVE NAMES'

The Macedonian Ministry of the Interior however, informed the public yesterday that criminal charges were being pressed against: `TAT' Director Sonja Nikolovska; the Director of the Bitola offices of the Payment Flow Institute Julija Atanasovska; against her Senior Advisor Sofka Jonchevska and against Boris Mijalchev (in charge of finances at the nationally-owned facility for handling residential and business real estate at Bitola. Sonja Nikolovska is to be charged with forgery, the destruction of business records, the abuse of personal data, tax evasion, forging identification papers, inciting the abuse of official authority and fraud. Julija Atanasovska, Sofka Jonchevska and Boris Mijalchev are to be charged with the abuse of official authority and position. It is also being mentioned that such criminal practice had yielded 10 375 000 DM in profit for Sonja Nikolovska.

According to the police press release charges are also being pressed against the lawyer of Sonja Nikolovska - Gjorgji Pili - for tax evasion resulting in the damage of app. 8 000 DM.

[07] `MEDIPHARM' SELLS MEDICINE PAST TERM OF EXPIRY

The Commission for Drug Registration within the Ministry of Health, however, stated in a release issued yesterday that all control measures in this sector had been unanimously adopted by all Commission members. Officially there have been no instances of unwanted side-effects by the consuming of these drugs so far, but it is also being indicated that there are medicines on the Macedonian market, for which there is no evidence of registration, although their distribution had been permitted by the Ministry. This mostly applies to medicines not available on the domestic market, whose quality has been confirmed via certificate, as procurement had been of essential relevance. Should there be any suspicion as regards their quality - the Registration Commission claims while recommending speedy and rigorous counter-measures - this would fall within the jurisdiction of other ministries.

[08] DUTY-FREE SHOPS AT BORDER CROSSINGS CLOSED DOWN

In defence of the latter Finance Minister Taki Fiti stated that as a result of Government measures the legal purchase of cigarettes has been increased by 40%, which augmented Budget funds. Minister Fiti also stressed that the suspension of consignments would only apply to cigarettes, coffee and alcohol - while cars, repro-materials and resources would be exempted. The ultimate objective pursued by the Government - Fiti stated - was the reduction of smuggling (particularly that of cigarettes) to reasonable proportions.

[09] MACEDONIA ADAPTS TIME MEASURING TO `EU'

[10] AROUND 20 000 COMPANIES GENERATE LOSSES

A-1 TV is again quoting the Payment Flow Institute upon reporting that around 150 000 legal entities in Macedonia have generated the overall amount of 3.3 billion denars in profit during the past FY.

The year of 1996 was also specific in that respect that the balances of already privatised businesses was far more positive in comparison to those companies still owned by the state. Thus privatised businesses generated app. 50% of all revenues - and 26.5% of all losses - in the economic sector.

[11] LIVING EXPENSES DOWN BY 0.5% IN MARCH

With respect to beverages prices have been increased by 0.4% over this month. All this entailed a drop of living expenses by 0.5% in March.

[12] DNEVNIK: `SMUGGLERS OF HIGHLY-RADIOACTIVE URANIUM ARRESTED'

[13] UFOs OVER STENJE, SHTIP...!?

This occurrence of a UFO appearing over Macedonia generated amazement and fear among the public.

[14] FOOTBALL: MACEDONIA BEATS IRELAND BY 3:2

MILS SUPPLEMENT

[15] `The Next Stop to Salonica Terminus...'

(MILS / IC - 10th February 1997)

In view of the imminent promotion (on Thursday, 3rd April at 20 30 h) of Fred Reed's latest book `Salonica Terminus - Travels Into the Balkan Nightmare' we have recently published an interview conducted with the author in Canada. Here is the sequel to this enlightening conversation...

MILS: As Ms. Dimitriou mainly focused on how You `stumbled across' the Macedonian issue, we would like to know whether You have actually been to Macedonia before You learned of it... and do you think it predetermined your views once You found out, that it biased You (even in a for us positive way) upon actually travelling to Macedonia?

REED: No, I had not been to Macedonia before beginning research on the book, except of course for brief forays into northern Greece, homeland of the `non-existent' Macedonian minority. What prejudiced my views and started me on my way was Greece's insistence on claiming that it had a monopoly on the Macedonian identity, which I found frankly, outrageous and ludicrous, even though understandable.

MILS: Did You have a chance to delve a bit more in-depth into the Macedonian issue with `average Joe' in Skopje, Ohrid, etc. as views on reunion of territory and restitution of property by these people may differ in comparison to those of refugees in Bitola and the character from Skopje You have named `George'? Do You think that the Macedonian public is supportive enough?

REED: I did not have much time on earlier visits for talks with `average Joes', since I cannot speak `Makedonski'.

Obviously, if I am ever to probe the matter more deeply, I shall have to do this. In my defense, I add that there is much on-the-ground research that does not appear in the book, yet helps shape its conclusions.

MILS: What I found to be lacking - for the sake of completeness - is the Government's input on all this? Did You attempt to get in touch with them, or not? This may be one of the most frequent objections You will hear...

REED: You may have noticed that there is not really much government input in any of the chapters of my book. My feeling is that governments have enough power and money to represent themselves. The relaying of official opinions I leave to my `mainstream' colleagues. Remember, also, that `Salonica Terminus' is written for an uninformed and ignorant north- American readership, and must be read as such.

MILS: Your attitude towards the EU as an economic alliance is more than provoking, do You think that their requests as regards minority rights are based on reciprocity - or are we merely `a Balkan training-ground'?

REED: I view the EU as a once enlightened, now cynical undertaking subversive of minority rights and democracy as I understand them. `You' would be, in my opinion, a Balkan training ground, or battle ground, depending on the circumstances - providing we accept that the `competition' myth which drives the world these days does not exclude the ultimate form of competition, i.e. war. Still you might ask, what is the current alternative? The Americans?

For the answer to that, see the Dayton Accords.

MILS: In this context do You think that the initiative launched by Kiro Gligorov to compile a comparative study on minority rights in the Balkans makes sense?

REED: I was not aware of Gligorov's proposal. But I heartily endorse it, and would love to see Athens' response, if in fact they respond at all.

MILS: The UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Ms.

Elisabeth Rehn stated during her most recent press conference in Skopje that `minorities are the same all over the world with the same rights' which is a valid assumption - what however about the problems they are being confronted with? You've spoken to Vlachs and Albanians in Macedonia... to Albanians on Kosovo, to the people of Bosnia... to what extent can one generalise on their situations?

REED: I cannot agree with the proposition that `minorities are the same all over the world'. Take, for instance, the English-speaking minority in Quebec, which is far from suffering oppression. No, the formulation is hopelessly simplistic. Some generalizations can be made: but nothing I have encountered in the region allows me to do so with anything but the deepest misgivings. Forces are at work here, and elsewhere, which our current analytical tools appear to be unable to grasp.

MILS: Thank You very much for this interview.

(end)

mils news 03 April 1997

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