MILS: News from the FYROM, 97-05-13

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

CONTENTS

[01] MULTINATIONAL MILITARY EXERCISE `RESCUER `97' OPENED

[02] CRVENKOVSKI - GOSHEV TALKS

[03] WORLD BANK: `HALF OF EAST EUROPEAN LOANS GRANTED TO MACEDONIA'

[04] COMPLEX NAME POSSIBLE

[05] SOFIA READY TO ACKNOWLEDGE REALITY IN MACEDONIA

[06] IMRO-DPMNE REQUESTS GOVERNMENT RESIGNATION AND DISSOLVING OF PARLIAMENT

[07] `TAT' BILL ENACTMENT POSTPONED

[08] ASSOCIATION OF HARD CURRENCY CLIENTS: `DRAFT-BILL UNACCEPTABLE'

[09] 981 BUSINESSES PRIVATIZED SO FAR

[10] 14 ARMS DEALERS ARRESTED

[11] MACEDONIAN CHURCH IN TORONTO BLESSED

MILS SUPPLEMENT

[12] `A Small Event But a Giant Step in History' (`Vecher' - 12th May 1997)

MILS NEWS

Skopje, 13 May, 1997

[01] MULTINATIONAL MILITARY EXERCISE `RESCUER `97' OPENED

During the opening ceremony President Kiro Gligorov welcomed all participants, while stressing that Macedonia has been a member of the `PFP' Programme for more than a year, promoting the spirit of this partnership and gradually establishing a basis of trust and understanding.

`Instead of facing tension and conflicts we prepare ourselves to plan and conduct such humanitarian operations and other peacekeeping missions jointly, in addition to preventive action to avoid crises of this kind - or overcome them successfully', Gligorov stated in front of the high-ranking international and domestic military officials, top political leaders, representatives of the diplomatic corps and other eminent guests. In this context the Macedonian President once again underscored Macedonia's readiness to contribute towards the establishing of a defence network in the Euro-Atlantic area which - in his opinion - protected the freedom, sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country at the same time.

The opening ceremony also consisted of a march of all participating troops and the submitting of reports by exercise Coordinator Lt. Gen. Janakie Manasievski and Co- Coordinator Col. Glen Walker. `Rescuer `97' is the first multinational military exercise to be held in Macedonia within the `PFP' and according to the Macedonian political leadership its successful execution and completion should considerably improve the rating of our country within the `PFP' Programme. The would mean one more step forward to the achieving of the long-term objective: full NATO membership.

[02] CRVENKOVSKI - GOSHEV TALKS

In his statement after the meeting Petar Goshev clarified that he merely `had a chat' with the PM, without settling on anything concrete. Talks had revolved around LDP views on the situation in Macedonia, which was reported to become increasingly serious. The LDP also indicated that more and more Macedonian citizens were losing all faith in the institutions of the state as regards their efficiency in handling the burning issues (corruption, crime, etc.) - which have all been pinpointed very clearly by the Government and other political factors in the country. Due to this, Goshev stated, it is necessary to come up with concrete solutions to counter these negative trends as soon as possible. The LDP has always been in favour of addressing such issues through institutions within the system and the legal state. Because of these conditions, i.e. the enormously decreased level of trust the population places in these institutions, Goshev told the press of his proposal to PM Crvenkovski to stage early parliamentary elections some time in October or November this year. According to Goshev these elections should be organised in a fair democratic way, by discarding all possibilities to manipulate election outcomes or make them appear less credible. The LDP further suggested the forming of a neutral Government which would hold such elections, and that consultations with parties be conducted more speedily by a PM who primarily bears in mind the interests of the state - and not those of his party.

PM Crvenkovski stated that the objective of these talks was to obtain answers to the question of the preferred election model in the case of each party; then what other legislative projects were being proposed by parties to organise fair and democratic elections which will re- establish public trust and which date would be most suitable to stage the next parliamentary elections.

`Should one insist on an absolutely precise legislation, it will require more time to enact and implement the same as a prerequisite for elections. At the same time there are requests for urgent parliamentary elections. In such a situation it is simply impossible to satisfy the appetites and aspirations of all political subjects', stated Crvenkovski. He further added that it is quite normal to negotiate the election model and legislation on this matter. This means that all political parties participating in these elections are to accept the election outcomes on the grounds that they have agreed on the aforesaid issues. As these are of particular significance, consensus may be reached via consultations with most of the political parties, i.e. by summarizing the outcomes of all talks with relevant political factors.

Crvenkovski also stated that separate agreements with each party are therefore out of the question.

In connection to Goshev's proposal on forming a neutral government which would execute elections, Crvenkovski assessed that Macedonia is neither Albania nor Bulgaria - which means that Governments in Macedonia would be established and dissolved by the Parliament i.e. the ultimate legislative level in the country.

In the end PM Crvenkovski stressed that this series of talks with the three parties which came out most successful during recent local elections is to continue throughout the following days. Next week there would be a meeting with all registered political parties, in order to obtain their input on these current issues as well.

[03] WORLD BANK: `HALF OF EAST EUROPEAN LOANS GRANTED TO MACEDONIA'

The remainder of the approved 125 million dollars provided by the WB are to be granted to Bulgaria, Lettonia and Belorussia - `Dnevnik'.

[04] COMPLEX NAME POSSIBLE

While advocating the resolving of this issue as soon as possible, Reppas stressed that any strategy of delay would only harm the other side.

Greek paper `Eskoussia' stated that Greece had lost the battle regarding the name of Macedonia, underlining the view aired by President Gligorov to Greek journalists that Macedonia would by no means accept a complex name.

[05] SOFIA READY TO ACKNOWLEDGE REALITY IN MACEDONIA

A statement of similar contents - but only referring to the language - had been given to the Bulgarian press by Dobrev, immediately before the departure of President Stoyanov for Strasbourg, where he denoted Macedonia as the most romantic part of Bulgarian history.

[06] IMRO-DPMNE REQUESTS GOVERNMENT RESIGNATION AND DISSOLVING OF PARLIAMENT

Other requests focus on the urgent enactment of legal provisions which would outline the dissolving and forming of governments in extraordinary conditions and on the establishing of an administrative government which would conduct early elections within the next three months. In this memorandum the IMRO-DPMNE also demands the enacting of a decision on the dissolving of the Parliament and the signing of a joint declaration on national reconciliation.

According to IMRO-DPMNE leader Ljupcho Georgievski these requests will also be brought forward at the meeting scheduled for 15th May in Skopje (at 18 h). Georgievski mentioned the possibility to continue this meeting over the following few days - depending on the turn-out. It has been planned to stage protests in front of the Parliament, the Government and the Presidential residence.

[07] `TAT' BILL ENACTMENT POSTPONED

Bearing in mind the most recent NBM statement, granting a deadline of five days for the determining of a possible sanation team - and upon request of Commission member Dragoljub Popovich - this body has agreed to delay debates. This has been approved by Finance Minister Taki Fiti. Attending client representatives - the Macedonian Radio reports - have asked the Commission to study their own draft-bill, repeating that the Government option is unacceptable to them. In this context it has been evaluated that clients will not be able to compile a sanation programme within five days for the `TAT' bank, thus that this would be left to the Government. Client representatives also indicated in this sense that time is a substantial factor, i.e. clients were running out of patience an in case of to much delay as regards restitution approach unwanted consequence may occur.

`Dnevnik' reports that today `TAT' owner Sonja Nikolovska is to submit her sanation programme to the NBM. Her legal counsellors stated that the bank could only be saved with assistance of the state, i.e. the inclusion of at least one of the three banks offered this option. Concordant to her programme it has been planned to restitute clients over a period of two years. `Dnevnik' also informs that NBM Supervisor Gazmen Kadriu stated these days that there was a realistic chance to get the bank back on its feet.

In addition to this `Vecher' reports on its title page that former Government Minister Antonio Peshev, whose name had been associated to the `TAT' scandal, that he and his family had left for Canada. It has also been reported that he paid Canadian authorities 500 000 dollars to acquire entrance clearances. While not listing any reasons for the departure of Peshev, `Vecher' reminds its readership that the Bitola DA Office had listed the name of Peshev's three-year-old daughter as a `TAT' client, which had been denied by Peshev.

[08] ASSOCIATION OF HARD CURRENCY CLIENTS: `DRAFT-BILL UNACCEPTABLE'

[09] 981 BUSINESSES PRIVATIZED SO FAR

Data released by the Agency confirms that last year has been most successful , ending in the privatization of 914 businesses (with an estimated value of 2.3 billion DM) employing 144 539 workers. Last year also resulted in the largest amount of generated revenues (106.6 million DM), and the commencement of privatizing the agricultural sector (about to cover 110 of the total 300 enterprises in this branch). This year the contribution of the private sector to economic revenues has already risen to 70%, while privatized companies participate with 78% in terms of yields and 43% in terms of losses.

Key difficulties identified during this four-year process are: lack of information, minor shareholders, international investments, management and slow share sales. Privatization Agency Director Verica Hadzhivasileva Markovska aired data according to which the Agency could in no manner obstruct economic growth or affect the rise of unemployment. Research has shown that most of the shareholders are employees, though there is a large number of people who generated considerable capital. Should the legal privatization model be conducted manipulation became impossible, while all deviations are consequences of violating legal provisions - according to Markovska. In her opinion all installments on business purchases are mainly forwarded on time. There are however cases where companies are being confronted with serious economic problems and rendered incapable to fulfill obligations.

Contracts with such businesses have already been nullified, Markovska said.

The influx of international capital has not met expectations so far (in only 13 companies any capital has been invested from abroad), and in terms of generated revenues frozen hard currency assets and bonds continue to dominate - while only 12% are being forwarded in cash. In the end Markovska stated in response to increasingly vocal demands to review privatization procedures in the country, that this would have far more negative consequences (in comparison to possible positive results) as there are legal means to correct all deviations and defects for now.

[10] 14 ARMS DEALERS ARRESTED

At Struga there has been one arrest, upon the attempt to smuggle in two automatic rifles from Albania. At Kumanovo there has been another apprehension of a Yugoslav national who smuggled four automatic rifles, one automatic gun, 3.4 kg of explosive and 115 pieces of ammunition into Macedonia for further sale. All offenders are facing criminal charges for illegal possession of arms and explosives, as well as for their trafficking.

[11] MACEDONIAN CHURCH IN TORONTO BLESSED

MTV reports that both the service and the ceremonial banquet at the newly- opened church had been attended by app. 1 000 Macedonians.

MILS SUPPLEMENT

[12] `A Small Event But a Giant Step in History'

(`Vecher' - 12th May 1997)

A small event but a giant step forwards in history, in terms of implementing the basic human rights of Macedonians in the Aegean area of the Republic of Greece... This has been the basic conclusion imposed by the public panel on `The Linguistic, Cultural and Ethnic Differences Throughout EU Member-States and Current Greek Reality' held two days ago as part of marking the `European Year of the Battle Against Xenophobia and Racism' by the `Vinozhito' Organisation of Macedonians living in Greece. The event - attended by over 100 Greeks and Macedonians from Thessalonica, Voden, Kostur, etc. - could (and according to many participants should) have been staged in Athens. But its actual venue in the above mentioned part of Greece has been of principal importance.

Representatives of the Greek and Swedish Helsinki Committee, the Minority Rights Group, those of the Turkish minority in Thrace and of numerous other NGOs and associations - as well as minor (mainly left) political parties - conveyed a clear message: Macedonians in Greece, regardless of the permanent fear of repercussion, will require the help of all stakeholders to pressure the Greek Government into granting them their basic human rights in the spheres of education, culture and religion. The event has been opened in Macedonian (for the first time ever on such an occasion), and was then continued in Greek as this was the `lingua franca' for most of the participants. `In order to ensure Greece's becoming an even more progressive democracy, it is a necessity to recognize these fundamental human and political rights. VINOZHITO believes that all linguistic, cultural, political and other barriers emerging in some EU member-states and even in Greece may only be overcome through dialogue and opportunities of this kind - as they raise taboo questions. This is a step in the right direction', said `Vinozhito' presidium member Pavle Vaskopoulos. `In Greece there is a group of people called (Slavic) Macedonians, but we are not the ones to function as godfathers at a baptism. These people speak Macedonian and they have asked us to help them implement their rights', stated Nevenka Papanikolataou of the Minority Rights Group of Greece.

Upon asking Greece to uphold all treaties and conventions of which it is a signatory and thus recognize the Turkish and the Macedonian minorities, the Chairman of the Greek Helsinki Committee Dimitras Panayotis stressed that matters should not be considered from the perspective most convenient for Greece at the moment, but from a general point of view advocating the global respecting of human rights. Or, in other words, Greece cannot talk of a Greek minority in Albania or Turkey and at the same time ignore the existence of Turks and Macedonians on its own territory. While informing that according to data from 1989, there were 110 000 Turks resident in Greece - in comparison to the current 80 to 90 thousand, Sali Hakim (a representative of the Turks resident in Thrace) states that `we will for our rights as determinedly as the Macedonians.' Anne- Marie Bostroem of the Swedish Helsinki Committee focused on the already compiled programme which is to familiarize the international community with the conditions (particularly with respect to ownership and legal issues) affecting Macedonians in all parts of Macedonia, who have been refugees and victims of the Greek Civil War.

The event was closed with the answering of a larger number of questions, of which the majority is to be published in the `Vinozhito' periodical `Nova Zora' and the obligatory festivity with Macedonians songs and line dances.

(end)

mils news 13 May 1997

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