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MILS: News from the FYROM, 97-05-20
From: "Macedonian Information Liaison Service" <mils@mils.spic.org.mk>
CONTENTS
[01] NECESSARY BALANCING OF TRADE WITH SLOVENIA
[02] PETAR STOYANOV: `LANGUAGE-ISSUE TO BE ADDRESSED CONCORDANT TO EUROPEAN
STANDARDS'
[03] GOVERNMENT ACCEPTED FINAL BUDGET BALANCE FOR FY '96
[04] QUARTER 1: `INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION INCREASED BY 2.9%'
[05] ACCOUNTS OF 6 677 BUSINESSES BLOCKED END OF FEBRUARY
[06] `TAT' BANKING SCANDAL: `10 000 SIGNATURES FOR CLIENT PROPOSAL'
[07] PROTESTS OF `FAS 11TI OKTOMVRI' EMPLOYEES
[08] `EMO' OHRID: `IRAQ AND SYRIA HAVE DEBTS OF 62 MILLION DOLLARS'
[09] INSTEAD OF EARTHENWARE - TWO TONS OF `POT'
[10] SOROS FOUNDATION: `MACEDONIA AIDED WITH 53 MILLION DOLLARS SO FAR'
[11] PANEL ON MINORITIES IN THE BALKANS
[12] `Retirement at 70' (`Vecher' - 15th May 1997)
MILS NEWS
Skopje, 20 May, 1997
[01] NECESSARY BALANCING OF TRADE WITH SLOVENIA
A Parliamentary delegation of the Republic of Macedonia, headed by
Parliamentary Chairman Tito Petkovski, has been staying in Slovenia as of
two days ago - meeting the top political representatives of this
country. MTV reports that yesterday our delegation has been received by
Head of State Milan Kuchan, by Slovenian Parliamentary Chairman Janez
Podobnik, by Lower House Chairman Ivan Krisman and by the coordinators of
different factions. So far bilateral talks have been assessed as excellent,
with particular emphasis on balancing the trade record which is currently
not in favour of Macedonia's economy. In this context it has been revealed
that the trade deficit of our country amounts to 100 million DM. The
Macedonian side indicated that several administrative impediments subsisted
with respect to importing Macedonian goods into Slovenia, especially in
case of agricultural produce. Slovenian representatives expressed their
willingness to speed up procedures conducive to the signing of all
administrative treaties currently hampering cooperation. To this purpose
debates focused on the ratification of bilateral treaties on investment
protection, the social services convention, the evading of dual taxation,
etc. During talks in Ljubljana it has been concluded that there is a joint
view on fair play with regards to the race between Slovenia and Macedonia
for temporary UN Security Council membership. Identical opinions are
entertained in terms of succession issues, as both sides stress there are
no open political questions. A further tie between both countries is the
Macedonian community in Slovenia, which enjoys all rights in Slovenia.
[02] PETAR STOYANOV: `LANGUAGE-ISSUE TO BE ADDRESSED CONCORDANT TO EUROPEAN
STANDARDS'
`Makfax' reports that Bulgarian President Petar Stoyanov has once again
advocated the resolving of the language- issue which has been complicating
relations between Sofia and Skopje. `We cannot ignore this issue', stressed
Stoyanov in an interview for Sofia newspaper `Demokratija' - while adding
that the solution should comply to European standards and the new reality
throughout the European continent. This view by Stoyanov has been aired in
response to the question on how he interpreted the recent statement by
Bulgarian Deputy Foreign Secretary Valentin Dobrev for BBC, in which he
favoured the recognition of the Macedonian language in order to overcome a
bilateral issue obstructing the ratification of 20 treaties between both
states. Sofia weekly `Sega' (`Now') published an interview of the Bulgarian
Helsinki Human Rights Watch Chairman Krasimir Knev who was in favour of
recognizing the existence of a Macedonian minority in Bulgaria and the
registration of their organisation `OMO Ilinden'.
[03] GOVERNMENT ACCEPTED FINAL BUDGET BALANCE FOR FY '96
During yesterday's session the Macedonian Government adopted the draft of
the final balance sheet of the National Budget for FY `96. Session records
reveal that last year's Budget objectives had been achieved, generally
speaking. These focused on maintaining a relative financial stability and
equilibrium in the Republic of Macedonia. The Budget had totalled 46.364
million denars, of which 42.723 million were actually implemented. In order
to re-assess macro-economic parameters throughout last year, there has been
a change in the allocation of funds to different sectors - resulting in the
downsizing of some and the increasing of others. In this sense, sources
reveal, funds have increased to 410 million denars provide retirement
pension and impairment insurance; unemployment benefits have been raised to
870 million, support for socially endangered households has grown to 80
million denars and dues related to hard currency assets have increased to
77 million denars. Decreases have been carried out with respect to goods
reserves, railway constructions, improving the road network, etc. Yesterday
the Government also analyzed submitted information as regards difficulties
occurring during the processing of data on international trade and the
impact this has on macro-economic policy. To this purpose it has been
decided to compile a more detailed methodology on statistic research
regarding international trade. This will define the basic principles and
approaches of conducting statistic data-gathering. Yesterday the Government
has also adopted information on offered financial support for the Republic
of Macedonia by international financial institutions.
[04] QUARTER 1: `INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION INCREASED BY 2.9%'
Throughout the first four months of 1997 industrial production in Macedonia
has been increased by 2.9% in comparison to the same time span last year -
the National Statistical Office revealed yesterday. Its data indicate that
1.7% fall off to a rise in machinery production and 13.9% to an increase in
the production of consumer goods (which makes up to 40% of the overall
industrial production). Of a total of 32 industrial branches, a positive
production trend has been observed in 17 (headed by such sectors as
electricity supplies, heavy metallurgy, machinery production, chemical
industry, food and tobacco processing) with respect to 1996. The National
Statistics Office, however, also pointed out that this April industrial
production had taken a plunge by 12.6% in comparison to the previous month.
[05] ACCOUNTS OF 6 677 BUSINESSES BLOCKED END OF FEBRUARY
Based on data released by the Payment Flow Institute a total of 5 994
accounts belonging to as many businesses have been blocked last year in
Macedonia. Of these 5 825 fall off to the economic sector. `Nova
Makedonija' reports that conditions had deteriorated considerably over only
two months in this year. Thus by the end of February the number of blocked
giro accounts covered 6 677 legal entities with 104 410 employees and
unsettled dues of 11.6 billion denars. According to the Payment Flow
Institute this rise is mainly to be attributed to blocked accounts
in the construction sector (increased by 25%) and in the industrial and
mining sector (constituting 58.6% of all unsettled dues). Record-breaking
figures in terms of unsettled debts have nevertheless been generated within
light metallurgy and tobacco processing. Permanent postponing of returning
these dues (resulting in 60-day blockades in one piece or with
interruptions over the past 75 days) have been conducive to a total of 2
839 bankruptcy announcements by 2 109 legal entities covering
24 000 employees.
The lack of liquidity of Macedonian businesses is also reflected by the
ratio between demands and dues. The former amount to 90.1 billion denars
requested from buyers, while debts towards suppliers amount to 98.9
billion denars. This means that there are 37.8% less demands than dues.
[06] `TAT' BANKING SCANDAL: `10 000 SIGNATURES FOR CLIENT PROPOSAL'
As of yesterday `TAT' bank clients from Bitola have started the gathering
of 10 000 signatures which - concordant to legal provisions - should
instigate Parliamentary debates on client restitution based on their own
proposal instead of the one offered by the Government. During yesterday's
press conference `TAT' bank client representative Mende Mladenovski stated
that their proposal on restitution has been submitted to the Government and
the Parliament as early as two and a half months ago - encountering nothing
but deafness. Due to this Mladenovski announced that MPs of Bitola would be
required to resign. The Macedonian Radio reports that Mladenovski further
mentioned that clients had forwarded a letter to PM Branko Crvenkovski,
requesting a meeting with Government and NBM officials in order to overcome
present difficulties and the deadlock in terms of client restitution. While
stressing that clients are looking for a sanation team from the Government,
as well as that they are ready to make a compromise for the sake of
arriving at an appropriate solution. Mladenovski stressed that should this
request for a meeting be rejected, it could easily occur that things got
out of control and unwanted consequences emerge. A-1 TV reports `TAT'
Client Board member Krste Tashievski spoke about his meeting with `TAT'
owner Sonja Nikolovska at the press conference. According to him Nikolovska
revealed that most of the bank assets had been spent on the SDSM local
elections campaign.
[07] PROTESTS OF `FAS 11TI OKTOMVRI' EMPLOYEES
Over 600 employees of the bus production facility `11ti Oktomvri' (`11th
October') of Skopje have staged protests in front of the Government and the
`Komercijalna Banka' (`Commercial Bank') premises yesterday. The Macedonian
Radio ascribes this measure to the fact that part of the provisions
outlined in the agreement signed after meetings on 17th and 21st April this
year have not been fulfilled. These meetings had also been attended by the
President of the Trade Union Federation, the General Director of the
`Komercijalna Banka', the General Director of `11ti Oktomvri' and the
Chairman of the Strike Board. Both the Government and `Komercijalna Banka'
- shareholders in possession of 23% and 73% of the overall share capital of
this company respectively, have been requested to finance and credit
production - and to facilitate the regular payment of app. 1 300
employees. Representatives of the latter revealed that last year they have
received merely four monthly salaries, while the company had closed
contracts for the production of about 300 vehicles. As the Government, the
`Komercijalna Banka' and the NBM could not reach a common denominator in
terms of funding, production procedures have come to a halt. During a
meeting between an employee delegation and Transportation Minister Dimitar
Buzleski - according to the Macedonian Radio - another meeting with PM
Crvenkovski has been scheduled, in order to discuss the fulfillment of
aired demands and the compiling of a sanation programme for this
enterprise.
[08] `EMO' OHRID: `IRAQ AND SYRIA HAVE DEBTS OF 62 MILLION DOLLARS'
For contracts carried out during the time span between 1986 and 1991 `EMO'
Ohrid is still being owed a total of 62 million dollars by businesses in
Iraq and Syria. `Vecher' reports that the former country had 55 million
dollars in dues to forward, while the latter had to settle a
7-million-dollar debt. This had also been one of the subjects discussed
with IMF Chairman Michel Camdessus during his recent visit to Skopje. The
IMF official proposed a peaceful solution of these issues, as international
legal measures for debt-settling had never been implemented with regards to
these two countries. `Vecher' further reports that the `EMO' management
will certainly bear in mind this advice. thus the company should soon
commence export to a Syrian firm via a German enterprise which will ensure
disbursement.
[09] INSTEAD OF EARTHENWARE - TWO TONS OF `POT'
Upon the news that a lorry of `Trans Veles' had been confiscated at the
Hungarian border for transporting two tons of marihuana, MTV broadcast
certain unofficial data on this case - as official police information is
still lacking. It has been mentioned that the vehicle driven by Boris Tasev
for Thessalonica-based transportation company `Stephanidis' had departed
from the port of Pireya to make a delivery to the Czech Republic. The lorry
had to reach Sofia via Veles, in order to obtain an entrance clearance for
the Czech Republic. From the Bulgarian capital it continued towards the
Hungarian border where the marihuana was discovered. Cargo declarations
listed earthenware as the contents of this shipment, but what was
eventually discovered was - pot! MTV also reports that the driver has been
apprehended by Hungarian Customs authorities, the vehicle has been
confiscated and investigations had been launched.
[10] SOROS FOUNDATION: `MACEDONIA AIDED WITH 53 MILLION DOLLARS SO FAR'
The `Open Society Institute - Macedonia' responded to the speech held by
IMRO-DPMNE leader Ljupcho Georgievski at the protests of 15th May. In its
reply, the Institute states that as of October 1992 George Soros had aided
Macedonia with 53 414 637 dollars. Of these 27.5 million dollars had been
loans to the Government, and 25.9 million had been allocated through annual
budgets from 1993 to the present. Further data reveals that the Institute
has no knowledge of whether Macedonia had received an equally substantial
donation by any other side since its Independence. `Should Ljupcho
Georgievski be in possession of such data it would be commendable of him to
inform the public, which has been the witness of so many campaigns against
George Soros and his Fund in Macedonia', the release concludes.
[11] PANEL ON MINORITIES IN THE BALKANS
In terms of upholding minority rights in the Balkans there are two
categories of countries: one do so by adhering to relatively high
standards, and others do deny the existence of minorities within their
bounds. The first group consists of Macedonia, SR Yugoslavia and Romania -
and the second is comprised of Albania, Bulgaria and Greece. `Dnevnik'
reports this to be part of the debates led during a panel on the position
of minorities in the Balkans, held in Skopje yesterday. The event has been
organized by the Council for Peaceful Initiatives and the `Friedrich Ebert'
Foundation. During discussions Zvonimir Jankulovski pointed out that there
is no precise definition of the notion `minority' in any international
treaty. The current state of affairs at the Tetovo and Gostivar
municipalities were addressed by DPM leader Tomislav Stojanovski.
[12] `Retirement at 70'
(`Vecher' - 15th May 1997)
Based on the views of experts of USAID contractor CARANA (which has set up
its offices in Skopje a considerable amount of time ago) it is necessary to
invest in compulsory but private retirement pension system - in addition to
the reformed state system. This would mean that pensions would be secured
through their synchronized functioning. We should stress rightaway that
such recommendations are based on theories which need to be compared
against current empirical conditions. Concerning the restructuring of the
present retirement pension system, this process has been going on since
1994. But bearing in mind that this system is still not standing on `both
of its feet' (state and private) - reforms have mainly been boiling down to
the restricting of retirement and impairment insurance. What will future
measures in this sector look like, concordant to the recommendations made
by international experts... It has been proposed to declare 70 as the age
limit for men in terms of retirement by the year 2013 for men and by 2023
for women. Early retirement would be possible at the age of 60 for both
genders. The options for retirement on the grounds of accrued years of
employment (as the sole reason) or obligatory retirement would be
nullified. A newly introduced option would be a five-year leave of absence
(which would be counted as accrued years of employment) for child care. The
usual retirement pension rate would amount to 40% of the registered average
income per month over one's entire career. Early retirement benefits would
be adapted to current conditions, while its minimum value would total 30%
of the national pay average over the total accruement of years of
employment. This value would decrease in case of a smaller number of
accrued years. The maximum pension would not exceed three average monthly
incomes. One's current age as a criterion for obtaining pensions in the
case of a deceased spouse may remain as a provision, with the changing of
the age limit to 26 years in order to obtain support for child
education. The level of these benefits would be retained as well up to the
introduction of the private system when they could be lowered by changing
the key yielding the actual tariffs. The same would apply to impairment
benefits, but in this domain it only should be stressed that
non-professional handicaps would remain covered by the state system. This
means the exclusion of accidents at work. These, as well as work-related
illness would remain the exclusive concern of the employer. To this purpose
a new `Employee Compensation Fund' would be set up. This would be
complemented by a system of risk premiums funded by the employers - and
endorsed and regulated by the Government of the Republic of Macedonia. The
Fund would be managed by a private insurance company, determined on grounds
of submitted bids. In terms of financing, current funding methods would be
retained, such as payroll contributions and pension trusts which would be
established to forward withheld benefits and create reserves. It has been
proposed to request a loan from the WB to finance the establishment of such
a trust and to obtain the assistance of international executives in this
matter up to the moment when sustainability will be ensured by local staff
alone. In such a situation (with the parallel existence of a private
system), payroll contributions would be decreased and separated according
to what kind of pension needs to be provided (retirement, family or
impairment pensions). There would also be a `glass ceiling' for payroll
contributions, amounting to eight average incomes. The state retirement
pension system does not make any provisions for payroll contributions by
employers, as these funds are not considered employee income. Theoretically
speaking, there should not be any tax alleviation for retirement
pensions. As in practice personal income tax on pensions has been suspended
in 1994, no alterations have been made in this respect due to current
economic hardship. In a private pension system, tax would be introduced and
these funds would excluded from payroll contributions - both from employers
and employees, as well as in the case of accumulated revenues through
investments. The new private pension system would also be compulsory and
endorsed by the Government, while administrative services would be provided
by private financial institutions (in contrast to the state system where
this component is handled by the Retirement Pension and Impairment
Insurance Fund of Macedonia). Funds would be managed by private investment
managers, which would initially be international experts who would set up
these means as trust funds. All employees (even those already covered by
the state system) would possess their individual accounts. This kind of
insurance would be financed in advance according to the following
correlation: 10% of the net employee income would have to be submitted by
the employer on an obligatory basis. 5% of additional funds may be
forwarded on a voluntary basis. The same voluntary option would be offered
to unemployed people. A small percentage of compulsory contributions could
be used to purchase collective life and impairment insurance. the remainder
would be allocated to individual accounts and exclusively belong to the
owner, but be transferable should the latter change his place of
employment. Those covered by this system would benefit from these funds
from the age of 60 onwards (without actually having retired), and benefits
would be determined on the grounds of: accumulated contributions,
investment yields but minus an administrative fee. They would be given
three options in terms of using the means obtained via compulsory
contributions: the purchasing of annuities, their gradual withdrawal or
remaining in the account. Optional contributions could be withdrawn at
once. The balance sheet of each individual account (in case of a family
pensions) may be bequeathed to one's descendants via several options,
including the complete withdrawal due to permanent work-related
impairment. Private investment managers (international ones in the
beginning) would invest funds of individual accounts in order to secure
profits for their pensioner-clients. In this case the Government would
provide a guarantee for a minimum interest rate and against loss due to
fraud and embezzlement.
(end)
mils news 20 May 1997
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