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MILS: News from the FYROM, 97-06-04Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: "Macedonian Information Liaison Service" <mils@mils.spic.org.mk>CONTENTS
MILS SUPPLEMENTMILS NEWSSkopje, 04 June, 1997[01] NEW `UNPREDEP' FORCE COMMANDERYesterday the command over the UNPREDEP forces component was handed over to Brig. Gen. Bent Sohnemann (Denmark) at the `Able Sentry' camp at Petrovec, Skopje. Thus Sohnemann follows the footsteps of Swedish Brig. Gen. Bo Wranker. The new Force Commander expressed his gratitude towards the Governments of Finland, Indonesia, Norway, Sweden, the US and Denmark for deploying troops to Macedonia in order to contribute to the maintaining of peace and stability in the region. President Gligorov used the opportunity to air his content with the Resolution of the UN Security Council to extend the UNPREDEP mandate for another six months, since this reflected its awareness with regards to the fact that the situation in Albania may well represent a serious threat to the stability of Macedonia and the entire region. Among other things, Gligorov also stressed that it was highly gratifying that the concept of preventive diplomacy, implemented on the territory of Macedonia for the first time, has acquired substantial recognition throughout the world. The event has been attended by a considerable number of high-ranking Macedonian Government officials and members of the Diplomatic Corps. Those present were addressed by UN Special Envoy Henryk Sokalski who emphasised that this peacekeeping mission generates a sense of accomplishment, which has to be ascribed to the stability maintained in the host-country over the five years since the beginning of this mission. Newly-appointed Force Commander Brig.Gen. Sohnemann underlined the importance of increased mobility of UNPREDEP patrols along the Macedonian-Albanian border. [02] TWO COOPERATION AGREEMENTS WITH THE UKRAINEThis Tuesday the Head of Ukrainian Diplomacy Genadiy Udovenko arrived in Macedonia. Upon meeting his Macedonian counterpart Blagoj Handzhiski he stressed the necessity of improving bilateral cooperation - especially on an economic level, within the UN, the `PFP' Programme, European institutions and on a regional level. Both statesmen also signed an agreement on ministerial cooperation, while an agreement on trade and cooperation has been signed by Ukrainian Deputy Minister of International Economic Relations and Trade Andrey Koncharik and his Macedonian counterpart Blagoja Petrushevski. MTV reports that these two treaties are the first of 14 which are to be ratified in the near future - in order to provide a legal framework for further improved cooperation. Besides this, Macedonian National Television reveals that since 1993 bilateral trade has been characterized by permanent growth, thus amounting to 38 million dollars last year. Main carriers of this positive balance fall off to the heavy metallurgy sector, to the tobacco, food processing and textile industry and to the construction business.[03] REGULATING TRANSPORT BETWEEN SR YUGOSLAVIA AND MACEDONIABilateral relations between SR Yugoslavia and Macedonia are adhering to ratified treaties, in pursuit of the objective to intensify trade, which is to reach the value of 500 million dollars per annum. This - the Macedonian Radio reports - has been concluded during the two-day talks between the Transport and Communications Ministries of both countries, which have been taking place in Skopje. Other recommendations revolved around the consensus to exchange 5 000 bilateral permits and 500 permits for / from third countries - in addition to 200 bus permits. In addition to this it has been agreed to coordinate railway tariffs and as regards air traffic `MAT' has been granted three connections to Belgrade and `JAT' has been given four connections to Ohrid via Skopje. Besides this, both sides agreed that pay toll is to be lowered in order to render the cost of goods smaller - i.e. their rates are to be adapted to those of the neighbouring states.[04] BULGARIAN-MACEDONIAN RAILWAY LINK-UP NOT BEFORE 1999The completion of the railway link between Bulgaria and Macedonia is not to be expected before 1999 - according to the South Balkan Initiative, which met in the US. `Makfax' reports that the meeting concentrated on the progress of construction procedures of this railway line which is to become a part of corridor No. 8 (i.e. the East-West corridor) connecting the Adriatic and the Black Sea up to the Caucasus hinterland. Part of the funds for this projects - i.e. two million dollars for Albania, Bulgaria and Macedonia respectively - have been secured by the US Agency for Trade and Development.[05] WATTS IN FAVOUR OF PROPOSAL OF FOUR FORMER YUGOSLAV CONSTITUENTSTwo days ago the delegations of five former Yugoslav constituents entered a new round of succession negotiations in Brussels. Stakeholders discussed the new draft-agreement i.e. memorandum submitted by mediator Sir Arthur Watts. `Makpress' is quoting Belgrade agency `Beta' upon claiming that Watts supported the proposal of B & H, Croatia, Slovenia and Macedonia to base the division of real estate and other assets, archives; then the determining of pension eligibility and nationality on the date of 31st December 1990 - as the official date of Yugoslavia's disintegration (as determined by the Badinterre Commission). It is common knowledge that so far negotiations have been deadlocked as only SR Yugoslavia demanded that 1945 should be considered the date of reference as regards the succession of all assets - including national capital, assets generated with federal funds which would also cover the federal budget. According to `Makpress' it may happen that Dayton Agreement Coordinator Karl Bilt may be involved in negotiation procedures.[06] `TAT' BANKING SCANDAL: `CLIENTS THREATEN WITH CRIMINAL LAW SUITSAND PROTESTS'The deceived bank clients of the `TAT' bank at Bitola have announced the initiating of three criminal law suits and the continuing of protests - MTV reports. Client representatives have confirmed that charges are being pressed against Sonja Nikolovska for fraud and in order to seize her assets and property. Other suits are to be instigated against former NBM Governor Borko Stanoevski on grounds of abusing his authority and investigating the `TAT' bank without a warrant; and against Minister of the Interior Tomislav Chokrevski for withholding evidence. Client representatives has also aired their utter discontent this endeavours undertaken by institutions of the system so far to resolve this crisis. They further announced the staging of new protests at Bitola on this Friday. `Dnevnik' reveals that a press conference was held by three deceived bank clients who have been sentenced to 20 in prison for hurling stones at several buildings at Bitola. They also delved into police brutality exhibited during the handling of unrest and the fact that the sentences had been doled out without being grounded on substantial evidence - but rather on several false testimonies.[07] LDP: `THIS GOVERNMENT IS THE WEAKEST AND LEAST CONVINCING SOFAR'The old/new Government of PM Crvenkovski is the weakest and least convincing cabinet entrusted with putting an end to the economic crisis - while does not have even the most basic notion on how to achieve such a thing... This is part of a statement made by LDP leader Petar Goshev during a press conference held yesterday. He further stressed that - concordant to estimates of the LDP Executive Council - the current Government did not only fail to please the public, but the SDSM MPs as well. In the opinion of Goshev it is up to the LDP and the IMRO- DPMNE to keep insisting on the calling of early elections and the forming of a new government, though both parties aired these demands in an idiosyncratic manner. In this sense the LDP preferred to act through the institutions of the state - an approach it is bound to uphold in its endeavour to devise a solution to the economic difficulties confronting the country. According to Goshev this does not exclude the implementation of legitimate forms of extra- institutional activity. In the end he concluded that the LDP and the IMRO- DPMNE would maintain contact and coordinate their efforts.[08] DEFLATION REGISTERED AGAIN LAST MONTHYesterday the National Statistics Office revealed that throughout the past month consumer goods prices have dropped by 0.4% in comparison to April `97. Other data indicates that in the service sector this decrease amounts to 2.3% due to the dive rates have taken in the culture sector and because of the lowering of the radio and TV charge. A plunge of prices has also been registered with the cost of grains (by 0.7%), preserved vegetables, bakery products and processed fruit (by 1.3%). The living expenses index for the time span from January to May 1997 has been decreased by 03% in comparison to December 1996. So far the annual inflation rate totals 2.8%, and it is being predicted that should such trends continue - the overall annual inflation rate for Macedonia would amount to 2%.[09] ENERGY SAVING PROJECT WITHIN `SECI' INITIATIVEThis Tuesday the first meeting of the SECI Initiative representatives, officials of the Ministry of Economy and of the Macedonian Academy of Science and Art (MANU) and representatives of the Macedonian business and energy sectors took place at the MANU. The Macedonian Radio reports that the event was staged in order to study efficiency and capacity use in the energy sector - as one of six SECI projects. This particular project covers the `Centar' municipality, several flat blocks and the Clinic Centre, i.e. the installing of insulation material and photo-Volt systems (for whose production `Alumina' has exhibited interest) to save energy in those objects. It is being revealed that funding may be procured by several international financial institutions (the European and the World Bank) if Macedonia ratifies the European Climate Change Treaty. Practice in other SE European countries so far has shown that this financial aid would vary between three and five million dollars.[10] `MAC DONALD'S' IS COMING TO TOWN IN MID-SUMMER...A-1 TV reports that it has been known for some time that the `Mac Donald's' fast food chain intends to open a restaurant in Skopje. This has been confirmed to occur by mid-summer. To this purpose the `Beton' construction contractor has already refurbished premises (near the Ministry of Education), and the press has been swamped by advertised vacancy notes for 100 employees. `Beton' revealed that the venture is being co-funded by the Skopje Brewery. A-1 TV does not exclude the possibility that several fast-food places may be opened in Skopje.[11] OLDEST FAIR OF MACEDONIA STARTED YESTERDAYOver the next three days the fair with the longest tradition in Macedonia - the 47th Consumer Goods, Reproduction Material and Equipment Fair - is to take place in Skopje. The event has been registered with the UPI, which requires the fulfillment of certain standards but also entails profit for the domestic and international market. This year there is a total 220 participants from all over the world and Macedonia. The Fair has been opened by Macedonian Economy Chamber President Dushan Petrevski, and it will be complemented by a great number of fringe events (presentations, business meetings, etc.) of several industrial branches.MILS SUPPLEMENT[12] `Toxic Waste Poisons Kumanovo, Livestock is Dying - and Nobody Lifts a Finger!'(`Dnevnik' - 2nd June 1997)500 metal barrels full of concentrated arsenic and antimony, and several hundreds of `unpackaged' cubic liters of these strong toxins and cancer- causing chemical substances, have been lying around unattended at the `Lojane' mine near the village of Tabanovce (Kumanovo), at some 30 km distance from the capital. This has been the case for the past 19 years - in spite of the fact that the substances are absolutely lethal. The Ministry of Urbanism, Civil Engineering and Environmental Protection has committed itself to dispose the toxic waste seven months ago. So far this commitment has come down to: nothing. The owner of the `stored' substances has also not been identified yet. It is being speculated, however, that the substances belong to the `Zajacha' company from Loznica (SR Yugoslavia). The most recent casualty of this poison has been a one-year- old heifer, four months ago. Residents reports the constant loss of livestock due to this ecological disaster. They fear for their own health as well - quite understandably. The Ministry - again quite understandably - does not have the money to dispose the toxic waste properly. It is being assumed that on Monday the Government is to be briefed in on the state of affairs at the `Lojane' mine. Possible final depots `in contention' are the abandoned mining shafts at `Lojane' or the deserted `Jugohrom' plant at Tetovo - stated Under-Secretary of Ecology Mihajlo Dimovski. Over the past few years a portion of these lethal substances have contaminated the area in a 200 km radius, due to their not being contained. Thus the indirect impact has so far been felt by the population of the villages Slanishte, Tabanovce, Lojane, Vaksince... Residents reports that their livestock dies `in a jiffy' - without any torture. It appears that not even weeds grow on the contaminated soil. Last year the people of Tabanovce built a dirt road using this very soil. The `Mavrovo' construction contractor has built a drinking water facility only 50 m away from the site where the poison is being kept. This facility covers the needs of Tabanovce, the railway station at the village and ergo all passengers. `My heifer died within a few minutes after drinking the poisonous water. This stuff is everywhere. After each rain is looks like yogurt and keeps spreading. Nothing grows on this earth. I don't know what will happen if a child drinks this water...' says Mile Dimitrievski from Tabanovce. Arsenic and antimony are not toxic in their elementary form, which is more than can be said of their derivatives - as these are absolutely lethal for both flora and fauna. 5 mg of this substance and there is no hope for any human being', experts claim. `People usually do suffer from acute and chronic poisoning with arsenic and antimony. Both substances attack the cardio-vascular system. The side-effects are irrigated respiratory organs, pain in the pectoral region, heavy breathing, impaired vision, the failure of both kidneys...' enumerates Jasmina Petrovska, an Associate Reader at the Medical School of Skopje. The only antidote is the BAL (British Anti-Louisite) serum should the dose in the human body be under 5 mg - including the intake through contaminated food. The Geological Institute had compiled a study on this situation last year; this paper outlines all hydro-geo- chemical and ecological research which are to determine the level of pollution. `The entire project was to cost 70 000 DM. We have been promised assistance by the Ministry of Science, though so far nothing has been accomplished in this respect. UNPREDEP also offered its machinery for the moving of this waste. But all our efforts have remained barren. It is all up to the Government now', says Nedeljko Gjorgjevikj (M.Sc.) of the Geological Institute in Skopje. (end)mils news 04 June 1997Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |