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MILS: News from the FYROM, 97-08-25Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: "Macedonian Information Liaison Service" <mils@mils.spic.org.mk>CONTENTS
MILS NEWSSkopje, 25 August, 1997[01] ROYAL VISITDuring his one-day visit to Macedonia Swedish monarch HRH Karl Gustav XVI. met President Kiro Gligorov and `UNRPEDEP' Chief-of-Mission Henryk Sokalski. The King of Sweden also visited Swedish troops serving within this UN peacekeeping mission in Macedonia. Talks between Karl Gustav XVI. and Gligorov were also attended by Swedish Defense Secretary Bjoern von Sydow and H.E. Amb. Matte Stefansson - while the Macedonian side was comprised of Foreign Secretary Blagoj Handzhiski, Defense Secretary Lazar Kitanovski and the Macedonian Ambassador to Sweden Tihomir Ilievski. Discussions focused on current conditions in Macedonia and the region and possible options to enrich bilateral cooperation, while particular stress was (again) placed on NATO integration as well as the necessity of international engagement in order to preserve regional peace and stability. This has been the second visit of the Swedish sovereign to Macedonia, the first having been in 1978 upon a meeting with Josip Broz Tito at Ohrid.[02] TWO MORE CASUALTIES AT MACEDONIAN-ALBANIAN BORDERTwo Albanian nationals have been killed and one has been wounded during an attempt to cross the Albanian-Macedonian border near the Struga border checkpoint `Mali Vlaj' - the MOD revealed. The incident occurred past Friday when a Macedonian border patrol detected the group of Albanians trying to enter the country illegally. The latter - according to the MOD release - opened fire upon the border patrol troops.The Albanian National Radio however reported that Macedonian law enforcement killed two of their citizens and wounded another one without any prior warning. It has further been revealed that the Macedonian Ambassador in Tirana, Nikola Todorchevski, has been summoned to the Albanian Foreign Office. On this occasion it has been asked of the Macedonian police and authorities to soften their extreme border surveillance regime. The Albanian National Radio also reported that opposition leader Sali Berisha (DP) criticized PM Fatosh Nano and his cabinet for hushing up these incidents in order to improve relations with the Republic of Macedonia. [03] COMMUNICATIONS REDEFINED ?A timed bomb exploded in the centre of Skopje, in front of the entrance `Inter-Falco' car dealer exploded at 0400 h yesterday. Media report that there have not been any casualties, whereas material damage caused by this explosion is considerable: two vehicles and part of the store have been damaged and the windows of several surrounding buildings were shattered by the detonation which had been audible throughout the neighbouring area. Police investigation is underway while rumour has it that this attack may be warning or threat addressed to the owners of `Inter-Falco.'[04] `BULGARIANS BEREFT OF THEIR PASSPORTS'Sofia-based `Kontinent' is making its move by accusing Macedonian authorities of destroying the passports of 10 Albanian nationals only because they had declared themselves to be Bulgarians. `Makfax' reveals that the paper is quoting a Bulgarian VMRO member who is also the Chairman of the `International Institute for Macedonia' in Sofia. The paper `24 Chasa' (`24 Hours') covers the story in a report with the title `Skopje Guilty of Hiding Minorities' while denoting the rights of Bulgarians and Greeks in Macedonia as threatened.UN experts are being quoted with statements that only those minorities codified within the Constitution (Albanians, Turks, Vlachs and the Roma) are being granted cultural rights. Bulgarian Foreign Secretary Nadezhda Mihaylova stated for `Kontinent' - upon advocating a European solution for Balkan issues - that with regards to postponed negotiations with Macedonia `a new era would occur as has been the case with Greece and Turkey', while adding that this new era would be brought about by a change of Bulgarian policy. [05] CHRISTOPHER HILL: `SPLENDID BILATERAL RELATIONS'`The bilateral relations between the Republic of Macedonia and the US are splendid', stated US Ambassador Christopher Hill for `Macedonian Voice' - broadcast aired on Radio Perth yesterday. The US Diplomat further denoted Macedonia as a key regional stability factor due to its strategic position, while the country's advancing and success are of tremendous importance to the US.[06] WESLEY CLARK IN SKOPJE TODAYThe CINC of USEUCOM and NATO Forces in Europe, Gen. Wesley Clark, is to arrive in Skopje today. During his stay the General is to be received by President Gligorov, military and civilian representatives of `UNPREDEP' and he is to visit US troops serving within this peacekeeping mission. Most of his meetings are to concentrate on security issues and relations between NATO and Macedonia. General Clark has been a member of the Dayton negotiation team headed by R. Holbrooke prior to assuming the position previously held by Gen. George Joulwan on 9th July this year.[07] `MEDCEUR `97'This joint military exercise carried out by US and Macedonian troops has been opened at the `Krivolak' training grounds yesterday, and is to last until the end of this month - according to the MOD and USIS. Exercises are to focus on rendering immediate medical assistance, medevac procedures and preparations and surgical and specialist treatment. Observers have been invited from Slovenia, Turkey, Greece and Bulgaria.[08] CULTURAL CONTACTS.......continue to develop between Albania, Greece and our country. Culture Minister Slobodan Unkovski returned from Greece yesterday, where he had been attending the `Prespa `97' Culture Festival upon invitation of his Greek counterpart Evangelis Venizelos and MP Yorgi Lyannis. `Makfax' reports that Venizelos and Unkovski discussed the further implementation of already commenced projects and another meeting with the Albanian Minister of Culture delved into possibilities to further cultural cooperation in this part of the Balkans.[09] THE RIGHT HAND OF BACCHUSOr: another task falling within the domain of our Gvt. As the grape harvest is by far exceeding that of the previous years - as it has been stated by Agriculture Minister Kiril Dokuzovski during a meeting with wine producers at the `Povardarie' (Negotino) vineyards - optimism arises as regards grape processing and wine production. But this is being countered by the lack of financial means pruning the capacity of virtually every producer in the country, in spite of their willingness to purchase the entire harvest. This will require the Govt.'s assistance. In this sense Minister Dokuzovski stressed that the Gvt. will do everything in its power to facilitate purchase and export conditions - firstly by procuring purchase funds.[10] `TRUCKIES' TO BLOCK `MEDZHITLIJA'The Independent Trade Union Organisation of Truck Drivers of Macedonia and the Association of the Bitola private sector have agreed to block the `Medzhitlija' border checkpoint from 7 to 12 o'clock today. This is to be a `warning shot' prior to the staging of the general strike due to start on 31st August - should authorities fail to accept conditions requesting the reduction of fees for TIR labels and other dues imposed on truck drivers in Macedonia.[11] CONSTITUTIONAL COURT TO HAVE THE LAST SAY.......as regards the Constitutional compatibility of the recently effectuated laws on book-keeping. This has been contended by the Federation of Trade Union Organisations (SSM), especially with respect to Constitutional provisions outlining the right of employees to pay. The recent changes introduced a few months ago may have facilitated the gathering of payroll contributions for social funds (covering disabilities, health insurance and social security)... But Paragraph one of Article eight for example prohibits the disbursement of per diem payments and the covering of expenses for employees on business trips, then food and travelling reimbursement, pay during vacation, anniversary premiums, solidarity funds, the coverage of expenses for using privately-owned vehicles, dividend disbursement, etc. should all payroll contributions not have been forwarded.The SSM states that reimbursement of food, transport and travelling expenses should not be vetoed, as they have been guaranteed within the Constitution and as they directly bear an impact on the conducting of set tasks being essential conditions for executing one's work. The SSM entertains similarly unfavourable views with regards to the Pay Disbursement Act, concordant to which the net incomes in all sectors except the privatized one are to remain frozen from 9th July till 31st December 1997. The contention of this Act by the SSM is being justified by the Constitutional provision that the legal status of employees is to be codified within the Employment Relations Act (and not other legal acts) and the Collective Agreement. The SSM further objects to its enactment procedure, to the criteria employed throughout the privatization process, etc. [12] `SOCIAL BOMB KEEPS TICKING...'....according to IMRO-DPMNE leader Ljupcho Georgievski, since all bleak oracles uttered by this party in the beginning of this year appear to have become reality. This means that at the threshold of autumn the economic crisis in the country will only continue, after the denar-devaluation and the freezing of pay which is to result in a 30% income decrease to the population. Georgievski further said for `Vecher' that the bad weather season was also complemented with a new set of restrictions to employee rights, since the latest provisions on payroll contributions will shut down many businesses and boost unemployment.The `Khawhoom' of the `social bomb' will also be brought about by the `few' but first-rate financial scandals resulting in the `carrot/promise on the stick' approach for large factions of victims over the past few months. `The only open question is when the bomb will explode and in which direction it will go off', states Georgievski, while adding that the dialogue with the Gvt. on early parliamentary elections has been suspended since authorities appear to have bet everything on the card that legislative provisions on elections will never be passed in time i.e. prior to their regularly scheduled holding. `General conditions in the Balkans however have taught us that there are more expedient ways of bringing about elections. This does certainly not mean that the IMRO- DPMNE has given up on early elections', says Ljupcho Georgievski. [13] ANOTHER DREARY FORECAST.......on this year's political autumn, this one by SP leader Ljubisav Ivanov. In his opinion Macedonia will have to focus on addressing its economic problems, the further advancing of our economy, the investing into the production sector and the opening towards the global market. In an interview for `Vecher' Ivanov stated that Macedonia must now make the best of the textile export agreement signed with the EU, besides alleviating the economy by tax cuts and the introduction of different benefits as this would open the door to international investments and a stronger programme in this area.Throughout the creation of a creative environment and the abandoning of the years of stagnation, a key role should also be assumed by the Gvt. - and by the Parliament which has to verify a corresponding legislation. In this context priority is to be given to acts codifying elections - stated Ivanov - adding that this requires the resumption of a creative dialogue between the PM and political parties. `I expect further endeavours to reach a consensus on vital national interests in the near future since this is the only way for all parties to create favourable positions for the upcoming elections', says the SP leader. [14] SPAIN AND FRANCE VICTORIOUSDuring the 11th Ohrid Swimming Marathon over the 30 km-long track known as the `Klime Savin' route (Sv. Naum to Ohrid), Spain's David Medina and France's Anne Chagneau took top honours. Of the Macedonian team Tomi Stefanovski came in fifth at the men's competition and Teodora Raptis ended up fourth of the ladies. The only one not to finish the race due to health problems was Afghanistan's Galina Shatnoya, who is currently at the Ohrid hospital for medical treatment.mils news 25 August, 1997Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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