MAK-NEWS 01/11/95 (M.I.C.)

From: "M.I.C." <mic@ITL.MK>

Macedonian Information Centre Directory

CONTENTS

SKOPJE, NOVEMBER 1, 1995 (MIC)

[01] EU TO OPEN AN EMBASSY IN MACEDONIA

The European Union will probably open an embassy in Macedonia next month. This was stated yesterday by Doris Pack, who is leading the six-member delegation of the European Parliament for Southeast Europe, which is in Macedonia at the invitation of Parliamentary Speaker Stojan Andov.

In the statement for the press, Pack said that the delegation she is leading is taking a number of steps for providing concrete help to Macedonia.

"I'm very pleased to be here at this moment, in this new situation between this country and its neighbor. The resolution of these problems can start off a new era of solving the questions between this country and the EU. As you now, the PHARE program and the agreement on cooperation can start being realized now. It is of great help that we are here precisely now, in order to submit a report to our Commission on interethinic relations in Brussels after we return. I was in Macedonia three years ago, as well, and I can say that many things have improved," said Doris Pack.

In Macedonia, the delegation met with the coordinators of the parliamentary groups in the Macedonian Parliament, while at the meeting with the members of the Commission on foreign politics, it was said that Macedonia's association with the EU was one of the next steps and goals of the Macedonian Government.

The guests expressed a large interest in Macedonia's overall relations with Albania and Bulgaria, whereby the president of the Commission, Ilinka Mitreva informed the guests that the relations with Albania are correct, whereas Bulgaria, despite having recognized Macedonia under its constitutional name, seems to be showing that, in effect, it does not recognize the Macedonian nation and language.

Yesterday, the delegation of the European Parliament had a meeting with the members of the Council for inter-ethnic relations of the Macedonian Parliament, talks with representatives of some NGOs, with the management of the Macedonian Radio Television, the editors of the programs in Albanian, Turkish, Rhoman, Vlach and Serbian language, as well as Radmila Kiprijanova, the president of the University "Sts. Cyril and Methodius."

The guests from the European Parliament will be received by Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski today, the Minister of Economy Risto Ivanov, Interior Minister Ljubomir Frckovski and Foreign Minister Stevo Crvenkovski. Their schedule also includes meetings with representatives of the Commerce Chamber and the Federation of Unions of Macedonia, the president of the Executive Committee and the representatives of the parties represented in the Tetovo Municipal Assembly.

[02] MACEDONIA IN PHARE PROGRAM

Makpress reports from Brussels that the Republic of Macedonia was officially included in the program for reconstruction and development PHARE, on Monday.

Western European foreign ministers gave their consent two days ago to include Macedonia in the European PHARE program, designated for countries from Central and Eastern Europe. European diplomats reached the conclusion that the Interim Accord, signed in New York between Macedonia and Greece, is being implemented, which eliminates all obstacles to this long-expected inclusion.

The last stage is still outstanding - a positive opinion of the European Parliament. According to Doris Pack, member of the European Parliament and president of the Commission on relations with countries from Southeast Europe, "new obstacles must not stand in Macedonia's way to joining the PHARE program."

On Monday, the Ministers' Council asked the European Commission to examine all paths and ways of developing closer ties between the European Union and Macedonia. This will signify the last, formal step, which will officially start off Macedonia's integration into Europe.

[03] MACEDONIA TAKING PART IN 28TH SESSION OF UNESCO

A delegation of the Republic of Macedonia, led by the Minister of Culture and president of the UNESCO National Commission of the Republic of Macedonia Eshtref Aliu, is taking part in the work of the 28th session of the General Conference of UNESCO, which is being held at the headquarters of the Organization, in Paris, where its 50th anniversary will be celebrated on November 16.

At the first day of the 28th session of the General Conference, which started on October 28, this year, immediately after electing the new Presidency, our country was given the honor of having its flag raised among the flags of the other 183 states - members of UNESCO. The flag was raised by the head of the delegation Eshtref Aliu. A number of delegations congratulated the Republic of Macedonia on this formal act. Eshtref Aliu took part in the general debate in the morning session on October 30.

Whilst in Paris, our country made contacts with a number of delegations of the General conference, dealing with mutual cooperation.

[04] BULGARIAN FIRM "MULTIGROUP" BEHIND ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT ON GLIGOROV

In the article for the newspaper "Thessaloniki," conveyed in the Sofia daily "24 Hours," the head of the Greek information agency from Thessaloniki accuses Bulgaria and the Sofia firm "Multigroup" of being connected with the assassination attempt on the Macedonian President Kiro Gligorov.

In his text, Spiros Kuzinopoulos quotes the Macedonian Interior Minister Ljubomir Frckovski, who said that a multinational group based in one of the neighboring countries took part in organizing the assassination.

"24 Hours" writes that the Macedonian press published the news, even at the start of the investigation, that the explosive used in the assassination was brought into the country from Bulgaria.

"I believe that 'Multigroup' is an economic group, founded in Bulgaria, and that it has connections with the mafia. I believe it got rich by trading illegally with Serbia and Macedonia, violating the embargo against FR Yugoslavia in the process."

According to Kuzinopoulos, "Multigroup" was directly connected with the former KGB and the Russian interests in Bulgaria. In the conclusion, Kuzinopoulos explains his allegations with the thesis about the plans of Sofia for a Great Bulgaria.

In its reaction to these allegations, the management of the firm "Multigroup" assesses the text as a provocation "at a time when the peace processes in the Balkans are taking place." According to the chief secretary of "Multigroup," Bojko Graganov, "the group will take measures in relation to the spreading of such incorrect information that threatens the reputation and good name of 'Multigroup'," the Sofia daily "24 Hours" writes in it's issue today.

[05] AROUND 40 PERCENT OF THE APPLICANTS DO NOT LIVE IN MACEDONIA

The Government of the Republic of Macedonia was presented a long agenda with numerous proposals from the field of economy, finance, political system, and foreign affairs activities at a session two days ago.

The session was chaired by Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski and the first discussions on the Draft Law on Privatization of enterprises and state owned capital in collectives dealing with farms were held with the aim of creating an efficient production in the agricultural field. In order to achieve the desired goal, these enterprises and collectives will have to be organized and work in such a way as to contribute to achieving high quality that is required by the market, through an optimum combination of all the investments in the production.

Taking into the account the significance of this project, and on the basis of all exposed remarks that were derived from the discussions, the government will develop the foundations for the completion of the law and it also decided to pass the law to government's working bodies for revision.

The government reviewed and accepted the Report on the hitherto regulated citizenship status and the results of the poll, which was organized by the Ministry of the Interior during the month of September and that was performed on the basis of casual selection of 1,788 persons out of 121,006 citizens who have not yet regulated their citizenship status. Among these persons, Albanians, Turks, Romanies, Serbs, Bulgarians, Vlachs, and other nationalities living in the Republic of Macedonia were encompassed beside Macedonians.

According to the Report, the results of the poll showed that out of the citizens who have not yet regulated their citizenship status, 39.6 percent live outside the Republic of Macedonia, 2.32 do not reside at indicated addresses, 13.9 percent had in the meantime regulated their citizenship status but have not yet been registered, while 10.2 percent had stated that they are awaiting for results.

According to the assessments that were given in the Report, the results of the poll are an expression of the real image, because at this moment the Ministry of the Interior is working on 12,000 submitted applications, which coincides with the 10.2 percent from the poll.

[06] INTERNATIONAL AIDS CONFERENCE

The international two-day Conference on the fight against AIDS started in the House of the humanitarian organizations "Dare Dzambaz" yesterday. The Conference is organized by the French humanitarian organization "Equilibre" and the Republic Health Care Institute.

According to its concept, the Conference is chiefly intended for medical personnel and other experts who are in direct contact with carriers of the HIV virus and people infected with this deadly disease, in addition to NGOs which, as part of their activities, are actively included in the fight against AIDS.

Yesterday, a number of Macedonia eminent experts presented the epidemic picture in the country (so far, 20 people are infected and 12 people are carriers of the HIV virus, of which 16 have already died), and discussed the program tasks that are being carried out, while the representatives of the NGOs accented the realized informative-educational activities. The French experiences in the fight against AIDS were expressed by a number of medical experts and representatives of specialized associations.

[07] KIRO POPOVSKI BURIED

Kiro Popovski, vice-president of the Parliament of the Republic of Macedonia and president of the Socialist party of Macedonia, was buried in the city cemetery "Butel" in Skopje yesterday. The funeral was attended by members of his family, high state officials, including Parliamentary Speaker Stojan Andov, Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski, ministers, MPs, leaders of political parties, church officials and a large number of citizens.

A commemorative session on the occasion of the passing away of the vice-president of Parliament Kiro Popovski, chaired by Stojan Andov, was held in the Macedonian Parliament yesterday. A commemoration on the same occasion was held yesterday also on the premises of the Socialist party of Macedonia.

A large number of companies, citizens, political parties and associations, including the Citizens' Alliance of the Republic of Bulgaria, the Coalition of the left-wing and progressive powers of Greece, the United left-wing of Spain and the Socialist party of Italy - Alpe Adria.

(end)