MAK-NEWS 09/11/95 (M.I.C.)

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

Macedonian Information Centre Directory

CONTENTS

SKOPJE, NOVEMBER 9, 1995 (MIC)

[01] FORMAL ACCEPTANCE OF MACEDONIA TO COUNCIL OF EUROPE

Foreign Minister Stevo Crvenkovski, who arrived in Strasbourg to take part in the ceremony of the formal acceptance of the Republic of Macedonia as a member of the Council of Europe, held meetings yesterday with top officials of the organization - Secretary General Daniel Tarsis, the President of the Parliamentary Assembly Angel Martinez and the chairman of the Ministers' Committee Joseph Zelenec, "Nova Makedonija" reports from Strasbourg.

These talks, initiated by yesterday's formal acceptance and the fact that Macedonia has become the 38th member-state of the Council, focused mainly on the positive effects of the enlargement of the membership of this oldest European political organization. The officials expressed satisfaction that Macedonia, beside a number of other Eastern European countries, has passed the test of European standards of democracy, which are the basic conditions for inclusion in the Council, which will be manifested today with the signing of the Human Rights Convention. Beside the raising of the Macedonian flag and the playing of the Macedonian national anthem, plans are for minister Crvenkovski to hold a short speech, as well as an official welcoming speech by President Martinez and the Secretary-General Tarsis.

[02] GREECE WILL "FIGHT" IF NECESSARY FOR COMPOUND NAME

The Greek Government will continue its policy in relation to the "Skopje and believes it is possible to reach an agreement on such a policy with the political parties as well.

This, as Makfaks reports, was stated by government sources who feel the debate in the Greek Parliament has proven that the Government is "leading a correct policy" in this domain. The moderate "Elefterotipia" assesses that the Greek opposition, except for Samaras' Political Spring, has given the Government a "green light" to lead negotiations over the compound name of the northern neighbor.

Today's "Nova Makedonija" deals with the debate over the "Macedonian question" in the Greek Parliament and concludes that it proved to be "a total fiasco." The newspaper claims "if nothing else, then because of the only reason that it is not possible for the Parliament of a country to get into discussions of the type when, why and if the name of a neighboring country should be changed. Having this is mind, it has become clear that precisely at the moment when Greece showed some good will to redefine its relations with Macedonia, it also showed an internal weakness to endure along the path of good neighborliness, in the interest of the two countries, and the Balkans as a whole."

[03] MACEDONIAN-NORWEGIAN COOPERATION

The delegation of the Republic of Macedonia, led by the Under Secretary in the Foreign Ministry Victor Gaber, held political consultations with the Norwegian Secretary of State Jan Egelend in the Foreign Ministry in Oslo yesterday.

The consultations focused on the further intensification of the cooperation on a political and economic plan between the two countries. The Macedonian side asked for support from Norway for the inclusion of the Republic of Macedonia in the associations of the European collective security system. It was assessed that holding a meeting soon between representatives of economic subjects from both countries would give a considerable boost to such cooperation.

After the working consultations, the Macedonian delegation was received by Foreign Minister Bjorn Tore Godal, whereby Under Secretary Gaber repeated Foreign Minister Stevo Crvenkovski's invitation for the Norwegian minister to pay a visit to Macedonia.

[04] ATTRACTING U.S. CAPITAL IN MACEDONIA

Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski spoke with Christopher Finn yesterday, vice-president of the Overseas Private Corporation from Washington. In informing him about the importance of this investment corporation, Christopher Finn emphasized that the signing of an agreement on investments is very important for attracting American businessmen to come to Macedonia. Underlining that the setting in Macedonia is quite favorable for investments, Finn expressed specific interest in the privatization process, the transformation of the banking system, the stock exchange, as well as a the telecommunications.

Prime Minister Crvenkovski spoke of the results achieved in the market economy, in relation to which he said that the U.S. businessmen have a broad spectrum of prospects for investing in Macedonia. Stressing the significance of the presence in the sphere of finance, he explained in detail the possibilities for cooperation in the banking system, the telecommunications and the overall infrastructure in Macedonia.

Christopher Finn met with Parliamentary Speaker Stojan Andov yesterday, as well. They exchanged opinions on the prospects of U.S. investments in the Macedonian sphere of economy, its speedier revival and modernization of the work principles. In this sense, the need for quicker reconstruction was emphasized, for which help would be needed in the form of skills and experiences of this corporation in the field of banking, banking system, trade, information, as well as communications.

Minister of Economy Risto Ivanov also received Christopher Finn yesterday. Participating in the meeting was also Linda Gregory, president of the Agency for International Development of the U.S.A. in Macedonia.

Minister Risto Ivanov informed the guests about the current situation in the field of economy in Macedonia, as well as the conditions for foreign investments, specifically, some concessions, in line with the positive regulations which are provided for foreign investors. Finn expressed the U.S. interests for investing in Macedonia, at the meeting.

Both sides expressed satisfaction with the to-date developments in the relations between the U.S. and Macedonia, and expressed hope that agreements on the insurance of U.S. investments from political risks will soon be signed between the Agency for the insurance of private investments from Washington and the Macedonian Government, which will contribute to the strengthening of the economic links between the two countries.

[05] U.S. SPECIAL FORCES IN MACEDONIA

A five-member team from the Tenth group of the special forces from "Fort Carson," Colorado, will be staying in Macedonia from the 6th to the 10th of this month, to check out the situation in relation to the winter joint activities planned for March, next year, is said in the joint press release of the Macedonian Defence Ministry and the Office of the U.S. Military Attache in Skopje.

During its stay, the team will take the opportunity to take part in the parachuting activities "Friendly jump," together with representatives of the Macedonian Army, which will take place at the airport Razanovce-Kumanovo, today.

This visit, as well as the "Friendly jump" are the first joint activities between Macedonian and American soldiers of this type, coordinated by the Macedonian Defence Ministry and the Office of the U.S. Military Attache in Skopje.

[06] A NUMBER OF AGREEMENTS SIGNED WITH TURKEY

The delegation of the Macedonian Chamber of Commerce, which is on a visit to Turkey, has signed a number of agreements on cooperation with several Turkish partners.

More important ones are the agreement with "Jugohrom" for the delivery of 1,000 tones of ferroalloys for one of the largest Turkish steel mills TDCI. The delivery is due in December, this year. Furthermore, it has been agreed for "Jugohrom" to import chromium ore and chromium concentrates, as well as a trial marketing of medical plastics on the Turkish market.

Several contacts have been made and agreements have been signed for cooperation in the field of chemical and food industry, ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, while the Turkish partners have also expressed an interest in appearing jointly with Macedonian construction firms on third markets.

An agreement on cooperation between the Macedonian Chamber of Commerce and the Turkish Union of Chambers was signed yesterday at the Turkish Union of stock markets, trade and industrial chambers. The agreement is aimed at providing continuity and advancing the chamber cooperation between the two countries.

The first meetings at the level of directors, between the director of the Macedonian Customs Administration Ilija Ilioski and the general director of the Turkish Customs was held in Ankara yesterday.

[07] MACEDONIA MEMBER OF TOURIST ORGANIZATION

An official note came from the World Tourist Organization yesterday, informing that Macedonia has become a full member of this organization, with a decision from October 17, this year, following Macedonia's application for membership in this organization.

[08] ELECTIVE CLASSES IN VLACH LANGUAGE

Classes in Vlach language started officially in elementary schools in Shtip yesterday. The classes will be followed by approximately one hundred pupils. The first period was opened by Vase Nikolov, the first teacher of Vlach language and Gjorgji Nikolov, president of the Vlach association "Santa Zdirzdul" from Shtip. In the last census, the most Vlachs were recorded in Shtip, namely some 3,000.

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