MAK-NEWS 17/11/95 (M.I.C.)

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

Macedonian Information Centre Directory

CONTENTS

SKOPJE, NOVEMBER 17, (MIC)

[01] A MARSHALL'S PLAN FOR THE WHOLE REGION

The President of the Foreign Politics Commission in the German Parliament Karl-Heinz Hornhus was yesterday present in Macedonia on a one day visit with the purpose, as he said at the press conference, to get informed of the policy of this country, especially towards its neighbors, to exchange opinions on what may happen after the talks in Dayton, and about the chances of activating the Marshall's plan initiated by German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel.

"It s my impression that Macedonia is leaving a very tough period behind, but its future is bright", said Hornhus, and on the question how he valued interethnic relation in Macedonia, he stated that "if throughout all former Yugoslavia the development tendencies had been as positive as here, they would all have been spared the consequences of war". In connection to whether some tangible agreements have been made regarding the Marshall's plan, the German guest said that the main train of thought is to summarize ideas by all governments-members of EU, as well as all countries in the region.

With the aim of getting support from our Government, we will create a working group in the Bundestag which will deal with parliamentary participation and the harmonization of all opinions. We think that not only does the destroyed infrastructure in war areas need restoring, but a complete access to the entire region is required, as well as aiding countries that have not been directly engaged in the war - adds Hornhus.

The German guest talked yesterday with the highest governmental executives of the Republic of Macedonia.

[02] ITALIAN CREDIT OF 24,000,000 LIRAS

A delegation of the Italian Government lead by Antonio Bandini, Head of the Sector for cooperation with the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, which is presently visiting the Republic of Macedonia for three days and includes members of the Italian Ministry of Finance, has made many contacts with Macedonian Ministries, as well as with the Minister for National Coordination of Foreign Help Sofija Todorova.

The main topics of the talks were the closer connection of the two economies and special aid of Macedonia by Italy.

Yesterday Antonio Bandini and his host Dusko Stojanovski, Assistant Foreign Minister of Macedonia held a press conference.

- The decision to establish a cooperative relation for the development of Macedonia agrees with the political support which Italy has always supplied for Macedonia. This will mean supporting the integration of Macedonia into international institutions and Europe, and this efforts, we hope, will be completed when Italy becomes President of the EU - said Bandini. In accordance with the Macedonian Government, two major directions of financing have been determined, according to priorities set by our Government.

- The major emphasis will be on financing the development of small and middle-scale industry private sector, for which a credit of 24,000,000 liras has been provided, which can be utilized by Macedonian entrepreneurs to get instrumental goods from Italy. The other path of cooperation is taking part in the great reform projects by the World Bank, and we will soon go to Washington to discuss this - said Bandini.

When asked if some tangible contract has been signed during the visit, Bandini answered that the approval of the credit for the small and middle-scale industry is already on the operating decision level and should be soon available to Macedonian operators who will then be able to contact banks and agencies in Macedonia. In my opinion, the credit will be usable as soon as the first months of the next year. As for possible co- financing with the World Bank. the decision should be there soon, nut these are projects which should enter 1996 fiscal year, and their realization is expected next year, said Mr. Bandini.

[03] 25 LOSS-MAKERS: SOME PRIVATIZED, SOME TERMINATED

Out of 115 legal subjects, created with the dissolution of 23 greatest loss-makers in the state, by Government decision 76 companies will be privatized. The measure prescribed for 31 firm is to monitor their work till the middle of next month, while seven of them are recommended for termination as one of the methods of transformation of property. This is the solution of one of the key projects of large scale economic policy for this year, pointed out Economy Minister Risto Ivanov at yesterday's press conference. The final realization of the project should take place by the end of this year.

For the realization of the project about 15,2 million dollars were used in the form of Government guarantees, 9.1 million in the form of guarantees issued by the Commission for Restructuring of loss-makers, the ECHO program has provided 59 million dollars, the PHARE foundation has provided 4.5 million EQI, consulting aid of about 2.2 million dollars, while by selling of redundant assets of loss-makers additional 5,000,000 denars have been provided. Thereby a financial solution was offered of a better part of the technological surplus in loss- making enterprises. 1,772 billion denars have been spent on paying off belated salaries and severance pays to 13,915 out of total 15,776 redundant workers in loss-making firms.

In the first half of this year loss-makers have made a profit of total 14.3 billion denars, but in the same period expenses have been made of total 15,5 billion denars. Out of 115 legal subjects, in the first six months only 41 firm have made profit compared to the other 74 which only reported losses. This means that loss-makers take part in total Macedonian deficit with a percentage of 14.9%.

[04] GREECE: "NEGOTIATIONS OVER THE NAME SOON"?

Negotiations over the name of Macedonia between Macedonia and Greece are expected to begin by the end of November, latest beginning of December.

This statement was yesterday published by pro- government newspaper "Ta Nea", adding that the health condition of President Kiro Gligorov is constantly improving and that he will take up his duties again very soon.

"Ta Nea", as reported by MAKFAKS, implies that despite the urging by mediator Cyrus Vance for the immediate solution of the question of the name, no one in Skopje is willing to pay the "political price" of such negotiations. The return of President Gligorov will fill the political gap, concludes the pro- government newspaper.

Other newspapers in Athens did not discuss the question of the name yesterday. Certain writings imply that the implementation of the Macedonian-Greek agreement is advancing swiftly. Newspaper "Elefterotipia" assesses that the better part of the economic exchange between the two neighboring countries has been very quickly reestablished.

[05] INTERIOR MINISTRY: "THE INVESTIGATION IS IN THE HANDS OF THE COURT"

Regarding public opinions of not having informed or summoned an investigating judge for the investigation of the assassination attempt at the President, as well as the accusations of taking part of court authorizations in its own hands, the Interior Ministry informed the public that in accordance to Criminal Law the District Court in Skopje was informed on the spot of the event. The Court was in charge of the investigation from the very beginning, said Interior Minister Ljubomir Frckovski.

All further measures and activities taken by the Ministry were approved or ordered by the investigative judge. This cooperation between the Ministry and the District Court was accomplished within legal parameters.

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