MAK-NEWS 28/11/95 (M.I.C.)

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

Macedonian Information Centre Directory

SKOPJE, NOVEMBER 28, 1995 (MIC)

CONTENTS

[01] RM SIGNS INDIVIDUAL AGREEMENT WITH NATO

The Republic of Macedonia sent a request to the NATO leadership yesterday, to sign an individual agreement on activities within the framework of the "Partnership for peace" program, Makfaks reports from Brussels.

The presentation document that contains the military- strategic characteristics of Macedonia and its interests within the "Partnership for peace" program, was handed to the acting NATO Secretary-General Sergio Balzini by the ambassador of the Republic of Macedonia in Brussels Jovan Tegovski.

Out of 27 member-states of "Partnership for peace," so far 15 countries have signed the individual program. The Republic of Macedonia, according to expectations, should sign the individual program at the start of next year.

[02] GREECE: CRVENKOVSKI DEMONSTRATING ADAMANCY

Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski's statement in the interview for "Nova Makedonija, that Macedonia does not accept and will not accept negotiations over the changing of the name, or the initiation of name variances, has triggered a line of reactions in neighboring Greece, as expected.

For the time being, there are no official comments, and as Makfaks reports, the Greek press is accusing "Skopje" of a "new attack of adamancy," as well as deviation from the agreement signed in New York.

The oppositional newspaper "Elefteros Tipos" came out with the strongest assessments, accusing the "Skopje regime" of starting with a "new demonstration of adamancy." The newspaper adds that "Skopje" decided to make such a step precisely at the moment when the PASOK Government and Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias were ready to agree on the name issue, as well.

Commenting Branko Crvenkovski's statement for, as it is stated, the "semi-official newspaper" "Nova Makedonija," the pro- government "Ta Nea" assesses that the Prime Minister "directly gave up" what his foreign minister signed in New York. "Ta Nea" connects Prime Minister Crvenkovski's statement with President Gligorov's appearance in public.

The newspaper of the moderate left-wing "Elefterotipia" conveys Prime Minister Crvenkovski's statement in a text entitled "No talks over the name." The same newspaper reminds of Macedonia's stance that according to the Agreement from New York, it has no obligations, except that it can discuss the differences that exist over the name.

[03] RED CROSS MEMBER OF INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION

At the start of yesterday's General Assembly of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent in Geneva, the Macedonian Red Cross was accepted as the 169th full member of this massive humanitarian movement.

[04] MACEDONIA CONGRATULATING NATIONAL HOLIDAY TO ALBANIA

On the occasion of the national holiday of Albania, the President of the Republic of Macedonia Kiro Gligororov sent a letter of congratulations to the Albanian President Sali Berisha. Among the rest, the text expresses satisfaction with the successful development of the relations and cooperation between the two neighboring and friendly countries, as well as readiness for their advancement and strengthening, which will contribute to the strengthening of the peace and security in the region.

[05] MACEDONIAN GOVERNMENT: "PROTECTION OF AUTHORSHIP"

At yesterday's session, chaired by Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski, the Macedonian Government reviewed and outlined the proposal for the adoption of a law on copyrights and similar rights, which has been imposed as a need to regulate this matter, standardized with international projects, and because of certain weaknesses of the existing one. The basic principles of the law underline the need to stimulate, help and protect the development of science, art and culture, and guarantees the right to free association with a view to realize and protect the economic, cultural and other rights and the freedom of the market and entrepreneurship.

The general decrees of the law determine the rights of the authors over their works from the field of literature, science and art, as well as the copyrights and the rights of the performers, producers, rights in the field of film production, RTV organiziations and of the publishers, as related rights.

At the request of the Macedonian Parliament, the Government gave a positive opinion on the semiannual report and the information prepared by the People's Bank of Macedonia, for the realization of the economic movements, the monetary-credit policy and the foreign currency policy for the first six months of the year.

The Government also made a decision for Macedonia to join the Open partial agreement for the prevention and protection from natural risks and technical catastrophes of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, which enables the renewal of the Republic's request, which was initiated for the first time toward the end of the year 1990.

[06] MOST COMPANIES REGISTERED IN SKOPJE

By the end of October, the Register of organizational units of the Bureau of Statistics had a total of 84,909 companies listed, which is 0.9% more than the situation in September. In October, the number of newly-registered companies amounted to 831. The private ownership is still topping the list with 95.7%, the state-owned is taking part with 1.5%, mixed, with 1.6 and associated ownership with 1.2%.

The companies are mainly in the trade business, with 62.2%, this is followed by industry and mining with 9.5%, then, financial and other services with 6.6%. The companies are mainly founded with domestic capital - 96.2%, 2.4% are founded with mixed capital and only 1.3% with foreign capital. According to the statistics, 41.3% of the companies are located in Skopje, 7% are located in Bitola, 6.1% in Kumanovo, and 5.4% each in Tetovo and Strumica.

[07] NORTHERN TRANSPORT CORRIDOR TO BE FINISHED SOON

Following the lifting of the sanctions against FR Yugoslavia, and before that, the lifting of the Greek embargo, there is an obvious increase in the frequency of cargo traffic in the direction North-South, and vice versa, at all Macedonian bordern crossings on the border with Greece.

The passenger transport has been decreased for a year already, due to the exit taxes that the FRY citizens have to pay upon leaving the country. At the border point Tabanovce, a larger number of cargo vehicles are noticed lined up on the highway, belonging to Macedonian firms delivering goods for the Yugoslav market, as vice versa.

Obviously liberated from the bans and obstacles, the businessmen from both countries, after almost 30 months, have started using the shortes and most rational communication routes.

According to the border officials, the transit traffic is also increasing gradually. Vechicles from Greece and Bulgaria are noticed at this border crossing every day, transporting goods for Central European countries, through this northern European route. These last days, cargo vehicles from Yugoslavia, as well as Croatia, Slovenia, Germany and other European countries are noticed entering or passing through Macedonia.

[08] 650 KG OF CIGARETTES CONFISCATED

The police have found and confiscated 650 kg of cigarettes of the brand "Partner" in the Skopje village Arachinovo, which were intended for illegal trade.

The police have announced that charges will be brought against the perpetrators.